The Plan
Updated 2008-12-11 09:12:39
We open with our establishing shots of New York skyline porn, and then we're in a big, fancy walk-in closet with Karen, who's throwing out clothes, all "Garbage. Garbage. Garbage." Nick walks in, and Karen says, "Speak of the devil." Then he asks what she's doing, and she explains: She's purging everything Simon ever gave her or liked. She does it after every marriage. She adds that this wasn't a marriage since there was no wedding, but she does it in a really snotty way so that Nick knows he's the one she's blaming it all on. Instead of, you know, Simon. Or herself for being an idiot. He's just there with papers for her to sign to reinstate her stock. She says getting her stock back makes nothing better. He tells her he might not have handled the situation very well, but he did it all for her because he cares about her. She asks him to leave.
In Tripp's office, Tripp is letting Nick know that Ellen's brother, Chase , is becoming a problem again. Tripp heard from the manager at Darling Avionics that Chase is spreading his theory. And with Patrick's inauguration 48 hours away, that means Tripp needs Nick to go to Bethpage and talk to him. Nick says he's kind of in the middle of the last several dozen favors Tripp has asked him for (although, technically, if you're getting paid millions, they're not so much "favors" as "your job"), including finishing the partnership agreement with Simon. Nick suggest Brian go, but Tripp says Brian has too much to do with Andrea in the hospital and Brian Jr. to take care of. Plus, Chase sort of trusts Nick.
Tripp's in a meeting with Nola and Patrick, in which Tripp and Nola are arguing over whether Patrick should be inaugurated on the Senate floor like everyone else (Nola) or in Federal Hall in New York (Tripp). Patrick sighs, all like, "Whatever." He says this would mean more to him if Carmelita were here. Nola's a bitch about it, telling him to move on. Tripp finally says he agrees with Nola, although he's a little nicer. He says Carmelita's a lovely individual but would not be a benefit in this situation. Nola gets a "Meet me. Now" text from Simon, and gets up to leave. She thanks Tripp for agreeing, and he says on those rare occasions he agrees with her, she'll find him by her side. She replies, "How very ... patronizing." I know a lot of people hate her in this role, but I think what they actually hate is this role. Lucy Liu is totally owning Nola's bitchiness. I like it.
In a limo, Simon's talking to Nola, and here is what I hear: "Blah, blah, blah, biofuel, blah." He needs to make this amazing biofuel. I'm sorry, is this show trying to make me hate biofuel? Aren't I supposed to like it as an alternative to other fuel types? Anyway, Simon was close until EPA approval died in closed committee, and he needs Nola to steal a sealed file from Patrick's office so he can find out who killed his approval. Or bill. Or whatever it is you file to get approval for something.
In the hospital, Andrea wakes up and asks for Brian, Jr., but he's with his grandma. Brian says Andrea will see him at home, but she says she's not coming home. He thinks the experimental drugs will kick in and she'll be home soon. She says she won't and she needs him to say it. She needs to know he can say she's going to die and that he can be strong for Brian, Jr. She begs him to say it. And it's so weird how much she looks like her dead Laura Palmer in Twin Peaks when they have her all made up like she's near death. He finally says she's going to die, and then they both start crying and hug and tell each other they love each other.
Nola's stealing the file when Jeremy comes into Patrick's office with coffee. She hides the file behind her own little briefcase, as if Jeremy would ever notice. She makes up something about needing something from Mayor Bloomberg's office to distract Jeremy from noticing what she's done. Again, not necessary. He's oblivious. They argue, and when it gets loud, Patrick comes in and says they can all hear these two down the hall. They start screaming again, and he asks them to tone it down a notch. He says they have feelings for each other and need to work it out or else they'll both need to find employment elsewhere.
