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A bitter and beaten Omar shows up to the gym waving a gun around and demanding his money, which puts even more pressure on Patrick, as does Theresa's pledging fifty grand she doesn't know they don't have to their church. Barry K. is also not helping, as he's slow to pay Johnny his cut from the fight; also, Patrick asks Stacy Keach for a loan and finds out that Johnny's been handling his savings, or "savings," even though Stacy Keach doesn't know about the quotation marks. And finally, Johnny's life is in danger from the bookie with whom he put fifty grand (Fifty grand!) on Omar. Patrick solves the Johnny problem, at least, by winning a brutal high-stakes cage fight with the bookie's enforcer, an ex-MMA hotshot, but is forced to come clean to Theresa about their financial situation. Surprisingly, after the initial round of recriminations, she admits her part in their overspending, which is nice, but doesn't solve their problems. In the end, Omar returns and admits that he doesn't have what it takes to be a boxer, leaving, it seems, everything up to Patrick, who does. You guys, I'm thinking Patrick might have to go back into the ring.
Want more? The full recap starts right below!On the gym's TV, we see a replay of Omar getting most massively knocked out, and Stacy Keach groans in frustration before flipping off the TV and bemoaning the fact that he put Omar in the ring with Harris. Even though Patrick was against the idea all along, he opts out of any I-told-you-sos, pointing out that Omar wanted his shot, and adding that he was doing great until he smelled a big finish and left himself open. "It happens." Johnny enters and agrees, saying that he got caught with "a bolo, a lucky punch," and then asking how long it'll take before Omar's ready again. Probably because of his analysis of Omar's fragile psyche that he shared with Theresa last episode, Patrick wonders what Johnny's talking about, but Johnny opines that since the fight was hot and Omar "went out on a shield," Barry's got to give him another chance. Stacy Keach thinks Omar's probably going to need some time off, but Johnny thinks he'll get over it. "He's got nothing else to do." Truer words...
...have apparently been spoken many times, as Omar, his face covered in cuts, enters the gym with his boys and an attitude the size of Armenia in tow as he hustles up to Johnny and demands his money. Johnny smiles and casually tells him "it's comin', baby," and more than he expected, as he's "settin' up the sequel." However, Omar hotly opines that he's just "an opponent" now, and Stacy Keach suggests that maybe they slow things down and train for people they can beat, but Omar contemptuously tells "Gramps" that he's to blame for the loss. Patrick suggests that perhaps Omar should come back when he's chilled out a bit, but Omar continues to dish it out, saying that they all sold him out - Patrick's a quitter, Johnny's a "meth-pusher and a pimp," and - to Patrick -- "your lame-ass old man should have bitched out when you did!" That's it, Omar, you are off the Leary Christmas card list. This starts Johnny toward Omar, and the men get all tangled up before Stacy Keach yells at Omar to get out of his gym.
Omar, however, pulls out a gun that was tucked in his waistband and demands his money, so Patrick has to tell him that what he's doing isn't about money. "It's about getting KO'd." Well, that and money. I mean, you're the one that told him he didn't have any. Omar tells him he's not playing around, but Patrick, unafraid, steps forward, continuing to back Omar up even as the gun is pressed into his chest, and grimly tells Omar to go home and get some rest. Omar backs down, which is good, because as many problems as the show has unhesitatingly piled onto Patrick, I think having his heart blown out through his back would be a bridge too far. Omar does, however, inform Team Leary that if he doesn't get his money, he's going to "burn this shithole down," and I'd be surprised if that doesn't get Johnny's mind going about insurance scams and the like. When Omar's gone, Johnny puts a hand around Stacy Keach's shoulder, which is nice, and then Stacy Keach pats Patrick on the stomach before he walks off with Johnny, leaving Patrick to continue to stare at the exit through which Omar and his boys just disappeared. Not hard to believe, given that Omar could have JUST KILLED HIM. Credits.
In the kitchen, Theresa enlists Katie's help in putting out some muffins or biscuits or whatever, and then when Daniella appears, Theresa asks what's up with the tea she asked her to make, so Daniella tells her she's got soccer practice, like, (a) tea takes one second to put on, and (b) isn't that something you would have said WHEN SHE ASKED? It may seem like a small point, but I hate when shows construct dialogue in a way that would never actually happen. "Hey Daniella, would you please make some tea?" "I can't, I have to get ready for soccer practice." What other answer could have been given that they're having this exchange now? Did Theresa email the request? ANYWAY, Daniella says Ava's going to drop her off on her way to the mall, and then the wayward eldest daughter appears in a skirt that, while short, is hardly inappropriate. Theresa, however, says that she won't have "Father Moran" thinking that she lets Ava leave the house that way, so I guess this is the show's clever way of letting us know who the biscuits and tea are for, even though they're not actually EVEN GOING TO SEE FATHER MORAN if they're leaving for soccer practice. Ugh. Anyway, more stuff happens but it's stupid...
