Episode 209
We begin at the bathhouse, where Brian and Justin are each doing
a trick, standing side by side and kissing each other as they ride
their guys. Brian seems more interested in kissing Justin than the
guy he�s doing. We get a clear shot of the cross dangling from the
neck of Brian�s trick, who�s having a great time.
At Babylon, Emmett, Ted, and Michael are hanging out. It�s
asked where Brian and Justin are and Michael replies that it�s
their �date night�. Ted is exhausted from the long hours he�s
putting in at work. Em and Mikey think he needs a man to
distract him from his work. Em points out a cutie and Ted says
there is no way that stud would want him. Ted approaches the
guy anyhow and the guy takes his business card, realizing that
Ted is the owner of the Jerk@Work website. Thor is his name
and he�s definitely interested in Ted, much to Ted�s surprise!
Michael sees a shirtless and gorgeous Ben on the dance floor.
Ben appears to be having a great time, which just makes Mikey
all the more miserable. Ted tries to cheer Michael up, saying that
there are alot of hot guys out there that Michael should date,
preferably one that isn�t HIV positive. Michael isn�t interested
in Ted�s opinion, though. It�s Ben he wants.
At the diner, Brian, Lindz, Mel, and Gus are sitting with Michael,
who can only talk about Ben and how much he misses Ben and
wants Ben back. Michael blames himself, saying that he listened
to the opinions of other people and stopped seeing Ben because
of the fears that he let be planted in his mind. Mel and Lindz think
he must have had doubts of his own or he wouldn�t have been so
quick to let others sway him. Michael asks if they think it�s too
late for him and Ben to get back together. Brian doesn�t care for
the topic. He wants breakfast, not group therapy. He declares that
if Michael wants Ben back so bad, then go get him back!
Debbie comes over and knows that Michael is upset. Lindz says
it�s because he still has feelings for Ben. Debbie thinks that
Michael will find the right guy one day. She�s still against the
idea of Ben and Michael. She reminds him about dinner with her
and Vic that week.
At Brian�s loft, his sister Claire and her two bratty children have
come for a visit. Her kids are wrecking the loft while she complains
about their mother. Since their father died, it�s been left up to her
to care for Joan and see that she gets everything she needs. Claire
wants Brian to help look after their mother. Also, their mom has
been drinking a lot lately. She lays on the guilt pretty thick and
then declares that if Brian doesn�t start helping her out more then
she is going to shove all the responsibility of their mother sorely off
on him.
At the porn business, Emmett has finished up his latest performance
and is chatting with Ted. Ted is exhausted. He talks about his date
with Thor and how worried he is that he�s not going to perform well
because of his exhaustion. Emmett gives Ted some Viagra and tells
him to use one just to make sure he doesn�t disappoint Thor.
A nervous Michael is lurking outside Ben�s apartment building,
waiting for Ben to come home. Ben does and Michael tries to
make some excuse about being in the neighborhood, but he�s a
horrible liar and finally just admits that he�s been waiting to see
Ben. Ben invites him up. In Ben�s apartment, they both admit
that they�ve been thinking about the other. Michael wants them
to start over and try again, but Ben says no. He can�t allow
himself to become involved with another person if there�s any
doubt that the man can�t deal with his HIV status. He won�t let
himself fall in love unless he knows he can count on the other
person not to bail when things get tough.
Ted has taken one of the pills and calls up Emmett who is taking
a bubble bath at his place, rubber ducky and all. The Viagra hasn�t
kicked in yet. Thor beeps in then and says that he can�t make their
date. His dog is sick and he has to take it to the vet. Ted gets back
on the line with Emmett and reveals that the pill is starting to kick in
and he has no date now!
At her home, Joan Kinney is drinking and chatting with Brian, who
has come over for a visit. Claire tricked him about the time, sending
him over just in time to drive his mother to church. Joan raves about
her new priest. She hasn�t changed since last season. She�s still a
cold, uncaring old bitty. Only now she�s a drunken, cold, uncaring
old bitty. She guilts Brian into going to church with her.
Ben is playing basketball with some friends when Michael shows
up. Mikey knows nothing about the game, but tries to impress Ben
anyhow. Michael gets the ball and starts to dribble terribly, holding
the ball �hostage� until Ben agrees to go out on a date with him.
One of Ben�s friends tells him to just agree to the date so they can
get on with the game. Ben does.
Brian takes his tipsy mother into the church. He�s so not happy to
be there, but his mom is going on and on about her new minister and
how wonderful the guy is. He calls, visits, checks on her all the time.
He�s became like a son to her. Brian snerks that, for the minister�s
sake, he hopes Joan doesn�t *treat* him like a son. Enter the man in
question . . . and it�s none other than Brian�s trick from the bathhouse.
Brian is amused now, literally snickering in church.
Ted awakes the next morning to realize that the Viagra hasn�t
worn off yet. He still has an erection.
Brian and his mother are leaving church together and Joan is
insistent on introducing Brian to Reverend Tom. Tom recognizes
Brian, who declares that he and Tom have �already met�. Joan
walks off and Brian antagonizes the nervous man, but then tells
Tom that he�s not going to rat Reverend Butterfield out to his
church goers. Brian doesn�t give a damn one way or the other.
