"It's Time to Kill the Turtle" is the eighth episode in the first season of Shameless. It originally aired on February 27, 2011.
Synopsis[]
When Frank tries to stay sober for $3,000, Carl and Debbie are pleased to have their dad back, despite Lip's warning that it won't last; Kevin and Veronica take in a teenage foster kid, Ethel; Ian continues his sexual relationship with Mickey.
Plot[]
The episode opens with Frank passing out in the middle of the street from alcohol poisoning. At the Gallagher house, Steve receives a suspicious text message from a girl named Candace; Debbie informs Fiona about Steve's text. Suspecting that Steve is cheating on her, Fiona confronts Steve about the text message; Steve clarifies that Candace is a colleague. In addition to Steve's texts, Fiona faces more problems when she discovers that she won’t get her next paycheck until the following week. In desperate need of cash, Fiona considers taking a computer class that could potentially get her an office job.
Frank wakes up in the hospital after being unconscious for two days. The doctor, amazed by Frank’s state, offers Frank $3,000 to abstain from alcohol for two weeks for a hospital study. Frank agrees to the study and is forced to wear an ankle monitor that alerts the doctors to any alcohol consumption. Now forced to stay sober, Frank becomes more agitated, and Sheila worries that he’s no longer attracted to her. When Sheila fails to keep him company, Frank turns to Debbie, who offers him fruit juice and candy. The two go on a sugar high, and a hyper Frank later visits his family and announces his sobriety. Though the rest of the family seems pleased with Frank’s new behavior, Lip seems worried and agitated over Frank's sobriety.
Kevin and Veronica prepare to take in their foster kid: Kevin is excited to temporarily be a father, while Veronica has only agreed to do so for the money. Kevin and Veronica discover that their foster kid is Ethel, a 13-year-old girl removed from a polygamous sect. Kevin is friendly towards Ethel, who is reserved and introverted; Veronica is less warm to Ethel, making her do chores around the house. Kevin and Veronica later find out that Ethel was stuck in a predatory marriage to an elderly man named Clyde. Upon discovering Ethel’s messed up childhood, Veronica grows more sympathetic and kind towards Ethel.
Lip meets with Karen and invites her to join him on a tour around the university. During the tour, Professor Hearst advises Lip to test out of high school and enroll for the next semester. Realizing that Lip may be interested in college, Karen questions the seriousness of their relationship; Lip agrees that they’re strictly friends with benefits. Meanwhile, Ian continues to hang out with Mandy while continuing his sexual relationship with Mickey. Kash tries to bond with Ian, though Ian doesn’t seem interested in pursuing a relationship with Kash anymore. Steve leaves town to visit his family in Lake Forest. It is revealed that Steve has a double life: Steve’s real name is Jimmy Lishman, and he comes from a wealthy family.
When the Gallagher family goes bowling with Frank, Lip tries to warn Debbie and Carl that Frank isn't going to remain sober forever. Though Carl doesn't understand, Debbie acknowledges this, and explains that she's going to enjoy Frank’s behavior while it lasts. Meanwhile, Karen comforts Sheila, who is upset that Frank had left her. Fiona attends the computer class, but she quickly leaves upon realizing she isn’t as experienced as the rest of the students. She is forced to take up an embarrassing waitress job at a sports bar. Feeling humiliated and dejected, Fiona cries when she returns home. Lip comes down and sees her crying; Fiona asks why he’s angry with sober Frank. Lip tells her that when he was younger, Frank got sober over a bet; Lip was happy with the new and improved Frank, especially when he went to one of his baseball games and cheered him on. He reveals he was extremely disappointed when it didn’t stay that way.
The next morning, Fiona finds Frank making destructive renovations around the house. Realizing that Frank’s behavior is turning dangerous, Fiona, Lip and Debbie agree to sacrifice Frank’s soberness. They force alcohol down his throat, causing his ankle monitor to go off. The episode closes with Frank and the Gallagher kids watching TV; Debbie, who has grown suspicious of Steve, memorizes the address listed in Candace’s profile on Steve’s phone.
Post Credit Scene
At night, Frank returns to Sheila's house and cuddles up next to her in bed. Sheila wakes up and asks Frank if he is drunk. Frank says that he is, and Sheila smiles.
Cast[]
Regular Cast[]
- William H. Macy - Frank Gallagher
- Emmy Rossum - Fiona Gallagher
- Justin Chatwin - Steve Wilton
- Ethan Cutkosky - Carl Gallagher
- Shanola Hampton - Veronica Fisher
- Steve Howey - Kevin Ball
- Emma Kenney - Debbie Gallagher
- Cameron Monaghan - Ian Gallagher
- Jeremy Allen White - Phillip "Lip" Gallagher
- Laura Slade Wiggins - Karen Jackson
Special Guest Star[]
Guest Starring[]
- Shanola Hampton - Veronica Fisher
- Steve Howey - Kevin Ball
- Dennis Boutsikaris - Professor Hearst
- Madison Davenport - Ethel
- Noel Fisher - Mickey Milkovich
- Jane Levy - Mandy Milkovich
- Pej Vahdat - Kash
Co-Starring[]
- Chris Gartin - Chip Lishman
- Paige White - Dr. Seery
- Corina Boettger - Pimply Girl
- Timothy George Connolly - Sleazy Guy
- Katherine Cunningham - Danielle
- Missy Doty - Jess
- Sonia Jackson - Darla Martini
- Brooke Kuchuris - Mom
- Michael Liu - Hugh
- Michael Patrick McGill - Tommy
- Bre Mueck - Beautiful Woman
- Jeffery Self - Grant
- Jasmin Tavarez - Gisela
- Adam Goodell - College Student (uncredited)
- Norma J. Houser - Store Patron (uncredited)
- Samuel Meadows - College Student (uncredited)
- Jay Murray - Store Patron (uncredited)
Notes[]
- Episode Runtime - 00:48:15
- "Previously on Shameless" - Lip
- It is revealed Frank is the perfect father while sober,
- Karen's future pregnancy is hinted by Professor Hearst.
- Ian and Mickey's relationship continues.