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"Get Out of My Life" is the 171st episode of Desperate Housewives.
Summary
Susan discovers the identity of the father of Julie's baby, and Orson makes it his duty to nurse Bree back to health. When Mrs. McCluskey throws Roy out of the house, Gabrielle takes him in and is reluctant to help get them back together when he proves to be an invaluable disciplinarian to her kids. Meanwhile, after getting used to her alone time, Lynette is furious when Porter and Preston are evicted from their apartment and try to move back home, and Mike informs Renee of Ben's dire circumstances with a loan shark.
Plot
Previously on Desperate Housewives
| Ben took money from a loan shark. Julie had more than one surprise for Susan. Bree rejected her friends. But it was Orson who came to her rescue.
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| Mary Alice Young | ||
- Ben takes money from a loan shark. The loan shark understands that Ben's girlfriend, Renee Perry, is extremely wealthy. ("Is This What You Call Love?")
- Julie Mayer returns to Wisteria Lane...pregnant. She announces that she won't be keeping the baby, and will instead be giving it up for adoption. ("Is This What You Call Love?")
- Bree lashes out at Susan, Lynette and Gaby. She is subsequently violently attacked outside a bar, but her ex-husband, Orson Hodge, comes to her rescue. ("Is This What You Call Love?")
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| Orson Hodge had always known one thing: Bree Van de Kamp was the perfect woman for him.
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Orson Hodge is boiling a kettle of water on the stove in Bree's kitchen. He stares at his ex-wife, who is sitting at the dining table on the other side of the room. She has her hand wrapped in an iced-towel, after being injured by Dylan outside the bar, as previously seen.
Several flashbacks are shown;
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| When he was sick, she nursed him back to health.
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Orson, who is clearly ill, is seen lying in bed. Bree sits beside him. She dips a small towel into some water and gently places it on her husband's head to help eliminate his fever.
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| When he was arrested, she promised to wait for him.
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Orson's hands are handcuffed behind his back by a police-officer. Bree stands beside him, a tissue in hand, quietly sobbing and wiping her tears away. She plants a tender kiss on his lips, as he is taken away.
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| And when he suffered a terrible injury, she did everything he couldn't.
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Lastly, Orson is seen, now wheel-chair bound, looking somber and depressed. His wife, like before, is seen beside him. She picks up a shoe, lifts up her husband's leg, and places it on his foot.
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| So now that Bree was suffering, Orson intended to care for her.
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Orson makes his way over to Bree, a cup of tea resting on a tray in his lap. He wheels himself to the dining table and places the tea in front of Bree, who immediately thanks him. Orson tells Bree that she is completely safe now, as he is here to protect her. "You really are a good friend," Bree replies, "Perhaps my only one." Orson reassures Bree that she still has Lynette, Gabrielle and Susan, and Bree reluctantly admits that she is now estranged from her friends because of something that happened a couple of months ago.
Bree tells Orson about the night of the dinner party...and the murder she covered up.
Orson is intrigued but Bree tells him that she doesn't want to talk about it. "After everything we've been through, I promise you can trust me," Orson says calmly. Bree is still hesitant about telling Orson, especially seeing as he is the only one who still believes in her. After some persuasion, Bree gives in and begins to spill the beans on the murder of Gaby's step-father, Alejandro Perez.
Once the story has been told, Orson sits still and refuses to speak. Bree tells him that she understands his shock and she pleads him to talk to her. Orson is indeed shocked, not just because of Carlos's crime, but at how quickly Lynette, Gabrielle and Susan abandoned Bree. Bree is extremely surprised that Orson is angry at the gals and that he still believes in her regardless of what she covered up.
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| Yes, Orson Hodge knew that Bree was the perfect woman for him. And now that he had her back...
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"I believe in you more than ever," Orson says sternly. He places his hand over his ex-wife's and squeezes tight.
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| ...He had no intention of letting her go.
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| Mary Alice Young | ||
Act I
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| Lynette Scavo had discovered the silver lining of separation; shared custody. For three glorious days a week, she had no child demanding her attention. No one to set an example for. And plenty of time to exercise.
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As Mary Alice's opening narration plays, we are shown scenes of Lynette seemingly enjoying the positive sides of being separated.
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| But Lynette forgot that when it comes to being a mother, you can run. But you can never hide.
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| Mary Alice Young | ||
Lynette refuses to let Porter and Preston return home, fearing they'll never leave.
