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Let's Give the Boy a Hand is the fourth of twelve episodes in Season One of the Showtime series DEXTER, and the fourth overall episode of the series. It first aired 22 October 2006.

The Ice Truck Killer's recent crime scenes send a secret message to Dexter Morgan, and lead him to remember his past.

Summary[]

In the opening sequence, a severed male hand is found at Petrie Beach. It is unknown whether this is the work of the Ice Truck Killer or not. Whilst investigating the hand,

When a photo of the area is found, Dexter remembers that this is a beach he came to as a child. At the time, it was known as Rand Beach. During a flashback scene, Harry, his adoptive father, lectures him on the importance of faking emotions to make other people happy and "to fit in."

Back at his apartment, Dexter looks through an old family photo album and sees a picture of Rand Beach. Apparently, The Ice Truck Killer broke into his apartment to get to know him, not just to leave doll parts.

After discovering that the hand belongs to Tony Tucci (LaGuerta's Ice Truck Killer suspect), Captain Matthews reprimands LaGuerta for unleashing a high-profile manhunt before fact were know. He orders her to apologize to Tucci's mother to avoid a lawsuit.

Meanwhile, at the beach, Doakes spots Guerrero's men watching him. He then instructs Debra to interview potential witnesses.

Reluctantly, Lieutenant LaGuerta visits Tucci's mother in an attempt to make amends for branding her son a killer on television. She promises to bring him home, dead or alive. The mother thanks LaGuerta for coming to tell her in person.

Dexter helps Cody and Astor clean out a pumpkin for Halloween. A dog begins barking outside and the kids say they can't sleep at night because it won't be quiet. Dexter offers to talk to the neighbor and he goes next door. He tells the woman about the problem and asks her to take the dog inside. However, she is rude and refuses, saying the dog is an "outside dog." She tells him to wear earplugs.

Rita, Dexter, and the kids are in a store, choosing costumes. Dexter thinks about how he spends his life pretending he's not a monster and considers himself a master of disguise.

Another body part is found, this time a severed foot at an old soccer ground where Dexter had played. During a flashback, Harry lecture Dexter on the importance of not being a bully. Dexter tells Doakes that the killer is sending a message that is more important than the ritual, but cannot tell him what, or why.

Debra is forced to watch boxes of surveillance tapes by LaGuerta, who continues to make life miserable for her. Kara’s brother continues to taunt Doakes about how he’s going to get himself killed because he had sex with an officer's wife. Doakes lets him know that Ricky wouldn’t come out of cover to give Kara a divorce and that he’s the reason she was killed.

Rita tries to convince the neighbor to to bring her dog inside while showing anger about the situation. The neighbor still does not budge from her position, and is amused by Rita's behavior.

Dexter is in his lab examining Tucci's foot and hand when Angel asks him for his advice on an anniversary gift to give his wife, Nina. He shows Dexter various gifts he's gotten, first a diamond-filled stud that Dexter says looks like a butterfly and

After analysis of the foot, Dexter determines that Tucci is still alive and is systematically having his limbs removed by the Ice Truck Killer. LaGuerta phones Tony's mother to tell her that her son may still be alive and that they will find him.

Doakes give a presentation to the homicide team, informing them that another body part is expected to be found the next morning.

Mrs. Tucci meets with friends and family in church to pray for her son's safe recovery. As a young girl stands in front of the church and sings "Amazing Grace", Mrs. Tucci sits in the front pew, weeping and holding a candle. When the girl finishes singing, she sits down next to the the priest. Lt. Maria LaGuerta enters from the back of the church and Mrs. Tucci hurries over to ask if there's any news about her son. LaGuerta shakes her head. Mrs. Tucci then takes a religious medal from around her neck and gives it to LaGuerta, telling her it's St. Anthony, the Patron Saint of the Lost.

Debra begs Dexter to help her find where the next body part will be found. He looks through a photo album to figure it out. He mistakenly goes to an old landfill and finds nothing but a sleeping homeless man.