...so let's cut ahead to where Father Moran and a behabited nun are there, and OH MY GOD AVA AND DANIELLA ARE STILL THERE EVEN THOUGH DANIELLA COULDN'T MAKE TEA BECAUSE OF SOCCER PRACTICE. Aagh. Well, fine, this way it makes sense for Ava to have put on the damn pair of jeans, but honestly, that whole preceding scene made no sense as written and should have been cut. What's the upshot? Theresa wants to impress her priest. REAL DEEP INSIGHT THERE, and one I would have been completely unable to get to on my own. Sheesh. ANYWAY, the nun, from her accent and the context of the discussion, is apparently Haitian, and Father Moran tells Theresa that she's got "exactly the kind of project you were looking for" (?) - a clinic in Haiti that was destroyed by the earthquake left hundreds of sick children with no medical care, and they need money to rebuild it. He starts to suggest the Leary family make the first pledge, but Theresa tells him they can do more than just give money - she'd like to go down there this summer. That's nice, but I think he's more interested in the pledge. Theresa also tells him she knows her girls would be happy to help, like THANKS, MOM, but Daniella and Ava do express their enthusiasm for the idea, so Theresa suggests they get started immediately, "unless you really need to get to the mall." Everyone laughs at that one like there isn't a HARRIED SOCCER COACH OUT THERE, and the girls head upstairs as Father Moran says they should put Theresa on retainer. Instead of talking rates, though, Theresa says she didn't grow up in "a house like this," and adds that she doesn't want the girls to forget how lucky they are. Father Moran nods respectfully, but the Haitian nun looks bored out of her mind, for which I kind of love her. Theresa then asks what it would cost to rebuild the clinic, "or at least get a roof over it," and Patrick may not have been scared by that gun but I'm guessing he's getting the cold chills now.
At the gym, Patrick gets out of the car and, seeing some of the guys standing around the entrance, asks, "What's with the sewing circle?" Or...the circle without sewing? I mean, I was under the impression that expression was used to express derision at seemingly womanly activities such as gossip, not to describe a bunch of dudes actually standing around in a circle. God, this writing. Anyway, the big mystery is that Stacy Keach didn't show up that morning, and the one dude is like, "I tried callin' him," which is hilarious, like, that's the ONLY THING the [sewing] circle of them could think to do. After Patrick lets them in, he tells "Tito" to call him if Stacy Keach turns up...
...and in the parking lot, he sees Johnny pull in. Patrick asks him if he's heard from Stacy Keach, and Johnny says no -- Margaret told him he didn't even show at the diner. "She gave me his egg and cheese." Cholesterol, Stacy Keach! Patrick says he'll go to the house, and asks if Johnny's going to stay at the gym, but Johnny says he won't for long -- he's got to go see Barry in the city about the fight money. He then tells Patrick that if "those animals" laid a finger on Stacy Keach, they're going back at them. But that will just perpetuate the cycle of violence! WON'T SOMEONE THINK OF THE CHILDREN? Sorry, just trying to match the level of writing so far.
Patrick turns up to Stacy Keach's house and finds the paper still where it was left outside and the radio on in his house. Stacy Keach, however, is apparently not there, although it's possible he could have, say, fallen. And after that, been unable to get up. Given that he's not the type to wear a Medic Alert bracelet, you have to admit it's possible.
Johnny turns up to harangue Barry about the money, saying thirty-two grand on a one-fifty purse is "bullshit." Nothing of importance happens, but we do learn Johnny has yet to call Tracy, the woman he boned on the copy machine...
...so let's cut to Theresa and Patrick on the phone, getting a bit frantic about Stacy Keach. Theresa wonders if they should call the police, and when Patrick opines that Stacy Keach would be furious, Theresa replies, "Well, maybe we should run that risk!" She's not my cup of tea, but it's hard to dispute that she's making sense here. Patrick, however, points out that Stacy Keach doesn't like to lose, and he's probably just licking his wounds...
