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It's been a cold week here in Jericho, Kansas. Hawkins has just finished burying Sarah's body when Jimmy the Sheriff comes poking around, asking inconvenient questions about her. Another time, when Hawkins is burying the Really Big Bomb not very deep in Jericho soil, Sheriff Jimmy comes back, wanting to know more about Sarah and also to give Hawkins marriage counseling. Finally, Hawkins leads Jimmy to where Darcy is staying with the kids at Branch Rogerian, and lets him question Darcy. After Hawkins properly preps Darcy, of course. At the end of this plot thread, Sheriff Jimmy tells Hawkins that they found a body in the woods. The body is bald and enjoying a broken neck, so we know it's the Sarah-dispatched Hunter. Hawkins shrugs this off and agrees with Sheriff Jimmy that Sarah might have something to do with it. In order to fulfill the Pregnancy Prophesy that about 75% of all television writers adhere to, April collapses and brings herself and her unborn baby to the brink of death. (Jake dashes out to get Dr. Kenchy.) Unfortunately, despite Kenchy's best and mostly sober efforts, the baby dies, and April isn't fairing much better. Dr. Kenchy rips off his mask -- mid-suture -- and announces that none of it is worth it and goes outside to have an existential breakdown. (Jake dashes out to drag Dr. Kenchy back inside.) Both knowing that April is going to die, Dr. Kenchy finishes his surgery while Jake watches, all torn up inside. With Eric the Ineffectual gripping her hand, April dies after naming their dead baby Tracy. The entire Green family mourns. (Skeet is really good at crying. *Sniff* Really good.) Distressingly sans Heather, the boys from New Bern arrive with Jericho's windmill, and drive a hard bargain when Gray asks for ten more. For ten windmills, New Bern wants 10% of Jericho's crop. This becomes a huge issue, which needs slight discussion. In the end, Jericho agrees -- and secretly thinks, as Stanley suggested -- that when spring comes, they don't really have to fork over that 10%. New Bern is still one step of Jericho, however, because they ask for ten Jericho men (good and strong) to come back to their town and help build the windmills. Eric (yay!) and Stanley (boo!) are two of the ten to hoof off. Jake -- being the kind of AWESOME that only Jake can be -- collars Russell of New Bern and tells him that if anything happens to the Jericho Ten, Jake will be taking it out of his Sawyer-lite hide. Russell knows. And Jake knows. And we know. Because Jake is just THAT awesome. Frankly, my friends, I'm still shocked Jake didn't perform the miracle surgery that would have saved both April's and the baby's lives, as well as brought Gracie back to life. Meanwhile, in Shire News, Skylar is totally turned on by Frodale's machismo as she watches (and slightly cheers on) him waving a gun around in order to get Gracie's share of some beet yield. By the end of the episode, the two horny teens are making out across their sleeping bags. (Must've been all those bloody beets.) Want more? The full recap starts right below!
We are staring down the slanted headlights of a parked car. In the foreground, an exposed and very dead hand is slowly being buried in a shallow grave. I mean, I assume the hand isn't the only thing being dead or buried in this scene, but it's all we can see. Notice how people always bury people at night by the light of their headlights? It's on every Lifetime movie. It's gotten so that if I saw a non-moving car with its headlights on, I'd just think, "Huh, someone's burying a body." Although, maybe not so blasé. Maybe more "HUH, SOMEONE'S BURYING A BODY!!" Hawkins grunts as a few snowflakes swirl lightly around him, and finishes spooning dirt onto Sarah. So, remember how we saw news reports that this was supposed to be the "worst winter in decades"? And remember how people were turning into AARPcicles? And how the ground was so cold it was leaching all the heat from Skeet's body? Remember? Well, isn't it awesome how, in that Basement of Nuclear Disaster Magic Tricks, Hawkins had a self-heating spade to break up the frozen ground? I swear, that man thinks of everything.
Back at his house, Hawkins mops up blood with a red towel. Whether the towel was red to begin with or was once white but now is soaked with blood is left to our fertile imaginations. The liquid Hawkins now squeezes into a bucket by the full light of a bare lamp bulb is certainly quite cranberry juice-like in color. As Raoul The Big Gay Supernatural Dragon would shriek over at Demian's place, "GORE!" But hark! There's a knock at the door to disturb Hawkins's grisly chore. Hawkins quickly snaps off the light and pauses, contemplating whether he should get the door. The knocking comes again, more insistent this time. Hawkins hurriedly gathers up his rags and bucket, and brushes at his pants. Because bloodstains brush off? Did you learn nothing from Lady Macbeth? Hawkins walks toward the door.
Jericho Medical Center. Mom nags at April about whether or not she's getting enough sleep, because she looks tired. A diminutive woman in scrubs, and with a cap of smooth black hair, tells April about some patient who won't let anyone touch him but her. The diminutive woman identifies herself as a third-year Chicago University med student, who came in with the Branch Rogerian refugees. Although -- and this is how you know she's got spunk up the wazoo -- she tells April that she prefers "visitor" to "refugee." April apologizes and thanks her for helping out. "Don't thank me," says Med Student, her tone all but throwing "bitch, please!" hands. "I'm just working here because I get to sleep in a bed instead of the church basement. Where do I start?" April gestures around and tells her to take her pick of pneumonia, malnutrition, and hypothermia.
Hawkins's House. Hawkins finally opens the door to reveal Sheriff Jimmy on the other side. Hawkins doesn't ask him in and instead -- with the door open a just enough to fully see his face -- just says, "Hey, Jimmy," fairly unenthusiastically. Sheriff Jimmy smiles broadly, peeks past Hawkins into the house, and hopes he didn't wake the kids. Hawkins looks behind him into the house and turns back to say, "No, you're okay." Still doesn't invite him in, though. Sheriff Jimmy smiles to the long beam of the flashlight he's shining into the house and nods, "Mine are the same way -- up at all hours. Worse when you have TVs." "Is there something I can do for you, Jimmy?" Hawkins pretty much interrupts him. Sheriff Jimmy gets this sheepishly obliging look on his face as he apologizes and explains, while shifting his weight from one foot to the other (presumably to keep warm, HAWKINS!), that Mayor Gray wants to keep track of the refugees. Find out where they ended up and what -- if any, although Jimmy doesn't say this -- work the refugees are doing for the town. Hawkins doesn't say anything. "Sarah Mason," Jimmy says, jiggling around. "She's been staying with you, right?" Unbelievably, Hawkins doesn't answer; he just stares back at Jimmy. "Mr. Hawkins?" Jimmy starts. "Yeah?" Hawkins asks. "It's freezin' out here-- uh, she around?" Jimmy asks finally.
