- Everyone gathers at a nightclub for the annual "Battle of the Bands, " until a fire breaks out, threatening the lives of those inside.
- "Desperate Housewives"- "City On Fire" - Nov. 16, 2008
Mary Alice (Brenda Strong) tells us about the annual battle of the bands at the White Horse bar. We see an emcee introduce a young band called Coldsplash. And then Blue Odyssey looking at them looking very nervous and old. Mike (James Denton) and Dave (Neal McDonough) reassure the others they are going to rock even though they're super old and then departs to check with a guy about light cues. Mike promises it will be a night to remember. And Mary Alice tells us it was, in ways they could never have known as we watch the band light into "Mustang Sally" - with Mike on lead vocals- and a fire starts behind the band. Edie (Nicolette Sheridan) sees it first and yells fire. Everyone starts to run, some people fall. A group, led by Edie, tries an emergency exit but it's locked.
We cut to a scene of a news crew surveying the scene the next day. The FBI, for some reason, is investigating behind the club and arson is suspected. Then we see a young pair of hands getting cuffed.
A title card informs us that it's ...
The Day Before
Susan (Teri Hatcher) and Jackson (Gale Howard) watch Julie (Andrea Bowen) and her new boyfriend from the window as they get out of a cab. Susan appraises the young man as good looking and then is confused when what she thought was the middle-aged cabdriver- who is played by Stephen Weber- begins striding up the walk with her daughter. She freaks.
Gaby (Eva Longoria) enters the Solis house and Virginia (Frances Conroy) is there ready to make up, having given Carlos (Ricardo Chivara) his job back. Gaby is less inclined to make nice. Carlos drags Gaby off to the kitchen. She says there's no way they're letting "grandma screw loose" back in their lives. Carlos says she's made them the sole heirs of her entire fortune. Cut to Gaby returning to the living room asking "Virginia why can't I stay mad at you?"
Bree (Marica Cross) is awaiting a reporter from the New York Dispatch and she's nervous since this is national exposure. She compliments Katherine (Dana Delany) and Andrew (Shawn Pyfrom) who promise to say nice things and not reveal gayness respectively. Andrew has done some research and it turns out the reporter Sandra Birch is famous for her hatchet jobs. They read a particularly stinging piece about Betty White. Sandra arrives, she's played by Rachael Harris and Bree starts complimenting her.
Preston spills the news about Porter (Charles Carver) getting Ann Schilling (Gail O'Grady) pregnant and their plan to run away. Lynette (Felicity Huffman) is freaked but totally calm and takes off.
At the band space the White Horse owner - who is Ann Schilling's psycho husband- is telling them about the gig tonight. He mentions to Tom (Doug Savant) he saw Porter the other day at the house shooting hoops with his son Kirby and comments about how they grow up so fast. Tom uncomfortably plays along. Dave's doctor calls and asks if he's in Fairview. Dave tries to play it off and ends the call. The doctor, who was on the phone in a gas station, asks the attendant how to get to Wisteria Lane.
Julie and her boyfriend are explaining how they met to Susan. Julie leaves Susan and the boyfriend alone in awkward silence for a moment. He asks if she's freaked out about his age. She admits she is. He says he and Julie waited until the semester was over to date. He doesn't date students. He's 40. Susan wants an explanation for the three marriages he's had and she wasn't told about. He thought she'd understand since she's been divorced twice. She says two is much less than three. He says it's different with Julie, he loves her so much and shows Susan an engagement ring. He says he wants it to be a surprise and hopes Susan won't spoil it.
Bree, Sandra the reporter, and Andrew come into the house where Orson (Kyle McLachlan) is sitting like a portrait smoking a pipe and reading a book. Sandra can't believe Bree does it all by herself. Bree says she does. Sandra doesn't believe Bree really buys into the whole Donna Reed housewife thing. Bree says she does but admits to burning a tray of biscotti. The perfect cover is blown when they let the machine pick up a call and it's Orson's parole officer. The reporter picks up on that and Andrew asks if he can be gay now.
