Big, gigantic props to gwenne, Kisle and Fox1013 for hooking a sister up after my taping incompetence was revealed.
Previously on Felicity: Julie told Sean that Zach raped her last year, and that she thought she was over it, but she's not. Ben worried that Felicity admires Greg and not him. Ben saw Felicity and Greg toasting the health center and got the wrong idea. Or did he?
Ben and Felicity are hard at work as usual (meaning: not really) at Dean and Deluca. Felicity asks Ben what he's reading and Ben tells her it's for his philosophy class. Felicity suggests that Ben ask Knoll for help, and Ben is wounded that Felicity thinks he can't do it on his own. Javier walks up and announces that his ex-boyfriend just walked in, demanding that "nobody look." Felicity and Ben immediately look, of course, and Javier admonishes them. Javier says, " I had a crunch [sic] on him but he fell too in love with me, then he became obsessive-compulsive". Hee! A crunch! I love Javier. I just can't say it enough. Felicity looks again and Javier threatens to "keeel" her. Javier notices the ex is walking over, so he orders Ben to pretend he and Javier are dating. Ben looks dumbfounded at the request and says "No way!" while Felicity tries not to laugh. Javier starts rubbing Ben's shoulders (lucky Javier!) and loudly telling Felicity that for his birthday, Ben gave him "a bubble bath with a lot of candles and aromatherapy." Then, Javier giggles and puts his head on Ben's chest, and tells Ben to "whisper into [his] earlobe." Ben growls into his ear, "Javier, I quit!" and Javier giggles again and slaps Ben saying, "You tease! We can't do that in here!" Then he kisses Ben on the neck while Ben struggles to get away. Javier says, "Aren't I so lucky? Going out with such a hunk?" Yes, he is lucky! And frankly, that's the most action Ben's seen in weeks. Felicity responds, "So lucky" as Javier lowers his glasses to get a better look at the ex. Suddenly, Javier says, "Oh wait, no, that's not him" and walks away. Ben looks at Javier in amazement, then back at Felicity, then turns back to the coffee. The last thing we hear before credits is Felicity's stifled giggle. I love opening scenes with Javier! I think every episode should open with Javier doing something. Anything. I could watch him recite the alphabet, because he does it with such style.
Felicity is highlighting passages in a book, and pressing down really hard with the highlighter so that it squeaks. Meghan looks up from whatever she is reading and says, "Why don't you just highlight the things that aren't important? That way you'll save time and lots of ink." I know Meghan is generally cranky, but the squeaking would get on anyone's nerves. ["I could never understand people who marked up their books with highlighters, anyway. It's much more efficient to use a normal pen so that you can make actual notes in the margins. Good thing I'm not such a dork that I still think about this stuff, having been out of school for three whole years, or anything." -- Wing Chun] There's a knock at the door and Felicity says "Come in!" at the same time that Meghan says, "Go away!" The knocker chooses to listen to Felicity and enters. It's Burky. Remember Burky from the first few episodes? The floor resident with the "crunch" on Felicity? Yeah, that guy. He enters and says, "Hey, it's Burky!" Meghan replies, "Hey, it's not a phone call. We can see you." Hee! Meghan says out loud what most of us just think in our heads. Or, if you're like me, the things you think in your head like twenty minutes after the opportunity to say it has passed. Burky holds up a photo album and tells Felicity to check it out. He explains that it contains business cards for all the restaurants he has deemed suitable. Felicity asks, "For what?" and Burky explains, "For the best first date of your life." Dream on, man. I guess you have to admire his persistence, but has Felicity even spoken to the guy since October? Burky points out all the time and effort that went into his collection. Felicity starts to say, "Burky, believe me, I am so..." and Burky interrupts, "Oh, don't say 'flattered.' I'll jump out the window if you say 'flattered.'" Meghan looks up and says, "Flattered." Burky doesn't jump out the window, much to Meghan's disappointment. Just then, Julie pokes her head in the door and says, "Hey! Krispy Kreme?" At first, I thought she was calling someone "Krispy Kreme," like Julia Roberts did in Erin Brockovich, but then I realized that she was asking Felicity if she wanted to go buy some doughnuts. Felicity practically runs out the door as Burky reminds her to look through the book. As Burky leaves, he pauses and says to Meghan, "Just for the record? You scare the hell out of me." Meghan just gives him a look like, "Duh!" and he leaves.
