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Slowly, everyone's stories are starting to emerge. Damien is a criminal with a heart of gold and a solid gambling addiction, who uses his ill-gotten $10K to bet on the ponies. Miraculously, he wins and then uses the money to lease a new car, start up his own business, and anonymously move the man he shot into the pricey VIP wing of the hospital. His brother is less than thrilled by all this and in following him, learns he's got a cute, sweet girlfriend who I suspect will end up in harm's way sooner than later. Carlos, high off of his date with Mae, decides to defend his first felony. It becomes more than he can chew when his client is fingered as the thug who shot a security guard the night before. Sound familiar? He freaks out, but then everything's better when he gets a call from Mae. She's staying in New York and working for Laura after all, and Erik The Mysterious Voice turns out to be her brother and the holder of one of two keys needed to open The Box. Laura, in good hands with a mysterious runaway minding her daughter, goes to work for an interior designer but the job turns out to be as be an assistant to an assistant. But on Whitney's advice, she uses her years of life experience to threaten the creep she works for an inadvertently impress her big new boss. And Whitney's still got a cheating fiancée who doesn't seem to really want to marry her. She's also got some strange instincts, as despite his being creepy, sullen, and basically an asshole, she decides to hire Steven and trust him in a meeting with a huge client. Fortunately for both of them, he ends up wowing them. Too bad he has the opposite effect on his estranged wife, who reacts to his showing back up in her life by having the locks changed on her (beautiful) apartment. Forget the six degrees and these characters -- I could spend an entire hour on a tour of the various homes these people live in. Wow. Want more? The full recap starts right below!
Damien's got VO duty this week. He's in a hospital, staring through a window to another room, and saying that when things get difficult, he keeps reminding himself that he's in glorious New York City, where anything is possible. There's some beautiful b-roll of the city and the river, and then a crowd on the sidewalk with one person carrying a bunch of green balloons. He continues to talk about the reasons people might be there, over shots from last week. Someone wanting to hide out and find something better is Mae. Someone thinking they've found happiness already yet is about to be blindsided is Whitney. Laura is someone just trying to stay brave. He loves that some people do get second chances -- Steven. That's what Damien needs for himself, is the idea that something unexpected can change anything, like when Mae ran into Carlos on the subway.
The two potential lovebirds pick up right where they left off, with Mae changing seats to sit to Carlos. The first thing he asks is what she did to her hair. "I... went brown." ("And I couldn't stand that disgusting plastic wig anymore.") The weird thing about their conversation is that the two of them are positively shouting -- I get that a train might be loud, but a) I've never had to shout on one, regardless, and b) the Magic of Television reduces the background noise so that we can understand them, just leaving it as two people talking strangely loud. It's weird. He tells her that he's been looking for her everywhere, and we cut to the two of them having dinner/breakfast as it seems the sun is coming up. The date is shot from outside the restaurant, but the two seem to be really happy and having a great time with one another. Damien VOs that the great thing about the city is how anyone can affect anyone else, which in a way makes everyone connected. Wow, there's a novel concept. I wonder if the show is going to explore that idea at all. I'm certainly glad he spelled it out for me and the rest of the viewing audience because we might not have gotten it otherwise. Carlos literally is so giddy he can't stay in his seat, and keeps getting up and circling Mae and the table. Cute or odd? I have to say, kind of odd. But he's still really cute.
Laura is getting ready for her first day at work, and Eliza asks why she's nervous. Laura explains that a friend of hers pulled strings to get her this great job, where she'll be learning under a designer named J.T. Zeff. Eliza is playing in front of the mirror, and asks what the J.T. stands for. Laura tells her it's probably nothing. "You can have initials that stand for nothing when you're designing a 2,000-square-foot restaurant in SoHo." She gives a little head shake and pronounces it with some airs. The phone rings, and Laura asks if Eliza wants to get it, but is informed, "I'm putting on eye shadow." It's really quite cute. Laura, having been told what's what, goes to get the phone and nearly collides with Mae/Claire, who has walked in and grabbed it. Although she quit the day before, it seems she must have kept the house keys and an understanding that she could walk in at any time and assume her place back in the household, I guess. I would have maybe tried knocking, but that's just me. Laura doesn't seem upset or surprised at all that her former nanny is back and working like nothing happened, and takes the call. It's some sort of ominous call -- she gets very upset on the phone and whispers harshly that the person should never call her at home. I'm very curious what this could be about. She's shaken, and M/C picks up on it and gives her a smile and takes Eliza to the other room.
