Episode 402:
The Wonder Weapon and the Pink Posse
Brian was awakened with visions of how he should approach his future. The key to his success had always been there just below the surface but it was a passing comment that caused a stir and made him see it for what it was.
Justin was awakened with visions of how he should approach the memories of his past. Memories that had also always been there but suppressed under the guise of “don’t think about it”. The bashing and opposing question of “what did you do?” caused a stir and made it to where he had to think about it.
The first shot is of a Shanda Leer poster and then pans to a very bruised and battered Darren. We are obviously in his apartment. His face is a mess, his arm and leg are in casts. Justin is unpacking some food, presumably from the diner. I’m not sure if this is an act of generosity by Justin, the kind-hearted volunteer, or an act of simple delivery by Justin, the diner employee, but I don’t guess it really matters. It allows a reason for Justin and Darren to bond and talk about those things that they have in common. Who better to help a bashing victim get over his pain, then a former bashing victim?
Darren: Better not be a parakeet in there, Jane.
Justin: Huh?
D: Obviously you’re not up on your gay film history. ‘Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?’ Starring the two greatest bitch goddesses in the history of the human race, Miss Joan Crawford and Miss Bette Davis. (Darren slips into character and does a Bette Davis impersonation.) ‘Miss Crawford and I neeever got along.’
J: I neeever saw it! (Justin does his own impersonation. Heee!)
D: I suppose there’s no point in even mentioning Esther Blodgett.
J: I know that one. It’s ‘A Star is Born’, right?
D: Oh, thank God! He really is gay!
I really liked this exchange between Justin and Darren. I didn’t get the parakeet comment either so I didn’t feel so stupid when Justin didn’t know it. I guess there are some things that Brian didn’t find necessary to teach Justin in order to make him the best homosexual he could be. Is knowing all the cinematic greats really a prerequisite to being gay? Is it in the handbook? Just wondering. But the other thing… anytime that Randy gets to play with one of his mimicking voices is always a great treat!
J: Eat.
D: No, thanks.
J: It’s tuna salad, not parakeet.
D: I’m not hungry.
J: You’re gonna need your strength.
D: For what? The doctor says I might have a permanent limp. That should brighten up my act!
J: What are you listening to the doctors for? After they stuffed my brain back in my head, they told me I’d never draw again. (Okay, UGH!! Do they have to be so graphic? That just hurts. But I guess it was meant to. **sigh**)
D: Well, do you?
J: Yes. For about 15 minutes, then my hand starts to shake. So I use a computer. But the point is…
D: You went on!
J: Right. So will you.
D: You’re so… reasonable. I keep hoping when they catch my bashers, they’ll sentence them to life in prison and they’ll get fucked nightly by prisoners with AIDS.
J: That’s gruesome. (Justin’s kind of quiet when he says it and wrinkles up his face… I think that’s his overall good nature of not wishing harm to anyone, even those guilty of unspeakable crimes. Funny how this all changes toward the end of the episode.)
D: It doesn’t cost anything to dream. When it happened to you, weren’t you angry?
J: I tried not to think about it.
D: I can’t stop thinking about it. I see their faces, their boots smashing into me. I even hugged this one guy’s foot to my stomach, hoping it would stop him from kicking me. It didn’t.
At first Justin seems entranced, you can tell the wheels are turning. Thoughts are moving around in his mind. And whether he admits it now or not, he was angry. That was the whole reason that his mother asked Brian to take him in. He had nightmares, he was scared to go out on the street. But like he said, he tried not to think about it. So I guess it doesn’t bother him anymore. Uh huh.
J: If you’re still holding onto that boot, then you’re still on the ground, taking it. Forget about it.
D: Listen, if you’d been reduced to jerking off with your left hand, you’d want them dead, too!
Oh well, see, that explains it. Justin didn’t have that same anger ‘cause he’s ambidextrous. So you know, jerking off left-handed wasn’t as big a deal to him as it is to Darren. Darren laughs at his own little joke, but you can tell, it’s the kind of laughter born out of a bad situation. Justin grins and shakes his head.
But all kidding aside, Justin does seem reasonable as Darren said, doesn’t he? And we leave this scene with me thinking that the whole bashing thing has bothered me more than it ever did Justin. He’s so matter of fact about it. It happened. He moved on. No residual effects from it whatsoever. But the thing that has me leery about what his real feelings are, besides the fact that his face seemed reflective for just a second, is his “holding onto that boot” comment… it’s so logical and seems to have come right out of the Brian Kinney Psychology 101 Manual. But this isn’t Brian… it’s Justin.
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DINER:
Michael is trying to pretend he has an impacted wisdom tooth so he can get out of going to the faerie cult thing with Emmett. He’s questioning why he agreed to go. Deb says it’s because he’s a good-hearted human being… he says it’s because he’s a lame-brained doormat. Hmmm. Who is right? I’ll keep my opinion to myself on that question and just say this… Michael and Debbie scenes always give me a chuckle and this was no different.
Ben tries to motivate Michael about the positive aspects of going and delivers a Zen-Ben type of monologue about the history of faeries. I’ll get into that in a minute. In the meantime, Justin waltzes by…
Justin: (To Debbie): Darren asked me to thank you for all the food you sent him.
Deb: It's the least I can do.
Ben: How’s he doing?
J: I’m afraid it’s gonna be awhile before Shanda Leer appears in public.
D: Well, at least he has one ray of sunshine in his life! (Ahhh, she gently brushes his hair out of his eyes and strokes his cheeks. Justin smiles at her. Too sweet for words. I couldn’t help it, I sighed. I’m still not going to answer the Michael question… but Justin? Now that’s a good-hearted human being and she knows it. She’s so proud. Heee!)
B: Tell him we’ll miss him at the Center tonight, but we’re gonna make sure this never happens again.
Justin mouths the word, ‘okay’ then leaves. Emmett arrives… there’s talk of low beam headlights and supportive best friends. Michael caves… they’re going to go dance with the faeries.
I’m not going to recap the Faerie Cult scenes (collective sigh of relief heard around the fandom) because, well, I’m trying to stick to the telling of the Brian/Justin saga. But the scenes did touch me and I did see a loose connection to Justin’s story so I do have a few things to say about what it meant to me and then I’ll move on. Promise.
One of the things that I love about the show besides the obvious are the inclusions of gay history sprinkled throughout the episodes. I do want to learn and when Ben mentioned Harry Hay and the faerie movement, I just knew there was some truth to it even though I had never heard of Harry or the faeries. I wanted to know what it was about.
I had so many questions about the faerie cult scenes… What was Emmett hoping to find there? What did Vic and Ben both think he would gain from going? Why the naked volleyball game? What was the significance of the circle of rocks that Harry (aka Ariel) had Emmett help him with? When Emmett asked where to find his enlightenment, why didn’t Harry answer him? I had the same question and wasn’t getting what was going on.
