Barb finally raises her head, and she looks at Nicki. Her expression is so miserable, it's like they made her sit through three back-to-back showings of Waterworld or something. Barb says, "I got what I deserved." Nicki is nearly in tears as she whispers, "Oh, boss lady..." And, y'all, HOW MUCH BETTER is that one exchange than some wordy, awkward thing where Barb would have to be like, "Nicki, you were right. I lied and I paid the consequences, and I should have laid low" and Nicki would have to be like, "Barb, I could gloat, but I really do care so I hurt because you hurt." See what I mean? LOVE IT. Nicki and Barb should take Margene on a road trip to Portland, and subsidize her new life there, and then they should set up house together and live in a non-lesbian, yet extremely emotionally complicated fashion.

Nicki's one expression of empathy and love absolutely undoes Barb. She begins sobbing. It's not the ladylike soap opera sobbing; it's deep, gut-wrenching, she-may-pull-a-muscle sobbing. Nicki can only watch helplessly, tears running down her own face. Margene leans into Barb.

Bill finally shows up on the scene, and he looks in from the doorway. Barb is still crying. Margene has wrapped her arms around Barb and is burying her head in her shoulder, trying to rock her like a baby. Nicki is watching. They all notice Bill there at once. We get the Bill's-eye view: three miserable women looking back at him.

We flash over to Alby, who's sleeping in a hospital bed. Roman watches him from the doorway, his expression hooded.

And now, in the only place that's his -- the yard -- Bill is left staring at the half-moon, thinking, "Wait...why is that the only moon in this episode? Why wasn’t I pantsless at least once?” And on that sign indicating that truly, all is not going according to plan in Henricksons’ homes plus, we end the season. As the credits roll, it becomes evident someone has a sense of humor; the closing song is "Takin' a Chance on Love."

And that’s it. My thanks to all of you who read the recaps, everyone who’s participated in the forums and, as always, to the editors here – Joe R and Sars do some heavy lifting behind the scenes. Enjoy the rest of 2006, and I’ll see you next year.