03x13 - Griffin's Girl

[bunniefuu]

[theme music]

THEME SONG: Something tells me I've been dreaming

of someone who's never real.

It seems I've changed a thousand ways.

I wish I looked the way I feel.

BraceFace!

My life is complicated.

Boyfriends.

Don't want to talk about it.

Teenage.

I'll work it out in the end.

BraceFace!

Mt life gets complicated.

Boyfriends.

Don't want to talk about it.

Teenage.

I'll work it out in the end.

[tranquil music]

Nice catch.

Heads up, Elle!

Got it.

Connor and I are going bowling tonight.

You guys want to come?

Sorry.

It's my turn to do laundry.

I'm busy too.

I'm supposed to have dinner at Lawrence.

Oh, drag.

Actually, I don't mind.

It's nice to see my dad.

And I'm cool with Lauren and Griffin too.

How do you do that?

Two words, fake nails.

Ready to go long?

OK, kiddies.

Playtime is over.

Let's put the toys away.

What are you talking about?

Cheerleading practice.

We need the field.

MARIA: Use the gym like you always do.

We would but Melissa hasn't kept up her tan.

So we need to be outside.

SHARON: That's so selfish.

We have just as much right to be here as you do.

Ow!

Well, you do need the practice.

Why don't you just play over there?

SHARON: Eeuw.

Eeuw.

Uh, thanks but no thanks.

Come on, let's go.

Guys, we can't let Nina take our field,

we can at least share.

Give me an Elk.

Give me a ford.

Elkford!

With that?

No, thank you.

[tranquil music]

Dad, don't fill up on celery.

[laughing]

These are for Thorndike.

Looks good.

Dinner should be done by the time Griffin gets home.

Uh, what is for dinner?

Brussels sprouts surprise.

And what's the surprise?

No sprouts.

It's made with squash.

Make extra salad.

Will do.

Would you set another place, Adam?

Griffin's bringing a friend.

LAUREN: A girlfriend

I didn't know he had a girlfriend.

We haven't met her yet.

But she's all Griffin can talk about.

He tries to be cool about it.

But I can tell he's over the moon.

Cool.

I'm dying to find out what kind of girl Griffin would go for.

Hey.

We're here.

[gasps]

Oh.

Let me get those for you.

Thanks.

What are you doing here?

Having dinner with my boyfriend's

charming family and you.

Nina just got a part in a movie.

Oh, it's no big deal.

They only picked me because I have six years

of tap and good cheekbones.

Well, congratulations.

Gosh, I remember Nina playing in Sharon's sandbox.

It feels like yesterday.

It feels like today.

Lauren, your casserole was super.

I'm glad you like it.

Help yourself to seconds.

Uh, thanks.

Would anyone else like some more?

Rock and roll.

Sharon, you have a healthy appetite.

No, thank you.

I couldn't eat another bite, seriously.

Oh, sure you can.

You don't have to be shy.

And Josh, you're ready for seconds too, aren't you?

No.

I have salad!

Salad's not enough for a growing boy.

Oh.

All gone.

I'll just take the dish away.

Thanks, Nina.

It's nice to see such good manners.

[coughing]

Are you OK?

I know the Heimlich maneuver.

[coughing]

No.

I'm fine.

But I wasn't falling at all.

This felt like my worst nightmare.

Uh.

But no such luck.

It was real.

Nina invading your family.

If they made a sympathy card for this, I'd buy it for you.

I'm sure she doesn't really like Griffin.

She's probably just doing this to t*rture me.

Not everything is about you, Sharon.

Remember how Nina was flirting with him at the fashion show.

Well, it's a total mismatch.

Nina's evil, Griffin isn't.

I have to warn him.

It's the only decent thing to do.

I just don't think she's your type.

Why not?

She's smart, cute.

She doesn't let anyone get in her way.

I'll say.

So as far as I'm concerned, yeah, she is my type.

Look, I know you and Nina have some kind of history.

But could you please put it aside for me.

OK.

If you're happy.

I'm happy.

[screaming]

Nina should be here soon.

We're going to hang out this af.

I think I'll take her bowling.

Bowling?

Are you kid-- ow!

Sounds like fun.

There she is.

Hey, catch you later.

What you kick me for?

I was only going to tell Griffin that Nina wouldn't

be thrilled about bowling.

But he likes it.

Shouldn't he show her the real Griffin?

I guess.

Nina bowling, that be something to see.

You know, we did miss out on going bowling yesterday.

[upbeat music]

Are you serious?

Other people have worn these?

