Pilot (Desperate Housewives)

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"Pilot" is the first episode of the ABC television series, Desperate Housewives. The episode was written by Marc Cherry and was directed by Charles McDougall. It originally aired on Sunday October 3, 2004.

[edit] Guest Starring

• Christine Estabrook as Martha Huber
• Joy Lauren as Danielle Van de Kamp
• Shawn Pyfrom as Andrew Van de Kamp

[edit] Co-Starring

• Brent Kinsman as Preston Scavo
• Shane Kinsman as Porter Scavo
• Zane Huett as Parker Scavo
• Sherica Durdley as Wendy
• Nike Doukas as Natalie Klein
• Heath McCall as Waiter
• Kay Wade as Elderly Lady
• Edward Zoellner as Tanaka Party Waiter

[edit] Plot

In the first episode of the popular dramedy, Desperate Housewives we are introduced to the character of Mary Alice Young, a resident of the town of Fairview who resides on the quiet street known as Wisteria Lane. Mary Alice reports on the unusual day she had which included a series of errands, cooking for her son and husband, cleaning the house, and pulling an unused revolver out of a closet and ending her life. Her body was discovered by Mrs. Martha Huber who was always interested in everyone else's lives except of course for her own. When she hears a loud popping noise, she quickly runs to the Young house (bringing Mary Alice's blender with her) where she finds Mary Alice's lifeless body on the floor. She calls for an ambulance but soon learns that she is too late. This doesn't bother her that much, because it means she gets to keep the blender.

Mary Alice's funeral is held a few days later. After the funeral, each of the mourners is invited back to the Young home where a repast dinner will be held. In attendance are not only her family but her closest friends she has left behind. They include Lynette Scavo, a former businesswoman who got married and soon after became pregnant with twin boys. Her husband Tom persuaded her to give up her career to be a stay-at-home mom and two other children soon followed. Lynette, now a mother of 4, is forced to struggle with her bratty and out of control children while her husband Tom is constantly out of town. Immediately following Lynette into Mary Alice's home is Gabrielle Solis. Before moving to Wisteria Lane, Gabrielle was a runway model who enjoyed a lavish lifestyle and of course, rich men. Shortly after meeting a very successful executive, Carlos Solis, the two married and moved to the suburbs where Gabrielle has lived a quiet but elegant life ever since. The third of the women to arrive is Bree Van de Kamp. Series creator Marc Cherry describes Bree as a Martha Stewart-esque housewife on steroids, a parody of his own mother named Martha. Bree seems to do everything right involving her housework and ideal home but her family life is clearly another story. The final friend to arrive is Susan Mayer, who prepared a macaroni and cheese appetizer for the repast. Susan has been divorced a year from her husband Karl who was caught cheating on her with his secretary. Susan, feeling betrayed, called the marriage off and fought for custody of their daughter Julie. Susan has gotten over her divorce with the help of her daughter but still has feelings of loss.

At the funeral, the women reminisce about Mary Alice and how her warm personality and stature shrouded her inner feelings which eventually lead to her suicide. Susan sits down at the table where they once sat when Susan announced to the women her divorce. As Mary Alice pours coffee, Susan cries and the women talk about their home life. Lynette jokes that she wishes that Tom were having an affair since she is so stressed out and he has got her pregnant three times in the last four years. Bree informs the wives that if her husband hurts her or cheats he knows that Bree has a closet full of ammunition. Susan is brought back to the present when Bree reminds her that Paul asked if they can clean out Mary Alice's closet. Susan gives a nod when Gabrielle brings up the fact that what caused Mary Alice to kill herself. Lynette adds that Mary Alice's life is really their life but they suspect Mary Alice was most definitely depressed. Paul stands at the back of the room quietly listening with a mysterious look on his face. Later, Susan spots someone eating her appetizer and quickly tells the man to back away because her macaroni and cheese is infamously bad. The man gives her a weird look and continues to eat the dish. He chews but quickly spits it out. The two laugh when introductions are made. The man is revealed to be Mike Delfino, a plumber who has just moved into the neighborhood. Susan smiles and introduces herself and Mike reminds her if she ever needs any home improvements or help needed to call him. In another room, Lynette breastfeeds where she is told by Mrs. Huber that her sons are in the pool out back and are swimming carefree. Lynette runs into the yard where already a majority of the guests are looking on. Lynette scolds the children and demand they get out of the pool. They refuse which leads Lynette to give her baby to the priest and walks into the pool with her funeral dress on. She grabs the children, gives Paul her condolences and leaves.

The women are soon seen slowly returning to their lives prior to Mary Alice's tragic demise.

