Parks and Recreation Episode 7.11 Two Funerals

At Tom's Bistro, the gang's got big news to share. First, Leslie announces she's just enrolled in the Senior Executive Service Candidate Development program at the Interior Department; her promotion is official, and she and Ben are moving to D.C.! Donna declares that she and Joe have just closed on a house in Seattle - they're moving. Garry's got some news of his own: he's decided to retire. April scolds him for sharing non-moving related news. But there's one more bombshell. On the bistro TV, we see Perd Hapley making a sad announcement: Beloved Pawnee Mayor Walter Gunderson has died.

At City Hall, Ben announces that to honor the late mayor, his body will lie in state in the council chambers for a day. Well-wishers file in. Ben pulls April aside to ask for help. According to the city charter, he'll need to appoint an interim mayor until a special election can be called. April advises Ben to simply fill the role himself, but Ben demurs, citing his earlier problems as a small town mayor.

Tom finds Leslie to tell her his own big news: he's planning to propose to Lucy. Leslie's overjoyed - finally there's some good news to celebrate. She suggests to Tom that he propose at Mayor Gunderson's memorial, but Tom tells her Lucy's out of town.

At the memorial, the mayor's friends line up to speak, including the mayor's longtime lover. She regrets never having told Walter how much she loves him. Donna, Andy and Ron are discussing death as a concept when Ron's friend Carl approaches him to inform him that Salvatore, their beloved barber, has also passed away. Ron's crushed.

Moved by the solemnity of the service, Leslie finds Tom to tell him not to hesitate about proposing to Donna. The moment could pass by. They agree a kick-ass action video might be the perfect avenue with which to propose. They stop by Leslie's favorite banner store to get a giant banner made to underscore the proposal.

Ben steps up the hunt for a new temporary mayor. His first interview is with Councilman Bobby Newport. The scion of Pawnee is flattered but explains that he's too busy to serve - he's headed to space. It's open to anyone with $600,000 to put down as a deposit. He tries Joan Callamezzo, who turns it down because she's not old enough to meet the minimum age of 30, she says; he tries Dr. Saperstein, who's too busy; fights off Saperstein's daughter, Mona-Lisa; then tolerates local radio personality The Douche's pitch for the job. When The Douche leaves, April tells Ben again: he should be the mayor.

At Salvatore's service, Ron is overwrought. He remembers his barber fondly, finally approaching the open casket. He announces that the three most important people in a man's life are his barber, his butcher and his lover. Now he's lost one of those pillars. Ron deposits a $10 bill on Salvatore's chest and says goodbye. He's lost, he tells Donna. He had an appointment scheduled for Tuesday with Sal. They retreat to Tom's Bistro. Over a round of drinks, Ron's consoled by not just Donna, but by doppelganger Ron Dunn. "The only constant I've found in life is change," he tells a sullen Ron. "I hate you, so much," Ron tells him.

At a local jewelry store, Leslie and Tom prepare to shoot the proposal video with a spy-heist theme. As Jean-Ralphio Saperstein and his henchman show up to fight Tom, the jewelry store ends up in shambles. From a broken display case, Tom pulls a gorgeous ring and brings it to camera, uttering his proposal to Lucy. Perfect, says Leslie. But when they head to the airport to meet Lucy, Tom has a change of plans. He tells Leslie it's off, scribbles some notes of items he needs her to pick up and instructs her to meet them at the Snakehole Lounge in 30 minutes.

At the lounge, Jean-Ralphio and Leslie give Tom his requested props: a plate of pancakes and a single daisy. Leslie and Jean Ralphio retreat to a nearby table and anxiously await Tom's big move. At a center table, Tom explains to Lucy that the Snakehole Lounge is where they first met; on their first date, he gave her a single daisy; then they had pancakes at J.J.'s, followed by a failed demonstration of a card trick. He explains to Lucy that he's brought all those things back tonight, including the card trick. He fans the deck of cards in front of her, nudging her to pick one. Lucy plucks the card and turns its face toward her. It's the two of hearts - and Tom's written "Will you marry me?" on it. Tom proffers a ring and Lucy smiles broadly. "Yes!" she tells him. Leslie and John-Ralphio look on in approval. Never one to pass up an awkward opportunity, Jean-Ralphio makes a pass at Leslie. Yech.

Ben, April and Garry remain flummoxed by the search for a new mayor. Then it hits Ben: Garry would make the perfect interim mayor. Ben shakes Garry's hand; April screams.

Donna's got an answer for Ron's haircutting dilemma. She takes Ron to the Perfect Image salon, where Typhoon awaits, scissors in hand. It seems an odd fit at first, but when Typhoon begins to complain to Ron about Europeans and their odd love of bicycles, Ron chuckles. Typhoon's no Salvatore, but he may just be alright anyway.

We close out with a regal ceremony to mark Garry's inauguration. Leslie's outdone herself for the occasion. She ordered up not just another custom banner, but a red carpet, a chorus group, a flower child, a throne and a half-dozen burly uniformed centurions to carry Garry to a hot air balloon. The choir sings, Garry's remarks are drowned out by the sound of the hot air balloon, and the people of Pawnee marvel as their new mayor ascends skyward. New beginnings indeed.