Mr. Monk Goes to the Asylum

This week we’re inside the walls of the Medford Psychiatric Institute, where Monk gets a 48-hour observation hold. The thing is — he might be the sanest person there. We talk about what it actually feels like to strip away the outside noise and just focus on getting better, the paralysis of perfectionism, and why a Santa-obsessed patient named Manny might be the most reliable witness in the building.

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:03

Hey guys, welcome back to I Don't Give a Shaloube, a Monk Rewatch Podcast. I'm Jen.

SPEAKER_03 0:08

And I'm Kathy. Hey Kath, how are you? I'm doing great. I am all monkalicious. Yeah, you ready? Yes, I am ready to go to the asylum. Well, before that, did you have a good week? I had a really nice week. Uh, multiple doctor's appointments, if I'm being honest. Did you monk it all this week? Did I monk it all this week?

SPEAKER_01 0:33

Um, wait, give me a second to think. Well, I can tell you mine while you're thinking. Okay. Because I'm pretty proud of this and I just need it recorded for history. Okay. So I was dog sitting and it was like 5 30 a.m. and it had already been a weird morning. But before I get my coffee, I have to take this dog for a walk. And so I got my jacket on, I grabbed the keys I thought, put them in my pocket, walked outside, closed the door, padded my keys just to make sure, and the keys were not there. This has happened not at this house, but I've been locked out like once in my nearly 10-year career. And I know from then, and just from being a generally anxious person, that normally this would have undone me. But what it was so weird, my brain went, we can handle this. And I walked the dog first and then tied her to the cats are fighting.

SPEAKER_02 1:32

I'm sorry, my cats are fighting in the background.

SPEAKER_01 1:35

Now, really, guys? Okay, anyway. Um, I tied the dog to the door, made sure she was secure, and then luckily it was garbage day, so I grabbed the trash bin from the street, pulled it up to the fence, I climbed on the garbage can, and then had to climb over the fence, hopped down like a six-foot fence, opened it up, brought the dog inside, and then climbed through the doggy door and got in. I give you major kudos, sir. I mean. So stretch people. Make sure you're stretching every day. You never know when you're gonna need to hop a fence in your mid-40s.

SPEAKER_03 2:22

I think that this is excellent problem solving. Thank you. But Jen, I don't think this is very monk.

SPEAKER_01 2:31

Oh, I know. I don't think that's why we haven't been doing our how did you monk, because I don't know his character that well, but Kathy said he doesn't monk very often. At least the monking that I'm imagining, which is overcoming your phobias to be a hero. So far, I've seen him do it every week, but Kathy says it's not normal, so we'll throw this in occasionally.

SPEAKER_03 2:55

Yeah, okay. Yeah, he he's uh uh I think.

SPEAKER_01 3:00

I mean, in this week he climbs onto a roof, even though he has fear of heights.

SPEAKER_03 3:06

That is a good point.

SPEAKER_01 3:07

Yeah. Maybe I'm you might be judging later seasons of Monk.

SPEAKER_03 3:15

No, I think I have watched the show with a lens of just enjoyment and comfort, and you're watching it with this analytical lens. I am, and I think that is awesome. And now that I am trying to do the same, I'm seeing things differently.

SPEAKER_01 3:34

Please don't change the way you watch it.

SPEAKER_03 3:36

I don't think it's gonna change my experience, I think it'll just make me love it more. Okay. Well, were you able to think of anything that you monked this week? And if you didn't No, I was focusing too much on your story.

SPEAKER_01 3:52

Oh okay. Well, if anything comes up throughout the episode or at the end, we can throw it in. This is our podcast.

SPEAKER_03 4:00

I will say that I have here here's what I'll say.

SPEAKER_01 4:04

Okay, I'm ready.

SPEAKER_03 4:04

Okay. I have a beloved senior dog, Sadie. She's right here with us. She's the one that gives us the little tippy taps in the background, and she is somewhat incontinent. Maybe I shouldn't put this in the pot.

SPEAKER_01 4:20

No, no, let's do this. People need to know this.

SPEAKER_03 4:22

Okay. So we have like the extra large size pea pad in our home. Um, and she uses it. She is really well trained. She uses it, and uh, I have to clean it multiple times a day, and I'll be honest, it is way outside my comfort zone. I do not like having a pea pad in my home, but I rise to the challenge and I clean it multiple times a day. You're a bloody hero. So there you go.

SPEAKER_01 5:01

Yeah. Okay, so let's get into the episode. I actually really, really loved this episode, and I can't believe I'm saying it, but I loved the setting. I loved, I loved the acting. I thought the friendship of Monk and Sharona and the trust they built was incredible. So, tiny bit of background. The idea for the episode came from David Hoberman, who wanted to find out what would happen if Monk were the sanest person in the room. The writers all loved it, and then they also folded in an idea that they had been working on where a guy obsessed with Santa sees a crime occur. So that's really it. I'll give a little personal history of my own. You know I'm fiercely private, but this is just a touch. I think it explains why I enjoyed this episode so much. Over a decade ago, I was actually 5150, and I spent time in both a psych ward and treatment. I was embarrassed and ashamed, and this is one of the many reasons Kathy is the best. We were newish friends, maybe a couple years. Yeah, maybe maybe like three, two? Yeah, I think I met you in 2010. This was 2011, maybe 2009. Anyway, we'd shared stories and like laughed a lot, but I kept my darkness to myself. You know, you you don't want to scare people away too quickly. Anyway, I when I was 5150, I didn't want anyone to know where I was or what happened, but old Catheter strong armed my sister and just showed up. It was a little awkward, a little weird, but there was no judgment, just kindness. She accepted me exactly where I was at, and that's really rare. So thanks. Don't cry. Surprisingly, I actually loved being in treatment. You strip away all the outside noise, and your only job is to get better. Honestly, it felt like adult summer camp. This episode reminded me of all of that. Weird characters you get close to really quick, art therapy, nature. I think everyone could benefit from a place like this. You know, without the murder.

SPEAKER_03 7:06

Oh. I really um have fond memories of that, even though I was visiting you. Oh impatient. Uh, of course, I was very happy to be there. I remember I brought us lattes. You did. And by the time I got to where you were, they were cold. Yeah. Um, and was I allowed to give it to you?

SPEAKER_01 7:28

I don't I think they took it.

SPEAKER_03 7:29

Yeah, I wasn't allowed to give it to you. Um, so it didn't matter that they were cold.

SPEAKER_01 7:34

But I was incredibly I was glad to see you.

SPEAKER_03 7:37

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 7:38

You are a very kind person. It's one of my favorite qualities.

SPEAKER_03 7:41

Oh, thank you.

SPEAKER_01 7:42

And you're funny, which is integral to any relationship. We'll see if any listener agrees. If they don't, they're idiots. Okay, so here we are. Season one, episode five, Mr. Monk Goes to the Asylum. The scene opens with a lovely shot of the Golden Gate Bridge. Night is falling. We see a whistling monk enter his house. He's got a bag full of groceries and not a care in the world. He pours out the groceries onto the kitchen counter without touching the contents. He tosses the bag behind him and sets about separating the groceries with tongs. He flips the empty bag over his shoulder where it lands right side up. He's happy, like really happy. He's doing all of his OCD things, but without the intensity we've seen so far. He's light as air. He starts checking the cabinets, clearly looking for something, and then grabbing the phone, he calls Sharona. Sharona is at home where Benji is trying to show her these amazing space drawings he's made. She is full annoyed busy mom. When he shows her the glow in the dark aspect, she tells him, Stop messing around with the light switch. Yes, she's a little short with him. I do not like it. I thought it would come back. Like we it would explain like why she was being horrible, but maybe they just cut it out for time. She was just having a day. Yeah. We all know the busy mom. Like where the kid's not cute, he's just a nuisance. The phone rings and it's monk. Does she know where he put the casserole dish? He can't find it. It's not in the usual place. She tells him where to look and he's like, nope, not there. There's just a popcorn maker. A popcorn maker? Sharona's face wrinkles in confusion. You don't have a popcorn maker. He's like, um, I think I do. I'm looking right at it. Sherona's voice fills with panic. Adrian, you're in the wrong house. He freezes, slowly looking around.

SPEAKER_03 9:32

And she's way too confident that he's in the wrong house just by a popcorn maker. But then she says it's the collar ID. Mm-hmm. And I'm like, ah, the good old days of collar ID.

SPEAKER_01 9:45

Genuinely. So she's like, Adrian, get out of the house. And Monk lowers the phone and turns around as two police officers appear in the kitchen. Behind them are the frightened homeowners holding their baby. Would you put this phone down, sir? End of scene.

SPEAKER_03 10:03

I'm sorry, but I would not have brought my baby to go see the intruder.

