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The return of Lawrence Taggert, Sr. (LT and Shamaya's father) in the previous
episode and the news of his illness has begun to have an effect on LT's
attitude. Russell reprimands him for
picking a fight when he's supposed to be refereeing a basketball game. LT finds (from Josh) that the loan officer
(Oscar Davis) turned down Shamaya for a loan when she refused to have dinner
with him. LT goes to the bank and
confronts Oscar himself, causing a big scene.
Security is called and the cops take LT home. Oscar isn't going to press charges, but he is getting a
restraining order. Ultimately, Lawrence
Sr. blames himself for the recent change in LT and leaves, feeling that it will
be the best for everyone that way.
Russell and LT go in search of Lawrence, checking shelters. LT tells Russell how his father left when he
was eight, without so much as a goodbye.
A lot of anger has built up over the years. Russell advises LT to let his dad know how he feels, to work
through some of that anger. Russell and
LT find Lawrence at a bus stop, headed to Detroit to see his brother. LT, while still carrying a lot of
resentment, reaches out to his father, asking him to return home with
them.
Josh and Bobbie decide to start seeing each other exclusively. Bobbie and her son Kevin are going away for
the weekend to visit Alan's parents.
Josh is uncomfortable with the idea.
When Josh finds out that Alan is at his parents' house too, Josh gets
bent out of shape. Josh goes over to
Bobbie's house to deliver a letter.
Mrs. Fitzgerald mentions how Kevin called out Josh's name when he had a
nightmare the other night. When she
realizes Bobbie hadn't told Josh, Mrs. Fitzgerald apologizes for speaking out
of turn and decides to let them handle it between themselves. When Bobbie returns, she explains that she
didn't tell Josh about Kevin calling for Josh (when he woke from a nightmare)
because she didn't want Josh to feel added pressure. Josh tells Bobbie she shouldn't keep things from him when it
concerns them (as a couple). Bobbie
confronts Josh about the problem he seems to have trusting her. They clear the air, realizing they both need
to trust each other more if this relationship is to survive and grow. Bobbie admits she was trying to steer him
around the potholes. Josh responds,
saying "potholes build character."
Dinah is invited to a costume party. She
works up the nerve to ask a boy as her date.
When he winds up getting the flu, Dinah convinces a reluctant Margot to
go with her instead. Since Margot chose
Dinah's costume (a flapper), Dinah chooses Margot's costume -- an ordinary
teenage girl. Margot winds up turning
heads at the party and her new look goes over very well. But no sooner than it appears that Margot is
enjoying herself, that she leaves abruptly in the middle of the party. The next day, Margot returns Dinah's clothes,
having retreated back to the comfort of her previous identity as a girl out of
sync with her generation. Margot reads
Dinah a poem which she wrote for her, in appreciation of Dinah's steadfastness
of character, loyalty and friendship.
Once in the privacy of her bedroom, listening to an old phonograph
recording of Ethel Merman singing the Cole Porter classic, "It's Delovely," Margot takes one more look at herself in contemporary teen
attire. Although she may not be ready
for a complete transition, the masquerade party has stirred something within
Margot that is intrigued by the idea, if nothing else, of being a regular
teenager.
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