Guest starring: Scott William Winters. Wehw, awen't we wucky.
Confetti falls as Hill, wearing a party hat with "Happy New Year" printed on it, speed-freaks that the end of the millennium is coming, and that there will be a lot of lists of who the greatest people of the past thousand years were. He tells us that he won't be on that list, and I update my own list of "Things I So Already Knew." In Oz, Alvarez finishes up a phone call in Spanish, then jauntily strides out and tells Rebadow he has some information for him about Glynn. Why Rebadow is a logical person for him to tell is absolutely beyond me, but Contrivance answers to no recapper. Rebadow says he knows that Glynn's daughter was brutally raped and beaten, but Alvarez way-too-happily tells him that he knows who did it, as he just spoke to him on the phone. He walks away, but dramatic music tells us he was overheard by some random guy.
Cut to said random guy, whose name is Hanlon, coming into Mukada's office. Mukada asks what's up. Hanlon: "I love to take it in the ass." I'm sure you don't need me to point out the hilarity in this declaration being made to a Catholic priest, so I'll just note that of all the provocative comments Mukada's heard in Oz, that's certainly the latest. Anyway, Hanlon's point is that while some might find his proclivities perverse, his actions are his own choice, unlike, say, in the case of someone who's raped. Mukada asks if he's been raped, and he acknowledges that he has, but he's there because he has information on another rape. And thus begins another chapter in The Oz "What Happens When You Don't Keep Your Fool Fat Mouth Shut" Chronicles. It's a rather heavy volume, as you probably well know.
In Glynn's office, Mukada whines to Pete that she didn't tell him about the rape, but she rightly informs him that he asked her not to, and I really don't think that you should have your nose in the entire staff's personal business, Ray. Glynn enters, and Mukada starts to spill it. Cut to Glynn storming into an interrogation room where Alvarez is waiting. Glynn asks him what he knows, but Alvarez isn't having it. "You think that you could shit on people, shit on people, and you get away with it? Not this time. And you can go fuck yourself." Mukada tries to intervene, having, like the rest of us, seen the steam coming out of Glynn's ears, and tells Alvarez to say what he heard about Glynn's daughter. Alvarez: "What? That she's a lousy lay?" If you've never seen steel harden, you might want to check out Glynn's jaw right after those words are uttered. Mr. Steel removes his jacket and tells a hack to chain Alvarez up, then starts to usher Mukada out the door. Mukada, not wanting to see Alvarez's pretty face get smashed in like an overripe cantaloupe, tries to dissuade Glynn, but Glynn yells for him to get out, and grabs one of the hack's nightsticks. At the last second, Mukada throws himself between Glynn and Alvarez, and Glynn smashes the table in frustration. I hope you're seriously ashamed of your behavior in the riot now, Migs. And if I didn't know what happens to Alvarez in the rest of the series, I'd be pointing out that he's only a very short walk from the shit list right now, but considering how intimately he later becomes acquainted with the first word of that expression, I think I'll let it slide. He really was a little punk here, though, no?
Glynn tries to track down the phone call that Alvarez made, but is reminded that the prison only monitors a random selection of prisoner calls, and they didn't catch that one. I'd think that they could at least find out the number he called from the phone company, but I just work here. Later, as Glynn walks through the cafeteria, Schibetta catches him and says he's sorry about his daughter. Glynn asks if everybody knows. Schibetta: "Pretty much, yeah." Heh. Schibetta really needs either to grow the hair out or, preferably, cut it short. It seems like he's sculpted the top part of his hair into a tiara, and I don't think I have to tell you that it's really not a very flattering look. Anyway, he offers to lean on Alvarez so he'll give up the name of the rapist, but Glynn declines, saying he doesn't want to owe little Petey any more favors that he already does, and also, it's wrong. Schibetta: "Right, wrong, there's such a fine line between them." Glynn: "Remember that little statement when Adebisi's massaging your prostate." Well, he actually says, "Not for me," but I like to think he was kicking himself later.
