Episode 01.06 - Running to Stand Still

Mary Alice begins speaking as the camera pans over to Gabrielle。

Previously on "desperate housewives"

Zach: I know why my mom killed herself.

Mary Alice Voiceover: Secrets were revealed.

Gabrielle: This is getting really weird. I think we should go to the police.

Mary Alice Voiceover: Relationships got complicated.

Gabrielle :Mama Solis. What are you doing here?

Mama Solis：So you think she's cheating on you?

Carlos：I think so.

Mama Solis：I'll take care of it.

Rex: We got a call --something about a break-in.

Policeman: I thought I'd seen a lot on the job, but this is something else.

Mary Alice Voiceover: And the mystery...

Bree: Zach, why did you do this?

Zach: I don't know.

Mary Alice Voiceover: Deepened.

Rex: Zach.

Mary Alice Voiceover :Suburbia is a battleground, an arena for all forms of domestic combat. Husbands clash with wives, parents cross swords with children, but the bloodiest battles often involve women and their mothers-in-law.

[Carlos's house]

(Inside the house, where the two of them and Mama Solis eat breakfast.)

Mary Alice Voiceover: The war for control of Carlos began the night he proposed, and Gabrielle had been losing ground to Juanita ever since. From the prenuptial agreement which she reluctantly signed, to the selection of wedding music she despised, the color of the house paint she hadn't wanted ... Gabrielle had suffered one defeat after another. And now that Juanita suspected her daughter-in-law of having an affair, it had become increasingly apparent that in this war...

Yoa Lin: "Mrs. Solis, I'll be at the market."

Mary Alice Voiceover:"...no prisoners would be taken. "

Gabrielle: "Thank you, Yoa Lin."

Mama Solis: "I don't see why you have her."

Gabrielle: "It's a big house. I need help."

Mama Solis: "It's only called help when you do some of the work yourself."

Gabrielle: "I supervise."

Mama Solis: "You pay her $300 a week. That's $15,000 a year. Carlos, you always say how you're not putting away enough for retirement !"

Carlos: "You know, baby, it would be a good idea if we cut back on expenses ."

Gabrielle: "You expect me to take care of this place all by myself?"

Carlos: "Other women manage..."

(He gets up from the table and Gabrielle looks at Mama Solis, who smiles triumphantly. )

[Gabrielle's Bedroom]

(Carlos lies on the bed, reading, when Gabrielle glides into the room in a revealing outfit of bra and underwear. She clears her throat, crawls on the bed, and straddles Carlos. She kisses him, and then sighs.)

Carlos: "Mmmm... that's nice.."

Gabrielle: "You like that?"

Carlos: "Oh yeah."

Gabrielle: "God, I'm gonna miss this, Carlos."

Carlos: "What do you mean?"

Gabrielle: "Well, since, I'm gonna have to be doing the cooking, and the cleaning, and all the shopping, like the other wives..."

Carlos: "Mmm hmm..."

Gabrielle: "...I'm going to be exhausted at night--just like all the other wives ... till I build up my stamina , of course, but that might take a couple years..."

(She kisses Carlos down his body as he frowns.)

(The Next Morning)

Mary Alice Voiceover: "Sadly for Juanita, she had ignored the first rule of war..."

(Carlos comes down the stairs.)

Mama Solis: "Good morning, Carlos."

Carlos (emphatically): "The maid stays ."

(He leaves.)

Mary Alice Voiceover: "Never underestimate your enemy!"

(Mama Solis looks up to the staircase where Gabrielle stands, triumphant.)

[Outside of Paul Young's House; Yard Sale]

Mary Alice Voiceover: "Of the many suburban rituals, none is quite so cherished as the neighborhood yard sale. The shoppers come to sift through the discarded belongings of someone they don't really know, in hopes of finding bargains they don't really need, each so determined to save a few pennies, they often miss hidden treasures..."

(Paul puts things in a box and closes the top, revealing that the box is labeled "Baby Stuff.")

(Susan walks up to him.)

Susan: "Hey, Paul."

Paul: "Hi, Susan."

Susan: "I got to say, I was a little surprised to see Mary Alice's award for sale. She got it for doing charity work, from the Chamber of Commerce."

