The Unusuals: 42 (The Meaning of Life?)

This week, Cole’s secret past comes back to haunt him in the present with real consequences for all The Unusuals.

Dispatch suggests they have a Hawaiian shirt Friday if she has the power to do it. (Ask Angel from Dexter. He’ll give pointers.)

The episode starts-where else but in Walsh’s bedroom, post coital. Walsh offers to make Beaumont breakfast. (I think I see some side boob here, btw. Tsk Tsk ABC.) He gets dressed and heads out to the diner.

Cole is walking with his fiance Amy. She is asking why he doesn’t want any family at the wedding. He says that they are all dead. She snuggles up and says that she has enough for the both of them. His phone rings so he steps away. It’s Frank saying that it’s “The Big Day” (Not sure why the writers used these words with all the wedding talk, doesn’t sound witty, it’s jsut confusing.) She reminds him to meet at the Caterer’s at 3. Frank starts waxing on about the chees all star Bobby Fisher, saying that Chess is all about deep tactics, sizing up your opponent and setting your trap. The scene pans out and he is in front of Walsh’s diner.

Frank sits down at the counter and Walsh tells him they have pancakes and goulash. Frank opts for the goulash. He asks if Walsh likes chess. Walsh says that he likes real games. Frank suggests hunting and asks if Walsh likes to hunt. Walsh answers “only people,” so they start to discuss that old man hunting movie. Frank says “Last meal” and then when Walsh turns around he says that he wants iced tea. He then asks if Walsh is a cop, raising Walsh’s suspicions. Frank says he’s been around cops so he can tell. Says Walsh has a familiar face. Then he asks for syrup. While Walsh’s back it turned Frank whips out a gun to shoot Walsh.

Walsh is prepared for the attack and tussles with Frank for the gun. The gun goes off, pointing toward the back. Beaumont screams. Walsh dives for a shotgun under the counter and there is a short tense gun battle. Frank runs out as Walsh scrambles to the back to see what happened to Beaumont.

She’s been shot in the stomach, the second most popular place to be shot beside the shoulder. Cue the happy intro music.

Police are cordoning off Walsh’s diner. Banks and Delahoy are waiting around. Banks sees that the cash register reads $42.42. Says that it’s telling him something about death. 9Um, last I checked 42 was about the meaning of life and had nothing to do with death. Obviously these people have friends who are Hitchhiker fans and have never actually read it.) Irritated Delahoy asks if he isn’t concerned about Beaumont. Schraeger shows up at the door and asks for Brown. They tell her to go in back.

Schraeger tells Brown that she’s canvassed the area with no sign. Brown says that Beaumont is in surgery and she’s lucky with a clean exit wound. He asks if Casey knew about Beaumont and Walsh. She admits it. He says they’ve called Cole but there is no answer. Then he tells Casey she is the lead on the case. She’s shocked and says no He asks why she said no and says she should be thanking him. She thanks him and says that she’s the least experienced. Brown says he’s worried because 3 months ago Walsh’s partner was killed now Walsh was almost killed. (What happened to each week is a week, now we jump 2 months? And what’s with the snow? I don’t want snow on TV in April. I want summer.) Brown says he knows that the two things are connected but she should keep quiet.

Brown then assigns Delahoy and Banks to a bus robbery with hostages. He says Alvarez is in charge. They ask why and he points out that Alvarez is more professional which they sullenly agree with.

At the scene of the crime a cop is describing what happened. He says a Puerto Rican jumped onto the bus with a grenade in his hand.(What’s with the Puerto Rican hate on this show? Last week it was the Miss Puerto Rico pageent. Someone has been watching too much West Side Story if you ask me.) He steals everything from the passengers and then jumps off the train again. Banks, distracted points out that they are at 4th and 2nd street. 42! Delahoy points out it could also be 2nd and 4th. Alvarez they should split up to talk to passengers. He says they should make legible notes, so Delahoy writes something offensive which we don’t even get to see, and Alvarez gets huffy. Banks heads towards a group of people and the other cop says no those are the translators and points to another group. “Those are the 42 passengers.” Really, had to be 42. Would have been much funnier if he said 42. Hold on; Cough, cough. Sorry I was choking on the crappy writing they are shoving down our throats.

