For what age: 13+
How many episodes in 1 season: 23 episodes
Looking down on her friends and family isn't a way of life for Mary Alice Young. It's a way of passing. One day, in her perfect house, in the loveliest of suburbs, Mary Alice ended it all. Now she's taking us into the lives of her family, friends and neighbors, commenting from her elevated POV. Her husband's acting suspicious, the neighbors are talking, and her girlfriends are wondering why one of their own would do something so rash and so messy. From her unique vantage point, Mary Alice sees more now than she ever did alive and she's planning to share all the delicious secrets that hide behind every neighbor's closed door in this seemingly perfect American suburb.
Mike's dog pays the price when Edie crashes his dinner date with Susan. Susan and Edie are still fighting over Mike. Meanwhile, Gabrielle realizes that her lawnboy is taking their fling to heart - and that Carlos may actually be catching on. Also, Bree goads Rex into therapy, where the doctor may be the one who needs the most help. Lynette resorts to drastic measures to keep her kids in line, but it blows up in her face. Mary Alice's past resurfaces - literally - despite Paul's efforts to keep it buried. Lastly, Susan's secret of accidentally burning down Edie's house may come back to haunt her as the measuring cup she left in Edie's house is found - by Mrs. Huber (guest star Christine Estabrook).
The women decide to go ahead with the big dinner party that the late Mary Alice Young had planned to host, despite the more-than-minor disturbances in their own lives. Adulterous Gabrielle finds herself with a nine-year-old blackmailer who catches Gabrielle in the act in her affair with gardener John. Also, Bree struggles to keep her crumbling marriage a secret. Lastly, Susan bares all--in more ways than one--as she confronts her ex (guest star Richard Burgi).
Cash-strapped Mrs. Huber figures out that Susan had something to do with Edie's house fire and tries to blackmail her. Meanwhile, Carlos becomes suspicious that Gabrielle is seeing another man, but targets the wrong suspect---the cable guy instead of gardener John. Also, Lynette balks when the twins' teacher insists the boys have ADD but tries to salvage the matter by separating the boys. Lastly, Bree struggles with her rebellious son Andrew after Rex moves out.
A break-in on Wisteria Lane leaves the neighbors feeling vulnerable, especially Susan---who reluctantly accepts a date with a persistent policeman (guest-star Steven Eckholdt) after Mike Delfino appears indifferent to her. Mike Delfino might be found out as the burglar as he accidentally left a screwdriver behind. Rex takes the kids away for the weekend as a lonely Bree, who finds herself bonding with Mary Alice's troubled son, Zach. Meanwhile, Lynette and Tom pull out all the stops to get their uncontrollable twins Porter and Preston accepted at a prestigious private school, and the unexpected arrival of Carlos' mother (guest-star Lupe Ontiveros) puts a crimp in Gabrielle's covert love life with gardener John. Things get worse when the two go shopping.
Lynette locks horns with officious mom Maisy Gibbons (guest-star Sharon Lawrence) at the twins' school who is trying to produce a "politically correct" play about "Little Red Riding Hood." Meanwhile, Susan continues to investigate the mystery of Zach's sudden disappearance. She soon finds out his father Paul put him in Seacrest, a mental institution. She and Julie then go to investigate. Mama Solis (guest-star Lupe Ontiveros) comes closer to discovering Gabrielle's dirty little secret of her affair, and Bree comes undone when Rex suggests they hire a sex surrogate.
Susan is miffed when Mike's unexpected - and very sexy - houseguest (guest-star Heather Stephens) Kendra forces him to postpone their first official "date." Susan and Edie decide to follow him and Kendra on their night out together. Lynette becomes steadily more dependent on the twins' ADD medication. Gabrielle becomes jealous of the "other" woman, Danielle Van De Kamp in John's life. Meanwhile, Bree's kids mutiny when they learn their dad has moved out. Tom is not happy when Lynette tries to take over his concept of new "Spotless Scrubs" to his clients. A man has a heartattack while jogging and lands on Mrs. Huber's (guest-star Christine Estabrook) lawn, but she dumps him on Bree's lawn so that she'll call the paramedics and they will ruin her lawn instead of hers. Andrew gets into a serious car accident that puts Mama Solis (guest-star Lupe Ontiveros) in the hospital, right after she finally bust Gabrielle and John having their affair in Carlos' house. Bree and Rex are called to Andrew's school after he shoves a kid into a locker. Bree learns Rex is serving her with divorce papers. Lastly, the enigmatic Mr. Shaw (guest-star Richard Roundtree) comes closer to solving one of Wisteria Lane's big mysteries.