Felicity and Julie walk down the street, eating their doughnuts. Unlike some shows I could mention (*cough* Dawson's Creek *cough*), they are dressed appropriately for the cold, rainy weather typical of New York in April. Julie asks Felicity if she ever has nightmares, and Felicity says she had one recently about Meghan's box. Hey, look at the continuity on Felicity! They brought up Burky's "crunch" and mentioned the Twilight Zone episode. Color me impressed. Julie says she's been dreaming about Zach lately, and she feels like "a war veteran, having flashbacks from the battlefield." I think the writers knew that everyone was really, really hating Julie this season so they brought up this storyline again so that the viewers would feel sorry for her again. Well, that and it's realistic that rape would have a lasting psychological impact. Maybe I shouldn't be so cynical. Felicity asks about the dreams and Julie says she just can't sleep. Felicity mentions the counselors at the health center, and Julie says she went last year, when it happened, but that technically she is still supposed to schedule her third appointment. Felicity suggests that she do that. Julie says she's not ready yet and then changes the subject by talking about how good the doughnuts are. Felicity agrees that they are "too good." Mmm, doughnuts. Sorry, I was having a Homer moment.
Felicity is on the phone in the health center with someone who apparently has a body part that is "swollen to the size of a squash ball." A very cute woman walks up to the counter and waits for Felicity to get off the phone. Some people on the forums thought that perhaps this was the actress who played Margaret Yang in Rushmore, but I found out it's not. The name of this actress is Keiko Agena and she has guest-starred on Beverly Hills as an ice skater, and on ER as a patient. That may be why she looked familiar. Anyway, once Felicity gets off the phone, the woman asks to make an appointment. Felicity verifies that she's a student there and then suggests 6:00, since that's all they've got. The girl agrees and gives her name: Leelah Foster. That's how they spelled it on the official site, anyway, but I would have spelled it Leila. Felicity asks what the appointment is for and Leelah lowers her voice and says she needs to get the morning-after pill because "the condom broke." Then she realizes she really didn't need to give a reason and laughs ruefully and says, "As if you care." Felicity says she's sorry and then looks thoughtful for a moment. She tells Leelah to hang on while she checks if they can get her in earlier.
Felicity barges into Greg's office and says she needs a favor. Greg reads Felicity a physics question that involves words like "force" so I tuned right out. Felicity guesses that he's studying for the MCATs, and Greg says he's going to blow it. Felicity says he's not and Greg says she's right, but if he keeps insisting that he's going to blow it...Felicity finishes the thought for him, "You'll be really happy when you barely squeak by." Greg asks what the favor is and Felicity explains the situation and wonders if the doctor could see Leelah between appointments. Greg says they're not allowed to administer the morning-after pill. Isn't this a policy he might have wanted to let Felicity know earlier, so she didn't make appointments for people for that purpose? Felicity says her friend got it at the clinic last year and David explains that it's a new policy and "it's a hassle." Felicity says it's "a little more than a hassle for that girl out there," and seems a bit upset about Greg's nonchalance over the issue. Greg gets paged and gets up to leave, while giving Felicity a speech about his personal hell blah blah blah sucking up to administrators blah blah blah insignificant administration support blah blah blah condescending-cakes. He finishes up by guessing the answer to his MCAT question is glass. Felicity says she thinks it's water, but she's clearly pissed off that he doesn't care about the woman's problem. Greg says, "Really? Well, you're wrong because I'm the smartest man in the universe and you're just a lowly former pre-med major." At least that's how I heard it.
Felicity goes back out to tell Leelah the bad news. Leelah looks upset and Felicity tells her she'll have to go see her doctor, and offers a list of local physicians. Leelah says she doesn't have insurance, which is why she came to the clinic in the first place. Felicity apologizes all over the place while Leelah works up a good head of steam over the issue. Leelah says, "So the university, which is supposed to provide women's service, and support students in situations like this, they're deciding what our options are?" Felicity looks at her kind of blankly and finally comes up with, "I'm sorry. I'm just a volunteer." Leelah takes the list of doctors from Felicity, gives her a disappointed look, and walks out.
Knoll is teaching class and asks if anyone thinks "Eugene Debs would agree with" the statement. The students do that thing where you look around the classroom hoping that someone else will answer because you have no idea what the answer is. Ruby is still in the class. Ben raises his hand, and after Knoll calls on him, says that Debs would agree. Knoll says yes, but then proceeds to read a passage out of the textbook proving Ben's answer wrong. Well, it's easy to know the answers when you've got the textbook right in front of you, Mr. Smarty Pants. ["Yeah, he wouldn't be so smart if he didn't have his Teacher's Edition. Oh, sorry, I was having a Lisa Simpson moment." -- Wing Chun] Ben looks uncomfortable as Knoll says Debs would "adamantly disagree." Knoll gives the assignment and dismisses the class. As Ruby leaves, Knoll asks her how she's doing. She says, "I'm good" in a polite way, and then walks out, so I guess they aren't really talking much anymore. As Ben walks out, Knoll calls after him and thanks him for raising his hand. Ben says he feels like an idiot and Knoll tells him not to feel bad. As Ben makes to leave again, Knoll offers to talk over the material with him. Ben says okay and leaves. Meanwhile, he's probably thinking, "Why, so you can stand there with the textbook and embarrass me?"
