Project Still Life Recap - "Gravity" blurb
Wow. Okay. I didn't get to do this ep the justice I wanted to because I was working against the clock due to an appointment. So the Em/Stack stuff got shortchanged at the end. But I'm guessing that's not why you're here, right? So let's get to it.
Dramatis Personae
Ben/Dad
Charlotte/Mom
Max
Emily
Daisy
Stack
Jonathan
Willa - Daisy's friend with whom she got in trouble pulling the fire alarm
Maggie
Whit Garnier (Gar-nee-YAY) - Maggie's boss
VOJ - Voice of Jake - narrator of story and possible manipulator of events
First, the previouslies, including the pertinent Jensen stuff:
- Jake tells us that Maggie is still his
- Maggie stands Max up at the movie theater (will detail this in transcript-y recap of "Dead Serious," but he showed up at the movie theater as pre-arranged, and stood outside waiting for her. She never showed.)
- Whit Garnier puts the moves on Maggie
- Max tells Maggie, "It's good you're seeing someone. Good for us both."
Open on VOJ telling us that he loves to see Maggie happy. Mag and Whit are strolling down the sidewalk, stop to listen to a street musician. Jake just wishes that Maggie weren't happy because of Whit. He hates not being able to touch her.
Mag and Whit bump into Max. Whit excuses himself while Mag and Max talk. Max has just interviewed with the photog next door to Mag's gallery. Interview was with an AP photographer. Since the guy is a photojournalist, and photojournalism is different than what Max usually does, Max is on his way to take pics of a local basketball practice/game. Would Mag be okay with Max working next door? Mag says it would be nice to have a friend in the neighborhood.
VOJ tells us that he used to tease Max about his photography, that it was just a way for Max to meet girls, like he needed help with that. Jake wants Max to be happy, but he wants him to be happy with someone other than Maggie. Someone like . . .
A blonde chick is also taking pics at the game. Ooh, something she and Max would have in common, says Jake. Jake describes her as he's observing her: pretty, smart, aggressive, a little clutzy in a cute way (as she trips over a bag) . . . if only Jake could set the two of them up . . .
Blondie runs into Max. Jake says something about being able to control events.
Blondie's name is Nona. She and Max make conversation about what brings her here, the player they're both photographing, etc. Conversation borders on flirting, and you can tell that Max is interested. (The smile, ladies, it is wonderful.) Between snapping pictures, Max mentions that the player, Williams, never smiles. He always looks mad. Nona calls to Williams at the foul line and asks him to smile. He scowls back at her.
As the players leave the court, Max wants one more shot, and misses it. Nona accuses him of giving up too easily, tells him to get his camera ready, calls to Williams, and flashes the kid. Williams is obviously surprised, and grins. Max gets his pictures (of Williams, not Nona). After the players have hit the locker room:
Max: You can't flash teenage boys.
Nona: He didn't seem to mind.
Max: I'm sure he didn't mind. You can't flash teenage boys.
Nona: I think I just did.
Max: Well, fine. You can share them with whoever you want.
Nona: Okay, then. Thanks for the advice.
Max (indicating film): I'm gonna go develop these. You want to come along?
Nona: Let's go.
Emily and Stack are in the kitchen of their new catering facility. Banter about the new biz and lack of money. Some talk of Gideon. Stack wants to kick Gid's ass for skipping out on Em. Tells Em she's out of Gid's league.
Morgan kitchen, aka Campaign Central. Daisy is flirting with Jonathan while she and Willa are stuffing envelopes. Ben is on his way to work. Tries to arrange a dinner with his wife, but her schedule is booked. Ben is not happy that he has to schedule an appointment to spend time with Charlotte.
Max comes home with Nona in tow. The family is very intrigued (Mom and Dad being much more subtle than Daisy in this). Max introduces Nona, then says, "We're gonna be in the dark room."
"Nice to meet you all," says Nona as she follows Max. Knowing smirks all around from the fam (not unlike my own). Daisy even mocks the "dark room" line.
In the dark room (for those of you who don't know about developing your own photography, the scene is lit with red light as the pics finish developing in the third tray. Not that you need to know that. You just need to know that the lighting is red). There's quite a bit of get-to-know-you flirting and innuendo. Nona designs yoga wear but hates yoga. She sees a strip of pics of Maggie and asks about it. Max says it's his ex. Nona says she's all for rebound relationships; it's like hitting the reset button.