Inside, Lynette uses all her body strength trying to keep the door closed and thus preventing the twins from moving back in. Lynette manages to close the door and the twins apparently give in. They call through the window to their mother and admit that they have to learn how to live on their own. Porter and Preston give each other a sly look, before sprinting off the porch and round the back of the house. They head for the back garden door, which Lynette manages to lock before they can enter. "Come on," they call out, "Just for a week!" Lynette shouts through the window that knowing them, a week would turn into a year, and soon after 20 years. Porter and Preston look at one another before turning back to their mom and replying, "Please let us in. We're children of divorce." Lynette suggests they go live with their father. However, the twins don't want to go and live with Tom because of his 'stupid girlfriend' and because of the mean way he has treated their mother recently. Lynette disappears from the window and the door opens. She lets the twins step inside and adds, "You had me at stupid girlfriend."
Up the street, Julie Mayer is checking out several new adoptive couples she has been emailed by the adoptive agency. Susan asks to see some of the couples, and Julie does so. Susan dislikes all of the couples, and finds petty reasons why she does so, before reluctantly admitting she still wants Julie to keep the baby and not give it up for adoption. Julie folds up her laptop and leaves. Mike suggests that Susan stop hassling her daughter, but Susan is determined not to - she says she is going to talk to the father of the baby. Mike holds his head in his hands, before replying, "That's a very bad idea." Susan sees it from a different light, and thinks speaking to the father might help convince Julie to keep the child. Mike asks what Susan's friends think and she reveals that she hasn't told them yet. Mike takes his wife by his hands and admits that this is Julie's decision, and if Susan keeps pushing her, it's not just a grandchild she is going to lose. Susan lets out an exasperated sigh and the two embrace.
Juanita is still, meanwhile, talking to her father on the phone. Gabrielle quickly snatches the phone away from her daughter, thanks Carlos, and says that she has got to call the girls. She juggles the cellphone in her hand and begins to dial her friend's numbers.
The girls learn of Orson's return.
Susan, Lynette and Gaby make their way over to Bree's home. Orson wheels himself down the ramp and greets his ex-neighbors. "Orson," Susan says, "You're back!" Orson chuckles and replies, "Keenly observed, Susan!" Lynette says how unexpected it is for them to see him again after so long and Gabrielle mentions the ramp. Orson confirms the girls suspicions - he and Bree will be spending some time together, as he attempts to get her life back on track. The girls listen as Orson retells the events that happened a previous night, during which Bree was violently abused outside a bar. The girls all look at each other - they panic and worry about Bree's safety. "She's fine," Orson says calmed, "Thank God I happened to be driving by." The girls are relieved. Gaby asks if they can see Bree, and Orson quickly denies the request, he doesn't think Bree is up for that yet. The girls aren't surprised...after all, last time they spoke, it didn't go so well. "Will you at least tell her that we love her? And we're here for her?," Lynette asks. Orson smiles and agrees. The girls thank him, bid farewell, and leave. Orson looks on before wheeling himself back into the house. Inside, Bree appears on the stairs and asks who Orson was talking to. "Just the men installing my ramp," Orson says, "Now...how about I make us some lunch?" Bree smiles and follows Orson into the kitchen.
Ben's construction site goes up in flames.
Act II
Ben is sitting alone in his office. Mike enters, after putting out the inferno outside, and places a large fire extinguisher on the desk beside him. "Are you out of your mind?," Mike asks furiously. Ben tells Mike that what happened tonight doesn't concern him, however, seeing as his life was put in jeopardy, Mike believes it does.
"My chest feels tight. That's not good, is it?"
Susan reveals Julie's pregnancy to Lynette over morning coffee.
The next morning, Susan has dropped by to visit Lynette. Lynette makes the two of them some coffee and they both take a seat at the kitchen table. The table is littered with unwashed bowls, empty cereal cartons, and dirty underwear. Lynette reveals that the twins have returned home (Susan already had guessed such) and says that they're like termites...she can never seem to get rid of them. Susan then announces Julie's pregnancy - and her plans to give the baby up for adoption - to Lynette, even though she wasn't supposed to say anything. Lynette, after violently swallowing her coffee out of shock, asks Susan where the dad is in all of this. "Whose the dad, is more like it," Susan begins, "She won't tell me anything!" Lynette listens thoughtfully. Susan then reminisces about the day Julie was born, and how the doctors took the newborn away to give her vitamin supplements, and reveals that that was the longest hour Susan has ever experienced in her life. Susan tells Lynette that Julie doesn't understand how hard it'll be for her to give up the baby. Lynette asks Susan if she wants her to speak to Julie - she might possibly react differently to someone who's not her mom. Politely, Susan turns down Lynette's offer, and once again reminds her friend that she mustn't say a word to Julie, as nobody is supposed to know. The camera pans to the stairs behind the two women. Porter and Preston are listening in secretly. The twins look at each other horrified.
