Episode Report Card Niki: D | 1 USERS: B YOU GRADE IT Sneaky Feelings
By Niki | Season 1 | Episode 14 | Aired on 01.30.2000
Back in her office, Leo is smiling as he paws one of the pictures on her desk. When Karen enters, he puts it down and says, "I was totally out of line. I have no social skills. That's my idea of an apology. I'm totally inept." Karen doesn't voice a single argument but says that she was "inappropriate." Leo refutes her, saying that "she's obviously in public interest law because she cares about what she does. Otherwise she'd be billing three-fifty an hour." Karen pauses, takes a pill, and then unclenches a little. She asks why he's not in private practice, either. "Bottom of my class," Leo jokes, but goes on to tell her he's "from a rich family and [doesn't] really have a specific reason. [He] just wanted to make it easier for people that have no hope." And suddenly, Leo's looking a whole lot better, isn't he? Karen thinks so, too. She tells him that he's done amazing work. Leo thanks her and then steers the conversation immediately back to the case, making it clear he's not really interested in accolades. He asks why, if the funds are there, they can't just build the new housing? Karen says it simply isn't an option. "Maybe there's a loophole. Maybe if you tried a little harder," Leo suggests, successfully cramming his foot almost entirely down his throat for a record thirty-ninth time. "I don't believe you," Karen says. Leo doesn't understand her reaction. "You just insulted me again," she states. "I am bad news," Leo says, "Don't pay attention to me. I'm just going to go in the corner and shut up." That won't be necessary, though, because Karen suddenly finds a breakthrough in the case. Leo is so excited he can barely contain himself. He practically bounces over to his laptop to start writing the necessary letter immediately. "Tell me what to write," he says to Karen, deferring to her for the first time. I think she likes it.
Cut to Rick's place, where Jessie and Eli are coming down the stairs, discussing Eli's plans to go watch movies at Cassidy's place. "It's nothing," Eli insists, his voice frustrated, "It's just a bunch of people watching a movie. Get off my back." "I don't care if you go or not," Jessie sniffs, "I just don't see how you can live with yourself." Rick comes into the foyer as Eli's putting on his coat. He's happy to learn they rented The Philadelphia Story. Eli tells him where he's going, and Rick tells him to be home by midnight. Jessie sits at the counter, glaring at nothing in particular. When Eli opens the door, however, Jennifer's there to put the kibosh on his big plans. "What are you doing here?" Eli asks, not smiling. "Why?" she chirps, "Don't you want me here?" It's clear she's never even considered that as a real possibility. Eli's still not smiling, as he stammers, "No, no you just surprised me." She asks if he was going somewhere, and he says no.