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A financial adviser gives Patrick a sugar-free assessment of what he and Theresa need to do to get themselves out of their financial hole, and Patrick essentially tells her to cram her advice with walnuts -- except for the suggestion that he return to boxing, of which of course Theresa isn't enamored with. However, when Team Leary and Brennan conspire to set up a fight between him and a nice, washed-up boxer who doesn't have a prayer of hurting him, she reluctantly goes along with the plan. Things get a bit more complicated when Patrick learns that Johnny gave Barry K., who wants Patrick to fight a soon-to-be-released-from-prison ass-kicking rapist, the rights to Patrick's comeback in exchange for the Omar title shot, but Patrick and Brennan decide to go ahead and promote the fight with Jojo, he of the "glass hands," themselves. We learn, however, that someone, has other ideas, as Jojo gets all the bones in his hand broken by an assailant he refuses to identify, leaving Patrick with no choice, as far as he sees it, to fight Morales, or as his friends call him, "El Diablo." And that's it for Theresa -- at the end of the episode, she kicks Patrick out. And at the very end, Barry K. turns up for a meeting with Brennan, who it seems is playing a game far deeper that we thought. More Brennan, please.
Want more? The full recap starts right below!As Daniella watches, Patrick recites a series of numbers, each seven less than the one preceding it, and then the doctor in whose office this little test is taking place stops him and asks if he recalls the three objects he mentioned at the beginning of "this exam." Patrick digs them out of his memory, to Daniella's delight, and the doctor tells him he sees no decline in his cognitive functions, and goes on to not-very-subtly imply that the doctor Patrick saw first allowed his knowledge that Patrick was a boxer to influence his findings. Well, okay, but I find it hard to believe that anyone would diagnose pugilistic dementia without knowing Patrick was a boxer. Those things do kind of seem to go together. Patrick leans forward and asks if he can get back in the ring, and no matter what you think of this guy's medical expertise, you'd at least expect some sort of speech about the potential cons of such a move, so his response of "Go get your belt back, champ" kind of rings a bit strange. Not as strange, though, as Daniella suddenly vanishing when they get out into the hall, nor as odd as the fact that he sees a vision of himself down the hall. He gets a bunch of choppy, quick visuals...
...and then he bolts upright in bed, waking Theresa, who asks if everything's okay. He lies back down and tells her to go back to sleep, as it was just a dream. He turns away from her and toward the camera, and even though she slips an arm around him, his eyes stay haunted as we go to the opening credits.
Ava is the one now eavesdropping as the financial adviser (I'm assuming she's the one Theresa mentioned last episode) is telling them there's "no income, a crippling mortgage, and serious income-tax trouble for both of you." Hey, it's cool, the wine's already on the table. Theresa hesitantly offers that they should pay the IRS first, but the woman says that while that would be nice, with penalties and interest they're on the hook for almost seven figures. Wow. Hard to believe it's taken this long for the government to come after them. I got a stern reminder from them for a difference in my federal payment that was less than a movie ticket. (Okay, and popcorn.) Theresa gapes at the size of the hole they're in, and Patrick, apparently no fan of having a stranger comb through his finances, asks what they can do. The woman suggests filing Chapter Seven, under which they'd get to keep the house and part of his pension, but he flatly refuses to entertain any bankruptcy idea, and vetoes any discussion of tapping into the girls' college funds as well. The woman offers that many former athletes in this situation end up returning to their sport, but Theresa's the one that pipes up that that's not an option, so the woman goes on that they will have to opt for "patchwork fixes" until Theresa is really pulling in her doctor's salary. She asks if Theresa has chosen a specialty yet, and when she hears it's family medicine, sunnily replies, "You'll have to rethink that." Heh. I mean, she's a little flippant about it, but these two are doing absolutely nothing to work with her here, so I'm inclined to forgive her. Not so Patrick, who withdraws after somewhat sarcastically thanking "Audra" for coming...