...which sends us back to Johnny, and as cute foreshadowing transitions go that one was superior to most. Johnny does actually find a misattributed line item, so they negotiate a higher split, with Johnny starting by asking for sixty grand, causing Barry to smile: "You see, Johnny, this is why no one will do business with you. You overreach." Johnny lowers it to fifty if Barry will do cash, and Barry offers forty, but not in cash. "You ain't the only one in trouble with the IRS." Heh. They settle on forty-two five "soon as the Pay-Per-View money comes through," but Barry adds that there's no way in hell Omar's getting a rematch before heading to some interview he has to do.
Patrick enters some convenience store and asks the proprietor ("Massoud," he calls him) if he's seen Stacy Keach. The dude says not today, but he did come in late the night before and buy cigars and a raw chicken. Apparently aware that the extent of Stacy Keach's cooking is heating up frozen dinners, Patrick gets a smile of recognition on his face and thanks the guy in Arabic (Shukran), to which the guy replies, Afwan. Geez, Patrick, you're already in trouble with the government. You want to be labeled a terrorist too?
So Stacy Keach is using the chicken as bait to fish in the river, and if he catches anything I expect it to be "Blinky" from The Simpsons, but first he asks Patrick if "a guy" can't go fishing once in a while. Instead of pointing out that "a guy" as old as Stacy Keach shouldn't disappear without letting people know where he's going, or that "a guy" didn't make arrangements to let his staff into the gym, Patrick goes for the fact that Stacy Keach hasn't been fishing in fifteen years, and also, the river is a hazardous waste site. Stacy Keach petulantly tells Patrick he never liked it there even as a kid, as if that has anything to do with anything, and once again tries to make Patrick feel inferior to his brother by recalling that although Patrick never caught anything, Johnny "hauled in some big stripers." Patrick, however, has the last laugh -- Johnny bought those fish so he could come home a hero. After having done the "Johnny's my favorite" thing again, Stacy Keach has the gall to ask Patrick why he's always busting Johnny's balls, but Patrick, who I'm starting to think could really have a promising career as an anger-management coach, merely asks if he can give Stacy Keach a ride home. Stacy Keach, however, says no, and when Patrick asks how he's going to get home, Stacy Keach replies, "One more question, I'm jumpin' in." That silence is me not objecting.
Johnny pulls into the gym's parking lot, at which point two dudes get out of a waiting car and accost him, with the one, smaller, Asian guy making pointed comments about how nice a car he's driving. As the other, balder, rather more intimidating guy blocks Johnny's path, the Asian dude tells Johnny his time's up and he wants his money, so I guess this is the guy Johnny laid the bet with at that Chinese restaurant. This also means he bet on Omar, and while that speaks better of his character than the reverse, it certainly was not the right move from a diversification standpoint. Johnny laughs, "Get in line," which is perhaps not what you say to someone who makes his living in illegal gambling, and getting stony silence in return, tells "Ernie" he's working on it, and he's just waiting for the pay-per-view money. Even though he was just told it's a lease job, Ernie says he'll take the car, prompting Johnny to throw the keys over a building, which in turn prompts Ernie to come at Johnny. Johnny has little enough trouble with Ernie, but in taking him down he doesn't watch out for the other dude, which given that he's pretty clearly the enforcer of the situation is fairly slow-witted on his part. The guy ends up scooping Johnny up over his shoulder -- I'm not convinced that was a stunt double, and it's no mean feat given Pablo Schreiber's height -- and tossing him onto the ground, whereupon he wraps his leg around Johnny's arm in a technique that, I know from my own martial-arts training, could easily shatter his elbow if he pushed it far enough, so I guess it's a blessing that he simply uses it to keep Johnny still while he and Ernie beat the crap out of him. Hey, Stacy Keach, you want to tell me how much of a boxing phenom Johnny was again?
Having heard what happened with Stacy Keach, Theresa's mind goes to the clinical, pointing out that he's not eating and he's isolating himself, and wondering if there are any changes in his concentration. Patrick, however, thinks his odd behavior can all be attributed to the fight, but Theresa thinks that even though the Learys are notorious for toughing everything out, there are good therapists at the hospital where she works, and medications that also might be helpful. I do like Theresa's softening every time there's a health issue on the table -- it makes her choice of profession extremely believable -- but, as Patrick tells her, she's barking up the wrong tree here, and when she understandably gets frustrated, he suggests they start over with a different topic. "How was your day?" Theresa plays along, saying it was good, and telling him about the clothing drive the girls are starting for the Haitian mission. Patrick is thrilled, but then gets a wary look and asks what they have to do. Theresa just smiles, so Patrick's face falls a little further...
