Various characters head to Payday, a "big box" warehouse store for different reasons:
- Jane needs Gummi Bears for her sculpture because Tom accidentally ate her supply.
- Daria needs a new bootlace because Quinn stole hers to replace her broken purse string.
- Kevin and Brittany need to get barbecue sauce for the Lawndale High cookout being held at Kevin's house.
- The Fashion Club needs sunscreen.
- Trent needs a new headlight, Jesse needs scented candles, and Tom tags along in hopes of making up with Jane.
Tropes:
- A Day in the Limelight: This episode gives a little of Character Development for Andrea, who up to that episode was only a background character.
- Apology Gift:
- To make up for getting her a cheap locket and lying about it, Kevin tells Brittany he'll get her anything she wants. Soon afterwards, Kevvy is pushing a cart overloaded with girly crap, and Brittany shows no sign of letting up. When the power goes out in the store, Kevin uses the cover of darkness to get rid of the cart without Brittany catching him.
- Jane buys Tom a Herb Grow Road Kill to apologise for her fight with him.
- Big Ball of Violence: The barbecue at Kevin's house ends like this after Ms. Barch judo throws Kevin's dad for threatening Mr. O'Neill.
- Comically Missing the Point: When Tom points out the unnecessary bulk sizing:Tom: What would anyone do with that much ketchup?
Jesse: Um, put it on hamburgers?- Also:
Brittany: What do you think I am? Stupid?
Kevin: Wait. Are you asking if I think you're stupid, or are you just calling me stupid? - Convenience Store Gift Shopping: Brittany discovers that the necklace that Kevin said he bought at Cashmans for her, was actually from Payday for $4.99.
- Entertainingly Wrong: Andrea assumed Daria and Jane were following her so they could make fun of her crappy job. Daria explains she was only trying to find out where they stock the shoelaces, and Jane just wanted to know why Andrea kept running away from them.
- Everyone Has Standards:
- The reason why Andrea was avoiding Daria and Jane was because she was afraid they were going to make fun of her job. In reality, Daria and Jane only wanted her to give them some direction, while promising that they never saw her at the store.
- Daria's still not entirely fond of Tom at this point but can't find herself siding with Jane after Jane makes it clear the gummy bear fiasco was her fault.
- Explain, Explain... Oh, Crap!: The more details Jane shares about the gummi bear incident, the more she realizes she fucked up.
- Funny Background Event: Quinn, on the phone with Stacy, breaks the string she's lacing through her bag. When Quinn tries to excuse herself, Stacy (whom we don't hear) starts persistently asking if she'd done something. Annoyed, Quinn ends the conversation by saying "OK, fine! It is you. Bye!", and we can hear Stacy sobbing loudly on the other end before Quinn hangs up.
- Helping Another Save Face: A box store employee who has been ducking Daria and Jane all episode long is revealed to be Andrea, who frets that the duo will now mock the goth girl whose parents forced her to get a job. Daria and Jane promise not to say anything to anyone,as all they wanted was to find the gummy bears.
- Hoist by His Own Petard: Jane points out that Andrea, even though Daria and Jane had no intention of doing so, did a pretty good job roasting herself before either girl had a chance to do so. It also doesn't help matters that Andrea's repeated running away only made Jane curious as to what her issue was.
- Impossibly Tacky Clothing: The Fashion Club is so stunned by what the Payday shoppers are wearing, they call an emergency club meeting on the spot on how to proceed forward:Sandi: Stacy. If you're finished with your unsolicited outburst on fiber content, I'd like to call your attention to the fact that we're surrounded by moving fashion violations.
Quinn: So, we should try to help these people?
Sandi: Don't be silly. Some people are beyond help.
Tiffany: Right.
Sandi: Now listen carefully. We are to proceed directly to the health and beauty aisle, pick up our supplies, and go straight to the cash register. - Jerkass Realization: After Jane reveals the reason for her fight with Tom, Daria presses for more details. Jane gradually comes to the realization that she overreacted when Tom ate her gummy bears when in all fairness, she didn't tell him she was using them and the gummy bears were simply in a bowl sitting in the kitchen.
- No Ending: Everyone at Payday winds up locked inside the market, with the lights and power out. Meanwhile, the Thompsons' BBQ ends in a brawl started by Ms. Barch and Mr. Thompson.
- Right for the Wrong Reasons: Kevin's mother is afraid that Kevin will ruin his future by knocking Brittany up, quitting a brilliant future as a football star, and getting a lousy job to support an unplanned family. Since Mr. O'Neill is trying to talk to them about Kevin's grades, it's clear that Kevin will end up like that, but not because of Brittany.
- Someone's Touching My Butt: Sandi requests this mystery offender remove their hand from hers when the lights go off.
- Surrounded by Idiots: Tom gets more and more annoyed at having to deal with Trent and Max, designated by several glares throughout the episode, and exasperation when Tom realizes Trent doesn't know the make or model of his car to get the replacement headlights after following them all day to find Jane.
- Teachers Out of School: Kevin and Brittany run into Mr. DeMartino while shopping, although their interactions are about the same as they are in school. The Fashion Club is also horrified by the female teachers' unstylish casual outfits at the cookout.
- Throw the Dog a Bone:
- Kevin and Brittany are able to get Mr. DeMartino extra cheez logs after he's banned from the sample stand. Turns into Kick the Dog when Mrs. Johannsen alerts the security guard to this before Mr. DeMartino can eat any.
- After Andrea reveals that she was afraid of Daria and Jane making fun of her, they agree to pretend they never saw Andrea there.
- Violently Protective Girlfriend: Ms. Barch beats the shit out of Kevin's dad when he starts demanding Mr. O'Neill should look the other way on Kevin's bad grades.
