Desperate Housewives/You Could Drive a Person Crazy

You Could Drive a Person Crazy
Season 2, Episode 2
Airdate	October 2, 2005
Production Number	20225
Written by	Chris Black & Alexandra Cunningham
Directed by	David Grossman
← 2x01 Next	2x03 → You'll Never Get Away From Me
Desperate Housewives — Season Two

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You Could Drive a Person Crazy is the second episode of the second season of Desperate Housewives, and the twenty-fifth episode overall.

Starring: Teri Hatcher (Susan), Felicity Huffman (Lynette), Marcia Cross (Bree), Eva Longoria (Gaby), Nicollette Sheridan (Edie), Alfre Woodard (Betty), Ricardo Antonio Chavira (Carlos), Mark Moses (Paul), Andrea Bowen (Julie), Doug Savant (Tom), Cody Kasch (Zach), Richard Burgi (Karl), Brenda Strong (Mary Alice), James Denton (Mike)

Also Starring: Shawn Pyfrom (Andrew), Joy Lauren (Danielle), Mehcad Brooks (Matthew), Brent Kinsman (Preston), Shane Kinsman (Porter), Zane Huett (Parker), Roger Bart (George)

Guest Starring: (in credits order) Terry Bozeman (Dr. Craig), Brian George (Mr. Pashmutt), Alexandra Lydon (Rita Rivara), Daniel Roebuck (Mr. Flannery), Shirley Knight (Phyllis), Pat Crawford Brown (Ida), Ridge Canipe (Danny Farrel), Deb Hiett (Woman #1), Loren Lester (Dr. Baker)

Plot Overview

Susan is less than pleased when she finds out who Edie's new boyfriend is. Lynette hatches a plan that inspires Tom to take housekeeping a bit more seriously. Bree is embarrassed by her mother-in-law's emotional outbursts, but may soon have larger problems thanks to Rex's suspicious doctor. Gabrielle must perform some unusual errands on Carlos' behalf, and new neighbor Betty has trouble explaining some strange noises coming from her basement.

Susan is surprised, and not pleasantly so, when she finds out who Edie's new boyfriend is---her ex-husband Karl. Meanwhile Lynette goes back to work, leaving Tom at home in charge of the house, which turns out to be a better plan in theory. Lynette has a problem of getting Tom to keep the house clan on a more daily basis. Bree's mother-in-law, Phyllis (guest star Shirley Knight), continues to drive Bree crazy with her melodramatic grieving in public places, and Carlos makes an unusual request to Gabrielle after his life is threatened behind bars.

Also, Mike and Susan try to figure out where their relationship stands after Mike's previous bombshell to Susan. Susan is late with her newspaper payments, and gets in a fight with the paperboy. Gabrielle brings cash to a woman in a bad neighborhood, which she ultimately holds on to herself. Lastly, pharmacist George re-emerges in back into Bree's life, which sets off an alarm to mother-in-law Phyllis and her suspicions surrounding her son's death. In the last scene of the espisode, Phyllis makes a call to the life insurance company and informs the agent that Bree is dating.

Notes

• On its original airing this episode scored 26.7 million viewers fr ABC with a 11.8 rating/26 share in adults 18-49 demographic.
• Although credited Mark Moses (Paul Young) & Cody Kasch (Zach Young) do not appear in this episode.

Trivia

The Show

• Goof: Susan sent Edie roses after hitting her with her car. Susan's ex husband, Edie's new boyfriend says that Edie cut herself on the thorns. Thorns are removed by florists before delivery, so unless these roses came from Susan's garden, which would mean Susan delivered them and would know if Edie got them or not, this could not have happened.

Allusions and References

• Stephen Sondheim: The title of this epsiode comes from the song 'You Can Drive a Person Crazy' from the Sondheim musical Company.

Quotes

• Carlos: Listen to me - you're going to go back there, you're going to put that money in Rita's hands, and you're going to convince her that life is not worth living unless she has jugs the size of Texas! Do I make myself clear?

• Lynette: I'm gonna get new sheets. (the sheets are dirty with baby-vomit)
  Tom: We're not changing the sheets.
  Lynette: Why are you yelling at me?
  Tom: I'm not yelling at you. And this is not about spit-up.
  Lynette: Of course it is.
  Tom: No, it isn't, it's about control. And as you and I both know, you have some issues in this area.
  Lynette: Why are you fighting so hard to sleep on baby-vomit?
  Tom: I'm fighting for a principle.
  Lynette: Being too lazy to change the sheets is not a principle.

• Susan: How could you not tell me that? We share everything. That's what we're known for; that's our thing.
  Julie: Because I knew you'd wig out. Besides, haven't you always told me to respect people's privacy?
  Susan: Oh I've never applied that concept to your father's sex life, and you know it.

• Mary Alice: (voiceover): Control...to lose it is to put our fate into the hands of others, and what could more dangerous?

• Betty: You know we don't talk to him, that's part of his punishment.

• Edie: Karl said that you know all about our dirty little secret.
  Susan: Yes, yes, I do.
  Edie: Well, I feel awful. I should have told you that I was doing your ex. Well, it would've been the classy thing to do.
  Susan: Well, etiquette is a lost art for a lot of people.
  Edie: Oh, you've gotta believe me, I never, ever thought anything would happen with us. But on our first date, Karl took me to a Mexican restaurant. You know what I get like when I drink tequila. A couple of shooters and my bra unhooks itself.
  Susan: Circumstances beyond your control. I get it. So if you'll excuse me.
  Edie: Hey. Hey, hey. I am offering you an opportunity here. I mean, go ahead, vent. Let me have it. Come on, tell me what a bitch I am. Yeah, for snacking on your leftovers. I deserve it. Come on, bring it on.
  Susan: Honestly, Edie, I don't mind. You can skate off into the sunset with Karl. Be my guest.
  Edie: Well, that's good to know. You know, I probably shouldn't tell you this, but, while we were in my Jacuzzi last night, Karl said it was the best sex he's ever had, bar none.
  Susan: Actually, I'm glad that you shared that, because here's a tidbit for you. Karl said he's still in love with me.

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