SPEAKER_01 10:08

I mean, but what if you need what if you needed to hold it? I don't know. It was just odd to me. Yeah. It's hard to have a conversation with you without looking at you.

SPEAKER_03 10:20

Yeah, we're both trying to stare at our mics so that we get our sound right.

SPEAKER_01 10:24

We are obsessed with the sound quality. As you guys know, it's a journey. So we're both holding ourselves facing forward, talking into our mics very seriously, but trying to have a casual conversation. Hopefully it sounds casual. Um, so the next day we see a police car pull up to the security gate. Dr. Kroger is sitting in the passenger seat, and Sharona and Monk are in the back.

SPEAKER_03 10:48

And I'm sorry to interrupt. No, I do not think the police would escort him to the psychiatric institute. Um, but it looks good for the plot. Like, I'm sure a judge would have agreed for him to go there, but he would have been dropped off on his own terms or something. Like the police escort is a little too much.

SPEAKER_01 11:05

I fully agree. And anxiety-producing for a guy with anxiety issues. I wouldn't want to be in the back of a cop car being dropped off at a psychiatric clinic. Um, they drive through the gate and we see they've entered the grounds of the Medford Psychiatric Institute. Kroger and Sherona walk Monk into the large white building. You're going to be fine, Kroger tells him. They just want to observe you for 48 hours. Monk ignores Kroger, instead, focusing on a broken B on an activity sign. He continues to fix and straighten the letters on the sign while Kroger and Sherona try to get him to take this whole thing seriously. Monk is really lucky the young couple isn't pressing charges for his little B and E. The director is named Morris Lancaster, Kroger tells him. He's one of the top psychiatrists in the country. And Sherona pipes in here and she's like, Oh yeah, Lancaster, he's good. I saw him on CNN. Um just then, a big bald black nurse approaches the group. Kroger moves toward him to sign some forms. Sherona takes this moment to reassure Monk once again that he's in good hands. The nurse, Oliver, addresses Monk and asks how he's doing, and Monk attempts a little joke here saying, I don't know, you tell me. Oliver is unamused, showing no signs of warmth. Yeah, he has no sense of humor. Truly. He tells Monk that he's there to take him to Dr. Lancaster, and he shakes Monk's hand, necessitating a wipe from Sherona. Sherona takes this moment to give Oliver the rundown.

SPEAKER_00 12:38

These are his moist with his star-shaped nozzle. This is the nozzle, and he needs a five watt night light for sleeping. Anything more, he won't sleep. Dark on the pillowcases. Sharona.

SPEAKER_01 12:53

Then Monk quietly, like strength jaw, goes, Shrona, you're scaring the man. And Shrona's like, um, no, I'm not. And he goes, Well, you're scaring me. Oliver jumps in here to assure her that Monk is in good hands. He will look after him personally, which after his reaction, I wouldn't feel so warm about. Oliver steps away and Monk agitatedly tells her, She's worrying for no reason. He'll be fine. Shrona, though, is extremely nervous, telling him, Look, I can't protect you in here, Adrian. To which Monk asks her, What can happen? It's a hospital. Famous last words. Mm-hmm. Shrona shakes her head worried when Kroger breaks in, speaking kindly to Monk. This is going to be over before you even know it. Monk stares at both of them as they turn to leave. Shrona gives him a maternal shoulder squeeze. Then they're gone, and Monk is there. In the next scene, Monk is in a cozy office. A man, doctor Lancaster, we can presume, sits behind a large desk as Monk stands, surveying the room. While he's looking around, the doctor is writing a prescription for a mild sedative. It's like a glass of warm milk. You do drink milk, don't you, Monk? Never, Monk.

SPEAKER_03 14:09

That's so funny that he wants to give him a medicine and he relates it to milk.

SPEAKER_01 14:14

I know. And Monk hates milk. He's afraid of it. Um never, Monk quickly replies. And I'm with him. I have always hated milk. Maybe not as much as Monk, but I did for years as a kid try to find alternatives to put with my cereal, including orange juice and water. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 14:33

You put orange juice in your cereal?

SPEAKER_01 14:35

Multiple times.

SPEAKER_03 14:37

And not by accident?

SPEAKER_01 14:38

No, no, no. That was purposeful. Interesting. I just really milk freaked me out. Dr. Lancaster looks up finally and hands the prescription to Monk. How to describe the good doctor. He's very much like Dr. Veza, the unwilling murderer from episode three. Yeah, you're right. Like tall, brunette. Yeah. Like Dr. Vesa, Lancaster's lean with angular features and a strong goatee mustache combo. Vesa also had a mustache goatee combo. I don't remember. He did.

SPEAKER_03 15:09

See, I'm not as observant as you.

SPEAKER_01 15:11

You're not sitting looking deeply at them. I've just float along. I want to be you for vacation. Um he has thick brown hair that flows away from his face in disheveled waves, and his dark, deep set eyes are penetrating, but warm. He watches Monk with those eyes as he tries to hand him the prescription. Monk tells him he'd rather not take anything right now, because he doesn't need it. He really shouldn't even be there. The doctor tells him to have a seat so they can discuss it. Monk turns to two identical yellow Victorian chairs facing each other. This is a test, isn't it? Monk asks the doctor. You want to see which chair I pick? The doctor's reassuring, though. No, Adrian, it's not a test. Just grab a seat. Monk chooses the chair closest to the desk, to which the doctor says, Oh, left chair. Very interesting. At Monk's panic, the doctor smiles and tells him he's just kidding, it's a joke. Monk chuckles and looks at a fish on the wall. That's a Marlin, isn't it? Mm-hmm, the doctor affirms. It was one of two things he managed to catch in Mexico in ninety seven. What was the other thing, Monk asks? Dysentery. So, and then Monk continues. What about last week? Did you catch anything? Pardon me, the doctor asks, confused. So Monk starts monking.

SPEAKER_05 16:32

Pardon me? You just got back from another fishing trip. You were in South America, unless I'm wrong. Which, you know, I'm not. I was in Argentina, but how did you know about? You have needle marks on your arm, it's obviously an inoculation, and your inbox is pretty full. And South America? The the customs seal on the cigar box is dated last week.

SPEAKER_01 16:58

The doctor is very impressed, he tells Monk. He has skills not dissimilar to his own. They both analyze clues and solve problems. Only Monk looks outward and the doctor looks inward. So now it's his turn, the doc says, gesturing for Monk to retake his seat. What was he doing in Trudy's old house yesterday? Monk rushes his response. No idea. The doctor hazards a guess. He thinks Monk went there yesterday to cook Trudy dinner. Absurd, Monk argues. But the doctor is doctoring. Your file says you're allergic to tomatoes. So the chicken catchori was for her, wasn't it?

SPEAKER_03 17:36

You guys, I think he eats tomatoes later in the series. I'm really sorry, but I think this may be there are continuity issues.

SPEAKER_01 17:45

Look at us, jinx. But he rightly guesses that it was her favorite meal. Monk is shocked, nodding, realization flooding his face. That's right. That's right, he confirms. So what made yesterday so significant, the Dr. Delves?

SPEAKER_05 18:02

August 12th. Unless I'm wrong, which you know I'm not. The date has some significance. Our anniversary. Not our wedding anniversary. Was the day we met.

SPEAKER_01 18:20

Monk's face is so sweet there. He's just he's shocked. And the doctor gently tells Monk that it's not wrong or unhealthy to observe an anniversary. They're just gonna work together to find a way to do it privately, okay?

SPEAKER_03 18:35

I think that is so sweet.

SPEAKER_01 18:38

I agree. His empathy. Which again, continuity, but the empathy the doctor displays right now is incredibly kind and important.

SPEAKER_03 18:47

Yeah. I mean I I like him right off the bat.

SPEAKER_01 18:49

I do too. And Monk does too. Monk nods and he closes his eyes, and you can tell he's relieved for both the understanding and the help.

SPEAKER_06 18:57

Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_01 18:58

While his detective skills are dazzling, the doctor tells him, Monk might be hiding behind them. While he's here, can he just let the doctor be the detective? Monk smiles, embarrassed, but also relieved. That was farting. Don't say fart. The word fart is as ups upsetting as an actual. Really? I've well, okay. Fart was a curse word. Oh, yeah. I think fart was bad in my house. Was it? Okay. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 19:36

But then at a certain point it just became like commonly.

SPEAKER_01 19:39

For some reason, unlike I love to swear. Like suck. Suck became commonly. Holy crap, my dad was sac said was sacrilegious.

SPEAKER_03 19:49

Crap was never a problem in our house. I think my parents gave up. It's just like with pop, like they didn't want us to drink pop during the week and we would only have it on the weekends. And then we eventually just started.

