Pardon the Interruption: House 7:1 - Now What?

Overall Rating: 9.6

This was a PICTURE-PERFECT way to handle the start of a relationship that many in fandom may have considered impossible. Neither Cuddy nor House acted out of character at any time. There was widespread fear that (a) the relationship was in House's head again or (b) they would do things with House's character to make the relationship work (or fail) that were inconsistent with the first six years of his development. Neither has occurred.

Cut for spoilers.



Plot Synopsis:

Picking up from where we left off at the end of "Help Me," House and Cuddy share what has to be one of the most tender and romantic moments I've ever seen...Cuddy dresses House's shoulder wound and takes the fear out of him by kissing his crippled leg. The next morning, after a night of passion, House asks a simple question: "Now what?" Cuddy mistakes this as an opening for a long and overly analytical conversation about what this all means, but House stops her by suggesting he'd meant how should they spend the day together. What follows makes perfect sense for House - he needs Cuddy to stay with him after such a long and tortured year, so he calls in sick for them both and insists that Cuddy relax and they enjoy a bath together. When her assistant calls to inform her that the hospital's only neurosurgeon is seriously ill, House sends him home without even realizing that his status as the hospital's only neurosurgeon means that without him, PPTH will lose its' rating as a level one trauma center.

While House and Cuddy are busily making love again (interspersed between moments of meaningful conversation about their histories and about whether either of them is ready for the hospital staff to know they're in a relationship), Chase tries to pose as the hospital's new neurosurgeon, but Cuddy's boss is, unfortuantely, thinking for himself and shoots that idea down. He also (incredibly stupidly!) calls the accreditation board and reports PPTH's troubles. An agent will be along shortly to inspect the hospital and if they can't get their lone candidate healthy in 45 minutes, they'll have to close their ER. House's team takes up the case, though thirteen seems uninterested. She's left just enough clues in all the obvious places to lead everyone to believe that she's going to Rome to take part in a dangerous Huntington's trial, thus explaining her request for a leave of absence. Everyone on the team weighs in on this apparent decision and thirteen assures them all that she'll be fine and can handle her own treatments.

Meanwhile, Wilson, concerned that House just lost a patient and is now absent from work and refusing to answer his door, tries to break into House's apartment, but House assures him he's not on drugs. He tells Wilson the truth - he's in there with Cuddy getting it on hard core (LOL)...but Cuddy, hearing this, hides and House makes up a story about a hooker and some needed time off provided by Cuddy and Wilson, temporarily, is placated. Cuddy explains her hiding away as an attempt not to pressure House into being ready for the big reveal (a wise choice on her part, IMHO). They decide to pass their time playing Boggle and a decision about how they have felt for each other ensues.

House's team, meanwhile, tries to sneak their neurosurgeon into the OR while he's still ill (they've got him on some very heavy duty anti-nausea drugs and think he's high because of those drugs)...the high doesn't wear off in time and he stumbles out of the OR and removes his clothes in front of the inspector. Their ER and trauma center get shut down. The team realizes he must have something that causes psychological symptoms and nausea and treat him for accidental poisoning related to consuming fish eggs. He is miraculously cured and they get their ER re-opened. Meanwhile, Foreman does some digging and realizes that thirteen is not in fact enrolled in the drug trial in Rome. She has simply vanished and her phones have been disconnected.

As Cuddy prepares to leave to take care of her daughter, House tells her he doesn't think this relationship will work. He explains that he's still screwed up...he's done horrible things to her in the past and he'll do them again, and she'll realize he's a bad choice to help raise a child. He practically begs her to tell him where he's wrong. She answers by saying she hopes he never changes. She knows he's always going to be screwed up and she still thinks he's the most incredible person she's ever known. Then she tells him that unless he's breaking up with her, she isn't going to leave him. House looks truly happy (and scared) for the first time in ages after she departs.

The Skinny:

SABR Matt - The one thing that could bring House back from the brink of falling back into his death spiral was Cuddy's support and loving affection...the one thing that can make him believe there is hope for him to be happy some day is the stunning admission by Cuddy that she doesn't want him to change - that she loves him exactly as he is. I can't describe exactly how powerfully that final scene reached me. So many of us go through life desperately hoping that some day, we'll find someone who'll learn all about our deepest faults and see our worst moments and love us anyway, not because they imagine that those pieces of ourselves can be divorced from the whole...not because they envision a more perfect version of us...but because they genuinely want us to be who we are - warts and all. I hope they follow through with House and Cuddy in this same manner going forward, because I've never been this satisfied with the direction of at least this aspect of the show (House's character arc...and Cuddy's for that matter).

