Episode 218
Justin coming home from a week in Vermont. He walks into the loft to
find Brian doing some unknown trick in their bed. Brian doesn�t bother
to stop his fucking, just comments that Justin is back while a clearly un-
happy Justin starts to unpack, commenting that Brian actually noticed his
return. The trick doesn�t even notice or care.
At Ben�s place, he has a romantic dinner planned. Ben is cooking and
Michael taste tests, finding Ben�s food to be too spicey for him. They
tease each other a little and start to kiss, but Ben pulls away, a grimace
of pain on his face. Michael is concerned, but Ben tries to brush it off,
saying the food is really spicey. Mikey doesn�t buy that the spice is
what caused Ben�s pain. Ben assures that he�s ok. They sit down
to eat together.
At the diner, an upset Emmett is talking to Ted and Mel about what George�s
family has done--contesting George�s will and having all of Em�s accounts
frozen. George�s family is claiming that Em tricked a lonely old man into
leaving him the millions. Mel is representing him, but doesn�t think he has
a good chance of winning.
At work, Brian isn�t too thrilled over his new account, a steak house
chain. He doesn�t find it very high profile. Vance isn�t wavering,
though. The account is Brian�s and he expects Brian to come up with
a few idea for the food chain, and he has to have this miracle campaign
by tomorrow.
Justin and Daphne are walking down the sidewalk together. Justin is
upset about Brian and telling Daph about it. He was so sure Brian
would surprise him and join him in Vermont. Brian didn�t. In fact,
Brian didn�t even call him while he was away. Daphne thinks that
Brian might have been angry because Justin went without him and
Justin replies that he never said he *wasn�t* going. Brian was the
one who canceled, not the other way around. Daphne says that now
Justin must know how his mother felt every time his father blew
her off for work. Justin snaps that he�s not some little housewife.
Cue the violin music. Ethan is playing on the street corner for tips
and Justin and Daphne stop to watch him play. Justin tells Daph
that he knows Ethan, he�s seen Ethan play before. Daphne is
intrigued by Ethan, but then says she has to go before she�s late
for class. Ethan finishes playing and thanks everyone for their tips.
Justin claps for him and Ethan turns in surprise to see Justin there.
He tells Justin the name of the piece he was playing and says it
is considered one of the finest ever written. Justin asks why he�s
playing it on a street corner then. Ethan says he does this to help
make some extra cash. It was this or become a go-go boy, at
least this way he can get in some practice time. Justin advises
against becoming a go-go boy. Justin compliments Ethan on his
playing and Ethan agrees, winking as he declares that he is a
genius. Justin laughs that Ethan isn�t very modest and Ethan
replies that people have been telling him he�s a genius since
he was six. He was bound to believe it in time. Ethan counts
his tips, saying that he made $80 bucks, which isn�t bad
considering that it�s �not really him playing�. Justin gives him
a confused look and he explains that the music flows through him.
Justin understands what he means then and says that he feels the
same way about his art. Ethan spots two garbage men down the
street carrying an old couch towards their truck. Justin thinks the
couch is a piece of junk, but Ethan replies that it�s also about to
become his. He and Justin race off down the street together, calling
out to the men with the couch.
Emmett and Melanie are meeting with the Schickel lawyers and
they play the videotape that George left for Emmett. The family�s
lawyers claim that George only said those thing because Em �put
him up to it�. Em argues that he didn�t. He and George loved one
another. Jerk Lawyers want to paint Emmett as a gold-digger who
took advantage of George, including pressuring George to take
him on a trip around the world and causing George�s heart attack.
The lawyers feel confident that a judge and jury will see it their
way, too. But Mel threatens to release the tape to the press and
let the public be the judge of it. People will never think of a
Schickel�s Pickle the say way again, she chuckles.
In his classroom, Ben is in the middle of a lecture when he doubles
over in pain and then collapses on the floor. His students send for
an ambulance.
Ethan and Justin are carrying the old couch into Ethan�s apartment. (How
convenient that there is a huge, open space right in the middle of the floor
that practically begs �Set Couch Here�.) Justin grumbles that Ethan didn�t
tell him that Ethan lived on the top floor. Ethan replies that Justin wouldn�t
have helped him if he had told Justin that. Justin checks out Ethan�s place,
saying he thinks it�s cool. Ethan says he found nearly everything in it on
the streets, including Wolfram. Justin asks who Wolfram is, Ethan�s boy-
friend? Ethan jokes that Wolfram is his boyfriend and asks if Justin wants
to meet him. Justin does. Enter Wolfram, who is actually a stray cat that
Ethan found. Justin adores it on sight and goes over to pet him. (Awwww,
Randy is such a cat person and it shows!) Ethan named the cat after a
famous composer. Justin thinks it�s a pretty fancy name for a �pussy�.