...while upstairs, Ava goes in to see Daniella (she calls her "Danni") and tells her the full extent of the financial trouble, saying they're talking about raiding their college funds and are in tax trouble to boot. After panicking in an expectedly self-centered way, Ava wonders why Theresa is being so selfish, as "everyone knows that Dad wants to box again." Daniella, however, knowing what she knows, says that's out of the question, but Ava doesn't see why, and takes it further by adding Theresa should never have made him quit in the first place. Daniella tells her to shut up, so Ava stomps out...
...while the parents are doing some stomping themselves, as Patrick is saying Audra doesn't know what she's talking about, while Theresa tells him she's the best in her field, and they only got her because her husband is head of cardiology (my God, how she Englishes that word up) at her hospital. Patrick bitches about how condescending she was to him, which must have been part of the scene we didn't see, and after he goes on that she's probably going to tell everyone about the dumb boxer who blew his fortune, Theresa asks if she thinks this was any easier for her. Confronted with the specter of Theresa's father and WHATEVER HE DID, Patrick concedes that no, he doesn't. They allow their temperatures to drop for a moment, but then Patrick starts to broach the subject of him boxing again, and Theresa cuts that off right quick, telling him that their problems don't all have to be on him. Honey, the desire to fix your situation is only one of many reasons he wants to go back in the ring. You're not doing either of you any favors by willfully denying that.
At the diner, Brennan, at the counter, tells Margaret that the place looks like a shrine to Patrick. Margaret explains that he's her brother, and Brennan says he figured that out, and he's a good man. Margaret is interested to hear that Brennan knows Patrick, but when Brennan explains that he's been "involved" in some of his fights, she sighs, "You're a five-percenter." Brennan doesn't confirm or deny that, but does agree that while the boxer does the fighting alone, many people try to take a piece of his winnings. He then offers that before his son passed away, he used to take him to see Patrick fight, which of course gets Margaret's full attention, and he goes on that Patrick was his favorite boxer, and even when he was just coming up, he was something special, "a true fighter. Came at a guy straight ahead, and my son... he always admired that about him." I said it once already, but Bill Irwin, the actor who plays Brennan, is just tremendous. I really want to see him in a scene with Stacy Keach -- the way he just closed his eyes to experience the memory of his son more fully was masterful.
Anyway, Margaret, at a loss for what to say, wisely says nothing but looks respectful, and after a moment, Brennan pulls himself away from the past and apologizes for going on. Margaret tells him not at all, and introduces herself after she says it was nice to hear all that good stuff about Patrick. As they shake hands, the man himself enters the place, and asks Brennan brusquely and without preamble what he's doing there, and Patrick, I could understand you wanting to keep Brennan separate from your family, but maybe a little more civility for the dude who played a big part in saving your brother's life? Margaret, on the same page for different reasons, tells him not to be rude, and then goes to get coffee for Patrick and, at Patrick's order, the absent Stacy Keach, before he and Brennan settle into a booth, with Brennan telling him he looked good the other night, and Patrick casually countering that he didn't feel so good the day. He does, however, thank Brennan for covering his ass, and Brennan tells him he's glad it worked out, especially since the high rollers all bet against him. "They didn't think a boxer could hold his own in MMA." Well, Brennan can't have taken the other side of all that action, so who did? Did Little Ernie Chen clean up betting against his own man? Patrick opines that he got lucky with a punch, which isn't exactly untrue, but Brennan tells him he's still got it, which seems even less disputable. "If you set your mind to it, no one could stop you." I believe Patrick knows exactly what Brennan's hinting at, but he wants to hear it more explicitly, so he offhandedly remarks that he's not interested in a cage career, whereupon Brennan tells him he's talking about boxing. "It used to be the sport of kings. It just needs someone to reclaim the throne. A white knight. It's a sin what Barry Word and his animals have done to the sport." You guys, I don't want to upset you, but I think he's VERY SUBTLY making a racist statement here. Brennan's point, though, is that he'd love to help Patrick make his comeback, and Patrick, as you might expect, looks intrigued...
