Willie, Shavonda, Sarah, and MJ eat lunch in a restaurant. MJ asks if everyone thinks people who start out on Broadway are more talented than those who just do movies. Willie thinks that people trained in theater, like he is, can do anything. MJ says that Mel Gibson was trained in Shakespearean theater. Willie nods and Sarah snaps, "Can we not talk about Mel Gibson?" She adds that she doesn't like him anymore, and MJ is surprised and wants to know why. See, and here's where Sarah went wrong. No one asked her opinion on Mel Gibson, and was she really that offended by the mere mention of his name that she had to speak up? I don't like Mel Gibson either, and I didn't like him before he made Passion Of The Christ, but if someone expressed admiration for him in my presence, I wouldn't have felt the need to say anything, unless they asked me if I liked him. At which point I would have said that I think he's sexist and homophobic, and that his movies kind of suck.
Anyway, Sarah says that Passion Of The Christ is anti-Semitic. She interviews that most people don't know she's Jewish. MJ asks if she's actually seen the movie, and Sarah says that her friend saw it and told her about it. And I don't think she has to have seen the movie to form an opinion about it, especially one that got so much media attention. But I also think she's being unnecessarily antagonistic in this conversation. Sarah adds that she refuses to support Mel Gibson financially, so she didn't go see the film. MJ says he saw the movie, and didn't come away with an anti-Semitic vibe; he just thought that Christ went through a lot of suffering for our sins. Sarah says that it was based on a document written five hundred years after the events of Christ's crucifixion. MJ says he believes in that document. Sarah interviews that she's always been about informed people, and that MJ can only provide what he's been told by his church. Because religion is all about informed belief. I think most people with religious feelings go on something called faith. I hate that Sarah makes me argue the exact opposite of my own feelings, but I think the difference between us is that while I don't agree with MJ, I can see his point, and accept it as valid for him, even when we disagree. I don't feel the need to force him to come around to my way of thinking, or make him feel stupid if he disagrees with me. ["Also, they're both misinformed; if Sarah's talking about the gospels, they weren't written five hundred years after the crucifixion. And if she's talking about The Dolorous Passion Of Our Lord Jesus Christ, which Gibson used as source material for the movie, then that was written like eighteen hundred years after the crucifixion. And if that's what MJ's talking about, then he probably doesn't believe in that document unless he's a super-Catholic like Mel Gibson, because that book is pretty controversial and obviously isn't part of the Bible. Refereeing arguments between dumb people is frustrating!" -- Wing Chun]
Sarah says that she believes in the Old Testament, but that she doesn't take it literally, because it's not meant to be. She apologizes for offending people, but no one is offended. MJ interviews that Sarah knows a lot, but that she throws her opinion around as fact. MJ asks where she studied about the Bible. Sarah says she took a religion class at Emory, a Methodist college. MJ gets sick of Sarah's defensiveness and accuses her of being stuck in her ways. Sarah doesn't think she is, and MJ says that she has her own set of beliefs, just like he has his. Sarah says she's not trying to tell him what's right and what's wrong, and MJ says that he doesn't listen to her anyway. I think he meant that he's not going to change his mind just because Sarah says something is true, but Sarah thinks he means that he just tunes her out. Sarah says she just likes to debate, and MJ says he doesn't. Sarah interviews that she doesn't think MJ has ever had a woman talk to him this way, and that she thinks he takes it personally. Or maybe he thinks you're annoying, and it has nothing to do with your sex. MJ says they won't change each other's core beliefs, so why bother talking about it? Sarah asks why he wants her to argue the way that he argues. Talk about not listening; that is not even close to what he just said. MJ says he just doesn't want to hear it, and Sarah says that he's being harsh and rude.
Outside, Sarah can't let it go, and has to talk to Shavonda about how MJ thinks every disagreement is showing disrespect. Sarah interviews that MJ's ideal woman is blonde with no opinions, and that MJ doesn't have respect for strong females. Well, I can't say I completely disagree with her on that point, but I don't really think Sarah is as strong a female as she likes to believe. And I don't think the incident we just saw had anything to do with Sarah's being a woman. Sarah complains to Shavonda about how shallow MJ is.
