Between family and... more familyOkay, so. In order to recap this one, I had to go back and watch "Judas on a Pole," since so much of what we're dealing with in this episode springs from what happened in that one. And then I had to watch it again, because I wasn't really paying attention the first time, given that I had just bought new nail polish and People's "Most Beautiful Issue" (save your money, it's the same list it is every year). And then I was going to read the recap, but our archives don't go back quite that far. So I thought, lemme esplain. No, no, is too much. Lemme sum up: Brennan and Booth, in looking for her dad, start figuring out that not all of the people investigating Brennan's parents were above board; Russ and Brennan were in danger because of if; and Brennan's dad, Max "Ryan O'Neal" Keenan starts killing people, among them an FBI Dept. Director named Kirby, who threaten to expose him and who might look cross-eyed at his kids. And if I am wrong, you can blame sandal season and the promise of a good George Clooney photo for my inability to pay attention to detail.
Oh, would that we got to see this week's crime play out, because it's an intriguing premise. Booth brings Brennan to a crime scene where the remains are a fairly pristine skeleton holding its ankles above its head. Post-mortem. It's some sort of yogic pose that Brennan finds rather incredible. Booth proposes that maybe the the guy was rolled in a carpet. That eventually rotted away, along with all "the meaty parts." Brennan gets the giggles at the very notion, and she can speak to hypothesize, for real, so funny is Booth's "rolled in a carpet theory." Booth is all, what's so funny, but before Brennan can explain and start laughing harder, Caroline arrives to tell her she's suspended from all active cases. "For laughing at Booth?" she asks. Booth: "That really doesn't bother me." I love them so much, it's unhealthy. Caroline explains that, since the date for Brennan's father's trial is set and Booth is the arresting officer, they can't work together. Booth protests that they can't be separated, and Brennan adds that she's compartmentalized ("very compartmentalized!" Booth echoes). Booth proclaims that this sucks, and he'll let her know how the case goes. She tells him he won't solve it without her.
Cut to the coffee shop, where the Bs are trying to convince Sweets that, since they're not partners anymore, they don't need partners' therapy. They tell him everything Caroline just said, and he says rather intensely he should have been told. Booth informs Brennan that Sweets did the psychological profile of Max for the trial. Brennan is upset that Booth didn't tell her before; Sweets immediately asks why that's important to her. Booth: "Because it would matter to, say, a normal person, I just figured you wouldn't care." Brennan: "You're absolutely right." Sweets says that he's wrong, since everyone Brennan works with is trying to put her father in jail, and naturally that has to bother her. That, he says, "is wicked stressful." Oh, Sweets. Had I not loved you before for your dorkishness and John Francis Daleyness, I would love you for using my favorite all-purpose word and most especially favorite adverb ever. And if you think wicked is not an adverb, you haven't been to New England. You might also be dead to me.
Ahem. So Sweets tells Brennan that this would be an ideal moment for her to feel a situation instead of rationalize it. Brennan says she's fine, but Sweets says that she's really not. Booth agrees. Sweets tells her that the more cool, poised, and objective she seems, the more pain she's in, inside. Booth gets to his feet and insincerely says he'll miss Sweets. Brennan: "I, too, find him intriguing in a non-rigorous, pragmatically irrelevant kind of way." Hee. Booth what-she-said's and stiffs Sweets with the tab. He tries to stop them, saying they could keep working together, but the Bs are long gone. He pouts, saying, "Lame." He thought he was doing a good job. Don't take it too hard, Sweets. They're like those dolls that you take apart and there are more dolls inside more dolls inside more dolls. Never will you get to the start.
Brennan has enlisted Clark Edison (who auditioned to be Diet Zack when Original Zack was away) to testify for her father. Brennan assures her father that she wouldn't want to be up against Edison in court. Max is dubious, but since Zack can't be his guy, Edison has to be. Russ, Edison, and Max's lawyer Ernie "Winston" Hudson (who the closed captioning says is named Barron, but whatever) leave Brennan alone with her dad. She gives him a tie that's supposed to make him seem less convictable. She tells him that, even though all her friends are working for the prosecution, she can't stop the inevitable, which is his conviction. Max says he knows she loves him, despite all outward appearances, so she doesn't have to worry that he doubts that. He takes her hands and kisses them, telling her he'll wear the tie.