SPEAKER_01 20:01

Yeah, it must be exhausting to hold the line as parents constantly. I think this is good content and we should put this in the pot. Let's include it. Yeah. Sorry, mom and dad. You ruined us. Okay. So um in the next scene, Oliver is showing Monk around. He points out a communal bathroom, and Monk is not at all bothered at the idea of sharing the facilities. He then takes our boy to his new sleeping quarters. Monk will be having a roommate. Fun. He hesitantly enters the room and Oliver hands him a schedule of mandatory activities. Lights out at nine o'clock. Any questions? Monk asks if he can make a phone call, and Oliver strictly informs him that he's only allowed one outgoing call every day at 1125 AM. Oliver turns to leave, asking Monk one final question. Do you want the door open or shut? Another test. Okay. And I you guys have to listen to this because this is incredible.

SPEAKER_04 21:00

Shut. Um open. No, wait.

unknown 21:07

Shut shut.

SPEAKER_05 21:09

No, open, open, open, open, open. Definitely open. Just open. Definitely open.

SPEAKER_01 21:15

And Oliver slams the door. Okay. So I was actually interested in this specific issue that Monk seems to be having. We've seen it before earlier in the season when Monk couldn't choose a clue character. You know, do you remember that? Yes. Um I often have trouble making decisions, but it's usually related to other people. Like if you and I were gonna have dinner and you said you choose, I would be worried about making the wrong choice.

SPEAKER_03 21:41

When I ask my friends, where do you want to go? And they go, you choose, and they throw it back at me. Oh my gosh. Just choose a restaurant that you like.

SPEAKER_01 21:52

But couldn't we say the same thing to you?

SPEAKER_03 21:54

Well, yes. And then I choose, and you're like, uh

SPEAKER_01 22:00

I don't know.

SPEAKER_03 22:00

Or maybe that's not you.

SPEAKER_01 22:01

I don't think I make I don't sound like Tina Belcher. But I think that's very common in like human behavior. We don't like we don't want to m upset people, but what Monk is experiencing is different. It's um very common in OCD. It's called obsessive doubt, or if you want to be French about it, fully doubt. People with OCD often describe being completely paralyzed over what shirt to wear or which checkout line to stand in, while simultaneously being able to solve complex problems. Their brain essentially treats small choices as high-stakes threats, triggering intense anxiety and a relentless search for the perfect or correct answer.

SPEAKER_03 22:44

I didn't know this.

SPEAKER_01 22:46

Yeah, this is tied to a not just right feeling, where no option ever feels definitively right, making it nearly impossible to commit a choice without lingering doubt. So even when they make the choice, they worry about if it was the right choice.

SPEAKER_03 23:00

So the fact that I make choices easily is a sign that I am not intelligent.

SPEAKER_01 23:03

You're so healthy. No, you don't have OCD. Oh.

SPEAKER_03 23:07

This is specific to OCD, not I'm thinking back though to the fact that people with OCD can solve complex problems. And I'm not sure that I could solve complex problems. It sounds like people with OCD are intelligent as well.

SPEAKER_01 23:20

Well, you do solve complex problems just in a different area. Like Yeah, you are very intelligent. Bringing this back to me, I'm trying to be smart. Good lord. She's asking for compliments. Yeah, give me very much. You're brilliant, Kathy. You're brilliant. But this is like OCD people can be very smart, but when it comes to the easy decisions, they get completely paralyzed. Monk turns to stare at himself in the mirror. Then another man enters the room, and it's Kevin Neelin from SNL and just about a million other things. And I'm thrilled, but Monk is wary. Do you have anything to say about him?

SPEAKER_03 23:56

Um I like him.

SPEAKER_01 23:58

I love him.

SPEAKER_03 23:59

I'm not sure what I know him from. Like I'm like, oh, I know this dude. He's in everything. I didn't take the time to look it up, but just because I was like, oh, that's SNL. I don't think of him as SNL. I just think of him as like, oh, I know this guy. We're old pals.

SPEAKER_01 24:14

Well, they introduce themselves to each other, and John seems normal. He's wearing a button-down shirt and nice slacks, he's got an easy confidence, and asks, what is Monk in for? Just observation, Monk tells him, beginning to unpack. What a coincidence. John is there for forty-eight hour observation too. What does Mr. Monk do? John asks. I'm a detective. At this John stares incredulous. You're kidding, right? He demands, I'm a detective too. Seven years, Sonoma County. Monk is shocked. Maybe he's not alone in this. But then he scans the room. That's a lot of dirty laundry for someone who got here yesterday, Monk notices. And John's smile widens. He goes, Hey, thanks. Thanks a lot. And then he offers I loved it.

SPEAKER_02 25:01

As if it's some sort of compliment. Yeah. Thanks. He's like, wow.

SPEAKER_01 25:07

Um, and then he offers to take Monk on a grand tour. Monk follows uneasily. They stroll through the cafeteria, past the music room, down the hallway.

SPEAKER_03 25:15

And then he knows everything. You know, John, who's been there 48 hours.

SPEAKER_01 25:20

He's strolling with one hand in his pocket, his like easy confidence. He knows every inch of this building. They pass by the monkey room, which has a funny story behind the name, but John just doesn't know it. They walk through ongoing construction. They're tearing down old walls to bring the building up to code. It's a pretty big project, John tells Monk, and he should know. He used to be in construction himself. I know.

SPEAKER_02 25:46

He's just such a schmuck.

SPEAKER_01 25:48

I love him. I l uh okay. They stop at a line of portrait photos on the wall. They are all former directors. John walks down each and points dead, dead, dead, not dead, yes.

SPEAKER_02 26:01

Yes. There's just something about this that tickles me so much.

SPEAKER_01 26:07

He has incredible timing. I really fell in love with this character. He then opens a bare room with a tiny window above, one single bed, it's bare and dirty, and John tells him it's the quiet room. It gets deadly serious, telling Monk, don't get sent in there. Exiting an elevator, John apprehensively approaches a grated window. This is the medical supply room, he tells Monk. It gives him the creeps. But we're all like, why, John? And he's so glad that we all asked. Apparently, there was a murder there, an unsolved murder. Conrad Gould, the assistant director, was killed right there four years ago. He was a great guy, John whispers. Gave me magazines. Playboys. And he gives Monk a little wink. Then John has an idea. Maybe he and Monk could work together to solve Gould's murder. Monk is amenable, but he wants some more information. What happened exactly? We get our first flashback of the episode. Earlier than normal, I gotta say. And this flashback is more sepia than black and white. Which I thought was interesting. Like this is a version of what happened, but maybe not what happened because it's not black and white. I thought it was an interesting choice.

SPEAKER_03 27:23

This is John's memory, not the real thing.

SPEAKER_01 27:27

So here's what happened. Dr. Gould was taking inventory like he did every night. A patient named Bill LaFranki was waiting for him. We see Lefranki stand in front of Gould, hold up a revolver, and shoot. He capped him in the chest, John continues. Then he fled SOC. SOC? Monk interrupts. Scene of the crime. It's Coptac. John does him. Back in muted colors we see Lefrankie dead with vials of medication next to him. OD. He shot himself up with Demroll. At this Monk's like what? Didn't John say the case was unsolved? Well, sir, John wasn't one hundred percent satisfied with the official version. First of all, they never found the gun. Plus, Bill Lefrankie was John's roommate, and he was a devout Buddhist. He wouldn't hurt a spider. Just then Oliver, the orderly, finds the two. Come on, John, Oliver scolds. This is a restricted area. But John explains he was just telling Monk about Dr. Gold. Oliver is quick with a brush off. That's ancient history. Besides, Mr. Monk has enough problems.

SPEAKER_03 28:29

Oliver's just no bun.

SPEAKER_01 28:32

And excuse me, that was incredibly judgy. And do we really insult the patients in front of the actual patients? Insult the patients in front of the patients? Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 28:42

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 28:43

He says he has a lot of problems to Monk.

SPEAKER_03 28:45

Yeah, he shouldn't do that. It doesn't seem like Oliver is not very professional. No.

SPEAKER_01 28:51

And also the whole time I'm wondering, is Oliver in on the crime?

SPEAKER_03 28:55

Yes. Like, is Oliver a bad guy?

SPEAKER_01 28:58

Yeah. You it's really, and I don't know if we ever get an answer to that. But let's find out, shall we? Let's find out. He tells Monk that it's time for therapy. Oliver leads Monk away, and John, turning back to the construction workers, nods as if in charge and tells them, Carry on. Carry on. And I wrote, I want this character to stay forever. In the next scene, we see a bunch of patients in front of easels, art easels. Dr. Lancaster is observing the work. Remember, this is supposed to be a self-portrait, he tells them. How do you feel about yourself?

SPEAKER_03 29:35

And I think this is where we hear Monk complaining about having stuff on his hands. Uh-huh. And I feel for him because I hate having stuff on my hands. Like I need to wash my hands. Ugh, yeah. I need to wash my hands like immediately after I get them, get stuff on them.

