Friday Night, episode 8 of season 2, begins with Joan and Judith in the Girardi living room. Judith is juggling.
Judith - See? How cool is this? When you're in the zone, all's right with the world.
Joan - Yeah. Great. Cirque de Judith. Listen, where is Adam taking me for dinner?
Judith - Sworn to secrecy. (Changing the subject back) I already told Lischak you'd do the project with me. Try it again. (She throws the balls at her)
Joan - Ah. I would like to obsess over me now, ok, and not these stupid balls. This is, like, my first real date with Adam.
Judith - And this is the only way to salvage my physics grade. Do you want me to get shipped off to boarding school? Please?
Joan - [gives a deep sigh and juggles once around. Then drops the balls] That's good. (the doorbell rings) Can't we just see if styroam floats? (door bell rings again)
Judith - If you learn how to juggle, I'll tell you where Adam's taking you to dinner.
Helen - Deaf, are we? (She opens the door)
Judith - Here, watch.
At the door
Fran Montgomery - Hi.
Helen - Hi, Fran.
Fran - Is Judith...
Helen - yeah, she's right through there.
Fran goes into the living room. She is caring a bag.
Fran - Hi, honey.
Judith - Hi, Fran. (There is a coldness in her voice)
Fran - Hey. I brought you some clothes.
Judith - Joan's fit.
Fran - You're welcome. (To Helen) Are you sure it's ok that she spends the night again? Bill's out of town and I have a lecture--
Helen - of course. Hey, she's like one of us now.
Fran - I'm just so grateful that Judith is spending time here. She hasn't always made the best choices in the past. (There is a crash off screen) Judith.
Joan - Sorry, that was me.
Helen - Joan, take it outside.
Joan - Right. (She and Judith leave. Judith tosses the ball as she walks by her mother. Fran sighs)
Helen - Teenagers are hard, even when it's going well.
Fran - I guess being shrinks we thought we could work it all out, but they have to rebel and be independent--
Helen - while we do their laundry. Yeah.
Outside. Judith is trying to teach Joan to juggle again. Judith is juggling and telling her what to do. Joan is still wondering about her date. She is not listening to Judith.
Judith - Toss one up, and when it starts to come down--
Joan - where is he taking me for dinner?
Judith - (annoyed) When it starts to come down... then toss up the next one, and focus on catching the first, and then toss up the third and focus on catching the second.
Joan - I hate you. (She takes the balls)
Fran - Good night, Joan.
Joan - Oh, bye.
Fran - Good night, honey. (Fran tries to give her a hug but Judith backs away)
Judith - Yeah. Night, Fran. Juggle, jo-jo.
Joan drops a ball and a dog runs over and picks it up.
Joan - Hey! Wait! W-w-wait. (Dog walker God walks down the sidewalk from behind a bush, tossing her ball) Devine Intervention. Should have knows.
God - Your friend is right, Joan. It's all about catching what's coming at you.
Joan - Ok, but this is too hard for me.
God - You know, you're always going to be met with challenges you think you can never overcome, but everyone has the ability to surprise themselves.
Joan - So, it's important to you that I juggle?
He walks away, tossing her the ball as he leaves. Joan tries to juggle again.
Judith - Better! He's taking you to “La Cachette.”.
In French, This means “Hiding Place”. It makes the request of god to “Catch all the is coming at you.” I‘ll explain this in “God's Work in Friday Night“. but Don't read it until you've read or seen the episode.. because that will spoil the whole episode.
Joan - That place is fancier than real France. I'm going to get stuff stuck in my teeth.
She leaves the shot and we cut to opening credits, and commercial break.
When we return, We join Joan and Judith walking in the halls. Judith is juggling.
Joan - Can't we just microwave popcorn and watch the shining? I'll scream, he'll hold me.
Judith - He's spending his bonus from work on you instead of an x-box. You know how deep that is?