Whit takes Maggie home to her apartment after their day out. He had the place filled with roses. (I want to know how he got them all in to her apartment. Does he have a master key to the building or something?) Maggie says it's sweet, but she isn't impressed. She reminds him that he had her place the same order many times for various women. When? When she was his assistant. They agree to dinner at his hotel. He wants to order room service; she insists on the restaurant. She says she's going to be cautious; she's not dated a player before.
Charlotte and Jonathan enter Campaign Kitchen arguing about the feasibility of leaving an at-risk-youth community center in her budget. She is for it, while he is against it. Daisy sides with Jonathan. Charlotte is very passionate about her position on the matter, very forceful. After she leaves, Jonathan expresses his admiration. After he leaves, Daisy is aghast and informs Willa, "Jonathan has the hots for my mom!"
Back in the dark room, Nona asks Max, "Can I be blunt?"
Max: Would you listen if I said no?
Nona: No.
And she plants a passionate kiss on him. Max tells her it's complicated right now. Nona says they just talked about it, and kisses him again. "Hit the reset button, Max." And another lingering, passionate kiss.
(I can't rightly describe this scene, but I will tell you that even though Max doesn't initiate these kisses, he's certainly engaged in them. I shall pause a moment whilst you all fan yourselves. But it will get better.)
Next day. Emily walks past Max's room as he's finishing getting dressed, tying his shoes. "Yo," she says as she stops to check on him. "Hey, Mouse," he replies. I love that his nickname for her is "Mouse."
"Heard you had a bird over here," she says. (Yes, she used the term "bird." At which point I wondered when we'd acquired British writers and/or travel for the characters.)
"I won't deny it," Max says with a smile.
Em asks about her, and Max says, "She's crazy," as he moves across the room to put on his belt. I noticed that I really liked the sweater he's wearing in this scene. Not something I'd usually like, but on him, for this character, yeah, I like. Not sure how to describe it, though. It looks thin or light or medium weight, dark, and almost a cross between a crew neck and a boat neck, but . . . maybe that's why it caught my eye. It's not a style I often see. Anyway, I won't wax too geeky on the wardrobe here.
She tells him that's good for him as she leans into the room with her shoulder on the door frame. Then she pauses. "Not looney bin crazy," she hopes.
No, he says. Wild. Fun. (Note his smile as he says this.)
"That's good for you," says Em. "Have you . . . ?" as she bounces her eyebrows.
No, he says. Not yet. (This would be the bashful smile. Not bashful as in embarrassed, and not "shy," but the kind of "shy" you become when your sibling starts wink-wink-nudge-nudging you about a new flame. And I love the way he rubs his eye when he's being all "shy." It's cute.)
Em asks if he's gonna see her again. Max isn't sure. Em reminds him that he's single now, and he doesn't owe Maggie anything.
Charlotte and Jonathan are out to lunch, and Daisy and Willa are at a different table. Daisy is freaking out watching Mom and Jon together. Willa quotes some stats about grieving parents ending up in divorce. Daisy is even more freaked.
Nona has called Max, and he picks her up on his motorcycle. (May I say that Max in his brown leather jacket and on his motorcycle are two of the delightful things about this ep? Also, he wears a black helmet that is not the full headgear, but the smaller one with the chin strap. You might say it looks like a soldier's helmet. You know the style I mean? Anyway . . . ) They go to an accident scene to take pictures. She heard about it on a police scanner. It's a single car accident, with a car upside down against a tree, and someone being treated in an ambulance. It's not gory or anything, and there are cops there. Max snaps his pics.
Max goes back to the photog. It appears Photog has a studio/loft in a warehouse. Photog is very impressed with Max's pics. "You took these just since our last meeting?" Max nods. Photog is especially impressed with the one of the smiling Williams. "He almost looks like a kid," Photog says.
Stack and Em are trying a new dish that took Stack 2 hours to prepare for potential clients. Em accidentally bumps the tray and sends it all over the floor. Stack takes issue with Em's new clumsiness, says she's been a butterfingers ever since Gid left. They argue, then Stack insists they get out of the kitchen. Em points out that they have work to do, and besides, they have no money. Stack suggests a drive. Downhill. Saves gas. Em asks if he likes pool.
