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Plot
Major changes are afoot in the Camden household as Mary starts a new job for the umpteenth time--and has no intent to go to college anytime soon. She has been more than her parents can handle over the past few months, but the best is yet to come when she decides that minimum wage as a waitress is enough to afford a lavish sports car. As school begins for the rest of the kids, Lucy is eager to make her senior year "the best ever", while a nervous Simon has a less optimistic approach to starting his freshman year. Ruthie is ready to quit school for good when she meets her fifth grade teacher, and college student Matt considers the pre-med program.
Full Summary
Annie tells Eric that she signed up for college at Crawford so she can get her teaching certification in early childhood education. She adds that the class starts the next morning. Eric is surprised and reminds her that they have seven children.
Annie reminds him that Matt is out of the house and Mary is grown now and old enough to take care of herself and that Lucy is about to graduate. Eric reminds her that when Mary does go to college, they will have three college tuition payments now that she will be going to college.
Eric also reminds her that the kids are all needing constant watch before everything goes terribly wrong. Annie is upset that he doesn't think that she can take a few hours away from the house to go to college and sticks her tongue out at him as Eric walks out of the room.
All of the kids are getting ready for their first day of school while listening to loud music and dancing around. Lucy is happily twirling to a jazzy soul song while pitching her clothing on the bed. In the next room, a now-pubertal Simon, his stomach in painful knots over starting high school, pulls on a T-shirt and jeans as he strums his guitar to rock music as the dog, Happy looks on.
Mary meets Eric in the kitchen and tells him that she has a new job and needs a car to get to her job. Mary tells Eric that she will be waitressing at the pool hall and keeps on reminding him that Annie is starting school. Mary needs to use the car, but everyone else is using them. Annie asks how much she has saved during the summer, but Mary says that she hasn't saved any since she hasn't made much money at all. Mary asks why they bought Matt a car and not her, but Eric explains that Matt is going to college and she is going to school and Mary can buy her own car since she has a job. Annie and Eric had planned to start charging Mary rent this very month, but so far Mary has not contributed to any of the household expenses.
Ruthie walks downstairs and asks why they are fighting. Annie explains that they are not fighting, but Ruthie tells them that everyone thinks that they are. Ruthie asks if they are getting a divorce, but Eric and Annie start explaining the situation to them, but Ruthie leaves so she doesn't have to hear it.
Simon walks down to get his lunch and Eric asks if he is okay. Simon, his voice now changing, moodily says no, that Nigel is in another school, Deena has moved away, and he is alone. It's easy to see that Simon, despite his desperate attempts to mask it, is very frightened about ninth grade. Eric tells him that Lucy will show him around, but Simon doesn't want his popular sister dragging him around everywhere.
Simon fearfully vents his concerns about grades, friends, girlfriends, but Eric tells him to calm down and brushes off his fears. Simon tells Eric to be afraid of Annie meeting a college professor and leaving the family and with his stomach still tight, leaves to face the hardy challenge of the first day of high school.
Lucy walks downstairs in a very revealing outfit and Eric tries to ignore it and asks about Andrew Nayloss. Apparently, Andrew's father sent Andrew to Europe for the summer and when Lucy asks why Eric didn't compliment her on her outfit, Lucy explains that Andrew's father couldn't keep Andrew away from her after seeing her in the outfit. Eric promptly gets up and covers her up with a shirt that he staples together. Lucy huffs out and Eric calls after her that she need to not say things about how sexy she looks.
Matt walks into the kitchen and wonders why Eric asks how he is doing. Matt tells Eric that Heather is okay and then asks for Annie. Eric tells her that she isn't here and Eric suspiciously asks if he and Heather are living together. Matt explains that they did something really stupid, but didn't elaborate on what the stupid thing is. In a flashback, at the wedding chapel, Heather is asked if she takes Matt if she takes him to be her husband, but she stops and runs out of the chapel.
Matt is telling Eric what happened and asks if they are living together again and Matt explains that no, they are not living together, but spend a lot of time together. Eric asks if they are getting married, but Matt doesn't know. Eric tells Matt to be honest with himself and now he can't break up with her since it is Heather's turn to break up with him. Matt asks Eric to talk to Heather about the non-marriage, but Eric refuses.