Elsewhere, Gabrielle is sitting in her kitchen, drinking her morning coffee, and yawning softly. Roy appears and greets Gaby with a joyful; "Morning! How'd you sleep?" It appears that Gaby didn't get much sleep the previous night, due to Roy's frequent late-night visits to the bathroom. As the two converse, Juanita and Celia dash into the kitchen and quickly start demolishing a pile of toast Gaby has prepared. They are still in their pajamas, to their mother's dismay, and school starts in 20 minutes! Juanita insults Gaby's lack of imagination when it comes to preparing breakfast, as Roy looks on. He is appalled by the girl's behavior. The two girls leave the room and Gaby and Roy begin to discuss how he is going to get back together with Karen. Roy has rang his wife several times (she ignored him) and Gabrielle informs the elder that he needs to march over to her house and woo her. As the two continue to talk, Roy eventually understands that Gaby wants him out of her home, and rather reluctantly thanks her for letting him stay the night. Juanita and Celia return, still in their pajamas, and Gaby orders them to get changed ready for school. "Dammit girls," Roy shouts at the top of his lungs, "Listen to your mother!" Roy intimidates the girls and they quickly run upstairs to get changed. Roy tells Gaby he's also going upstairs to start packing, but Gaby, who is clearly impressed with how well Roy can control her children, allows him to stay.
Julie is talking to the father of the baby on the telephone. Susan, who is doing the laundry, stops in the doorway and listens quietly. Julie tells the father to meet her at the Coffee Cup in half an hour, as she doesn't want to discuss the situation over the phone. Julie hangs up, and Susan dashes away before being caught.
Susan spies on Julie, in attempt to find out who the father is.
At the Coffee Cup, Julie is sat at a table, waiting patiently. The camera pans across the coffee shop and reveals Susan sitting at another table, concealing her appearance by holding a giant newspaper over her face, pretending to read it. Susan peeks over the top of the newspaper and looks at her daughter. Julie is completely oblivious to the fact that her mother is spying on her. Just then, a heavily tattooed and pierced young man dressed in dirty clothes appears in the door. The man walks over to Julie's table - Susan fears the man is the father. However, it turns out the man isn't the father, he just wants to borrow an empty chair placed at Julie's table. Susan is relieved. The bell above the coffee shop door jingles and Porter Scavo enters. He spots Susan and asks puzzled; "Mrs. Delfino?" Susan orders Porter to be quiet and informs him that she doesn't want Julie to know she's here. Porter asks why and Susan tells him that Julie is meeting 'a guy' and she needs to find out who it is. "Oh hey," Julie exclaims, "Porter! Over here." Susan pulls the newspaper down, revealing her face, and Julie spots her mom. Putting two-and-two together, Susan soon realizes that Porter is the father of Julie's baby. She lets out a shocked gasp.
Act III
Susan and Julie arrive home. Susan refuses to let Porter inside, and he instead waits on the porch. Susan is furious about the discovery of who the father is. Julie explains that she went to a bar, bumped into Porter, had a few drinks, and went back to her place. "And clearly forgot everything I told you about condoms," Susan interrupts. Julie informs her mother that the condom broke. "What did you expect?," Susan shrieks, "It's Porter Scavo! He probably found it on the floor of a movie theater." Porter knocks on the door, Julie sighs, and Susan lets him in. Susan points at Porter and reminds Julie that Porter, the snot-nosed kid who got his head stuck in their fence years ago, is now the father of her baby. Julie turns to her mother and says that the father will be an adoptive parent, who will have to pass several tests before receiving the child. "Both of you stop," Porter shouts, "I want to keep it." Julie refuses to raise the child with Porter, but Porter is more than happy to raise it alone. Julie is furious and tells the boy that he would never be able to do that. Susan glides over to Porter and remarks, "Well, legally, he can. I mean...fathers do have rights." Susan, much to her daughter's dismay, lets Porter know that he will have her support if he wishes to raise the baby himself. "No no! This is none of your business! Stay out of it!," Julie screams, before leaving the room angrily. Porter asks Susan if she could tell Lynette about the situation, after she offers to do anything to help. Susan looks concerned.