In the aftermath of tragedy with Bree's son Andrew (guest-star Shawn Pyfrom) running over Carlos' mother Juanita Solis (guest-star Lupe Ontiveros), the residents of Wisteria Lane take stock of their lives. Meanwhile, Susan grows suspicious of Mike Delfino's real reason for moving to the street. Lynette reaches the breaking point in her addiction to the twins' ADD medication as she tries other measures like acupuncture to release her stress---only to the disturbance of her kids during session. Lynette realizes it's time for drastic measures after she has a disturbing dream with Mary Alice.The mysterious Mr. Shaw (guest-star Richard Roundtree) gets down to business as he develops a relationship with Edie. He also has a connection to Mary Alice Young as he talks to Paul Young afterwards on the phone. Lastly, Gabrielle confesses her adulterous affair with John to a priest while Carlos' mother Juanita is in the hospital.
Looking to give her life a purpose, Gabrielle decides to organize a glamorous Halston fashion show for charity highlighting the ladies of Wisteria Lane. But Susan is less than charitable toward her friend when she discovers Gabrielle's shocking secret. Gabrielle and John consider getting back together in their affair. John's mother, Helen Rowland, thinks her son is sleeping with Susan and not with Gabrielle, but soon Gabrielle confesses to Helen that she's been sleeping with her son. Before Carlos can find out about all of this, he is arrested. Bree and Rex are at odds on how to punish Andrew for putting Mrs. Solis in the hospital and finding drugs in his room, but Bree decides to take Andrew's out-of-control behavior into her own hands. Police investigate a toy chest that Paul Young dumped in the river, but don't exactly know it's him yet. Lastly, Lynette uses her business acumen to poach a nanny, Claire, but ends up getting involved between her current employer, Alexis.
Uber mom Maisy Gibbons (guest-star Sharon Lawrence) returns, and her secret life intersects with Bree's. Bree unleashes her inner "woman scorned" after Rex's sordid dabblings nearly hug him. Meanwhile Gabrielle's predicament worsens as she gets a taste of her own medicine, courtesy of Carlos' jailhouse confession. Susan plans to take her relationship with Mike to the next level, and Lynette, suspicious (and a little jealous) of her new nanny (guest-star Marla Sokoloff), decides to secretly videotape her. Lastly, Susan betrays Julie by sending Zach Young back home to his father, who makes a startling admission of his own.
Edie organizes a neighborhood search for the missing Mrs. Huber, just as the absent busybody's sister Felicia Tilman (guest-star Harriet Sansom Harris) arrives on Wisteria Lane. Meanwhile, Bree resigns herself to her marital state and asks an attractive pharmacist (Tony Award-winning actor Roger Bart) on a date; Susan's ex, Karl (guest-star Richard Burgi), suddenly reappears in her life; Lynette fears that Tom is attracted to the new nanny (guest-star Marla Sokoloff); and Gabrielle sinks to new depths - she gets a job.
The residents of Wisteria Lane finally learn Martha Huber's fate, and the truth has unexpected consequences for Susan. After learning that Mrs. Huber left behind a journal, Susan is forced to confess to Edie about her role in the fire that burned down Edie's house. Meanwhile Bree finds her new beau, George (Tony Award-winning actor Roger Bart), getting a little too close for comfort. . The receptionist sees Parker's shaven head and believes that Parker has cancer, and allows Lynette's children in the day care, while Lynette does yoga. Lastly, Carlos returns, but his homecoming isn't quite what Gabrielle had in mind. He is under house arrest, making it difficult for either of them to make money.
When Lynette's father-in-law (guest-star Ryan O'Neal as Rodney Scavo) pays a visit to the family, she unwittingly learns a family secret---that he's been consistently cheating on his wife. Meanwhile, Susan is disturbed by Julie's growing romance with Zach. Rex attempts to reconcile with Bree as she tries to play hard-to-get. Lastly, Gabrielle is shocked when John's parents (guest-stars Kathryn Harrold and Mark Harelik) ask her for a favor in convincing John to move back home as he officially turned eighteen and no longer wants to live at home and trying to pursue a relationship with Gabrielle.
