The Handmaid's Tale

Transplanted New Zealanders Bret and Jemaine -- a.k.a. Flight of the Conchords -- search for romance and gigs in New York City. At a bohemian party, Jemaine falls for Sally (who used to date Bret), but Bret spoils the moment. Meanwhile, their manager Murray shares his two-pronged plan for the band, and Bret deals with Mel -- the band's lone fan.

Desperate for cash, Bret and Jemaine decide to get jobs. Only Bret is successful -- he gets a job holding up signs during the day, a problem since Jemaine refuses to practice at night. When Murray books the Conchords at a trade show, Bret can't get off work, so Jemaine is forced to play the gig with a replacement member: a tape recording of Bret.

Bret loses Jemaine's trust after leaving his mate to die in the street at the hands of a "gang" of two. After Jemaine and John, one of the muggers, are jailed, Jemaine can't forgive Bret until he risks his life (sort of) to retrieve his pal's camera phone -- a phone with a camera taped to it -- that was stolen in the earlier robbery.

Murray is perturbed when Bret cancels a band tour to be with his girlfriend, Coco. Jemaine's dismay, coupled with the betrayal felt by lone fan Mel, who has a crush on Bret, threatens the band's future. When Coco sits in on a band meeting (bringing sandwiches and a cool Conchords poster), Jemaine accuses her of being Yoko-esque, prompting Bret's angry departure.

A lonely Jemaine runs into Sally, the "most beautiful girl in the room," who dumped him (and Bret) earlier this year. Envisioning a new life with Sally, Jemaine's dreams take a detour when he learns she won't spend time with him until he gets his own place. When he does, he plans a space-warming party that conflicts with Sally's birthday.

Upset when Murray says he's too small during a band photo shoot, Bret decides that Jemaine can help him get over his funk. That night, a 1972-era David Bowie advises Bret to wear an eye patch. The plan backfires when Bret has depth-perception problems. Meanwhile, Murray pushes the band to let an audio greeting card company use their robot song.

Dissed by a rude fruit vendor, Bret and Jemaine concoct an animated music video in retaliation. As slights against the boys continue, Bret and Jemaine find themselves in the middle of a race war with anti-Kiwi mutha 'uckas. Meanwhile, Murray falls for a leggy blonde tech-support woman at his office and asks the Conchords to help him write her a love song.

Bret and Jemaine pick up two women at a croissant shop -- but end up with very different dating experiences. Meanwhile, Murray makes an album deal for the band.

Using the band's emergency fund, Murray organizes a warm-up tour in preparation for a big gig in Central Park. At an airport bar, the boys get hooked by some "mermaids" from a women's water polo team -- nearly ruining the tour and their relationship with Murray.

The Conchords triple their fan base after playing a local world music jam, but Mel is suspicious of the two new fans' motives.

Bret and Jemaine enlist a semi-professional actor to cheer up Murray after a disappointing gig. Asked to place a good-hearted rejection call, the actor ends up getting carried away, offering Murray and the Conchords a recording deal that's too good to be true.

Murray foists a new bongo-playing band member on Bret and Jemaine, triggering angry dances and mutant half-bands.