Episode Report Card Niki: B | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Unity of Effect
By Niki | Season 2 | Episode 11 | Aired on 01.30.2001
And then we're back. Grace and Wannabe are in English class -- Grace studiously copying notes from the board, and Wannabe yawning broadly, like something featured on The Crocodile Hunter. She's slouched in her seat and bears more than a striking resemblance to Joey Ramone. My apologies, of course, to Mr. Ramone. Spencer is seated across the aisle and a few desks ahead of Grace, and he's turned around staring at her. The teacher turns from the board and asks what the kids can tell him about Edgar Allen Poe. They blurt out a few biographical details -- the kind of thing English teachers hate hearing about writers. The teacher tries to get at some kind of literary commentary. Wannabe carefully concentrates on unwrapping a stick of gum. The teacher throws out some bait: Poe had a literary theory, didn't he? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? Finally, Spencer blurts, "Unity of effect." The teacher turns to make a note of this on the board, and Wannabe leans forward to ask whether they can go to Grace's house after school. She also chomps her gum directly in Grace's ear. Grace nods her head. The teacher turns from the board, seeking an explanation of the theory. Again, he is met with silence. He corners Wannabe. She continues slouching and tries to act like she's not a deer in headlights. After a few awkward seconds, the bell rings. The teacher instructs everyone to read "The Tell-Tale Heart," and then tells Wannabe that he needs to speak with her on Friday, after class. She gives him a mock military response, and it looks as though he likes her about as much as the rest of us do. Wannabe turns her attention to Grace and resumes her train of thought -- the one connected to her request to go to Grace's. "I mean, boys are definitely needed, but sometimes you just need a break from them, y'know?" Soliloquy Grace busts in to screw up her face and scornfully answer, "No!" To Wannabe, she says, "Yeah." Rolling her eyes, Wannabe leans in and complains, "Sometimes I am just not in the mood for a boy." Grace concurs, but not convincingly. Grace stops to retrieve a gum wrapper tossed by Wannabe. The English teacher observes, shaking his head. Dude, we know.
Lily arrives home to find Zoe waiting for her. "Thank god you're finally home," she whispers urgently. "Carla's here!" Zoe creeps down the stairs, adding, "There's something wrong with her!" I'm reminded of those horror movies, when one person knows what's really going on, but they're young so know one pays them any attention. Lily pooh-poohs Zoe's opinion. Zoe parades her evidence: Wannabe "chews black gum," and as we've been seeing throughout the episode, she just tosses the wrappers in the vicinity of a garbage can but doesn't actually make sure they go in. Lily lays a reassuring hand on Zoe's head, and looks toward the kitchen where, she knows, the beast is lurking.
Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19Next