Previously: The roommates find a hideous little dog, and eventually, the owner. Julie's mother visits, and Julie experiences that classic condition Dysfunctiona Minora.
Close-up of Julie's face, sort of weepy. In her one-on-one, she tells us that it's apparent, after living with Kevin, that he is capable of some physical violence, and that her being a woman wouldn't affect his rage at all.
Oh God. Close-up of Eric being indignant, shouting, "He took one of them [sic] candlesticks?" Julie says no, he took of those even BIGGER gewgaws, and Heather says that, when she walked in, things were all out of place and she wondered who'd messed them up. Julie says, "He didn't throw it at me, " and Heather interrupts her to say, "Like what? Like he was gonna charge you and hit you with it?" Eric interrupts to say, "Regardless [sic], he came at you with this in his hand [here he displays a really big whopper of a pewter candlestick] like he was gonna hit you?"
Julie says that she understood she might get socked no matter what, and she could handle a black eye and she loved the show, but she wasn't going to a funeral over it. Funny, she doesn't specify whose funeral: hers or Kevin's.
Eric's one-on-one. He tells us that Julie was really upset and hysterical. He says that for someone to be like that, something really serious must have happened. Also, Julie, despite her naïveté, always seemed pretty levelheaded and more than willing to give someone the benefit of the doubt.
Back in the loft. Julie tells her side of the story. She says that Kevin was on the phone and she picked up and asked who he was talking to. He said, "None of your business," and Julie said, "Well, hurry." Heather shakes her hair. She has really good hair in this episode -- chunky braids tied back in a ponytail. Julie continues: "Then things escalated from there." He said, "Fuck you, Julie," and she said, "No, fuck you Kevin," and then he said something like, "Mind your manners," and Julie replied, "Why should I? You don't mind your manners to anyone in this whole place." Julie just keeps muttering, "It just escalated from there." Julie then tells us that Kevin told her to suck his dick and that if she ever talked to him like that again he would break every one of her fingers. She started yelling at him to get out and he started slamming doors. He left and then started beating the door from outside.
Eric mutters, "He's got a problem." Heather, rather callously, says, "It ain't ours." Julie makes a face in disagreement. Eric says, "Well, it's gonna be." Julie says, "Well, it was mine for a while," and Eric says, "Well, it's gonna be mine when I see him again." Shut. UP. ERIC. Julie sort of half rolls her eyes at him. She starts to say something and then stops, looking really upset.
Eric's one-on-one. He says, "Julie and Kevin were the only ones in the apartment, the only ones who know what happened, and there's two stories."
Cut to Kevin looking muy serioso. He's staring at some pics of Malcolm X and other African-pride pictures. Kevin's sitting at a publisher's desk with Lisa, his co-editor. The publisher is telling them that he likes Kevin's stuff and that Sam told him to teach Kevin humility.
Kevin's one-on-one. He tells us he was thinking about the fight, but he didn't think it was a big deal. It was just like any other argument, except that it was the first one he had with Julie. WHOA, tiger, how many fights do you have to have before they're considered a normal occurrence? I give that two Jake LaMottas.
Norman's one-on-one. He tells us that he was at work when he heard the report that Kevin had spit in Julie's face and thrown things at her, and that he immediately took Julie's side of the story and accused Kevin.
Cut to dramatic zoom shot of the loft. Norman is SHOUTING at Kevin, telling him that while there are misunderstandings between everyone in the loft, Kevin has insisted that it's all been disrespect aimed at him. He basically accuses Kevin of being paranoid, violent, and all other types of bad stuff. Norman's really going the full Bobby Knight and just screaming at the top of his lungs.
Kevin keeps trying to interrupt him, but Norman's shouting so loudly he can't, which is sort of poetic justice considering that during the Kevin-Becky Rumble in the Jungle, Kevin wouldn't let her complete a sentence. They're shouting so loudly that I can't separate what they're saying, but it comes down to Kevin yelling, "Are you just gonna yell at me all the time?" And Norman screaming, "You made me!"