Hill blabs about evil. Glynn enters his daughter's hospital room. Good Lord, he couldn't pull some strings and get her a private room? The poor girl's head is completely wrapped in gauze, her right eye is swollen shut, and she's wearing an oxygen mask. Not a pretty picture. She does seem to wake up when Glynn touches her, although frankly it's a little hard to tell. He holds her hand. Aw. Nothing to say here.
Em City. The lights go out. Wangler lies in bed, Pancamo lights a cigarette, Alvarez chokes the gallina (under the covers, unfortunately), Said prays. Most pointless montage ever. Rebadow sleeps, but we hear a rhythmic noise, and I'm telling you right now, if Busmalis is doing anything with his chicken, you'll need to get a seventh recapper to finish out the classic episodes. Oh, good, he's just digging. "Prisoner Number 98B242, Agamemnon Busmalis, a.k.a. The Mole." We see him stealing something from what looks like a bank vault, then jumping down into a large hole and scrambling through a tunnel. However, when he returns to wherever it was he started from, four cops are waiting for him. Ha! Nice one, Shovel Boy. Grand theft larceny, breaking and entering. Ten years, parole in four. Back in the pod, Rebadow awakes and asks what he's doing. Digging, duh. Rebadow warns him that a hack is coming, and Busmalis scampers (well, not really, but he tries) back into bed.
And now for some fun. Hill swears and accuses Beecher of having farted. Beecher denies it, and says Hill's trying to cover the fact that he was the one that farted, but Hill counters that Beecher's the one covering, because, as he already said, he farted. If you haven't had this exact conversation with a family member or friend, well, you just haven't lived in the world. They bicker back and forth until Beecher definitively states, "I. Didn't. Fart." Perfect little pause, and then he cuts a loud one. HA! Hill swears, and Beecher giggles, and if you've never concluded this discussion by doing exactly what Beecher did here, well, I pity you.
I'd like to state for the record that if you were to add up the mental ages of all the recappers at Television Without Pity, I'm not at all convinced you'd even reach triple digits. ["Maybe if you used a square-root symbol...?" -- Sars]
Diane enters McManus's office. McManus is doing sit-ups. Diane coyly tells McManus that it's her first day back working in Em City, and that she'll "let" him take her out to dinner to celebrate. Because your kids and dying mother will gladly take a night off so you can flirt with your odious ex-boyfriend, Diane. And what's with the hair? It's begging for a scrunchie, and that, like so many things in this recap, is not a compliment. McManus doesn't even stop his set as he turns her down. She "nonchalantly" asks if he has a date, and he says yes. She gives him the fakest fake smile ever as she tells him to have fun. If you've ever watched Melrose Place, think the smiles that Amanda and Allison used to exchange, and you'll have the idea.
In the main area, Poet, now sporting cornrows along with those ridiculous sideburns, "treats" the crowd to his latest "oeuvre." Man, can Poet do the monologues and Hill do the poetry? I'm not sure that'll be an improvement, but it would lend some variety. Maybe I should just stick with the devil that I know. Diane nervously reenters Em City, and gets a lot of looks from the prisoners. She makes her way up to the control station and doesn't look happy. Diane, in the words of Buffy, "Kicking ass is comfort food."
Classroom. Coushaine tells Wangler to check out the article on Tiger Woods. With some assistance on the big words, Wangler manages to read an entire paragraph out loud. I can deal with learning-to-read Wangler a lot better than any other Wangler I've seen so far, so let's just give this plotline a chance. Wangler doesn't even fly off the handle when Kirk calls him the n-word, and if they want to make Wangler relatively more likable in my eyes, more scenes with Kirk won't hurt a bit.
