Episode Report Card Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Barefoot At Capefest
By Wing Chun | Season 3 | Episode 11 | Aired on 01.11.2000
In the dining room at Green Grove, Principatundé has completely forgotten his pledge, and is gushing about Nikki: "You're looking at the probably the only little girl in America who wanted a Super-8 camera for her tenth birthday." He chuckles, and adds, "Nikki, should I tell him the name of your first cinematic achievement?" With pleased horror, she gasps, "Don't you dare!" Undeterred, Principatundé announces, "A Day in the Life of Daddy." Dawson smiles rather nicely, plainly enjoying a conversation that is, for once, not about himself. Principatundé says that Nikki followed him around all day, and she describes herself as "James Cameron of third grade." Since James Cameron isn't...you know...a documentarian, it might have been more effective if someone had done some research so that she might instead compare herself to Barbara Kopple or Errol Morris or Phil Joanou or Alek Keshishian or Michael Apted or even Michael Moore. But I guess the writers don't have access to the IMDb, or anything. Anyway. Principatundé asks Dawson whether Nikki has enlisted him for her new film. Dawson, fishing, says that he doesn't even know what it's about, and she replies that that's between herself and her crew. Trying manfully (except for the "man" part) not to pout, Dawson says, "So in order to bask in the glory of this mind-bending idea of yours, I have to offer my services?" Ugh, Dawson -- don't use the phrase "my services." Please. Nikki asks if that's an offer, and Dawson asks her if she's asking him for his "help." Nikki corrects him: "I don't need any help, Dawson." Before Dawson can respond, Principatundé butts in: "I think it would be a great idea for you two to work together." Nikki and Dawson simultaneously demur, rather forcefully, and Principatundé says, "Sorry I mentioned it." Dawson and Nikki sneak glances at each other. Does anyone think that their mutual animosity and intense competitiveness will eventually evolve into attraction? Because I don't.
Back on the beach, we start eavesdropping on Jack and Ethan mid-conversation. Jack is saying, "You knew that young that you were attracted to men?" Ethan says no, that he knew that young that he was "different." He adds, "Being gay isn't about what sex you're attracted to. It informs so much of who and what you are." Jack says, "You lost me." Ethan explains, "You haven't talked to another gay kid, so you definitely haven't kissed one, right?" Jack says that's right, and Ethan says, "But you still know you're gay." Jack agrees, and Ethan asks how Jack knows. Jack says, "I just know, I guess." Ethan says that people (thought he doesn't specify who) want to define "gay" by who a person sleeps with, but that "it isn't about that." Instead, he says it's about moments, like the moment Jack was too nervous to ask for Ethan's number, or like the conversation in progress. He winds up by saying that being gay is, finally, "not just a part of your life. It's everywhere. Unlike my stuff!" D'oh! Someone pinched Ethan's gear while he was off lecturing in Homosexuality 100.