We Are the Brennans

Denny drives to Katonah to beat up Billy Walsh for attacking Sunday. He reveals that Michael warned him against the loan and told him that Billy filed a lien because Denny defaulted on it. He fears that Billy will try to destroy Brennan’s and wonders why Sunday did not tell him about the attack. He walks into the bar where Billy works but does not find him there. While on the road, he takes Sunday’s advice to stop trying to find him and think instead about his wife and daughter. Overwhelmed by realizing his pub’s finances are in the hands of someone who hurt his sister, Denny drives to Angie’s house to tell Theresa the truth about his financial troubles.

He tells Theresa that he needs to see Molly and, while he watches her, wonders how he will protect her from people like Billy. He then goes downstairs and tells Theresa everything. She calmly asks him questions and then tells him that they will go on a budget until he solves the family’s financial issues. He also tells her about Sunday, and she tells him that she understands the shame that drove her away from them. Denny then remembers that Sunday was not herself in the weeks before she left. He tells Theresa that he must speak with Sunday, and she tells him to do so.

During the drive, Denny recalls how he initially reacted poorly to Kale’s interest in Sunday when they were in high school and tried to connect Kale with his then-girlfriend’s friend. After seeing Sunday’s distress, he decided not to come between them again.

When Denny comes home, Kale asks him where he was.

After Denny leaves the pub, Kale drives to Katonah to find Denny. However, he does not see Denny or Billy Walsh when he arrives. He grieves the life and child that he and Sunday did not get to have and thinks about how he had planned to surprise Sunday with the postcard on the Ireland trip and had booked their elopement trip to Magens Bay for two months after Denny and Theresa’s wedding.

Denny returns home, and Sunday cries in his arms. Kale leaves the Brennan house and goes to Hollis Park, where he and Sunday used to walk at night. He recollects the night of the festival when Denny gave Kale and Sunday permission to date. In a flashback, they agree to be open with everyone about their relationship and share their first kiss. Kale goes home and spends the night thinking about her and the postcard. He remembers that Sunday’s mood deteriorated after the Ireland trip, so he let her go.

Kale goes to the Brennan house to talk to Jackie the following morning. He first enters Sunday’s room, remembering the days and nights he spent with her. He then goes into Jackie’s room, where he finds the painting that Sunday saw. It is a painting of Sunday sitting and crying with her head covered. Kale finds this painting compelling. When Jackie enters the room, Kale berates him for letting Sunday leave and not telling anyone that Billy attacked her. Denny comes in and agrees with Kale, but Jackie tells them it was not his place to tell Sunday’s secret. However, he reveals that she told Maura shortly before Sunday left. Maura told her to keep her secret as it was her fault, and nothing would be the same with the family. Kale internally rebukes Maura for this.

Kale and Denny go to the pub, where Sunday tells them she saw Michael Eaton. He and Billy’s lawyer agreed to pay Billy the money by the end of the year; if Billy tries to go against Denny, Sunday will report him for assaulting her. Kale apologizes for letting her go, and she cries and tells him it was not his fault. When he asks why she did not tell him, Vivienne arrives, interrupting them. Kale goes behind the bar, and Denny and Sunday try to act normal. Vivienne reminds Kale to pick up Luke while she visits her mother.

Vivienne leaves the pub, kissing Kale goodbye before driving to her mother’s house on the western outskirts of town. When Vivienne was growing up, she was ashamed of her lower economic status. She had an absent father and a single mother who worked as a waitress and cashier. Vivienne arrives and tells her mother about her interview to become an administrative assistant; she plans to move to Manor Hills.

Her mother begins discussing the Brennans and how they are celebrating Sunday’s return. She then warns Vivienne to watch Sunday and maybe even tell Kale “about the Brennan dad and the Walsh woman” (172), but Vivienne reassures her that her and Kale’s marriage is fine. Vivienne remembers how much she envied the Brennans, including Sunday. She also remembers her mother telling her that Mickey Brennan had an affair with their neighbor Lynn Walsh, Billy Walsh’s mother. The Walshes were poor and dysfunctional, with Billy’s father being an alcoholic and Billy getting into trouble at a young age. Vivienne recalls seeing Mickey’s truck drive up to the Walsh house and Billy Walsh once drunkenly ranting about Mickey.

She then leaves for her interview, hoping she gets the job, as she knows it will mean a shorter commute from Manor Hills, and Kale will agree to the move. She mentions that she tried to model and find a wealthy man in New York City but failed due to pressure to pose nude and low self-confidence. She then settled back in West Manor, where she met Kale and decided he was an attractive, reliable man to marry. She also helped him cope with Sunday’s departure and believed she was finally secure. However, this changed when Sunday returned, and now she knows she can only keep Kale if he leaves the Brennans.

Three days later, she goes to the Brennan house and talks to Sunday at the kitchen table. She offers to help the Brennans find a new bookkeeper. Then, she tells Sunday that she helped Kale after Sunday left and that she must come between them. Sunday agrees and thanks Vivienne for being “there for him” (179). Vivienne then leaves, surprised at Sunday’s selflessness.

After Vivienne’s visit, Sunday feels guilty for betraying and hurting Kale. After telling Denny and Kale about Billy Walsh, she felt better and focused on solving her problems. She had her father cut off her cast and then met with Michael Eaton. There, she and Michael Eaton made a plan to repay Billy Walsh and prevent him from going after Denny. She then worked to call vendors for the Mamaroneck location. She is also working on two new stories, one based on her relationship with Jackie and another based on a story she used to tell Shane.

At the pub, Michael tells them that Walsh agreed to the deal and plans to leave New York because he does not want to be arrested. He must wait until Denny repays his loan, though, so the Brennans must gather enough money soon to do so. The Brennans are relieved to hear this and thank him. Kale then tells Michael he can give him the money by Saturday morning.

That night, Sunday goes to the pub to talk to Kale. She, however, finds Billy Walsh there instead. He tells her he will not hurt her and will leave New York on Monday. He then tells her that Mickey had an affair with Billy’s mother and gloats that he has Denny loaning out money to him. He also admits that he damaged the pipes at the Mamaroneck location. He angrily blames Sunday for ruining his life and says she wanted him, which she denies. When he mentions her drinking that night, she pulls out her father’s gun from behind the cooler and points it at him. He begins to panic. Sunday then tells him to leave, and he runs out of the pub.

Denny and Kale arrive, and Sunday tells them about Billy’s visit. Denny does not believe his statement about their father at first, but realizes it is a possibility. When they go to the Brennan house, they tell Jackie, who reacts similarly to Denny. Sunday then goes upstairs and concludes that she needs to move out to start her new life.

She then enters Shane’s room, where Denny is helping him with his LEGO set. When Shane temporarily leaves the room, Sunday admits to Denny that she made him her emergency contact because she wants to turn to him when she is in trouble.