Beef Consommé
"Beef Consommé" is the thirteenth episode of the first season of the American television satirical sitcom Arrested Development. It was written by supervising producer Chuck Martin and co-executive producer Richard Rosenstock, and directed by Jay Chandrasekhar. It originally aired on Fox on February 15, 2004.
The series, narrated by Ron Howard, follows the Bluths, a formerly wealthy, dysfunctional family, who made their money from property development. The Bluth family consists of Michael, his twin sister Lindsay, his older brother Gob, his younger brother Buster, their mother Lucille and father George Sr., as well as Michael's son George Michael, and Lindsay and her husband Tobias' daughter Maeby. In the episode, the family must appear at George Sr.'s arraignment hearing, but proceedings are jeopardized by Michael and Marta's relationship guilt and Gob's hunt for his unknown rival for Marta.
Plot
Michael, Lucille, George Sr., and their attorney Barry Zuckerkorn meet at the prison to discuss George Sr.'s arraignment the next day, where Barry tells them they should all show up and appear loving and supportive. Gob is still looking for "Hermano", the man he suspects is having an affair with Marta, and Michael tells him that he will speak to Marta on his behalf. At Marta's house, she and Michael confess their mutual attraction and decide to "do the right thing" to honor their families, but end up doing "the wrong thing." However, with reminders of Gob all around, they decide to tell him before going further. While Maeby is tired of Tobias and Lindsay's constant fighting, George Michael wonders whether or not Maeby really is his blood relative and decides to investigate. Gob tells Michael he plans to beat up Hermano, and Buster overhears, imagining what it might be like to get into a fight, having spent his whole life under his mother's wing.Lucille calls to remind the family about George Sr.'s hearing the next afternoon, and George Michael begins his investigation into Maeby's conception by asking Tobias to elaborate on his earlier comment about having trouble conceiving. Tobias becomes distracted when he realizes that his role as "Frightened Inmate #2" is a shower scene, and as a never-nude, this poses a problem for him. Buster asks Gob if he can ask Marta out, and Gob, not taking him seriously, tells him to go ahead. When he overhears Buster say hermano and learns what it means, Gob assumes Marta is involved with the actor who plays her character's brother Tio on El Amor Prohibido. He leaves to find that man, and Michael goes after to stop him. George Michael learns that Maeby was a test-tube baby, which he assumes means they are not actually related, and Gob reaches the soap opera set and takes a swing at the actor he's looking for, who knocks Gob out.
When Gob wakes up, Michael tells him he is the "hermano", and Gob gives him his blessing, with Michael rushing over to Marta's immediately to tell her. Lucille interrupts, calling to say that Michael is late for his father's hearing. Buster had rented a mariachi band to proclaim his love for Marta, but arrived just a few seconds after Michael did. Tobias, with Lindsay's help, tries to overcome his problem with nudity. At the courthouse, only Lucille and Gob show up for the hearing on time, with Barry arriving shortly after George Sr. is led in and Buster coming in with the mariachi band. He tells Gob about seeing Michael kissing Marta a few minutes ago, which makes Gob jealous. As the judge reads the long list of charges against George Sr., Michael finally arrives and is immediately accosted by Gob, and they brawl their way out of the courtroom onto the street. George Sr. uses the chaotic situation to escape through the courthouse stairwell but accidentally runs back to the holding cells. While Michael, Gob, and Buster fight on the courthouse lawn, Lucille leaves for home. Marta arrives, sees them fighting, and says she doesn't want either of them, causing Michael and Gob to make up. Tobias and Lindsay take their clothes off together, and Tobias is finally able to be fully nude, leading them to reconnect as a couple for the first time in years.