Brennan, Edison, and Winston examine some remains. The Squints, plus Cam, watch, and Angela says she doesn't like that they're over here while Brennan's over there. Cam reminds them all that this isn't a competition, just an unfortunate situation. Angela echoes this, saying that if Brennan knows they're not crazy-competetive, they'll all still be friends. Besides, Zack adds, Brennan knows "that we're going to destroy them." Synchronized withering looks. Why does Hodgins look so skinny this week? Is it the almost-cleanshaven-ness? They all leave to meet Caroline, with Angela giving one last, regretful look to her friend.
Edison says that Zack's put together an okay case, but he might be able to find something when he does his own exam. Winston asks what he thinks on first look, and Edison says that the killer was merciful. Brennan protests this is unscientific. Edison explains that the killer may have shot, stabbed, and gutted Kirby, but death itself was instantaneous. There was a single blow to the head, and everything else was post-mortem. Brennan says that Zack will be a better precise witness, but Winston knows Edison will be more easily understood and persuasive. Edison and Winston explain to Brennan that while the prosecution uses adherence to science a virtue, the defense has to humanize the accused. Brennan accepts this logic. Winston says that if they want to make Zack look wrong, Brennan has to be less... Brennan. She says her father is guilty. Winston tells her not to say that; guilt or innocence is irrelevant if there's even the slightest reasonable doubt. Edison asks to see Brennan's case files, since he'd like to get a feel for what work Zack, her protege, does and who he's up against.
Caroline has everyone else, including Sweets, in a conference room. She tries to tell them that this trial is no different than any other, but Booth tells her to quit spinning that, they all know it's bull. She tells him to lose his "cocky" belt buckle (which literally says "cocky," which is so classy) and for Hodgins to lose his conspiracy theorist flair. Zack she tells not to cut his hair himself the day before the trial and Angela to "ugly up," since women on juries hate her. Sweets should use his "fully grown-up words." Cam should eat first, since she gets the rumbly stomach. Sweets assures Caroline he'll be totally, awesomely mature. Angela interrupts to say she's not taking the stand, though Cam says she has to. Doesn't matter, Angela's not testifying, and she leaves. Booth tells the others that Brennan believes in the system and would want all of us to do their jobs. Sweets observes that she has an enviable, yet disturbing, ability to compartmentalize. Everyone seems okay with this, but Hodgins says he wants pre-clearance from Brennan herself, and if she's okay, he's okay. Seriously, so skinny this week. Maybe it's that I've been watching old episodes. Booth tries to talk Caroline into letting him keep the belt buckle, and while Boreanaz is hilarious, I've nattered way too long already.
Court. The Honorable Haddoes warns everyone: no monkey business. Opening statements. They are what you'd expect. Caroline says that Max did it; Winston stresses all the holes in the case. He tells the jury that while Brennan is a badass in her field, she feared she couldn't be objective on the stand. Brennan leans over the aisle to Booth, whispering that she SO could be objective. He shushes her. Winston and Caroline get a jumpstart on bickering, which Haddoes puts paid to. He also tells the Bs, who are in whispered conference trans-aisle, to separate. He then calls a twenty minute recess.
Out in the hall, people are gathered in small groups. Booth makes a show of bringing Brennan a cup of coffee and whispers to her to put it in front of her face to hide the fact that they're talking. He tells her that Angela's refusing to testify because she's Brennan's best friend. She says that Booth is her friend and he doesn't mind. He says he does; they all do, except Zack. She says Zack's the only one thinking clearly. She adds that she had to give Hodgins permission and she doesn't know what's wrong with everyone. Booth corrects her, it's not what's wrong, it's what's right. They look over at Cam, Zack, and Hodgins, who give them shy waves. Caroline tells them all to cut it out. They're called back in, and Booth tells her he's the first witness for the prosecution.
He testifies about the scene in "Judas on a Pole" after they've discovered that Kirby was a bad, dirty cop, and they thought he was going to do something to Russ. They went in, saw blood, and assumed it was Russ's. Cut to Cam's testimony, where she says that the blood was Kirby's. We get a montage of everyone's assertions of the hows and whats of Kirby's death. Hodgins confirms that the weapon was a copper pipe, which particles can tie to a few different places Max would have been and which, Booth adds, is his trademark. I love the fact that everyone seems SO horrified that Max was impersonating a priest, and not that he probably killed someone. All in all, it does not look good for Max, since they have him tied to the probable weapon and they've mentioned that, when in prison, it was quickly established that those who mess with Max get the sharp end of the copper pipe. Caroline asks about confirming Kirby's identity with only ashes, but Angela, on the stand, refuses to answer. Brennan tries to tell her to answer, and Haddoes tells her if she doesn't, she'll be in contempt. Angela pleads the Fifth, not understanding that it protects her from incriminating herself; she then pleads freedom of association, and therefore friendships, under the First Amendment, which she says is even better. Haddoes tries to bully her, Hodgins pipes in, and Booth tells Brennan to speak up. Haddoes places Angela in contempt, despite Brennan's protests. Angela very seriously says she knows what's right and everyone else is confused. My sister and I have decided Angela is the best kind of best friend to have.