SPEAKER_01 29:54

I didn't know that. Oh yes. Really? Oh. Is it just sticky stuff or is it like with monk it's charcoal?

SPEAKER_03 30:00

Oh yeah, I need to wash them.

SPEAKER_01 30:01

Really?

SPEAKER_03 30:02

And that that is my problem with getting into a lot of hobbies or dirty, like gardening. I mean, gloves certainly will help me if I can wear gloves, but I do not like having dirty hands.

SPEAKER_01 30:14

But it's that much of a barrier. Wow, I love having dirty hands. I mean, like, I love getting arty. At least like if I have stuff on paint underneath my fingernails, it makes me feel like I've accomplished it.

SPEAKER_03 30:26

Underneath my fingernails is the worst.

SPEAKER_01 30:28

Wow. You wouldn't have been a good teacher. Okay. Well, we do hear Monk mumbling off screen. It's all over my hands. He's being very cathy. Then we see him on screen. Excuse me, doctor, is there a sink nearby? I need to wash up. He tries to tell that to Lancaster, only to be verbally assaulted by another patient. Will you shut him up? The patient demands. He's been whining since he walked in here. It's too hot, it's too cold. I have charcoal on my hands. She's shaking with rage. And here's another moment where I know this actress, but I don't know where I know her from.

SPEAKER_03 31:07

Oh really? Oh, but I know her. You didn't?

SPEAKER_01 31:11

She's in a lot. And so as I describe her, I did realize what she was from. But just to describe, she's blonde. Light blonde with soft loose curls. She has big cornflower blue eyes and a c and creamy skin. Her face is pleasantly beautiful.

SPEAKER_02 31:26

Oh, that's a Raphael. Such a nice description. It is.

SPEAKER_01 31:30

Like a Raphael painting. Which is why her harshness is so unsettling. She looks so nice. But then I also realized she's Felicity's mom from the show Felicity. Oh. But in this, she is no one's mom. She is Jane, and Jane does not have time for your bullshit. Jane is holding her paintbrush like a weapon, and she seems ready to use it on Monk. Lancaster, unperturbed, asks calmly, Jane, what did we talk about yesterday? Jane, to her credit, clenches her jaw and closes her eyes. Controlling the urge to lash out, she tells the doctor. So do you have something you want to say to Mr Monk? Jane gets all fury wide eyed and then curtly spits out sorry and turns away. Sorry. Another patient calls to the doctor, telling him Guess what I'm painting? And the whole room answers Santa Claus. The patient, named Manny, shows Lancaster, who takes a look. It's a it shows a huge cartoon Santa Claus. Huh? Lancaster says. Well, you know, this is supposed to be a self portrait. The patient then points to a small little guy as tall as Santa's boots. That's me, he says. Everyone is small compared to Santa. Jane derisively tells Monk he actually sits up every night and waits for him. Manny hears that and turns to Monk and Jane. I have a feeling he's on his way. It's definitely getting colder outside. Jane snaps like an angry turtle. It's August, whack job. Everyone gets back to work and Monk stares at his blank canvas. Lancaster hovers over his shoulder. Monk tells him he's having a little trouble getting started, and the doctor asks if he's afraid it won't be perfect.

SPEAKER_03 33:19

I recently got into painting, and I'll admit that the motivation came from watching another person on Instagram get into painting. She had these gorgeous paintings, and I tried to emulate them. Initially, I was copying her paintings, and of course, mine looked nothing like hers because I don't have her talent. But then I got into my own groove and I created a bunch of paintings that I really loved, and now I paint sporadically, and I really enjoy it. So none of them are self-portraits or more abstract, but yeah, I enjoy it.

SPEAKER_01 33:54

I love that. And actually I relate to the paralysis as well. Um, I have a rich, vivid, creative life happening in my head. And then the moment I try to turn it into something real, whether it's writing or drawing or painting or anything, whatever I've imagined never matches what's in front of me. And I get it's demoralizing. I get so furious. And it often honestly, it feels safer to not try. I also get flooded with the feeling of being so far behind, like everyone else has been practicing and developing their craft while I've been standing still. But here's what I've started to notice and what science actually backs up. When I create even imperfectly, something releases. I actually have a theory that untapped creative energy doesn't just sit quietly, it turns into anxiety. Wait, say that again. You looked at me like you're listening so carefully. Um I have a theory that untapped creative energy doesn't just sit quietly, it turns into anxiety.

SPEAKER_03 34:57

Interesting.

SPEAKER_01 34:58

Yeah. And um, it's that r trapped restless feeling that you have that has no obvious source. Like you're not anxious about world events, you're just anxious.

SPEAKER_06 35:07

Oh.

SPEAKER_01 35:08

Yeah. So studies show that creative activity lowers cortisol levels and activates the brain's dopamine system. Your body literally rewards you for making things regardless of the quality. Yes. So this podcast is probably the scariest creative thing I've done because I can't delete it, I can't throw it away, and you're counting on me.

SPEAKER_03 35:28

Oh I know. Oh, if you want, I could delete it for you.

SPEAKER_01 35:32

No, I can't.

SPEAKER_03 35:36

No, it's it cannot be deleted.

SPEAKER_01 35:38

I love it too.

SPEAKER_03 35:39

Good. I love it.

SPEAKER_01 35:41

And I can't let perfectionism be the reason it doesn't exist. Well, it is far from perfect. I know.

SPEAKER_03 35:48

But that is my doing. No, no, no, my contributions.

SPEAKER_01 35:50

Have you heard me read?

SPEAKER_03 35:52

I'm terrible. No, guys, Jen is such a beautiful writer. Stop. I have told her many times that her writing is so beautiful. If I wrote this, we would be hearing the same words over and over again. But because she writes it, we have this beautiful vocabulary. Stop.

SPEAKER_01 36:12

Thank you. It is I love writing, and that's one of the things I love to read. And when my writing doesn't match what I've read, it it can be demoralizing. So, you know, like I've tried to write for years, and I just I end up deleting it. I won't even keep journals. Exactly. This is forcing me to practice.

SPEAKER_03 36:33

Um, writing exercise, and before you know it, your novel's just gonna plop on your own.

SPEAKER_01 36:38

I think I'm just gonna publish all of these and go, here's what happened on monk.

SPEAKER_03 36:42

There's gonna be a new monk book. Yeah. God, I can't even speak. There's gonna be a new monk analysis book.

SPEAKER_01 36:56

Here's what happened and why.

SPEAKER_03 36:57

Here's what happened by Jen.

SPEAKER_01 37:00

Well, anyway, let's get back to Monk, because Monk is Is that okay? Yeah, yeah. Okay. Well, anyway, let's get back to Monk. Um, because Monk agrees he is afraid it won't be perfect. And Lancaster says, yeah, it probably won't, but not everything is going to be perfect. Here. He hands Monk the piece of chalk. Come on and draw something. I've only got you for 48 hours. Monk smiles and laughs, taking the chalk. Using the horizontal side, he brokenly makes something that looks kind of like a candy cane. The doctor pipes in, well, how does it feel? It feels good, Monk admits, really flooding his face. He's getting all that good dopamine. So in the next scene, it's nighttime, and a digital red three forty five glares at us from an alarm clock. Monk stares at the ceiling. Just outside we hear faint screaming and talking. He slowly gets out of bed in his pajamas. In the hall, Monk watches as Jane is restrained by Oliver and three other orderlies. They are trying to get a hold of Lancaster and seem to be taking her to the quiet room.

SPEAKER_03 38:04

This scene is so upsetting to me. Um, saying that they're gonna put her in the quiet zone, and she's just thrashing in their arms. And then as quickly as it starts, it's over. Right. And what are we supposed to gain that Lancaster is unavailable, that it is a just scary place that shit goes down, and um I am displeased. I am unhappy.

SPEAKER_01 38:29

In another room, we see Manny sleeping peacefully when suddenly bells jingle outside his window. His eyes flash open.

SPEAKER_03 38:37

Manny. Sorry, every time I see Manny, I just laugh. He's such a character.

SPEAKER_01 38:43

He is. I didn't um sit down to describe him really well, but he's, you know, tall, skinny. He usually wears an oversized hat, and he just looks, and it's the a credit to the actor, he looks like an oversized child.

SPEAKER_03 38:57

Oh my god, I was about to say he's like a child, but a man.

SPEAKER_01 39:00

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 39:01

Yes. He's Manny.

SPEAKER_01 39:03

Oh my god. Okay, well, his eyes flash open and he sits up and checks his watch, face full of wonder. He grabs a camera from the side table and looks through his window. He looks through the viewfinder, whispers, Santa, and snaps a picture. Then he lowers the camera, looking through the window with the most precious childlike awe filling his whole face. Precious is a hard word to say for some reason.