Felicity and Greg are exiting the health center at night, and Felicity says she felt "really wrong" turning Leelah away. Greg repeats that "it's a hassle" and Felicity tells him that statement "undermines the issue." Greg says he "really wants to hear this whole thing," which means he really doesn't want to hear this whole thing, and asks Felicity to call him later. Felicity tells him she has two main points. First, she made some calls and every other major university in the city prescribes the morning-after pill. Second, the morning-after pill is just high doses of the same drug that's in birth control pills, which their center does prescribe, so she doesn't understand what the problem is. She doesn't mention that the center also provides abortions to students, so it seems weird that they are hesitant to prescribe the morning-after pill, from a philosophical standpoint. Greg finally explains that there were some articles written about both the morning-after pill and RU-486, and the university was mentioned. Some of the trustees got upset, and made some phone calls, and now the health center is not allowed to prescribe any type of post-coital contraceptive.
Greg says he argued with them, but "they" won because "they" make up the rules. Felicity says, "And you have no problem telling students that we're going to make that decision for them? That it's okay for the administration to dictate their choice?" Greg starts rattling off a whole list of things he doesn't like about the health center, like that they can't treat non-students or continue the AIDS education task force, but it's a struggle just to keep the place running. Felicity says she knows his job is hard, but this is wrong. Greg says that when he becomes a doctor and has a "shred of clout," he will change the policy. Felicity rolls her eyes. Greg tells her the answer to the MCAT question was water, so she was right. Felicity smiles and Greg tells her he'll see her tomorrow.
Felicity is telling Toni Pavone about how terrible it would have been if Julie had to go somewhere else last year to get the morning-after pill, and that she realizes that not everyone will want to take the pills, but that it should be an option. Toni Pavone is trying unsuccessfully to light a cigarette, and stops to say, "So, you've discovered an injustice." Felicity says that Greg wasn't taking her seriously, and it was almost like he was defending the policy. Toni asks what she means, and Felicity says that Greg told her he can't fight every battle, but that she's only asking him to fight this battle. Toni tells Felicity she's funny, and when Felicity repeats, "Funny?" Toni clarifies, "Presumptuous." Felicity wonders what Toni means, so Toni explains that Felicity assumes that "just because something is deeply important and valid and righteous that anybody else is going to give a rat's ass." Felicity can't believe what she's hearing and asks what that means. Toni says it's not Greg's battle. Felicity tries to say that Greg's the director, but Toni repeats, "It's not Greg's battle! What he said to you was absolutely right." Felicity tries to explain while Toni continues to open and close drawers looking for a new lighter, I guess. Then she totally has a nicotine fit (and believe me, I know from nicotine fits) and says, "Would you please stop talking? I know what you're saying. It's just that sitting here and saying the same thing in ten different variations is not going to change a damn thing." Toni sounds like she's almost crying, but she finally finds a lighter that works and lights up. Felicity looks at her incredulously and then says, "So what? I'm supposed to do something?" Toni doesn't answer, but just leans back and looks at Felicity, who sighs.
Felicity is in the health center office, looking up information on the web about student demonstrations. Some woman sings on the soundtrack about "if you don't tend to what you care about, it's going to disappear" while we see Felicity reading various headlines about student protests.
, Felicity is knocking on Leelah's door. When Leelah answers, Felicity reminds her that they met at the health center, and asks if she ever got the pill, which seems like kind of a personal question. Leelah says she got it at Planned Parenthood. Felicity asks if Leelah has a second, and launches into a story about what happened when some students found out that the university's T-shirts and hats were being made in sweatshops. The students staged a sit-in and the university stopped using sweatshops. Hey, at my university a bunch of women (and men) rode bicycles topless through campus to protest sweatshop labor, and that was in Syracuse in March, which I though showed real dedication. It didn't work, though. Anyway, Leelah guesses that Felicity wants to start a sit-in for the morning-after pill at the health center. Felicity says that she just wanted to let Leelah know in case she wanted to join her. Leelah thinks for a minute and then says, "I am so there. Just give me three minutes to get some stuff and invite my boyfriend." Felicity looks stunned like she didn't really expect that to happen, and the soundtrack plays the opening notes of "For What It's Worth" by Buffalo Springfield, but then it thankfully morphs into a Felicity-esque acoustic guitar. Nothing against that song, but that would have been overkill.
