Directed by: Emile Levisetti
Written by: Pat Charles
A bunch of feet wash up on a beach near the border. Brennan meets a Canadian podiatrist.
BRENNAN: Dr. Filmore calls himself a forensic podiatrist even though that’s not an officially recognized discipline.
FILMORE: Yes, I am merely a board certified podiatrist who assists law enforcement professionals by providing sound podiatric analysis to forensic investigations. But I thank you for correcting me, Dr. Brennan.
BRENNAN: You’re very welcome.
We learn he experienced paralysis after reading a Brennan article.
SWEETS: Booth is right, you should apologize.
BRENNAN: What?
SWEETS: You undermined his life’s work. You dismissed him and ridiculed the notion that he be recognized as a forensic podiatrist.
BRENNAN: I had to, otherwise, we’d have forensic dermatologists, forensic chiropractors. Where would it end?
BOOTH: You paralyzed the guy, Bones, okay? Dr. Sweets here did his research and he’s gonna get shrinky with you. Get shrinky with her.
BRENNAN: Are you two ganging up on me?
SWEETS: His paralysis sounds like conversion disorder. A major stress event creates a psychic conflict. The person converts that intrapsychic distress into physical symptoms as a way of resolving an issue that he can’t deal with emotionally.
BOOTH: Exactly. Whatever he said.
BRENNAN: So it’s my fault that he can’t deal with his own life?
BOOTH: You just don’t get it, do you, Bones?
BRENNAN: Not at all.
Brennan does not understand everyone’s assertion that she apologize.
BRENNAN: Of course. I hope you will be comfortable here, Dr. Filmore.
FILMORE: Well thank you. I’m sure I will be.
BRENNAN: My colleagues have been encouraging me to… apologize to you.
FILMORE: Oh?
BRENNAN: I told them that you hadn’t asked for an apology.
FILMORE: Well, it wouldn’t be appropriate for me to ask for it.
BRENNAN: Exactly. I really have no idea what they’re talking about. I’m glad you feel the same way.
Is she for real??
B&B go to a body farm to investigate the murder.
BRENNAN: Those feet had time of death of two months.
BOOTH: No one was reported missing two months ago.
BRENNAN: Which is why more expertise is required than just feet.
BOOTH: Yeah, right. Gosh. You’re really, you really are not going to stop until this Canadian foot guy is paralyzed from head to toe.
BRENNAN: Would you accept an agent who specialized in murders that only occurred in February?
BOOTH: Okay, that’s different.
BRENNAN: Not to me.
Meanwhile, Cam makes some questionable parenting decisions.
SWEETS: You forged Michelle’s application and applied to Columbia?
CAM: Could you not say that as though I killed three people?
SWEETS: Come on. Did you consider the person that didn’t get in because you cheated?
CAM: All right. I’m a terrible person. I stipulate to that. But that’s not why I’m here.
SWEETS: You’re kidding.
CAM: What I need is your advice on how to tell Michelle that she has the option of going to one of the best universities in the world.
SWEETS: Unfairly and illegitimately.
CAM: I’d rather not put it to her that way.
SWEETS: I can’t help you.
CAM: Why not? Some sort of professional code of ethics?
SWEETS: No, my own personal code of ethics. You should consider putting one together of your own.
CAM: Shut up.
SWEETS: Excuse me?
CAM: You know, you have never had to put someone else’s well-being ahead of your own. Not ever. Well, I am a mother, okay, and if I have to get my hands dirty to get my child ahead, then I will.
SWEETS: What kind of example are you setting for Michelle?
Booth tries to explain the importance of compassion.
BOOTH: So what did Dr. Footsie say?
BRENNAN: It seems that the victim was killed with some kind of power tool.
BOOTH: That’s good, right?
BRENNAN: Mmm. Yeah.
BOOTH: Couldn’t give the guy some props for that?
BRENNAN: No, I said that his discovery might have value.
BOOTH: But you know that it does. You know that. You just don’t want someone like him to be as good as someone like you.
BRENNAN: With feet.
BOOTH: Just feet. I get it. I get it. But, you know, you really should apologize to him.
BRENNAN: I already explained.
BOOTH: I know you did, but come on, Bones, he’s hurting. All right? Whether you’re right or wrong, you leveled the guy.
BRENNAN: He’s a grown man.
BOOTH: Sometimes that makes it hurt more. What makes us human, Bones, is that we can feel compassion and regret.
BRENNAN: Why is it so important to you, Booth?
Michelle learns of Cam’s plan and counters with one of her own.
MICHELLE: Here’s what I’ll do: I’ll work for a year and make money and I’ll take extra courses, and I’ll get into Columbia on my own and make you proud.
CAM: You already have.
MICHELLE: I want to be just like you.
CAM: That’s sweet, but I think you should aim a little higher.
