Synopsis of Sibling Rivalry
Written by TK
Syd freaks out when there are suddenly a whole bunch of clones of her mother fixing up her guest house. Her mother tells her she really doesn't have the panache to decorate it herself. Her mother shows her the end result, and Syd wakes up screaming after seeing the neon and lights mom-shrine that was once her treasured guest house.
In the morning, Syd is stressing because the painter that was supposed to show up 45 minutes ago still isn't there. Robbie says he knows a guy, Patrick, who did good work at the bar. Syd and Joanie realize they need lives and decide to go out on a the prowl for men this weekend. They joke how it's lucky that they have very different taste in men so they're the perfect partners in crime.
Robbie is meeting with Heather's mom, Donna, at her hotel room again. Donna has found a grant for Charlie that would send him back to Oregon for a year. She convinces Robbie that it's in Heather's best interest for him to convince Charlie to take the grant. If Charlie is happy, then Heather will be happy.
Joanie is at the Barkery when her old friend Karen comes in. They have a happy reunion when Karen says she has moved back to Providence. Then Karen breaks the news that her sister Missy died, even though everyone thought she was in remission, her husband Greg ran off to Phoenix with a cocktail waitress, and she is now living at her parents' old house, but she can't afford the mortgage payments so she's putting it up on the market. Joanie wishes her friend had come to her earlier. Karen sneezes a couple times, and complains about her allergies and how she's out of her prescription. Joanie sends her over to the clinic to see Syd.
Robbie comes into his dad's office and finds Heather reading bridal magazines. He asks her what she would do if Robbie went back to Oregon and ditched her again. She says she'd kill him.
Syd gives Karen a new prescription and asks how her sister is doing. Karen tells Syd that Missy died of breast cancer. Syd asks Karen if her mother didn't die of breast cancer as well. Karen says yeah, she did. Syd asks if anyone else on her mother's side had breast cancer. Karen lists off like four more female relatives. Syd says Karen should be doing regular self-exams and get twice-yearly mammograms. Karen says Syd isn't the first doctor to say that. Karen is obviously uncomfortable, and isn't agreeing with Syd that she'll take these precautionary measures. Karen says one doctor even recommended removing her breasts now. Syd says that's a little extreme, but Karen should get a blood test to see if she carries the gene for breast cancer. Karen says she has to go, and Syd asks her to come back tomorrow.
Syd and Joanie are folding laundry. Syd asks Joanie about Missy dying. Joanie says she just heard. Syd starts to tell Joanie about her conversation with Karen and then realizes perhaps she shouldn't. Joanie is about to push her for more info when Robbie shows up with the painter, Patrick. At first, Syd is pissed, not wanting to deal with a painter right away, but as soon as studly Patrick walks in the door, both Syd and Joanie are too busy drooling to complain.
The next morning, the girls are already acting more competetive, both dressing up a little. Syd asks Joanie if she can crash in her room while the guest house is being painted. Joanie says sure. When Jim mentions that Patrick is already out there painting, Syd quickly says she'll bring him some coffee. Joanie says not to bother, she'll bring him coffee as soon as her muffins are done. Syd beats Joanie to it, rushing out the door with coffee.
As Syd walks into the guest house, she has to just stop and stare for moment as Patrick pulls of his sweater. She gives him his coffee and tells her to think a little bit more about what color she wants. She says she really isn't good with interior decorating, her mother always did that. He tells her to figure out what color is in her heart, and if it's green, which is what she has already chosen, then that's great, but there are hundreds of shades of green in the spectrum, and they should find just the right one for Syd Hansen. Syd is totally moved by his speech about the color in her heart.
Robbie is at the bar, looking over the grant papers that Donna gave him, when Charlie comes up behind him, scaring him. He tucks the grant papers away, and asks Charlie if he plans on still working at the bar after his honeymoon. Charlie says yes, although eventually he wants to go back to school to be a marine biologist so he can help save the many marine species that die out every day. Charlie tells Robbie he would never leave him in a lurch after Robbie was so great to give him his job back so he could afford an engagement ring for Heather. Robbie starts to feel guilty about what he's planning to do.
Syd and Karen are talking. Syd is trying to convince Karen to get the blood test. Karen is scared to know the results. She asks Syd if she should get a full mastectomy if she tests positive. Syd says that one of a few options. Karen is still scared to know. Syd tells her that knowledge is power in this case.
Joanie brings a lavish picnic lunch to Patrick at the guest house, and suggests that they talk about the Barkery over lunch. He gives her another totally amazing speech about choosing color, and matching the color of the golden flecks in her eyes, and blah blah blah until Joanie is head over heels.
Robbie and Charlie are at the bar, and Charlie is talking to Robbie about best man duties, while Robbie is just kind of annoyed. The phone rings, Robbie picks it up and tells Donna it's not really a good time. Donna says she's right outside.
Robbie comes outside and gets into the limo with Donna. He admits he hasn't brought up the grant with Charlie yet. Donna is disappointed, and says that he's obviously not the man to save Heather and make her happy. Robbie feels bad, and promises Donna that he's just waiting for the right moment and he'll take care of it soon.