The website answered all those questions and more. But there were a few things that struck me in particular. The circle itself. It started as a small circle of friends wanting to reconnect with their inner self. Like a “coming full circle” or “getting centered” kind of thing. Return to where they started from before they had learned to adorn the heterosexual masks they needed to survive the real world of bigoted straights. A quote from Harry Hay… “Throw off the ugly, green frog skin of hetero-imitation to find the shining faerie prince beneath.” Interesting concept. I like the image. It made me think about “closet queens” and “out and proud” in a whole new way. It’s their inner self that made them strong.
And when you apply that idea to Emmett, you can see why this retreat was what he needed. Emmett has always been out and proud. He’d rather his flame burn bright than be a puny pilot light. Right? Ted had hurt him, pushed him away. Emmett was powerless to help Ted. He lost his strength… made him question his self worth. If his love wasn’t enough, then what did he have to offer? Nothing, he thinks. His flame was now a mere flicker. He had to reconnect with himself. Wash away the pain and the weakness he felt standing beside Ted during his demise.
Didn’t this same kind of thing happen to Justin’s flame when he was bashed? And how does all this tie into Brian/Justin? Well, oddly enough, it has to do with words and how they are used and what they mean.
Why did Harry use the name “faerie”? A word that is usually used in a derogatory manner. Well, that was exactly why. To reclaim the word as their own. There’s another Harry quote that really made me think. He said, “This is a pansy, the heartiest of lovely flowers.” Interesting quote. The word pansy is also used as a derogatory sentiment towards gays as if to mean “sissy” or “weakling” but yet the pansy is actually a very strong flower. It doesn’t die easily, it’s adaptable to its environment… it’s a survivor. And when you think about it, with all the hate and discrimination in the world, it takes a very strong person to be out and proud.
I mean, I have problems, we all have problems… but being gay means they have our same problems plus all the added problems that society heaps on them. Am I projecting pity? No, I’m just saying that doesn’t really describe a “pansy” or a “faerie” or a “sissy”, does it? It just makes Harry’s quote take on a whole new meaning. A meaning that quite possibly means something to Justin right about now.
Justin has always been out, and admittedly gay but at least twice in S1, he said, “I’m not some silly faggot”. He has always fought the derogatory views about being gay. He always had that proud inner strength that Harry spoke of. Hobbs, on the other hand, had physical strength and bashed him. Hobbs represented the hate and discrimination of society but Justin “tried not to think about it” and go on. Darren’s bashing brought it all back. He never relit the flame that Hobbs extinguished with that bat.
Hopefully this vigilante story arc will show, that through regaining the inner strength that he lost as a result of the bashing, Justin is actually the stronger or the ‘heartiest’ of the two. So even though this visit to the faerie cult seemed silly and a waste of time and all about Emmett, I don’t think it’s a coincidence at all that they chose to show this in the same episode that Justin is shown struggling with this inner self image of being a scared little faggot then chooses to join a group that preaches physical strength.
So anyway, that’s my take on the faeries. I could be way off in my understanding of it, sometimes I think there are just some things that I will never fully understand since I’m straight, but that’s what I got out of it. And that’s how I see it tying into Justin. Right or wrong.
Oh, and there’s some other stuff in there too that, being the fangirl that I am, I just have to mention. 1) Emmett sitting by the pond, wearing the bonnet… I kept thinking it was so familiar but I couldn’t place from where. Then someone else mentioned Kate Hepburn to me and I was like, “Yeah, that’s it!” And the pond… it even had a golden tint to it…LOL… just kidding. 2) Emmett’s mushroom trip… I love the new rendition of “White Rabbit”. I’d play this scene over and over just for that song but Peter also does an excellent job on the bridge. I just love that part of the story. 3) I could have done without the naked volleyball and all the bouncing balls… **shivers** …that’s the one question that I had that didn’t get answered. 4) I laughed at Emmett’s impersonation of Barbra at the fire circle but it was very eerily reminiscent of his Cher impersonation from S2, wasn’t it?
Okay, that’s enough… back to Brian and Justin.
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REHAB:
Whoops, not yet. Meanwhile, back at the rehab center, Ted’s in group therapy. Skipping Ted for now… his later scenes are more interesting. But I did have one observation worth noting. He makes a lame joke. Blake smiles and gives a chuckle. He always did say Ted was funny. Isn’t true love when someone constantly laughs at your dumb jokes when no one else does? Hmmm.
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Now… really… back to Brian and Justin.
Camera pans from the Naked Guy painting to the bedroom. Always a good sign… my anticipation builds. **swallows**clears throat** Wait! Didn’t he sell that? Oh, never mind… another ‘naked guy’ has caught my attention. It’s Justin in all his glory and looking as beautiful as any work of art. He’s walking out of the bathroom, fresh from the shower, hair wet, wearing nothing, but carrying a big red towel so, you know, he’s covered. From the front, anyway. Otherwise, it’s a nice profile shot of **clears throat again** his backside. And well, for just a second, I catch myself leaning to the left trying to see just a little more than what they are showing us. Okay, so I have my **ahem** moments and this more than makes up for the lack of B/J skin shots in 401. So… he’s walking, ever so sexily I might add, toward the bed… toward another ‘naked guy’. **gasp** More anticipation. It’s Brian. Lying on the bed, leg bent to the side (damn it), busy talking on the phone but yet accepts Justin’s presence immediately. It’s a beautiful sight. I don’t know if I can take much more.
Brian: (Into phone) It’s an interesting offer.
Headhunter: It’s a first-rate company, Mr. Kinney. You’d fit right in.
B: Interesting in that they think I’d actually agree to it. Two-thirds of what I was previously making, a lesser title, and no profit sharing until the fifth year.
Dang, why is he having such a hard time getting a decent offer? I know she says, “Times are tough” but come on… don’t these companies know all that he’s done? How successful he is? He’s won awards, for cryin’ out loud!! But okay, if he was able to get a job, then the whole “start my own business” thing just wouldn’t make sense. Anyway…
As Brian is talking, Justin steps up on the platform, looks lustfully down at Brian, wiggles his eyebrows at him. Justin bends his head down and shakes his wet hair, sprinkling water all over Brian. Brian is watching his every move and reaches up with his free hand to caress his wet hair, cheek, chest and neck. I think I’m swooning. Then Brian growls, moans, whatever… “Mmm”! He’s on the phone to a headhunter but yet Justin is just so hot that he can’t help himself. He really makes a noise! Justin smiles. Brian smiles back. Now I know I’m swooning.
HH: Times are tough, Mr. Kinney. It’s a job.
B: You mean indentured servitude.
Brian tugs on Justin’s shoulder and he falls down on top of him. Brian flips Justin over onto his back then rolls on top of him. Big red towel, no longer needed to hide private parts, is tossed aside.
HH: So you’re passing?
B: You can tell them I’ve just taken a new position. (It’s always a double meaning when Brian talks, isn’t it? Heee! He holds the phone out away from his ear and speaks directly into the mouth piece…) Bye-bye. (He hangs up, places the phone on the nearby nightstand then turns his attention to the naked blond beneath him.)
J: I can’t believe you just did that.
B: Flipped you on your back?
J: Flipped off that headhunter.
B: I can do better.
