Brothers and Sisters: In Which Julia Bids Adieu

Author’s Note: My internet decided to hate me this week, and wouldn’t work long enough for me to get this posted. Sorry for the delay, folks!

I just read an interview with Ms. Sarah Jane Morris, where she said that when she saw that the episode was titled “Julia,” she got nervous. I was, too, and I figured this would be her swan song, but I’m still pretty pissed about it. I just feel like there were so many places they could have gone with this character. So many stories they could have told. Like when she starts dating again, and Nora inevitably freaks out. Or Kevin taking on the role of the man in her life, and in Elizabeth’s.

I am happy to report, though, that according to that same article, it is implied that Julia will be back at some point, after the character has been reinvented a bit. I sure hope so.

We start off like last week – at the park with Kitty and Alec. He is showing off his potential new house, in the form of a crude sandbox drawing. Also, Kitty is wearing jeans with a huge hole in the knee, and I think Calista is just a little too bony for that particular trend. Not to mention that she’s the wife of a Senator, and fairly wealthy on her own anyway, and there’s no excuse for her to be wearing pants with holes in them.

Sarah calls her then, and immediately notes Kitty’s weird flirty voice, after confirming that she has not heard from Julia. Kitty rushes her off the phone when Sarah realizes that she’s with Hot Park Guy. Alec starts going on about how he’s not sure the house is The One, similar to how you can date a bunch of very nice, fabulous people, but they may not be The One. Kitty is clearly wondering if Robert is her One, or if in fact, her One is sitting right next to her.

Her phone rings again, and this time it’s Nora, so Kitty answers by saying that no, she has not heard from Julia. Nora claims to not be panicking, but I think w all know Nora well enough by now to know that that’s exactly what she’s doing. Nora is particularly upset because today is her standing play date with Elizabeth, and they’re not there and Julia is not returning her phone calls. She wonders if she should just stop be, right as several children run through the sandbox, destroying Alec’s perfect house. Kitty reacts, obviously, and Nora starts questioning her, so Kitty covers by telling her that yes, she should definitely run over to Julia’s and force herself on her. Way to throw Julia under the bus there, Kitty.

Anyway, she tells Alec that clearly she needs to go see this perfect house for herself, and he’s like, “How convenient! There just happens to be an open house there today!” Her phone rings AGAIN, and now it’s Robert. He wants to come keep her company at the park, but she tells him that she’s totally fine, because she’s been talking to a “friend” who’s trying to buy a house. He says that he knows she’s fine, he was just hoping to spend some time with her. She puts him off some more, claiming she has errands, but he reminds her that he’s going back to work soon and they should take advantage of his time off. She finally agrees, but says that since she’s always at the park (here she throws Alec a Meaningful Glance), they should so something different. They agree on the pier and Robert tells her tot tell her friend that “she” should definitely buy that house. Kitty does not correct him. Alec realizes that she’s bailing on him, but she says it’s because of an appointment. Then, she ruins her good behavior by telling him that she can go tomorrow, and they’ll get some lunch at a noodle place he was telling her about. Kitty loves noodles, as do I. He says it’s a date, gets goofy and awkward, and amends that it’s a plan. They are in baaaad territory right now.

Rebecca’s, where Holly notices the wants ads, and wonders why Rebecca is job hunting. She corrects that it’s obviously Ryan looking for a job. He walks in and admits that he can’t seem to get a job, so Rebecca suggests Ojai. Ryan is not so thrilled with this idea, but Holly asks if she can take his resume anyway, and Rebecca tells him that it could be great. He’s had just about enough, though, telling them that while he’s thrilled that they could get over their issues with the Walkers, he just can’t wrap his head around working at the same place “that son of a bitch” went to every day. And he says it in this really hateful tone, which Rebecca’s eyebrows take note of. He does seem embarrasses by his outburst, but Holly assures him that she’s said much worse about William. He leaves to go for a jog, and Holly says that she didn’t know he felt so strongly about the Walkers. Rebecca’s all, “Girl, you have no idea.”

And, honestly, I don’t get this Walker hate. If it was just aimed at William, and maybe even Justin because of the whole Rebecca thing, I would be completely understanding. But the other Walkers (besides Tommy obviously) have been nothing but lovely toward him. Nora let him live with her for crying out loud! Kitty and Sarah welcomed him with open arms. Sarah bonded with him over their similar elbows. I just don’t get where he’s coming from and it’s making it very difficult for me to have any sympathy for him. And if you can’t have sympathy for this particular character in this particular story, then he’s just sort of a two-dimensional villain-type figure, who is masterminding the downfall of the Walkers for no particular reason. At least with Holly, the Walkers repeatedly gave her shit, so even if you don’t agree with where she’s coming from, you can at least understand it. I don’t understand where Ryan’s coming from at this point, and I think that really hurts this whole plotline and turns what would be a pretty likeable character into a whiny asshole. I’d be interested to see what you guys think about this, too.