At Ruthie's school, their teacher didn't show up for her job and the new teacher shows up who happens to be Ms. Riddle who had called Ruthie stupid last year. Other students tell Ruthie that Mrs. Riddle called them names last year also. Ruthie asks to be excused from the room and walks out. None of the students are at all happy to have Ms. Riddle again as their teacher.
Lucy is at school and asks guys about Andrew and they tell her that he found a girlfriend in Europe. Lucy doesn't want to believe it and starts yelling at the guys about it. Jim meets Simon at his locker and Simon is so relieved to see a person he knows. Jim invites Simon to go TP a cheerleader's house, to which Simon agrees. Simon's stomach begins to loosen and his shyness begins to lift as he and Jim walk to class together to face their new teachers and new, tougher courses.
Mary asks her new boss if she can leave, but the manager is a little upset at Mary's asking for time off on her very first day. Mary explains that she is going to buy a car and mentally calculates how much she will make in a month, but the manager tells her to be more prudent and make sure that she likes the job before she buys a car. Mary ignores this and asks the manager if she can borrow his car to look for a car. Mary leaves to find a car.
At the dinner table, Ruthie complains about being in Ms. Riddle's, but Annie explains that they will be getting her out of there as soon as possible. All of the other kids walk away from the table, upset. Simon, despite his meeting Jim, still had a very rough first day of high school and at the stormy age of fourteen, is having moody spells. Lucy is fuming over Andrew not being there for her.
Annie asks if they want pie and Eric is surprised that she had enough time to make a pie. Annie explains that she took it out of a box and Matt is inhaling his food, which worries Annie. Annie is in the same as Heather and talks to Matt. Annie found out about the almost-wedding and asks if Matt wants to spend the rest of his life with Heather. Matt gets upset and thinks that Heather is making Annie talk to him about their breakup. Matt walks out and asks if Annie is breaking up with Matt for Heather.
Lucy asks Simon to call Andrew for her and explains the situation to Eric who comes up and asks what is happening. Eric tells Lucy that she may not have spent her time wisely during the summer dating a bunch of guys during the summer to upset Andrew. Lucy explains that she just wants Andrew's dad to loosen up and Eric explains that maybe her plan to make Andrew jealous backfired on her.
Eric talks to Simon when Lucy walks out, but Simon doesn't want to talk about anything. Simon keeps looking at his watch and when Eric is walking out of his room, Eric finds the toilet paper in Simon's backpack. Eric asks about it and Simon blushes as he fumbles for a plausible explanation. Eric nods absently and leaves Simon's room.
Lucy calls Andrew's house and talks to Andrew's father and apologizes to him for his having to send Andrew away for the summer. Andrew's father tells her that he heard that she was with different guys all of the time, but Andrew's father doesn't know if he should believe her. Andrew's father tells her that she will have Andrew call her, but after he gets off of the phone, he tells his dog that he did something really stupid.
Eric tells Mary that she is taking her car back since she can't drive it without insurance, but she tells him that she already has insurance. Eric tells Annie that the situation is her fault, but Annie refuses to take blame since she is only taking one college course. In the garage, Lucy looks at the car, which is a convertible. Simon walks out and sees the car and both of the kids ask how Mary is going to pay for the car. Simon asks if Mary can bring him to TP a house and Mary and Lucy both laugh at him.
Heather shows up at Matt's apartment and gripes at her because she had his mother break up with him. Heather tells him to stop feeling like he has to be nice to her and mask his true feelings all of the time since she is deaf. Heather tells her that she loves him, but can't marry him, then encourages Matt to vent his anger. Matt does and tells her that she said yes to the proposal, yet said no when they got to the alter.
But, Matt turns around and waves his hands as he rants and Heather, who can't hear much of what Matt is saying, is amused and also relieved that Matt finally released his anger instead of just sitting on it. Matt is at first disconcerted when he sees Heather smiling, then apologizes for turning so she couldn't read his lips. Heather says that it's all right and that she's glad he got things off his chest. Heather then tells him that they should take a break and she leaves. John walks in and is surprised that it is over.
Matt calls Annie and apologizes to her for having involved her in his personal affairs. Annie tells him to enjoy life and give himself some time. Annie also tells him that she would like to be there for his future wedding and invite all of the family and for it to take place at their church.
Eric walks into their room, Annie telling Eric that he is angry at something else, but he apologizes and says that he really is upset with what he said. Eric then confesses that he agreed to allow Simon to TP a house and blames it on him being upset at the situation. Annie tells him that he is angry for Mary not going to school.