Jericho Medical Center. The lights come on, signaling that the generator is back online, as Jake appears. He's so awesome that the lights come on just for him. Jake reports that they are on their last tank of diesel power, and that the fuel will only last for ten or twelve hours. April has a worried hand on her baby bump, and starts to breathe hard and fast, as Mom asks about the bio-diesel. They burned their bio-diesel days ago. April collapses and takes a tray with her. "Oh, GOD!" Mom squalls. Jake and Mom rush to April's side, and some crazy light source swings overhead. I'm not really sure why there's a light swinging overhead, because I'm pretty darn certain April didn't smack her head on one as she collapsed. To the floor. I'd dismiss them as concerned flashlights, because we see a lot of those later, but the lights just came on, so...? Jake pleads with April to wake up, and then yells, "Get over here!" at someone.
Tonight's Morse code message is, "We put the 'E.R'. in 'Jericho.'"
Hawkins's House. Hawkins finally has the grace to let Jimmy inside. I love that Jimmy politely takes off his hat as he walks inside and looks around. "It's colder than a witch's patootie!" Jimmy goofs. "Patootie"? Jimmy's so endearingly Petticoat Junction that he's about one Dan Rather away from calling the attack a humdinger of a nuclear hootenanny. When questioning Hawkins, I dearly want Jimmy to tell him to cut the malarkey because he suspects Hawkins has been up to some tomfoolery. Hawkins lights one of his stockpiled candles. Jimmy notes this and comments that he saw Hawkins using electric lights as he came up the walk. Hawkins slowly looks up at him. Jimmy keeps flicking his flashlight around the house like a kid jacked up on SweetTarts. Hawkins finally says, "I got a geni in the basement, but uh --" I swear to you I thought he said, "I got Jenny in the basement," and I was all, "ANOTHER body?!" But then I realized that Hawkins would never admit that to Jimmy, and decided that Jenny could be a hamster powering Hawkins's house from her little wheel. ANYway, enough of free-association of the insane. Hawkins has a generator in the basement, but he just used the last of his gas. "What were yeh doin'?" Jimmy asks. Hawkins was putting some stuff in storage and was just cleaning up. "Using the last of your fuel on housework, huh?" Jimmy grins happily. He bobs his knees into a happy squat and guffaws, "Darcy's trained you WELL! Heh-heh-heh!" I don't know if I can really do justice to Jimmy's tone here, but if you watched the second season of Top Chef, he's Mike/Flounder. He probably even says "aiggs."
Hawkins prods Jimmy with the fact that he was just about to turn in, so he really needs to get to his point. Jimmy gets all serious again and says, "Well, like I said, Mayor Gray's got me keeping tabs on the refugees; you know, crime's up." When I first watched this, I assumed that, because crime was up, Mayor Gray was worried about the refugees, but now I think Mayor Gray is worried that crime is up because of the refugees. Hawkins suddenly glimpses one of his bloody rags in full view behind Jimmy. The music tenses up. Jimmy asks to speak to Sarah. Hawkins stands there a moment. "You know, um...Sarah left," says Hawkins, wrinkling his brow, "Yesterday. Something about, ah, family in New Orleans." Hawkins certainly didn't learn anything from the FBI about not acting like your daughter just shot your ex-girlfriend who was also your rogue ex-partner and may have helped bomb the entire country. He's so shifty! Of course Jimmy doesn't see it. "Wow, in this weather?" Jimmy exclaims, "Okay." He apologizes for bothering Hawkins, looks around again, and starts to head out. But then he PAUSES! Now I'm starting to wonder if Jimmy is quietly brilliant. Like he's doing that bumbling Columbo act to hide how really smart and cagey he is. He'll get done questioning Hawkins, walk to the door, and go, "Oh, by the way..." and in that "by the way" is Hawkins's doom! Jimmy comments that Hawkins sure has a nasty old cut on his brow. Dabbing at it with his finger, Hawkins stumbles, "Aw, yeah, it was, uh -- it was a tree branch when I was cutting wood." Could you be more guilty? "Owwwwch!" Jimmy says sympathetically. "It must've been a real bleeder!" "It's not too deep," Hawkins assures him. They stand there. "Well, you be careful," Jimmy cautions him. "It's dangerous out there." Jimmy does sort of a weird squat-cum-karate chop to illustrate just how dangerous it is. Out there. Jimmy apologizes again for bothering Hawkins, and leaves.
Jericho Medical Center. In a hospital bed, a pale April whispers that she feels so tired all of a sudden. Mom strokes her cheek and says, "I know. I told you, you need to get some rest. Here's your big chance." Man, even when the girl is flat on her back, Mom can't stop being a nag. Mom says, "I'm not going to let anything happen to you, honey." Yeah, good luck with that. SPOILER!
Outside April's room, Med Student -- whom I'm just going to start calling "Meddie" until we get a damn name -- tells Mom and Jake that she thinks there's something wrong with the baby, and that April must feel it, too. Jake thinks they should get Kenchy. "There's another doctor in town?" Meddie boggles, to remind us that Kenchy is a doctor. "The man can barely sit up on his barstool," Mom crabs. He might not have so many problems if you would stop dropping packets of things in his drinks, Mom. Meddie says that they need an ultrasound machine if they are to determine what's going on. Mom suddenly realizes that there might be one that survived [The Pulse That Must Not Be Named] in the basement, and says she'll go check. Meddie goes back to April, and Mom tells Jake to get Mayor Dad to find Eric: "He's the one who should be here." I like how they kept Jake's battered face again. He's got a great cut from the bridge of his nose to his undereye area.
A low-slung truck drives down the grey and snow-covered Main Street. Walking out to greet it, Mayor Dad marvels to Mayor Gray, "The guys from New Bern -- they actually built the thing. I can't believe it!" A guy with a strategically graying black beard and piercing blue eyes calls Mayor Dad an "SOB," and playfully wonders how the hell he lost an election. "Well, the question is," Mayor Dad returns, gripping his hand, "how did you get to be in charge in New Bern? They get tired of you being the sheriff?" New Bern's Sheriff-Mayor looks fondly at his group and grins that he's still sheriff; he's just got more authority now. Mayor Dad stares at him and gives an unenthusiastic "Oh," before introducing Mayor Gray to all and sundry. Sheriff-Mayor grips Mayor Gray's arm with odd, sort of faux-intense sincerity, looks him in the eye, and says, "Congratulations." Dude, you've been sniffing too much wind turbine grease. Mayor Gray uncomfortably changes the subject and says, "So, this is the windmill, huh?" "It's the power-generating wind turbine," Russell corrects him. "We get about fifteen hundred watts an hour out of one of these." "Hey, now hold the phone just one dang second!" complains The Evil Dr. Mathra from his office. "Saying 'watts per hour' is as incorrect as saying that the Millennium Falcon made the Kessel Run in less than twelve parsecs. Because a watt is already a per-hour measurement of energy. It really should just be 'fifteen hundred watts' or 'one-point-five kilowatts per hour.'" Jake limps over and absently shakes Russell's hand. He can't find Eric; he checked Mary's place and Mary's bar and everywhere. Did he check Mary herself? Maybe he's in there. Jake gets a load of the wind turbine and asks if it works. It does. "Good, then lets get it up as soon as fast as we can," Jake tells Russell. He turns to Mayor Dad and meaningfully says, "I think we're going to need it at the Medical Center." Jake tells Dad that April passed out, and that there might be something wrong with the baby. Dad immediately takes off without a word. Jake limps after him.