Not only are they giving me reason to believe that House - warts and all - might some day be happy (and I think most of us who watch this show religiously are hoping for that outcome eventually)...but they're doing it without fundamentally changing who House is. If he gains any optimism about himself and the world around him, it will happen without character assassination...he'll still be House. Here, all of the best parts of House are on display...his romanticism, his genuine affectionate capabilities, his moral convictions, and his desire not to inflict his problems on those he cares for...but we still come back to his great psychological flaw - his belief that he can never change. I think everything he does in this episode makes perfect sense...and that was going to be hard to accomplish...how do we get House to explore a relationship with Cuddy while still acknowledging that his first instinct is going to be to run away to protect her from his self-destructive tendencies? I think they found the perfect way to resolve that.

Meanwhile, they have piqued my interest in Thirteen's plight, kept alive the humor and witty dialogue that has always been a staple of House, and left me feeling like the show is on the right track for a great season - hopefully better than last year. It's all very encouraging.

Stephanie S - My co-author is definitely more excited than I am, but that doesn't mean I don't appreciate the effort the writers put in to keep House and Cuddy in character. I may not have made the choice to smush that much relationship development into one episode - I would've spread it out over the first few episodes, actually, and intermixed the storyline with the more traditional medical plots - but what we got was good. I suppose the only thing I worry about now is how this will affect Cuddy's role in the show. What I don't want is for Cuddy to lose her status as House's boss.  "They did it" often ends up ruining the characterization of the female lead on other shows, so by no means have the writers cleared every potential pitfall. Moreover, I don't want the show to suffer concept drift; if the hospital and the medical mysteries completely fall by the wayside, I will raise objections.

In other news, I'm definitely fascinated by what's going on with Thirteen. The way she hoodwinks everyone to maintain her privacy here is great but also worrying. I can't wait to see how her plot unfolds in future episodes. I also hope we see more of Cuddy's delightfully competent assistant, though, again, I don't want him to completely take up the slack.
 
Writing: 10.0 / 9.0

I think I highlighted 60% of the script below...all of these House/Cuddy scenes are outstandingly written and House's team have some interesting moments as well. The bottom line is...I'm satisfied with the direction House's character has taken (and Cuddy's), and I once again have faith in this writing team to end this franchise well.

Stephanie S.: My rating is tempered by my concern that the episode may have presented too much in one blow.

Acting: 9.8 / 9.8

I don't think Chase pulled off the sex proposition at all...but aside from that bizarre moment, there is nothing to point to as an off-peak moment for any of the cast...not even Dr. Richardson (who was pretty hilarious while having psychological symptoms). Hugh Laurie's reaction takes in the key moments just continue to blow me away.

Message: 10.0 / 9.0

I've said my piece about how moved I was by Cuddy's final declaration of unconditional love. That scene brought me to the brink of tears on the first viewing, that is for sure.

Stephanie S.: It bothers me a little that the hospital was left to twist in the wind while House and Cuddy worked things out. A couple shouldn't completely ignore the outside world; I don't think that's healthy. If this turns out to be a one time thing, though, I will be perfectly happy.

Highlights:

CUDDY: Let me take a look...(she takes off House's coat to examine his gashed upper chest). That's gonna get infected. I'll be right back.
HOUSE: (as she goes to fetch a bucket of water and a rag) You don't have to...
CUDDY: It's OK...here...(she takes his shirt off over his head and gently rubs the wound clean, then washes his cheek - then decides to undo his pants)
HOUSE: You're not gonna...(she slides his pants down)...you are.
CUDDY: It's OK.
HOUSE: (sees her looking at his deformed leg) Don't - don't...
CUDDY: Ssssh...I love you. (she kisses the wound and my heart breaks into a thousand pieces as they fall into the moment)

HOUSE: So what now?
CUDDY: Everything's good. We don't have to talk through everything.
HOUSE: No, I meant it literally. What's next? You make breakfast? We go bowling? (almost desperately) You could stay here...
CUDDY: I gotta go home - get dressed - we've got work.
HOUSE: (disappointed) So that's it?
CUDDY: I'm hoping this is the beginning of 'it'.

ASSISTANT: Well, I spoke with Dr. Richardson - he must have the same stomach flu. He threw up in the OR. Now, I was wondering if you could...
HOUSE: Hold on a sec. (holds the phone down for about two seconds) I have spoken with Dr. Cuddy and she would like you to do three things. One - send him home. Two - sanitize the OR. Three - use your own brain. (hangs up) It was about puke. That's what's so important. Puke.
CUDDY: Well...whatever 'what now' we decide on now...comes after you take a bath! (LOL)

