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Original Airdate: 03/15/99
Eric is listening to the Crawford College President, Jack Brenner, tell him that the rumors are true, he had a relationship with a grad student. He tells Eric that he never meant for anyone to get hurt, but looking at his wife, he knows someone already has. Meanwhile, on campus, Matt overhears a group of kids are planning a campus walkout expressing their "moral outrage." Matt doesn't think the man's private life is anybody's business.Back at the house, Simon is on the phone with the newspaper who tells him that collecting the money from the subscribers is part of the business. Simon doesn't know what he's going to do, Mr. Mallone won't pay his bill. If he doesn't collect the money - Simon and Ruthie get fired. Simon and Ruthie deliver papers, while Mary and Lucy are arguing over how Mary hit a car in the parking lot of the school. Mary says she put a note on the car she hit saying to call her. Mary tells Lucy the most important thing is to make sure mom and dad doesn't find out.
Eric comes home to find Annie and the twins in the living room. Eric says the board of trustees is scheduled to vote on the president's tenure next week. He says there's no clause in the charter prohibiting immoral acts.
Simon and Ruthie deliver Mrs. Hinckle her paper who offers them a couple of drink boxes. Simon tells her about the problem with Mr. Mallone, and she says she can take care of Dan Mallone. Mary gets a call from Miles Olsen, the boy whose car she hit. Lucy is bopping with her headphones on and doesn't hear the phone ring. Miles says he doesn't want to go out with her, but he would go out with Lucy. So, Mary sets up a blind date for a burger at the pool hall. Mary hides all the yearbooks so Lucy won't know what Miles looks like.
On campus, Matt walks into a demonstration and voices his opinion, which in this room happens to be the wrong one. The crowd turns on Matt and a fight ensues. That night, Simon and Ruthie manage to cover up their difficulties with Mr. Mallone. Eric stops for groceries and runs into Mr. Brenner who helps him load groceries into the Meals On Wheels van. Mr. Brenner tells Eric he's sorry he fell short of Eric's expectations. He explains that he's always lived up or exceeded everybody's expectations, and then all of a sudden he was at a place in his life that he wanted. He tells Eric he kept wanting.
Lucy finds her yearbook and chews Mary out for setting her up with him. Mary explains he was the one she hit with the car. Lucy at first refuses, but finally gives in to help her sister. Ruthie and Simon head out of the house with some equipment for Mrs. Hinckle. But while they are replacing a light bulb, Annie checks up on them. Annie grills her about what she is helping them out with, but Mrs. Hinckle declines any knowledge. When Mr. Mallone tries to pick up his paper, Ruthie reels it in on a fishing pole, plus he is stuck with pest strip and can't run away. Simon asks for his money while Mrs. Hinckle chews him out.
Lucy and Miles go on their date, with Matt and Shana close by. Miles ends up breaking some glasses, and Matt wonders what is going on. They return home, and he tells Lucy how he did his 8th grade report. Mary rescues Lucy by showing Miles out the door in a hurry. Mary says she has to go on more dates to forge the relationship. Mary pleads with her. Lucy says she helped Mary out because she loves her, and Mary loves driving and not being killed by their parents more. The next day, Miles points out to Mary that the damage she thought she did - she really didn't do. She tells Miles that nobody wants to go out with him. He is obviously hurt, and Mary tells him that he is a really great guy. Mary tells Annie the truth and as punishment she has to help Ruthie and Simon deliver papers.
Annie goes to see Mrs. Brenner and asks how she is doing. Mrs. Brenner tells Annie she doesn't know how she is doing. Everybody seems to forgotten how much BOTH of them have worked, and right now, she is the most popular person on campus. She has worked hard for things she has achieved.
The tenure committee meets and before they adjourn, Eric rises and asks to speak. Eric says Mr. Brenner is a friend of his and he doesn't like what he did. He asks who gets to decide what the punishment is, and what's enough. Eric says it's a private matter, and shouldn't they be able to attend to it privately. Eric says the only things questions seem to get them are more questions - and he doesn't have the answers, only opinions.