Episode #223 "On The Rocks"

When Hilton takes Erica's side in an argument she's having with Ruth, Ruth turns on him, and he ends the argument by walking out of the house. Griffin is concerned, but Ruth tells him that Hilton will get over it. Pauline reminds Ruth that these are tough times for Hilton, he's a man in transition with no job to go to. Hilton, at the Airport Bar near his old job, encounters Ron, a former co-worker who now works at the bar and Ken, who works for the Pittsburgh Penguins hockey team. Neither Ron nor Ken has anything good to say about marriage, and Hilton begins thinking it's time to go home. Griffin tells Erica he's worried about Hilton and Ruth, but she tells him it's not a big deal. Later, Hilton and Ruth both say they're sorry, but when Hilton suggests that Ruth should also retire, another fight begins. This time Ruth walks out. Erica says Hilton and Ruth wouldn't be having these problems if she and Griffin weren't living in the house, but Hilton reassures her that she's always welcome there. Ruth spends the evening with Pauline at her apartment and realizes just how badly she needs a little breathing space. Back at the bar, Hilton tells Ron that Ruth liked him better when he was working, and he's pretty sure that now she doesn't like him anymore. Clearly, he's getting old and she isn't. Ruth, on the other hand, tells Pauline that while Hilton is more fun than ever, she is no fun at all. Pauline observes that Hilton certainly seems to be thriving but advises Ruth to let it go. Ruth has the annoying habit of being right all the time, and it wears people out. Griffin arrives at the bar to take Hilton home and tells him how concerned he is. Ruth and Hilton are his anchors. Together in the living room and both having had too much to drink, Ruth and Hilton both admit they're scared. They never used to fight like this. They recall that the last time the two of them had too much alcohol was thirty-one years ago on their wedding night. They didn't know each other then, and things worked out anyway. Ruth says that now they'll just have to see what happens.