Monday, February 25, 2008

"Carpoolers" Recap & Review - "Wheels of Fortune"

Carpoolers
“Wheels of Fortune”

Original Air Date: February 12, 2008

Jeff L – TwoCents Staff Writer

There’s an air band performace of AC/DC’s Back in Black (with each of the ‘poolers taking on a different instrument) to kick off tonight’s episode.

At the Brooker house, Gracen and Leila see Marmaduke off for his for first day of work at Take a Penny Industries. He’ll be emptying all the take a penny/leave a penny trays at various businesses around the neighborhood. Leila thinks those pennies are for people who need them to make exact change, but Marm accuses her of living in cotton candy fantasy world.

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  1. Carpoolers
    “Wheels of Fortune”

    Original Air Date: February 12, 2008

    Jeff L – TwoCents Staff Writer

    There’s an air band performace of AC/DC’s Back in Black (with each of the ‘poolers taking on a different instrument) to kick off tonight’s episode.

    At the Brooker house, Gracen and Leila see Marmaduke off for his for first day of work at Take a Penny Industries. He’ll be emptying all the take a penny/leave a penny trays at various businesses around the neighborhood. Leila thinks those pennies are for people who need them to make exact change, but Marm accuses her of living in cotton candy fantasy world.

    Gracen waits for Dr. Laird to pick him up. Laird runs out of his house half dressed and Gracen reminds him that every time it’s his turn to drive the Carpoolers are always late for work because he’s having sex. The rest of the Carpool are none too happy with Laird either. Especially after he starts driving with his knees so he can floss on the way to work. They accuse him of never taking responsibility for his actions. The arrive so late to work that there are no spots left in the parking lot except those reserved for the handicapped.

    They could park in the satellite lot and take a shuttle to work, but then they’d be even later. Laird parks in a handicapped spot and Aubrey and Dougie run from the car, not wanting anything to do with him. Gracen is a little slower to exit the car and a security guard comes over and threatens them with a $700 fine. Laird pretends he’s trying to get Gracen’s wheelchair out of the back of the car and when it’s not in the trunk he acts like they forgot to bring the wheelchair with him. He ends up carrying Gracen into work under the watchful eye of the security guard.

    Marmaduke starts emptying the penny trays and gets some suspicious looks from almost everyone.

    Back at the office, the security guard finds Gracen a wheelchair to use and he’s riding around in it when someone spills hot coffee in his lap – prompting him to jump out of the wheelchair in front of the security guard. The guard accuses Laird and Gracen of being cheaters. They could lose their parking privileges ledges altogether.

    There’s going to be a hearing before the parking committee to decide the fate of the Carpoolers. Everyone is still mad at Laird and they think this is just another example of how he never takes responsibility for any of his actions no matter how adversely they affect others. The gang also start to worry about karma and they think they’ve got some cosmic retribution coming.
    The next day, Marmaduke explains how Take a Penny Industries operates. He thinks he’s providing a balance to nature. People leave pennies. He takes pennies. He gives half to the company and keeps half for himself.

    It’s Dr. Lairds turn to drive again, but Gracen has given up on his friendship with the misogynistic dentist. He decides to drive his own car and urges Aubrey and Dougie to ride with him. There’s a big fight and Gracen ends up running over Lairds feet with his car. They end up and the hospital where Laird is placed into a wheelchair. Dougie and Aubrey are worried that their karma is still planning revenge on them somehow. Dr. Laird can’t get into his house, because it’s not wheelchair accessible so he stays with Aubrey and his family. He ends up almost drowning in the bathtub and having to be rescued by Aubrey’s beloved babysitter who quits when she thinks Laird is coming on to her. Aubrey drags Laird in his wheelchair up the flight of stairs leading to his house and leaves him on the porch.

    Dougie realizes he’s the last one who’s been visited by the karma fairy for revenge. He shows up to talk to Gracen about it, but ends up meeting Marmaduke outside. Marm is having a crisis of conscious as well, since Take a Penny Industries turns out to have been a scam. He realized that he was actually just stealing the pennies. The two decide that in order to skirt karma they will build a wheelchair ramp on the front of Lairds house. The next morning Gracen sees the ramp and finds Dougie and Marmaduke putting the finishing touches on the very steep, very unsafe looking ramp. Laird comes out and gets into a shouting match with Gracen and ends up barreling down the ramp and right into him sending them both back to the hospital – where Gracen also ends up in a wheelchair.

    Dougie and Aubrey show up for the parking committee hearing. Gracen rolls in to inform the committee that he is guilty but he stands up for Aubrey and Dougie. He thinks they shouldn’t be punished for mistakes that he made. Dr. Laird shows up and finally takes responsibility for his actions. He apologizes for his selfishness and asks the Carpoolers to forgive him. Aubrey begs the committee to make the right decision about their parking permit.

    The next day all the Carpoolers are riding the shuttle from the remote parking lot.

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