Episode Report Card Niki: A+ | Grade It Now! YOU GRADE IT Aaron's Gettin' Better
By Niki | Season 2 | Episode 16 | Aired on 03.20.2001
Cut to an exterior of Manning Manor as the front door opens. Lily and Zoe emerge as a small car pulls up to the curb. "Well, we made it!" the driver calls cheerfully, scooting around the trunk toward the passenger door. It's Aaron's support worker, Shelly. She opens the door for Aaron, who emerges self-consciously, clutching a battered cardboard suitcase to his chest. He's wearing one of those fur-lined hats with earflaps, and it's s lightly askew on his head. Basically, you just want to hug him. Except that he probably wouldn't like that very much. Lily and Zoe offer up big smiles, and Aaron takes a cautious step toward them, softly saying, "Lily..." Zoe peers up at him from behind Lily's sleeve. He continues,"Thank you for having me, Lily." She immediately thanks him for coming. He looks down for a second, and then says, "I think I should state, to be perfectly honest [Lily braces herself], this is not my own, actual suitcase." Lily is at a loss and throws a slightly puzzled look at Shelly, who doesn't miss a beat, saying, "I think Lily's probably fine with that, Aaron." Lily takes the cue and agrees that, of course, she is. She adds that Judy's on her way, and Aaron smiles a relieved little smile. Lily adds that Judy mentioned how much he liked the bookstore, so she thought the two of them would go tomorrow. Aaron rushes out, "That sounds like a plan. I'd like to see where I'm going to sleep." Zoe pipes up that he'll be staying in Grace's room, and that Grace "freaks if you move her stuff an inch, but don't worry, [Zoe knows] where everything goes." She extends her hand and offers to show him the way. Shelly gives Aaron an encouraging smile; he timidly accepts Zoe's hand, and they head up the walk together.
Shelly explains to Lily that Aaron's just feeling "a little shy, and he'll sleep a lot -- expect it. It's the downside of his meds. " She pulls a large plastic box out of the trunk and hands it to Lily, who clutches at her chest a little and says, "Shelly, he seems...he seems so --" Shelly happily interrupts, "Lily, I saw how he connected, how he looked at you. And whether it's the meds, or that it's March, or who the hell knows?" She moves to the driver's side, reminding Lily that she just has to page Shelly if there's a problem, and she can be there in ten minutes. She adds that everyone should try to keep their expectations reasonable, and that Lily should think of something that she needs from Aaron. Lily is surprised. Shelly says she knows it's been forbidden for twenty years, but Aaron needs to feel like he has something to give, too. Shelly gets in the car, and Lily bends down to wave through the window before turning and running toward the house.