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Rescue Me Season 2 Episode 8

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AIRED: 8/9/05

Jerry forces the crew to attend a birthday party that his son is throwing for his boyfriend. Meanwhile, Tommy makes a move on Mariel after she tells him she might not be his half sister after all. Franco asks Laura to move in with him while Sheila tries to make Tommy jealous by showing off her new girlfriend.moreless

Fan Episode Reviews (4)

This was a very moving, funny, pivotal, heartwarming episode of Rescue Me, and I think it's the best episode of the series so far. (Spoilers)

10

By Jason5550123, Apr 16, 2009

This episode of Rescue Me was some of the best television ever. They had great humor and plenty of laughs during this episode; especially with how the crew reacted to being at a party with a bunch of gay guys. It was nice at first to see where Franco and Laura's relationship was going, but sadly it didn't last very long thanks to Sean telling Laura about what Franco did to get drugs. I know it's a long shot, but I really hope that Franco and Laura somehow get back together. Franco was just starting to become and better man and then that happened to break it up. Tommy's views on religion are pretty interesting, and most people would probably say that how he acts towards God and Jesus is very offensive; but I hope to see that Tommy gets close to God again, since the kid that got burned did make a miracle recovery. I'm glad to see that Lou stopped the whole situation with two women at once; and even more glad to see that he might be falling for one of them. I really don't like how Mike and Sean are trying to get girls. It's pretty disrespectful and deceptive, and I hope they stop with their act pretty soon. It's good to see that Chief Jerry Reilly's wife is starting to do a little bit better, and also it's good to see that he's appreciating his family, and even though I don't agree with how his son is, I'm glad to see that Jerry accepted it. I was also glad to see that this episode didn't really have much to do with firefighters. This episode focused on the characters and their own stories, and I think more episodes like this will be really good for the show in the future. And finally, the best part of the episode, and definitely my favorite moment of the series so far, was when Tommy and Janet finally decide that they should get back together for the sake of their kids. I really hope that they can maintain their relationship this time, and if they do, I'm sure Tommy will stop acting so reckless; and that he will finally become a family man. It even looks like he won't be drinking anymore; and hopefully he stops with the drugs as well. Overall, I give this episode, Believe, a 10 out of 10. Definitely the best and most outstanding episode of the series.moreless
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This is why I'm hooked on this show.

9.8

By Dawnsdinosaurs, Aug 15, 2005

I only started watching this show very recently, as a matter of fact only saw a few episodes so far. This show is great and this is the type of episode that will make me keep coming back for more. I love all the interactions of the characters. I like how the chief is struggling with his son being gay, that's got to be tough for a father. I personally think he made everyone go because he didn't want to be there alone. I really like the humor, the Lady Marmalade karaoke was very funny. I can't wait to see what happens with Tommy and his wife. In a way I'm hoping for a reconcilliation but you can't change Tommy too much becaue then the show wouldn't be the same.moreless
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One of the best episodes so far.

9.2

By Lulu8704, Aug 11, 2005

I was happy to see Janet comes back and it looks like Tommy and Janet are going to work it out; but I didn't like that Laura and Franco broke up. I would have like to see they get closer and then see how they house reacts when they find out. Maybe in the future.

The Karaoke scene with Sean and Probie Mike was great!
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They can smell fear.

9.0

By tjaman, Aug 10, 2005

Calm down.

Relax.

Take a breath.

Things are about to move in another direction.

There can only be relationship conflicts where there are relationships. Real ones.

First off -- Laura knew what she knew when she knew it. Sean's stupid slipup at the party was just a f'rinstance. So the fight with Franco could go either way -- Franco was asking to make things a little more solid like, and she's just as scared of that if she's being honest.

So, Probie's Amazon no longer in the picture? Or is he neglecting her with all of these side projects? Claiming to have "dabbled" just to get the two hot chicks at the party was insane -- just off the property, there's an entire //city// full of women who are into //straight// guys.

Honestly, Probie and Garrity. Stupid can, on occasion, be very, very funny.

That entire party was wonderful.

Back to relationships -- Lou and Candy have definitely found a vibe. The freebies she's been tossing his way lately are hard to ignore, and Sondra somehow comes off as being a little fake in that relationship.

The stock in trade of a who.re, of course, is to make a guy believe she loves him. But calling it even on a movie and the offer to drive him home was over and above.

I ... don't see it playing out like Christians and Satine in "Moulin Rouge," but I wish him all the best.

Speaking of which, while Probie and Garrity were destroying "Lady Marmalade" upstairs, Jerry was downstairs just self-destructing. I can see someone being just miserable about how his son turned out, but I'm wondering if it's more than just being really upset with his son.

I don't imagine the show is going to take us to a place where the chief's a self-loathing closet-case, but this show has moved in absolutely fearless directions before, so I'm not putting anything past it.

