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"But at Last Came a Knock" is the ninth episode in the first season of Shameless. It originally aired on March 6, 2011.

Synopsis[]

Frank has some settlement money coming his way, but there's a catch – he needs his ex-wife's signature on the documents; Debbie learns that Steve may not be who he says he is.

Plot[]

Following the ending of the previous episode, Debbie has Veronica drive her to Candace's address at night; Debbie confesses that she wants to see if Steve is cheating. The next day, Debbie takes the bus to visit the address again. At the door, Debbie is greeted by Candace, who is revealed to be an older woman. Debbie enters the house and runs into Steve, whom Candace introduces as her son Jimmy; Debbie storms out of the house. Steve follows Debbie, who confronts him about his double life. Steve proclaims that he doesn't want to be a doctor like the rest of his family, and is instead interested in pursuing a relationship with Fiona. Debbie agrees to keep Steve’s double life a secret when she finds out Steve had bought the house next door to the Gallaghers; Steve also buys Debbie gifts in exchange for her silence.

In an attempt to fix his strained relationship with Karen, Eddie invites Karen to his church’s purity ball, a father/daughter event in which girls can confess their sexual sins and re-dedicate themselves as a virgin. Karen only shows interest in attending the purity ball when Eddie promises to buy her a car. Meanwhile, Lip discovers Steve’s car-stealing business when he works with Steve to buy concert tickets for Karen. At Kevin and Veronica's house, Ethel reunites with her baby son, Jonah. Kevin and Veronica meet with their social worker to see if they can also foster Jonah; the social worker is supportive, as the system encourages keeping foster siblings together.

Frank receives a call from his lawyer and finds out he has settlement money coming his way. However, Frank discovers that he must get his ex-wife, Monica, to sign the documents in-person. Frank gets Sheila, who does not know who Monica is, to call Monica and lure her into town through a fake grocery contest. When Monica arrives at the grocery store to claim her prize, Frank and Kevin discover that Monica has a girlfriend named Roberta. Monica notices Frank at the parking lot and calls him out; Roberta nearly runs over Frank before Kevin quickly drives them out of the lot.

Monica and Roberta follow Frank and Kevin to Sheila’s house, where Debbie is baking with Sheila. Debbie is shocked to see Monica in the front yard; Monica tries to hug Debbie, who pushes her away and runs home. Monica and Frank get into a nasty argument over Monica leaving the kids; Monica claims that she didn't choose to leave her family, and that Frank pushed her towards doing so. Sheila tells Monica that the kids are living with Fiona. Debbie returns to the house and reveals Monica’s return to the rest of the family; the kids are stunned by this news. When Fiona tries to comfort Debbie, Debbie lashes out, exclaiming “What do you care? You’ll be living with Steve in the house he bought next door!”

Upon hearing the news of Monica’s return, Ian cries and runs to Mickey’s house for comfort; Mickey agrees to meet him at the Kash and Grab. The rest of the Gallagher family, minus Ian, go to Sheila’s house to see Monica, in which they discover that Frank was the one who brought her to town. When Debbie asks Monica why she left, Monica states that she believed they would be fine in Fiona's care. At the Kash and Grab, Ian and Mickey have sex in the walk-in freezer; Kash, who is celebrating the news that Linda is pregnant, discovers them having sex. Mickey quickly runs out of the store, but later returns, instructing Kash to keep his mouth shut. Kash pulls out his gun and shoots Mickey in the leg; Ian runs out of the store before the police arrive.

Ian goes to Sheila's house and reunites with Monica. Roberta reveals that she and Monica want to take Liam to live with them, so they can start a family of their own. Fiona, enraged and hurt, tearfully calls Monica out, criticizing her for abandoning the family and trying to take away the son she wasn’t there to raise. Monica states that maybe she won't be able to make things right with Fiona, but she still has time with the younger kids; she then apologizes to Debbie and Carl and asks if she can be their mom again. Debbie and Carl reluctantly hug their mother, in which Fiona leaves the house and says to Monica: “I’m done. They’re all yours now, Mom. Good luck.” The episode closes with Fiona meeting up with Steve; Steve comforts her, and Fiona asks him to show her the house.

Cast[]

Regular Cast[]

Special Guest Star[]

Guest Starring[]

Co-Starring[]

  • Alex Borstein - Lou Deckner
  • Julia Duffy - Candace Lishman
  • Carlease Burke- Roberta
  • Chris Burns - Andrea Johnson
  • Zayne Emory - Simon
  • Carolyn Hennesy  - Mrs. Neidereiter
  • Golda Inquito - Sorority Girl
  • Frank Noon - Bible Study Guy
  • Kerry O'Malley - Kate
  • Carl Sagan - Himself (uncredited)

Notes[]

  • "Previously on Shameless" - Carl Gallagher
  • Episode Runtime - 00:50:44
  • This episode is based on Episode 106 of the original Shameless.
  • Debbie learns Steve's real name is Jimmy.
  • First appearance of Monica.
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