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Summary: The night before Thanksgiving, Will and Grace are curious as to why Jack freaks out when Will informs him that they've invited Jack's mother (whom he hardly ever sees) for Thanksgiving dinner at Will's. After Jack leaves in a fit, his mother shows up on one of her dry runs (practice for the actual dinner night), she makes some odd comments, including how it's so nice that Grace and Jack have remained friends even after he dumped her and they realize Mrs. McFarland has no idea her son is gay.
The next day, when Will confronts Jack about this, he comes clean and admits that his mother's not the easiest to talk to. Will, who Jack had pestered to come out to his mother when he found out he was gay, insists that Jack tell her at dinner that night. After some more persuading from his 'lover', Grace, Jack agrees.
That night, Karen shows up for dinner and gets the lowdown from Grace about Jack's lie. Karen, however, is more insulted and jealous that Jack didn't tell his mother that she was his girlfriend, even though at the time he told the lie, Jack didn't even know Karen.
When Jack's mother arrives, he is less than anxious to greet her and, despite the obvious signs, she doesn't seem to be any more in the know about Jack.
During dinner, Will tries to get Jack to tell his mother that he's gay by saying everyone should say what they are thankful for and tell one secret about themself.
Karen goes first and takes this opportunity to put herself into Jack's lie by saying her secret is that while Jack and Grace were together, she and Jack were doing the 'dirty-dirty'.
When it's Jack's turn, he gets close to telling his mother, than panics and goes onto the balcony. Will joins him while Mrs. McFarland tells Grace and Karen that the reason he is upset is probably because they are fighting over him.
Meanwhile, Will manages to convince Jack to go back in and tell his mother the truth. When he returns, Karen and Grace are now both 'fighting over him'.
After Jack tells his mother his secret, she acts shocked, but takes it fairly well and admits to having spotted a few clues. Then she tells Jack a secret of her own: Jack's father isn't his real father.
Unlike his mother, Jack isn't as calm about this secret and faints.
An hour or so later, revived and getting ready to leave, Jack is teased once more by Grace about her being his 'lover', to which he replies , 'Get over it, Grace, you already have one gay husband, leave me be'.
KAREN (upon learning JACK's mother doesn't know he's gay): How could she not know? What is she, headless?
GRACE: God, I would think after 30 years, it would be kind of liberating.
JACK: Oh, no. I'm not telling her I'm 30.
KAREN: [pushing Jack] Why wasn't I your girlfriend, queer bait?
JACK: What?!
KAREN: You told your mother that Grace was your girlfriend! How could you?!
JACK: Karen, I didn't even know you when I made up that lie.
KAREN: Oh, yeah? Well when you met me, then you should've broken up with her and hooked up with me!
JACK: You're married, I'm gay.
KAREN: Not in the lie!
JACK: Hi, mom.
JUDITH: Hi, honey. Oh, look at you.
JACK: Oh, no. Look at you.
JUDITH: Ok. Look at me.
JACK: No. Look at me.
KAREN (when they are all telling one secret about themselves): And... my secret is... [to GRACE] Jack and I were doing the dirty-dirty while you two were still together!
WILL: Remember that time at Matt Stokes' party where we met for the first time, and I was in such deep denial about being gay, I think I was 20 pounds overweight?
JACK: 30.
WILL: Maybe 25.
JACK: Maybe 35.
JUDITH: Karen, how come you moved in on her man?
KAREN: Oh, no, no, no, no, no. He came on to me, ok? Yeah. He was looking for a real woman, not somebody who just lays there like bibb lettuce. Ha ha! Bibb lettuce.
KAREN: So Jack's gay, huh? [to GRACE] Hmm. No wonder he went back to you.
JACK (after GRACE teases him some more about being his 'lover'): Get over it, Grace, you already have one gay husband. Leave me be.
Other Quotes:
JUDITH (to GRACE): And I think it's terrific that you and Jack have stayed friends even after he dumped you. Bye bye. (JUDITH exits into the elevator)
GRACE: Dumped me, what are you talking about? Jack is a ho-my God, she has no idea!
WILL (to JACK): You forced me to come out to my own mother. Y-y-y-you teased me, and you pressured me, and you even left a copy of The Sensuous Gay Man on her washing machine!
WILL: Jack's just in my wardrobe trying to find the perfect 'coming out-fit'.
GRACE: Jack, this isn't gonna be as hard as you think. On some level, your mother has to know you're gay. I mean, she has met you, right?
Scenes Karen & Jack Have Together
