Episode 215
The theme at Babylon would be comic heroes, apparently! Screen
frames are set up on the dance floor that looks like comic book
squares. Buff, muscular Go-Go Dancers (any of which would
pass for a comic book hero) are dancing and the caption reads
�Meanwhile at Babylon . . . .�. (Ok, we get the point, guys! This
is a comic book related episode!)
At the bar, Michael and Justin are tweaked on E. They�re at the
bar together and Justin is sketching one of the dancers on the
back of a coaster. He and Michael are laughing and talking.
Mikey makes a few suggestions for the drawing that makes
the guy look more like a superhero. Justin puts an �E� on his
chest and they dub him �E-Man� as they laugh. (Since when
did these two get so chummy?) They�re goofing off and making
suggestions for the type of superpowers that �E-Man� should
have. Brian comes over and asks what the �two girls are
giggling about�. Brian sees the sketch on the coaster and
decrees that Justin can have no more drugs for the rest of the
night.
Ted joins them then with the announcement that Emmett has
been nominated for a �Crystal Dick Award� for his performance
on the porn site. He hopes the news will cheer Em up.
Cut to Emmett�s apartment where Em is curled up on the couch
writing in a notebook while Ted reads him his nomination letter.
Em is still mourning George and not very interested in what Ted
has to say. Em is trying to get his thoughts on paper and prepare
a speech for George�s funeral. Ted is surprised that Emmett plans
to attend. Em is intent on going. George was special to him and
he wants everyone to know what a great guy George was. And it
will help Em say good-bye. Ted encourages him to go.
At the diner, everyone is rushing about but a hung-over Brian
and Justin. They�re sitting together in a booth, Brian holding his
aching head, as he and Justin �fork� with their eating utensils.
Michael joins them and he�s all happy and full of energy. He
comments on how hung over Brian and Justin are and they ask
why he isn�t, too. Michael holds up the coaster that Justin had
been drawing on the night before and declares that �E-Man�
saved him. Justin can�t believe that Michael kept his silly
sketch. Michael declares that �E-Man� is great. And it got
him to thinking. Brian interjects here, saying it�s a dangerous
thing for Mikey to think. Mikey tells him to butt out, Mikey
is trying to talk to Brian�s boyfriend, not to Brian. Michael
turns back to Justin then, saying that since Captain Astro was
killed off, he�s had several people come in looking for another
gay comic hero to take the Captain�s place. That got him to
thinking--Why wait for someone else to create this hero for
the gay community, why can�t he and Justin do it. Brian
thinks Mikey needs to go take his medication for his mental
illness. (Ha, ha.) Justin is uncertain about the idea, saying he
doesn�t know that much about comics. But Mikey is insistent
and his enthusiasm is all but bubbling over. He knows all about
comics and has tons of ideas for characters and plots and stories,
but he can�t draw. Justin can. They�ll be partners on it. Mikey
will come up with the stories and plots if Justin will do the
illustrations. Justin says that could be cool and they agree to get
together and brainstorm on it. Brian doesn�t seem to like the idea,
but sarcastically drawls that now Justin and Michael have some
thing in common other than him. What a relief for him not to
be the center of both their worlds. Michael just smiles, playfully
shooting Justin between the eyes with �E-Man�. Justin groans
and falls over in the booth, playing dead.
Lindsay takes Mel up to their attic and reveals that she wants
to remodel it into an art studio for herself. Mel is worried that
they can�t afford it, but Lindz says they can if they do the
work themselves and not hire it out. All they will have to do
is buy the materials. Leda arrives then for a visit and offers
to do the work for them and in exchange they will give her
a place to stay for awhile. She was house sitting for a couple
but they came home early so now she needs to make some
new living arrangements. Lindz declines the offer, saying
that she wants to do this herself. Mel agrees to help her.
At the loft, Michael and Justin are at the computer. Mikey has
doodled a little sketch for a superhero and he wasn�t lying,
folks, HE CAN�T DRAW! LOL!! But Justin wasn�t lying
either when he said he knew nothing about comics because all
his suggestions for their comic are obvious takes off of the
few comic book characters Justin has knowledge of -- Spiderman,
Superman, etc. Justin tells Michael to come up with a hero
then. After all, he was the one who said he had a million good
ideas. Michael says he thought he had, but now he doubts that
any of them would work. Justin suggests they just forget trying
to do this comic, but Mikey doesn�t want to. They�ll come up
with something.
