Chazz Palminteri directed this episode, for those of you who care about such things.
Hill sits on an altar where there are many candles burning, and he's wearing a monk's robe. He recites a verse from the Bible about how God would lead his people out of suffering and into the land of milk and honey. Hill points out that although God sent Moses to set the people free, he also caused the Pharaoh to keep the captive. Hill wonders, "Hey, God! Whose side are you on?" Well, that's easy. The Yankees' side. That's what my dad told me. ["A wise man, your father." -- Sars]
Schillinger sorts mail in (where else?) the mailroom. A guard comes in and congratulates Schillinger on "a bouncing baby boy." Schillinger doesn't pay much attention until the guard reveals that Schillinger's son arrived at Oz yesterday, and has been assigned to Em City. Schillinger insists on seeing Leo immediately.
Does Leo have nothing better to do all day than meet with various prisoners? It seems like every time prisoners want to see him, they are ushered right into his office. Anyway, Schillinger tells Leo that Beecher, Keller, and Ryan are all just waiting to get revenge, and now McManus has delivered Schillinger's son to them "on a silver platter." I would really love to see McManus carrying a silver platter with Chip on it, apple in mouth. Schillinger reminds Leo that his daughter was beaten and raped, so Leo knows what it's like to want to protect your own. Leo asks Schillinger what he's supposed to do. Schillinger asks Leo to put Chip in Unit B, with him. Leo reminds Schillinger of all the times Leo has needed a favor, and Schillinger wouldn't cooperate, and points out that Schillinger is now begging. Schillinger admits that he is, in fact, begging. Leo asks if Schillinger has two sons. Schillinger does. Leo says, "Maybe you'll have better luck with the second one," and orders the guard to take Schillinger away. Of course, we know that Schillinger will not have any luck with the second one, but I'm getting ahead of myself. Chip himself is currently under the stairs, snorting drugs.
Keller and Ryan fold laundry. Ryan does a good job, but Keller can't fold for shit. I just thought I'd throw that in there in case you were thinking of hiring either of them to do the washing up. Keller wonders why McManus put Chip in Em City, knowing the history, and suggests that McManus is setting him or Ryan up. Ryan disagrees, stating that McManus hates "that Nazi fuck" more than they do, and could just be hoping that it gets taken care of. Keller wants to know what he means by that. Ryan explains that Chip has been buying a ton of drugs from him, and suggests that they just let him overdose. Beecher, who has been lurking in the corner the whole time, adds, "Or..." Keller says, "Or what?" Before Beecher can answers, Chip comes in and asks Ryan for more of "that good shit." Ryan gives Keller and Beecher a smile and follows Chip out the door.
Schillinger walks into the cafeteria, looking for his son. Ryan points him out, adding, "Nice looking kid." Schillinger stomps over to find Chip face down in his food, so he cuffs him on the head a few times, and finally pulls Chip's head up. Chip has food all over his face, and says sleepily, "Hi, Dad." Schillinger angrily calls the Ted Danson look-alike guard over and asks if the prison still has a no-drug policy, pointing to his son. The guard grabs Chip, who resists and tries to run away. Seeing no escape, Chip jumps on top of a table and starts running along it, while the prisoners cheer. Beecher reaches out and grabs Chip's ankle, causing him to take a digger. Cut to Chip being tossed in solitary, and we get to see his swastika tattoo, and then his naked bum.
In Sister Pete's office, Schillinger tells her that he wants Chip in her rehab group. Sister Pete tells him that an addict will only quit when he wants to. Schillinger notices that Beecher is standing outside, and tells Sister Pete that she should get some curtains as he goes to leave. Beecher walks in and expresses sympathy for Schillinger. Sister Pete tells Beecher that she's going to bring Chip into their group, and she hopes that won't be a problem. Beecher says he's looking forward to it.
Chip joins the rehab group. Some of the other members include Beecher, Keller, Ryan, and Hill. Sister Pete welcomes Chip and explains that they discuss their addictions to try to find the cause, and encourages Chip to share his addiction. Chip invites Sister Pete to fuck herself. Keller yells at him, saying that Sister Pete is a nun. Chip tells Keller to fuck off too. Keller stands up, challenging Chip. Beecher jumps in between them and decks Keller right in the jaw.
