Episode Report Card Strega: C | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Status Quo Vadis
By Strega | Season 4 | Episode 13 | Aired on 03.26.2002
At Webb Graphics, Noel runs into Zoe in a hallway. He calls her back and asks whether "the way [they] keep passing each other in the halls" is weird. Well, how often is it happening? If it's every couple of minutes, I'd say it's pretty weird. Zoe admits that she's been avoiding Noel because she doesn't know how to act. Whoops, that should be: "Because she doesn't know how to act around him." Noel insists that they don't have to avoid each other, and says they should just be professional. I'm distracted by Zoe's blue eyeshadow. Eventually, I pay attention long enough to learn that Zoe will be in charge of the CGG account while her dad is out of town for a couple of weeks. Noel insists that he's fine with that, and to my relief, there aren't any labored jokes about Noel being "under" Zoe. While pausing to glance nervously at the passersby, Noel mentions, "A couple of my friends are throwing a party tomorrow night, maybe, uh, I don't know, maybe you want to go with me?" Zoe says that would be great, and they repeat their new goal of being "professional."
Felicity arrives at what looks like an architecture firm, as opposed to a classroom. I assumed she was helping a fellow student, as opposed to starting an unpaid internship for a couple of days. She is pointed over to Adam, an Ed Norton-y guy who is on the phone. As she reaches him, she hears him begging to talk to someone who, obviously, then hangs up on him. Felicity introduces herself and explains that she's searching for a "career path." Adam remembers Noel mentioning her. Adam wonders if he can ask Felicity something: "Say you're dating someone. She says she's in love with you and then one day, bam, she wants to break up. Yes or no, she's dating someone else?" Felicity lies that she doesn't know, and tries to steer the conversation toward the model Adam needs help building. Adam admits that Dina used to help with his models, and before he gets distracted again, Felicity offers to work on it. Adam thinks that would be great, and repeats, "Dina used to help me with that." Felicity smiles tightly and says, "Yeah, you mentioned that."
Ben hurries to finish dressing as he apologizes to his dad, "I thought the game was tomorrow night." Jack Tripper says that's okay, and mentions that he wants to stop by Lauren's afterward to drop off some baby-related books. "I figured [that] if this guy's not gonna help her out, I will," Jack says. Hey, great, that solves Ben's problem completely, doesn't it? Now he doesn't have to worry about Lauren! Ben stops tying his shoes and says he has to tell Jack something. Ben looks down and confesses, "I know who the father is." Jack asks who, and Ben says, "It's me, dad." He explains that he slept with Lauren while he and Felicity were broken up. Jack is flummoxed. Ben explains, "I didn't find out until last week. She waited four months to tell me." Jack sympathizes, and Ben angsts. He mutters, "Am I supposed to drop out of school and get a job? I wanna be a doctor. I'm not ready for this." Jack makes an incredible understatement in observing that it's complicated. So, would it have been less complicated if Lauren had told him she was pregnant three months ago? I mean, I sympathize with Ben feeling overwhelmed by the news, but I think he'd have been just as overwhelmed if Lauren had told him sooner.