SIX FEET UNDER: DRIVING MR. MOSSBACK (TV)
Summary
One in this series about the Fisher clan, a loving -- if dysfunctional -- family struggling to maintain a sense of normalcy in the face of the stressful day-to-day operations of the eccentric family business, a funeral home in Los Angeles. In this episode, elderly Mr. Mossback dies on a Seattle tour bus, while elsewhere Claire resentfully meets with her counselor again, furious that he went to the police about Gabe. Mr. Mossback's children state that their father had a fear of flying, and David suggests alternate means of shipping the body to Los Angeles. With Karla still absent, Keith is left to care for Taylor when Lucille is called out of town. Nate, eager to visit his former hometown, offers to fly to Seattle and then drive back with Mr. Mossback, and he invites Claire to come along. Ruth, still set on following The Plan, questions her children about their personal lives and suggests that they should evaluate their own "blueprints." Nate is taken aback by Brenda's disinterested reaction to his Seattle trip, and Claire is intrigued when he explains that they will be staying with Lisa, one of his old "crunchy granola" friends from the co-op.
Ruth contacts a number of acquaintances, including Hiram and her sister, and tries to explain about The Plan, though she has little success. Keith finds himself stuck at work and, upon learning that Eddie is also unavailable, hesitantly calls David to pick up Taylor from school. Claire is surprised when Lisa comments on Nate's "spiritual calling" to the funeral business, and Nate explains that his relationship with Brenda is still "mostly good." Lisa hints that she has been offered a job in Los Angeles, while elsewhere Brenda is intrigued to learn that one of her clients, Melissa, is a prostitute. Margaret then summons Brenda in a panic and tells her that Bernard may be having an affair, though Brenda is less than interested. David brings Taylor to the house and tries to handle her bratty behavior, though he finds himself bonding with her when she spots a body in the basement and he gently explains the principles of mortality. Nate admits to a past casual-sex relationship with Lisa, though Claire observes that Lisa has significant feelings for him, but Nate then suddenly experiences significant symptoms of his AVM. Margaret tells Brenda about the "rules" in her open marriage, upset that Bernard did not tell her about this particular relationship, and she ends up physically attacking the young mistress. Brenda accuses her of needing an "audience" and is outraged when Margaret accuses her of "avoiding her emotional life" by focusing solely on Billy for years.
Nate obtains seizure medication and finally tells Claire about his diagnosis, though he downplays its seriousness. Taylor eats dinner with Ruth and David, who both urge her not to use "hateful" language about gays, and Taylor reveals that she is not fond of Eddie. Claire finds Lisa trying to "reason" with some ants in her kitchen, and Lisa unconvincingly declares that she is no longer in love with Nate as she once was. Brenda has a brief phone conversation with Nate and then fantasizes about Scott, the man from the bar, suggesting that she is growing ever more unhappy in her relationship. Ruth hints that David's relationship with Keith may be "confusing" to Taylor, but David sternly tells her to stay out of their business. Nate, clearly frightened by his declining health, breaks down in front of Lisa late at night and she comforts him, though he and Claire then make a hasty departure in the morning. As they prepare to drive back to L.A., Claire notes her relief that she is not the only deeply troubled Fisher sibling.
Details
- NETWORK: HBO
- DATE: March 24, 2003 9:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:57:32
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: B:75258
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama; Comedy; Families; LGBT Collection
- SERIES RUN: HBO - TV series, 2001-2005
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Alan Poul … Executive Producer
- Robert Greenblatt … Executive Producer
- David Janollari … Executive Producer
- Alan Ball … Executive Producer, Created by
- Bruce Eric Kaplan … Co-Executive Producer
- Scott Buck … Supervising Producer
- Laurence Andries … Supervising Producer
- Rick Cleveland … Supervising Producer, Writer
- Jill Soloway … Producer
- Christian Taylor … Producer
- Robert Del Valle … Co-Producer
- Lori Jo Nemhauser … Co-Producer
- Michael Cuesta … Director
- Richard Marvin … Music by
- Thomas Newman … Theme Music by
- Peter Krause … Cast, Nate Fisher
- Michael C. Hall … Cast, David Fisher
- Frances Conroy … Cast, Ruth Fisher
- Lauren Ambrose … Cast, Claire Fisher
- Freddy Rodriguez … Cast, Federico Diaz
- Mathew St. Patrick … Cast, Keith Charles
- Rachel Griffiths … Cast, Brenda Chenowith
- Lili Taylor … Cast, Lisa Kimmel
- Joanna Cassidy … Cast, Margaret Chenowith
- Grant Show … Cast, Scott Axelrod
- David Noroña … Cast, Gary Deitman
- Kellie Waymire … Cast, Melissa
- Aysia Polk … Cast, Taylor
- Beverly Todd … Cast, Lucille Charles
- Mike McCafferty … Cast, Adam Mossback
- Judy Prescott … Cast, Kimberly Mossback
- Hansford Rowe … Cast, Harold Mossback
- Eric Bruskotter … Cast, Keith's Partner
- Deborah Theaker … Cast, Tour Guide