Felicity and some others (including Elena) are sitting on the floor of the health center lobby. Felicity is on the phone, telling someone (presumably Sean) to have Ben and Julie call her on Elena's cell phone when they get in. Felicity picks up her planner and notes that she has left messages for "Julie, Ben, Noel, Richard and Guy." Leelah says that her roommate is coming and bringing three friends. Felicity thanks Elena for skipping class to come. Elena points out that Felicity is missing a "giant French exam." Burky comes up behind Felicity and says hello. Felicity asks why he's there, and he says he's picking up some medication. Actually, his nose is stuffed up so the word comes out "bedication." Elena says, "You're low on Viagra?" Normally, I hate Viagra jokes, but I'll make an exception for Elena. Burky says, "What if I said yes? Then you'd feel bad, huh?" and then asks Felicity what's going on. Felicity explains the reasons for the sit-in and Burky denigrates their efforts due to the lack of people. Felicity tells him it's still growing and Elena says angrily, "Right!" Burky says he's going to pick up his Claritin and then round up "a real sit-in." Felicity and Elena laugh as he walks away.
Ben and Knoll walk into a deli and Knoll is babbling about society and change and Ben is looking like he really could not care less. Knoll keeps talking about change and violence and Ben, looking in the cooler, remarks, "Who the hell drinks Mr. Pibb? What's up with that?" Yeah, what is up with that? Now there is a philosophical inquiry for the ages. Knoll asks if Ben is listening and Ben says, "Yeah, I'm listening. Progress and violence." Knoll realizes that Ben is in fact not listening, and since I'm not either, I'm glad this scene is over.
Back at the sit-in, Leelah in on the phone explaining that the policy is a recent change. Felicity is dialing a phone when Lloyd sits down to her and says, "I can't believe they won't give me my morning-after pills anymore." Lloyd is the recurring character who comes into the health center with bizarre maladies looking for attention, and was in fact Felicity's first patient contact. I had to look that one up, because I forgot. It's been a while. Anyway, Felicity tells him they're just for women and Lloyd says, "Oh." Felicity reaches Javier on the phone, and asks if Ben is scheduled today. Javier must have said no, because Felicity responds disappointedly, "Oh, thanks" and then giggles and says, "You did not look fat!" Leelah interrupts to say she's on the phone with the New York Times and needs to know how to spell Felicity's name. Felicity is freaked out by the coverage as Greg enters the room and asks to talk to her. She starts walking over towards him while spelling her name for Leelah. Felicity and Greg walk into an empty room and Greg tells her he knows she has the best of intentions, but that she's disrupting the operation of the health center. I was kind of wondering why they are having the sit-in there, anyway. Wouldn't it make more sense to have it in the dean's office or something? Felicity says that the disruption is sort of the point. Greg tells her that the head of Student Services is coming there at 4:00, and how the clinic operates is a reflection on Greg as director. Felicity says she understands that, so he should distance himself from the whole thing. Greg says he's asking this guy to write him a letter of recommendation for medical school, and he needs to impress him. Oh, I see. Greg's admission to medical school is more important than reproductive freedom of choice for all of the university's students. I was not aware of that. Greg tells her that there are other ways to get what she wants, and that she is risking the futures of all the students out there, and that she should stop it before it gets any bigger. He walks away and Felicity looks back at the ever-growing group of students participating in the sit-in. ["And thinks, no doubt, 'Which one of us is going to have her name in the New York Times, Greg? Yeah. Thought so.'" -- Wing Chun]
We see Burky in the elevator handing out flyers about the sit-in. Then Burky's standing on the street, still handing out fliers and saying, "Unfair to Women." I just wanted to point out that it's unfair to men, too, in a lot of cases.
Ben and Knoll are still discussing philosophy at Knoll's apartment, and Knoll's still being pretty annoying. Knoll poses a question to Ben, who gets it right. Knoll says that Ben knows more than Knoll does, now. Ben says that means it's time to take a break and that he needs a beer. Knoll points out there are six chapters left. Maybe I went to a really easy college or something, but I didn't know anyone who studied this hard unless it was finals week. Knoll needs to lighten up. He's in college! Ben hands a beer to Knoll and keeps one for himself, then says he never did any work in high school. Knoll says, "Really?" and Ben observes that Knoll isn't surprised. Ben feels bad he did so little work, but he got B's and C's and didn't fail anything, although he probably should have. Knoll asks him what he did in high school, if not study. Ben says, "Partying, swimming, running, you know." Knoll adds, "Girls." Ben agrees, "Definitely girls." Knoll shakes his head and takes a swig of beer, then says that he and Ben had "diametrically opposed high school experiences." Ben asks what he means. Knoll explains it with a really dumb philosophy example that proved more than anything that he is still the geek he was in high school. Ben laughs and says he understands, and they both drink some more beer.