Gabrielle tells Carlos about Roy's impressive disciplinarian skills.
Mike stops by Renee's home to talk about Ben. "After what he did to me," Renee says, "I don't care." She attempts to close the door, but Mike pushes it back open and replies sternly, "He's in the hospital." Renee becomes concerned and asks what happened, before reluctantly inviting Mike in. Mike informs Renee that Ben was complaining of chest pains and was taken to the hospital, where the doctor said it wasn't a heart-attack - Ben is currently still in the hospital being monitored for a few days. Renee asks why Ben, a young healthy guy, should be having chest pains. "He's been under a lot of stress," Mike reminds her. Renee asks if it is to do with his financial difficulty and Mike confirms this, except it's a lot worse than she thinks. Mike tells Renee that Ben borrowed money from a loan shark...and now he's in trouble and needs help off Renee. Renee listens - she looks troubled.
Act IV
Gabrielle returns home from shopping, dozens of designer branded bags are grasped in her hands. Roy is sitting at the dining table quietly scanning an article in a newspaper. Gaby plants a small kiss on the back of Roy's head, and the old man quickly asks; "What was that for?" Gaby says that she was thanking him for giving her the day off by dealing with the girls, so she decided to go shopping at mall. As Gaby begins unpacking her new goods, Juanita and Celia walk through the living room, carrying armfuls of chopped wood. They greet their mother, before placing the wood beside the fireplace. Roy explains to Gaby that he made them chop down the dead tree in the backyard, although he comically informs Gaby that her older daughter is very good with an axe...and that might want to be something she keeps an eye on. Gaby giggles and adds; "Well, I can't thank you enough. You're absolutely welcome to stay here....for the next 16 days." Roy admits that he has been thinking of returning home and begging Karen to take him back. Gaby, fearing she'll loose her free-time and shopping trips if Roy returns to his wife, urges him to stay.
Karen drops by with a peace-offering for Roy, to Gaby's dismay.
"You're always trying to protect me. Aren't you?"
Lynette discovers that Porter is the father of Julie's baby.
Act V
Lynette returns home and spots Porter typing at his laptop in the kitchen. Lynette impersonates a baby and tells Porter that he'd never be able to handle being a father.
Porter tells his mother he is ready to be a father.
At the Solis home, Roy is sitting in the lounge looking out the window. Gaby appears on the staircase and she asks him if he can make Juanita and Celia take a bath. Roy seems depressed and Gaby joins him and asks if he's OK. "I just didn't think it was going to end like this," Roy says slowly, "After all these years, I thought I'd finally found 'the one.'" Gaby comforts him and reassures him that what he and Karen are going through is just a rough patch - they'll get through it stronger than ever. Roy explains that he isn't too sure and informs Gabrielle that falling in love at his age isn't about all the drama young people go through. It's about finding the one who'll be there to hold your hand at the end. Roy confesses that he always believed Karen was that person for him...but now he guesses he was wrong. Roy returns to looking out the window. He is clearly heart-broken.
Karen learns her Cancer has returned.
Act VI
At her home, Renee is writing a cheque for the loan shark to pay off Ben's debts. "I assume you'll honor our agreement to keep this between you and me?," Renee asks, as she tears the cheque from the cheque book.
Back at the Van de Kamp residence, Bree and Orson are packing their suitcases ready to leave for Maine. Orson spots a jumper of Bree's and recalls that he purchased it for his then-wife back in Milan. Bree confesses that it's one of her favorites. She sits down by her suitcase and folds a jumper in her lap quietly. Orson asks if everything is OK and she replies; "Yes, it's just, I don't think I've ever seen you this confident." Orson giggles gently, before telling Bree that he doesn't believe he is the same man he was 2 years ago. He's let go of a lot. And changed his life completely. Bree asks how Orson did such a thing and he reveals that it all started once he learned how to drive again...
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| I know it sounds strange, but for me, in my condition, that freedom changed everything.
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The scene transitions to several flashbacks;
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| Driving was a way for me to move forward with my life. To let go of the past.
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Orson is seen driving along a country road. He looks down and placed beside the gearstick is a photo of Bree smiling pleasantly.
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| Being on the road gave me a new perspective.