Beecher walks into the frame, clad only in a towel. Keller (also wearing a towel and adding combat boots) walks up and reminds Beecher that he was only supposed to punch him in the stomach, but Beecher says it has to look legitimate. Keller points out Chip's location and leaves. Beecher finds Chip talking to Ryan and Cyril under the stairs. Ryan tells Chip that he has a lot of customers to satisfy, so Chip is cut off until a new shipment comes in. Chip isn't happy, but Ryan points out that the only other people selling drugs are black, and he knows Chip won't buy from them. Ryan locks eyes with Beecher and then leaves, and Cyril follows. Chip turns around and sees Beecher standing there. Beecher asks if he's okay. Chip asks him for drugs, but Beecher says he can't get any. Chip looks pissed and walks away.
Beecher asks McManus to move Keller out of his pod, and move Chip in. McManus knows something is up. Beecher says that he thinks he can help Chip, and he feels sorry for him. McManus admits that he knows Beecher stood up for Chip in group. Beecher points out that Chip has no friends, and Schillinger told his gang not to fraternize with him, so Chip is becoming more isolated. McManus finally relents, but says that if anything happens to Chip, Beecher will be in trouble. Beecher replies that Chip will be "as safe with [Beecher] as he was in his mother's arms." Ooh, Beecher is such a smooth liar.
Keller moves out of the pod, and Chip moves in. Chip thanks Beecher for punching Keller. Beecher says he knows what it's like "to be on the bottom bunk," and then asks Chip if he has any tattoos. Chip pulls off his shirt to show the swastika on his shoulder. Beecher touches it and flashes back to Schillinger burning the swastika on his ass. Chip asks Beecher if he can see his tattoo. Beecher smirks and says that they don't know each other that well yet.
Hill is dressed as a Pharaoh, and attended by three female servants. Hill explains that God sent the Pharaoh plagues as punishment for imprisoning the Israelites. Hill describes how the Pharaoh went down to the river and reached in, only to find that the water of the Nile had turned to blood. To illustrate this point, Hill reaches into an urn held by one of the women, and comes up with his hands dripping with blood. Creepy.
Leo catches up to McManus, and informs him of a meeting in his office, advising McManus to bring a lawyer. McManus is all, "What?" Leo's all, "Claire Howell is suing us for sexual harassment. You should have told me when you told me to fire her that you had been fucking her." McManus has nothing to say in response, so Leo gives him a disgusted look and walks away.
Assembled in Leo's office are Leo, McManus, McManus's lawyer, Claire's lawyer, and some guy representing the state. Claire's lawyer is played by the guy who pushed Vincent D'Onofrio into the subway in the episode of Homicide appropriately entitled "Subway." Just a little trivia for you. Claire's lawyer explains that they want Claire reinstated, and for the employees of Oz to undergo sensitivity training. Good Lord -- if anyone needs sensitivity training, it's Claire. McManus's lawyer says that her client did nothing wrong. Claire's lawyer counters that many prisoners saw McManus force himself on Claire in his office. McManus explains that Claire asked him out; they had dinner, and then had sex. A few days later, they had sex again. Claire wanted more from the relationship than McManus, so he dumped her, and she got angry, which is what the prisoners saw. Claire's lawyer adds, "And then you fired her." McManus yells, "She was fired because she was incompetent, not because I didn't want to fuck her anymore!" Awkward pause. The state's attorney says that they will settle out of court, and Claire can return to work as soon as she likes. Cut to McManus seeing Claire in the locker room. She tells him that if he says one word to her, she'll scream. McManus walks away.
Said tells his friends that he has a visitor. They give him dirty looks, and he says in clipped tones, "It's my sister!" Cut to Said visiting with his sister, who has some sort of liturgical collar on. She tells him that she had a visit from Patricia Ross, who says that Said has been ignoring her and won't see her. Sister wants to know why. Said doesn't answer. Sister guesses that they are in love, which Said doesn't deny. Sister goes off on a rant about how Said rejected their religion, which felt like a rejection of her and their father, and reminds him of when he wanted to marry someone named Marilyn Crenshaw. Said tells her to say what she means, and Sister admits that she's bothered by Said's attraction to white women. She yells at Said to admit that he wants to be something other than what he is. Said yells back that he is black, Muslim, and a man, and sometimes those things war with each other. Said continues, saying that he is not proud of his feelings for Patricia Ross, but he's not ashamed either, because if he shuts down his feelings, then the prison has won. Sister watches him walk away with tears in her eyes.