That night, MJ and Landon go out to a bar. MJ talks to a girl named Kim, and it turns out they have friends in common. MJ takes this as an invitation to grind up on her on the dance floor. MJ interviews that he'll still flirt with girls, but that there's a line that he won't cross. Apparently, that line is nowhere near Kim's boobs, as MJ tucks a piece of paper into Kim's camisole top. MJ shakes her hand and leaves. He pulls Landon aside and says that it's really hard for him to be good. MJ spots Kim standing across the street, so he buys a rose from a street vendor and gives it to her. Everyone cheers.
In the cab on the way home, MJ has a giant wad of tobacco in his mouth as he tells Landon about Kim. MJ says that he's single, but not really, and that he's turned over a new leaf. In a confessional, MJ says that there are a lot of temptations in Philly, and that he's resisted them. Maybe I'm lacking a hormone or something, but I've never had a huge problem staying monogamous. It's probably just because my husband is so awesome. Now I have to make sure he reads this, so I get brownie points.
Willie and Karamo go out to a bar with Willie's friend Diana. Willie talks about how drunk he is, and slurs around. He continues to drink, and yells that he has to wake up early the day. Karamo asks what time they are leaving, and Willie wants to stay for thirty more minutes. Willie dances with two guys, and Karamo comes up and says he's leaving. Willie claims he's ready to go too, but makes no move to leave. Finally, after many warnings, Karamo just leaves Willie behind.
Later, outside, Willie asks Diana where "Omaroso" went, and Diana says that Karamo left. I wish we could have seen the origin of that nickname. Willie is shocked that Karamo left.
MJ and Landon come home drunk. Shavonda is, surprise, on the phone with Shaun. She tells him the story about their lunchtime conversation. MJ interviews that he wants to talk to Ashley, but Shavonda is hogging the phone, as usual. MJ asks Shavonda how much longer she's going to be. Shavonda asks if he wants her to get off the phone, and MJ and Landon joke that they're just going to stare at her for a while. Shavonda interviews that it made her mad that they did that. Shavonda tells Shaun that she's not getting off the phone, just to piss them off. Well, that's mature. Jesus, just hang up and call him back later. MJ walks into the phone room, and Shavonda says she's having "a really private conversation," so he needs to leave. She tells MJ that she'll be ten more minutes. MJ leaves, saying, "I'm not going to be rude, but in ten more minutes, I will be rude." Shavonda asks, "Is that a threat, MJ?" MJ says that it is. Wow, he threatened to be rude! The nerve! He should get kicked out of the house. Shavonda says she's getting upset, so she's going to hang up. Then she starts crying! Seriously. Shavonda tells Shaun that no one should talk to her like that, and then calls MJ a "white-ass country motherfucker." What the hell? Where is this anger coming from? Because he asked to use the phone? Shavonda needs to get over herself.
Shavonda goes and complains to Sarah, who looks like she was asleep. Shavonda is still crying because MJ wanted to use the phone. Shavonda sobs that she didn't disrespect anybody. Shavonda interviews that she hates being threatened. Shavonda adds, "When a man talks down to me, it just doesn't hit me right." And that's MJ's problem how, exactly?
MJ calls Ashley and gets her voicemail, after all that drama. Shavonda, meanwhile, has pulled Melanie into the conversation, and is still bitching about MJ. Melanie interviews that Shavonda was in an abusive relationship, and that means she has trouble dealing with conflicts with men. Then get counseling. Shavonda interviews that she's been choked, pushed, and bodyslammed. She dated Hulk Hogan? MJ walks by and sees the girls having a conference, so he asks what's going on. Sarah says that Shavonda was kind of hurt. MJ asks what hurt her. Shavonda says, "Nothing." Oh, for Christ's sake. Either tell him or stop bitching about it behind his back. MJ isn't buying what Shavonda's selling, so Shavonda admits that she didn't like the way MJ disrespected her, and that it made her cry. MJ says that he just wanted to use the phone, and that he probably was disrespectful, and he apologizes for that. He adds that he doesn't think it's anything to cry over. Because it's not! Can you imagine crying because someone asked to use the phone? Even if they were kind of rude about it? ["My sister and I used to have fights this dumb. Then I turned fourteen." -- Wing Chun] Shavonda interviews that she hates when guys dismiss her feelings. MJ says that there is an issue with Shavonda hogging the phone. Shavonda says she always gets off when asked. Except tonight, when she totally didn't. And also, it's annoying for people to have to ask all of the time. MJ says that Shavonda is often hurt by other people. Shavonda tells him not to apologize if he doesn't know why he's apologizing. MJ interviews that he wants to get this straightened out. MJ says that now he knows how it affects her, and won't do it again. They hug it out.
