Heartbreaker

## Synopsis

Contrary to virtually all other episodes in the series, no teaser is seen prior to the opening theme song. The scene immediately opens at *Danny's Pizzeria*, where the "Lubbock Babes" are performing their usual night of live music to an enthusiastic crowd of adults eating pizza. However, just as the girls are really getting into the act - while simultaneously strutting through the crowd - one particular man suddenly collapses headfirst onto his plate of pizza on the table. The oddity is that it happens almost immediately after Marie strikes a provocative pose during her solo - in close proximity to the man's table. Naturally, the four teenage girls are shaken up by the sudden tragedy that has taken place right before their eyes.

Upon returning home later that night, the girls' eerie silence is quickly noticed by their alert parents and two younger siblings. In his usual role as the "rebel", J.R. immaturely points out the obvious: it's readily apparent from the girls' body language that sudden death was witnessed firsthand. After Sherry calls out her brother's immaturity, their more concerned parents interrogate the teenagers for more details. Graham is shocked to learn that the now-deceased Richard "Rick" Potter was the same age as him.

While all four girls are visibly disturbed and traumatized, Marie feels the worst - primarily due to the fact that she was "the last person to see" the man before he died. The typically level-headed Marie harshly blames herself for killing Rick Potter, and vows to retire from singing at the pizzeria. Her opposite-minded sibling, Wendy, pragmatically believes that quitting is not the answer, and vows to return to the stage the very next night. Connie and Cindy seem more torn on what to do; while clearly shaken by the traumatic experience, they agree with Wendy that "the show must go on".

Overcome with guilt over Rick Potter's untimely demise - and her alleged involvement - Marie decides to attend a memorial service being held at the pizzeria in the man's honor. However, the only people in attendance are Marie, Elizabeth, Danny, and one other mourner. Unfortunately, the other mourner apparently showed up at the wrong memorial service, and excuses himself. While at the memorial, Danny reveals that the decedent vowed to "never miss a 'Lubbock Babes' performance" - with an exceptional fondness for Marie. Richard Potter's attorney, Mr. Skinner, hands over all of the man's worldly possessions in a large box that his client has bequeathed to the stunned bereaving teenage girl. Interestingly, Rick Potter and Marie never actually met, but he seemingly felt that she was his only source of comfort and happiness in the world.

Some time later, Marie returns home to find her three sisters getting dressed for that night's singing performance. Unfortunately, this performance will start out as a trio, as Marie has decided to permanently leave the group. Now having reserved herself to a whole new perspective, Marie solemnly tosses all of her "risqué" clothing into an open fire. Soon enough, compassionate Elizabeth advises Marie that she's handling the situation all wrong. This completely confuses Marie, who misinterprets her mother's words to abruptly go to an entirely different extreme. Marie becomes convinced that her true purpose in life is "to please men", which leads her to take her participation in the singing group to a whole new level of provocativeness.

Once again, Marie decides to re-join her siblings singing at the pizzeria, but now she's more suggestively clad, as well as behaving much more seductively than she normally would. After an minor slip-up briefly occurring in Marie's brief absence, the other three girls welcome their sister back with open arms. However, they are completely flabbergasted by Marie's sudden "sexy makeover". As the four girls commence singing, the crowd overreacts, causing a food fight and significant brawl to erupt amongst those in attendance at *Danny's Pizzeria*. After the girls return home later that night, Graham immediately notices that his daughters "look like they were in a brawl", which they guiltily confirm.

After the tension in the air is cleared a bit, Marie has a heartfelt conversation with Elizabeth, who wisely acknowledges Marie's all-too-frequent habit of "going to extremes". In awe of this observation, Marie is now even more perplexed than she had been earlier. The teenager recollects all prior memories and instances when she assumed that she had figured out her true purpose in life, including multiple references to Marie nearly joining St. Bartholomew's Convent. Elizabeth advises her daughter that such a pertinent message isn't always presented as deliberately as one would like or expect, and that it can actually present itself in more subtle ways.

The caring mother encourages Marie to merely take this one particular experience as a wake-up call that it may be a sign that some aspect of her conservative lifestyle needs a minor adjustment. Eager to move forward, Marie agrees to "loosen up a bit", without going too far in either direction - despite proceeding to unbutton her blouse in front of a mirror.

*Caught You Red-Handed - LOUD LUXURY & THUTMOS*
*Twist and Shout - THE ISLEY BROTHERS*
*Come and Get It - THE BEATLES*

## Guest Appearances

*Johnny Dark* as Danny

*Jim Jansen* as Mr. Skinner

*Beans Morocco* as Mourner

*Norman Friedman* as Rick Potter

## Memorable Quotes

**Wendy**: "*I'm not comfortable with dying. That's why I don't watch Pat Sajak.*"

--

**Marie**: "*I could never sing again. The killing must stop.*"

--

**Marie**: "*Mom, go pump your sunshine somewhere else.*"

--

**Graham**: "*He probably didn't take care of himself as well I as do.*" *(followed by Graham sipping from a large beer can)*

--

**Connie**: "*It could've been me.*"

**Marie**: "*I wish it was you because he would still be alive.*"

--

**Graham**: "*You look like you were in a brawl.*"

## Trivia

* Only episode that lacks a teaser prior to the theme song.
* Only (unspoken) appearance of Norman Friedman as Rick Potter.
* Beans Morocco appears as an unnamed mourner, after previously portraying a realtor.
* First appearance of Jim Jansen as Mr. Skinner.
* Final appearances of Johnny Dark as Danny, Danny's Pizzeria, and the "Lubbock Babes" official singing quartet.
* Multiple references are made to Marie nearly becoming a nun on previous occasions.
* The basis behind Wendy's remark about death and not watching Pat Sajak is unclear, but it seems to be nothing more than a subtle dig at a fellow celebrity.

## Mistakes

### Continuity Errors

* Rick Potter was said to have attended all of Marie's singing performances, but this is his only officially recognized appearance.

### Factual Errors

* The other mourner recognizing that he is at the wrong memorial service/funeral is a common occurrence in generational sitcoms, most likely to "uplift" a somber scene with comic relief.

### Plot Holes

* There is no way to know for sure, but it seems unlikely that the girls would have been fired from their singing gig at *Danny's Pizzeria* for inciting a brawl. Most likely, they would have returned, had the series continued for another season.

### Revealing Errors

* At quick glance, the girls' appearance upon returning home is not nearly disheveled enough to suggest being involved in a brawl.