Justin goes to sit beside Ethan on the ratty old couch and says he wishes
he had a cat. Ethan says he should get one, but Justin replies that his boy-
friend would throw a fit. Brian has this great loft full of Italian furniture.
He�d never go for a cat. Ethan comments that Justin�s boyfriend must not
be on a scholarship. Justin says he�s not. Brian�s 31 (No, not a typo, folks.
Justin says 31, not 30, so Brian apparently has a birthday that never even
got a passing mention!) Anyhow, Brian is 31 now, with a great job, he
does well for himself, has this amazing loft. Everything�s great, right?
So why does Justin look so miserable? Ethan teases that Brian is an
�older man� and asks if he and Justin live together. They do. Ethan
comments that Brian is one lucky man then. He has a great place, filled
with �beautiful things�, clearly meaning Justin. Justin is embarrassed
and flattered by Ethan�s attention. Justin says he has to go and Ethan
follows him to the door, thanking him for the help with the couch.
Ethan oh-so casually asks if he will �see Justin around�. Justin seems
to hesitate, but then tells Ethan about a school art fair that he will be
displaying some of his artwork in. He invites Ethan to come by.
At his apartment, Emmett is furious at the lawyers. Ted and Mikey try
to talk with him. Ted is all for releasing the video to the press and
causing a scandal. The phone rings and Michael answers it. He is
visibly upset by the news that Ben has been hospitalized.
At the loft, Justin is going through his sketches when Brian comes home.
Brian tells Justin that he has a new account he has to work on. Justin
congratulates him on his new client. Brian heads off to the bedroom to
change and Justin starts to mimic Brian�s voice, pretending to be Brian
as he asks, �And how was your day, Justin?�. Brian is grumbling about
how short a time he has to come up with a campaign. Justin starts to
have a conversation with himself, pretending to be �Brian and Justin�
where they talk about their days, saying the things he wishes Brian
would say to him. Justin calls out to Brian, asking if Brian missed him
while he was away. Brian doesn�t reply so Justin answers for him,
pretending to be Brian again and saying that yes, he missed Justin.
Brian bounces out of the bedroom and asks who Justin is talking to.
�No one,� Justin answers. Meaning that he must be �no one�. Brian
gets a beer and asks what is up with Justin and his little voices. Is he
planning to become a ventriloquist. Justin replies that it would be one
way to hear what he wants. Brian asks then how Justin�s trip was and
Justin says it was little fun without Brian. Brian asks why Justin didn�t
tell him that Justin was going. Justin admits that he didn�t think Brian
would care. Brian replies that he had things to do, meaning work. Justin
asks again if Brian missed him, but gets on answer. Justin looks hurt
but then Brian comes up behind him and pulls him up. He pushes Justin
against a steel column in the loft and they have sex. (Geez, Brian,
couldn�t you have just said �Yes, I missed you�?!)
Michael is beside the bed of a very ill Ben. Ben has had a bad reaction
to his new meds and has acute pancreatitus. The doctor says that
Michael can stay with Ben in his room.
At Emmett and Michael�s apartment, the gang has gathered to �group
plan� to help Michael out while Ben is in the hospital. Lindz and
Mel will feed them. Ted has packed an overnight bag for Michael.
Justin will cover the comic book store because he is already familiar
with the inventory. Em is frantic to do something to help so Brian
suggests that he go boil water and make Brian some coffee.
Michael comes in then and he�s stressed out. He tells them that
Ben will be ok before going to his room to change. Brian follows
him. Mikey is stressed and upset and frantic and Brian tries to
help him. Michael doesn�t want Debbie to know about this
because then she will feel that she was right for not wanting Ben
to date Michael. Brian tries to tell Michael that Mikey doesn�t
have to put up a brave front for him and Michael snaps that he�s
not thinking about Brian. He�s thinking about Ben, who could
die. And he doesn�t need anyone�s help. Not Brian�s. Not his
mother�s. Not anyone�s. He can take care of Ben himself.
Daphne is with Justin at the school art fair, telling him how great
his stuff is. Daphne thinks that his is the best. Justin replies that
she just says that because they�re friends and because she doesn�t
really know anything about art. Daphne tells him to learn how to
take a compliment. �She�s right,� chimes in Ethan, who was
checking out Justin�s work. He tells Justin that Justin�s work is
the best. He wants Justin to admit that Justin is brilliant. �I�m
brilliant,� Justin grins. Daphne recognizes Ethan from the other
day. Daphne walks off and Ethan asks who she is and learns that
Daphne is Justin�s friend from high school. Ethan asks how much
Justin wants for one of his pieces. Justin answers �three�. �Three
hundred?� Ethan asks. �Million,� Justin jokingly corrects. After
all, he�s brilliant. Ethan says he�s selling himself short then. He
should ask for five million. (Oh, he does say all the right things!)