Later, McManus marches into Wangler's pod as Adebisi, sitting outside, looks all, "The hell?" McManus tells Wangler that Coushaine praised his progress in class, and gives him a paperback copy of Up From Slavery by Booker T. Washington. McManus explains that Washington was one of the most influential African-Americans of his time. Wangler: "This to do with the peanuts?" Hee! Very clever, Tom. McManus tells Wangler that the book influenced his life. Oy. As McManus turns to leave, Wangler tells him that he doesn't miss mopping the kitchens at all. I was afraid McManus was going to smile in an insufferable my-work-here-is-done way, but while a smile does escape, it's not too obnoxious, so thanks for that, anyway. Outside, Adebisi sort of gets in McManus's face while plucking what looks like an African banjo, and since I seem to remember that the banjo originated in Africa, I'm going to go with that. (Don't e-mail me!) Once McManus is gone, Adebisi swaggers into the pod and announces, "That cocksucker doesn't come in here again unless you ask me." Wangler reasonably enough asks how he's supposed to stop him, but Adebisi isn't interested in little things like logic, and repeats himself in a little singsong. Hee. He adjusts Wangler's stocking cap so it's slanted to one side like his hat, and leaves. Hee, again.
Hill, in a creepy black-and-white shot, blathers about Booker T. Washington. Hill, Booker T. Washington's words inspired a generation of Americans. The only thing you're inspiring is a lot of retina-detaching eye-rolling.
Some kitchen worker is telling Adebisi how fucked up it is that Glynn gave the kitchen back to the Italians. Adebisi theorizes that Glynn is trying to start a war between them and "those guineas." He smiles when he sees Schibetta and Pancamo enter the cafeteria. Adebisi taunts Schibetta: "You look just like your father. Only you still breathing." Schibetta asks if he's trying to tell him something, going for "intimidating" but landing somewhere between "half Adebisi's size" and "mezzo-soprano." Adebisi: "I miss your father." Why, how tight was he?
In a hilarious shot, two guys start down the stairs, but run away when Adebisi comes up them. One of them is a short cross-dressing Latino who was shown when McManus mentioned the "gay" group in the last episode, and the way he runs all "The sky is falling!" is really not to be missed. Adebisi enters his pod and shows Wangler that he's got some tits, but Wangler, reading the book, isn't interested. Just then, a shakedown is called, and Adebisi quickly stuffs the plastic packet between the pages of the book. For shame, Adebisi. Booker T. is spinning is his grave. Search, search. Adebisi's pod is pronounced clean. Back inside, Adebisi takes the book and rips out some pages so he can store drugs in it more effectively. Wangler's had enough: "Fuck you, man!" Adebisi grabs him and slams his face up against the door. "You think you can disrespect me? Don't forget who your friends are, Kenny. 'Cause if you not my friend, you my enemy. Understand?" He does. They get high. Hey, Wangler, remember how in the last episode you said you were nobody's prag? Doesn't take long for the crow to cook in Oz, does it?
Later, through the I'm Higher Than A Team Of On-Duty Sherpas Cam, we see Adebisi, on the balcony, toss the pieces of some of the ripped-out pages into the air. Wangler sits downstairs, looking frankly like he's flatlined, when McManus marches over and demands to know why he isn't in class. Wangler gets in his face, but desists at the swarm of the hacks. McManus grabs him and marches him into the computer room. He questions him, and asks if someone's pressuring him not to go to class. On cue, Adebisi knocks on the door and smiles. McManus gets him to go away, and then tells Wangler that he'll send Adebisi back to Gen Pop, or he'll at least move Wangler to another pod. Wangler resists, but when McManus tells him he'll be mopping the kitchen "twenty-four hours a day" if he doesn't go back to class, he relents. Sure, Tim, what does it matter if he dies as long as he can read his headstone? McManus leads him back to class as Hill VOs that the typical U.S. prisoner is an undereducated male minority, and that the more education he completes in prison, the less likely he is to return once released. Coushaine asks Wangler to read out loud again, as Wangler regards him ambiguously. Will Adebisi make him pay for going back to class? Will McManus intervene? You're not finding out this episode, and I hope this isn't going to turn into one of those plotlines that never ends up going anywhere. Although it does involve Wangler and McManus. On second thought, let's never speak of it again.
Cafeteria. The "other" group discusses whether they'd sleep with any of the female staff at Oz, and I would like to be able to hold down my lunch, so I'm just going to skip it. The important part is that we learn Sister Pete was once married. Hill says her husband died in an accident. He fell off a truck and broke his neck. Rebadow corrects him that Pete's husband was actually pushed off the truck. Pretty smooth exposition there, thankfully.