Jericho Medical Center. Mimi and Bonnie pull up in a truck that isn't the one Jake was pinned under. I guess if you have a corn farm, you probably have more than one truck. Mimi tells Bonnie she'll pick her up at 5. "I'll walk," Bonnie sneers at her contemptuously, and turns to stomp out of the car. Mimi grabs at her arm and makes her look at her: "Look, Stanley thinks you're using this whole volunteering thing as an excuse to see Sean Henthorn." Mimi's just following orders to keep an eye on Bonnie; personally, she really doesn't care whom Bonnie dates. Bonnie informs her, "I've been volunteering here since I was sixteen. This isn't about Sean." Bonnie gets out of the car and stoops to look back at Mimi: "You volunteer for anything? Ever?" Mimi pulls a face.
Frodale runs after a Mr. Frederickson, who isn't holding up his end of his deal with Gracie. Gracie gave Frederickson beet seed in exchange for 3% of his crop. That 3% is Frodale's now. Frederickson says he can't do it. He needs everything he has for his family and livestock feed. "It's the law, Mr. Frederickson, it's rightfully mine," Frodale insists. "There are no more laws, son," Frederickson says condescendingly, and tramps off. Frodale stares after him with serial killer eyes. Oh, he's definitely going rogue. Not just rogue, CRAZY rogue.
Medical Center. Bonnie -- in her volunteer scrubs -- turns a corner to find Mimi. Also in volunteer scrubs. "No," Bonnie mutters. Mimi throws her hands out in a "well?" gesture, and says she's there to volunteer. Happily clapping her hands together, Mimi asks, "So -- what do I do?" Bonnie walks quickly over to a gurney and hands Mimi a bedpan. "Empty. Clean. Repeat!" she tells her. It's not so different from an audit as one might think.
Mom sees Jake and demands to know where Eric is. "Nobody knows," Jake says, fussing with his gimpy foot. "Dad's getting Bill on it." Mom holds up a plump IV bag and says that April's blood pressure is dropping. Meddie calls out for Mom. Jake follows Mom into April's room. April is having contractions, and Meddie thinks she's going into labor. Jake looks horrified as April explains that she can't go into labor, because the baby is only at sixteen weeks. Anxiously, Meddie runs off to look for some labor-stopping drugs. Turning to Mom, April gives final instructions: if she loses consciousness and they can't find any labor-stopping drugs, she'll need a cocktail. Okay, so she says she'll need alcohol, but since Jake asks what kind of alcohol and she says, "Anything coming out of the still. Get me a ten percent drip. It will stop the contractions," it amounts to the same thing. They have a still? So that joke I made about drinking Pappy's moonshine was for real? April passes out, and Mom realizes that she's bleeding out. "Go get Kenchy! Now!" Mom orders. Wide-eyed with fear, Jake bolts.
Elsewhere, Eric and Mary happily gather wood. And it's clear that their loverly bliss is supposed to be a smack in the face to all the viewers. Here's Mary, strong and healthy. Here's Eric, packing wood. (In more ways than one.) While all this time, April dies with her Eric-sired baby. After Mary complains a bit about freezing to death -- which, is it really that cold if Main Street seems to be more slush than ice? -- she and Eric get back into the truck's cab for a little body warmth. Mary wants the heat on, but Eric reminds her that they won't have enough gas to get back to town if they turn it on. Turn it on, Eric. Turn it on! They huddle together for relative warmth, and after a clumsy invitation to sex, Mary tells Eric that she isn't taking her clothes off. Eric hugs her and tells her how happy she makes him.
Jake tugs a recalcitrant Kenchy into April's hospital room. Kenchy asks what April's pressure is. Instead of answering a question that could help a dying woman, Meddie sniffs, "You smell like a wino." "Nice to meet you, too," Kenchy retorts. "What is her PRESSURE please?!" Mom gives it, and Kenchy learns that April is dilated and her contractions are six minutes apart. Haven't they stopped them with alcohol yet? Kenchy looks with concern at the bloody sheets, and gapes that he needs an ultrasound. "I brought some old ones up from the basement," Mom replies. "I'll go check on them now." Why hasn't she checked on them yet? Jake is hard on Mom's heels. Kenchy tells Meddie to find an O-neg donor if they don't have fresh plasma. Bonnie and Mimi are standing uselessly at the back of the room. Kenchy asks if they have a fetal heart monitor. Bonnie shakes her head, so Kenchy hands over a stethoscope and instructs her on how to listen for the baby's heartbeat. Upset, Bonnie shakes her head and says, "I'm deaf." Kenchy laughs mirthlessly, shaking his head in disbelief, and beckons to Mimi with a "Madam!" Mimi was craning her neck to look out of the room and not really paying attention to anything. Kenchy tells her to come and monitor the baby's heartbeat. Mimi tries to say she can't, but Kenchy's having none of it. Mimi, giving wide nervous eyes to Bonnie, walks over and puts on the stethoscope. Kenchy instructs Mimi to listen for the higher, faster heartbeat -- the one that goes "Fffft! Fffft! Ffft! Ffft!" Once Mimi gets how to do beats per minute, Kenchy sheds his jacket and says he's going to show her how to take blood pressure and pulse.
Outside, the wind turbine gets ready for raising, while Skylar badgers Mayor Gray. He can't fathom why she's bugging him about a contract dispute. As Mayor Gray points out that he has more important things to deal with -- like getting power restored -- Frodale stands pissy with crossed arms. He's an angry little Hobbit. Gray adds that he has break-ins all over town and refugees who are threatening to break into the food lock-up. Hm, sowing beet seeds of discontent for a future episode? Skylar and Frodale subside into the background as the turbine is raised to a prominent and lighting-roddish position in front of the Town Hall. The sawing fiddle music reminds me of Firefly. People applaud. It's too bad they couldn't have turned this into an old-fashioned turbine-raising. The Pontipee boys could have come down from their mountain looking for wives and started a big dancing brawl in their colorful blouses. Mayor Dad strides over, and Gray -- with great concern, it must be noted -- asks about the baby. Mayor Dad doesn't know anything yet, and asks how close the turbine is to actually doing something useful. Not for a couple of hours. Mayor Dad turns away to ponder to himself a bit. Gray gets thoughtful and asks Sheriff-Mayor -- who finally gets a name: Phil -- if they can buy some more turbines. Mayor Dad gives this question a leery, sidelong look. "Yeah, let's talk about it," Sheriff Phil says, way too smoothly and easily. He's going to be slippery.
