It's official! The hiatus from hell has ended!!
Episode 301 begins with black and white shots of
an out-door gathering, everyone mingling and chatting.
You can hear muffled dialogue in the background and
then--Brian punches Michael in the face, the sound of
a bell like in a boxing match, and Michael falling to
the ground as Mikey's "sports commentator voice-over"
tells that Mad Dog Kinney has just knocked out Mighty
Mikey Novotny. But let's go back, says Michael, to see
what lead to this. Rewind back to a week before at the
"Rage Party" were Ted and Emmett are all lovey-dovey and
leaving together. Mel and Lindz wonder if they're really
going to "do it". Ben wants to go home and celebrate with
Michael, but Michael says he needs to go check on Brian.
Lindz and Mel say the last time they saw Brian he was feeling
no pain with his newest trick. Michael stuns them by saying
that Brian and Justin have just broken up. The ladies can't
believe it. Mikey tells them that Justin has been seeing
someone else. Leaving Babylon, Michael sees the Jeep squealing
away and calls out for Brian, but is ignored as Brian drives
off.
Cut to Ethan's apartment the next morning where Justin is
waking up in bed to the sound of Ethan playing the violin for
him. Ethan says he promised to serenade Justin awake and give
him breakfast in bed, which he does. Ethan is happy, saying he
can't believe that Justin is finally here and that they spent the
whole night together. Justin says he can't stay as he gets out
of bed and starts to dress. He's got class and a shift at the
diner and he's got to pick up his things at the loft. Ethan asks
what if he runs into Brian. Justin says that it won't matter,
he's with Ethan now. They start to kiss and fall back on the
bed.
At the comic book store, "Rage" is selling like crazy. Brian is
not answering Michael's calls. And every customer wants to know
when the next issue is coming out. Mikey says it's not. "Rage"
is over and he takes down the Rage cardboard stand-up.
Justin arrives at the loft and calls out for Brian, but no one is
there. He starts to pack his things and hears a moan. He turns
to see himself and Brian in a re-make of the infamous "Ice Cream
Kiss" scene. Very hot!! Justin feeding Brian spoonfuls of the
ice cream, sharing kisses, and dripping the melted ice cream on
Brian's nipples and licking it off before Justin blows Brian.
Brian is in ecstasy.
Justin goes into the bedroom then and starts gathering his
things there when he hears the shower running. He peaks around
the corner to see himself and Brian in the shower, flashback
scenes from last season. Justin hurriedly collects his things
from the bathroom and starts gathering his art stuff when he
turns to see himself and Brian on the bed, having sex. Both of
them clearly enjoying it. Justin rushes from the loft then,
trying to put as much distance between himself and those memories
as possible.
At the diner, Lindz and Mel are drilling Ted and Emmett on
their night together, asking for details about it. The ladies
assume that Ted/Em slept together and they will only say that it
was a "night like no other". Lindsay and Melanie are planning a
party for the eight anniversary of them becoming a couple. Lindz
holds up an invitation addressed to "Brian & Justin" and asks what
they should do with it. Debbie sympathizes with Justin, saying
that he really loved Brian. Lindz says that Brian loved Justin,
too, in his own way. He just didn't show it, Deb adds. Ted and
Em think that Brian has locked himself away, alone, humiliated,
in pain . . . . Ted loves it. Em thinks he may pack his bags and
move on since he isn't the Number One Stud anymore. "Reports of my
death have been greatly exaggerated," declares Brian Kinney who is
standing with coffee cup in hand listening to their conversation.
He says he has been there long enough to know who his "real
friends" are. Brian sits down in another booth and Michael joins
him.
Justin arrives at the diner for his shift then and he's awkward
at seeing Brian. The two can't seem to stop looking at each other.
Debbie tells Justin to get to work.
In the ally behind the diner, Michael is watching Justin toss
the trash in the dumpster and Justin asks what Michael wants.
Michael says he is just out for a stroll, taking in the sights.
"Of me taking out the trash?" Justin asks. "You're so good at
dumping things," Michael attempts to be witty and I roll my eyes
along with Justin. Michael then starts in on Justin, asking if
Justin had to walk out on Brian in front of everyone. Justin says
he would have told Brian to go fuck himself, but Brian was already
doing that in the backroom with the Rage model. Michael starts
in on the same song from last season, "After all he's done for
you". Justin says he knows what Brian has done for him. Michael
says that Justin knew who Brian was from the start and did he
really expect that Brian would change for Justin? Justin doesn't
want to talk about it and Michael snarls that since Justin has got
what he wanted now he's moving on to the next. Justin points out
that Michael also got what Michael wanted, too. Ever since the
first night that B&J met, Michael has wanted Justin gone. Well,
now he has it. There's nothing standing in his way anymore. He's
free to chase Brian to his heart's content now. Michael says that
since Justin is no longer with Brian then there is no point in
him hanging around Brian's friends. Justin should get lost.