CHASE: I notice you're the only one here without a patient to present.
THIRTEEN: I haven't found the right one yet.
CHASE: Oh, I thought it was because you were asking for a leave of absence and wouldn't have time to see a case through.
TAUB: I didn't say anything!
CHASE: He didn't...I found an envelope with your name on House's desk, so naturally, I...steamed it open. (LOL!)
TAUB: What's wrong with you? You steam a letter open to keep it secret.
FOREMAN: Which is why I just ripped it. (ROTFL)

CUDDY: There's glass everywhere. Couldn't you have just placed the mirror on the floor gently?
HOUSE: I was in a mood. (Cuddy sees House's ultra-secret Vicodin stash and palms it before her phone rings)
CUDDY: I'll be right back.
HOUSE: Don't get that.
CUDDY: It could be important.
HOUSE: We're important. (Cuddy looks torn) Right now, this is more important than whatever's going on at the hospital. So why don't we just turn off our phones and give us the day.
CUDDY: Alright, I'll turn it off. (what House is doing here may seem out of character by his standards, but there is a very good reason, discussed above...this is well written stuff)

CHASE: Hello?
HOUSE: Interesting factoid. Did you know that if Princeton Plainsboro doesn't have a neurosurgeon on duty at all times, all the puppies in the world will choke to death on all the babies? (ROTFL!!)
CHASE: Yeah. You got a letter from thirteen.
HOUSE: So how come we don't have like...five neurosurgeons?
CHASE: We had three, but Lindstrum just retired and Mickelson is off at his niece's christening.
HOUSE: Well I've got great news. For the next sixteen hours, you are the hospital's neurosurgeon. (heh)
CHASE: I'm not a neurosurgeon.
HOUSE: Which would be a problem if you had to do neurosurgery.
CHASE: House, being a level one trauma center makes us more likely to get head injuries.
HOUSE: If an EMT calls with a spinal cord injury or a stroke, divert them to the nearest hospital. You just have to stand there and keep the ER open. It's an administrative problem, not a medical one.
CHASE: House, even if you could pull that off....
HOUSE: Great, it sounds like you've got that all taken care of! (hangs up unceremoniously...LOL)

HOUSE: So what exactly is this...soapy...casual and open fun if you want to call it that?
CUDDY: Open? You think I want to date other people?
HOUSE: Well it was an emotional night for you, too. We both saw people die - I came home and went for the Vicodin, you dumped your fiance and came here.
CUDDY: Which I don't regret.
HOUSE: I'm not saying you do...I'm just saying that was an impulsive move.
CUDDY: House...don't do this. Why do you have to analyze everything to death. Why can't you ever just let things be...nice?
HOUSE: You're right. That was very anti-secret-bath of me.
CUDDY: (after a long pause) Um...the secret bath is burning my lady parts.
HOUSE: How do you think my penis feels? (LOL) The burning means it's working.
CUDDY: Can we get out now?
HOUSE: I was so hoping you'd say that! (LOL!)

HOUSE: Here you are...I flaked some tender young ears of corn (corn flakes...LOL) and prepared an assortment of breakfast meats in a reduced chili paste (really bad looking breakfast sausage...LOL!!). This is just the first course.
CUDDY: What's the second course?
HOUSE: A single grape - to cleanse the palette. Which is kind of a waste because there is no third course.
CUDDY: Thank you for doing this. This is actually pretty good.
HOUSE: I can always tell when you're lying. I mean always.
CUDDY: I slept with my roommate my freshman year of college.
HOUSE: A lie.
CUDDY: A truth!
HOUSE: I know when you're lying; you have a tell!
CUDDY: What is it?
HOUSE: First, admit that you were lying.
CUDDY: Alright fine, I was lying. My sexual history is boring and predictable, now what's my tell?
HOUSE: Are you kidding? If I tell you, you'll get rid of it and I won't be able to tell! (HA!)
CUDDY: OK...then you have to tell me something about yourself that I don't already know.
HOUSE: Even though you technically didn't tell me anything...
CUDDY: ...Quit being so damned logical and just tell me.
HOUSE: I used to have an intimate relationship with a photograph of you. Well, actually...a sock and a photograph of you.
CUDDY: I know.
HOUSE: I was lying!
CUDDY: The photo you took of me asleep in Butte at that medical conference. Why else would you take that picture?
HOUSE: (decides to change the subject) I have to pee. (Cuddy smirks and he gets up to leave) Ha! You can't tell. Because actually...I have to poo. (ROTFLOL!)

