Episode Report Card Kim: A | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT The Storm
By Kim | Season 4 | Episode 7 | Aired on 11.20.2001
Cut to Ben walking down the rainy street. Felicity runs after him and yells at him to wait. He turns around. She says, "I love you," as the rain pours down on her uncovered head. Ben takes a few steps back toward Felicity and says, "You know, I'm really starting to hate that word." Felicity gives him an uncomprehending look. Ben continues, "The way people use it, like you and my dad. Like you just say it and it makes everything better. Like you just say it and everything goes away." Ben starts to choke up on the last few words. Felicity wants him to tell her what she can do. Ben sadly says, "You've already done it. Honestly, I'm really trying to understand why you'd do this. I mean, every time I think about it, about you and Noel..." Felicity interrupts to try to apologize again, but Ben concludes, "I'm sorry. I can't do it right now. I just can't." Ben turns and walks away, as Felicity stands in the rain, watching him go, with a look of total devastation on her face.
Noel sits at his desk in his counseling office. Felicity walks by the door, and stops to say hello. Felicity explains that she was just leaving the studio and thought she would stop by and say hello. Things are very awkward between them. Felicity asks about Noel's new job, and Noel says that it didn't work out, but doesn't go into more detail. Felicity says she's sorry because she knows that Noel was excited about it. Noel says that it's fine, because he has the counseling job as a backup, and "it's always good to have a backup." Extreme awkward pause as they both realize that Noel is essentially Felicity's backup. Felicity shakes her head and sighs, then says that it's going to take her a long time to understand why he told Ben. Noel says, "Me too." The entire viewing audience -- save for a few lonely Noel-worshippers -- adds, "Me too." Felicity asks why Noel did it. Noel says that he doesn't know, and that he keeps doing things where he can hear his brain telling him to stop, but he does them anyway. Felicity takes that in, and then says that she just wanted to say hi. Felicity and Noel kind of smile at each other, tentatively, and Felicity leaves. Noel smirks to himself as if to say, "Well, there's another important thing in my life that I completely ruined."
Ben passes Noel in the hallway outside the loft. They walk by each other silently, and then Noel stops to tell Ben that he's looking for another apartment, and he'll be out of there soon. Ben doesn't answer, and starts to walk away. Noel asks after Ben's father. Ben says that his dad is doing better. Noel says that's good to hear, and Ben thanks him and walks away. Noel just stares after Ben, as if realizing how completely he has messed up.