Using a squeaky pulley, Hawkins painstakingly lowers the BOMB into a pit. He's uncovered some floorboards for this pit, and I wonder why he couldn't have buried Sarah in there as well. I guess she'd begin to smell after awhile. Also, the time Jimmy came by to joke around with him about married life, Hawkins might hear something through the planks and be obliged to tear them up to stop the beating of her hideous heart. And that would just lead to more awkward questions. Yeah, she's better off in a shallow forest grave. Speaking of Jimmy, he's back. He calls out to Hawkins. Hawkins pauses in his trembling lowering of the BOMB and looks behind him. He's in a shed. Jimmy calls out again. "Just a second!" Hawkins calls back with effort, and slowly sets the BOMB on the floor of the pit. Grabbing a spade, Hawkins goes outside. Once again, Jimmy makes with the Columbo-like observations, "You weren't answering your front door, so I...you doing some yard work -- need a hand?" Hawkins thanks him but says no: "I was just going to turn some compost, get ready to plant food for the spring." I'll bet every Jerichoian would be able to do the Eat Local Challenge. "Oh," Jimmy says, comprehending. "Good idea. Margaret's planting carrots inside. They're a superfood, you know, like broccoli." Yeah, and thanks to the fallout, they're probably going to be super-huge. That would be kind of awesome for the show, though. Think about it: families could be fed on three carrots for a month. Instead of worrying about the refugees, they'd have bigger concerns. Like families who were sick of dealing with cucumber seeds the size of dinner plates, and having to skin them with scythes. The local movie theater -- which wouldn't show movies, but instead be used for Rogerammergau Passion Plays that the Branch Rogerians would put on every ten days with the beet family providing the blood of Christ -- would hand out one kernel of popcorn for an entire row of playgoers. Emily would start a yoga group and use peas for their exercise balls. The leaf tips and choke of artichokes would be deadly weapons, and the family who grew asparagus would no longer have any friends and have to move out of town and way far away anyone's sense of smell. Best news of all, cornichon cucumbers would just grow to the size of regular cucumbers. So, if I'm predicting (wishing and hoping!) that year will be "Season 2: The Blockade," the following will be "Season 3: Eat Thy Neighbor," and finally "Season 4: The Really Big Vegetables." Sigh. HEAR MY PLEA CBS! You can't cancel our show, we love it so.
Okay, so Hawkins asks Jimmy if he wanted something. Jimmy -- on Gray's bidding again -- wants to know what sort of supplies and provisions Sarah might have taken with her. Again, this is not because Gray really cares if Sarah had enough to keep her going, as I originally thought, but more because Gray's probably keeping a checklist of what resources the refugees are gobbling up. Hawkins confirms that Sarah didn't drive out of town (well, that part's true, she was driven and dragged), and that she took a backpack with some food and a tent. "She just walked out into the cold, huh?" Jimmy leads. Yep. Crazy? Yep. Jimmy offers that Darcy might know more. Hawkins really doesn't think that would be the case. "Well, I just figured that women talk, you know -- who knows what the hell they say," Jimmy goofs. You'd be surprised, Jimmy. You'd be surprised. Because Hawkins is being so unhelpful, Jimmy shuffles around, clears his throat, and asks if he can talk to Darcy. Hawkins looks up with a half-smile and steps closer to Jimmy with an air of confidentiality to admit, "Jimmy, Darcy and I are having problems -- she moved out." Jimmy's face immediately freezes and falls with sympathy: "Oh, boy -- that's tough. A lot of people leaving you lately." Hawkins snaps his head up at this. Jimmy immediately apologizes, but again, I wonder if he's in Columbo mode. I swear Columbo would be all, "The way it sounds, Mrs. Seymour, is that none of your husbands could stand your grasping ways. Oh, ma'am, I'm -- I'm so sorry. You know it's just this cold I got and this medicine Mrs. Columbo is making me take -- it's just making me really woozy." But he would have gotten the reaction and filed it away for later. Jimmy apologizes for being insensitive and hangs his head like a paper-smacked puppy. Jimmy's all, "Really?" Hawkins limps to the shed -- how come Jimmy hasn't asked about his limp? Inside the shed, Hawkins quickly unspools the rope from the pulley and coils it up. "Hey, how're your communication skills?" Jimmy calls in from the outside. "You know, because that's really what marriage is all about." Hawkins replaces the floor panels over the top of the BOMB. "Honesty, love..." Jimmy continues. "I'd say it's fifty-fifty, sort of like half and half, you know?" I really hope Jimmy's bumbling is an act, because otherwise, I fear for Jericho. Hawkins put on his coat and loads his gun. "Actually, more like thirds, if you throw respect in there," Jimmy reconsiders, "but not equal thirds, because honesty is more...important than the love and the respect. I think." Hawkins casts his eyes to the ceiling. Hee.
Town Square. Mayor Gray, Mayor Dad, and Stanley discuss terms for more turbines. Sheriff Phil explains that Jericho has one of the only salt mines for four hundred miles: "A year without salt and New Bern will be a ghost town." Mayor Gray can get behind that: "What are we talking about? A couple hundred pounds?" No: they need a lot more than that, and they also need food. Russell watches these proceedings warily. Stanley says that they have no food to spare, and that they won't see another crop of anything until spring. That's fine, because the spring crop is what Sheriff Phil is talking about. Mayor Dad doesn't say anything. He just takes this all in, but you can see the wheels whirring. He gives Russell the eye, but Russell looks down. Sheriff Phil proposes ten turbines for 10% of their crop. Mayor Gray and Stanley immediately negate that. They don't even know if their own spring crop will be enough for the town. Mayor Dad finally steps in and says he's just asking them to be reasonable. "And we're just trying to survive," Russell counters. Sheriff Phil looks over at Mayor Dad and Russell eyeing each other. "Starve fall or freeze this winter," Sheriff Phil reminds them. "Take your pick." And, like any hard-assed negotiator, he walks away. Russell shifts his weight a bit, but when Mayor Dad looks at him, he follows Sheriff Phil.
