Episode Report Card Deborah: C+ | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Ready Or Not
By Deborah | Season 2 | Episode 16 | Aired on 02.17.2005
She quietly tells her mother not to freak if she can't get hold of her at the concert, since cell phone reception is supposed to be pretty lousy. She says she'll find a pay phone. Helen says it's not that. Joan: "Mom, I have no interest in drugs, okay? VH-1 had this whole Keith Richards thing…" Helen: "And that's good, but you can't go." She says Joan's too young to go off on her own. Joan says she's seventeen. Helen: "Exactly." Joan claims she's old enough to make her own decisions. Helen: "Not this one." Joan accuses her mother of not trusting her. Kevin and Luke are listening at the door to the dining room now. Helen says that's not it. Joan: "Mom, I am driving to a concert, going to sleep, and then driving home. What is the big deal?" Helen says they'll discuss it when Joan's calmed down. Joan: "I am calm!" Luke wonders quietly to Kevin if they're going to break plates. Kevin: "It's a chick fight, dude. Just back away." Joan and Helen both tell them to shut it in unison. Joan pleads, "Adam already bought the tickets! I told him I was going!" Helen: "Well, you have to tell him you can't." Joan: "Why?" Will walks in with some food: "Because you're too young to spend the night with your boyfriend in some camper in a parking lot somewhere." He puts the food down and heads back to the kitchen. Luke to Joan: "See?" Joan's mad at Helen: "You promised you wouldn't tell Dad!" Actually, she didn't promise anything of the sort. Helen says they're her parents: "We discuss our children." Joan: "Oh, and I'm the one who can't be trusted." Helen: "Don't even go there!" Joan, getting more upset: "Mom, this is so unfair! A minute ago I was growing up so fast and now you treat me like some two-year-old!" ["If the shoe fits…" -- Sars] Helen says that whether or not Joan believes it, she's not trying to ruin Joan's life: "I'm trying to protect you." Joan: "Well, thank you for the concern, but it's my decision and I'm going!" Helen says she's not. Joan: "You can-not order me around! This is my life!" Helen: "I am your mother and I'm telling you you're not going." Joan: "Why?" Helen: "Because you are too young." Joan, nearly hysterical: "Why?" Helen: "Because I said so!" Joan sees that Helen's not going to fold, so she does. She leaves the room with her face crumpling and tears starting. The tenor of that whole exchange was spot-on.
After the commercials, Joan comes down the kitchen stairs. From her obvious mood I'm guessing it's the very next morning. She walks through the kitchen, ignoring everyone. Helen says, "I made French toast…honey." Joan says she's late and has to go. Helen, softly: "Joan…" Joan wonders if Helen's going to tell her she has to eat breakfast, too. Helen says she understands Joan's upset. Joan: "No, Mom, you don't understand. You still think I'm just a little girl." Helen: "No one is saying that." I think Will would, if you gave him half a chance. Joan: "You wanted me to get my act together in school, I got my act together. I'm taking responsibility for my grades, applying for colleges…I have a job, and a nice boyfriend, but you still just want me to stay home and make cupcakes. You know what, Mom? Those days are over. That's what you don't understand." She walks out, leaving Helen to chew on that.