Episode 201 begins basically the same as 101 did!
Emmett and Ted at the bar of Babylon, watching
the men and drinking. Em thinks that Ted should
mingle with some of the guys, see if one will reject
him. Ted declines, he�s still getting over the last one,
i.e. Blake. Em thinks it�s time Ted gets over Blake
and gets on with his life. He tells Ted to look
around and see if there is anyone he likes. Ted
starts to scan the crowd and notices a guy. Emmett
agrees that the guy is cute and they start to check him
out. The guy turns and it�s Michael. Ted and Em
are thrilled and race over to greet him, acting as if
they haven�t seen him in months. Apparently, they
haven�t. It�s been approximately six weeks or so
since the end of 101. Michael went onto to Portland
to join David, but now he�s back in town.
Michael tells the guys that David took his son Hank
camping so he decided to come home for a visit. He�s
going to visit Ted and Em, him mom and Uncle Vic.
�And Brian,� Ted and Emmett finish. Michael starts
to scan the crowd for Brian, but they tell him that Brian
isn�t on the dance floor. Mikey says of course not. He
wouldn�t be at Babylon, not after everything�s that
happened to Justin. That�s when Emmett declares that
Brian is there, he�s in the backroom.
Mikey heads off to the backroom, speaking to his
friend Todd along the way. Brian is tweaked and
getting a blowjob from two guys. He doesn�t look
too surprised to see Michael back in town. Mikey
kicks off season two the same way he did season
one--Whining! He whines that Brian isn�t more
happy to see him. He whines that Brian hasn�t
returned any of his phone calls or e-mails. Brian
says he�s been busy. Mikey says he�s just happy
to see that Brian is ok. Brian declares that he is
better than ok, he�s fabulous. He takes some �E�
from some guy in the backroom and heads off
after another trick.
Em and Ted take Mikey back to Emmett�s place
where they tell him not to take Brian�s brush off
personally. Brian has cut nearly everyone off. All
he does is drink, drug, and trick. In other words,
he�s just being his usual self, despite everything
that has happened to Justin. Emmett drawls that
Brian�s �boy toy� got broken so he�s just getting
himself a new toy. Em lets them into the apartment,
remarking that it isn�t much compared to the great
place that David and Mikey have in Portland. Em
loved the photos of the place that Mike e-mailed them.
Emmett then says that he�s been looking for a new
roommate to help him with the rent. Mikey seems a
little upset over that.
Justin is sleeping in his bed at a physical rehabilitation
center. Brian is watching him through the window.
Justin is restless in his sleep, tossing and turning. Brian
sits down on a bench in the hall and talks to one of the
nurses. She tells him that Justin has been working with
a physical therapist and his hand is getting better. But
he still has angry outbursts when he gets frustrated.
Brian asks if there is anything they can give him for that
and the nurse says it can�t be helped with drugs. In fact,
she thinks what would help Justin the most would be
knowing that Brian goes to see him every single night
after he�s gone to sleep. Brian says no. He doesn�t
want Justin to know that he�s been there.
Michael goes to the diner where he receives a happy
welcome from Debbie, Mel, and Lindsay. Debbie
thinks he�s too skinny and goes off to get him some
food. Mikey sits down with Mel and Lindz and asks
what they are working on. They explain that Chris
Hobbs� sentencing is coming up and the judge is a jerk.
Debbie says they intend to pack the courtroom. Mikey
thinks that Justin is very lucky to have Debbie looking
out for him. Debbie snaps that it is more than she can
say for Brian. Brian hasn�t been to see Justin once. Lindz
adds that every time she visits Justin, he always asks
where Brian is. Mel snidely remarks that Brian is off with
a trick, that�s where Brian usually is. Lindsay says she
isn�t defending Brian, but maybe he is traumatized by what
happened, too. Mikey agrees. He saw Brian at the hospital
that night. He was really upset. Debbie doesn�t buy it. It
doesn�t matter how upset Brian is, he could take the time to
visit Justin. Mel and Lindz say then that they have to hit
the beauty parlor and get ready for their dates that night.
Mikey asks what is up with them. Lindz says it is her
sister�s wedding they�re getting ready for. The less said, the
better. They leave and Debbie brings Mikey his breakfast.
At the rehab center, Jennifer and Justin�s doctor are
watching him do his therapy. The doctor asks if Justin
always pushes himself this hard. Jennifer says that, yes, when
he wants something, he does. Doctor replies that he doesn�t
know what it is that has made Justin push himself this hard to
get better, but it�s paid off. He thinks Justin is well enough to
go home, but still needs to have out patient therapy sessions.