Lynette has gone to confront Ann Schilling. She asks Ann if she's really pregnant. She says she is. She explains she and Porter got together on a night when her husband beat her up and Porter was so kind and sweet to her. Lynette tells her not to try and justify it, she's sick. Ann says they love each other and she's glad she's having Porter's baby. The psycho husband Warren arrives and overhears this news. Lynette tries to apologize, Warren asks her to leave. Ann asks her not to go. Lynette leaves and then has a change of heart and goes back in as Warren is kicking his wife who is on the ground. Lynette throws something at his shoulder. She says she's going to call the police. He tells her to go ahead since he wants to see his wife talk her way out of statutory rape charges. He then tells Ann she doesn't live there anymore. Lynette goes to the bloodied Ann on the floor, who thanks her for coming back.
At the club Blue Odyssey load in. Dave's psyched, Carlos wants to puke. They meet Coldsplash- who are played by Tokyo Police Club. Coldsplash invite them to an afterparty. Tom says absotively, they'll just have to check with their wives.
Bree leaves her house and sees Bob (Tuc Watkins) and Lee (Kevin Rahm) talking to Sandra. Turns out they were being asked to confirm a bunch of rumors: was she really an alcoholic, did the first Mr. Van de Kamp really have a dominatrix etc. They also let her know Sandra will be at the battle of the bands so she can see Orson sing harmony with the guy he tried to kill. Bree is crazed and thinks Sandra is determined to make her life sound worse than it is.
Gaby is taking off for the band battle and sees a limo out front. Virginia has invited herself along.
Lynette is at the hospital when Porter arrives. He bolts when he hears she spilled the news to her psycho husband Warren.
McCluskey (Kathryn Joosten) and Roberta (Lily Tomlin) are heading to the market and talking more about Dave's phone bill and how the doctor is the key to the answers. They decide they'll get more out of him if they go to Boston. As they say this, the doctor drives past them. He parks just as Edie swings by and invites him to the show. He says he can't make it but she hands him a flyer in case he changes his mind. He's surprised to see Dave's smiling mug on it.
Virginia and Gaby chat at the club about the difficulty of finding good help.
Julie chats with her boyfriend at the bar as Susan seethes. Jackson says Julie's a grown woman and to not ruin the surprise. Susan sees Lloyd give the psycho husband/bar owner an envelope. Susan agrees with Jackson and says she'll stay out of it. And then heads off to the "ladies room." She makes a beeline for Warren and asks about it. It's a CD with the song on it Lloyd wants to play as he proposes to Julie. Warren puts it on and Julie and Lloyd dance. Susan boogies up to them and starts trying to interrupt the proposal. Jackson arrives and drags Susan off. Susan returns and ruins the surprise. Julie freaks and says he can't be serious since they've only been dating three months. Julie says she's never getting married ever and takes off saying she needs a moment to herself.
Bree sits with a drink sadly. Sandra arrives and Bree grouses wondering why Sandra wants to make her look bad since she's just trying to sell a cookbook. Sandra says it's actually a "look how great I am" book and that it's a sham and it makes other women feel bad. Bree gives an impassioned speech about how in fact it's not a sham but a way to reach out and assure other women no matter how many mistakes they've made or how many times they've been knocked down here's a chance to get something right even if it's just a casserole. Sandra says that's an angle they can work with.
Virginia tells Gaby says she's gotten the girls into a private school. Gaby balks at this saying her girls are happy at public school. Virginia says given her investment in the family she has a say and on this she must insist. Gaby says she and her children are not for sale. Virginia says she's being reckless and she will take them out of the will. Gaby says that's Virginia's right as a crazy old rich lady.
Dave's phone rings and it's Dr. Heller (Stephen Spinella). He ignores it. Dr. Heller, who is standing behind him, asks if he's screening his calls. Dave turns and is surprised. Dr. Heller says "let me guess, you can explain everything?" Dave apologizes. Dr. Heller is mad Dave changed his name and is living in Fairview when he said he wouldn't. Dave says he wanted a fresh start with the name and Fairview is where Edie's from. The doc asks if Dave told Edie why it's not healthy or safe for him to be here. Dave claims she knows everything but wonders if they can talk after the show since his bandmates are counting on him. The doc says sure but they need to talk the moment Dave's done playing.
Now we're back to Coldsplash going on. Susan goes out to find Julie who explains she doesn't want to get married because Susan's experience shows it's a joke. Susan says she believes in marriage. Julie wonders what the upside is. Susan calls her cynical. Julie says she's realistic, trying to protect herself. Susan says building walls isn't the way to go and that Jackson has made her feel hopeful and wished that Julie did too. They hug.
