How Many Madman Stories Ever Made Sense?
- Karl wanders out of Pongo's and is thinking about Darla's cat-killing sex proposition when he's ambushed by Tierden and Harris. They start talking smack about the Madmen, but things get really ugly when they start saying things about Karl's mom.
- Karl is about to beat them senseless when old Mr. Browning comes outside and stops him. Tierden and Harris give him the finger and disappear.
- Meanwhile, Browning invites Karl in to see what he's done to Rose's couch, so they head inside and he puts some coffee on.
- Browning tells Karl that he saw him freak out on those guys when they insulted his mom. He tries to explain to him that the way she is isn't her fault or Karl's.
- Really, he's just trying to be nice, but Karl gets mad because he thinks Browning is judging his mom. He tells Browning to leave him alone and exits his shop.
- Karl starts to head for home when he realizes that doing so means he's likely to find his mom and Bill having sex and smoking pot. He's due at Philbin's in an hour and decides to just head over now and maybe read more of Huckleberry Finn.
- When he gets to Philbin's, he finds Mr. Philbin arguing with an older, blonde hippie lady about why he doesn't care more for herbal medicines. She looks like she could be Karl's mom a few years back.
- It turns out she is a mom—Marti's mom. She brushes Karl off when he says how much he likes Marti but then rhapsodizes about what an amazing woman his mom is. Karl politely tells her that he's always happy when his mom makes a friend.
- Just like the previous night, the movie theater draws a good crowd to Philbin's; after the second show, almost the entire place is full.
- Karl is not surprised when he sees Paul and Marti sitting in the back. Then, he notices all of the other Madmen are on their date with them. He takes their order and makes some jokes about calling it the Madman Special.
- Really, he feels kind of weird about them all being out in public together in town. Now, it's going to be obvious that the Madmen are their own group. He figures Paul made that decision.
- He goes back to talk to the Madmen after the crowd thins out, and they explain things. It was actually Marti's idea for them to be friends in public and stop worrying about what people think.
- Meanwhile, since Karl works at Philbin's on the weekends now, they've decided to become the Saturday movie gang and come in, then all hang out when he gets off.
- After work, Karl catches up with Paul and apologizes for calling him an offensive name related to his sexuality. Paul says it's OK because it's true—he thinks girls are pretty, but that's about it.
- Karl asks Paul if he likes him in the way he likes other guys. Paul says he does but that he'd never pursue anything because he knows that being straight is who Karl is.
- What he has decided to pursue, though, is the Madmen. He says he saw Gratz go off on Marti the day before and decided he couldn't give up their group. Really, he's been scared that he's ruined his friendship with Karl beyond repair as a result of trying to.
- Karl and Paul make up and start hugging on the sidewalk when Stacy drives by and sees them. Now, she thinks he's cheating on Cheryl with Darla and Paul. Ugh.
- They talk about Marti and how they're glad she's part of the group. Paul says part of him is actually in love with her, which doesn't make sense with him being gay.
- Karl tells Paul about Darla's proposition to kill a cat and have sex. Suddenly, things feel like old times again.
- When Karl gets home, he finds a note from his mom that says she and Bill have gone off to Put-in-Bay after all. He and Paul hang out and talk about this latest development in his mom's life.
- Actually, they talk about everything and everyone on the planet until they both fall asleep.