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Separation

‘Separation’

Season 5, Episode 23 - Aired May 14, 2001

Debra is upset to learn her parents are separated when her mother, Lois (guest star Katherine Helmond), comes for a visit.

Quote from Marie

Marie: Oh. You poor dear.
Lois: No, no, it's okay, Marie. It's okay.
Marie: He's leaving you.
Lois: No, it's completely mutual. We're both quite happy, honestly.
Marie: You don't have to pretend with me. You can tell me all the awful details. Please.

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Quote from Marie

Marie: Go on, dear.
Lois: Well, it's really very simple. It's been over 40 years, and we needed a change.
Marie: You don't seem very upset.
Lois: Actually, I'm more upset and surprised that Debra seems so upset.
Marie: Well, I must say. I completely understand Debra here. I mean, I was brought up to consider it a sin to [whispers] divorce. And here you are talking about it so casually. How long have you and Warren been separated?
Lois: About two weeks.
Marie: What's it like?

Quote from Ray

Debra: I have to tell you something.
Ray: Yeah.
Debra: It's pretty big.
Ray: Oh, boy.
Debra: Yeah. My parents have separated. They're on the path to divorce. [Ray laughs] You laugh? You laugh?!
Ray: No, no, no, no. No! It's one of those moments, you know? It's too serious or something. I wasn't ready for it. This is terrible. [holds back laughter] No, all right, st- There's nothing funny here. This is awful. You know what it is. It's just it's the way that you said it. "They're on the path to divorce." I'm not smiling. I didn't smile. I'm not smiling. You know what it is? It's the image I have. I picture that there was a path in the forest with, like, one of those wooden signs. "Divorce this way" and... I don't know. What? Like "Three little pigs this way." And then your face when you said it, it was just a little serious. That's all. No! I think I had too much fun at work today. You know what happened? The door to the vending machine, it was broken, see? Free candy. These are my favorites. Twix.

Quote from Ray

Ray: What happened to your parents?
Debra: Why, you want another good laugh?
Ray: [smirks] I didn't laugh. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Come on, I'm sorry about your parents. It's very bad. [holds back grin] I'm sorry. We have to talk about this. I wanna talk about this with you. Come on, we have to discuss this. So, your parents, boy...
Debra: Go ahead.
Ray: Well, I don't- What do you say? I'm sorry. But, I mean, I have to say this. I think everybody could have seen this coming, right? I mean, remember Thanksgiving, how they yelled? It was terrible. I had a hard time finishing my pie.

Quote from Debra

Debra: So this doesn't worry you?
Ray: What?
Debra: What about us.
Ray: What do you mean?
Debra: What if we're headed that way? I keep a lot of stuff inside, too.
Ray: No, you don't. I drop a sock on the floor, you scream like a horror movie.
Debra: There's plenty more I keep inside, believe me.
Ray: There can't be a lot left in there.

Quote from Ray

Debra: I hate my mother.
Ray: Oh, no, you don't. How do you know this is your mother's fault?
Debra: It's her fault. She's so... Why is she doing this? I mean, my parents being together. I mean, I have counted on that my whole life. Through school and college and then struggling after college. And, you know, when I didn't know what I was doing or where I was going, at least I had... Their marriage was like a rock, the one solid rock for me.
Ray: Well, maybe it was more like a stone, okay? And now it has passed.
Debra: That's enough. That's just enough.
Ray: What did I do?
Debra: You can't have a real conversation. You gotta be funny. Idiot.
Ray: It wasn't that funny! Hey, no, come on, look, I'm trying to be understanding here, okay? I'm not the one who said "idiot," all right? But I'm willing to overlook it because I understand. You're the child of a broken home.

Quote from Robert

Robert: Listen, I was sorry to hear about you and Warren.
Lois: Thank you.
Robert: I've been there.
Lois: That's right. What was your wife's name again?
Robert: Joanne. She was actually quite horrible.
Lois: Right, I remember.
Robert: Just so you know, it gets better as time passes. You know?
Lois: Thank you, Robert. Actually, we're pretty okay with it now.
Robert: Yeah, so was Joanne. She had a party.
Lois: Oh?
Robert: At her old strip club. All her friends were there... Satin, Bubbles, Lick-Lick.

Quote from Warren

Warren: Debra. Your mom said you were up here.
Debra: Hi, Dad. [cries] I can't find a kerchief. [Warren hugs her] What are you doing here?
Warren: Well, the invitation said "Round 'em up birthday party." It promised a "rootin' tootin' time".

Quote from Ray

Ray: Hey! Cheese doodle. Oh, I ordered a moon bounce for the kids party Saturday. It's a corral. Goes with your whole cowboy theme. They said you gotta be under 80 pounds to jump in there, but screw that guy. I'm going in.

Quote from Debra

Lois: Oh, hi.
Debra: Hi.
Lois: Ally's kerchief tore.
Debra: Yeah.
Lois: Well, she needs another one to go with her cowgirl ensemble.
Debra: Okay, I'll get it.
Lois: Debra, wait.
Debra: What?
Lois: I don't know. I was just hoping that maybe you could have tried to come to terms with the situation over the last couple of days.
Debra: No, I'm fine, Mom, but thanks for the couple of days to come to terms with it. I gotta get that kerchief.

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