"Brothers & Sisters" Episode 207 Recap: “36 Hours”

Cut to Sarah’s office. It’s Saturday and this is the only free time she gets away from the kids. Which is weird to me because doesn’t she now only have them half the time? Anyway, she’s there working with Saul and apologizing for taking up his weekend.

Saul: Whatever schedule works for you and the kids is fine with me.

That Saul. Always putting other people’s interests before his own. And yet, percolating resentment about always being so accommodating seems to be building up. Saul is a powder keg, and he’s ready to blow.

Sarah gets a call. It’s the Walker family phone tree springing into action. Nora gives Sarah the news that Justin is abusing drugs again, and they’re all getting together for a family intervention. What fun! Afterwards, they’ll roast s’mores and possibly play charades.

Cut to Kevin’s apartment. In turn, he gets a call from Sarah, and she passes along the news about Justin.

Cut to Lena’s futon. I guess this week Tommy finally wanted to sample some of her world-famous waffles, because it looks like he finally slept over. And on that tiny little futon to boot! He must really have it bad for this girl if he’s gonna put up with a cat hair covered futon. Either that, or he’s too cheap to rent a hotel room. Hey, isn’t it considered bad etiquette to wear your wedding ring while you’re in bed with your mistress?

Tommy’s cell rings. He doesn’t answer it and instead starts kissing on Lena. Uh oh. Looks like the Walker family phone tree has had its first breakdown.

Cut to poor unsuspecting Justin walking right into a trap. It’s 2 pm. Good thing he didn’t come home an hour earlier to shower and shave for his lunch date, or else the intervention surprise would have been all ruined.

He’s alone in the foyer and notices Nora’s purse on a side table. He starts rifling through it, looking either for money or his pain meds. I think they want to make it really clear to us how low Justin has sunk in just a few episodes of abusing prescription pain medicine. First he’s lurking in a nasty gas station bathroom. Now he’s rifling through his mom’s purse? Pathetic. Nora tiptoes up to him and practically taps him on the shoulder before he realizes she’s there.

When she asks him what he’s doing he says he needs quarters for the “meter.”

What meter? The one Nora had installed on the driveway? Nora isn’t buying it, but she sends him on into the living where he finds…

Everyone but Tommy, who’s still enjoying the waffles on Lena’s futon.

Justin: Why the ambush?
Nora: Because that was the only way to get you here.
Justin: Mom I live here.

Justin seems to be saying exactly what I’m thinking. In fact, he continues to do that throughout this scene.

This is the “big scene” of the episode— the one we’ve all been waiting for. With Justin feeling cornered and betrayed, he lashes out willy nilly at his entire family — eviscerating them with brutal bits of honesty. He starts with Sarah. She says something about the need for him to take “responsibility,” and he counters that she’s one to talk given that Joe tried to take her kids from her. Then he rounds on Saul.

Justin: You’re not my father, so stop acting like you are!