Paul: "Zach and I are moving. We don't need to carry any more with us than is absolutely necessary."

Susan: "That makes sense. Still, I just want to make sure you didn't want to keep it, for Zach, something to remember his mother by."

Paul: "Zach doesn't need a piece of glass to remember his mother. I'm out of newspaper." (He picks up a yellow/green blanket to wrap the glass.) "Here, let's call it ten bucks for everything."

Susan: "Great. Speaking of Zach, I haven't seen him around lately."

Paul: "He's been a bit depressed. I thought he could use a change of scenery, so I sent him to stay with relatives."

Susan: "Oh, which ones?"

Paul: "You don't know them."

Susan: "So, how'd you get the fat lip? "

Paul: "The usual way. Asking too many questions. "

(Paul walks away and Susan picks up the box and walks over to where Gabrielle is.)

Gabrielle: "Did you find out where Zach is?"

Susan: "No, but I can tell you this much. He's not staying with relatives."

(Carlos and Mama Solis stand off in a corner. Mama Solis looks at a record album while Carlos surveys the crowd.)

Carlos: "It's driving me crazy , mama. It could be any one of these guys she's having the affair with ."

Mama Solis: "Don't worry about it. I'm not letting her out of my sight ."

Carlos: "Now, who the hell is that? And look at the way she's touching him. You think that's the guy she's having the affair with? "

Mama Solis: "Carlos, don't be stupid. A guy she talks to in public isn't someone you're gonna worry about."

Carlos: "So it's someone that she doesn't talk to. What do I have to do? Beat up every guy in town?"

Mama Solis: "Marriage takes work!"

(They walk away, passing by John, who looks after them.)

(Lynette, Bree, and Susan stand talking to each other. Gabrielle joins them soon after.)

Lynette: "I'm not surprised that he's playing it close to the vest. Paul knows we're on to him."

Bree: "Zach said Mary Alice killed herself because of something that he had done, something bad. Is there anyone else who'd know what he was talking about?"

Susan: "No. That's why we have to find him. It's the only way we'll know the truth."

Bree: "It just doesn't make any sense. Zach is such a sweet kid. I can't imagine him doing anything that terrible."

Gabrielle: "Well, he did break into your house. I mean, the kid is obviously troubled in some way. "

(Bree sighs.)

[Silver crest Juvenile Rehabilitation Center]

(Inside, Paul and a doctor stare through the window on the door of Zach's room. He sits on his bed, his head bowed as he eats from a tray of food.)

Dr. Sicher: "Severe depression. Borderline personality disorder. Zach is a deeply troubled young man."

Paul: "I'm aware of that. What are you giving him?"

Dr. Sicher: "Some antidepressants and a mood stabilizer. "

Paul: "Good."

Dr. Sicher: "I'm also recommending extensive psychotherapy , to help him with everything he repressed..."

Paul: "I don't think so."

Dr. Sicher: "Mr. Young, I can't just medicate him indefinitely ."

Paul: "Forget the Freud and stick with the drugs. No new treatments without my permission."

(He walks away.)

[School Gym]

(Lynette is seated with a group of women gathered near a stage.)

Ms. Truesdale: "I think this is going to be a great version of Little Red Riding Hood, and it is your involvement that make the plays here at Barcliffe Academy so special. Thank you." (clapping) "And now, I would like to turn over the next part of our meeting to our parent coordinator, the amazing Maisy Gibbons."

Maisy: "Thank you, Ms. Truesdale. Now, before everyone leaves, we have new copies of the script up here. Tilda and Francis and I went to the rehearsal yesterday, and we were a little troubled by the ending. Killing the wolf. It says the wrong message to our kids. And we believe that animals should only be euthanized as a last resort ."

(Lynette laughs.)

Maisy: "Do you find something amusing?"

Lynette: "I'm sorry, I thought you were kidding."

Maisy: "No."

Lynette: "Oh, okay."

Maisy: "So in our version, the wolf is aggressive because he has a thorn in his paw. And the woodsman will take out the thorn, and send Mr. Wolf on his way."

Lynette: "I'm sorry, aren't we doing Little Red Riding Hood?"

Maisy: "Yes."