...a sentiment that probably only gets stronger when he walks into Stacy Keach's place and finds him watching that embarrassing commercial he shot for the "Karpet King." Patrick gives him his coffee and tells him he should get back to the gym instead of watching all this TV, to which Stacy Keach snorts that Patrick should have stayed in the ring. This is a perfect opening for Patrick to be like, "Funny you should say that," and asks how long it would take for him to get back in fighting shape, or whether it's even possible at this point. Stacy Keach is reluctant even to render an opinion, but when Patrick says he needs to know, especially since he's in a hole and doesn't see another way out, Stacy Keach tells him it won't be easy, and he'll have to get back to the "rudimentals," which is now a word that not only exists but that I will be using whenever the opportunity presents itself. In the end, though, father and son both seem pretty jazzed about the latter fighting again, which is nice. Less amicable may be the conversation where Patrick tells Stacy Keach that Johnny won't be touching any of the resulting money and why, but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.
In the hospital, a scrubs-sporting Theresa is telling Patrick (apparently the hospital does not care about cell-phone usage within) that maybe she could get away for a moment; she then proves she has never watched television before as she asks where he is, but of course he's standing just down the hall, a bouquet of tulips in hand. They look nicer than the ones at the 99-cent store, so I'm guessing that budget thing hasn't happened yet.
Cut to the two of them sitting outside, and Patrick apparently has already brought up the idea of a comeback, because Theresa is saying no way, and that she's "only a few years" away from a good income. "It's my turn to give something up." Er, not exactly following her there, unless she is thinking that she's going to pursue a more lucrative medical field. Patrick, however, finally gets at the point that he wants to fight, saying that it's been five years and he'd like to have that back, and when Theresa points out that he and Reynolds almost killed each other last time, he tells her he's not talking about Reynolds, but some opponents he knows he can beat for some much-needed cash. Or, as he puts it, "A couple-a easy fights, against a couple-a tomato cans, just to get out from under." I thought you might appreciate a translation. He adds that he's not looking to get hurt, and that he knows his body and its limitations. Theresa opines that he's putting her in a terrible position, but he counters that's not the case -- he's trying to get them out of one. That'll teach you to leave him conversationally open, Theresa. He begs for one fight, and given the fact that we cut away, I'm guessing she's going to give in. Well, either that or she'll brain him with a two-by-four, but at least they're at a hospital.
In Johnny's office, he and Stacy Keach are going over some potential creampuff fight choices for Patrick; apparently they don't want it to be too easy for him, though, as Johnny shoots down one of Stacy Keach's pitches with "C'mon, Dad, you could go four rounds with that guy." He's being sarcastic, but I wouldn't want to take whatever Stacy Keach could throw at me. Challenged to pick someone himself, Johnny suggests Reynolds, and, if as we're assuming, Johnny made some kind of Patrick-related deal to get the Omar fight, WOW, is he a scumbag for pushing that idea here, especially since he pooh-poohs Stacy Keach's contention that Patrick will need four or five fights before he's ready for that kind of challenge. I mean, he does have a minor point that they don't know how long Reynolds will be champion, but that's very secondary to his brother's well-being, so I come back around to SHUT UP, Johnny. He and Stacy Keach bicker a bit more until Patrick stands up and announces that while he'd like a payday, he doesn't want to get hurt, so Johnny, after some thought, suggests a "Jojo Reed," whom Stacy Keach helpfully clarifies is Reynolds's old sparring partner. Johnny says that Reed has a loyal fan base and is still a good fighter, but has "hands made of glass." Sounds like he's capable of landing some shattering blows. (I'm sorry; I have no resistance when it comes to awful puns. Probably not news at this point.) Anyway, Patrick co-signs the idea, saying that there will be no surprises, and also, he's always liked Jojo, which to my way of thinking doesn't necessarily mean you'd want to pound the shit out of him, but I'm admittedly not a professional boxer. Johnny heads off to talk to Barry, and at Stacy Keach's question of "We need him in this?" replies that Jojo's his fighter. "Don't worry, I'll make sure it costs him." I think Johnny's deluding himself rather than flat-out lying here, which is ten times sadder. Once Johnny's gone, Patrick expresses his enthusiasm for his comeback, prompting Stacy Keach to tell him they're starting with roadwork, and he wants him out the door at five AM. When Patrick protests, Stacy Keach bites out, "It's not supposed to feel good!" Heh. Patrick looks a little less psyched about the whole thing...