Lynette walks past them into the club. She approaches Gaby at the bar looking for Porter, whom Gaby hasn't seen.
Dr. Heller is sitting on a stool staring at a poster for the band when he suddenly stands up and appraises the names more carefully and with some alarm in his face. This happened at the precise moment Mike was reassuring the band earlier and Dave seemed distracted and said he was going to consult about light cues. Instead he walked over to the doctor who informed him with alarm "he's in your band!" , although not specifying who. Dave says he knows it sounds crazy but they've worked through everything. The Doc says it's too dangerous and he needs to speak to "him." Dave says the Doc needs to trust him. The Doc says no, he speaks to him right now or he calls the police. Dave says the Doc wins and brings him backstage. The Doc says he's doing this because he genuinely cares about him. Dave says he knows and that he likes him too and then leads him into a storage room and chokes him to death. He apologizes to the Doc's body.
Coldsplash plays and Tom, Orson, Carlos, and Mike continue to be freaked out about the band battle. Mike wonders where Dave is. Cut to Dave pouring booze on the doctor in the storage room and lighting some kind of packing material.
Jackson is on his way to the men's room when he's told it's packed and to try the employee bathroom in the back. He walks in as Dave's walking out of the storage room. Dave directs him to the bathroom across the hall and then locks the door behind Jackson.
Dave joins up with the rest of Blue Odyssey, clutching a bottle saying he needed liquid courage. Psycho husband introduces them and we're back to "Mustang Sally" and the cheering crowd. We see the fire start in the storage room. Porter enters the White Horse through the emergency exit and starts a fight with Warren who punches him to the ground. Lynette intervenes and tells Porter to go home as he threatens to hurt Warren for what he did to Ann. Lynette follows Porter out the emergency exit and says to Warren on the way he "must be so proud" since he not only beats women, but children as well. Warren has an employee lock the door.
Outside Lynette is freaked and Porter says she's responsible for whatever happens since this is all her fault.
Inside all the folks are enjoying a ride with Mustang Sally. Mike Delfino can totally carry a tune and the band sounds fine. Dave notices the smoke but says nothing. Edie yells fire and the crowd runs. Carlos is knocked off the stage and as Orson and Tom try to help him Orson is knocked into a speaker breaking his nose. Virginia is knocked into a wall by the crowd. Susan wants to go back for Jackson but Julie assures her there's an exit in the back and they have to get out now. Cut to Jackson in the bathroom where smoke is pouring in. He tries the locked door and then breaks the window and gets out that way.
Gaby spies Virginia and helps her out, wondering on the way if this will get her back in the will. No, is the answer.
People run and scream. We get to the part where Edie tries the door and it's locked. Dave grabs a stool and busts out another window. He helps Edie out but says he's staying behind to make sure everyone gets out. He helps Sandra out the window.
Susan is running back in after Jackson when Mike stops her and says he'll get him. Katherine then tries to stop Mike and he sends her out as well. He runs into the bathroom where Jackson has already escaped and is overcome by smoke and passes out.
Outside the club, the fire department has arrived and people watch the rescue effort. Porter walks up and looks at a gun in his pocket and runs around the corner.
Jackson runs up to Susan who asks after Mike. When Dave hears Mike is still inside, he runs back into the club where embers are falling and bodies are lying on the ground. He calls out.
Back outside, Katherine asks Susan if she thinks Mike is still in there and Edie is begging the firemen to go in after Dave. They won't since the roof is about to collapse. Dave comes out the door with Mike over his shoulder and puts him on a waiting stretcher. He says to Mike, "Hang in there, I'm not done with you yet."
Mary Alice is back telling us about how you can read about the fire in Fairview in the paper this morning. About those who survived, as we see Jackson and Susan embrace; those who were injured, as we see Carlos on a stretcher; those who barely escaped with their lives, as we see Mike on a stretcher; and those who didn't, as we see a body bag on a stretcher. You can also read about a man who risked his life to rescue his neighbor; as we see Edie run up to Dave. What you won't read about are the reasons for his bravery; as tv reporters rush in asking him for interviews as a hero.
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