Episode #222 "I Fought the In-Laws"

Claudia’s parents, Maureen and Tony, are visiting, and everyone’s just finished dinner. Sean is loading the dishwasher, and in moments he’s in an argument with the parents about whether dishes should be rinsed before loading. Claudia comes in and asks why Sean was screaming at her parents; he was acting insane. Sean tells her he’s been holding everything in all week as the parents slowly push him to the edge. They’ve complained about their bed, wondered whether their car is safe in the neighborhood, put halogen bulbs in the living room lights, because it was too dim. Claudia admits that her dad can be a little abrasive, but Sean’s overreacting. Sean’s also upset, because the parents brought them a big, ugly mailbox when they already have a perfectly good one. Also on his gripe list are inappropriate gifts for the kids, including a karaoke machine for Lily which has the potential to drive everyone up the wall. Sean thinks Tony brought the gifts deliberately to torture him. Furthermore, Sean complains to Claudia that her dad never, ever even offers to pick up the check when they’re out to dinner. Later, Sean flips out when he finds Tony installing the new mailbox. Claudia tells Sean that maybe he’s right; his in-laws are insane, but what about her? Walt and Eddie are there every day. Sean sees that she has a point and tries to apologize to Tony and Maureen, but in seconds they bring up the dishwasher argument, and Sean goes crazy. The parents announce that they’re leaving, but Sean asks them not to go. Sean grabs Tony’s suitcase, they struggle and Tony tumbles downstairs injuring his back. Tony tells Walt and Eddie that Sean pushed him. Lily and Brad are driving everyone nuts with their ongoing karaoke rendition of “Summer Nights.” Before Walt and Tony have finished their conversation, Tony has made Walt furious. Claudia finds out that Sean’s been hanging out at Eddie’s instead of working the night shift so he can get a little down time from her parents. Claudia’s upset at Sean’s deception, but Sean protests that if he hadn’t gotten out of the house, he’d have killed her parents by now. Lily’s so into their duet that she throws her arms around him and kisses Brad. Then she freaks out and slaps him. She has a boyfriend! Claudia demands that Sean make peace with her father. Sean starts by saying that he knows Tony hates him and is taken aback when Tony agrees. Sean’s the guy who knocked up his little girl in high school. Tony had dreams for her. Claudia tells her dad that her life is with Sean, and Sean tells Tony that he’s Claudia’s husband, so Tony has to love him!