Norman's one-on-one. He tells us how he could feel "the Sicilian blood rushing to [his] head," until it was about to explode like Vesuvius.
Back to the fight. Kevin does THE most condescending thing in the world. He starts out reasonably and asks Norman what he would do if someone got on the phone while HE was talking. He tries to finish his sentence, but Norman interrupts. Kevin then starts waving his fingers in Norman's face like he's leading an orchestra and saying, "Are you going to listen? Do you know how to listen? Do you know how to listen? You need to calm down. You need to calm down," in a voice that drips with condescension like rotten maple syrup. UGH. Someone drop a rock on his head.
Kevin then makes a valid point and tells Norman that he wasn't there, so he can't really go around tossing judgments (although Norman looks like he wants to toss Kevin in the river). Kevin then says that Julie picked up the phone with an attitude, and that it was a record company on the phone, offering him a job. Kevin was desperate to get this job, since he is broke and incredibly anxious about his financial straits. Apparently, once Julie got on the phone, the record company exec told Kevin he wasn't serious about this job and "Click. Do you understand me Norman? CLICK." Ooh. Okay, if that is true -- big bummer. Not that I'm inclined to believe Kevin, whose Native American name should be, "He With Selective Memory," but quelle, quelle ouch nonetheless.
Kevin's one-on-one. He tells us that he thought Norman automatically took Julie's side without caring to hear about Kevin's, and that he assumed without question that Kevin was the kind of guy who would get violent. Congratulations, Kevin. Now tell us what color grass is. Also, when you write fifteen-page opuses about your trouble-filled life to your roommate, and toss comments like "bitch" and "your momma" at female roommates during casual debates, you haven't exactly demonstrated an even temperament, honey.
Back to the loft. Kevin keeps shouting that Norman wasn't there and has no right to judge. Kevin asks why Norman was so quick to judge. Norman says that if he was brought before a judge and had to verify that Kevin has acted a wee bit -- shall we say, irrationally? -- in the past, Norman would have to say yes. Norman adds, "And I'd have to say that's all I know of Kevin." Then Lisa, who's at the loft, too, waves her finger at Norman and says, "That's. All. You know. Of Kevin. That's all you know of Kevin. A pattern of aggressive behavior." Norman says, "DUH." I may be paraphrasing there.
Kevin looks hurt and repeats, "That's all you know of me." Some remarkably bad editing later, and Norman has calmed down a little and does what seems like a one-eighty, telling Kevin that he's just as angry and upset with Julie. Pardon me? About three minutes ago, you were raising the flag and deciding to all but lock Kevin in the galley, and suddenly you decide that you haven't heard the whole story? Aw, Norman even if you were acting a little irrational, at least you had a backbone. Lisa asks where Julie is. Norman doesn't know. Kevin whistles and makes significant faces at Lisa. He's also wearing this hid-e-ous shirt with pukka shells stitched on the collar. Someone arrest him -- if not for assault, then for major fashion crimes.
Heather and Eric enter. Heather's singing. Julie's right behind them. Kevin's sprawled on the counter. Norman says, in very melodramatic Dynasty fashion, "Julie. I really need to know what happened." Someone slap Norman; he's clutching his pearls so tightly he's going to snap the clasp. Julie says, "What?!" And Norman says, "Where did Krystle put the will?" Ooops. Sorry. He says, "I need to know exactly what happened." Julie asks, "What do you need to know?" Norman says that he just accused Kevin of spitting at her and throwing a candlestick at her. Julie says calmly, "He spit at me and threw this candlestick at me." Kevin, with this horrible, smarmy smirk on his face says, "You're buggin'." Julie is totally astonished and says, "You didn't throw this candlestick at me and spit at me in the face?" Kevin says, "You're lying." Kevin superciliously punctuates every statement he makes with her name, like a Satanic car salesman: "I have no idea, Julie. Why don't you tell us, Julie." I cannot communicate the smug superiority and condescension that coat his every word. Oh wait. Yes I can. It's exactly like Oliver North during the Iran-Contra trials, and suddenly I am having this awful '80s flashback involving Oliver Stone, shoulder pads, and crimping irons.