Justin�s hand slips off the ball he�s using for therapy and he
gets upset and angrily curses. Jennifer thinks it�s too soon
for him to leave, but the doctor disagrees. Jennifer watches
helplessly as Justin struggles to pick up paperclips with his
hand and put them in a cup.
Lindz and Mel attend the wedding of Lindz�s sister with
Ted and Emmett as their dates because Lindz�s sister didn�t
want Mel and Lindsay coming together and �embarrassing�
her. Em cruises one of the ushers.
Mikey is at the loft, whining again and irritating Brian. Brian
is being sarcastic about everything. He asks why Mikey is
there and Mike says it�s because he left Brian alot of messages
and Brian never got back in touch with him. Brian says that
isn�t what he meant. He meant why would Mikey come back
to the Pitts. Mike says it�s his home and Brian disagrees.
Mikey�s home is with David now. Brian then says that
Mike has seen him and the family and the guys, who�s next
on the tour. Mikey says he wants to go see Justin. He asks
how Justin is doing and Brian snaps back, asking how
should he know. Mike says that Brian would know if he�d
go visit Justin. He wants Brian to come with him to see
Justin. Brian asks what for and Mikey says because it
would make Justin happy. Brian says that making other
people happy is bad on your health and Mike replies that so
is making yourself miserable. Brian wants Mikey to save his
worried wife act for Dr. David. He thinks Mikey should come
with him to Woody�s instead. Brian says he needs a shower
and goes off to take one. Creepy Mikey sneaks to the door
and watches as Brian starts to undress. Underneath his shirt,
Brian is wearing the silk scarf from prom night, the night of
Justin�s bashing. It�s still stained with Justin�s blood.
Reporters are lined up outside the Taylor home and are
bombarding Debbie and Vic with questions as they arrive
with food. Jennifer ushers them inside and says that someone
leaked to the press that Justin had been released from the
hospital. The reporters were waiting for them when they
got home. Debbie spilled sauce on herself and is trying to
clean up as she tells Jennifer that they have lots of support
for the upcoming sentencing hearing. They�re going to pack
the courtroom. Jennifer says she won�t be attending Hobbs�
sentencing. Justin just came home. She wants to concentrate
all her attention on him. Debbie�s obviously disappointed by
that news but says she understands. Jen comments on how great
the food looks and she hopes that Justin will eat some of it.
Debbie declares that he will eat. Justin�s voice chimes in
then, saying of course he�ll eat. Debbie, Jennifer, and Vic
all turn to see him in the doorway. Vic and Debbie say how
great it is to see him. Debbie moves to hug him and Justin
sees the sauce on her shirt, mistaking it for blood and quickly
backing away from her. Jennifer and Debbie try to tell him
it�s ok, but he�s obviously shaken and upset. Vic suggests they
all sit down and eat. Everyone tries to act like things are fine,
but they�re obviously not.
Justin is in Daphne�s car with her, complaining about how
everyone is babying him and treating him like a child.
Daphne reminds that he also died. He was in a coma for
two weeks after the bashing. Justin says he knows, he was
there. Daphne laughs that his mother is going to freak when
she realizes he left the house. Justin says he left her a note
saying he was going out and would be back soon. Daphne
drops Justin off on Liberty Avenue and asks if he will be ok
by himself. Justin says he has to find �him�, meaning Brian.
Justin walks down Liberty Avenue but is obviously
uncomfortable in the crowd. A passerby tries to ask if he is
ok and Justin freaks when the guy touches him on the arm,
jerking away and saying he wants to be left alone.
In Woody�s, Brian is getting drunk and being sarcastic about
David and Mikey and their relationship. Mikey demands to
know what is going on with Brian. He�s a falling down mess.
He�s drinking and doing drugs like never before and cutting
himself off from all his friends. Mikey thinks he needs to talk
to someone. Brian disagrees. Mike asks why Brian won�t go
see Justin and Brian says it�s because there is nothing he can
do for Justin. Brian gets up from the bar and walks off then,
just as Justin comes in and starts to look around the place. A
couple of guys in the bar recognize him and start asking how
he is and if they�ve sent Hobbs to jail yet. Justin, who is very
post-traumatic, starts to freak out and backs away from them,
telling them to leave him alone. Mikey sees Justin and goes to
his rescue, telling the guys to back off. Mikey is trying to
calm Justin down when Brian returns. He and Justin see each
other and Brian is stunned, looking like he�s ready to bolt and
run. He turns away from Justin and Mikey is furious at him.
