Tunes

Tunes is the 9th episode of the 5th season of 7th Heaven. The episode aired on November 27, 2000.

Summary

There is cause for alarm when the Camdens disapprove of Simon's new group of friends, one of whom insults Annie and Lucy with his chauvinistic remarks. Norton, the kid that Simon befriends is a fan of violent rap whose negative attitude towards women seems to be influenced by misogynist lyrics. At the same time, Eric and Annie confront Simon about his newfound interest in rap music and somewhat misogynist attitude towards women. Heather gets back in touch with Matt, but Matt is unsure of her intentions and then finds out that she is dating someone else again.

Full Summary

John wants Matt to take a drive with him in his uncle's car, but Matt wants to talk to Heather since she left a note for Matt. John tells him to not talk to Heather, but Matt says that he just wants to see what Heather wants. They decide to go for the ride in the car and turn the radio up really loud. They come up to a group of kids and see Simon with those kids. Matt stops the car and grabs Simon and asks him when he started hanging out with losers. Matt then tells Simon that he needs to stop listening to that kind of music, but Simon explains that it is just rap. John explains that it is not rap and he isn't going to help Simon. Simon tells Matt that he is going to do what he wants and turns back toward his friends.

Matt and John arrive at the apartment and they both discuss the music that Simon was listening to. John tells Matt that he is returning the car to his uncle and is worried that Matt is going to wait around for Heather. Matt reassures him that he isn't, but he is interrupted by Eric bringing him new pants. Matt wants to know why she would buy him pants, but Eric explains that Matt may have wanted to wear them on a date. Matt explains that he is going to talk to Heather since she left him a note. Matt tells Eric about Simon and his new choice of friends, but matt gets annoyed at his father's constant questions and pushes him out of the apartment. Eric is concerned that Matt is going to just sit around the apartment and wait for Heather.

At the music store, Lucy is approached by a boy who calls Lucy a bitch. Lucy tells him to leave and then when he walks off, he slaps her on her butt. Lucy asks the clerk to help her, but he doesn't want to do anything about it. When Lucy gets upset and goes to the next clerk, he congratulates her. When Lucy misunderstands the congratulations, she starts ranting about how she shouldn't have to put up with this treatment. The guy stops her and tells her that she is the 100th customer today and she gets free tickets to a concert and a free CD. Lucy has never heard of the band, but Ruthie has and she is happy about the tickets.

When about to leave the store, Lucy looks outside and sees Simon with the guy that was so mean to her earlier. Simon walks away, but Lucy catches up to hi and asks if he knows that guy. Lucy is shocked by his new clothes choices and then tells him what he did to her, but Simon doesn't care. Lucy tells him that she wants him to do something, but they are interrupted by Annie. Ruthie tells Annie that one of those guys called Lucy a bad name and the boy then walks up to Annie and looks her up and down and makes her feel uncomfortable.

Then, the boy and another boy start talking to her like she is nothing and she responds back that she "brought 7 kids into this world, I can take one out." The boys then walk away, but Simon never said anything and Annie takes the hat off of his head and they walk away. At the apartment, Matt gets all dressed up in the new pants that his mother bought him. Robbie shows up at Eric's office at the house with Cheryl, his girlfriend. Robbie explains that he wants to get married to her and it is not about Mary.

Eric asks Simon what happened earlier today and when Simon tries to play down the incident, Annie pipes up and tells all of the kids to leave the room to talk. Annie explains that Norton, Simon's friend, harassed Lucy and then Annie. Annie walks out of the house telling them that she is going to talk to Norton and his mother. Eric asks him about why he has changed his clothing and why he is friends with such a loser. Eric then tries to impress upon Simon that he can't use the b-word and it is not such a bad word anymore since it is on TV and music all of the time. Annie walks back into the kitchen and asks Eric why Robbie is in his office and Eric explains that he is getting married to Cheryl and to be happy that it is not Mary.

Annie asks Eric to not marry them and that he may not really be marrying her to get to Mary, but Eric explains that it is not the case. Annie thinks that maybe she is pregnant, but Eric is positive that it is not the case. Eric leaves Annie so he can get back to Robbie. Ruthie asks Annie about going to the concert. Annie asks about the band and Lucy explains that she listened to the music and totally approves. Annie gives her blessing and Ruthie runs off happy. Annie tells Lucy that Robbie is getting married and asks if Lucy is ok after the harassment that she experienced earlier in the day.

At the hospital, John is given a CD to put over the loud speaker, but John doesn't approve of the music. The man tells John that he thought that he would have liked the music, but John takes offense to that assumption that all black people like rap music. The doctor apologizes to him and offers to buy him a cup of coffee. A lady, Pricilla, walks up to John and offers to buy him a cup of coffee, but John reverses the offer and offers to buy her a cup of coffee.

John turns around and sees Heather who is asking for Matt, but John tells her that he is at home. She has other things to do and will call later or stop by later. Annie walks into Simon's room and tells him that she doesn't like that he is hanging out with that crowd. Simon pleads for her to not talk to his parents and Annie tells him that she wants an apology from him. Matt thanks her for the pants and tells her that Heather left him a note and wants to talk to him. Annie tells Matt that Robbie wants to marry his old girlfriend.