Max is not happy with the way things are going. Winston says they have to consider putting him on the stand. When he says the first question he'll be asked is if he did it, Max takes a long moment before he says he didn't. Winston glances at Brennan and says he can't put Max on the stand. Max is like, you want more? I can go bigger! Winston says it's obvious that Russ and Brennan don't believe him, and if they don't, the jury won't. Russ is the next best option; he says that he didn't witness the murder and definitely wasn't there. Winston says he can't put Russ on the stand if he thinks he'll lie, but Brennan says she knows when her bro is lying, and he's definitely not. Winston tells them to talk it over as a family. When he leaves, Russ tells Max that Brennan thinks Max did it, and she doesn't understand how he can be so blase about it. Max tells her that his conscience is clear, which she tells him isn't the same as being innocent. He can't deny that. Or that he has a really honorable daughter.
Brennan tries to convince Angela to take the stand, but Angela stands firm. She asks if Brennan really thinks her dad's going to be acquitted, which Brennan says has nothing to do with Angela testifying. Angela says it does; she is not going to help send her best friend's father to a likely death sentence. Brennan sits beside her and asks if they're going to lose. Angela thinks they are, but she's not going to help. Brennan asks what she did to deserve such a good friend.
Sweets gives his credentials. They are many: an MA, two PhDs, and Rhodes and Fulbright scholarships, all before the age of 12. Brennan and Booth spend the entire time in badinage, so Haddoes has them play musical chairs to separate them. Caroline asks Sweets about Max's psychological profile. He is, "like, totally" capable of murder. Sweets says that Max doesn't fall an external ethical code: he does what he thinks is right, social mores be damned. Max is also "mega dangerous" when his loved ones are threatened, and he could "totally" gut and immolate a man without hesitation, remorse, or guilt. Booth watches Brennan take this in, her eyes damp.
Caroline questions Russ, who says he feared for his life when Kirby was murdered. Caroline is making fast and furious with the questions, and Russ answers as succinctly as is humanly possible. He wasn't at Brenna's apartment when Kirby was murdered; he was at a job interview. Caroline gets him to admit that Max set up the interview, meaning that Max purposely gave Russ an alibi and eliminated the possibility he would witness a crime. Winston catches on just before and groans hugely. He objects, but Caroline's got her teeth in and isn't letting go. Russ catches on mid-response, and Caroline hammers home that Max was trying to get him out of the way. Winston tries to undo the damage, but it seems done. Caroline rests her case. Winston rises and asks for a summary judgment, since Caroline's failed to prove her case. He's denied.
Edison's working on the skull with some dye of some sort. Zack is very uptight about the whole thing, so Edison asks what he wants. Zack's curious if Edison's found something he hasn't. Edison's like, you can't ask me that. Zack says he didn't, Edison asked him a question, and he answered. Edison wonders if Zack's messing with him, or if this is just how he is. It is exactly how he is, Zack says. He is unbothered by it. Edison says Zack's work is good and thorough. Zack's aware of that. Edison's just found something, and he is pleased with himself.
Brennan brings Booth a coffee outside. Sweets pounces on the two of them together. He's writing a book about how Brennan and Booth shouldn't work well together but do, so he wants to keep meeting with them once a week. The Bs find this totally amusing. Sweets latches onto how they're talking to each other, not him, basically saying they've found their own language and way to relate to each other that bridges the gap between how he is and how she is and makes them a cohesive pair. They stare at him. Booth tells Brennan he'll agree if Sweets will give them profiling for cases on demand. They then start totally making fun of Sweets for enjoying them and wanting to be around them. And while it's totally Booth, it's a little not Brennan, but the lady is stressed and I understand how taunting the baby might make her feel better. Sweets, annoyed, takes it back. He leaves, and they admit that they find him impressive and effective. Edison arrives with a CD in hand, saying he found something.