Medical Center. Kenchy pushes buttons on the found sonogram machine -- kind of makes you wonder if there's anything else in that hospital basement that escaped [The Pulse That Dare Not Speak Its Name]. The basements in Jericho are clearly magical. Bonnie dashes up with an IV bag of clear liquid. Kenchy barely looks at it or her and says, "Yeah, Vancomycin, good. Start a drip two-hundred-fifty milligrams IV." Bonnie, who couldn't see his lips, doesn't know what he said, and as she hesitates, Kenchy impatiently grabs the bag away and proceeds to do it himself. Jake limps in at high speed and says he's found four O-neg donors. I'll bet Jake is all of them. Because he's Jake. Everyone does medical fussing over April, and none of the results are good. Bonnie looks at Mimi anxiously; she shrugs sympathetically, unable to tell her what's going on. The baby shows up on the monitor, and both Meddie and Kenchy freeze at the sight. Mom tensely asks what he sees. "Placenta previa," Kenchy says shortly. "What's that?" Jake asks. He's asking for the rest of us; he already knows what it is. Because he's Jake. It means that the placenta is covering the entire cervix, and Kenchy can't tell where the bleeding is coming from until they operate. Cue Kenchy's first breakdown. He rips off his gloves and says he can't perform an operation in these conditions. After Jake asks why, Kenchy says, "I've have been through this more times than you can imagine." Jake points out that they've all been through a lot, and pleads, "Just tell us what you need!" Because whatever it is, Jake will make it happen. Because he's Jake. "I've seen hundreds of people die because of dirty facilities and infection and because I didn't have the proper medicine or equipment that I needed," says Kenchy. "I'm not doing it again. You can find yourself another butcher." Jake is going to be that butcher, right? Because he did the tracheotomy? And because he's Dr. Jake Ramoray!
After the commercials, Jake darts after Kenchy, pleading that there has to be a way. Kenchy pivots to face him and says, "Listen! We need a sterile operating room, sterile instruments, anesthesia, spinal block tray, caesarean tray -- have you ever seen this surgery performed without an electrocautery machine?" He poses that last question at Meddie and Mom, who have followed Jake following Kenchy. Kenchy answers for them: "No, you haven't because it's not even taught anymore!" Meddie suggests that they use laparotomy sponges to deal with the bleeding. I'm not a doctor, but wouldn't sponges just soak up the blood rather than stop bleeding? Maybe they stop bleeding, too. Kenchy pinches the bridge of his nose and complains about his head. Mom says that they have several spinal-block trays and anesthesia. Meddie adds that they can boil sheets and instruments. Jake nods as he takes all this in: "Is it possible?" Kenchy looks at all of them, his mouth open in amazement. "Remotely," Kenchy finally admits. "Then start," Jake orders. Jake is so in charge of everything. Including me.
Outside, Mimi stands witchily over a big cauldron and stirs sheets. Bonnie is at her side with more sheets. How are they going to dry them? They can't air-dry them because, one: no time; and two: no longer sterile. Using them wet would mean that their sterility would also soon be in question, since bacteria loves moist areas. Wait, wait, wait -- I've got it! They found some front-loaders in the medical center's Magical Basement that were also not affected by [That Scottish Pulse]! Clearly that's it. Mimi says that they need bleach, but since she wasn't facing Bonnie when she said it, Bonnie doesn't understand her. "Bleach!" Mimi repeats, still not facing her. "You know, bleach?! BLEACH!" She finally turns to Bonnie, who still couldn't read her lips. "Bonnie, look at my lips," Mimi insists, "BLEEEACH." Bonnie mashes her lips together angrily and slams down her fistful of linen. I hope those weren't post-sterilization. "Learn!" Bonnie orders. She makes Mimi do some sign language. "Is that the word for 'bleach'?" Mimi asks impatiently. "No," says Bonnie. "'Bitch.'" "And, 'please,'" Bonnie forces Mimi's hands into more sign language. "And 'sorry.'" Mimi looks chastened, and goes back to stirring sheets.
At his store, Frodale loads a gun. I am so sick of this plot. Skylar arrives and pauses when she sees what he's doing. Frodale doesn't bother to hide the gun, and tells her importantly, "I'm heading out." Like he's Clint Eastwood or something. Frodale waxes dark as he tells Skylar that if he doesn't come back, she can trust the Greens. He's just soooo important and bad-ass. Not. Skylar wants to come with him. "Why?" Frodale demands. "Two against one," Skylar chirps simply. Frodale turns back around to fuss with his gun, and smiles. Great: we've got the Jericho equivalent of Bonnie and Clyde, which means that this will end with them dying on a bullet-riddled ten-speed. With a banana seat.
Mary and Eric collect more wood. Bill pulls up and rolls down his window. He stares at Eric without speaking. "What's wrong?" Eric asks. Eric is so worthless -- why does he even bother living?
It looks like Jericho has a restaurant in town, because the stockpots and pasta inserts they're using for the sheet sterilization are HUGE. I covet them when I go to restaurant-supply stores, but they are bigger than my kitchen, so I covet from afar. Mimi pleads with Bonnie that she just jumped in. That Bonnie's been volunteering for years, long before Mimi ever got there. Also, I'd like to add -- and this is the salient point -- Mimi can hear the stethoscope, and Bonnie can't. That's why Mimi was brought in. "It's fine," Bonnie tells her, shaking her head. Mimi gets her attention again and says, "Kenchy doesn't know you. Everybody else respects you." "They speak your language," Bonnie says, sadly and walks away.
Men of Jericho decide town things. How come the womenfolk are never involved in this? The men always seem to be outside and the women inside. It's like they're back to Victorian spheres of influence. Stanley calls Mayor Dad and Mayor Gray aside and says that a few Jerichoians (men) want to know why they aren't seizing upon the deal with New Bern. This is so that they can re-explain to us that the rest of the town still thinks the Army Corps of Engineers is coming to rescue them, so what's the big deal if they give 10% of their spring crop? Mayor Dad still doesn't think they can tell the town the truth. Everyone's already on edge; the news would send them over. Mayor Gray doesn't want to leverage winter's food, either. Stanley suggests that they just tell New Bern that they'll give then the food, and then renege on it if they don't have enough food. Mayor Dad gives him a stern look: "That's how wars get started." I thought wars got started over women.
Branch Rogerian HQ which, conveniently, is the church basement. Jimmy can't believe Darcy's been hanging with the refugees. Hawkins wants to talk to Darcy first. If Jimmy were Columbo, he wouldn't allow this. However, Jimmy does (unfortunately). Hawkins explains to Darcy what's going on, and says that they have to get their stories straight. "What did you do with her body?" Darcy wants to know. Isn't it better for her not to know that? Or not be asking that question in a room full of people? After Hawkins tells her, Darcy nods: "So I could tell him that right now and never see you again." Yeah, but Hawkins didn't kill Sarah, Darce. Your kid did. You really think Allison is going to let her dad get into trouble for what she did? Some kids might. Allison wouldn't. Hawkins gives her the story: family, New Orleans. "And you don't know anything else about her," Hawkins rasps as Jimmy walks up. There is NO WAY Jimmy didn't hear that! My God, Hawkins is such a bad FBI agent. Hawkins backs off. Darcy says that she will only talk to Jimmy without Hawkins. Hawkins leaves and says he'll be out front.