Joan - Yeah, but I don't need a fancy date. I mean, we're fine the way we are.
Judith - Yeah, real fine. You thought me and Adam were hooking up. (Grace joins them and starts to walk in front of them, walking back wards. But they don’t even acknowledge)
Joan - Right. Occasionally, not so fine, but... [Sigh] What if he looks across the table and realizes that I'm not worth it?
Grace - Could happen. The whole dating ritual is barbaric. It's all about compromise, the slow death of self.
Joan - Way to make my first date special, Grace.
Grace - I'm going to have to start another women's movement. The first one obviously didn't take. (Grace leaves)
Joan - I'm going to break out. I break out when I get nervous. He's going to be at dinner with a zit in a dress.
Judith - Try the balls. Better than Prozac. They turn off your mind, all the crapola goes away. Very zen-Y. (She hands Joan the balls)
Joan - Yeah. I have to catch what's coming at me, right?
Judith - Sure. (Joan juggles) That was good. That-- (Joan juggles again, but drops a ball) that was better.
Adam - Oh, hey, Jane.
Joan - Hey, I was just... (She is nervous, so is Adam) uh, uh, dropping things.
Adam - Uh, yeah. Uh, so, tomorrow night.
Joan - Yeah, tomorrow night. Well, I should go practice.
Adam - Sure. (Joan gives him a kiss)
Joan - Bye.
Judith - Bye.
Judith - Dude!
Adam - Are you sure this is a good idea?
Judith - Oh, a night she'll never forget? Girls kinda go for that.
Adam - So why can't I breathe?
Friedman - "Where love is great, the littlest doubts are fear; where little fears grow great, great love grows there." (Adam leaves) It's hamlet, act 3, scene 2.
Judith - (To Adam as he rushes away) Get flowers! (To Friedman) Don't lurk, dude.
Friedman - I'm almost done. Just two more pages.
Judith - You memorized the whole play? (She actually looks sad here. She didn’t think he would do it, and now she feels bad to break a promise) It was just a goof, Friedman.
Friedman - When Alexander Fleming found penicillin on a moldy plate, he saved untold millions. There are no goofs. Soon I will bathe you in sweet poetry, and you will know the true Friedman. Soon.
He leaves her and we cut to Luke and Grace who are making out in their closet.
Grace - They are so seriously twisted, dude.
Luke - Why do you care if Joan and Adam go on a date?
Grace - Because they're just mindlessly following these random sociological constructs.
Luke - Well...I was going to ask you out tonight.
Grace - Who do you think you're twisting tongues with, dude?
Luke - Schlock festival at the aero. The all-time worst films-- plan 9, robot monster, Catwoman from the moon. I mean. These are serious classics.
Grace - I have a meeting tonight. (She hands him a flyer)
Luke - "Anarchists unite"? Isn't that contradictory?
Grace - Anarchy is about shedding false conceptions, so it is not at all contradictory, brain drain. Maybe if you came, you'd be less politically dense.
Luke - Well, anarchists should have an appreciation for the chaotic ineptitude of schlock cinema. It's the very definition of anarchy.
Grace - Don't twist political philosophy to manipulate me into a date.
Luke - Well, isn't that what you're doing? Trying to get me to your meeting?
Grace - Find new lips, creep.
Luke - Come on, grace. We're supposed to, uh, (he reads the flyer and she leaves) "harmonize our divergent agendas." (She waves goodbye) You can see the strings on the flying saucers.
Cut to Helen in her art room. Joan comes in.
Joan - Mom. Hey, are you busy?
Helen - Um, well, I've got to grade these projects, and then I've got to clean out the supply closet.
Joan - Yes or no?
Helen - No. Sit. (Joan stalls.. Shuffles her chair until Helen draws her back to reality) Honey, what is it?
Joan - [Sigh] Ok. All right, I'm going to ask you something, but you're not my mother, ok? You're just some random old lady.
Helen - No, I'm not...old.
