Lucille and Buster prepare for a charity bachelorette auction. Meanwhile, Michael and Lindsay try to prove to each other that they are not selfish, and Gob convinces George Michael to break into the permit office.
The Arrested Development episode "Charity Drive" provides examples of:
- Accidental Kidnapping: Michael accidentally kidnaps a woman whom he mistook for Lupe, his mother’s new housekeeper.Michael: Hey, c'mon, get in the car, and I'm not taking 'no' for an answer.
- Double-Meaning Title: Michael gives "Lupe" a drive home to prove to Lindsay that he's a charitable person. Lucille, Lucille Two, and Lindsay participate in an auction for charity.
- Fall Guy: George Michael lets himself get caught while Maeby escapes during their break-in.
- Irony: The kidnapping subplot comes about due to Michael mistaking Helen Maria Delgado for his mother's maid, Lupe. The Stinger reveals that Michael managed to avoid going to jail because, during the police lineup, Helen mistook Suspect #4 for Michael.
- Money Dumb: Lucille makes Buster bid $10,000 on her for the charity auction to save face, when they probably could've used that money elsewhere. Even worse, he bids on her rival Lucille Austero by accident.
- Oh, Crap!: "There's a security camera?!"
- One Dialogue, Two Conversations: Michael thinks that his conversation with Helen (who he thinks is Lupe) is just a friendly conversation about him dropping her off. From her perspective, he's kidnapping and threatening her.Michael: [on the phone to Lindsay] I’ve got someone else in the car with me, and I’m not going anywhere until she’s taken care of.
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Out of Order: This episode was produced and aired before "Visiting Ours", but makes more sense after:- Kitty receives her introduction in "Visiting Ours", and has a minor role in this one.
- Lucille Austero is not featured in "Visiting Ours", but appears in this and subsequent episodes.
- Racial Face Blindness: Michael thinks that Helen Maria Delgado is Lupe because they're both Latina. Played for Laughs later when Helen mistakes another white man for Michael.
