Episode 219
Brian and Michael are visiting Ted�s place of work. Lots of hard
core porn action going on and Brian and Michael are actually
jealous of Ted. They think he has the best job in the world, but
Ted is all business-like about everything. Mikey and Brian leave
to go to their jobs.
At Ethan�s place, he and Justin are in bed together. Justin says that
Ethan makes love with the same intensity and passion that he plays
the violin with. (Ethan is definitely the �anti-Brian�, very tender
and sweet and romantic, in and out of bed.) Justin gets up to leave,
saying he has a date with the copy boy. He�s going to run off
some posters for his comic so that he and Michael can post them
on Liberty Avenue to promote �Rage�. Ethan thinks that he and
Justin could work together then, him fiddling while Justin peddles.
They could be �Starving Artists, Inc.�. Justin is getting dressed
and Ethan says that if Justin would spend the whole night then
they could watch the sunrise together in the morning. Justin leaves
without replying to that offer.
Debbie and Hovarth and some of his cop friends are at the bowling
alley together. One of Carl�s friends gets a kiss from his date for
bowling a strike and Carl wants to know why he never gets kissed
like that. Debbie avoids the question by making a joke and then
avoids kissing Carl by saying it�s her turn to bowl. A sweet little
twink is bowling in the lane next to hers and Debbie says her best
line of the night to him--�I love your balls�. He bowls and then
goes back to his boyfriend and receives a congratulations kiss.
Carl�s cop friends see it and start to mock the couple. Uh-oh. Of
course that pisses Debbie off and she defends gay bowlers and
makes a challenge to them--The cops versus the Queers.
Lindz and Mel in bed together after having sex. They say that the
passion in definitely back in their marriage, thanks to the three-way
with Leda. Mel enjoyed that, but now she knows that Lindsay is
the only person she wants to be with. Enter Leda who sees them
in bed together and wants to join in again. Mel and Lindz are
against the idea and are saved when Gus starts to cry and they
go off to see about him.
Ted at work with his assistant, who is cleaning the sex toys. Ted
pays his workers, half of who are naked or scantly dressed, all of
whom are gorgeous, but Ted barely notices them. Once the workers
are gone, his assistant Eddie asks Ted isn�t he affected at all by
working here. They have all this hot action going on all the time
and Ted barely even notices anymore. Ted lies and says that he
is affected by it, but he just hides it. Eddie leaves and Ted turns
on some of the porn footage mentioned before. He is horrified to
realize that he is no longer turned on by this dream job of his. Ted
Schmidt is immune to porn!
Brian is working at his desk back at the loft when Justin comes home.
Justin comments that Brian is working late and Brian answers that it
is one of the benefits of being partner--he gives someone an assign-
ment, they screw it up, he has to salvage the project. Justin reminds
that Brian is the one who asked for the partnership. Brian asks where
Justin has been and Justin says he was �studying�. Justin shows Brian
the �Rage Is Coming� posters that he has designed. Brian says that
he would have helped Justin with the posters, but Justin says that
Brian has been so busy lately he didn�t want to bother him. Brian
tries to pull Justin forward for a kiss, but Justin pulls away, saying he
needs to go take a shower because he stinks. �From studying?� Brian
asks. �Sweating over a project,� Justin answers as he heads off to
the shower.
Naked Justin in the shower. He�s surprised when Brian joins him,
saying that Brian �scared him�. Brian tells him to relax, it�s not
*that* type of shower scene. (I think this is reference to the �Psycho�
shower conversations in 101.) Brian teases that he got all hot and
sweaty when working, too. They start to kiss and Justin pulls back,
staring up at Brian. He starts to say something, looking so earnest
and hesitant and unsure. He doesn�t say what is on his mind, though,
and pulls Brian back for another kiss. They have sex in the shower
as �Without You I�m Nothing� plays, talk about foreshadowing!
Mel and Lindz are strolling Gus down Liberty Avenue and talking
about Leda. Leda obviously thinks that they�re a �threesome� now
and Lindz wants Mel to tell her that they�re not. Mel says that the
attic is almost finished and when it�s done, Leda will leave, and this
whole mess will be over.
Michael and Justin on Liberty, as well, stapling up the �Rage� posters.
Justin hears violin music and suggests that he and Michael split up to
hang the posters. Justin takes some posters and moves toward Ethan.
Ethan finishes playing and tells Justin that it�s a slow day, but one of
his devoted fans has came out to hear him. Justin thinks Ethan means
him, but Ethan is really referring to a homeless lady named Bertha.