Eric talks to Robbie and Cheryl about marriage being a big commitment and Cheryl tells him that she knows about it. Eric asks about their living arrangements and it comes out that Robbie's mom left and Robbie is staying in Cheryl's apartment. Eric wonders if that is the reason why they are getting married, but Robbie tells him that he can live anywhere and chooses to live with Cheryl. Robbie looks very uncomfortable and eventually tells Eric that Cheryl is pregnant.

Lucy and Ruthie are leaving for the concert, but Ruthie is dressed in a skimpy little outfit. Eric and Annie tell her that she can't leave the house like that, but Ruthie tells them that she is not changing. Annie yells at her about Ruthie changing. Norton tells his friends that Simon needs to talk to his mother about how she treats his friends.

Matt talks to Simon about the music that he is listening to and the new friends that he has. Simon explains that it was just a joke, but it got turned around. Matt asks why they were treating their mother and Lucy so terrible. Simon explains that the CD has sold a ton of copies, but Matt tells him that it is not ok even though it sold a bunch of copies. Matt explains that the music is about treating women terribly, but Simon thinks that Matt is over reacting. Annie talks to Ruthie about her outfit and Ruthie tells her that she is not changing.

Annie explains that Ruthie is too smart to dress like that and she should dress the way that she wants, but there are people who are not nice. There are men that think that women are things and less than men are and their excuses are not new. Annie tells her that those thoughts are wrong, but you have to protect yourself by dressing in a better way.

Matt is talking to Simon when John walks in and tells them that he has just found Mrs. Right, Priscilla. Matt informs John that Norton is coming to the apartment and John explains that Heather is coming over. They realize that they are coming at the same time and run out of the apartment and see Norton and the guys harassing Heather. Matt and Simon run over to the crowd and Simon tackles Norton and tells him that he has to apologize to his mother and sister for what he said to them.

Then, the police pull up and see Simon on top of Norton. The policewoman explains that a neighbor called in the harassment of Heather and brings him to jail. Eric answers the door to Cheryl who tells Eric that she isn't pregnant and doesn't want to tell Robbie. Cheryl asks Eric to tell Robbie, but she wants to marry him and she knows that he doesn't want Robbie to marry Mary.

At the apartment, Matt asks if Heather is ok and Heather says that she is. Heather explains that she took self-defense classes. Heather tells Matt that she is dating someone and didn't want him to find out through anyone else. Heather also tells him that he is a professor and a nice man. Heather tells Matt that he was the best-dressed man at the police station.

John talks to Simon about how music affects how men treat one another and uses the news of the attacks in Central Park in New York to illustrate his point. John is concerned about how men are treating women and he doesn't buy music with lyrics that are oppressive. Annie drives up and picks up Simon who explains that she knows what happened and is concerned about what will happen when Norton returns to school. Simon tells her that Norton is not his worry right now, but making right choices and fit in at the same time. Simon explains that they raised him better and they deserve better and he doesn't want to participate in anything that degrades women.

Eric and Robbie talk about Cheryl and how she tricked him into having sex. Eric tells him that he shouldn't be having sex at all and he needs to learn a few lessons like not having sex before marriage and the only way to get respect from women is to give respect. Robbie tries to tell him that he respects women, so Eric brings up what happened with Mary at the hotel. When Lucy and Ruthie show up at the house, Robbie greets them respectfully.

Ruthie decided not to go to the concert and they went to a hamburger stand. Robbie explains that he doesn't want to tell Mary that he didn't get married, but Eric tells him that she will tell her. Robbie thinks that Mary can't stay mad at Eric forever and he thanks Eric for saving his life.

Trivia

• This is the first episode featuring recurring star Andrea Pearson (Priscilla).
• Adam LaVorgna (Robbie Palmer) has now become a regular cast member on the WB's 7th Heaven. He now appears in the opening credits of the show.

Quotes

Lucy: Simon, your friend called me a name and slapped me on the butt in the record store.

Simon: What, you mean Norton? No way, he was just kidding around. Believe me, he couldn't have been serious.

Lucy: Simon, he slapped me!

Simon: He didn't hurt you, did he?

Lucy: Yes, he hurt me! He humiliated me, and that hurt... a lot!

Simon: (about Norton harrassing Lucy) What do you want me to do about it?

Lucy: I want you to understand that I'm not a punching bag! I am not a trash can that guys can throw their filthy thoughts or words into. I am a person, Simon. I'm your sister. Do something!

Ruthie: Mom, that pimp behind you just called Lucy a bad word.

Norton: So this is your mother. I see the resemblance, and I like it.

Kid: So what do you say, Mama?

Annie: I say you're all pathetic. Go home.

Norton: Why don't you go home? You don't belong on the streets, 'cuz you got no respect for me, for no man. Maybe I should teach you some respect.

Annie: You want a piece of this? I brought 7 kids into this world, I can take one out!

Simon: (tackles Norton to the ground after he harasses Heather) You are going to go to my house and apologize to my mother and my sister for what you did, but not before you apologize to Heather. That's my brother's friend. She's deaf, man! How could you?

Norton: I didn't know she was deaf! Lighten up!

Simon: You knew she was a person, didn't you?

Eric: The only way to get respect from a women, is to give respect to a woman.

Eric (to Simon): Where did you get those pants?

Simon: I got them from Matt's.

Eric: You know where that little fashion trend got started? Prison. You know where you'll end up if you keep wearing your pants like that? Prison!