Nick pulls up to a house where Chase is loading boxes into the back of his truck. I'm not sure why or where he's moving, but I guess details like this don't matter. They just needed a place to set this scene. He says he wondered how long it would take Nick to show up and try to solve the Darlings' problem. Nick tells him that the manager at Darling Avionics told him Chase walked off the job. He asks why, and Chase says, "What do you care? Wife left me, took the kids." I don't get that. Is he saying that he walked off the job because his wife left him, or she left him because he quit his job? I don't get it. Why is he so angry? This is a really muddled, unclear situation the writers have Chase in. He tells Nick that he gave up his self-respect in exchange for the Darlings' money, when he should have been focused on finding out who murdered his sister. Nick says she wasn't murdered, which is true. Chase isn't buying it. Nick asks what he wants, and Chase says: "Justice."
Carmelita arrives at the salon she's working at, and it's Chase. He wants to talk to her about the situation they're both in, since the Darlings left them both out in the cold (except they actually didn't do that to you, Chase; they gave you a job). He says he's going public with Ellen's death. He also tells her he knows about her and Patrick, and he knows she knows, too. She says she doesn't know. He tells her that she's lying: She knows Patrick killed Ellen, and that Carmelita's the reason. She tries to calm him down by offering him a haircut, and says they can trade stories then. Just like any other hair salon, you know.
Nola and Jeremy are still in Patrick's office trying to sort it out. He wants her to admit she still has feelings for him, and that she can't be around him without losing her mind because of something with his lips and hands, "that thing I used to do." She thinks it's a low blow to bring up "the thing." She calls him "such a little bitch" and then admits she still has feelings for him. She tells him it's never going to happen, though, because "It's complicated" and is better for everyone that they're through. Just then, Nola sees Carmelita through the barely open door and runs out into the lobby. Carmelita tells Nola she's there to see the senator, but Nola says he won't be back for hours. Nola also tells her that if she knows what's good for her, she'll stay out of his life. Patrick walks in right then. He's happy to see Carmelita, of course. She says she needs to see him and he, of course, takes her right into his office.
Brian enters Tripp's office, and Tripp asks how his "lovely bride" is doing. He's sickeningly sweet, and I don't know what to make of it. Brian tells Tripp how bad it is: She has about 10 white blood cells and can't eat solid foods. Tripp tells Brian he should be with her, since Tripp can manage the business without him. Brian's skeptical since last he checked Tripp had partnered with Simon elder. Brian's like, "What about me? You told me good things were ahead." Poor Brian. He never feels like he's good enough in this family, and he never will. I hate Tripp for that. Tripp tells him good things will happen for him. But Brian says Tripp, Simon, and Nick leave very little room for Brian. And then he tells Tripp that there's not enough time left in life, and this isn't what he wants. He quits.
Carmelita's telling Patrick how dangerous Chase seemed when he told her he was going public. She hopes she did the right thing coming to him, and he says they did and he's glad she told him. Carmelita says she better go, after Nola's reaction. He says Nola's worried about public perception, but he's not, and he wants to have lunch with Carmelita tomorrow, somewhere they can talk. They're seriously adorable. Excellent chemistry.
The scariest brain trust in history is meeting in Tripp's office: Tripp, Patrick, Nola, and Nick. The only thing that would make it worse: Simon Elder. They all want to get Chase locked up for 72 hours for psychiatric reasons. Except Nick, who thinks this is a bad idea, because he's a human who doesn't actually need mental health for wanting to tell a story that everyone in the room knows is mostly true. I'm actually surprised Patrick wants to do this. I like to think of him as a better person than Nola and Tripp. Nick asks them all to give him a chance to talk with Chase before they lock him up. Patrick doesn't get why Nick cares so much about saving this guy, and Nick just says he's a human being. But I think it's more than that. Nick doesn't want to admit he's a Darling, so he has to try to do things a different way.