Lynette: "So then you are aware that the wolf is a bad guy. He eats Little Red's grandma. If you let him go, he's just going to chow down on another defenseless old lady."

Maisy: "I'm sorry, and you are?"

Lynette: "I'm Lynette Scavo. My twins just joined. They're playing oak trees."

Maisy: "Oh, of course. Lynette. Let's see, you are ... signed up to take tickets the night of the show, is that right?"

Lynette: "Yeah."

Maisy: "Well, with all due respect, let's leave the creative suggestions to the mothers who have assumed the heavy lifting, shall we?"

Lynette: "Sure. Whatever."

[Bree's House]

(Gabrielle and Mama Solis sit at Bree's kitchen table, drinking coffee Bree pours for them.)

Bree: "I must say, I'm jealous of how much time you two spend together. My mother-in-law would never want to hang out with me all day."

Gabrielle: "She sounds nice."

(Danielle walks into the house with John.)

Danielle: "Hey!"

Bree: "Oh, hey there, you two!"

Gabrielle: "Hi, John."

John: "Mrs. Solis."

Gabrielle: "I wasn't aware you two were friends."

John: "Yeah, we go to the same school."

Gabrielle: "Of course you do."

Danielle: "Mom, if you need anything, we'll be upstairs in my room studying."

Bree: "Have fun."

(Danielle and John leave.)

Gabrielle: "Doesn't it make you nervous, a boy alone upstairs with Danielle?"

Bree: "Oh no, I don't worry about John. Both he and Danielle are in the abstinence club."

(Gabrielle chokes and spews out coffee.)

Gabrielle: "The coffee is a little hot."

[Outside Susan's House]

(Susan opens up her mailbox and takes out her mail. When she turns around, she sees Paul getting into his car across the street.)

Mary Alice Voiceover: "Susan was infuriated by Paul's evasive answers. "

(Susan stares at Paul across the street.)

Paul: "Hey!"

(He waves at her.)

Mary Alice Voiceover: "She was convinced he was deliberately hiding Zach, and hiding the truth. She hoped that finding one would lead to the other. To succeed, Susan would have to be evasive herself."

[Mrs. Greenberg's House]

(Susan rings the doorbell of Mrs. Greenberg's house, holding a package of eggs.)

Mrs. Greenberg: "Susan. Long time, no see. "

Susan: "Mrs. Greenberg. Do you remember those two eggs I let you borrow last Christmas?"

(She opens up her carton eggs and motions to the two empty spaces in the container.)

Susan: "I need those back."

Mrs. Greenberg: "Well gosh, honey, I'm fresh out , but if you want, I could run to the store."

Susan: "Oh, forget about it, it's not that important, but since I'm here, do you still have that old hatchback sitting in your garage? Can I borrow it tomorrow?"

Mrs. Greenberg: "You want to borrow my car?"

Susan: "Just for a couple of hours."

Mrs. Greenberg: "Well, I'm not sure. Do you know how to drive a stick? "

Susan: "Yes, I think so. I learned in college. It's like riding a bike, right?"

Mrs. Greenberg: "I'm not sure, dear."

Susan: "It's not big deal. It's just for a couple of hours. I let you borrow my eggs for a whole year."

[Dr. Goldfine's Office]

Dr. Goldfine: "First off, I'm very pleased with the work we've done in our sessions thus far. We're making excellent progress."

Bree: "Thank you, I feel really good about it."

Dr. Goldfine: "But there are a few areas of your marriage we haven't covered yet ."

Bree: "Oh, really. Like what?"

Rex: "Um, I've told Dr. Goldfine in our private sessions that I'm not happy with our sex life."

Dr. Goldfine: "And Rex feels when you two have intercourse , you're not as connected as you could be."

Bree: "Connected?"

Rex: "Well yeah, it's like you're thinking about other things. Is your hair getting messed up? Did you remember to buy the toothpaste? You're just not there."

Dr. Goldfine: "This kind of disconnect is often a symptom of a deeper problem. "

Rex: "So, we were talking, and the idea of a sexual surrogate came up."

Dr. Goldfine: "This is a licensed professional who'd work with you as a couple on solving whatever sexual problems you may be having. I have an excellent referral. "

Bree: "And what would this sexual surrogate person do?"

