Summary
We begin with Lucy shopping at the mall, where she shoplifts a scarf. At school the next day, Voula expresses her admiration of Lucy's scarf, while Mr. Raditch holds Lucy back after class to talk about her grades. He asks her if something is wrong at home, to which Lucy insists everything is fine.
Over in the B-Plot, Steph and the twins are using their study period to watch a daytime soap opera starring Damon King, an actor who Steph is crushing on, while Joey and Wheels make fun of them. Steph tells the twins that Damon is going to be autographing a book at the bookstore, and invites them with her to come meet him, to which they agree.
Lucy makes it to study period and Voula asks what Raditch wanted, and Lucy says he told her to "get better marks or [she'll] jeopardise her year". She insists she doesn't need spelling, but Voula offers to help her study anyway. Lucy agrees. At Lucy's house, she expresses how boring it is, then gets a call from her mom telling her she'll be late home - her dad is also working late. Lucy decides she wants to have fun, and gives Voula a makeover. Voula wishes she had more interesting clothes, but her parents won't let her - "they're kind of old-fashioned". Lucy says her parents are perfect: they buy her whatever she wants, and they're always working, so they aren't here to bug her. Voula asks if she gets lonely, to which Lucy claims: "I'm self-sufficient." Voula says she ought to be getting home, while Lucy tries to get her to stay longer, and gives her a scarf to borrow before she leaves. The phone rings and Lucy's mom rings to tell her she'll be later home than expected, at which Lucy sheds a Single Tear.
Over in the B-Plot, Steph and the twins make it to Damon King's booksigning and Steph gets him to sign an autograph. He asks how old she is and she lies and tells him she's sixteen. "Sweet sixteen," he says, flirtatiously, before kissing her on the cheek. Steph is over the moon, but when Heather looks at the autograph, he realises Damon has given Steph his phone number.
The next day at school, Lucy does well on the spelling test and thanks Voula for her help. Lucy offers to go get Voula new clothes in gratitude, to which Voula protests that she doesn't have any money, but Lucy tells her not to worry about it.
Over Heather's objections, Steph calls Damon's phone number, and he asks her on a date and offers to show her how a TV studio works. Heather protests, pointing out they know nothing about him and he's a lot older than Steph. You're Just Jealous, insist Steph and Erica.
Shopping with Voula, Lucy puts a necklace into her bag without Voula noticing. Voula notices a sweater she likes, but can't afford, so Lucy grabs it and puts it into her bag as well. Voula is scandalised, but Lucy tells her to relax and act casual. They attempt to leave the store, but Voula insists Lucy put the sweater back, while Lucy insists it's no big deal. They argue until they make it to the top of the escalator, where a security guard is waiting for them. Lucy tells Voula to run, but another guard is waiting at the bottom of the escalator too. While they wait for the police to arrive, the store security explains why shoplifting is wrong. Lucy tells Voula to just act like she's sorry and they won't charge her, to which Voula asks if she's been caught before. Lucy insists she hasn't, but then the policeman arrives: "well well. You again."
Damon picks Steph up for their date and takes her to the car lot of a motel. Steph asks why he hasn't taken her to the television studio, to which he says he wanted to just stop for a bit and talk. Steph gets uncomfortable, and Damon starts hitting her with the exact same dialogue from his show. Steph tells him she wants to go home, but he refuses. "C'mon Steph, you know what this is all about." Steph rushes out of the car, threatening to scream, and then reveals she's actually only fourteen. Damon rushes back into the car and then drives off. Crying, Steph calls her mom to come pick her up.
Lucy insists to the police that she took all the items and Voula didn't do anything wrong. At the station, Voula is furious, and gives Lucy "The Reason You Suck" Speech: "I used to think you were sophisticated, but you're just dumb." Voula's parents come to pick her up, while the policeman tells Lucy they're having trouble finding her parents - "they're very busy." He also tells her that they're going to have to charge her this time.
The next day at school, Steph tells the twins about her experience with Damon. She also says that her mom was mad, but not as mad as she expected, and gave her a 'that speech' about not getting into risky situations. "I actually kind of understood it this time." Meanwhile, Lucy tries to approach Voula, who is still angry and tells her that her parents have forbidden her from speaking to her. Lucy apologises, and reveals that she has to go to court, and that her parents called her a spoiled brat and they have to take family counselling, but her parents probably won't be able to find the time. Voula's heart softens, and she offers to keep helping Lucy with her studies, insisting she can talk her parents around. Lucy grins.
Tropes appearing in this episode include:
- Blatant Lies: Lucy insists her parents absence is "perfect" for her, while simultaneously desperately trying to get Voula to stay longer.
- Date Rape Averted: Poor Steph.
- Foolish Sibling, Responsible Sibling: Erica and Heather are slotting into their respective roles, with Erica encouraging Steph's romantic fantasies and Heather trying to talk sense to them. We even get the first instance of Erica telling Heather she's "such a prude".
- Karma Houdini: Damon King drives off into the night after almost date raping Stephanie, never to be seen again.
Fridge Horror ensues when you realise she's probably not the first girl he's done this too. - Lonely Rich Kid: Lucy's parents buy her everything, but are always busy working.
- Sticky Fingers: Lucy's shoplifting habit.
