4.13 No More Mr. Nice Guy

Here's something that bugged me all day. Was Cam wearing nail polish? Yes, & its a fairly big no-no in the ER. Isn't DS a lawyer? Yeah, me too, because the central theme of this ep seems to be about the various "contracts" people enter into as the basis of their relationships, be they professional or personal. The obvious one is Amber & House's contract over Wilson (& Cuddy's role as mediator in this contract), but also then (in no particular order & not exhaustively): House's contract with his employees & its responsibilities including their evaluations (which he bucks); the PotW & his wife (which he hasn't broken because he doesn't cheat; so she keeps hanging on as the song says because being "not nice" isn't really breaking it & isn't justification to walk away herself, but she's worried that he's going to find she's one of the other things he doesn't like now); the nurses strike & the issue of their contract with PPTH; House & Wilson's as friends (they'll keep doing the same things they've always agreed to as the basis of the contract of their relationship) Foreman's lack of contract basis (i.e. no power) with the new team; Taub's broken contract with his wife (he cheats & she feels entitled to do the same); & the ambiguity (deliberate by DS) of Chase & Cameron's. BTW, I saw a potential parallel between Taub's comment that his wife didn't act with anger as a signal that she cheated to look for similar signals for Chase & Cameron, but Chase doesn't ask if she cheated, he asks if she slept with House & her non-reaction to that specific last question (like Taub's wife) is what triggers his epiphany (possibly erroneous, but I'm betting not because of the time gap between HW & Resignation) that she did. (And IMO Taub recognized Cameron's behavior - he's the one watching Cam at the end of that scene). Best thing about the ep - House & Chase bowling (though a hair cut would be nice).

Regarding the idiomatic use of "screwing," to me "screwing" means having sex with while "screwing with" means messing with someone's head. So House screws hookers but he screws with his team and with Amber. (And boy did that come out sounding nasty.)

Regarding the idiomatic use of "screwing," to me "screwing" means having sex with while "screwing with" means messing with someone's head. So House screws hookers but he screws with his team and with Amber. (And boy did that come out sounding nasty.) But so very true. And the explanation I've been grasping for all day. :)

I thought he meant "screwing with Amber", or rather "screwing with my relationship with Amber". I think that is exactly what he meant it was sort of a continuation of their conversation in the bar and then in Wilson's office. Wilson is basically fine with it too, that's why he still goes bowling. Upon rewatch House seemed so sad when, after the confrontation with Amber in Wilson's office, Wilson asked "How is she wrong?". I think spilling the secret was a test of loyalty, and Wilson failed. I don't think so, not exactly. The loyalty test is actually for Amber. Given to her by both House and Wilson. Remember House also asks Wilson "How Am I wrong." when he says that Wilson has a loyalty to his girlfriend above him his friend. Then when House decides he has to tell Wilson the secret it is followed by the exchange about we are who we are. House knows full well that Wilson will tell Amber, they basically just said as much. And Wilson knows that House thinks that's what he will do. But now that can work to House's advantage. House tells Wilson, knowing Wilson will tell Amber. Fine, at that point if it goes no furtther no harm, no foul. Amber keeps the faith w/ Wilson and the team is still in the dark. But Amber takes the bait and tells the team. Which at that point is exactly what House wants. In addition to clueing in the team House got Wilson to test Amber's loyalty and Amber failed by showing she would rather screw up House then keep a confidence of Wilson's. She hurts House, so she thinks, but also hurts Wilson and that's fine by her. But probably not by Wilson. Not Good. Another nail in her coffin. BTW, Wilson keeps bowling shoes in his office? I know I can not believe that one! Of course House had what appeared to be a bowling shirt on in the Chase scene. Maybe this is something they use to do back in the day when House willingly socialized with Wilson instead of sulking in his apartment while Wilson sulked in the hotel. Re Wilson's wuss factor. I think Wilson may be trying to achieve something here with out ordering either House or Amber around. Not because he's afraid of either one of them but because it will have more value if it comes from them willingly instead of ultimatiums being used. What Wilson seems to be doing is letting both House and Amber go at it to see which would ultimately be the nicest about the situation. For me House way ahead on points. Wilson knows both of them are capable of being caring. He's said it about House numerous times, the most recent in Frozen towards Cate. At the time he struck up with Amber she was trying to, as she said, pretend not to care that she was fired when her crying proved she clearly did. Now Wilson wants to see if Amber and House can show that caring for him regarding a situation that is important to him, maintaining relationships with both of them, but in the nicer ways that he knows they are both capable of. He doesn't want to have to be their conscious, as he once said to House, he wants them to do that on their own. It seems that as Wilson has often done with House in the past he was trying to appeal to and encourage their better natures, Winner ultimately gets Wilson. I also think the reason Wilson didn't pursue spending time with House on his own is that he had done that in the recent past, before Amber, and been quite soundly rebuffed. He wanted House to be the one to decide that he wants to spend time with him, to not take him for granted. I'm actually beginning to think that's why he's still hanging in there with Amber to get closer to House again.

