History Recap / ParksAndRecreationS04E09

* KnowWhenToFoldThem: Tammy 2 shows up with solid photographic behaviour on Ben and Leslie's part -- then Chris reminds her that presenting false evidence is perjury and a serious crime. She immediately stands up and leaves.

* BewareTheNiceOnes: Chris visibly loses it with Leslie during the trial when she insists that she only violated "[his] rule" in an effort to downplay it and avoid getting punished, sharply pointing out that it's an important rule in government offices to prevent fraud and corruption. To her credit, Leslie does realize this and assures him later that he was very fair and she understands why he did what he did.

* OverlyLiteralTranscription: Leslie reads one of Ethel Beavers's transcriptions, which include descriptions of actions.
--> '''Leslie:''' Mr. Traeger: That was beautiful. I'm literally crying and jumping. Crying noise, crying noise, nose blow.

* CryCute: Chris does this after Ben resigns from his job out of love for Leslie.

* StepfordSmiler: Chris is utterly stressed out and really doesn't like that he has to put two people he considers his best friends and good workers through the metaphorical grinder. But thanks to a massive amount of supplements and exercises, he's keeping his positive energy UpToEleven.

* SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome: Tammy 2 is clearly planning to take a golden opportunity to spitefully slander Leslie from the witness box, in true sitcom/TV fashion... right up until the point that Chris reminds her that doing so at an official legal proceeding would be perjury, which would leave her open to being fired from her job, prosecuted and open to serious legal punishment. And also makes it clear that despite currently prosecuting Leslie, Chris is ''not'' on her side and has absolutely no motivation to or interest in just letting her get away scot-free with doing so. Tammy 2 [[KnowWhenToFoldThem gives up]] and scurries away as quickly as she possibly can.

* WomenAreWiser: A mild example - Andy needs April's help to gather the evidence Leslie needs to refute Chris' charges, and Donna accompanies Ron around City Hall to meet the other department heads to get information on Chris' witnesses but Ron doesn't know any of the other department heads. Donna lampshades this, wondering what's with the men in the Parks office.

* SurprisinglyRealisticOutcome: Tammy 2 is clearly planning to take a golden opportunity to spitefully slander Leslie from the witness box, in true sitcom/TV fashion... right up until the point that Chris reminds her that doing so at an official legal proceeding would be perjury, which would leave her open to being fired from her job, prosecuted and open to serious legal punishment. And that despite currently prosecuting Leslie, Chris is ''not'' on her side and has absolutely no motivation to or interest in just letting her get away scot-free with doing so. Tammy 2 [[KnowWhenToFoldThem gives up]] and scurries away as quickly as she possibly can.

* RealityEnsues: Tammy 2 is clearly planning to take a golden opportunity to spitefully slander Leslie from the witness box, in true sitcom/TV fashion... right up until the point that Chris reminds her that doing so at an official legal proceeding would be perjury, which would leave her open to being fired from her job, prosecuted and open to serious legal punishment. And that despite currently prosecuting Leslie, Chris is ''not'' on her side and has absolutely no motivation to or interest in just letting her get away scot-free with doing so. Tammy 2 [[KnowWhenToFoldThem gives up]] and scurries away as quickly as she possibly can.

* BewareTheNiceOnes: Chris visibly loses it with Leslie during the trial, snapping at her when she keeps calling what she did just a violation of "a stupid rule" in an effort to downplay it and avoid getting punished. It's actually an important rule in many offices, particularly government offices. While he pulls himself together quickly, it's plain that she managed to seriously piss him off. To her credit, Leslie does realize this and apologizes.

* ChekhovsGunman: George, the maintenance worker on [[Recap/ParksAndRecreationS03E16 Li'l Sebastian's memorial]], is called in to testify on Leslie and Ben's relationship.

* CrazyPrepared: Chris had a ''huge'' number of witnesses ready to testify ''the very next day after Leslie and Ben informed him of their relationship.'' Leslie is visibly stunned by the number of witnesses he's going to call, and the evidence he's gathered. Keep in mind, the hearing takes place less than 24 hours after they told him. Based on all that, it's possible that Chris already knew about their relationship and had been quietly gathering evidence for weeks if not months, because he knew if it came out he'd have to investigate and he's too noble and dedicated to even try and be half-assed about it. Leslie, on the other hand, expected a much more cursory hearing, but is still able to pull together a lot of physical evidence and work out lines of questioning for cross-examining witnesses... at least until Chris's star witness testifies, at which point she's reduced to researching obscure laws that are ultimately unhelpful.

* CurbstompBattle: In a way, Chris quickly reminding Tammy 2 that if she lies (which she will do), he will have her fired and prosecuted for perjury. Tammy immediately retracts her "proof" and leaves. It counts, as taking her down is practically impossible for Leslie, with Ron (and later on, Diane) being the only one who can get her to back down normally and even then it doesn't always work.