...and then he's catching Johnny, who's on the phone telling Barry "it's all good" and that he'll meet him somewhere or other. He disconnects, and Patrick tells him he's coming with him...
...and then the three of them are at some nice restaurant, with Barry asking the waiter if he could get "my brothers here" a couple glasses. Johnny tells Barry how little everyone is paying attention to Barry's fights lately, and how that could all change with Patrick's comeback. Barry silkily replies that he'd have to get Patrick ranked before the Commission would let him fight Reynolds again, but the conversation takes a turn he wasn't expecting when Patrick says he doesn't want Reynolds -- "Not right away," Johnny is quick to add -- but Jojo. However, Barry, after hearing Patrick's pitch, tells him "this platter's got no sizzle," and adds that Johnny should know better. You guys, I know it's hard to spot, but there may be a double meaning there. He goes on that Jojo has no punch, and since he wasn't earning, he had to let him go. Johnny and Patrick are both chagrined to hear this, but Barry goes on that as a heavyweight champion triumphantly returning to the ring, Patrick needs to take on someone worthy of him, "another icon at the crossroads." He suggests a "Javier Morales," but even Johnny can't get behind "El Diablo," as he calls him, given that he's currently in jail for statutory rape. Patrick adds that he has three daughters at home, but Barry counters that Morales paid his debt to society, and before that, he went twelve rounds with Reynolds.
Johnny is still not down, though, as he says Morales is dirty. "He had plaster in his gloves the night he fought Justice." I asked this once before, but seriously, don't they check these things? I mean, things you hide in the body like performance-enhancing drugs are one thing, but gloves that require a waiting period to buy should be identifiable, no? Apparently not, as Barry says that allegation was never proven, and Morales and Patrick are the only two fighters out there to have gone the distance with Reynolds. It's a good pitch, but Patrick, after a moment, says he's looking for a payday and not a bloodbath. However, when he gets up to go, Johnny doesn't move, and Barry, who seemed to have been rolling with the punches (oof, did it again) up to now, chuckles deeply at the realization that Patrick isn't aware of a crucial bit of information -- Barry owns the rights to Patrick's fight, and has options on the two after that. Patrick tells him there's no chance, and I do wonder if Johnny formally had the power to make that deal on Patrick's behalf after all this time, but regardless, after a baleful look at his brother, Patrick heads for the exit, with Johnny taking off after him...
...and downstairs, as Patrick's trading the house blazer (heh) for his jacket, Johnny catches him and tells him he had to do it to get Omar's title shot. Patrick is less than thrilled that he got sold out for Omar, but Johnny makes the, I suppose, reasonable enough point that he didn't think Patrick would fight again, in which case it wouldn't have mattered. Outside, Johnny goes on that Barry is the only game in town, and it's certainly also reasonable enough to remind Patrick that this will probably lead to his biggest possible payday, but Patrick shoves him up against a fence and opines, also quite reasonably, that Johnny did this for himself. And with everyone being so reasonable, I wouldn't have expected them to be in a situation where one is about to kick the other's ass. Johnny challenges Patrick to hit him, but Patrick's got a better idea -- he's fired. "You can keep your cut, but you're done handling me." But that's the best part! Johnny starts to babble some apologies, but Patrick cuts him off by saying he doesn't trust him anymore. Hate to pile on, Johnny, but about time.
In a bar somewhere (it looks nicer than the bar of Brennan's we saw), Patrick has apparently told Brennan what happened, and Brennan sighs that he wondered how Johnny got Omar that fight before opining that Barry is like a cancer on the sport. Patrick asks how hard it would be to promote a fight without him, and Brennan gets a crafty smile on his face as he says it could happen. Er...I was under the impression that cutting Barry out would be a legal issue, not just a logistical one, but maybe as long as he's compensated Patrick can do what he wants...
