Army Wives s01e11 Episode Script

Previously on Army Wives Any man who hits my wife might as well have hit me! He's our son.
As far as I'm concerned, he's dead.
Why do you answer every question with a question? - I'm a psychiatrist.
- I'm a journalist.
"With his self-deprecating sense of humor, "and eyes that offer more than a glimpse into this modest doctor's soul, "one would never imagine Dr.
Roland Burton "is one of the leading experts on post-traumatic stress disorder.
" Sir.
Are you all right? We were all at lunch when General Baker had a seizure.
They think it's an aneurysm.
This is not your opportunity to replace me, Claudia Joy.
Lenore is spreading a rumor about you.
I wanted you to hear the truth from me.
She got kicked out of Harvard.
I was cramming one night, seven straight hours.
I got in my car around 3:00 a.
m.
It was just a second when my eyes closed.
Claudia Joy killed someone.
General Grayson, Mrs.
Grayson, it's an honor to have you here.
Please allow me to introduce Lieutenant Colonel Burton, my X O.
- A pleasure, Colonel.
- General, ma'am.
This is my husband, Dr.
Roland Burton.
Roland's a leading expert on post-traumatic stress disorder.
Didn't I read about you in National Dispatch? You remember, Hugh, that article I showed you on PTSD? I do.
Excellent work, Doctor.
Thank you, sir.
- You bet.
- Shall we go? Major Frank Sherwood.
Rescued from that downed Black Hawk in Iraq.
His son is in basic at Fort Benning.
Major Sherwood.
- Glad to have you back home.
- Thank you, sir.
How's your son doing? Fort Benning, isn't it? That's correct, sir.
What's his specialty? Infantry, sir.
Eleven Bravo.
Chip off the old block, huh, Major? Yes, sir.
Why do you think the Graysons are here? We haven't had a visit like this in years.
Well, he said routine post inspection, but you're right.
With Baker ill, the timing is odd.
General! I hope you're saving room for pralines.
Now, how did you know that pralines were Hugh's favorite treat? A general's wife has to have her sources, doesn't she? Isn't that the truth? I appreciate your thoughtfulness, Mrs.
Baker, but I doubt that my waistline will.
- May I excuse myself? - Sure.
I'm so sorry General Baker couldn't be here tonight.
It's my fault entirely.
He wanted to leave the hospital, but I insisted he stay and get his rest.
Doctor's orders.
Well, we're looking forward to seeing him tomorrow.
You give him our best, will you? - Certainly.
- Okay.
Victoria, I believe Claudia Joy has a few things lined up for you tomorrow.
Oh, good.
Something about a tea Sit still.
Can this not wait until tomorrow? No.
General Grayson could drop by at any minute.
You have to be prepared.
When's the last time you washed your hair? Just before I had brain surgery.
- You could at least use a comb.
- Lenore, will you Look, we have worked too long and too hard to get this post.
We're not going to let it slip through our fingers.
You should have seen Michael Holden working the General tonight.
Now, look, I'll do my part.
I'll win Victoria over, but you have to convince the General that your aneurysm was just a minor setback and that you're ready to go back to work, better than ever.
- I'm tired, Lenny.
- Well, you'll feel better in the morning.
I mean I'm tired of all this, the Army.
Sometimes, I think I just don't give a damn anymore.
Sgt.
Polarski's residence.
Marilyn, it's Lenore Baker.
Mrs.
Baker? Am I catching you at a bad time, dear? No.
No.
Wow.
I heard something more today from my Ivy League friend about Claudia Joy Holden.
I'm all ears.
She didn't kill that pedestrian because she was tired.
What do you mean? I thought she was studying late and got in the car and That's what Claudia Joy wants you to believe.
She wasn't alone.
What? There was a man with her.
No, you're joking, right? Let's just say Claudia Joy didn't have both hands on the wheel.
The rumor is that General Grayson isn't just here for a routine inspection, but that the Army might actually replace General Baker.
That's kind of kicking a man when he's down, isn't it? Well, I heard it was already in the works before the aneurysm.
My opinion is that our combat readiness is not what it needs to be.
The post could do better.
And Michael Holden was unfairly passed over last time.
