who is bill's public "senate" wife?

[JJ77]

jtg - ok, that makes sense.
I can see how DC would allow them some anonymity... and thus a chance to be together in public. i just thought it was kind of odd since he was there to "become known" ateast to a few who could help his campaign.

but it does make a little more sense given that context.

[miceelf]

And how in the hell did he get her out of that mess -- they were arresting her! All he said was "I can explain" and we are supposed to imagine how they weaseled out of that one. I really thought it was going to be much worse, because she put the stupid gun in her purse right after telling Cara Lynn that she would take her to the White House!!!

They aren't legally married, Nicki and her daughter dress like Holly Hobby, and Nicki has a very bizarre past and she is bound to say or do incredibly stupid things, like carry a concealed weapon in the nation's capital. I just don't see how she could be the "public" wife. She's a loony tune. ;D

[JJ77]

Maybe their original intention was for Barb to be the "public" wife, and Nicki going on this trip with him really was just for them to have some public time together under the anonymity that a place like DC can provide. No the smartest move IMo, but feasible under that premise.

I wonder if Bill's little slip "wait that's my wife!" was heard by anyone of any significance? Marilyn Densham (sissy spacek) had just been at th etop of the stairs he descended to find Nicki being cuffed. If so, it could mean a change in plans... and Nicki being his "public" senate wife.

[dove85]

Nikki won't be the public wife, at least not until Bill has won the senate seat and therefore feels it is safe to expose his family (I still don't get that logic). That is why she hid her true identity in the ladies toilet scene. She just took the opportunity to be seen with him in public in a city where they weren't known, so they could have dinner together and look couple-y without concern for once. Barb would be the only wife he'd admit to in the lead up to the election (and she is his only 'wife' in the legal sense of the word).

[BigLoveRocks!]

Welcome to the board dove85! I hope we will be seeing you around more often!

I agree Nikki isn't trying to be the public wife just yet, and you are right...Bill's logic is really just not logical at all. Maybe all that viagra has affected his brain?

[aliensummer]

I totally agree with jtg, that the time in DC was for Bill to spend some public time with Nicki. It was meant to mend their relationship, which is why Bill was disappointed that Cara Lynn made an appearance. If you think about it, every time Bill went to make a political move (like seeing that guy), Nicki wasn't invite to even hang out around the corner and wait. If Bill really wanted Nicki to be the public wife, he would've had her come along to the fundraiser with him. Instead, Nicki showed up without Bill's permission. At least that's how I understood it.

As for Bill's running for public office, I wrote my theory about that on the HBO boards, but I'll put it here as well. I think the whole thing is meant to blow up in Bill's face. It's my guess that the writers want Bill to end up Prophet, but obviously don't want it to be an easy choice for him (given his history, etc., it would seem weird if one morning Bill woke up and decided that that's where he should be). So, I'm thinking that after Bill's secret comes out, he'll have to do something drastic to protect his family from further humiliation and possible threats. What better place to hide then on the compound, where he'll be surrounded by family and others who share his deviancy? By this time, Alby's reign of Prophethood will either be falling apart or already fallen apart, and Bill will either want to step up as Prophet or be expected to by more than Joey and Nicki to become Prophet. This way, the writers have at least two seasons to drag this on (the current season and next).

To me it seems like a logical progression, and might make it so that Barb will even agree to the move to the compound (considering she was first and public wife, the public will see her as just as guilty as Bill).

It will be interesting!

[writerwannabe]

Didn't Barb explain to Margene that the point of sending Nikki to DC with Bill was to give the two of them a chance to spend some time together, including time in public. I think that is different from being the "public wife," the one presented to the world as the only wife. Of course, Nikki is more interested in opportunities for Cara Lynn than in cozying up to Bill again. By the way, speaking of wifely assignments, what ever happened to Margene's plea to Barb to let her be "Bill's wife for Weber Gaming?" I thought their deal was that Barb would be the wife for Home Plus and Margene would be the wife for Weber. Now Margene has dropped that interest in favor of - what did Nikki say? - "selling reservation junk to shut-ins"?

[aliensummer]

I think it makes sense that Margene would be willing to drop the job of being Bill's wife for Weber Gaming in favour of her own career. Before, Margene was very dependent on Bill for her identity and was pretty isolated from the rest of the world. She was stuck at home most of the time watching all of the children. Now, she finally has her own career, is making her own money, can make her own rules, and is making her own product. She doesn't need to be dependent on Bill or Weber Gaming anymore to have an identity outside of the home. She's doing that on her own!

She went from being dependent, to independent. I think it's fairly reasonable and realistic that she's decided to be independent.

[ragnarockette]

I think Barb will forever be his public wife, but they're right well outed in their neighborhood, amongst the casino/Weber gaming folk, and in Cindy's circle of Mormon comrades. Not to mention everyone on the compound who certainly has an interest in seeing Bill humiliated.
I don't see how Bill expects to hide their secret for long with so many people knowing. Its hardly a secret at all at this point.
And even if he does get elected, I doubt he's going to win many friends suddenly announcing that he ran under false pretenses.

[lism]

Too many people know about Bill's lifestyle so it's totally not logical that he thinks he can get away with running for office w/o being outed. Barb would have to be his senate wife because she's his legal wife, at least during the campaign. The whole story line is driving me nuts. I haven't seen tonight's episode yet but I'm hoping Bill changes his mind..fat chance though given the size of his ego.

[momacat]

jtg, I think you are exactly right about Bill and Nicki in D.C. They weren't going to any functions as man and wife. They were just doing the tourist think and the relationship repairing thing. He said Nicki was his wife when she was in cuffs to save her. What else could he do? Although as selfish as Bill has become, I could see him running the other way if Cara Lynn hadn't been there.
He'll never know that it was Nicki not "Heavenly Father" who turned Marilyn's opinion in his favor. He smugly thought it was the answer to his prayer.