DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES: GIVE ME THE BLAME/FINISHING THE HAT {SERIES FINALE} (TV)
Summary
The finale of this darkly comedic soap opera about the denizens of Wisteria Lane, a suburban neighborhood with a seedy underbelly that is thrust to the forefront after the suicide of one titular housewife.
Karen decides to move into hospice care so as not to put further stress on Roy. Roy is upset since he wanted to accompany Karen during her final days; Lynette, Susan, Gabrielle, and Bree offer to care for her in shifts so that she won’t have to leave. Karen is touched by their generosity and kindness. Bree’s murder trial attracts a great deal of media attention, and Carlos becomes concerned that the whole thing is falling apart. He considers admitting that he is the real murderer, but Gabrielle persuades him to wait out the trial and see what happens. Susan has not yet informed her neighbors that she plans to move, and wants Lee to keep it a secret until Bree’s trial is over, hoping not to upset everyone further. Penny calls Lynette to tell her that Jane has broken up with Tom and moved out, much to their mutual excitement. She gets a call from Tom on the other line asking her to have dinner with him that night, and that he needs to have a discussion with her. Trip tells Bree that if Ben’s testimony is damaging to her he will be forced to put Gabrielle back on the stand. Bree forbids him from bringing Gabrielle in and has faith that he can get her out of this predicament.
During the trial, the prosecution plays an audio recording of a phone conversation between Bree and Ben which heavily implicates her in the murder. When Ben refuses to answer the D.A.’s questions, the judge finds him in contempt of court and sends him to jail for the night. Ben calls Renee before he is sent to jail and she in turns speaks to Bree about it at her home that night. She is concerned that the trial is going to affect their upcoming marriage, and asks Bree to release him from the promise they made for each other, but Bree says she cannot and will not explain herself. Gabrielle helps Lynette get dressed up before Tom arrives, but he shows up early and Lynette forces Gabrielle to hide. She invites him inside, but he tells her that he intends to file their divorce papers the following day to allow them both to move on with their lives, much to her shock. Renee visits Ben in jail; he says that the trial will end soon and that there is no need for her to cancel their wedding. Ben mentions that the murder occurred during a dinner party which both Renee and Bree attended, and Renee realizes that she witnessed what may have been Bree returning from the scene of the crime that night. On the way out, Renee runs into D.A. Stone, who reveals that she listened in on her conversation with Ben. She threatens to have Ben deported if Renee doesn’t testify against Bree.
The next day, Ben is called up to the witness stand again and again refuses to answer Stone’s questions. He is swiftly removed and Stone calls Renee to the stand, much to Ben’s surprise. Renee recounts seeing Bree on the night of the murder, and gives information which heavily implicates her in the murder. Lynette, Gabrielle, and Susan speak to Renee during recess, concerned about what could happen to Bree, but Renee notes that everyone seems to be keeping secrets from her, and reveals that she testified in order to save Ben. Trip takes Bree aside and notes that the jurors now seem fully convinced of her guilt. He insist that she tell him what really happened that night, noting that at this point she will likely lose and go to prison. He also admits that he is attracted to her and they kiss. This convinces Bree to tell the truth about Alejandro’s death.
Lee shows potential buyers around Susan’s house while Susan continues to try to prevent the rest of the neighborhood from finding out that she’s moving. Before the trial can end, Trip calls Gabrielle back to the stand, going against Bree’s instructions. When she lies about not recognizing Alejandro Bree attempts to call for a recess, but is unsuccessful. Trip gets Gabrielle to tell the truth, but Bree suddenly pretends to faint, causing a stir in the courtroom. The trial is put on recess until the following day to give Bree time to recover. That night, while over at Karen’s house taking care of her, Carlos talks to Gabrielle and says he will reveal the truth to the D.A. that night, believing that the whole matter has gone too far. Gabrielle says that she will confess to the murder in order to save Carlos, hoping that the jury will be more sympathetic towards her. She feels that Carlos has spent their entire marriage protecting her and that she has been “selfish,” and wants to repay him. However, Carlos does not believe her story will be plausible enough to convince the jury. Karen awakens and overhears their conversation.
