Episode Guide

Season 4

Episode 45- Father Knows Last

The Case

There is none.

What's Really Going on Chris?

Maddie is plagued with morning sickness and her mom guesses that she is pregnant. The next day Mrs Hayes tells Mr Hayes. He asks Maddie what her plan is, but she has none. Mr Hayes cancels all of his appointments for the day and catches a flight to LA.
Back in LA, Blue Moon is a disaster! The furniture is being repossessed and the employees are walking out because their paychecks bounced. They all leave chanting "no work AND pay." David returns to find Bert, Agnes and this mess. He goes to his office to try to figure out what to do when Mr Hayes shows up. Mr Hayes is suspicious but asks Dave to go to lunch. While at lunch Mr Hayes comes clean and admits to David he came to LA to talk to him. He knows Maddie is pregnant but she won't talk. He can't talk to the baby so he came out to talk to the father. He asks David what his plan is for Maddie and the baby. David admits that he has none. Mr Hayes asks David if he loves Maddie, and David replies very much. Mr Hayes tells him that Maddie is in love with him and that the answer is very simple. David tries to explain that it is more complicated than that, that the baby may or may not be his responsibility. Mr Hayes becomes very angry, says it's just like David to deny responsibility, tells David if he were 20 years younger he'd punch him and then leaves.
David returns to the office depressed. Agnes arrives but isn't her usual optimistic self and doesn't try to cheer David up. David says all they need to do is get more furniture, some worker bees and another dumb blonde for the office. Agnes becomes very angry and yells that his life is going to hell and he's "taking the rest of us with you." She claims that Maddie never would've let this happen, and that he did this to Blue Moon. She runs out crying.
David goes to the airport and chases Mr Hayes, but Mr Hayes refuses to speak to him. David has to buy a ticket on Mr Hayes flight to get a chance to talk to him. He finally gets Mr Hayes to listen to his side of the story. David gives an impassioned speech about how much he loves Maddie, about Sam, how Maddie left, and how he found out about the baby. He tells Mr Hayes "of course I'd marry her, I asked her and she said no." He then says he'd "give up his life for her."
Back in Chicago, Maddie has her first OB appointment. When the doctor discusses a Lamaze partner Maddie looks away as she thinks about David. She admits to her mother that she's not sure who the father is, that it is one of two people. Mrs Hayes correctly guesses that David is one of the two. Mrs Hayes offers their support and suggests that Maddie have the baby in Chicago, if that's what Maddie wants to do.
Back on the plane Mr Hayes apologizes to David. He suggests that maybe the baby is a blessing in disguise to get them together. He discusses how difficult it is to have and raise babies alone. David says it doesn't matter, he's giving up. Mr Hayes then plants an idea in David's head by suggesting that David prepare for the baby and get the business back in order so that Maddie has something to come back to. Before leaving the plane, David stops by Mr Hayes and tells him that he's interested in fixing the business. Mr Hayes offered a loan to help out. David thanks him and asks that Mr Hayes let Maddie know that he's preparing for the baby, if she ever asks. Mr Hayes agrees.
David returns to Blue Moon with the furniture. He convinces the employees to come back by promising "no work AND pay." He goes into his office, tells Agnes that Blue Moon doesn't have to end and pulls out a book, "Fatherhood-What Every Good Daddy Should Know"

Chris's Obsessive Analysis

David hits rock bottom. The business is a mess (reflecting his and Maddie's personal life) and Mr Hayes shows up and incredibly everything becomes worse. Everything he said to Mr Hayes was true, it just came out wrong. Luckily he was able to catch Mr Hayes in the airport and straighten him out about the facts and his perception of David. David is about to give up and it's a good thing Mr Hayes showed up when he did. Mr Hayes visit gives David renewed hope and purpose to keep fighting. Mr Hayes also saves Blue Moon from bankruptcy. This is the first time we see Maddie admitting that she "messed things up." It's obvious she's been thinking about David a lot. She tells her mother she doesn't know who the father is and isn't sure she wants to resolve it. I'm not sure if that means that she doesn't want to find out who the father is, that it won't matter in her decision . Or if it means that she isn't going to resolve anything at all and walk away fom everything.

Memorable Moments

David and Agnes' fight
David's speech to Mr Hayes on the plane. If it doesn't bring a tear to your eye, I don't know what will. It's too bad Maddie never heard it.

Links

Back to the Episode Guide main page
The next episode, "Los Dos DiPestos"
Brian's "Father Knows Last" page
Aubrey's Blue Moon Banter page for this episode