Casey meets Walsh at the hospital, outside. She gets into the car. “Dark brown hair, greasy, in back.” An unhappy woman matching that description is sitting in back. Walsh is sketching a picture of Frank. He hands it off to he woman in back as he and Schraeger start talking. Casey wants to know why he won’t go inside, if he’s scared. He says he has no need because a nurse comes out every 15 minutes and tells about her progress. She’s in surgery anyway. She asks if he wants to talk and he deflects it. She asks if maybe the shooter was someone he put away or someone with a grudge. They see Cole heading toward the hospital and call him over.

Cole gets in the back seat. He says he was at Church and that was why he missed the call. In as sad a voice as he can manage he asks “How could this happen?” They tell him about the surgery and the stomach wound. The woman in back hands over the sketch with a few modifications. It’s the perfect likeness of Frank. Cole looks like he’s going to hurl so they aks if he knows the guy. He says no, and hurries out to call his fiance’s mother. Walsh flashbacks to the first episode and his face off with Cole about his past. Walsh makes a call and asks for a private line and for all the records about Cole from his past in Texas and Oklahoma. (And the cast recording of the time Cole was in Victor/Victoria)

Banks and Delahoy are questioning the bus witnesses through interpretters. All of them speak different languages. While one interpreter is translating Alvarez says she translated grenade wrong, because she said bomb, so in the man’s tribal language he says “Your mom is a hooker,” The man tries to hurt Alvarez.
One hostage is able to speak english and describes the man as in his late 20′s with olive skin and kinky hair. He had a grenade. She is disappointed that he didn’t blow up the bus. She says she is clairvoyant and has had visions of the future since she was 13. she thinks she was meant to die on the bus. She asks Banks if the number 42 means anything to him. He freaks out and bolts from the room. I wish she had asked if the numbers 4,8,15,16,23 and 42 meant anything to him.

An annoyed nurse brings some faxes out to Walsh’s car. She reminds him she is a nurse, not a secretary. Then a doctor brings out some faxes with pictures of Granger, aka Cole. He tells Walsh that Beaumont is of surgery and the bullet didn’t hit any major organs. (Um, doesn’t the stomach count as a major organ? Isn’t that why stomach cancer is so awful?)
Delahoy shows up. He says he can’t go into the hospital either, because people tend to die in hospitals. Banks then shows up and asks how Beaumont is. He won’t go in as well, saying that hospitals are like petri dishes. (Gotta agree, staph infections are so creepy-gross.) As a collective they decide to wait in the car.

Schraeger is going over the case with everyone. She tells them they are looking for a white guy in his mid 20′s. They have a theory that he was attempting to rob Walsh. They are looking for similar cases. Everyone is greenlit for overtime. Davis shows up, concerned if Casey is okay. He says there was a radio announcement of the shooting of a female detective. He says that he keeps calling the station but they wouldn’t tell him anything about her. And she wouldn’t answer her phone. She says she’s fine. Someone hands her a picture of Frank Lutz, so she tells davis to go home, that she’ll call him later. Could this guy be anymore desperate and clingy? I’ve known stalkers who weren’t as neurotic.

Cole goes in to see Beaumont, he is crying. Then he is breaking into Frank’s apartment. There is music playing. But when he searches the entire apartment he finds it is just a boombox. There is also a single queen sitting on a chess board. Angrily he leaves, calling Frank and leaving him a message. He goes to the park where Frank usually plays chess, and one guy is listening to the same song that was playing in the apartment. Cole practically tackles the guy. His phone rings. It’s Casey, asking how Beaumont is. Cole says he hasn’t seen her yet. Casey says they ID’ed the Camera store robber and she’s going to check it out.
Alvarez asks Banks where he’s been. Says he’s been at the hospital, checked out prior bus robberies and army surprus stores. What’s Alvarez doing? Being in charge. (Drinking scotch. Scotch schotch schotch!)

Bridget stops Banks at the station to tell him he missed lunch. He asks if she believes in fate. She says she is spiritual. He explains about the witness and the number 42 so she starts bubbling about how there are 42 letters in god’s name in Judiasm, etc. Delahoy appears and says that another bus was just robbed. Bridget admits that it gives her chills.

Casey goes to see Beaumont in the hospital. When she leaves she gets into Walsh’s car. She tells him they ID’ed the shooter, and shows him the picture. He agrees that it’s the same guy. She tells Walsh that the owner of camera store told her about the missing patrol car the night of the robbery, and the cop whon called the detail off. After listening Walsh asks where Cole is. At the precinct. Is he going to go in? “If it was my boyfriend I would go in,” She says. “She’s not my girlfriend,” Walsh answers.