Joan - Fine. Elderly. Ok, look, your first date. Your very first real one, where a guy took you out and he paid for you and you had to look really nice and everything. Do you remember that?
Helen - Oh, sweetheart.
Joan - No mother stuff!
Helen - Yes, I remember. My memory is still quite good for an elderly person.
Joan - What was that like? Because Adam's going to take me out tomorrow night, and you have this whole fantasy about how it's going to be all romantic, where you look at each other and you both know that this night was meant to be and you say all the right things, and he looks at you like you're the only person in the whole world, and all the other couples are totally jealous because they're just pure leftovers next to you, and when he takes you home, he gives you that kiss... that kiss that never leaves you... was it like that?
Helen - (Pauses. She doesn’t want to spoil Joan’s evening with the horrors of how First dates usually go) Sure.
Joan - (sees right through it) Oh, my god. You're totally lying.
Helen - No, I had a wonderful time, just like you said.
Joan - What happened? Did you throw up on him?
Helen - No! I... well... my hair kind of caught on fire.
Joan - What?
Helen - Well, we were in this little Italian restaurant and-- you don't need to hear this.
Joan - Spill it.
Helen - Well, we leaned over the candle to kiss, and my hair fell into the flame, and so I jumped up and I tipped the table over on nick, and then the waiter poured water on me to put me out, and everything was... fine.
Joan is shocked. Helen leaves and we cut to Friedman and Luke at the film festival. Luke is wearing a space man helmet and Friedman has a monster mask on his head.
Friedman - It's done, dude. The whole thing. It's right up here-- every line. And she wants to hear it. I saw it in her eyes.
Luke - But what if you're wrong? You know, you've wasted weeks memorizing hamlet just so she can dismiss you because she has no real appreciation of what makes you unique, just superficial judgments about you wrapped up in pretentious, dogmatic beliefs.
Friedman - Whoa. Intense.
Luke - I'm sorry, dude. I just don't want to see you get emotionally eviscerated.
Friedman - You do not get it, señor. "This very ecstasy of love leads the will to desperate undertakings."
Luke - (Takes off his helmet and hands it to Friedman) I have to go.
Friedman - What?
Friedman puts on Luke’s helmet and joins the line for tickets.
At the Girardi house. Joan is standing in front of a mirror trying on cloths. Well, not so much trying on as laying across her.
Judith - Oh, that's hot. (Joan is “Wearing” a yellow dress)
Joan - What are you doing tonight?
Judith - Oh, hanging with some ass lumps from my old school. (She goes to the bed and moves the blanket, finding the juggling balls) Ahem. Trying to hide them? 'Cause you promised.
Joan - What? I've been practicing. I'm getting very good.
Judith - Good. Joanith is so going to ace this project. (In the closet) How about some skirts and tops?
Joan - (Frustrated) I wish I knew what Adam was wearing, you know? I want to look like we fit.
Judith - Oh, you'll fit. That I guarantee.
Joan - Did you dress him?
Judith - Have you ever known a guy who can dress himself, unless it's for swimming or bed?
Joan - You are so saving my life.
Judith - And if I ever have a date, you'll save mine. I always seem to scare them off before they spring for the big night. (She picks up a sweater) Hey, I love this. Can I borrow it? I hate what my mom brought.
Joan - Yeah, sure.
Judith - Excellent. (She picks up a black dress with pink flowers) Try this one. Yeah.
Joan - Yeah?
Judith - Yeah, and then I want to do something with your hair. And I'll do your makeup, and then I'll give you some botox and do your boobs. I'm kidding.
Joan - (laughs) Oh, my...
Later, after her “Joan make-over project’ is finished, Judith goes downstairs. Helen is there.
Judith - The fairy godmother has completed her job. I'm heading home. Thank you, Mrs. Girardi.
Helen - Oh, anytime. (Helen gives her a hug)
Will - Hey, let Kevin give you a ride. You shouldn't be walking around at night.