Across the room, Brian walks to the treadmill for his workout,
his CD headphones in tow to listen to some music. Justin can�t
take his eyes off Brian and Mikey ogles Brian, too. Suddenly,
they get an idea. Their character doesn�t have to be the typical
muscle-bound, superhero type that other comics have. They
decide to model their hero after Brian, a �cold-hearted ad exec
by day, defender of queers by night�. They need a name for him,
though. Brian�s CD player isn�t working and he gets furious,
cursing it and throwing it aside. Justin laughs at the little temper
tantrum while Michael says they could name him �The Fury�.
�Pissed Off Man�, Justin replies. But then it hits Michael--�Rage�.
They both love it and start working on the idea.
Emmett drops by George�s mansion to find that all of his valuables
are being moved. Em talks to the butler, giving his condolences
and asking to look around the place one last time. Em also asks
if he can have the old red sweater that George use to wear as a
keepsake to remember George by. Enter George�s bitchy ex-wife
who sends the butler off to get the sweater, but refuses to let Em
upstairs to see George�s room one last time. She rudely dismisses
Emmett, but he tries to he polite, saying she must have so much
to plan for with the upcoming funeral. Back home, his family
always tried to make the funeral of a loved one into a celebration
of that person�s life. He wants to speak about George at the
funeral. Ex-Wife says no way. George was an �important man�.
Senators and businessmen and people of statue and importance
will speak for George. Emmett will not speak. She gives him the
red sweater and tells him to leave.
At the comic book store, Michael and Justin are going over several
drawings that Justin has done. Justin wants him to have a completely
different look than other comic book heroes. Michael agrees, their
character will be a gay hero, written for a gay audience, so he wants
�Rage� to have a completely different stories. Plus, he must have superpowers. Lots of them. Justin asks about story ideas and Michael
visibly hesitates, starts to suggest one, but then says never mind. Justin
wants to hear the idea. They should share all their ideas for the comic,
even if they think one sounds dumb. Mikey walks to Justin and sits
down beside him on the floor, admitting that he wants to tell a story
about how Rage saves a young man from a gay bashing. Justin is silent,
not replying to the suggestion at first and Michael starts to apologize.
Justin speaks then, surprising Mikey by saying he thinks it is a good idea.
He wants to talk about being bashed, but the problem he finds is that no
one wants to listen. Michael says that now is his change then, but asks
if Justin is sure. This is incredibly personal issue for Justin. Justin replies
that the best art usually is personal. Justin adds then that the bashing could
be how Rage meets the love of his life, J.T. Michael replies that he thought
Rage didn�t believe in love. Justin answers that they just let Rage think that.
(And that conversation was more about Brian than �Rage�.)
Brian is smoking in bed. Tsk, tsk, that�s a fire hazard! But he�s
wide awake, watching the clock and waiting for Justin to come
home. Justin comes in and Brian declares that he�s late, it�s an
hour past curfew. Justin laughs that he was with Michael working
so it doesn�t count. Brian asks if Michael and Justin have been
together *all* this time. Justin is too busy undressing for bed and
enthusiastically raving about the comic to see that Brian is jealous.
Justin talks about all the great ideas he and Michael have come up
with, but Brian�s not that interested. In an oh-so sexy voice he
says, �Come over here�. Ah, it�s obvious what Brian has on the
brain. Justin doesn�t mind. He grins as he climbs into bed with
Brian and they start to kiss. And such great, sensuous kisses they
are. Geez, I feel like a voyeur here! The phone interrupts and
Brian�s look is one of frustration and disbelief as he answers. It�s
Michael and Mikey wants to talk to Justin. He just had a great idea
for the comic that he wants to share. Brian snaps that it�s four in the
morning. Michael replies that �creativity doesn�t punch a time clock�.