Medical Center. Kenchy prepares for surgery and asks if Mom ever did a surgical rotation. "Only in school," Mom says. "Most of my career was in post-op." Oh, right, she was a nurse. "Kenchy," Meddie begins, uncovering tools, "I feel obligated to ask you if you are sober enough to do this. You can talk me through it." Kenchy stares at her over his surgical mask: "You will refer to me as Dr. Duwalia, nurse. My sobriety is not the issue." "The people I call 'doctor' don't smell like a brewery," Meddie snits. Hon, the people you call "doctor" are probably mostly dead. Mimi interrupts with April's vitals. "God help us," says Kenchy -- I mean, Dr. Duwalia -- as he draws a line on April's iodined stomach.
Jake walks into the hall. He looks annoyed. Aaand it's because Eric's on his tail, being annoying. "Is the baby okay?" Eric asks, pulling on scrubs. "I don't know!" Jake snaps. "Okay? Mom said there was a problem." "We were just collecting firewood," Eric whines. "You don't have to explain it to me," Jake says. Seriously, shut up, Eric. "What about Mom?" Eric asks. "Worry about that," Jake agrees, and claps him on the back as he opens April's door. Mary has suddenly appeared behind Eric. She must've been waiting there the whole time when Eric was getting scrubs on. Mom eyes Eric silently as he walks in, and then catches sight of Mary standing anxiously in the hall. Mom pauses in tying her mask. Jake looks back at Mary. And then to be EXTRA-dramatic and not very sanitary, Mom pulls her mask down and off with both hands and grits, "Shut the door." Jake shuts the door.
Mid-surgery, Kenchy barks orders. Mom drops on her knees to check the baby's heartbeat. Kenchy eyes her and quickly orders her, "Get away from the incision." Mom calmly tells him that she has to hear if the baby is in distress. "GET AWAY FROM THE INCISION!" Kenchy repeats. Mom counters, "You haven't let me get a pulse from this baby in an hour." Mom realizes that the fetal heart rate has dropped considerably. "You're not close enough to the fetus," Meddie explains quickly, looking at Kenchy sideways. "It's not an accurate measure." Kenchy says something about "placenta" and "uterine wall" and I get woozy. Mom pants that she lost the heartbeat. Eric gets annoying and demanding. Why is he there, again? Mom sobs, "The baby's heartbeat has stopped!" "What do you mean it's stopped?" Eric demands. "Stopped" means stopped, Eric. "DO SOMETHING!" Mom pleads. Meddie fixes her comprehending eyes on Kenchy. The lights go out. The diesel has been expended. Kenchy orders the door and blinds opened. Mom keeps bawling, "Why aren't you doing something about the baby?" Kenchy's eyes nod at Meddie, giving her permission. Meddie explains, "This hasn't been about the baby for several hours. The baby never really had a chance. I'm sorry." Eric still doesn't get it. Mom stares up at Kenchy. "I am trying to save April," Kenchy explains deliberately. Mom's eyes bug over her mask. I always thought the Grey's Anatomy cast did an excellent job conveying so much with their eyes when in surgery. This group didn't do too badly, either. Kenchy and Meddie were great. Mom was a little theatrical -- she thinks acting with your eyes means going hyperthyroid.
Frodale and Skylar go up to Mr. Frederickson's house. Frodale once again demands his cut. Frederickson once again refuses, and tells Frodale to go home. He starts to close the door. Frodale shoves his foot against it and glares at him with dead eyes. I don't think there's anything scarier on this show than Frodale's eyes. Frodale pulls his gun out. Skylar just watches. Frodale explains that he's just asking for what's his: "You said there's no law, right?" Frederickson swears he's not trying to cheat anyone; he just doesn't have that much left. Frodale still wants his share. "Right now," Frodale whispers. Frederickson looks down at the gun, and then at Skylar, who only looks a fraction as worried as she should.
Medical Center. Mary and Mayor Dad wait. Eric comes out and pulls off his mask. Jake jumps over and asks what's going on. Holding him off with a hand, Eric says that he needs some space. Mary stares at him. Eric won't look at her. "Lost the baby," Eric says. Jake looks horrified. Mary, heartbroken, tries to embrace Eric with an "Oh, sweetie." But Eric's having none of it; he really wants space. He pushes Mary back and says he needs to be with April. He goes back into the room. Mayor Dad braces himself against the wall and bends down in grief.
Outside the church, Hawkins still waits. It's dusk. Jimmy finally shows up. A deputy does, too. He positions himself on Hawkins's other side. Sort of in the distance, but definitely there. Hawkins notes this, and feels for his gun. "Hey," Hawkins says with a nervous smile, "what took you so long?" Jimmy explains that, since they've talked to Darcy, "a lot of things are starting to make sense now." Uh-oh. Hawkins looks over at the deputy. He's still there. I wish someone would teach Hawkins how not to act to suspect! "You okay, Mr. Hawkins?" Jimmy asks. Oh, here it is -- when cops ask if you're okay, they're about the lower the GOTCHA! boom. Hawkins acts rather miffed and says, "I'm fine." Jimmy nods and continues: "Well, Darcy said that Sarah left for New Orleans, just like you told me." Hawkins forces a laugh and another nervous smile: "What -- did you think I was lying?" Jimmy laughs too, and says that he invited Darcy and the kids to stay with them. Hawkins appreciates that. Jimmy holds out his hand. Hawkins looks down at it. A glacier passes by. There are some penguins on it. They're dancing. Very happy about something. Hawkins fiiiinally takes his hand out of his gun pocket, and grips Jimmy's proffered hand. Jimmy claps his other hand on Hawkins's forearm and leans in. Here it comes! "We found a body, Robert." He's not calling him "Mr. Hawkins" anymore! He's going Columbo on his ass! "Out in the woods." Hawkins looks at him with feigned interest. Jimmy lets go and steps back: "Near Mill Creek. Broken neck, animals got to him." Hawkins visibly relaxes. Jimmy goes on: one of their patrol guys saw an African-American woman driving out that way a few nights ago. Hawkins looks back at the deputy. Yep, still there. "Perfect description of Sarah Mason," Jimmy says. Hey, whose car did Sarah use? Whose gas? Jimmy asks if Sarah could do something like that. Hawkins shrugs, "You know, I'm learning -- it's hard to figure what people are capable of, Jimmy." Jimmy says that their John Doe is bald, and shows him a picture of the body. Of course, it's the Hunter. Hawkins doesn't recognize the guy. "Well, if Sarah comes back, we'd really, really like to talk to her," says Jimmy. How come Jimmy doesn't grill Hawkins on how he knows Sarah enough to take her into his home? "My guess is, she's not coming back," says Hawkins. Jimmy agrees, and leaves.