Dead silence. Julie asks how the candlestick ended up on the floor, and Kevin, arms thrown wide, says, "When I left the apartment, it may have fallen down, Julie." Kevin then asks her, "How'd it start, Julie?" Julie says that she sat down and picked up the phone and said, "Who's on the phone?" Kevin shakes his head and says, "That's not what you said." Julie says challengingly, "What'd I say?" Kevin then goes to the Second Face of Eve and says, "'The call ain't important.'" In one split-second -- man, is his timing impressive! -- he switches to the Third Face of Eve and says, "A call like that, and you cursed!"
Norman interrupts and says, "You said she said 'fuck you.'" Apparently, once above the stairs and once below. Julie says, "Yeah I said it!" She turns to Kevin and says, "And you didn't say 'suck my dick' to me?" Kevin shifts gears into Avuncularity faster than a speeding bullet, and tells her that he tried to explain he was on the phone with a prospective employer. Julie looks like she's going to explode with protests, but Kevin overrides her and yells that she didn't even apologize. Julie says no way was she going to apologize, and Norman -- easy Bette Davis, no Oscars being awarded here -- does his best ABC After School Special impression, and tells Kevin that spitting is Never Excusable.
Kevin and Julie are still shouting. Kevin says with a smirk, "Two different perceptions, girlfriend." Wow. When did Moesha possess Kevin's body? Julie tells Kevin that they've only got a week and a half to go, and that if this is the way he wants to go out, that's fine. Kevin starts to say something and moves off the counter toward Julie, and Julie says in a very loud voice, "Stay the fuck away from me." I wonder how many times The Real World Los Angeles watched that scene in preparation for the big "Beth Who Cried Rape" episode?
Eric, Julie, and Norman are sitting on the couch. Eric tells Julie that he believes her. Julie says that they can believe whatever they want or stay totally out of it, but either way, she doesn't ever want to be left alone with Kevin again. Hmm. On the one hand, I understand her point. On the other, she's not really reinforcing the whole, "Go ahead and stay out of it," stance. The Minor Chords of Disharmony are heard in the background. Man, Bunim-Murray sure milked those Casio keyboards for all they're worth.
Eric says, "I understand that." Julie says that's all it comes down to. Eric points out that it's not the first time they've seen Kevin go at someone. All these jazzy Flashdance-type chords play. Several shots of Julie looking upset.
We hear Julie on the phone with her mom and dad, who can tell she's in a bad mood. The camera is angled up at her face. The parents keep asking her if she's okay or holding out. Julie fiddles with her hair and then tells the cameraman, "If you don't get that camera off me, I'm just gonna die." She very gently puts her foot on the camera.
Eric and Norman walking around. Eric says there's no way Julie would make up that story. He says that he absolutely can't see that in Julie, and that he wanted to punch Kevin for shoving his face into Julie's and saying "It's my word against yours." Eric tells us that it's the action of someone who's trying to get out of something, and that he's done the same thing "trying to get out of a million holes." Must. Refrain. From. Colorful Comment. Eric says that's why he can't believe Kevin.
Oh God. More spoken word. Why are the VIEWERS being punished for the lofties being unable to get along? Some schmuck introduces Kevin Powell, who uses "words for wheels." Kevin then speaks a few lines of poesy called "Mental Terrorism," and boy. Was it EVER.
Eric's one-on-one. Eric says Julie needs to be distracted and made to laugh. shot, Eric's wearing several weird costumes and singing horribly and strumming on the guitar. This is the one time Eric is vaguely unselfish and I actually find him semi-charming.
Julie's one-on-one. She says that Eric took care of her all day and went out of his way to cheer her up, including doing a really good imitation of a chicken. Or, as Julie says affirmatively, "That is. A CHICKEN." I hate to say it, but Eric does a pretty good chicken-walking imitation, too.
