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*“The Scorpion and the Toad”*
←	HIMYM episode 2x02 (24)	→

First aired: September 25, 2006
Director: Rob Greenberg
Writer: Carter Bays Craig Thomas Chris Harris
Barney's Blog
Images (7)

Barney helps Marshall get back into the singles' scene. Lily is back in town and Ted and Robin try to learn the truth about how she feels about the breakup.

RecapEdit

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Barney notices Marshall checking out Robin, and he and Ted are excited that Marshall seems to be getting over Lily. Barney insists on taking Marshall out to meet women. The first time Marshall tries to talk to a woman, he fails horribly, talking awkwardly about sweat. Barney intervenes and ultimately goes home with the woman. Even though Marshall initially refuses to go out again, Barney convinces him to try again and teaches him Barney's Rules of Mating Without Dating. Trying to use one of Barney's rules, Marshall approaches a woman but quickly admits that he just got out of a long relationship and doesn't know what he is doing. The woman actually finds Marshall's admission charming and the two begin to chat when Barney approaches. Barney introduces himself and then proceeds to hit on the woman and then take her home. Barney convinces Marshall to go out with him again, this time to a college bar where he thinks that Marshall may have more luck. Marshall does meet a woman, who even gives him her phone number, but in the cab ride home Barney steals the number from Marshall. Barney comes back to Marshall the following day saying that the woman he met at the college bar has a twin sister and invites him on a double date. During the double date Barney pulls Marshall aside to tell him that he had spoken with the sisters who both wanted to go home with him. Upset and frustrated, Marshall leaves the bar.

Meanwhile, Lily, recently back from San Francisco, makes contact with Robin, who goes apartment-hunting with her. Robin tells Ted that Lily is back in town and that she seems really happy. Lily told Robin that her art program was amazing and that her teacher praised her work, saying that he wasn't able to teach her anything. Lily also loved San Francisco because she met such interesting people. Ted reacts badly to the news that Lily is so happy, saying that after dumping Marshall she should feel terrible. Robin convinces him not to be mad at Lily for moving on and they join Lily to continue her search for an apartment. After spending a little time with Lily, Ted tells Robin that he can tell that Lily is miserable and that she is just pretending to be happy. Robin thinks that Lily really is happy with her life, so Ted makes a bet with her, saying that after three tequila shots Lily will tell them the truth about anything. Three tequila shots later, Lily still seems happy and Ted admits that Robin was right. But after Lily receives a call from an apartment manager saying that someone else got the apartment that she wanted, Lily breaks down and admits that she is miserable and wants to reconcile with Marshall. She reveals that she lied about her art program—her teacher said that she had no talent—and the interesting people in San Francisco. She asks Ted if he thinks Marshall would take her back and Ted says absolutely but warns her that she should only talk to Marshall if she knows for certain that she wants to reconcile with him.

Lily goes to find Marshall and runs into him as he is coming back from his double date with Barney. Lily apologizes to Marshall, saying that going to San Francisco was the worst mistake that she has ever made, and she asks if they can get back together. Marshall says that when Lily broke up with him and said that they needed time apart to discover who they are, that she broke his heart. But he has realized that she was right, that he does need to find himself outside of his relationship with Lily. Marshall says that he thinks that they shouldn't get back together, at least at the moment. Saddened, Lily asks if they will still see each other and Marshall admits that he isn't sure, as the two begin talking about their summers.

Storming into MacLaren's (at Marshall's request), Lily approaches Barney, still schmoozing the twins, and throws a drink in his face, claiming that he gave her chlamydia. She then returns in a hat, posing as an alleged twin sister, scaring off his dates.

ContinuityEdit

In this episode, Barney steals all of Marshall's potential dates. In Bachelor Party, Barney tells Lily he did this so she and Marshall can get back together.
Barney uses magic again to impress girls, which he first used in Slutty Pumpkin.

Ted tells Robin about a 1939 penny he found on the subway; this penny forms the basis of the events that transpire in Lucky Penny.

GalleryEdit

Lily tells Robin about her summer while apartment shopping.
Lily surprises Robin at her apartment.
Marshall is single for the first time in 9 years.
Lily finally faces Marshall, after a whole summer apart in San Francisco.