...except, perhaps, when it comes to his wife, as when he calls her, she tells him she needed some space to think, and he shouldn't wait for her for dinner, because she doesn't want any food to stand in the way of her getting hammered. Well, she doesn't say that part, but given the fact that she's slamming hard liquor in an establishment designed for that sort of thing, the subtext seems clear. Patrick, for his part, is getting a fix of a different sort as he blends some sort of supplement (Protein? Creatine?) into a shake as Daniella enters and tells him she talked to a guidance counselor about financial aid. Patrick's bummed that she discussed their problems with anyone, and says they'll be fine, but Daniella asks if he's thinking about boxing again, pointing out that everyone's whispering all the time, and now he's making a protein shake. He tells her nothing's been decided, but adds that if he does fight, it'll be against someone who can't possibly hurt him. Daniella, however, reminds him he shouldn't take any more blows to the head, and adds, "You remember that, right?" which I think was intended as bitchy and as such is my favorite line from the character to date. He assures her that the guy he's boxing couldn't hurt him with his glass hands, and Daniella says that's good. "Because Mom's already a wreck. I would hate to have to tell her." Damn, that was low. I probably don't have to tell you, I like it.
Patrick's alarm goes off at 4:55, and with all the drinking Theresa did that's got to qualify as a hate crime, although it could be that that's helping her sleep right through it. After that brief moment everyone who has to get up too early experiences where you sit on the edge of the bed for a moment hating your life, Patrick gets up...
...and then we cut to the gym, where he's bobbing and weaving around the speed bag. However, when Stacy Keach enters, he tells him it's too soon for him to be working with that thing, and then says he got some tapes on Jojo, and Patrick will be fine. However, Patrick tells him things have gotten complicated...
...and we cut to the office, wherein Stacy Keach complains that Brennan is "another crook." Patrick, however, says it's either that or the Morales fight, and Stacy Keach snits that Johnny is to blame. "He's always trying to do the right thing, but he...he just gets in his own way!" Perhaps a bit charitable, but I wouldn't take too much issue with that description, particularly since he adds that "you just don't do that kind of shit to your own family!" He asks where Johnny is, and doesn't seem at all put out that Patrick told him not to come around, and I'm glad, given all the annoying favorite-son stuff, that there's come a point where Stacy Keach can forget about Johnny and put his focus on Patrick. Patrick says he doesn't want Barry involved, prompting Stacy Keach to settle my earlier question by saying that Barry will get his piece at the end of the day, which Patrick seems to know already. Jojo then appears, and after he and Patrick greet each other warmly, Jojo, who definitely seems like the friendly sort, says that he's up in Jersey City now, and then goes serious as he adds that since Barry let him go, things have been slow for him. On that note, Patrick says they've got something for him, and Jojo at first thinks Patrick's talking about sparring, which he's not too proud to do, but Patrick says they can do better - he's coming back, and he wants Jojo to be his first opponent. Jojo thinks he's joking, but Stacy Keach assures him that eight weeks from Saturday, they could be in the ring together. Jojo thinks this means Barry came around on him, but Patrick clarifies that they have a silent partner, and Barry isn't involved. This gives Jojo momentary pause, but when Patrick suggests he think it over, he firmly says that won't be necessary -- he's got to provide for his family. I hope he keeps his insurance policies updated, then. He and Patrick grin and shake...
...while Theresa is brooding in her kitchen. Ava enters and tells Theresa they need to talk -- she and Daniella know about the financial situation. Theresa tells her there's nothing to worry about, which is perhaps not the way to go with any of their daughters except Katie, and Ava agrees with me: "Do you hear yourself?" Theresa starts to say that they're talking to experts, but Ava has a better idea: "Why don't you just let him fight again?" She goes on that the whole world is broke, and one of her best friend's parents just filed for bankruptcy and divorce. "They would have killed for a way out, and we have one!" This goes on for a bit, but as Ava makes to head out, she says she knows she can be selfish and stubborn. "But I'm a teenager. What's your excuse?" Oh, SNAP! Ava by TKO!