Nora is now talking to Kevin on the phone, who says he won’t talk to her while she’s driving unless she puts her earbud in. Heh – that is so Kevin. Nora bitches that she’s already there anyway, there being Julia’s. Kevin wants her to tell Julia that he bought Elizabeth one of those adorable little toy ponies that she can actually sit on, and it nays and moves its head, and why is Nora grunting and making such a ruckus? Well, she just happens to be carrying the adorable little toy pony that she also got Elizabeth. Kevin immediately deems this unfair and demands to know where she got hers, since he had to go to like three stores. Nora tells him to not feel bad. It’s futile to compete against the World’s Greatest Grandma. She has a coffee mug to prove it. Heh. She is stopped short, however, by the For Sale sign in front of Julia’s house. She’s been foreclosed. Oh, Tommy, you little shit.

Later that night, Kevin is looking through all the bills, as Julia explains to Nora that she had no idea Tommy had taken out a second mortgage or missed so many house payments. He couldn’t have clued her into this when he spoke with her on the phone? When he told her he wasn’t coming back?? I keep hearing that Balthazar Getty might be back next year in some capacity, and I just don’t see how the character can ever recover from this sort of behavior. Kevin realizes that Tommy was funneling everything into that Orchard deal and Julia just can’t believe that she’s one of Those Wives who doesn’t know anything about their financial situation. Nora, speaking from experience, tells her that it’s never too late to start managing your own life. Julia just has to live be her own lights and plow her own fields. Kevin: “Yeah, pull yourself up by your bootstraps.” Except he’s being completely sarcastic and Nora points out that that’s not too helpful right now, but he’s just so frustrated with his stupid brother he can barely see straight.

He does tell Julia that while he tries to handle the mortgage, she needs to start plowing that field, because he won’t be able to make much progress with the bank if she doesn’t have a job. She says she’s already tried, but no one needs teachers right now. As someone who is also in the process of trying to get a teaching job, I hear ya. She’s even looked out of state, calling people she went to college with. I … have not done all that. So, good job, Julia. Granted, I literally just graduated from college, and all of my friends are in the exact same awful economic situation as I am, so yeah. Damn this recession.

Nora, however, would like to set up an interview for her at The Center, as a tutor for the sick kids. Julia is resistant, but eventually just thanks her. Nora then notices the piles f boxes in the corner, and Julia admits that she cleared all of Tommy’s shit out of the bedroom because she couldn’t stand to look at it anymore. Kevin says she should’ve burned it and Nora promises to get Justin right over there and clear it all out.

You know, I love how severely pissed off Kevin is about this whole thing. He’s tried so hard to be so responsible and to establish a good life for himself and Scotty, and here’s Tommy, doing the exact opposite and it’s just KILLING him. Like, he literally can’t understand how Tommy can be such a loser and he has absolutely no patience for it. I wouldn’t be surprised if Kevin doesn’t speak to Tommy ever again. Especially factoring in the whole bio-daddy thing, which the show is going to cover later anyway, so I’ll save my ranting for then.

Julia’s parents call then, but she doesn’t answer, because she knows they just want to talk her into moving back home. Nora says that she just needs to assure them that they’re all taking good care of her, and runs off to call Justin. Julia apologizes to Kevin for dumping all of this on them, and he just touches her shoulder, sincerely telling her that she’s like a sister to him and that Elizabeth is like … a niece. They smile at each other there, realizing that he’s being the true father to that little girl. That he always has been. You know how last week I was talking about how Kevin and Scotty are equals? And that’s why their relationship works so well? I think Julia is starting to see what a husband (and father) should be like. She’s seeing that in Kevin. He apologizes for Tommy, promising her that tomorrow will be better. He kisses her, hugs her, holds her tightly. Gives her the strength to get through the night. Gives her so much more than Tommy ever could. She watches him go, and she can’t breathe without him. Not yet.