SPEAKER_03 39:32

I say precious so often about my animals.

SPEAKER_01 39:35

You do it rolls off the tongue. Precious My precious. The next day, Monk is sitting outside with a group of patients. Their chairs are arranged in a circle, a sharing circle, if you will, and it's Monk's turn. He's going through the events that led him to be in Trudy's house. Lancaster asks, How did you feel when you were there? Content, Monk smiles. Not a care in the world. The camera pants to the other side of the group. John is sitting closely next to Dr. Lancaster, and their body language is identical. John interrupts Monk's reverie to ask, Adrian, when did you he really gets me? I would have watched any show with him in it.

SPEAKER_03 40:18

I love him. I love his interrupting.

SPEAKER_01 40:21

Okay, go ahead. Everything about this character I really love. Anyway, he goes, Adrian. Man, I need to stop. Sorry. I don't know why he makes me laugh so much, but it the character really made me laugh. Okay. John interrupts Monk's Reverie to ask, Adrian, when did this urge begin to manifest itself? To which Lancaster quickly cuts in, hey John, why don't I run group today? Fair enough, John allows. Later, Lancaster says to John, we can talk privately. About Monk? John says. To which Lancaster says, No, about your tendency to overempathize. John looks out to the group, chagrined, and says, I feel like I'm back in medical school again. And I wrote, Where's this guy's show? I would watch the crap out of this show.

SPEAKER_03 41:19

Yeah. He could he could totally have his own show, this character.

SPEAKER_01 41:23

That's what I'm saying. This character.

SPEAKER_03 41:25

You're so right.

SPEAKER_01 41:26

Manny raises his hand asking if he can go next. Lancaster asks him to wait, gesturing for Monk to continue.

SPEAKER_03 41:32

I love how all the people are interrupting and how they all have unique personalities that really come out in the scene.

SPEAKER_01 41:40

And that actually goes into why this show, why they did this episode. It was actually Hoverman's idea, and he was basically just trying to answer the question what would it look like if Monk was the sanest person in the room? And here we go. I love it. So Monk continues, I really feel sorry for the Haskells, the couple that lived in the house. As he's speaking, he notices Jane's necklace. My wife had a necklace exactly like that, Monk says animatedly. Well, I'm not giving it to you if that's what you're getting at. Jane snarls. I wrote Jane snarls over and over and had to go back and change the get antonyms. She speaks. She snarls. Manny is beside himself, sitting on the ground, arm in the air. It's like he's in third grade, desperate to show and tell. Both John and Lancaster finally gesture for Manny to go ahead. Last night I saw Santa Claus. At this the whole group moans, but Manny continues, it was around four o'clock. I was asleep in my room. I heard sounds outside, footsteps on the roof. And I sprang from my bed to see what was the matter, Jane interjects. Monk and the group giggle. It was him, as big as life. At this moment the music gets a little bouncier. He was standing by the big chimney, getting ready to slide down. Then his cell phone rang.

SPEAKER_03 43:03

His cell phone?

SPEAKER_01 43:05

The whole group groans at this last part, but Monk is intrigued. His cell phone. Uh-huh. He answered it and started talking to somebody. The camera zooms right up close to Lancaster's implacable face. It's true, I can prove it, Manny cries. I took a picture. Lancaster's smile is warm as he tells Manny they'd all like to see those pictures when they get developed. And then, Kathy, do you remember waiting to get pictures developed? Oh. The excitement, the disappointment at weird angles and blinks. And then what about waiting to finish a camera roll? Like what if you finished your trip before the camera roll?

SPEAKER_03 43:43

Sometimes I would just like aim it at like something and go click, click, click, click, click.

SPEAKER_01 43:48

Or we would never be that flagrant. Oh my god. Well, it's usually the dog.

SPEAKER_03 43:54

I would take pictures of the dog.

SPEAKER_01 43:56

Okay.

SPEAKER_03 43:56

Yeah. Like be like, okay, we have to like hurry up. And get get these pictures developed.

SPEAKER_01 44:01

So what was common in our household is we wouldn't finish. And so sometimes months, sometimes years later, we'd find camera or um film that hadn't been developed yet. And we'd never do that. But it was actually really excited. It's really exciting to be like, oh, I wonder what treasures this has.

SPEAKER_03 44:21

Yeah, I do imagine that would be fun.

SPEAKER_01 44:23

Anyway, I just I really miss the good old days. I think this is what happens when you get old. I really miss things like that. And like collar ID?

SPEAKER_03 44:31

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 44:32

We got a lot of relics coming up in this episode. John looks around the group. And who's next? Later, Jane and Monk are playing a version of poker in the rec room when they notice a frantic Manny. He can't find his camera. He's been searching everywhere. Monk interrupts the search to ask Manny what time he saw Santa on the roof. 347 AM exactly. Manny tells him seriously. He made a note, then eagerly, you want to see where I saw him? In Manny's room, we see what looks like a detective's murder board, but instead of suspects, this has a large map with strings connected to postcards and Santa pins. Manny goes into his Santa lore. It's not just a children's story. He knows that the guys in Malls are fake, of course. He's not an idiot, but there have been over 400 documented sightings of St. Nicholas.

SPEAKER_03 45:30

And that's early internet.

SPEAKER_01 45:32

I know.

SPEAKER_03 45:33

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 45:34

I mean, he was still dialing up, waiting for it to connect.

SPEAKER_03 45:37

Oh.

SPEAKER_01 45:38

Mm-hmm. Anyway, Monk's like, uh-huh. Taking in the surroundings. What happened here? Monk points to a fist-sized hole near the door. Mr. Richter, Manny tells him, he had this room before me and really didn't want to give it up. Can you get the crows to shut up? I can't. Wait, I'm doing it mentally.

SPEAKER_03 45:59

In case you weren't here for episode one, we discussed that the crows love Jen because when she walks my dog, she throws little treats out for them. Yeah. And um, so now they just sit outside my house and they crow for her. They is that the word they think my name is Kaw. They go, Kaw, Kaw, Kaw. So that's sound in the background.

SPEAKER_01 46:21

I They can't hear it. Our mics are too good. I hope so. All right. Anyway, Mr. Richter, Manny tells him he had this room before me and he really didn't want to give it up. He put up a big fight. See, Manny moved in last week. He's been on the waiting list for this room for eleven years. And I'm like, he's been there for eleven years. It's heartbreaking. It really makes me sad. Anyway, but the music gets a little bit faster here, and we're watching Monk collect clues. Manny shows Monk exactly where he was when he saw Santa. They're both at the window peering out when Monk sees something strange. A rag or something is caught on the side of the chimney. Manny climbs out to investigate. He creeps across the roof and easily grabs the torn cloth. Manny, Monk asks, are there footprints? Manny looks around. I see mine. Besides yours. Yes, Manny exclaims, they're all over. He was here. Monk waves him back into the room. Back in the room, Manny is ecstatic. He can't wait until the next group session. He holds up the torn cloth. This will shut them up. But Monk has other ideas. Holding up an empty baggie, he tells Manny they should probably keep this between themselves. They may find more evidence. Then everyone will believe them. Manny disappointedly agrees, putting the fabric in Monk's bag. As Monk puts the bag in his jacket pocket, he continues to question Manny. Was he here when doctor Gould died? Oh yeah, they quoted me in the newspaper. Manny grabs a photo album. Sorry, yeah, no.

SPEAKER_03 47:54

Again, a premature laugh. I do that a lot. I have a problem.

SPEAKER_01 48:00

You just know what's coming. Yeah. I mean, I couldn't get through John's lines without laughing. They weren't funny lines, but John makes me laugh. Anyway, Manny goes, Oh yeah, they quoted me in the newspaper. Manny grabs a photo album off his sh off his shelf and flips the pages. I saved all the articles. He finds his page and reads, An unidentified man says that Dr. Gould was very popular and would be greatly missed. Monk grabs the clipping with a picture of the dead doctor's body. The title says, Junkie Kills Doctor and Self. Slow music starts to play. And I once played this incredible video game called LA Noir, where we were detectives in Los Angeles and like um during like the Black Dahlia murders. And um every time so you would go and detect, and every time you would get close to a clue, a little sound would play. And it reminds me of Monk. And I'm sure they do this in every show, but since I'm watching so closely, I'm like, oh, they're clueing us to the clues.

SPEAKER_03 48:59

Very good music. Again, with my many watchings of the show, I floated right over.