...but instead of finding out how much money they don't have the Learys are on the hook for, we cut to Patrick entering the gym the day and seeing Johnny, wearing sunglasses, and a young, nubile Latina woman, "Anna Gonzalez," whom Johnny says is going to work the front desk. After Anna tells Patrick what an honor it is to meet him, Johnny leaves Anna to it, and after he checks out her ass and they walks away, he tells Patrick that "she has a lot of boxing knowledge." I'm guessing Tracy cried by the silent phone last night. Not bothering to comment on his brother's skeeviness, Patrick instead asks if it's an ideal time to be adding people to the payroll, but Johnny tells him it can't hurt to have "a honey" up front. Oy. Patrick then tells Johnny he needs his cut of the fight to pay the church, like, I can't imagine how he thinks the numbers match up there, since he goes on to add Theresa made a pledge for fifty grand. Johnny wonders what's wrong with her, but Patrick points out that she's not under the impression they pissed away twelve million dollars. Whoa, that is a lot. Still, though, Theresa, with all the foreboding that's been swirling around like an ominous fog (not to mention the suspicious car repo thing), maybe it would have been prudent to check in with Patrick before committing that much cash. Johnny acts like a prick for a bit, so Patrick focuses in on the sunglasses and his brother's missing watch and asks what's up. Johnny removes his shades to reveal one black eye, and when Patrick asks if Omar's guys did this, Johnny says he doesn't know -- he got jumped. Patrick literally is like, "You got jumped. You," and I wonder what he'd say if he knew that two guys, both a head shorter than his brother, had no trouble kicking his ass. Anyway, Johnny comes clean about the bet, which also happened to be for fifty grand, and I'm thinking this family needs to stay away from that number altogether. Johnny talks about how Omar was ready and at five-to-one odds he would have gotten back a quarter of a million, but Patrick is more concerned with whom, exactly, Johnny made this bet...
...which leads us back to the Chinese restaurant. Patrick asks "Madame Chen" if her son is around, getting this reply: "Ernie's at the dentist." HA! Good one, show. She then asks Patrick if he's going to fight again, and when Patrick indicates it's possible, she tells him she won a lot of money on his last fight with Reynolds. Patrick's like, uh, thanks, so she clarifies that it's nothing personal. "I just always bet on the black man, 'cause the white heavyweight usually lose." Patrick's all, awesome, and then pointedly asks her to tell Ernie he said hello, but Madame Chen is too busy bagging his order to notice the menace in his voice...
...so let's cut to Patrick and Stacy Keach in the latter's place, the remains of the food in front of them. Hilariously, Patrick asks if Stacy Keach ever thinks of getting a pet, but Stacy Keach bristles at the underlying idea that he's lonely and tells Patrick that his shift is over, so he can go. Stacy Keach then asks if he paid Omar, and Patrick replies that Johnny's working on it before suggesting that the three of them go out. "We never have fun anymore." Stacy Keach inquires if Patrick's asking him on a date, like, for all the ball-busting he accuses Patrick of, I never hear him let anything Patrick say go without comment, but Patrick easily says sure, and that there's a fight on Friday night. Sounds like just another night Tracy will be sitting home crying.
Stacy Keach and Patrick are in a bar, but instead of boxing on the TV, there's an MMA fight. Stacy Keach asks a waitress if she'd turn on the fight, by which Patrick clarifies he means boxing, and sure, I'll accept the show's narrative premise that boxing isn't what it used to be, but I still think her answering "That is not an English word" stare is a bit much, especially given that when it's convenient for the show, Patrick is a town god. Stacy Keach asks where Johnny is, and after hearing that he's probably "scrambling," Stacy Keach comments, "Tough times," like, blowing me away with the insight again here. He adds that Patrick and Johnny are lucky to have each other (no comment) before the waitress returns with the news that the manager said he'd put the fight on one TV, with no sound and a note for Patrick. Once Patrick reads it, he tells Stacy Keach he'll be back in a minute, and then leaves to meet Susie behind the gym for a smoke and a makeout session...