HOUSE: You ready? Hold out your hand. (he hands her the scabbard on his rapier and pulls it free - Cuddy seems stunned and impressed) I always wanted to open a bottle of champagne with one of these. You might want to stand behind me for this. (he makes his attempt and the bottle shatters into a bazillion pieces, causing them both to laugh...House looks like he thinks the explosion was WICKED cool...LOL) Yeah...I think I might have done that slightly wrong. Well...good thing I got a case!
WILSON: (banging on door off screen) House? Are you there? Open up!
CUDDY: We should just let him in.
HOUSE: No, no, no...if we just ignore him, he'll go away.
WILSON: (still banging) House...c'mon, open the door! House?!
(slightly later)
HOUSE: I think he finally left...but just in case he hasn't...what can we do that doesn't involve any talking? (LOL - suddenly House's phone goes off loudly) You turned on my ringer?!?!
WILSON: I know you're in there...I can hear your phone going off. (LOL!! Man he's persistent)
HOUSE: He's like a stray...he'll eat everything, tear up the furniture, crap all over everything. (his phone rings silently again) Hi, you've reached Greg House. I am not able to come to the phone at the moment, so leave a message and I'll get back to you. If this is Wilson...I'm fine, not suicidal, not on drugs, and coping well with the loss of my last patient, so...feel free to go about your day without worry. BEEP! (hehehehe...)
WILSON: House...you can't just not show up to work...I'm worried about you. What will Cuddy think?
HOUSE: If this is still Wilson, she gave me the day off. And tomorrow. OK, maybe not tomorrow but today. So leave me alone, I'm fine. (beat) BEEEEEEEEEP! (LOL)
WILSON: If you're not here tomorrow I'll be back. (aww)

CUDDY: Why didn't you let him in?
HOUSE: You were thinking about Wilson while we were having sex? That's so cool! So was I! (snerk)

CUDDY: You didn't see love?
HOUSE: Wow...I didn't think you'd take my lack of skill with board games so personally. (heh)
CUDDY: Why didn't you tell me you loved me?
HOUSE: You're really worried about this?
CUDDY: I told you I loved you...you didn't say it back. You don't think that should give me a reason for concern?
HOUSE: Nope. Words don't matter. Actions do.
CUDDY: You're really going to take a stand here? You can't just say...
HOUSE: Nope!
CUDDY: Why?
HOUSE: Because...I forgot to grab a V. (he places boggle cubes on the table spelling 'I LOBE YOU' - which BTW is incredibly sweet and adorable...LOL)
CUDDY: Lobe...gets you one point. (LOL)

CUDDY: France...and not Paris or the Riviera. There's this place in Normandy...it's this barrier island with a huge castle...if you're not staying in the inn, you have to leave the island when the tide comes in. So you've got this giant gothic castle to yourself. It's incredibly romantic...and it's called...
HOUSE: (names some French name I can't translate)
CUDDY: That's it! Have you been there?
HOUSE: Nope.
CUDDY: Then how did you know...
HOUSE: You used to have a picture of it as your screensaver.
CUDDY: Uh...that was years ago.
HOUSE: It's a very memorable place. Unfortunately, you can't fly directly to Normandy, but the layover in London's only a couple of hours.
CUDDY: Wait, what are you talking about?
HOUSE: It's all right here...all you have to do is click confirm and we'll be eating croissants and being insulted by stinky people tomorrow! (you can see the deep romanticism in House's character coming through here as he desperately tries to hang onto this special time, knowing that when things go back to normal, he'll have to tell Cuddy it won't work out - you know this is true by the look on his face when Cuddy suggests a later date for their getaway...it had to be now in his mind or it wasn't going to happen)

CUDDY: Thank you...for everything.
HOUSE: You're welcome...for everything.
CUDDY: I'll see you tomorrow...(she makes for the door, but realizes House looks upset)...I really do have to leave.
HOUSE: I know.
CUDDY: Then what's the problem?
HOUSE: This isn't gonna work.
CUDDY: That's it? You can't just say that and shut up.
HOUSE: It's a statement of fact, not a debatable proposition.
CUDDY: Right...because you can see the future.
HOUSE: No...but I can see the past. And I know that pretty soon, you're gonna remember all the horrible things I've done...and then you're gonna convince yourself that I've changed...and then I'm gonna start doing those horrible things again, because I haven't changed...and you're gonna realize that I'm a horrible choice for a woman raising a kid. And from there it's a short leap to the conclusion that all this...was just an impulsive mistake. Tell me any of that isn't true. (ouch...)

CUDDY: The only time you're afraid is when you're happy. You just don't think it will last.
HOUSE: Because it doesn't.
CUDDY: You don't know that for sure.
HOUSE: I've done horrible things to you. I'll do horrible things again...to you...because of one stupid moment with a dying girl in a pile of rubble, you think I can change. Tell me where I'm wrong.
CUDDY: I don't want you to change. I know you're screwed up. I know you are always going to be screwed up. But you are the most incredible man I've ever known. You are always gonna be the most incredible man I've ever known. So unless you're breaking up with me...I am going home now.
HOUSE: (absolutely floored) I love you...(AWESOME!!!!)