In the freight elevator of the Photog's loft, Max tells Nona that he got the job. She jumps him, arm around his neck, legs around his waist. One thing leads to another, and they get into it, stripping each other (yes, she starts to remove Max's nifty sweater) and . . . you can fill in the rest.
VOJ tells us that Maggie always listens for the sound of Max's bike. Mabye this will be the last time.
Maggie hears bike and runs to window. Sees Max handing Nona a silver helmet as she climbs onto the back of his bike. He sees her in the window, offers her a smile, and waves. Then they pull away.
Whit wants to take Maggie to Barcelona.
Max and Nona arrive at her apartment. He's a little hesitant, and she asks what happened between the elevator and now. Nothing, he says, he's just in the mood for a beer. That's more like it, says she as she goes to get him one.
While she's in the other room, a man comes into the apartment. Extreme surprise on both their parts. Man asks Max, "Who are you?"
"I'm Max. A friend of Nona's. Who are you?"
"Remmie. Nona's fiance."
VOJ says you'd think the departed would see that coming. Sorry, Max.
Nona wasn't expecting Remmie back for another week. Max makes to leave, but Remmie has him by the collar and up against the wall. Nona says she didn't tell Max about Remmie. Max assures Remmie that if he'd known Nona and Remmie were together, nothing would have happened. Remmie tells Max to get out. Max leaves, looking hurt and betrayed.
Campaign Kitchen. Daisy is horrified when Jonathan mentions an event he and Charlotte are to attend in Napa. Ben is in the other room (it's an open floor plan, so the TV area is part of the same room as the kitchen) watching TV. Daisy observes very pointedly that Dad would be going, too. Ben asks if Charlotte even told him about this trip. She's sure she did. (I am not so much. Charlotte is starting to seem very earnest and honest, but somewhat overly focussed on the campaign to the point of making her flighty about everything else.)
Max stops by the art gallery since he's now working next door. Maggie is painting the walls in preparation for a new exhibit. Maggie comments that Max now has two friends in the neighborhood, referring to Nona. Max tells her that no, he doesn't have a new girlfriend. It didn't work out. They tease each other about painting, and Max ends up with a roller in his hand. She scolds him for the splatter he'll get on her clothes; she has to wear them to meet clients (to which I say she can't be all that bright if she's trying to do serious painting in her work clothes, but it gives us a chance to watch Max take off one of his layers of shirts). Max takes off his henley and gives it to Mag to put on, leaving him in his t-shirt. Why ruin her clothes when they can ruin both of his shirts. He helps her into the shirt, very sillily (a word that is not flagged by spell check, so it must be real) and flirtily (which does get flagged. But I'm making it a word here. I suppose the appropriate word would be "flirtatiously," but I like "flirtily" better here). In walks Whit while they're laughing and giggling. He looks perturbed; he knows Max is the competition (though he's always been quite civil and accommodating). He goes to make some phone calls.
Later, Whit and Mag are talking. Mag assures Whit that what he saw was nothing. He assures her that he understands that she and Max still are friends, and that's good. They talk about the trip to Barcelona. Maggie is hesitant. It's complicated. She and Max have a history. Whit says Barcelona isn't going anywhere. He'll be there for her, whether it's to pick up the pieces or to dance at her wedding. She laughs and says she doesn't see that happening. He says he'll be patient.
Max gets home to find Daisy sitting on the stairway blocking his way. She teases him about "Don't think we don't know what's going on."
"What's going on?"
She teases him about "what's upstairs."
Nona is in Max's room waiting for him, looking at the photography displayed on his walls. Daisy let her in. She apologizes for not telling him about Remmie. But she's broken off her engagement with Remmie so she can be free for Max. To which Max and I both go WT?????
Daisy finds her dad watching TV and says they have to talk. About Jonathan. She assures Dad that she is so over Jon. She tells him her suspicions about Jonathan pursuing Mom. Dad laughs it off, assures Daisy that nothing is going to happen, that she should understand about crushes. Daisy just wants them (Mom and Dad) to be okay. Dad assures her they are. Big hug.
Dad finds Jonathan in the campaign kitchen and says he'd like to have a word with Jon.
