Army Wives

The episode begins with Michael telling Emmalin that she's going to drive. He says that he's going to teach her how to drive a stick shift.Emm alin tells him that it's archaic and she won't have a need to know because almost all vehicles are automatic in this day and age. Michael tells Emmalin that all the Holden women know how to drive a stick – it's a Holden Women tradition.

Claudia Joy comes out of the house telling Michael and Emmalin to go to the church without her because she's running late. Michael tells Claudia Joy not to go if she's not ready. Claudia Joy says, "And have Chaplain Price and half the flock call me all afternoon asking me if I'm ok? I'm right behind you."

At the post chapel, Claudia Joy walks up the stairs, but can't bring herself to go in. A kind, elderly gentleman with a red carnation in his lapel appears. He starts to open the door for her, but she still does not go in. He tells her that he couldn't walk through the doors a few times himself and that being inside is not as important because God is outside, too.

At the hospital, Denise walks into Corporal Riley 'Mac' McCadden's room. She tells him that she is going to be his nurse for the day. He says, "Wow! I won the caregiver lottery!" He tells Denise to call him Mac. He jokingly tells her that he hopes she isn't into legs because what's left his are "none too pretty."

Denise says that the Army is doing amazing things with prosthetics and he should be bionic in no time. Corporal Mac tells Denise that he's grown fond of "the stumps" because he's forty pounds lighter and is finally at his ideal weight. He also tells her that she has a great smile and reminds him of the Mona Lisa.

Denise says she hasn't heard that line before. Corporal Mac tells Denise that he's not coming on to her because he has a girl back at home. He reveals that he and his girlfriend have talked about his legs, but she hasn't seen him yet. He claims that she's ok with it. However, he knows that seeing is different. Denise says, "When she sees what I see, she'll love you even more."

At the LeBlanc residence, Finn is in the bathroom attempting to tie his tie and arguing with his imaginary friend, Harry. Roxy comes in and asks him if he and Harry are fighting again. Finn tells Roxy that Harry told him to wear a tie, but Harry can't tie one end, and neither can Finn.

Roxy tells Finn that his dad can't tie a tie, either and she has to help him all the time. She tells Finn that he looks very handsome and asks why he's all dressed up. Finn says he's going to ask someone out for a date. When Roxy asks him who it is, Finn tells her it's a secret. Then, he decides it's ok to tell her. He whispers in her ear. Roxy says, "Wow! You are really swinging for the fences on that one!" Betty comes into the bathroom. Roxy and Finn cheerily say, "Mornin'" to her. She grumpily tells them to get out.

At the Moran residence, Pamela is working on Katie's costume for the church play. She asks Katie if she knows who Joan of Arc is. Katie says that Joan of Arc was a teenage girl who led a whole army and that she heard voices. Lucas says, "Yeah, which makes her crazy."

Pamela asks Katie if she knows her lines yet. Katie says that there are too many. Chase comes through the door and tells her that she needs to start learning them. Pamela, Katie and Lucas turn around when they hear Chase's voice, then get up and go running over to him because they're excited that he's home. He gives hello kisses to everyone.

Chase drops down to his knees, touches the breastplate and asks Katie if she knows what "this" is. She doesn't. Chase tells her it's a breastplate. Katie says, "But I don't have breasts yet." Chase looks up at Pamela with a "Help Me!" look on his face. Pamela starts laughing and tells him, "You're on your own!" Chase explains that the breastplate is to protect the heart. Katie tells him it is so that the soldiers can keep fighting. Chase tells her she's right.

Katie asks Chase to help her learn her lines. Chase tries to get out of it by telling her that he isn't much of an actor. Katie says he's a real soldier which means that he'll get all the words right and when he comes to see the play, he'll clap the hardest.

Chase says he'd love to be there, but he has to leave. Katie is hurt and tells him that he's always gone. She walks out of the room. Pamela asks which of the two of them should talk to her. Chase elects to go.

Emmalin and Michael are in Michael's truck. Emmalin stalls the truck and is getting frustrated. Michael tells her it's ok and to start the truck again. He tries to explain how to operate the clutch and gas pedals. Emmalin lets up off the clutch, the truck lurches forward and stalls again. She is so frustrated that she tells Michael it's not working. Michael tries to encourage her by telling her that if he can train a battalion to run a combat operation out of a tent, he can teach her to drive a stick.

Emmalin is extremely frustrated and tells Michael to "give it up" because she has no need to learn how to drive a stick since she will not be operating heavy machinery. She says, "A lot of good this did Amanda!"

