Episode #413 "Racketman" (Part I of II)

The O’Keefe’s are visiting with the Finnertys in the Finnerty living room. They’re discussing a ski trip to the Poconos . The O’Keefe’s have invited Lily. The subject of tennis comes up, and it’s revealed that Dan’s been taking lessons for two years. Sean claims to be a pretty good player and suggests that they play sometime. Dan hesitates, but Sean insists even though Lily wants him to back off. It’s clear that Dan doesn’t want to play Sean, but Connie pushes him until he accepts. Lily makes Sean promise not to be a sore loser; she really wants to go on this trip. Claudia tells Eddie about Sean’s upcoming tennis match. Eddie confides that the last time he beat Sean at tennis, Sean went ballistic. Jimmy’s searching the house for something but refuses to say what it is. Claudia tells Eddie that Jimmy’s looking for his banky, the blanket he’s had since he was a baby. Claudia stashed it away. Jimmy’s hanging out with girls now and is way too old for a blanket. Eddie thinks Claudia could damage Jimmy psychologically by doing this, but Claudia stands firm. Sean and Dan return from the tennis game, and Sean’s crowing. He beat Dan badly. Connie and Claudia come outside. Sean won’ stop talking about how badly Dan played. Dan insists he was just having a bad day. Connie’s amazed. Dan’s had tennis lesions every weekend. Sean says he doesn’t know what Dan’s been doing but he sure hasn’t been having tennis lessons! Dan explodes as Connie finally gets it. Sean, oblivious, continues and adds that Dan didn’t even know how to keep score. Dan’s having an affair, says Connie. She wants him out of her house. Dan thanks Sean for ruining his life. Later Lily’s comforting Brad. They’re in her room. He and his mom will probably move back to Bayonne, Brad tells her. Sean’s trying to sleep. Sean tells Claudia that it’s unacceptable that Brad’s here so late. Then he hears Jimmy and Henry fighting in their room, and he thinks it’s Brad and Lily having sex. He goes into Lily’s room and finds them fully clothed and talking. Sean tells Brad he’ll have to sleep in the living room. The phone rings at 2:00 am. It’s Eddie calling from the pub. Dan’s there. He’s drunk and bother the other customers. Eddie puts Dan on the phone with Sean. Dan thinks he’s talking to Connie. Why did he play tennis with that loudmouth jerk? Sean hangs up. Jimmy has trashed his room looking for banky with no success. He’s still looking. Claudia goes to retrieve it, but it isn’t where she left it. In the living room, Brad has unfolded the sofa bed. Sean informs him that he’ll be sleeping there too and tells Lily to go upstairs. Brad accuses Sean of being responsible for his troubles. Sean assures Brad that the Finnertys will always be there for him. The door opens to reveal Eddie and Dan. Sean offers to help Dan strategize a way out of his problem. Claudia’s still looking for the banky. Eddie tosses her a yucky looking rag. There it is; he used it to clean up at the bar. Banky had a rough night. Jimmy takes one look at it and throws it in the trash, but Claudia gets it out. And Sean sends Dan home to tell Connie how much he loves her. It may not work, but what Dan got to lose?