The Affair
Moira asks if Johnny has the car keys, leading to an escalating discussion amongst all the Roses about the car sign-out system that no one is using but Johnny. Moira wants Johnny to drive her to the municipalities conference she's attending with Roland but David wants to do errands for his store.
Moira greets an excited Roland at the conference hotel, and he tries to get her to wear a nametag. She won't wear anything with an adhesive backing. Roland misidentifies a few people and pep talks Moira, who is confident she can work the room.
At the store, Alexis chatters some business buzzwords to David but David just wants her to get a box of hand cream. Alexis is clearly averse to manual labor but filled with ideas. David goes into the back, and Patrick arrives, to Alexis's delight. She flirts with him, and he says he's there to drop off David's business license.
A local reporter asks Moira about her speech, which resulted in the municipalities getting a big funding boost. The crowd wants to fete Moira, who is reluctant but when she realizes how much the attention means to Roland she agrees to have one drink. The crowd cheers her.
Alexis flirtatiously ties a scarf around Patrick's neck, who remarks that it's a little tight. David comes from the back and says the scarf is made of cat hair. Alexis points out that Patrick framed David's business license, but Patrick says they all come framed. David is relieved because it's a little too corporate for his brand. Patrick looks a little crestfallen, but David fails to notice because he's so irritated with Alexis sampling all the product. Patrick expresses some concern about David putting up so much cash, but David impresses him by explaining he works on a consignment model. Patrick offers to help him, and Alexis puts him to work on moving boxes. She gives a big okay sign to David about Patrick, and David is confused.
A drunk Moira calls Johnny from the hotel bar, excited about how much praise she is getting. Johnny tells her she might need a coffee but she hangs up as the crowd boos Johnny and cheers her.
A fully clothed Moira, with makeup smeared over her face, wakes to find Roland in her bed. He tells her that it's his room. She asks if he's naked under the sheets, and Moira starts to chant "Oh god no" when she realizes he is.
Johhny finds an upset Joceyln at the cafe, who tells him about Roland and Moira "sleeping together" though they claim nothing happened. Johnny is unaware of this, which makes Jocelyn suspicious as she finds Roland irresistible. Johnny insists Moira would never sleep with - anyone else but him.
At the motel, Alexis asks David for more lip balm. He says she's going to have to pay for it. They talk about Patrick, and Alexis says that Patrick has shown no interest in her and when men aren't interested in her they are either newly married or gay. She suggests Patrick might be into David, but he says Patrick is a business major who wears mid-range denim so he's "not into me." Alexis replies that it's either that or he's interested in the store, which is less likely.
Johnny finds Moira pouring out his beer, and he confronts her about the incident with Roland. Moira explains that she was horrified at what happened and was embarrassed, which pleases Johnny.
Patrick comes to the store and banters with David, who assumes he's there for Alexis. Patrick says he's not there for Alexis, and David smiles a little. Patrick then talks about the store, and he offers to help David apply for grants so they could work together. He says David's idea is good, but he needs help. David is open to the offer, and Patrick admits he picked out the frame.
Roland shows up to Johnny's motel room to talk to him man to man, and Johnny is annoyed and emphatically defends his relationship with Moira. The Rose children overhear and make fun of their parents for their mom's "affair" with Roland.
Tropes Appearing in this Episode
- Ambiguously Gay: Patrick's sexuality remains something of a mystery until later episodes.
- Badass Boast: Patrick makes it clear that he's awesome at business.David: Just to be clear, if the grants don't come through...
Patrick: Oh, I'm gonna get the money.
David: [wowed] - Big "WHAT?!": Johnny is incredulous that Moira and Roland might have slept together.
- Captain Obvious: David signs out the car, saying that the purpose of his trip is "driving".
- Everyone Can See It: Alexis is the first of many to notice that Patrick and David's partnership has the potential to be a lot more.
- Foreshadowing: Alexis shows off some of the new buzzwords from her "high school intro to business class". They're buzzwords, but they're part of a good model for David moving forward.
- Funny Background Event: Alexis is highlighting every single word in her business textbook, including the section titles.
- Happily Married: Jocelyn is distraught that Roland might have cheated on her with Moira, meanwhile Johnny is confident in his own wife's fidelity (he's actually concerned, but Moira reassures him).
- Hidden Depths: Roland sincerely wishes to do good for the town and bask in the attention Moira has gotten them, and Moira, who would rather go to her room, initially agrees to go to the bar for Roland's sake.
- Lady Drunk: Moira's fondness for alcohol is on display in this episode.
- Last-Second Word Swap: Johnny reassures Jocelyn that Moira would never in a million years sleep with "... anyone else," having presumably realized just in time that while Jocelyn is distressed by the thought of Moira having spent the night in Roland's hotel room, it would be unhelpful to imply that his wife is actually repelled by Jocelyn's beloved husband.
- Oblivious to Love: David doesn't notice some obvious signs that Patrick is smitten.Patrick: I'm not here for Alexis.
- Off Screen Moment Of Awesome: Offscreen, Moira gives a speech to the Regional Municipalities Conference that results in a large funding boost.
- Post-Stress Overeating: Johnny encounters Jocelyn eating multiple breakfasts on one plate, repeatedly dousing everything in syrup, because she's terrified Roland cheated on her with Moira.
- Rule of Symbolism: In-Universe, Moira spends some time dumping her beer in the sink because of her regret over getting drunk and passing out in Roland's bed. Only it's Johnny's beer.Johnny: You don't even drink beer!
Moira: It's symbolic, Jon! - Running Gag: Alexis wants lip balm from Rose Apothecary without paying for it. People wanting free stuff from David and Patrick becomes a reoccurring theme.
- Sleeps in the Nude: Roland sleeps in the nude every night, a fact which Moira discovers to her horror.
- Sure, Let's Go with That: Moira "yes and"s the hell out of Roland's attempt to take part in her impromptu interview. She doesn't bat an eye, just rolls with what he's saying and keeps the interview going, allowing him to share in her small moment of glory.
- What Did I Do Last Night? Moira is horrified to wake up after a night of drinking in Roland's bed.
- What Does She See in Him?: Jocelyn finds Roland sexually irresistible, something that Johnny finds rather confusing.