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Orson is parked up the road from 4354 Wisteria Lane. He watches as his ex-wife steps out of her car and enters her home.
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| I started to see the silver lining in even the worse situations.
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Orson pulls up beside Gabrielle's house. It is the night of the dinner party. The guests have left. Orson watches as Bree, Susan, Lynette, Gaby and Carlos all carry a wrapped body from the porch to the back of the latter's car.
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| I learned to be calmer. More patient. I even began spending more time in nature.
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The housewives and Carlos remove the body from the back of his car in the middle of the woods and place it besides them. Orson is sitting in his car, lurking by, watching the events unravel.
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| Then I started reaching out to old friends.
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All is revealed...
Lastly, Orson opens Bree's mailbox and place the blackmail letter in it carefully. He smiles deviously before shutting it tightly.
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| It took time. But, little by little, I became a new man.
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| Orson Hodge | ||
Back in present day, Bree tells Orson how inspiring his story is and suggests that when they're in Maine, he can assist her in the process of changing her life. "Oh Bree," Orson replies, "Don't you see? The process has already started for you." Bree acknowledges this and smiles. Orson smiles back, and adds; "Trust me darling. You won't believe where it's going to end up."
Production
This episode was written by Cindy Appel and directed by James Hayman, marking the 1st credits as such for each of them on the show.
Add a photo to this galleryReception
- "Get Out of My Life" was watched by an approx 7.65 million viewers with a 2.2 in the key demographic rating (A18-A49). While well below the season average, DH did see an increase in viewership compared to the previous week's episode.
- Critically, the episode garnered overwhelmingly positive reviews from television critics and fans alike. Catriona Wightman, of Digital Spy, spoke highly of the reveal that Orson Hodge was the mysterious note sender and was pleased that the writers have given "Kyle MacLachlan a storyline to sink his teeth into."[1] Meanwhile, fans of the show responded positively to Julie's pregnancy storyline, but criticized Gaby's repetitive 'filler.' Ultimately, fans used words such as "Great", "Good" and "Dramatic" to describe it.[2]
Trivia
- The title of this episode is taken from a song of the same name from the Stephen Sondheim musical, Bounce, which was later renamed Road Show, with the song cut from its setlist.
- The final narration in this episode is provided by Orson Hodge, as opposed to regular series narrator Mary Alice Young (who still provides the additional early voice-overs).
- Although credited, Doug Savant (Tom Scavo) is absent from this episode, marking his 4th straight absence in the season, a streak that will finally be broken in the following episode.
- This episode marks the return of Ricardo Antonio Chavira (Carlos Solis) after an absence of 3 episodes.
- This episode marks the return of supporting characters Porter and Preston Scavo, who had last been featured in episode 7.21 (excluding a brief cameo in episode 8.09, as portrayed by uncredited extras). It also marks the return of recurring character Roy Bender, after 13 straight absences.
Bloopers and Continuity Errors
- In this episode, Gabrielle and Carlos Solis state that the latter isn't getting out of rehab for 16 days. However, in the previous episode, Gabrielle had claimed Carlos was 14 and a half days away from getting out. Also, the number of days never changes down from 16 throughout this episode, despite the fact that more than 2 days worth of time are shown.
- At the end of this episode, during the closing sequence, Orson puts the blackmail letter for Bree in the mail box, and then closes it. But, in "Secrets That I Never Want to Know", we see that the mail box is wide open, when Bree is walking past it and first discovers the letter.
Episode connections
Episode references
- Susan discovers the identity of Julie's baby when she follows her to the Coffee Cup, a coffee shop down town. The Coffee Cup was where Eddie Orlofsky was previously employed, as well as being where he murdered one of his victims in Season 6. ("The Coffee Cup")
Episode allusions
- In the closing sequence, the scene in which Orson places the blackmail letter in Bree's mailbox and closes it is filmed in exactly the same fashion as a scene in the Pilot episode - both are filmed with the camera placed in the mailbox. In the Pilot, Mary Alice Young opens her mailbox receives her letter that leads to her suicide. ("Pilot")
- Carlos refers to Gaby having a "drowning" fantasy, which is how Mary Alice described her in the first season - "Gabrielle was a drowning woman..." ("Ah, But Underneath")
Quotes
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[Lynette greets her twin sons coming to visit, then notices they have luggage and figures out they want to move back in, so she barricades herself in the house.]
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Gallery
Gallery of photographic stills released to promote the episode.
References
External links
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