In Max's room, Max is talking sense to Nona. He didn't tell her to break up with Remmie. They (Max and Nona) only met a week ago. It's not love. Nona asks didn't he feel anything? He says sure, he felt attraction, but not love. This isn't love. He knows what love feels like, and this isn't it. He's her reset guy. She protests, but he stands firm. She leaves.
(At this point, I started watching the clock as much as the show, so I know my descriptions of the following Em/Stack scene got shortchanged.)
Em and Stack at new bar. They're having fun until the bartender calls over to Em that he has info on the guy she's been asking about. Stack is very upset to learn that Em has been having him drive her (since he has a car and she doesn't) to these bars so she could check up on Gideon. She says it doesn't matter, that his college friends and even her dad can't find where he is. Stack leaves, feeling used, with Em following. They argue about whether or not Gid is really her boyfriend, a con man who almost takes her money, then disappears without a trace. He tells her to take a cab, but a few minutes later, relents. She says she'll take a cab.
Nona visits Max at work. They have a heart to heart. She says she was terrified when Remmie proposed. Max says that's probably to be expected. She tells him that she needs to get her life together.
Jon and Charlotte are on their way to an event. As they enter the foyer, he reminds her that she'll be speaking to a Teamsters union. Then Jon opens sliding doors to reveal a candle lit dinner for two, and Ben waiting for her. Ben says something about making her schedule work to fit in such things. Jonathan leaves them, looking somewhat regretful.
On the sidewalk outside Max's work, he and Nona say goodbye. She asks if the thought crossed his mind when they were in the elevator. Stopping between floors, he asks. Yes, the thought did cross his mind.
She thanks him for being there when she fell. He thanks her for helping him get his job. They kiss goodbye. Nona leaves.
Maggie is standing outside her studio and sees them. Max explains that it was goodbye. Maggie says they don't owe each other anything. VOJ tells us that it wasn't so much that he wanted Max to be happy. It was that he didn't want Max with Maggie. Now they're all in the same boat (none of them can be with whom they want to be with).
Whit pulls up in a town car/limo, and Maggie gets in.
>>>
Whew! I hope you all get the picture of what all went on. My fingers are about to fall off. Only two more eps. I'm thinking we'll be left in a pretty bad spot.
Dramatis Personae
Ben/Dad
Charlotte/Mom
Max
Emily
Daisy
Stack
Jonathan
Willa - Daisy's friend with whom she got in trouble pulling the fire alarm
Maggie
Whit Garnier (Gar-nee-YAY) - Maggie's boss
VOJ - Voice of Jake - narrator of story and possible manipulator of events
First, the previouslies, including the pertinent Jensen stuff:
- Jake tells us that Maggie is still his
- Maggie stands Max up at the movie theater (will detail this in transcript-y recap of "Dead Serious," but he showed up at the movie theater as pre-arranged, and stood outside waiting for her. She never showed.)
- Whit Garnier puts the moves on Maggie
- Max tells Maggie, "It's good you're seeing someone. Good for us both."
Open on VOJ telling us that he loves to see Maggie happy. Mag and Whit are strolling down the sidewalk, stop to listen to a street musician. Jake just wishes that Maggie weren't happy because of Whit. He hates not being able to touch her.
Mag and Whit bump into Max. Whit excuses himself while Mag and Max talk. Max has just interviewed with the photog next door to Mag's gallery. Interview was with an AP photographer. Since the guy is a photojournalist, and photojournalism is different than what Max usually does, Max is on his way to take pics of a local basketball practice/game. Would Mag be okay with Max working next door? Mag says it would be nice to have a friend in the neighborhood.
VOJ tells us that he used to tease Max about his photography, that it was just a way for Max to meet girls, like he needed help with that. Jake wants Max to be happy, but he wants him to be happy with someone other than Maggie. Someone like . . .
A blonde chick is also taking pics at the game. Ooh, something she and Max would have in common, says Jake. Jake describes her as he's observing her: pretty, smart, aggressive, a little clutzy in a cute way (as she trips over a bag) . . . if only Jake could set the two of them up . . .
Blondie runs into Max. Jake says something about being able to control events.