Kevin - Yeah, I'm heading downtown anyway.
Judith - Everyone has a date tonight.
Kevin - No, I'm covering night court.
Judith - Oh, been there. (she makes a joke about it) In my youth. Later.
Helen - Bye
Will - Bye-bye.
Kevin opens the door to leave and Adam is standing right there. He has is hair slicked back and is wearing a black suit.
Adam - Oh...hi. Uh, I'm here for Joan. (Helen and Will smile at him. Judith and Kevin stand at the door smiling)
Kevin - (Claps his hand once and pats Adam on the arm) Aw.
Judith - Dude, you're the shock and awe of cute. (They both leave)
Will - You can come in, Adam. You have before.
Adam - Oh...
Helen - Joan, Adam's here.
Will - So, where are you guys off to?
Adam - Uh, la Cachette. It's a surprise.
Helen - Wow.
Joan takes a step onto the stair case. She is all dressed up. Everyone is silent as she walks down the stairs. Adam is aw struck. He can’t stop looking at her. At first Joan is a little shy, because they are all looking at her, but then she catches Adam’s eyes and relaxes a little. She gets to the bottom. It is silence. Adam gives her a rose. Helen and Will look like they are going to cry.
Adam - Uh...uh... uh, we should-- we should go.
Joan - Yeah.
Helen - Have a good time.
Will - Sure.
Helen - Have fun.
Adam helps Joan on with her coat.
Joan - Bye.
Adam - Bye.
Will - Bye-bye. (To Helen) I'll get the kleenex.
Cut to a commercial break with Will giving Helen a kiss on the forehead.
When we return, we join Joan and Adam at the restaurant. There is a candle between them and a waiter taking their order. The piano is playing in the back ground.
Waiter - Filet mignon and steak au poivre.
Adam - Uh, steak.
Waiter - How would you like your steak prepared, monsieur?
Adam - Um...in a pan.
Waiter - (pauses for a minute, then decides not to correct him) Very good, monsieur. Merci. (To Joan) Mademoiselle. Merci.
Joan - [Sighs] Awesome ordering.
Adam - Thanks. So you ordered the duck. I've only seen that in the movies.
Joan - Well, he recommended it. I didn't want to hurt his feelings. I just hope it doesn't come in a little sailor suit like Donald. [Laughs] So...ahem. The last time we ate together, our meal came with a toy.
Adam - [Sighs] You look so pretty, Jane.
Joan - Really?
Adam - Beautiful.
Joan - Look at you. You look like that guy from the hives if he wasn't such a poser and his songs didn't suck.
Adam - Yeah?
Joan - Totally.
Adam - You know, we've been stretched so thin lately... I--I was afraid we were gonna break.
Joan - Me, too. [Whispering] Can I have a kiss?
Adam - Yeah. (They stand up and lean over the candle.. Then Joan remembers what her mother said and they bend around the candle)
Joan - Well, let's have another roll since there's no one here to tell us we'll spoil our appetite.
Adam - Ha ha ha.
Joan’s cell phone rings and people around her grumble under their breaths. Joan leans under her table to answer.
Joan - Hello?
Judith - (In an ally way) How's it going?
Joan - Oh, this--this is not a good time.
Judith - Figured. That's why I called. Ha ha!
Ryan - (With Judith) Dude, get off the phone.
Judith - Bite me, Ryan.
Joan - Where are you?
Judith - Oh, we're on our way to some party. We're just picking up some snacks. So?
Joan - It's like I won a contest. [Giggles]
Judith - Oh! Yes!
Ryan - If this guy takes off and we don't get our stuff--
Judith - (To Ryan) hey! (She hits him then to Joan) Look, I gotta go. Be in love, joanith, and eat lots of dessert.
Joan - Ok, bye. (Hangs up the phone, then to Adam) Judith. Sorry. (to a waiter filling up her water glass) Thank you.