For a listing of all images on the wiki tagged as being from this episode, see Category: The Scorpion and the Toad images.

Memorable QuotesEdit

Marshall: You said to me that being single would be like being in a candy store.
Barney: Well, it's not like a candy store; it's a lawless post-apocalyptic wasteland.

Ted: [Lily]'s moved on?
Robin: Well, it happens. I've fallen out of love faster than that before. Sometimes—boom!—with no warning what so ever. One day we in love, the next day he's dead to me.
(Ted looks at Robin with sad eyes)
Robin: But we're great… Honey.

Marshall: I did it. I got a girl's phone number. Oh, and her hand writing is so cute, look.
(hands the phone number to Barney)
Marshall: Oh, I'm going to take her out for Chinese food, and maybe we'll take a walk though the park. It will be so… what?
Barney: Sorry, buddy, I'm taking this one, too.
(Anger builds up in Marshall's face)
Marshall: I'll kill you!

Barney: Dude! You were awesome last night! You were charming, you were funny, you were totally working that girl!
Marshall: You went home with her!
Barney: Yes I did...

Ted: Five bucks says she still wants Marshall.
Robin: You're on.
Ted: Five American bucks.
Robin: Dammit!

(What Lily claimed happened.)
Art professor: Oh my God. This is your best work! In all my years teaching I have never seen anything so... Needless to say, this is art! I can’t teach you anything. (Gives Lily his paintbrush)

(What actually happened.)
Art professor: Oh my God. This is your best work? In all my years teaching I have never seen anything so…needless! To say this is…art. I can’t teach you anything. (Takes away Lily’s paintbrush)

Ted: Okay, we're way past 'truth-telling' Lily and about to hit 'Cinco de Mayo 1998' Lily, and I'm not cleaning that up again.

Ted: She's miserable. She's realized that she's made a huge mistake. Her and Marshall will be back in a week. I love it!!
Robin: Um. No. You just want Lily to be miserable. The truth is she's happy.
Ted: Trust me. I've known Lily for 9 years.
Robin: Trust me! I'm a girl!
Ted: Yeah, but you're Canadian.

Notes and TriviaEdit

Goofs and ErrorsEdit

In World's Greatest Couple, Robin says that Lily is allergic to dogs, but Lily spends time in Robin's apartment near two dogs in this episode and does not seem bothered.
Halfway through the episode, Lily gets a phone call about the house she's interested in. Every time the camera perspective changes, the dog is sitting in a different spot in the room.
It is referenced that Robin lives in Brooklyn but at the beginning of the episode she is shown leaving the bar in Manhattan and arriving at her apartment seconds later.

Allusions and Outside ReferencesEdit

The Scorpion and The Toad is a children's fable: The Scorpion asks the Toad, "Can you give me a lift across the pond?" The Toad says, "No, because you'll sting me and I'll die." The Scorpion says, "No I won't, because then we'll both drown." So the Toad agrees, and the Scorpion hops on its back. Halfway across the pond, the Scorpion stings the Toad. As they're sinking, the Toad says, "Why? Now we'll both die," and the Scorpion says, "Because it's in my nature."
When Marshall and Barney are fighting over the girl's number in the cab, Marshall shouts "You don't want to see what I'm like when I'm angry!" which is a reference to the Hulk.

MusicEdit

Walk Idiot Walk - The Hives
It Was Love - The Elected

Other NotesEdit

The physical bar "The Scorpion & the Toad" facade seen briefly in this episode is the front to an actual Manhattan pub known as McCormack's on 3rd. Ave.

GuestsEdit

Diane Mizota - Marshall's first date
Josh Wingate - Mike
Nicole Garza - Jenny
Natalie Garza - Jessie
Sundeep Ahuja - Dan
Barry Finkel - Crazy Man
Kelly Mullis - Paula
Lara Wickes - Amy (2)

ReceptionEdit

ReferencesEdit

External LinksEdit

The Scorpion and the Toad at the Internet Movie Database
The Scorpion and the Toad at TV.com

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