"Caitlin's First Dance"
Episode Summary
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Written by: Edgar Lyall
Directed by: Alan Simmonds
Aired on Nickelodeon: April 23, 2000 at 8:00 p.m.
My Overall Opinion of the Episode:
Lindsay Felton (Caitlin) and Cynthia Belliveau (Dori) give a believable portrayal of how tension can develop between two people who care about each other, and of how that tension can be resolved through the simple act of listening.
The Cast:
Cynthia Belliveau -- Dori Lowe
Julianna Enciu -- Annie
Lindsay Felton -- Caitlin Seeger
Jeremy Foley -- Griffen Lowe
Neil Jagodnick -- Duncan
Cole McIver -- Paul
Karen McKenzie -- Kirsten
Tania Saulnier -- Taylor Langford
Ken Tremblett -- Jim Lowe
Stephen Warner -- Brett Stevens
The Music:
"Wishing for a Sail" -- Dig Circus
"Yours Truly" -- The Dino Martini's
"Moon Man" -- J. J. Golden and Chris Powell
"Never Tire of You" -- Chris Powell
Episode Summary:
The date for the annual school dance is approaching. Caitlin, however, declares that she has no intention of going. Dori attempts to force Caitlin to go to the dance. She purchases a new dress for Caitlin against Caitlin's wishes. This infuriates Caitlin. Dori literally orders Caitlin to go to the dance. Caitlin, however, decides that she can't be forced to go to the dance if she isn't around. She takes off on her horse Bandit shortly before the dance begins. But she rides Bandit too fast and falls off. Bandit returns to the ranch without her. Jim and Griffen later find her and return her to the ranch. While cleaning Caitlin's wounds, Dori finally listens to Caitlin's reasons for not wanting to go. Caitlin was at her first dance last spring while she was still living with her foster parents. But she felt invisible and humiliated when nobody asked her to dance. Nobody even looked at her. Dori realizes that she was wrong to force Caitlin to go and she lets Caitlin make her own choice. Caitlin decides to go. She shows up at the dance wearing the dress that Dori bought her. She looks beautiful -- so beautiful, in fact, that many people notice her. Even Taylor, who utterly despises Caitlin, is jealous by the attention that Caitlin gets. In the end, Caitlin finally gets her first dance.
Episode Highlights:
1. Paul, the school outcast, is sitting on the floor by a locker. One of Griffen's friends begins to pick on Paul by saying in a mocking tone of voice, "Hey Paul! You got a date for the dance?" Paul shyly responds, "I gotta' go to class." He attempts to walk away peacefully, but others begin to mock him with comments like "That dork needs help," "What a nerd," and "Like, who would dance with him?" Paul walks away. Caitlin, knowing full well what it feels like to be the outcast, is infuriated by this. Using the force of her body, she strikes out at the guy who started mocking Paul, and she slams him against a locker door. Caitlin insincerely says, "Sorry." It is Paul who ends up dancing with Caitlin at the end of the episode.
2. Dori doesn't understand at first why Caitlin refuses to go to the dance. She tries to convince Caitlin to go by saying, "You're growing up, and your first dance is a celebration of that. I have such wonderful memories of my--" Caitlin suddenly interrupts, "Did it ever occur to you that I don't want your life?" Dori declares, "I'm on your side here!" Caitlin responds, "No, you're not! If you were on my side, you'd let me make up my own mind!" Dori declares, "You're going to the dance!" Caitlin defiantly replies, "In your dreams, Sergeant!"
3. While the wounds that she got from falling off Bandit are being cleaned by Dori, Caitlin declares, "I'm not apologizing." Dori responds, "I didn't ask you to. Although your behavior--" "My behavior," Caitlin interrupts, "is my business!" Caitlin, however, finally calms down and sadly confesses, "I already had my first dance. Last spring. My foster parents told me that they thought I'd have a good time and I believed them. I stand up against the wall like an idiot and I watch all the girls get asked to dance. No one ever asked me. No one even looked at me. Not once." Dori responds, "I didn't know." Dori adds, "You can't let your fear run your life. You have to get back on the horse. But you're right. It's not my decision to make. It's yours." Caitlin changes her mind and decides to attend the dance -- perhaps partly because of Dori's words about "getting back on the horse" and perhaps partly because Caitlin no longer feels that she is being forced to go.