Blondie's name is Nona. She and Max make conversation about what brings her here, the player they're both photographing, etc. Conversation borders on flirting, and you can tell that Max is interested. (The smile, ladies, it is wonderful.) Between snapping pictures, Max mentions that the player, Williams, never smiles. He always looks mad. Nona calls to Williams at the foul line and asks him to smile. He scowls back at her.
As the players leave the court, Max wants one more shot, and misses it. Nona accuses him of giving up too easily, tells him to get his camera ready, calls to Williams, and flashes the kid. Williams is obviously surprised, and grins. Max gets his pictures (of Williams, not Nona). After the players have hit the locker room:
Max: You can't flash teenage boys.
Nona: He didn't seem to mind.
Max: I'm sure he didn't mind. You can't flash teenage boys.
Nona: I think I just did.
Max: Well, fine. You can share them with whoever you want.
Nona: Okay, then. Thanks for the advice.
Max (indicating film): I'm gonna go develop these. You want to come along?
Nona: Let's go.
Emily and Stack are in the kitchen of their new catering facility. Banter about the new biz and lack of money. Some talk of Gideon. Stack wants to kick Gid's ass for skipping out on Em. Tells Em she's out of Gid's league.
Morgan kitchen, aka Campaign Central. Daisy is flirting with Jonathan while she and Willa are stuffing envelopes. Ben is on his way to work. Tries to arrange a dinner with his wife, but her schedule is booked. Ben is not happy that he has to schedule an appointment to spend time with Charlotte.
Max comes home with Nona in tow. The family is very intrigued (Mom and Dad being much more subtle than Daisy in this). Max introduces Nona, then says, "We're gonna be in the dark room."
"Nice to meet you all," says Nona as she follows Max. Knowing smirks all around from the fam (not unlike my own). Daisy even mocks the "dark room" line.
In the dark room (for those of you who don't know about developing your own photography, the scene is lit with red light as the pics finish developing in the third tray. Not that you need to know that. You just need to know that the lighting is red). There's quite a bit of get-to-know-you flirting and innuendo. Nona designs yoga wear but hates yoga. She sees a strip of pics of Maggie and asks about it. Max says it's his ex. Nona says she's all for rebound relationships; it's like hitting the reset button.
Whit takes Maggie home to her apartment after their day out. He had the place filled with roses. (I want to know how he got them all in to her apartment. Does he have a master key to the building or something?) Maggie says it's sweet, but she isn't impressed. She reminds him that he had her place the same order many times for various women. When? When she was his assistant. They agree to dinner at his hotel. He wants to order room service; she insists on the restaurant. She says she's going to be cautious; she's not dated a player before.
Charlotte and Jonathan enter Campaign Kitchen arguing about the feasibility of leaving an at-risk-youth community center in her budget. She is for it, while he is against it. Daisy sides with Jonathan. Charlotte is very passionate about her position on the matter, very forceful. After she leaves, Jonathan expresses his admiration. After he leaves, Daisy is aghast and informs Willa, "Jonathan has the hots for my mom!"
Back in the dark room, Nona asks Max, "Can I be blunt?"
Max: Would you listen if I said no?
Nona: No.
And she plants a passionate kiss on him. Max tells her it's complicated right now. Nona says they just talked about it, and kisses him again. "Hit the reset button, Max." And another lingering, passionate kiss.
(I can't rightly describe this scene, but I will tell you that even though Max doesn't initiate these kisses, he's certainly engaged in them. I shall pause a moment whilst you all fan yourselves. But it will get better.)
Next day. Emily walks past Max's room as he's finishing getting dressed, tying his shoes. "Yo," she says as she stops to check on him. "Hey, Mouse," he replies. I love that his nickname for her is "Mouse."
"Heard you had a bird over here," she says. (Yes, she used the term "bird." At which point I wondered when we'd acquired British writers and/or travel for the characters.)
"I won't deny it," Max says with a smile.
Em asks about her, and Max says, "She's crazy," as he moves across the room to put on his belt. I noticed that I really liked the sweater he's wearing in this scene. Not something I'd usually like, but on him, for this character, yeah, I like. Not sure how to describe it, though. It looks thin or light or medium weight, dark, and almost a cross between a crew neck and a boat neck, but . . . maybe that's why it caught my eye. It's not a style I often see. Anyway, I won't wax too geeky on the wardrobe here.