Steven picks up a pile of things, with his picture of Laura on top, and takes a look around his apartment. Suitably disgusted, he decides to clean up, and there's a montage of scrubbing, unpacking, and throwing things out. When it's all done, he's in a sparse but clean apartment. When he's done he checks the time, but realizes he has no watch. He decides to skulk outside until someone passes and he can ask the time -- it's 7:40 AM. Of course, Carlos is actually the stranger who helps him as he hustles by. Steven's got the classic "now what?" on his face. I in no way believe that he really cleaned up everything in that time -- it was light out when he first realized that he lived in a garbage dump, and even best-case scenario, that would have given him an hour in a half. Since we saw him dump out a bag of cleaning supplies that it looks like he ran out and got that moment, I refuse to believe he overhauled his apartment, went shopping, and cleaned everything in that amount of time. It's the one thing that's a little irksome about this show -- I understand that it's TV, but on a show that's supposed to portray reality, a little attention to detail would be nice.
An NYC montage -- including a couple making out on the sidewalk -- takes us to Carlos telling his co-worker about how amazing it was that he ran into Mae and they went on a great date. He's beaming and admits that this is him not only giddy but without sleep, and his co-worker dryly points out how happy that will make his clients. Inside the courtroom, the two flip through case files and Carlos, apparently buoyed by the love of a good woman, decides that after two years defending petty thieves, he's up for a felony case, even though it wasn't assigned to him. He tells his buddy, "Possession of a deadly weapon. I like that." His clearly more rational buddy replies, "Look, I'm not saying you're not the best public defender in the history of them, but don't let one date with a pretty girl who plays hard to get boost your ego to the point of self-destruction!" I like this guy, he's logical. I'm sure he won't be around much. Carlos only tells him, "Today is my day. I can do anything," and skips out of the courtroom.
Whitney and Roy are curled up in bed, and the director decided that to portray "relaxed, happy, and romantic," he'd curl up Bridget Moynahan so that she's wrapped around the guy, contorting her back so that her head is on his chest. Watching her, all I want to do is stretch. Well, stretch and yell at my TV screen until this fictional character can actually hear me, since every sign points to "Run! Run Away Now!" For instance, she suggests writing their own vows, which he basically makes fun of by telling her he wants nothing to do with it, doesn't like poetry, doesn't like the idea, and just wants a couple of "I do"s and a party. She's taken aback, but tries to be understanding. He realizes he needs to act like he actually wants to make his fiancée happy, so he says they should do their own vows, joking as if it was his idea in the first place. How romantic, crushing her spirit and then giving her a little love back as if it's a brightly wrapped gift.
Cut to Whitney walking through her office in a fantastic dark brown, knee-length, matte jersey dress, looking like a million bucks. I need that dress for myself. Anyone have any ideas where it might be found? Let me know -- you know where to find me. Oh wait, there's a scene I'm supposed to be recapping. She's ordering her assistant to find out the availability and capacity of various chi-chi locations on holiday weekends. I'm not entirely sure if it's for her own wedding or for a function for a client -- I'd guess wedding, but they don't specify at all, and I'm going to be petulant and not try to guess. There's a difference between having a show that doesn't insult your intelligence and one that gets lazy about details. As she gets to the lobby she cuts herself off, since Steven is waiting with his portfolio. It's not the Tuesday on which she told him to show up, so she's put off, but he's rather rude and persistent about how he had nothing to do so she should look at it now, now, NOW. He opens up his portfolio to the photo of Laura but she doesn't see it since she walks away, saying she's busy. He just tells her he can't sit around at home, and so, since she said she'd have work for him, she should put him to work. The hell? That guy wouldn't even be in for me to see his portfolio on our scheduled day, at this point. He's not making me believe he's worth taking a chance on so much as that he's a pompous dick. He sort of compliments her by saying she gets things done all day long, also while insulting her about her being "particular." He caps it off with, "I realize stalking you is not ideal for either one of us, but all I'm asking is that you make something happen. You could if you wanted to. Would you? Please."