...or to head out to the parking lot, where Brennan gets out of his limo to greet him. He expresses his sympathies over the Omar fight, and Patrick asks if Ernie Chen works for him, but Brennan tells him no -- if he did, he'd have known better than to take a bet from Johnny. Patrick asks what, then he wants, but Brennan assures him he didn't mean any offense -- he always liked Johnny, and he was terrific when he was coming up..."Chen's crew wants to take him out." Patrick points out he's just a few days late, but Brennan demurs, saying it's more than a few, and it's not the first time either, and even though he tried to intervene, they want everyone to know how tough they are. Patrick says he's good for Johnny's debt, but Brennan points out that that's obviously no longer the case, and wonders if Stacy Keach has anything set aside. "These are the questions you need to be asking, unless you want to let him go." Patrick retorts that Brennan has a brother (?), and he knows what he'd do for him, and Brennan smiles, "That's all I need to hear." Stacy Keach then pops out and tells Patrick he's missing a good fight, and Patrick replies that he'll be right there. Stacy Keach obviously looks concerned but heads back inside without a word, and after Brennan calls Stacy Keach tough, he takes his leave as well. Great, so the Learys are tough, broke, and probably soon to be dead. But hey, they've got each other!
The day (or whenever), Stacy Keach returns home and is like, "You again?" when he sees Patrick sitting on his couch. He asks if a strip club is on for today, and then Katie comes into view -- heh -- and tells Stacy Keach that Patrick said he's going to play with her today. Patrick apologizes for his last-minute imposition, saying something came up, but entertaining his granddaughter is not something Stacy Keach has to be asked twice about, After Katie goes to the bathroom, however, Stacy Keach asks if Patrick is okay, and Patrick tells him Barry's not going to give them their money in a timely manner, so he may need a loan. Stacy Keach asks if they need to sell the gym, and says it's fine if them do, but Patrick flatly rejects that plan, so Stacy Keach tells Patrick he's welcome to whatever he needs out of the money he made off him. "You just tell Johnny I said so." The mention of his brother of course turns Patrick's blood to ice as Stacy Keach obliviously clarifies that Johnny handles his savings, and Patrick looks like this one hurts more than any punch he's ever taken.
Theresa, Ava, and a bunch of girls Ava presumably got to help with their clothing drive are at a Mail Boxes Etc.-type place, and when Theresa tries to pay to ship some boxes to, I guess, Haiti, her card is declined. Ava makes eyes at the cute guy working there, but her flirting turns to shame when Theresa's card is not only also rejected but confiscated by the dude. Ava breathes "Oh my God" in embarrassment, and Ava, that does suck, but at least you didn't get boned on a copy machine and have your boss find out about it.
Patrick pulls into some shady-looking alley in which a guy is waiting for him. Cut to him in a warehouse elevator, and when he gets to the appointed floor, he finds Ernie, who tells him he's late. Patrick somewhat condescendingly greets him as "little Ernie Chen," and tells him his mother still makes the best egg rolls in Bayonne, prompting Ernie to reply that she knows the value of a dollar, which she taught him. "Something your brother never learned." Patrick says they'll pay what they owe, to which the enforcer asks when. Patrick asks Ernie who he is, and I get that he's being a tough guy but he probably then deserves this response: "Why don't you ask your brother? Little bitch." Patrick asks for a month, but Ernie says no -- Patrick couldn't afford the vigorish, for one thing, and the fact that Johnny hit him isn't inclining him to be generous. The enforcer then baits Patrick again, and when Patrick moves in close, Ernie pulls a gun on him, but just then Brennan enters from the elevator with a "Show some respect." And I appreciate the dramatic timing, but it's quite the warehouse elevator that manages to operate silently when the scene needs a surprise element. Brennan adds that Patrick's a former heavyweight champion, but Ernie isn't impressed -- his enforcer here is a world-class MMA fighter. "He'd kill you in Round One." Patrick, seeing a way out, asks if Ernie would like to put some money on that, and when Ernie asks how he'll pay if he loses, Brennan pipes up that he'll cover for him. Everyone smiles, as tough guys often do when it is ON.
Theresa somewhat gingerly walks into the gym's office and observes a photo of herself and the girls on Patrick's desk when Johnny enters from the other side, having just gotten off a call. They greet each other like...well, people from different sides of a family who perhaps have never been the best of friends, which is probably about right, and then Theresa asks if Johnny's seen Patrick. Johnny pipes up that he's out with Katie, but when Theresa informs him that Katie's with "Robert" (I'm still going to call him "Stacy Keach," but at least we have a character name for him other than "Pops" now), he says he must have gotten that wrong, and "there's a lot going on these days." Theresa takes this as an opportunity to tell him that not only was her credit card just confiscated, she got a call from Father Moran, and the check for their pledge hasn't arrived yet after a week. Okay, I know time can pass between scenes that you're not aware of, but I still don't think it's been a week, even if Johnny agrees that it has.