Off to the Anarchist meeting that Grace was going to. Luke is entering. Looking for Grace. Unfortunately for him, all the members look the same.. Same jacket, same hair.
Man - The government doesn't care because power only cares about itself. Corporations don't care because they're too busy gouging you. So what's this all about? This is about us. It's about you and me. It's not about hierarchies. It's not about authority...
Luke - (in a whisper) Grace. … (A girl turns around, not Grace. Luke is startled)
Man - Not the power from above. This is a moment for society in which the violence of power...
Luke - Grace. (Another girl turns around. Again, Not Grace.) Have you seen grace Polk?
Woman - Yeah, well, what does she look like?
Luke - Well, um, her jacket is, um... it's kind of like yours and her hair is... kind of like yours-- well, kind of like you, um, and her and-- well, everyone here, I guess.
Woman - Are you saying we're conformists, dude?
Luke - No! No, no, no, no! You all have very subtle differences, very distinctly subtle--
Man - dude, those sneakers were made in central America by children working 20-hour-days in rat-infested factories.
Luke - My mom got 'em for me.
Man - Look at the dude's shoes.
Luke - (There are whispers of sell out from the other members) I'm just looking for my friend... (He takes off his shoes) to give her these shoes... for you to burn.
At the film festival, the audience is chanting.
All: Hold on, Eros. I'll have the ship in the air in a minute!
Grace is walking down the aisle looking for Luke. Almost everyone is in masks.
Grace - Girardi? Girardi? (She sees someone who looks a lot like Luke. She is startled when she finds its not him. The same kind of startled that Luke was when he saw the girl that looked like Grace).
All - Eros, Eros, wake up! Eros, Eros, wake up, wake up! Eros! Eros!
Grace - (She pulls the mask of one up, sees its not Luke) Thank god. Girardi! Girardi! Friedman - Missing someone, Marge?
Friedman stands up and looks at Grace. BUSTED! Friedman knows. The audience chants “Get out of here! The ship is on fire!” and we cut to under a bridge. Will drives up.
Preston - Will! (Running over to him)
Will - What? What couldn't you tell me on the phone?
Preston - Teenage girl. Multiple stab wounds.
Will - And?
Preston - No I.D., Just--just a name tag and a sweater.
Will - (sees the stretcher and runs over to it) Oh, my god!
Preston - Will!
Will - (To the paramedic) Is she gonna make it?
Paramedic- Multiple wounds to the chest and midsection. Significant blood loss.
Will - It's a simple question.
Paramedic - She's a mess. I really don't know.
Will - (To Lucy) She goes to school with my daughter. Her name is Judith Montgomery.
Preston - The name tag said Joan Girardi. I thought I was gonna have to tell you--
Will - (Lucy is crying, Will tries to console her but she turns away.) Lucy. (To the surrounding officers) I want this whole area cordoned off! Get some lights down here, a lot of 'em!
Will runs off with another officer to the scene of the crime and we cut to Adam and Joan walking arm in arm up to Joan’s door.
Joan - This has been, like, the best night of my entire life, Adam.
Adam - Yeah.
Joan - [Sighs] Um... well, I--I know you're gonna come inside, but, um... do you think maybe we could do the good night kiss thing out here first?
They kiss and Joan opens the door. They go inside and see Helen sitting on the couch near the door. Joan doesn’t see her.
Joan - Mom! (calling into the house) The place was so good. I stole a roll for you. (surprised to see her sitting there) Hey! (Sees the sombre look on Helen’s face) What?
Helen - Honey...
Joan - oh, god. Is it--is it dad?
Helen -No, he's fine. it's...it's Judith. It’s serious
Joan looks at Adam and we cut right there to a commercial break. When we continue, we start right off at the hospital. First shot is of Mrs. Montgomery as Joan, Helen and Adam arrive.
Helen - Fran.
Fran - Hi.
Joan - Hey. How is she?
