Rules of Engagement (2007–2013): Season 5, Episode 7 - Mannequin Head Ball - full transcript

When Jeff can't get out of the lease for a retail space he rented for Audrey's fleeting cookie business, he and Adam invent a new game involving the heads of mannequins. Meanwhile, Russell and Timmy go on a double date.

[♪♪♪]

We know letting someone
out of their lease...

...is not standard business procedure.
But given our situation--

Our situation
is that my wife here is crazy.

-Jeff, would you please--
-Ah, ah, ah.

See, she had an Oprah
"Ah-ha" moment.

[MICELLI GROANS]

-Oprah.
-The thing is, Audrey quit her job...

...and then, she thought
that she wanted to sell cookies.

[CHUCKLES]

So we ended up leasing a store
that we don't need.



Uh, okay, first of all,
hello, from under the bus.

And you are the one
who rented this place.

Yeah, I was trying to be
a supportive husband, all right?

Now put a sock in it.

Look, you can see
what I'm up against here.

Down to one income...

...it's a tough time.

Mm-hm.
It's a tough time for me too.

I'll tell you what, I'll flip a coin,
we'll see who loses.

You do.

But the lease says
I've got to clean the place...

...so I'll give you a break
on the rent if you do it.

AUDREY:
Hmm.

I'll flip the coin to see
if I help you clean up.



No.

[♪♪♪]

And so now I'm on the hook
for a three-month lease on the store.

Just more stress that I don't need.

Hey, maybe you can sublet it
to these Chinese acrobat girls.

I mean, they don't need a lot of space,
because they just fold up.

Your mom had to be high
when she nursed you.

She says no.

Anyway, I get a break on the rent
if I clean the place myself...

...but it's a total mess.
What are you doing today?

Oh, I've got big plans
to not help you clean.

Can you push that to another day?

Howdy. Doody. Heh, heh.

Whoo. So, guys, I'm seeing this
French chick, Margaux, right?

-She's an exchange student--
-From France?

She was definitely high.

So she's getting her master's
in thinky-think.

But she's so refined and cultured...

...I'm having trouble
getting her into le sack.

So she's French, yet won't surrender.

Yeah, it'll be a lot of work,
but worth it.

You know, classy girls are like turtles.

They're rarely on their backs...

...but once it happens
they're there for a good, long time.

If she's a grad student
she must have read Tom Sawyer.

-Did you ever read Tom Sawyer?
-No.

So you don't know the part
about Tom Sawyer...

...and whitewashing the fence?

-No.
-Oh, my God.

It's, like, the greatest story ever.

I gotta go.

No, wait, hold on.
Tell me, I want to hear it.

-Okay, walk with me to the store.
-Okay.

-Good afternoon.
-Whatever.

I was wondering if I might sneak
out of work a tad early this evening?

You don't have to sneak,
I won't be there.

Splendid. Because, uh, tonight
I was going to take Allison out.

What's with you guys? You're always
taking her places, doing things.

It's called dating, sir.

It's where one gives money
to a restaurant or theater...

...as opposed to merely leaving it
on the woman's dresser.

I've heard of it.

-So where are you going?
-We're going to see...

...the Thannhauser Collection
at the Guggenheim.

[RUSSELL CHUCKLES]

Funny words.

Oh, how about this?

Margaux and I will double
with you and Allison...

...and we'll all go
to the booger-hammer.

It's the Guggenheim and....

Oh, I'd love to, sir,
but, um, we have other plans.

What are you talking about?
You just said that's what you're doing.

It was worth a shot.

However, um, I'm not sure our plans
are exactly your cup of tea, sir.

Well, that's true,
but they are Margaux's cup of tea.

She's French and highly cultured,
and I really want to crème her brûlée.

TIMMY:
Huh.

Well, sir, I'm flattered.

Basically, you'd like to piggy-back off
of my refinement.

Sure, whatever gets me
in the Google-hummer.

[SEÑOR HAPPY'S
"HOW MANY WAYS" PLAYING]

♪ How many ways
To say I love you ♪

♪ How many ways
To say that I'm not scared ♪

♪ With you by my side
There is no denying ♪

♪ I can't wait for me and you ♪♪

[♪♪♪]

And that is how Tom Sawyer
tricked the other boys...

...into painting the fence for him.

Man, they were gullible.

That's pretty clever how Tom
convinced them that work was fun.

Hey, I'm gonna go roll those chairs
over by the wall.

No, I wanna.

I can't believe that I have to pay rent
on this useless crap shack!

Down to one income,
I'm working all the time.

Yeah, there you go.
You know, it's not healthy...

...to keep that all bottled up, man.
Let it out, hit something.

-Oh, thanks buddy. Face or gut?
-No. No. Not me.

Here, use this.

No, still not me. God.

[GRUNTS]

-Feel better?
-Yeah.

Hey, think fast.

