The Past
Young Emerson, who is usually well-behaved, has been getting into trouble at school. School officials are baffled, but the real reason is that Emerson has a crush on the school principal, and has been acting out in order to get sent to her office. Emerson learns that Love Makes You Stupid.The Present
Despite not being in love with her and having a lover of his own, Ned finds himself jealous of the budding romance between Olive and Randy Mann. In spite of his irrational emotional response, he does his best to wish the pair well.The investigation into the death of the Papen County Dam's owner is complicated when the prime suspect—Emerson's ex, Lilah—shows up and demands that Emerson exonerate her. If he does, she'll let him see Penny.
Tropes
- Conspiracy Theorist: The old secretary believes that "one drop of certain mind-altering substances" dissolved into the dam reservoir could turn everyone into mindless zombies controlled by secret signals transmitted over FM radio.
- Exact Words: Lilah keeps her promise to Emerson to the letter. She lets him see Penny, from the back window of the car as they drive away.
- Love Makes You Stupid
- Power Glows: The flowers.
- Pun: The characters and audience are constantly in confusion over whether a character just said "dam" or "damn".
- Uranus Is Showing: One of the ways young Emerson got in trouble was loading a diorama about Uranus with crude Double Entendres.
- Will Not Tell a Lie: The lawyers.
