Previously on The Real World: Leah met a dude named Giuseppe in Florence. CT's (ex?)-girlfriend Jamie came to visit, and CT was really happy to see her.
I apologize in advance, but there won't be a Most Awesome Thing in this recap due to a TiFaux disaster, where I lost all the potentially awesome shows I had saved up. But if you aren't watching former Most Awesome Thing, Starting Over, you totally should be, because it's only gotten more awesome. Eiffel Tower Shot Quarante-Cinq. Jamie and CT hang out around Paris, snuggling and kissing. CT interviews that Jamie is making his time in Paris more enjoyable, and that they look at each other and can't believe they are in Paris. Jamie says that she would marry CT, have his kids, and live together with him for the rest of their lives. CT says that she's crazy, and Jamie says that she doesn't want to start today. CT interviews that he wants Jamie to be around him all of the time. He details that he wants her to be both by his side and hanging on his back. What? Why would you want someone hanging on your back? That seems like it would be really annoying. Jamie and CT continue to take in the sights of Paris. CT interviews that he and Jamie are like a unit (hee, unit), and that having her there makes him feel less alone.
Mallory, Simon, and Christina go to a restaurant with Jamie's friend Wendy. Mallory explains that she's tried to reach out to CT, but that it hasn't worked out. Simon adds that CT burns all of his bridges. Christina interviews that CT told Wendy that he feels alone in the house, which makes her sad. Mallory says that CT doesn't know how to handle certain situations, and can piss people off. Wendy barely moves her mouth as she talks, so I thought someone else was speaking at first. She explains that CT thinks everyone is picking arguments with him. Simon says that when someone "keeps pushing your buttons every day, the small things do matter." Mallory says she knows that CT has good intentions, and that she can see a good person inside him, especially since Jamie has been around. Wendy says that CT makes Jamie happy, which makes Wendy happy in turn. Christina sits in silent thought. The editors patch in black and white footage of Christina and Chris sitting in the hot tub, and then arguing. So are we supposed to think that's what she's contemplating? She's really probably trying to decide how to get rid of her split ends. And are we supposed to think that she's jealous of Jamie, since she and CT seemed headed for a hookup earlier in the season? Wendy says that Jamie's face lights up when CT walks in the room. Christina thinks Jamie is sweet, and then says that she doesn't know CT. Christina interviews that CT is a mystery to her, and that she can never predict his actions. As much as CT is an asshole sometimes, he has certainly made this season more bearable for me, precisely because he is unpredictable, and not so evil that I just hate him.
Back at the house, Leah and Mallory get ready for their day without speaking, although they are only feet away from each other. In a confessional, Mallory says that she really can't stand Leah. Flashback to Leah and Mallory's big fight in the restaurant. The editors are totally digging the flashbacks this week. In a confessional, Mallory says that Leah is "so bitter," and that she feels "judged by Leah."
Christina asks Mallory why she's upset, and points out that either her friendship with Leah is worth keeping or it's not worth keeping. Mallory says she's been thinking about that. Christina says that if Mallory feels burnt out, she feels burnt out. Either Christina likes repeating herself, or she doesn't like repeating herself. Christina advises Mallory to pick her battles, and repeats again, "If you want to battle her, then battle her. If you don't, you don't." Mallory says she obviously doesn't want any battles.
Leah runs downstairs and finds that a package has arrived for her. She opens it with a giant butcher knife, which is really bad for the knife. The person who tries to chop an onion is in for a rude awakening. Leah opens the card and dramatically gasps for the benefit of the camera. Leah interviews that Giuseppe sent her a package and that he wants her to visit him in Florence, so she's going. What about his girlfriend? Leah asks Simon to go to Florence with her. Simon interviews that he doesn't want to go, but that he feels he will probably have to, because Leah needs someone to go. Why? Why can't she go by herself? This mystery -- a key plot point in the episode -- is never explained. Simon says he'll call home and then let Leah know. So presumably he's going to claim he doesn't have enough money to go.