Kevin and Kasimi, his girlfriend, go to Jersey City to return to Kevin's roots. He runs into his old best friend, Eric, who's "just survivin'" and invites Eric to his birthday party later on in the week. Kevin shows Kasimi around his old haunts and tells various bits of anecdotes. They catch the bus and hold hands. Yeah, yeah. We get it. Come see the softer side of Kevin.
Kevin back at the loft. Andre greets him at the door. Andre asks him about the postcard Kevin tacked to the bulletin board: "When did they stop counting Black folks as three-fifths of a human being? (Dred Scott lives)!" Man. Is this a non-sequitur sequence or what? I mean, even though it's Andre, would fifteen seconds of set-up have killed you? Bad, bad editors! No more Big Gulps or Marlborough Lights for you!
Andre says that it seems like Kevin is taking stuff out on the people he lives with. Kevin says, in that patronizing voice people use when they think it demonstrates mental superiority (although, I know, it's Andre -- it's not exactly a reach), "No, I live elsewhere than here." Andre rolls his eyes and says he knows, but that the postcard is up at the loft, and Kevin's taking it out on the people in the loft. Kevin then says, "I think people are a part of the problem or a part of the solution." WHOA, stop the presses!! Does the Times know about this?! Kevin continues that the situation at the loft has always been racist, and that the latest event and the accusations of him being a big ole Ike Turner just reinforce how racist the country is. I do love a man who can take a personal squabble and every instance of his poor behavior and turn it into an indicator of larger sociological forces. Oh wait -- no I don't. I actually think that he's a huge jackass. Hey Kevin, using racism as a defense as often as you might, say, change your underwear, could possibly numb other people to very real and much more serious instances of racism, ya big moron. Anyway. Kevin goes on to say that he doesn't like being accused of spitting at people and that picking up something "that [he doesn't] even know what it is" (last time I checked, Kevin still had opposable thumbs, but whatever) and throwing it at someone is just beyond the pale. Andre says that doesn't have anything to do with Kevin being black. Kevin goes from zero to Pretentious in .0003 seconds. Kevin says that whenever a Black person has an opinion or becomes assertive about something, white people feel threatened. Andre agrees that there is racism, then he can't say anything more because he's so frustrated. After many prepositions and stutters, we gather that Andre feels Kevin is being very hostile and that posting cards like the Dred Scott one is just harassing the wrong people. Andre asks, "Who here in this loft is racist?" while I roll my eyes. Laurel could not have given Hardy a better set-up. Kevin laughs his little "Oh you naïve thing" Ricardo Montalban laugh. Andre asks what racism means to Kevin. Kevin says, "Racism means control, man." Andre asks who in the loft is trying to control Kevin. Kevin takes a flying leap onto his high horse and says that every person in the loft is in danger of becoming racist if they fall into the traps of the society. Yoo-hoo! Kevin! Heather's black too, you dumb-ass! Also, does that answer Andre's question? Kevin then does a pretty good job of explaining the difference between prejudice and racism: Prejudice is prejudging others, while racism is prejudice combined with power. He admits that he prejudged Julie as a white bigot from Alabama, but she proved him wrong.
Julie walks into the loft. In her one-on-one, she says that she walked into this silent apartment filled with tension. She says that she wasn't going to be rude to Kevin, so she stayed away from him. Then Kevin asked her to talk, but of course Kevin can't talk in the loft, so they went on the street. "So we can draw a crowd. That'll be great," Julie says dryly.
Kevin says that he and Julie are very different people, and that he has a lot of misdirected anger. Julie says maybe, but she's not going to stand there and take it. Kevin says that he's got a lot of justifiable anger, too. Some horrible editing cuts.
The scene, we see Julie and Kevin shouting. Of course it's about racism, and Kevin's telling her that Black people are emotional, and Julie starts to laugh in disbelief and says, "Well, white people are too." Kevin keeps shouting, "Are you listening?" and backing into Julie, and she starts shouting, "Why are you getting so close?" Ooooh. At this point I am cringing with tension because he is definitely crowding her. NotCoolsville: population, Kevin.
