Gina and Paul -- Week Three

Paul lays out breakfast for his overnight guest, and Tammy emerges, showered and marveling at how she doesn't feel guilty cheating on her husband because Paul feels "comfortable." But when Paul suggests they take the train down to Maryland together, Tammy balks, not wanting anyone to see them together. Rosie calls, upset about her ailing Grandpa (Paul's father) and Tammy leaves while Paul's on the phone. When their paths cross at Gina's later that night, Tammy is uncomfortable and dodges out. Paul enters his session, unsure of what Tammy's told Gina. Tense, he tries to pick a fight but Gina won't bite. He speaks angrily about his father and tells Gina he had coffee with Tammy to hear her recollections of the night his mother first attempted suicide but refers to Tammy only by mentioning that her memories don't match his. According to Tammy, Paul's father always called her mother to check on his sons and estranged wife, and he was actually there that night and was the one who called the ambulance. Gina challenges Paul on whether his brother was around more than he recalls as well, reminding him memories aren't always reliable — we alter them constantly so the past won't conflict with our views of the present. Angry, Paul insists his feelings are real, but Gina suggests they may represent the whole period in his childhood, not just that night. As she continues to carefully push him, Paul fights to acknowledge any positive interpretations of his father's past actions. He insists his father was a cheat who abandoned his family. She finally leads him to recall that his mother was diagnosed as bipolar when his father finally had her admitted to a mental hospital, and Paul has a revelation: His mother's illness could have explained his father's infidelity. Gina assures him that there was nothing he could have done to help his mother as a little boy. Paul brings up Oliver and April — both patients he feels compelled to save. He worries that he is like his father, leaving his children alone with their mother and devoting more attention to his patients than his family. He vows to be a better father — and son. On his way out, Gina reminds him: Next week, they'll discuss Tammy.