Meet The Parents
David is at the motel and tells his family that he thinks surprise parties are tacky, but Patrick has always wanted one and so he’s organized one for Patrick’s birthday and invited Patrick’s parents. His family is skeptical that he can pull it off last minute, but David has been organizing it for a while but did not trust them to keep the secret.
Johnny waits for Patrick’s parents to arrive at the motel as Roland annoys him. The Brewers, Marcy and Clint, arrive and introduce themselves. Johnny makes small talk and refers to David and Patrick’s romantic relationship, something that clearly surprises Marcy and Clint Brewer. They go to their room, and Johnny looks worried.
After Moira suggests medical tests to make up the budget deficit on Caberet, Alexis tells Moira she’s booked her a booth at a soap opera fan convention. Moira resists
David tells Stevie and annoyed Twyla that he has told Patrick that there is a salmonella outbreak at the cafe to keep him away from the party preparation. A breathless Johnny runs in and asks if Patrick’s parents know that David and Patrick are more than just business partners, and a suddenly worried David realizes that he has only assumed that Patrick’s parents know of their romantic relationship.
A professional young woman tells Moira that people at the convention will want pictures and autographs, then she tries to discuss what to do if people “want pictures of your feet” but Moira shuts her down. Moira feigns shock and a desire to protect Alexis, but Alexis reminds Moira that Moira took her to the Playboy mansion when she was seven. Moira then sees a former soap actress she knows, Gloria Gregson, who greets her warmly.
David brings flowers to Patrick at Patrick’s apartment and brings a pizza for himself. David wishes Patrick a Happy Birthday, and David probes whether Patrick has spoken to his parents. David then asks if Patrick’s parents “know about him” and Patrick first evades, then admits he hasn’t told them. Patrick expresses fear that even though his parents are good people, he fears their rejection. Patrick promises to tell them when he sees them next. David hugs him and tells him what he is dealing with is very personal and should only be done on his terms. Patrick senses that David is upset, but David assures him that he’s not mad and explains about the surprise party. David offers to be “just his business partner” for the party, but Patrick warmly says he wants them to know.
David brings a gift basket to Clint and Marcy’s room and introduces himself. David apologizes for how they found out about Patrick, and Clint wants to know if it was “something they did” and David begs them to be understanding. Marcy says they aren’t upset at Patrick being gay, and Clint agrees. They are just hurt that Patrick didn’t tell them. David breathes a sigh of relief, saying he thought things were going to get “very dark.” Johnny arrives and awkwardly tries to role model being a supportive father and is relieved to learn that Marcy and Clint are fine and he’s off the hook for the accidental outing.
Gloria tells Moira and Alexis that being an actress is exhausting but the convention circuit is very lucrative, enough so that she has her own vineyard in the South of France, a fact which excites Alexis. Gloria encourages Moira to let go and enjoy the convention’s financial rewards, including selling pictures of her feet. Moira goes to her booth and greets excited fans, and Alexis sets the ground rules including prices for foot pictures.
David organizes the party group for a “Suprise” as Patrick walks in, and Patrick feigns surprise and hugs David, then greets his parents and acts surprised to see them. Clint tells Patrick he has a wonderful friend in David, and David says he will allow them to catch up. Patrick pulls David aside and asks what if they don’t react as he expects. David smiles and says they will get through it together. Patrick sits down with his parents and comes out to them, and they both say all they care about is his happiness. Patrick glances over at the Roses and Stevie who are looking on in anticipation, then all look away.
Later, Patrick and David share a romantic dance after the guests have gone. Patrick reveals he figured out that his parents knew, and David mumbles excuses and says he just wanted everything to be okay. Patrick tells him he made everything okay. Twyla tells them it is time to lock up, and they embrace.
Tropes Appearing in this Episode
- An Aesop: Coming out should only ever occur on their terms, because no matter how wonderful the people in their lives, there's always the chance of a bad reaction. Patrick's fear is perfectly understandable, and he gets nothing but love and support from David because of it.
- Bad "Bad Acting": Patrick does a mediocre job pretending to be surprised at the party and his parents, especially his mother, are bad at pretending they didn't already know. Patrick spots that they already know, but he's okay with it.
- Birthday Episode: It's Patrick's birthday. David plans a surprise party and invites Patrick's parents, not knowing he hasn't yet come out to them, inadvertently kicking off the plot when Johnny spills the beans.
- Character Development: The once selfish and unlucky-in-love David proves a loving and supportive boyfriend to Patrick.
- Coming-Out Story: Although he is out and proud in the town, David discovers Patrick has not yet come out to his parents.
- Fan Convention: The secondary plot involves Moira and Alexis attending a soap opera fan convention.
- Flowers of Romance: David brings Patrick a bouquet of flowers as a birthday gift.
- Forced Out of the Closet: It's accidental, but David and Johnny's actions force Patrick to come out to his parents.
- Good Parents: Marcy and Clint Brewer are good parents, and they are loving and supportive as Patrick comes out to them, only being upset thinking that they gave their son reason not to trust them. Johnny is also loving and supportive of David and is genuinely upset at having inadvertently outed Patrick.
- Meet the In-Laws: David is excited and nervous to meet Patrick's parents, only to discover that they just think he's Patrick's business partner. Luckily, when they realize the truth, they like David and love that he makes their son happy.
- Moment Killer: Twyla steps on Patrick's and David's romantic dance/conversation at the end of the episode.
- My God, What Have I Done?: Patrick's parents are upset and ask David if they could have done something different so as not to have lost their son's trust, blaming themselves for him not telling them.
- Oh, Crap!: Johnny freezes when he realizes that he just accidentally outed Patrick to his parents, then runs to the cafe to talk to David about it.
- Running Gag: David brings the Brewers a gift basket from the store, which he did not pay for.
- Surprise Party: The impetus for the coming out is David throwing a surprise birthday party for Patrick and inviting Patrick's parents.
- Very Special Episode: This is the closest thing the show has done to actual drama. The show uncharacteristically ends with links to sites like GLAD and itgetsbetter.org.
- Where Did We Go Wrong?: Patrick's parents initially sound like they're asking David if they did something to make their son gay, but it's subverted when it turns out they're horrified to think they did something to lose his trust.
- You Are Not Alone: David assures Patrick that whatever his parents' reaction, they will get through it together.