Rex: "Well, she would coach us."

Bree: "She!"

Dr. Goldfine: "She's very discrete. You'll hardly notice she's there."

Bree: "Oh. So she would be in the room with us, while we make love?"

Rex: "Yes, helping us to achieve maximumsexualpotential. "

Dr. Goldfine: "Do you have any questions?"

Bree: "Just one. How much longer is your midlife crisis going to last, because it is really starting to tick me off!"

(She gets up and walks out.)

[Lynette's House]

(The four women are seated around the dining room table, cards in front of them. Mama Solis is sitting off to the side , knitting.)

Lynette: "All right. I think everyone is down for a nap. We've got no more than an hour. Let's get cracking. Five car draw, nothing wild."

Bree: "So how is it going with Mike, Susan?"

Susan: "It's going, finally. We have our first official date next week. I think he's taking me to see a play or something."

Lynette: "Might I suggest the Barcliffe Academy production of Little Red Riding Hood?"

Susan: "Oh, that's right, the twins-stage debut !"

Gabrielle: "Are they having fun?"

Lynette: "Sure, they get to play oak trees. I'm the one who has to deal with all the drama behind the scenes. "

Bree: "Oh, I take it you've met Maisy Gibbons."

Lynette: "She's a total nightmare. I guess I shouldn't have challenged her."

Bree: "Oh, dear."

Lynette: "Because now no one on the play committee even wants to talk to me."

Bree: "Oh, Maisy does love to rule her little kingdom. "

Susan: "It hasn't really changed since Girl Scouts. Girls smile at you to your face, and then behind your back, they make fun of you because you're the only one not shaving your legs yet."

(Gabrielle gets up and goes to the living room where chips and dip are on a platter. She takes some as the women talk.)

Lynette: "That would have never happened in Boy Scouts. When I worked, mostly with men, I preferred the way they fought. A guy takes his opponent on, face to face, and once he's won, he's top dog. It's primitive, but it's fair ."

Susan: "And a lot less sneaky. "

Gabrielle: "Isn't it sexist of us to generalize like this? "

(Gabrielle goes to the window and peeks outside, seeing John working outside across the street.)

Lynette: "It's science, Gabrielle. Sociologists have documented this stuff. "

Gabrielle: "Well, who am I to argue with sociologists? (pauses) Wow this, uh, this guacamole has got a kick. I'm going to run to the little girls' room. You guys go ahead, I might be a while."

Lynette: "I hate playing three handed poker. Let's take a break."

Mama Solis: "I'll play!"

Bree: "You play poker?"

Mama Solis: "I used to play a little with my grandfather."

Susan: "Pull up a chair ."

Mama Solis: "Oh, I notice you were just playing for chips , huh. My grandfather used to say, it's always more fun to play for money."

Lynette: "Why not? Fifty cents a bet ?"

Mama Solis: "Make it a buck ." She pulls a wad of cash out of her brassiere. "Three raise limit. Twenty dollar buy in."

[Bathroom]

(Gabrielle closes the door to the bathroom and checks her appearance in the mirror. Then she opens the window and peers down. Climbing over the windowsill, she falls outside, landing with a shriek. She looks over the fence to where John is mowing the lawn. She climbs over the fence by stepping on stacked wood, knocking them over. Once over the top of the fence, she falls. John rushes over.)

John: "Mrs. Solis! What are you doing?"

Gabrielle: "Why haven't you returned any of my phone calls? "

John: "I've been busy."

Gabrielle: "Yeah, I've seen who you've been busy with."

John: "Danielle? Come on, I mean, she's just a friend."

Gabrielle: "Well, before you get any friendlier, let me remind you, I can do things to you she can't even pronounce."

John: "Well, a lot of good it does me with your mother-in-law following you around all the time. Look, maybe we should just cool it for awhile. "

Gabrielle: "Oh, no, John, please don't say that. I have everything under control."

(They kiss.)

Gabrielle: "Now give me a boost. "

(He helps her climb back over the fence.)

[Lynette's House]

(Gabrielle walks back into the dining room.)

Gabrielle: "Hey! So what did I miss?"