She tells him that's good for him as she leans into the room with her shoulder on the door frame. Then she pauses. "Not looney bin crazy," she hopes.
No, he says. Wild. Fun. (Note his smile as he says this.)
"That's good for you," says Em. "Have you . . . ?" as she bounces her eyebrows.
No, he says. Not yet. (This would be the bashful smile. Not bashful as in embarrassed, and not "shy," but the kind of "shy" you become when your sibling starts wink-wink-nudge-nudging you about a new flame. And I love the way he rubs his eye when he's being all "shy." It's cute.)
Em asks if he's gonna see her again. Max isn't sure. Em reminds him that he's single now, and he doesn't owe Maggie anything.
Charlotte and Jonathan are out to lunch, and Daisy and Willa are at a different table. Daisy is freaking out watching Mom and Jon together. Willa quotes some stats about grieving parents ending up in divorce. Daisy is even more freaked.
Nona has called Max, and he picks her up on his motorcycle. (May I say that Max in his brown leather jacket and on his motorcycle are two of the delightful things about this ep? Also, he wears a black helmet that is not the full headgear, but the smaller one with the chin strap. You might say it looks like a soldier's helmet. You know the style I mean? Anyway . . . ) They go to an accident scene to take pictures. She heard about it on a police scanner. It's a single car accident, with a car upside down against a tree, and someone being treated in an ambulance. It's not gory or anything, and there are cops there. Max snaps his pics.
Max goes back to the photog. It appears Photog has a studio/loft in a warehouse. Photog is very impressed with Max's pics. "You took these just since our last meeting?" Max nods. Photog is especially impressed with the one of the smiling Williams. "He almost looks like a kid," Photog says.
Stack and Em are trying a new dish that took Stack 2 hours to prepare for potential clients. Em accidentally bumps the tray and sends it all over the floor. Stack takes issue with Em's new clumsiness, says she's been a butterfingers ever since Gid left. They argue, then Stack insists they get out of the kitchen. Em points out that they have work to do, and besides, they have no money. Stack suggests a drive. Downhill. Saves gas. Em asks if he likes pool.
In the freight elevator of the Photog's loft, Max tells Nona that he got the job. She jumps him, arm around his neck, legs around his waist. One thing leads to another, and they get into it, stripping each other (yes, she starts to remove Max's nifty sweater) and . . . you can fill in the rest.
VOJ tells us that Maggie always listens for the sound of Max's bike. Mabye this will be the last time.
Maggie hears bike and runs to window. Sees Max handing Nona a silver helmet as she climbs onto the back of his bike. He sees her in the window, offers her a smile, and waves. Then they pull away.
Whit wants to take Maggie to Barcelona.
Max and Nona arrive at her apartment. He's a little hesitant, and she asks what happened between the elevator and now. Nothing, he says, he's just in the mood for a beer. That's more like it, says she as she goes to get him one.
While she's in the other room, a man comes into the apartment. Extreme surprise on both their parts. Man asks Max, "Who are you?"
"I'm Max. A friend of Nona's. Who are you?"
"Remmie. Nona's fiance."
VOJ says you'd think the departed would see that coming. Sorry, Max.
Nona wasn't expecting Remmie back for another week. Max makes to leave, but Remmie has him by the collar and up against the wall. Nona says she didn't tell Max about Remmie. Max assures Remmie that if he'd known Nona and Remmie were together, nothing would have happened. Remmie tells Max to get out. Max leaves, looking hurt and betrayed.
Campaign Kitchen. Daisy is horrified when Jonathan mentions an event he and Charlotte are to attend in Napa. Ben is in the other room (it's an open floor plan, so the TV area is part of the same room as the kitchen) watching TV. Daisy observes very pointedly that Dad would be going, too. Ben asks if Charlotte even told him about this trip. She's sure she did. (I am not so much. Charlotte is starting to seem very earnest and honest, but somewhat overly focussed on the campaign to the point of making her flighty about everything else.)
