Episode Report Card Niki: A | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT If You Love Something, Let It Run Free
By Niki | Season 2 | Episode 18 | Aired on 04.03.2001
Cut to the high-school parking lot, where Jake and Lily are sending Grace off on the big ski trip. The three of them joke around, and have a warm separated-family moment. Jake hugs Grace so hard he threatens the health of her spine, and when he sets her down, Grace heads for the safety of the bus. Rick watches the fond farewell from his truck. Is that odd? Or a little rude? I'm not sure. Once Grace is gone, Lily and Jake glance at each other, realize they have no reason to stand there any longer with one another, and split. Jake moves off past Rick's truck without acknowledging him, which, again, strikes me as odd. Unless they're both still mad about the whole attic thing. Karen's van slides into a space, and she and Jessie are wearing almost identical blue jackets. Karen sits there gripping the steering wheel and takes deep, anxious breaths. Jessie must already be out and around the back o the truck, because we hear Rick kiss her hello. Karen pulls it together and joins them, while Rick gets loaded down like a mule with Jessie's bags. He lurches off toward the bus, leaving Karen and Jessie alone. Karen finally forces herself to tell Jessie to have a good time, and Jessie smiles at her. But addictions aren't broken in a day, so of course Karen has to shove Jessie's hat into her hands with an admonition to wear it. Jessie says that she will and then throws her arms around Karen -- the first genuine and spontaneous display of affection toward her mother in a long time. Jessie breaks for the bus, and Karen watches as a sad song kicks in. Thanks to Sean for emailing to let me know that it's "On Saturday Afternoons in 1963" by Rickie Lee Jones. Rick sees Jessie onto the bus, then turns and glances at Karen, but makes no gesture of acknowledgment. He just turns around and walks away, into Lily's waiting arms. Karen stares at the bus with burning intensity, watching Jessie move along the aisle and find her seat. Karen waves urgently once Jessie is seated, and Jessie looks back at her with appreciation, and finally waves as the bus starts pulling away. Karen stands there, staring after the bus and looking smaller and smaller as the camera pans back. She really needs a hobby. Or a pet.