Willie is in a cab with Diana, heading home at 3:00 AM. Diana is dropped off first and gives Willie money to pay for the cab. Willie barely pays attention, and then passes out in the back of the cab. The driver stops and wakes Willie up to tell him that he's home. Willie doesn't want to get out and keeps saying, "Whatever!" Willie then apparently forgets that he has money, and tells the driver to keep the meter running while he runs inside and gets money from Karamo. Willie walks in and yells for Karamo. When Karamo appears, Willie says, "I need you to give her some cash because I ain't got no money on me." Karamo thinks Willie is talking about Diana's friend, and Karamo doesn't understand what Willie's talking about. Karamo looks out the peephole and doesn't see anything, so he heads back inside. Meanwhile, the cops show up and knock on the door. Karamo answers the door and the driver explains what happened. Karamo promises to get the money. Meanwhile, Willie has totally passed out in bed. Outside, the driver is bitching about not being paid. Karamo comes back out and asks the driver to take him to an ATM so he can get cash. Karamo is finally able to pay the driver and go to bed. Karamo interviews that Willie will remember this in the morning, and that if he doesn't, Karamo will remind him.
The morning, the roommates (except Willie) all get up and get ready. Landon interviews that they are going to Northern Home to clear some brush. Sarah asks who knocked on the door, and Karamo explains what happened. Sarah interviews that Willie has been going out drinking every single night, even though he knows they have to clear brush the morning. The roommates (except Willie) eat breakfast. Various roommates yell up to Willie to get his ass out of bed. Sarah yells that Willie isn't coming because he's irresponsible. Willie yells down that he doesn't want Sarah to be disappointed, because he's usually responsible. Sarah tells Willie that he shouldn't go out when he knows that he has to get up early. Willie complains that he's tired. Oh, boo hoo.
The roommates clear brush and stuff, and Sarah says that she hates Willie. Cut to Willie, happily asleep in bed. Sarah is still pissed that Willie bailed out. MJ points out that even if Willie were there, he wouldn't be much help. Landon thinks that Willie would say, "I'm sorry, I'm over the weeds." Landon interviews that he's okay with Willie's bailing because he would have bitched the whole time. Sarah suggests that they tell Willie that they're going to rat him out to the bosses unless he gives them his paycheck. Karamo suggests that they come up with an alternate activity that Willie could do alone to make up the time. Karamo adds that if they told him to give them his money, he would tell them to kiss his ass. I think the smart thing to do would be to tell Willie how unfair it is and ask what he wants to do to make it up, and then abide by his decision. He probably feels guilty, and would come up with something far more extravagant than they would. Cut to Willie sleeping some more.
And now it's time for the Most Awesome Thing I Saw on TV Last Week. I'll tell you, between the holidays and all of the repeats for the last few weeks, television has not been all that awesome. But I did see an episode of Little House that I had actually never seen before, so that was pretty awesome. See, this rancher had some sick sheep, but he still needed to sell them for slaughter or his farm would go under. And the sheep totally had the ANTHRAX! And every time they said ANTHRAX it was in all-caps and then there would be a portentous musical cue. So of course, Ma and Mrs. Garvey both buy some of this cheap lamb for dinner, because they are poor, as does pretty much everyone else in town. And then they all start coming down with ANTHRAX! So Laura and Albert get it, and Nellie, Willie, and Nels Olsen, and Adam and various blind school students, and Andrew and Alice Garvey. They bring all the sick people to the blind school to use as a temporary hospital. So then Pa and Jonathan Garvey get home from wherever the hell they were and Doc Baker gets them to head to Springfield and get the medicine that's coming on the train. Meanwhile, Really Angry Dad gets all upset that his son is dead and tries to kill the rancher, who has also come down with the ANTHRAX, and really, how dumb was he to eat his own tainted lamb? But the rancher is already dead, because he was a bad person. So then Pa and Jonathan are coming home with the medicine, and they get hijacked by a wild-eyed homesteader who wants all the medicine for himself and his family, and takes Pa and Jonathan hostage. So finally the homesteader's wife betrays him, because he's crazy, and Pa and Jonathan take the medicine to the blind school. So a few people died, but none of the main characters. And then, once the worst was over, Hester Sue started singing about Jesus, because she's black. And it was awesome.