Poet asks to be let into Said's pod. Once inside, Poet explains that he knows that Said worked to get him published, and Poet fucked it up, but he hasn't been writing in order to punish himself for his misdeed. Now, Poet wants to start writing again. Said gives him permission to do so, since he was asking. Poet is overjoyed, and says that he will dedicate his first poem to Said, for inspiring them all. Said tells Poet to write for himself, because Said is no better than Poet.
Said comes to see Tricia Ross in the visitors' room. He walks in slowly, pauses, and then closes the door behind him. Poet is at another table, talking to his mother or something. Said tells Tricia not to talk, and holds out his hand. Poet sees this. Patricia looks at Said warily, and then takes his hand. Poet watches.
Keller talks to Sister Pete in her office. He asks her if she is a nun or a shrink first, and she says shrink. He asks why she likes to get inside people's heads. Sister Pete says that she does it because sometimes she can make a small difference. Keller asks if it frustrates or hurts her to take such small steps. Sister Pete says she was trained not to let it hurt. Keller says that it's a tough lesson to learn, and then says that it's not her fault that her patients don't get better, but sometimes she has to wonder if she's just not good enough. Sister Pete looks at him like, "Damn, boy! How did you get inside my head?" A bell rings, and Keller hops up to see one of his ex-wives during visiting hours.
Sister Pete walks out of her office and sees Kenny and Pierce pointing into the visiting room and chuckling. She looks and sees Keller nuzzling with a babe. Keller notices Sister Pete and waves. Sister Pete waves back and smiles. Keller goes back to nuzzling his babe.
Sister Pete looks at some certificate on the wall. I guess it's either her psychology degree or her nun's orders, or something. Ray walks in and says he heard that Leo is allowing Alvarez to participate in the victim-offender interaction program. Sister Pete is on her way to tell Alvarez, and Ray wants to come along. Sister Pete informs him that he can't be involved in the program, because it needs to be between her, Alvarez, and Rivera. Ray looks downtrodden.
Flashback to Rivera, screaming because Alvarez just gouged his eyes out. In the present, Sister Pete goes to see Alvarez and explain the interaction program. Alvarez doesn't understand the point, but Sister Pete points out that prison is punishment, not remorse. Alvarez says he will do it, and Sister Pete says he'll be allowed out of solitary while he is participating. Alvarez knows there is a catch, and Sister Pete admits that Alvarez will have to tell Leo who raped his daughter. Sister Pete says, "This isn't a way out. It's a way in. Understand?" Alvarez sulks on his bed, and Sister Pete leaves. Claire closes the door to his cell.
Sister Pete calls Rivera to see if he and his wife can come and meet with her. Meanwhile, Alvarez returns to Em City. In their meeting, Mrs. Rivera can't believe that Sister Pete wants them to forgive Alvarez. Sister Pete defends the program. Rivera tries to calm his wife down, but she thinks that Alvarez should be on death row. Rivera tells her that he's going to do it, but she doesn't have to. Sister Pete clarifies that either party can call it quits at any time. Rivera says he wants Alvarez to see what he did, and find out why. Sister Pete purses her lips.
Hill is still going on about the various plagues sent to the Pharaoh. Locusts, boils, the whole nine.
El Cid and Guerra go to have a little talk with Alvarez while Alvarez is in the shower. They want to know why he's out of solitary. Alvarez explains about Sister Pete. El Cid doesn't believe it, and thinks that Alvarez confessed that they were behind Rivera's blinding. El Cid wants to know if Alvarez is with them or not. Alvarez says that he's in. El Cid asks Alvarez if he can be their boxing representative. Alvarez says that he's on drugs to stop him from going crazy, and El Cid advises him to stop taking them so that he can win the fight. In the gym, Ryan and Cyril watch Alvarez working the heavy bag.
A bell rings, and all the lights come on in Em City. Ryan wakes up and tries to get Cyril up too, explaining that they have to go work in the kitchen and then go box. Cyril doesn't want to box today. Ryan tells him that it's two weeks until his fight. Cyril says slowly that he doesn't want to box anymore. Ryan isn't having it, and tells Cyril to get up.