Visual comment here for those that haven’t seen it… during this whole conversation, Brian is running his fingers through Justin’s wet hair. He brushes it back with his hand over the top of his head and he twirls the longer pieces from the side through his fingers. His hands never leave Justin’s head, it’s constant hair fingering, and I don’t think I’m noticing that just because I ALWAYS notice where their hands are. I think, this time, I’m meant to notice. They are obviously making it a point to show us that Brian loves playing with Justin’s long hair and that Justin knows it because he shook the water out of it all over him.
Now we’ve all seen the Season 4 promo pictures and we’ve seen the coming attractions for the season so we all know that Justin buzzes all his hair off. So this scene makes us connect to Brian’s attachment of the hair so when it’s gone, we’ll all GASP as the big question looms… will Brian dig the shorter hair just as much? Stay tuned to find out. LOL
J: Doing what?
B: Working for myself instead of other people.
J: But all your clients turned you down.
B: Fuck ‘em. I’ll get others.
J What if you can’t? You’ll be destitute. You’ll have nothing.
B: (Laughing) Since when did you turn into a Jewish mother? Or Michael?
J: You’re just taking an awfully big risk, that’s all.
B: Well, what’s one more? Besides, if I don’t do this now, I never will.
Closes mouth. Wipes drool. Stop. Rewind. Gotta see that again.
Okay, skin shots, hair playing and joking aside, this scene is not only to fill the naked quota for the episode, it’s to establish Brian’s decision to start his own company. I like that he’s telling Justin about his decision. In 401, he didn’t tell Justin about selling the loft and he didn’t tell him that Vance had asked him to return. I hated that. But this makes up for it so I’m good.
I like that Brian realizes that Justin is usually thoughtful and open to ideas and that he’s not a pessimistic drama queen like Michael, worrying about everything all the time. It’s nice to know that and it’s very cute that when Justin does show this kind of worry over Brian’s well-being that he noticed it and commented on it, even though he did snark about it. Don’t get me wrong, I think Brian likes the fact that Michael worries about him like that, but I don’t think he would want Justin to be that way. He wants and expects different things from them, that’s all.
And I can’t leave this scene without one more comment. The sex, or the lack of it actually. Would it have been nice to continue the scene? Absolutely. In fact, I saw the S4 promo on the S3 DVD set and there was a scene of Justin with long wet hair licking down Brian’s chest. In the foreground of that shot is the big red towel. Now, that obviously means that they did film more of this scene that didn’t make it into the episode. It could have been that Justin flipped back on top and it was continued from there after the talk. Or the licking up Brian’s chest could have been filmed as happening while Brian was still on the phone. Who knows? But my point is this… they filmed it… we don’t see it.
We have been told over and over, the sex scenes are not gratuitous. So what would have <insert sex scene here> done for this portion of the Brian/Justin story? Nothing really. It would have been for our enjoyment only. The comfortable nakedness, the stroking hands, the hair shake, the growl, the hair fingering, and the entire dialogue between them gave us insight into where Brian and Justin are in their relationship at this point. Very loving, very couple-y… partners. Right? So was a sex scene needed to tell us anything different? Sad to say, no, it wasn’t. Any added sex to this scene would have been gratuitous so that’s why whatever they filmed, that we saw in the promo, was edited out and is now on the cutting room floor. I kind of have to tip my hat to Cow/Lip for sticking with what they said even though I wouldn’t have complained had they made me sit through watching it. I would have made the sacrifice. You know, to be supportive of the show and all that.
Maybe it will end up on the “extras” reel for the Season 4 DVD set… Cow/Lip, you reading this? HintHint. In my best, high-pitched, sing-song voice… ‘We knoooow you filmmmmed it.’ Purty Pwease? Should we start a petition? LOL
And you know what else? They didn’t even kiss. For the whole episode!!! What’s up with that?
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FAERIE GATHERING:
Nope, I promised. Back to B/J…
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Brian wastes no time in trying to solicit new clients. Where does he start? On Liberty Avenue, of course. There’s no way they’ll turn him down… “If we don’t help each other, who will?” Right? This should be easy. Nooooo problem! He starts at the adult toy store, Slings & Eros.
Brian: We’ll start with a new logo, launch an aggressive ad campaign with the locals and set up some high-profile sponsorships.
Slings&ErosGuy: That sounds bigger than we can handle.
B: It’s simple branding.
S&EG: Our customers aren’t into branding. Tattoos, piercings, maybe.
B: I’m talking about a new image.
S&EG: I adore makeovers, but our ad budget’s only $200 a month.
B: Greaaaat! (NOT!) Then we’ll run a lean campaign. No fat.
S&EG: Just like our customers. Perfect!
Brian looks almost sick. $200 a month is a far cry from the multi-million dollar accounts he’s used to dealing with. He’s really disappointed and I find myself thinking… ‘Poor, Brian!’ He’s having to start at the bottom, really, and I like him so much better on top. **sigh**
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REHAB:
Just a couple of things… I swear! This scene almost made me cry. I know, I’m a sap. What else is new? Like I’ve said before, I’ve always liked Ted and I know that he inflicts all his misery on himself… I get that. But, still, I’m feeling for him here. He’s at an important moment in his life and my heart goes out to him.
A few of the lines that got me…
Blake: Just remember what we talked about.
Ted: Give myself time to adjust.
B: Not just you, but people in you life are gonna need some time, too.
Foreshadowing. And I ache because that tells me that his “friends” aren’t going to be so quick to welcome him back. Angst ahead for Ted. I just hope he’s strong enough to deal with them.
They get to the front door.
T: I never thought I’d be so scared to see a door.
Ahhhh… gee. It seems silly, but that’s a powerful thing to admit to. **sniff**
T: Listen, I was wondering if I could, well, give you a call sometime? Strictly on a professional basis. If I suddenly find myself standing on a ledge with a rope around my neck or something.
Ahhh Ted. He still wants Blake. And funny thing is, I still want him to want him. I hated that Blake left the rehab in Season 1. I really like them together. I know this isn’t the time, but if they take things slow… Oh I know, I know. But still… I want it.
B: Or maybe just to say hello.
Ahhhh Blake! See? Just sweetness in this scene. I want to cry. **sniffle**
Then Blake goes to write down his phone number to give to Ted. While Ted is waiting, through the rest of their scene together and as Ted walks out the door, the music picks up in volume. You can’t help but listen to the lyrics. I wanted to get all weepy. It’s one of those songs that just “fits” with the scene like “When My Boy Walks Down the Street” in 203 or “Weapon” in 309. I will never be able to listen to this song again without remembering Ted and Blake’s exchange here. I had no idea what the song was or who it was but thanks to another recapper who did know, I can tell you…
“Loveless” by Lloyd Cole
Don’t got a lot of time… Don’t give a damn
Don’t tell me what to do… I am the man
If there’s a god up there… Something above
God shine your light down here… Shine from above
Of the loveless
Love the loveless
I don’t have too many friends… I’ve never felt at home
I’ve always been my own man… Pretty much alone
I know how to get through… And when push comes to shove
I got something that you need… I got the love
Love the loveless.
Isn’t that what Ted thinks he is? Loveless. It really was one of those perfect songs. So anyway, that may be one of my favorite Ted scenes.