Mayor's office. Sheriff Phil explains that New Bern is all clay, and that they can't grow anything. But they could make some pottery. Their whole town could be one giant Ghost moment. Sheriff Phil wants 10% of Jericho's crop, and seven hundred pound of salt. Mayor Dad, who had been pacing, snaps his head up at this. "You said five hundred earlier," Mayor Gray stutters. "Price went up," Sheriff Phil shrugs. "Why?" Mayor Dad demands. "Because that's what power costs on this world," says Sheriff Phil. ["Seriously. It's called profiteering. Look it up." -- Wing Chun] Mayor Gray begs for a break -- they've got people freezing to death in their homes. Sheriff Phil says nothing. "You were at my son's wedding," Mayor Dad says in "for shame!" tones. This guy's a friend of Eric's? No wonder he's a douche. Sheriff Phil is sorry for their troubles, but the residents of New Bern have their own. He gets up to leave, and as he reaches the door, Mayor Gray quickly agrees to his terms. Sheriff Phil nods: "We can have the wind turbines to you in a couple of weeks. What guarantee do we have you'll give us our share of the crops?" "You have our WORD," Mayor Dad snarls. And it's stronger than oak. Sheriff Phil has a better idea: "We're going to need ten Jericho men to help us build [the turbines]. We can take them back with us now." Mayor Gray and Dad are agog. They wonder aloud if the ten Jericho men are collateral. "Human beings as collateral?" says Sheriff Phil. "I would never do that." Russell flicks his eyes at the ground at this. Sheriff Phil says that they aren't going to build the turbines on credit. If Jericho wants them, they're going to sweat for them.
Medical Center. More surgery-fu. Kenchy exclaims that he can't see. Jake runs off for more lanterns, but Kenchy says that they aren't going make a difference. Finally, Kenchy decides, "This is crazy. Close her up." Meddie points out that they haven't stopped the bleeding. "What are you DOING?" Mom wails as Kenchy snaps off his gloves. Dial it down a notch, Mom. Kenchy says, "Give her some peace; give her some dignity." "You are NOT giving up on HER," Mom rasps. Kenchy sighs, "I'm sorry." And takes off his mask. "Close this up," he orders, and leaves. "No!" Mom sobs. Kenchy strides past Jake, Eric close behind. Jake drags himself up from the floor, and does a fast limp after them.
Outside, there's already a candle shrine? I assume it's for the baby. Or maybe it's just the crazy Jerichoians looking for ways to expend more candles. Eric yanks Kenchy by the back of his scrubs, and shoves him around, demanding that he go back inside. Jake hauls his stupid brother off the doctor and says that he'll handle it. Of course he will. Because he's Jake. "What are you doing?" Jake asks Kenchy. "You want me to say it in front of him?" Kenchy asks, nodding at Eric, who is closing in on them again. Jake turns around and pushes his brother back again: "Go back inside." Eric's like a dog. After Eric leaves, Kenchy says that to go on operating is cruel and pointless. Understanding washes across Jake's face. April is going to die. Kenchy says that he became a plastic surgeon to have an easy life; there are other men to do the job. "Not in this town," Jake says, grabbing him back. "I don't care!" Kenchy insists vehemently. "I am not going through this anymore -- it is MADNESS!" I love it when a Brit says something is "MADNESS!" Americans never say it like that. Jake launches into Frasier Crane/Tony Robbins mode: "And everyone here can just go to hell? Huh? If you stop trying and I stop, then they see that. And this whole thing falls apart. We're all leaning on each other here, whether you like it or not!" Kenchy calls him on his premise: "Promise me you are not saying that we are all connected -- this is not some existential web of life BS. That is NOT what I'm hearing, is it, Jake?" I do believe it is. Jake shakes his head and pleads, "Then tell me what you want to hear. Because I'll say anything. If you'll just go back in there and keep trying." Aw, how can you refuse such passion? Kenchy, quietly but firmly, says, "She's going to die." Jake freezes for a moment, lets the news that he already knew to be true sink in, and nods quickly, never breaking his gaze. "I know," Jake says AND HIS BOTTOM LIP TREMBLES! Jake is so awesome.
Back inside. Jake, his face full of tragedy, pauses in the doorway of April's room. Everyone stares at him. Kenchy comes in from behind him, tying up a new surgical mask and asking for new gloves. "Let's get this bleeding stopped, shall we?" Kenchy asks pleasantly. Eric and Mom stare at Jake, marveling that he is the most awesome Green of the family. Eric seems to thank Jake with his eyes, because Jake nods a "you're welcome," and backs slowly out of the room. Kenchy continues to suture.
Post-surgery, April lies in her bed, peaceful. There are candles all around her, and they've done a good job of styling her hair to evoke a Madonna-type effect. Of course, the shape of her face helps, too. Jake peers in and sees Eric hunched over to the bed. He's staring at his wife, his clasped hands pressed against his face. Mom busies herself cleaning up charts and files. Jake comes up from behind her and lays the side of his face against the back of her head. His eyes are closed. Surprised, Mom freezes. "He's going to need you," Jake tells her. Jake fixes everything. "Now," Jake adds. Mom turns away and realizes that she has to let her anger against Eric go. She wants to blame him for the deaths of April and the baby, but she can't. (Not right now, but maybe when he marries Mary.) April slowly opens her eyes. Eric immediately grabs her hand. "Hold my hand," April pleads weakly. Eric touches her forehead and says, "I'm right here. I'm right to you." A tear slips from April's eye as she says, "I like the name Tracy." Eric presses her hand between both of his, and holds them up to his face. He smiles around a sob and says, "Tracy's a beautiful name." April looks at him, almost with confusion and then closes her eyes. Eric breaks down in silent sobs, his body shaking with the effort to stay quiet. David Gray's "Hold On To Nothing" plays. David Gray sort of sounds like Tracy Chapman. Mom walks slowly in and touches April's neck -- taking her pulse? She moves to the other side of the bed, grabs at Eric's shoulder, and kisses his head. Eric reaches back and grabs at Mom's hand. Dad walks in, slowly and almost unwilling to believe. His only daughter and his grandchild are dead. Jake follows Dad in and crouches on the floor to April's bed, opposite Eric. Jake's eyes are red and full and dammit, this is when I lost it. If Jake cries, I'm gonna cry! Jake reaches a hand out to Eric. Eric takes it, still holding on April's. Dad has one hand on Eric, one hand on Mom. There's that being-all-connected thing that Kenchy didn't want to cop to. Jake drops his head on the bed.