Brian�s sarcastic reply is hilarious-- �Oh, my God. That is so pro-
found. Can you hold on a minute while I write that down?� Brian
hands the phone to Justin. Justin is eager to hear about Michael�s
idea, which is about an �evil chiropractor as a villain�. (Ha, ha. I
caught that Dr. Dave reference!) Brian snatches the phone away from
Justin before Michael can finish, telling Michael good night and rudely
hanging up. Justin scolds Brian, saying that Mikey�s call was important.
�So is this,� Brian responds as he starts to kiss Justin again. Justin rolls
over on his stomach as Brian starts to kiss down his back to that cute little
bubble but, tugging Justin�s underwear down and then he hears . . Snoring.
Yep, Justin fell asleep on Brian. Brian can�t believe it. I can�t believe it.
NO ONE can believe it!
In the attic, Lindsay and Melanie are watching a videotape of a woman
who is suppose to show them how easy it is to re-do their attic themselves.
Brian is there, too, with a baby cloth over his shoulder suggesting he�s been
with Gus. Mel and Lindz try to follow the video instructions and Lindz
comments that they didn�t need Leda�s help after all. Brian thinks Lindsay
is jealous, which she denies. Lindsay can�t handle the skillsaw and Brian
asks what type of dyke she is if she can�t handle powertools! Lindz tells
him to go play with Gus while they work.
At George�s funeral, a priest is giving the perfect eulogy,
being as prim and proper as George�s ex-wife who has
arrange everything. Ted and Emmett arrive late. Em says
that all these people who have turned out to mourn George
are also the same hypocrites who�ve ignored him all these
years. Emmett attempts to approach the podium to say his
thoughts on George, but the ex already planned for that. One
nod from her and a few �bouncers� drag Emmett and Ted
from the church.
Brian comes home from work to find Michael and Justin are
using his loft for the comic now. They have printed off Justin�s
drawings and they are either hanging up to dry or spread out
on the floor. Brian is miffed that they�re taking over his home
with their little project now. Brian snaps at them, asking if
anyone has seen his floor. Mikey and Justin laugh it off,
joking that �Rage� is going to use his superpowers on them.
Strings have been stretched across the loft to serve as a
�clothes line� basically to hang up the pages to dry. Brian
pulls one of the pages off the line and Mikey snarls at him
not to touch it while Justin explains that they have everything
in sequence. Brian wants to go to his bedroom and Mikey
tells him to walk around the pages on the floor. Of course,
he doesn�t. Instead he stops up the stairs, stepping on a
few along the way.
Mikey and Justin turn back to the computer to work. They�ve
designed the comic characters after themselves. Brian being
�Rage�, of course. Michael is �Zephyr�, Rage�s sidekick and
best friend. Justin is �J.T.�, the love of Rage�s life. Michael
wants some improvements made on Zephry, like he should
be taller and have better muscles.
In the bedroom, Brian is changing and yells at them that tonight
is the �Chest of Death� contest at Babylon. He wants them to
go with him. They promise to meet him there after finishing
their work, which only makes Brian�s mood worse.
At Babylon, the �Chest of Death� contest is underway. Ted and
Emmett are there, but Em isn�t in a good mood. They talk about
the funeral and the awful way they were treated. Em is glum
because he wrote a speech about George and wasn�t allowed to
read it. Ted says that Em can say it to him. Em thanks Ted but
declines and leaves the club.
In the balcony, Brian is watching the contest when Ben joins him.
Ben says that both he and Brian have been stood up tonight it
would appear. And over a comic book, Brian adds. Ben replies
that it is so much more than just a comic. Justin and Michael
are creating something together and there is nothing more
sexual than the art of creation. Just writing can get him going.
Ben is so not helping Brian at this point, going on to say that
Justin and Michael are sharing the deepest intimacy over this
book. Even incredible sex can�t compare to what they�re
feeling right now, creating this together. Ben suggests that
he and Brian go get a drink together, �while our boyfriends
are cheating on us�. (Uh, was it just me, or was Ben hitting
on Brian here?!) Brian declines, Ben leaves, and judging by
the expression on Brian�s face, his mood is getting worse by
the second.
Lindz and Mel�s renovations look . . . well, they look awful. They
try to install a sink but end up flooding the attic because they forgot
to turn the water off first.