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Cynthia is there, presumably on her lunch break from Vangard, she takes an ad board out of a portfolio and shows it to Brian.
Cynthia: Recognize this?
Brian: Yes. Remsen Pharmaceutical account. My last campaign. (The ad is a hunky guy climbing up the side of a mountain. It says "Back On Top". Were all of Brian’s old ads sexually suggestive? Ummm, that would be a YES!)
Justin: Before the old warrior was unceremoniously escorted from the building without so much as a..
B and J together: … ballpoint pen.
Heee! I remember last year, even though everyone loved the Brian/Debbie scene after he was fired, we all groaned that the scene wasn’t with Justin or that we didn’t get to see Brian’s conversation with Justin when he told him he was fired. So it’s nice that we now know Brian told Justin everything, including the humiliating parts. It was probably one of those great ‘queening out’ Brian conversations. I would’ve loved to have seen it but oh well, at least we know he told Justin everything. That was a pretty big thing for Season 3 Brian to do.
J: So what does this magic pill do?
B: (To Justin) Well, it’s guaranteed to turn you into a hottie. You can climb the Matterhorn. It also reduces your viral load. (To Cynthia) What are you showing it to me for?
C: Vance is taking your idea and pitching it to Remsen tomorrow.
B: Well, he should. He owns it.
Brian grabs a beer. Dos Equis. Is that a fashionably acceptable gay beer? My husband drinks that. Hmm. But I’m nosey so as he opened the refrigerator, I noticed he had two really big bottles of wine and one big bottle of champagne in the door slot. Economy sizes! Oh my! Brian so needs to get a big account. I don’t like my prince acting like a pauper. I just can’t take it.
J: But you thought it up.
B: Basic rule of advertising and eternal damnation: once you sell your soul to the devil, he holds the copyright.
J: So come up with another idea.
C: Then you can steal the account from Vance and your former assistant along with it!
Hee! I love that Cynthia wants to work for him. That really says something about Brian, you know. She knows he’s gay, so it has nothing to do with her possibly wanting to get into the pants of her very attractive boss, she just knows he’s brilliant and wants to be on a winning team. So many people really like Cynthia, I do too. Even more so now.
As Brian starts to speak, the camera cuts to a close up of Justin slicing a banana for the peanut butter sandwich he’s making. How cute! Not sure why that makes me squee, but it does. Maybe it’s the simple domesticity of the fact that he’s making a sandwich at Brian’s loft when he doesn’t even live there. Or maybe it’s the internal humor that so many fanfic authors have Justin cooking these elaborate meals for Brian. I mean, we only saw him cook once and he made a total mess. I think Peanut Butter and Banana is a far more accurate depiction of Justin’s culinary skills at this point in his life.
I’m also paying attention to all these comfortable, domesticated moments between Brian and Justin because we know just as soon as they are blissfully happy… BAM… something happens that rocks their little happy world. So I’m ecstatic but also cautious.
B: Well that’s an ingenious plan, Cynthia. But what pharmaceutical company is going to trust their wonder weapon to a one-man band working out of his house?
J: It’s not the size that matters.
B: Have I taught you nothing?
J: It’s the vision! If you can win this account, then you’ll be back on top. (Right where Justin knows that Brian likes to be. That’s the Justin that Brian loves! Big visions! Positive! Motivating! Not the worrying-Jewish-mother-Michael type Justin.)
B: (Laughing) For once, I’ll stick to the bottom. (To aid us in the visual aspect of his statement, he picks up the Slings & Eros sign that has a g-stringed butt bent over on it. Okay, I get it.)
Three very un-Brian-ly things just happened there. He’ll stick to the bottom? Now, we all know that bottom is not Brian’s comfort zone. So why is he choosing to ignore Cynthia’s ingenious plan? He mentions the copyright of the ad and that Vance holds it now. Could he be concerning himself with the moral dilemma? The other is his total lack of confidence that he could get a big company to do business with him. Did Eye-Conics, Fraley, and Brown all turning him down, bust his self-confidence? Content to be on bottom? Moral? Lacking in self-confidence? Say it ain’t so! Oh, I ache!
But let’s think about this ingenious plan for a minute. Come up with another idea? Just like that? How easy would that really be? I mean, it’s not like he’d have to be better than the average Joe or even better then Vance. He’d have to better than himself. It was his ad! That would be a difficult challenge, wouldn’t it?
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FAERIE GATHERING:
Dumpling? **rolls eyes** Naked volleyball? **covers eyes** Still moving on…
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Ben and Melanie are leading a meeting about the bashing.
Ben: As you know, the police are still working to apprehend the three men who attacked Darren Ealey.
Mel: In the meantime, we’ve met with the liaison officer who’s asked us to keep a look out for anyone matching their descriptions and to take extra precautions when we’re out on the streets, especially late at night.
B: Keeping that in mind, we’d like to open the floor to your suggestions on how to make Liberty Avenue a safer environment for all of us.
Deb: I never thought I’d say this but the first thing we need is more cops on the street.
Mel: We’ve already talked to the new police chief. He said he’d do his best.
Guy1: Sure, we’ve all heard that one before.
Lindsay: Let’s send a petition to the mayor, demanding something be done.
Guy2: We also need some more lighting especially on the side streets.
Ben: Good idea. We’ll take note of that.
Girl: I think we should wear little whistles around our necks, that way, if someone attacks us, all we have to do is blow.
Blah, blah, blah. It all just sounds great, doesn’t it? Even I’m sitting here thinking, ‘
None of that is going to help.’
There’s a whistle from the back of the room. A loud one! “Like that?” the whistler asks. It’s a young man. Very cute, beautiful blue eyes, sporting a buzz cut. Seems to be about Justin’s age. We find out later that his name is Cody, but I’ll start using it now, makes it easier.
Mel: Would you like to say something?
Cody: Who do you think will come running? Them? (Points to a group of gays) They can’t even defend themselves. The cops? If a bunch of homo-haters wanna beat the shit out of you, you’re not gonna stop them by blowing a little whistle.
Ben: Then what do you suggest?
C: We protect ourselves. Patrol the streets.
Lindsay: You mean a vigilante group?
C: Yeah! The Pink Posse! (Justin smirks at that thought.)
M: Isn’t that taking the law into your own hands?
C: Which law is that? The one that says you can’t get married? That if they find out you’re gay, they can fire your ass? That you can’t adopt kids? Hell, they can even arrest you for fucking!
B: That was changed.
C: Riiight. You can now copulate in Texas. Well, yippee-yi-yo-ki-yay!
Everyone laughs, including Justin. Cody doesn’t like that. He doesn’t seem to be getting his point across so he continues…
C: You think anyone would dare call a black man a nigger? And try calling an Israeli a kike! Man, they’d blow your ass right off the face of the earth. But they have no problem calling us fags. Why? Because they can. Because they know we’re all sissies, that we’re too chicken-shit to do anything. So go on… sign your petitions and write your letters and blow your little whistles. But nothing’s going to change until you fight back. Until you learn to say DON’T! FUCK! WITH! ME!