Jim is in the kitchen when Patrick comes in with some clothes that Syd left in the guest house that he wants to protect from the paint. Patrick compliments the purple shirt the Jim is wearing, telling him what purple means and how it reminds him of a Malaysian sky after a storm. Jim inviteds Patrick to stay to dinner. Syd and Joanie walk in and are pleased to hear that Patrick is staying for dinner. They immediately start to compete over what they could cook, each putting down the other's cooking. Jim and Patrick decide they'll go pick up a pizza together. Jim mentions that Karen called. Syd says she'll call her back. Jim says she called for Joanie.
Joanie is helping Karen pack up her parents' house. Karen says that the kids keep asking about their father, and on top of it all, Syd is pressuring her to get this test. Karen says she hasn't been able to eat or sleep 'cause Syd has her so scared. They talk about when they first got breasts as girls, and how Karen used to wish she were stacked like her sister and mother. Karen already feels so lost and rejected, she's scared that no one will want her after she's had her breasts removed.
Joanie gets home and starts yelling at Syd, asking her why she couldn't leave Karen alone for a little while until things settle down. Syd says Karen's in denial and isn't even doing self-exams. Joanie asks what the rush is. Syd says if there were a bomb ticking inside of her, she'd want to know. Syd tries to go to sleep in Joanie's bed, and says that she doesn't have to justify her job to Joanie. Joanie says it's her room and she's not sleepy yet. She kicks Syd out and Syd happily leaves.
Syd and Joanie are in the Old West, and are having a gun duel over Patrick. Their mother is the refereee. Syd awakes on the couch in the living room with an Old West movie on TV.
Patrick comes into the guest house to find Syd looking through some of her books. He asks her how she likes the green, and she says it's okay. He says that he has something in mind, but he needs to show her. Is she free tonight at 7pm? He's like to take her to a special wing of the museum and show her something. She accepts his invitation.
Syd is talking to Karen at the clinic. She tells Karen that if she wants to wait a few weeks and take the test after things have settled down, that would be okay. Karen says if Missy had been diagnosed earlier, she might have survived. Karen is sure, though, that her test results will be positive, what with her family history. She goes with Syd to have blood drawn for the test.
Patrick is looking around the Barkery with Joanie. He says her warmth and brightness fills the whole place. He says he wants to show her something to explain what color he has in mind for the Barkery.
Robbie comes into the bar and Charlie excitedly shows him the pamphlet he found on this grant. It's what Robbie was looking at earlier. Charlie is psyched about it, but realizes he can't spend a year away from Heather. Robbie encourages him to at least ask since he's obviously so excited about it.
Patrick and Joanie are at the museum, and he shows Joanie his favorite painting. She pretends to appreciate it. He points out a particular color of blue which is what he wants to use on the Barkery.
Patrick and Syd are looking at the same painting, and Syd is pretending to appreciate it. He points out a particular color green which is what he wants to us in the guest house.
Syd comes into Joanie's room and immediately the two sisters start apologizing for their fight of the night before. Joanie says she shouldn't have told Syd how to do her job, and Syd says that Joanie brought up some good points. Joanie compliments Syd's appearance. Syd mentions she went to the museum with Patrick, and Joanie yells at her that she can't keep her paws off the one normal man Joanie has liked in years. Joanie says Patrick took her to the museum too, and Syd says it couldn't have been a date, it must have been about the Barkery. They have an all-out screaming fight until Syd walks out and slams the door.
It's morning at the Hansen household. Joanie isn't talking to Syd. Jim feels caught in the middle of the warring sisters. Jim mentions that Patrick had a show last year in Soho of landscapes. Joanie talks about maybe modeling for him and being his muse. Syd laughs and says that he's an abstract painter.
Robbie goes to Donna's hotel room and says the deed is done, and he feels awful. Donna tells him he has helped Heather immensely. She kisses Robbie to keep him from leaving and undoing what he's done.
At the clinic, Izzy gives some test results to Syd, and Syd calls Karen to tell her the test results are in.
Heather comes by the bar to see Robbie. She tells Robbie about Charlie's grant, and says that Charlie has asked her to go with him. Robbie is horrified.
Karen comes into the clinic, and as Syd is about to open the envelope with the test results, she says she'd rather just take the envelope and open it later when she's ready. Syd agrees, but makes Karen promise not to open it alone. As Karen is leaving, she says Joanie was right, Syd is the best possible doctor to have by her side in this difficult time. Syd is touched that Joanie would say that about her.
Syd calls Joanie to tell her that Karen is okay, and she's decided to wait before learning the test results.
Syd and Joanie are at a bar. Joanie says that dad told her that Patrick has decided to go to France to study painting, and left the bill for the work he's done. Suddenly, Patrick walks in. He says he stopped for drinks before his plane took off. He introduces the sisters to his beautiful blonde girlfriend. He leaves, and the sisters agree that they feel like idiots. They vow never to let a man come between them again. Just then, a cute guy walks up and asks if he can buy them a drink. Joanie sends him away and the girls giggle to eachother.
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