Mr. Monk Goes to Group Therapy - Recap

Barbara O'Keefe is in the tub for the third time during a drought when she receives a call. She explains that she talked to Dr. Bell, who said she should pamper herself and not feel guilty about it. The phone goes dead and Barbara hears a noise outside in the hallway. Her cat comes in and Barbara relaxes for a moment before she wonders who let the cat in. Barbara sees a shadow outside and a man tries to get into the bathroom. He shoves his way in.

The next morning, the pool cleaner comes by the apartment block and discovers Barbara floating in the pool, seemingly drowned to death while swimming.

Monk is at home washing his dishes, one dish in the dishwasher at a time, when Natalie arrives. She points out they're in the middle of a drought but Monk insists there's nothing else he could do. Natalie discovers he's received a letter from his HMO. They've put a cap on his therapy sessions and he realizes that he only has one left.

Monk goes to his last session and is eager to get on with the therapy session. He explains that he's on his last session but Dr. Bell is busy trying to find his bifocals to read the HMO letter. Bell points out that Monk could pay for the sessions but Monk doesn't plan on paying $200 a session. Bell warns that they can't do everything in one session but Monk has a list. They try to work through all of Monk's problem at speed but he soon realizes it won't work. Bell notes that the policy will still cover group therapy but Monk is reluctant to be with people. The doctor thinks it could be a benefit in disguise but Monk insists they won't like him and he can't do it.

Later, Monk convinces Natalie taking him biking at the park where Bell bikes. Monk tries to talk about his problems but Bell tells him to join his group therapy and pedals away. Natalie can't keep up and Monk agrees to join the group.

In group therapy, Rhonda is talking about throwing her job away as Monk slips in. Rhonda is angry that Bell didn't ask them first. Augie is afraid of everything. The third patient is Harold Krenshaw. Harold claims he doesn't feel threatened and is glad to see Monk. He offers to shake Monk's hand and fawns over Dr. Bell. Monk agrees to shake hands and then wipes his hands off. Harold starts doing the same thing. When Monk tries to sit down, Rhonda objects, saying that it belongs to Barbara, who died three weeks ago. They start to discuss Monk's claustrophobia and Harold insists that he's cured. Dr. Bell is surprised to hear it and Harold points out that Monk has an assistant. Dr. Bell describes Monk as a hero and Harold seizes on that to insist they're all heroes. Monk accuses him of being jealous and Harold responds by boasting of how much money he makes and the fact he's on the city council. When Monk points out that nobody voted for Harold, things get vicious until Dr. Bell breaks them up.

Monk goes grocery shopping with Natalie and explains that everyone droned on about their own problems. Harold comes up behind him and asks if Monk's following him. He notes that a lot of Bell's patients come to the grocery store, which is across the street from Bell's office. Harold points out Xavier Danko, a former patient who was obsessed with Tiffany, an exotic dancer. Bell cured him five weeks ago and now he's buying cleaning supplies at the store. Harold insists he wants to get better next and tells Monk to leave the group. They argue over the "12 item or less" sign and the cashier is forced to agree with Harold. Natalie comes to the rescue and splits the order. Monk refuses to quit just to spite Harold.

Stottlemeyer calls Monk and Natalie to the scene of a suicide. Augie apparently jumped to his death, and they found Bell's card in his wallet. Monk notices the lack of hair on Augie's wrists and concludes that someone taped his hands together and pushed him. Monk thinks the odds of two deaths in the same group are too low to be likely. Monk goes over the report on Barbara's apparently accidental death and notices there was no towel next to the pool despite the fact it was a cold morning in October. Stottlemeyer admits that they don't have enough evidence to go to the D.A. Monk is thrilled to hear that people are killing off his therapy group. Natalie points out that he's smiling and he tries to stop, without success.

Only Monk, Rhonda, and Harold are left in Bell's therapy group. Harold doesn't want to cancel and Rhonda doesn't think Augie was that depressed. Monk explains that the police withheld some information and they don't know the cause of death. He puts forth his theory that Augie and Barbara was murdered, and warns the police will want to talk to everyone. Monk suggests that one of them might be responsible. Harold accuses Monk of committing the murders, relating what he overheard at the grocery cell. Harold starts "investigating," holding his hands up like Monk. He accuses Monk of wanting Dr. Bell to himself and notes that Monk has the expertise to perform perfect murders. Monk starts to consider what Harold is saying and admits he doesn't have an alibi for the murders. Here's what Harold thinks happened: when Monk got the letter from his HMO, he killed Barbara to get an opening to join the group, then lured Augie to the roof and threw him to his death. Dr. Bell insists that Harold's theory is absurd but Monk isn't so sure.

At home, Monk considers himself in a mirror while Natalie insists he isn't a killer. She points out that Monk would know if he had committed murder, but Monk isn't convinced. She tells him to focus and they narrow it down to Rhonda. Monk and Natalie go to the medical supply store where she works and discover it's closed. The door is open and they go in and smell chemical fumes. They find Rhonda dead, asphyxiated after apparently mixing ammonia and bleach together to make chlorine gas. Monk remembers she worked there for nine years and concludes she would never have made a mistake like that. He insists he would have killed someone with cleaning supplies but Natalie points out that the chemicals aren't his brands. Monk remembers Xavier Danko at the grocery store buying the same cleaning supplies. He concludes that Danko revealed something in therapy, something worth killing for. Natalie passes out from the fumes and Monk gets her to a window. He hears a noise and Danko ambushes him and knocks him out.

Monk wakes up in the trunk of Danko's car… locked in with Harold. As he drives them across the city, they argue about who is touching who.

Natalie recovers consciousness and calls Stottlemeyer.

Harold and Monk both start to panic from claustrophobia. Monk finally convinces him to calm down and Harold admits he was never cured and was just trying to impress Dr. Bell. He wonders why he cares about what people think, and Monk admits that he admires him. He explains that they have the same kinds of problems but Harold gets out in the world and overcomes them. He gets Harold to look at him and then convinces him that the walls are protecting them from snakes and germs and even Danko. They realize the trunk is their friend and Monk admits this is the first breakthrough he's ever had.

Working together, Harold and Monk use a tire jack to start prying open the trunk. Danko stops the car and walks away. They get out and discover that they're outside Dr. Bell's house. There's not enough time to call the police so they grab croquet mallets and burst into the house. However, Danko is sitting with Dr. Bell, who assures them that everything is fine and he's called the police. Danko killed the dancer he was obsessed with and dumped her into the reservoir. He was afraid that with the water levels dropping, the body would be revealed. Danko realized that he talked about his obsession in group therapy and had to kill everyone who could reveal his secret. Harold and Monk sit down and explain that they both had a breakthrough and overcame their claustrophobia. When Danko tries to interrupt, Harold takes offense and comes to the defense of his friend, Adrian Monk.

Later, Monk comes to the group therapy session and discovers that he and Bell are the only ones there. Bell explains that Harold did something extraordinary and found another doctor. He wanted Monk to have Bell all to himself. Monk is surprised and touched, and can continue with Bell since they're still technically group sessions. They begin to work through Monk's fear of death.

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