Everyone falls silent. His message was powerful and got everyone thinking. Justin is stunned at first, not quite sure what to make of what he’s saying but then becomes impressed. He liked what he heard.
Cody walks out, disgusted that no one wants to join his cause or stand up for themselves.
Again, we’ve all seen the promos so we know that Justin’s going to join this Pink Posse but I have to say that I like how they are handling it. It seems slow moving. They are actually developing the story one step at a time. Instead of just all of a sudden having Justin regain all the anger he once had, they show us how he learned to suppress it, then bit by bit show us things that cause him to start thinking. Darren questioning him about his anger was the first. Now this outburst by Cody. More thoughts are starting to creep up on him. And I have to give them credit for telling us about the suppression. That he simply tried to forget, didn’t think about it and moved on.
Part of me wants to say that they are acknowledging that a mistake was made in Season 2 and they created this situation to justify Justin’s behavior and fix the mistake of it so quickly being swept under the rug. But at the same time, this scenario is totally believable. Some victims do suppress painful memories and seem fine with their trauma, only to have something happen years later that brings it all back up.
In 202, Justin was full of rage and scared of everything. Brian even solicited help to know how to deal with it. Gus’ plastic bat triggered the rage and Brian comforted him during his freak out. But Brian thought that’s all there was to it. A little drama and it’s over. Justin needed to feel close to Brian so right after the freak out, they had sex. To Brian, all is well again, no more talking about it. Then Justin runs into Hobbs in 204 and he cowers. And what was Brian’s response? “Forget it. Get some sleep.” In other words, “Don’t think about it”. Typical Brian answer to all things painful. Justin was in a weakened state and he trusted Brian more than anything. He took his advice. He suppressed it all, quit thinking about it, and moved on. So isn’t this suppression and later triggers more true to life then him facing it right away?
Maybe the fact that Season 2 didn’t deal with it, wasn’t a mistake after all?
Deb has a newspaper and rushes over to Melanie and Lindsay with the good news.
The headline reads: Three Gay Bashers Grabbed by Police. Inside there’s a caption of Darren. Underneath, it says: Darren aka Shanda Leer was brutally attacked in an alley off Liberty Avenue.
Deb: Hey, did you see this? They actually caught the fucking bashers.
Mel: Wow! That’s fantastic!
Lindsay: Wouldn’t it be wonderful if just once justice were actually served?
D: Yeah well, I’d like to serve it to ‘em. Right down their fucking throat.
Justin strides in and sits down in the booth behind Mel.
Justin: It’s all thanks to Darren’s description.
D: He must feel relieved.
J: More like bloodthirsty. (Justin giggles.)
D: Well, we all know there’s nothing more terrifying than a bloodthirsty drag queen!
A voice interrupts them. We know that voice. It’s Ted!
Ted: Hey, Deb. How about a cup of coffee?
Deb: Yeah, honey, have a seat… (She turns around and sees who it is) Teddy! Hi honey! How you doin’? (She goes to hug him, everyone makes comments, “Missed you”, etc.)
T: I’m doing great.
D: Well, you look good.
L: So what’s new?
T: I just got out of rehab.
L: How did it go?
T: It was probably the most significant experience of my life. The first day I was there, I was totally resistant. Furious, ashamed, certain I didn’t belong there. (As he’s talking, Lindsay looks bored, Melanie looks at her watch, Deb has a blank stare. Justin looks pained.) The second day, I started to accept their help. I went to group and individual sessions and began sharing the pain. The third day... (The order bell dings)
D: Honey, I’d love to stay for the whole seven days, but I’ve got a grilled cheese that’s about to turn to cement. Welcome home!
Lindsay and Melanie then take Deb’s cue and make their own excuses to leave before the seven days are up.
L: I’ve got to get back to the gallery.
M: I’d love to hear more, but Gus is waiting at daycare. Bye!
T: Uh, okay. Bye.
Hugs and kisses and off they go. Justin is still sitting there doing this funny boredom thing with his mouth. I have to rewind to see it again. Crack me up. Every now and then Justin does these things that remind you that he‘s 19. I like it, ‘cause I think we tend to forget that sometimes. Ted turns to Justin.
T: Don’t you have somewhere to be?
J: Thanks for reminding me. Welcome back!
Justin wastes no time in getting up to leave. Ack!! Where’s that kind-hearted human being that Deb was cooing over earlier. I’m so disappointed in Justin. Tsk. Tsk. LOL.
Poor Ted! I guess this is the awkward adjustment with his friends that Blake warned him about. And this reaction was from the three friends where you’d think compassion would enter into the equation… what’s going to happen when he sees Emmett… or worse… Brian!!
Whoops! I guess we’ll know soon enough. Brian speaks... he’s there! It seems that he’s been there all along. Now why wasn’t he sitting with the girls and Justin? Why didn’t Justin kiss him goodbye or at least say bye to him? This bugged me, so I created a theory. The girls are at one table. Brian and Justin, together are sitting at the counter. Two separate dining experiences going on. That’s fine. They can’t sit together all the time, you know. Then Deb rounds the counter with the newspaper and starts talking to the girls about Darren. This is of interest to Justin who leaves Brian at the counter, (presumably kissing him first and saying goodbye…LOL) to join the girls and Deb in their conversation before he heads out to wherever he goes in the daytime hours right now. So that’s why we didn’t know Brian was there, and that’s why Justin leaves without saying goodbye to him. He already had said goodbye to him. And if they had shown us that then the element of surprise that Ted had when he realized Brian was sitting there, wouldn’t have been shared by us. See? Makes sense. Well, like I said, it’s just a theory.
Brian: Well, I for one think you’re to be commended.
Ted: Well, thank you, Brian.
B: What you’ve accomplished is an amazing achievement.
T: I wouldn’t go so far as to…
B: To sink so low, to hit bottom with such a resounding thud.
T: You know, you should be a guest motivational speaker in rehab.
B: Of course, the good news is, once you’ve hit the bottom, you can’t go any lower. So that means there’s only way to go... and that way is...? Rhymes with...? (He raises his coffee cup with a condescending grin and waits for Ted to answer his riddle)
T: Up?
Brian then gets up, pats Ted on the shoulder and leaves. It’s an adorable scene. I must say, I just LOVE Brian/Ted moments. They give me ‘squee’ of a whole different kind.
As much as this seems mean and harsh and like kicking a man when he’s down, it’s really not. Brian is right. There is only one place to go… up. This is the same thing he told Justin about taking the risk to start his own agency. What else did he have to lose? He was already on the bottom… only place to go is up. So in that Brian Kinney, brutally honest, snarky kind of way, this was the best thing he could’ve said to Ted. And I think Ted was relieved. It’s what he expected from Brian and he needs his friends to be status quo right now… not different towards him. Good for Brian!
Brian is still soliciting among his favorite hang-outs… Slings & Eros, Torso, now the gym. At least he hasn’t given up.
B: We can do a cross-pollination campaign with Torso. A new membership here gets you 10% off there; spend $200 on clubwear there, gets you 10% off here.
GymGuy: Sounds like an interesting idea. I'll get back to you.