Solitary, and the first uttering of "Peter, Peter Marie." Yup, it's Giles. Y'all may know I have a weakness for fictional characters named Giles, so that's a point in his favor. Outside the cell, Glynn asks Pete if she knows Giles, and she says no. I thought she had to review every prisoner's file periodically, but whatever. Glynn says they think Giles's mind has snapped, and that he's been asking for her. The open the outer door, and Pete tries to get through to him, but he'll only utter such illuminating tidbits as "amor" and "broom." In an effort to get him to talk more, the bars are opened and she enters the cell, but when she touches him, he completely freaks. You're losing me here, Giles -- I may have to start calling you "William." Or "Crazypants."
In her office, Pete asks Beecher to bring up the file on Giles. While they wait, Beecher tells her that he and his pals voted her sexiest woman in prison. She scoffs, and then is all, "Really?" Hee. It's easy to take Rita Moreno for granted, but she really is fabulous. The file comes up on screen, and we get a smash cut to a young guy who looks vaguely like Matthew Modine, except with glasses, a leather jacket, and a George McFly haircut. He breaks a car window on a sunny street in front of a warehouse, and a guy in a lab coat runs up and grabs him. As they struggle, a large commercial truck rounds the corner in their direction. Matthew McFly tosses Lab Coat into the street, and the truck runs him over. The appearance of the truck must be a complete coincidence, no? "Prisoner Number 58G714. William Giles." Second-degree murder, life, parole in sixty.
In Glynn's office, Pete begs him to let Giles out of solitary so they can start therapy sessions. Glynn denies the request, as it seems Giles killed a prisoner over some toothpaste only two years ago. That does seem pretty harsh, but on the other hand, if you don't deal with your teeth now, you may face the spoon later, as Robson would be only too happy to tell you. Pete pleads with him, but he ain't having it, and says he has to visit his daughter in the hospital. Yeah, that old excuse. Pete looks like she could use some Calgon right about now. Later, she peeks in on a now-straitjacketed Giles again, who's still calling her name.
Hill asks a question about the first millennium, which he says ended in 999. Sigh.
Said and company pray in the main area when a guy I will descriptively refer to as Rather Large Biker interrupts them. He tells Said to sign for a package. Said is all, "praying, come back later" at first, but when he realizes that his book about the riot has arrived, he signs for the package. For someone who's usually so fastidious about his supplication, he certainly forgot about Allah quickly enough there. I will note, however, that he gives Rather Large Biker an absolutely hysterical "I pity you, you fat, fat man" look as he signs his name. He holds up a copy and tells his clique, "This is proof that the truth cannot be silenced." That's far from the only thing that can't be silenced around here.
Speaking of which, Rebadow goes over to Said in the library, and notes that he's studying a law book. Said informs him that he's been studying law for the past eight months, and opines that the law as written only exists to be circumvented. Rebadow tells him without the law, there is anarchy (well, duh), and asks if Said didn't learn a lesson from the riots. Said: "Oh, I learned. And I have no interest in seeing more men die. No. I intend to use the tools that were used against me. I intend to make the law devour itself." Well, good luck with that!
In a very clever cut, Oz TV informs us that a "Judge Kibbler" was sentenced to sixteen months in prison for taking bribes in exchange for leniency in three murder cases. Hill pipes up that that's the judge that presided over his trial. Arif suggests he tell Said that. Cut to the three of them in the computer room, as Said asks if Hill was approached about a bribe. Hill says no, and that if anyone approached his lawyer, he never knew about it. Said tells Hill that he has a real shot at getting his verdict overturned. Way to get his hopes up, jackass. Cut to Glynn's office, where Glynn and McManus ask what case they have if Hill wasn't approached about a bribe. Time to turn up your dimmer switches, guys. Said makes the obvious point that if the judge was showing leniency in cases where he was bribed, it's reasonable to assume he was predisposed toward harshness in cases where he wasn't. Glynn asks exactly what Said is asking for, and Said tells him that he'll need increased visitation privileges.
