That's it, I've had enough
David, after struggling to deal with Miles and his effect on Rick, finally quits. This takes Rick completely by surprise. The most surprising thing, though, is the civility with which they treat each other during this tense moment. Rick is clearly struggling with feelings of abandonment by the other half of his longest relationship, and David is feeling left behind by his longtime friend. The parting shot is when Rick finally pleads "I can't do this alone", to which David replies "You already have been."

Grace on the picket line
Rick, after David's resignation, walks out of the trailer and spots Grace in the picket line. He has a quick argument with her, not about her picketing, but about Lily not knowing where she was. Just then, Lily calls, and Rick eventually puts Grace on the phone with her, but not till after a shouting match that ends with Grace yelling back "You can't order me around - you're not my father."

David and Christy, sitting in a tree ...
David and Christy are finally formally introduced by Lily. At first, David does not recognize her, although it's clear that Christy does. When Lily goes off to get her bagels, there is a quick, sharp exchange between the two that is a priceless moment, ending with Christy giving David her number, saying "Don't ever call me", and David replying "That's the plan".

When did this start?
Lily accidently stumbles onto David and Christy having lunch at a restaurant. Clearly uncomfortable, she quickly leaves. There follows a phone call with Rick about when the two got together or even if David mentioned anything. We find out later that this is where Christy gets info on Rick's past.

Him? He's not with me or anything.
When Grace and Carla go to Rick's place to see Eli, Spencer is brought along. Grace seems a little embarrassed by all of this but it's not clear if it is because she likes Spencer, or she's just embarrassed to have him around. Spencer, on the other hand, is entirely himself, to the point of helping himself to Eli's sandwich from the refridgerator.

The maid left the door open
David and Rick are served with a subpeona for a hearing on Valentine's Day. The person serving the papers is an attractive woman, prompting David to tell her "... and I didn't get you anything."

Atlantor rising
The hearing goes badly for Karen when the judge overturns both motions put forward by her firm. This opens the way for the Atlantor project to proceed because the injunction is denied. At the end, Rick clearly wanted to go over to talk to Karen but is thwarted first by Karen pointedly ignoring him, then by Miles cutting him off to congratulate him.

Turtle Diary
Miles first mentions the turtle as a gift from his niece. It is a 16th century artifact in bronze (must have cost a fortune). Later, at the trial, just before the judgement, Miles slips the turtle to Rick "for luck". This is a rather significant gift, if the history of it is true.

We could still pretend it's Valentine's Day
A very painful moment as Rick, distraught over the events of the Atlantor project, Miles' behavior, and David's departure, wakes Lily up at 2am, comes over, and then presents her first with the 16th century bronze turtle, then what appears to be an engagement ring. Lily is at first happy, then deeply sad as she begins to feel that the proposal is not prompted by his love for her but, rather, his need to alleviate further feelings of abandonment. She gently turns down the proposal, but, significantly, only returns the turtle. Their final embrace. Lily: "Turtles are supposed to bring you luck". Rick: "Not tonight".

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The Bronze Turtle
... Myth and history follows ...

Original sequence
This episode was filmed as #215

History?
The youth shelter - A Better Plan - was once the first studio of Frank Lloyd Wright.

I know someone
Carla says she knows someone who lived at A Better Plan when she was kicked out of her house for being a lesbian.

Do you know what time it is?
When Rick calls Lily at the end, it is 1:59am. It is 2:20am when he gets there.

Where is that bill?
The mystery "last bill" that Rick asks Karen about is from Dr. Rosenfeld.