Gee, starting your own agency is hard. He needs a hook, a magic bullet. But what? Must think. Hmmm.
Hunter and Ben walk in showing their membership cards.
B: It’s Batman and the new Robin.
Ben: Better not tell the old Robin that. I just got Hunter a membership.
Hunter: (To Brian) You wanna hook up in the steam room?
B: Uh… yeah. (He’s kidding, folks! Then to Ben…) He should fit in here just fine.
Ben: We did not come here so you could hit on the guys and that includes Brian. (Okay, so that answers the question of whether Hunter still has the hots for Brian or not. Another teen stalker! Hee!) We came here so you could stay healthy.
H: Too late for that. (Ohhhh! Just sad.)
Ben: No, it’s never too late to get in shape.
B: Yeah, you want to develop that six-pack before you drink it. I can use that for the ad.
(I’m always amazed at where Brian’s creative genius comes from. Remember Eat the Meat? LOL)
H: Why work out when I can take some meds and, KAPOW, so long virus. (just like in Batman…tehehe… Hunter looks up to an advertising poster for a drug called Ritacet, it’s obviously an HIV medication. It features two hot, studly guys with the text, “For an active life”.)
Ben: Because it’s better to build your immune system naturally.
H: That guy looks pretty healthy to me.
Ben: That’s not what HIV looks like. And the meds don’t fix anything. They buy you time if they work. And then there are dozens of side effects. Skin rashes, liver failure, cardiac arrest.
B: It’s a little early to be freaking the kid out, don’t you think? (Yeah right. Save the brutal honesty for the grown-ups, like Ted.)
Ben: I just don’t want him believing some misleading ad that makes it seem like all you have to do is pop some pill and you’re as good as new. Anybody who’s ever taken one knows what a crock of shit that is.
Brian thinks. He’s been the master of genius misleading ads. His “Back on Top” poster was sending the same message and could have been made by the same person. And it’s a crock of shit. You can almost see the wheels turning. Ben retreats to the locker room. Hunter follows after throwing a towel at Brian and giving him a wink. This kid doesn’t give up. I like him. Brian is left alone with his thoughts. He’s getting a vision. Something is stirring inside him. He’s being awakened to that thing that he has just under the surface. Honesty. Brutal honesty.
*****************************
FAERIE GATHERING:
Emmett’s mushroom trip, White Rabbit, the talk with Harry. Ahhh, my favorite scene of the Faerie Gathering. Moment to reflect.
Okay, moving on.
********************************************
TED’S CONDO:
Ted and his triggers… no biggie.
********************************************
In a conference room, Vance is making his pitch about Brian’s “Back on Top” Endovir campaign to the Remsen Pharmaceutical representative.
Vance: What is Endovir? Is it a drug? A pill? Or the latest miracle of medical technology? Of course, it’s all of these things and more. It is the promise of health, of a future bright with hope, of dreams fulfilled. Of being “Back on Top”. So we’ve designed a campaign to accentuate the positive aspects of being positive. (Huh? Are there positive aspects of being positive? I guess those bug chasers think so. **shivers**) A campaign based on one simple word and that word is…
Brian bursts through the door… carrying a tray of fruit… and is he wearing that same pinstripe suit as he did in 401? In 314, did he sell all his Armani clothes too? When have we ever seen Brian wear the same suit? He looks hot as hell in that suit, don’t get me wrong, but all this poorness from Brian is just too much for me. It’s like the apocalypse or something. Brian Kinney wearing the same suit! Oh, the cruelty of the world!
Brian: BULLSHIT? Melon ball anyone? (Ball comment – 1)
V: I was going to say optimism. (Whispers to Brian) How the hell did you know about this meeting?
B: I’m the one who set it up. Before I left. (Camera cuts to Cynthia, who’s looking just a tad guilty.)
RemsenGuy: I like what you’ve done. Downplayed the disease, emphasized quality of life.
B: I should be so lucky as to have HIV. Then I, too, could go play volleyball with my shirtless, hunky buds. (Just don’t go the Faerie Gathering to do it… they may have been shirtless as well as pantless, but they were a far cry from being hunky buds.)
Gale made all kinds of faces in this episode… the cup thing with Ted, this one, then the spastic fairy wings later at Babylon. I just love it.
Vance does not like that Brian has crashed his party or that he’s now making fun of the very ad that HE created. The nerve! He leans in to whisper in Brian’s ear…
V: Get the hell out before I call security.
B: Regretfully, Mr. Remsen, I must be going. But before I leave, I’d like… with your permission… to show you a new campaign that I’ve designed based on one simple word and that word is honesty. Ladies and gentlemen, the real face of HIV. (Eureka!! Brian’s found his calling. Put his brutal honesty personality to good use instead of bad. Now if he would just turn that brutal honesty onto himself and take a good look… but that’s another episode entirely. He puts his new campaign mock-up boards on top of Vance’s.)
V: (Reading the new boards) “Some days I feel like hell. But at least I’m still alive.” “I don’t want to climb a mountain. I just want to live another day.” “Sure, there are side effects. But nothing I can’t handle.”
RG: You’ve got to be kidding!
B: It’s strong medicine. I’ll admit that. (Yep, brutal honesty… Brian’s motto…)
RG: We spent six years and $50 million developing this drug. I personally worked my ass off getting it through the FDA. You think I’m gonna throw it away on some ad campaign that tells people they’re gonna feel like hell?
B: They already know that. And they’re willing to accept it, provided your drug can buy them another year, another month. That’s all they’re hoping for, that’s all they want. And that’s all you can honestly offer.
V: Our job is to make your product as attractive as possible to the consumer. And that’s exactly what we did.
B: You mean what I did. This (Brian holds up the Back on Top poster) was my idea and let me be the first to say - it stinks. Having HIV may not be a ride in the park, but with Endovir, it’s not a death sentence. So why don’t you say that?
Remsen seems to be thinking. You can almost see the wheels turning. I love honest Brian! What a concept… honesty in advertising? He might just be onto something there. Could this be it? Could this be “the thing” that will make him a success? I’m all giddy.
Justin is pacing back and forth… baggy pants, tennis shoes… yep, he’s 19. Hee! He’s reading the story about the bashers being caught to Darren…
J: Subjects matching the description of the three men who attacked a young, gay man were apprehended last night in the vicinity of Liberty Avenue. Charges will be filed pending an investigation. Ahhh, isn’t that great? They finally caught the motherfuckers! Now all you have to do is finger them, metaphorically speaking of course, and they can rot behind bars for 20 years. Or, better yet, get gang raped nightly by prisoners with AIDS. (Justin laughs. He’s so relieved… this great news!)
D: I was thinking maybe Shanda should go blond for her comeback.
J: Didn’t you hear me?
D: Of course I heard you. Gang raped nightly by prisoners with AIDS. Where do you come up with such gruesome thoughts?
J: (Justin ignores the comment.) So when’s the lineup?
D: If you’re referring to what goes on in the backroom of a certain club, I don’t engage in such activity.
J: (Again, Justin ignores the comment. Ever feel like your carrying on a conversation by yourself?) I’m referring to the police lineup. When are you going to identify them?
