Chloe Anne Bryant Yorkin, 1959-2001. Celebrating her divorce with her girlfriends, lots of champagne and a chauffeured stretch limousine – and, as she pokes her head out the limo’s roof window to do the “I’m the king of the world!” routine, a traffic light to the head, which puts a damper on things.
It’s quiet at the Fishers’. So quiet, in fact, that Nate’s out front in his shorts, catching some sun in preparation for his funeral director’s licence exam. “What’s the longest we’ve gone without a body?” he asks David. Nine days, apparently, during the 1984 Olympics. People must really have held back dying in order to catch Carl Lewis and that jetpack guy on TV.
It’s not as if Nate’s got that much else to do, with Brenda still busy babysitting her manic depressive brother. “You think we’re weird being undertaker’s kids? Just be thankful our parents weren’t fucking shrinks,” he tells David. Also, if business is slow, that also means no money’s coming in. Alternative sources of income? Renting out the front rooms at Fisher’s. David’s not too keen on the idea of AA holding their meetings there, even if they pay, but he can’t really object much to dance lessons for seniors. Especially if, as he finds out, the dance instructor is gay and cute. Bingo!
Rico’s happy, too: Chloe Yorkin’s been taken to Kroener’s, but they’ve called him in, freelancing from the Fisher’s. An artist like Rico thrives on challenges, and boy, is Chloe ever a challenge, half her face pretty much turned to mush by the traffic light. Only he’s lying to the Fishers about why he needs a day off, and he’s nicking embalming chemicals from his current employers. The job he does of Chloe, though? First rate (or, as Rico’s wife Vanessa puts it, “She really is your Sistine Chapel”). So much, in fact, that Kroener offers to steal him away from the Fishers, permanently.
Meanwhile Claire’s hiking up a mountain with an outreach group from school, the consequence of her footnapping escapades. Although what she’s mainly doing is supplying the other misfit kids with pot. Claire’s nothing if not enterprising – as is her classmate Parker, who’s screwing the group leader. Parker says she feels “boring and lame” around Claire. Judging from the media, I guess that having inappropriate sex is a sure fire way of making yourself interesting.
As Nate stops by Brenda’s apartment that evening, the place is pretty much wrecked. Also, there’s a naked, middle-aged Australian standing in the middle of it: a friend of Brenda’s who, he stresses, isn’t currently sleeping with her, his in-your-face nakedness notwithstanding. Not that this piece of information does much to assuage Nate’s worries. “I am touched that you’re jealous. Now get over it,” as Brenda puts it with her usual sensitivity. For someone who says she loves Nate, she’s pretty good at pushing him away.
When the Fisher brothers find out about Rico’s moonlighting, they confront the man. Rico’s still aglow from his artistry on Chloe (comparing her to a “watermelon somebody hit with a sledgehammer”), but he’s not proud of having gone behind their backs. Which doesn’t stop him from asking them: “What are you offering me to stay?” He’s got a wife and kids, and staying out of loyalty, or even charity, is out of the question. After Rico’s left, David says: “He’s finally figured out he’s worth more than we’re paying. We’re fucked.”
Which could probably be said for the outcome of David’s date with the dance teacher too, as well as (although more along the original meaning) Nate’s evening with Brenda, Crocodile Dundee and Bobby, which is made even weirder by his copious bong smoking. As if Nate wasn’t already paranoid enough about Brenda, her fidelity, and especially her brother Billy.
The next morning Rico shows up to tell the Fishers he’s made his decision – to leave Fisher & Sons, and to work for real money at Kroener’s. And Nate turns up at Brenda’s to apologise about his obnoxious, paranoid behaviour last night. He also confronts her about her pushing him away, asking her to commit to him as he’s willing to commit to her – which she, albeit nervously, agrees to.
Ruth, on the other hand? She’s unable, or perhaps unwilling, to commit either way. Nicolai or Hiram, Hiram or Nicolai? She can’t decide – but the indecision is doing wonders for her fantasy life.
Stray observations:
- There’s something freaky about how much Nate enjoys hooking his brother up with cute guys. Yeah, David probably does need to get laid, but there should be limits to how much of a vicarious thrill your sibling gets out of your lovelife.
- HBO, home of quality drama. And male full frontal nudity. “A large penis is always welcome,” as Atia on HBO’s Rome would put it.
- Gotta love that Spike Lee shot of Nate on drugs.
Quotes:
- David (in full professional get up): “This is how you study for the funeral director’s license?” Nate (wearing shorts): “You must really like wearing a suit.” David: “There’s always a chance we might get a walk-in.” Nate: “There’s always a chance we might get abducted by aliens.”
- David, imitating his late dad: “‘The great drought of ’84.’ Remember how Dad used to do Walter Brennan? ‘Come on, little Luke, let’s stitch this dead guy up, ’cause Ma’s made a mess of catfish and I’m powerful hungry.’” And after a pause, while Nate stares at him: “Okay, thank you for making me feel like an idiot.”
- David: “You just pimped me out to a kid.” Nate: “That kid wants to jump your bones. Come on, David, I watch Will and Grace. I have gaydar!”
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Matt K. is a survivor of academia. He's fanatical about good TV and movies. He lives in Switzerland, which means that he gets his chosen drug mostly in the form of boxed DVD sets. You can read more of his musings on TV, life, movies, books and video games at http:\\goofybeast.wordpress.com.