Melrose Place
Episode #114 / Season #4
Title: "The Brooke Stops Here"
Original Air Date: Monday, January 08, 1996

Synopsis

[MP, Brooke and Billy's]
As the ambulance pulls up to 4616 Melrose Place, a flashback of the 60s TV show "Emergency" emerges, with the squawk box screaming, "Squad 51, Squad 51. See the girl dressed in black with a shaving problem." But back to Melrose Place and *reality*. Four EMTs pop out of the vehicle and they rush into the courtyard, running toward a meek voice squeaking, "Over here, right here!" They find a distraught Billy holding his wife Brooke with her blood-splattered wrist-slit arms dangling by her side. They are quick to ask, "Sir, are you okay? You have blood all over your shirt! And what's wrong with her?" Billy tells them all about the mess in the bathroom, and that he thinks she's still breathing. Billy tosses her onto the stretcher and they immediately strap on a mask and start pumping her with laughing gas, hoping to pick up Brooke's spirits. Only after they have her on the stretcher, do the others in the building come out. Peter runs over saying, "I'm a doctor -- what's wrong?" (Now we understand why he's being sued for malpractice by the only patient he's had in months!) Even though Billy is worried about his honey, Alison vies for his attention by showing him a note she found while snooping around their apartment, adding, "Billy, I think she attempted suicide." The laughing gas seems to work wonders as Brooke suddenly gains her second wind. When she sees Billy she screams, "Keep that Biwwy away fwom me. Just let me die." Don't worry Brooke, a lot of Melrosians feel the same way you do!

[Wilshire Memorial Hospital]
Brooke is resting nicely, wearing a couple of extra-fuzzy wrist wraps. D&D Advertising must have some health plan, because it seems their employees always manage to get a private hospital room. Billy enters. Brooke is incensed, saying, "I thought I told them I didn't want to see you." Billy replies, "Brooke, I'm sorry." "Sorry doesn't *cut* it. Get it, Billy? I lost my daddy. I lost my Billy Jr., and lastly, I thought I lost you." Then Billy starts that annoying grinning again as he mutters, "I love you. I can understand how you might have misinterpreted me when I screamed, 'THIS MARRIAGE, THIS ENTIRE SHAM, IS OVER!' to mean I wouldn't be there for you, but I'm here now." Smile, smile. Grin, grin. But Brooke says, "This is real life Casanova. Life can't get any more real than what we have here at MP!!" Billy understands, giving his patented blank stare look. Brooke continues, "Promise me one thing, that you won't leave me." So Billy, wording his reply very carefully, says, "I promise that you won't go through *this* alone." Sly Billy, as they hug, you get the impression that he's anxious to dump his albatross. Meanwhile, Brooke's so happy she could cry.

[D&D Advertising]
Amanda is on the phone with Billy, and she performs her weekly act of kindness by wishing Brooke a swift recovery. The scene is immediately tarnished when Bobby saunters in. Amanda realizes this too, and she lets him know by saying, "Don't you ever knock before entering?" In his own subtle way, Bobby hints to Amanda that Peter struck him, saying, "Your Peteh shoore hit me hawd witha wight cwoss da utha day!" "What!," Amanda exclaims, "He hit you!?" "You guessed it," Bobby answers, "Ah figured yuh mighta told him of our Palm Spwings flirtation." Then he smiles. Amanda halfheartedly corrects him, saying she saw it as simply a deep-tongued good-bye kiss. We still don't know whether it was Peter's right cross or Amanda's sucking face that has made Bobby's dialogue even more garbled. At this rate, by the end of the season he'll sound like Marlon Brando. But I digress. Whenever Bobby and Amanda are together, it usually means a phone call from Peter is due, and this is no exception. Ring! Ring! Surprise! It's Peter, who wants to talk about the Palm Springs trip and also to invite Amanda and Bobby to dinner. Michael, eavesdropping on Peter's phone call, offers Peter some advice: "Getting chummy with Bobby is not the way to Amanda's heart." Peter says, "Duh, the way to Amanda's heart is loaded with casualties, like you, and I don't intend to be one of them."