Sarah is telling Kitty that she is having an affair with Hot Park Guy and Kitty can’t even deny it. Yes, she’s having a emotional affair, which may or may not be worse than a physical one. She then tries to downplay it – he’s just someone she can talk to. Sarah tells her that this is her pattern, and every time someone disappoints her, she’s off looking for the next shiny thing. It’s difficult to say if this out of nowhere or not, because she’s just been with Robert for so long at this point. We did see her actually cheat on Rufus Humphrey in season one, with the liberal from “Red, White, and Blue.” So, there might be something to this pattern after all. Kitty does admit that she feels guilty because she is guilty, what with the being married and new baby and all that. She’s tried convincing herself that Alec is just some silly fantasy, but every time she sees him, she feels all the things that Robert has squashed out of her. Pretty. Connected.

Sarah’s like, “Been there, done that.” It’s the beginning of the end of her marriage. And the divorce part? Is horrific. So, Kitty needs to be sure that Robert can’t be what she needs. That he can’t be a good father. Kitty doesn’t know how to go home and pretend that she’s not feeling what she’s feeling, so Sarah gives her the simple fix: stay away from the park. If she has any hope of saving the marriage, it starts with staying away from Hot Park Guy. Or, as Sarah puts it: “Stop going to the damn park.”

Kevin is on the phone, heatedly arguing with a bank (I think?), and coming up with all kinds of arguments about why his client couldn’t make her house payments. He finally gets a figure that will stop the foreclosure, and he says he’ll pay it today. Scotty sits down then, looking concerned, and asks how much he plans on writing the check for. He is not happy when he hears $16,400. Kevin assures him that it’s a loan, and Scotty’s like, “Yeah, and you think Tommy’s going to pay that back?!” He says he’s worked hard to set aside those savings, and that he refuses to be another victim in Tommy’s midlife crisis. Oh, I think this is beyond a midlife crisis. Kevin wants to know what he thinks he should do then, just let Julia and Elizabeth go back to Phoenix? Scotty gets a little unfair here, throwing the hole Elizabeth thing in his face: “Is that what this about? Your desperate need to hold on to Elizabeth?” That wasn’t cool, Scotty. But I know you’re upset, so I’ll let it slide. Kevin yells that he’s trying to help his brother’s family, which I must point out is his family, too. He finally just says he’ll take the money out of his 401K, and Scotty won’t have to worry about it at all.

Ojai. Holly is upset because the Board just decided to pull out of the Trade Association. Sarah backed the idea, and of course, the Board went with her instead of Holly. Holly’s upset because they didn’t discuss it first and because she’s at a perpetual disadvantage because she’s not a Walker. The Board will always defer to Sarah. Sarah’s not exactly sure what Holly wants her to do about this, seeing as how it is a family company. She probably could’ve been a little less snotty, but Holly really is complaining about something that is not in Sarah’s control. After Sarah leaves, Holly puts her evil face on, and looks at Ryan’s resume, hatching a plan.

Alec and Kitty arrive at the open house, and she is immediately impressed. It looks like it stepped right our of “Curb Appeal” (Have I mentioned that I looove HGTV?). She swoons over the porch swing, because she has some fantasy about how it can solve all her problems. Or something. Alec and the realtor start talking negotiations, while Kitty gets sidetracked, picturing her perfect life with perfect Alec in this perfect house. I, on the other hand, am sidetracked by the gorgeous stained glass windows in the kitchen.

Holly has hauled Ryan into Ojai, where she is using her magical manipulative powers to get him to agree to work there. Why does she want him to work there so badly? Well, because he’s a Walker, he gets shares in the company, and therefore, gets a vote on the Board. And since he has this mysterious hate for the Walkers right now, she’s pretty sure he’ll be voting with her. She tells him that Sarah will have to sign off, of course, but as far as she can tell, Sarah’s a huge fan of his. Oh, really? Sarah likes him? That’s an even better reason to totally screw her over! Ugh. Anyway, she tells him that it would sound better if he approached Sarah about this, and then they both cackle maniacally and twirl their mustaches.

Walker Manse, where Nora is happily playing with Elizabeth, while Saul tries to talk some sense into her. The Center just doesn’t have the budget for another salary, so Nora has to admit that she plans on subsidizing Julia’s wages, at least for a little while. Because when Tommy calls, she wants to be able to tell him that everything’s alright – they took care of his house, his family, etc. I cannot believe that Nora is letting him off the hook so easily. She needs to be thinking about Julia right now, not her stupid son.

Kevin comes in then, with a breathy “Hellooooo, everyone.” He makes fish faces at Elizabeth, as he reveals his toy pony, so now she has one at Grandma’s and at home. She gets right up, and goes to feed it an apple, with Kevin maintaining that creepy whisper that he seems to think is baby-talk. He then hands Nora a present, too, and she’s thrilled to see the check. She very genuinely and happily thanks him, hugging him tight.