All part of the bowling mystique.

Here.

It's like kryptonite for foot stink.

Ugh.

[gasps]

Ow!

This caramel corn is defective.

It's got plastic in it.

I should totally sue.

It's the prize, Nina.

Prize?

For what, not choking?

For making bowling shoes look so hot.

Here, let me put it on.

[romantic music]

What do you know?

Nina actually does like the real Griffin.

For what, five minutes?

Trust me, she's only toying with him.

Cool shoes.

You didn't steal them from the bowling alley, did you?

Of course not.

They from a secondhand shop.

She's going to break Griffin's heart, you know.

He seems willing to take the risk.

I think you're just going to have to deal, Sharon.

Hi, Nina.

Can the pleasantries.

I saw you two at the bowling alley.

It's a free country.

I know what you were doing.

You wanted Griffin to invite you to join us.

But just because you know him, does

not make you part of my circle.

Are we clear?

Crystal.

Good.

Because popularity is a privilege, not a right.

By the way, your dad invited me to the family picnic

this weekend.

I'm going to love telling stories

from when we were little.

Like when you got your big head stuck in my banister

and we had to greasier to pull you out.

Huh, good times.

SHARON: You have to uninvite Nina.

I can't do that, honey.

It's rude.

Besides, she makes Griffin happy.

What about my happiness?

Don't I have seniority?

Yo, Richard.

Hi, Sharon.

Come on, I want to show you something.

Check this out.

It's silver plated.

Do you think Nina will like it?

Ha-ha.

This is for Nina?

Yeah.

She has a plastic one.

But I wanted to give her something classy.

And this one has two hearts.

It's symbolic.

Symbolic of what?

I'm going to ask Nina to make it exclusive.

You know, so neither of us will date anyone else.

Oh.

You think she wants that kind of commitment?

I hope so.

Because if she turns me down.

I'm going to be pretty wrecked.

Please.

You thought we were serious?

It takes more than silver plating

to get me to be exclusive.

You're of your league, buddy.

GRIFFIN: Sharon, are you OK?

Huh?

Um, yeah.

When are you giving her the necklace?

Tomorrow.

I've got a whole surprise planned.

I'll ask you to meet me at Life Cycles.

And when she shows up.

I'll have a special table set up with flowers and everything.

And then, he's going to give Nina the necklace.

Boy, Griffin sure is full of surprises.

I can't let him do it.

She's not serious about him.

She'll stomp on his heart.

You sure about that?

Yes, except he can't give her the present

if she doesn't show up.

But why wouldn't she?

Because we're going to make her think

Griffin's planning to dump her.

Then he'll get mad because she didn't show.

And he really will dump her.

What do you mean we?

I'm not helping you break them up.

It's not breaking them up.

It's just speeding up the inevitable.

[humming]

Just come to the wash room with me

and play along with whatever I say, OK?

Uh-uh.

No way.

I really don't want any part of this.

Come on, Maria.

Nina's done stuff to me that's even worse a million times.

This isn't even that bad.

I'm just trying to save Griffin a lot of pain.

Well, I think maybe you want to save yourself a lot of pain.

I'm sorry, Sharon.

I've got to get to volleyball.

[upbeat music]

Allison, I just heard something brutal.

Ssh.

Nina Harper's getting dumped this afternoon.

No way.

Yes way.

I found out that Griffin gets his kicks

by hanging out with rich girls.

It's like reverse slumming.

But today, he's going to dump her in a really public way.

That's totally sick.

I know.

He's doing it at Life Cycles.

I don't believe it.

Come see for yourself.

[phone ringing]

Hello? - Hey.

It's Griff.

I'm waiting for your Life Cycles.

Are we still on for lunch?

I was just coming to meet you.

Cool.

See you soon.

[rock music]

And when I raise my hands like this, you put on the music, OK?

I don't see Nina.

Gee, maybe she's not coming.

How could he do this to me?

[somber music]

Huh?

Surprise!

Some surprise.

I know all about it.

And I think it's pretty juvenile.

What do you mean?

I'm trying to do something classy and romantic.

Classy?

Far from.

Look, I think you misunderstood our relationship.

It's been nice slumming with you.

But you're starting to bore me.

Consider yourself dumped.

I don't get it.

[romantic music]

Ha ha.

Burn.

[laughter]

He thought Nina was getting dumped.

Me too.

OK.

This wasn't exactly how I thought things would go down.

But I had done it.

Nina and Griffin weren't a couple anymore.

So why did I feel so crummy?

Do you think I should make bean burgers for the picnic?

