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The Greene family is adjusting to their new setting in
Denver, with Claire working at the high school and Hattie at the child care
center. Russell starts volunteering at
the Ridley Center and asks Leon to consider him for a paying position if
anything becomes available. As his
first assignment, Russell is asked to check on Amy Farnsworth, a teenage girl
with a history of drug abuse and prostitution who has missed her appointment
with her probation officer. LT goes
along with Russell to the squat where Amy's hanging out with her drug addict
friends. Russell manages to see that
Amy gets to her probation appointment.
The next day, Amy gets in a fight at school and is sent to Claire
(guidance counselor) who agrees to let her serve her one-week detention at the
Ridley Center. Leon and Russell meet
with Amy's parents who are divorced but share joint custody and have run out of
patience with Amy. Leon presses them to
become engaged with Amy's situation who is in danger of being sent back to
probation camp. Russell convinces a
reluctant Amy to go to a counseling session with her parents. But when her parents fail to show up (due
to unexpected "emergencies"), Amy returns to her bad news
friends. Russell tries to convince Amy
to take better care of herself and offers to take her back to the center or her
parents. Amy takes his support the
wrong way and kisses him on the lips, saying she'll do anything he wants. Russell pulls away, urging her not to
confuse her feelings for him. Amy
threatens to tell Leon that Russell tried to force himself on her. But Russell calls her bluff, ultimately
realizing she's got to want help in order to receive it. Russell turns to Claire for support. He tells her about the kiss. Claire is understanding and knows he'll do
the right thing. Russell says he's
trying hard, but feels he's in way over his head, just like Vietnam. Amy goes back to Lonnie, her supplier, to
pay her debt in trade. When Russell
finds out Amy is missing, he goes to look for her. Russell finds Amy at an abandoned house, passed out due to an
apparent overdose. Amy is rushed to the
hospital where the doctor explains to Amy's parents that she got a bad batch of
heroin. Amy's father feels like he's
lost his daughter and is angry that she's calling for Mr. Greene. Leon explains that Amy may be asking for
Russell but what she really needs is a father, one who will be there for her
and won't be distracted by his clients or his new family. Russell is sitting at Amy's bedside when she
wakes up. Amy tells Russell she's
planning on moving home with her dad and giving it another try. Russell tries to prepare Amy for what lies
ahead. He advises her to keep the lines
of communication open and not to hurt herself the first time he disappoints
her. Back at the Center, Amy's parents
show up -- right on time -- a new start and a new attitude. Leon thanks Russell for his help with Amy
and tells him the grant money came in, offers him a paying position.
LT is pressured into getting involved in a drug deal as a
way of clearing his trouble with Marley (episode 306). LT's teacher (Mr. Campbell) convinces LT
that being true to yourself is more important than remaining loyal to drug
dealing, so-called friends. Acting on
this advice, LT participates in a sting operation. When the cops surround them, LT makes a run for it and one of the
undercover officers lets LT get away with nobody the wiser for it.
Margot tries to help Dinah decorate her bedroom and ends up
trying to force her taste on Dinah.
Dinah eventually stands up to Margot, asserting her right to her
decorate her bedroom the way she wants.
Margot gives Dinah a hard time and leaves in a huff. Dinah stops by Margot's house to clear the
air. Dinah tells Margot that she isn't
trying to change her, and expects the same.
By episode's end, the friendship emerges intact, two friends with
differing tastes, but mutual respect.
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