Ojai. Ryan has come to talk to Sarah, and she tells him that as William’s son, he belongs there. Aw, that’s nice. She’s being so nice to him. She then tells him that there might be a problem, though, because as a family member, he would get shares and a vote on the Board. He’s like, “Oh, really? I had NO idea!” She explains that Holly might not be too happy with another Walker coming in, but she’ll have a talk with her. Ryan says he’ll keep his fingers crossed, and it’s all very gross, to be honest. He’s blatantly lying at this point, which if I recall correctly, is the whole reason he got mad at Justin in the first place. Speaking of, where the hell is Justin??

Kitty and Alec are in the car, discussing how he just bought the house, and he’s not regretting it at all. That’s what happens when you find The One, after all. Their happy, flirty moment is ruined, though, when they plow right into another car. They both get attacked by their airbags, and the car looks pretty bad, but other than that, they’re fine. Kitty Oh-My-Gods us into a commercial. And how are we only halfway through the episode? I’ve been working on this for like three days already!

Kitty is talking to Robert now, assuring him that she just has some airbag-inflicted burns on her arms, but she’s totally fine. He wants to run right down there, and she repeatedly tries to tell him that it’s not necessary, and that she already called a rental car company. He tells her thank God she was alone in the car, and how awful it would have been if Evan was with her. She’s holding back tears now, realizing how far in this she is, but she agrees with him. She gets off the phone quickly when Alec approaches. He has identical burns on his forearms and he tries to touch hers, to make sure she’s alright. To make sure she’s not slipping away. She pulls away from him, asks him if he called a cab. He says slowly, like he doesn’t want to scare her, that he thought he’d ride with her to the body shop, but she’s shaking her head, crying. That’s not a good idea. It’s his turn to get quiet and he tells her that they didn’t do anything wrong. She insists that she knows that, but she just wants to be alone. They both know that whatever happy place they were in before is gone. This thing just got real, and now they’re either all in, or it’s over.

Kevin and Nora have brought the check and some champagne to Julia’s, who is thrilled and grateful, if a bit uncomfortable. She’s also not sure about taking the job at The Center, considering that there are actually no kids there at the moment. Nora insists that there will be kids soon, but Julia is a bit overwhelmed at this point, and says she just needs time to think about all of this. After she leaves to go lay down, Nora finds some airline tickets to Phoenix on the table, and immediately starts freaking out that she’s going back to her parents. Kevin says they don’t know anything for sure, and he has to literally drag her out of the house.

Senator Ranch. Robert is cleaning and bandaging Kitty’s arms, teasing her about how it was probably her fault. She insists that she just didn’t see the car, and he is glad that he gets to take care of her. And she’s looking at him in a way that she hasn’t in a long time, and when he tells her to lay down while he goes and gets Evan, she seems to make a decision. She tells him that they should go out tonight, and when he kisses her, she seems more comfortable than she has been in months.

Ojai. Holly comes in to Sarah’s office, making a big dramatic deal out of hiring Ryan, which of course, was her idea to begin with. Sarah defends Ryan, saying he’s a good kid. Oh, this just kills me. Holly’s even being more evil than we’re used to seeing, at least lately. She goes on that this puts her at a further disadvantage, so she proposes giving Rebecca equal shares. Sarah doesn’t even hesitate and says that Rebecca would deserve it, and Holly agrees that Ryan would make a nice fit. If Holly were a better person, Sarah’s reaction to her daughter just now might have made her feel a little guilty. But Holly is proving that she’s a bitch through and through, and the music gets scary as Sarah doesn’t even know what just hit her.

Senator Ranch, where the music proves to be even more foreboding, as Kitty wakes up to find a note from Robert that he’s taken Evan to the park. Uh-oh. Sure enough, he’s at the park when little Ben runs up and says hello to Evan. This doesn’t seem to make Robert suspicious until Ben runs over to Alec. His face gets stony and he stands up, holding Evan against his shoulder. I didn’t get his reaction at first, until the camera focused on Alec’s bandages on his forearms. Robert puts everything together as Alec finally spots him, and acts completely guilty. With the music and the slow motion and Rob Lowe’s awesome facials, that scene was pretty intense. I may have no love for Robert, but I’ve adored Rob Lowe since his “West Wing” days, and as my sister lamented while watching this episode, I’m not sure I’m ready to not have him in my life every week. Sam Seaborne could totally kick Robert’s ass. He’d bust him like a piñata.