Leah, her mouth full of cereal, asks Christina if she can go to Florence. Speaking of a lack of class -- something Leah has accused CT of many times -- what's up with talking with your mouth full? Christina makes some excuse about a friend who might be coming to town that weekend. Mallory interviews that the only reason Leah is asking her to go to Florence is because she needs someone to go. Would someone explain why Leah needs someone to go? Is she just nervous about going alone, or is there a more legitimate reason? Leah asks Mallory if she'll go along if there is no one else to go. Well, that's an enticing offer: "I don't really want you to go, and I know you don't want to go, and I don't really like you, but will you do me a favor and go anyway?" Oh, please! Let me rush and buy my ticket!
In the bedroom, Jamie whispers to CT, "Christina told Wendy that she's scared of you." She did? Why wasn't that on camera? Or is that just Wendy's interpretation of what Christina said? CT interviews that the information went from Christina to Wendy to Jamie, and it was that Christina was scared to talk to CT about issues. CT visits Christina and asks why she's afraid to talk to him. Christina says she gets frustrated because CT always defends himself verbally. CT tells Christina not to be scared. Wendy and Jamie are totally eavesdropping from the stairwell. Wouldn't you? Christina says she's never lived with someone who is physically aggressive. CT claims he's mild compared to his friends at home. But that doesn't change the fact that he's aggressive and she's scared. CT always misses the point. Christina says, "Seeing you with Jamie is a whole different limelight." "Limelight"? Christina also says that when CT is turned on, he's really turned on. She needs to think before she speaks. Christina says that CT can be wonderful and charming.
Christina interviews that she spoke to Wendy about CT getting into fights, and that what she said might have been overinflated, because it really had nothing to do with being scared of CT physically. In the stairwell, Wendy tells Jamie that she feels like a piece of shit. Jamie says that Wendy didn't do anything wrong by telling her what happened, and that Jamie was the one who ultimately told CT. Jamie says she had to tell him something. Back in the living room, Christina says she doesn't want CT to feel like he's alone. CT isn't interested in listening to feelings, so he tells Christina twice not to be scared of him, and kisses her on the cheek. Christina says she's not scared of him, but he's done listening. CT walks out and says he's a big baby when you get to know him. Christina wonders if he's running away from her. CT reaches the girls in the stairwell and says that it went well. Jamie thinks she fucked up. CT asks what she means, and Jamie curses a few more times, chokes up, and walks off. What's her problem? CT sighs, "Oh, I can't win."
CT interviews that he has to go deal with the problem upstairs because now Jamie is upset. CT asks what Jamie wants him to do. Jamie wants him to tell her how to fix it. Yes, because CT is the master of fixing disputes. She could lie and say that some flowers delivered to the house are from her! Jamie wants CT to apologize to Wendy. Wuh? Why? I'm so confused. Jamie is concerned that now Wendy feels uncomfortable. I guess because Wendy is totally busted for ratting out Christina? Jamie wonders if she can't trust CT now. CT interviews that he thought Christina had a serious issue with him, based on what Wendy said, and that he thought he should address it. He doesn't understand why Wendy is uncomfortable. CT says that he wants things to be good between the roommates, and that he doesn't really care about Jamie's or Wendy's relationship with the roommates, since they'll never see the roommates again. Jamie says that CT doesn't think of anyone but himself. CT says he's not there for a lecture. CT and Jamie stare at each other for a minute. CT interviews that his roommates are trying to get Jamie and Wendy to choose sides. Jamie says that CT fucked up, and now he needs to fix it. Earlier, wasn't Jamie saying that she fucked up? CT interviews that if he needs grief, he'll go to his roommates. CT stalks out, puts on his coat, and leaves the house.
CT walks into the train station and gets on a train. It's all very dramatic. He's on a train. Where is he going? Does he have exact change? Back at the house, Leah and Mallory are talking to Jamie and Wendy. It sounds like they are discussing whether they should go out or wait for CT to get home. Jamie says that CT is pissed. Leah says that CT can page them when he comes home. Jamie says that CT is upset and has a problem communicating, so he needs to go for a walk and think it over. Mallory thinks that's good, and Jamie says that CT is lucky to have her. Everyone agrees on that count. CT is walking alone. CT interviews that he's disappointed that Jamie is caught up in the "nonsense that goes on in the house."
