Episode Report Card Maggie: C | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT And To All A Good Night
By Maggie | Season 3 | Episode 11 | Aired on 12.12.2000
At the apartment, Felicity and Knoll are working on the Stupid Cartoon Premise. She asks him if he thinks that he mother was too hard on Ben at dinner. He says that he thinks she was and that it made him uncomfortable, which is why he talked so much. He asks her if he did talk too much, and Felicity confirms that he did. He asks if her mother hates him, too. She says that her mom loves him. He says, "Yeah, moms love me. It's the curse of the Cranes." Knoll worries that the turtle in SCP looks weird. Felicity says it looks fine. He states that the turtle is "such a loser." She disagrees but he repeats his assessment. You're right on the money this time, Knoll.
Elena and Tracy go to see his minister, who has a sign on her desk that says, "Pastor Cathy is IN!" All that's missing is the part about her advice costing five cents. Hey Elena, try letting Tracy kick the football the next time. Pastor Cathy blah-blahs about sin and taking responsibility. Elena says she doesn't think she's sinned. Pastor Cathy states, "Pre-marital sex is lust, not love." Elena says, "With all deference to the church, the bible won't tell you what's in my heart." Pastor Cathy opines that maybe it should, and that they have to define what they want separately and what they want together. ["Doctrine aside, it's a good point." -- Wing Chun]
The Loft o' Trees is being deforested due to Meghan's call. Sean arrives home and wonders what is going on. Richard thinks that one of the neighbours "ratted [them] out." Sean tries to bribe the Fire Marshal, who ignores him, and tells him to get rid of the trees to avoid getting a fine. Sean wants Ben to help them move the trees and Ben tries to get out of it. Sean plays the "you don't always pay the rent on time" card, which pretty much trumps Ben's excuse and he agrees to help. Felicity arrives and asks if Ben is all right. He says he isn't. She asks him about the party and he says he probably won't make it because of the trees. He brings up that fact that he was hurt by her comment about him having no plans, and they argue. He suggests that maybe she should spend the holidays with her mother. She protests mutely, and he goes back to moving trees.
Tracy comes over to the apartment to tell Elena that he's going to go to Africa because he's confused about their relationship.
Ben has invited Felicity's mother to talk to him at Dean & Deluca, over coffee. He starts out by thanking her for coming and fumbles around a bit before saying that he's not good at small talk. The soundtrack features a guitar plinking out strains of "We Three Kings." This is the part where Ben gets to be one of the wise men and explain that while he doesn't have his future mapped out, he knows that Felicity has faith in him, and he's going to follow her wandering star. Or something like that. He concludes with a statement about never having talked so much at one time before. Ms. Hunter stares him with her pale face, enormous red lips, and limp, unstyled hair. Instead of shopping at Bergdorf's, I wish she'd go get her hair done.