Episode #105 "Pamela's New Boyfriend"

Pamela has a new architect boyfriend, Tom Kolchek, who she's dying to impress. He's not like any of the guys she usually dates, but he's still fun. When he comes to the house and meets Butch, they realize that they played high school football together. Butch goes to see Charlie who's glued to the TV at 2:00 in the afternoon; he still hasn't gotten dressed. This has been going on for weeks, and Butch isn't happy about it. Butch suggests to Elizabeth that they talk to Charlie together; Elizabeth agrees, because she's tried everything else. When Charlie tries to cut them off, Butch says that's it; Charlie can't live there unless he pays his mother rent. He has to get a job. Charlie says it's nap time. Butch tells Pamela that he hates Tom. He's a jackass and was terrible to Butch in high school. Butch goes back to see Charlie, and Elizabeth informs him that Charlie has moved into a shed in the back yard; she doesn't consider this to be progress. Butch is back at Pamela's, and Tom is there. Bill and Joan arrive, and Bill declares that any man who lets his son live in a shed is a disgrace. Butch takes Tom out on the porch to get out of the line of fire. Tom admits that he treated Butch badly in high school, but Butch doesn't pursue it. Tom asks what happened with Butch and Elizabeth, and Butch tells Tom he's gay. Tom says he envies Butch; it must have taken a lot of courage to come out, and he wishes he had that kind of courage. Tom says he wouldn't have the courage to be that honest with his family. Butch is amazed by what he thinks Tom is telling him. After Bill and Joan leave, Pamela marvels that Tom's the first guy she's dated that she didn't have to sell to her parents. He's certainly different, Butch tells her, and he'd really hate to see Pamela disappointed. Later, Butch tells Charlie that Pamela has a gay boyfriend and doesn't have a clue. Charlie thinks there's a rule about outing another guy. Butch tells Charlie that he's beginning to scare him with his couch potato routine. Charlie confesses that he's feeling really terrified; it's as if he's paralyzed. Butch suggests that tomorrow morning Charlie take the first big step; he should put his pants on. Maybe then he can work up to shoes. And he needs to get back in the house. Butch visits Tom at the office and suggests that maybe there's something that Tom needs to tell Pamela. Tom says he'd hoped these feelings would go away, but he still loves Emily. Emily's a woman that Tom's mother didn't like; she got frustrated with their relationship and moved to Seattle. Butch has given him the courage to confront his mother and to go to Seattle. Butch doesn't have the heart to tell Pamela the truth, so he tells her that Tom was really gay.