SPEAKER_01 49:05

That's natural. I I'm sure. Like in Psyche, you know when he sees a clue because it zooms in and they make a little sound. But um, I'm sure most shows use music to clue us. We just aren't aware of it. Yeah. In the next scene, Monk and the gang start rearranging furniture in the rec room. Jane and the others look on. Monk gestures to an armoire, which is actually the Arts and Crafts closet, but just for today, they'll pretend it's the medical closet. John is right next to Adrian, mimicking his every move. But he does it really subtly. It's so well done. This actor is incredible. Um, Monk tells Manny, You're Dr. Gould. You're making the rounds, coming down the hall. Manny puts on a white lab coat and cleans his ear with his pinky. He used to clean his ear, remember? Manny smiles happily to the other patients. Under Monk's direction, Manny, as Gould, goes to the cabinet and unlocks it. Monk turns to John. Okay, you're Bill of Frankie. You're looking to steal some drugs. You sneak up on the doctor. John sneaks behind Manny, holding up his hand in a gun shape. And bang! Manny lays on the floor playing dead. Monk continues directing John, who goes to the couch and quickly returns to Monk's side, mimicking his posture and behavior. So at this point I needed to know what is it that John has. And I remember in the earlier scene, um, Lancaster said, We need to talk about your empathy. And so I looked it up and it's actually called hyperempathy. And it's not in the DSM as an actual diagnosis on its as itself, but it comes into different diagnoses as symptoms of different diagnoses like borderline personality disorder or certain traumas and detachment disorders. Essentially, it's the opposite of psychopathy. A person with hyperempathy absorbs and mirrors the emotions, behaviors, and mannerisms of the people around them so intensely that they lose their own sense of self.

SPEAKER_02 50:58

Oh I know.

SPEAKER_01 50:59

They can't help but sync up with whoever they're with, especially dominant or authoritative figures.

SPEAKER_03 51:05

And I wouldn't say monk is a dominant or authoritative figure.

SPEAKER_01 51:09

It's who is the most so in group, John went towards Lancaster because he's the more dominant or authoritative figure. Right. But if it's only him and Monk in the room, he becomes monk. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 51:23

Is that very nice analysis, Jen.

SPEAKER_01 51:26

So um some research researchers think hyperempaths have overactive mirror neuron systems. I just thought that was fascinating. John is copying monk as monk, mirroring everything monk does as he's detecting. Monk looks at the art cabinet and notices the keys have been left, which Monk says is what anybody would do. But then they all look at the picture in the newspaper. The keys are still in the doctor's pocket. I don't think he ever even opened the locker. John paces in Monk's path. Maybe LaFrankie shot him, then took the keys, then stole the drugs. But Monk is all of us asking the obvious why would LaFrankie put the keys back in the dead man's pocket? I don't think LaFrankie did it, Monk concludes. I think the killer had his own keys. You mean he worked here, John asks, just as Oliver enters.

SPEAKER_03 52:12

Ugh, buzz kill Oliver.

SPEAKER_01 52:14

What's going on here? Oliver asks the group. Jane jumps up to answer eagerly, smoking from her paper cigarette. They're killing Dr. Gould.

SPEAKER_03 52:23

Jane.

SPEAKER_01 52:24

I loved making paper cigarettes. I think because I love to smoke, I quit smoking five years ago, but I miss it every single day. If I make a cigarette um with paper and breathe it in, I still get like dopamine hits. So I love that she's doing that. Um anyway, so Oliver takes the newspaper clipping away from Monk. Playtime is over. Oh, he's such a wet blanket. Later in Dr. Lancaster's office, Monk is getting a talking to. Not only was Gould a colleague, Lancaster tells him, he was my best friend, and I do not appreciate you joking about it. I wasn't joking. Lancaster continues ignoring Monk's explanations. Mm-hmm, Lancaster says, Do you know what delusion is? It's a false belief sustained despite clear evidence to the contrary. But Monk isn't paying attention. He notices the fishing line is missing from the doctor's rod. What happened to it? We get a very nasty little reply from the good doctor here.

SPEAKER_05 53:25

Well, what do you think happened to it, Adrian? You think I used it to strangle somebody on the ward?

SPEAKER_01 53:29

Defensive much? That's a doctor speaking to Monk. It's the first time we start to see Lancaster crack.

SPEAKER_06 53:35

Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_01 53:36

You know. Anyway, they're interrupted. Jane bursts in and she apologizes for interrupting their session, but her necklace is missing. And yes, it's the very one Monk seemed fixated on earlier. She is barely controlled fury, accusing Monk of stealing it. Monk is indignant until Lancaster tells him to empty his pockets where Monk finds a necklace. Jane snatches it from him and Monk stands completely bewildered. I swear I don't remember taking it, Monk whispers. Lancaster just squeezes his shoulder comfortingly. I know you don't, I know.

SPEAKER_03 54:12

Okay. Up until this point, things have been peculiar, but not wrong. Yeah. But when he finds the necklace in his pocket, we know he's being set up. We know that shit is about to go down. Because at this point, I just don't know who to trust. Right. I mean, obviously, I've watched this a million times, so I know who to trust. I know who the bad guy is. But um at this point, as a new watcher, I would say this is where things are turning.

SPEAKER_01 54:43

This is one thing that they do a lot in detective shows like this, where they really make you trust everyone, including the new people, and then they pull the rug out from under. Like you've spent the whole episode really liking characters, and then you're like, how dare I don't want them to be guilty.

SPEAKER_03 55:01

How dare you take someone I liked and truly around? Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 55:06

So I love this next scene. In the next scene, Monk and Jane are sitting in a hallway, and Jane apologizes for yelling at him. She was just like him when she first got there, seeing things that weren't there.

SPEAKER_03 55:19

Oh, Jane, I love you.

SPEAKER_01 55:20

I know. She's holding herself like Molly Shannon and Superstar, arms crossed with her fingers in her armpits. Um I'm doing it.

SPEAKER_03 55:28

You guys can't see it, but I'm I'm doing it for you.

SPEAKER_01 55:32

And we're all grateful. She continues, The night doctor Gould died, I saw Bill Lefrankie running with the gun. Except in my mind, I saw Dr. Lancaster with the gun. Like I was projecting my rage at Dr. Lancaster onto Bill Lafranke. I see, Monk says. Dr. Lancaster was trying to help me, and I resented him. A look of shared sorrow and commiseration passed between the two. Me too, Monk admits. A nurse breaks up this touching moment to hand them both medication, which they knock back dutifully. Later, Monk lays awake in bed. The camera zooms tight on his frightened face, and we hear his thoughts. I'm slipping away. What's wrong with me? Hold on, Monk, hold on. The next morning, doctor Lancaster and Sharona walk the grounds. If anything, the doctor tells her, his condition has deteriorated.

SPEAKER_03 56:22

And this is where I write, Oh doctor Lancaster human manipulative piece of shit.

SPEAKER_01 56:29

Seriously.

SPEAKER_03 56:30

Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_01 56:30

Gas lighter denier.

SPEAKER_03 56:33

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 56:34

We may have to keep him here longer than we thought. Sharona is not dressed for this occasion.

SPEAKER_02 56:39

Sharona looks adorable.

SPEAKER_01 56:41

Let me paint you a picture. She was wearing a form-fitting tank, black skirt, heels, like a small tank. Spaghetti strapped.

SPEAKER_02 56:50

Like I would say 2,000. Yeah. Two thousands.

SPEAKER_01 56:54

She's wearing heels and then a thick, chunky belt at her waist.

SPEAKER_06 56:59

Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_01 56:59

It holds up nothing, but Clinton and Stacy told us all during this time that belts were a great focal point or outfit completer. Her hair is down. Anyway, she looks good. Like she's going to the club a little later.

SPEAKER_03 57:14

Or the asylum.

SPEAKER_01 57:15

Yeah. It's a weird outfit choice. But right now she's just shocked at this update. How much longer will they have to keep him? Maybe a monk, Lancaster guesses. Maybe even a year. Adrian is bipolar. He is delusional and he's paranoid. He sees murder mysteries everywhere he turns. In fact, he's befriended a patient and the two of them are trying to prove that Santa Claus exists. It would be funny if it weren't so dysfunctional. They approach Monk who has just been standing on a large lawn. Hey, boss, Sheroner approaches hesitantly. How you feelin'? I feel good, he tells her unconvincingly. I can't wait to get home. She looks uncomfortably at the doctor, who asks Monk if they can go and look at some of the art he did yesterday. Innocently, Monk nods. In his office, Lancaster holds up a charcoal drawing depicting a stick figure monk digging up Trudy's grave.

SPEAKER_03 58:09

Those weren't his I know. We saw him do like a This was blue.

SPEAKER_01 58:13

Was it?

SPEAKER_03 58:13

Yeah, he was using a blue.

SPEAKER_01 58:15

Oh I thought it was blue.

SPEAKER_03 58:16

Oh yeah, well it had to be black because it was charcoal.

