Episode Report Card Maggie: D | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Party Lines
By Maggie | Season 2 | Episode 18 | Aired on 04.18.2000
At the loft, Ben is dressed in a suit and tie and Sean and his camera are badgering him about the internship. Sean wants to know if Ben has any "first day jitters." Ben responds, "No, I'm actually getting the hang of it, it's a lot like gambling." Sean comments that Felicity will be impressed with Ben's job. Ben says, "Who cares?" Sean says, "You." Ben doesn't think Felicity will be impressed because it is not like he's "running for president or anything."
Felicity is sitting at a table in an outdoor café, which must be on campus because all kinds of election propaganda is visible in the background. Leelah, the girl who sparked the morning after pill protest at the Health Centre, stops by Felicity's table to say that she is running for student council president and to ask Felicity to sign her ballot petition. Felicity mentions that Greg is running too and that she is helping him. Felicity agrees to sign Leelah's ballot anyway. Leelah asks what Greg's platform is and Felicity tells her that they're still working on it. The discussion turns to the issues, like affirmative action, various "social programs," and chalking. Felicity is unfamiliar with the chalking issue so Leelah informs her that the university is against students writing notices about school events on campus sidewalks and roads even though it is completely washable. Richard, who is also running for president, interrupts their conversation. His platform is all about the fact that there are too many rules, like "no satellite dishes in dorm rooms, no ferrets, no fun." Plus, he's for free pizza on Fridays at the student union. He asks them if he has their support and neither answer for a few seconds then Leelah says no. Richard incredulously says, "Really?" Richard and Greg would be deadlocked in a race for the president of the "Least Self-Aware Club." Knoll could be vice president.
Ben returns home to the loft, with his tie loosened, and is greeted by Sean and the camera. Sean says, "Is that money I smell?" Ben asks him to "get rid of that thing." Sean yells, "What's up, Gordon Gekko? How was your first day of work? Did you learn a lot about supply and demand, makin' money -- " Ben says no, but he did meet a really cute kid. We get flashbacks of Ben in the office of the guy to whom he is interning. He is the clichéd Wall Street high flyer, divorced dad. It seems that it's Junior's time with dad, but dad is really busy so Ben is enlisted to entertain the kid. The boy, who looks to be about eight or nine, is named Steven. When they're left alone, Ben asks Steven "how's it goin'?" but Steven ignores him and just plays with his Gameboy. Do I hear strains of Harry Chapin's painful Cat's in the Cradle?