Episode Report Card Deborah: B+ | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Bully For You
By Deborah | Season 1 | Episode 11 | Aired on 12.11.2003
Luke and Grace are in what looks like some kind of small auditorium cum lunchroom, working at a table together to decide their science fair project. As Adam wanders by, Luke says, "Now, it's boldly retro, but I'm thinking something involving Heisenberg's uncertainty principle." Adam pauses and then keeps going. I can't tell if it's because Grace and Luke ignore him or if he's put off by what they're discussing. Grace asks, "And that would be?" Luke is glad she asked. He begins by referring to the solar-system models of atoms taught in the fifth grade. To illustrate his point, he starts placing grapes around a cookie on the table. Luke: "Heisenberg says that's crap. There is no little nucleus, or at least, there is no way to determine where the nucleus is with any certainty. And -- and why, you ask?" Grace: "Not really." Luke, in between eating cookies and grapes: "Because just by looking for it, you change it. So by extension, the observer is always changing what we observe. I mean, reality itself is indeterminate." You're telling me. "And atoms, the very building blocks of matter, are nothing more than just mere clouds of possibility!" Grace: "Quit eating my grapes!" She seems genuinely pissed about it. Luke, undeterred: "Now, off of this, we can go in several different directions, like phototropism, where, you know, you, um...determine how a plant grows under light..." Grace suddenly yanks a diagram out from under the grapes and cookie and asks, "What's this?" Luke: "Uh, that's a rail gun...you use electromagnetic currents to basically...shoot a slug." Grace is interested: "That sounds cool -- let's do that." Since Friedman hasn't been a jackass around Luke in the last ten minutes, it's time for him to come along and take care of business: "Still scrambling for a project?" Is it my TV, or my eyes, or does Grace have a big strip of duct tape across her left boot? And she seems to be wearing a light pink T-shirt under her leather jacket. Also, when I was eight, my Ken doll used to have a sweater just like Friedman's. Luke says they're narrowing it down: "How's the sonoluminescence going?" Friedman: "Latest results on my website, if you're interested: WrathofFriedman.com." Snerk. Please. And Sony registered it on Dec. 4, 2003 (it redirects to the official site). I guess they didn't want to get beat out like they did on JoanofArcadia.com. Heh.
Grace makes no attempt to conceal her eye-rolling. Friedman notices it, of course, and decides to needle her some: "So, uh, guess we won't be seeing you at the dance tomorrow night." Grace: "Says who?" Friedman: "It's an assumption based on the unlikely hypothesis of you wearing a dress." I figured he was going to insinuate either that she was gay or unable to find a date. I realize dresses are customary for semi-formals and these sorts of soirées, but is Marlene going to be standing at the door enforcing it or something? Also, while we're on the topic: Grace would look killer in a well-cut tuxedo. I'm just saying. Grace: "Well, guess what, Galileo? Your assumptions suck. And we'll see you at the dance. Now beat it before I give you a wedgie!" She steals a glance at Luke in there to see his reaction. Also: I would pay cash money to see Grace (or anybody, really) give Friedman a wedgie of any sort, atomic or otherwise -- get it? AP Chem? Atomic? -- and I will be taking up a collection forthwith. Friedman's a little overconfident: "You can't give me a wedgie." She starts toward him, and he scuttles away. Once he's gone, she sighs. Luke: "Are we...going to the Crystal Ball?" Grace grabs her stuff and says, "Must have got caught up in the testosterone!" His, or yours? She tears off. Luke watches her go, mildly confused. Then he smiles to himself and says, "Cool."