Charlie discovers he may have a 10-year-old son with an old flame, Stacy Corvelli. After meeting the aggressive kid Tommy, a blood test is avoided, and Stacy eventually admits Tommy has another father, though Charlie still plans to take him out on Saturday.
Set List
Interiors Charlie's apartment, free clinic, mall, Planned Parenthood clinic
Exteriors park, street outside free clinic, street outside Planned Parenthood
Placement
- Second episode of Season 1
- Establishes the gang's dynamic and Charlie's past
- Introduces themes of paternity and abortion debate
References
Cultural References
- AApocalypse NowfilmDennis quotes 'I love the smell of napalm in the morning.'
- PPassion of the ChristfilmPro-life activist mentions seeing it 12 times.
Mel GibsonpersonMentioned in relation to Apocalypse Now.
Callbacks
- None earlier
Tropes used
- Cold-open pitch: Gang argues about T-shirt slogans, establishing their petty dynamic as the plot starts.
- Escalating scheme: Charlie's plan to get a blood test spirals into lying about a Big Brother program to impress the Waitress, then using the kid to pick up pro-life girls.
- Everyone-is-the-villain amorality: Each character uses the abortion issue for selfish ends, Mac to get laid, Dennis to score with pro-choice women, Charlie to avoid responsibility.
- Dennis's self-serving calculus: Dennis calculates that joining the pro-choice side has better odds for hookups, abandoning any pretense of conviction.
Tropes subverted
- Abortion debate as serious issue: The Gang treats it as a pickup opportunity, treating it as a scam opportunity.
- Fatherhood redemption arc: Charlie doesn't bond with the kid; he uses him as a prop and threatens violence.
- Pro-life/pro-choice stereotypes: Mac's 'hard-core' pro-life activist is actually a murderer fantasist, and Dennis's pro-choice stance is purely predatory.
Threads planted, where they pay off
- Sets the template for the Gang treating public moral issues as personal opportunity, and for using children as props (e.g., 'The Gang Gets a New Member').
Production file
- Written by Charlie Day and Rob McElhenney, directed by John Fortenberry, aired August 11, 2005 on FX to an unrecorded number of viewers.
- Season 1, episode 2 of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
- Frank Reynolds does not appear; the Season 1 Gang is Dennis, Dee, Mac, and Charlie.
Scene by scene
Scene 1
T-Shirt Argument
Charlie's apartmentScene Summary
- Dennis criticizes Charlie's ironic T-shirt.
- Mac defends his tribal tattoos.
- Charlie refs a basketball game but wants to play.
Recap Girl play-by-play
- Dennis says Charlie's T-shirt lacks taste.
- Mac argues it's about self-expression.
- Charlie refuses to ref and does a mad munchkin dance.
Color Host notes
- Opens with the gang's petty bickering.
- Establishes Charlie's childishness.
Scene 2
The Son Revelation
Charlie's apartmentScene Summary
- Stacy Corvelli arrives and says Charlie has a son.
- Charlie recalls having sex with her 10 years ago.
- The gang debates abortion and birth control.
Recap Girl play-by-play
- Stacy says she needs to talk about their son.
- Charlie denies it's possible.
- Mac and Dee argue about men's rights in abortion.
Color Host notes
- Introduces the episode's central conflict.
- Quickly shifts to political debate.
Scene 3
Meeting Tommy
Stacy's houseScene Summary
- Charlie and Dennis meet Tommy, who is rude and aggressive.
- Tommy insults Charlie and calls him a fag.
- They plan to go to the park.
Recap Girl play-by-play
- Tommy asks which one is his dad.
- Tommy calls Charlie a fag.
- Stacy suggests the park; Tommy says he doesn't care.
Color Host notes
- Tommy's hostility sets up the challenge.
- Dennis is uncomfortable.
Scene 4
Free Clinic Visit
Free clinicScene Summary
- Charlie takes Tommy for a blood test.
- Tommy misbehaves and bites Charlie's hand.
- They leave without the test.
Recap Girl play-by-play
- Tommy asks why they're there.
- A man offers to blow Dennis for $10.
- Tommy bites Charlie's hand and yells to go to the mall.
Color Host notes
- Shows Charlie's inability to control Tommy.
- Clinic scene adds dark humor.
Scene 5
Mall Encounter
MallScene Summary
- Charlie and Tommy go to the mall with Dee.
- Charlie sees the waitress and lies about being in the Big Brother program.
- He arranges a carpool to a picnic.
Recap Girl play-by-play
- Tommy threatens to tell his mom about the black people's house.
- Charlie sees the waitress and asks Dee to pretend to be his girlfriend.
- Charlie lies about Tommy being his little brother.
Color Host notes
- Charlie's romantic subplot begins.
- Tommy's racism is played for shock.
Scene 6
Protest and Revelation
Planned Parenthood clinicScene Summary
- Mac joins anti-abortion protesters; Dennis and Dee join pro-choice side.
- Charlie meets Stacy and learns Tommy isn't his son.
- Charlie still wants to take Tommy out Saturday.
Recap Girl play-by-play
- Mac meets a pro-life activist who shows him a list of doctors to kill.
- Stacy admits Jimmy Doyle is Tommy's father.
- Charlie asks if he can still take Tommy out Saturday.
Color Host notes
- Ties together all plot threads.
- Charlie's persistence is both sad and funny.
Scene 7
Final T-Shirt and Rally
Planned Parenthood clinic exteriorScene Summary
- Mac wears a pro-life T-shirt with a violent slogan.
- Dennis and Dee argue about abortion.
- Mac hits on a pro-life girl.
Recap Girl play-by-play
- Mac shows his T-shirt: 'Huh, bitch?'
- Dennis criticizes the hypocrisy.
- Mac meets a girl and asks where to sign.
Color Host notes
- Ends on a cynical note about convictions.
- Mac's hypocrisy is highlighted.
Verbatim lines
Come to Philly for the crack.
Which one of you fags is supposed to be my dad?
I'll blow you for $10.
Baby killer! Baby killer! Baby killer!
That's the list of doctors I'm gonna kill.
I don't really have any convictions.
Sources: It's Always Sunny Wiki 路 transcript saved locally (tv-scripts corpus) 路 trope/callback data from the AlwaysSunny trope index