Episode Report Card Niki: D | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT There Be Dragons
By Niki | Season 1 | Episode 5 | Aired on 10.18.1999
B/W Lily is back again, expanding on her definition of middle-aged. She says she thinks "it's when you spend more time thinking about the bad things that have happened instead of all the good things that might." Interesting that "bad things" should pop into her head just as she's on the phone with Jake.
Cut back to Jake, looking very uncomfortable. He sputters that, sick child aside, he's been meaning to call Lily anyway. He wants to talk, but not on the phone. Lily is naturally suspicious and wants to know what's up with all the mystery. He asks to buy her a drink the next night at Pete's and, after establishing that both kids will be tucked away somewhere safe, Lily acquiesces. Jake looks as though it's the first time he's breathed in about four minutes.
The next morning, we find Jessie shooting hoops in Rick's kitchen while providing herself with a running commentary. Rick's all decked out in his man-of-the-great-outdoors gear -- the requisite red flannel shirt -- and is busy packing food for their hike. Anxiously, he asks Eli what time it is. Eli and Jessie start wrestling over the basketball, and Rick asks Jessie if her hiking boots are ready. When she says she can't find them, Rick places both hands under her jaw and then lifts her up to his level. I can't imagine this being comfortable. He asks if she wants him to go look for them, to which she replies, "Okay Mr. Grouch Head," before heading off to search her room again. After Jessie leaves, Rick asks Eli for the time again. Eli responds that it's "ten-thirty-ONE" -- about one minute since the last time Rick asked. Jessie calls to Rick from upstairs.
Jessie's in the bathroom with the door closed. Rick asks what's up, and we cut to Jessie, who's sitting on the bathroom counter hugging her knees. "I think I just got my period," she tells him. Cut to Rick, who takes an exaggeratedly deep breath while his eyes almost pop out. "Honey...honey, that's...that's great...that's wonderful," he stammers weakly, "Do you need...sh-should we...do you want to go to a drugstore? Or do you want to go to Mom's?" Oh please, oh please... Rick's silent prayer is answered when Jessie says she thinks they should go to Karen's.
Here's B/W Jessie to talk about what life was like B.D. -- Before the Divorce. She remembers that Saturday was always "pancake day" -- they'd let Karen sleep late and Rick would make these "tiny pancakes and [she'd] see how high [she] could stack them." Her face falls as she says, "Now we just don't do that anymore."