Episode Report Card Kim: B- | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Hot Objects
By Kim | Season 1 | Episode 3 | Aired on 10.12.1998
Prof. Aprile is telling the class that although Ben was "a huge success with his exploration of the sandwich," he is going to give the exercise another try. As Ben heads up to the front of the class, he tries to worm out of the assignment, claiming that he's uncomfortable. Prof. Aprile tells Ben that the exercise isn't graded, but that if he doesn't participate, he gets an incomplete. Ben sighs and heads to the front of the room. He pulls out a set of keys, and the students all laugh, expecting big sandwich-type jokes. Ben says it's "a smooth, hard, round loop connecting three shiny, sharp, metal..." Prof. Aprile interrupts to tell Ben not to say "metal." See, this is why I could never take a drama class. Why can't he say "metal"? Ben sighs and continues his description. After he finishes, Prof. Aprile tells him to explain why the keys have meaning. Ben starts, and then tries to duck out, but Prof. Aprile is having none of it. Ben explains that he doesn't get along with his father, and that his mother is incredible and beautiful, but that she doesn't get along with his father either. His mother gets sad and upset, and cries a lot. Ben has seen pictures of his parents before he came along, and they look happy, so it wasn't always bad. Ben says that the keys mean that he's not home anymore, which is great for him, and that he's subletting from Sean, a frustrated entrepreneur. Ben lives with three other guys (he does?), and it's cool to have a big place where he actually wants to hang out. But more than anything, the keys mean that he's not causing anything at home, and that he and his dad don't have to deal with each other, and so his mom isn't so sad, he hopes. So it's better for everyone that he has the keys. The class is silent, regarding Ben. Prof. Aprile nods and Ben walks off. That monologue sounds so much like an audition piece. I wonder if anyone has ever used that in an audition. Regardless, Scott Speedman did a nice job with it.
Felicity enters her dorm, carrying a bag from Bloomingdales. In her room, she holds a dress up in front of the mirror. Meghan enters and asks whether Felicity bought the dress for the party tonight. Felicity says that she did. Meghan asks if she's going to the party with her "little friend Julie." Felicity says, "My little friend?" Meghan starts stuffing things into her bag and adds, "Julie and her Tiger Beat boyfriend?" Felicity says that Julie doesn't have a boyfriend. Meghan asks whether Ben is invisible. Felicity says that Ben isn't Julie's boyfriend. Meghan says that he is, and that she always sees them together. Felicity says that Julie says there's nothing going on there. Meghan says she must have hit a nerve, and tells Felicity to watch them the next time they are together -- that Ben gets close and Julie laughs at his jokes, which is proof to Meghan that they are "couch-dancing." Felicity looks upset.