Ryan catches up with El Cid, Guerra, and Alvarez. They discuss the fact that Alvarez has his first fight today, versus Jason Kramer. Ryan reminds Guerra that he owes him money from Cyril's win. Guerra pays up, but says he doesn't think that Robson got beat fairly. After a bit of a standoff, El Cid gets Guerra to back down.
It's a "How I Got To Prison" flashback. Some guy takes a package for delivery to Airborne Express, and leaves. The Airborne guy notices blood seeping out of the corner of the box. Hill introduces us to Prisoner #98C931, Jason Kramer. He was convicted September 6th, 1998 of murder in the first degree, kidnapping, and assault with a dangerous instrument. His sentence is life without the possibility of parole.
Ryan approaches Kramer in line at the prison store, asking him if he's ready for his fight against Alvarez. Ryan blathers on about how Kramer has balls, and he'll need them to fight Alvarez. Ryan lets it slip -- purely by accident, I'm sure -- that if Alvarez wins, the Hispanic gang is going to gang-rape Kramer's boyfriend Anthony. Kramer doesn't think that will happen, and adds that everyone only thinks he will lose because he's gay. But, Kramer concludes, there are only two things he knows how to do: "Fight and suck." How can they say those lines with straight faces? I would burst out laughing. Kramer leaves, and Ryan pulls a big wad of cash out of his pocket. Pancamo and some goons walk up. Pancamo hopes that Ryan isn't running "a little side action," because all bets are supposed to go through him. Pancamo demands twenty-five percent of Ryan's cash. Ryan hands the cash over, and then admits that he's betting on Kramer in the fight today.
Flashback to the preacher stealing chloral hydrate from the hospital, and handing it over to Ryan. In the gym, Ryan slips some into the conveniently labeled water bottle belonging to Alvarez. During the fight, Alvarez is winning handily. Kramer gets knocked down but gets back up. Ryan watches Alvarez drink the tainted water. When the round begins, Kramer beats the crap out of Alvarez, knocking him to his knees. After Alvarez gets back up, Kramer punches him in the gut until the break. Alvarez drinks more tainted water. In the round, Kramer gets Alvarez against the ropes, and the ref is forced to break it up. The ref declares Kramer the winner.
Hill, still dressed as a Pharaoh, asks us to think about three days of complete darkness, which is what the Pharaoh in the Bible had to contend with. While we might think it doesn't make sense, Hill says, remember that the Pharaohs enslaved the Israelites for four hundred thirty years, and no one should get away with that.
The inmates watch Miss Sally on television. Cyril likes the puppets, but no one else is looking at the puppets. Unless by "puppets," you mean "hooters." The inmates argue over whether Miss Sally is a goddess or a ho; then a group of Christian inmates, led by Cudney, walks in and stands in front of the televisions and accuses the inmates of watching the program out of lust. Well, obviously. Murphy orders Cudney to move away, but he refuses. Murphy calls for a lockdown. The Christian inmates protest, but eventually move along.
McManus works the heavy bag in the staff gym, and Leo walks in and asks how Clayton Hughes is doing as a guard. McManus admits that Clayton is "barely hanging on," and wants to know why Leo has taken such an interest. Leo exposits that he and Clayton's father were guards together, and became like brothers, until Clayton's father was killed in Oz seventeen years ago. Leo adds, "Clayton was his only son," and then punches the heavy bag. Leo, by the way, is jacked. McManus? Not so much.
Ryan congratulates Alvarez on his fight. When Alvarez points out that he lost, Ryan says, "Yeah, but I won," and whips out a wad of bills. Some extra laughs way too hard at that joke, just so that he can say that he was onscreen. I'm surprised he didn't get credited as "Guy Who Laughed Way Too Hard." Ryan and Kenny make fun of Alvarez for getting beat by a gay man. El Cid says quietly to Alvarez that he made their group look bad. Clayton warns them to calm down. The words quickly escalate into action, and Clayton runs over and shocks El Cid with a stun gun. The other inmates look, appropriately enough, stunned, since the stun gun is not part of the guards' regular arsenal in Oz.