[Michael's Beach House]
Alison is over visiting Jane, who is absorbed in self-pity. Syd is playing indentured servant, bringing the two of them drinks. Syd asks if there is anything else she can get them. Jane sarcastically asks Syd for a new life, unaware that Syd almost did give her a new life at the Christmas Party. Jane blames Richard and Jo for spiking her drink and gloating about it. Jo just happens to be strolling through the beach house living room, so she overhears Jane's accusation. Jo denies any participation, and Alison concurs. So Jane revises her story, blaming Richard. She explains that paralysis has given her a clarity of perception (Huh?) and so she warns Jo, "Watch out for him. The next designer -- he's going to sleep with her and dump you." "Maybe, but really, that's different from murder," Alison notes, adding "Who would want to see you dead?" Then they all look at Syd, who is busy whacking a spatula on the countertop and mumbling something about "...hating aunts!" (but nothing about *sisters*.)

[MP, Matt's Apartment]
Matt is busy trying to add Alan to the apartment lease. Rather than let Alan fill it out by himself, Matt acts like a secretary taking dictation, reading each question aloud while Alan sits around doing nothing. (Matt looks like he's going to be doing all the work in this relationship.) But Matt doesn't have to do much writing, as he discovers that Alan has no bank account, no job, and can't even remember his old address.

[Wilshire Memorial Hospital]
Syd visits Kimberly to complain that all the other women suspect her of spiking Jane's drink. She's mad that they would have the nerve to think that she could do something so devious, even though she DID do it. So Kimberly, as therapy, suggests that Syd plant evidence on someone else in order to take suspicion away from her. Kimberly tells Syd, as additional therapy, to concentrate and try to remember if any other names were mentioned as suspects.

[Hart & Mancini Designs]
Syd, recalling Richard's name as "one of the usual suspects," drops by the building late at night. The front door just happens to be open. Syd sneaks into Richard's office, dumps all 30 of her pills in a Ziploc bag and hides it in his end table drawer. She's careful not to wear gloves, maybe because she's afraid she might drop one leaving it as evidence like in the O.J. Simpson trial.

[MP, Billy & Brooke's Apartment]
It's the next day and Billy and his Ajax cleanser are busy removing the blood on the bathroom floor. He probably would've waited another episode or so, only Brooke is supposed to be coming home later that day. Of course, he's still wearing the same blood splattered shirt. Alison drops in with some Bon Ami cleanser, telling Billy it works better than Ajax. Then she segue ways to their relationship, saying "Speaking of bon ami, you are my good friend, Billy." She tells him that all she can do is think about the two of them lately, and now she understands that the reason is, he's her soul mate, and that she carries him right here, pointing to her left breast. "And you always will be here." Compassionate Billy replies, "Either take a sponge and start scrubbing, or take your '"Good Friend" and get out. Get out while you can and don't come back. NOW!" This causes Alison's eyes to blink and she leaves.

[Hart & Mancini Designs]
Richard pops in while Jo is looking at contact sheets of Jane, remembering the good 'ole days when Jane had normal hair. She tells him that Jane needs their support, but Richard seems somewhat distant, saying, "I don't want to rub her nose in our happiness. Can't we leave well enough alone? Besides, I've already scheduled interviews for new designers." Jo looks at him while remembering the free insight Jane gave her earlier. Jo, her jealousy rearing its big ugly head again, feels she should be there during the interviews but Richard says he can handle it by himself.

[D&D Advertising]
Billy confronts Amanda, demanding that she give Brooke her old job back. Billy feels it's necessary for Brooke's recovery, but Amanda recommends neosporin instead. First, he tries to bully Amanda, but all it does is annoy her, so Billy plays his trump card, threatening to quit and take his talents elsewhere unless he can re-hire Brooke. But before Amanda can say anything, Billy turns and leaves, since he knows that if he loses his job on MP, he may end up being his sister Elizabeth's gopher and potential Oscar polisher. Maybe she can give him some acting tips.

[Wilshire Memorial Hospital]
Jane is engaged in physical therapy, the PT twisting her arms around like a Gumby. Syd interrupts her session, feeding Jane's head with the Richard-is-a-serial-stroker theory. Jane dismisses her idea as crazy, so Syd has to resort to her alternate plan and calls the police, volunteering information regarding an attempted murder.

[Shooters]
Monty, the loan shark from "Let's Make a Deal" visits Jake's bar. Jake made a payment, but his calculations were a little different than Monty's. I guess Jake is even calculator illiterate! Since Jake's payment was short, Monty asks for a favor. He wants Jake to pick up $235 from another loanee, and to strong-arm the client if necessary. When Jake protests, Monte threatens to "remodel" Jake's bar so Jake gives in. Why Monty can spend the time to threaten Jake but can't take the time to get the 235 bucks from the other guy is somewhat puzzling, but it's just another in a growing list of unanswered riddles.