Conference room. Hill berates his lawyer a bit until Said calms him down. Said asks Sprague, the lawyer, if he knew about the bribes, and Sprague reluctantly admits that he did. Said asks why he didn't go to the state judicial commission, but Sprague says that nothing would have happened except that he would never have won a case in front of Kibbler again. All too true, I'm guessing. Later, Said informs Hill that "Marilyn Crenshaw," the A.D.A. who prosecuted Kibbler (wouldn't the D.A. have wanted that one for him- or herself?), is going to meet with them the day, although there are some other snags. He reassures Hill that they'll succeed as count is called. That gay cross-dresser goes running out of a nearby pod and out of the frame, and I'm starting to think this is an inside joke, like the Oz version of Where's Waldo?
The day, the aforementioned meeting takes place. Said asks Crenshaw, a comely brunette, if she ever heard Hill's name mentioned in connection with bribes, or if she saw a pattern between the three prisoners who did bribe Kibbler. No to both questions. Basically, Said is trying to get her to say that Hill wasn't offered a chance at a bribe because he's black, but Crenshaw isn't having it, and gets very defensive. Said asks if her definition of justice extends to his "client." Crenshaw: "Your client? Please. The only place that you are a lawyer is in your own head. I see what you're doing! Strutting around, thumbing your nose at the system, thumbing your nose at everything that I believe in! It's not him that I won't help, it's you." To Hill: "You could win this case, but let me give you some free legal advice. Get yourself a lawyer. A real fuckin' lawyer." Apparently, in law school, Crenshaw never missed the class Eviscerating Your Opponent In As Few Sentences As Possible. After she storms out, Hill astutely asks Said if he knows her. Said: "Marilyn and I, before I found Allah, we were engaged to be married." Amicable breakup?
Said asks McManus for more phone access. Denied. As McManus basically tells Said to go fuck himself, he gets a bottle of ketchup out of one of his file cabinets, which scares me, because it's totally something I would do. I can never have too much ketchup on my burgers and fries. Said asks if this is because of what he wrote in his book, but McManus says it's because he always asks for favors and never does anything in return. Brace yourself for flying pigs: After Said's whole speech to McManus that they "will never be friends," I have to say I sympathize with McManus here. No matter how irritating someone is, if you take a massive dump on his face one week, you can't expect a smile the . And I was being figurative there, but it certainly applies in the literal sense as well. Said whines (yes, whines) that he thought his doing what's right would be enough for McManus. McManus simply takes a bite of his burger. Ha! McManus, we're not at détente yet, but keep it up.
Said reports back to Hill, who can plainly see that it didn't go well. Hill says that he got his hopes up high, like, yeah, I know. Said swears to him that he'll go free. Jeez, Said -- why don't you tell him he's going to walk again, too?
Gloria's office. Ryan is rifling through some files when Gloria enters and casually tells him they're confidential. Given how much you respect doctor-patient confidentiality, dear, I don't blame him for being confused. They sit down, and Gloria breaks the news that the lump is a Stage Two carcinoma. She goes on that Stage Two is relatively early, so his chances for survival are good. Ryan is totally not processing this. She tells him that the step is surgery, and asks if he has any questions. His voice takes on a weird, almost-breaking tone as he notes that she's married, and tells us for what I think is the first time that he is too. He says his wife is a "pisser," and we get a cut to a visit (earlier that day, if Ryan's outfit is any indication) where he's just told her the news. She's dressed very stylishly in lots of black and leather, although her New Yawk accent is pretty severe. Back with Gloria, Ryan TMIs that he and "Shannon" used to fuck for days at a time, but she never got pregnant. Gloria looks like Ryan's voice sounds like angels singing. Ryan goes on that Shannon got tested, and she can't have kids. He married her anyway, but he cheated on her, "a lot." I'm not sure if he's implying some causality there or if he's just babbling. His eyes fill as he says he doesn't want to die. We cut back to a goodbye with his wife, and then back to Gloria, who takes him in her arms as he breaks down. So the point is that Ryan can put a brave face on for his wife, but he can let himself go to pieces in front of Gloria. Significant, and well-acted all around.