The Ice Truck Killer uses the McCaffrey Pumpkin Patch to display a severed piece of Tony Tucci's right leg. He specifically chose the pumpkin patch after he looked through Dexter's family album, and saw a photo of him there. While investigating the crime scene, Angel Batista asked Dexter for his opinion on a gift for his wife. an "OX" necklace that Dexter says looks like "tic-tac-toe". Angel swears.

The neighbor is enraged to find Walter missing (because Rita took him to a new home). She angrily asks Dexter about her dog, and he merely shrugs.

Dexter is at home working on his computer when he hears a knock at his door. He's surprise to find Rita without the kids. When she enters, she takes off her coat, revealing that she is scantily dressed as Lara Croft, Tomb Raider. She sits on his lap and kisses him. After some awkward chit-chat, Rita gets down on her knees and unzips his pants. Dexter asks what she is doing, and she replies, "Whatever I want." As she pleasures him, Dexter mentally acknowledges that it feels good.

Angel has bought a diamond heart necklace and tries to find Dexter in the Miami Metro Police Department in order to make sure there's nothing wrong with this gift, but instead finds Debra, who tells him that, "She'll love it." It is revealed, however. that Angel and his wife have been separated for three months due to "something he did." Nina still wants to be alone, despite it being their tenth anniversary. Angel is saddened and proceeds to leave, but Nina gives him the courtesy of seeing their daughter. He apologizes to her while she is asleep and leaves the diamond necklace next to her, before leaving.

Still at his apartment, Rita notices Dexter's childhood photos. When she mentions the presence of Harry in some photos, Dexter calls Rita a "genius." He focuses on a photo of Harry and him in front of the Angel of Mercy Hospital. He turns it over to find a smiley face drawn on the back, presumably a clue left by the Ice Truck Killer. He heads to the abandoned hospital.

Doakes is kidnapped as soon as he gets home by Carlos Guerrero’s men. As Doakes is about to be killed, the cops rush in to arrest them all. Using him as bait was the plan all along, as Detective McNamara wanted to catch Guerrero dirty-handed. McNamara also told Doakes that they are "even now" (since Doakes had an affair with his sister, who was married, although seeking a divorce).

.Whilst searching the hospital, Dexter finds Tucci (who is alive, blindfolded), waiting for his kidnapper to make the final kill. Tucci begs for death, but Dexter cannot kill an innocent man, due to Harry's influence. He calls an anonymous tip to Debra and leaves, resulting in the police arriving and rescuing Tony Tucci. Debra's efforts result in Matthews praising her and LaGuerta taking her off surveillance duty.

At home, Dexter looks at his blood slides and a picture that he found of himself taken by the Ice Truck Killer. He burns the picture.

Quotes[]

  • "I love Halloween. The one time of year when everyone wears a mask... not just me. People think it's fun to pretend you're a monster. Me, I spend my life pretending I'm not. Brother, friend, boyfriend - All part of my costume collection. Some people might call me a fraud. Let's see if it will fit. I prefer to think of myself as a master of disguise." -Dexter narrating

Related Pages[]

Reception[]

Eric Goldman said: "This was a very strong episode overall, that contained a lot of clever, dark comedy." He also praised the main plot: "The personal touches the killer was doing just for Dexter were a very intriguing aspect of this episode, and gave a natural narrative "in" to the flashbacks we saw of Dexter's childhood this week, as he recalled what was occurring when each photo was taken." Sarah Dobbs of Den of Geek remarked that "there's some nice characterization here." She also praises the sub-plot involving Angel, "It's nice because it's all so cleverly handled."

Goofs[]

  • During a sequence where Doakes is returning to the office and heads towards the kitchen, Michael Soderquist can be seen arriving at his desk with his suit jacket on. The camera quickly changes angles and his jacket is nowhere to be seen.

Gallery[]

The Episodes of Dexter
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