Felicity, Elena and Leelah hang up a banner that says, "There's Got To Be a Morning After," which I thought was a really clever slogan. The camera pans across the room to show that more people have joined the sit-in, male and female, and people are sitting around in groups talking or making signs. The Student Services guy steps over some people to get down the stairs and pauses to read a sign that says, "Our $$$, Our Choice." He continues on into the office with a peeved expression on his face. Felicity climbs down from the ladder just in time to see Greg greet Student Services guy, and Student Services guy is not happy. In the background, a cell phone rings. Elena answers, and hands the phone to Felicity, saying, "It's Julie." Felicity explains about the sit-in to Julie while watching Greg get chewed out by Student Services guy. Felicity tells Julie they might end it pretty soon and asks her to hold on. Some random British guy hands out a brochure with instructions on what to do if you get arrested. What is he, a professional sitter-inner? Everyone goes, "Arrested?" and British Guy says, "Folks, you've got to accept that's a real possibility!" Felicity glances back at Greg and then tells Elena that this might not be the best idea, like Greg said. Elena's all, "What do you mean?" and Leelah comes over and says, "I've been sitting on my ass for hours and now you decide this?" Meanwhile, isn't Julie still on hold? Do you think that's a metaphor for the writers not giving her a decent storyline, or what? Felicity suggests a petition or letter-writing campaign as alternatives because they could be there for days and nothing could happen. Elena points out they might get what they want. Leelah says she doesn't know why Felicity's having second thoughts, but that she's staying. Elena agrees. Felicity looks like she might throw up, and Burky yells from the stairs, "The sit-in is still on, right?" Everyone yells back, "Yeah!" Burky motions for someone to follow him and a huge group of people pours down the stairs. Leelah smiles and Felicity looks worried and tries to see again what's going on with Greg. Julie yells, "Felicity!" a few times and Felicity finally remembers she's still on the phone. I hope Elena has unlimited minutes on her calling plan. Julie asks if she and Sean should come down as Felicity watches more people pouring in. Finally, Felicity says, "You might as well." Then she doesn't say goodbye or anything, but just hangs up the phone, like if Julie wasn't feeling vulnerable already, she is now.
Outside the health center, a group of students is chanting, "There's no laughter without the morning after. We'll stay until we get that pill." Hey, it's not Shakespeare but it works. Inside, Julie, Ruby and Elena are coloring in a banner. Elena tells Ruby it's cool that she came. Ruby says, "Why wouldn't I?" Julie blurts out, "Because you're having a baby, Elena didn't think you'd support the morning-after pill," like way to pin the blame on Elena. Ruby notes that they think she is crazy for having this baby. Elena says (not unkindly) that she thinks Ruby's life will "change in ways [she] can't even imagine." I'm glad they addressed Ruby's situation and all, but this whole conversation seemed weird and unfinished, and they never came back to it. That's because Felicity suddenly has a megaphone and is making an announcement.
Sean races into place to film her. Felicity tells everyone that they just got off the phone with the Assistant Dean and "apparently, the administration's official response is no response." Someone boos and Sean turns around to film the crowd, so the few shots alternate between Felicity in regular cam and the crowd, in Sean cam. Felicity says it means they might be there for a while and everyone grumbles. On Sean Cam, we see the cheerleaders (remember Julie's original roommates?) stand up and do a little cheer that goes, "We're fighting for a cause. We couldn't be prouder. If you can't hear us, we'll shout a little louder." Felicity and Leelah exchange a look of disbelief. Sean the horndog zooms in as the cheerleaders finish up with "Be aggressive, B-E aggressive. B-E A-G-G-R-E-S-S-I-V-E". Why did they bring their pom-poms to a sit-in? up, a guy who looks like British Guy from earlier, yet without the accent, starts strumming a guitar poorly and singing, "We Shall Not Be Moved." I take this moment to thank God that Julie didn't think to bring her guitar. Everyone actually starts singing along. On Sean Cam, we see a very out-of-place looking Meghan glancing around the room. At first, I couldn't figure out why she was there, but then I remembered the whole "Meghan loves Greg" subplot. Felicity looks around, bemused, but doesn't sing.