Ethan looks at the �Rage� posters and Justin says he hopes he can
make enough money off the comic to pay for school next semester.
Ethan hopes that for him as well. Ethan suggests that they go get a
latte, but Justin declines, saying he has to finish hanging up the posters.
Ethan wants then to go out that weekend, then. He suggests a French
film that the student film department is showing. Justin admits that
he�s never seen a French film before. Ethan says the movie is about
two men in love with the same woman, but since her name isn�t in the
title, Ethan suspects that they�re really in love with one another. A
troubled Justin says that it�s hard enough loving just one person.
Unless you�re the one that the other two are in love with, replies Ethan.
Then you can break two hearts. (Ah, that is a definite reference to this
situation!! �Everyone Loves Justin�, but whose heart will he break?)
Ethan kisses Justin and, from across the street, we see Michael, who is
staring in disbelief over what he�s seen. Justin promises to call Ethan
about the movie. Michael watches on in displeasure.
Ted is moping at Woody�s when Brian joins him, joking about Ted
being a porn king. Ted�s not in the mood to hear it and tells Brian
to �fuck off�. Brian starts to leave, but then Ted asks him to stay.
Ted will buy him a drink. Ted admits that the worst thing in the
world has happened to him--He�s immune to porn. He�s watched
all these hot, steamy, sexy scenes play out on his website so much
that it no longer affects him anymore. Brian thinks he should stop
watching and start doing instead. Brian asks doesn�t Ted have one
secret sexual fantasy that he�s never lived out? Ted doesn�t want
to tell Brian, but finally leans over and whispers it in Brian�s ear.
Brian smiles and says that he has seriously underestimated Ted all
this time.
At the bowling alley, the gang is there to practice for the big �Cops
Versus Queers� match up. Emmett is a horrible bowler. Michael
tells Debbie that this challenge was a stupid idea. Deb says she
couldn�t let those cops get away with making fun of gay bowlers.
�Why not? We do,� Brian puts in as he takes a practice run and
gets a strike. Vic says that practice makes perfect and Justin adds
that Brian is already perfect. Michael snarls at Justin that he�s glad
Justin thinks so. Emmett starts to bowl again but Ben stops him to
correct his technique. Ben shows him how to do it and Ben bowls
flawlessly. Ben is an even better bowler than Brian it would seem!
Debbie wants to kick Emmett off the team and replace him with
Ben, but Michael says no way. Ben hasn�t been out of the hospital
for that long and he is suppose to be resting, not exerting himself.
Ben tries to argue that he�s fine, but Michael is insistent--No way is
Ben bowling in this competition.
Hovarth and his cop friends are arriving as the gang is leaving the
bowling alley and they all meet up in the parking lot. Carl tries to
kiss Debbie but she pulls away. He asks her to go have a drink with
him, but she declines, saying that she and the others have to get their
game plan together. Carl thinks she is already an expert at �playing
games�. He says that she puts out all the signs that she�s interested
in him, but then pulls away, using anything as an excuse to avoid
him sometimes. Deb snaps that he�s full of it. He obviously doesn�t
know her. And Carl points out that it�s her fault he doesn�t know her,
she won�t let him.
Beautiful, beautiful Ben getting naked and climbing in bed with Mikey,
who isn�t even paying attention. Ben wants some action, but Mikey
says Ben needs to take things easy. He almost died, remember. Ben
reminds that he didn�t, though. He�s still here. Michael admits that
sometimes he wakes up in the middle of the night just to listen to Ben
breath and reassure himself that Ben�s ok. Ben promises to rest then
if it will ease Michael�s mind. He wants Michael to stop worrying.
Mikey says he can�t do that, it�s in his genes. He worries about
everything and everyone. Ben starts to go down on Mikey as he
rambles on about worrying over everyone--His mom, Vic, Emmett,
Ted, Brian and Justin. Ben gives up on getting any loving then and
asks why Michael is worried over Brian and Justin. What problem
could they possible have besides picking out their next trick? Mikey
tells Ben that he saw Justin kissing another guy on the street. Ben
doesn�t think it�s that big of a deal. He kisses guys all the time.
