Episode Report Card Maggie: C | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT And To All A Good Night
By Maggie | Season 3 | Episode 11 | Aired on 12.12.2000
Ben rushes into the swanky theatre lobby and apologizes profusely to Felicity and her mother for being late. They rush to take their seats when Felicity asks him if he has the tickets. Of course, he doesn't have them. More profuse apologies. Felicity suggests that they just go to the restaurant. Her mother says that she has a headache and just wants to go back to her hotel. Felicity suggests that they go with her and order room service. Ben says that they should have some "quality time, alone," and that he won't join them. Mrs. Porter invites him to come along and he declines. After more apologies, the Porters leave and Felicity's mother says, "We'll see you tomorrow, I'm sure." Ben sighs and sits down on the lobby steps as they leave.
In the taxi, Mrs. Porter interrogates Felicity about Ben getting in fights. Felicity thinks she's referring to the incident with Ben breaking Sean's nose and she tries to play it off as an accident, but then has to admit that there were two fights. Mrs. Porter changes the subject to school and asks how Felicity is doing. Felicity says that things are okay. When her mother asks what Ben's major is, she admits that he doesn't have one yet. Mrs. Porter pries a bit more, and Felicity says that she thinks her mother's getting the wrong impression of Ben. Her mother tells her to give her the "right" impression of Ben, and Felicity simply says that she loves him. Mrs. Porter smiles a very tight-lipped smile.
Felicity walks into the loft to find that it's filled with fir trees. Ben asks whether her mother is really angry, and Felicity says she's okay. Felicity mentions that her mother ran into one of his friends and found out about a fight. Ben explains that it was Casey that they ran into. When and where were Ben and Mrs. Porter hangin' and shootin' the breeze? Obviously, the writers didn't have to look too far to get inspiration for Molly's crack addiction. Anyway, Felicity simpers that her mother is going to be alone for her first Christmas apart from her father, and that Felicity's considering not going to Florida. Her mother is using her "maiden" name -- a term that I hate -- and Felicity is troubled by the fact that her mother is now "Ms. Hunter." I would be troubled, too. Around twenty years ago it was a big deal to be able to use Ms. Now, it sounds stupid. Personally, I don't think anyone should use any of the honorifics. I use my first name and my surname, which incidentally is not the same as my husband's surname. Why bother with anything else? Ben takes the news very calmly.