Back at the hospital, a man is crashing and is rushed down the hall for more surgery. Damien whispers on the phone with Michael, clearly upset that Michael seemed to have lied when he promised Damien the guy would live. Michael can't believe he's at the hospital, but that's what you get when your brother has a conscience. They go back and forth, Damien racked with guilt, Michael telling him to get out and celebrate if the man dies. Damien adds, "Man, I swore I'd never shoot a man again." He's very sincere, but something about that line reads kind of like, "Man, I said I'd never cheat on my diet again." A little flip for having put a bullet into someone. Michael orders him to pay Vincent, but Damien says that he owes twice what Michael gave him. Michael just orders him out, again, telling him they'll frame the guy who found the gun near a dumpster.
Carlos is meeting with his new felonious client, Sherman. Guess what that guy swears? That the gun wasn't his, he found it by a dumpster. Hmm. Carlos doesn't believe him and asks if he was going to sell the gun. The guy was, but he was going to buy diapers, not drugs, for his soon-to-be-born child. It's like an ex-con Mother Teresa convention around here. He pleads for "Mr. Green" to get him out, and being spoken to so formally by a guy who looks to be his age seems to affect Carlos a little bit.
At the hospital, Damien gets a soda and strikes up a conversation with the guard's wife. She's distraught, as you can imagine, and very upset that they can't see a specialist soon, since their HMO won't pay for him to be in a private room in the VIP wing of the hospital.
Carlos is in court defending his client, saying he was searched illegally. He seems to be holding his own, but we never find out how he does with this defense since the prosecution asks for counsel to speak to the judge. When the lawyers approach the bench, there is bad news: an eyewitness IDs Sherman as a shooter in a separate case, and they want to put him in a lineup and charge him with attempted murder. Carlos is completely gobsmacked. Sherman is still looking at him hopefully.
Mae/Claire goes to look for Eliza and can't find her anywhere. The phone rings -- it's Laura checking in, and M/C tells her that they're "playing a quick game of hide-and-seek before school." Thank goodness she's so good at making up lame stories on a dime. Laura, relieved, goes to meet her new boss. Instead, she meets the bitchy little assistant all done up in sweater vest and bow tie with a Bluetooth headset. He won't let her see J.T., but when he realizes she's there to work, he gets her started with picking up some juice down the street. Wah, wah, waaaaaaaah, she's an assistant's assistant, and he claims to be the only one who gets to speak to J.T.
The city scenes this time feature a couple getting in a fight and the woman hitting the man with her shopping bags. I have no idea what the point is, but it's funny.
Whitney is following Ralston around the office, arguing Steven's case. Seriously? She didn't kick him out on his ass? I guess there's some magic to the guy that I seriously missed. Her boss realizes Steven's an asshat and asks if she's sleeping with him, to which she replies, "I don't sleep." Oh, ha ha, you crazy career woman. It must be noted that she's at least a head taller than he is, making this argument kind of hilariously awesome. He keeps fighting against it, but when she asks, he lets her know that it's her decision to make. Producers: if you're going to have some magical character inspire faith in others, please make sure he's portrayed as such, and not like a jackass. I don't get this story line AT ALL.
M/C is still looking for Eliza. She finally calls out a riddle and when Eliza answers that she's heard it before, M/C realizes that she's in her room and panics. She heads in and finds the little girl under the bed, holding her box and gleefully asking what's in it. Under the bed is a crack place to keep this box that apparently means literal life and death. Once again, we are reminded what a top-notch fugitive M/C is. She freaks out and pulls Eliza out from underneath, yelling that it is her room and they are her things. Eliza yells that it's actually her dad's room, putting M/C in her place.
M/C finds Eliza on her bed with her face buried in the pillows. She unconvincingly apologizes for yelling, and for the first time looks like she has no idea how to actually handle a child. She goes on talking about how nice it is to be invisible, and getting no response, she finally asks about the books in Eliza's dad's study. When she asks if he was a science fiction fan, the girl replies, "Duh." Eliza shows her face to talk about how she and her dad used to read together, and so M/C makes the excellent decision to let her stay home from school and read. I'm sure Laura is going to be completely fine with that decision, although Laura didn't seem to mind Mae showing back up in her bedroom unannounced, so I can't really say.