Back at the loft, enter a very drunk Brian with two tricks that he
has picked up for himself and Justin for the night. He tells them
not to step on the pages on the floor as he goes off in search of
his �Sunshine�. He walks up the bedroom steps and stops cold
in his tracks as he sees Justin and Michael asleep on his bed
together. Ok, Brian must have been *really* drunk or he would
have noticed that they�re lying on top of the covers and both fully
clothed, obviously nothing has been going on here. Well, except
for the fact that Michael�s hand is resting on Justin�s hip. Brian
curses before storming back towards the two tricks who have
started without him. They�re making out and Brian rudely kicks
them out of the loft, yelling the whole time. (Uh, and he didn�t
wake Mikey or Justin up with all this noise?!) Brian steps on
one of the pages on the floor and nearly slips. He snaps then
and starts to rip the drawings down from the lines they�re
hanging on. He completely wrecks all of Mikey and Justin�s
hard work, ending with a final slur when he literally pisses on
the pages on the floor, pissing in Rage�s face. Or in his own face,
I should say. And Michael and Justin continue to sleep through all
of this.
The next morning, Michael and Justin are still asleep in bed,
only this time Michael is spooned up behind Justin. (And,
might I add, that Justin is in the exact same position he was
before. Mikey is the one who hugged up to him. Damn that
Novotny! Now we have to dip Sunshine in Lysol.) Anyhow,
Mikey starts making passes at Justin in his sleep. Justin
starts to respond until they both wake up, open their eyes,
and nearly freak. They can�t get away from each other fast
enough. Mikey says he thought that Justin was Ben. Justin
thought Mikey was Brian. Speaking of which, Justin calls
out for Brian, assuming that Brian must have slept on the
couch. Michael goes to the bathroom, Justin goes to the
bedroom door and is the first to see the mess on the floor.
Michael joins him and can�t believe that all of their hard
work has been destroyed. Justin is deeply hurt. His art,
his life, the one thing that is so important to him, and Brian
has not only demolished it, but literally pissed on it.
At the diner, a now sober and ashamed Brian is drinking coffee
when Michael and Justin storm in looking for him. They have
with them the picture of Rage that Brian pissed on. They
confront him, wanting to know why he did it. Brian doesn�t
answer. Debbie over-hears them reaming Brian out, but
Brian still won�t reply to them, instead he turns the page of
the morning paper he is reading. Michael shoves the pissed
on picture at Brian and declares that Brian is really the pathetic
one as Michael and Justin storm from the diner.
Deb comes over to him then, having overheard it all and knowing
that he destroyed their work and pissed on Justin�s art, literally.
Brian asks her to give him just a minute before she lays into him,
too. Debbie says it�s in the SuperMom Handbook--No kicking
assholes when they�re already down. Brian replies that he is
not an asshole, he�s just drawn that way. Deb disagrees, he is
an asshole. But it�s because he�s jealous. Brian shoots back
that jealous is for lesbians. �Then you better start liking pussy�.
(Ha, ha, I love Deb!!) Deb calls him on his actions, saying that
he is jealous, but he wouldn�t be if he didn�t love Michael and
Justin so much. But what Brian doesn�t get is that they love him,
too. Possibly even more than he does them. She forces him to
look at the picture of Rage. It�s him. Can�t he see that? They�re
writing about *him* because he is their hero. Or at least he used
to be. Deb leaves and Brian stares at the picture, finally starting
to get it. (Ok, does it bother anyone else that they�ve all been
handing pissed tainted paper this whole time? I mean, Debbie
even touches it before going back to serving customers their
food! Ewwwww!!!!)
Em is at his apartment, wearing George�s old sweater and eating
Schickel�s Pickles. Ted is in his tux, ready to go to the gay porn
site awards and he�s trying to talk Emmett into coming with him.
Em�s not in the mood. Ted argues that George wouldn�t want
Emmett to be like this. He�d want Em to get on with his life
and be proud of himself. Em replies, wanting to know where
there is to be proud of? That he wacked off on a website? Ted
reminds that it made people happy. It made *George* happy.
Em insists that he�s not going. Ted gives up and says that if
Emmett wins for �Best New Cummer Of The Year� that he will
accept the honor for Em. And tell the world how proud he is of
Emmett.
