01x11 - Caitlin's First Dance

[bunniefuu]

(calm music)

- [Caitlin] If someone told me three months ago

that I'd be in Tow Jam, High River riding a horse,

I would've said they were crazy.

But when the whole town looks at you

like you got the word felon tattooed on your forehead

and you're living with the worst

so-happy-we-could-hurl family,

riding a horse is the closest you'll come to total freedom.

(dog barking)

- [Taylor] Hello Dr. Lowe!

- [Caitlin] Bandit?

Whoa, whoa! (horse neighs)

Bandit! (dog barking)

- Caitlin, you're not wearing your helmet.

Ever hear of the saying,

"You gotta walk before you can run".

- Dori, that's so lame.

- How about put this on or stay off the horse.

- Hey guys.

Nice head gear.

What's next, training wheels?

(rock music)

- [Brett] Come on Taylor.

Bye Dr. Lowe.

Later Caitlin.

- [Caitlin] So maybe it's a dorky looking freedom,

but out here in Tow Jam, I'll take it.

("Wishing For A Sail" by Dig Circus)

♪ Well there's a devil standing on my tail ♪

♪ But I don't have to beat him ♪

♪ And there's an angel that is tempting me to fail ♪

♪ But I don't really need him ♪

♪ And the waves just keep rolling along ♪

♪ But we can drift if the current prevails ♪

♪ Here we are in this slow boat ♪

♪ Wishing for a sail ♪

♪ Wishing for a sail, sail, sail, sail, sail ♪

♪ I'm wishing, I'm wishing ♪

♪ I'm wishing for a sail ♪

(school bell ringing) (people chattering)

Some famous dead guy once said,

"No man is an island".

Obviously he never went to junior high.

- It's a spreadsheet of potential dates.

I worked on it all night.

- It's a dance Griffen, not homework.

- It's a big dance, I really gotta make this one count.

Names go on the vertical column.

Amy, Kirsten, Marion, Michelle,

the Shelly's, Draper and Hotchkins but not Olson,

Stacy, Taylor- - Taylor?

Three words for you man.

Haven't got a prayer.

- Uh? That's four words.

- Being able to count won't help.

- The horizontal column lists the likes, dislikes.

Hey Marion, what's your favorite color?

- Invisible, which is what I wish you were.

- (indistinct) clean teeth, bad personal hygiene.

That's gonna drop it down a notch.

- Get a life you guys.

- It's his spreadsheet.

(rock music)

- Watch it! - Come on Griffen.

- [Griffen] Sorry.

- It's okay.

- So Paul, you got a date for the dance?

- [Student] That dork needs help.

(laughter)

- Gotta get to class.

- What? - Nerd.

I bet his mom dresses him.

- Hey, who would dance with him?

Ow! Hey!

- Sorry.

- Hey Caitlin, that's a nice looking horse you have.

- Thanks, you have a nice horse too.

- I'll see you at the dance?

- Unless they keep you locked up in the corral.

- Oh yeah? Well maybe you should kiss my-

- I'm sure Taylor was kidding, Caitlin.

We should go, don't wanna be late.

I'll explain this to you (indistinct).

You want to survive here?

Don't get on Taylor's bad side.

(rock music)

Kirsten likes green,

Heather likes red

and Michelle likes yellow.

So it's settled.

Green shirt, red pants, yellow socks.

- Yeah, that traffic light look is real attractive.

- You'd be thinking about this stuff too if you were smart.

- Why? I'm not going to the dance.

- That's not normal.

You gotta go, everybody always goes.

Mom.

- Pasta.

- Ah, forget pasta. I'm building a social life here.

This is my first dance, where the boys become men.

I've got a reputation to worry about

my clothes aren't helping.

(Dori laughs)

- You have enough clothes for six dances.

You look terrific in all of them.

Trust me, your reputation is safe.

- No, no.

I'm not talking clothes.

I'm talking style, I'm talking-

- You're talking hopeless case.

- Caitlin.

- At least I'm going to the dance.

- What?

You're not going?

- Why would anyone want to?

- Caitlin, wait a second.

- Hey, we're working on me here.

- All right. What do you need?

- New shirt, new pants, new socks.

- One shirt, take it or leave it.

- Deal.

(bright music)

(horse neighs)

- Hey Caitlin.

Need a hand with the grocery run, you mind?

- Everybody works something.

- What do you think?

- Thought we were just going for groceries.

- We were but we have to wait for Griffen.

Come on, it'll be fun.

(store music)

Hi.

Uh, why don't you have a look around and I'll be right back.

- Gee, I hope you can find somebody

to go with that helmet of yours.

- You're the one to talk, pink a huntess.

- [Clerk] I'm sure she'll like it.

- [Dori] This is perfect. It'll looks gorgeous on her.

- What's that?

- I ordered it for you last week.