So this could be a way to right things.
Which means you could be staying on as deputy commander.
How do you feel about that? Well, we've been talking about a family, Joan.
I know.
I just thought this assignment was supposed to be temporary.
But if you're Holden's X O Roland.
Things have been happening so fast.
Look.
Colonel Holden really went to the mat for me.
I owe him my career.
Being X O, it's It's like a dream opportunity.
Look, you're the most important thing in my life and I want you to be okay with this.
Well, how can I be upset when the Army recognizes my wife's talents? That's just the tip of the iceberg.
Claudia Joy's father, this big judge in Philly, paid a ton of hush money to cover it up.
- I know.
It's this drama.
- All this stuff But get this.
Have you ever noticed how Amanda Holden - doesn't look a thing like her father? - No.
Think about it.
Oh, no, you don't.
Hey! Gilligan, hold up! "Gilligan"? That was my parking space.
- Didn't see you.
- Like hell you didn't.
You gonna move your car? - Give it a rest! I had my blinker on and I was waiting.
What's the big deal? The big deal is this is disaster number 10 on my list of things today and it isn't even noon yet.
My water heater's broken, I can't find my cell phone, and now I got to buy five bags of flour so my kids can make a papier-mâché horsie that's going to be a freaking nightmare! So, are you going to move this damn car or are we going to stand here doing the hula all day? What's your name? Oh, forget it.
Yeah, nice horn! What else you get for Christmas? This is my pride and joy.
It's absolutely beautiful, Lenore.
Quite inspiring.
Thank you.
I can't believe how much you've accomplished in such a short period of time.
Well, I had help, of course, planting it.
The design was entirely my own creation, though.
You are a woman of many talents.
When it comes to gardening, I'm all black thumbs.
It's General Baker's influence.
He wants everything on post to shine to perfection.
Even my nails.
And, in your husband's absence, how is Colonel Holden performing? I mean, just between us girls.
Colonel Holden? I think he's been perfectly adequate.
No.
More than adequate.
Competent.
Yeah.
And is that General Baker's opinion as well? My husband isn't a complainer, Victoria.
You won't find him nitpicking about certain standards that might be slipping.
And Claudia Joy? She seems lovely.
A peach! And I wouldn't believe a word of what's going around about her.
Well, I haven't heard.
What You haven't heard? I shouldn't have said anything.
Don't be silly.
Nothing enlivens post life more than a little dirt.
Now, come on.
Come on.
Give.
Well, nothing's been substantiated.
Yet.
Now, I've always believed that people should not be held accountable for what they did when they were young.
Right? - Hey.
- Hey.
Glad you could make it.
Here.
Hey.
You are going to need this.
Let me guess.
Lenore Baker.
You said yourself it was going to get bad.
Okay.
How bad? Bad.
There's a new rumor going around about you.
- I heard it at the PX.
- I heard it at the hospital.
And? Well, we all know that rumors can grow.
And that Lenore Baker's full of fertilizer.
Okay.
Please.
Tell me what's going on.
Okay.
The way that I heard it was you were riding sidesaddle with your law professor when you hit the student with your car.
We all know the truth, Claudia Joy.
We all know it was Lenore Baker.
And I just saw her kissing up to some important-looking blond lady.
Victoria Grayson, General Grayson's wife.
Whoever it was, Lenore was all over her like fleas on a hound.
It is so obvious what Lenore is doing.
She's using you to undermine Michael so Baker remains post commander.
So, seriously, what do you want to do, here? Michael and I agree the only way to deal with a rumor is to rise above it.
Oh, no.
Not in my world.
- I say we fight fire with fire.
I can't do that.
- Claudia Joy.
- I should let them, but I can't Amanda? What are you doing here? Mom, they're saying that Dad is not my real father.
Is that true? So, that's it.
I made a terrible mistake, and an innocent person died because of it.
- But you were alone in the car? - Yes.
And, let there be no doubt, I'm your father.
How come you didn't tell us before? We wanted to protect you.
And we never thought this would be a factor in your lives.
So why did it happen now? When you achieve a certain level of success, there are people who get envious and you become a target.
Somebody's jealous of Mom? Of me and your father.