The pony is holding court atop Nora’s kitchen counter, as she bakes and snaps at Kevin to get it down, all in preparation for Julia. She has called and is coming over to tell them something, and as Kevin hilariously brushes the pony, he tells Nora to be sensitive and not criticize her parents. He then tells Nora, with love, that she needs to let him do all the talking. Heh. She agrees, but we all know that it’s in vain.

Julia comes in and she and Kevin share their hug-and-kiss greeting. Elizabeth is with the sitter and Julia can’t believe that they got her another pony. Julia starts to explain that she was up all night thinking, when Nora blurts that they saw the plane tickets. Kevin’s like, “Great.” Julia cuts her off and assures Nora that her parents sent her those tickets weeks ago and that she has no intention of going back to Phoenix. But, she goes on to tell them that her mentor from college started a private school in Seattle and that this morning, she accepted. Kevin and Nora do not react very well, immediately questioning her about this decision, like who does she even know up there? Kevin, pretty dickishly, is like, “So, you’re going to take her up there all alone and be a single mother?” Julia points out that it’s not her fault she a single mother and that Nora was the one who told her to plow her own fields and take charge of her life. Nora’s like, “Yeah, but I didn’t think you’d be plowing in Seattle!” Nora goes on that Tommy has a right to have his daughter when he comes back, and Julia says that she really doesn’t think he’s coming back. She also calls them on wanting to keep Elizabeth around, but not necessarily her. Kevin says that’s not true, but she leaves anyway. Man, the Walkers sure do kno how to handle sensitive situations, don’t they?

Ojai, where Rebecca has been called in by Sarah and Holly, to inform her that Ryan will be starting at the loading dock on Monday. She is surprised, to say the least, and even more shocked when Sarah tells her that they think she deserves shares, too. Sarah congratulates her and gives her a kiss on the cheek. Ryan and Rebecca head out to do some paper work, and Sarah tells Holly that they did the right thing. Well, at least one of them did.

Kevin is back home and Scotty apologizes for how he reacted earlier. Kevin tells him, distractedly, that he had every reason to be worried, but Scotty is mostly just worried about Kevin. Because he’s lovely, see? Kevin then starts going off on what a failure Tommy is as a father. First, when he talked Kevin into being a sperm donor when he really didn’t want to, but Tommy wanted a child so badly. Then, he assured Kevin that he wouldn’t have to know if he was the father of not. (That’s not really Tommy’s fault, since Elizabeth was like dying, but Kevin’s upset, so I’ll let him continue.) And then, the worst part for Kevin, making him sign that stupid contract and promising to never tell Elizabeth that he was her biological father. “All under this promise of being a great father. And then he left.” He’s looking at the contract now, hating his brother and everything he stands for, while Scotty stands by helplessly. For once, there’s nothing he can do to make it better, and it’s killing him. He tries to assure Kevin that Tommy will come back eventually, but Kevin is done. He could never forgive him for all of this. For leaving his family. Scotty finally just goes to him, saying he’s so sorry, and kissing him on the forehead. When even Scotty can’t make things okay, you know things must really suck.

At Walker Manse, Nora is packing up all of Elizabeth’s stuff that’s there, complaining to Saul about how she wants Tommy to have a wife, a child, and a home to come back to. She seriously needs to get over this because that is really unfair to Julia. Saul finally just tells her that she needs to let it all go, even Tommy, because Julia needs to move on. They all need to move on. Nora decides to give Julia a last Walker Family Dinner, which I’m sure Julia will love. And I’m not being sarcastic, even though that could’ve gone either way.

Senator Ranch. Kitty waits anxiously for Robert to return, and when he does, he just walks right by her to put Evan to sleep. When he returns, he tells her calmly, but sadly, that she could’ve died in that car, and all he would’ve been left with was a motherless little boy and the image of his wife with some strange man. She swears that it’s not what he thinks (and to a degree, it’s probably not), but he says it’s not really about what did or didn’t happen with Alec. It’s about the fact that he’s been trying to fix things when it apparently didn’t even matter to her. She tries to go to him, but he pulls away. Flat out asks her if she wants this to work. She says of course she does and that they just need to figure things out. He disagrees – SHE needs to figure things out. Well, I mean, he could figure out if he’s going to always be a jerk or not, but I guess I get what he’s saying. He tries to walk away, but she says his name, begs him not to leave. She holds onto him, burying her face in his neck, but he has to know. Does she love Alec? She can’t look at him. Can’t lie to him one last time. He realizes that there’s nothing to talk about.