Banks questions his psychic witness. She was on both buses. She says it was not an accident that he is on this case, that she saw him in a vision. He tells her to cut all the new age crap. She says that the bus robber is going to rob another bus at 5, but he won’t get away, Banks will catch him. When he asks which bus she says she doesn’t know but she knows someone is going to die. Then she says “Don’t feel bad, I lived a good fight. You can’t fight fate.” “Yes you can,” Banks says, citing that she doesn’t have to get on the bus. She says that not getting on the bus is as pointless as wearing a vest or wrapping your desk in foam. She says he can arrest her if it makes him feel better. (This episode is playing out like Final Destination 6 or something. You can’t cheat death!)

Beaumont wakes up. Brown is there. She asks what happened. Brown tells her that a customer tried to rob the restaurant and a bullet went through the wall. she nods to a giant basket of muffins and asks who sent them. “Alvarez.” “He does know I was shot in the stomach right?” Maybe he should have sent imaginary muffins instead. Cole arrives, blubbering like the feeble loser we all know he is. How the hell did this guy ever rob an armored car? He couldn’t even borrow an old lady’s knitting needle for an hour without feeling guilty. Brown drags Cole out and tells him that he shouldn’t cry and apologize but make jokes like a real cop. It’s the job, Brown says, it’s not Cole’s fault. (Brown might be the least competent supervisor since Chief Wiggum.)

Frank calls and Cole says he has to take it. He tells Frank that it’s over. They know who he is. “They make their move, we make ours,” says Frank. Cole says that’s he’s going to turn himself in. Frank says that he moved his queen too early. Then he reminds Cole that he’s supposed to be tasting wedding cakes with his fiance. Frank is standing outside the caterers. Angrily, in his most grown up voice Cole says “Don’t touch her.” “She really enjoys that devil’s food. I’ve got a problem Frank. thank you Frank. Couldn’t do it without you. Busting my nuts. You are gonnna show me appreciation, 20,000 small bills, Brooklyn Navy Yard, 1 hour.” (The Emmy for cheesiest villain speech of the year award!)

Cole goes to evidence room to check out the money he needs to pay Frank. He says that Alvarez vouched for him. Alvarez is letting the psychic, Jennifer Goodman, leave because she has an appointment. Banks is watching stonily. Banks and questions it. Her story checked out, she isn’t an accomplice so they have no reason to hold her. Delahoy points out that Banks can’t drive her everywhere. Banks says that it’s not a choice it’s fate. They have an ID on the robber. A guy named Juan Diaz who did 6 months in Bellview and hears voices.

Cole is rushing of the station. Walsh tells Cole that Beaumont is okay and they hug. Casey questions why so Walsh pulls her into a room and spreads files out on the table for Granger and Lutz. He points out 3 times over the years that Frank was in the same places as Cole/Granger and thinks there is a connection. Casey is skeptical about Cole removing the cop from in front of the camera store. She asks why Lutz would want to kill Walsh. Walsh thinks it is because he might know things. That he has assumptions that Frank killed Kowalski. He thinks Cole knows. He wants to bust Frank. He doesn’t want Beaumont to know because she is really excited about Cole’s wedding and he might not be her boyfriend but he is her man, and they are going to follow Cole to Frank. (Literally)

Banks, Delahoy and Alvarez break into Diaz’s apartment. It is cluttered with bus paraphernelia. Banks is saying that the lady isn’t a psychic, that she must want to die because her husband died the year before. They find a map on the wall with all the routes that have been robbed marked in black. Banks catches sight of something, and sneaks out, just as Delahoy mentions that there’s nothing about the M42 bus, only to find a route schedule for the M42 pinned on the wall. The dent in my head from being beaten with the concept of 42 is starting to hurt.

Brown has Casey in his office. He asks if they have tied Frank to Kowalski’s death along with the camera robbery. Casey says she doesn’t think so. Upset Brown asks if they still have an understanding. Casey defensively says that she is trustworthy, if she finds anything that will hurt Brown ore the station she’ll tell him. But he needs to let her do her job. yhting that hurts precinct she;ll tell him, let her do her job.

Cole is driving and listening to the song that was playing earlier on the boom box. (don’t know what is it, too generic pop.) He sees the time and turns on his siren. Walsh and Schraeger, following him, see him put his siren on so they flip theirs on too, in pursuit.

Banks is waiting at a bus stop for the M42. When the doors open Jennifer Goodman is standing there. She smiles at him He ends up not getting on. Then as the bus is pulling away Banks changes his mind and starts chasing it.