D: I’m not. I don’t really have a very clear memory of what they looked like.
J: (Getting annoyed) But you’re the one who described them.
D: I guess I’ve forgotten.
J: Well, maybe seeing them again will jog your memory.
D: Look, I already told the police, ‘Sorry, wish I could help but I really can’t. Thanks for asking.’”
J: (Getting really annoyed now) If you don’t point them out, they’re just gonna walk.
D: I really don’t want to discuss this any further. Now what’s for lunch.
J: Chicken!
Darren gives him an “uh! You hurt my feelings” look. Justin feels bad, backs off a little, changes his voice to a softer tone.
J: Darren, why did you change your mind?
D: I guess I had time to think. And I decided cowardice is the better part of valor.
J: (Trying to be supportive) Nothing is going to happen!
D: (Pissed off – not liking being challenged) How do you know that? Say I identify them. Say they go to trial. Say they get off. Say they come looking for me!
J: (Interrupting) Say they’re back on the streets tomorrow because you didn’t do anything! Say they attack someone else!
D: Look, you’re the one who told me to put all this behind me, to get on with my life. (Darren flips into a thoughtful stance… it’s kind of disturbing.) Yes. I do think blond.
J: Maybe I was wrong. (Now we know he listened to Cody’s words.) Maybe it’s time we stood up for ourselves. Fought back!
D: (Really angry… bloodthirsty drag queen… very scary!) And when your attacker bashed you, and left you for dead and then they got off practically scot-free, what exactly did you do?
Justin is stunned, speechless, crushed, hurt. Memories are flooding his brain and he looks to be drowning in them. His feelings of weakness, fear, cowering when Hobbs appeared at the hospice. I understand why this all surfaces in Justin… his thoughts make sense to him. But the reality of the situation is that these are two totally different situations.
The three men that attacked Darren will go scot-free without Darren’s eyewitness account. More than likely that is the only evidence against them. But Hobbs… well they had the bat with Justin’s blood and Hobbs fingerprints, they had Brian who witnessed it, not to mention the fact that Hobbs plead guilty. Justin didn’t need to do anything to ensure Hobbs was punished. Now the punishment sucked, but there was nothing that Justin could have done, that he didn’t do, that caused the wimpy punishment. Justin didn’t need to identify his attacker, he didn’t need to testify to what happened. And regardless of how little Hobbs was punished, he does have a record now. If Darren doesn’t do something, anything, they will literally be free to do it again with no recourse at all. So really, Darren’s verbal attack was a low blow and got Justin thinking about his bashing from the wrong angle. Not to mention the fact that Justin was barely 18 when it happened and had been in a coma and months of rehab. But anyway, it moves the story along and Darren couldn’t have known all that… so be it.
It’s purpose was accomplished. Darren dropped his bombshell and Justin’s been awakened.
*************************************
DINER:
Ted and Blake. The only thing worth noting here is that Blake admits to never making amends to the only person that ever believed in him and now he’s got another chance. **sigh**
*************************************
Justin is sitting on the famous giant pillows from 311 (ahh, flashbacks) drawing on the lighted end table. He seems angry. Darren’s words echoing through his head. There are papers strewn all over. He draws, then tosses them aside, wadding some of them up. He’s more than frustrated. He’s pushing down really hard with the pencil. Anger is boiling over into his art. The music beating. The lyrics over and over: Welcome to my head! This is what we are seeing. A visit inside Justin’s mind. And what’s in there, inside all this rage? What is he drawing?
Rage, Zephyr, JT images. A guy wearing a varsity jacket with fear on his face. (Presumably Hobbs) Rage is mean-looking, angry, attacking this jock. Attacking how? He’s ripped his dick off, shoved it into his mouth and is choking him with it. Interesting. What is the significance?
Well this is how I see it: The whole Justin/Hobbs thing started with Hobb’s dick in Justin’s hand. The equipment room hand-job. Prior to that, we’d seen Hobbs be semi-friendly with Justin on the football field when Justin caught the ball and threw it back. It was after the hand-job that Hobbs, obviously freaked out that a boy could bring him to orgasm, began his attack. His verbal attack. Spewing hateful things from his mouth. So, in a sense, Rage uses the dick that started it all to silence the verbal abuse by shoving it into the mouth that spews the hate. It’s violent, yes. Very violent. But Justin is angry. Very angry. And he could very well be blaming that hand-job for everything that happened after it.
After a while, Justin’s hand starts quivering. Remember, he told Darren, usually after 15 minutes, and I’m sure that’s under normal drawing conditions, not the intense pressing of the pencil he’s doing here. He shakes it out and continues to draw.
Brian walks over to him. Sees the drawings scattered about the floor. Justin ignores him. Brian thinks, ‘That’s weird’… (Sorry, joke – this is a troublesome scene for me, just trying to get through it, bare with me) He picks up one the discarded pictures.
B: Since when did our heroes become the merry butchers of Gayopolis?
J: Someone has to do it, since fags are too cowardly to stand up for themselves! (Brian raises his eyebrows in realization that Justin is seriously pissed off. Justin’s hand starts to shake again only more so this time. He grabs it in his other hand.) FUCK!
B: (Sits down and reaches for Justin’s hand) Somebody’s pissed off.
J: (Jerking his hand away from Brian’s grasp) Well, you would be too if you’d got your head bashed in.
B: I know, I was there. (Brian looks shocked. It’s like he thought they’d been in that trauma together and now Justin was excluding him and his pain. Brian pauses…) I thought you’d put that behind you and moved on.
J: I don’t wanna talk about it. (Yep, a Brian Kinney lesson learned all too well. Brian reaches up to caress Justin’s hair. Justin takes Brian’s hand off his head and brings it to the table.)
J: Darren refused to identify his attackers. They’re gonna get off. When I told him to be brave, stand up for himself, he said to me, what did you do? I was a coward. I should have done something and I didn’t. (Justin pushes Brian’s hand away in anger.)
B: Well, you wanna get even? I’ll tell you how to get even. Become the biggest fucking success you can possibly be.
J: (Rolling his eyes) I already know.
B: Well if you know, take that anger and put it into your work. Use it! Have more money, more power, more sex than any poor hetero schmuck because trust me, nothing pisses off a straight guy more than a successful fag. (This IS Brian’s motto, isn’t it? His dream of New York and all that. Deb said in 311 that she understood where it came from. Brian obviously has some rage issues himself that are driving him to succeed. Isn’t Brian one of the biggest hetero-phobes around?)
J: You know Guernica? (I didn’t, but I looked it up. Interesting work of art.) People say it’s the most powerful anti-war statement ever made. I say bullshit. It hangs in a fucking museum, collecting dust. And this… (He shoves his drawings at Brian) … is all bullshit! It doesn’t do a motherfucking thing! (He gets up and stomps off leaving a very stunned and speechless Brian behind)
This was a very intense scene and one that I, personally, won’t forget for a long time. Brian is just beginning to understand the depth of Justin’s rage and anger and he doesn’t know what to do. Brian seems so helpless… worried. Brian has never been one to show affection but him reaching for Justin’s shaking hand and trying to soothe him by stroking his hair shows just how far he’s come. He cares deeply about Justin and doesn’t like to see him in pain.