Staff meeting. Gloria says she's scheduled a mastectomy for Ryan the day at Benchley Memorial. She says that she'll be assisting a "Dr. Powell," who's one of the best surgeons in the state. And I'm sure one of the best surgeons in the state has an open calendar a day in advance. Glynn asks if their insurance will cover the operation, and Gloria says no. The claims adjuster wants them to do a lumpectomy instead, which has more risk of relapse and requires follow-up radiation or chemotherapy. An argument starts until Glynn predictably orders the lumpectomy. Well, that was easy.
Cut back to Ryan and his wife. She asks, "If you die, what are we gonna do about your brother?"
And it's time to introduce Cyril "My Brother's Name Is Wyan" O'Reily. He enters, and Ryan, wearing an orange jumpsuit, grins at him, gets up, and puts his handcuffed wrists around Cyril's neck. Aw. I'll just tell you right now that while Scott Winters's portrayal of Cyril bugs me most of the time, I think Dean Winters puts on some of his strongest performances when Ryan and Cyril are together, so I can live with Cyril. The Ryan and Cyril Death Row scenes were about the only part of Season Six I could tolerate, even though they were unbelievably sad. Ryan asks Cyril why he's tense, and Cyril tells him that Oz is scary. Dude, just you wait. Cyril asks why Ryan lives there. Ryan: "Because I was bad, remember?" Cyril: "Oh yeah." Hee. Ryan says that's why Cyril isn't bad anymore. He breaks the news that he has to have an operation. Cyril freaks, saying that their mom died during an operation. Oh, man. Ryan grabs Cyril's face, and then has to take a quick moment to collect himself. After he's steeled himself, he tells Cyril that if he, Ryan, dies, Cyril may have to move out of Shannon's place and live with people who are more like him. Ryan's voice starts to break again as he tells Cyril that if Shannon asks him to move out, he shouldn't cry, but step up and be a man. Chalk up another great Winters/Winters scene (more due to Dean, as usual).
Ryan rides to the hospital in a police wagon. When he gets out, he takes a moment to enjoy the fresh air and look at the sky. Aw, on two counts (being out of prison, and preparing for the possibility of dying). Inside, Shannon accosts Gloria, and says that she asked around, and the operation Ryan's having is the cheapest available option. "My husband's life ain't cheap." Amen -- and if you only knew how much Gloria agrees with you. She tells Gloria to make sure he's okay, and tearily stomps off. Nice job by Mrs. O'Reily here as well. Elsewhere, as Ryan gets prepped for surgery, he flashes back to several moments from the first season. Gloria appears and asks if he's ready. He says yes, and adds that he feels better with Gloria there. "I can't figure out why the fuck you care, but I'm glad you do. Nobody's ever done shit for me my whole life, so I'm not very good at saying thanks. I owe you, big time." They clasp hands, but he fails to ask, "Does a dead husband work for you?" He takes the gas, and we fade to black.
Glynn and McManus march into the hole, where they have the door to Schillinger's cage opened. Glynn hands Schillinger some clothes as McManus informs him that he's being transferred to Unit B. Schillinger: "I'll miss you." Hee. Glynn says that Schillinger is indeed being charged with conspiracy to commit murder, and asks if he needs a lawyer, to which the answer is a resounding "Uh, no." Cut to Schillinger berating his lawyer. He says he wants him to make the charge disappear. The response? "I'm a lawyer, not The Amazing Kreskin." Hee. He basically tells Schillinger that the state's case is airtight, and that he's looking at ten more years. Schillinger suggests a plea bargain, but the lawyer doubts the state would go for it. Schillinger reminds the lawyer that he saw Diane kill Scott Ross (for which she has an eternal place in my heart) but the lawyer says that, while he's demanded an investigation of that allegation, "that horse [sic] won't hunt," probably, as I said in the last recap, because Schillinger's credibility with respect to Diane is now completely tainted. Schillinger asks about his sons. The lawyer thinks they'll turn up, but Schillinger begs him to please find them. The lawyer smiles and says, "You got it." In case you're wondering how sincere that came off, that was Michael on Melrose Place. Schillinger's all, "Could my life suck any worse?"