It's Valentine's Day on Wisteria Lane, and love is all around (sort of), as Susan looks forward to a romantic date with Mike Delfino, until she learns a surprising fact about her favorite plumber. Also, Mike breaks into a neighbors house and is shot and tries to hide it from Susan. Meanwhile, after reconciling their relationship, Bree discovers something new about her husband Rex when it comes to his sexual needs. Lynette's cranky and lonely old neighbor accuses the Scavo twins of thievery as Lynette tries her best to handle the situation. Lastly, Gabrielle's work adventures continue as she gets a gig as a mattress model for the "Siesta King" (guest-star Jon Polito).
Mike Delfino is questioned about Mrs. Huber's cuddle by police and is arrested. John's friend, Justin (guest-star Ryan Carnes) attempts to blackmail Gabrielle with his knowledge of their affair and becoming her new gardener---but things are not what they may seem for both in the situation. Meanwhile, Tom wants a big promotion, but Lynette fears that she'd be home alone with the kids more than ever and tries her best in discouraging him in taking the job. Also, Bree is shocked when she finds a condom---and even more so when she learns whom it belongs to when Rex admits it is not him, but their daughter Danielle. Zach Young plans a pool party for the teens on Wisteria Lane, and things get out of hand. Lastly, an unexpected person(s) comes "out" in their sexuality of being gay.
Maisy Gibbons' (guest-star Sharon Lawrence) series of unfortunate events shock the residents of Wisteria Lane when she is finally caught and arrested for prostitution. This leaves unexpected consequences for Bree and Rex when Maisy's little black book becomes public of all her clients---including Rex for all the neighbors to see. Gabrielle and Carlos also face a crisis of their own when the sewer system goes out at their house and they don't have the money to fix it. Also, Lynette braves a scandal herself when it's rumored that the twins started the school's head lice epidemic. Meanwhile, as Susan sinks into depression over her breakup with Mike, she finds a surprising ally---Edie.
There's a change in Mama Solis' (guest-star Lupe Ontiveros) condition for the better as she finally wakes up from her coma, but it doesn't last long. The residents of Wisteria Lane all attend the unfortunate funeral of Juanita Solis as Carlos and Gabrielle fret over their financial and court issues. Lynette befriends a deaf woman, Alisa Stevens (guest-star Marlee Matlin), whose children also attend Barcliff Academy with Porter and Preston, but her newfound friendship is tested when she butts into her disturbed marital problems of her husband saying things behind her back. Meanwhile, Bree encounters more trouble with her son Andrew when it comes to disciplining him and tries to convince Rex that he needs serious help. Lastly, Susan finds herself attracted to Edie's hunky new contractor (guest-star Rick Ravanello) who's sticking around the neighborhood, but Edie doesn't want her to go with him as a favor to their fragile friendship.
Susan's mom, Sophie (guest-star Lesley Ann Warren), pays an unannounced visit to Wisteria Lane after she and her boyfriend (guest-star Bob Newhart) call it quits. Meanwhile, Gabrielle faces Carlos' wrath after he learns about the hospital settlement and tries to change their prenuptial agreement in order to keep Gabrielle in check while he serves his jail sentence. Lynette and Bree experience a chill in their friendship after Bree babysits Lynette's kids and dares to discipline Porter. Also, Bree and Rex visit Andrew at the teen rehab camp where they learn some shocking news about their son. Lastly, Felicia gets closer to Zach and reveals some disturbing details about his family's past.
Lynette learns that no good deed goes unpunished when she momentarily befriends the mean Mrs. McCluskey. Susan's mother (guest-star Lesley Ann Warren) decides to try and jump start her and her daughter's love lives. Susan later finds her mother in her kitchen with a man she picked up, and Susan asks her mother to get rid of him. Andrew talks to a priest about his feelings, and tells him of his shocking plans for his mother, Bree. Gabrielle has her credit card declined in an upscale restaurant, and Carlos sends Gabrielle a big message about what will happen if she leaves him. Gabrielle tells John that she still cares for him, and continues to sleep with him.