SPEAKER_01 58:18

It was. But he we saw what he did. We saw him make a little like lines like the candy cane. Yeah, yeah, candy cane. But what we're looking at is a cartoon version of Monk digging up Trudy's grave. And Monk groggily looks at it and goes, I drew that? Sherona tries to mask her growing alarm. Dr. Lancaster said you saw Santa Claus. Monk chuckles. No, we didn't see him. Manny took a picture, but his camera was stolen. But we found a piece of red suit. Monk is floating. He's detached. He's drugged. We'd love to see it, Adrian, Lancaster interrupts. We follow the three to Monk's room where he is frantically searching his suit jacket. It was in here, he cries, beside himself. Sherona puts her hand on her heart and asks to speak to Lancaster privately. They step into the hall as Monk continues to search.

SPEAKER_03 59:10

Wait, did you did you just talk about when he's searching in the room?

SPEAKER_01 59:14

Yeah, that's what it's we're continuing. This is all happening while he's searching.

SPEAKER_03 59:17

Because when he lifts up the bed to look for the red piece of suit, there is a stain underneath the bed, underneath the mattress, and I cringe. And I guess there's no point.

SPEAKER_01 59:32

It's just it's clear it's an old mattress.

SPEAKER_03 59:34

It is just very upsetting. Yeah. And it's a nice detail that the production team added.

SPEAKER_01 59:39

I don't think that was intentional. Of course it was. You think No, they just got an old mattress. Uh anyway, um. So Sharona, while he's searching, looking at the bed, the stained mattress, Sharona tells the doctor, he's not himself. He needs me. Look, I could be here two, three times a week, maybe get a staff job. But Lancaster is firm. Monk needs full separation from his old life. She can write him a letter, but no visits. This is strange. Like, what are you, a cult? Why would he not be able to talk like have any connection to his old life?

SPEAKER_03 1:00:16

That's alarming.

SPEAKER_01 1:00:17

Yeah. So miserably rejoins Monk as he is examining the bedsprings.

SPEAKER_00 1:00:29

I I can't take you away. Look at his shoes.

SPEAKER_04 1:00:39

Don't be stuck. Those are bodies. They're made for character.

SPEAKER_01 1:00:51

Monk Mimes walking with two of his fingers. He's been walking on the roof. Sherona ignores his crazy man mutterings. Adrian, she tells him firmly, just try to listen to the doctor. He's a good man. Monk ignores her, diving deeper into the bed sheets. There was a doctor here about four years ago, Conrad Gould. Sherona finally grabs him and gets him to sit.

SPEAKER_05 1:01:16

My losing my mind.

SPEAKER_01 1:01:26

The acting in this episode is incredible. He really looks like he's losing his mind. And Sherona is all wide-eyed and desperately sad. She pats his shoulder and walks away without saying a word. Monk watches as Sherona gets to her car. She turns, giving a thoughtful look up to the roof. Then she's gone, and Monk is still there. In the next scene it looks like Sherona has forgone the club for a medical library. Mm-hmm. What a waste of an outfit. She approaches the front desk and asks for Conrad Gould's journals from 1998. The clerk asks for an ID, but here's the thing, she tells him. She's not actually enrolled here at the present time. Well, the library is for students only, he tells her, returning to his reading. Sharona scans the desk thinking. Noticing some VHS tapes labeled Chet Abrams, she addresses the clerk again. Uh is there a Chet here? she asks. He looks up in surprise. I'm Chet. Oh my god. She laughs. This is so funny. I was told to ask for you. Chet puts his book down interested. See, Sharona continues, I met this guy at a party who said that you were really cool. And that you would let me do a little research here as a favor. She widens her eyes a touch seductively. Uh what guy? Chet asks. Sharona grabs her necklace, drawing attention to her beautiful bosoms. The outfit wasn't a waste after all. Uh she mimes thinking hard. He was um Oh, he was tall with glasses. Ross Kelton? Sharona jumps on this. That's right, Ross Kelton. Chet is stunned and flattered. Ross Kelton said I was cool. Sharona looks Chet up and down, a cocky little smile forming. That's right. Was he wrong? We next see Sharona parked at a large library table. Chet brings her a box full of journals. All of Dr. Gold's journals from 1998. Mind if I ask what for? Chet asks pleasantly. Sharona looks at him in disgust. Ross said you were cool. Was he wrong? Right, right, sorry. And Chet leaves her to it. Time passes as Sherona wearily pours over journal after journal, but she perks up when she arrives at a specific entry. She reads aloud. And doctor Murdoch has assured me that I am next in line for the directorship, a decision bound to be met with anger and derision by here she pauses, mouth falling open in shock. In the next scene, Sherona is back at the institute. Is it okay if he has a picture of Trudy? It might calm him down. She hands Lancaster an envelope, from which he pulls out an eight by ten picture. He checks both sides then agrees to give it to Monk. Later in Monk's room, John is in bed reading a magazine called Rock and Roll. Sometimes I wish I'd joined the Rolling Stones, he sighs casually. Then we hear a call for lights out. I think it was sometimes I wish I'd join Rolling Stones when they asked me. I think I left that out.

SPEAKER_03 1:04:33

I missed the entire line.

SPEAKER_01 1:04:35

Monk switches the light off and stares up at the ceiling. John, turning to his side, looks over and sees the picture Sharona brought suddenly lit up with green words. Monk, it reads, you're not crazy. Monk snatches it off the wall, and the other side reads, In 1998, the board of directors appointed Dr. Gould new director of the institute.

SPEAKER_03 1:04:56

It it's in glow in the dark paint of it. Yes. Yeah, so it's a picture of Trudy normally, but then when the light went out, glow in the dark paint illuminated and said, Bunk, you're not crazy. And on the back, it was glow in the dark paint with this message.

SPEAKER_01 1:05:13

And it was a nice callback to the first scene where Benji is showing Sharona his drawings with the glow in the dark paint. Benji for the win. Yes. Monk snatches it off the wall, and the other side reads, In 1998, the board of directors appointed Dr. Gould new director of the institute. Dr. Lancaster protested, wrote numerous letters denouncing Gould. And it's not really best friend behavior, if you ask me. Then below, in large writing, it says, You're in danger. Get out. What does it say? John asks. Monk looks up wonderingly. It says I'm not crazy. And then John goes, anything about me? I love him so much. In the next scene, still at night, Monk slips into Lancaster's office, switching on the desk lamp. He rummages through the paper. Papers on the desk checking the door on and off. In the medical supply room, doctor Lancaster is busy filing papers. He closes the cabinet and switches out the light. As he pulls his hand away, he notices his fingers glowing neon green. Back in the office, Monk flinches at the doctor's abrupt entrance. There you are, Lancaster growls. I warned you not to play detective in my hospital. But Monk is monking. This is Bill of Frankie's file, he says coolly. There's no way he killed himself like they're saying. Lancaster shouts for security. He suffered from bellanophobia, Monk continues breathless. He had a pathological fear of needles. Lancaster rips the file from Monk. You're a smart man. Let's see what kind of witness you are with a functioning IQ of seventeen.

SPEAKER_06 1:06:47

Ugh Yikes.

SPEAKER_01 1:06:49

Oliver rushes into the office. Mr Monk came in here trying to kill me, Lancaster tells him. Oliver pins Monk's arms behind him. I think he needs some time in the quiet room, Oliver. So Oliver drags Monk out, the normally composed Lancaster slamming his hand on his desk in fury. We next find Monk bound in a strait jacket, standing in a padded cell. The quiet room.

SPEAKER_03 1:07:13

My anxiety spikes so much in this scene. Why? The strait jacket. He's wearing a straight jacket and he's in the quiet room. And this is probably my worst nightmare. Really? I mean, sometimes I get stuck in a sweatshirt and I'm trying to get it off, and it feels like a straight jacket. So give me a real straight jacket, and I'm in trouble. I'm learning so much about you.

SPEAKER_02 1:07:39

Don't you ever get stuck in a sweatshirt?

SPEAKER_01 1:07:41

Of course I do, and I hate it, and I panic too. But I didn't know you had that. That's I'm just picturing you with the sweatshirt over your head and then the arms up, and you just move arms.

SPEAKER_03 1:07:52

It's not being able to move my arms. That's what makes me panic.

SPEAKER_01 1:07:58

Okay, so the lights flash on, and Oliver and Lancaster enter the room. Oliver has a tray ready to give Monk two CCs of Thorcine, but Lancaster orders it to be four.

SPEAKER_03 1:08:07

Okay, wait. Uh huh. Now this is my worst nightmare. Being drugged to the point where I'm a vegetable.

SPEAKER_01 1:08:13

I know. So Oliver has to go upstairs and get the extra Thorazine, and Monk is left alone to fidget. But our man is an expert fidgeter.

SPEAKER_03 1:08:24

Oh my gosh, he is.