Who? - It's - It's that Lenore Baker, isn't it? - Amanda - No! She cannot do this! - Hey, Amanda! It's not important who it is.
What is important, Amanda, is at times like these, we close ranks as a family.
We love each other.
We trust each other.
Right? And that gives us the strength to get through.
I believe in you, Mom.
Me too.
Thank you.
She has gone too far.
It's one thing to go after me.
I can handle it.
But when you bring our daughter into it, not okay.
Did you hear what I said? I heard.
What is it? Nothing.
Michael.
You know what I think about Lenore Baker and what she's done this time is inexcusable, but we have known the kind of person she is for a long time.
- Meaning? - The fact of the matter is - you lit this fuse months ago.
- Me? - Yeah.
- I did? Yeah, at General Baker's promotion ceremony when you publicly confronted Lenore about spreading rumors.
When I publicly defended my husband! You That's not defending me.
Think about it.
You declared war with the woman.
And guess what? Now she's ready to do battle.
You're saying this is my fault now? Yes.
This whole thing could have been avoided but you just couldn't resist firing the first shot.
- But I did not fire the first shot, Michael! - You did.
She did, when she called you a racist and took away your chance at a promotion.
- Do you remember that? - I do.
I do.
But all I'm saying is we're playing a very dangerous game - with a very unstable woman - Yes we are! And we shouldn't be.
You should've walked away then, Claudia Joy.
And we should walk away now.
Oh, my God.
Don't you get it.
No.
- Stop that.
- No, no, no.
Stop.
Stop it.
Major Sherwood.
Yes, sir.
I understand.
Yes, sir.
Thank you, sir.
You're deploying.
Yeah.
We're on notice.
One week.
Now Frank.
Well, it's not like we haven't been through this before.
What about our son? You need to see Jeremy before you go.
You're both Army.
It's wartime.
Is this how you want to leave things? I didn't hear it.
What do you think about a nightcap? I've got a nightcap all planned out for you already.
I was thinking ice cream.
I was thinking whipped cream.
We can do that.
You want caramel or hot fudge? Hot fudge.
Hey.
When did you go to a hotel? That was a few weeks ago.
While I was away? Yeah.
Some kind of doctor's convention or something? Or were you getting a little something-something on the side? I Who is she? The magazine reporter.
Nice.
So, I'm away getting help and you're here sleeping with someone else.
- Do you love her? - No.
It was a one-time thing.
It just happened.
Why? Why? After everything that we've been through together.
Why? It was a mistake.
"It was a mistake.
" "It just happened.
" You sound like every cliché in the book.
Why don't you start over and tell me the truth? What do you want to know, Joan? I mean, what was she like? Is she pretty? Sexy? I mean, what was she like in bed? - I mean, I want to know everything.
- No.
Come on.
I'm not going to do this, Joan.
I said it was a mistake, now can't we just What? Forget about it? Move on? You cheated, Roland.
How many times did you tell me that you would never have an affair? That you were not that guy? Apparently, you are that guy.
Okay.
You want to know? She was bright and funny.
And yeah, she was sexy.
And we laughed and we talked.
We had fun, Joan.
And you know why? Because for once, it wasn't about the Army.
It was about me.
And I was flattered.
- So you slept with her? - Joan.
It wasn't And you've just been lying to me all this time? Look.
I didn't tell you because I didn't want this to happen.
I didn't want you to have to carry this around.
Well, as you would say, Roland, I'm flattered.
Excellent shooting, ma'am.
- Thank you, Sergeant.
- Anytime, ma'am.
Anytime.
Outstanding weapon.
Shall we? Of course.
I like to check out the latest ordnance.
Very impressive.
Not really.
My father and grandfather were both military.
While all the other girls were out doing their nails, I was learning how to assemble a Colt.
45 faster than any man I knew.
So, tell me, Claudia Joy, what do you think of General Baker? Wow.
You don't beat around the bush, do you? Never saw the point.
You should speak to my husband about that.
Oh, my dear.
We wives know where all the bodies are buried.
And surely you know my husband is here to determine whether your husband should remain in command.
