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Nolan
Edwards (a local teen) and his gang are driving at night when they
stop to pick up Jimmy Gibson, a teenager from the local high school
who's known for his artistic talent and is designing a tattoo for
Nolan. Nolan convinces Jimmy to stick his head out the car window
and flash their gang sign at a carload of kids from a rival gang.
Nolan fires some shots, wounding one of the rival gang members and
Jimmy becomes the unwitting target for the rival gang retaliation.
As the authorities are looking to identify the gunman, Nolan puts
pressure on Jimmy to keep quiet. Meanwhile, Jimmy gets busted for
spray-painting graffiti (a large lion) on school property. Principal
Peters is going to suspend Jimmy, but Claire, recognizing Jimmy's
talent, urges Peters to consider the merits of giving someone like
Jimmy -- poor, minority, talented -- a break. Claire asks Mr.
Beckwith, the art teacher, whether or not he could use someone with
Jimmy's talent in his art class. Claire convinces Peters he could
give them an edge in the tri-city art show bringing the school good
publicity. LT, who is also in Beckwith's art class, and is on the
outs with Jimmy, tries to mend fences. Jimmy thinks that LT, who has
distanced himself from the 'hood, thinks LT chose "white."
But LT says he's just looking out for number one. LT guesses
correctly that Jimmy knows more than he's letting on about the gang
shooting. LT convinces Jimmy that he can't rely on Nolan or his gang
for protection. As it becomes clear Jimmy's life is in danger, LT
offers to give Jimmy money to leave town and stay with a relative in
Texas. Claire is in the process of showing Russell a picture of
herself that Jimmy sketched, as an example of what makes all the
trials and tribulations of her job worthwhile when Jimmy is making
his way off school grounds and gets shot. Jimmy is rushed to the
hospital, but he doesn't survive. By episode's end, LT and Claire
find common ground in their shared grief. LT thanks Claire for what
she tried to do for Jimmy.
Dinah
befriends a clever but nerdy classmate nicknamed Mouse with a
penchant for pranks. Mouse is being bullied by Croach and Bendel,
two kids on the wrestling team. Mouse foils their plan to cheat off
his test by covering his answer sheet with a dummy sheet. Mouse
manages to keep one step ahead of the bullies with one of his
inventions, a remote control that sets off the school fire alarm.
Determined to even the score, Croach and Bendel break into Mouse's
locker and are caught with his remote and busted as the pranksters.
Mouse arranges a deal with his nemeses -- agreeing that he gave them
permission to open his locker in return for saying that they found
the remote "near" his locker.
Russell
fills in as a security guard at the high school. He winds up working
with Ed Angelo, an overzealous security guard who measures his
productivity in terms of detention slips. One of his first incidents
involves breaking up a fight between two feuding teachers (Moss and
Reynolds) -- one accusing the other of passing students who aren't
worthy. Russell discovers a drunken student (Walter Elliot) in the
boiler room. Claire discovers bruises on Walter's back and asks him
about them. He lies, telling her they're from football. But she
eventually gets him to admit that his father has been hitting him.
Claire arranges for Walter to meet with a social worker so the
courts can decide how to handle the situation.
Josh
sets out to convince Bobbie to get back together (since their
break-up, episode 316). But when he goes to meet her at the
childcare center, he sees a young father and starts to wonder if he
is really ready for all that responsibility. Josh leaves before
Bobbie has the chance to talk with him, prompting her to talk with
him during a test. Bobbie gets Josh in trouble, nearly jeopardizing
his acceptance and financial aid at U.C. Boulder. Claire gets a
chance to clear the air with Bobbie, admitting she was wrong to
interfere. Bobbie explains there were a dozen reasons why she and
Josh should break up, but only one reason why they should stay
together -- she loves him. Bobbie meets with Josh in the cafeteria
once he's had a chance to cool down. Bobbie confronts Josh about
constantly changing his mind with regard to their relationship. Josh
feels he could say the same about her. They reach an impasse. By the
end of the episode, the shooting on campus makes them realize how
much they mean to each other. They agree to stop over- analyzing
their relationship and enjoy the walk.
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