GCB Episode 1.05 Forbidden Fruit

Amanda's behind the wheel of her car, talking on the phone. She tells Gigi she's going to be a little late to church. As she weaves through traffic a bee buzzes into her car. Amanda rolls down her window trying to shoo the pest out when -- crash! -- she rear-ends the car in front of her. It's only a minor fender-bender and Amanda gets out of the car to inspect the damage. She clocks the damage on the other car, but is much more interested in the hunk of a man who steps out. This is how we meet the casually handsome Luke. Their meeting is a bit, well, tainted Luke gets out of the car wearing a dress shirt, but nothing else -- he's naked from the waist down! As he puts on his boxers, Luke explains he spilled coffee on his pants and needed to air them out. While exchanging information Luke flirts, but realizes how late he is and with a smile, is back in his car and on the road. Amanda sees Luke's pants lying on the ground. As she retrieves his lost trousers...

At Church, we arrive in the middle of the funeral service for Bitsy Lourd, Burl's very recently deceased wife. Carlene just can't believe her aunt Bitsy is gone. It's a good thing that her big strong husband Ripp is there to console her. Whispering a quick excuse for her tardiness, Amanda joins Gigi in a pew. Across the sanctuary we find Sharon, fully entrenched as church secretary, trying to help Pastor Tudor with his collar and the sermon. Of course, Sharon screws everything up, but Tudor is too nice to say much more than thank you -- though it's obvious this isn't the first time she's tried his patience.

After the service, Heather and Andrew Remington, her new billionaire beau, offer their condolences to Carlene and Ripp. The Cockburns mostly know Andrew as the guy who snatched up the land on which they were going to develop Carlene's "Condos for Christian Living." (Andrew bought the land so that he could re-locate his tech company to Dallas.) Heather counters that Andrew bought the land fair and square. Carlene is willing to do the Christian thing and forgive Andrew, she even extends an invitation for him and all of his employees to attend this year's church fundraiser.

In a private area, Gigi finds a grieving Burl nipping at his flask. As she consoles her friend, Burl spontaneously kisses her. Gigi, stunned, moves away and scolds him. Burl begs Gigi to forgive him -- he's not himself! As she leaves, Gigi tells him that this never happened and that he needs to pull himself together.

Back in the fellowship hall, Amanda is surprised to find Luke wearing a choir robe and explaining to Carlene that he lost his pants. Amanda pipes up that she has his pants and wonders how these two know each other. Carlene reveals that Luke is her brother. Luke is a Lourd? Gulp. Carlene and Luke are siblings? There goes that budding romance.

After the service, Sharon and Zack help Tudor clean the sanctuary. Well, Sharon helps while Zack and McKinney goof off. Zack wants to leave, especially because Sharon has been spending so much time at the church helping the Pastor. Sharon tells him that if wants to go he's more than welcome, she'll be home when she's done tending to her work duties. Right now, though, the Pastor needs her. Off Zack, not liking the sound of that...

The next day, Gigi storms up to Burl and wants to know why he's bought her a ticket to Paris. Burl explains that he and Bitsy had been on the outs for the last couple years and he wants to start something new with Gigi. If they go to Paris, they will be far enough away so that the prying eyes of Dallas society can't judge them for jumping into this relationship so soon. Gigi counters that she can't leave because her daughter has only been home a few months. Burl tells her that life is short, especially since his heart is giving out, and that he's always had a thing for Gigi. He doesn't want to miss out on the chance to pursue her because of what others think. Gigi, who indeed has had feelings for Burl for years, can't argue and agrees not to a Parisian get-away, but to dinner at her house. And it's got to be under the cover of dark -- don't want any of those prying eyes watching.

We find our GCBs planning the Hillside Park United Memorial Church's annual fundraiser. Cricket, the chairlady, runs down the same checklist she uses every year. Cricket and Carlene confirm that every board member has the same job she had last year. Everything goes smoothly until the issue of entertainment comes up. Usually it's Carlene on stage singing, but this year Cricket thinks she should have a turn. Pastor Tudor chimes in that they should both sing. Of course that suggestion goes over like a ton of bricks. Even less well received is his idea to do things a little different this year. He has a challenge for the group. He wants them to raise three million dollars for a new wing for the church. A number that big will not come from ticket sales alone, and he wants to tap all of the churches resources. Heather pipes up; she wants to involve the younger donors. Maybe they'll be generous enough to make up the difference. Heather's participation irks Cricket so much that she appoints Heather this year's chairlady -- giving her control over the entire event. Heather promises, with the help of her billionaire boyfriend Andrew Remington, to put on the best fundraiser ever.

Amanda answers the door to find Luke. They have an easy-breezy rapport. He wants to take her out for dinner tonight. Amanda is taken aback. Dinner? Luke thinks that after a car accident, and Amanda seeing him naked, the next logical step in their relationship is a meal. She agrees - it's a date. He goes. Then -- ding-dong -- Amanda opens the door expecting to find Luke again, but instead finds Carlene. Carlene not so subtly tells Amanda to stay away from her brother. Amanda is not intimidated and slams the door in Carlene's face. That night, Amanda and Luke end up having a wonderful date at Boobylicious.

