- Jonus Mullins approaches William for help for his alcoholic son Neil and his daughter-in-law Shelly. Their alcoholism is affecting their daughter Maggie so William and his team take her and leave her in the guardianship of her grandfather. Whilst Neil is determined to succeed in his battle with alcohol it is a monumental battle for Shelly. Meanwhile, Arnie begs William and Akani to let him out of rehab and Melissa is not happy that William turns up at her first house sale.—Anonymous
- A middle-aged couple prepares a cake for their young daughter's birthday. They walk the cake outside (singing off key) and the wife falls into the pool. She laughs, as does the husband. But no one else chuckles. The guests look horrified watching the obviously drunk couple -- none more than the daughter and grandpa.
Back at the Banks' household, William prepares breakfast in bed for Melissa, who cuts the happy morning short by announcing that she has to get to her new job as a real estate agent. Looks like the shoe is on the other foot now, Cleaner.
William gets a call. It's grandpa -- a.k.a. Jonas Mullins. "Mr. Banks, we need your help," he says. Sometime later, William meets with the old man, who explains that "I don't think they ever stop." What's more, the two don't recognize that they have a problem.
Turns out the formerly happy couple quit drinking when Shelly (mom) got pregnant. But when the woman had a miscarriage, the pair started drinking again. "My son and daughter-in-law are killing themselves," Jonas says. "And my granddaughter is growing up too fast."
The team meets at Arnie's room at the recovery house. "I gotta get outta here," Arnie says. William agrees but only if Arnie submits to checking in every hour on the hour. Downstairs, William talks to a former client named Jason, a painter, who claims to be speaking to God. Unlike William, however, Jason claims that God talks back.
"He hears you," William, Jason says. "When you speak to him? He hears you."
Back at the garage, William explains the case. The couple works at home -- the perfect environment for two functioning alcoholics, Akani surmises. The Cleaner assigns each member of the team a role.
Moments later, Akani and Arnie show up at the family's home posing as child protective service agents. Shelly and Neal are NOT happy and demand to know who called about the incident at the birthday party. They become belligerent until imposing Darnell steps in. "We're going to need to take your daughter from your home," the big man says. Akani assures the couple that as soon as they can prove that the girl is no longer in danger, she will be returned. Darnell gives Neal a card, telling him to call the man on it.
"William Banks?" Neal asks. "Who the hell is he?"
He's the Cleaner, my friend. Time for a commercial break.
Back from break, Shelly and Neal argue. She heads to the kitchen to pour herself a drink. Neal tries to stop his wife, but ends up shattering a glass and cutting Shelly's hand. Not a good start.
Meanwhile, Melissa returns home with good news: She has sold her first house! William tries to be enthusiastic, but can't seem to muster it. He's upset that his wife didn't return multiple phone messages he left during the day -- and tells her so. Melissa, of course, brings up the fact that this sounds an awful lot like the pot calling the kettle black. Angry, Melissa takes the kids out for Chinese food, leaving the Cleaner alone to contemplate his obvious mistake. Nicely done, William. Nicely done.
William goes to the garage, where the team discusses their latest case. They are surprised to see William and he is in no mood to make nice. First, he snaps at Darnell. Then he lays into Akani, saying she has been "circling" for a month and that she nees to back off because he is married. Finally, he tells the whole team to get out of his sight. "I said take off!" William screams.
Back in suburbia, Neal pours alcohol down the drain. "Let's do it for good this time ... we can do this for Maggie," he says. Shelly is reluctant, but finally agrees. Moments later, however, the woman sneaks upstairs and begins chugging mouthwash. A short time later, Neal shows up at the garage. "I need your help," he says. Don't they all.
A few words from our sponsors later, Neal chugs coffee while William reveals that the folks from protective services were actually members of his team. The man takes it well. "I haven't had a drink since they took Maggie," Neal said. His wife, on the other hand ...
William tells the man that addicts can't rely on each other and that they need to get sober separately. "You don't know us," Neal said. "We can do anything." William shakes his head. Why do they never listen?
The next morning, Melissa and her boss chat excitedly about work. "It is a rush," Melissa gushes. Is it just us, or is Melissa's boss Duncan more than a little bit cute? Naw, probably just us ...
Neal, meanwhile, has fallen off the wagon -- and landed hard. The police find him sleeping against a street post. They also find William's card in his pocket. "One of Banks' guys," the cop says. Sure enough, the boys in blue drop Neal off at the garage. "You're right," Neal says. "We can't do it together."
Moments later, Neal is in the rehabilitation center when he notices his wife. "She has agreed to come here and get clean," William says. "I talked with Shelly at your house earlier today." Seems the case is closed. Or is it?
William takes advantage of the break and visits Melissa at work. She is surprised ... and not entirely pleased. "I don't come to your shop," Melissa says. He then meets his wife's boss and sees the way she looks at him. Yep. Were sure of it. The man IS cute.
No time to worry now, though. Jason has disappeared from the rehab center. William calls Arnie, asking for his help. He also asks Arnie to find Akani and Darnell. Looks like the team is back together again.
Meanwhile, William quizzes the woman who runs the rehab clinic about Jason. "He said, 'He's ready for me," she says. Arnie calls: the neighbors say that Jason came home and took his son. William calls Darnell, who explains that the Bible verse Jason was quoting concerns Abraham attempting to sacrifice his son.
William is very much concerned now. He looks at one of Jason's painting and sees a mountain with an observatory on top. "That's Griffith Park," William says. He rushes out.
Cut to William rushing to Griffith Park to try to stop Jason from sacrificing his son. William arrives to find the boy unharmed. But Jason is still missing ...
William returns home and raises the issue of Melissa's cute boss. Bad idea. A screaming match breaks out. Melissa brings up the 15 years she spent standing by the Cleaner's side as he used drugs and slept with other women (including Akani).
"If it was so bad then why didn't you leave!?" William demands.
"I should have!" Melissa screams back.
That sobers them both up, so to speak. Melissa suggests "taking a break" from their marriage. William is crushed, but his wife is resolute. Sometime later, we find the Cleaner packing his bags. Lula enters. "Where are you going?" she asks. But the pre-teen knows. William embraces her. Ben enters and joins the group hug.
William exits his own home and shuts the door. He looks to the heavens.
"If you've ever had something to say, please say it to me now," William says. "I'm listening."
See you next season?
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