Branch Rogerian HQ. Hawkins helps Darcy pack up. He thanks her for sticking to their story. "I didn't do it for you, I did it for Allison," Darcy snaps. Hawkins needs his family to come home. With a catch in his voice, Hawkins says, "I need you." Darcy looks at him and says that, in the last three months, she remembered all the reasons why she needed Hawkins in her life. "So have I," Hawkins says quickly. "I've also remembered why it can never work," Darcy adds. "I need truth, Robert, and that's something you've never given me." Hawkins swears that everything he does, he does for his family. "When you hide a part of yourself -- I don't care what the reason is -- it puts something between us," Darcy explains. "Please," Hawkins begins again. "My daughter just killed a woman," Darcy says. "I don't have any more trust to give you." Yeah, but given how you've been the one to raise Allison for the majority of these past years, shouldn't the fact that she turned out to be a killer be more your fault than Hawkins's, Darcy? Jimmy bumbles up and says that the kids are at the house with his wife; he offers to carry stuff. Darcy gestures at a bag and leaves. "Hang in there," Jimmy tells Hawkins, heartily. "I've got faith in you guys." Hawkins watches Jimmy leave, and smiles in spite of himself.
Medical Center. Bonnie sits cross-legged on bed in the hall, her hands pressed together. She's staring off into space. Mimi taps her shoulder and uncertainly signs, "Sorry?" The wrist of her white shirt is bloody. Bonnie nods, and then her face crumples. Mimi grabs her and holds her head tightly against her chest. Kenchy sits in a hallway. The lights come back on. "Wind turbine's working," Meddie tells a nurse extra, and goes to check on a patient. Kenchy gets up to leave. Meddie stops him: "Dr. Duwalia?" Kenchy turns around. She called him "doctor"! "Mrs. Hodges's cough is worse, and her temperature is 102." Kenchy pauses, taking in what Meddie's telling him. He puts his coat aside and takes the offered stethoscope. He introduces himself to Mrs. Hodges, and slowly tells Meddie, "Why don't you go outside and get a pan of boiling hot water? Build a tent with a sheet. We need to get this woman breathing some moist air." Meddie smiles and walks off. Jake pauses to note that they have a new doctor in town. And it's all because Jake is awesome.
Frodale's store. Skylar and Frodale lie in adjacent sleeping bags. "That was INCREDIBLE!" Skylar crows. "Did you see the look on his face!?" "I know," Frodale laughs, "I thought he was going to have a heart attack and we'd have to drive him to the Medical Center." They giggle over a man having a heart attack because they threatened him with a gun. Skylar sighs that she thinks they're going to be okay. Frodale turns on his side and thanks her for coming. Skylar turns on her side and says she wanted to be there. With him. And then they start making out like horny teenagers. Because they are horny teenagers. Isn't Frederickson going to tell on Frodale?
The day, the ten Jericho men prepare to head out with New Bern. Mayor Gray says, "You men are the only ones who really know what's going on here." Does he mean that these are the guys who know that the Army Corps of Engineers isn't showing up? I guess they did have a complement of men who escorted the Semper Faux out of town. Mayor Gray promises that they can come back when New Bern gets its share of the spring crop: "I know that sounds like a long time, but what you are about to do means this town's survival. Now you with families want some time to say goodbye, so let's get going." He's not the most stirring of speakers, is he? He always sounds worn out and depressed.
Stanley goes over to Bonnie and sign-asks her to promise not to kill Mimi when he's gone. "And you'll give her food," he adds. Bonnie smiles because she and Mimi are okay. But then she tearfully signs, "Why do you have to go?" Stanley signs that people are going to die if they don't get the wind turbines. Bonnie, even more distraught, signs, "You're all I have." Her chin trembles. Stanley grabs her shoulders to make sure she's looking at him and Schwarzeneggers, "I'll be back." He looked like he was going to burp. Sounded like it, too. Bonnie gasps a half-sob, half-laugh. Stanley hugs her hard, his face very serious. He kisses her head and walks over to Mimi. "Take care of Bonnie, okay?" he asks. Mimi nods. "Look, I just want to tell you something," Mimi says quickly. "Don't FREAK out, okay?" Stanley won't. "In this crazy world, we don't know what's going to happen tomorrow, and I don't want to leave anything unsaid, so I'm just going to say it, okay? So, here I go--" Mimi's about to sob outright. "I've loved you since the first day I saw you at Bailey's," Stanley interrupts. Mimi, stunned, smiles, and gasps, "You said it first. No one's ever said it first to me before." Stanley explains that he doesn't know what's going to happen tomorrow. "Plus," he adds with a goofy smile, "I can hold it over you for the rest of our lives." Mimi laughs. They kiss long and hard. "I love you Stanley Richmond," Mimi says quietly. Stanley looks down for a moment and points at her: "But I said it first!" They kiss again and he leaves. Mimi smiles after Stanley, but then breaks down in tears.
On the edge of the crowd, Mary waits. Eric walks over. "It wasn't your fault, Eric," she tells him quickly. "You don't have to do this." Yes, he does, because he needs to stop being a useless weenie. Eric says he can't be there right now. Mary hugs him, but even though Eric lowers his head against hers, he doesn't open his arms to her. Coldplay's "Till Kingdom Come" plays.
Eric says goodbye to his family. Mayor Dad shakes his hand, but Jake gives him a full-on embrace. They hang on for quite a few seconds, actually. Then Jake pulls back, wraps his hands around the back of Eric's head, and makes him look at Jake: "Be strong," he says. Finally, Eric hugs his mom and cries. "I'm sorry, Mom," he says. She tells him, "We'll take care of Mary." Oh, she'll take care of her all right -- a little tender loving hemlock! What? I'm trying to counter these easy tears with jokes, okay? They hug again. April must be dead, because Eric wouldn't leave town if she were still alive and recovering.
The family Green, plus Mary, all stand apart from one another as they watch Eric walk off. Jake's face tightens, and he limps quickly over to Russell. He puts a hand against Russell's chest, stopping him: "My dad told me what's happening -- first you're helping us and now this. What the hell is going on?" Russell promises that everyone will be fine; he'll look after them: "You have to trust me on this." "'Trust'?!" Jake growls, holding him back once again. "This isn't me," Russell bites out. "Where's Heather?" Jake finally thinks to ask. Russell swears she's fine; she didn't want to come. "If anything happens to any of them, you're the first one I come for," Jake promises. Russell takes this in: "I know." Seriously, dude, don't fuck with Jake. Ever. Because he's Jake. Russell gets onto the low-slung truck bed, and they take off. Jake stares after them worriedly. I think Jericho needs to set up a series of cans and strings with New Bern so they can call them up whenever they want.
week: the Branch Rogerians hole up in their compound, and Mayor Gray gets shot! Oh, I can't believe I'm missing it. But I'll be out of town, and the ever-fabulous Couch Baron will be stepping into our little apocalyptic world.