The Happy Couple

"The Happy Couple" is the ninth episode of the third season of the CBS sitcom The New Adventures of Old Christine. The episode was written by Jennifer Crittenden. The episode was watched by 9.77 million viewers, a 1.7 million-viewer drop from the previous episode.

Plot

Barb (Wanda Sykes) and Matthew (Hamish Linklater) try to hide the news that they had sex from Old Christine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus). They struggle to talk without awkward pauses in their conversations. Old Christine is misled into believing that Barb and Matthew are discussing her birthday. Matthew reveals to Richard (Clark Gregg) that he slept with Barb. After Matthew tells Richard not to share with anyone that he had sex with Barb, Richard instantly tells New Christine (Emily Rutherfurd). While setting up for Old Christine's birthday party, Barb learns that both New Christine and Richard found out about her sex with Matthew. New Christine accidentally tells Old Christine about the sex after both New Christine and Old Christine misunderstand the question. Old Christine gets very upset upon hearing about their encounter. While sleeping that night she then has a nightmare that she made out with Matthew. She wakes up from the double dream and is horrified. When she sees Matthew the next morning, she tells him that he is never allowed to sleep with Barb again. Barb then enters the room and Old Christine also attempts to forbid Barb from sleeping with Matthew. Following a fight with Old at she is kissing Matthew, which she wakes up from. Matthew then enters the room and kisses her again, however Old Christine finally wakes up Christine, Barb immediately rushes to have sex with Matthew to prove to Old Christine that she has no control over their relationship. Old Christine tells Richard about her nightmare. Matthew and Barb decide to fall in love just to make Old Christine upset, but as they decide to take things slowly they realize it is awkward. Richard then attempts to prove to Old Christine that she should keep out of Matthew and Barb's relationship. Old Christine goes over to Barb's house to tell Matthew and Barb that she was wrong, but when Old Christine asks Matthew and Barb to kiss, they admit that the only reason they were together after the sex was to piss her off. At the end of the episode, Richard too has a nightmare in which he kisses Matthew, cursing Old Christine when he wakes up.