Isn't DS a lawyer? Yeah, me too, because the central theme of this ep seems to be about the various "contracts" people enter into as the basis of their relationships, be they professional or personal. The obvious one is Amber & House's contract over Wilson (& Cuddy's role as mediator in this contract), but also then (in no particular order & not exhaustively): House's contract with his employees & its responsibilities including their evaluations (which he bucks); the PotW & his wife (which he hasn't broken because he doesn't cheat; so she keeps hanging on as the song says because being "not nice" isn't really breaking it & isn't justification to walk away herself, but she's worried that he's going to find she's one of the other things he doesn't like now); the nurses strike & the issue of their contract with PPTH; House & Wilson's as friends (they'll keep doing the same things they've always agreed to as the basis of the contract of their relationship) Foreman's lack of contract basis (i.e. no power) with the new team; Taub's broken contract with his wife (he cheats & she feels entitled to do the same); & the ambiguity (deliberate by DS) of Chase & Cameron's. Ranee, I love this metaphor! Especially since I think this season has been focused on House's relationships with other people. The Relationship Contract would be a great subtitle to the season.

Word on the contract metaphor. Two questions: 1) What significance does the song at the end have? The "you don't really love me, you just keep me hanging on" one? 2) What does House joke to Chase about "other hand" mean? Does it mean anything?

Word on the contract metaphor. Two questions: 1) What significance does the song at the end have? The "you don't really love me, you just keep me hanging on" one? 2) What does House joke to Chase about "other hand" mean? Does it mean anything? 1. I was also pondering that, especially since the title of the song is "Ain't Too Proud to Beg." I wonder who's begging? 2. I believe that House put it another way in Humpty Dumpty: "Party with the left hand." Ahem.

1) What significance does the song at the end have? The "you don't really love me, you just keep me hanging on" one? The wife re the uncertainty whether or not the PotW still (ever?) really loved her (because his infection altered his personality). She may turn out to be one of the things he doesn't really like, but she can't/won't preemptively walk away because of her marriage contract, so she's hanging on because she does love him. Ahem. Exactly ;D

Two questions: 1) What significance does the song at the end have? The "you don't really love me, you just keep me hanging on" one? 2) What does House joke to Chase about "other hand" mean? Does it mean anything? I swear I've been thinking about these same two questions this afternoon. :D The song of course also sounded to me like it referred to W/H/A Now we know House loves Wilson Wilson loves House House and Amber hate each other. So Wilson may be wondering if Amber loves him or if he loves Amber. Or they're just hanging on. I thought it was a masturbation thing. Problem is I know guys that do that together. Straight guys, They've had contests! Speed, accuracy & distance :oops: Though it was when they were in high school. Maybe House is more modest then he lets on.

2) What does House joke to Chase about "other hand" mean? Does it mean anything? Chase: It was nice of you to invite me. This is fun. House: Not it wasn't. No it isn't. I didn't invite you to be nice. I invited you because bowling isn't one of the two things guys do by themselves. Chase: What's the second thing? House: Other hand. Generally speaking, there is only one thing guys do by themselves. :wink: It involves one hand. House is saying there is a second thing guys do by themselves. "Other hand."

Generally speaking, there is only one thing guys do by themselves. It involves one hand. House is saying there is a second thing guys do by themselves. "Other hand." I can't believe I'm about to type this: If we can assume that Chase assumed that the first thing was *ahem* can we assume that House meant the second thing was switching hands? I hate myself. :roll:

I'm not sure what you're getting at with "switching," chipmunk. I'll try to be more clear. House is saying that there are two things guys do by themselves. The two things are actually the same; the only difference is that in one they use the right hand and in the other they use the left hand.

You got it Chipper! :lol: Masturbating with one hand then the other. We're all adults here :wink:

I'm not sure what you're getting at with "switching," chipmunk. I'll try to be more clear. House is saying that there are two things guys do by themselves. The two things are actually the same; the only difference is that in one they use the right hand and in the other they use the left hand. We're saying the same things. Just wanted to make sure.

So Wilson may be wondering if Amber loves him or if he loves Amber. Or they're just hanging on. Song is sung by a woman - its reflective that Wilson (the not really as nice as he seems Mr Nice Guy - & the supposed wuss that's sniggering in the last scene ;D) doesn't really love her & is conceivably keeping Amber hanging on as a means to generally have fun (& manipulate House).

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