Desperate Housewives 8.11 “Who Can Say What’s True?” Recap

This week’s Desperate Housewives picks up where we last left off, with Bree sharing the Mary Alice-type letter she received. Gabrielle wants to know how they can do anything if they don’t know anything about the person sending the notes, and then accuses Bree of being linked to the mysterious individual since she’s the only one receiving the letters. Ah, yes. There’s always some sort of drama on Wisteria Lane, and given the mysterious stranger that we saw watching Bree on the way back to her house, we can bet that more drama won’t be far off.

When we last left Susan, she was heading off to New York to find the children of Alejandro, Gabrielle’s step father. She finds the house, but soon realizes she has no idea how to get inside — luckily, good fortune intervenes and the realtor for the open house arrives early. Thinking she’s a prospective buyer, the realtor tells her about the woman’s husband who disappeared and the poor situation of the family. When the wife (who is still in the house) overhears the conversation, she talks to Susan herself and then when she finds out Susan probably isn’t buying her house after all, she seems upset. In classic ‘I Want To Help’mode, Susan makes up a story about how she’s a collector who wants to help her out by buying some of her things, and proceeds to write her a check for some legos.

Renee goes to visit Ben, who seems to care less that they haven’t seen each other for awhile. Upset with his antics, she complains to Bree who is having her own pity party after what happened with the note conversation. Since Bree won’t open up, Renee thinks she needs to ‘cut loose’and tells her to go out. Gabrielle, meanwhile, is trying to teach Juanita how to take care of the house and gets interrupted by Carlos’secretary, who wants her to break him out of rehab for one night so they don’t lose a 90 million dollar deal.

Lynette is trying to hold down the fort with Tom in Paris, which doesn’t seem to be going so well. When the light fixture burns out, the kids talk about how Tom fixes it easily but Lynette refuses to ask for help, wanting to prove to the kids she can do things herself. She soon gets a visit from someone who needs her help, however — Gabrielle wants Lynette to teach her the finer points about the world of business so she can go to Carlos’ dinner for him and close his deal. Meanwhile, Mike goes to visit Ben and tells him he just bounced a check. He says he found out his last paycheck from Ben was returned for insufficient funds, and Ben makes up a story about a problem with the bank. Mike doesn’t seem to believe him, and I have to say, given the shadiness he seems to emit, I’m not sure if I do either.

Bad Influence!Renee takes Bree to a dive bar, where Bree is appropriately skeeved out. Renee can’t understand why Bree won’t let go and have fun, and Bree says she was raised to be a lady therefore she can’t ‘let loose.’After a few drinks, however, she seems to have no problem letting loose and finds herself flirting with a nice looking man who is sitting alone getting drunk after skipping out of his high school reunion. The two soon open up to each other with some secrets, and eventually, a buzzed and light-hearted Bree is agreeing to go skinny dipping with her new beau.

Back on Wisteria Lane, Lynette is trying to teach Gabrielle for her meeting and of course Gabrielle wants the ‘easy way out.” Lynette tells Gabrielle to apply herself because she’s been getting by on her looks and charm for as long as she’s known her. Gabrielle yells at Lynette, calling her a know-it-all and Lynette leaves angrily, saying she doesn’t know why she agreed to help in the first place.

Susan returns to the house late at night to talk to Marissa, the daughter of Alejandro. She pushes Marissa to open up, saying she knows what type of person he is and that he’ll never hurt her again. Mike, meanwhile, shows up to see Ben trying to make a deal for money. He makes Ben call it off, and in a conversation afterwards, drops the fact that Renee has money. Ben eventually goes to visit Renee, apologizing for not making more time for her. I wonder what ulterior motive Ben is harboring by cozying up to Renee again – is this really a case of “you’ve got a good thing, so don’t let it go?” Or is it more than that?

Gabrielle takes on Carlos’business meeting, trying to do her best to convince them she knows what she’s talking about. In classic Gabrielle fashion, she’s hidden notes in her menu which the waitress takes while she’s distracted by Juanita’s phone call, leaving her in a lurch. Back at the Scavo household, Lynette is still trying (and failing) to take care of the house. When the kids yell at her get help, Lynette breaks down, saying she needs to know how to fix things because she never thought she would need to do anything without Tom.

Lynette goes to apologize to Gabrielle, and tells her she’s right — she is a know it all who never thought she had to ask for help. Gabrielle apologizes herself, admitting that she does fake her way through life and that she never thought that she’d have to survive without Carlos. It was a nice moment for two ladies, and I always like when we’re able to break down the superficiality of Gabrielle’s character and expose some humanity.

Susan returns home, seemingly feeling better about the situation now that she’s done ‘what she needs to do”…but are things that easily tied up? Of course not. In New York, we find Marissa telling her mom what Susan confided in her, and something tells me Susan (and her not thinking ways of handing someone a check with her address) may be getting some unwanted visitors very, very soon.

With this new wrinkle, I’m curious to see what will happen over the course of the next few episodes — and how it will all come to an end. So many mysteries, so little time to tie everything up! What do you think? Share your thoughts!