Whitney and Steven are walking to a meeting -- I guess her gut told her he'd be a good salesperson, and not just a photographer, because she's filling him in on how to handle clients. I give up, I just don't get it. She tells him to lighten up, and figures out that what he needs to change is his tone. "We need to change that. It makes you sound like you know better." He shoots back, "How could I, when you know best?" Seriously, stalk and then insult your new employer. It's the way to get ahead. She then tells him the client will have "done their due diligence" and will know about him. I have no idea how, since she only hired him five minutes ago, but at least this explains that he actually will be there as a photographer. As they stand in front of the product-placed John Varvatos store, she tells him he'll need to explain his non-working years and also that he needs some new clothes. "Burnt-out is... out."
Fashion show montage! Only it's him trying on the clothes while she critiques. He looks like he's on death row. Call me crazy, but the fixing the collar and the spiteful banter can really only mean that we're going to have some sexual tension between these two, and I suspect sooner than later. They agree to make up a story that he's been shooting travel books in Japan, and as they talk, he looks at the price tag on the jacket he's wearing. He decides not to buy it and covers his shame with bad temper, informing her that he'll be dressed and ready to go, and I guess not there as early as she'd like him to be since they argue about time. I... I've already said it about three thousand times in fifteen minutes. I don't know.
Laura is now out walking a poodle, who, it appears, has just gone to the bathroom on the sidewalk. She goes to get out a baggie but, flustered, ends up picking up the dog and running away from the evidence, and drops pennies from her purse as she does. It's a good thing street corners in New York are so empty and no one is going to see her do that.
Damien is spacing out, driving a client, when he passes the guy's building. Seems shooting a man isn't good for one's concentration. As he puts down the guy's suitcase on the sidewalk, he finds a penny -- the very one Laura dropped. No one seems to give any indication that there is also a pile of dog crap there, and that he probably just dropped the suitcase onto it. Damien takes his lucky penny... right into a horse racing center of some sort. He finds someone he knows named Pete and decides that he's taking the ten grand cash his brother gave to him and putting it on the horse his buddy recommends. Pete is shocked, but he places the bet.
Carlos is meeting with Sherman, trying to tell him to relax for that afternoon's lineup. Sherman, understandably, doesn't seem to be able to do that. Carlos goes to leave, all bravado, and Sherman calls out and asks, "Man, you've got my back, right?" After a really confidence-inspiring pause, Carlos quietly and unconvincingly tells him, "Yeah, of course I do." He just needs a quick break to worship the porcelain god and wash his face.
Damien and Pete wait excitedly, but when the race starts, the horse stumbles. Dejected, Damien heads to his car before the race even ends, gets inside, and calls Vincent to send his guys over and beat the crap out of him. Man, that IS a bad day if you're ordering another session with the tiny goons. He waits, staring at the penny that drove him to his downfall.
But what's this? Pete shows up at the window to let him know... the horse came from behind, and Damien's $10K is now $80K. That's one hell of a penny.
Laura and Whitney are at a restaurant, because if there's one thing I know, it's that lowly assistants get a lot of time for leisurely lunch breaks. Whit is freaking out because Steven won't answer his phone, but I feel like it's an insult to her character to have her act surprised. Laura vents about how today was supposed to be so good, and she was supposed to learn from J.T. Zeff -- who, it turns out, Whitney knows. She also then knows his bitchy assistant, Ross. Laura wonders how she got to this point, and Whitney asks if her ex-husband helps out at all. Awkwardly, Laura explains that she is widowed, not divorced. Her husband's death was a big story, and Whitney knows who he was and what happened. Laura admits to not wanting to say anything since she couldn't handle more pitying looks, and Whit tries to pull herself together for her friend's sake. You see? This two-day friendship is unrealistic to happen so quickly, but totally believable. Writers, you can do it -- you just need to work this magic on the other storylines. A waiter comes by with a supercharged latte, but it's for another table -- for Carlos, sitting not ten feet away. Laura continues that she needs to make this job work, and so Whitney's advice to her is to not let Ross underestimate her.
