Episode Report Card Niki: B | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT The Scarlet Letter Jacket
By Niki | Season 1 | Episode 3 | Aired on 10.04.1999
Back to Lily, who's trying to convince Naomi to switch spots with her. Naomi protests that she'll "get in trouble." Has every woman on this show regressed to high school tonight? Lily begs harder. Grace protests to her friend that she didn't arrange it -- it happened by chance. Naomi grudgingly gives in while Grace gushes, "Isn't that the coolest thing ever? It's unbelievable!" Her friend's tinny voice warbles, "You're soooo lucky, Grace!" as we fade to commercial with a sense of foreboding. Come on -- we all know no one stays that happy in high school for long.
It's carnival time when we return. Rick's just pulled into the school's parking lot, and spots Lily across the way popping open the rear door on her behemoth SUV. He's about to call and wave when Jake and Zoe emerge from the other side of the truck, reminding him that he needs to maintain cover. He slowly tucks his hand away as Jessie and Eli sneak up behind him with a surprise attack. Jessie hops on his back and the three of them head into the carnival.
Grace pops out of Lily's SUV and scopes her reflection in its big black windows. Lily catches her and tells her to come on, asking, "Are you wearing makeup?" Grace hides her embarrassment behind a plaintive wail of "Mom!" She moves ahead of Lily, who cocks her head, intrigued by this new development.
Soliloquy Grace returns to do what she does best: gripe. With eyes wide and rolling, she complains that Lily worries when she's not having a good time -- that it means Grace is depressed or anxious. Grace points out that these are valid reactions to high school. She's got me there.
Rick and his kids have hooked up with Karen, and they're moving as a familial unit through the entrance to the festivities. Rick spots Lily across the courtyard, talking with a group of women. She meets his eyes and then looks down, careful to keep the same stony expression in place. Eli spots Jennifer in the big inflatable jumping thing-y. I can't believe I've forgotten what that thing's called. It was always my favorite thing at carnivals. And its presence here suggests that this is no ordinary, two-bit bake-table-and- penny-raffle school carnival. Anyway, Eli rushes off to meet his girlfriend, and Jessie hits up Rick for some cash. She's smart and starts high, asking for a twenty. He comes back with an offer of ten, asking why she's always tapping him for money instead of Karen. "Because you're so much easier," Jessie grins. Careful, now, or that'll be all over school and his reputation will be ruined. Oh, wait. He's a guy, which means his reputation will be made.