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
The episode begins with Derek entering the lobby of the Quadruple Tree Hotel while the owner, Bergeron, types away. Thanks to an accident, Derek is no longer a Polish valet–he is Nigel, a British spy from the 1700s. Before Bergeron can investigate, his stern mother Vivian surprises him with a visit from England! Vivian is amused by Derek/Nigel’s concussed confusion, much to Bergeron’s relief.
Downstairs in Danglerzzz, Jiarrhea is showing a new variety performer, Peyton Fromage, the ropes. Peyton is a comedian with an ambiguous identity, childlike demeanor, and corny punchlines.
Back in the hotel lobby, Shedebra Bunting meets Stripbot for the first time. Turns out that Stripbot is just as conniving as Shedebra, and the two start a beautiful friendship together.
On the Danglerzzz stage, Scrunge (a.k.a reporter Ashley Anderson) is warming up for his next set when Vivian wanders in unsure of where she is. She is completely delighted by Scrunge’s performance and vows that for the first time ever, she cares about someone and their future.
Later that night, Bergeron runs into the Danglerzzz locker room; he’s been distraught looking for his mother. Vivian was seen making out with Scrunge, and Bergeron is devastated. Jiahrrea offers to seduce Vivian in order to keep Scrunge away.
Meanwhile Shedebra bursts into a guest room and tries to wake Derek/Nigel, who has fallen into a sleep-like trance. While in this state Derek reveals that he is trapped by the spirit of Nigel, and the only thing that can save him is to be re-concussed by the same novelty item that felled him before.
During her stumble out of Danglerzzz, Vivian meets Peyton and is instantly bewildered by their likable yet confusing persona. Peyton shows her the material they’re working on, and she is once again charmed.
Back in the lobby, Stripbot and Bergeron find each other and discuss their plot to put the Danglerzzz dancers out of business before killing them. Bergeron flips a circuit that turns Stripbot’s ability to have feelings off, making him more ready to kill.
Act Two
Stripbot finally ascends the Danglerzzz stage and Scrunge is very impressed by the moves. While talking together Stripbot discloses that he has scanned Scrunge and knows the truth–that he is actually a teenage girl. The two bond in that moment and Stripbot remembers that there may have been a time when he was human. They also admit they each have been recording everything that happens around them.
Upstairs Vivian discovers Shedebra and confesses that she had come to Atlanta with the intent of bringing Bergeron back home to England. In another uncharacteristically empathetic moment, she listens to Shedebra talk about herself and once again declares that the characters in the building are like children she never had.
In the dark of the bar, Derek/Nigel skulks about looking for a victim and is stopped by Peyton’s overjoyed recognition of him. Peyton decides to try some new material out on him – it doesn’t go over well.
At the front desk, Bergeron is doing paperwork as Shedebra strides up to him. She gushes over Vivian, which disgusts Bergeron. Vivian threatens to separate Bergeron from his beloved hotel, which he wants to transform into the most prestigious hotel ever by putting the club out of business.
Speaking of Vivian, she and Scrunge are watching Jiarrhea on the stage. She coos at the sight of Jiarrhea’s knees and…things. This makes Scrunge jealous, giving Jiarrhea the rare opportunity to call him out for being sexist. Because Scrunge is a Millennial under the disguise, he begins to demur over gender issues, causing Vivian to balk at him and tell him to set principles and stick to them. In a moment of weakness, Scrunge calls Vivian “Grandma” and Jiarrhea punches him for insulting his lady fair. Vivian invites Jiarrhea up to the Presidential Suite as a reward.
A bit later, Bergeron tinkers with Stripbot in the Danglerzzz bar as Derek/Nigel sneaks in. Derek/Nigel believes that he is Bergeron’s ancestor. As they ponder the possibility, Vivian and Jiarrhea burst in to announce that Vivian is staying in Atlanta and marrying Jiarrhea! Scrunge enters and holds up a marriage license he had Vivian sign under false pretenses–meaning Vivian will marry Scrunge the next day! But wait, Stripbot scans her and tells everyone that Vivian is also pregnant with Jiarrhea’s baby! Then Scrunge disrobes and tells everyone his actual identity – Vivian is about to marry a girl! While in shock, Bergeron bludgeons himself.