Michael is hurt and stunned by her remark. He works very hard to maintain his composure. Emmalin apologizes. Michael tries again to reassure her by telling that she can learn. Just as she's about to give it another try, a group of soldiers walk in front of the truck. Emmalin watches them and looks a little unnerved.

Emmalin tells Michael that she can't do it, that she doesn't feel it and never will. She says it's Claudia Joy's tradition and if she doesn't care, Michael shouldn't either. As she is saying this, she unbuckles, gets out of the truck and walks off. Roland is playing basketball at the park. He notices Emmalin walking toward him.

Claudia Joy is gardening when Finn walks up carrying yellow daisies. She turns around when he says, "Hi." Claudia Joy says "hi" back to him. Finn holds out the flowers and tells her he tried to find red ones. Claudia Joy accepts them, thanks him and tells him she loves yellow. Finn asks her if she would go out on a date with him.

Roxy comes around the corner smiling, with her finger up to her lips. Finn sees her and tries to shoo her away. Roxy asks Finn if she could talk to Claudia Joy for a minute. Finn glares at Roxy as she and Claudia Joy walk a few feet away. As Finn watches Claudia Joy and Roxy talking, he has his arms crossed and his little foot is tapping away impatiently.

Roxy asks Claudia Joy if she's met Finn's imaginary friend, Harry. Claudia Joy tells her that they were "introduced" to each other at the PX. She says that Amanda talked to her bear until she was eight. Roxy asks if Amanda had ever fell in love with her friend's husband. Claudia tells her she didn't think so.

Roxy tells Claudia Joy that Finn is "gob-smacked" over her and asks if she would go along with it. As Claudia Joy turns to go back to Finn, Roxy stays facing away because she is quietly laughing.

Claudia Joy tells Finn that she would be honored to go on a date with him. Then she turns to "Harry" and asks if he would be going with them. Finn informs Claudia Joy that Harry wasn't there because he had left him at home. Roxy chuckles and says she does the same thing all the time. Finn hunches over and glares at Roxy over the top of his glasses.

Pamela and Chase are in bed. Pamela asks Chase if he knows when he'll be leaving next. He tells her three days. She's surprised because Chase has never given her lead- time before.

They talk about how upset Katie is with Chase because he'll be leaving and will miss the play. Pamela tells Chase that Katie is doing the play because of him, that she wants Chase to be proud of her. Chase says he told Katie he will help her learn her lines and that he'll be playing 'Superdad' over the next couple of days. Pamela asks if that's all he'll be doing. He asks if she has something in mind. She seductively tells he that she "has a few things."

At the Holden home, Michael is laying on his side in bed, awake. Claudia Joy is putting on her nightgown. Michael rolls over and looks at Claudia Joy. Claudia Joy has decided to go downstairs to watch TV because she isn't tired. As she is about to leave, Michael tells Claudia Joy that he misses Amanda, too. He also tells her that he misses his wife.

Claudia Joy is sitting on her porch swing. The kind, elderly gentleman from the chapel and a scruffy dog walk up. This time, he has a red carnation on his hat. He asks Claudia Joy if she knows where the dog lives. She tells him she doesn't. He says that he found the dog wandering around without. Claudia Joy says she has never seen the dog before.

The man says, "Sometimes you, you let 'em go, and uh, they find their way home all by themselves." Claudia Joy tries to get rid of the man by telling him that she doesn't know him and it's very late. He tells her, "Whenever you don't want me here, I won't be."

Claudia Joy asks him who is and what he wants from her. He claims he does not want a thing. She doesn't really believe him. She says everyone else does and that they expect her to go right back to being normal. The man tells her, "They don't expect it. They need it." Claudia Joy is frustrated and asks about her needs. He says, "What you need is everything you keep turning away from."

At the park, Roland and Emmalin are shooting hoops. Emmalin needs to talk, but isn't sure how trustworthy Roland is. She asks him a couple of questions to make sure that whatever is said remains strictly between them. Roland tells her that they can keep their conversations what they talk about between the two of them.

Emmalin used to feel safe on post, but doesn't anymore. Because the person that killed her sister was wearing an Army uniform. She cannot tell the good guys from the bad now. Emmalin says that when she and Michael were in the truck and the group of soldiers had walked by and she had wanted to run them over.

As Emmalin continues to reveal more of what she's going through, Roland just listens. Ever since Amanda died, it feels like Claudia Joy doesn't want to talk to her and when she does, she "isn't all there." As they talk, both watch a group of soldiers walk by. Emmalin says she doesn't feel like a part of the family anymore.