Fran - They don't know. They operated, but there's so much internal bleeding. They tried to stop it, but--
Joan - she--she's gonna be ok. She'll be fine. It's Judith.
Fran - Bill's coming back from the conference. He can't get a plane out until tomorrow, but--but I'll be fine.
Helen - Oh, Fran, we'll stay with you.
Doctor - She's awake and seems to be stable for the moment. Is one of you Joan?
Joan - Me.
Doctor - She's been asking for you. You should only stay a few minutes. (Joan looks at Fran) I was just with her. You go. She'll be glad to see you.
Joan - Ok. (she takes Adam’s hand and they walk down the hall)
In her room. She has tubes up her nose and a heart monitor is beeping in the back ground. Joan touches her hand. Judith comes around. Adam stands in the back ground.
Judith - Hey.
Joan - Hey.
Judith - How was it? (Her voice is weak and cracking)
Joan - It was fine.
Judith - That's all? Come on.
Joan - Well, it doesn't really matter now. You should just rest.
Judith - It totally matters. Was it great? How was the kissing?
Joan - [Laughs] It was perfect.
Adam - Why'd you go there, Judith? Didn't you know how stupid that was?
Joan - Adam.
Judith - Um... I didn't really think about it.
Adam - Well, you should have thought about it. You should have.
Joan - You're gonna be fine.
Adam - Yeah. I don't think there should be this many people in the room. I'll be outside. (Adam leaves)
Judith - Forget it. I did sorta bring you guys down.
Joan - Oh No. You were a bad girl. I'm gonna have to ground you.
Judith - (She breaths heavy. It sounds hard for her) I might've really blown it this time, jo-jo. Doctors, they won't look at me. And my mom, she has this look on her face.
Joan - No. No, you're gonna-- you're gonna be fine.
Judith - Yeah. I think this is the first time in my life... I ever really wanted to live. It's bad timing, huh?
There is a knock on the door and Joan turns around. Will and Fran are there.
Joan: Hey. [Sniffles] What is it? What's going on?
Will - I have to talk to Judith. You should wait outside.
Judith - Papa girardi.
Will - Hey. I'll try to make this as quick as possible. But we need your help. Do you know who did this to you?
Judith - Some slug who was gonna sell them X. I guess he thought it'd be easier to rip us off. I shoved him away. But I got in the way of his knife, I guess.
Will - Well, can you tell us who your friends are? We need to talk to them.
Judith - They didn't stay? (Fran starts to cry and Judith is surprised that Her “Friends” weren’t really her friends after all. They didn’t even stay as she was bleeding)
Will - They must've been very scared.
Judith - Yeah. [Crying] You can lose it, mom. It's ok. [Fran crying] It's ok. It's ok.
Fran - I--I'm so sorry.
Judith - I'm sorry.
Fran - Oh, no. Shh-shh.
Judith - I'm sorry. Shh. Shh. I'm sorry, mom.
Judith is crying and her mother is stroking her face and hair. We cut to Luke who is back at the Theatre. He shows his ticket and goes inside.
All - Attention! Attention! Extension xj2!
Grace - This is totally inept, dude. It makes stupid look stupid.
Friedman - I know. And yet it endures. An evolutionary marvel.
All: …. (Chanting lines. That I cannot make out)
Grace - I'm so on board.
All - [Audience yelling lines all at once]
Friedman - Yes.
Grace - What?
Friedman - I can see it now. You and Luke.
Grace - You know, if you give us up, you'll never have kids.
Friedman - Yeah. I got that.
Audience - Hey, that's right...
Luke - Grace? I went to the anarchy meeting looking for you.
Grace - I came here for the movies.
Luke - Yeah?
Grace - What happened to your shoes?
Luke - They were made by kids in central America. I burned them.
Grace and Luke kiss in the theatre in front of everyone.
We cut back to the hospital
Fran - She wants to see you again. [Sighs]
Joan - (Once she is out of ear shot of her mother and Fran) I know you call the shots. But I need you right now, ok? I...really...need you.