Johnny, with a touch of condescension that's perhaps inappropriate given that he's LYING THROUGH HIS TEETH, tells her there are tax issues and whatever, which doesn't explain the part about the CONFISCATED CREDIT CARDS HELLO, and he wouldn't be doing his job if he didn't make sure "this Mission of his" checks out. After a bit more of this, Theresa explicitly tells him not to patronize her, prompting Johnny to throw some hostility into the mix as he sardonically asks if she thinks he's stealing from her. Her response of "Let's not go there" indicates a checkered history, as does this from Johnny: "If you're still mad at your Dad, Theresa, that's your problem; don't take it out on me." As soon as that's out of his mouth, Johnny at least looks like he regrets it, but that's enough for Theresa, and she's out the door before you can say "Daddy issues." For his part, Pablo Schreiber keeps doing this variation on "smell the fart" acting that looks like he's literally sucking a lemon, and he should probably stop.
Stacy Keach has tied one end of a jump rope to a pole, and he's turning the other as Katie jumps and recites some rhyme. Stacy Keach encourages her, telling her jumping rope is all about the rhythm, and that boxers make the best dancers. Well, sure, until one of them tries to cut in and ends up going three rounds to settle the matter. Katie asks "Bompa" (?) if he was a good dancer, and he admits he was okay, but not as good as his wife, who was a showgirl. "She was somethin' else." Katie says she wants to meet "Grandma," and as young as she is, I find it hard to believe her parents wouldn't have gently let her in on the fact that she's dead were that the case, so...where is she? And more importantly, what sassy aged Irishwoman are they going to get to play her? Theresa shows up and apologizes, saying she doesn't know where Patrick is, and after she sends Katie off to get her stuff, it's time for Round Two of Awkward Family Reunions, only the level of acting has gone up significantly here. Theresa asks how Stacy Keach has been, and he says he can't complain, but the fact that he busies himself with untying the jump rope rather than connecting with her tells you a lot about their relationship, as does Theresa's uncomfortable answering smile. Remember when I complained about that lack of a reaction shot a couple episodes ago? Here, we get one, and it tells you a lot: She's worried about him and, on a deeper level, would like to be closer to him, but is also at a loss as to how to make that happen. The broad strokes of the history are all indicated...
...and later, Patrick and Theresa are taking some drinks out to their garden as Theresa asks why Stacy Keach is so closed, with his "Can't complain" attitude while a black cloud hangs over his head. Patrick tells her Stacy Keach always complained to him; specifically, he would tell him he was a shit boxer. Once they're seated, Theresa tells Patrick about her visit to see Johnny; after taking a moment to indicate she knows Patrick's hiding something about why he left Katie with Stacy Keach, she tells him Johnny wasn't straight with her either, and mentions the check; Holt McCallany does some nice work as he draws a subtly sharp breath that indicates he knows the time is drawing near to tell Theresa the truth. She asks how bad things are with him, and Patrick replies that he's not using again, if that's what she means. Man, I was trying to stay away from comparisons to The Fighter, but with parallels like that they're not making it easy. Theresa, with some difficulty, says no, but she does think he's stealing from them, and by the way, I don't know why she doesn't mention the black eye Johnny had. I mean, I know he works in a boxing gym, but it doesn't look like he ever spars anymore, and regardless, an ex-druggie with money problems turns up with a black eye, you start asking questions, no?
Patrick makes excuses until Theresa brings it around to the rejected credit cards THANK YOU FOR THAT, and then tells Patrick she's arranged for a different financial adviser to come to Johnny's office and look at their situation. And now it's over, and Patrick knows it, so he gets to his feet and confesses -- "It's gone, Theresa. The money's gone. All of it." Theresa, in a small voice, asks what Johnny did, and Patrick says it isn't Johnny (well, even though I take his point, it kind of is; he's your adviser, and he also personally blew a lot of your money), but the house, The Landing, the IRS - "I'm sorry." Theresa, panicked, says this has to be a joke, and the girls are set for life, and when Patrick tries to console her, she freaks, hitting him in the chest. Hey, I thought you didn't want him to box anymore! He succeeds in pulling her into a hug, and she sobs hysterically, for which I don't blame her. Twelve million dollars merits some serious mourning.
