The Secret (5 May 2002)

Benjamin Srisal suffers a heart attack at home, requiring a Bhuddist service at Fisher & Sons that Nate gets a crash-course in how to conduct, but he's still got no answers as far as what ... See full summary »

Director:

Alan Poul

Writers:

Alan Ball (creator), Bruce Eric Kaplan

Stars:

Peter Krause, Michael C. Hall, Frances Conroy

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Peter Krause	...	Nate Fisher
Michael C. Hall	...	David Fisher
Frances Conroy	...	Ruth Fisher
Lauren Ambrose	...	Claire Fisher
Freddy Rodríguez	...	Federico 'Rico' Diaz
Mathew St. Patrick	...	Keith Charles
Rachel Griffiths	...	Brenda Chenowith
Lili Taylor	...	Lisa Kimmel
Joanna Cassidy	...	Margaret Chenowith
Robert Foxworth	...	Dr. Bernard Chenowith
Ed O'Ross	...	Nikolai
Kellie Waymire	...	Melissa
Aysia Polk	...	Taylor
Marina Black	...	Parker McKenna
James Morrison	...	Swinger Husband

Storyline

Benjamin Srisal suffers a heart attack at home, requiring a Bhuddist service at Fisher & Sons that Nate gets a crash-course in how to conduct, but he's still got no answers as far as what should be done concerning Brenda and Lisa. Lisa apologizes for her outburst in the store but requests she have full custody of the child, causing him to be haunted by visions of the first child they conceived, as well as all the others he lost to abortion. David and Keith begin to argue again, especially after Karla accidentally hits and kills a homeless man on the street, and Taylor is too shaken to actually keep it secret and tells David under the pretense that it's a joke - David is troubled enough to tell Keith, but feels too guilty to report to the police as Keith does. After hearing her "soul-twin" parents have chosen to remarry, Brenda attends an orgy with Melissa where she sleeps with more than one man but then chooses to blame Melissa for her infidelity so breaks contact with her. Claire ...

---

Plot Keywords:

buddhist | sex party | beggar | custody | nightmare | 

---

Genres:

Drama

---

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

5 May 2002 (USA)

Company Credits

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min 56 min (DVD)

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

Executive producer Alan Poul's directorial debut.

---

Quotes

Nikolai: [Ruth offers to clean for him] I don't need my house smelling like fake lemons.

---

Connections

References The Great Escape (1963)

---

Soundtracks

"Onde o Rio é Mais Baiano"
(uncredited)
by Caetano Veloso

User Reviews

Crossing the Line, Patching the Life

While pushing the garbage can to the sidewalk, Benjamin Srisai has a heart attack and dies on his lawn. His family hires a Buddhist service with David and Nate. Lisa asks Nate to sign papers giving the guard of the baby to her. Keith and David have some troubles in their relationship. Nikolai decides to return to his home, and Ruth cleans his apartment and invites him to move to her house. Claire takes pictures of the corpses for her homework, but her teacher does not like and fails her in the exam. Brenda has a session with a psychoanalyst, wishing to have sexual encounters with strangers without feeling edgy. Nate and Brenda have dinner with Margaret Chenowith and she informs that she is living again with her husband, Dr. Bernard Chenowith. Karla hits a beggar on the street and is arrested later. Claire visits the East Valley facility to see if she will study there. Brenda goes with Melissa to a sex party on Saturday night and has sex all the night with a couple. Meanwhile, Nate has a nightmare with the children that his partners have aborted or miscarried. Brenda breaks up with Melissa blaming her for her behavior, while Nate unsuccessfully deals an arrangement for the baby with Lisa.

"The Secret" is a great episode about painful secrets and regrets, with the characters lost with their sins and trying to solve their problems. Claire breaks with Melissa as if she were the guilty for her behavior; Nate tries to support Lisa's baby without telling Brenda; David is trying to impose his will and tells Keith about the secret Taylor told him and Karla is arrested; Ruth tries to change Nikolai's lifestyle; Claire is trying to find herself. The destructive personality of Brenda and the intriguing character of Claire are my favorites in the great show. My vote is nine.

Title (Brazil): "O Segredo" ("The Secret")