Episode Report Card Wing Chun: D | 2 USERS: A YOU GRADE IT Parental Discretion Advised
By Wing Chun | Season 2 | Episode 22 | Aired on 05.25.1999
Jen drags a carpet bag up Grams's front steps and watches Grams fold laundry on the porch. She opens the door. Grams turns at the sound, with a smile of surprise and relief. She starts to come toward Jen, but before Grams can say anything, Jen announces: "I have three conditions." Grams says not, "Yeah -- three conditions of my foot in your ass," but sort of murmurs some inarticulate noise. Jen continues: "One: that we address the reality of why this didn't work out before. I know that I made some mistakes, but even on my best behaviour I never felt like I was comfortable living here with you. I never felt that I was good enough." Grams starts to say, "Oh, Jennifah," but Jen cuts her off again: "Two: I need you to acknowledge that I've been through a lot in my life -- more than most girls my age, and what I need is your support, not your judgment, especially not Biblical judgment." Okay, "been through a lot" of what? I'm not going to sit here and argue that, based on the very little we know about Jen's parents, they don't suck, but no matter how many times Jen refers in the abstract to all the "hard living" and "fast growing up" she did in the big bad city, as far as I can tell all she's been through is a lot of guys. And actually, we don't even know that. Instead of calling her on this, a frustratingly docile Grams says, "I think I can manage that." Jen's voice starts to break as she winds up her remarks: "What you need to understand, Grams, is that I don't need a legal guardian to be able to survive, and that I can handle a lot more than you might think, but that what I want is to live here with you. I want a family. I want us to take care of each other. And I don't want to be alone anymore." Grams tears up and says, "Neither do I." They hug. Okay, I'll give it up for that: Aw. That's nice. Grams says, "Was there a third [condition]?" Jen says, "Yes. Somebody else who doesn't want to be alone anymore." They look outside, where Jack is sitting on a swing in the yard, his own sad little gym bag beside him on the ground. He looks up briefly at the window, then down again. Grams takes a deep breath and says, "Well. I've been meaning to clear out your grandfather's room for a while." Jen nods gratefully and they hug again. I know some people on the boards are saying that they don't buy this plot development, and that Grams, being a practising Christian, wouldn't consent to let a gay teenager live in her home. Frankly, that's about the only thing about this whole exchange that I can totally believe. People take in other people's troubled children all the time. Given Grams's forbearance with Jen, I don't think sexless Jack is going to pose much of a challenge to her moral code.
On the pier, the Sheriff joins Pacey, who is gazing desultorily out at the water. Pacey asks what he's doing there. The Sheriff says, "Well, for starters, you punched me." Pacey says, "If you came looking for an apology, you're barking up the wrong tree." The Sheriff says, "No, I don't need an apology. I deserved it. Good for you for doing it." Um, yeah. When is Pacey going to wake up from this little dream sequence? And what is with this bizarre dynamic between fathers and sons, where the only way (or, at least, the best way) for sons to get respect from overbearing fathers is to hit them? How screwed up is that? Anyway, Pacey, evidently waiting for the other shoe to drop, says nothing. The Sheriff goes on: "Got another phone call today, from Andie. We talked for a long time. She's kinda chatty, that one." Pacey smiles fondly: "Yeah, she is." The Sheriff says, "She sounded sweet as hell, Pacey. So, I'm sorry what I said yesterday; I really don't know anything about her." Pacey says, "Apology accepted," and starts to go. The Sheriff says, "I'm not done. As little as I know about her, I know even less about you, my own son. I realized as Andie was trying to fill me in on what you two had been through. I didn't know any of it. She said you were her hero." Pacey's chin starts to tremble. The Sheriff says, "It was nice to hear. Anyway, I called the school and I explained things to them; they're gonna let you make up your finals next week if you feel up to it." Pacey says, "Thank you." The Sheriff says, "It's the least I could do." They stare at each other for a moment, evidently unsure of what will happen next. The Sheriff says, "I'm sorry I haven't been the kind of father that you felt you could share your story with." Pacey cries a little more openly but tries to choke it back. The Sheriff clears his throat and says, "There is one more thing; Andie wanted me to give you something." Very, very awkwardly, he hugs Pacey, who looks a little scared. The Sheriff lets go quickly, but Pacey grabs him and hugs him hard, sobbing, "I miss her so much. I miss her so much it's killing me, Pop." The Sheriff says, "I know you do, son." Surely now would be the time that Pacey wakes up? How out of character was that? Oh well. It's nice for Pacey.