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.

Act One

Our story begins at the front desk of the Quadruple Tree Hotel, where Shedebra, meets the Rev. Joe Lee Pancakes for the first time. The good reverend has moved his congregation into a building across the street, and he wants to stay at the hotel while his rectory is being built. Shedebra notices that Joe wants everything heavily discounted and/or free and warns him that the staff cannot be paid in Bible verses. Joe in turn threatens to bring his congregation down on the hotel if he isn’t given royal treatment.

Down in Danglerzzz, two others are meeting for the first time: Jessie “Cans” Goodknight is back from a hiatus and introduces herself to Stripbot. Cans left Danglerzzz because she wasn’t quite ready to tell someone she loved them. Stripbot (who has lost his manhood in order to save Derek’s life) briefly had a sense of what love might be, but can’t feel that way any longer.

Upstairs in the hotel cafe, Misty is serving sweet tea to another new guest, Princess Isabel of an undetermined European country. Good natured Southern lady she is, Misty points out that the princess stands out just a touch in her ball gown and jewelry and offers to redress her after the shift ends. The two become fast friends.

While some people are making introductions, Bergeron and Derek meet to talk business. Bergeron is offering Derek a contract to become a Featured Dancer at Danglerzzz. After signing the paperwork, Derek notices that Bergeron has been drinking a lot lately; the poor man is numbing his broken heart after Misty stood him up at Applebee’s.

Meanwhile, Shedebra marches Isabel back to her suite, for her royal parents demanded that she stay in her room and not leave while they are out and about in the city. Shedebra tries to suss out what Isabel might need in order to be more comfortable, but the princess’ accent is so strong she can’t understand her. Isabel begs to be let outside. Not one to pass up an opportunity to play Devil’s Advocate, Shedebra tells Isabel she is taking her downstairs.

Later that afternoon, Joe is preparing to lead a sermon in his church when Misty walks in. Turns out Misty remembers Joe’s more debauched days and feels comfortable confessing she strangled Vavianna Bardot. Misty wants to become famous at all costs, so Joe suggests she tithe nightly to win the favor of the Lord. Misty is having none of it, and blackmails Joe to help her, lest she reveals his sordid past.

Over at the Danglerzzz bar, Bergeron is drinking alone while Stripbot dances on stage. Without warning, Cans leaps on stage and starts swinging on the pole with him. At the end of the set, Stripbot asks Bergeron what his purpose is if he can’t also get on the pole. Bergeron muses that Stripbot was bought off the internet, and that maybe they should venture to find his purpose together. Bergeron switches off Stripbot’s “Strip” function and turns on his “Psychiatrist” one.

Act Two

Inside a meeting room, Shedebra waits for Misty to join her in a secret meeting. Shedebra thinks highly of Misty for taking out Vavianna, so she concocts a scheme to make Misty famous and spare the hotel bad press for being the scene of Vavianna’s death: the two will convince Isabel to pose as Vavianna and have her promote Misty as a performer through a phony contract.

That evening Bergeron acts as Dr. Frankenstein, pulling all the organic matter out of Stripbot and forming it into an android. Unfortunately, Stripbot still lacks a human heart and Bergeron needs to find one.

Over at the Danglerzzz bar, Cans is setting up when Joe comes in to introduce himself. Before Joe can figure out what kind of establishment he’s walked into, Officer Nightstick takes the stage for his raunchy set. Once the set is over, he goes off on a tirade, and Cans finally recognizes him as a corrupt preacher who tried to have her killed. Joe insists that he tried to save her, and challenges her to tell everyone who he is.

Away in the locker room, Derek is having trouble brushing his teeth, so Stripbot offers to help him. During the intimate moment, Derek thanks Stripbot for saving his life by donating his manhood to save him, and offers to share his heart with Stripbot.

Back upstairs, Cans finally gets the courage to tell Shedebra that she loves her and had taken off to Nassau to work through her feelings. Shedebra hesitates to reciprocate.

In the deep freeze of the hotel, Misty goes to check on Vavianna’s body. She is followed by Bergeron, who confronts her for standing him up. While storming out, Bergeron discovers the corpse.