Episode 217--"best of enemies"

Writer Joseph Dougherty Director Joseph Dougherty Air Date 5/16/89, 1/29/91 Guest Stars

Patricia Kalember as Susannah Hart; Lynne Thigpen as Rosie; Terry Kinney as Steve Woodman

Synopsis

Hope writes a story on the Race Street Project, which causes tension with Gary.

Summary

Hope and Michael go to Melissa for a family photo shoot and talk about Hope's upcoming story with The Philadelphia Inquirer. Hope runs off to help Gary shop for the baby, despite Melissa's scoffing attitude and bet with Michael ($10) that within a year Susannah and the baby will be history.

Susannah gets the word that she has toxemia and must stay in bed, which she subsequently refuses to accept. Gary goes down to Race Street to help run things along with Rosie until Susannah can come back. While Hope and Gary shop, she tells him about her story proposal which he is very excited about since many of Race Street's grants are coming up for renewal and could use the exposure. Sitting in bed, Susannah shoots suction darts at the TV screen from a mini-crossbow. Ellyn and Woodman still have to work together, which is slightly awkward, but they are managing well.

Hope goes to interview Ellyn for the article and Ellyn gives her the low-down on how such centers work, tipping her off to the fact that Race Street might be getting some grants and then using the money for other (worthy) work. Gary and Hope go shopping again when she begins asking him about the grants and he defends Race Street completely, only to find out later from Rosie that they did indeed redirect the funds. Now Gary faces the dilemma of whether to tell Hope or not, and also if he should involve Susannah in the upheaval. Out shopping again, Gary tells Hope the truth, but then tries to defend his position so much that it looks like he's asking Hope to bury the article, and a small fight breaks out.

Gary goes shopping for a better living space with Michael in tow, and they end up griping about how much it takes to get a decent house in today's society. Rosie slips and mentions the article to Susannah. Gary goes to Hope and asks again that she leave the grant information out of the article, so Hope finally blows up completely at him and his insinuations that she's only sticking it to Race Street because she doesn't like Susannah. At home, Susannah comes down hard on Gary for trying to protect her from the article.

Hope asks Michael if they really have sold out and he says yes, to her dismay. They're building a family though and he just thinks that Gary is scared of the intimacy required for that. When Gary goes to meet Ellyn, he is incredibly prepared and buries her in paperwork. They discuss Hope's article and Gary once again gets uptight and defensive of Susannah until Ellyn calls him on his own motives--he just wants this to go through because he loves Susannah.

Hope takes the finished article for Susannah to see, which she appreciates. When she finds out that Gary asked Hope to leave things out, Susannah is indignant and says she's glad that Hope didn't. She expresses her regret about Hope's miscarriage and they're almost nice to each other. Gary shows up on the doorstep and apologizes to Hope while discussing the virtues of family and responsibility.

Notes

Gary wants to name the baby Thor if it's a boy and Ariadne if it's a girl

Gary's favorite toy was Lincoln Logs (as was Michael's)

Mr. Squeeze appears, being carted around in the back of a truck remote controlled by Elliot

Michael and Elliot refer to Angel and Hollis as "Alice and Trixie"

Gary once tried to start a program called "Mozart Under the Stars" at college

Hope irons wallpaper

Michael took Hope to see 101 Dalmations on a date once, as opposed to Lady and the Tramp since Pongo and Perdida were a much more stable couple without too many cultural differences

Janey will be 14 in 2000

Gary broke his ankle a few years ago.

Fashion

Someone, probably Carol Pershing, attacked Polly Draper with a bad home permanent. That individual, and they know who they are, should be fined for violating the Treaty for Good Hair on Television.

Laura Linger has the following observations (thanks, Laura!):

"First, in the scene at the Steadmans' house, where Nancy, Hope, and Ellyn are working in the kitchen, did you notice that Nancy is wearing an "Enright Hardware" t-shirt? A nice touch, given Nancy's relationship with Matt Enright (or, as Elliot calls him, The Wrench King). Second, despite Ellyn's funky permed look, I have to say that Polly Draper looks *beautiful* in emerald green. She wears a green blouse in the scene where she is speaking with Woodman in her office, and I really just think that is a color that works for her."

Quotes

"You're being awfully whimsical for a man whose wife is holding a knife." --Hope

"He may be your friend, but I've slept with him. He's Houdini in a Peter Pan suit and nothin's gonna change that." -- Melissa

"I am much too angry to remain horizontal." --Susannah

"Not a malicious bone in that man's body, but look out for his good intentions." --Susannah regarding Gary

--"How are you feeling?" --Hope

--"Puffy." --Susannah

"I can't work. I can't smoke, I can't drink. This isn't a fetus, it's a parole officer." --Susannah

Analysis

• Laura Linger wrote in to note that Elliot refers to Angel and Hollis as "Alice and Trixie," which are the names of the wives from The Honeymooners. Given the show's liking for classic 1950s sitcoms, this can hardly be accidental. Thanks, Laura!

• Laura also had these observations about Hope's portrayal in the episode:

"I also must say, this is one of the few episodes where I can actually tolerate Hope. She is always so touchy and bitchy anyway; I guess I think her behavior is almost justified in this episode, however. Gary's requests are unreasonable, and I love it when Hope admonishes him about it. She really tells the guy off when he and Michael return to the Steadmans' after the Edison Towers Visit. I think that, for once, her attitude was appropriate."

• Gary gets very annoying going on an idealistic rampage about bourgeoise living conditions. He can dress and talk differently, but he doesn't actually do that much that's different, i.e., it's borderline hypocrisy. How can someone talk so stridently about devotion to causes and yet refuse to devote or commit himself to another person except when convenient. OK, OK, he shaped up with Susannah, but that's still to be revealed fully. Besides, he's always on a high horse about compromise, and then he asks Hope to bury certain illegal incidents just to protect his own interests. Perhaps this is all to make a point, and I'm too black and white at times, but there's nothing that grates me faster than someone on the high horse being condescending with half their mouth and hypocritical with the other.

• The final scene of Gary talking to Hope and Michael is shot in very nice golden light. Is this an idyllic end to the season, a recognition by Gary that the family really is the golden dream and it's time for him to go after it.

• And on that note, I should mention that I have observed a disturbing trend displayed on the show. The single characters are never permitted to be happy until they enter into a relationship, preferably one that will involve children. Ellyn's character is a complete disaster (except for those brief periods in which she has a man) until the fourth season when she is rewarded with the prize of a husband. Melissa struggles mightily through one let down after another until it is indicated that she will get together with a former flame. OK, OK, so her career was taking off, but it was made quite clear that it was the man who really meant something to her. And Gary, the worst of them all, was only redeemed through a woman and a baby. I'm not saying that I disagree with any of this, simply that I don't know if it's the standard paradigm. There are, I have heard, single people who are well-adjusted, happy, and don't spend their days trying to slit their wrists at the prospect of not having children. But you wouldn't necessarily know it in the thirtysomething universe.

Return to the Season Two index

Return to the Bedford Falls index