Leah talks to Giuseppe on the phone. She tells him that she got the package, and that it's great. Leah interviews, "The great thing about Giuseppe is that he adores me!" Selfish. Giuseppe says that there will be nice weather while Leah is there.
Suddenly, Simon, Mallory, and Christina are at the train station. But what about CT? Christina explains that she told Leah it would be good if they all went to Florence, and Leah said she appreciated it. Mallory interviews that none of them wants to go, so she came up with the idea that they could all go together. Christina and Mallory unconvincingly state that it'll be fun. Mallory still doesn't want to go. Simon suggests that they just send Christina, who agrees to that scenario. Christina interviews that Mallory and Simon really don't want to go, and that Leah has to have someone to go with (but why?), so Christina will go. Leah tells Giuseppe that she misses him, and he returns the sentiment, and then they hang up.
CT returns to the house after dark. He and Jamie stare at each other. Jamie guesses that he doesn't want to talk about it anymore. CT interviews that he's tired of arguing. CT says that he feels like no matter what he does, he can't win. He wants to know if they should stay together and try to work it out. He adds, "I don't want to be in a relationship where we're making up more than we're making love." That CT is a poet. Jamie says she can't answer that for him, because she's not him. CT walks out of the room. Jamie follows. They stare at each other for a while. CT asks her to tell him that it's going to be fine. A sad piano plays as Jamie says, "Tell me." CT asks if she's tired, and softly suggests that she go to bed instead of standing there with her back to him. They stare at each other some more and suddenly everything is fine. Relationship-mending through staring. I hear Dr. Phil recommends that approach. CT wants Jamie to come over to where he is, and she smiles. They hug, and CT carries Jamie around the house.
The morning at 8:00 AM, CT tells Jamie that he has to pick up his cousin Mike at the airport. He agrees that he'll be back between 10:30 and 11:00, but that he'll stop and pick up some eggs first. What is with these roommates and their obsession with eggs? Unless "eggs" is a code word for liquor or something. In a confessional, CT says that Mike is a comedian who cracks jokes. CT tells Jamie that Mike will want to start pounding beers.
CT picks up Mike, and they go to the offices for some reason. Mallory walks in and asks what's going on. Mike introduces himself. CT interviews that having Mike there is "a stress reliever." Probably because they are currently in the process of getting all liquored up. Why they couldn't go to the house to do that, or a bar, is a mystery to me. In a confessional, CT says that he and Mike have their own sense of humor. Mike reads something CT wrote on his laptop, and CT starts going off about how good he is at research. That is hilarious! Christina giggles at them. Mallory interviews that Mike and CT are kind of intense, and that they've been drinking. Really? I couldn't tell.
Back at the house, the phone rings. Jamie answers. It's CT, telling her that he's at the office, finishing up his reviews. Jamie asks why he didn't call her to say where he was, because she's been waiting around for him. CT ignores the question and asks if she wants to go to the Louvre. Mike sticks his nose into the conversation. CT pretends (I think) that the phone is breaking up and he can't hear her. He imitates static, which is so lame. He says that he'll be at least another hour, and that she can go to the Louvre by herself if she wants. Jamie asks if she's on speakerphone, and tells CT to pick up the phone, and then calls him either a shithead or a dickhead. CT can't believe that Jamie is cursing at him. CT tries to explain his position, but Jamie yells that she's not going to the museum by herself. Where's Wendy? CT orders her to go to the Louvre so that he can finish his work, and says they'll talk later. Jamie starts to protest, but then just hangs up the phone. CT can't believe she hung up on him. Mike says he told CT to hang up on her first. Jamie walks out of the house with Leah and Wendy, so she's totally not alone. Jamie says that she came to Paris to hang out with CT. Leah interviews that CT is being an ass. CT mocks Jamie by pretending to scream into the phone, "Where the fuck were you?"
