If You Could See What I See

[screamllc]

SPOILER ALERT: If you haven't seen this episode, don't read my comments!

SPOILER: Click to show

I was listening to "If You Could See What I See" on my iPod while working in my office until 1am when it dawned on me...
If Millie hadn't arrived at Gulls Way, the Judge may never have found McCormick. I realize there are many implications in that statement - and many schools of thought.
In the most basic sense, Hardcastle and McCormick were getting involved with the Clarkson case at the same time Millie came into the picture. (Clarkson died before Mark made the call to Millie. Mark then called Millie, but the Judge agreed to meet Frank regarding the circumstances of Charlie's death before Millie arrived to meet Mark at Gulls Way.) So, Millie's appearance didn't really have any effect on whether or not Mark & Milt were going to work this particular case. Therefore, without Millie to lead Milt to Mark's whereabouts, the end result would have been devastating.
I'm kinda surprised Milt listened to Frank about going home. (Maybe I'm more surprised that Frank told him to do it, blood being found where Mark supposedly summoned the Judge to meet him and all.) And, Mark wouldn't have left the party without the Judge. But, Milt followed Frank's instructions because he knew something Frank didn't. He knew Millie could help him find Mark.
And, it's amazing to see both Milt and Frank touch (ever so slightly) the pool of blood on the floor, knowing what we know now about blood products. That issue wasn't addressed in 1986, though "Bobby Caldwell" got a rude awakening during the 85/86 season of St. Elsewhere.
I like the scene where Milt makes his way down to Mark. Sometimes, though, I find myself wanting to hear the Judge say something, first.

Just thought I'd try out that handy-dandy SPOILER feature!

[lmlewis]

Oh, way cool, I want to play with the 'spoiler' feature, too:

SPOILER: Click to show

On the flip-side of that, you might say that Mark saved Millie by calling her, as well. Here she was, going through life believing that her 'gift' was a curse (a variation on the Cassandra myth--where the prophetess knows all, but her predicitons never come to any good end). Hey, I wonder if she said anything to her husband, Buddy, the day he went out to do whatever it was that landed him in San Quentin?
Anyway, Mark calls her, the plot ensues, she saves him, and thereby finds peace with herself.

Which leads me to another poiint--that Mark seems to be destined to go through life being George Baily (a la It's a Wonderful Life) much put upon, but helping many others.

[owlcroft]

Good point about McC being a George Bailey in life. All the tribulations, all the hard knocks and bad luck -- but the people around him are always better off for his presence. Except for Melinda, but she's a special case. And who knows, maybe without having shacked up with him and put him in prison, she'd've become a streetwalker or something. And McC would never had linked up with the judge and this whole discussion would be about "Hardcastle and Pomeroy".

[lmlewis]

'Pom-er-roy'--it just wouldn't have the same aggravated snap to it when the judge said it. Maybe it's the accent on the first syllable, I dunno.

[Liz]

My turn!

SPOILER: Click to show

This brings up an interesting point. What happens after Millie leaves? Mark goes back to having dishpan hands?? While he's recuperating, she's there. But, without having rewatched it, didn't she tell Mark she was leaving to stay with her sister? I'm assuming that she didn't before because of her "gift". Does she stay until Mark is fully recovered? And does Mark try to hire someone else?

[screamllc]

About Millie...

SPOILER: Click to show

At the end of the episode, the Judge tells Mark,"I told you , but I think you were delirious at the time. She is going to go to San Antonio and live with her sister." Millie then tells Mark, "I'm leaving tomorrow." Mark still has a sling on his right arm (from being tossed down into the ravine), so he wasn't fully recovered. But the Judge promised to give Mark "plenty of attention" after Millie is gone. Hopefully Mark milked it for everything it was worth! I'd love to see Milt in Mark's apron, cleaning house while Mark finishes his recovery! - Speaking of which...in the scene where Mark's vacuuming, right before Millie arrives, he sneezes. Then he throws all of his cleaning "stuff" into the Judge's top drawer. I get a kick out of that every time I watch it because it looks like BK wanted to laugh after DHK sneezed! It's ever-so-slight, and maybe I'm reading too much into it, but I'd love to know what was going through BK's mind at the time. Wonder if the sneeze was an add-lib? Oh, and I think it's adorable that Mark dusts the Judge with his feather-duster!

LML, I agree with the insight on George Bailey. Ironically, last week, I just reread Sarah Enany's "It's a Wonderful Mark." The man has no idea how many lives he's affected. Think of how many times he's come to the rescue..."Hate the Picture," "The Career Breaker," "Flying Down to Rio," "Mr. Hardcastle Goes to Washington," "Poker Night," "The Birthday Present" (Mark could have totally ripped on Sandy at the end, but instead, he stuck up for him.) He's protective of Raz in "Surprise on Seagull Beach," too.

