Episode Report Card Niki: D | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT The Mystery Dance
By Niki | Season 1 | Episode 15 | Aired on 02.06.2000
Rick is back at his desk, having yet another webcam conversation with Miles. They butt heads over Sam again, because Miles feels like Sam's not interested and has been blowing him off, but Rick insists that Sam just needs time. It's clear they don't communicate and they both know it. Miles says he doubts they understand each other, and Rick says he thinks they do. Miles ends the exchange by saying that that's a longer conversation for another time.
Back at the bookstore, Judy's busy cleaning everything in sight. Lily offers to cover for her and expresses her concern over what's been happening, but Judy says she's just been in a weird mood lately. She tries to convince Lily that things are looking up, though, by sounding upbeat about the pharmacist who's now got her number. Her little-trooper routine fails, though, and she starts crying. Lily actually just shuts up and hugs her, making a lame joke about pharmacists' income to try and cheer her up. Judy admits she's scared that she'll never find the right guy, or that she'll settle for the wrong guy just because she's so scared of ending up alone. She says that she never knows what she wants until it's too late, and Lily looks like Judy's hit a nerve with all these confessions. Judy admits that she wants to get married and have kids, but she doesn't know how to get there. Lily says she wishes she knew.
Cut to Lily at home on her sofa with a calculator and a pile of bills. The kids are out and she's working on the dreaded household budget when Rick comes by. Both admit how much they hate what's been happening between them, and Rick says he's got something to say. After a little build-up he comes out with it: "I love you very much and I can't live without you." Not surprisingly, that gets him a big fat kiss from Lily.
Cut to Judy's apartment where she's stretched out on the couch reading the poem Sam gave her.
Now black-and-white Sam's on the scene, reciting a line of the poem so we make sure to connect the meaning with him. Black-and-white Judy's there too, and she takes over for Sam, reading the rest of the poem from the book. Basically, the poem expresses a man's regrets as he looks back on his life and realizes that he never allowed himself to really experience anything because he was too afraid of taking risks and getting hurt.
Next we see Judy in her apartment, picking up dirty dishes while still holding the book in her hand. Not a good idea; the dishes fall and smash. She picks up the pieces and then goes to the phone, looking very thoughtful.