Chase and Nick meet in the park. Chase doesn't want more money, so he asks Nick not to offer it. Nick speaks really openly about the Darlings, telling Chase that he knows how having the Darlings in your life can be destructive. They've made Nick doubt himself and wonder about his motives. But the bottom line here is that Patrick didn't kill Ellen. Chase wishes he could believe that. Nick then tries a different approach: He tells Chase that he can go through with this, but there's nothing to be won here, so he won't win. But Chase can still get his wife and kids back. That's still a way out of this for him. Chase is listening, and you can see he really trusts Nick. He says, "Maybe you're right." And then a police car pulls up, and Chase asks Nick if he set him up. Nick says he did not. The cops come to take Chase in for psychiatric evaluation. Nick gets mad and says there's been some mistake and asks the officers to uncuff him. But Chase is pissed. He tells Nick he can't believe he trusted him, and that he's the worst one of them all.
Nick's still pissed when he shows up at Tripp's office to find out why he'd do that to him. Tripp says he didn't send in the cops -- that if anyone did that, it was Nola. Nick says, "Nola my ass. There is nothing that goes on in this family that you don't know about, control, or otherwise quietly endorse." Nick says he didn't go behind Nick's back and would never betray him like that. Nick says, "No, you would betray me like this." What? Aren't you guys talking about the same betrayal? If there was one.
Jeremy walks in to the Imperial, where Karen's sitting with Letitia, who's drinking and getting a manicure. She asks Jeremy how he is and he says, "Double grande depresso, mom. Double grande." Letitia says she knows work can be hard. Not from experience or anything, but she heard that once from someone. Jeremy says it's not the work, it's Nola, since she finally fessed up that she has feelings for him. Jeremy says that she said it's too complicated, and Karen thinks that means Nola's seeing someone else. Letitia agrees. Karen points out that she was in love with Nick forever and then he booby-trapped her one chance at happiness. Letitia tells Karen she's wrong -- that Nick did nothing but protect her from the bad guy, Simon. And everyone who still watches this show was like, "Duh." That's right; we're all very eloquent. Then she tells Jeremy to go find the guy Nola's seeing and find a way to make him get lost.
Carmelita's meeting Patrick for lunch in what apparently used to be their usual spot. Patrick tells her that "Jorge made sure we got our private room." He thanks her again for the warning, and she says she could never let anything happen to him. He gives her an all-access pass to his inauguration. She reminds him what his father and chief of staff are going to say, but he doesn't care; he wants her there. Once that pass gets her in past everyone, he's going to announce her to the world. He wants to start a new life with her, not just a new term in office. She hugs him, but looks a little but uncertain. And you really can't blame her. How long has this guy been stringing her along anyway?
Brian's in a hall at the hospital, where he runs into his former bishop. The bishop says he was praying and thinking of Brian earlier and now here he is again. Brian's like, "Yeah, great," and tries to walk off, but the bishop points out that his six month suspension is up now. Brian says it went fast. The bishop asks if he's thought about coming back to the church and Brian says, "Not so much." The bishop tells him God might be calling him back, but Brian says he's not. He wants the bishop to give God a message for him, though: "The fact that we're all dragged here through time and space and then made to suffer and die? Really sucks." Amen.
Nola's walking down the street, being stalked by Jeremy, all dressed in black with dark glasses. She gets into a limo with, of course, Simon. Jeremy's shocked!
After a commercial break, Nola walks into Patrick's office, and Jeremy's there waiting. He grills her about "seeing Simon Elder." She tries to ignore it by asking about the permits from the mayor again, but he's not going to be led off topic. She says she's not seeing him, but he says he followed her, so she can spare the lies. She says this is harassment, and it's none of his business, but he says he's telling Patrick about how she's been bouncing on the "Corinthian leather" in the back of Simon's limo. Then he calls her "Trampolina!" Can I just say that whoever gets to write Jeremy's slang must have the most fun, because they come up with some crazy awesome stuff. He tells her that if she likes Simon for his jewelry, he can wear jewelry too. She tells him she's not sleeping with Simon, but she meets with him from time to time because he helped her father out once, and he now has control of her brother and won't tell her where he is. What does that mean? "Control"? That is called kidnapping, I think. Nola: Go to the cops. But Jeremy says he's going to get her out of this. She tells him that he can't let on he knows or her brother could be in serious danger. Again: cops.
