Episode Report Card Pablo G: C- | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Jonah and Riley's Infinite Crapfest
By Pablo G | Season 1 | Episode 7 | Aired on 10.20.2009
ity codes in exchange for an envelope of cash. For his troubles, David also tips him off to a house that's laundering drug money before driving off. The system works.Back at Paramount in Andy Misher's office, Jonah sits in horror as Andy rattles off his zany ideas. He wants Cameron Diaz in the lead role, which used to be a male part. Male role, I mean. Jonah is just shell shocked and can't even bring himself to disagree. Andy could notice less. He takes his leave of Jonah. Jonah sits for a minute and tries to shake off what just happened before getting up to walk out in shame. As he's exiting, he's met by a young woman who introduces herself as Andy's development executive. Her name's Kendra. She alludes to Jonah's film pitch aftermath daze being all too familiar to her. Kendra seems to be much more savvy than Andrew and claims to have enough influence to override his obliviousness. She wants to get the film made on Jonah's terms.
It's time for Riley to show off her boobs at the photo shoot. Ella stumbles out of Riley's tent. She goes up to Jo to give her the rundown on Riley's life experience being topless. Ella compares the amount of time Riley's chest has seen the light of day to Usher's new album. Ouch. She's really trying to buy Riley some more leeway for when this topless experiment fails, but Jo is already impatient. She insists the last thing she wants is for Riley to feel comfortable. Being uncomfortable should yield something useful from Riley. That might work for a normal person, Jo, but we're talking about Riley here. She will suck regardless. When Jo finds that out for herself, she starts trying to get some fire from Riley with a verbal personal attack. She goes for the jugular with a comment about Jonah not being able to pay the bills. And... Riley snaps. She defends Jonah and herself before she starts storming off. Ella -- damage control diva that she is -- yells, "Somebody get her a Benzo, ASAP!" Riley's done. She quits and walks off. I'm with you for once, Riles.
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Lauren knocks on David's door. He says now's not a good time. He's totally stealing things in there, I bet. He's on his way to a business meeting, he says. His phone starts ringing, so he leaves the door open for Lauren to enter. She wants to take him up on the loan offer. David is cool with that, but he's more interested in getting off to wherever he has to go and getting Lauren out of his place. She spots photos and schematics of mansions as he starts gathering his things. When Lauren gets nosy about them, he says he's planning on acquiring those properties and starts putting those materials away. Then Lauren notices some black leather gloves he picks up. I'm not sure how suspicious that really would be normally, but it prompts her to ask if he's in trouble. David denies there being anything to worry about then basically kicks Lauren out.
Ella's back on Riley's hip as she continues to storm off the beach. Ella reminds her she signed a contract. Ella is most concerned about how this will reflect on her and what the fallout will be when Anton shows up and finds Ella has lost the talent. This doesn't convince Riley to stay at all and just gives her ammunition about Ella only caring about herself and not caring about Riley selling out her integrity. With a completely straight and passionate delivery, Ella shoots back, "Do you think Jonah's self-esteem soars through the roof every time he has to shoot a 'Dora the Explorer' themed birthday bash?!" That just made the episode for me. We can all stop watching now. Riley tries to stop the onslaught of criticism by just declaring she doesn't trust Ella, which really isn't the issue here, I thought. Riles tries to walk away on that note, but Ella calls after her to remind her she'll have to explain blowing this sweet deal to Jonah. She adds for good measure, "I mean really. Giving up on ten grand because of a little ego bruise? Kinda says a lot about the way things work at home, doesn't it?" Riley has no answer for that and walks off for good.
At Coal, Auggie bumps into Violet as she's getting ready to leave. She complains about being tired, so Auggie -- being the gentleman he is -- offers her a ride on his motorcycle. Violet plays a little hard-to-get about it, acting scared, but Auggie insists he'd never let anything happen to her before he tells her to follow him. She looks after him with pure desire in her eyes and a look of crazy-eyed accomplishment.
Jonah's still at Paramount talking with Kendra on a couch in Andrew's office. Kendra is being a complete fangirl. After Jonah shares some secrets of how he accomplished some of his feats in his film, she reminds him that she will be influencing Andrew to make sure he's aware of Jonah's vision. Jonah thanks her and tells her this film is his life, which allows Kendra to share that movies in general are her life. Uh oh. Jonah has just met himself in girl form. In case we were too dense to notice this, Kendra is also from Philly. Just like Jonah. They're so good for each other! They have an awkward realization moment of this fact. Kendra tries to play it off as business when she invites him out for drinks to "work on their pitch." Jonah reluctantly agrees to meet. Kendra will save him a seat at the bar. Wink wink.
We flash to a mansion where David is hurriedly leaving with a backpack slung over his shoulder when he finds Lauren waiting for him at his car. "David, what are you doing?" Busted!
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Back at the scene of the crime. Lauren starts interrogating David. Again, she's mostly concerned with why he's wearing black leather gloves. She wants to see what's in his backpack he's carrying. David politely tells her to mind her business and tries to walk past her. Lauren pretends to walk away before turning around quickly to tear open his bag, which drops a bunch of jewelry. David freaks out and starts scooping up the necklaces while telling Lauren to get in the car because they need to get out of there. Lauren is too disappointed to move as David hops in his Porsche and starts the engine.
Auggie and Violet arrive back at The Complex after their motorcycle ride. She offers Auggie a virgin margarita before they get started on her furniture. Just then Riley stumbles through the courtyard, dropping her keys. Auggie -- probably trying to get out of his obligation with Violet more than anything -- calls out to Riley, though it's not entirely apparent yet she is upset. When it does become apparent, he hurries over to her to ask what's wrong. Violet jealously waits in the distance. Auggie invites Riley over for tea to talk it out. She says he looks like he's in the middle of something, but Auggie insists. Careful, Auggie, you're unwittingly drawing the scorn of Crazy Eyes McGee over there. Riley gives in to Auggie's offer without much more of a fight. He turns to Violet and asks for a raincheck. Violet definitely doesn't like that.
Inside, Auggie has made tea and is letting Riley vent. Riley says she took her shirt off and Auggie perks up. He asks how that went. About as good as you'd think anything would go for Riley, Auggie. Riley blames it on being a schoolteacher. "You're allowed to want more than one thing in life, Riley," says Auggie. She thinks Jonah will hate her for giving up the money, but Auggie says it's impossible to hate her. He thinks Jonah will understand. Riley is still dwelling on Jo's words about her life choices. She turns to Auggie to ask if he thinks she's too young to be getting married. Auggie pleads the fifth.
Paramount. Jonah walks out of the lot with Kendra and he's reconsidering going out with her for drinks. He's awkwardly trying to set up a meeting for tomorrow instead and is unsuccessful. Kendra starts talking about her ex-boyfriend being someone Andrew made successful. Jonah reminds Kendra of him. He levels with Kendra that he doesn't think he can make it for drinks tonight. He lies about having plans, but Kendra leaves the invitation open. Something tells me Jonah is going to have drinks with Kendra whether he wants to or not. Will it be peer