Episode Report Card Kim: C- | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Ben Don't Leave
By Kim | Season 4 | Episode 16 | Aired on 04.16.2002
Felicity is still sitting by Ben's bedside. She asks a nurse if she could get a blanket. Felicity wanders out into the hallway and falls into a chair. Lauren walks in and asks how Ben is doing. Felicity hesitates and then says that Ben still hasn't woken up. Lauren says that she went to the impound lot and got her stuff, but her car is totaled. Felicity looks like she really could not care less. Lauren says that in AA, they tell you that it's one day at a time, and this morning she woke up and the day seemed like forever. Felicity looks up, slightly encouraging. Lauren continues, saying that she's been looking for someone to blame for all that's gone wrong in her life, but the truth is that there's no one to blame but herself. Therapy. Get some. I think Dr. Pavone could do wonders with Lauren. Or possibly Dr. Phil. Felicity just blinks. Lauren says that Felicity was right in what she said about her. The nurse arrives and hands Felicity a blanket. Lauren apologizes, then asks if she can see Ben. Felicity, who is a bigger person than anyone I know, says that Lauren can.
Richard shows up at Elena's door with a shiner. Elena is not interested in talking to him about it, but she lets him in anyway, because otherwise this would have been a really short scene. Richard says that Elena almost screwed everything up with this woman he likes. Elena is happy to hear that. Richard says that he told the girl that he got beat up by some cops at a protest. Elena doesn't think that Richard gets why she was upset. Richard thinks that Elena has anger issues. Elena thinks that Richard is racist. Richard says that Elena should be flattered, and besides, it's not like she's really black. Elena is understandably shocked that he said that. Richard says that she's obviously black, but she's not black, because she doesn't have any black friends and she's dating a white guy. Yeah, Elena never hangs out with or dates black people. Except for: her ex-boyfriend, Blair; her best friend, Tara, whom Blair cheated with behind Elena's back; Tracey, the guy that she almost married; and DeForrest, the guy she dated while Tracey was in Africa. And that's just off of the top of my head. So, shut up, Richard. Elena feels the same way, and basically pushes Richard out of her apartment. Richard protests that he's just a guy in college, trying to get laid, but Elena slams the door in his face.
Noel knocks on Zoe's door, holding a bag of groceries with some flowers sticking out of the top. She asks what he's doing. Noel makes up a story that he found the grocery bag with wine, ice cream, and flowers inside, and thought she might have dropped it. It's actually kind of charming. Zoe says that they're not hers, and Noel says that he's going to check with the neighbors. Zoe stops him by asking what kind of ice cream it is. Cut to them sitting on the floor in Zoe's apartment. Noel says he wasn't sure what kind of wine went with ice cream, so he got both red and white. He's just trying to get her drunk. They eat some ice cream, and Noel points out that Zoe has some ice cream on her chin. He wipes it off, and then kisses her. Man, that is the oldest trick in the book. Zoe pulls away. Noel asks her what's going on. She pretends that nothing is wrong. Noel says that he likes being around her and he's not trying to pressure her, but it seems like they connected physically when they started going out. Zoe says that there's a lot going on at work. Noel points out that they're not at work. Zoe protests that it's only been three weeks, and asks Noel why he's on a timetable. Noel says that he's not. And then my cable went out, and when it came back on, Noel was getting ready to leave and Zoe was answering the phone. It's Sean for Noel, to give him the news about Ben.