Episode Report Card Niki: D | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Wake Up, Little Susie
By Niki | Season 2 | Episode 1 | Aired on 10.23.2000
Cut to Rick and Jessie on the sidewalk, where he's reassuring her that Grace doesn't hate her.
Cut to Zoe's face pressed up against the foyer window. "They're here!" she calls excitedly, throwing open the door and grabbing Jessie by the hand. Lily asks where Eli is, and Rick says he had band practice. I watch Grace for a reaction, but surprisingly, there isn't one. Lily puts on a smile and says, "Oh. Well. There'll just be more lasagna for the rest of us, then."
Fade into them sitting around the dining-room table as Lily trots out of the kitchen proudly carrying her lasagna. She and Rick banter and flirt while Jessie and Grace look like they're going to impale themselves on the silverware. Fade into a later moment, as Rick is sharing a story about his camping trip with Jessie. Rick beams with pride over Jessie, telling them that she almost died rock climbing and managed to save herself. He then asks what Grace did over the summer. Her this-conversation-is-going-nowhere answer: "Driver's Ed." Fade to even later, as Rick is piling seconds onto plates. Zoe starts talking to Jessie about a teacher at the grade school, and they share their horror stories about her. Grace rolls her eyes and makes faces, refusing to be drawn into their conversation. And fade into even later, as Lily is sharing baby stories about Grace. Grace forces a fake laugh, and Rick senses her attitude. Things get quiet, and Rick peers at Jessie's plate, which is untouched. She claims she's not hungry. Lily looks a little saddened, taking the lasagna rejection personally. And finally, even later, we fade into Zoe showing Jessie her room. Jessie studies it, arms folded, as Zoe struggles to make conversation. Things get really wild and crazy when, pulling out all the stops, Zoe offers to show Jessie her collection of "all the new silver quarters."
Meanwhile, downstairs, Rick and Lily are cuddling on the couch, talking to Grace about soccer. Rick lets it slip that Lily was a cheerleader in high school, which shocks Grace. It's hard to tell if this tidbit has raised or lessoned her respect for Lily. Zoe and Jessie come downstairs, and Grace tries to extricate herself and head for the safe haven of her room. Zoe mentions Monopoly, though, and Lily ropes Grace into playing with them. Grace makes it painfully clear that she's not very happy about it.
Cut to the Monopoly board. Zoe is evidently training to be mogul, as she ponderously weighs and studies each decision.