Ava's stinging words have apparently done their job, as they've sent Theresa over to see Stacy Keach. Theresa tells Stacy Keach they can get through their current troubles without Patrick returning to the ring, but Stacy Keach, rather than question the validity of that statement, opines that Patrick doesn't want to hear that. "He wants to be the one to make it right." Haltingly, Theresa says she knows Stacy Keach thinks she got Patrick out of the game too soon, and to his credit, he makes no bones about admitting that. In a small voice, she asks if he thinks it's too late for Patrick to come back, and Stacy Keach admits that it's too soon to tell, but adds, as he hands her some tea, that he's going to need her support. "That much, I know." Theresa asks how Stacy Keach knew when he was done, adding that Patrick always told her Stacy Keach was the one boxer he knew who didn't stay too long, but Stacy Keach opines that a boxer always knows. He goes on that after he returned from Vietnam, it took him a while to find his rhythm, but he won a few fights and things were going all right until June 1969, when he took on a guy who was nothing special, but he still lost. "I could see the punches coming, but I couldn't respond fast enough." He tells her that Patrick will know, and so will he, adding that Patrick is his son...and then the most amazing thing happens, as Stacy Keach's voice breaks out of nowhere and he positively chokes, "I don't want to see him hurt!" And then, it's like nothing happened, and he sips his tea, but Theresa, who looks like she's holding back tears herself, takes his hand and thanks him...
...and then Patrick approaches Daniella's room and hears Theresa telling her and Ava that she's endorsing his comeback. Daniella tells Theresa she can't let him, but then Patrick enters, and Theresa volunteers that they were just discussing the ramifications of his return to the ring, and apparently Ava offered to step up and take care of the house and Katie more. Well, keeping the house clean sucks, but taking care of Katie should be a breeze, considering this episode's indication that they have no problem with locking her in the attic when it's convenient to do so. For her part, Daniella can't believe this is going down, but ultimately she can't go through with blowing up Patrick's spot here, which signals a serious decline in her game. Ava, however, is more than happy to take the role of cheerleader, and even Theresa does a credible job of selling her enthusiasm at the idea of the whole family working together. Daniella, of course, looks like someone stole her puppy, but hey, that's teenagers for you.
Patrick is working with some dude in the ring, but Stacy Keach is displeased at Patrick's apparently too-wide stance, so, despite Patrick's protests, he has someone link his legs with a short rope so he won't be able to keep them too far apart. Patrick loses his balance but then seems to get the hang of it, and then Johnny turns up and hangs back uncertainly for a moment. However, he then calls his brother by his nickname, and while Stacy Keach tells him they're training, Johnny's insistent that what he has to say can't wait. Patrick finally obliges him, and Johnny tells him and Stacy Keach that the fight is off, as Jojo got hurt. Usually, you'd think he'd be using this to mean he hurt himself, but we'll unfortunately find that his choice of phrase is quite precise here...
...because we cut to Patrick turning up to the hospital to see Jojo, and as soon as his wife sees Patrick, she lets the recriminations fly, saying that whoever it was broke all twenty-seven bones in Jojo's hand, and what the hell are they going to do now? Patrick says nothing, but after she's stomped off in a cloud of righteous tears, he asks Jojo what happened. Jojo, however, gives nothing up, saying he just hit the heavy bag funny. "Always had glass hands, you know that." Patrick can't believe this on many levels, but after a moment, he says that his wife works there, and the two of them will make sure he's taken care of. Jojo closes his eyes, and Patrick, severely bummed, steps out into the hall, where he sees Jojo's wife sobbing in Theresa's arms. Theresa tries to console her, and then catches sight of Patrick, whereupon he shakes his head in frustration...