Oh, someone up there loves me -- a woman walks out of a townhouse, and it's none other than Eva Rodrrrrriguez from one of my favorite movies of all time -- Center Stage. Damien is waiting outside with a sign reading "R. Rollins," but she informs him she didn't order a car. Well, then, good thing her boyfriend drives one. They kiss, and he asks if she notices anything different -- the car is brand new, he's leasing it, and today he starts his own business with it. She's super-proud of him, and when she asks if she's the first person he told, he tells her she's the only person he's got to tell. She's thrilled and proud, and when she asks if he won the lottery, he just says he's been saving up for a long time. She's cute AND gullible.
Damien heads to a park, where he finds his brother playing chess. He knows about the horse race, the fact of which Damien seems to ignore, and instead he pulls out an envelope to give back the money he got from the shooting. Michael insists it was a gift, but Damien doesn't want it. His brother coolly lets him know he won't tell Damien's parole officer what happened. Yeah, I guess that's not what they want you doing back out in the real world, is it? Damien then breaks it to him that he wants to cut ties. As anyone might have guessed, Michael doesn't take this too well, especially considering they're family. He wonders what Damien has to make him do this, but Damien brushes him off. Gee willikers, I wonder if Michael might try to find out what Damien's got. Michael stands up to threaten his brother that he'll be back, "'cause you don't got any idea how much you need me."
Damien's got enough money to buy Carlos two hot dogs, which he does at a stand where they've met for lunch. Carlos tells him he'll get his permit pushed through, but his mind is clearly on something else as he paces. When Damien pushes to find out what is wrong, he admits, "I made a huge mistake at work." And there we have the Understatement of the Week. "I took on something I probably shouldn't have, and now I feel like I've got a hole burning through my stomach." Damien points out, "And you're about to eat two dogs with sauerkraut." Oh dear. But the worst part isn't the client now fingered for attempted murder; it's that Mae hasn't called yet. Calm down, Carlos. From what I can tell, it's the same day that your date ended, or maybe the . Everyone knows she's got three days. Damien gives him a pep talk. He tells him he also was in a bad patch, but that he got lucky in that New York Way, and presumably, it will happen to Carlos. "As bad as things can get, never give up hope." They chew thoughtfully, and Carlos takes it in and thanks him.
Eliza is reading Mae/Claire a story that sounds somewhat inappropriate for a small child, about a girl who is out of trouble (or at least it sounded like that), when she stumbles on a word. M/C asks if she needs help, but Eliza just wants to know what's in the box. M/C only says they are things that are special to her, but she can't open it since it has two locks. She has one key around her neck, and the person who has the second key is her brother Erik. A two-key system leads me to wonder if they are nuclear codes. I hope so, as that would add a whole new level to this show. She suggests that Eliza make a box of what is important to her and show it to her mom, an idea which the little girl likes. They shake on it.
Laura barges in on Ross, as well as one can barge through plastic sheeting, and interrupts him to threaten him. He tries to get a word in edgewise but cannot, as she explains that the furniture that J.T. needs by the end of the week has all been rerouted until he shapes up. "I did not go to Art Center Pasadena but I have been through a great deal in my life. And for the last eight years, I have been a stay-at-home mom, so I am well-versed in how to deal with a petulant child. The fate of your furniture rests in my hands. You want it back? It's simple. Introduce me to J.T., and get an intern to do your crap work." She rocks my world. Ross then introduces her to J.T., who has been in the room the whole time. She's an older lady, barefoot, petting the poodle from earlier, and she asks Ross if furniture has ever been held hostage before. Laura, freaked, assures her she didn't actually reroute everything, but J.T. tells her, "I have two sons. I understand the value of a well-placed threat." She likes Laura's moxie, and asks her to sit down while they meet.
For all the gambling problems, I still love Damien. He and Regina are shopping for groceries, and he has clearly been sent to get milk. He's come back with four different varieties, including "that soy stuff that kind of pretends it's milk." She giggles and takes the whole milk, sending him back with the others. From behind her, Michael appears from nowhere and is really sinister as he tries to flirt with her. She informs him she's there with her boyfriend, to which he responds that if she were his, he wouldn't let her out of his sight. It's so slimy and clichéd, but he's selling this and making me uncomfortable. Damien shows up, pissed off, and Regina is clearly relieved. Michael acts like it's a big coincidence that they know each other, and when Michael starts to explain, Damien tells her that they work together. I have to imagine that since he knows Michael is bad news, he'd be smarter than to piss him off like this, but I think the money has gone to his head. Michael talks a bit, gets Regina's name, and takes off. She remarks that he's creepy, and a shaken Damien goes to finish shopping.