[screamllc]

Here's what I want to know...What did Millie whisper to Mark at the end?

[owlcroft]

I always figured it was something really soppy. You remember, she's just told Mark the judge wouldn't leave his side the whole time, so she's probably whispering something the judge said at the time, something sentimental and touching -- like "Want some water, kiddo?" or ""How long you gonna lie there, pretending you're unconscious?"

[Liz]

I thought it was something like "he really loves you" or "he really cares for you", something like that.

[screamllc]

owlcroft said:

I always figured it was something really soppy. You remember, she's just told Mark the judge wouldn't leave his side the whole time, so she's probably whispering something the judge said at the time, something sentimental and touching -- like "Want some water, kiddo?" or ""How long you gonna lie there, pretending you're unconscious?"

OMG, Owl! My abdomen hurts SO Bad!!!!!!
LMAO!

Yeah Liz (& Owl), I think she enlightened Mark on the seriousness of Milt's concern. I keep hearing the Judge saying something like, "I can't do this without you."
I hate Mark's "I'm deeply moved" line. It's way too trite, even as a defense mechanism and as a third-party buffer. Now, perhaps he chose the smart mouth as a way to ease the Judge's discomfort over Millie "outing" him. Millie might have read it as Mark protecting his own feelings. (Remember the scene at the sink: "Mark, why do your feelings for Judge Hardcastle embarrass you?") She may have whispered that he didn't have to be protective of his own feelings because the Judge felt the same way. I dunno.

[lmlewis]

screamllc said:

owlcroft said:

I always figured it was something really soppy. You remember, she's just told Mark the judge wouldn't leave his side the whole time, so she's probably whispering something the judge said at the time, something sentimental and touching -- like "Want some water, kiddo?" or ""How long you gonna lie there, pretending you're unconscious?"

OMG, Owl! My abdomen hurts SO Bad!!!!!!
LMAO!

Yeah Liz (& Owl), I think she enlightened Mark on the seriousness of Milt's concern. I keep hearing the Judge saying something like, "I can't do this without you."
I hate Mark's "I'm deeply moved" line. It's way too trite, even as a defense mechanism and as a third-party buffer. Now, perhaps he chose the smart mouth as a way to ease the Judge's discomfort over Millie "outing" him. Millie might have read it as Mark protecting his own feelings. (Remember the scene at the sink: "Mark, why do your feelings for Judge Hardcastle embarrass you?") She may have whispered that he didn't have to be protective of his own feelings because the Judge felt the same way. I dunno.

Oh, no, we've abandoned the double-secret spoiler format . . . oh, well.

I'm about 99% sure she say's 'He really loves you' to McC in that final scene (and this is only based on having hit rewind button about, well, maybe fifty times over the years--give' em a little heartfelt feeling and they'll wear the darn tape out).

And, yeah, of course Mark has to get all sarcastic about it, dang it--these are guys and they're lousy at this stuff. Very similar to the exchange in the gatehouse when McC returns, belatedly, from the 'shooting' in Georgia Street Motors, only that time it was H who cut the exchange short with a smart retort. Doesn't matter, heheh, we've got these guys pegged.

[screamllc]

Yeah, even in "She Ain't Deep," Mark throws out a smart-mouthed, "Why Judge, I'm touched," to which Milt replies, "Listen, wiseguy..."
Milt probably would have said "I love you," to Mark, especially if he thought McCormick couldn't respond to it. Case and point: She Ain't Deep: "Well, there was nobody else around to hear it, and I don't remember!"

[owlcroft]

The only problem I have with that is Hardcastle maybe, just maybe, would say it (in a _very_ quiet voice), but never where he could be overheard, even by Millie. But, maybe it's her "second sight" that enabled her to "sense" it. And I deeply apologize for any strained abdominal muscles.

[jadzia2000]

I believe that Mark intentionally throws his wiseguy remarks at the Judge because he knows it makes him feel uncomfortable to say affectionate things to others. mark knows him well enough that he doesn't need to hear those things from the Judge to know how he really feels about him. The friendship, the instant concern and carrying for one another is enough.

[lmlewis]

owlcroft said:

The only problem I have with that is Hardcastle maybe, just maybe, would say it (in a _very_ quiet voice), but never where he could be overheard, even by Millie. But, maybe it's her "second sight" that enabled her to "sense" it. And I deeply apologize for any strained abdominal muscles.

Yup, I never got the impression she was delivering a direct quote, more like an assessment based on observing his behavior that night in the hospital. Hah, like we couldn't tell, too, huh? Second sight not really necessary, only a second X chromosome.