- Now it's Tommy's turn to disappear: he doesn't show up at Picasso's the next night. Michael's other employee, Brenda, is grouchy because she has to cover for him.
- And, of course, Picasso's gets a rush that night—a whole softball team comes in.
- As the guys drink pitchers of beer, one of them starts to flirt (really sleazily) with Deanna.
- Deanna tells him to back off, because she's "already knocked one guy on his ass today" (10.28).
- Michael saves the day. He tells the guy to get lost and not to come back, and he puts the closed sign on the door, even though it's only 9:30 and they close at 11:00.
- Deanna and Michael have a little heart-to-heart, and she asks him if he's ever done something rotten to a friend.
- He says marrying two different women before realizing he liked men was pretty rotten; then he offers her a ride home, and she takes it.
- Back at home, Deanna sneaks in: the house is dark, but the TV in her parents' room is on, and she doesn't want to see them.
- Instead she goes downstairs, where Darren's asleep and Stacy and April are gone.
- She wakes him up and asks him what happened, but he says he'll tell her in the morning. She tucks him in before he goes to bed.
- Before he wakes up the next morning, Deanna's in the kitchen with her mom. Mom's offering oatmeal, but Deanna's not hungry—she just wants a root beer.
- Dad wants to know how Deanna got home. She says Michael gave her a ride, and then Dad asks why he'd do such a thing.
- And how does Deanna respond? She says, "I f***ed him" (10.103).
- When Dad freaks out, Deanna starts crying again, telling him it's really sad that he'd think she was telling the truth.
- Darren comes in, overhears, and is confused: isn't Michael gay?
- Deanna tells her dad it doesn't matter; he's always going to hate her.
- He's surprised she thinks he hates her.
- Mom tells him to tell Deanna he loves her, but he can't say the words—he just says, "Of course" (10.123), walks out of the house, gets in his car, and drives off.
- Mom says things are hard for Dad, but that's no excuse. Score one for Mom (finally).
- While wondering if what just happened actually happened, Deanna asks Darren where Stacy and April are.
- They've gone to stay with Stacy's mom, Darren says, and he doesn't know if he wants them back.
- Deanna says he doesn't have much choice—after all, they are his partner and child and stuff.
- She also sees a parallel: Darren is giving Stacy the cold shoulder just like Deanna is with Lee.