So, what kind of a job was General Baker doing before he fell ill? As far as I can tell, General Baker has done an exemplary job as post commander.
And his wife? How does she represent Fort Marshall? Lenore is a devoted wife who has given a great deal of herself for this post and the Army.
Good.
Good.
That's my impression, too.
You know, someone once told me that getting older is like being punished for a crime you didn't commit.
But I've still got it.
I've instituted an immediate review of our ability to deploy forces, units, weapon systems, and equipment without unacceptable delay, sir.
Very good, Colonel.
You should have a report within three weeks.
- Make that two.
- Yes, sir.
Excuse me.
Miss? Gilligan.
Yes, sir.
You ran off yesterday before I could say goodbye.
You know Mrs.
Moran, Major? We met yesterday.
General Grayson, this is Pamela Moran.
She has a husband in Special Ops.
The best of the best.
You must be very proud.
I am, sir.
Yes.
Thank you.
Proud, I am.
I'll just be a minute, sir.
General.
I'm the new public affairs officer on post.
You busy later today? Well, my kids are in camp until 3:00.
Excellent.
I'll see you at Or do you want to stand here and do the hula? Major Sherwood, sir.
Amanda.
I was supposed to meet Mrs.
Sherwood.
We were going to go take a walk, but Yeah, Mrs.
Sherwood just called.
She's been delayed at the hospital, but she's on her way.
Come on in.
Come on.
- Have a seat.
- Oh, that's okay.
I brought some pictures to show Mrs.
Sherwood.
They're of Jeremy at Fort Benning.
So, you've been to see him.
Yes, sir.
Would you like to see them? Hey! Sorry I'm late.
No problem.
You ladies have a nice walk.
Check one.
Check.
Check one-one.
Check.
Of what? Good question.
Let's start over.
Major Ned Casey.
Pamela Moran.
So, what the hell is this place? You ever listen to post radio? - Yeah, once.
- And? - Bored the hell out of me.
- Me, too.
Like to fix that.
Boost morale.
I'm looking for someone to spice up the airwaves for an hour a day.
Me? No.
I don't know anything about radio.
You don't have to.
You know how to talk.
You proved that yesterday.
Yesterday I was having a really bad day.
No need to apologize.
I like your style, Pammy.
- Pamela.
- It'd be a trial run.
You read the news, but do it in your own voice.
Put your own twist on it.
Interested? What's it pay? I mean, if I took the job.
Nothing.
Child care? - Nope.
- Meal allowance? You might have heard, the Army's on a tight budget right now.
So let me get this straight.
You want me to do you a favor for no pay, no child care and no meals.
What do you say? No, thanks.
I'm going to see Jeremy.
Oh, thank you.
But I can't promise anything, okay? Oh, Lenore! Come on in.
Are we still on for tea? That tea talk was just smoke screen.
I'm thinking wine.
You are wicked.
You don't know the half of it.
Oh, dear.
I have to go sign for a fax.
It never ends, does it? Never ever.
I'll be right back.
Well, that's done.
Are we good to go? Very good.
Just like that.
A man offers you your own radio show and you tell him no.
It was the news.
It wasn't my own radio show.
Pamela Moran on the air? I mean, you'd be running that show in a week.
- I am not talking on the radio.
- Why not? Because I've never done it before, that's why not.
You're chicken! - You, the badass ex-cop are a chicken! - No.
No.
Am not.
Look, every time I open my mouth, I put another dent in the image of the perfect Army wife.
That's all I hear.
Pamela Moran.
Marilyn Polarski.
I heard you had a visitor recently.
A guy named Scott.
Oh, you are so not going there.
Honey, I'm not just going, I'm already there.
Oh, well, don't look at me.
I was just cleaning art brushes, not having pizza at home with Scott and the kids.
Excuse me? How would you even know that? Okay.
It's time to leave.
I'm getting a rash.
Another time, then? Bye.
So, you still think having your own microphone to tell the world off is a bad thing? The potluck supper will be on Saturday at 6:00 p.
m.
, so get there early because you know what they say.
"The early bird gets the worm.
" And the all-women's bell choir has come up with the salad extravaganza.
Pammy, come in! - It's okay? - Soundproof.
Talk away.
Okay.