And because, in Oz, no idle thought goes unpunished, we cut to Beecher entering to mailroom. After he hands off a package from Sister Pete, he goes over and taunts Schillinger, finally getting to: "I manipulated you like the dumb-ass white trash Neanderthal you are. You know, you get to know a lot about a man when he's fuckin' you in the ass!" I'll just leave that one alone, shall I? Schillinger doesn't, however, as he throws a fan at Beecher. Beecher easily ducks, and cackles his way out of the room. Schillinger borrows one of Said's best glowers. Careful, Beecher, payback's a bitch. Actually, I'm thinking payback's going to be Joan Crawford in this case.
Schillinger reads in his new cell. A couple of men who would not be welcome in the Aryan Brotherhood stop by to give him a housewarming present in the form of a good ass-kicking. Well, that was thoughtful of them.
Cafeteria. A slightly battered Schillinger meets with another Aryan, Mack, and complains that the Brotherhood is falling apart. He says they have to take Oz back, and that they need a "roadkill," to show everyone that they're back in the game. Mack agrees. Schillinger says they should whack "the meanest motherfuckin' mutt we can find." Pan down the long table to a nondescript guy who looks like he's trying to convey toughness by clenching his teeth as tightly as possible. "Prisoner Number 98V238. Alexander Vogel." We see him attack a very elderly and barely ambulatory couple from behind with a knife. He repeatedly stabs the man until his blood is splattered across his face. Killing two people who already have one foot in the grave makes you a bad-ass? Not, Tom. Moreover, if this starts a trend where they only introduce characters in order to kill them off immediately, I may be able to mark this moment as the point in the series where the writing started going downhill. Let's hope I'm wrong, huh? Fifty years, parole in thirty. Um, no. Life, parole never, for those aggravating circumstances, if not death. Sheesh, what's going on here? Later, Glynn walks into the gym, and sighs all "oh, shit." Vogel is hanging naked upside down from the ceiling, with the word "JEW" cut into his chest. The "JEW" was cut upside down, so it reads correctly with Vogel hung from his feet. I'd compliment Vern's attention to detail, but we already knew of his proficiency at etching skin.
Glynn interrogates Schillinger, and reasonably opines that the "JEW" carving suggests that the Brotherhood committed the crime. Schillinger's face looks more beat up now, which is a nice touch, given that Vogel probably would have put up a struggle. Schillinger, all cat that ate the canary, dares Glynn to prove it. He says he will. Schillinger leaves, singing "I Wish I Were In The Land Of Cotton." Hee. In the cafeteria, Alvarez congratulates Schillinger and Mack on the Vogel killing, and boy, Miguel, you are not having a good episode here. Schillinger notes that everyone knows they did it, and that's what counts. Mack asks what they do , and Schillinger says they take care of Beecher. Mack: "We kill Beecher?" Schillinger: "Yeah. But first we make him suffer. Suffer long and hard." No wire hangers in this house!
Hill speculates that perhaps the greatest person of the millennium was a woman. If this means what I think it means, I may have to take a break and do a dance around my apartment.
Yes! Yes! On Oz TV, we hear that Shirley Bellinger was sentenced to death. We see her led into solitary, and when she turns around, she looks eerily like Mare Winningham in her Six Feet Under appearance. She says to Glynn, "How comfy." He looks disgusted, and leaves. I take back any statement I may have made about the show going downhill.
Hill talks about great men and being remembered. The camera spins around him as he talks, and we see Waldo again. I really want to know if this is a joke. Hill says he doesn't want to be remembered. Then SHUT UP! And we're done.
Oh, by the way, time some new prisoner shows up. I don't really remember his name -- I'm sure it won't be a big deal.