My favorite scene in this week’s episode of Damages was when Patty Hewes went into the FBI office and said they’d better back off.
“I hold the FBI responsible for the death of Pete McGee, and you can tell whoever’s calling the shots in Washington that I’m onto them,” she said. “The bureau may be watching me, but I’m also watching you.”
When the FBI guy says, “You’re gonna want to check your tone,” Patty just leans over his desk the way she does and says, “This investigation is corrupt and when I prove it, your career will be over.”
The rest of the conversation went something like this:
FBI Guy: “You don’t want to threaten me.”
Patty Hewes: “I don’t make threats. This is war.”
Aside from the fact that Glenn Close is a terrific actress whose character of Patty is by no means black and white, here’s why I love these types of scenes: We’re so used to seeing women being victimized on TV and in the movies — either running from a serial killer or in a dead-end life they can’t seem to climb out of. But here’s a strong woman who’s successful at what she does (even though she got there by questionable means), and has no problem taking down anyone who crosses her path. And no, I’m not advocating this type of behavior as a rule, but it’s just nice to see a woman who lives life on her own terms rather than RE-acting to everything around her. And she has no problem with it.
I was going to add that Patty Hewes’ behavior is a celebration of her steely-eyed methods of getting ahead, but now I’m not so sure she’s the cold fish I’ve been calling her all these weeks. Maybe partly because SHE ends up in the hot seat in those flash-forwards with Ellen sitting across the table from her with a gun. You get the feeling that Patty does not take well to being the victim, and I have a feeling she won’t end up in the morgue quite yet.
Anyway, amidst the other scenes this week, this is the one that really popped out at me. Any thoughts on this scene or Patty Hewes or anything else in this week’s Damages?
Clacked by Jane Boursaw 
on Mar 07, 2009 @ 17:11 EST5EDT
