Atlanta Loop has partnered with Dad’s Garage to provide recaps of their latest show: SCANDAL. This improvised soap opera takes place in a fancy hotel with a seedy male strip club in the bottom. Every week the improvisers at Dad’s Garage will make up the drama, the laughs, and the SCANDAL on stage at their theatre; and we’ll be publishing the recaps. Imagine Soap Opera Digest meets Atlanta Loop, and you get the idea. Subscribers to Atlanta Loop/Decaturish will have access to a limited number of free tickets each week. To purchase tickets for the next show, click here.
This week’s episode begins in the lobby of the Quadruple Tree Hotel, where Bergeron is holding a meeting with Shedebra, Rusty, and Derrek. Excitement abounds as they await the arrival of the Russian Ambassador, Pavel Buce, who is second in command to Vladimir Putin. Bergeron is determined to get a good review on Trip Advisor so that the hotel may receive a coveted 6th Star.
Down in the underbelly of Danglerzz, Jiarrhea and Herb are discussing details of their upcoming duo act, “Shock and Awe.” Jiarrhea will represent “Shock”, while Herb covers “Awe”. Their discussion turns sour when they start to bicker over who is more important.
Back up in the hotel lobby, Shedebra greets Pavel Buce. The ambassador is overcome with emotion and proclaims love at first sight. Though she is flattered, Shedebra bristles at all the gushing–she prefers the chase. Pavel agrees she should give full consent; he’s down for the hunt.
Meanwhile, Jessie “Cans” preps the Danglerzzz bar for opening. Grizzled from a recent break up, Pete Hotdog comes in looking for solace in a filthy show. Cans takes pity on Pete and decides that he can stay under the condition that he act as social media manager for her. At that moment, Ashley Andover arrives in disguise as Scrunge and the two nineteen year olds immediately recognize each other as former sweethearts! Cans excuses herself, while our lovers recap what has happened since their break up and reminisce over what might have been. Ashley confesses that she lost her virginity, and Pete angrily tells Cans that their deal is off.
In the darkness of the parking deck Derrek shows Rusty the very big scratch he made on Pavel’s car. In a panic, Derrek divulges his secret: his family has been taken to a prison camp after Russia invaded Poland. Rusty questions Derrek’s knowledge of history, and Derrek responds by threatening Rusty into helping him kill the Pavel.
In the Ambassador Suite, Bergeron is fielding requests from Pavel. The lovesick Russian wants Shedebra, and because of that his review on Trip Advisor is suffering. Bergeron gave Shedebra the night off, and placates Pavel with photos of her on his phone. Pavel is somewhat amused and asks that they bump phones to share the pictures–which also gives them each other’s contacts. Bergeron promises that Shedebra will be in the suite at midnight.
Down in the club, a tormented Pete watches Scrunge’s set while Herb retreats to the locker room. Once her set ends, Ashley/Scrunge runs to Pete and apologizes for lying about her virginity and thanks him for seeing her through the disguise. Jiarrhea finds Herb in the locker room and apologizes for his part of their disagreement. Both pairs begin to argue, and the scene ends with Jiarrhea alone and Ashley/Scrunge crying at the bar.
Unsure of what to do, Scrunge begs Jiarrhea for advice on her break up with Pete. He wistfully tells the story of Phillip — the son he ran away from after leaving his mother when Jiarrhea was an 81-year-old lad. Scrunge asks Jiarrhea what he would do if his first love ever came back. Being the old salt that he is, Jiarrhea quickly turned the conversation to saucier subjects.
Two minutes to midnight, Pavel anxiously awaits Shedebra’s arrival in darkness. Bergeron, disguised as Shedebra, comes into the room. Pavel is nervous that he doesn’t have her full consent, so Bergeron suggests that they not “go all the way”. Pavel agrees and unzips.
The real Shedebra is listening to Derrek try to talk his way into caring for Pavel as Pete stumbles in looking for a room and something to poison himself. She sends Derrek for the poison and reminds him not to mix it with any of Pavel’s coffee in the next room.
Cans and Rusty are sitting at the bar; Cans agrees to let Rusty compete in their pole dancing competition. Elated, Rusty skips out to find Derrek, who hands off poisoned coffee to give to Pavel. Shedebra joins Cans and they hatch a plan to get Pavel to come to Danglerzzz and dance in order to drive publicity.
In the Presidential Suite, Ashley/Scrunge attempts to talk Pete down from killing himself as Rusty knocks and offers the poisoned coffee. Pete takes it and sits on the bed with Ashley/Scrunge and remembers their high school production of Romeo and Juliet. He drinks the coffee and starts dying.
In the lobby, Pavel acts very cheeky with a clueless Shedebra. Horrified, Bergeron takes her aside and confesses that he and Pavel had relations.
Outside, Ashley/Scrunge prepares to bury Pete. They sweetly sing their old song together, but before they could deflower one another at the climax, Pete climaxes. Ashley shuts his eyes and he dies.