In the middle of the night, Carlos tells Gabrielle that he’s proud of her for what she intends to do, but wants to confess anyway; he reasons that their children need Gabrielle’s guidance and that he feels morally compelled to take responsibility for his actions. The next morning, Karen approaches Trip to testify that she was with Renee on the night of the murder; she claims that Renee’s testimony is questionable since she was highly drunk at the time. He puts her on the stand immediately. Gabrielle prevents Carlos from entering the courthouse by sneaking a switchblade into his coat lining, thus alerting the metal detectors and necessitating that he be brought away by security officers. While on the witness stand, Karen talks about the sense of community on Wisteria Lane, and how she considers her neighbors to be “family.” She testifies that Alejandro abused Gabrielle when she was a child and claims that she was the one who killed him in order to protect Gabrielle. Gabrielle enters during the ensuing uproar and quickly realizes what is going on. The judge calls for a meeting between the lawyers in her chambers, and Stone believes that Trip has concocted an audacious stunt in order to confuse the jury. Trip tells Stone that he plans to bring Gabrielle back to the stand and use the abuse angle to garner sympathy. Ultimately, Stone decides to dismiss the charges against Bree, and does not press charges against Karen, since it is likely that she will die quite soon. The case is dismissed, and Bree’s friends are happy to have the matter settled.
Later, Tom goes to speak to Roy about Karen’s appearance in court. Roy talks to Tom about the time he is spending with Karen, and that they are telling each other their true feelings, no longer feeling any need to keep secrets from each other. He notes how important it is to say things like this to the other person in a relationship before it’s too late. Bree and her friends get together at her house to hold a small party to celebrate the end of the trial. Lee arrives to congratulate Bree as well, and in private tries to urge Susan to tell the others that she is moving, especially since he just received an offer on her house. Trip shows up, much to Bree’s displeasure, and he tries to explain the rationale behind his actions. Bree believes he has ulterior motives and throws him out of her house. Renee and Ben arrive, and she apologizes for her testimony against her. Bree forgives her and thanks Ben for all he’s done for her. While out getting ice, Lynette encounters Tom again, who admits that despite all their difficulties he still loves her. He believes that she’s moved on and found someone else, but Lynette admits that she still loves Tom as well. They kiss in the middle of the street.
In a flashback, Mary Alice moves in to Wisteria Lane and is greeted first by Martha. Martha attempts to find out more about her, but Mary Alice is not forthcoming with details. Martha realizes that Mary Alice is hiding something and is determined to find out what it is, which eventually leads to Mary Alice’s suicide and everything resulting from it in the following years. In the present, Susan finally tells her friends that she is moving. Katherine suddenly arrives, much to their collective shock, and catches up with them; she broke up with her girlfriend three months after moving to Paris, and she started a highly successful frozen pastry business. Renee and Ben prepare for their wedding, and Renee becomes highly stressed and argumentative as she tries to organize all its various details. Gabrielle gets a prestigious promotion from her boss, and she feels overwhelmed by her newfound responsibilities. Susan accompanies Julie during a checkup with her obstetrician, and Julie becomes annoyed when Susan tries to play matchmaker for the two of them. Susan simply doesn’t want Julie to be lonely while caring for her new daughter. Bree helps Karen plan her funeral while fending off calls from Trip; Karen becomes interested in Bree’s relationship with him and plans to “mess with people’s lives” once again.
Katherine asks Lynette to be the head of the United States division of her pastry business, which will be headquartered in New York. Katherine sought out Lynette both for her business acumen and because she had divorced from Tom, but she reveals that she has gotten back together with Tom when arrives. Lynette declines Katherine’s offer, as she and Tom note how happy they’ve been since they’ve resolved their differences and she feels she cannot leave him again. Gabrielle’s first day at her new job proves to be a long one, and Carlos waits up for her. She returns with an expensive watch for him, but he realizes that this is the reverse of the beginning of their relationship, i.e. that he would try to placate her feelings of loneliness with expensive gifts. Lynette runs into her old friend Natalie at the supermarket, and she becomes jealous when she learns that she has become a successful corporate businesswoman. Their conversation convinces her to reconsider Katherine’s offer. Carlos gets back at Gabrielle by hiring an attractive female gardener, again in a mirror of her affair with John Rowland years ago, which enrages Gabrielle.
Renee’s wedding starts up, and Bree stops by Karen’s house on the way. Roy tells her that Karen is sleeping and is on her last legs. Bree offers to stay, but Roy declines and says that it is “our time together.” Bree learns that Trip found an old record Karen wanted to be played at her funeral, surprising Bree and making her wonder if he genuinely cares about her. Susan, Gabrielle, and Julie ride with Renee in her limo to the wedding; they are all running quite late. Julie’s water breaks in the limo, ruining Renee’s wedding dress and sending the occupants of the limo into a panic. They decide to stop by Gabrielle’s store to get Renee a new dress before attending to Julie, upsetting Susan. However, Gabrielle is unable to convince the staff member on duty to lend her the dress Renee needs. While they’re inside, Susan sends the limousine driver inside and takes control of the limo herself to rush Julie to a hospital. Gabrielle and Renee steal the dress they need and rush out of the store, but Susan and Julie are already gone and they are forced to go on the run to evade the pursuing security officers.