...which he then takes out on Barry, as he turns up to that same restaurant and upends his table. And he's not wearing a jacket, either! One of Barry's goons draws a gun, but Barry is not about to let his new fighter get damaged, so he intercedes and says he's got this before telling Patrick that he only just heard about Jojo, and he's the godfather to his first-born child, so he'll help out as much as he can. Patrick, of course, thinks Barry's full of shit, and tells him he knows who he is, but Barry yells that he has no idea how hard a climb he had, and he's always worked harder than anyone in their business. Patrick snidely retorts that anyone who tries to get a crumb off his table gets crushed, but Barry counters that while Patrick's meaningless to him, just another payday, Jojo was with him from the beginning, and while he let him go for business reasons, he had nothing to do with what happened to him. Patrick still doesn't believe him, so Barry throws down the gauntlet, saying if Patrick books the fight with Morales, they can donate a portion of the proceeds to Jojo's kids. "I'll match you two to one." Deft way to turn Patrick's righteousness against him here, but Patrick still won't play, so Barry asks him how much it's going to take to get him to do that fight -- half a million? A million? He adds that they don't have to like each other to do business. "You a prizefighter. Fight for the prize!" Seriously, Patrick, it may be shady, but it's boxing. Make your peace with it, because this show would not be on the air if you weren't heading back to the ring.
Sometime later, Patrick is taking out his frustrations on a poker-themed pinball machine...
...and then he's at the gym, having just told Stacy Keach about El Diablo. Stacy Keach doesn't like it, as Morales is not a boxer but a brute, but Patrick tells him he may not have a choice. Stacy Keach grunts and paces in frustration, but Patrick, with more quiet vulnerability than I think we've seen from him, asks simply if he can beat him. Stacy Keach asks how long they have, and when he's told seven weeks, says that Morales is a bully, like Sonny Liston, and Patrick can't trade with him. Patrick agrees with that assessment, so Stacy Keach tells him that if they're going to do this, Patrick has to give his training one hundred percent -- no distractions from Johnny, Theresa, the girls, or anyone else. "I don't care if your house is on fire; you let it burn!" I hate to bring up insurance policies again, but they do keep setting me up. Patrick nods reluctantly...
...and then we see a story about El Diablo being paroled (Barry had said he was up for it) on Patrick's computer, and this surely is his fault for not password-protecting the thing after last time. In this case, though, Daniella came by the information via Mikey Fumbles, who called wanting a statement on the upcoming Morales fight. Daniella, who by the way I have resisted telling you I find completely insufferable, says she found clips of his fights and there was blood everywhere, and he promised he wouldn't get hurt. He reiterates that oath, but she understandably doubts him, and declares her need to tell Theresa, but he gets her to sit down and informs her that he doesn't want this fight any more than she does, but without it, everything they have disappears, and by the way, her telling Theresa will irrevocably tear the family apart. "I hate to make you grow up this fast, but I'm your father and you have to listen to me. I don't have a choice, and neither do you." I don't think this is exactly what Stacy Keach meant by "no distractions." His point made, Patrick leaves Daniella to cry...
...but apparently his speech wasn't as effective as he thought, as later, he comes downstairs to find Theresa with a bag together, as Daniella told her about Morales. "Not exactly a tomato can." Patrick assures her he can handle him, but Theresa says she saw Jojo's X-rays and "they must have used a cinderblock on him," and she's scared and doesn't understand why he wants to bring the awful world of boxing back into their home. Patrick, however, says they're in deep and he needs to fight, and when she pointedly asks if he needs to or he wants to, he confesses, "Both." He adds that he's forty, and a comeback has to be now, and without rancor, she tells him she understands, and she wishes she could be part of it, but she can't. Apparently, that means the bag is for him -- she's kicking him out, that night, so the girls don't have to see him leave. He looks at her appraisingly for a good while, but finally nods, and asks what happens in the morning. She resignedly replies that she'll figure something out, and he tries one last time to tell her they don't have to do this, but her voice sounds ragged as she apologizes, saying she's tried, and he concedes. She looks like she's going to hug him but opts for leaving the room instead, and as "Be my husband" kicks up, Patrick contemplates once again being in that dark room, all alone...
...and then we cut to Brennan, one of whose flunkies informs him he has a visitor...and it's Barry. Brennan thanks him for coming all the way out, and Barry tells him any time. "You know that." Brennan beckons him into a chair...and we're out. And if Barry was telling Patrick the truth, the only logical person left that could be behind the Jojo hand-breaking is Brennan, this development would suggest. It'll be fun to see what that all signifies, and I'll see you week for that.
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.