Justin asks for five million then and Ethan says he�ll take it. Justin
turns serious then and says that Ethan can have it in exchange for a
song. Ethan invites Justin to come by his place then and collect his
song. Ethan leaves and the look on Justin�s face . . . He knows
he�s flirting with danger here.
Vic comes to see Debbie at the diner to tell her about Ben being in
the hospital. She�s worried. And then ticked when she learns that
Michael didn�t want her to know about it. Vic says that Michael is
putting up a brave face, but he�s worried. Debbie starts in on her
�I told him this would happen� speech and Vic snaps at her, telling
her congratulations, she was right.
A feverish Ben wakes up and Michael is at his side. Ben is rambling
on and on about how his health has started to fail, sooner than he
thought it would. It could only get worse for him from here. Ben
goes back to sleep and a nurse comes in to give him his medication.
Michael realizes that she is about to give him the meds that the
doctor previously said had caused his bad reaction. Michael stops
her and they argue, the nurse leaving to go ask the doctor. Mikey
is shaken over the disaster that almost happened.
Brian and Vance are getting ready for Brian�s big meeting with his
perspective new client when Brian gets a call from Michael who is
starting to freak out. Brian tells him to sit there and don�t move,
Brian is on his way over. Brian hangs up and tells Vance he has
to leave. Vance is pissed. Brian says they will reschedule the
meeting and leaves.
Justin is visiting Ethan and they�re having lunch together, sitting on
the floor eating and talking. Ethan tells how his grandfather taught
him how to play the violin. His grandfather spent time in a German
concentration camp. They took away his violin, but not his love of
music. Grandfather practiced playing an imaginary violin everyday
and when he was finally released, his technique had improved.
Ethan says that the only thing that kept his grandfather going
through that time was his music. Justin feels the same way about
his art, he tells Ethan. It�s the one thing he can always count on,
especially when things get bad in life. Justin admits then that he
has never told anyone that before in his life. �Not even your rich
successful boyfriend?� asks Ethan. Justin asks then if Ethan has
a boyfriend. Ethan says he was with this guy that he was just
crazy in love with. They were together for about a year, but the
boyfriend always wanted to go out clubbing or bring other men
home. (Basically, he was with another Brian Kinney.) Ethan
admits that the tricking around was exciting at first and Justin
agrees that it can be. But then Ethan realized he didn�t want that
in a relationship. Justin asks what Ethan wants then and Ethan
repeats Justin�s words from last week--He wants someone who
only wants to be with him, who wants to stay home sometimes,
who doesn�t need other guys or doesn�t feel the need to be out
club hopping every single night. Ethan wants someone that he
can have a picnic on the floor with and tell things to that he�s
never told anyone in his life. Justin understands that desire.
In the hallway of the hospital, Michael is about to fall apart when
Brian arrives. Brian asks how Ben is and Michael does break
down then and starts to cry. Brian hugs him while he sobs.
Michael gasps out that he doesn�t want Ben to die. Brian tries to
reassure him that Ben isn�t going to. Michael tries to pull himself
together, saying he has to be strong for Ben. Brian replies that
Michael is strong. Mikey argues that he isn�t. His mother was
right this whole time. He isn�t strong enough to deal with Ben�s
illness. Brian argues that Debbie doesn�t know shit and reminds
Mikey of the night that Justin got bashed and Brian called him.
Michael left the airport where he was about to board a plane to
fly off with David and Mikey came to the hospital and sat with
Brian for three days while they waited to see if Justin would live
or die. (Great acting by Gale Harold here. You can literally hear
the raw emotion in Brian�s voice as he talks about this.) Mikey
was the one who got him through that. Brian says he never
would have made it if Michael hadn�t been there for him. So,
yes, Michael is strong. He was strong for Brian that night and
he will be strong for Ben now. A thankful Michael kisses and
hugs Brian again.
At Woody�s, Emmett learns from Melanie that the Schickel family
lawyers want to settle with him. They will give him a million
dollars if he won�t air the tape from George talking about their
romance. And there is another condition, Emmett has to sign
a statement denying that he ever had an relationship with George.
Em says no way, but Ted tells him not to be too hasty. Mel adds
that George wanted him to be financially secure. And, as his
lawyer, she would tell him not to sign a document he knows is a
lie, but as his friend she would tell him to consider the offer. Em
knows the truth about his relationship with George. What other
people think or know doesn�t matter. Ted reminds that with the
right investments that million would provide for Emmett for
the rest of his life. Em doesn�t know what to do.
Justin has arranged a nice, romantic picnic on the floor for him
and Brian back at the loft. Wine, candles, food. It�s perfect.