In Corporal Mac's room, the physical therapist is putting Corporal Mac back in bed. As Denise walks in, Corporal Mac 'chastises' the therapist for treating him like a cripple in front of a beautiful woman. He claims that he wore the therapist out and then tries to get the therapist to smuggle in a beer for him. He says he's being pumped full of all kinds of drugs, but can't have one beer.

Denise agrees with the therapist and tells Corporal Mac that he cannot have beer. As Denise is checking his wound, she notices some swelling and tells him that he needs to take it easy. Corporal Mac tells her that he can't because that would mean the bad guys won. He says, "They thought they'd body bag me, but here I am."

Denise asks if he wants to talk about it. Corporal Mac says an IED woke him like a big-ass hello. He tells Denise that he actually watched as one of his legs flew over his head. Denise asks if there's a lot of pain. He tells her there wasn't any until he woke up. He says that when he first woke up, he thought that he'd wrecked his motorcycle. He tells Denise that he used to think that he would lose a leg because of his crazy motorcycle driving. Corporal Mac describes the feelings he used to get when riding his motorcycle – the wind in his face and the power underneath him. Denise agrees.

Denise reveals that her brothers rode dirt bikes and that she used to sneak out to the woods to meet them so she could take a turn. She says that it all stopped after her father found out. She tells him that her father was strictly military and would not have any daughter of his riding motorcycles.

Chase, Katie and Lucas are 'fencing' in the front yard. Chase is getting fairly winded from all the activity. As Roxy walks up, she hollers at Katie and Lucas to stop 'beheading' their father. Roxy welcomes Chase back and immediately asks where Pamela is. Chase tells her that he gave Pamela the day off. Roxy tells Chase that Pamela had promised to baby-sit TJ and Finn.

Chase tells Roxy that he's had easier training missions. Roxy says that watching four is easier than watching two. Chase says, "Really?" Roxy laughs, tells him no and then sends the boys off to impale someone. She tells Chase that she'll be back at 6:00 to pick them up.

Exhausted, Chase looks at the kids playing and decides to go inside to make some phone calls. Katie reminds him that she still doesn't know her lines. Chase tells her that they will work on it later that night.

Betty is lying in bed when Roxy walks in. Betty is in a grumpy mood. She asks Roxy when was the last time she had looked at the sheets and that Finn should still be in diapers. Roxy is not happy that Betty is in another mood.

Betty reminds Roxy that she's dying. Roxy tells Betty she knows because Betty tells her that all the time. Roxy says that Finn does not wet the bed anymore and that the sheets had been washed before Betty laid her "sorry-ass butt" on them.

Betty realizes that she's pushed a little too much and apologizes. Roxy is surprised by the apology. Betty tells Roxy that she had taken her in when no one else would have. She says that its no bed and breakfast, but it beats being alone. Roxy realizes that Betty must have received bad news. Betty reveals that the cancer is spreading and her doctor wants her to start chemotherapy. Roxy asks her what she can do. Betty pulls some money out of her bra and tells her to buy some sheets.

Claudia Joy walks out to her mailbox. The kind, elderly gentleman tells Claudia Joy that she needs to get ready for her date. He has a red carnation pinned to his vest. Claudia Joy admits that she had forgotten about the date. The man tells her that Finn is really excited and that she doesn't want to break his heart. He says, "Love's an amazing thing. Can't see it. Can't touch it. Can't smell it. Yet, it's there with us from the day we're born." He tells Claudia Joy to enjoy herself because it's allowed. Claudia Joy asks him how he knew about her date, but he only raises his hand and waives as he walks away.

Denise is in Corporal Mac's room getting his meds ready. He's sleeping, so she's trying to be quiet. He tells her that she doesn't have to sneak around because he knows that she's there. Corporal Mac reveals that he sleeps in the afternoons because the nights are too hard. He says that right before he enlisted, he bought a new motorcycle and drove across country for a year. He says that it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience and that he got to meet the coolest people. He tells her that he would like to do it again one day, but it would probably be in "one of those special vans."

Denise tells him that he may be able to get back on a bike because of all the advancements that have been made with prosthetics. Corporal Mac tells Denise that he promised his parents and that his wounds were hard enough on them that he can't risk anything else happening.

Betty is sitting at the table filling out paperwork. Roxy and Finn come into the room. Roxy tells Betty to look at her handsome man on his first date. Without looking up, Betty agrees. Roxy asks Betty to take a picture of the two of them. Betty snaps at Roxy saying that he's only six-years-old and it's not prom. She tells Roxy that the insurance company won't pay anything until she fills out the forms. TJ comes running in saying that he wants to be in the picture, too. TJ runs into the table and knocks the bottle of soda over which gets all over the forms that Betty is filling out.