Well, first thing, it's Pamela, not Pammy.
Okay? And second thing, if this thing works out, I'm going to need child care allowance and gas money.
- Anything else? - Yes.
I will read your news, but I want my own show, where people can call in and talk about the day-to-day of being an Army wife.
The Army has rules I get that.
I will stay within the rules, but we need our own outlet and right now, every other show is about soldiers.
I don't know.
That's All right.
Well, that's the deal.
So, take it or leave it.
Now, the "bingo" of Bingo Night is now "bunco.
" So that makes it now Bunco Night.
But, "What kind of game is bunco, anyway?" you may ask.
Well, I'm glad you did.
Because it has something to do with dice - and a timer and - Take it.
As my nine-year-old says, "It's simply off the hizzy.
" Back to you, Fred.
We still have time? Okay.
Go! Move! Move! Move on through there now! Come on! Come on! Move it! Move it! Let's move it up from the back there! Let's go! Pick it up! Left, right, left One, two, three! - One, two, three! Drop the tags! One, two, three! One, two, three! Company at ease! Sherwood! Fall out.
Afternoon, sir.
I've been driving for hours, trying to make sense of this whole thing.
- I didn't mean to - Don't interrupt me.
And I have just one question for you.
Why? Why would you ever hit your mother? - I don't know, sir.
- That's not good enough, boy.
That's the same question I ask myself every day and I never get an answer.
She didn't do anything wrong.
I was just angry.
Angry about what? I don't know.
I just felt so much pressure, sir.
Just pressure.
Pressure? Everyone feels pressure.
That's no excuse.
Well, I tell you one thing.
If I had been here, you would never have hit your mother.
I know that, sir.
Well, that's it, isn't it? I wasn't here.
I wasn't around enough to teach you the things that a boy learns from his father.
You've been a good father, sir.
This is my fault.
No.
No, you were angry with me and your mother became the target.
It was wrong.
I know that.
- Sir, I - Stop calling me "sir.
" I'm your father.
Now carry on, son.
I'm sorry.
Me, too.
I shouldn't have put it on you last night.
It was unfair.
But it was accurate.
You asked me not to speak to Lenore Baker and I did anyway.
Then you wouldn't be the woman I fell in love with and have stayed in love with for 18 years.
You still using that old line, huh? It still work? Every time.
Elsewhere, small craft warnings are still in effect for local harbors.
Boaters should take extra caution in venturing out for pleasure.
Where have you been? We're going to be late.
For what? Farewell dinner for General Grayson.
Did you forget? No.
I just figured you'd rather go alone.
Alone? No.
Roland, you're my husband.
Look, I'm still upset, but I know how hard it's been on you with me being gone for two years.
I know that I was messed up when I came home.
But you were there for me.
You didn't give up on us.
- Joan, I - Wait.
Let me finish.
I want this marriage to work.
I'm willing to put this incident behind us.
I know it's not going to be easy, but we're worth it.
We are worth it.
We are worth fighting for.
So, look, why don't you just go upstairs and get changed, so we won't be late? I can't do this, Joan, just go out and make small talk, act like everything's okay.
Roland, I said we could work this out.
And what I came home to tell you is that I'm not so sure that we can.
I've been thinking, too.
And you're right, Joan.
I'm not that guy.
When I married you, I made a commitment.
And I broke it.
And I've been asking myself why.
Why was I open to having an affair? It's because I've been avoiding the truth, Joan.
I haven't been happy in this marriage for a while.
- And now Just, please - Roland.
Roland, you're unhappy? Now, with you and your life going in one way and mine going another, honestly, I don't know what we have to offer each other anymore.
I thought we were back to the way it was, Roland.
No.
No.
I think we should separate.
Separate? Wait a minute.
Let's not make any hasty decisions.
- It's not.
I'm sorry, Joan.
- Let's - I'm going to stay in a hotel tonight.
- Let's sleep on it I'll call you in the morning.
Roland! Roland! I'm sorry.
But the children were so excited.
With all due respect, sir, I don't think it was me that had the problem.
- You might be right.
- Frank, he did outrank you, so I'm pretty certain it was you who had the problem.
