Is That a Subpoena in Your Pocket...? is the second episode of the third season on Wings, and the 30th episode overall in the series.
Synopsis[]
Joe is working in the shell of his old office and looking for an experienced contractor to do the job, purposely overlooking Lowell who is wanting the job. However, his relationship with Helen sours even more when he tries to get her to pay the deductible on his insurance, making her even more hostile. A week later, Joe's office still isn't complete when his contractor leaves to do a job for singer Carly Simon. He asks Lowell to finish the job, but he wants too much money and Joe whittles him down to his price and a new hat. Meanwhile, both Brian and Faye are disgusted by his treatment of Helen. They both refuse to deliver a subpoena to her to appear in court, but Roy is more than willing to do it. She splashes lemonade on him as a result. Confronting Joe, Helen attempts to play him into dropping his case, but Joe realizes he's been played when she walks away smiling. When he starts the case again, she starts smashing his possessions in his office for revenge.
At the trial, Helen shows up on crutches, and Joe becomes determined to prove she's faking it to gain the sympathy of the court, even going as far as knocking her off her feet and hitting her with her crutch. Brian then comes in late to tell Joe that Helen had an accident and is running late, unaware she is already there. As a result, Joe is held for contempt of court.
Meanwhile, Lowell finishes rebuilding Joe's office just as Helen shows up to give him a monthly installment on the damages. She just wants to hear nothing about it, but Joe just won't talking about him being on the side of right. Unable to handle his pretentious speech and even making a joke about it, she veers her jeep around where Lowell left it, and drives through his office again.
Credits[]
Main Cast
- Tim Daly as Joe Hackett
- Steven Weber as Brian Hackett
- Crystal Bernard as Helen Chapel
- Thomas Haden Church as Lowell Mather
- Rebecca Schull as Fay Cochran
- David Schramm as Roy Biggins
Guest Cast
- Tony Shalhoub as Antonio Scarpacci
- Phillis Applegate as Judge D. M. Davis
- Chuck Bailey as Antonio's Passenger
Quotes[]
- Joe Hackett - "Brian, how was the flight?"
Brian Hackett - "I don't know. You'll just have to watch the news tonight."
- Brian Hackett - "Lowell, would you rather watch TV or have sex?"
Lowell Mather - "Buy me dinner and the choice is yours!"
- Antonio Scarpacci - "Yes, sue her. Take her to court. Next to baseball, it's America's favorite past-time."
- Joe Hackett - "I'll have her spleen on a plate."
Antonio Scarpacci - "It's the American way."
- Brian Hackett - "You were born uptight, Joe. You were the only one to wipe his feet on the way out."
Trivia[]
- This was Tony Shalhoub first appearance back as Antonio Scarpacci.
- Lowell keeps asking for $50,000 on jobs he takes, convinced someone someday will take his price.
- Roy mentions he once served a subpoena to his own mother.