Max stops by the art gallery since he's now working next door. Maggie is painting the walls in preparation for a new exhibit. Maggie comments that Max now has two friends in the neighborhood, referring to Nona. Max tells her that no, he doesn't have a new girlfriend. It didn't work out. They tease each other about painting, and Max ends up with a roller in his hand. She scolds him for the splatter he'll get on her clothes; she has to wear them to meet clients (to which I say she can't be all that bright if she's trying to do serious painting in her work clothes, but it gives us a chance to watch Max take off one of his layers of shirts). Max takes off his henley and gives it to Mag to put on, leaving him in his t-shirt. Why ruin her clothes when they can ruin both of his shirts. He helps her into the shirt, very sillily (a word that is not flagged by spell check, so it must be real) and flirtily (which does get flagged. But I'm making it a word here. I suppose the appropriate word would be "flirtatiously," but I like "flirtily" better here). In walks Whit while they're laughing and giggling. He looks perturbed; he knows Max is the competition (though he's always been quite civil and accommodating). He goes to make some phone calls.
Later, Whit and Mag are talking. Mag assures Whit that what he saw was nothing. He assures her that he understands that she and Max still are friends, and that's good. They talk about the trip to Barcelona. Maggie is hesitant. It's complicated. She and Max have a history. Whit says Barcelona isn't going anywhere. He'll be there for her, whether it's to pick up the pieces or to dance at her wedding. She laughs and says she doesn't see that happening. He says he'll be patient.
Max gets home to find Daisy sitting on the stairway blocking his way. She teases him about "Don't think we don't know what's going on."
"What's going on?"
She teases him about "what's upstairs."
Nona is in Max's room waiting for him, looking at the photography displayed on his walls. Daisy let her in. She apologizes for not telling him about Remmie. But she's broken off her engagement with Remmie so she can be free for Max. To which Max and I both go WT?????
Daisy finds her dad watching TV and says they have to talk. About Jonathan. She assures Dad that she is so over Jon. She tells him her suspicions about Jonathan pursuing Mom. Dad laughs it off, assures Daisy that nothing is going to happen, that she should understand about crushes. Daisy just wants them (Mom and Dad) to be okay. Dad assures her they are. Big hug.
Dad finds Jonathan in the campaign kitchen and says he'd like to have a word with Jon.
In Max's room, Max is talking sense to Nona. He didn't tell her to break up with Remmie. They (Max and Nona) only met a week ago. It's not love. Nona asks didn't he feel anything? He says sure, he felt attraction, but not love. This isn't love. He knows what love feels like, and this isn't it. He's her reset guy. She protests, but he stands firm. She leaves.
(At this point, I started watching the clock as much as the show, so I know my descriptions of the following Em/Stack scene got shortchanged.)
Em and Stack at new bar. They're having fun until the bartender calls over to Em that he has info on the guy she's been asking about. Stack is very upset to learn that Em has been having him drive her (since he has a car and she doesn't) to these bars so she could check up on Gideon. She says it doesn't matter, that his college friends and even her dad can't find where he is. Stack leaves, feeling used, with Em following. They argue about whether or not Gid is really her boyfriend, a con man who almost takes her money, then disappears without a trace. He tells her to take a cab, but a few minutes later, relents. She says she'll take a cab.
Nona visits Max at work. They have a heart to heart. She says she was terrified when Remmie proposed. Max says that's probably to be expected. She tells him that she needs to get her life together.
Jon and Charlotte are on their way to an event. As they enter the foyer, he reminds her that she'll be speaking to a Teamsters union. Then Jon opens sliding doors to reveal a candle lit dinner for two, and Ben waiting for her. Ben says something about making her schedule work to fit in such things. Jonathan leaves them, looking somewhat regretful.
On the sidewalk outside Max's work, he and Nona say goodbye. She asks if the thought crossed his mind when they were in the elevator. Stopping between floors, he asks. Yes, the thought did cross his mind.
She thanks him for being there when she fell. He thanks her for helping him get his job. They kiss goodbye. Nona leaves.
Maggie is standing outside her studio and sees them. Max explains that it was goodbye. Maggie says they don't owe each other anything. VOJ tells us that it wasn't so much that he wanted Max to be happy. It was that he didn't want Max with Maggie. Now they're all in the same boat (none of them can be with whom they want to be with).
Whit pulls up in a town car/limo, and Maggie gets in.
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Whew! I hope you all get the picture of what all went on. My fingers are about to fall off. Only two more eps. I'm thinking we'll be left in a pretty bad spot.