The next morning, she marches over to Margene's. The other girl's up early -- and dressed -- and already folding laundry. Margene greets her with a good morning; Nicki says, "Good morning," quite cheerily, then does a total 180 and barks, "Did you and Bill have relations before he brought you home to us to be a wife?" Margene looks up and protests, "No, Nicki! And I think that is completely none of your business." Oh, Margene. Don't play poker. Nicki stalks over and commands, "Look me in the eyes, Margene." Margene keeps folding laundry and mutters, "I'm not going to do the look-me-in-the-eyes thing." Nicki says again, "Look me in the eye." Margene goggles her defiantly. Nicki says, "I thought as much. How could you?" As she walks off, Margene stutter-shouts, "No! Nicki! You think you know everything? You look me in the eye for once! You look me in the eye!" Then Margene points at the bridge of her nose and nearly goes cross-eyed in the process. Nicki stalks off, shaking her head, as Margene shouts, "Look me in the eye! I'm looking at you with my eyes!" That poor kid. I may have to start wearing a "FREE MARGENE!" shirt when I recap this show.
Then Pam visits. She's brought over some design books. This is so sweet! I think one of the more interesting things to come out of this show so far is its examination of how people make and stay friends. Margene is genuinely touched. Pam tells her, "Make sure you look at that fung shoo-ey one. I know it seems crazy, but it works." Margene then remembers her manners and invites Pam in, hastily slamming a door between the front of the house and the kitchen so Pam doesn't see the shared backyards.
Pam comes in and looks around the barren little house, gushing, "This is great! You can do a lot with this place." She's temporarily thrown by a pants-less toddler wandering around, and Margene says, "Aaron! I'm sorry. He just discovered his penis." "Don't they all," Pam replies. She looks over at the beaming baby Lester and asks, "What a precious angel. Where's Daddy?" Margene still has this huge grin on her face, so it's really hilarious when she brightly says, "Gone!" Pam is taken aback, and Margene rushes ahead, saying, "I know we just met, but I really like you. Um. Do you like orange juice?" And thus, aided by the socializing powers of citrus, a new friendship is born.
Ben is at seminary, introducing himself. The seminary instructor then welcomes them all with "Congratulations. You've chosen the right." Ben looks reassured, and Jason's got a smug look on his face like, "From now, mister, you'll only get erections when I say you will!"









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