[AC/DC'S "BACK IN BLACK"
PLAYING]

♪ Back in black ♪

♪ I hit the sack ♪

♪ I've been too long
I'm glad to be back ♪

♪ Yes, I'm let loose ♪

[BOTH GRUNTING]

♪ That's kept me hanging about ♪

♪ I keep looking at the sky ♪

♪ 'Cause it's getting me high ♪

♪ Forget the hearse
'Cause I'll never die ♪

♪ I got nine lives
Cat's eyes ♪♪

ADAM:
Come on.

Goal!

No goal!
It went out of bounds first.

This a ruling for the commissioner
of mannequin head ball.

-I'll allow it.
-Well, I say no goal.

And I am the president
of mannequin head ball.

Who do you report to?

-The commissioner.
-Okay, then.

[PIANO PLAYING]

-What a wonderful exhibit.
-Oh, I know.

How about all that art, huh?

-It was all over the walls and stuff.
-Oh, the Picasso, and the Rubens.

Oh, they have those here?

Heh, you're funny.

Allison and I favored
the Italian futurists.

Mm. They are good.

Timmy, this might be
the wine talking...

...but I think
I'd like another glass of wine.

RUSSELL: Ah, uh-huh.
-I think that's an excellent idea.

I'm sure Margaux here can attest
to wine's many health benefits.

-Oui, oui.
-Yes, it does make you do that.

-What a lovely evening.
-Yes, it certainly is.

A most lovely evening.

Sir, a bottle of your finest bubbles.

[SPEAKING IN FRENCH]

Russell, are all your friends
so sophisticated?

Oh, my God, yes.

[♪♪♪]

Oh, dude, no farting.

I'll allow it.

[TIMER BEEPING]

Okay, okay. It's halftime. Halftime.

[BOTH PANTING]

-Man, this is the greatest game ever.
-Mm.

I know. It's already better than soccer.

Oh, whoa.

I told Jen I'd be home by now.

I told Audrey
I'd be back for movie night.

That's too bad, this is the best.

For the first time in weeks
I'm not all stressed out.

Now is not the time to go home...

...and watch some damn
Tilda Swinton movie.

Which is why it's too bad
we both have to work late.

Ah. You gotta go back to the office?

You....

-You don't get things, do you?
-Not usually.

I'm saying that's what we tell the girls.

Oh.

That's why you're the commissioner.

Head in play.

This is the security camera feed
for the store?

The landlord sent me a link.

I logged on to see if Jeff had
cleaned the place and I found this.

JENNIFER:
They have no idea we can see them?

Do they look like people
who know they're being watched?

For the first time in weeks
he's not working late...

...and instead of coming home,
he does this.

JENNIFER:
Is that a mannequin head they're hitting?

God, I hope so.

[♪♪♪]

[♪♪♪]

Well, well, well.
Look at both of us, working it.

It, of course, being our mojo.

Spritz, please.

One for the Jersey side.

It's going well.

By showing Frenchie
I'm a man of culture...

...I'll see Paris, France,
and her underpants.

Ha. Artfully said, sir.

And your presence has not affected
Allison in a negative way at all.

In fact, she is showing
distinct signs of friskiness.

Well, I'm happy to have foamed down
the runway for you.

-That you did.
-A little gay.

[♪♪♪]

Look what I did.

AUDREY:
Wow.

In hi-def the stupidity
just leaps off the screen.

[CHUCKLING]

It's kind of like watching
a nature documentary.

Yeah, about apes.

In their crude game...

...the smaller primate seems
to have bested the silverback.

Causing him to retaliate.

AUDREY:
Ooh. The smaller one cowers...

JENNIFER: Heh, heh.
-...and presents his bottom...

...as a sign of submission.

Ooh. Let's see what happens...

...when outside stimulus...

-...is introduced to their environment.
-Heh, heh, heh.

JEFF [OVER PHONE]: Hey, Aud.
-Hey, it's almost 8.

You gonna make it home
for movie night?

Oh. I wish I could
but I'm, uh, stuck at work again.

Really? Because I called you at work.
It went straight to voicemail.

[JEFF SIGHS]

I'm, uh, working in the conference room.
It's closer to the can.

The silverback is a skilled liar.

Uh, okay. Well, I hope I see you soon.

It's probably gonna be a few hours.
Will you quit it?

AUDREY: Is someone there with you?
-No, I was talking to you.

Quit it, Audrey,
quit keeping me from my working.

Back at it. Okay, bye.

[AUDREY AND JENNIFER CHUCKLE]

He's such a good liar,
he took all the fun out of it.

Oh. Well...

...we know who's gonna put
the fun back in it.

[AUDREY CHUCKLES]

[PHONE RINGING]

No.

Give it to me.

Don't worry, I got this.

Hey, Jen.

I got stuck in the subway
between stations.

[OVER SPEAKERPHONE]
There's no reception, I can't hear you.

Oh, so you can't hear me at all?

I can't hear you at all.

Oh.

Uh....

The subway snake!

Heh. Lying sacks. You know what?