Kisses them hello, good-bye, friendly kisses. Mikey says it wasn�t
a friendship type of kiss. It was a passionate kiss. He wonders if he
should tell Brian about it. Ben says no, just stay out of it. Michael
says that Brian is his best friend and if Justin is cheating then Brian
should know. Ben reminds that Michael could be wrong about what
he saw. If Justin isn�t cheating on Brian and Mikey tells him so and
it turns out to be nothing, then Brian will be furious at Michael for
butting into his relationship. Michael asks what if he is right, though,
and Justin is cheating and he tells Brian. �He�ll be even furiouser,�
says Ben, the writer. The teacher. The friggin� COLLEGE PRO-
FESSOR who doesn�t even know that that isn�t a word! Michael
rationalizes that he loses either way. Ben hopes that Mikey isn�t
going to lie bed and worry about this all night. Michael is.
At Brian�s loft, the door slides open. A close up shot of a hand holding
a bottle of water, the infamous Brian Kinney shell bracelet on the wrist.
Camera pans up the bare chest to reveal . . . It�s Ted! Apparently, his
ultimate sexual fantasy is to be Brian Kinney! He pours the water over
his head in slow motion, sniffs a popper, and then joins three naked
studs in bed who maul him.
The scene cuts to the clothing store where Emmett works and Ted is
telling Brian how incredible his night was. It was perfect. Everything
he imagined it would be! (He�s lying through his teeth.) A curious
Emmett watches as Ted returns the shell bracelet. Brian leaves and
Emmett asks what that was all about. Ted doesn�t want to say, but Em
reminds that they never keep secrets from one another. Ted admits that
he �borrowed� the bracelet and Brian�s life for one night. He wanted to
see what it felt like to be Brian Kinney. Emmett wants details and Ted
admits the truth this time--complete with flashbacks. Ted fumbles his
way into the loft. He got strangled on the water when he poured it over
his head. The poppers burned his nose and the three studs in bed totally
ignored him. It was a horrible experience, Ted tells Emmett. Empty
and meaningless. �Wow, you really were Brian,� Em replies. Ted
wonders what he has left now. �Being Brian� was his favorite fantasy,
his ultimate fantasy and now that is ruined. Em comforts Ted and tells
Ted that he will find what he is looking for some day. Emmett says
that love can come along in the strangest times and the strangest ways.
Em puts an arm around Ted and compliments him. Ted is loving it.
Or maybe I should say loving Em now!
Leda shows Lindz and Mel the attic that is now officially renovated
into an art studio for Lindz. The girls love it. They break out the
wine to toast to Leda. Mel brings up that Leda should be moving on
now that the studio is done. Leda would rather stay. Lindz takes the
imitative then and tells Leda that she can�t. What happened between
the three of them was a one time thing and it won�t he happening
again. Mel agrees. Leda is hurt, declaring that now that she has
renovated their attic and their sex lives they just want her gone.
Leda storms out.
At Babylon, Michael finds Brian on the balcony and some guy has his
hands down the front of Brian�s pants. Brian asks why Mikey isn�t at
home with Ben. Brian dismisses the trick. Michael asks where Justin
is and Brian says that Justin is at home working on a project. Michael
disagrees. He called the loft and no one answered. The Brian and
Michael conversation is intercut with scenes of Justin and Ethan making
love, lots of tenderness between them. Brian replies that maybe Justin
went out and Michael asks don�t Brian and Justin ever tell each other
what their plans are, we�re they�re going and what they�re doing. Brian
looks at him like, �Do you think we do that, moron?� Brian replies that
they don�t live in a psych ward, they don�t check in and out, and they
don�t wear homing devices to track each other. Michael asks doesn�t
Brian ever wonder, though, what Justin is doing when they�re not to-
gether. Brian is quick to assure that that he knows what Justin is doing.
More scenes of Justin and Ethan, kissing in bed, laughing and teasing
each other. Ethan playing the violin while Justin sketches him. Michael
can�t believe that it doesn�t bother Brian more and Brian replies that
Justin is 19. He�s out doing what Brian was doing at that age, tricking
around. Brian says he can�t let it bother him that Justin is having some
fun. Mikey asks what if it where more than just tricking, though. What
if Justin was seeing someone else? Brian gets where this conversation
is going and tries to act like he doesn�t care, asking what if there were.
Michael asks if Brian would be ok with that and Brian replies that Justin
doesn�t owe him anything. �What about the truth?� Michael fires back.
Brian doesn�t reply, but looks away from Michael and towards the dance
floor. One more shot of Justin and Ethan together, violin music playing
in the background. And then total silence as we see Brian�s face, all the
masks dropped. He�s obviously affected by the news.
Leda is getting ready to ride off on her bike when Mel joins her.
Mel says she feels terrible about the way things have played out.