Brian's in the church praying angrily to God, and it's seriously beautiful and gives me hope for this show again: "This is you, being you. I get that. This is what you do. You bring us into this world, you make it incredibly hard to feel at home here and then right when we finally realize that this is where we want to be, you force us out -- all part of your wonderful, unknowable plan. Look. She's dying. She thinks she's ready, but here's the thing: I'm not. And neither is our kid. You want me to pray? I'll pray. Please don't take her. She's got a few more paper chains to make for a few more Christmas trees. A few more birthday parties to arrange. Cupcakes to ice for a few more years. At least give us K through 12." And then he breaks down a little bit, and says, "It was just getting good." Then he gets really mad: "You want me back, then you step up and show me what you can do for me." He drops some money in the collection box and says, "If you do, I'll do whatever you want." If that reads as treacly to you, you didn't watch the episode. Because a lesser actor could not have made that as compelling and real and heart-wrenching without sap as Glenn Fitzgerald, who's become so dear to me, and is the one true shining light in what's become a somewhat barren landscape of a show.
Okay, no, here's another guy I adore: Jeremy. He's walking in to talk to Nick in a shiny Darling boardroom in the sky. Jeremy tells Nick there comes a time in every man's life when he needs to step up and take matters into his own hands, and that time for Jeremy is now. He tells Nick he needs his help because Nola Lyons is in trouble. Simon walks in and is like, "What kind of trouble?" Jeremy acts completely obvious and says, "No, it's cool." And then tells them he'll see them all around the quad. Hee. Simon asks Nick what that was all about, and Nick says he has no idea. Simon gives Nick the signed partnership agreement and says Nick is stuck with him. He walks off and Nick looks less than thrilled.
A cop or security officer, who we'll call NotClark (because he's not, but he's sort of trying to be) is talking to a nurse, telling her they have Chase, but she says she has to go get the doctor because they weren't expecting him. She goes back inside and NotClark walks back to the van and opens the door, where Chase is sitting inside. Chase gets up and knees NotClark, then chokes him until he passes out. He throws him into the van and then gets in the driver's seat and takes off. He does all of this with one of those plastic handcuff things.
Brian walks in to Andrea's hospital room, where their doctor is there talking to a bunch of other, younger doctors. He's telling them to take meticulous notes because Andrea's value as a research subject can't be overstated. Brian walks in and starts pushing people around, telling them to get away from her. He even pushes their regular doctor, who tells him this is a teaching hospital and when something unexpected happens, they teach. What's unexpected? The drug is working. Her white cells are up slightly. There's reason to hope. Apparently, God really wanted Brian back in the fold.
Karen shows up at Nick's apartment, where the door's open. She walks in calling for Nick, and Chase shuts the door behind her. She's like, "Who are you?" and briefly thinks he's someone she slept with and doesn't remember. He says he's Ellen's brother, Chase, and Karen says she's sorry about Ellen. But it's not at all sincere. Chase asks why she's there, and she says she's looking for Nick since they had a tiff. Chase says him too. Karen says she's going to leave, but Chase pulls a gun on her. It's really ridiculous. He tells her she's not going anywhere.
In Simon Elder's office, Nola comes in. She asks what he wanted. He thanks her for the Senate file, and then shows her her brother's report card. He tells her her brother's quite a capable learner but is having some issues with self-control. He says he has been thinking of having her chat with him, but she might be a bad influence given her own issues with self-control. He tells her she shouldn't have told Jeremy; that makes Simon think she doesn't know what the stakes are. She admits she did tell Jeremy. Simon thanks her for being honest. Then he folds the report card back up and says, "He is a smart kid. I know you're proud of him," all sweet and nice. Then, evil, "I'm done." He is a psychopath, I think.
