Episode Title: 'The Return'
Writers: Lena Dunham and Judd Apatow
Director: Lena Dunham
It's a homecoming for Hannah (Lena Dunham), as the aspiring writer and recent sexual harassment victim visits her parents for their anniversary in Michigan, jobless with a garage full of clothes. While her parents want to spend the night watching "Million Dollar Baby" with their daughter, Hannah, edgy after getting pressure from Marnie (Allison Williams) to ask her folks for money, spends the night texting and gorging herself on leftovers.
The next morning, Hannah heads out to pick up a prescription for her mom and a mini-high school reunion ensues. First, it's a coffee shop run-in with the aptly named Heather, who according to her boyfriend is suffering from PTSD after a classmate went missing abroad. Next it's a trip to the pharmacy where Hannah makes out like a bandit, getting a discount on pantyhose, free personal lubricant and a date for the evening, courtesy of the pharmacist who's also a former classmate. It might mark the first time in recent history Hannah's had a normal (except for the free lubricant for her mom), respectful interaction with a member of the opposite sex and she decides to seize the opportunity, agreeing to go out with Eric.
Back home, Hannah looks into the mirror and gives herself a pep talk, reminding herself that even the worst stuff she says sounds better than the best stuff other people say. Except that.
That night, Eric the pharmacist takes Hannah to a benefit for their missing classmate, Keri. To Hannah's horror, Natalie uses the opportunity to pay "tribute" to the presumably dead girl by dancing in booty shorts and a bejeweled bra and lip synching to a song about guys looking at her ass.
At dinner, Hannah's father wonders if his overly-anxious daughter has what it takes to make it as a writer in New York, especially after they cut her off financially. Hannah's mother reminds him that they cut her off so she'd have something to write about. As she explains it, Hannah's does what she wants to do and learns from it. It's an enlightening and very funny aside. While her friends fret over Hannah's ability to pay the rent or the guys she choses to date, the "grown-ups" in her life, like former boss, Rich and her parents, tend to see the greater good in Hannah, despite her constant missteps.
Later that night, Hannah goes back to Eric's place. Unlike Adam, Eric isn't insistent they have sex and he even becomes upset when she makes some unconventional moves on him. Further validation that Adam truly is an a***hole.
Hannah returns home to find her mother panicked and her father passed out after a sexual encounter in the shower led to a bad slip and fall. After helping her father to bed, Hannah and her mother have a heart-to-heart in the hallway. When her mother inquires about her financial situation, Hannah says she's doing fine instead of telling the truth. Somewhere in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, Marnie's head is exploding.
Mom tells Hannah how proud she is of her and Hannah heads back to her room. To her surprise, Adam calls a few minutes later and tells her he misses her. And with that, Hannah's heart turns to "monkey meat" once again.
