The Bachelorette 2 - Episode 5 Summary
Meredith “Keeps an open mind” by Carrie
Original Airdate: February 11, 2004

Last week on the Bachelorette: In the truly most dramatic.rose.ceremony.ever, Meredith narrows her 7 down to 4. Motormouth, Sean, and Brad are no longer with us.

Hometown Date 1: Houston with Matthew

On her way there, Meredith comes to the realization that she may be about to meet her future in-laws and decides, “I’m going to open up more than I ever have!” Right…..

The city girl arrives and Matthew wants her to be comfortable, so he has a little surprise planned – a picnic in an Oak Grove. She drinks wine and giggles incessantly while he swings from a tree. Her commentary after the picnic: “He is just so right for me!”

Mer meets the family, with Mom yelling, “Welcome to Texas! Woo-hoo!” and lots of clapping. She tells Mer that she doesn’t want some Yankee boy – of course Matthew would be the perfect catch! Dad doesn’t know how they can seem so comfortable so quickly. Mom makes a toast before dinner – a quaint little poem. Matthew looks truly surprised. Meredith giggles. Mom can “picture them together long-term.”

After dinner, Matt and Mer sit on a big tree swing. Mer gushes later, “I felt like a grandma and grandpa.” Watching them was like watching a grandma and grandpa. Matt tells Mer “I want this to end with you being with the person you’ve always dreamed of,” of course hoping it’s him. Meredith is so happy that he wants to be with her, but above all wants her happiness. How sweet.

Hometown Date 2: Buffalo with Chad

Before Mer sees Chad, she asks the burning question, "Is there more about Chad's life I need to know?"

Chad is excited and anxious about Mer meeting his family. He lives with his mother and his dad died a couple of years ago. He tells Mer his mom is "like a roommate" and they have a "tight bond." Mer responds with a very understanding "mmm-hmm, yeah."

Arriving at the house, Meredith walks in on the Bachelor Show fan club. Chad's sisters Darcy and Dana are huge fans and they were so hoping Meredith would be the bachelorette for the show! "We all think we know Meredith!" Darcy says, describing her as wholesome, real, not pretentious, and caring. (You forgot BORING.....) The fun starts when Mom Norma asks, what do you see in this unemployed man? Silence, uncomfortable looks...in her monologue Mer says to the camera "and I didn't know that...because he told me that he did. ” She did handle the situation very well by replying with what all of Chad's good qualities were. Mom pulls Chad to the kitchen to tell him "she's great!" Chatting with Meredith at the table, Mom tells her that Chad's not a very touchy person. Mer is surprised because "he's always been so lovey." She feels protected and safe when she's with him. (Sure she does.)

Outside, Chad and Mer say good-bye.
Chad: "That was awesome. You really really make me feel good."
Mer: "You make me feel good."

Wow, they really opened up to each other. She tells us, he's what I've been "wishing for, hoping for, looking for...." An unemployed man who lives with his mom and is less than forthcoming? Hmmmm.....

Hometown Date 3: Manhattan with Ian

This is an important date because he needs to open up more, Mer tells us. She is wearing a big-#ss blanket/scarf thing that practically overtakes her whole body.

She finds Ian on a bench drinking coffee. They go somewhere to have drinks.
Mer: "Cheers!"
Ian: "What are we...cheering to?"...uh, mm, duh....
Mer: To being in Manhattan together. (giggle giggle)

Ian is really charming her. He tells her she's not meeting anyone in his family except his brother because they’re all freaks and he feels closest to his brother anyway. Ian tells Mer "I'm the trouble-maker." Mer says "are you really?" and comments that he really opened up to me about his family. That's funny, because we didn't hear you say much.

Mer meets brother Eric and best friend Damion. About his brother Ian says "I have faith in his opinion on who's right for me." By the way, this whole gathering is filmed like it's some shady meeting, with chatter happening in the kitchen and in the stairwell.