When I was a kid about your age.

- I don't care.

I don't want it. I'm not going.

- Oh, just try it on.

It's already paid for.

- Paid for? So this was a setup.

- No.

(sad music)

No, Caitlin, wait.

She needs kid experiences like going to this dance.

- There'll be other dances.

Griffen, dishes.

- Jim, it's not that simple.

If she won't go to this dance,

you can bet she won't go to the next one.

She needs normal.

- Caitlin? Normal?

(rock music)

Good luck. (Dori chuckles)

If you want my opinion-

- Nice shirt Griff.

Better take it off.

Don't wanna get soap all over it.

- Good tip.

Gotta protect the babe magnet.

(calm music)

- [Caitlin] I'd pay if someone offered to clean my room.

- [Dori] Hey, you see my vet journal?

I wanna finish this article on white blood cells.

- No.

- Do you know what fighters they are?

If anything gets in the blood, they stop it.

- I'm happy for the white blood cell.

- But sometimes they fight when they don't need to

and it can cause more harm than good.

- And let me guess, you want this white blood cell

to go to the dance.

- You're growing up

and your first dance it's a celebration of that.

Caitlin, if you don't go

not only are you gonna miss out on the fun

but you won't get to relive it through your memories.

I have such wonderful memories of my-

- Did it ever occur to you that I don't want your life?

(dramatic music)

- Well, what do you want Caitlin?

Because all I keep hearing from you is what you don't want

and that's no way to live.

- You don't know anything about me.

- I do know that if you wanna live under this roof,

you're gonna have to listen to us.

- I didn't ask to live under your stupid roof.

- Hey, I'm on your side here.

- No, you're not.

If you're on my side you'd let me make up my own mind.

- Caitlin.

You're going to the dance.

- You're actually ordering me to go?

What is this? The army?

What are you gonna do? Court martial me?

- Come on, don't make me the bad guy here.

I just want what's best for you.

- Oh, so you're gonna stay out of my life.

- No Caitlin, in this family

others lives because we love each other,

which is why I am telling you to go to the dance.

- In your dreams, Sergeant.

(door knocking)

(door knocking)

What part of keep out don't you understand?

- I need you to help me pick out a cologne.

- Why don't you go bug your parents?

- You're the closest thing in this house

to a 13 year old girl.

So, what am I?

A musk? Or am I a citrus?

- You're both, you're a mitress.

Look, why do I care how you smell?

I'm not going to the dance.

- How does it feel to be the only kid in school

who's not going?

I mean, what is so wrong with having fun?

Besides mom says, if you're here, you're going.

Whops. - Yuck.

I pity you.

How to look, what to wear, how to smell.

- You pity me?

At least I have friends and I know how to have a good time.

When I'm having a really good time at the dance

I'll be thinking of you, lying here on your bed,

all alone listening to your Walkman.

Dad! (stair footsteps approaching)

I forgot, it's a dance.

- Forgot? Son, what you're talking about?

- No, not the dance Dad, dancing.

I did everything, the cologne, the shirt,

but I forgot about dancing

and I'm not just talking regular dancing,

I'm talking slow dancing.

- Calm down, Griff.

It's pretty simple.

- It's not simple, how do you,

you know, hold them?

("Yours Truly" by The Dino Martini's)

- Well, when I was your age,

kinda held them like this.

Your,

your hands go here,

her hands go here

and you just kinda move,

move to the music.

Just loosen up Griff.

I'm not an egg, you won't break me.

- How's that feel?

- Feels fine.

- It's like talking to a wall.

- What if she puts her head on my shoulder?

- Let her.

You got your eye on someone in particular?

- I don't know, I have this list.

Well, technically it's more of a spreadsheet.

It's broken down by each girl's likes,

dislikes, favorite color-

- Griff, you can't force these things, they just happen.

It's chemistry.

If a girl likes you,

it won't matter what you wear or how you dance.

- Yeah, that's great dad

but these days guys gotta have a competitive edge.

- Is everyone in this house nuts?

Hey, if you think that putting that dress

in my room is gonna make me change my mind you're wrong.

- I, I just don't understand what you have against going.

- Caitlin, if you're worried about going

to the dance not knowing anyone,

Dori and I will be there to chaperone

and you're more than welcome to hang out with us with.

- Great save hun.

- If I'm not here,

she can't make me go.

(calm music) (horse neighs)

I do belong, don't I?

I belong to you and you belong to me.

Who needs them anyway.

Come on Bandit.

Let's see how fast you can go.

(horse clopping)

(bright music)

Slow Bandit.

All right, go cool, that's fast enough.

Slow down.

Slow down.

Bandit?

Whoa. (dramatic music)

Bandit? Slow down.

Bandit?

Slow down!

Slow down!

Please, stop.

Bandit.