Meanwhile, another first date is taking place at Gigi's. Burl has arrived for dinner and immediately Gigi conceals both of their identities. She doesn't want anyone to recognize them. Oddly enough, someone is watching -- Carlene (who is on the phone with Cricket). Through her binoculars she spies the two of them on a date and because she can't make out their faces, assumes the couple is Luke and Amanda. Gigi and Burl head outside, figuring no one is watching, and share their first real kiss. Carlene gasps, thinking it's Amanda's forked tongue going down her brother's throat. There is only one thing for Carlene to do, call the cops and have them break this filth up. After the cops leave, Gigi is worried that their secret has been blown. Burl thinks they are fine. Amanda enters with Luke. Burl leaves, but not before flirting with Gigi. Luke says goodnight as well. The Stopper women are left alone realizing they both just had dates with amazing men.

At Boobylicious, Heather tells Andrew that Cricket sabotaged all of her potential donors. He wonders why her so-called friend would do that. She tells him that as long as she stays under the GCBs' thumbs everything is hunky-dory, but the minute Heather steps out of line the other women crack the whip. She confides that having him around has given her the strength to stand up to the ladies. He's happy to help and even offers to get her in touch with a great musician to entertain the crowd so that she won't have to deal with the Cricket/Carlene feud over who gets to perform.

Meanwhile, Sharon is surprised to find that her son Bozeman is back early from military school. Sharon is so happy she even calls Pastor Tudor and tells him she's not coming in to work that evening because she has to spend time with her son. Zack is delighted.

Later we find Sharon, trailed by Pastor Tudor, at the police station picking up her trouble-making son, Bozeman. Bozeman lets it slip that he was not expelled from school; Zack actually pulled him out. Zack's plan was to use their son has bait to keep Sharon at home more. Sharon is appalled. Pastor Tudor steps in and tells the family that they need to deal with this themselves.

It's the night of the fundraiser, Amanda is getting ready (she's going as Luke's date) when she gets a call from Carlene. Carlene knows all about the secret romance going on between Gigi and Burl. She also knows that Amanda would never want her mother's name tarnished in the eyes of the community, so Carlene is willing to make a deal. She won't tell anyone about Gigi's romance with Burl if Amanda gives up Luke. It's blackmail, but Amanda has no choice and agrees. When Luke comes to pick her up, Amanda tells him she's not into him anymore and isn't going to be his date. Luke is surprised and hurt and confused. He didn't see this coming. Neither did Amanda. He leaves and Gigi asks why Amanda isn't going with him. Amanda can't tell the truth, and she lies saying Luke had to go back to Austin. Gigi wants Amanda to go with her to the fundraiser; she can't go with a recent widower. How would that look?

At the fundraiser, Cricket and Carlene confront Heather about not being allowed to perform and comment on how she's a long way from the three-million-dollar goal. As Cricket and Carlene get snarky, the real talent takes the stage -- Sheryl Crow! Turns out she's a friend of Andrew's and before she begins her set she asks everyone to donate generously. She also publicly thanks Heather and Andrew as a couple, which Heather loves because the GCBs hate it.

Outside, Zack confesses to Pastor Tudor that he's worried about Sharon's interest in him. Tudor assures Zack he's only interested in Sharon as one of his flock. Sharon enters and tells them that Bozeman was caught making out with Alexandra, in Sheryl Crow's dressing room. It comes out that Zack thought Sharon was hot for preacher. This escalates into a fight which Tudor has to stop by telling Sharon that she doesn't need to volunteer at the church any more. Her family needs her.

Heather tallies up the donations when Andrew confronts her about using him to stick it to her "friends." He explains that he knows how important this sort of thing is in Dallas because he grew up here, but he feels like Heather is more attached to his name and wealth than she is to him. He tells her that he doesn't like being used and leaves. Heather is left alone, knowing she blew it.

Later, Gigi finds out that Luke is still in Dallas and confronts Amanda. Amanda explains that she cancelled the date because Carlene threatened to expose Gigi and Burl's relationship if she didn't. Gigi has a plan so that both women can have their men. She gets up on stage, and announces to the whole community that she is dating Burl and if anyone has a problem with it they need to get over it fast.

Back at Sharon's, Cricket is ticked that Bozeman has sullied her daughter's good name. Cricket suggests they send Bozeman back to school. Perhaps in Alaska this time. Sharon gasps; she just got her son back. She can't lose him again so soon. That's when Zack steps up and tells Bozeman what he'll have to do if he wants to stay: keep his grades up, respect the rules, etc. Zack's show of real parenting wins Bozeman -- and Sharon -- over.

So finally Amanda goes to Luke and apologizes. She even reintroduces herself for a fresh start. Amanda tells him that all of this was partially Carlene's fault, but Luke counters that his sister is part of the package. If you want Luke, you have to be able to handle Carlene. Amanda says she'll try and they agree to give it another go. And this time instead of a handshake, they end with a kiss.