"Brothers & Sisters" Episode 301 Recap: “Glass Houses”

From his own puny office, Kevin calls Scotty to tell him the good news about the beach house. Scotty, knowing full well who he’s married to and what show he’s on, assumes Kevin will bring his entire family along. But Kevin says that even though the house sleeps 12, this weekend it will only sleep two. Unless, of course, he and Scotty meet up with two all-gay basketball teams and invite them over for an impromptu orgy.

After he hangs up, Kevin greets a certain “Mr. Manning,” a.k.a. “Flashback guy,” the dude we saw in last season’s finale reporting to Papa Walker about that mystery woman he’d worked with who’d died in a car accident.

Kevin shows Manning that infamous photograph we’ve seen floated around for two seasons — the one of the world’s most girlish-looking baby boy. Kevin asks Manning if it’s the woman’s son, and how he might get in touch with him today. At first Manning plays dumb, but then Kevin says “please,” so Manning tells him that the woman’s husband moved the family to Bakersfield after she died.

Stately Walker Manor. Nora tells Kevin and Sarah that she told them already! She told them she doesn’t want to talk about Ryan any more. So, naturally, they proceed to talk about Ryan, telling her they really think the rest of the family should know, especially now that Kevin’s tracked down a possible phone number. Nora takes a moment to consider this, but then says things are too crazy at the moment to “bring another Walker …”

“… bring another Walker where?” Kitty asks, walking in and startling the bejesus out of them. Nora tries to stammer a response, looking guilty as hell. So Kevin comes to her rescue, saying they were talking about bringing “another Walker” to his boss’ beach house. Nora follows up by explaining that they’re all invited for the weekend.

Kitty says she’d love to go, and Nora babbles about Paige and Cooper coming along too, and Kevin’s totally got this hilarious “W.F.I.H.?” expression. As in, “Who Farted In Here?” which is the exact look of disgust he’s got on his face as he realizes his weekend of wild, unfettered nookie with his husband is falling apart before his eyes.  

Kevin leaves for his office, and Nora shouts after him to call and invite Tommy. After he’s gone, Sarah sighs and says, “Oh, no, not Tommy.” When Kitty asks what her problem with Tommy is, Sarah spills the beans about how he’s allowing Holly to goad him into giving Kevin the ax. Nora is all, “She can’t do that!” And Sarah is all, “Just try and stop her.” And I’m all, “Catfight. Yes!”

Cut to Holly entering her office, where Nora is waiting to scare the bejesus out of her. “I see I no longer have a parking spot,” Nora snaps.

Holly: You scared me!
Nora: I’m sorry … Or maybe not.

I’m already loving this! Remember how the tensions between these two reached glorious, cake-throwing heights back in Season One? That was before somebody decided the women should rise above it and act like adults and come to a begrudging respect of one another and zzzzzzzz. I’m so glad somebody at this show finally came to their senses and realized how urgently we were craving an ongoing battle of the bitches. Yay!

Nora tells Holly there was no way she could keep quiet about Kevin’s potential firing. Holly, in turn, addresses Nora with the deliberate slowness and condescending tone one might use with a particularly dimwitted child, lecturing about the sacrifices necessary for saving a business — and claiming she’d do the same even if it were Rebecca.

Nora: Well that certainly explains why she isn’t talking to you anymore.

Oooh, snap. Score one for Mama Walker. But Holly’s not done with her yet. Her tone of voice rising to a higher, angrier level, she tells Nora this is purely a business decision. And since this is no longer William’s business, Nora no longer has the right to barge in and make demands.

Holly: I know that this is hard for someone like you to stomach. But the family circus is over.

WHAT?! No more Family Circus? Noooooooo! What will happen to those adorable scamps Billy, Dolly, Jeffy, and P.J.? And where will that ghostly “Not Me” sprite go to to wreak havoc now? It’s all too terrible to bear!