Sergeant Michaels brings Simon and Jim back to the house and tells Eric and Annie that they will be cleaning the yard in the morning. Jim explains that he fell because of his crutches and Simon came back to help him. Jim is grateful, considering Simon a wonderful friend.
Andrew shows up at the house and talks to Lucy. Andrew tells her that he met a girl in Europe because he was angry with Lucy for going out with other guys behind his back and at his father for sending him to Europe. Andrew tells her that he got the girl pregnant and is going back to France to be with her. Andrew's father has told him that it's his "obligation" to marry this girl simply because they're having a baby. Lucy is not pleased about this news at all and also feels stupid for her spiteful games against Andrew.
Jim tells Eric about his life and his mother getting remarried to a guy that was his "big brother." Jim tells Eric that he is going to take responsibility for his actions and call his parents himself. Simon explains that he knew why Eric told him that it was okay to go and he just wanted to make friends and is also sorry.
On the way to apologize to Annie, Eric runs into Lucy who tells him that because of her, Andrew got a girl pregnant. Mary then apologizes for not telling them about the car and Eric is jealous of her for getting a sports car. Eric tells her that since she bought it, she can pay for it and when she decides to go to college, she will still have to pay for the car.
Eric tells her that he will stay mad at her for not going to college since she is smart enough to do it. Annie hears the end of their conversation and Eric confesses that he is really mad at Mary and not at Annie. Eric apologizes for the way he reacted. Ruthie comes out and sits in the hall and complains about needing sleep and gripes about how her teacher makes her feel. They all sit on the floor and Eric has a revelation.
Eric and Annie along with the principal stand in front of the classroom as Ruthie stands on the teacher's desk and expresses her thoughts on her life. Ruthie rallies the class to change the way that they are taught and expressing their opinions. Ruthie calls for a revolution and the principal tells Eric and Annie that he will do whatever he can to get her out of the class.
Trivia
- When Eric staples the dark pink blouse over Lucy's stomach-baring black top, notice that he staples it unevenly. However, when Lucy is at school in future scenes, it looks normal.
- Nigel Hamilton (David Netter) is officially written out of the show as Simon states he goes to another school district. *Also, Maureen Flannigan (Shana) is no longer a full/recurring cast member on the show. She no longer appears in the opening credits.
- For the majority of this season, “Roswell” aired in the spot opposite “7th Heaven” on the WB.
- Music featured in this episode was from a track off of Marie Wilson's “Real Life” CD, a track off of Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band's “Live On” CD and a track off of Alice Deejay's “Who Needs Guitars Anyway” CD.
- This episode, "Here We Go Again," starts the beginning of the 5th season and the 7 episode-arc of Mary's (Jessica Biel) downward spiral to rock-bottom. Jessica Biel (Mary Camden) will appear in the first 7 episodes of the 5th season and then appear as a recurring character in some more episodes later in the season.
Quotes
- Ruthie [to her classmates]: This isn't just about Miss Riddle and me. When I thought about it, I'm not just angry that I'm in her class again. I'm angry about a whole lot of stuff. Are we tired of being told to be quiet?
- Students: Yeah!
- Ruthie: Are we tired of being made to feel stupid when we don't know something?
- Students: Yeah!
- Ruthie: Are we tired of not being able to ask questions?
- Students: Yeah!
- Ruthie: We're tired of having no choices and having grown-ups making bad choices for us.
- Students: Yeah!
- Ruthie: We are tired of eating bad school food. Ketchup as a vegetable? I don't think so.
- Students: Yeah!
- Ruthie: And if we have to learn about the stuff that doesn't interest us, why can't we also learn about the stuff that does interest us? Is it too much work to give us each individual assignments if we're willing to do them?
- Students: Yeah!
- Ruthie: And can't the adults do something about school safety? Aren't you scared that you're gonna get shot, or that someone else is gonna get shot? I am. There are a lot of angry kids around here. Why can't someone help them do something with their anger? I can tell you that it helps just to talk. And why can't someone help the kids who come to school hungry? It's not their fault their parents can't feed them. And why can't someone help the kids who get hit every night when they go home? Can't someone protect them? Won't someone help us? I don't just need a new teacher. We need a revolution!