Outside the diner, Mel and Lindz are taking pictures of Ted
and Emmett, the new couple. Once the ladies leave, it's revealed
that Ted and Em did not sleep together. They tried, but were unable
to do the deed. But they insist that it was just because they were
tired and nervous. They agree that they want their first time
together to be perfect.
At Michael's apartment, Ben is on the phone with the person he
subletted his apartment to and realizes that he can't get it
back even though he's changed his mind about going to Tibet. Ben
now has to find a new place. Michael says that Ben should stay
there. Ben asks if Michael means stay there for a few days or move
in. Michael wants Ben to move in. Ben isn't sure, asking if
they're ready for this next step. Michael is. Ben agrees to move
in then. Emmett comes home and Michael asks him how he feels about
Ben moving in. Em is ok with it. Michael brings up Em's new
relationship with Ted and says he can't imagine sleeping with his
best friend. (Yeah, right, Mikey.) Em gets defensive and asks
shouldn't he and Ted be happy, too, and have a good relationship?
Michael assures him that they should have that. Mikey just doesn't
want to hear about the sex.
Brian comes home to an empty loft and the silence is deafening.
He goes into the bedroom and realizes that Justin's things are gone.
A drawing of Rage and J.T. is left on the table and Brian picks it
up, staring at it before crumpling it in his hand.
Lindsay and Brian are strolling Gus through the park and Lindz
says that she can't believe that Brian let Justin leave. Brian
asks what they expected him to do, get on his knees and beg Justin
to stay. Lindz says that she saw the break-up coming because of
the way that Brian treated Justin, refusing to do even the simplest
romantic gesture to make Justin happy. It's not too late, though.
He could get Justin back and all he has to do is tell Justin that
he loves him. Is that too much to ask. Brian says that then he
and Justin could be the happy married couple like Lindz and Mel
or Mikey and Ben. He's not a lesbian or some "dickless fag"
who thinks that he'll find true happiness by imitating "them"
Brian declares as a straight couple and their baby stroll by.
Lindz asks if he would rather be alone then than to be with the
one person who loved him more than anything. Brian says he never
loved Justin. And the look Lindz gives him pretty much says what
I'm thinking--she doesn't believe that. But even if he did, Brian
goes on, he would never ask Justin to stay somewhere he wasn't
happy or try to change into something he wasn't just to please
Brian. If Justin wasn't happy then he would tell Justin to go
find what made him happy. Lindsay sarcastically congratulates Brian,
telling him that Justin learned his lesson well then.
At Deb's, she's cooking food for the ladies' party and
complaining to Michael about Justin, saying that Justin
quit the diner and left without even telling her good-bye.
Michael smirks. Deb says she can't believe it, after all
she did for Justin. After all that everyone did for him,
Michael adds, boasting that he told Justin off earlier and
told him to leave them all alone. Deb is pissed at Michael
then, telling him he had no right to do that. What goes on
between B&J is none of Mikey's business. Mikey goes back
to the tired old "Brian's my best friend" speech, but Deb
don't wanna hear it. She can't blame Justin for leaving
Brian. She hopes that this new guy, Ethan, will appreciate
Justin. Michael says that Brian did everything for Justin.
"Everything but love him," Debbie shots back. "But he can't
love anyone. Not even you."
Lindsay is reading "Beauty & The Beast" to Gus, clearly a
reference to Brian and Justin. Lindz is sad and Mel tries
to cheer her up by saying that it's just a fairy tale. Mel
has found a photo of her and Lindz when they first got together.
They can't believe how quickly the time has passed. Justin
shows up then with a present for the girls and they ask if he's
coming to the party the next day. Justin says he has other plans.
Lindz tells him that if he's worried about running into Brian,
not to be. Brian has said he isn't coming. Justin admits that he
doesn't want to make things awkward for them because they were
Brian's friends first. The ladies assure him that he is their
friend now. They love him just the same and want him to come to
their party and bring Ethan if he wants. Justin is happy and
relieved.
At Woody's, Brian is checking out a guy who he thinks is
interested in him until he realizes it's someone else the
hottie wants. A couple of catty queens are gloating that
Brian's Stud Status is no more. Ted and Em over-hear and
feel bad for Brian. They're going over to let him insult
them hoping it will make him feel better, but they get s
ide-tracked by Deb and Vic. Deb and Vic tell them a horror
story about how Vic and his best friend got involved once
and it destroyed their friendship.
Michael and Ben are moving Ben's things into Michael's
apartment, getting frisky on the bed when Brian barges in,
using his "Emergency Key". He insists that it is an emergency,
he going to die if he doesn't go to Babylon, tossing himself
on the bed with Ben and Michael. Michael tells him to leave
and pushes him off the bed. Brian mopes around the apartment
Ben pulls Michael aside, saying that Brian needs his friend.
It's clear that he's hurting and Michael should go hang out
with him.