Gabrielle is angry at her husband Carlos because she would rather not attend another business dinner where Carlos' boss is extremely flirty. Carlos tells Gabrielle that she will do whatever he says since the business brings in large sums of money each year. Carlos leaves the house where he reminds gardener John to cut the grass. John tells Carlos that he will do it as soon as he is able. Gabrielle tells John that there are bandaids in the kitchen for his cut. After Carlos leaves, Gabrielle seduces John and the two make love on a table in the dining room which was imported from Italy at a cost of $23,000. On the evening of the business dinner, Carlos discovers that John is not doing his job since he did not do what Carlos asked. Gabrielle knows that she wants John to stay as long as possible as their gardener so she devises a plan which can only be done while Carlos is out. At the party, Gabrielle bribes a waiter who will make sure he has a drink all evening. Gabrielle quickly drives home, pulls out the lawn mower and begins to mow while in a cocktail dress and heels. Gabrielle arrives back at the party unseen shortly after as Carlos toasts her from a distance. The following morning, Carlos looks suspicious when the grass has been freshly mowed. He thinks of it as a coincidence and drives off. Gabrielle looks on from the balcony relieved.

Bree and her family quietly eat dinner in the dining room. The children comment on why Bree always has to make such weird things when it comes to their meals. Bree reminds them that she tries new things because regular meals get redundant after a while and that she likes to keep it fresh. Andrew tells her that sometimes they just would enjoy a regular dish other than Bree's gourmet recipes. Bree feels upset and demands support from her husband Rex. Rex, however, just asks for the salt. (Perhaps Rex's dislike for Bree's cooking made him put too much salt on his food, aggravating his heart condition.) The following evening, Bree decides to take the family out for dinner at a cowboy themed restaurant. While the children are away from the table, Rex casually asks for a divorce. Bree looks upset when Rex describes her more recent attitude and relationship with him. Bree feels defeated but decides to get the two salad from the salad bar. While talking with Mrs. Huber, Bree puts onions in Rex's salad knowing that he could have an allergic reaction. The two eat their salad but Rex becomes short of breath and collapses. At the hospital, Bree visits Rex where he believes she did it on purpose. Bree defends herself but Rex continues to tell her that her recent behavior has been different from when they first met. Bree becomes distracted once again when she decides to give water to a floral arrangement. As she enters the bathroom, she quietly cries for five minutes but returns from the bathroom refreshed and happy.

Lynette continues to be stressed out with the children as she goes grocery shopping with the boys. While there, Lynette frantically calls Tom telling him to come home. She continues that if he does not come home by tomorrow, that they will all be joining him. As Lynette talks, her twin sons Porter and Preston wander off grabbing any grocery item in sight. Lynette soon meets up with a former colleague from an ad executive office. The two talk when the woman asks Lynette how her home life is. Lynette lies saying it is "the best job she ever had" knowing that it is really the worst job ever. Their conversation ends suddenly when Porter and Preston push their cart into an elderly woman who collapses. Tom soon arrives home where he tells the boys to go play which is a cover up for sex. Lynette and Tom kiss but Lynette reminds him to put on a condom. Tom decides they should risk it. Knowing she does not want another child, she punches him and tells him to put it on or it is not going to happen. The two lay next to each other in silence.

Julie, Susan's daughter, purposely throws her soccer ball into Mike's yard in order to find out some information about Mike. Julie manages to find out that he is widowed, previously lived in California but needed a change, and is single. Susan thanks Julie for her effort and decides to make her move. Susan brings Mike a gift but the two are soon interrupted by Edie Britt, a man hungry real estate broker who has been infamously known for her several husbands and one night stands. Edie also decides to make her move on Mike and she and Susan become involved in a contest. Mike smiles at the two of them and informs them that he would invite them in but he is in the process of settling in. The two women soon leave. That evening, Susan runs over to Mike's house where she tells him that she has a clog in her drain. Mike decides that he will be right over and Susan hurries to shove things down her kitchen sink. Mike discovers the problem and fixes her "clogged drain". The following evening, Mrs. Huber lets out to Susan that she is babysitting Edie Britt's son while she entertains a guest. Susan thinks that is Mike and feels defeated. Susan runs to Edie's house where she pretends to be asking for sugar. Susan hears moaning from upstairs and throws her measuring cup from behind. The measuring cup knocks down a candle which sets Edie's curtains on fire. Soon after, Edie's house goes up in flames and she quickly leaves unseen. Edie manages to make it out of the house without a scratch but her boyfriend becomes hospitalized. Susan is soon joined by Mike who asks what has happened. Susan gives a sigh of relief when she learns that he was not with Edie. Susan immediately gets rid of her guilt and decides that everything will be fine--for her at least.