She goes to Judith’s room and finds Doctor God looking at Judith’s heart monitor.
God - I’m here Joan
Joan - (angry) Why did you let this happen?
Judith - It's not his fault, jo-jo.
Joan - You make sure that she's ok.
Judith - Jo-jo.
Joan - No, he can fix this.
Judith - Hey. Chill. Don't piss off the only doctor I like. He's the only one that'll look at me.
God - It's difficult not to look at such a beautiful person.
Judith - See? He's my angel.
God - Oh. I'll leave you two alone.
Joan - (She follows him outside) Why didn't you tell me this was gonna happen? I could have stopped it.
God - Events unfold after choices are made, Joan.
Joan - But why couldn't she see all the other choices she had?
God - It's about juggling, remember? Good choice, bad one. Good friends, bad ones. Light, dark. It's hard. You said so yourself.
Judith - Hey, doc... but I... don't take away my only friend.
Joan - (Going to her side) No. No, that's not true. You have lots of friends. Good ones.
Judith - Do not cry. I will be officially pissed if you cry. Hey. Juggle.
Joan - What?
Judith - You said you could do it. I wanna see.
Joan - No, not now.
Judith - You promised. You gonna back out on me when I'm in this shape? Use those.
Joan - [Sighs and picks up the bandages, she‘s not focus and kinda sucks.] I had it before. Judith -You’re too tense. You need to relax.
Joan - I--I swear. I swear I had it before.
Judith - Don't try to control it. Just focus on the catching.
Joan - [Sniffles] [Gasps] Better, huh?
Judith’s eyes are glassy and then they close. The heart monitor goes flat line and you hear doctors in the back ground yelling “Code Blue”.
Joan - Oh, my god! No! (she holds Judith’s face and shakes her) Judith, please! No, Judith, please! Oh, my god! Somebody, please! Oh, please! Somebody, please!
Someone Sweeps Joan out of the room. Fran tries to enter but they sweep her out too.
Fran - What's going on?
Joan - No, no, no.
Fran - Wait a minute. Wait a minute. Tell me what's happening. Somebody tell me what's happening!
Joan - (crying in emotional pain) Oh, my god. Oh, my god! Oh, my god! Please!
Joan Helen and Fran stand at the window. Joan can barely stand up she is crying so hard and Judith had doctors trying to get an air way into her. Joan just stands at the window screaming.
A good place for a commercial break.. Because even now as I watch it for the second time, I need to stop for a moment. I find it very hard to watch someone in such pain and not cry myself. Watching it again, a little more closely, I find it very interesting that had Joan not lent Judith her sweater, Joan may not have been there at the moment of her death. It was the sweater that led Lucy to call Will the moment she found out. It was Will being at the accident site before the paramedics took her away that led to him telling them her name (if she was taken away before he got there, he would not have known till later). Because the paramedics knew her name, they could call Fran and Helen. Helen could bring Joan to be with her friend. If the paramedics did not know who Judith was, then Joan would have found out much later, and may not have made it to the hospital on time.
Anyways.. Sorry for that.. But I needed to take a moment. When we return from the commercial break, we are with Helen and Joan in the car. They pull into a gas station.
Joan - she was gonna come over tomorrow morning. We were gonna work on our project. She--she was going to... (Joan realises they stopped) what are we doing here?
Helen - I need gas, and I don't want us stuck by the side of the road after all this.
Joan sees the Doctor god putting gas into his car and she gets out to talk to him.
Joan - (Yelling at him) How could you just do that? She's gone. How can you just fill up your stupid car?
God - I was empty.
Joan - Shut up!
Helen - Joan?
Joan - You just can't go on like this. She's gone! You let her die!
Helen - Joan.
God - It's all right.
Helen - Joan, come on, honey. It's not his fault. Honey, come on.