Whoa, no, no, no. (branches breaking)

(loud thud)

- Hey, how's it going?

The shirt? Thanks.

Yeah, it's big in Europe.

Speaking of Europe, once I got my mom's collectors play

with the Queen's face on it.

It's not as prominently displayed as it should be.

She's afraid it'll get broken. (laughs)

- We're leaving in half an hour.

Everything okay?

- I'm a rock.

Dad, you have been really helpful in everything

and I just wanted to say.

- Yes?

- When we're at the dance, pretend you don't know me.

- But everybody knows I'm your dad.

- Oh come on, you law enforcement types

just have some kind of disguise kit.

- Bandit just came back in and Caitlin is not on him.

- Man, what is it with her?

- [Jim] Let's go find her.

- But we gotta go and-

- I will stay here in case she shows.

- But as official chaperones,

you're supposed to be there on time.

I don't want you getting in trouble.

(lively music)

It's not that I mind her taking off,

but why she has to do it at such inconvenient times.

Wait, there she is.

- [Jim] Are you okay?

- Great, she's fine. Now can we get going please?

- You shouldn't have just taken off, he's running late.

You know this dance is important to Griffen.

Even if it's not to you.

- Ow!

I'm not apologizing.

- I didn't ask you to.

Although your behavior-

- My behavior is my own business.

- Caitlin, I don't wanna do battle with you

and I don't wanna force my life on you.

I just want you to start having good memories.

And I thought that your first dance would be a,

a nice place to start.

- I already had my first dance.

(serene music)

Last spring.

My fourth school that year.

My foster parents told me

that they thought I'd have a good time

and I believed them.

I mean, I really wanted to go.

I even practiced what I would say.

"Sure, I'd love to dance,"

or "No, I saved this one for someone else."

And I get to the gym

and suddenly it's like, I'm invisible.

I stand up against the wall, like an idiot.

And I just, I watch everyone talking

and laughing and I watch all the girls get asked to dance.

No one ever asked me.

No one even looked at me.

Not once.

- I didn't know.

- Well, now you do. Happy?

- You can't let your fear of what the other kids might do

run your life.

You have to get back on the horse

and you can do that, I've seen you.

I think you should go.

But you're right.

It's not my decision to make.

It's yours.

(inspiring music)

Caitlin, dinner's in the fridge. We'll be back by 10.

- [Griffen] That's not normal, you gotta go.

Everybody always goes.

- [Dori] You can't let your fear run your life.

- [Griffen] When I'm having a really good time at the dance,

I'll be thinking of you, lying here on your bed,

all alone listening to your Walkman.

- [Dori] You gotta get back on the horse.

(lively music)

- Now, what are you supposed to remember?

(Jim exhales) (Dori chuckles)

- [Both] Keep our distance and we don't know you.

(Dori laughs)

(lively music) (people chattering)

- So many women, so little me.

- [Eric] Griffen.

- Hey man, what's up?

Hey Kirsten. How's it going?

You like my shirt?

It's big in Europe- - We know about the list.

You are a pig.

- Oh, okay. Nice talking to you.

- So Griffen, where's your cousin?

Don't tell me you really kept her in the corral tonight.

("Moonman" by Chris Powell and JJ Golden)

- Caitlin?

- She looks beautiful.

("Never Tire of You" by Chris Powell)

- [MC] We're going to speed things up now.

- Sorry, I didn't mean.

- It's cool.

What's up?

- Nothing.

- You look really.

- What?

- Nothing. Forget it.

Sorry.

- Ah, no.

- And you had a problem with my dress?

- I think she looks cool.

- [Taylor] Oh really?

- Thanks.

- [Taylor] Brett?

- [Brett] What?

- [Annie] I'm such a dumb.

- [MC] We're gonna slow things down.

- Who are you?

- I'm Annie, I'm visiting my cousin for the weekend.

I'm so sorry about your shirt.

- Oh, this old thing?

("Moonman" by Chris Powell and JJ Golden)

- Hey Paul, you wanna dance?

- Me?

I'm not that good a dancer.

- So what?

- No, really I don't-

- Oh, come on. It'll be fun.

- What are you doing here?.

- Same thing you are. That shirt really works.

- [MC] This is where you get

and dance your way home.

- Do you know? This is my first dance.

- Mine too.

Even though it's not my first dance,

maybe Dori was right about getting back on the horse.

Sure it may be one of our cliches,

but in this case, I think it's true.

("Never Tire of You" by Chris Powell)

("Wishing For A Sail" by Dig Circus)

♪ Wishing for a sail ♪

♪ Wishing for a sail, sail, sail, sail, sail ♪

♪ Wishing for a sail, sail, sail, sail, sail ♪

♪ Well all right ♪

♪ I'm wishing, I'm wishing ♪

♪ I'm wishing, I'm wishing ♪

♪ I'm wishing for a sail ♪