Sometime later, Theresa has at least pulled herself together as far as the crying goes, but she keeps repeating "Twelve million dollars" like if she says it enough times, it will magically appear. I think you have to be looking in a mirror for that trick to work, hon. Daniella is hearing all this from her perch on the stairwell (the 'rents have come back inside to the kitchen) as Theresa goes to the refrigerator for some wine (I wondered what she was waiting for) as she says that he may not know what this will do to the kids, but she does. "I lived through this." Your...dad was a heavyweight champion who squandered millions as well? They say all women marry their dads, but this seems awfully specific. Theresa snarls that he knows what she's been through and he lied about money, but he tells her knowing what she's been through is precisely why he lied. "Because I didn't want to be the one who takes all this away from you." Theresa protests that she doesn't care about material things, but he points out she never said no to any of it, and then she brings up his family and all he spent on them, but with an effort, they agree to stop this line of fighting, so Theresa asks him why she didn't tell him what was going on. "This isn't the ring, Patrick. You're in over your head; you can't punch your way out of this." Oh, if she only knew. Patrick doesn't reply to this, and then they hear Katie's voice calling (much like in the pilot) that the sun is up. Hoo boy, this is going to be a fun day on no sleep...
...especially since it's Sunday, which means church! Father Moran talks about the Haiti effort and how the Leary family is leading it as Patrick and Theresa undoubtedly hope that God's going to forgive them for all this. And the guilt only gets worse, as Father Moran parlays their pledge into a matching-fund effort, with ten families quickly pledging to donate five grand each, which even gets a smile from the bored Haitian nun. Fundraising is easy, y'all! Everyone applauds the Learys as Patrick looks like the cross on his back just got heavier, while it's all Theresa can do not to lose her breakfast right there.
In the bedroom, Theresa is packing some clothes when Patrick enters and assumes the worst, but she surprises him (and me) by admitting that, upon reflection, she realizes she lost her way somewhere along the line, and they don't need all the stuff they have. Patrick's appreciative of the gesture but tells her it won't make a dent in what they owe, but she says some of the things she has weren't cheap -- "the apology bracelets, the guilt rings." Hmm, I was wondering about that mystery woman to whom Patrick's sending money, and given the indication of a checkered history I'm definitely staring to feel like Patrick's been overcompensating for infidelity for a while here (not to mention wondering if there's a Little Lights running around in Illinois). She sincerely says that she never wanted those things, only him, and when he pointedly asks if that's still the case, she offers, "For richer or poorer." Excellent. It's nice to see her put her money where her mouth is. Theresa rattles off some potential solutions, all of which Patrick shoots down, but it's good that she's thinking; however, she definitely does not want to be responsible for Johnny, and I can't say I blame her there. She suggests they go upstate, as her sister has an empty nest now and they can move in with her for a while, but he tells her he's not going to let her sacrifice her career and pull the girls out of school. "I'm not gonna let anything happen to our family." Well gee, Patrick, there's only one thing you've got that's worth anything. But for now, he gets a phone call and says he has to go, citing an appearance with a wrestler at a Home Depot. Er, close enough?
In the warehouse elevator, the guy operating it says it's good he got there, as his brother was getting worried. Patrick's surprised to hear Johnny's in attendance, but sees him as soon as the door opens. There's also an MMA octagon fight cage now within the place, but let's leave that aside for the moment, as when Patrick asks what Johnny's doing there, Johnny explains, "Collateral." That... kind of doesn't make sense, since Brennan is the one picking up the entire debt if Patrick loses, and despite his kind words about Johnny earlier it seems like, say, HIS OWN SON might be a better choice to make sure he doesn't renege. Johnny leans in and says Patrick doesn't have to do this, and I'm getting a little tired of how he keeps telling his brother that in situations where he really has no effective alternative, as Patrick more succinctly points out: "It's me or you, Johnny. You got a better idea?" Of course, he does not, so Patrick steps forward...