Leo and McManus discuss Clayton's infraction. Leo wonders how the stun gun got into Oz, but McManus makes the more important point that Clayton is out of control. Leo turns on McManus, telling him that he has never understood what it's like to be a guard, and he never will. McManus doesn't have much to say to that, so Leo says that he will deal with Clayton himself.
Clayton enters Leo's office, all apologetic. Leo is unexpectedly happy, calling Clayton over to look at something. As soon as Clayton is within range, Leo grabs him and shoves his face down to the desk, pointing out that a prisoner could do the same thing, and Clayton isn't invincible and can't make up his own rules. Clayton says he needed to get respect. Leo informs Clayton that he's being transferred to the library. Clayton tries to protest, but Leo dismisses him, because he has to explain "this wrist-slap to [his] staff." Cut to the library, where Kenny and Pierce walk in. After they are sure that Clayton is watching them, they mime stun-gunning each other, and laugh at what a pansy Clayton really is.
Shirley and Richie wish each other good morning on Death Row. Are they really any good mornings when you're on Death Row? I guess any morning that you're still alive is good. Richie is going to appeal his conviction, and if it works, he won't see Shirley again. Richie confesses that if it doesn't work, he's going to do what Shirley suggested and tell the powers that be that he and Schillinger committed murder together. Shirley approves of justice being done, and then tells Richie that his sweater is almost done. Flash to said sweater, which is not "almost done," and looks like it would fit one of my cats. The guards come to take Richie to court, and he and Shirley have a tearful goodbye.
Busmalis and Rebadow play cards with Russky, who is regaling them with tales of his criminal past in Russia. Beecher comes by and informs them that Richie Hanlon's murder conviction was overturned due to some loophole. Richie isn't free, though, because he still has to serve time for his original drug conviction, so he's headed back to Em City. Busmalis remembers that Russky knew Alexander Vogel, Richie's victim. Russky claims that Vogel was his enemy, so Richie's court decision is cause to celebrate. Busmalis and Rebadow seem charmed by Russky.
Richie is welcomed back to Em City. He goes to take a shower, and is joined by Russky. Richie is babbling about how happy he is to be alive, which is a sure sign that he's about to die. Russky makes as if he wants to start a little something with Richie, and moves in for a kiss. As Richie leans in, Russky reveals the razor blade he has hidden in his mouth, and slits Richie's throat. Russky says, "I lied. Alexander Vogel was my friend." Richie...well, Richie won't be saying much of anything anymore. Russky rinses off the razor blade, then makes like a tree and leaves.
Hill, still in Pharaoh gear and now with a child sitting on his lap, tells us about the last plague sent to Egypt. All the first-born children of Egypt died on one night, even the Pharaoh's son. Hill concludes, "His sweet, innocent little boy."
Shirley unravels the sweater she was knitting for Richie as the guards call for lights out. She stands and stares into Richie's former cell, which is now empty.
Flashback to Gloria telling Nappa that he is HIV-positive and will have to be transferred to the AIDS unit. In the present, Father Ray walks into Nappa's cell. Nappa offers him a cappuccino. Ray is surprised that Nappa has a cappuccino machine, but Nappa says that the only good thing about being on that unit is that the guards figure they're already dead, so they let them do whatever they want. Ray raises his eyebrows and agrees to a cappuccino. Nappa prepares the drink and admits that he always thought of Ray as "a hack in black." Ray knows that most of the prisoners think he's just a stoolie for the warden. Nappa says that in his neighborhood growing up, a boy could be a doctor, a lawyer, a priest, or...a businessman. The meaningful pause before "businessman" lets Ray know what Nappa is talking about. Nappa says that in order to become a "businessman," he had to "burn the saint." Ray fills in that he's talking about burning a picture of a saint to show that you renounce the church and pledge your loyalty to the Mob. Nappa says he didn't believe at first that he was HIV-positive, but he had his own doctor check the results, and it's true. Ray starts to give him the big speech about HIV not being a death sentence, but Nappa tells him to save it. Nappa says that, in his line of work, you're always ready to die, but you assume that it will be quick. A slow death allows time to reflect on your life, and now Nappa wants to make a confession of everything he's done in his life, and make a good act of contrition. Ray puts down his drink and puts on his vestments. Nappa asks for help getting started, and then gets on with the rite.
