Episode Report Card Niki: D | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT A Dream Deferred
By Niki | Season 1 | Episode 6 | Aired on 10.25.1999
Cut to Lily approaching Rick and another guy loading a marble slab into the back of Rick's truck. He weaseled it -- "almost for free" -- for Lily. Rick shows Lily some stools he found for her, too. Lily hesitantly says that she doesn't know if they can afford it. Rick tells her that he called in some favors, and they're getting the stuff at cost. He can build the whole coffee bar for under $5000. The helper says that if Rick were this psyched about every job, they'd all be millionaires. "Okay," Lily says, with a forced smile. Rick goes to grab something else, and Lily lets her face drop.
Cut to Lily and Naomi at a coffee house. Naomi is in the midst of telling Lily that she's crazy. Lily says that Rick is so excited and he's saving them money and it'll make Judy happy. "Which is your main goal in life," Naomi points out dryly. They figure out how much money a year's coffee sales could amount to. It takes them like ten minutes. It's just embarrassing, and almost offensive, like that talking Barbie they brought out all those years ago who complained how hard math is. Finally, they figure out that it would amount to $42,000 -- no wait -- $1100 a year. Disappointed, Lily asks what that amounts to divided "how many ways" (that would be two, genius) and after taxes. Naomi concedes that Lily won't get rich selling coffee, "But [she'll] make everybody HAP-PEEEE!"
Back at the bookstore, Lily's just told Judy that the coffee bar is a go, after all. Judy is miffed that Lily keeps changing her mind, especially because she knows that it's just to please Rick. Cue Rick, whistling and happy-go-lucky in his workman's get-up. He's laden with a ladder and tools and says, "That's right! Mr. Fix-it's here!" Like I said, it's lucky he's so pretty. While Judy helps Rick get settled, Lily heads to the office. She calls the bank to make sure that Jake really did pay the mortgage. She learns that he got an extension instead. Lily's not happy. She calls Jake and tells him that she wants to see him right away and snaps that she doesn't want to talk about it over the phone.
Cut to Lily's living room, where she and Jake are perched uncomfortably on chair arms. She asks if there's a problem and tells him that he has to tell her the truth. He says -- again -- that the mortgage is taken care of. He says it's not the first time he's gotten an extension. Lily asks -- again -- if there's a problem. Besides the fact that her needle's obviously stuck? Jake gets offended and asks her to admit that he's never let her and the kids down in his obligations. He adds that he resents being made to feel like a deadbeat dad. Lily says that she just wants to know if there is a problem. Again, Jake insists that there isn't. Finally, Lily lets it drop and instead tells Jake that she needs a new washing machine. Jake sighs and says that he just had to buy one when he moved into his apartment. Lily's attitude: yeah, and...? They bicker and snipe, bicker and snipe, until Lily pulls out her trump card: "Your children's clothes go in that washing machine." And god forbid the children's clothes should ever see a laundromat. Not that Jake doesn't have an obligation and all that, but if money's tight from setting up another household, why can't Lily just make due for a couple of weeks until there's some money to get another machine? Lily almost redeems herself by adding, "And I can't believe you made me say those words!" Funny, I missed the part where Jake had a gun to her head. So, Jake gives in and agrees to get another machine, and the two sit there uncomfortably, making a point of not looking at one another.