Episode Report Card Niki: A+ | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Disoriented
By Niki | Season 3 | Episode 14 | Aired on 03.10.2002
Fade to later that evening, with everyone gathered around Creepitri's dining-room table. Munching a carrot stick, he runs down their decisions so far and suggests they try to establish the group's focus. The camera pans over to Jessie, huddled over her binder in a corner. Katie leans in to whisper that they should get out of there. Jessie resists, turning her head back to her book like she's worried about getting caught cheating on a test. Katie slumps back in her seat and folds her arms across her chest, peeved. The issue of a dance is raised at the table. Someone mentions that the group tried having one in the past, and no one showed up. Grace counters that it wasn't advertised well enough, and they "had a lame DJ." "We could call it 'The Homo/Hetero Hop,'" Creepitri suggests, smiling at his own cleverness. Grace laughs. Of course. A guy says he objects to the term "homo." Grace jumps in to remind Mr. Touchy that the important thing isn't what he finds offensive, but that the dance will be a place where people can "be who they are, with whoever they want, and they won't be judged." Creepitri smiles proudly. Over in the corner, Katie tries again. Jessie snaps, "Look, I'm really trying to finish this." Creepitri says they'll have to try to get funding from the vice-principal, and asks who wants to help him. Guess who volunteers? Creepitri tells Grace, "You and I should confer at some point to hammer out a proposal." Grace hears, "You and I," "hammer," and "proposal." It's all she can do to keep from squealing. She holds her breath and tries to remain cool while Creepitri disbands the meeting. Katie grabs her coat and tells Jessie to come on. Looking for an out, Jessie says they should help clean up. Grace shoots her a look like, "Amscray!" and insists that she'll take care of it. She mutters for Jessie to tell Lily that she's staying late. Tad overhears and asks Jessie if she needs a ride home. She hems for a second, until Katie yanks on her coat and snaps, "Yeah. She does." She pats Tad's shoulder sadly on her way to the door. "Have fun," she snidely tosses over her shoulder at Jessie.
Lily and Judy return to Manning Manor after the Franzen book-signing. Rick's staring at the television, transfixed, but knows enough to ask how Lily's evening went. Lily gushes that Franzen "is a god." Judy amends that he's "a snobbish god, but a god." I wonder if he's being labeled as a snob because he didn't want Oprah's stamp of approval on his book. Anyway, Lily pecks Rick hello and asks after the girls, who aren't home yet. Judy plops in front of the TV, asking, "What's this?" Rick flatly says, "See the girl who's coughing?" Judy murmurs she does. "She's going to die soon," Rick says.