Aunt Nauseam is the tenth episode of Season 5 of Daria and the sixty-second episode of the series overall. It originally aired on MTV on June 4, 2001.
Synopsis[]
When Daria's Aunt Rita visits, having guilted Helen to represent Rita's daughter Erin in a prospective divorce, meanwhile, the two Barksdale sisters dredge up old grudges.
Summary[]
At the Morgendorffers' during dinner time, Quinn is telling Daria and Jake a story about Sandi getting caught plagiarizing her essay in Mr. O'Neil's class. Jake attempts to try out a new recipe from his civil war cookbook, which disgusts Quinn. They are approached by Helen who says she has resolved her latest court case and now has more time to spend with the family.
Helen gets a call from her sister Rita, who says that her daughter Erin and her husband Brian are getting a divorce. Rita asks Helen if she can handle the divorce case and Helen tells her that it is not her field of expertise. Jake motions that he does not want her involved in the divorce proceedings. Helen gets another call from her mother. Helen explains that an attorney who specializes in divorce could handle the case better than her. However, she is pressured to take the case and eventually does, and then switches the phone line to tell Rita she'll take it. An exasperated Jake tells Helen he can't take the bickering between the sisters.
At Lawndale High, Quinn and Sandi are walking in the hallway. They are approached by Stacy who is wearing a new dress. Quinn and Sandi give their approval. Tiffany approaches and the girls are shocked that she is wearing the same dress as Stacy.
At the Morgendorffer house, Jake and Daria are watching Sick, Sad World. Helen walks into the living room while talking on the phone to her sister Rita. Rita tells Helen that it will just be Erin, as Rita promised to take her boyfriend Ralph to New York on his birthday. Helen ends the call and expresses her annoyance at Rita not coming, but this pleases Jake. The doorbell rings and Daria opens the door to Tom. Tom tells her he can't get through to her on the phone. Daria explains that it is due to her mother. Tom offers Daria a ride around the block in exchange for the details. Daria turns this down, saying she plans on telling Jane about it tomorrow. Tom suggests that they could still ride around the block. Daria refuses and shuts the door.
At school, Daria and Jane are walking down the hallway. Daria fills Jane in with the details about Erin's divorce. They pass by the Fashion Club. The Fashion Club is having a debate over whether Stacy or Tiffany should wear the dress. Stacy reads from a cue card that Tiffany looks good in anything, however, because of the asymmetry in her shoulders this is one of the few garments that looks good on her while off-setting her eyes. Tiffany goes next, looks at her cue card and simply thanks them and says "God bless". Sandi suggests to Quinn that a debate was not the right approach.
At the Morgendorffer home, Daria and Quinn are seated in the living room. Helen walks in and Jake says that martinis are ready to pour. Helen reminds him that Erin doesn't drink martinis and Jake clarifies that the martinis are for him. The doorbell rings and it ends up being Rita instead of Erin. Jake chugs the martini mix straight from the pitcher. Rita explains that Ralph broke up with her and that Erin is in Stadt in Switzerland for a spa week because Grandma Barksdale thought it would be good for Erin. Rita questions if she can stay with the Morgendorffers for a few days while she is having her house repainted to which Jake reluctantly agrees.
Jake, Helen, Rita, and Daria are seated in the living room discussing the divorce case. Quinn walks in the living room while on the phone with Erin; she tells Rita that Erin and Brian signed a prenuptial agreement that splits everything fifty-fifty. Helen tells Rita that there is a junior associate with experience in matrimonial law and that this is not a simple divorce case. Rita tells Helen that she and their mother can find a lawyer for Erin if Helen can't handle it. Helen decides to continue helping with the case. In the kitchen, Jake tells Daria he can't take it and needs to get out. Jake discusses a secret signal they can use for when he calls in order to know what is happening at home.
At Cashmans, Quinn and the rest of the Fashion Club attempt to return the dresses but are told that it is too late to return it by the cashier Theresa. At the movie theater, Jake is seen watching a film. The kids in the theater act rowdy; Jake tells them to knock it off and they start throwing things at Jake. Jake heads out of the theater when he gets a call on his cell phone. Realizing it's Rita, he uses a high-pitched voice and says she's got the wrong number.
In the living room, Quinn answers the phone to Erin, who tells her that the divorce is off. Daria walks in and Quinn tells her the news. Quinn and Daria head to the kitchen and share the news with Rita and Helen; Quinn explains that Brian flew to Switzerland to make up and that they are having a second honeymoon, which causes further arguing between Helen and Rita. The doorbell rings and Daria answers it to Tom. Helen and Rita are heard arguing off-screen. Quinn runs up the stairs, and in exasperation asks when it will stop. Tom questions Daria who responds that she doesn't want to talk about it. She heads back inside and answers the ringing phone: it's Jake at a billiard hall. Daria tells him that Rita is still there. When Helen walks in and asks Daria if that's her father, Daria pretends it is someone placing a pizza order. Helen mutters disappointment that Jake has run off. Rita walks in and Daria walks upstairs. In her bedroom, Daria decides to call her Aunt Amy.
In the guest bedroom, Rita is packing a suitcase. Helen walks in, apologizes, and suggests that they bake cookies. The sisters are seen in the kitchen with pre-packaged cookie dough but end up arguing over that too. The doorbell rings and Quinn opens the door to reveal Amy has arrived. In Daria's room, Quinn and Amy enter. Quinn tells Daria that Gone with the Wind is on tonight. Daria tells her that she doesn't give a crap and Quinn compliments Daria as she leaves the room. Amy asks Daria for an update and questions Daria if things are not going well with Tom. Daria says things are fine, he just refuses to accept that Daria does not have time for him right now. Amy suggests maybe Tom is trying to offer his time to Daria. They head down to the living room to see how the "battle" is progressing.
In the living room, Rita and Helen are arguing again. Helen asks Amy what she is doing there. The three Barksdale sisters eventually all start arguing. Daria yells out to get their attention. Daria and Quinn act out the sisters fighting to show them how ridiculous it is. The Barksdale sisters all make up and exchange a group hug. Quinn asks Daria if she has decided about watching Gone with the Wind.
At Pizza Prince, Daria describes the day's events to Tom, Daria apologizes for giving Tom the short end of the stick that week, and Tom reassures her he understands. Daria admits that Erin's martial crisis made her feel weird about the boyfriend-girlfriend thing. Tom asks Daria if she wants to see a movie. She explains that she will be watching Gone with the Wind with Quinn. The Fashion club are seen sitting at a different booth. Tiffany and Stacy are still wearing the same dress. Stacy accidentally knocks her grape soda on Tiffany's dress leaving a stain. Tiffany says her dress is ruined. Stacy offers her dress to Tiffany. The two girls make up and hug. However, Stacy's dress is also ruined by the soda when they make contact.
Later, at the Morgendorffers' Daria and Quinn finish watching Gone with the Wind. Quinn is seen crying, saying that the movie is sad. Daria questions Quinn on if something is bothering her. The phone rings and Daria answers Jake's phone call. Daria tells him the pigeons are at rest and ends the call. Quinn explains her concern over if they will have the same sisterly difficulties like Helen and Rita. Daria jokingly makes Quinn a deal that she will use her winning personality, and the only weapon Quinn use against Daria will be her merciless silent treatment. Quinn agrees and says it's a deal.
In the garage, Jake is seated on the sleeping bag, a pillow behind him. Jake questions whether it's safe to go back in. Jake exasperatedly says he can't sleep in the garage again another night.