Episode Report Card Niki: A | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT If You Love Something, Let It Run Free
By Niki | Season 2 | Episode 18 | Aired on 04.03.2001
Cut to Karen's kitchen, where she's tapping away on her laptop. The lighting suggests that it's fairly late. Jessie comes in and grabs the phone. Karen matter-of-factly says, "I'm sorry Jess, there's no phone tonight." Jessie protests that she needs to talk to Marney. Karen doesn't pause in her typing, saying, "I'm sorry, but we discussed this. If you eat what we agree on at dinner, then you can use the phone." Jessie fibs that it's about homework. Karen's too fast for that, though, pointing out that Jessie said her homework is already done. Jessie stares at her for a minute, formulating a new strategy. She says, "You can't just do this out of nowhere." Karen makes understanding sounds and then turns back to her computer. Jessie slams the phone on its hook, griping, "Rosenfeld is such a jerk!" "Hey!" Karen protests. Jessie strides over, hair flying out, and demands, "And why are you talking to him? He's my doctor!" Karen says that they're trying to help her, and Jessie says it's not helping. Karen coolly says she's sorry Jessie feels that way, and Jessie tosses out, "And I'm not going to talk to him anymore." Karen levels her with a look, and says, "Well, you don't have to talk to him. But you do have to go to him." Jessie challenges, "And do what? Just sit there?" Karen is unfazed: "If that's the way you need to do it. But then, of course, there wouldn't be a ski trip." Jessie stares at her, open-mouthed at the outrageousness of it all. "This is so unfair," she complains. Karen says she knows it feels that way. Jessie's face is a mask of contempt: "You don't know anything about how I feel." She storms out, tossing Karen one more look of disgust. Karen shakes her head uncertainly, sighs, and rests her forehead in her hands. We go to commercials.
After commercials, we find Lily at the bookstore, seated on a kid's chair and flipping through books. She selects one on cakes, complaining, "There's just so much to think about. All I want is this small, quiet thing." Judy, in her boss plaid pants, sidles over and takes a seat near Lily. They're eating take-out. Lily, ever so sensitively, gripes, "You know, you'd think a second wedding would be easier." Judy's unbothered, though, and just laughs. Lily goes on, "Even on this scale -- dresses for myself, for the girls, who to invite, who not to invite..." Judy smiles and suggests that they just elope and avoid all of it. Lily categorically refuses even to consider it: they have children, Zoe would never forgive her, blah blah blah everything's-a-trial cakes. Lily adds that she wants Judy to be there, and Aaron, and their mom (she thinks). Judy assures her it's okay to want a wedding. Lily smiles, embarrassed, and confesses that it feels ridiculous at her age. Judy tells her that's ridiculous, and that she's "entitled to every bit of happiness." As if Lily needs reminding that she's entitled to anything. "Really?" Lily says. "Mm-hmm," Judy responds. Lily excitedly tells her that she thinks "this next chapel is going to be the one." Judy's smile fades and she looks down at her lap. Lily rattles on and then asks if Judy can go. Judy hedges that she's expecting a shipment that afternoon, but she'll see if she can get someone to cover for her. Lily says, "Oh, that would be so great! Thank you," and pecks Judy's temple. Judy just stares at her food. Suddenly, she's not so hungry anymore.