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Cut to the Walker Mansion. Someone knocks on the door and Nora answers to find Contractor Dave (Treat Williams) on her stoop. He must be wondering why, after last episode's sleepover, she basically disappeared from his life. That's the man's job.

David: Hey! You're Alive.
Nora: Are you?
David: Oh, this. (points to some bruises on his face). I had a run in with some siding. The siding won.
Nora: David, please come in. This is a surprise. A very nice one, but unexpected.

Nora stands aside to let him in, but you can tell she's less than thrilled to see him.

David: Sorry to drop by like this. But things were left a little unresolved.

Face it, David, she's just not that into you. If she was, she would have called.

Nora: Sorry, David. It was a lovely evening. But things, life, happened and I got distracted.
David: I get that. Life happens. Why don't you tell me what's going on?
Nora: I've got five grown children, two grandchildren, and a house full of problems I can't quit thinking about.

Um, didn't she have these very same problems when she first agreed to go out with David? She's trying to be tactful here, let him down gently, but David really seems to be obtuse.

Nora: You're so sweet, David. I really think you should run screaming from me as if you were on fire!

I think you should take her advice, David. She's so desperate to get rid of you, I wouldn't be surprised if she suddenly pulled out some matches and lighter fluid and lit you on fire herself.

David: You're not getting off that easy. I don't ditch my friends just because they are going through a rough patch.

Oh goodness, this David guy is like a wad of gum stuck to Nora's shoe. Perhaps she should find some of that siding and whack him again.

Nora: Friends?
David: Well that's what you want isn't it?
Nora: (relieved) Yes!

Nora is obviously thrilled that they've come to the “let's be friends” moment. It means she'll probably never have to see the guy again. She smiles and, even though David hasn't mentioned anything about leaving yet, she begins steering him toward the door.

Nora: Please don't be a stranger. I don't want you thinking that every time you come here you're always required to nail something. Wait. I didn't say that right, did I?

Oh Nora, you really bungled that one. You'd almost rid yourself of this sad sack. He was almost out the door forever. Even as obtuse as he is, he couldn't fail to miss the brush off you've given him. But at the last minute you toss off a saucy double entendre which can only make him think he still has a chance with you. “Nail something?” Dumb Nora. Very dumb.

Brief aside here, but I found this Nora/David scene a bit weird. Clearly, Nora is not interested in pursuing a romantic relationship with David, but we haven't been told why. I mean, she slept with the guy last week, why the sudden change of heart? Also, what is with those bruises on David's face? He said he got hit in the head with some vinyl siding, but is there more to it? Something sinister? Who knows, maybe in later episodes we'll learn that David is actually a dangerous stalker obsessed with Nora. That could be fun.

But I digress. Flash back to 2001. Oh God. Here we go again. We are at the Walker mansion a few days after Justin enlisted. Justin asks Nora what she did with that form letter – the one renouncing his army enlistment. He's been “reconsidering things” and might want to sign it and send it in after all.

Nora claims she threw the letter out, but she's acting very cagey. Justin sees through her ruse – Nora forged his signature and sent it in already! He's furious. He reaches for the phone book. He's going to call the recruitment office and tell them to ignore the forged letter. Nora's duplicity has strengthened Justin's resolve to join the army.

Cut to the present back at the roadside military bar. Sarah is doing bourbon shots and getting embarrassingly funky around the pool table. ABC better hope she doesn't start channeling the sexually compulsive Brenda from Six Feet Under. The network censors would have a field day with that scene.

Across the room, Kevin is still chatting with the hot Vin Diesel-type GI. The soldier asks Kevin if he has any kids, and Kevin discloses that he's gay.

Kevin: My boyfriend just broke up with me.

Oh Kevin, this is pretty gutsy, outing yourself at a dive military bar. My, but this is some fantasy land we are in here. No hotels, no ATMS, and dive bars teeming with hot and socially enlightened military recruits.

GI: So. You're single. I was hoping you'd say that.

Uh, why? So no one will miss Kevin when you gay-bash him and leave him in a ditch somewhere? But I keep forgetting this is a fantasy land. I've read the situation wrong. Kevin's in no danger. This particular GI is a closet case, and he's making the moves on him. In front of his fellow soldiers no less. Or maybe all that artillery practice has made them hard of hearing.

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