Still got a scar from it, although What's the scoop on the post commander? Is the evil empire winning? Michael thinks so.
Frank went to see Jeremy.
And? He wouldn't tell me exactly what they said, but I think we have our family back.
Denise, that's wonderful.
I'm so happy for you.
Thank you.
Me, too.
Everything all right, Burton? Perfectly fine, sir.
Where's Roland? He wasn't feeling well, sir.
Sorry to hear that.
There you are.
You can't escape me, General.
Mrs.
Baker, those pralines are out of this world.
I told you.
All the good food comes from Charleston.
You're making a believer out of me.
Now, I don't want to presume, but I know if General Baker were here this evening, he'd tell you this himself.
- What's that? - You can count on him for support.
Support for what? One of your favorite projects, of course.
Project Windfall.
How do you know about Windfall? We have our ways.
- Is everything okay, General? - Excuse me.
- What's going on? - I don't know.
Excuse me.
Ma'am? Would you come with us, please? What? What's this about? Ma'am, this way please.
We don't want to use force.
Would somebody please tell me what this is about? I am the wife of General Theodore Baker.
- Please sit down, ma'am.
- I will not sit down! Not until you explain to me why I was humiliated and brought to this place like some common criminal.
How did you learn about Project Windfall? I don't need to tell you that.
Actually, you do.
It's highly classified information and your knowledge and open discussion of it constitutes a breach of national security.
Victoria.
Hi.
Love your gardenias.
Thank you.
I thought you'd left.
Well, I just wanted to say goodbye.
You may not know this, but several years ago, your husband did General Grayson a great service in the field, in Kosovo.
No.
No, Michael's never said anything.
That doesn't surprise me.
We never understood why General Baker got the nod here instead of Michael.
But that mistake has been rectified.
What do you mean? Well, I simply let Lenore Baker's worst instincts play themselves out.
You told Lenore classified information? Oh, no, no, no.
I didn't tell her anything.
She looked at a file inside my husband's briefcase.
But if she admits it, my husband will deny ever having had such a file.
Really.
Why? Because he didn't.
I made the file and put it there.
Project Windfall was a weapons program that was aborted two years ago.
The only reason I know about it is because my husband talks in his sleep.
I don't know what to say.
Don't say anything.
If I were you, I would be on my way to a spa for a chemical peel and a full-body massage.
But that's me.
You take good care of that husband of yours.
And now for that goodbye.
And the high school seniors will be washing cars at the corner of Wilson and Jessop Drive starting at 2:00.
So, car wash, people.
Go.
Okay.
So much for announcements.
Now for a little call-in segment that I'm calling Have At It, with Pamela Moran, where we talk about us, the Army wives, and what we go through, Like how it feels to be a single mom even when you're married, or, better yet, what it feels like to be the mistress because the Army is the wife and sometimes that bitch gets all the attention.
You know, they say, "Mission first, people always," but that's crap.
And what the hell does that mean anyway? Because the Army comes first, period.
And we deal with it or we move on.
And it doesn't matter if your spouse wears sergeant stripes or a colonel's eagle because worrying about your soldier at wartime feels exactly the same.
So, forget rank because people are just people.
And, speaking of which, I know we all like to gossip, but Come on, folks.
Can we just stop all the lies and innuendos about a certain colonel's wife? I mean, what the hell, folks? Did we all lose direction to the high road or what? Hi.
This is Have At It.
You are on the air.
Hi.
This is Jane.
Hi, Ms.
Jane.
What's on your mind? Well, I'm eight months pregnant and I have a two-year-old and I went to the PX on payday, and, well Oh, well, there's your first mistake.
Unbelievable lines on payday.
Wait a day, sweetheart.
Yeah, well.
I had to park way in the back.
By the time I made it to the front All you saw were empty spots for colonels and their wives.
That's right.
I felt like a second-class citizen.
You know, when I was pregnant with twins, I peed my damn pants before I got to that front door.
Maybe we can see about getting some spots reserved in front for the pregnant gals.
Really? You think you could do that? I can ask.
I mean I can Have At It.
Hi.
This is Have At It.
You are on the air.
Hey, Pamela.
My husband deployed two weeks ago