Adebisi sits down at the table where the Italians are playing cards. Adebisi reminds Pancamo of how close he was to Nino Scibetta. Pancamo blows him off, but Adebisi says that he wants to be Pancamo's business partner. Pancamo points out that he already has a partner in Kenny, and besides, Adebisi cut his head open. Adebisi says that he was a strong enemy, but he could also be a strong ally. Pancamo considers this, and Adebisi says that if something happened to Kenny, maybe Pancamo would need a new partner. Pancamo agrees to that, so Adebisi sticks his pick in his hair and leaves. As Adebisi walks up the stairs, he passes Kenny and Pierce on the way down. Pierce wants to kill Adebisi, but Kenny points out that Nappa doesn't want that. Pierce counters that Nappa is gone, and Kenny agrees.
Adebisi meets with El Cid and Guerra in the computer room. Adebisi suggests that they get rid of Kenny and Pierce so that they can control the drug trade, because the Italians will work with anyone who can get the job done. El Cid and Guerra are surprised that Adebisi wants to get rid of "his people." Adebisi says they aren't his people, because he's African. El Cid agrees to the plan. Remember a minute ago when I said that Adebisi had a pick? It's actually a plastic fork, and he's using it to comb his hair. Murphy comes in and orders the three out of the room, since they're not using the computer. Adebisi insists that he is using it, and Murphy suggests that he turn it on, then.
Adebisi taps a key on the keyboard and Hill shows up, still in Pharaoh gear. Hill says, "You reap what you sow." Hill allows that it's true in the Pharaoh's case, but asks about the poor farmer who was visited by all the same plagues, all because of a Pharaoh he didn't even get to vote for. Hill then lists all the innocent victims in today's society, and wonders if there is a law about needless suffering. Throughout, Adebisi looks at the monitor with a confused expression on his face, much like many of the readers of this recap, I'm sure.
Schillinger hands out mail in Em City. He spots Beecher and Chip playing cards in the corner, and Beecher sees him seeing them. Got that? Kenny walks up and only gets one card in the mail, so he asks Schillinger to check again. You can imagine Schillinger's response. Let's just say that if Schillinger ever got released, he would be perfect for a job in the post office on the outside, with those customer service skills. Kenny opens the card, and it's a birthday card from his mother. Pierce and Poet joke with Kenny about the fact that he's eighteen today, and then decide to go do some drugs. Kenny says that he'll catch up with them later.
Kenny calls his wife Lauryn, and asks about their baby. He tells her that she forgot his birthday, but admits that it's okay. He wants new boots, and tells her to do whatever she has to in order to send them to him. He tells her that he loves her and hangs up.
Kenny's mother visits, and he asks her about Lauryn. For some reason, he has to talk to her behind barriers with the phone deal, and the others get to have visitors in the visiting room. I don't know why that is. Anyway, Kenny's mom is an idiot, and she tells Kenny that Lauryn has a new boyfriend, and she thinks the new boyfriend is hurting the baby. Yeah, that was a good idea to pass that along, since he can do so much about it from prison. And then she acts all upset, like she thought he would take the news well. In actuality, Kenny blows up and starts yelling, and the guards escort him out.
Kenny paces his cell, yelling about women being bitches, and how he can't do anything about his son being hurt. Pierce points out that he knows people who could take care of it, and it wouldn't be traced back to Kenny by the cops. Kenny considers this, and then tells Pierce to have the boyfriend killed at any price. They shake on it. As Pierce goes to make the call, Kenny stops him and adds, "My wife too."
Pierce hangs up the phone, indicating that it's done. Kenny calls his mother and tells her to go over to Lauryn's and get the baby out of the house tonight, but he won't tell her why.
Hill's back in the monk's robe on the altar. He tells us that Moses finally got the chosen people to the Promised Land, but even then, there were still wars and destruction by the Romans. Hill wonders if there is too much suffering in the world, and then adds that there is too much suffering in Oz for even a guilty man to endure. Hey, don't do the crime if you can't do the time, brother.
Kenny tells his friends that he'll catch up with them later as he hangs out in the back room of the kitchen. After they leave, he lights a candle on a cupcake and starts singing "Happy Birthday" to himself. On the third line, Adebisi slips up behind him, scaring the crap out of me, and finishes the song. Then, Adebisi blows out Kenny's candle. No, I didn't mean that metaphorically. He literally blows out the candle.