Eventually they manage to reach the wedding on foot, where Ben greets Renee and instead of yelling at her as she expects, tells her how beautiful she looks. The wedding ceremony and subsequent reception continues without further delay. Tom finds out that Lynette is still talking to Katherine about the job offer, and is distressed that Lynette seemingly needs to do it in order to be happy. Tom notes that Lynette has always been searching for something to make her “complete,” and feels as though even he may not be enough for her. Trip arrives at the wedding party and speaks to Bree, trying to get her to forgive him. Bree doesn’t understand why he wants to be in a relationship with her, especially since he’s aware of the more sordid aspects of her life and she feels she has been manipulated by him. He notes that he loves her anyway, since her more negative aspects make her “human,” and they kiss. Gabrielle talks to Carlos about the point he made earlier with the gardener, and he admits that while what he did was hurtful, he feels ashamed that he neglected Gabrielle all those years ago. They both wish to avoid the same unpleasantness, although Gabrielle notes that they are more mature now and can deal with their problems in a better way.
At the hospital, Julie’s obstetrician comes in to help deliver the baby. Julie and Susan’s conversation turns to the prospect of finding a husband, and Julie turns it back around on her, wondering if Susan will ever get married again. Susan notes that even if she never finds love again, she can take comfort in the memories of her life and in the prospect of Julie’s new life. Lynette makes a toast at the wedding which quickly becomes a veiled soliloquy about her own situation with Katherine’s job, and makes it clear to Tom in the audience that she has decided not to take the job, as she has realized that being with him is more important after all. Later, while they’re dancing, Tom gives Lynette his blessing to go to New York and take the job. Porter arrives to announce that Julie is having the baby, and Lynette and Tom rush to the hospital just as she’s born. Karen finally passes away, and Bree gets a call about it while at the wedding with Trip; she comes over but is too late to say goodbye.
Susan moves out of her house, but stays behind a little longer to play one last card game with her friends. They talk about how they’re moving on with their lives and note that they may not see each other again. They promise to see each other again, but it does not come to pass. Soon after Susan leaves, Lynette and Tom move to New York together, where she becomes a high-paid CEO, and eventually becomes the grandmother of six. The year after Lynette leaves, Gabrielle and Carlos leave Wisteria Lane as well after the two of them develop an online fashion shopping service, eventually leading to greater success and a mansion in California. Two years after they leave, Bree and Trip, now married, decide to leave town as well and move to Louisville, Kentucky, where Bree eventually goes into politics and is elected to the Kentucky State Legislature. As Susan leaves her house, she greets Jennifer, the woman who bought the house. Susan takes one last drive around the block, and the ghosts of people who died on Wisteria Lane seem to appear before her, including Mary Alice, who notes that “even the most desperate life is oh so wonderful.” The story ends as Jennifer hides a jewelry box in her new house before the movers arrive, keeping some kind of unspecified secret. Includes commercials.