At the straight wedding, Lindz�s sister continues to be a bitch.
Emmett blows the usher in the bushes. During the toast,
Lindsay asks a stunned Mel to marry her in front of all the
guests. Mel says yes.
Back at Brian�s loft, Mikey is gone and Brian and Justin are alone.
Brian fixes Justin a glass of water as Justin talks, saying that he got
lucky. If Hobbs had hit him at a different angle or a little harder,
he would be dead or a total vegetable for the rest of his life. As
it was, the cerebral cortex of his brain was damaged. It controls
motor skills and that�s why he is having trouble using his hand.
Brian says he knows what it means, he attended the eight grade.
Justin goes on about his surgery and Brian tries to make light of it,
but he�s bothered by the mere mention of the bashing.
Justin says the doctors don�t know if he will be able to draw with
his hand again. Brian tries to reassure him, saying that doctors are
always saying things like that. Justin is quiet for a moment before
asking Brian why he never came to visit him in the hospital. Brian
asks what for. Justin says the least he could have done was called
to see if Justin was still alive. Brian replies that he�s sure he would
have heard if Justin wasn�t. Besides, he isn�t a doctor or a therapist
or even Justin�s family. There was nothing he could have done for
Justin. Brian�s pain is becoming more and more obvious by this
point. Just talking about the bashing upsets him.
Justin admits that he doesn�t remember anything that happened that
night. The last thing he remembers is asking Brian to go to the prom
with him and Brian turning him down. But Daphne told him that
Brian did show up at the prom and that he and Justin danced
together. According to Daphne, it was amazing. Brian concedes that
they were �all right�. Justin smiles and says he wishes he could remember
that. He goes on to tell about how they left together and Hobbs
followed them into the parking garage with the baseball bat. Brian
doesn�t like talking about it and snaps that he thought Justin couldn�t
remember anything. Justin admits that he can�t. This is all things
that other people have told him. It�s like a story that happened to
someone else. Brian says that he can remember. He can remember
everything. He turns his back on Justin and walks away, his face
and eyes haunted as he tells Justin--complete with flashbacks--about
how he saw Hobbs with the bat. He wanted to stop it, but there just
wasn�t enough time. Hobbs hit Justin. And then Justin just lay there
on the cold cement. And there was nothing Brian could do to help
him.
Justin goes to Brian then, seeing just how affected he is by what
happened. Justin assures Brian that it wasn�t his fault. He and Brian
hug, but Brian doesn�t looked too convinced that he isn�t to blame.
Emmett comes home with the waiter he picked up at the
wedding. He tells the guy that he has to give Michael
the piece of cake that he got for him and then they�ll
retire to the bedroom. Emmett opens the door to Mikey�s
bedroom and is stunned to see Mikey with a trick.
Brian gives Justin a ride home. Justin thanks from for
the ride and �saving him�. Brian replies that he didn�t
save Justin. Justin says he meant at Woody�s. Justin
asks if he will see Brian again. He�s leaving it up to
Brian to decide if Brian wants to see him. Brian says
yes, he wants to see Justin again. Justin is happy by
that and tells Brian not to wait too long. Justin gets
out of the Jeep and walks up the doorsteps. Jennifer
races out and is relieved he�s home and upset at the
way he left. She sees Brian and gives him an angry
look before ushering Justin inside.
Mikey tries to sneak his trick out without Emmett
knowing, but Em is waiting in the living room.
Mikey is busted.
Lindz gets a call the next morning from her unhappy
mother, upset at her for the proposal at the wedding.
Mel is surprised to realize that Lindsay was actually
serious about the marriage proposal. She doesn�t
really want to do it, reminding that it isn�t legal
anyhow. Lindsay is hurt, but accepts the answer.
In the presence of Mikey, Emmett reveals to Ted that
Mikey was with a trick. Ted teases that maybe David
and Mikey have an agreement to be open. Mikey admits
then that he and David have broken up, stunning his
friends. He says that he was unhappy in Portland.
He complained a lot (big surprise, right?). David finally
got sick of it and told him to leave. It�s over with the
good doctor and he�s back in Pittsburgh to stay.
At the trial, Brian shows up after all. The judge
goes on and on about how poor Chris Hobbs must have
been upset at Justin flaunting himself and his male lover
in front of a fine young man like Hobbs. And since Hobbs
was drinking, it must have impaired his better judgment.