Chase is telling Karen that money doesn't make you happy. She says she knows. He says he had to lose his wife and take money from Nick to know that. He tells her she should be sorry, because the Darlings are jerks who make everyone chase money. Yeah, it's the Darlings' fault we're all greedy. He says Nick's the worst of all, tying it all up in a pretty bow. Karen says Nick's not that bad, and Chase says Ellen told him she had a thing for Nick. Then he says, "She hated you, you know?" Karen says that's disappointing since she always thought of Ellen as a friend. Chase says Ellen would make fun of her, too, for wanting to jump a guy who was married with a kid. Then he tells her she's a real slut. She can't really stick up for herself, given his gun and everything. But then a phone rings and he goes to answer it. She runs toward the door. He follows (without hanging up the phone, I think) and asks where she thinks she's going. She says, "Nowhere," and he agrees, punching her in the face and knocking her out.
Brian's back at the church telling God, "Okay, okay, you friggin' win." Heh. The bishop comes in and asks what Brian's doing there. Brian tells him he can have him back if he still wants him. The bishop says it has little to do with him, but he's sure the Lord is pleased. He asks what changed Brian's mind, and Brian says he had a revelation. He realized that working for Darling Enterprises wasn't getting him what he wanted, but he can get what he's looking for right here. The bishop asks what he means, and Brian says he's saying he wants the bishop's job. When did Brian become such a career guy?
At Federal Hall, everyone's preparing for the inauguration. There are news stations out front waiting. And Patrick's in the hall practicing his speech with Carmelita. He tells her the plan for sneaking her out with him. He says this is their moment and tells her he loves her. She says she loves him too. He pushes her into hiding as Tripp and Nick come down the hall. But too late: They saw her. He doesn't deny it. He says he plans to have her by his side, and the reason he's springing it on them is because they wouldn't have let him get it done otherwise, and this is his life and his Senate career. Just then Nick's BlackBerry rings, saying "Home" is calling. He's puzzled, so he answers. A woman is just barely getting out a syllable, "He's... He's..." He thinks it's Lisa. And asks who it is and if she's okay. She says "Nick," and he asks if it's Karen. She falls over. Nick asks Tripp where Karen is and Tripp says probably with Letitia. Nick takes off.
Jeremy's outside looking for Nick, and Nola tells him not to tell Nick or anyone. She's sorry she got him involved. He pushes her aside and says he's going to take care of it. A security guy comes up and asks Nola if everything's okay, then we get a shot of another security guy, and it's Chase.
Back inside, Patrick and Tripp are still arguing about Carmelita when a security guy comes in and says they have a situation. Meanwhile, Nick runs upstairs and finds Letitia, drinking again. Can you even drink in Federal Hall? She says when last she saw Karen, she was going to see Nick at his house. Tripp, Patrick, and the security guy come up the stairs and Tripp says Chase escaped by overcoming his guard, taking his clothes, and stealing his gun. Nick asks when and Tripp says a couple hours ago. Nick tells the security guy to get a cop to his address, "224 Banks Street." He takes off running, saying they have to call off the inauguration now. Tripp asks what happened, but Nick runs off, no time to explain. Tripp wants to know what he can do. Nick runs outside where Patrick and Carmelita are walking out. She stands behind him in the crowd. Patrick thanks the crowd. Nick runs out, and Jeremy greets him, saying they have to talk. Nick: "Not now." Tripp and Letitia come out behind Nick, clearly not realizing by the fact that he wanted to call off the inauguration that they should maybe stay inside where it's safe. Nick goes to the security chief and says they have to shut this down because of a security threat. Chase sees them all come out, and realizes Nick knows what's up. He makes his way toward the stage and pulls out a gun. Nick sees him, and yells for everyone to duck. He pushes Jeremy HARD into the cement stairs. Two security guys immediately grab Patrick and pull him down. Nick jumps toward Chase, knocking him down, but Chase fires off a shot first. Tripp and Letitia bumble around in the back. News outlets record the whole thing. Chase wrestles Nick and gets the gun back, and fires three shots as the screen goes dark. And what does ABC have for those of us still watching this show? No previews. They wouldn't want us to expect the show next week in case they pull it at the last minute. So nice.
DeAnn is a writer and editor in Portland, Oregon. You can contact her at twopmodmars@gmail.com .
If you think Simon's evil, check out the other bad guys in our TV Villians: The Best of the Worst gallery .