One-shot scriptwriter Adam Dooley doesn't answer the questions posed in
the previous episode. Instead, he provides a delightful romp where tensions
simmer underneath the main plot-lines.
Opening with video game sounds and Danielle's thoughts, the scene is set for something completely different, as directed by Todd Holland (‘Life of Brian’), the other non-Angela voice-over episode. Camille tells Patty "I know exactly what you need" which, given the ‘Halloween’ costume experience, is probably true: Handcuffs.
Patty is trusting Angela to be in charge— a big responsibility— but warns, "I don't wanna come home and find anyone in an appliance." Do handcuffs qualify? Patty has reminded Angela of the time she put Danielle in the dryer.
Graham tells Patty he was looking under Hallie's hood because she's broken up with Brad. "I thought I told you that," he says, his voice getting higher and higher. Then his trusty brother comes over with a lame present for Danielle and a new woman, Cheryl Fleck, not the perennial Marla. "Cheryl's incredible!" says Neil. "You're gonna love her." Cheryl has a cappucino cart and really admires Patty.
The super editing switches from the youngsters innocently getting into trouble to the adults going out of their way for it. When Rayanne comes over to see Rickie, Angela's reaction is priceless. Not long after Graham says, "I love sex in a different bed," Rayanne tells Rickie the same thing. And not long after Angela asks if Rayanne asks about her, Rayanne asks if Angela asks about her. Rickie just bears it. And when Rayanne finds the handcuffs, she says, "All right, Graham!" A fantasy of Rayanne's perhaps? The inevitable ensues.
It takes Patty awhile to mention the handcuffs. She phones Camille to ask her to pick them up, but tells Graham she was checking on the kids. Then she announces her favourite pursuit: ICE SKATING! She wants to make plans and ignores the lack of interest her suggestion spawns. Maybe if she'd picked fishing.
Angela doesn't want to believe mommie and daddy have handcuffs. However, she covers beautifully when Camille and Sharon come over. She has lied in the past, but her little act about being concerned about some shopping matter is hilarious. Then her tutor, Rayanne, comes up with a better scam and Angela can't stop laughing. Camille can see something strange is going on, but she isn't sure what, presumably leaving Sharon to make sure no catastrophe ensues. Danielle describes her feelings on Brian, confirming previous subtle hints.
While Patty obsesses about skating and tries the patience of Warren, the innkeeper, the others go exploring, since Graham won't let Neil drive his car after what happened to his Duster. "That was so long ago, I can't believe you still talk about that." They finally return with jaywalking tickets and some so-called liquor. Patty finally mentions the handcuffs when the key falls out of her pocket. Graham is obviously interested, not to mention astonished that Camille Cherski owns them. He doesn't know Camille very well.
While the adults are acting juvenile, drinking hooch, the youngsters try to solve the puzzle of the handcuffs, which brings them together in a way no dance could— not even a World Happiness dance. Sharon knows where the Pleasure Zone is, though she denies having been inside. So she and Brian procure another pair of handcuffs.
Things get slapstick and it's a taste question whether you go for that or not, but there are plenty of cute lines and it's hardly The Three Stooges. Rayanne and Danielle have a chat and fall asleep together. When Patty calls to say they'll be home in twenty minutes, a major cleanup ensues (like the end of Risky Business). But everyone works together so, even though there's tension between Rayanne and Angela, they still relate.
For the adults, things completely degenerate when Patty gets drunk. She's ferchadit, as Hallie might say, by being stuck alone in the inn and Graham looking under Hallie's hood. They return to a bedroom full of children watching bass fishing. Nothing suspicious here. Danielle grabs the key and all is well. So while Patty and Graham never found the chance to reconnect, the young ones did. Angela kisses Sharon and has a minute alone with Rayanne.
[Continuity error. The handcuffs are locked and Patty doesn't have the key. So how does she get them on?]
It all works out. Angela calls it the weekend from hell but it's Danielle's "best weekend of my entire life." And maybe for the rest of her life, if Angela has any say in it.
Patty gets her punishment, cuffed to the bed watching bass fishing as Graham goes looking for shears. Bob Krakow is the kind of guy to have wire shears, right? He doesn't know Bob very well, either.
All this episode was missing: Katimski, Jordan and Hallie. The latter
is there in spirit, but Jordan and Katimski are only mentioned in passing.
MIDPOINT ANNOUNCEMENT - PATTY: There will be more of My So-Called Life here on ABC
End announcement by Graham: Stay tuned for scenes from the season finale.