They confer in the courtroom. Caroline's not pleased; they look smug. Booth asks if Edison found something Zack missed. Zack says he doesn't miss things. Winston recalls Zack and moves to have Edison question him, which Haddoes allows. Scientific phlebotenum leading to Zack realizing he's made a mistake. The dye Edison used the highlight the skull fracture basically shows that the copper pipe is not the weapon that killed Kirby. The peanut gallery, it is shocked. Zack has to admit his mistake, so Winston calls for a dismissal. Caroline asks for more time to find the actual weapon. The Bs exchange wary looks.
Booth and Zack arrive at Brennan's to look for a weapon. Zack really wants to know where Edison learned the trick with the food dye, since Zack doesn't know that trick. Booth tells him to focus and asks Brennan how she's doing. She says this is confusing for her; she felt hopeful and excited when she heard he might go free, but she knows Max did it. Booth tells her it's okay to want her dad to come home. She says their job is to put murderers away. Booth tells her that she's not Dr. Brennan right now, she's Temperance. She doesn't know what that means. Her brain is in neutral, her heart is in overdrive. He mimes this, making her laugh and say she thinks he's from another planet. "Sometimes," she says, with utter sincerity, "I think you're really very nice." Because he IS really very nice. He is the nicest FBI agent EVER. They share one of their long looks until Zack announces he's found the weapon. It's a medieval dagger called a "misericorde." (Fun fact: this weapon was used to deliver the fatal, mercy stroke to a seriously wounded knight. Less fun, I guess, than morbid, but history is wacky.) It;s also made of copper, and it has a hilt, so it fits the bill.
We get a silent montage of the Squints proving the misericorde is the weapon in court. Brennan and Russ watch in distress. On the stand, Hodgins looks regretful as he testifies. No one is happy to be doing this to their Dr. Brennan.
Team Brennan commiserates over Chinese food. Max tells Edison he did good. Brennan consoles Edison that her team is really good. Edison wonders if he can discredit the weapon, but Winston says they're past forensics. They need to show the jury a story. They need another version, a bogeyman. It's like the ending of "Clue." "It could have happend this way, but..." Russ starts to get pissy that Max should have just run away, but Brennan says that he stayed for her. "He knew that if he ran, we'd never see each other again. You stayed for me," she says, wonderingly. Max says he would have stayed forever, and the time they've had together was worth it. Aw. Warped, but aw. Brennan asks Winston, if she can find a bogeyman, how much time he'd need. Five minutes, he tells her. Brennan leaves, saying she has to talk to someone.
At the coffee shop, Brennan's asking Booth some way existential questions, so he tells her to spit it out. She says she has a way to swing reasonable doubt. Booth scolds that they can't discuss it, but Brennan pleads that he's the person she talks to about things. He clarifies: "No perjury involved, just an interpretation of existing facts." They can't know-know he did it, after all. She asks if it's okay to take advantage of the whole juries-are-human thing. "Brain and heart, Bones," he tells her. "Brain and heart." Now all they need is courage and a way to get home!
Winston questions Hodgins about who else could have been in the same three places as the particulates at the murder scene. Booth answers that he was, but he didn't do it. So was Caroline, and so was Brennan. Brennan's on the stand, confirming this, as well as the fact that the misericorde is hers. Sweets testifies that she's hyper-rational and can rationalize almost anything, including murder. Booth adds that she had a motive, since Kirby tried to kill her brother. Booth stops Winston from ending the line there, and says that Brennan was with him all day. Winston asks how Parker got home from school. Booth looks at Brennan, who gives him the eyebrows of "come on, you think I'd forget?" and admits that they were apart for 45 minutes, but talked on the phone. Because they are a total couple, so they should just start kissing already. We see a creepy black and white recreation of the crime with Brennan as the kiler. Booth stares at her intensely. He says, "That's a lot of heart, Bones." After some hesitation, he says that the woman he knows and works with could not have killed someone. Winston clarifies: did she have time to kill Kirby. Booth admits she did. Oh, though it hurts him to say so.
The jury returns, and Max is...
Outside, Booth finds Brennan and they embrace. It's a good hug. Angela appraches, as well. Sweets and Caroline emerge from the courthouse, and Booth leaves to follow them. And around the corner come the Keenan men, Max and Russ. Brennan smiles so hugely, hugging her dad with all she's worth. Finally gets a family, she holds onto him so, so tight.
Sweets asks Caroline if she's going to charge Brennan. She tells him to go back to school: "That's a fine, fine woman."
Over her dad's shoulder, Brennan thanks Booth with her pretty face.
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