Grade: B- | Genre: Drama Summary: Even though the ending came through like a badly telegraphed pass, this episode wrapped up a very satisfying season of Secret Diary of a Call Girl. We see all the complexities, problems and excitement that Belle brings to Hannah's life. While Belle's closing exploits in season two of Secret Diary of a Call Girl already seem to be common knowledge for those in the UK, we're just catching up to her unraveling stockings stateside as Showtime wraps this chapter of our delicious high class hooker. Last week, we got a taste of life with Hannah enslaved to the path of the straight and narrow as an office gopher. It seems making copies was too challenging for our blow job queen so she was relegated to hand shredding a never ending stream of documents. Its sad to see such a talented individual sink to such a level in the name of love. Her beau Alex, disgusted at her wanton disregard for morality and the legion of men that have sampled the merchandise, pushes Hannah into this droll existence, raping the very life from her. While I feel for her plight, you've got to make a choice in these delicate situations. If you are going to turn on the red light, you've got to put those fantasy notions of a husband, the white picket fence and 2.5 children to bed. Last week, they dangled the prospect of one last high paying job before Belle's pursed lips. Will she succumb to temptation of her true self or make her peace with a life dressed in mediocrity for love?

This week, we open on the idyllic morning moment as Hannah (Billie Piper) rolls out of bed to muss herself about and get ready for work -- work which she has long since quit. A girl must keep up appearances. As Alex (Callum Blue) jostles over sink space to shine his pearly whites, an early morning caller buzzes Hannah's flat. Of course its none other than our favorite Madam Stephanie (Cherie Lunghi) ready to tempt Belle (Belle being Hannah's alter-ego Superfucker) back to the brothel for one last job, complete with hefty dollar signs. Its just one trick. No one will find out. No one gets hurt. Hannah turns Stephanie away cold, but we know the itch will get the better of her in the end. Queue Amy Winehouse.

Alex, being the thoughtful bloke he is, drops by to surprise Ms. Hannah at her new job only to find a vacant cubicle harboring more of Hannah's lies. Before too long, we find Belle wandering in to talk with Stephanie about this chance to shed retirement for the evening. Belle's curiosity is peaked to discover our mystery gentleman who happens to be an American that requested her services based on word of mouth or more likely word of what she could do with her mouth. The date is set and though eternal lapdog Bambi (Ashley Madekwe) begs her to think about what she's risking, Belle knows its pointless to fight this urge that has wrestled her away from her senses.

Back at her apartment, Belle pulls out all of her best lingerie and does inexplicably disastrous things with her hair as she readies to meet her new wealthy client. With each scene, she makes her way closer to the hotel room and with each passing second it becomes more and more evident who is waiting on the other side of that door -- Alex. The rendezvous was the ultimate test to see if she could really leave her destiny behind to be with her fresh love. Alas it wasn't to be, and Belle is reborn anew. Ultimately, we knew it couldn't last. Wrapping Belle up in a shoebox to be stuffed in the back of the closet was like Hannah lopping off an appendage. Belle is in the fabric of who she is, and if Alex can't accept it then his love wasn't worthy of her.

Even though the ending came through like a badly telegraphed pass, this episode wrapped up a very satisfying season of Secret Diary of a Call Girl. We see all the complexities, problems and excitement that Belle brings to Hannah's life. She tries to have it all, but realizes some sacrifices must be made to walk on this path she's chosen. You have to wonder how long this life will hold her. What does she have, five maybe ten years at the outside, before she's just yesterday's whore. She has the life of a ballplayer without the compensation structure. Will she find her way into becoming a Madam like Stephanie. or will she tread off her budding writing career the show's producers prod you with as bait for next season? I'm not sure, but I do know that this unconventional beauty will continue to serve us this rich existence of a woman who makes her life between the sheets. We'll keep watching in our strangely voyeuristic way.

Season 2, Episode 8
Original Airdate: March 8, 2009