The Alibi Room.
Frank was nursing a headache and rambling on and on.
Kevin and the regulars completely ignored him.
After bitching for a while, driven by the fear of what Peggy might do next, Frank started reminiscing about his "wonderful" childhood.
This time, Kevin and the barflies actually started listening.
Not out of sympathy.
But because watching Frank suffer was pure entertainment.
Dex Restaurant.
Everything was going smoothly.
Dexter watched subtly as Peggy ate every last bite of the special "seasoned" dinner. He grinned, thinking silently, Frank, you're up next.
5:30 PM.
After cleaning her plate and saying goodbye to Dexter, a beaming Carl pushed Peggy slowly back toward the Gallagher house.
The Gallagher House.
Fiona, Lip, Debbie, and Liam were sitting at the table eating dinner.
It wasn't until this moment that Fiona suddenly realized Ian hadn't been home much lately. Finding it strange, she asked Lip, "Do you know what Ian's up to? Shifts at the convenience store aren't that long. Why is he coming home so late every day?"
Lip shook his head, choosing to cover for him. "Who knows what he's doing out there."
Fiona frowned slightly. Worried, she pulled out her phone and called Ian.
Ian was currently driving Mickey's new car, feeling on top of the world as he drove Mickey toward Lake Michigan. Hearing his phone ring, he glanced at it and ignored it without hesitation.
Mickey, sitting in the passenger seat, exhaled a cloud of smoke. "Not gonna get that?"
Ian smiled. "Nope."
Mickey didn't care and didn't press it.
With no answer, Fiona left a voicemail telling Ian to call back as soon as he got it.
Putting her phone away, Fiona continued eating, looking a bit stressed.
Just then.
Carl and Peggy returned.
Hearing the door open, Fiona, Lip, and Debbie all stood up in perfect sync and looked toward the living room.
A moment later.
Carl, carrying bags upon bags of shopping, walked into view.
Instantly.
Debbie felt a crushing wave of unfairness and jealousy. Her face fell, and she bit her lip hard.
Lip and Fiona noticed Debbie's reaction immediately.
"Fiona?" Lip said softly.
Fiona knew what Lip meant. She stopped eating and walked straight over to Peggy. "Grandma, did you take Carl shopping?"
Peggy was slowly shuffling toward the sofa. "Yeah."
Fiona didn't help her, nor did she want to. "Did you eat dinner?"
"Ate already," Peggy replied.
Fiona didn't waste any more small talk. She turned to Carl. "Carl, what did Grandma buy you?"
Carl was eager to share. He grinned happily, showing off his loot as he spoke. "Clothes, shoes, and a phone!"
In the dining room, Debbie watched and listened, feeling even worse.
Lip felt bad for her. He reached out, wrapped an arm around Debbie's shoulder, and pulled her close, whispering, "Let's go over there. We need to settle this once and for all."
Debbie was miserable and furious. She didn't speak, just nodded.
Fiona forced a smile and asked Carl again, "Did she get anything for Debbie?"
Carl's brain capacity was limited. He shook his head decisively. "Nope."
Even though she expected that answer, Fiona felt a headache coming on. The smile dropped from her face. She took two steps forward, standing next to the sofa where Peggy had just sat down.
"Grandma, this isn't right," Fiona cut straight to the chase.
"Carl, get me a beer," Peggy didn't answer immediately. She ordered Carl around while fishing a cigarette out of her pocket.
She lit it, took a deep drag, and only then looked at Fiona with a cold smile. "Oh? What did I do?"
"Carl and Debbie are both young. You can't show such obvious favoritism," Fiona said seriously, her eyes widening slightly in anger.
Peggy chuckled. "Carl helps me. He pushes me everywhere. I'm giving him a little reward with my own money. What's the problem?"
The implication was clear.
Debbie didn't do jack shit for Peggy, so she didn't get any gifts.
Faced with this logic, Fiona got angry. "Debbie is your granddaughter. If you're going to be this petty with her... look, this is our house. You live here, you eat our food. You should pay some money."
Ding.
And just like that.
Just like in the original show, Peggy chuckled and decided right then and there not to leave a single cent to Fiona or the rest of them.
In the original series, Peggy was kicked out to Sheila's house because her basement meth lab exploded... which was somewhat reasonable, given the danger.
But later, when they found out Peggy had terminal cancer, after kicking her out, they didn't bring her back, nor did they even visit her...
Heh. So much for "family comes first."
Fiona and the others could tolerate a scumbag like Frank over and over again, always holding onto hope, but they were ruthlessly decisive when it came to cutting off Peggy...
Their definition of "family" only included the core seven.
Those were the only people they cared about.
"Fine. Consider the room rented. How much? You do the math," Peggy had already made up her mind. It was late, so she'd stay tonight, but tomorrow she'd rent a place nearby. If Carl didn't side with Fiona, most of her money would go to him.
Fundamentally, Fiona didn't see Peggy as family. Seeing that Peggy would rather pay rent than treat Debbie fairly, she got even angrier. "One hundred dollars a week. Includes rent and food."
Peggy didn't waste breath. She pulled out the cash and handed it to Fiona. "Good enough? Now stop annoying me and go do whatever you were doing."
Fiona took the money with a cold face. She wanted to say more, but she held back. Without a word, she walked over and handed the cash to Debbie, who was on the verge of tears. "Come on. Let's finish dinner."
Not far away, Carl stood holding a bottle of beer. He had been standing there for a while and saw the whole scene.
So.
Quite naturally.
Carl was stunned. His little head was filled with questions again.
Fiona charged Grandma rent?
Why?
Grandma is family.
Why does she have to pay rent?
Just because she didn't buy Debbie stuff?
But Debbie didn't take care of Grandma. She didn't do any work. Isn't it normal not to get a gift?
Carl couldn't understand it.
Just then.
Peggy turned slightly and smiled at Carl. "Carl, my beer."
Carl snapped out of it, nodded, walked quickly to Peggy, and handed her the beer. Then he sat on the sofa next to her, staring at her.
"What's wrong?" Peggy asked with a kind smile.
Carl shook his head. He didn't know where to start asking.
---
A little after 7 PM.
Dexter and Bianca strolled into the Alibi Room.
Spotting Frank immediately, Dexter walked over with a grin and sat right next to him. Then, he signaled Kevin. "Two beers."