-I'm recording this...
-Ah.

...so I can rub it in Jeff's face
when he gets home later.

Subway snakes.

I'm gonna have my tubes tied.

[♪♪♪]

I just feel lucky that I found someone
who shares my thirst for culture.

[SPEAKING IN FRENCH]

RUSSELL:
Mm.

Oh.

-What is it?
-You take my breath away.

It must be the champagne.

Oh, I think it's more than
just the champagne.

Excuse me,
I need to use the ladies room.

RUSSELL: Oh.
-I'll join you.

Don't be long.

Do hurry back.

[BOTH CHUCKLING]

[BOTH YELL]

[RUSSELL GROANS]

Ow.

[GRUNTS]

Timmy, my back, I can't get up. Unh.

You look like a turtle.

[GRUNTING]

Ironic!

[♪♪♪]

The show ended a while ago
so the guys should be home soon.

Well, they could have been delayed
by the subway snakes.

[CHUCKLES]

Have you decided
how you're going to bust Jeff?

I have. I'm gonna ask him
to tell me all about work...

...effectively handing him a shovel,
with which to dig his own grave.

Then as he stands
on the precipice of said grave...

...I am going to press play
and enjoy the thud.

I'm just gonna hide Adam's hair gel.

[AUDREY CHUCKLES]

[DOORKNOB RATTLING]

Oh, the apes return
to their nesting grounds.

[ADAM SIGHS]

Look at you guys,
you're both so sweaty.

Oh, yeah, it's from doing separate
activities in different parts of the city.

Well, it's late.
You guys must be hungry.

I'll warm up some dinner but, uh,
in the meantime, want a banana?

JEFF: Ooh.
ADAM: Ah.

JEFF:
Mm.

That's a nice treat, isn't it?

Come on, Adam, let's go home.

Yeah, I should shower.
This sweat is making me itchy.

It's a shame
you had to work late again.

Someone's gotta bring home
the bacon.

Yeah.

So, what did you do at work tonight?

Oh, I had to clean up some accounts,
check out some foreign markets.

Diversification. A lot of stock stuff.

-Yeah?
-Dow, Nasdaq.

Well, I had an interesting evening too,
and, uh, I'd like to share it with you.

-Oh, okay. But, hey....
-What?

I know that I've been stressed
about work and everything lately...

...and I've probably been
taking it out on you. So I'm sorry.

-Really?
-Yeah.

Well, thanks. I appreciate that.

You know, I got to work through some
stuff today and, uh, you know what...

...I'm feeling a lot better.

Well, heh...

...that's great.

And let's just be in this together.
All right?

I mean, I was dumb for thinking
I could sell cookies...

...and you were dumb
for renting the store. Heh, heh, heh.

There's plenty of dumb
to go around here.

-Ha, ha, ha.
-And, um....

And anyway,
what did you want to show me?

-No, it's not important.
-It never is.

I'm just kidding.

I'm just kidding.

All right, look.

If you need to work late,
if that makes you feel better...

...I'm okay with it. I'm good here.

Jen and I, uh, found a new show
to watch, actually.

It's a nature thing.

It's one of those deals
where dumb animals do stupid things?

Pretty much.

I'll warm up your dinner.

Yeah, I'm gonna finish my banana.

[GRUNTS]

[♪♪♪]

Given our legs were in a tangle
and we'd all had a lot to drink...

...it was an understandable mistake.

Now you know
and we can all move on.

Dude, we held hands.
They're not moving on for years.

I mean, it was just a matter of time
for you two.

-All the tension, the need for release.
ADAM: Hm.

Stop it, don't touch me.
I don't want to be touched.

That's not what he said.

What on earth are you doing?

I'm trying to get on their side.
I don't like it here.

Plus my back is still killing me.

Way to go, slugger.

Oh, you know, what you guys both need
is a shot of testosterone.

Oh, already getting them.

That's not what I meant.

Adam and I discovered something
that, uh, might help you gals...

...erase the memory of last night.

-Go, Rusty.
-Go, go, go, go.

Oh! Trick shot! Yeah. Ha, ha!

-Nice work.
-Yeah. Whew.

-Fancy another game, old man?
-Oh, you know what, bring it.

I think this is working.
I'm starting to feel more manly already.

Indeed.

I too feel masculinity cascading
from stem to stern.

[TIMMY SIGHS]

-This one's still got a ways to go.
-Yeah.

Head in play.

AUDREY:
This show just keeps getting better.

I like the way they added
these new characters to keep it fresh.

[RUSSELL GROANING]

My back, I can't move.

-Aah! Unh! Aah!
-What are you doing?

Stop the game. He's mounting me.

I'll allow it!

RUSSELL:
Ow, my back! Ow, I can't move!

Did not see that coming.

[♪♪♪]

[♪♪♪]

[INAUDIBLE DIALOGUE]

Uh-oh.

Ooh, I think they're on to us.

[♪♪♪]

[♪♪♪]