The good Reverend�s secrets are safe with Brian. Besides,
Joan doesn�t even know that Brian is gay.
Brian, Justin, and Emmett are having brunch at Lindz and Mel�s.
Brian has told them about the minister and they�re discussing him.
Lindz says that Reverend Tom is taking a huge chance by going to
the bathhouses. Brian replies that most of Tom�s congregation is
elderly women, not to type to frequent the baths and catch their
minister in action.
Emmett gets a call on his cell phone then from a desperate Ted.
Ted is hiding outside because his hard on still hasn�t gone away.
He asks Emmett to make some excuse to leave and not tell
anyone he�s there. Too late. The door swings open and the
entire gang know about Ted�s, uh, problem. Ted is mortified.
Everyone else is amused, making suggestions on what he
should do. A cold shower. Think of something that would
disgust him, etc. Brian suggests scaring it, but Justin says
that only works on hiccups. Brian yells �Boo� at Ted anyhow.
Too funny. Justin gets the bottle of Viagra and suggests that
Brian take some. Their sex life just isn�t what it used to be,
Justin tells the gang. They�re down to only four times a day
now! Brian hopes that Ted�s erection lasts until next Monday
because it�s Flag Day, he declares, saluting. Emmett laughs
as he takes a thoroughly humiliated Ted and leaves.
At the loft, Brian and Justin are having sex. Justin can�t believe
that Brian is doing him again. Brian pants that it was Justin�s idea
for him to take the Viagra to begin with. They cum together and
an exhausted Brian collapses into Justin�s arms. Justin holds him
for a minute as we hear the sound of knocking on the loft door.
Brian grumbles that whoever it is will go away, but the knocking
just becomes more insistent.
Sweaty, hot, sexy, barely dressed Brian goes to answer the door
to find . . . His mother outside! She has baked a cake to thank him
for going to church with her. She waltzes in and makes herself at
home. Brian is nervous, not even able to look her in the eyes or
stand close to her. Joan starts in on another guilt trip, saying how
lonely she is since Brian�s father died. She misses Brian and wants
then to become closer.
Sweaty, exhausted, barely dressed Justin comes out of the bedroom
then, calling out for Brian and asking if he�s coming back. It�s more
than obvious that they�ve been having sex and Joan realizes it. Brian
half-heartedly introduces Justin to his mother. Justin is embarrassed,
but says hello to Joan, who leaves without a word.
Brian follows her outside and tries to talk to her as she waits for the
elevator. She won�t even look at him and Brian asks if she�s going
to ignore him. Joan says she�s thankful that Brian�s father died
without knowing that Brian is gay. She�s stunned to learn that Jack
did know. Brian told him before Jack died. And Claire knows, too.
Joan snaps that it�s a sin and Brian fires back, asking her what is the
sin. That he sleeps with guys or that he didn�t tell her? Joan declares
that he�s going to Hell and leaves Brian standing alone in the hallway.
Emmett takes Ted to the doctor to see about his erection that won�t
go away. The doc gives Ted some medicine because Ted has a blood
clot that is causing him to stay up. But the doctor doesn�t know how
long it will take the medicine to work.
Karaoke Night at Woody�s and some poor guy is doing an awful
job of singing to his boyfriend. The guys are all sitting at a table
together. Brian tells Ted not to worry, Ted�s hard on will go away
eventually. Brian�s did, but it was on account of his mother�s visit.
Ted thinks maybe he should go see Brian�s mom then. Michael tries
to reassure Brian that his mom is just upset and shocked. Once she
has some time, she will come around. Brian is seriously pissed at
Joan, though, and snarls that she�s probably off praying for his soul
with �Reverend Buttfuck�. Justin thinks it�s unfair. Reverend Tom
is gay, too, but Joan has all this faith in him while she treats her son
so badly. At least Brian is honest and not deceiving anyone with the
way he lives his life.
Ben comes in then and Ted is surprised to see him. He�s even more
surprised when Michael goes over and hugs Ben and brings Ben over
to the table. Ben�s not happy that it�s a group thing. He thought he
and Michael were going to be alone on their date.
Michael and Ben join the others at the table and Michael announces
that Ben is his date for that evening and does anyone have a problem
with that? Justin looks like-- �Hell, no, what do I care what you do?�
Brian just snickers. Emmett doesn�t care, either, but Ted has no reply.
The awful, off-key singer finishes, dedicating the song to his lover.
Emmett gets weepy, saying how moving that was. Brian has a nasty
reply, naturally. Ben gets up to leave then, saying he�s going. He�s
very unhappy because he thinks that Mikey is only trying to get back
with him to prove to his friends that he will do what he wants and they
can�t influence him. Michael makes one final, desperate move to get
Ben back--He goes on stage and starts to sing. Ben realizes then that
Michael is serious about him and them getting back together. Emmett
thinks it�s so beautiful that Michael is singing to Ben. Justin is doing
all he can not to laugh at Mikey�s horrible singing. Ben loves it.
