Episode Report Card Niki: A+ | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Aaron's Gettin' Better
By Niki | Season 2 | Episode 16 | Aired on 03.20.2001
Cut to Jake behind the bar at Phil's. Through the curtained foyer, we can see the front door open, and Grace calls out, "Daddy?" She's with Spencer, who offers his hand across the bar and says, "Hey Mr. Manning." Jake insists that Spencer call him by his first name, after everything they've been through. Jake leans on the bar and asks if Grace told Spencer that Phil's was her grandfather's place. Spencer looks around as if he's never been there before and says she didn't, "Jake." Jake says that Phil "never would have let what happened...well, happen." Spencer's jovial smile slides off his face and he glances around again. Jake slams his hand on the bar to emphasize his point, and Spencer jumps at the sound. Jake catches Grace staring at him, and Spencer staring at him, and realizes he''s running off at the mouth. He changes the subject, asking what they're doing there "on this...[pained chuckle] slow day." Grace explains the article they're going to do about their experience. Spencer just stands there looking like a turtle without his shell. He turns and paces a few steps away, distracted. "Right?" Grace asks, clapping a hand to his shoulder. "Uh, right," he forces. Jake excuses himself to go to his office.
Grace rushes over to Spencer and faces him across a table, saying, "Okay, I think I should do you first." Hubba hub -- oh. She meant interview, as she clarifies for his and my benefit. She starts going on again, babbling about doing "A Day in the Life of Spencer Lewicki," and suggesting that they include a timeline of everything he did that day before he got to the restaurant. She notices Spencer apprehensively looking around the restaurant. She looks around to see what he's watching for, but continues talking. She starts outlining the timeline, rhyming off sample times. When she mentions brushing his teeth, Spencer interrupts, jabbing a finger and saying, "Don't put that in." Grace is taken aback, but quickly agrees that they can start it later in the day. "Grace!" he finally interrupts her. He asks if they can "do this later." Grace is a little exasperated, pointing out, "But we're here!" He says he knows, but he doesn't feel that well. In fact, he "can't swallow. Like, [he] suddenly get[s] how complex swallowing is, and [he's] not sure [he] can effectively do it." Grace asks if he wants some water. His eyes are bugging as he blurts, "Air! I just need air. Now. And I think I'll just catch the bus because it stops right outside." He desperately points outdoors, where no madman with a gun has ever harassed him. He rambles something about going home, and Grace asks if he wants her to go with him. That stops him cold. "No!" he insists, raising his voice. Grace looks like he just stomped on her foot. They look at each other for a moment before he seems to collect himself. He steps forward, touches her arm, and assures her that he'll be okay. She swallows and nods as he softly says, "See ya," before racing out.