Arguing against that was the touching scene where Jerry and Jean were dancing and Peter and Steven dancing nearby. That scene had a kind of beauty to it.

All of the destruction may have been necessary for Jerry to just get it out. He was a tightly wound ball of rage all the way through the episode.

.

FIVE WOMEN

Guiding the theme of the evening was Tommy's interactions with five women. And the tone that they carried was some simply amazing storytelling.

Opening at the amusement park, where we have what can only be considered a cleanish break with Auntie Sheila. I loved Katie in that scene: "Daddy, why is Auntie Sheila touching that woman's boob?" That's a fun line to deliver at any age, and she must've just enjoyed that.

We then move along in our emotional rollercoaster to the burn victim's room -- where Tommy's spending an awful lot of time, all things considered -- and where Mary Magdalene advises Tommy to pray for what he wants. To define, once and for all, exactly what he wants and to ask G-d for it.

Then, very briefly, the child's mother touches his shoulder in absolution, which Tommy has been deeply in need.

Fourthly, to emphasize the chaos in the life of Tommy's heart, we find him in Mariel's apartment. Both Tommy and Johnny have been making a play for her, and she chooses Tommy first. Tommy -- to his credit, and drawn perhaps by his own prayer, forstalls getting involved with her -- maybe partly to wait for proof to avoid committing a "sin," but I think it's more because he's having trouble being "that guy" any more.

When he sees Janet, all of his defenses are up. He's ready for whatever she has to throw at him ...

... except her sadness.

Janet's appearance in the closing scenes of last night's show is some of the best writing we've seen for her in the run of it. She was so real. Stripped of her sarcasm, her retribution, the rage and disappointment that has been present in Janet since her opening scenes, we see a Janet who has taken a little time for reflection. She hasn't been without the kids for more than a school day, and like she said, a day didn't go by without them asking about Tommy.

That had to just wear on her.

She was //never// without those kids. All the way through the series, being their mom has been a constant, constant thing. At least when she was at the house, Tommy was able to take them sometimes.

Whereas Tommy with the kids and Tommy without the kids was pretty much the same person -- he just needed to see them once in awhile and know where they were to be OK -- Janet never knew what she was like without the kids.

When she found out ... she was sad.

Now, Tommy was easy enough to track down if she'd cared to. If the kids could be stashed absolutely anywhere in New York, //Tommy's station// was always in the same place.

So taking a little time for herself, to realize who she was and to think about her relationship with her children's father -- that was time well spend.

Her heart had been praying too, perhaps.

It's all too good to last, of course. "One last shot" -- that phrasing is impossible to ignore, and nothing just "slips out" in this show.

But for one moment. One relaxed, accepting moment ...

The unbelieveable ...

... that reconciliation is possible ...

... that hearts can heal ...

... the sermon of Mary Magdalene ...

... can be //believed//.

.

Nice episode. :)moreless
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Cast & Crew: STARS

EDIT

Andrea Roth	Janet Gavin
Daniel Sunjata	Franco Rivera
Denis Leary	Tommy Gavin
Jack McGee	Chief Jerry Reilly
John Scurti	Lt. Kenneth "Lou" Shea
Mike Lombardi	Mike Silletti

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Cast & Crew: RECURRING AND GUESTS

EDIT

David Alan Basche	Steve	Guest Star
Noelle Beck	Marial	Guest Star
Jessica Leccia	Mary Magdalene	Guest Star
Dean Winters	Johnny Gavin	Recurring Role
Lenny Clarke	Uncle Teddy	Recurring Role
Paula Devicq	Sondra	Recurring Role

