Big Negotiations and Broken Expectations is the seventeenth episode of Season 4 of The Conners, also the 68th episode overall.
Summary[]
Dan enlists the help of a few good friends for the funeral home remodel after Louise points out that Dan's generosity with his time seems to benefit everyone but her; and Robin and Darlene take a big career risk that may not pay off the way they expect it to.
Plot[]
Darlene is going to do the impossible and become the first Conner to get a Raise from Wellman. Louise is upset that The Conner Family helps each other out all the time yet spends very little time together.
In-Depth[]
Louise is sick again. She asks Dan for a simple allergy medication that she needs as soon as possible. She told him about when to pick it up and reminded him earlier in the day it was arriving. She feels even worse that Dan seemed to forget all about her while trying to do construction work at the new house. She attempts to pick it up herself.
Dan lies to Darlene by telling her he found a full construction crew. Darlene forgets that there are other expenses related to house payments such as The Property Taxes And Insurance. She passes the expenses to Becky, who declines. Harris tells Darlene to include The Extended Family as Dependents. Dan tells her to delcare absolutely nothing of value.
Darlene meets her crew, and is overwhelmed about the house. Jackie agrees. Dan sends them to La Casita Bonita so Jackie, Ben, and Harris tell her if she wants to hire actual Construction Workers, she needs to demand a raise for the first time. Because employers can not count on their employees, they are desperate to keep the competent workers.
It turns out they are right. Robin tells her about Sleepy Kevin and Cokehead Annie. Darlene says they can work together which might force productivity. Darlene says that her advice deserves a raise. Robin understands that Darlene never got a raise in two years. It turns out neither did Robin. They talk about helping them selves to the Supplies at the Factory, including attempting to swipe a massive Coffee Machine. Robin tells her to go on Strike together. Darlene says she must think about it first.
Dan is being toxic around Becky and Beverly Rose. Louise is also upset with Dan be cause they were going to a concert together. He explains that Becky dropped off Beverly Rose. It also turns out that Dan's cancellation message went to Chuckie, who said that he did not want to try to get along with Dan at a concert in the first place. Louise has had enough of Dan's failures and leaves to go by her self.
Darlene asks Dan, Jackie, and Harris. They say to take risks. While Dan and Jackie express caution, Harris is convinced that Robin knows what to do. Jackie offers to call Louise for Dan as she married them. She immediately hears Jackie's disguise. Louise is staying at the other house and calmly hangs up. Dan is upset that she walked out in the middle of a fight. Jackie tells him to leave her alone for a while, demonstrating that eventually Louise will not be so sensitive all in good time.
Becky goes to the other house to talk to Louise. She makes a very bad joke reminding her that she married down. After that, she apologizes to Louise for dropping off Beverly Rose. At this point Louise is as frusterated as Barb was regarding Ben with Darlene. It is clear that The Conner Family will never stop bothering other people. Becky tells her to contribute more to get more time with Dan. Louise says that she did plenty by convincing Darlene and Becky to purchase the house and help through the overwhelming process which is ended up exacerbating the problem with Dan being away instead of doing it together. This time Becky says that was foolish to have high expectations which compels Louise to walk away again.
Robin and Darlene are together with their Hipster boss who has absolutely no interest in giving them any raises. He tells them that the line workers are much more important. According to The Hipster Boss, they are completely worthless to the company. His patience wears out rapidly and tells him to leave soon. Darlene loses her patience with Robin as well.
Ben tells Dan that he is going to give Darlene and Becky materials at cost. However, he refuses to give them away for free. Louise walks in to apologize. Dan makes up by cooking for her.
They make amends in The Master Bedroom. Louise reminds Dan that he married up when he married her. Things can not be one big Soap Opera any longer. Louise expects every thing to be much classier. She insists that Dan to stop being a Door Mat. She says not to worry; she by no means wants Dan to forget all about them.
Robin is at La Casita Bonita drunk. Darlene does not want to bargain with the The Hipster Boss any longer. As they confront each other, Robin gets a message saying that she is rehired. Darlene is worried that The Hipster Boss was able to rehire Robin with a Raise by either eliminating Darlene's position or by replacing Darlene. She is livid at Robin until she is interrupted with a message for her. It turns out that The Hipster Boss was typing personalized messages to each of them, and sent Robin's first.
Becky intercepted Darlene in The Kitchen while every body else is in the living room with two different contingencies. As Becky shouts out loud, they hide the sympathy theme. In the hurry, they forgot to give Beverly Rose two different posters. She ended up drawing on both sides of the same poster and immediately told Darlene when she asked.
Cast[]
Starring[]
- John Goodman as Dan Conner
- Laurie Metcalf as Jackie Harris
- Sara Gilbert as Darlene Conner
- Lecy Goranson as Becky Conner
- Michael Fishman as D.J. Conner (credit only)
- Emma Kenney as Harris Healy
- Ames McNamara as Mark Healy II (credit only)
- Jayden Rey as Mary Conner (credit only)
- Jay R. Ferguson as Ben Olinsky
Special Guest[]
Guests[]
Trivia[]
- Despite being credited, Michael Fishman (D.J.), Jayden Rey (Mary) and Ames McNamara (Mark) do not appear.
- This episode premiered one day after comedian and actor Gilbert Gottfried had died of ventricular tachycardia and mytonic dystrophy ii.
Quotes[]
Louise[]
"When some one asks you to do some thing, ask your self: 'Am I the only one who could do this, or would I rather get laid tonight?'"
Robin[]
"You need to chill. You are pacing so hard, my smart watch is picking up your steps."
"Maybe if we go in and beg together, we'll have more leverage!"