The judge abruptly calls a recess then, saying he�ll be back
to hand out his sentence in fifteen minutes. Emmett can�t
believe he�s doing that and Mel explains that it�s how he
got his nickname: Judge Regular Roy. Every day at the
same time he calls a recess, goes to the same stall in the
bathroom, takes a dump, and smokes a cigarette. Em and
Ted can�t believe it. Regular Roy comes back then. He
says that since Hobbs has pleaded guilty to simple assault,
has no prior record, and wasn�t provoked to attack, he is
giving him a suspended sentence with only probation and
community service. Hobbs and his lawyers celebrate.
Justin�s friends are horrified. They can�t believe Hobbs
has gotten off so easy. Debbie is upset. Brian looks stunned.
Outside the courthouse, Mel says that Hobbs made a plea
bargain for a lesser sentence and Regular Roy gave him a
slap on the wrist and washed his hands of it. Debbie is
upset, declaring she will organize a protest of the judge.
The more she rants, the more upset she gets. She starts
after Hobbs, but Mikey pulls her back and she breaks down,
sobbing in her son�s arms. Mikey promises her that they will
protest this judge and his ruling. He�ll help her organize it.
Back at the loft, Brian says that the protest is bullshit. It
won�t accomplish anything. Mikey asks if Brian is just going
to sit on his ass and do nothing then. Brian drawls that he
didn�t know how he made it the past weeks without Mikey
there to rag on him and when is Mikey going back? Mikey
admits then that he isn�t going back. He broke up with
David. Brian says he knows. He figured it out already.
And he�s not surprised, he knew Mikey would never be
happy in Portland with David. Mikey says he doesn�t know
where he belongs and Brian gives him a kiss, saying that
this is his home and where he belongs. Brian tells him to
go help his mom make the world safe for fags. Mikey
notices the book Brian is reading then and comments that it
is their old high school chemistry book. Brian says he has a
new client at a drug company and wanted to brush up on a
few things. But it�s a lie. He�s up to something.
And we soon see what. Regular Roy is in the bathroom
for his daily dump. He sits down on the toilet, but when he
tries to stand up, he can�t. He struggles to get up, but to
no avail.
At Woody�s, the gang is watching the news coverage about
how Judge Regular Roy spend fourteen hours glued to a
toilet seat before someone found him. They�re laughing
and making jokes about it. Lindz wonders who did it and
you can see the little light bulb going on above Mikey�s
head. He goes to Brian and reminds Brian of the time in
chemistry class when Brian tried to invent �synthetic cum�.
He smeared it on the toilet and one of the teachers got glued
to the seat. Brian just smiles in reply. He did it, Mikey knows
it, but Brian won�t admit it. He says he has to leave.
At the Taylor home, Brian and Daphne are helping
Justin with his therapy, tossing a ball back and forth
with him. Justin says he knew the judge would let
Hobbs off with a light sentence. Brian tells him not
to think about it, just concentrate on what he�s doing.
Jennifer comes home then and asks to speak to Brian
alone. Daphne and Justin go inside.
Brian looks like he�s about to face a firing squad.
Jennifer begins telling him about the day Justin was
released from the hospital and how the doctors said
they had never seen such a determined patient before.
They asked if she knew what made him that way and
she�d lied and told them no. But the truth is, she did
know. It was Brian. Every day that Brian stayed away
from the hospital just made Justin more determined to
get well so that he could go to Brian. But what she
knew and didn�t tell Justin was that Brian was there,
every night, watching over Justin while he slept. Brian
looks surprised by that and Jennifer explains that the
nurses on night duty told her about Brian�s visits. She
wanted to thank Brian for that, but she also wants him to
know that Justin is better now. He�s home and he doesn�t
need Brian watching over him. She wants Brian to leave
and never see Justin again. Brian looks like he�s close to
tears, finally admitting to her that he cares about Justin.
(Wow! What an admission from Brian!) Jennifer snaps
that it was because of Brian that Justin nearly died. Poor
Brian looks like he�s been kicked in the teeth when she
says that. Jennifer declares that she has tried to accept
Justin for who he is and his life and even Brian�s place in it.
But Brian nearly got Justin killed. If Brian really cares
about Justin, he will never see Justin again. (Talk about
emotional blackmail!!) Brian is torn, the pain visible
in his face as he weighs his decision. He wants to
see Justin, but still feels so guilty that he buys into
Jennifer�s crap. He hands her back the ball that Justin
uses for therapy, silently agreeing to her terms, and
walks away, looking on the verge of tears. Two kids are
playing ball down the street and Brian watches them for
a second before getting into his Jeep and driving way.