They argue some more and then Leda admits that she wants what
Mel and Lindsay have, that love and close relationship. Mel
assures that Leda will find that, too, in time. They say good-bye,
their hard feelings forgiven, and Leda rides off.
It�s Team Homo vs. The Cops. Lindz bowls and knocks down all but
two pins. Hovarth breaks her concentration on the second try and she
misses the remaining two. Hovarth takes his turn and can�t be distracted
by Debbie�s attempts. Emmett is up last and fakes a wrist injury as he
starts to bowl. Em insists that he can�t bowl. Debbie asks Ben to take
his place. Ben says no, keeping his promise to Michael. But Mikey tells
him to do it, since Ben is feeling better and Mikey can�t baby him forever.
The Cops try to argue to the substitute, but Deb is wins the argument by
making up a story about substitutions being allowed. The Cops asks how
they know for sure that Ben is gay, though, so Ben plants a big wet one
on Michael. The cops concede, Ben is gay and he can play. Ben bowls
two strike and they need one more to win the game. Ben bowls again,
knocking down all pins but one. Team Homo loses. The Cops celebrate.
Everyone starts to leave but Emmett. He�s bummed, feeling that that he
let the team down. Ted sits with him and insists that he didn�t. Besides,
Emmett had the most fabulous outfit of anyone! Em is cheered up and
tells Ted that he loves him and gives Ted a kiss. Ted is affected by it
and realizes just how deep his feelings for Emmett run.
At Woody�s, Team Homo is drinking and toasting to one another when
Hovarth comes in. He says he�s there to tell them that he enjoyed their
game. It was great. Debbie asks him to stay and buy her a drink. Carl
is uncertain if he wants to hang out at a gay bar, but Debbie assures him
that the only person interested in him there is her. (Ha,ha!) She then
plants one big kiss right on his lips. Michael is horrified. Em says that is
the first straight kiss ever at Woody�s. Ted agrees, you do find love in the
most unexpected places. Em asks if Ted sees anyone in the bar that he
likes. Ted does and it�s Emmett, but he doesn�t let on just yet.
Michael joins Brian at the bar and says he�s going to pretend that
he just didn�t see his mother ram her tongue down Hovarth�s throat.
Brian smirks that while he�s at it, Mikey can also pretend that Deb
won�t be blowing Hovarth later that night in his patrol car. Mikey
changes the subject and says it�s too bad that Justin didn�t come
with them. Brian gives him an evil glare and leaves. Ben comes
over to Michael, knowing that Michael has told Brian about Justin
and Ethan. He asks anyway and Mikey admits that he did. And
that Brian doesn�t seem to care.
The loft is dark save one dim light when Justin comes home, happy and
humming to himself. He�s startled when a drunk Brian steps out of the
dark. (This whole conversation has a double meaning.) Justin says he
thought that Brian was out bowling and Brian replies, �Game�s over�.
Justin asks who won and Brian raises a toast to the winner, adding, �It
wasn�t us�. (I told ya, a double meaning to all Brian�s words.) Justin
starts to walk past Brian, but Brian stands in his path. Justin says he
wants to go take a shower (uh, Justin, sweetie, doesn�t Ethan have a
shower you can use?!) but Brian points out that he has been taking alot
of showers lately. Justin tries to pull away from Brian again, but Brian�s
not letting go of him. Brian says he likes to smell Justin, not soap. Brian
leans in to do the little sniffing of Justin and you could cut the tension in
the room right then. The camera angles are spinning around them, making
the scene have an all the more uneasy feel. Justin is scared, knowing that
Brian will smell Ethan on him. Brian does. Brian jerks him closer and
starts to kiss him roughly and passionately. Possessively, I�d say. They
kiss and kiss, hot, rough, steamy kisses, Brian practically devouring Justin.
Brian starts jerking off Justin�s clothes and they eventually fall onto the
floor together. Brian is straddling Justin and Justin reaches for Brian�s
pants, but Brian slaps his hands away. Brian jerks the zipper down on
Justin�s pants and leaning back down for another kiss. He asks if Justin
likes this and Justin says he does. Brian abruptly halts the action and
Justin asks why he stopped. Brian makes a great show of leaning over
to sniff Justin�s mouth, knowing that he has kissed another man. He
coldly orders Justin to go take a shower because he stinks. Brian stands
and walks off then. Justin lays on the floor for a second, knowing he�s
busted. And he�s confused all the more. He gets up to go take a shower
as the lights go out.