Ted and Emmett try to set the mood so that they can have sex,
but both are nervous. They end up talking instead, each
expressing their worry over what could become of their friendship
if things don't work out between them. They're afraid they might
lose their friendship. They don't have sex this time either, but
it is a wonderful scene. Very well-written and acted!
Michael and Brian dancing at Babylon and Brian is wasted. He
tells Michael that it's just like old times. Michael agrees,
Brian getting high and Michael driving him home. Yep, just like
old times. Brian says what he meant was that it's just him and
Mikey again. He takes Mikey up to an empty platform and they
dance, Brian kissing Michael. Mikey's voice-over says that, for
a while there, it did feel just like old times.
At the ladies' party the next day, Ted and Em are hanging out
together, chatting like the good friends that they are. But the
tension of the night before is still there. Ben asks Michael
what time he got home the night before and how was things.
"Same old, same old" is Michael's reply. Michael sees Justin
arrive with Ethan and starts his whiney little bitching again,
asking what Justin is doing there. Deb over-hears and says it's
because LINDSAY AND MELANIE, the people giving the party you
dolt, invited Justin.
Brian is drinking at Woody's when he over-hears two bears
arguing over their wedding plans and what silver they should
get. Brian decides to take them to Lindz and Mel's party to
get some advice.
Back at the party, Justin tries to avoid Debbie but she's
not having it. She calls him and Ethan over to her and tells
him that she doesn't care what Michael said. Justin is her
friend and a part of their family. And she expects him to come
back to work at the diner. Justin is happy and relieved that
what Michael lead him to believe is wrong--He is still wanted
by his friends. Deb meets Ethan.
Brian shows up with his "two new best friends" and introduces
them to Mel and Lindz to give advice on silver. Brian goes in
to use the bathroom and walks in on Justin. Justin is
uncomfortable, asking can't Brian wait until he's finished.
"It's not like I haven't seen it before," Brian reminds. Justin
finishes as quickly as he can and hurries to leave the bathroom.
Brian calls out to him as he reaches the door, telling Justin
that he hopes Justin gets what he wants.
Brian re-joins the party-goers outside and Michael comes up,
again bitching that he can't believe Justin came to the party
since he told Justin to stay away from them. (And I guess Mikey
is the authority of Pittsburgh now that we must all listen to?
Yeah, whatever.) Brian asks why Michael did that and Mikey says
it's because of what Justin did. Brian says that Justin didn't
do anything wrong. They were never "happily married" and each
was free to leave if they wanted to. Mikey goes on like the
little bitch he is, saying that Justin is ungrateful, always took
from Brian, etc., and he's ignoring Brian's repeated order for
him to shut up. Finally he crosses the line and says that he
can't believe this is the payback Brian gets for saving Justin's
life. Michael thinks it wasn't worth it, Brian should have left
Justin lying there--And that's when the punch gets thrown. Michael
hits the ground, actually having the nerve to look stunned and
innocent. Deb naturally jumps on Brian. Ben wants to beat him
up. Mel and Lindz order him to leave. Please, people, Bitchy
Novotny DESERVED it!!! Brian does leave and Justin watches the
whole thing in confusion.
Back at Ted's, he and Emmett have decided to take the next step.
They love each other and they have to see where it will lead for
them. They promise not to let it destroy their friendship if it
doesn't work out though. They make love this time.
Brian comes by the comic book store with a make-up gift for
Michael who is sporting a black eye. He's brought a steak for
Mikey to put on his eye and then eat. Michael admits that he
deserved the punch. (No kidding!) He adds that Brian must
really love Justin. Brian denies it, saying that he "told
Justin from day one that he didn't believe in love, he believes
in--". "Fucking," Michael finishes the tired old mantra that
we've all heard enough to know it isn't true. "Except you,"
Brian tells Michael. He picks up the Rage cut-out and tells
Michael that he wants Michael to make up with Justin so that
they can work on "Rage" together again since it's Mikey's big
dream. Michael is against the idea. He asks if Brian wants to
go get something to eat and Brian says he has other plans and
leaves.
At the loft, Brian is smoking in bed as a cute blonde twink is
walking up the stairs to his loft and knocking on the door. You
just know it's Justin until Brian answers to reveal that it's not
Justin. Hustler asks if he is what Brian wanted and Brian says
that he's "close enough". Brian pays the hustler in advance and
the guy gets undressed and climbs on the bed. Brian lays down
beside him, staring at his face. The guy really does resemble
Justin! Hustler starts to kiss him but Brian won't let him, telling
the guy to roll over instead. Brian stares at the Hustler's blonde
hair, very sadly touching it and running a hand down the Hustler's
back before putting on a condom and having sex with his Justin-
Look-A-Like.
End of episode. Next week, Ted and Em are lovey and happy until
Em is tempted by another man, Brian is monopolizing Michael's
time and Deb hates it, Michael is still bitchy and Justin wants
nothing to do with him, and Mel wants another kid, this so soon
after finding their first one!