Julia’s Farewell Dinner. The whole family has turned out, except Robert of course. Julia tells them that she hasn’t gotten an offer on the house yet, but thanks to Kevin, she can wait for a decent offer. Nora then tells Kitty that she made some chicken soup for Robert, because he’s sick. Kevin, though, argues that he’s not sick, and they go back and forth until Kitty just gets up and leaves to go “call Robert.” Saul changes the subject, asking Sarah when Ryan starts. Justin’s like, “Starts what?” Sarah explains to those apparently not in the know that Ryan will be starting at Ojai on Monday. Justin is obviously less than thrilled, and demands to know if he has shares now, too. Sarah’s says “Well, yeah” in this really funny tone that I can’t explain at all in writing. She like says it really fast, like she’s trying to say “Duh” and “Sorry” at the same time. Trust me, it was funny. Justin doesn’t get how they can’t see that Ryan is a total fake, and is appalled at the way he has them all clucking around him like female chickens. Nora: “Hens, dear.” Heh. Julia smiles lovingly at them all, while Sarah uses more wine as an excuse to get out of there.

She finds Kitty in the kitchen, and Kitty admits that he found out about Alec. Sarah is devastated for her (“Oh, God, no!”) but says that she forgot to tell her earlier that she’s on her side and that she will get through this. They hug, which is the only thing the Walkers do more than drinking.

At Rebecca’s, Ryan has made dinner, complete with mood lighting. He comments that once he gets his first paycheck, he’ll take her out on a real date, but at her expression, he amends, “Or not.” Rebecca is still trying to wrap her head around Ryan’s sudden change of heart, in regards to working at Ojai. He says he owes it all to her and Holly, and that Holly will know how grateful he is when he gets into the boardroom. Rebecca’s spidey sense starts tingling, and she’s all, “What now?” She doesn’t get why he would automatically vote with Holly and then he very spitefully is all, “I can’t wait to see the look on Sarah’s face. She’s going to have a coronary right there in the boardroom.” Rebecca is as confused and troubled as we all are, considering that Sarah just did a really great thing for him and seems to genuinely care about him. And I pretty much have no more love for Ryan Walker at this point. Despite his dazzling vampire powers.

Back at the dinner, Julia admits that she will miss these dinners and she wants to toast all of them, and they all start arguing about who normally interrupts who, and Julia just loves them so much. She finally just stands up, and gets choked up before she even starts talking. She says that it’s her turn to make a big change and that she knows all of them support her and the hard choice she’s having to make. They all toast to that

Later, Scotty says he needs to let her go before he starts to cry. He can’t believe she’s leaving him alone with these crazy Walkers. Note that Robert isn’t considered an equal member of the in-law club, apparently. Julia tells him that at least they have Facebook, which is funny because my Mom and all of her friends have recently started accounts, too. And now Julia has to say goodbye to Kevin, who she thanks again. She’s also made the decision to tell Elizabeth the truth. She and Kevin are connected, and Julia wants it to stay that way. It’s Kevin’s turn to thank her now.

Nora comes downstairs with Elizabeth and the last of her blankets and toys. Julia immediately starts crying and Kevin kisses Elizabeth goodbye, calling Julia, “Momma.” Elizabeth waves goodbye and Kevin and Nora watch Julia walk out of their lives. Hopefully, just for now.

Rebecca has come to see Justin and starts to tell him about her and Ryan having dinner. He, however, does not want to hear that, saying that while they may be friends now, he really can’t hear about her new love life. She literally laughs at the idea of any kind of romance between herself and Ryan and tells him that he was right to not trust him. Justin looks troubled.

At Walker Manse, Saul finds Nora unpacking all of Tommy’s things in a guest room. Since he doesn’t have a home anymore, she wants to make sure he has a place there when he gets back. Oh, Nora. She says that she can’t give up hope on her son, so Saul decides to help her. This is something she needs to do, and Saul understands that.

At the perfect house, Alec comes home to find Kitty on the perfect swing. He left his house papers in her car, and while she could’ve mailed them, she wanted to see him. And while the porch swing doesn’t solve all their problems, they’re all at least out in the open now. So, on that perfect porch swing in front of that perfect house, with hopes of their perfect life slipping away, they kiss. They kiss desperately because if they’re going to sink, they’re going to do it together. He asks what they’re going to do, leaning his forehead against hers, trying to hold her up. But she doesn’t know. They don’t know that they’re already drowning.