The following afternoon, the women pack the remains of Mary Alice's belongings into a car and toast Mary Alice with a glass of wine. However soon after, an envelope is found in Mary Alice's belongings which was post marked the day she had died. Bree was the one who found the letter. Gabrielle opens the envelope to reveal a short letter. The purple paper is printed with the message:

I KNOW WHAT YOU DID

IT MAKES ME SICK

I'M GOING TO TELL

The women look on puzzled at the letter as this is possibly a piece of evidence to Mary Alice's suicide. The camera slowly zooms upwards away from the four women and the screen cuts to black.

[edit] Opening Credits

• The opening credits were cut for the series premiere. They would first appear in the following episode, "Ah, But Underneath".
• In the original pilot, the opening credits simply showed a "Desperate Housewives" title, as the camera zoomed in towards Mary Alice's house.

[edit] Original Pilot

In the original pilot, Mary Alice Young was played by Sheryl Lee. The character of Rex Van de Kamp was played by Michael Reilly Burke and the character of John Rowland was portrayed by Kyle Searles. There was also a different opening title sequence in the original, a simple "Desperate Housewives" appearing during the first minute over the view of Wisteria Lane. At the end of the pilot, unlike in the aired version, when the camera is pulling away from the girls a ghost of Mary Alice is seen standing in front of her house. Originally, Mary Alice Young was known as Mary Alice Scott, but it was changed before the pilot was shot.

[edit] Quotes

• Mary Alice: Susan had met the enemy, and she was a slut.
• Rex: (after asking for a divorce in a family restaurant) Are we gonna talk about what I said?
  Bree: If you think I'm gonna discuss the dissolution of my marriage in a place where the restrooms are labeled "chicks" and "dudes", you are out of your mind.
• Julie: When's the last time you had sex?
  (Susan stops what she's doing)
  Julie: Are you mad that I asked that?
  Susan: No, I'm just trying to remember.
• John: You know what I don't get?
  Gabrielle: What?
  John: Why you married Mr. Solis.
  Gabrielle: He promised to give me everything I wanted.
  John: And did he?
  Gabrielle: Yes.
  John: Then why aren't you happy?
  Gabrielle: Turns out I wanted all the wrong things.
  John: Do you love him?
  Gabrielle: Yes.
  John: Then why are we here? Why are we doing this?
  Gabrielle: Because I don't wanna wake up one morning with the sudden urge to blow my brains out.
• Susan: Oh Mary Alice, what did you do?
• Lynette: (to her sons) You guys are gonna behave tonight. I'm not gonna be humiliated in front of the whole neighborhood. And just so you know how serious I am.
  (takes out a piece of paper)
  Preston Scavo: What's that?
  Lynette: Santa's cell phone number.
  Porter Scavo: How did you get that?
  Lynette: I know someone who knows someone who knows an elf, and if any of you boys misbehave tonight, so help me, I will call him and I will tell him you want socks for Christmas. Are you willing to risk that?
• Rex: I can't believe you tried to kill me.
  Bree: Yes, well I feel badly about that.
• Rex: You put onions in my salad!
  Bree: No, I didn't!
  (looks back at salad bar)
  Bree: Oh, wait!
• Danielle Van de Kamp: Why can't we ever have normal soup like French Onion or Navy Bean?
  Bree: Well, we can't have onions because your father's deathly allergic to them and I won't even dignify your Navy Bean suggestion with a response.

[edit] Notes

• Brenda Strong (Mary Alice Young) is seen in this episode.
• The role of Susan was originally written especially for Mary Louise Parker. But, Teri Hatcher received the role after a string of impressive auditions.
• "Let's Get it On" by Marvin Gaye is playing when Susan walks into Edie's home.
• At the first audition Marcia Cross auditioned for the part of Mary Alice Young and Nicollette Sheridan auditioned for the role of Bree Hodge, the role that Marcia Cross went on to portray.
• This was the episode submitted by Felicity Huffman for the 57th Primetime Emmy Awards, which got her the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series.
• The role of Gabrielle was the first to be cast - being given to Eva Longoria.
• The residences of the wives look different as they do now.

[edit] Title reference

In most television series, the first episode made is known as a pilot because it was shot and written before the series aired and is sent to the network for approval. Most episodes following the pilot (with an exception of few) will have a reference to Stephen Sondheim's music in their titles.

[edit] International titles

• French: Quatre voisines et un enterrement (Four Neighbors and a Funeral)
• German: Schmutzige Wäsche (Dirty Laundry)
• Hungarian: Végzetes csütörtök (Fatal Thursday)
• Italian: Episodio pilota (Pilot Episode)
• Japanese: Ittsu no tegami (One Letter)
• Spanish: Piloto (Pilot)