Steven knocks on an apartment door, and when no one answers, he uses his key to let himself into a fabulous, airy, hardwood-floored apartment. The pictures of Max indicate that he's at his ex-wife's house. He wanders around, calling for "Chris," but gets no response. However, someone is in the shower in the bathroom. He calls her name, and Chris -- played by Carey Lowell -- looks none too pleased when she gasps and sticks her head out from behind the curtain. She remarks, "You're alive," and finishes her shower. He's going through the closet and apologizes, saying he didn't think she was home, but she corrects him that he didn't care. She asks when he got back, and he answers that it was three weeks ago -- leading to another mystery, which is where exactly he was, other than drunk. She asks if Max knows that he's here; he answers that "he might," and when she asks if he saw him, Steven deflects by asking where his clothes are. Unfortunately for him, Chris gave them all away. She's angry and combative, and she tells him that she told Max he was sick and probably not coming home so that he wouldn't know the real details -- which include a note and a call from Mexico. Steven begins to speak, but she orders him not to apologize. He hopefully tells her he's got an interview that day, which is why he needs the jacket, but she's unmoved. She tells him that whether he gets it or not won't matter, since he'll end up wrecking things. She's such a great actress -- you can feel the unhealthy combination of anger and sadness at war in her gut as she tries to stay calm. "You show yourself out. You know the way... " He finally looks a little bit put in his place.
Fade up on a very angular bottle of vodka in front of some white flowers -- orchids, maybe? These things are set in the middle of a table where Whitney is meeting with some men, telling them about how they can help their brand, and waiting anxiously for her photographer to show up. She leaves, supposedly to fetch Steven, but instead calls him in a panic and chews him out over voicemail, as he shows up from behind her, not really concerned enough for my taste that he's "seven minutes late." He's clean-shaven and dressed nicely in a dark shirt and jacket, and he's got one too many buttons unbuttoned, but since he's supposed to be artsy, I think this is supposed to show his rakish disregard for the establishment or something. He tries to talk about the bottle design being "slick, sleek, and very photogenic," but he's stalling, and the client, onto him, says he hopes that it's all of those things. He comments about how he saw Steven's books, and they're brilliant, but what has he been doing the past few years? There's a pregnant pause, Whitney stares at Steven and crosses her hands, and after another moment Steven calmly answers that he's been shooting travel guides in Japan, as they had established. Whitney, eyebrows raised and holding her breath, listens to him try to explain. And she seems impressed that he's going with it when she interrupts and tells him that they should tell the truth. She admits that she made Steven create that answer and says she has faith in the real him, and then asks where he's actually been. Everyone is quiet and the client looks stern, but Steven takes a breath and, to his credit, gives an honest, not-snide answer. "Well, if there's one thing I know exceptionally well, it's the inside of that bottle." The client chuckles, breaking the tension. I suppose if you work in vodka, you have to be a little more forgiving about someone getting into trouble with your product. Steven shrugs it off and moves forward to talk about his idea. I started out wanting to make fun of it, but as he went on, it sounds great and I'd really like to see it -- which I'm sure means that we won't. He wants to fill the bottle with buds, and he'll shoot the color negative and cross-process it so that the colors will turn out extremely bold, and the etched name on the bottle will pop. He warms up, and they seem to love the idea that, in his words, will mean "rebirth, spring... second chances." Whitney is all aglow inside that her risk seems to be paying off.
More city b-roll, but I can tell they're re-using some shots. Which I understand, but I think if you're going to try to use something as a generic crowded New York street, don't film a guy holding a GIGANTIC bunch of green balloons. Sheesh.
