Episode Report Card Niki: B+ | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Flirting with Disaster
By Niki | Season 2 | Episode 12 | Aired on 02.06.2001
Lily storms into PagesAlive, nearly knocking over some innocent bystander who flattens himself against the wall and doesn't look too impressed. She marches directly to the conference room, and whispers something into Crusty's ear. Crusty excuses herself and follows Lily out. Lily leads her to Graham's office, refusing to answer Crusty's questions along the way. She strides into Graham's office, her arms swinging defiantly rather than clamped tightly over her chest, and announces that there is something she would like to tell him, and she wants Crusty to hear it. She plants her hands on her hips as Crusty moves symbolically to the other side of the desk. Lily tries to start, but nothing comes out. She gestures angrily for a second, and then finally unleashes it: "You are making it impossible for me to do my job. And it is completely not acceptable for you to do that." Crusty tries to intervene. "I find this ludicrous," Graham announces, sitting in his chair like a smug little buddha. Crusty concurs. So does Lily, which surprises them. Graham pops out of his chair and asks, with an edge in his voice, "What are you doing? What do you hope to accomplish?" Lily repeats the question and then answers, "Maybe restoring my dignity." Graham condescends that her dignity has nothing to do with him. "It has everything to do with you, and you know it!" Lily exclaims. Crusty cuts in again, telling them they can talk about this "rationally." She warns Lily not to say anything that she might regret. Lily agrees that she wants to "say something that [she] will never regret." She turns her attention back to Graham and says, "You know what? You...you...god! You're right. My dignity has nothing to do with you." Graham stares at her with hard eyes. "It has to do with me," she continues. "And if you ever, ever touch me inappropriately again, or harass me or in any way make it impossible for me to perform my job, I will sue you, and I will have your ass fired!" Wow, kapow! Lily really looked boss spitting out those words. Go Lily! Graham turns his head and lowers it a little. Lily turns to Crusty to deliver this one: "No matter what happens to this magazine!" Crusty raises her stony face slightly to acknowledge the threat. Lily thanks them, glares, spins on her heel, and burns out of there. Crusty and Graham are left standing there, dumbfounded and uncomfortable. Lily returns to her desk, takes a deep breath, and tries to get to work. While I'm thrilled for her that she finally found some balls, I have a feeling that this little confrontation isn't over, and I don't think she's going to enjoy playing with Crusty and Graham on the defensive.