Episode Report Card Kim: B- | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Happy Birthday
By Kim | Season 1 | Episode 18 | Aired on 04.26.1999
Ben hangs out at Epstein Bar while Lynn works. Lynn is listening to a basketball game on headphones and giving a play-by-play to Ben, who totally doesn't care. Until Lynn reveals that he just won two thousand dollars on the game. Lynn says he has to call his guy, and Ben makes fun of him for having a guy. Lynn says he made twelve grand last season. Should he really be talking so loudly about his profits from illegal gambling in such a public arena? Ben is shocked at the amount. Lynn talks to his guy, Barry, and jokingly demands his money. Ben watches, thoughtful. After Lynn hangs up, Ben asks if Barry is his guy. Lynn offers to hook Ben up, but Ben regretfully says that he can't do it. Lynn basically calls Ben a wuss for not wanting to piss away what little money he has. Or maybe I'm just projecting since I know how this all ends up.
Julie sits in her room, staring at the sweater Carol gave her. She picks it up, and then stares off into space some more. Finally, she stands up and walks out.
Cut to Carol's office. Julie walks in. Carol gets rid of her co-worker so that she and Jule can talk. Julie apologizes for not calling, and then gets interrupted by another co-worker. Carol moves off to answer the ringing phone and says it's really not a good time. Julie follows her and says she wants to discuss the terms of their relationship. Carol looks up expectantly. Julie says that she likes her birthday gifts, but that she feels weird about the way they left things at dinner. Carol says nothing. Julie says they finally got to meet each other, which was great, but then Carol said that it needed to be a secret. Carol says it has to be that way. Julie says that Carol should think about telling her husband, which seems like a demand she is not entitled to make, but I'm not adopted so maybe I just don't get it. Carol says it's not possible. The co-worker comes back and interrupts again, then leaves. Carol thought Julie was okay with what they decided. Julie knows she said that, but says it seems like Carol is ashamed of her. No comment. Carol says it's much more complicated than that. Julie asks why, and Carol's daughter Amanda -- who looks to be about eleven or twelve -- walks into the room and asks if her mom is coming. Carol makes up an errand for Amanda to go on to get rid of her because if she stays, she might get Julie cooties on her and starts singing and playing guitar and wearing stupid sparkly clips in her hair. Amanda leaves, and Carol looks freaked-out. She thought seeing Julie would make things better. Julie doesn't want to be kept a secret. Carol says it's all she can offer, and rushes out.