CT and Mike hang out in the hot tub. Mike is way too close to CT, for some reason. CT is trying to defend Jamie, saying that she doesn't want him to think that she's a pushover. Mike keeps pointing out that it's Jamie's last night in Paris, and that she should be hanging out with CT. As he talks, Mike keeps getting closer and closer to CT's face, and he's practically sitting in CT's lap. The hell? What is with that guy? Are they going to make out? At one point, CT looks uncomfortable and kind of elbows Mike away. Mike thinks that CT needs to get rid of Jamie. CT says he just wants to be happy, but admits that he's not happy right now. I think that has more to do with Mike's invasion of his personal space than anything. Mike tells CT to dump Jamie. CT thinks that Jamie gives him a hard time because she loves him. Mike says that if Jamie loved CT, she would be there right now. Leah interviews that she was listening to their conversation, and she thought CT was being an asshole due to Mike's influence.
Jamie and Wendy return with Leah, who was supposedly listening to that conversation. Did she teleport? Jamie says hello to Mike and CT. Mike says that she should be spending time with CT since she's going home the day. Jamie says that was CT's choice, and she sat there waiting around for hours. In a confessional, CT and his awesomely curly Mike Brady hair say that Jamie is just looking for a reason to get mad at him. Mike gets out of the hot tub and says that CT and Jamie need to talk. CT and Jamie stare at each other, but this time it doesn't repair their relationship. In a confessional, CT says that Jamie is "salty" and "has an attitude all of the time." CT says that Jamie's attitude has offended him for six days. She doesn't understand, so CT says he doesn't like how she talks to him and how she treats her friends as opposed to how she treats him. Leah walks outside. Jamie asks again what she did to offend CT. Leah totally ignores the fact that Jamie and CT are clearly having a private conversation and sits down on the edge of the hot tub. God, if you're going to eavesdrop, at least try to be subtle. CT says that the thing with Christina is still bothering him. Jamie says that CT hurt Wendy's feelings. CT thinks that Christina was reaching out to him when she told Wendy that she was scared. Jamie tells him not to raise his voice. CT thinks that Christina had to use Wendy as a go-between because she was too scared to talk to him, and that's a serious issue. Jamie has nothing to say. CT tells her to fuck off. Jamie is shocked. CT tells her to pack her shit and go. Leah is still sitting there, inappropriately. CT gets out of the hot tub and walks into the house.
CT and Jamie sit and stare at each other inside. Jamie asks if he just wants her to back off. CT says he's sorry it had to be like this. CT watches her walk away. Wendy has her bags all packed, for some reason. Are they leaving right now? Jamie dives into the bed and lies there, alone.
The day, Leah winds her hair around the curling iron to get that wavy look, and asks Christina to bring her some hairspray. Christina says that she just packed it all. The two women pack their bags. Mallory interviews that she's not telling Leah why she doesn't want to go to Florence in the hopes of avoiding another argument. Leah and Christina leave the house and walk to the train station. Leah interviews that she can't wait to get to Florence to go shopping and meet Giuseppe. Nice priorities. Leah and Christina board their train and gossip about how CT broke up with Jamie so rudely. Christina can't believe he broke up with her after she came all the way to Paris. Leah is upset about the way it happened. Christina says that it would really hurt her.
Jamie and Wendy walk through the airport. CT is there to see them off. CT interviews that he's disappointed in himself, and that he should have avoided situations that he and Jamie have argued over in the past. Yes, that's a healthy relationship. Walk on eggshells. Jamie says that she needs to talk to CT when he comes home. CT thinks he knows what it's about. CT interviews that someone told Jamie about his conversation with Mike in the hot tub. CT tells Jamie that his roommates do try to cut him down, even if they claim that they don't. In a confessional, CT says he can't stand when his roommates get involved in his life. CT kisses Jamie goodbye. Are they broken up or what? She's carrying some flowers, which I'm guessing CT bought for her. CT and Mike walk off. CT interviews that she wasn't the Jamie he knows from home, and that something wasn't right.
CT rides the train home and thinks real hard. Back home, he plays pool with Ace. Hey, where in the hell have Ace and Adam been this whole episode? CT thinks it was like Jamie had someone in her ear the whole trip. Ace asks who said that. CT says that Christina kept telling Jamie that CT was an asshole, and that someone told Jamie about his conversation with Mike in the hot tub, but twisted it all around. CT says that they made it sound like Mike was trying to convince CT to break up with Jamie. Because he was? CT interviews that he wants to confront his roommates about what happened during Jamie's visit. CT says he'll ask which one of the girls is getting into his business. And then he scratches his head a few times.