Kevin starts shouting how that's his culture. Julie starts shouting that it doesn't matter, that it is not a Black/white thing. Kevin then starts shouting about Los Angeles and tells her to look at reality. Somehow I don't think you win debates with techniques like that. Julie starts shouting, "What, are you gonna hit me?" Kevin accuses her of saying that only because he's Black and of saying it yesterday. Julie says she did say that yesterday because he told her to suck his dick and threatened to break every one of her fingers. Kevin says, "You hear what you want to hear. How can you say get off the Black/white thing? It's a reality." Kevin totally gets in her face and starts shouting. Julie screams, "It's because of people like you, Kevin, not people like me." Kevin is completely up against her now and shouting, and Julie, about to break down, yells, "Get out of my face, Kevin, I'm sick of it!" and pushes him away. At this point I wanted to belt Kevin. Okay, yes, we get it; it's a Black/white thing. But what about this bullshit, asshole-guy thing where Kevin's trying to intimidate Julie physically? And if he's so knowledgeable about Black/white sociological differences, especially in arguments, why doesn't he use that knowledge to start a real dialogue? It's good to know that total pricks exist in every color of the rainbow. Julie yells that Kevin gets in her face, lies, throws tantrums, and then denies it. Kevin tells her, "No one's ever approached you like that, and that's the problem." Wow, Kevin, what great reasoning -- assault her so she can learn directly from Life Experience! Kevin says he can tell by her reactions to his approach that she has a lot to learn or some horseshit like that. Julie loses it and tells Kevin that she can't believe he calls himself a teacher with techniques like that. Kevin tells her that she's just a nineteen-year-old girl from Alabama who doesn't understand anything. Whoa! Kevin better put away his wit before he cuts himself. Julie keeps demanding to know how it's a Black/white issue. Kevin says he's going inside. Julie snipes, "I thought we were just fine out here." Haw!!
Kevin's one-on-one. He is totally calm and almost seems rational, which is amazing. Was he on Lithium in its experimental stages, or what? Kevin tells us that it wasn't making any sense for him and Julie to shout at one another, especially when they were like the "best of friends," and they could just agree to disagree and respect one another for the rest of the time in the loft.
Julie and Kevin in the kitchen. Julie tells Kevin that she didn't think she did what he says she did, but if she DID do SOMETHING, she didn't deserve what she got. She also says that she doesn't think Kevin has a whole lot of respect for anyone else. They both apologize and say that they're sorry it happened like that. Julie says chirpily, "So you feelin' better?" Kevin shrugs. She says that all he had to do was get in her face and scream and he felt better. Kevin snorts and says, "Who was pushin' who?" Julie then says, "Who was close enough to be pushed?" Word booty.
Kevin's one-on-one. He says that Julie totally believed in what she was saying and didn't back down at all, and that he can respect that.
Julie's one-on-one. She says that she likes Kevin, and she thinks he's super-intelligent and has a lot of good things to say, but that she never wants to be alone with Kevin in her life, and she will never feel comfortable around him, and she doesn't understand how she could be expected to.
Kevin and Eric's birthday bash. Montage of Eric -- in overalls, sans shirt, of course -- shaking together some liquor mixture, people grinding, Becky getting freaked by two dudes. Then a woman complains to Kevin about being assaulted by some woman who demanded that she pay three dollars for a paper cup.
Julie's one-on-one. Apparently everyone told her to get Heather, who assaulted some woman and was about to be arrested.
Heather's one-on-one. She says the dumb bunny tried to take her cup without asking her.
Back to the woman. She's saying that she's going to call the cops. shot, the cops come up the elevator. Kevin, in his one-on-one, says that the woman was rude to Heather and she needed to know, "You can't be rude to Heather B."
show: Heather gets semi-arrested. She makes an album. Andre does something with maracas -- I think it involves his band. Eric says that if people knew how sensitive he is, they'd take advantage of him. Manimal gags.