Michael and Justin are drinking at Woody�s, Justin is still furious
at Brian. He ruined everything. Michael reminds that they did
back up the story on the computer. They haven�t lost it, they just
have to reprint it. Justin replies that they have to buy another
hundred dollars worth of paper to reprint the comic book. Mikey
thinks they should have the bill for the art paper sent to Brian.
Justin is still deeply hurt and Michael tries to make him feel better,
saying that they both know how Brian can be when he gets mad.
Justin wants to know what Brian had to be mad about? They were
just working on a project. Mikey rationalizes that they were doing
it in Brian�s loft, in his face, excluding him from it, and they even
ended up in his bed. Justin says that it wasn�t like they were fooling
around or anything. Justin asks if Michael intends to forgive Brian
for this. It wouldn�t surprise Justin, considering their screwed up
history. Michael answers that even a glutton for punishment like
himself gets enough eventually. Justin sadly sighs then, finally
admitting what has really been on his mind. He�s afraid that he
has been a fool all this time, thinking that Brian was really in
love with him. Michael tries to assure that Brian does love
Justin, but he doesn�t look convinced. Michael says then that
they now know what Rage�s fatal weakness is--Jealousy.
At the porn site awards, Emmett wins for Best New Cummer and
Ted goes up to accept the award for him. Ted begins saying that
�Fetch Dixon� couldn�t be there, but then Emmett--looking
gorgeous, might I add--walks on stage. Emmett accepts the award,
thanking Ted because if it weren�t for Ted, he wouldn�t be here
tonight. Em goes on to talk about George then and finally gets a
chance to read the speech he wrote for George�s funeral. Em
has wonderful things to say about the late George.
Leda is moving into Mel and Lindz�s living room, apparently they
have reconsidered her offer. She will finish the attic for them and
can stay at their place in the meantime. Mel goes up to bed, telling
them goodnight and leaving Leda and Lindsay alone. Lindz says
she is grateful for Leda�s help, but she admits that she had her
reservations at first. Leda assures Lindsay that Lindz has nothing to
worry about. Leda can see how much Mel loves Lindz. Lindz
starts up the stairs as Leda starts to undress. Lindsay ogles Leda�s
naked back for a moment before going upstairs. Hmmm, maybe
it isn�t Mel and Leda we should be worrying about! It would
seem Lindz is the one attracted to Leda.
Justin and Michael come back to the loft to find--Surprise! Every
thing is back in place, exactly as it was before Brian trashed it.
Brian is at the computer, reprinting all of the pages that he destroyed.
He tells them to be careful where they step. Michael asks what is
going on and Brian replies that he read the story and it�s good.
Brian turns to Justin then, saying that the artwork is art, but that was
to be expected from Justin. Justin replies that Brian can�t smooth
talk his way out of this one. Mikey agrees, just putting everything
back together for them won�t make them forget. Justin wants an
apology. Michael wants groveling. Brian says a simple �I�m sorry�
which Justin says isn�t enough. Brian asks what they expect and
Mikey replies that they just want him to meant it. Brian gets all
serious then, admitting that what he did was childish and immature
and vindictive. He did it because he was jealous and let his
irrational fears get the best of him. If he were them, he wouldn�t
forgive him. Justin is a little surprised by such sincere words,
saying that is much better. Michael agrees, that was a good
apology, so why does he like Brian better when Brian is shame-
less and unapologetic? Brian offers them a deal. Finish their
work and when they�re done he will put together a marketing
campaign for the comic that will make every fag on the internet
want to buy it. If they want him to, that is, he hesitantly adds.
Michael and Justin agree to the deal. Michael goes to the
computer and Justin walks to join him. Brian purposely bumps
into Justin�s shoulder as Justin walk by. The two exchange a
little smile. Brian piles up on the couch, looking at one of the
sketches while you can hear Justin and Michael discussing the
storyline in the background. Rage has taken J.T. back to his
place after the bashing where they have sex. Michael thinks
Zephyr should get some action, too.
Brian smiles as he looks at the picture of himself as Rage and
we get a cartoon picture of Rage flying through the air and
landing on the roof of Babylon. End of episode.