Details
- NETWORK: ABC
- DATE: May 13, 2012 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 1:57:10
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: 108416
- GENRE: Drama, night-time serial
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama, night-time serial; Asian American Pacific Islanders Collection
- SERIES RUN: ABC - TV series, 2004-2012
- COMMERCIALS:
- TV – Commercials – Almay cosmetics
- TV – Commercials – Audi automobiles
- TV – Commercials – Buick automobiles
- TV – Commercials – Chili’s restaurants
- TV – Commercials – Chrome internet browser
- TV – Commercials – Dove beauty products
- TV – Commercials – Droid mobile phones
- TV – Commercials – Electrolux washing machines
- TV – Commercials – Estee Lauder cosmetics
- TV – Commercials – Honda automobiles
- TV – Commercials – Infiniti automobiles
- TV – Commercials – Intel computer processors
- TV – Commercials – JC Penney department stores
- TV – Commercials – Johnson’s baby products
- TV – Commercials – Lexus automobiles
- TV – Commercials – Lipton iced tea
- TV – Commercials – Mazda automobiles
- TV – Commercials – Nationwide insurance
- TV – Commercials – Nikon cameras
- TV – Commercials – Old Navy apparel
- TV – Commercials – Pizza Hut pizza
- TV – Commercials – Playtex underwear
- TV – Commercials – Propel Zero vitamin water
- TV – Commercials – Red Lobster restaurants
- TV – Commercials – Sheer Blonde hair coloring
- TV – Commercials – Sprint phone service
- TV – Commercials – Subway restaurants
- TV – Commercials – T-Mobile phone service
- TV – Commercials – TJ Maxx apparel
- TV – Commercials – Target department stores
- TV – Commercials – Verizon phone service
- TV – Commercials – Victoria’s Secret underwear
- TV – Commercials – Volkswagen automobiles
- TV – Commercials – Volvo automobiles
- TV – Commercials – Wendy’s restaurants
- TV – Commercials – “For Greater Glory” motion picture
- TV – Commercials – “Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted” motion picture
- TV – Commercials – “Magic Mike” motion picture
- TV – Commercials – “People Like Us” motion picture
- TV – Commercials – “Snow White and the Huntsman” motion picture
- TV – Commercials – “What to Expect When You’re Expecting” motion picture
- TV – Promos – “Dancing With the Stars”
- TV – Promos – “Don’t Trust the B---- in Apartment 23”
- TV – Promos – “Duets”
- TV – Promos – “Extreme Makeover: Weight Loss Edition”
- TV – Promos – “Grey’s Anatomy”
- TV – Promos – “Modern Family”
- TV – Promos – “Private Practice”
- TV – Promos – “Revenge”
- TV – Promos – “Rookie Blue”
- TV – Promos – “Secret Millionaire”
- TV – Promos – “The 2012 Billboard Music Awards”
- TV – Promos – “The Bachelorette”
CREDITS
- David Grossman … Executive Producer, Director (for Part Two)
- Marc Cherry … Executive Producer, Created by, Writer (for Part Two)
- Bob Daily … Executive Producer, Writer (for Part One)
- Marco Pennette … Executive Producer
- Matt Berry … Executive Producer
- Sabrina Wind … Executive Producer
- George W. Perkins … Executive Producer
- Sheila Lawrence … Co-Executive Producer
- Stephanie Hagen … Supervising Producer
- Charles Skouras III … Producer
- Annie Weisman … Producer
- Wendy Mericle … Co-Producer
- Dana Wilson … Associate Producer
- Bill Chais … Consulting Producer
- Larry Shaw … Director (for Part One)
- Steve Jablonsky … Music by
- Danny Elfman … Theme Music by
- Teri Hatcher … Cast, Susan Mayer
- Felicity Huffman … Cast, Lynette Scavo
- Marcia Cross … Cast, Bree Van De Kamp
- Eva Longoria (See also: Eva Longoria Parker) … Cast, Gabrielle Solis
- Vanessa Williams … Cast, Renee Perry
- Ricardo Antonio Chavira … Cast, Carlos Solis
- Doug Savant … Cast, Tom Scavo
- Charles Mesure … Cast, Ben Faulkner
- Madison De La Garza … Cast, Juanita Solis
- Brenda Strong … Cast, Mary Alice Young
- James Denton … Cast, Mike Delfino
- Kathryn Joosten … Cast, Karen McCluskey
- Kevin Rahm … Cast, Lee McDermott
- Tuc Watkins … Cast, Bob Hunter
- Charlie Carver … Cast, Porter Scavo
- Darcy Rose Byrnes … Cast, Penny Scavo
- Mason Vale Cotton … Cast, M.J. Delfino
- Andrea Bowen … Cast, Julie Mayer
- Orson Bean … Cast, Roy Bender
- Christine Estabrook … Cast, Martha Huber
- Christina Chang … Cast, D.A. Stone
- Alyson Reed … Cast, Judge Conti
- Wes Brown … Cast, Doctor
- Lindsey Kraft … Cast, Jennifer
- Patrika Darbo … Cast, Jean
- Nike Doukas … Cast, Natalie Klein
- Todd Weeks … Cast, Kent
- Scott Bakula … Cast, Trip Wilson
- Dana Delany … Cast, Katherine Mayfair
- Gibby Brand … Cast, Fred Newman
- Jill Basey … Cast, Jill Newman
- Aaron Norvell … Cast, Security Guard
- Stephen Ramsey … Cast, Sheriff
- Ewan Chung … Cast, Clerk
- Daniella Baltodano … Cast, Celia Solis
- Jarvis George … Cast, Driver
- Debbie Pollack … Cast, Mother
- Marc Fajardo … Cast, Valet