“Brothers & Sisters” Episode 123 Recap: "Matriarchy"

McAllister: You still think I’m electable?
Kitty: Probably not.

Just then, Major Weiner bumps into a tent pole and the entire structure comes crashing down over the party guests.

So much for big tent politics.

With the falling tent as a backdrop, Kitty and McAllister kiss.

Cut to upstairs where Rebecca has retreated to a bedroom. Justin walks in and startles her. She tells him she just needed a little breather. He asks what’s wrong.

Rebecca: If you knew everything about me, Justin.
Justin: What does that mean?
Rebecca: Joe wasn’t the only older man. There was somebody else.

Rebecca tells a very sad story about how she had an affair with one of her high school teachers. His wife found out about it and everyone tried to get Holly to press charges. But Rebecca begged her not to. The teacher and his family moved away to Chicago but he and Rebecca got back in contact and she ran away to Chicago where he put her up in a hotel. (She never actually went to college at Northwestern). The wife found out yet again and this time the man killed himself.

A sordid and depressing little story which helps to inform Rebecca’s character, but I’m not sure it absolves her for her part in seducing Joe and then lying about it.

A step in the right direction, though? She finally admits to Justin that she was an equal participant in the kiss with Joe He tells her she has to come clean with Sarah. Rebecca asks if he’ll be there for moral support but Justin says he can’t. He’s shipping off to Iraq that very night. He asks her not to tell anyone.

Rebecca: I’m really going to miss you, Justin.

They hug and he slips away unnoticed to the airport.