Dr. Filmore finally speaks his mind and gets a concession in return.
FILMORE: You are brilliant, Dr. Brennan, I won’t deny it, but you are also a close-minded and a thoughtless person.
BRENNAN: Yes, I have heard that before which is why I wanted to address the issue of the article I wrote in the journal.
FILMORE: Oh.
BRENNAN: While I don’t believe that forensic podiatry should be recognized as a separate specialty, I was remiss in my article not to have noted your remarkable skill and expertise. You are exceptional, and I strongly doubt we would have solved this case without your help. For that, I am very grateful…and pleased to have had the opportunity to work with you. Dr. Filmore.
After another accidental murder is revealed, B&B wrap it up.
BOOTH: I’m glad that you apologized to the Canadian. I’m proud of you, Bones.
BRENNAN: I didn’t apologize.
BOOTH: I thought…
BRENNAN: The word “apology” derives from the Ancient Greek “apologia” which means “a speech in defense.” When I defended what I said to him, you told me that wasn’t a real apology.
BOOTH: Why don’t you think of a word that means you feel bad for making someone else feel bad?
BRENNAN: Contrite. From the Latin “contritus” meaning “crushed by a sense of sin.”
BOOTH: There. That’s it. Contrite. Okay, I’m happy that you contrited to the Canadian.
BRENNAN: Would you like to hear some more things that I feel contrite about?
BOOTH: There’s more?
BRENNAN: Yes. I feel contrite that I think your socks are silly.
BOOTH: What?
BRENNAN: Also I am contrite that I think you are foolhardy in the way you approach your cup of coffee.
BOOTH: How do I approach a cup of coffee?
BRENNAN: You drink it without checking the temperature and then you complain all day that your tongue is burned. I feel contrite that I think that’s stupid.
BOOTH: Let’s recap, okay. Foolhardy and stupid.
BRENNAN: There’s more.
BOOTH: Bones, you don’t have to apologize for things that you think.
BRENNAN: Oh.
BOOTH: Believe me, if we had to be sorry for every, single thought…
BRENNAN: Like what?
Exhibit A
Exhibit B
Exhibit C (literally an exhibit ha!)
BOOTH: Uh, believe me I’m not gonna fall down that path. You know, I might say something I’m gonna regret later. No way.
BRENNAN: Regret. The word regret… derives from the old french “regreter…”
Fade to black. Is this a date yet?
Thoughts:
Is Booth’s insistence on Brennan showing compassion coming from a place of wanting to pursue a relationship with her and wanting/hoping there’s growth on her part?
Do you find Brennan’s thoughts on the podiatrist arrogant? Could she really be still so obtuse to human social cues?
I found Brennan’s “non-apology” to things she thinks about Booth really sweet. She knows about his socks, his coffee…she knows her partner!
What thoughts do you think Booth was referencing that he might be sorry about….???
Boots & Blazers 
Not a favorite episode of mine!! I remember being so disappointed after BitB we got this episode.
But I do love your pics bb of “like what?” exhibits. 🙂
Brennan’s speech was more halting than ever. Her weird cadence and halting speech pattern was so annoying! B&B’s end scene was also annoying IMO!!
“I like how Brennan’s “non-apology” to things she thinks about Booth really sweet. She knows about his socks, his coffee…she knows her partner!” Yes that is nice…he likes brown sugar on his oatmeal…but her pattern of speech and feeling “contrite” and analyzing words was a turn off. Not a romantic ending at all.
“Do you find Brennan’s thoughts on the podiatrist arrogant? Could she really be still so obtuse to human social cues?”
This is the start of clueless Brennan, grrr. Remember Christine and the tooth fairy and other silly things that has Brennan regressing socially and acting more like she has Aspergers.
So all in all, not a fan of this episode. I was expecting more post BitB!….but the best is yet to come.
“What thoughts do you think Booth was referencing that he might be sorry about….???”
most definitely
It’s interesting, I found more things I liked about this episode, or at least that just stood out to me more than I remembered. Like WTF was happening with Cam, doing something like that should’ve jeopardized her job at the lab, falsifying documents. Honestly, Sweets should’ve reported that. I thought the ending was nice, even though she was being picky about word choice, I liked that she expressed such knowledge about Booth.
And I wasn’t upset that this episode wasn’t super romantic. I know that TV shows like to drag things out so I didn’t expect that B&B would just instantly start making out post-Blizzard. And I knew they were working towards them getting together, so I wasn’t worried. Thanks to Emily and her pregnancy, it moved more quickly than I was expecting so it turned out fine for me in regards to that. Honestly, I was always worried that Fox was going to cancel Bones so anything we got was a blessing, pretty much the whole series run! While this isn’t in my top episodes, I thought it was fine. Nothing too thrilling, but building up the foundation for them getting together as a couple.