Mama Solis: "Not much, just a few friendly hands of poker with the girls."

(There is a huge stack of money in front of Mama Solis as she pulls it all towards her. The other women look stunned.)

[Play Rehearsal]

Maisy: I'm sorry I'm late. As I'm sure you have all heard, Celia Bond broke her wrist playing tennis, which means we are now in desperate need of someone to do the costumes. I'm keeping my fingers crossed here. Are there any volunteers?"

Lynette (standing up): "I'll do it."

Maisy: "Really, that's a ... do you know how to sew ?"

Lynette (sits down): "Absolutely."

Maisy: "Well, great, uh, thank you, Lynette!" (clapping)

Lynette (stands up again): "Okay. So, now that I'm going to do some, heavy lifting, I believe I have a right to talk about the changes made to the script?"

(She pauses. Nobody says anything, so she rushes forward to stand next to Maisy and address the group.)

Lynette: "Um, ladies. We all grew up with Little Red Riding Hood, and we survived it, scary stuff and all, so I say, to hell with political correctness , let our kids experience this classic like it was meant to be enjoyed. Let's kill the damn wolf, and just put on the best show we can." (clapping)

Maisy: "Thank you, Lynette, for that impassioned speech, but I believe that ship has sailed. "

Jordana: "No, it hasn't. We still have time to change the ending back."

Ms. Truesdale: "And you know, Maisy, it is just a fairy tale - I don't think it will upset the children."

Maisy: "Well, I think you are wrong."

Lynette: "Well, that's what's so great about being in a democracy. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. Also, everyone has a right to vote. So all in favor of the woodsman going medieval on the big bad wolf's ass..."

(She raises her hand. And slowly, the others follow, except for Maisy, who glares at Lynette.)

[Outside of Paul's House]

(Sitting in her borrowed car, hidden mostly from view, Susan puts on a pair of sunglasses and watches Paul get into his SUV and drive away. Then she follows him - after a lurching start.)

Susan: "Oh!"

(He pulls into a parking lot and gets out. Susan slows down and looks at the sign stating "Silvercrest Juvenile Rehabilitation Center.")

[Restaurant]

(Bree is sitting alone at her table when she notices Dr. Goldfine sit down at another table, also alone, with a book.)

(Bree takes a sip of wine, then gets up and goes to his table.)

Bree: "Dr. Goldfine."

Dr. Goldfine: "Bree."

Bree: "You're dining alone? "

Dr. Goldfine: "Actually, I am."

Bree: "Well, what a coincidence. So am I. It seems a shame for us to eat by ourselves. Shall I, pull up a chair?"

Dr. Goldfine: "Bree, it's nothing personal , but I never socialize with clients."

Bree: "Oh," (she pauses. )"Oh, I get it. I'm so sorry, of course, it's, it's inappropriate. It's just that after what happened yesterday, there's so much I need to say because..." (she pauses.) "I suppose it can wait."

(She walks back over to her table and sits down, taking a sip from her glass of wine. Then they take turns looking at each other. And finally he waves her to come back over and sit across from him. Bree breathes a sigh of relief and gets up to join him.)

[Gabrielle's House]

(Gabrielle is on the phone.)

Gabrielle: "No, Lynette, I'm sorry, Juanita's taking a bath. Well, how much did she win from you? Jeez," (She laughs.) "Yeah, I guess she'll take a check . Okay. All right. Bye."

Carlos: "What was that about?"

Gabrielle: "It turns out your mother is quite the card shark ."

Carlos: "You let her play cards? How long did she play? "

Gabrielle: "Not that long, why?"(Carlos walks away from her.) "Carlos, what is it?"

Carlos: "I never told you this, but my mother had a serious gambling problem."

Gabrielle: "Was this before we were married?"

Carlos: "Yeah. It was bad. She went into debt. She dipped into her savings, started hocking jewelry ..."

Gabrielle: "Honey, it was only a small neighborhood game."

Carlos: "But it doesn't take much for her to fall off the wagon. I know she seems like a very strong woman, but..."

Gabrielle: "She has a major weakness. Honey, oh,"( she embraces him.) "It's okay. You were right to tell me this."

(She smiles.)

[Restaurant]