Episode Report Card Gwen: C- | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Robbie's in the Thicke of it
By Gwen | Season 5 | Episode 16 | Aired on 02.25.2001
Ruthie calls Mary late that night, waking her up to ask her for advice on the make-up kit. She has the money to buy it, but no one will drive her to the store. She cites Mary as the authority on disobeying the CamRents. Mary refuses to help her, and they hang up. Then Matt walks in, and Ruthie sees her dupe. Wacky scheme coming up; no punishment for Ruthie foreseen.
Lame blues music plays at the pool hall as Serena hits on a young guy and Lucy looks on admiringly. "Okay, who wants to go to Adam's party with me tomorrow night?" Serena slinks. Ashley is reluctant, but Lucy's ready to roll. New friend Adam walks up, looking like he just spent three hours smoking weed in a coal mine. He leads Serena away, and Lucy gushes to Ashley, "I love your mom!" We're supposed to think that Serena is evil, but I say, "Lady, if your boobs are still that perky, get it while you can."
Robbie makes it home from his grocery-store job. He is surprised to see his dad at the CamPound. I'm surprised Robbie recognized his dad. When's the last time they saw each other? Maybe Robbie keeps an old photo in his wallet. Ed tells a big, phony lie about how he wrote to Robbie every day, but the letters got lost at the post office. He says he's only in town for one night and is between jobs. After all this hinting, he eventually wangles an invitation to spend the night at the CamPound. Robbie leads his dad up to his room. The CamRents and the guitar are worried.
Next there's an unfunny scene about Ruthie lying to her mother. She's tricked Matt into driving her to the store so that she can buy make-up. Matt thinks Ruthie's buying a present for StuporMom, though. Annie, as usual, doesn't have time to stand around and figure out Ruthie's shenanigans. It's the twins' day to get fed, maybe.
It's the next day, I guess. Downstairs, Simon tells his mom that he's going out with Keith that night. Hey…Simon's wearing make-up, so why can't Ruthie? Annie tells him he has to finish his paper before he goes anywhere. He leaves in a huff. RevCam walks in and sees the big mess Ed made in the living room. He promises Annie that Robbie will be hauling Ed's ass to the bus station that evening.
At some cappuccino place, Robbie confronts Ed about leaving his family for another woman. Ed claims that he left to take care of his sick parents, and that Robbie's mom didn't believe that. She got a court order to keep Ed from seeing Robbie and Robbie's brothers, he claims. Robbie believes him, because he remembers the day that Ed took him to the zoo, like a good, normal father would. Ed says that he wants to stay in Glenoak for a while. He needs Robbie's help to do this, though. Sounds like Robbie just checked into the Heartbreak Hotel.