Ben and Knoll are playing Tekken 3 on the PlayStation. Thanks to Wing Chun for providing me with the name of the game, because I have to admit that fighting games are not my forte. I was all about Crash Bandicoot earlier this season, but unless it's WWF Smackdown, I'm lost when it comes to the fighting genre. ["Tekken 3 is wicked fun. I don't know another game where you can pit a panda bear against a Bootsy Collins lookalike." -- Wing Chun] Anyway, Ben and Knoll are giggling and jostling each other on the couch, so clearly they've had a few more beers since last we saw them. Knoll beats Ben and laughs, while Ben yells out, "No! No!" This is so realistic, I'm having flashbacks to the last time my boyfriend's friends came over and spent like twenty-four hours straight playing these games. Ben gets up and asks Knoll if he wants another beer. There are like six empty cans sitting on the table in front of them. Knoll says, "More beer? How much beer is in there?" I was kind of wondering that, since neither Knoll or Elena seem like heavy beer drinkers to me, but maybe Ben brought his own. Ben says there are two left. Ben says they have to go to a bar, which is also a realistic portrayal of the thought process you go through in college when you're drunk, I think. I definitely remember hearing, "The bar is closing? We have to stop and buy more beer before we get home!" when realistically, none of us needed any more beer, and in fact, we didn't need the beer we had already consumed.
Knoll keeps playing the game even though Ben is across the room, which seems like cheating. ["And is a total rip-off of the scene in Swingers when Sue goes to the door to meet the Pink Dot guy and Trent un-pauses the Sega hockey game and makes one of Sue's guy's heads bleed." -- Wing Chun] Knoll says he's "wickedly kicking [Ben's] ass" and adds under his breath, "which I've always wanted to do." Ben says, "Here!" and tosses the can of beer to Knoll. Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your point of view), Knoll is not paying attention and the can of beer hits him in the head with a metallic "klunk!" Ben giggles like a little girl and Knoll writhes in agony and accuses him of doing it on purpose. Ben apologizes while still laughing. Then, Ben offers to let Knoll hit him so that they'll be even. Knoll says he won't do it, but Ben insists, saying, "Come on! You always wanted to kick my ass!" Knoll gets a look on his face like "Hey, yeah!" I'm sure Ben meant that Knoll should hit him on the arm or in the stomach or something. Instead, Knoll clocks him right in the jaw. I yell out, "Not the face! For the love of God, not the face!" My boyfriend comes in to investigate and I tell him I was saying, "I lost my place!" Yeah, he didn't buy it either. Ben falls to the floor and then looks back at Knoll while the Tekken 3 music continues to play. Before Knoll can say anything, Ben tackles him and they start wrestling on the floor. There's a nice dual shot of the television, which they knocked on its side, and Ben and Knoll rolling around on the floor, punching one another.
Greg is on the phone with someone, saying he's "not going anywhere," but the person hangs up on him. Felicity enters the office and asks how bad it was. Greg says it was "extra, extra bad." Felicity deduces that there won't be a letter of recommendation and Greg says Student Services guy is "not a fan at the moment." Greg hesitates a moment, then tells Felicity, "They're not going to give in on this, you know." Greg goes on to say that the trustees give the university millions of dollars, and that if some old guy tells them to stop giving out aspirin, then "everyone is going to walk around with a headache." They sit in silence for a while, and then Felicity says that whatever happens, she's really sorry about Student Services guy. Greg says he has to make some calls because they're going to be closed tomorrow. Pack your bags, Felicity, because Greg is sending you on an all-expenses paid guilt trip! Felicity just walks away.
Outside the health center, students are camping out on the streets. Inside, people are trying to sleep on the floor, even though they're packed in like sardines. We see Sean trying to film himself sleeping. Elena and Ruby are sleeping to each other. Felicity is trying to get comfortable, when Julie awakes with a start to her. Felicity asks if she's okay, and Julie apologizes. Felicity whispers that Julie should really consider making an appointment with one of those counselors, to talk to someone. Julie says she knows. Felicity says that making tapes to Sally helps her, because she lets it out, and the less she wants to talk about something, the better it feels when she does finally talk about it. Julie says that part of her wants to, but that she's still scared. This scene would have affected me a lot more if I weren't so annoyed by the background singer crooning, "I wish I had somebody to rock me to sleep."
Static on the television screen. We pan across empty beer cans and pretzels all over the floor to see Knoll passed out on the couch and Ben on the floor. Knoll wakes up and holds his head where the beer can hit it, and squints against the sunlight coming in the window. He gingerly sits up and starts working his jaw back and forth, as if it were stiff from repeatedly being slammed against Ben's fist. He reaches down and taps Ben on the back to wake him. Knoll asks, "Are you dead?" and Ben says, "Yeah." Ben slowly peels his face off the carpet and sits up. His face is looking a little worse for the wear. Ben says it's an emergency and he needs lime juice, tomato juice, eggs and baking soda. At the mention of eggs, Knoll almost vomits, but he manages to squeak out, "Why?" Cut to Ben cracking a raw egg into a blender and telling Knoll it's going to save their lives. Knoll says, "So, we sort of got in a fight last night." Ben agrees and Knoll asks who won. Ben pours tomato juice in the blender and says, "I really don't think it was you." Knoll retorts, "That's exactly what I was going to say." Ben starts up the blender and Knoll winces at the loud noise.