Except that Brian comes in and hates the idea. Justin tries to
get him to sit down and eat and talk with him, but Brian wants
no part of it. Brian says that he has had a bad day and just
wants to go out and let off some steam. Poor Justin. He takes
Brian�s hand and literally pleads with him to stay home with him
just this once. Brian declares that Justin is too young to settle
down. Justin shots back that Brian is too old to fuck around.
(Ouch!) Brian slugs straight from the bottle of wine, kisses
Justin, and declares that he is going out. Justin can either come
with him or stay at home. Brian goes to get dressed, a hurt and
disappointed Justin uses his fingertips to put the candles out.
Brian doing drugs in the backroom of Babylon and getting a blowjob
from a stranger. Next to them, a leather daddy is ordering his trick to
�eat the meat�. Brian is inspired.
Debbie visits Ben at the hospital and brings him some chicken soup.
Ben is awake and Deb says she would have came sooner but Mikey
didn�t tell her. Ben says that Michael didn�t want to upset her. Ben
assures her that he will be fine. Deb says she doesn�t want to exhaust
him and starts to leave, but Ben stops her when he apologizes for all
the worry and stress he has put Michael through. Maybe Debbie was
right, he shouldn�t be with Michael. Deb asks what she knows any-
how. She�s just a controlling bitch who should keep her mouth shut
more often. Ben disagrees, she is his mother. She loves Mikey and
is just trying to protect him. Debbie prefers Ben�s opinion than hers.
Ben asks her to stay awhile. She agrees to.
Emmett--in his full-length mink coat--is meeting with the Schickel
family lawyers. They give him the document to sign, saying that
he never had a relationship with George. Ex-wife Schickel thanks
him for handling this matter in a quiet and dignified manner. Em
asks to see the check for the million and they hand it to him. Em
rips it into shred in front of them. They think it�s a ploy to get
them to agree to more money, but Emmett says it�s not. He never
wanted George�s money to begin with. He loved George and
that is the one thing they can�t take from him. And he won�t
deny that they were together. Emmett tosses the mink coat on
the table and leaves.
Michael comes back to Ben�s hospital room to find Ben asleep
and Debbie sitting beside his bed, holding his hand. Michael
smiles in happiness at Deb.
Brian is back at work and meeting with his steakhouse clients again.
He reveals his new slogan for them--�Eat the meat�. He tells them
his campaign idea and the company president likes it. The board
members start to discuss the campaign amongst themselves while an
impressed and pleased Vance asks where Brian got that idea from.
Brian says it just �came to him�. (Groan with me, folks, that was a
bad joke!)
A much improved Ben and Michael are sitting on Ben�s hospital bed
together as they talk to his doctor. Ben is much better and is going
home, but to get some rest. Michael promises that Ben will. And
the doctor wants Ben to go on a drug holiday. Ben is unsure about
going off the drugs, but the doc is insistent about it. Doc leaves and
Michael is happy, but Ben is still worried and uncertain about his
health and his relationship with Michael now.
Ethan is playing in front of the window at his apartment. It�s night
outside and someone is knocking on his door. Ethan is having a
really good practice and doesn�t want to stop to answer the door,
but the knock gets more persistent. An irritated Ethan curses,
stomping towards the door and snapping �That was good� as he
jerks the door open in anger to find . . . Justin! Ethan�s mood
changes instantly, from irritated to thrilled. Justin apologizes for
interrupting but Ethan explains that he thought it was his asshole
neighbors again. They always complain when he plays late at
night. Justin can�t believe they complain. He thinks they�re
lucky. Ethan wishes Justin would tell them that! Justin says
that he is there to collect his song, payment for the artwork he
gave Ethan. Justin goes to sit down on the couch while Ethan
stands on the bed and asks what Justin wants to hear. Something
technically astonishing? Justin says he wants to hear something
astonishingly romantic. (Aw, poor Sunshine. He is so craving
some attention. He just wants to feel loved and wanted.) Ethan
starts to play a sad, slow, beautiful piece and Justin gets lost in
the music for a minute. He stands then and walks to the bed,
stepping up on it until he and Ethan are face to face. Ethan
stops playing and they both very hesitantly lean in for a little
kiss, pulling back. Justin looks scared to death, knowing that
this goes beyond tricking. This is cheating on Brian. Ethan is
visibly reluctant, too, and you can almost hear the inward war
he�s having with himself about this. He finally makes his decision
and kisses Justin again. They kneel on the bed together as they
kiss. Ethan pulls away long enough to lay his violin aside. He
reaches for the zipper on Justin�s sweatshirt, pulling it down. Ethan
rests both of his hands on Justin�s chest before sliding them up to
cup Justin�s face. They start to kiss again, falling back on the bed
together as the scene fades to back.