Shameless Recap: Fiona’s Rock Bottom

We were tipped off by the title of this episode on what was going to happen to Fiona — “You’ll Know the Bottom When You Hit It” (Shameless S9 E12). Everyone had to cope with a blackout (power outage, not alcoholic) that lasted longer on the Southside than anywhere else in the city.

You know
there’s an old man sleeping out front here? ~ Peter Naylor

Peter Naylor’s report obviously put the kabosh on Xan becoming a resident at Chez Gallagher. He came by to pick up Xan and take her to a foster home or wherever. Lip was hovering all around her, making sure her phone was charged so she could call him when she reached her destination. Xan took it stoically and told Lip: “Don’t be mad. It’s no one’s fault.”

This is my house! I live here! ~ Fiona Gallagher

Lip went back in the house and started scooping up Fiona’s belonging and throwing them in plastic bags. He told Debbie he was kicking Fiona out because of Xan and Jason. He also told Debbie that Tami was pregnant. She was thrilled at the prospect of a little cousin for Franny. Fiona was not thrilled when she came home and found all her stuff on the curb. She attacked Lip and said her name was on the title to the house. When Lip told Fiona to take a personal inventory of herself, Frank intervened on Fiona’s side: “You AA people are all the same. You want a goddamn parade because you stand in front of other alcoholics and state the galactically obvious. It’s the very definition of narcissism,” and he told Lip that he ought to cut Fiona some slack, but Lip was adamant. Fiona was out on her butt.

You got your last paycheck. Please leave, or I’ll have to call the cops. ~ Eliza

Before that confrontation, Fiona paid a visit to Patsy’s Pies to pick up her last paycheck. She was very nasty to the girls and accused them of stealing her tips. She made spiteful remarks about the menu and food to the customers until Eliza was forced to threaten her with calling the police. Fiona went to the Alibi and asked Veronica to cash her check but told her to keep the money in the register because she planned on drinking it up. While she was there, the power outage occurred. Frank woke up on the Gallagher front porch and heard people calling each other to see if anyone had power. He smelled an opportunity to make money and went to see a guy named the Professor who had a generator. He agreed to help Frank for costs and 20 percent.

At the Alibi, Frank asked Fiona to join forces with him when she complained that being broke sucks. She agreed for a 50 percent split. She still had an extra key to Patsy’s so they went over there and raided the ice machine. They set up Gallagher’s Blackout Supplies and began gouging the Southside for cold drinks, batteries, candles, flashlights, etc. She later blackmailed Frank into giving her 60 percent of the take but when she went after the Professor’s share, Frank gave her a talking to. He told Fiona that she was a bad drunk and she laughed in his face. Frank explained that he is a good drunk because drinking makes him happy, but drinking makes Fiona mean. From what we’ve seen so far, that was 100 percent accurate.

I bought 16 cases of rib eye and a case of crab-stuffed sole. ~ Veronica

At the Alibi, V was in panic mode because she spent $500 on supplies she was going to use for a $28 surf and turf special she intended to call “Funk Sole Brother.” Kev was having a panic attack at the thought of losing all that money but eventually hit on the idea of having a cookout and inviting the whole neighborhood. Kevin donned his “No bitchin’ in my kitchen’ apron” and got ready to grill. Fiona told V that Lip kicked her out and V agreed to put her up until she got on her feet. At the barbecue, they found out that the whole city had power except the Southside. Fiona organized a protest march to Wrigleyville. Not everybody went and whoever did quit when the power came back on, much to Fiona’s disgust.

Grab a shovel and help her dig that grave, ’cause that’s not a friend ~ Lip Gallagher

V went to see Lip to find out why he was being so hard on Fiona. She said because he’s in AA, he thinks he has all the answers, but a friend helps when someone falls down. Lip explained to V that she will not be helping Fiona by letting her crash at her place because Fiona will just keep drinking and it will take that much longer before she hits rock bottom. “If you really love her and you really are her friend, you won’t let her stay with you,” he said. V thought this over seriously and told Fiona “with the girls and everything, it’s just a little too much right now having you stay with us.” Fiona played it off, polished off another drink, put some money on the bar and picked up her sunglasses. Next time we saw her, she was waking up next to Frank in the abandoned building she used to own. She was sick to her stomach and starting barfing all over the place, collapsing in tears on the stairway. She got herself together and went to the AA meeting that Lip was already at.

Other Storylines

Kev already had the vasectomy and was suffering through his recovery when this episode began. We heard enough about this last week.

Lip’s other big issue was trying to find out if Tami planned on keeping their baby. Tami said she doesn’t know yet but there’s 100 votes and he gets one and she gets 99.

Carl and Debbie got into a cringe-worthy contest over Kelly’s affections. Kelly ultimately told Carl “Call me when you’re not so needy,” and walked out, leading Carl to bring some X-rates videos to work to give away to the guys. His pervy boss, Sarah, went through the tapes, saying “Seen it. Seen it. In it.” And that was the funniest line in the whole show.