[MP, Brooke and Billy's Apartment]
Brooke looks lovely with her new white wristbands. White seems to go with everything. There are flowers from Amanda and Billy tells Brooke she can return to work as soon as she feels able. Billy also shows Brooke a book Jo left a gift, entitled "Visualizing Your Dreams." "Remember how you used to dream of being a fish, Brooke? Maybe this book will help. Just don't accidentally drown in the pool, okay?" (Hint? Hint?) When there's no response from Brooke, Billy starts to get worried and he runs around the apartment calling out her name. He finds her in the bathroom, squatting on the floor inspecting Billy's cleaning job. "Don't worry, Billy, I'm not going to kill myself today."

[MP, Matt & Alan's Apartment]
Kimberly brings over some macaroni and cheese as a welcoming gift for Alan. Matt isn't home, so Kimberly cleverly discloses to Alan Matt's previous love affair and how Matt was suspected of murdering his ex-lover's wife. Alan eats this up and it begins to screw with his head. Perfect, since Kimberly could really use a second patient. Just then, Matt arrives home, only to have Alan run out quicker than Jake did last episode, even though he was supposed to fix a fabulous lasagna. Kimberly turns to Matt and says, "I only have two words for you Matt -- Couples Therapy." Great! That would make it three patients!

[Restaurant]
Amanda, Bobby, and Peter are sitting together for dinner. Peter mentions the Palm Springs reunion kiss he witnessed on New Year's Eve between Bobby and Amanda. Smirk-faced Bobby explains it as "a holiday thing." Peter is pretty fed up with Bobby and his ugly teeth when he smiles, so he finally lets loose. Peter says, "You've been here at our pleasure and we are no longer pleased. I'm suggesting that Amanda is mine." Even Cro-Magnum Bobby gets the message, so he throws some money down and walks out. Amanda turns to Peter, furious that he considers her property, telling him not to be so slick for once. Peter says he's not being slick, he's being caring. Then he reminds her that he covered her ass regarding the whole Jack Parezi kissing the chandelier episode. This only serves to drive Amanda further from him, and she storms out of the restaurant.

[MP, Matt and Alan's Apartment]
Alan tries to sneak in the next morning, but stumbles over some boxes. Matt had been up half the night waiting for that awesome lasagna that Alan promised to make. Alan explains Kimberly told him everything and that he's scared about Matt being an almost-convicted murderer. Matt explains, "Kimberly happens to be the neighborhood maniac. Never, never take her dribble seriously," but this does little to satisfy Alan. So Matt goes on to say that he was framed by his ex-lover. Quickly, Matt turns the tables, demanding some answers of his own regarding Alan's past. Alan divulges that he was a cabana boy for a Beverly Hills banker. Matt is impressed, saying "You were a gigolo?" "Yeah, but my payment was in the form of acting lessons." From what we've seen so far, it must have been a correspondence course in drama. They make up and smile at each other.

[A Diner]
Jake goes to pick up the 235 bucks for Monty. The owner of the diner starts to rough up Jake until Jake pushes back. But Jake feels sorry for the guy and so he leaves without taking any of the cash, even though it's sitting there in the kitty. Jake's so nice.

[Hart & Mancini Designs]
Richard introduces Stephanie Delgado to Jo, who's now really oozing with jealousy. Richard describes Stephanie as having "such mature designs for a woman with such little hands-on experience," something that he may be able to provide. She responds with "I think I have a headache." Richard tells her where to find the aspirin, which just happens to be the same drawer where Syd planted the tranquilizers. Jo finds and pockets the pills, adding her fingerprints to the Ziploc bag and drawer.

[Shooters]
Jake catches Billy taking out his frustrations on the pinball machine. Billy is experiencing a little of his own self-pity. Billy lost another quarter to the machine, so instead of refunding him 25 cents, Jake buys him a beer. No wonder Jake's finances are in disarray. Billy thanks him by bringing up his failed relationship with Jo and then continues with a barrage of hurting questions. Jake says, "I don't need some barstool psychiatrist trying to find trash in my head. It's empty, so don't bother looking." Billy's a real ass, and knows it, and we know it by the way he's grinning.