Carlos enters the room where the lineup will take place. The guys there refer to him as "The shooter in Washington Heights," and he corrects them, "Alleged shooter." He looks at the lineup and freaks out that the other people in it don't look anything like his guy. He's basically ignored, and when he tries to take a photo for the judge, his camera is taken away. They close the blinds and bring in the witness, who immediately fingers Sherman. Carlos rightly smells a rat. He tries to argue that it's a set-up, but no one is listening, and he's made fun of. At "He thinks all perps are victims!" he throws the guy against the wall and is pulled off and chucked out. I'm sure this will only reflect well on his career.
Carlos enters the jail to see Sherman, now sporting orange prison garb, pacing and freaking out. He argues his innocence and says that someone framed him, which Carlos acknowledges and says, "I'm on it." Sherman, though, is too worked up and is sure nothing is going to work. Carlos tells him that he knows how he feels, but that's the very wrong thing to do, as Sherman assures him that he does not know, sitting there in his suit. He gets up and calmly tells him, "Sherman, there's a lot you don't know about me. Believe me, I've been there." I smell a backstory for a future episode! He takes off his coat and calmly, to the Oboe of Realization, tells Sherman that being the victim is a waste of time. "Today I let that get to me. But it's not going to happen again." Note to Carlos: Save that for your friends, not your client who is depending on you. It might make him a little nervous, you know? Sherman, though, nods to show that he Really Gets It, and Carlos promises that he will get him out.
Once he's outside, his phone rings, and it's Mae. He's surprised, awkward, and thrilled, and she just as awkwardly thanks him for everything. He'd like to see her again and she'd like that too, and she then admits to him that she decided to stay in New York because of him. At this, she realizes she's probably said too much, and ends the conversation. He tries to get her number, but she won't give it and just promises to call. Carlos must have one of those TV Cell Phones -- you know, the ones without caller ID like the rest of the world has. I'm so tired of nobody on any show ever thinking to just save the number that pops up instead just running around, distraught that they can't get hold of anyone. Welcome to 2006, let's embrace it!
Damien storms into a dark pool hall where Michael is having a drink and demands to know if he followed him. Michael only tells him that Regina looked nice and asks if she knows that Damien was in jail. The blank look of fear on Damien's face answers that one. At that, Michael calls him a coward and guesses they must not be brothers, since he wouldn't be related to a coward. He dares him to push back, and finally Damien socks him and warns him to stay away.
Steven goes back and knocks on Christine's apartment door, and when there's no answer, he tries to use his key. He struggles and realizes the locks have been changed, and then she answers the door. He's happy and tells her that he got the job and wanted to take them to dinner, but she's not having any of it. When he argues that it's just dinner, she retorts calmly that it's not. He's smiling, but loses his cool when she tries to close the door, and he forces it back open. She tells him to stop it, with just a ripple of nervousness in her voice. He angrily mumbles for her not to slam the door in his face and smacks the door, which she shuts and locks him out. He slams the door one more time for good measure. Great acting by the two of them, with all of the underlying emotions rippling around in this scene.
Whitney and Roy are at dinner, and he's joking that he'll be fat and have no liver left if they keep celebrating all of her success. She giggles and toasts to his demise. She gets up, takes his hand, and tells him that she realized she doesn't want to plan a wedding. Instead, she suggests they get married later that month, in a small ceremony. She doesn't notice his tone when he laughs, "Wow, that's really soon!" and then turns the lights down, the better not to see the deer-in-the-headlights look on his face.
An unknown woman looks down, gasps slightly, and tells someone, "Wow, this is very generous of you." Standing in front of her is Damien, who says it is his pleasure. He reiterates that he'd like this donation he is making to be anonymous. Carlos walks up to a window and asks, "Excuse me?" as Damien exits a door with the woman a few feet away. Since he's facing the window, Carlos doesn't see him to know how horribly his work and personal lives could collide. Damien leaves, smiling, and Carlos asks to see the guard, whose name is Ted O'Malley. The woman helping him gives him the good news that he's been moved up to a private room.
As he walks through Times Square, Damien takes the penny that brought him so much luck and sets it down -- heads up -- on the sidewalk to give someone else some luck. And damn, $80K really goes farther in New York than it used to. Let's see -- $10K back to his brother, and if he owed Vincent double that, there's another $20K. So with the remaining $50K he leased a brand new towncar, got a permit to start his own business, and paid for the man he shot to spend his hospital stay on the VIP floor? New York really is the place to be.