Helen leads Joan back to the car. They pull up to the Girardi house and Luke, Grace and Friedman are sitting on the porch. Grace gets up first. She walks to Helen.
Helen - Grace. (Luke gets up and goes over to his mom) Why don't you guys come inside? Luke - In a while.
Helen goes towards the door. Friedman gets up and Helen gives him a warm hug. Friedman is close to tears. (if not already crying)
Grace - (To Joan) Sucks.
Joan - Yeah.
Friedman - I couldn't done the play for her tonight. I should've just asked her.
Joan - (Yelling at him) Are you saying it's your fault? Is that what you're saying, Friedman, what, do you think you're god?
Friedman - I just meant if I would have asked--
Joan - how about me, huh? Maybe if I hadn't gone on that stupid date-- maybe I killed her!
Grace - Dude, chill.
Joan - Why?! Why should I chill?!
There is a silent moment outside and we cut inside to Helen and Will.
Helen - All we've been through with Kevin... he's still here.
Helen gives him a hug and we cut back outside.
Grace - You know what I hate? Monday morning, there's gonna be all these memorials and flowers and stupid ass teddy bears.
Joan - Yeah. From a bunch of people who didn't even know her.
Luke - She told me she collected pez dispensers.
Joan looks at Luke with surprise. Friedman is crying. Adam walks up and Joan goes over to him.
Adam - Hey.
Joan - (At first you think she will hug him. But then she shoves him and yells) How could you?! How could you just leave me?!
Adam - I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
Joan - No! How could you just leave me there?!
Adam - I tried, ok? I couldn't do it. Not after my mother, I... I couldn't. I--I just couldn't see someone throw her life away like that. Not again.
Joan - She didn't... she didn't kill herself.
Adam - Some people do it all at once. And some people do it a little bit every day.
Joan - I loved her.
Adam - I know. And I don’t know why that doesn’t matter.
They hug.
Friedman -
Doubt thou the stars are fire;
doubt that the sun doth move;
doubt truth to be a liar;
but never doubt I love.
O dear Ophelia,
I have not art to reckon my groans;
but that I love thee best,
o most best...
believe it. Adieu.
Friedman - (He breaks down. To Luke and Grace) Just give it up. Hold hands or something. (He takes their hands and puts them together then hugs them both and cries)
Grace - Ok, this is just weird.
Adam - (shows Joan some juggling balls) They light up. I was, uh... I was gonna give them to Judith for your project. Kind of A... thank you, you know, for our date.
Joan laughs a little and takes the balls. She looks at them and then sees Dog walking God behind Adam. She steps away from Adam and goes to talk to god.
Joan - What are you doing here? Haven't you done enough?
God - She loved you, Joan.
Joan - And I loved her. What am I supposed to do with that now?
God -Did you ever hear the riddle about the man, his boxes, and the bridge?
Joan - S-s-s-stop. I... I just want my friend back.
God - A man had 3 boxes. Each box weighed 5 pounds. The man weighed 190. The bridge could only support 200. How did the man make it across the bridge with all his boxes?
Joan - This is just cruel.
God - How did he get across, Joan?
Joan - (she moves her arms and glowing balls around in the air) He juggles. Yes, ok. I get it. He keeps one box in the air the whole time. Yes, I get it. What are you saying? That--that if I juggled boxes across a bridge I'll see Judith again?
God - Joan, the bridge is life. The boxes hold your feelings-- your love, your joy, your pain, your loss. Everyone is crossing a bridge with more weight than they can bear. So you juggle.
Russ (I mean God) juggles. He tosses a ball to Joan.
God - Catch.
Joan Juggles higher and higher.
Kevin - All right, you got it.
And she juggles and juggles. We see a shot of each of her friends watching and Joan just juggles and juggles. The balls go higher and higher until one hit’s the camera screen and it fades first out to white and then black.
And so we end episode number 8. Rest in Peach Judith. Good bye to Friday Night.