...and later, The Enforcer (if I'm going to keep calling him that, seems like it deserves capitals) is already shirtless and waiting in the ring when Patrick appears in his old shamrock boxing trunks. Johnny, to Ernie where the latter can keep an eye on him, watches nervously as his brother enters the ring; Brennan is also present and observing with keen interest. After Patrick enters, some flunky ominously locks him in the cage, and as the contestants circle each other appraisingly, Ernie takes some action from some of the spectators, all of whom look rather expensive. After no apparent cue other than both fighters looking damn ready, they get into it, with The Enforcer starting the proceedings by landing a spinning hook kick to Patrick's face. Johnny yells that Patrick's got to block that, and while it's good to remember that danger is not just going to come from his opponent's hands, I'm sure Patrick's still like "THANKS FOR THE ADVICE, jerky." Patrick attacks with a couple punches, but The Enforcer blocks the one (using a martial-arts technique rather than a boxing one) and uses the momentum to take Patrick down to the mat and get his arm into a lock. Patrick, however, apparently knows a bit more about wrestling and grappling than you might have expected, and he slips out from underneath The Enforcer's leg; after they each get a turn on top (versatility's important!), they both get on their feet, and Patrick doubles the intensity of his punches.
Again, though, he gets caught unawares by a martial-arts technique, as The Enforcer uses the momentum from being hit to spin into a vicious back punch of his own that sends Patrick to the wall, whereupon The Enforcer comes flying across the ring with a jumping punch and then starts kneeing Patrick in the gut as he holds him in place, like, OW. Patrick, however, shows that he learns quickly by using his lower position to pick The Enforcer up and then drop him to the ground, after which The Enforcer, from the mat, gestures all, "Come over here," and Patrick, who's bleeding liberally from the mouth now, hilariously shakes his head like "FFFFFFUUUUUU." The Enforcer gets back up and they go at it again, with the former getting in some good kicks until Patrick grabs his leg and follows with a vicious palm-heel and head-butt combination, like, I'm sensing Patrick has had some crossover training at some point. However, The Enforcer soon gets his arm around Patrick's neck in a submission hold, and since there's no tapping out here Patrick doesn't have long to get out of his grip before he passes out. He succeeds by managing to take The Enforcer to the floor, but he can't even get back to his feet as he holds his throat while choking out some strangled breaths, and The Enforcer gets to his feet and walks over to finish the job...whereupon Patrick UPPERCUTS HIM RIGHT IN THE THROAT! Dude. PAIN like he's probably never felt, and Patrick rather mercifully follows up with a punch that knocks him out cold. DAMN. And I like, even in this MMA context, the parallel between this development and the Omar fight, as The Enforcer clearly fought a superior fight but was defeated by his own brief underestimation of his opponent with the finish line in sight. Johnny sits back in admiration and relief, and then the brothers stare at each other meaningfully as the crowd silently begins to file out. And I don't know how much of that was stunt work, but I will point out that Holt McCallany's back is covered with marks from where the fence pressed into it. We leave with a shot of The Enforcer still unconscious...
...and then cut to a sign at the gym that reads "Pain Is Temporary, Pride Is Forever." Heh. Pan down to the ring, by which Omar is waiting when Patrick appears and hands him a check. Well, one problem of many solved, I guess. Or not totally, as Omar asks if the amount is a joke, to which Patrick replies, "You gonna pull a gun on me again?" After what we saw today, I'm not sure the bullet would even stand a chance. Omar, with a mixture of petulance and apology, says it wasn't loaded, and Patrick tells him it's a down payment, and he'll get the rest when he has it. Omar agrees and starts to leave, but Patrick calls that he fought a good fight, and he could have won. Omar tries to blame Stacy Keach's strategy again, saying if he'd gone in and pounded, Harris wouldn't have been able to land that bolo shot, but Patrick sadly tells him it wasn't a lucky punch. Omar then complains that the ref gave him a quick count, but Patrick demurs, saying he got a little cocky and got beat as a result. "The sooner you accept that, the sooner we can get back to work." Omar is surprised, but Patrick tells him they can climb back up the ladder, and it won't be easy, but he can get there. He's speaking from experience, as we learned last time, but it turns out Patrick was more right about Omar than he was hoping, as Omar tells him that when he hit the canvas, he was back in that dark room, all alone. Patrick says he got knocked out, but Omar confesses that wasn't the case. "We both know I could've gotten back up again. I just didn't want to." After a long pause, he adds, "I'm not a boxer," and then the actor does some terrific work as he gives the ring a quick last look before heading out, leaving Patrick sitting by the ring. Alone. Please, show, get a continuity editor or script polisher or something, because if you'd stop annoying me with nonsensical lapses, I think we'd really get along.
John Ramos is a writer and film producer living in Los Angeles. He writes about film and television on his blog "Pull Up A Chair," which he would just love for you to visit. Also, you can follow him on Twitter here, or get information about his most recent film "East Fifth Bliss," starring Michael C. Hall, Lucy Liu, and Peter Fonda, on Twitter, Facebook, and Tumblr.