Cole arrives at the shipyard. Frank is there. cole gets out of the car and tosses Frank the bag that is presumably filled with money. (Um, 20,000 in small bills would probably weight a few pounds if I’m not mistaken. Hello, Frank! Duh! Frank gloats, saying it’s funny how things turned out, that Cole was his protege, just a dumb kid out of foster care that he rescued. He opens the bag and as he does Cole draws his gun. “Are you double crossing me?” Frank asks. Cole says that the guys at the park said Frank was bad at chess. Ha HA! They finally evolved as writers to put in double entendre! Yah! Cole takes out his phone and calls the police station, saying that the suspect is in custody. Cole says that he’s okay with doing down, Frank flips out and says he is going to take what is his. He never got the second chance COLE did. (Aka wasn’t smart enough to change his name and move away.)

He pulls out a gun. Cole threatens to shoot. Walsh and Schraeger pull up and jump out of the car. Frank swings around to aim at them and Cole pulls the trigger. Frank goes down.

Banks scans the people on the bus. He sees his suspect, and sits down next to him. He tries to talk to Diaz, saying he he could have had a heart attack from running to catch the bus, and that he has a waterless toilet so he can’t drown. Diaz isn’t listening, he’s just rocking and spewing gibberish. Banks says he’s been miserable and afraid. That what’s he’s been living is not life. He’s going to stop fighting. He’s not going to let Diaz blow those people up. He reaches out for the grenade. It falls and the pin pops out. Banks orders everyone off the bus and dives to cover the grenade. It doesn’t explode. Delahoy and another officer get on the bus in huge sumo suits. Delahoy tells him that the grenade was a fake. “Could have happened to anyone.” Banks is elated he is alive. Alvarez says Banks is going to get a commendation.

He finds Jennifer, tells her he knew she wanted to die because of her husband. He says life doesn’t work that way. “I saw fate get it’s ass kicked.”

At the pier there are swarms of cops. Walsh goes over to talk to Cole. Says he knows all about the past. Walsh knows about camera store robbery, and that he suspects Kowalski’s murder. But he also knows that Cole a good man and cop and wants to change. He knows that “You moved to NY and Frank found you and blackmailed you. Kowalski found out, you panicked and told Frank.” So Frank told Kowalski and Frank tried to kill him. Cole didn’t mean it, so he’s going to do nothing. The reason why “Is in a hospital bed, and if I was really a man I’d be there.” “Cole, keep your nose clean, I’ll be watching. What if he wants to make his nose Brown? Will Walsh get mad? He walks back to Schraeger and tells her it’s Done. They tell Brown that it’s all good, he looks tired.

Banks goes to see Bridget in the pit. He steers her in to a janitorial closet for some good old fashioned high school television making out. (I’ve never actually seen a janitorial closet anyone could fit in to. Aren’t they usually crammed with giant carts and smelly cleaners? Sexy!)

Casey shows up at Davis’s apartment. She says that “We need rules. I grew up without rules and I need rules for this to work.” So no 40 calls to work, no dropping by without prearranged plans. What about lunch? she doesn’t pack a lunch. He needs to respect what she does because her parents still think it’s a phase. “I’m good at what I do, and I like it.” He has to understand and agree. He agrees to try and invites her in to watch a Fistful of Dollars.

Bridget sends out a sexy voiced dedication to (someone). I expected music here or something, not nothing. Banks is peeling the foam off his desk and throwing away all his hand cleansers. Delahoy walks in. “E-money!” What is with guys adding money to people’s initials? Can I call my girlfriends like G-Cupcakes? Delahoy is somber. Jennifer died in a traffic accident on another bus. Banks pulls his vest back on. (This has got to be the most disappointing scene of the entire show. I’m bummed they are so caught between comedy and drama. They don’t even mesh it in the right way! You’re telling me this character is so one dimensional that a revelation like free will collapses him so they can’t change him and keep him a 1 note character? Might as well make him a devout Christian. Or go ahead and make him a Calvinist if he believes in predestination so much! Sheesh!

Alvarez is in the hospital with Beaumont. He tells her he sent the muffins because “I’m not so good with emotionality, so I send pastries.” I remember him being all emotional over his wife’s face. 9Okay, not really quite that, but he’s gooey about her.) Walsh skulks in. Beaumont asks where he’s been, as Alvarez leaves. “Been catching bad guys,” he says. He tells her that Frank, the guy who shot her, is dead. He wants her to hurry and get better because when he was 22 his girlfriend was murdered, but she lingered for a week. He makes her promise. “Now move over.” The show ends with them in bed, as usual.