Eric gives Mer the third degree and asks some pretty serious questions, like "What attracts you to Ian?" Always great w/ words, Mer says he’s smart, laid back, and athletic. Good one Mer. Meanwhile Ian and Damion are in the kitchen where Ian confides, "on a personal, emotional level, she's my girlfriend."

Eric and Damion leave and Meredith and Ian get it on in the kitchen. Eric walks back in to steal Ian away to talk. In the dimly lit stairwell (there should have been a strobe light) Ian tells his bro “I want it to work so badly I can’t even think straight.” Eric warns to start thinking about what would happen if things don’t work out. Ian promises, “I will not offer her a ring at the end of this.” So much for Meredith ending up with a husband. Someone needs to remind Ian why he went on the show….

Though at first Mer wants to end up with a serious relationship and “he happy” the feelings he brings out in her are “enough for at this point.” Huh??? Does she even know what she wants??? The dramatic finale in Manhattan is when Ian tells us “If Meredith needs to have a ring at the end of this journey, then I’m not the great guy for her.”

Hometown Date 4: Dallas with Lanny (or in God’s home with Lanny and his Mom, the Virgin Mary)

Meredith is determined to find out everything she can about Lanny. He presents her with a yellow rose of Texas and then takes her to watch the horses. Meredith giggles. Lanny, romantic boy that he is, takes Mer to the barn to show her the apparatus to breed horses and the artificial vagina. He’s a charmer. She giggles.

At dinner, Mom asks Mer how she can meet her needs without overstepping boundaries. Meredith’s thoughtful answer is “I don’t know…” Lanny’s sister-in-law lets us in on the fact that Mer would have to get used to Mrs. Lawrence stepping in a lot. That wasn’t obvious at all.

The big question…..
Mom: What church do you affiliate with? (OH NO!!!!!)
Mer: I’m open – I definitely believe. (translation – church? huh?)
Mom: I want to know that my grandchildren would be raised in a Christian home.
Mer: Christian Dior? Oh that will work….

Religion is really important to Lanny and hopes Meredith is “willing to embrace things.” Shouldn’t you have had this conversation a while ago? Kiss of death is when Mom launches into how Lanny would be head of household and Mer would have to respect that. Mer finds Mom intense. “I could have sat in the corral all day, but sitting at the dinner table was difficult for me.” She realizes it would be a challenge to fit in, but as always “I’m going to keep an open mind.”

Pre- Rose Ceremony

Chris: What a week. Tell me where you are right now.
Mer: Wow. (can the girl utter anything thoughtful???)

She tells Chris “I could be falling in love. Sure. Time will tell.”

By the way, her ensemble is interesting – black fishnet tights and a white turtleneck tank sweater. Who dressed her? After watching the videos she whines, “It’s just not human nature for me to pick and choose, especially when it comes to the game of love.” Hello? Was she on the Bachelor? Didn’t she know this would happen?

Rose Ceremony

Mer: “My heart’s beating really fast….okay. I honestly can say that I feel really lucky to have met your families and gotten to know more about you.” Well, maybe not the fact that you’re unemployed Chad, but everything else was cool.

Mer: “All I can say is – I’m sorry, and thank you for everything.

And the roses go to
Ian: “I will, thank you.”
Matthew: “Absolutely.”
Chad: “Of course.”

About sending Lanny home, “I felt like I was breaking up with someone that meant a lot to me.” Well, you were honey. Bye-bye God-loving, artificial vagina, nosy mamma’s boy Lanny. (He was one of the better guys until his mom showed up.)

Outside….
Mer: “I adore you, ADORE you. I think we didn’t get to know each other – as well…”
Lanny: “You were just following your heart.”
Mer: “I will never forget you.”

But she will try. She admits, after seeing him in his element, she wasn’t sure she would want that for her life.

Next week on The Bachelorette: Meredith has her amazing one-on-one dates with Matthew, Ian, and Chad, and we have what's surely going to be, the.most.dramatic.rose.ceremony.ever.

~Carrie~

"Men aren't that complicated. They're kind of like plants."