Betty loses it. She angrily points the camera Roxy had just handed to her at TJ telling him that she was going to hang him from the rafters by his toenails. TJ tries to apologize. Roxy tells him it's ok, that she'll clean it up and sends the boys to their room. Once the boys are out of earshot, Roxy lets loose on Betty. She tells her that she just scared TJ and she had kept the boys out of their own house in an attempt to make her happy, but nothing does. She asks Betty what her problem with kids is. Betty claims she just doesn't like them.

Roxy tells Betty that she's missing out and that her boys are the reason she gets out of bed. Roxy tells Betty that she didn't even look at Finn to notice how adorable and excited he was. Roxy asks Betty if she's so jaded that she cannot find anything to love in that. Betty apologizes and asks Roxy what else she wants her to say. As Roxy walks out of the room, she says, "Nothing. That says it all."

Finn knocks on the Holden's door. Michael answers. Finn tells him that he is there to pick up Mrs. Holden. Michael tells Finn that Claudia Joy is expecting him. As Claudia Joy comes to the door, Michael tells her she looks beautiful. Claudia Joy tells Finn that he looks dashing. Of course, being six-years-old, Finn doesn't know what that means. Claudia Joy tells him it's like a movie star. As she leaves, she tells Michael to not wait up for her.

At the restaurant, Claudia Joy tells Finn her shrimp is delicious and asks him about his chicken nuggets. Finn tells her that they taste better when they're shaped like animals. Claudia Joy says that she thought Finn's friend, Harry, was going to be with them. Finn tells her that Harry is there. Claudia Joy starts to talk to Harry, but Finn tells her he's not at the table. Finn says that Harry's sitting at the bar because he likes to drink. Claudia Joy looks over at the bar and sees the kind, elderly gentleman sitting there. He is drinking a margarita and it has a red carnation in it. Claudia Joy gets confirmation from Finn that he is, indeed, Harry.

Finn hollers for the check. After he gets it, he yells for his mom. Roxy grabs the money and quickly goes over to their table. When Claudia Joy looks over at the bar again, Harry is gone.

Chase and Pamela are in bed. Pamela thanks Chase for watching the kids. Chase admits to Pamela that they had totally worn him out. He reveals to Pamela that he worries about the affect that his continuous absences have on their kids and their marriage. He asks Pamela if she worries about their relationship. She tells him, "No. Better. I can feel it."

Claudia Joy is watching a movie. Harry asks her if they can watch a comedy for a change because he needs to laugh. Claudia Joy tells him he's not real and that she is not going to talk to him. Claudia Joy tells him to go away. Harry reminds her that when she doesn't want him there, he won't be.
Harry can tell that Claudia Joy is angry and that she blames God. Claudia Joy admits it. She wanted more time with her daughter – to watch her graduate college, get married, and have children. Claudia Joy asks where God was when her daughter was murdered. Harry tells her that he was protecting Roland, Denise and her.

Harry says, "It was Amanda's time and nothing would change that. Death is a part of life. You can't have one without the other." Claudia Joy knows this, but it doesn't matter because it was just too soon. Harry continues, "We all have a time and it always comes. Until then, love is the best thing going. And there seems to be a lot of that around here. You just have to let it in."

At the hospital, Denise enters Corporal Mac's room with a wheel chair. He tells her that he didn't remember ordering a taxi. Denise helps him into the wheel chair, and then wheels him outside to the parking lot. At her car, she opens her trunk, opens a cooler and pulls out a six-pack of beer. She hands one to Corporal Mac. He jokingly tells her he loves her as he opens a bottle and takes a drink. He offers her a beer, but she refuses. He doesn't take no for an answer, telling her that she can't let "the gimp" drink alone.

Corporal Mac tells Denise why he thinks that she looks like the Mona Lisa. He says it's because even when she smiles, she looks a little sad. Denise agrees. She tells him about the bombing at The Hump Bar. She tells him that she froze, but if she had been the girl that rode dirt bikes, she would have done something. She admits that she lost the girl she used to be. Corporal Mac tells Denise that that girl is still there.

Michael and Emmalin are eating breakfast. He's trying to get Emmalin to give the driving thing another try. She asks Michael why it's so important to him. He tells her that he thinks that it's important to her. Claudia Joy comes into the kitchen and agrees with Michael. She tells Emmalin that it's a tradition, and then asks Michael for the keys to his truck. They go outside to begin the lessons.

Claudia Joy tells Emmalin to put her hands up. She explains how to operate the gas pedal and clutch. She tells Emmalin that the clutch is silent and that she has to trust it more. She says that she can't move forward without it.