*********************************************
TED’S CONDO:
Blake and Ted throwing out all of Ted’s triggers. Blake agrees to stay over for Ted’s first night at home. He sleeps on the couch.
*********************************************
FAERIE GATHERING:
The final fire circle. Noteworthiness: Emmett discovers that the talk he had with Harry wasn’t real, it was just a little bit of faerie magic. Harry’s been dead for two years. Hmmm. Those must have been some really good mushrooms.
*****************************************
Several men and women are gathered around a table. A woman is leading the group, showing them the ads for Remsen’s Endovir drug. It appears that Brian struck a nerve with Remsen earlier and he saw the potential but was still unsure if those with AIDS really wanted to hear the truth… could they really handle the brutal honesty of Brian’s campaign? So this focus group has convened…
FocusGroupLeader: So how do you feel about these ads? (The first set is the “Back on Top” campaign.) If you saw these in a newspaper, or a magazine or on a billboard would they make you want to ask your doctor about Endovir?
Guy#1: Sure if they came with his phone number. (Indicating the hot hunky dude on the poster.)
Girl: Pretty much the same ole, same ole.
Guy#2: Hunky white dudes having fun.
Guy#3: I like the message of hope.
Guy#1: …and being on top. (I like Guy#1, he’s spunky and a lot like Brian. Heee!)
FGL: What about these? (The second set is Brian’s new honesty ads.)
Guy#1: You gotta be kidding!
Guy#2: I don’t believe it!
Guy#3: Who would run ads like these?
Girl: It’s the truth. Some days I do feel like hell.
Guy#1: But you think you’re ever gonna see that? That is one ad you’ll never see. They wouldn’t have the balls. (Ball comment #2)
The camera pans to another room where Brian and Remsen have been watching the whole thing in a viewing room with a one-way mirror.
Guy#3’s last comment hangs in the air… “They wouldn’t have the balls”… Brian turns to look at Remsen as if to silently challenge… ‘prove to them that you do’… show them that you have the guts to be honest. And isn’t that a huge statement coming from a pharmaceutical company? An industry wrought with allegations about caring so much about the bottom line that they lie and lie and lie just to make a buck.
And isn’t that what Brian was doing with Stockwell. Yes, Brian has always been about honesty. But it wasn’t moral honesty. He was willing to sell his soul to the devil for his dreams of New York. And if that meant twisting the truth or omitting the truth or putting a big red sexy bow on it, then he did it. We all know what he learned then and now we get to see how it has manifested not only into his life, but into his career as well. Looks like maybe the “It’s just business” motto has been tossed out the window for good.
This “truth in advertising” concept is making a huge statement and could win over customer loyalty for Remsen.
Emmett dancing... for a very long time. I just have to say, I love Peter dancing, and if we have to be subjected to hot guys dancing in Babylon, well then, I’m glad it’s Peter. At least this time the dancing men at Babylon sequence isn’t gratuitous. Why is Emmett’s dance significant? Because one of the things the faeries encourage at the circle gathering was to banish the baggage that has held you down. Cast it into the fire and celebrate its release through a dance ritual. That’s what his dance is showing us. After my research and limited understanding of the movement, I watched this scene again, and now, it actually gives me goosebumps and I get a little misty. Yes, I’m a sap but it’s a powerful scene to me now. And… strangely, oddly, I admit… I really love Peter in mascara. Not sure why. But it’s really HOT!!! Is that weird? Should I be worried?
Camera weaves through the dance floor until it gets to the bar where Brian, Michael and Ben are perched looking at pictures from the faerie gathering. Brian learns of Mikey’s faerie name, Dumpling, and cracks up immediately. Mikey warns him to never call him that. Emmett sashays up to the bar behind Brian and orders a Cosmo. He throws confetti into the air and hollers, “Woo Hoo!” Brian’s none too thrilled that he now has confetti all over his clothes. He immediately begins brushing it off.
B: Why'd you do that?
E: Just trying to spread the magic. (Brian doesn’t like the magic.)
Ben: Maybe next year we all should go.
M: Yeah!
E: Absolutely!
Ben: Brian, how about you?
B: I’d rather have my tongue super-glued to a lesbian’s twat. Besides, I’m gonna be way too busy with my new business. And my new account. (Very subtle way to spread the news there, Brian. He looks all full of himself… and proud… and waiting for everyone to bow at his feet.)
M: The Circus of Porn account isn’t exactly going to buy you a summer home in P-town. (Subtlety, not one of Mikey’s strong suits, obviously.)
B: But the Remsen Pharmaceuticals account will. (He waits for their reactions again. Lights go off, eyes bug out, jaws drop. They finally get it. Brian has found his wonder weapon and he’s “back on top”. Well, he’s on his way at least. He picks up some of Emmett’s discarded confetti and tosses it in the air. Now, he’s feeling the magic. LOL…) Here’s to Kinnetik! Drinks are on me, boys!
All: To Kinnetik!
The rest of the scene is great. A playful Brian and Emmett. I love this new phenomenon and hope to see more of it. A go-going, hands in the air, sashaying Michael. And a huggy, smiley Ben. Everyone’s happy and having a good time. Life is good.
But where’s Justin???
At Woody’s sitting alone, sad, thinking… and listening to Cody, who’s at a nearby table talking to a few friends.
There’s no music playing, which I find odd. Isn’t there always music playing in Woody’s? Oh, I get it. If there was music then we (and Justin) couldn’t hear what Cody is saying to his flock. Right. No music.
Justin gets up and walks over to Cody’s table. Cody stops his monologue and glances up at Justin, who appears to have annoyed Cody by just being alive and in his near vicinity.
C: Well, if it isn’t Meg Ryan. (Okay, that does it. Now I really don’t like this guy, even if he is cute with gorgeous big blue eyes.)
J: I heard what you said at the Center and I agree.
C: (To Justin, very condescendingly and dismissively) That’s nice. (To his flock) You need to understand, it’s not about being a victim…
J: … It’s about not allowing yourself to be victimized.
Ah oh… Justin just spoke his language. Cody is no longer thinking Meg Ryan. He sticks out his hand.
C: Cody Bell.
J: Justin Taylor.
They shake hands and Cody gestures for Justin to sit down. He looks at the gang around the table, then decides to sit down. Cody looks him intently in the eye…
C: Ready to kick some straight ass?
Justin’s face doesn’t change but you can tell he’s thinking, “Hell yeah”. I’m feeling a little queasy. I like my Justin all about saving the world and his heart full of compassion. That good-hearted human being from the beginning of the episode. See? This will teach Brian not to take Justin to Babylon with him. **sigh**
The camera pulls away from Justin’s face and zooms out from the table. Funny how the scene and the episode ends with the camera panning back on their circle around the table. A deep contrast to the peaceful circle of the faerie gatherings. One for peace and inner strength and one for anger and physical strength.
So 402 ends with Brian heading up the Road to Success with his Wonder Weapon and Justin heading down the Path of Destruction with the Pink Posse.
