Episode Report Card Maggie: C- | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Outages
By Maggie | Season 3 | Episode 13 | Aired on 04.24.2001
Ben is sitting in a booth at Epstein Bar with a glass of beer and a book on the table. He looks up and sighs. Avery "I Will Survive" Swanson waltzes in at that moment and says, "Hey, struggling?" Ben admits that he is while she just plonks down across from him. Here's my study tip #1 for you, Ben: it's difficult to retain information when you're trying to remember it while drinking in a bar. She says Knoll told her that Ben wasn't having a good day. Ben is a little surprised that Knoll told her anything about him or his day and says, "Man, I wish that guy would just shut his mouth, sometimes." Ha! You and me both, brother. Avery reveals that she cheated on her freshman-year trig exam, and that she knows a guy who could get "last year's test" for Ben. He asks her, "Is that what you did?" She responds, "I didn't have a choice. You want me to call him?" Ben says he'd love her to call but refuses her help. She says she understands, and claims to have only suggested it because she thought he was "desperate." She gives him her cell number in case he changes his mind. He thanks her and she leaves. Avery reminds me of so many rich girls I knew in high school and university -- the kind that went out of their way to let you and everyone else know that they were rich, and who cheated constantly but never got caught because no one would have ever suspected that such nice girls would be so devoid of morals. What? Me, bitter? Nah. I have faith in cosmic retribution. One of the girls I knew got married very young to an NHL hockey player. His career never amounted to much and I think he tanked pretty young.
At the girls' apartment, the gang readies the place for the Docuventary viewing. Sean is on edge and Meghan isn't at all enthusiastic. Ben tells Knoll to quit discussing his life with Avery. Knoll says that Avery asked about him and he snipes, "This may come as a shock to you, but I do have other things to talk about besides you." Ben tells him never to discuss his grades again. Richard dives into all of the snack foods while Sean complains that he's not helping set up. Richard snarks, "Hey man, it's a party. I'm not here to work. I'm here for the ladies. There are gong to be ladies here, aren't there? Not just the same old core group, because that could limit my options." Meghan deadpans, "From what, zero to zero?" Richard asks how they know Chris. Meghan says she's an old friend. Sean explains, "Meghan grew up with her brother." Meghan angrily clarifies that she grew up with Chris's sister and complains that Sean never listens to her. Richard asks, "Is she cute?" Chris appears and replies, "Not really." Meghan hugs her and Richard comments, "You're very wrong about yourself." Sean murmurs to Richard, "She's engaged." Richard says, "For now. Give me time." As Meghan and Chris establish that it's been four years since they've last seen each other, Felicity and Knoll appear in the background. Meghan introduces them and describes Sean as "this hovering slob" who is her boyfriend. Sean immediately starts over-anxiously babbling about wanting to meet her since they're both filmmakers. Chris is unaware that Sean is a filmmaker, and he freaks out on Meghan because he thought Chris knew. Meghan tells him to calm down and promises that they'll "watch the movie later." Felicity offers her congratulations on Chris's engagement. Between stuffing handfuls of popcorn into this yap, Knoll says, "So, you knew Meghan, uh, pre-Goth." Chris answers, "I knew Meghan pre a lot of things." Sean interrupts with more excited gibberish about Sundance. Meghan tells him to chill since Chris has just arrived. Chris asks to use the bathroom, and Sean tells her to hurry because everything is ready. Richard comments, "She's pretty into me." How can someone have his head so far up his ass that he's completely unaware of what's going on around him? (I'm talking about Richard this time, but it could also apply to Knoll and even Sean in this case.) Felicity asks Knoll to talk to Elena since he "lived with her for a year." Why bring that up? Did the writers think we'd forgotten about their huge apartment with the bad wallpaper? Knoll wasn't even aware that she was in the apartment (see the head-up-ass comment above) and Felicity tells him that Elena is depressed about Tracy. Knoll looks befuddled, starts to walk away, and then turns back toward the kitchen. Felicity takes a drink to Ben who is in her bedroom studying with index cards. She says, "Chavez is playing at The Knitting Factory. It would be a great excuse not to watch Sean's movie; do you wanna go?" Ben thinks he'd be better off studying. She offers to bring some sketches in and keep him company. He tells her to go see the band. She decides to stay and tells him to let her know if he needs anything. My patented study tip #2: studying at home by yourself when your roommates are out is much more effective than studying in an apartment where a party is being held. Felicity kisses him and leaves.