Gabrielle plans a big party to bid farewell to Carlos, who is about to head off to jail for eight months. Meanwhile George Williams (guest star Roger Bart) resurfaces in Bree's life, much to Rex's displeasure as he knows George wants to steal her away from him. Also, Lynette is shocked to learn that Tom's old girlfriend Annabel Foster (guest-star Melinda McGraw) who he dumped for Lynette has been hired at his firm again. A desperate Lynette turns to Edie for advice on how to deal with the situation. Susan and Julie encounter less-than-neighborly behavior from the Young family as Zach continues to stalk Julie. Paul interrogates Edie about breaking into his house, and she ends up telling him that Susan was behind it. Paul decides to lie to Susan again in order to cover. Mike tries to separate Susan from Mary Alice's past secrets. There is a fire in Susan's kitchen, and Susan suspects that Paul was behind it and hires Mr. Shaw to investigate the Young family. Lastly, housewife Gabrielle is suspecting that she's pregnant. She's also looking to buy a new car, which doesn't go so well while at the dealership which begins her suspicions. When finding out that Carlos tampered with her birth control pills Gabrielle retaliates in rage.
George Williams (guest-star Roger Bart) continues to worm his way into Bree's life. After Edie spies Bree with George at a restaurant, Bree begins to feel guilty about sharing her intimate feelings with George; Rex's health continues to depreciate. Lynette tries to spice things up with Tom who, she fears, is losing interest. Meanwhile, Mr. Shaw consults with Paul, and ends up lying to Susan about Mary Alice and Dana. However, he does come through with the goods on Mike, but Susan is not convinced that Mike is a bad guy. After talking with Kendra (who Susan recognized from a picture in the file she received on Mike), Susan learns that Mike huged a cop in self-defense, and forgives him. Carlos lies to Gabrielle, and tells her that Mama tampered with her birth control; Gabrielle tells John that she is pregnant, and John doesn't take the news well. Lastly, Felicia takes action to help Zach, and to get rid of Paul for good.
Susan and Mike decide to move in together, much to Edie's displeasure, who schemes against them using Susan's friends. Meanwhile, Lynette takes steps to make sure Annabel (guest-star Melinda McGraw) doesn't come between her and Tom, and the consequences land Tom out of work. Bree comes to a realization about her "buddy" George the pharmacist (guest-star Roger Bart), who continues to interfere in her and Rex's lives. Rex has another heart attack, though prior to it, it seems George has permanently put in a wrench in Bree and Rex's relationship. Carlos' legal problems take a turn for the worse, when Gabrielle decides to leave him after discovering the truth about the birth control. Carlos' subsequent actions increases his jail time to eight years. Mike goes after Paul thanks to Felicia, and Susan goes after Mike, though she doesn't find him. Mrs. Huber's journal reveals some secrets. Lastly, two new faces arrive on Wisteria Lane.
Gabrielle, Susan, and Lynette rush to the hospital in the middle of the night after receiving a phone call from Danielle telling them about Rex's heart attack. Bree confides that she feels guilty because she and Rex were having a fight when he had his heart attack and that now he needs a pacemaker. Before his operation, Rex apologizes for being a bad husband. After not getting any better, the doctor suggests to Rex that maybe Bree was tampering with his medication. Rex writes her a note telling her that he understands, and then dies not knowing the real truth. Minutes later, a doctor calls Bree to tell her that Rex has died. She numbly sits in her empty dining room, looking at the chair where Rex would normally sit. She goes into typical Bree coping mode by polishing the silver but then she dissolves into heartbroken sobs. Lynette's marriage takes a dramatic turn after an upset Tom, who accidentally quit his job under false pretenses due to Lynette's manipulation, vows that it is now her turn to go back to work and he'll be staying home with the kids. And Lynette may just take his offer. Carlos finally learns that John and Gabrielle have been lovers for a while, and vows revenge as he is carted off to jail. Mike takes Paul out to a deserted quarry, intending to shoot him. After realizing it's about Dierdre, Paul reveals why Mary Alice huged herself: a drugged-out Dierdre sold them her baby to feed her habit. They fled Utah and changed their names, but she still found them. Mary Alice huged Dierdre by accident when she came to forcibly take Zach/Dana back from them and they hid her body where they thought it would never be found -- in a toy chest buried under their new pool. In the end Mike doesn't hug Paul, but goes home where Zach is waiting for him, while pointing a gun at Susan.