[Police Department]
Syd stops in to find out if they acted on her tip about Richard. When detective Klein informs her that Richard appears clean, she suggests that new evidence might be lying around at his office in the top drawer of the end table. But the officer is more interested in telling her Mark Fuhrman jokes. When he mentions that they'll do something if they find real evidence, such as fingerprints, Syd chokes a little.

[MP, Brooke and Billy's Apartment]
Brooke is all dressed up in her white lace Cleopatra teddy, complete with sandals. Nicely matches her white wrist bands. Billy turns to her, silent as ever. She wants to do it bad, and uses her emotional blackmail to get him to make love to her. Billy agrees, although he's a little hesitant because he's afraid the handcuffs might reopen her wounds.

[Michael's Beach House]
Jane is fast asleep on the couch. Michael sneaks out of his bedroom, talking to her as though she's awake, telling her just because she's crippled that it shouldn't interfere with sex, and that some senses may actually intensify. during these type of circumstances. So he slips onto Jane's crotch, I mean couch. She awakes, grabs an ewer, and bashes Michael on the head. She screams out that she can't take the charade anymore; he's using her for sex while *all* she's been using him for was to make Richard jealous. He asks, "Don't you have any feelings for me?" She replies, "Yes, I loathe and despise you." Syd hears the commotion and comes out, disgusted that Michael's trying to have sex on a paralyzed woman. Michael is totally surprised, saying "So I was just your dupe all along?" Syd quickly adds, "No, you were Kimberly's dupe for awhile too. Then Peter's, on and off." Michael storms out, wishing the two sisters well, saying he's moving out. This reminds me of the happy days of season #1 when they all lived together at the apartment complex.

[D&D Advertising]
Brooke arrives for her first day of work. Brooke seems to still have an office even though she quit sometime ago. Alison is in Brooke's office, busy trying to clean things up for Brooke before she arrives. Unfortunately, she's still there when Brooke arrives, and greets Alison with a cordial "What the hell are you doing in my office?" She takes up where she left off, biting Alison's head off, who in turn, bites off Billy's head. Before Billy knows what hit him, Brooke calls out that she needs him and he comes running.

[Shooters]
The bar is hopping as usual, with its share of thugs and loan sharks. At one end of the bar, Bobby sits and orders a beer and an Amanda. (Oh, he's soooo funny!) On the other end, Monty waits to discuss Jake's failure to collect the 235 bucks. He asks Jake, "Do you think you can carry your debt AND someone else's? Your two weeks interest is due tomorrow. You're in deep." Bobby hears entire thing.

[Wilshire Memorial]
It's late at night. Michael is in a deep sleep on a cot in the on-call room. Kimberly enters wearing a devil-red satin blouse, which she quickly sheds to reveal her black bra that she seems so proud of. Michael is still half asleep, not knowing whether he's imagining her presence. Her voice has a nice echo to it, adding to the dreaminess. She talks about their past times together. "You're here, I'm here. But there was always something dark between us. But you could never go there again. It won't work anymore. It would be bad for us both." She kisses him, purrs, then adds, "And I wouldn't want you to do anything bad." He reaches for her but grabs air. She leaves and he goes back to sleep. I guess she must be at the chapter on subliminal messages in her psychology book.

[Shooters]
Jo stops by to show Jake the pills she found in Richard's drawer. By the size and color of the pill, she thinks they're tranquilizers, and she thinks Richard must have slipped them into Jane's drink at the party. Jake says he'll support her, but whatever she does, she has to do it on her own.

[MP, Amanda's Apartment]
Bobby comes a knockin'. "I was waiting at Shooters for over an hour. Why didn't you show?" Amanda says that the answer is obvious. He asks if he can come in for TWO MINUTES, but she says no, there's still too much time left in the episode. When she asks him who she should choose, Peter or Bobby, he tells her to choose Peter. Instead, she says she thinks she'll keep to herself for awhile, saying "Fortress Amanda has always served me well." Bobby replies, "Sounds kinda lonely. Ah know da feeling (Self-pity angle?) Duh, so now, mah famous last woids. I love you. Plain and simple. If youse evuh need anyting, anyting, Ah'm here." Then, we approach the final TWO MINUTES of the episode. In the accelerated time of Melrose, where nothing lasts too long, Amanda figures it's been enough time "keeping to herself," so she lets Bobby into Fortress Amanda, kisses him, unbuttons his shirt and devours him on that famous blue couch of hers. Right, like this is totally believable. Was it Bobby's reverse psychology, or did he stumble upon the secret word?
[To Be Continued...]

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Last Modified January 09, 1996