- Students: Yeah!!! (they all stand up) Ruthie! Ruthie! Ruthie!
- Mary: Yes, I'm starting a new job today.
- Eric: You've had a new job every week this summer.
- Mary: That's not true. I was a day camp counselor for almost three weeks.
- Eric: (sarcastically) Oh, how could I forget three whole weeks?
- Mary: You know, just because you're mad at Mom doesn't mean you have to take it out on me.
- Eric: I'm not angry, the word is angry at your mom, and I'm not taking it out on anyone.
- Eric [to Mary]: I'm angry at you for just giving up on college. And now, unfortunately, I'm even angrier at you because you bought a car, and that particular car. Did you know that I worked my way through college, and I've worked for 20 years, and a sports car is my dream, and I can't afford one?
- Mary: Yes, I know that, but can I help it if I can afford it?
- Eric: (laughs to himself, counts to 10 to collect himself) You bought it, you pay for it. I'm gonna let you be responsible for you. And if you ever change your mind and decide you don't like working an endless string of jobs that have absolutely no meaning for you, then you're still going to have to pay for the car.
- Mary: I know. Maybe I can even sell it.
- Eric: Not for what you paid for it.
- Mary: Well, great. If I can make money off of it, I'll put it toward my college tuition.
- Eric: AAAAAAAAAAAAH!
- Mary: Hello?! Is anyone listening to me? I need a car!
- Annie: Hello! Earn money and buy one.
- Mary: You guys bought Matt a car. Why can't you buy me a car?
- Annie: Matt was going to college. You, on the other hand, are not going to college. You are working, so you can buy your own car. How much money have you saved this summer?
- Mary: Saved? On what I make? Please. You guys are forcing me to buy on credit, and you can stop talking about college, because I'm not going to college until I figure out what I'm going to college for.
- Eric: Well, maybe so you can earn a living and someday even have your own house, and your own car.
- Mary: Well, maybe I don't want to have my own house. You don't own this home; this is the Church's home.
- Eric: Yes, but this house is a benefit of my job, which I earned after five years of college and we do have a car. Two cars. Well, three if you count the one we bought for Matt, who's in college.
- Simon [to Ruthie]: Don't be stupid.
- Ruthie: Did you just call me stupid?
- Simon: Yeah, I did.
- Ruthie: No wonder you don't have any friends.
- Ruthie: (about Ms. Riddle) She's mean! She's really mean. And she makes me want to do something really, really bad.
- Mary: Look, if I never go to college are you really going to be this mad at me for the rest of my life?
- Eric: (hugs her) Yes. Because you're too smart not to learn all you can as long as you can.
- Annie [to Eric]: I've signed up for school today.
- Eric: What school?
- Annie: College, Crawford. I want to get my teaching credentials in early childhood education.
- Eric: Now? You do know that we have 7 kids now.
- Annie: We have the twins and Ruthie, but Simon starts high school tomorrow, Lucy graduates high school this year, Mary's out of high school and working and Matt is out on his own.
- Eric [to Annie]: Matt is hardly out on his own. He sleeps out on his own. He's still a kid.
- Annie: Oh stop it. He and Heather are practically married.
- Eric: No, they're not. That's just what we say to each other whenever we think those two might be shacking up. And Mary is going to college, she's going to go to college eventually... I hope, as soon as she figures out that she doesn't enjoy minimum wage jobs.
- Annie: Unfortunately, I think Mary is quite happy with her stint in the world of minimum wage.
- Eric: Well I'm not happy with it. With my luck she'll probably decide to go to college when Lucy decides to go and with Matt's we'll have 3 tuitions to pay, oh plus yours. And by the way, who says that Lucy won't have the kind of senior year that Mary had. And Simon is starting high school. Do you remember what it was like when Matt started high school? High school boys are, well, they're high school boys. And we shouldn't forget Ruthie, who is well on her way to being more difficult than all the other kids rolled into one. Oh and bonus, the twins are entering the terrible twos. They are not entering, they are there.
- Annie: So what are you saying? That the family is so dangerous that I can't take 1 or 2 hours away from them to take one course? I'm going back to school!
- Eric: When were you going to tell me this, as you were backing out of the driveway tomorrow morning?
- Annie: No, I planned to tell you just when I told you.
- Eric: (sarcastically) Well, thank you, Mrs. Camden!