There are many, many more people outside the health center waving signs. The police have blocked off the sidewalk, even. Sean is narrating into his camera, "This morning marks the second day of the standoff between students and administration," but he has to stop when he almost gets hit by a taxi. Someone pounds on the bathroom door, and Meghan exits, making her way past an extremely long line. I don't know why they can't just go shower in their dorms, in shifts. I guess this is why I'm not a big protestor. Meghan walks past a group of guys playing Hacky Sack. She catches it in midair and says, "Oh, Hacky Sack. That's pretty cool. Did you guys meet at the Renaissance Faire?" I think it would have been funnier if she said a Phish concert, but maybe they didn't want to offend any Phish fans. Or should that be Phish Phans? Felicity is telling someone it doesn't feel like a real protest and Ruby says, "It does to my butt." Elena says it's a serious cause, as we pan over and see Ruby, Felicity, Elena and Julie playing jacks. Elena says it's not exactly like the protests in the Sixties and Felicity says, "Right, where they put flowers in rifles and burned their bras." I think bra burning would have been more like the Seventies, but whatever. You'd think Ruby would know that, since she's going to be in that Seventies mini-series on NBC. Elena says, "Yeah, but to burn a bra, you've got to wear a bra!" Felicity laughs and Ruby glances towards the stairs just as Dr. Porter walks in with Student Services guy. Ruby asks Felicity if that's her dad, and I'm wondering how Ruby would know Felicity's dad. Felicity looks up and sees her dad, and the smile fades from her face.
Felicity, Greg, Dr. Porter and Student Services Guy are sitting in the office. Felicity's dad explains how he got to know SS Guy, and that SS Guy called him to ask for help in resolving "this sit-in thing." Dr. Porter didn't know what he was talking about, so SS Guy told him to look at the newspaper. SS Guy hands Felicity a copy of the paper so that she can see the article. Greg asks what page the article is on, like what is he, her PR agent? Why does he care what page? Dr. Porter points out that he knows it's an important issue but Felicity is working at the health center as a punishment, and that you don't get out of trouble by getting into more trouble. SS Guy says that they're asking Felicity to help bring an end to the demonstration, and that in exchange the administration will "conduct a full review on our policy on post-coital contraception." Felicity looks at Greg and then says, "A review?" Dr. Porter says he talked to the Dean and that this is the best they will get. At worst, Felicity could lose her job as R.A., get expelled, or get arrested. I was wondering who's watching the floor with both Meghan and Felicity at this protest. Dr. Porter orders Felicity to "go out there" and "end this thing right now before it gets out of control." Felicity says that she won't, and very emotionally explains that she might get in trouble, but that's her choice. Her father doesn't want to watch her do this to herself, and Felicity says that she's not the only one out there. Then she kind of loses it and says it's not "like the Rollerblades" and he can't take it away because he wants to because she's not a kid anymore. She had me and then she lost me. Felicity gathers her composure and then says to SS Guy, "Thank you for the offer but I really do think this is a bad policy and everyone out there wants a change and I don't think a review's going to work." While Felicity says this, Greg is watching her and trying for an expression that says something like "proud" but ending up with something like "patronizing." SS Guy asks Greg to tell Felicity what Greg was saying before. Greg says he won't because Felicity is right, because he has asked for a thousand things and they all get stuck in review. Greg looks at Felicity and says, "I'm with you. I'm with the sit-in" like Felicity is supposed to jump up and down or something. Whatever, Mr. Johnny Come Lately. There's a knock at the door and Leelah enters. She tells Felicity there are television reporters there to talk to her. Felicity looks around the room and then leaves, and Greg follows. Dr. Porter smiles to himself.
Felicity walks up the stairs with Julie, Sean, Leelah, Elena and Greg. She introduces herself to the television reporter, who asks to interview her. Felicity asks for a minute to compose herself. She tells Julie and Elena she can't do it, but they encourage her and tell her she'll be fine. Felicity tries to get Leelah to talk about her experience, but she's afraid of her parents finding out. Julie gives her a pep talk, and Elena tells her to focus. Hey, isn't that the advice Elena gave Felicity when she was going to have sex with Knoll? And that nearly resulted in the dorm burning down. Maybe Felicity shouldn't focus.