* LampshadeHanging: When Leslie once again complains about "Chris' stupid rule" about government employees dating their superiors, Chris points out it's actually a law and standard practice in most government institutions.
* LawfulNeutral: [[invoked]] Chris invokes this when Leslie and Ben decide to confess they have been together despite the policy against co-workers being in relationships. Chris tells them how much he loves both of them (he's worked personally with Ben for years) but proceeds to launch a full and thorough investigation to make sure their relationship didn't compromise city assets. Eventually, a [[ChekhovsGunman maintenance worker that caught them last season]] proves they did bribe a city employee to keep their relationship a secret, but [[JumpingOnAGrenade Ben takes responsibility and resigns]] while Leslie is given a mild reprimand. Chris reiterates after it's done that his first responsibility is to protect the city from corruption and scandals and that he still sees Leslie and Ben as some of the best people he's ever worked with.
* {{Malaproper}}: While refuting another charge of Chris', Leslie talks about how she and the department had to pull an all-nighter to get a money grant, and she has a slip of the tongue when she finishes it off with "We got the gramps."

* NothingPersonal: Chris apologizes to Leslie for putting her and Ben through the wringer in the trial, stating he was just doing his job.

* {{Adorkable}}: Leslie is this in the cheesy relationship announcement video she emailed to Ann.

* CrazyPrepared: Chris had a ''huge'' number of witnesses ready to testify ''the very next day after Leslie and Ben informed him of their relationship.'' Leslie is visibly stunned by the number of witnesses he's going to call, and the evidence he's gathered. Keep in mind, the hearing takes place less than 24 hours after they told him. Based on all that, it's a fair assumption that Chris already knew about their relationship and had been quietly gathering evidence for weeks if not months, because he knew if it came out he'd have to investigate and he's too noble and dedicated to even try and be half-assed about it. In comparison, Leslie comes across as completely unprepared and out of her depth, resorting to having her friends try to look up obscure Pawnee laws and rules that will somehow get her off the hook.

* DeliberateValuesDissonance: As usual, this is PlayedForLaughs regarding Pawnee's history and old laws. For one thing, blacks aren't allowed to legally use sidewalks, every other sexual position except missionary was banned (and even that got banned shortly afterward), and a woman was sentenced to death for having accidentally exposed her elbow.

The panel comes back and ends the investigation. Leslie's punishment is a two-week long suspension with pay. As things wrap up, Leslie asks Chris why she hasn't been fired. He reveals that Ben called a private meeting, took full responsibility for the bribe, and resigned from his job. Chris apologizes to Leslie and explains that he was just doing his job; Leslie assures Chris that she understands. Chris then adds that out of all the other women he's seen Ben with, Leslie is the only one he truly sees as deserving of his best friend. He also suggests she meet with the court stenographer, Ethel Beavers, to read the transcript of the meeting to her.

* BewareTheNiceOnes: Chris visibly loses it with Leslie towards the end of the episode, snapping at her when she keeps calling what she did just a violation of "Chris's rule'' in an effort to downplay it and avoid getting punished. It's actually an important rule in pretty much every office, particularly government offices. While he pulls himself together quickly, it's plain that she managed to seriously piss him off. To her credit, Leslie does finally realize this and apologize.

* CrazyPrepared: Chris had a ''huge'' number of witnesses ready to testify, ''the very next day after Leslie and Ben informed him of their relationship.'' Leslie is visibly stunned by the number of witnesses he's going to call, and the evidence he's gathered. Keep in mind, the hearing takes place less than 24 hours after they told him. Based on all that, it's a fair assumption that Chris already knew about their relationship and had been quietly gathering evidence for weeks if not months, because he knew if it came out he'd have to investigate and he's too noble and dedicated to even try and be half-assed about it. In comparison, Leslie comes across as completely unprepared and out of her depth, resorting to having her friends try to look up obscure Pawnee laws and rules that will somehow get her off the hook.

* JerkAss: Honestly, Leslie comes off a little this way in this episode. She's not prepared for the hearing, constantly insists that she did nothing wrong, has her friends looking up arcane laws and rules in an effort to avoid punishment, minimizes what she did in an effort to belittle the hearing, and manages to actually get Chris a little pissed off, which takes some doing. At the end, when she's going to the room to hear the decision and nervously tells Ron she's afraid she's going to get fired, it's telling that while Ron gives her a deeply sympathetic look, he doesn't say anything. Not one single word of encouragement. Ron knows dismissal is an option that's definitely on the table, and Leslie and Ben have no one to blame but themselves. He warned Leslie ''several'' times that Chris would fire them if he found out.

* JerkAss: Honestly, Leslie comes off a little this way in this episode. She's not prepared for the hearing, constantly insists that she did nothing wrong, has her friends looking up arcane laws and rules in an effort to avoid punishment, minimizes what she did in an effort to belittle the hearing, and manages to actually get Chris a little pissed off, which takes some doing. At the end, when she's going to the room to hear the decision and nervously tells Ron she's afraid she's going to get fired, it's telling that while Ron gives her a deeply sympathetic look, he doesn't say anything. Not one single word of encouragement. Ron knows dismissal is an option that definitely on the table, and Leslie and Ben have no one to blame but themselves.

* Jerkass: Honestly, Leslie comes off a little this way in this episode. She's not prepared for the hearing, constantly insists that she did nothing wrong, has her friends looking up arcane laws and rules in an effort to avoid punishment, minimizes what she did in an effort to belittle the hearing, and manages to actually get Chris a little pissed off, which takes some doing. At the end, when she's going to the room to hear the decision and nervously tells Ron she's afraid she's going to get fired, it's telling that while Ron gives her a deeply sympathetic look, he doesn't say anything. Not one single word of encouragement. Ron knows dismissal is an option that definitely on the table, and Leslie and Ben have no one to blame but themselves.