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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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TRIVIA (0)
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QUOTES (15)
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- Janet: I don't wanna go to court.
  Tommy: You try takin' these kids away from me again--
  Janet: I don't wanna take them again. You know this whole thing? I didn't get angry, I got sad. My whole head went back to when we first met... Our wedding, how funny you were, Colleen being born. Those Beatles songs that you used to sing to her to make her fall asleep. Those sweet little horse-clown pictures that you used to draw for Katy. (Janet starts crying) You know Tommy, I couldn't even move for almost a day, and then I couldn't stop crying. I need my kids. But at least three or four times a day when I had them Connor and Katy would look at me and ask where you were. "Is Daddy coming for the weekend?" "Is Daddy coming for Christmas." "Where's Daddy now?" "Is Daddy dead, you would tell us if Daddy died, right mom?" I was in a hospital for a couple of weeks. But I uh got some counselling. And I got back up on my feet. The thing is while I was there, I got my head straightened out enough that I got a little perspective. I think for the sake of the kids, and from what we used to be like, before Jimmy died. I think we oughta give it one last go.
  Tommy: One last go? That's a hell of a way to jump start a relationship.
  Janet: Until death do us part, right?
  Tommy: Right.
  EDIT SHARE
- Sean: Oh, Jesus, my skin smells like it's rotting.
  Lou: Yeah, why don't you bottle that and call it "essence of ass."
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- (on the phone)
  Tommy: Hey, you backstabbin' son of a bitch.
  Johnny: Oh, hey, Tom.
  Tommy: You're supposed to be my brother, asshole.
  Johnny: I am your brother. I was just tryin' to do you a favor.
  Tommy: By helpin' Janet take my kids again? That's supposed to be doin' me a favor? How's that work?
  Johnny: Tommy, if you would just listen to her.
  Tommy: You know what, Johnny? You're dead to me. You're dead to me. You got that?
  EDIT SHARE
- (Sean is a little drunk)
  Mike: Hey, man, straighten up. There're two hot chicks in a party full of gay guys. It's like catching fish in a barrel.
  Sean (pauses): It's shooting fish.
  Mike: What?
  Sean: It's shooting fish in a barrel. That's the expression, you dumbass.
  Mike: Yeah but if they're in the barrel, why would you shoot 'em? Why wouldn't you just reach in with your hands and pull one out?
  EDIT SHARE
- Janet: Hi, Dad.
  John Sr.: Holy mother of... (Janet goes and hugs and talks to the kids)
  Uncle Teddy (walking out from the other room): The crazy bitch shows up we'll just snuff her and ditch the remains... (sees Janet)
  Janet: It's nice to see you too, Teddy.
  EDIT SHARE
- Sean (about Franco): That guy will be chasing tail until the day he dies. Like take that nurse for example.
  Laura: What nurse?
  Sean: Just the uh... the nurse he was bangin' to get the vicodin.
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- Laura (after Mike hands her a wine cooler): God, even I feel gay drinking this.
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- (They are outside the Chief's house at his party, looking inside at all the gay guys)
  Lou: Probie, get in there and get us some booze.
  Mike: Why me?
  Tommy: Because you can probably slip under the gaydar.
  Mike: Me? What about Sean?
  Tommy: If we were to have the gayest lookin' guy in the crew contest, you win, hands down.
  Lou: Or pants down as the case may be.
  Sean: What does that mean? He has better hair than me? Better body? Better what?
  Tommy: You're really not asking me that question right now are ya?
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- (Chief invites them all over his house for a party after tour, and they're all excited until they found out it's for his son)
  Tommy: I can't make it because of a AA...
  Chief: Meeting?
  Tommy: No, it's more like a festival, a two or three day series of meetings.
  Chief: Lou?
  Lou: You know what, chief, it's my back, it's bad today, a lot of pain, a lot of stiffness.
  Franco: Let me help you out with that, Lou. (he starts rubbing Lou's back)
  Lou: Something happens, it, uh, fuses the vertebrae together.
  Chief: Garrity?
  Sean: No... I got a... There's uh, I have... uh--
  Chief: I'll come back to you. Probie?
  Mike: Gay people kinda scare me, chief.
  Chief: Finally an honest answer. What do you got, Franco?
  Franco: I'm uh, helpin' Lou with his back.
  Chief: Laura?
  Laura: Would you like me to bring a cake, chief?
  Chief: Yeah, that'd be great. Numb nuts?
  Sean: I-- I uh, can't, there's a doctor's, uh, appointment.
  Chief: For what?
  Sean: Uh...the-- the ass doctor.
  Chief: It took you thirty seconds to come up with ass doctor? For that alone, you're comin'. In fact you're all comin'.
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- (Tommy is at his half-sister's house and Johnny called there, he answered)
  Johnny: Do not do this. You knock her up and the kid's gonna be retarded.
  Tommy: The family's full of retards it'll fit right in.
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- (Trying to find hot girls at help meetings)
  Mike: We haven't done smokers.
  Sean: Yeah, I really wanna bang a chick with an iron lung.
  Mike: Mmm, what about gamblers?
  Sean: Yeah, well, okay, if your into middle aged fat-bald guys. Drugs, booze, sex, food, that's where all the talent's at.
  EDIT SHARE
- (Shelia is trying to prove to Tommy she really is gay by making out with her girlfriend and grabbing her ass)
  Tommy: Huh. Well, I've seen it a million times on Girls Gone Wild.
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- (After Tommy sees Sheila with her girlfriend, he pulls her aside)
  Shelia: What? I can't be a lesbian because you're so goddamn good in the sack?
  Tommy: No, you can't be a lesbian because we both know that you love cock.
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- Tommy (needing to use the restroom at the gay birthday party): No. I'm not gonna pull my cock out in this crowd. That'd be like throwing chum into the shark tank.
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- Johnny (to Tommy): Rock bottom. It just doesn't exist for you, does it?
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NOTES (1)
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- Music Featured In This Episode:
  I Shall Believe by Sheryl Crow
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