Episode Report Card Niki: A+ | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Disoriented
By Niki | Season 3 | Episode 14 | Aired on 03.10.2002
Cut to Creepitri's back door, which he's rushing to answer with a smile and a glass of wine. That's my preferred method of greeting guests, too. His smile fades when he sees that it's Grace darkening his door. He asks what she's doing there, and she barges past him, saying that she "was just..." She doesn't bother finishing, since it's the oldest excuse on record for the drop-in. Creepitri, looking dazed, slides the door closed behind her while Grace rambles on that there's something she wanted to tell him. Mercifully, he cuts her off before she can blurt it out. She's mustered up the gumption, though, and she will not be deterred. She holds up her hands and begs him to let her finish. He looks about ready to sprinkle in his pants. Grace starts saying that she thinks there may be something between them, and Creepitri closes his eyes, visions of hearings and pink slips swimming before him. He carefully sets his wine glass on the counter. Grace sort of admits to taking his poems, and chokes up as she says she's glad she did, because now she knows that she's not alone. She moves toward him, still talking, as a woman calls out, "August?" The woman sweeps into the room, also with a glass of wine. Grace, mortified, drops her gaze to the floor and smiles weakly as Creepitri introduces Grace to Christine. Creepitri stresses Grace in the role of student and quickly tries to make it seem like she dropped by on committee business. Grace is crushed, but plays along.
Creepitri scrambles out of the room to find his briefcase. Christine offers Grace a soda, unknowingly emphasizing that Grace is just a kid in their eyes. She asks whether Grace calls him "August" or "Mr. Dimitri." Grace, unbearably self-conscious, buttons her coat and answers, "Mr. Dimitri." Christine reminisces about a teacher she had in high school, who let them call him Stacy. She asks if Creepitri is a good teacher. Grace can't help smiling and answers that he's okay. As she remembers what an ass she just made of herself, her smile fades, and she glances guiltily in the direction in which Creepitri disappeared. In the dining room, Creepitri finds some papers to pass off to Grace, but before returning to the kitchen, looks at the empty spot on his bookshelf. He sighs heavily. Christine sidles up to Grace and conspiratorially says that she wants to come by and watch Creepitri teach, just to freak him out. Grace shrinks away from her, mumbling that she has to go. Creepitri bursts in, brandishing the papers to make it clear that the visit wasn't an improper one. He hands them to Grace with a stern "Hey, try and remember these things during school hours next time." Hey, asshole, try and remember not to lead on your impressionable young students next time. Dick. Grace looks utterly ashamed, but tries to force a smile before leaving. "Nice meeting you, Grace!" Christine calls out as the door closes behind Grace.