It's 11:52 AM, and the roommates are home. Willie is still in bed. Karamo asks Willie if he's feeling better, and Willie says he felt fine, but was tired. Willie apologizes for his inability to get up. Karamo says it's fine.
At 3:10 PM, the roommates go to the Soul offices for a meeting. Laura walks in and asks how it went. MJ and Landon explain what they did. Willie asks if he can talk to Laura alone for a minute. Willie interviews that he expects consequences for his actions. Willie tells Laura that he stayed out too late and didn't wake up on time. Laura says that she has to dock his pay, and that he should try to be on time in the future. Willie smiles and asks if she's mad at him. Laura says she's not, but that she's disappointed. Willie interviews that if he were the boss, he would have done the same thing, so he doesn't take it personally. He's lucky his ass wasn't fired. I like Willie, but I think he skates by on his charm a lot, and that has to get old.
Karamo and Willie wait for a subway train. Willie asks if the roommates were pissed. Karamo says they were talking about making Willie give up his paycheck. Willie laughs and asks how the roommates lost money because he wasn't there. Well, theoretically, they had to work harder to make up for being short one person, so their hourly rate went down. They each had to do more work in four hours than they normally would, see. But in reality, I'm not sure they did, since I think they just had to work four hours and stop, not complete a certain task and then stop. Willie says that his punishment is getting his pay docked, and that he would have laughed at them if they had asked for his pay.
The roommates head to Playworld Systems to pick out elements for the playground they are building. MJ explains that they have a plan, and the company will make a 3D image of their plan. The roommates check out the factory and play on the playground.
On the bus home, Sarah complains to Shavonda that MJ called her "sweetheart." Sarah interviews that MJ is telling her what to do, and that she can't believe he's talking to her that way. In a confessional, MJ says that Sarah said behind his back that he was sexist and demeaning to women. MJ confronts Sarah and asks if she really thinks he talked down to her. Sarah says that no one has ever talked to her that way. MJ thinks it's just how people talk in Tennessee, and that he wishes someone said something to him earlier. Sarah interviews that MJ isn't capable of having a conversation about being sexist, because he can't admit weaknesses. MJ thinks there is a difference between how he talks to girls and how he talks to guys. MJ interviews that he might be oblivious, but he doesn't think he's better than women, and he's baffled. You know what I do when men (or women) talk down to me? I call them on it. Right there, in the moment. If a guy called me "sweetheart" who was not my father (he's allowed), I would call him "sweetheart" right back. I find that people usually don't realize how condescending that sounds, and will stop. Or if they don't, they're dicks anyway, so screw them.
That night, Sarah and Shavonda continue to bitch about MJ. Do these two do anything else? Sarah says that she was trying to take a nap and MJ's voice was annoying her. Sarah realizes that there are a lot of things she doesn't like about MJ, and that talking to him won't change anything, because it's just who he is. Sarah guesses that not knowing you're sexist is better than knowing and embracing it. Shavonda agrees. Gah. These two give women a bad name.
MJ, Sarah, Shavonda, and Landon hang out at an outdoor restaurant table. Shavonda spots fireworks going off and gets all excited. MJ says that he doesn't think he's hurt that many people's feelings there. Sarah says that the fight in the restaurant really hurt her feelings, and that it was "like a punch in the face." Really? Because at the time, she claimed that she just liked to debate. MJ says they should tell him when that happens. In a confessional, MJ says he's labeled an idiot sexist football player, and that's not who he is. MJ realizes that Sarah was also upset on the bus, even though she said that she wasn't. Sarah admits it. MJ asks her to tell him, because otherwise he'll never be able to change. Sarah interviews that MJ wants everyone to be happy and like him, and to go to bed at night knowing no one hates him. MJ says that the only sexist action he's taken is making out with random girls at bars. I don't really think that's sexist, unless he referred to all women as pieces of meat or something. I'm assuming the girls wanted to make out with him too. Sarah says she makes out with random people too, and they laugh.