Emmalin tells Claudia Joy that she isn't the only one that is sad. Emmalin admits that she is sad, too. She tells Claudia Joy that she wanted to talk to her, but Claudia Joy wasn't listening. Claudia Joy looks down, then back up at Emmalin and says, "I'm listening now."

Emmalin asks Claudia Joy if this was how she taught Amanda. Claudia Joy tells her it is and that it was how Claudia Joy's mother taught her. Claudia Joy says that she hopes it is how Emmalin will teach her own daughter one day. Emmalin starts to cry and leans into Claudia Joy's arms. Claudia Joy looks up and sees Harry down by the street. He smells a red carnation. She smiles at him and then he gets into a car and rides off.

Roxy has just gotten out of the shower. Betty opens the bathroom door and comes in. She tells Roxy that she wanted to have kids, but couldn't. She tells her that it is easier to act like she doesn't want them than to be jealous because she does.

Roland is shooting hoops alone. Emmalin arrives and apologizes for being late. She tells Roland that she and Claudia Joy had been talking. He asks her who started the conversation. She tells him that it just happened. She said that once she opened up, she couldn't stop. Emmalin tells Roland that she thinks he's cool. Emmalin has brought her friend, Lauren, to the park with her because Lauren is "a little freaked." Emmalin says that she told Lauren that Roland is cool. Lauren hesitatingly steps onto the court. Emmalin makes the introductions. Roland asks Lauren if she'd like to shoot some hoops.

Over at the Moran residence, Katie and Lucas are sitting on a bed. Pamela and Chase are trying to find Chase's wallet and car keys. Pamela comes into the bedroom and asks the kids if they've seen the missing items. Katie denies it. Lucas rats her out, telling Pamela that Katie is sitting on them.

When Pamela tells Katie to give them up, Katie refuses. Chase drops to his knees and says a few lines from Katie's play. Katie says a few lines in reply. Chase tells Katie that she's going to be great and that she won't forget her lines. Katie pulls out the wallet and keys and apologizes. Chase tells Katie that when he is gone, he is always in her heart and that she and Lucas are in his. He says that they are always together. Chase tells Katie that when she is up on the stage, he'll be right there with her, hearing every word in his head and he will be clapping the hardest.

At the hospital, Denise walks into Corporal Mac's room, but finds him gone. The physical therapist tells her that Corporal Mac has been sent to Walter Reed to be fitted for his new legs. He hands Denise an envelope saying that Corporal Mac wanted her to have it. The envelope is addressed "Mona Lisa." When Denise opens it, she finds a key. She smiles.

At the LeBlanc home, Roxy, TJ and Finn are scrunched in front of a laptop. They are waiting for a video call from Trevor. When he finally appears, they start cheering excitedly. He tells them that they look amazing and that he misses them a lot.

Roxy knows that Trevor only has a minute, so she fires off several questions in rapid succession. He answers them all. Then, he tells her that he heard about the bombing and he knew that she was ok because he felt it. He says he's sorry to hear about Amanda. He asks if everyone else is ok and if Betty, the old bat, made it through." As he says this, Betty comes into the room and says, "The bat's right here!" They tell Trevor that Betty is living with them and sleeping in Finn's bed. Roxy tells Trevor that Finn is in love. He asks if it's with Betty. Finn says, "No. It's Mrs. Holden." Roxy tells him, "As in Claudia Joy Holden." Trevor asks Finn about his friend, Madison – how he thought Finn was going to ask her out. Finn tells Trevor that he got scared.

Over at the Holden's, Claudia Joy gets into bed and asks Michael if he's asleep. He's not. She tells him that she has missed him too. She starts kissing Michael, then Michael rolls over.

Pamela is doing her radio show. She is talking about Katie telling her the story of Joan of Arc. While we listen to Pamela's voice-over, we are shown Betty and Roxy at the doctor's office as Betty gets chemotherapy, Roland shooting hoops at the park and Emmalin bringing another friend to meet Roland, Denise going to the parking garage and finding the motorcycle Corporal Mac left for her, Finn running over to his friend, Madison to ask her out, Katie bowing at the end of her play, Pamela, Roxy and Lucas sitting in the audience clapping, and the Holden family arriving at the post chapel.

Once the Claudia Joy, Michael and Emmalin are seated, Claudia Joy picks up a Bible. Inside the Bible is a red carnation. Claudia Joy smiles. The Bible opens up to 1 Corinthians. The camera zooms in on Chapter 13, verse 13: "And now abideth faith, hope, love these three; but the greatest of these is love."