SPEAKER_01 1:08:26

No one can fidget like him. So he begins. In the medical supply room, Oliver fills the syringe. Monk pulls at the collar of his jacket with his teeth, successfully loosening it. Oliver closes the cabinet and leaves the room. Monk wiggles and shimmies and shakes. He gets an arm free. Oliver takes the elevator. Monk pulls and bends and stretches, wrestling the jacket over his head. Oliver unlocks the dark room, turning on the light, which is covered by one half of the strait jacket. What the? But Oliver's question is cut short as Monk pulls hard at the other half of the jacket, which is lying right under the big nurse's feet. Oliver falls hard and Monk takes the opportunity to shimmy out of the quiet room, locking both locks behind him.

SPEAKER_03 1:09:09

Haha, Oliver.

SPEAKER_01 1:09:11

In Manny's room, Monk calls Sharona. I was so proud of that.

SPEAKER_03 1:09:15

You know, there's no bathroom in there.

SPEAKER_01 1:09:17

I know. What happens if you have to pee? If you're that have that much Thorzine, you're peeing yourself. Oh that's why there's those dark spots on the mattress. Oh, that's sad and true. Okay. In Manny's room, Monk calls Sharona. I know who did it, Sharona, and I can prove it, he tells her in a rush.

SPEAKER_03 1:09:37

In Manny's room.

SPEAKER_01 1:09:38

Was it not in Manny's room? It was at the window. Okay. When it's shot, it's shot outside of Manny's room, and you can just hear a voice over. So I think I just assumed it was in Manny's room. But you're right, they don't have access to phones, and Manny wouldn't have a phone in his room.

SPEAKER_03 1:09:54

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 1:09:55

So thank you for keeping me honest.

SPEAKER_03 1:09:57

That's my job. Here for laughing in the background and occasional check-ins on phones.

SPEAKER_01 1:10:04

Just yelling, wrong!

SPEAKER_03 1:10:05

Wrong.

SPEAKER_01 1:10:06

So, but he tells Sharona, call the police.

SPEAKER_03 1:10:09

I don't understand why Santa or Mr. whatever his name is. What's his name? Lancaster? Lancaster. Why is it 347 every day? Like, what's with the time?

SPEAKER_01 1:10:19

Oh, was it 347 again? I was thinking about that too, and I think that might be when he has a break from his rounds. Because it's like it it's been the same. Every night he's going up there to practice. So it's like his lunch break. Mm-hmm. We get a sweet final just the two of them moment with Manny and Monk. They're standing at the window and Manny is holding a new camera excitedly.

SPEAKER_04 1:10:43

What do you want for Christmas? I just want two and two to be four again.

SPEAKER_01 1:10:50

They stare over the dark roof to the chimney. Then they see him. It's him, it's Santa Claus, Manny cries. A man in a Santa costume scurries over the roof, stopping at the chimney. What's he doing, Manny wonders? He's going fishing, Manny. For what? For the gun, Manny, Monk explains. He has to find it before the construction crew stumbles onto it. Then he'll get rid of it for good, and I'll never be able to prove any of this. But Manny is not paying attention. Overtaken with his excitement, he cries, I love you, Santa, raising the window and climbing out. But Monk pulls him back, taking his place. He needs Manny to take pictures. Monk carefully climbs the roof with Manny at his heels. Don't look down, don't look down, Monk is repeating to himself over and over. At the roof, Santa is lowering a fishing line into the chimney.

SPEAKER_05 1:11:42

Well, how did you get up here?

SPEAKER_00 1:11:44

Santa Claus.

SPEAKER_05 1:11:47

This is why you put Manny in that room. Nobody would ever believe he really did see Santa Claus. Nobody but you, Monk.

SPEAKER_01 1:11:58

That's right, nobody but our Monk. But who's gonna believe him, Lancaster sneers? You're clinically insane, remember? Well find the gun, doctor, right where you dropped it, and that's all the proof I'll need, Monk tells him, holding tightly to the wall behind him. The screen goes to black and white as Monk narrates. You couldn't stand it. The board of directors gave your job to Gould. We see Lancaster waiting in the corner as Gould enters the medical supply room. Exiting his hiding spot, Lancaster coldly calls his name doctor Gould. Then, raising his gun, bam bam, bam, he shoots him right in the chest. Monk continues to narrate as we watch Lancaster grab handfuls of drugs with from the medicine cabinet. But you needed a fall guy, and LaFrankie fit the bill. We watch Lancaster guide a drugged up Lefrankie through the woods to the spot where the cops find him the next day. You only had one problem, Monk continues, the murder weapon. It was registered in your name. We watch Lancaster rush over the rooftop to drop the gun in the very same chimney he's fishing from right now. Back in color, Manny is getting agitated. Hey, he cries, pushing past Monk. You can't talk to Santa Claus like that. But Manny slips, sliding right to the roof's edge. Manny calls for Santa's help, but it's Monk who holds on to him. Santa, or Lancaster, we're pretty sure it's him at this point, has finally caught his prize. He holds up the fishing line from which dangles a revolver. Well, well, well, what have we got here? Lancaster says in triumph. What a dickwad. Yeah. As Monk pulls Manny to safety, Lancaster lowers the fake beard. A shocked Manny finally sees the truth and tells Monk, It's not Santa, watch out. But the warning is too late. Lancaster is pointing the recovered revolver right at them. He squeezes the trigger, but nothing. Lancaster tries again and again and again, growling in frustration as Monk rises from a crouch. That gun has been lodged in the chimney for four years, as sirens wail in the distance. I'm guessing the chamber or the firing pins are completely oxidized. Cop cars flood in, lights flash on the doctor's face as the cops aim their guns. He's cooked, and he drops his gun. From below we hear Adrian, and there's our girl smiling proudly. She gives Monk the nice work signal. Monk looks at Lancaster.

SPEAKER_05 1:14:26

In case we don't get a chance to talk later. Just want you to know, except for the murders and you're trying to kill me, you really were the best doctor I ever had.

SPEAKER_03 1:14:38

You know what? I don't believe that at all because he loves Dr. Kroger, but it's a cute line.

SPEAKER_01 1:14:45

And it's such a shame a good psychiatrist is really hard to find.

SPEAKER_03 1:14:49

That is so true.

SPEAKER_01 1:14:50

And I really liked this doctor.

SPEAKER_03 1:14:52

I wonder if he was within his insurance.

SPEAKER_01 1:14:55

He must have been. It was the early 2000s. Yeah, life was better. He's fine. In the next scene, Monk is safely tucked in his own bed. He thinks for a second, then grabs his phone. Sharona is at home flipping through a magazine. Sherona, Monk says, Don't laugh, okay? I just need to be sure. Is there a skinny oak tree by the window? She asks. Yes. Is there an armoire by the closet? Uh-huh, Monk affirms. And is Trudy's picture on the nightstand? Monk looks over, then whispers.

SPEAKER_06 1:15:30

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 1:15:31

Adrian Sharona tells him definitively, you're in your own house. Now go to sleep. Thanks, Monk says. Then good news, I'm seriously considering you for employee of the month. Sherona smirks. Thanks, boss. I'll see you tomorrow. Monk puts the phone in the receiver, sighs deeply, then claps, lights out. Until next week.

SPEAKER_02 1:15:55

Yay!

SPEAKER_01 1:15:57

And thank you guys so much for going on this journey with us.

SPEAKER_03 1:16:01

I think it was another great episode.

SPEAKER_01 1:16:04

I loved this was my absolute favorite, and I'm really sad we don't have John anymore.

SPEAKER_03 1:16:09

Yeah, it would be so nice to keep John for another episode.

SPEAKER_01 1:16:12

Or the whole show.

SPEAKER_03 1:16:14

Or just the whole show. Um, you know who wasn't in this episode?

SPEAKER_01 1:16:19

Our cops.

SPEAKER_03 1:16:20

Saddlemyer and Disney.

SPEAKER_01 1:16:21

I know.

SPEAKER_03 1:16:22

It was a little lonely without them.

SPEAKER_01 1:16:24

But what they did focus on was the dynamic between Sharona and Monk. And like she believed him even when he was going, when he was showing signs of crazy.

SPEAKER_03 1:16:33

It's a really nice portrait of Sharona and Monk's relationship. Yeah. That they trust each other. Yes. Um, even when things are a little kooky.

SPEAKER_01 1:16:44

Yeah, and she saves him as much as he saves her.

SPEAKER_03 1:16:46

Oh, so nicely said.

SPEAKER_01 1:16:49

Okay, well, please tune in next week.

SPEAKER_03 1:16:52

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 1:16:53

I don't even know where Monk will be, but we'll go there.

SPEAKER_03 1:16:55

We'll go there. We'll have fun.

SPEAKER_01 1:16:57

Adopt, don't shop, and always adopt, don't shop. Always we love you so much. And I love you. I love you.