Cut to Ben and Knoll watching television and drinking their hangover blender concoction. Knoll quizzes Ben, who answers the question correctly, and I think they're watching Jerry Springer. Knoll shuts the book and says they are done, and asks Ben to promise they never have to study together again. Ben picks up the remote and starts flipping through the channels, and finds Felicity talking live to the news cameras. Knoll asks if Ben sees it too. The reporter asks Felicity why the issue is so important to her personally and Felicity starts stammering about "women having the right" and "choice" and finally just says, "Could I start over?" Ben says to the television, "No, you can't start over, you're live!" and Knoll says, "Oh my God!" Felicity tries to pick up the pieces by saying, "It's important for a lot of reasons, one of which, uh, being, uh..." and Julie chimes in, "Comfort." The reporter asks her to explain, and Julie says that students who have been raped would feel confused or scared. Then she adds, "I know because I did," and Sean and Felicity exchange a look like, "I can't believe she's talking about this." Julie continues by saying that it's natural for students to want to go to their college health center, and the last thing you want to think about after a rape is the possibility of pregnancy. Then she mentions that last year, the university did distribute the pill and it was one less thing she had to worry about. Ben and Knoll stare at the television. Julie concludes that due to some trustee's misunderstanding of how important the pill is, the center can't give them out and it's so wrong, not just for women that have been raped, but for all women, and their partners. You know, I was going to go look up a bunch of stuff on the web about the morning-after pill, and go off on a rant about why it's important, but Julie pretty much just said everything I was going to say anyway. I'm so glad the writers added that part about how it's not just for women who got raped, but for all women AND their partners. The reporter thanks her and Julie kind of looks at the camera like, "What the hell did I just say?" The reporter signs off as Julie asks Felicity if she was okay, and Felicity hugs her and tells her she was great. Julie says, "Oh my God." Ben and Knoll say, at the same time, "Oh my God."
The camera does a slow pan across the health center lobby, and we see Ruby (who has not gained an ounce, even though she must be nearly into her second trimester at this point) lying on the floor. Elena is doing her M&M stopwatch study thing. Leelah is talking to her boyfriend. Julie is looking pensive and Sean puts his hand on her shoulder. Burky says that someone needs to take a shower or he needs to get out of there. Felicity tells Greg, "Thanks. Seriously, that was a giant, unexpected gift." What, because he finally got his head out of his ass? Greg says there are so many things that he wants to change, but he never made the decision to act, and he thanks Felicity. In the background the phone rings, and then British Guy tells Greg that the Dean in on the phone. Greg says that he'll take it in his office, and Felicity follows him.
Greg picks up the phone and starts listening to the Dean. Felicity stands there trying to pick up a clue from what Greg is saying. Greg whispers to her that the Dean saw Julie on TV. Felicity asks what the Dean is saying and Greg switches the phone to his other ear so that Felicity can try to listen in, which never works. Greg whispers to Felicity that one of the trustees saw Julie on TV too. Greg just keeps saying, "Uh huh? Uh huh?" and Felicity asks again what he's saying. Greg keeps saying things like, "I understand. Absolutely. Thank you," as Felicity keeps mouthing "What?" Finally Greg hangs up the phone and tells Felicity is was all a big misunderstanding, and the administration is backpedaling and the demonstrators won. Felicity yells, "We won?" and then grabs Greg and kisses him square on the mouth, and not just a little peck either. Afterwards, they both look a little confused and Felicity says that they should go tell everyone else and runs out.
British Guy is still playing guitar. Lloyd tells the cheerleaders he liked their cheer. Greg grabs the megaphone and tells everyone to listen up, and then hands it to Felicity. She says, "Um, thanks to everyone here, especially Julie Emrick -- they caved!" Everyone erupts in hoots and hollers and applause. Leelah hugs her boyfriend. She really is adorable. I hope that wasn't the last time we ever see her. Felicity turns around and looks at Greg who makes a "Give me a hug" gesture but someone else hugs Felicity first. Greg looks a little uneasy as Felicity gets dragged into the middle of the celebration. Everyone's screaming and hugging each other. Sean hoists Felicity up onto his shoulders as Greg looks on from the sidelines. Burky pushes past Greg and looks out with an expression like, "I missed it!" He turns to Greg and says, "She kissed you, didn't she?" Greg's all, "What?" and Burky says, "Yeah, I can see it all over your face. That's not fair. I do all the cooking and you end up with the cake?" Burky turns away and sees Meghan, and says, "Felicity and Greg. Can you believe that?" Meghan says, "I'm going to kill her." Burky asks Meghan to dance but she just turns around and walks away. Cut to a shot of the whole crowd dancing and celebrating, with Felicity in the middle.