Anything but brussels sprouts surprise.

Lauren said she was bringing it just for me.

Just tell her you don't like it.

You have to stand up for yourself

or you'll be eating it forever.

I don't want to hurt her feelings.

[phone ringing]

Hello.

Sharon, I'm so glad you're home.

What's wrong?

I think something bad happened to Griffin today.

He came stomping home and wouldn't tell me what's wrong.

Then he used some language I can't repeat

and stormed back out.

Wow.

He's probably sulking in the park.

I'd be so grateful if you could go talk to him?

Uh, I'm not sure I'm the right person to do that.

Please.

You two seem to be getting close lately.

[sighs]

OK.

I'll try.

GRIFFIN: I can't believe how stupid I was.

I was just a hobby for her.

You deserve way better than Nina.

I put on a suit for her.

Look, you don't know her reasons.

What if someone basically made her break up with you.

Do you know something?

Is there another guy?

No.

Because if some guy did this.

I'm going to rearrange his face.

Forget it.

It was just a theory, a bad one.

So Griffin wasn't going to dump Nina

and you totally used me to freak her out?

I'm sorry.

But I was desperate.

I couldn't let him give her that necklace.

(SARCASTICALLY) She wanted to save Griffin a lot of pain.

Right.

You did it for Griffin, mm?

Oh, don't rub it in.

OK, I did it for myself too.

But I really thought Nina would break his heart eventually.

Why don't you just tell Griffin the truth?

I tried.

Then try harder.

You don't want this on your conscience.

[tranquil music]

Stupid conscience.

[phone ringing]

Hello.

It's me.

I can't talk long, because my bus is leaving soon.

SHARON (ON PHONE): What bus?

GRIFFIN (ONE PHONE): I'm moving back home to my dad's.

I just can't deal with Elkford right now.

And Lauren's letting you go?

She doesn't know.

She'd only try to stop me.

Look, I-- I didn't want to leave without saying goodbye.

You probably my only real friend.

Don't say that.

You can't leave.

Look, you can't talk me out of it.

So don't even try.

I'll drop you an email when I'm settled, OK?

No.

Listen.

It's for the best.

Take care.

It is not for the best.

[whimpering]

[rocks hitting window]

NINA: Braceface?

SHARON: Ssh.

What are you doing here?

You'll wake my parents.

I'm sorry.

But we don't have much time.

You have to come with me.

I don't have to do anything.

Why do you have that?

I'll explain on the way.

Wait.

Griffin!

GRIFFIN: Sharon?

You shouldn't have come down here.

I wanted to.

I had to.

Just get off the bus for a second.

Hang on.

I hope you didn't come to talk me out of this.

Because I've made up my mind.

Hi.

Thought you were tired of slumming.

I never should have said that.

It wasn't true.

Then why did you dump me?

Because I heard that you were planning to dump me,

horribly in public.

Who told you that?

You?

Why?

I wasn't trying to hurt you.

I just couldn't stand Nina being around my family all the time.

That's so incredibly selfish.

I know.

I told myself I was doing you a favor.

But really, I just wanted my life to be normal again.

I'm really sorry.

I couldn't let you leave without knowing the truth.

I thought you were my friend.

I still want to be.

I can't hold this be forever.

Please don't go, Griffin.

I would never have done anything to hurt you.

I thought you knew that.

[bus engine]

GRIFFIN: Hey!

Wait!

I got to get my stuff.

So I guess this is almost like a happy ending, huh?

Or something less than a total disaster?

More like that.

Is there any chance you're going to forgive me?

No.

Well, maybe eventually.

Since we're practically family, I think it's mandatory.

I know you and I have a lot of baggage.

But for Griffin's sake, can we find a way to handle it?

Yeah.

I think we can do that.

And

Don't expect a tip.

Nina, that's heavy.

Oh, come on.

It feels good and you know it.

[groans]

Could you guys walk a little slower, maybe?

Please.

Hey, you're bean burgers look great.

Thanks.

Did I make too many?

I know you brought a casserole.

So--

Actually, I didn't bring my brussels sprouts surprise.

After all, I thought I'd give Josh a break.

He told you he didn't like it?

No.

I found some on the bottom of Thorndike's bird cage.

I guess he didn't like it either.

OK, hungry people, chow's om.

Don't forget my Dijon mustard and extra tomato.

Coming right up.

If Lauren only knew, for once I actually deserve Nina's abuse.

But no matter what, I was determined to always take

the high road from then on.

I'm taking the high road included condiments.

[theme music]