Ben and Michael are walking down the street together and talking.
Ben teases Mikey about his singing and basketball playing. Mikey
replies that he knows now what he wants and nothing is going to
stop him. Michael kisses Ben then. Ben is happy and asks Mikey
to have dinner with him tomorrow night. Michael remembers that
he�s suppose to be having dinner at his mother�s. He wants Ben to
come with him.
At Reverend Tom�s church, Brian has shown up to talk to Tom, but
he�s hiding behind his usual sarcasm. Brian reveals that his mom just
found out he is gay and thinks he�s going to Hell. But the irony of it is,
the minister she puts so much faith in is gay, too. What would Joan think
of she knew her beloved Tom was at the baths taking it up the ass from
her gay son? Tom tries to council Brian, saying he understands that Brian
is hurt and angry with Joan, but that has nothing to do with Tom or the
church. Brian is mad at his mother. Brian snarls that Tom knows nothing
about him and Joan, but Reverend Tom disagrees. He knows a lot about
Joan because he has taken the time to get to know her. He�s talked with
her at length and tried to be her friend, which is more than Brian has ever
done. Brian asks if Tom is telling his mother that Brian is going to Hell
because he�s gay. Reverend Tom says no, that is not the type of minister
he is. He doesn�t preach hate. He tries to teach love and acceptance. Brian
still thinks he�s a hypocrite and Tom says that if Brian feels the need to out
him, then go ahead. He isn�t scared of Brian because he answers to a higher
authority than Brian Kinney. But, either way, he wants Brian to get out of
his face and out of his church with these threats.
Brian, Lindsay, and Gus at a local bookstore talking about Reverend Tom.
Brian thinks the Bible is just a fairy tale. Lindz is surprised by his attitude
and the fact that he wants his mother to know that Reverend Tom is also gay.
She asks why he has never told his mother that he was and Brian answers that
it was none of her business. Lindz counters that it�s also not any of their
business to out Reverend Tom. Joan takes comfort in her religion and in her
minister. Why take that away from her?
At Debbie�s, she�s frantically getting everything ready for dinner.
She�s excited that Michael is bringing a guy over to meet her. She
thinks that this one could be �the one� for Mikey. Michael and Ben
arrive and Debbie is not happy that Michael and Ben are back
together.
Brian has gone back to the church where he finds his mom sitting in
one of the pews praying. Joan says that she hopes Brian is there to
ask for forgiveness and he gets sarcastic with her, mocking her beliefs.
Joan declares that he is just like his father, a low blow since we all
know how Brian feels about Jack. Joan starts in on Guilt Trip #3000,
saying that Brian never understood what that marriage was like for her?
How hard it was to love a man who never said a kind word to her? Is
he aware of the times she let Jack hit her instead of hitting Brian? Yes,
Brian is selfish like his father. Brian argues that he isn�t, but his mother
assures that he is. Brian only cares about himself. She can�t count on
Brian anymore than she could count on his father. There is only one
person she can count on. Brian sarcastically guesses that it�s Reverend
Tom. Joan says no. It�s God. That has been the one constant in her life.
The one thing she knew she could count on that would never let her down.
Can Brian say that about anyone in his life? Brian has no reply.
At Debbie�s, Ben is trying to make small talk, but Deb is obviously not
pleased about him and Michael. She�s not very friendly towards Ben.
Michael follows her into the kitchen when she goes to check on dinner.
They argue and Michael tells her that he really likes Ben. That�s the reality
of it and she is just going to have to live with it.
Over dinner, Debbie is asking Ben all types of personal questions
about his health and medications. Michael gets angry and asks her
what she thinks she is doing. Debbie replies that this is the reality
and Michael is going to have to live with it. Both have made their
points to one another.
At Babylon, Ted�s erection hasn�t gone away yet. Thor approaches
him and wants them to go into the backroom. They do and just as
Thor is about to blow Ted, his erection starts to go away. Ted is
thrilled, gleefully declaring that he�s not hard anymore. Thor is
humiliated.
At Ben�s apartment, Ben isn�t upset with Debbie or the questions
she asked him. He assures Michael that his health is good, but it
might not always be that way. Michael says he is ready to face
whatever comes in the future because all that is important is how
they feel about each other. The here and the now. They start to
kiss and undress. Michael starts to put a condom on Ben, but Ben
puts a pause on the action and asks if Michael is sure. Mikey is.
They make love, Ben being the top.
Brian and Justin are dancing at Babylon and Brian goes to the
bar to get them a drink. Reverend Tom pops up then and offers
to buy the drinks. Tom thanks Brian for not telling Joan that he is
also gay. Brian says that he didn�t do it for Tom. Tom knows that.
Brian did it for his mother. Brian�s a good son. �Promise not to tell?�
Brian drawls. He excuses himself then, declaring that he�s �going
to Hell�. Brian takes the drinks to Justin and Tom watches as they
toast, down their drinks, and then kiss and snuggle. Tom is smiling
at them as the scene fades to black.