"Stray, Part I"
Episode Summary
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Written by: Jana Veverka
Directed by: Nicholas Kendall
Aired on Nickelodeon: March 11, 2000 at 8:00 p.m.
My overall opinion of the episode:
This episode, along with most of the episodes that follow, is "down to earth," sometimes controversial, dramatic, and realistic. It stands in sharp contrast to the silly and mindless programming that fills much of television -- proving that quality programming is indeed possible.
The Cast:
Shauna Baird -- Ann Jennings
Doug Batchelor -- Jack
Cynthia Belliveau -- Dori Lowe
Patricia Benedict -- Sister Bernadette
Ron Carothers -- Joseph
Lorette Clow -- Doreen Willis
Paul Coeur -- Martin
Nathaniel Deveaux -- Mr. Luna
Lindsay Felton -- Caitlin Seeger
Brendan Fletcher -- Eric Anderson
Jeremy Foley -- Griffen Lowe
Lorena Gale -- Judge Kendall
Mitchell Kosterman -- Officer Pete Maggert
Gino Savoia -- Bus Driver
Gery Schubert -- Herb Willis
Ken Tremblett -- Jim Lowe
Stephen Warner -- Brett Stevens
The Music:
"The Bottom Line" -- Belvedere
"Smart Bomb" -- Cooper, Kennedy, Lazarowich
"Wishing for a Sail" -- Dig Circus
"Out Again" -- Pleasure
"24/7" -- Sarah Richardson and Tim McKenzie
Episode summary:
This first episode introduces us to Caitlin Seeger, a tough street-wise 14-year old from Philadelphia who is in trouble with the law. Caitlin's mother died when she was only 8 years old and (as we will learn in later episodes) her father deserted her when she was only 4 years old. She has been in and out of foster homes since her mother's death, but she has never again found the love that her mother once gave her. The streets of Philadelphia have been tough on Caitlin, but her rebellious personality and her love of photography have helped her to survive in her own unique way. Caitlin's world, however, is about to change forever. She soon finds herself in over her head after she gets in trouble with the law one too many times. She is expelled from the Catholic school she is attending. Caitlin is given the choice of either going to juvenile hall or of moving to High River, Montana to live with a cousin that she has never met nor even heard of. Caitlin reluctantly agrees to go to Montana. The episode ends with Caitlin getting on the bus that is on its way to High River. She is almost dreading the fact that she is going to a place where cows outnumber people.
Episode Highlights:
1. When Mrs. Jennings, Caitlin's social worker, visits Caitlin at the apartment of her foster parents, things don't go very well. But this is to be expected, as her foster parents aren't very interested in Caitlin. They only care about the money that Caitlin brings in from the foster care system. Mrs. Jennings asks, "Well, how are you doing?" Caitlin sarcastically responds, "I'm so happy I could hurl!" Frustrated, Mrs. Jennings responds, "This is the sixth home in two years, Caitlin. You have been difficult to place." Mrs. Jennings then says, "All right. I have a series of questions to ask you. Number one: how would you rate your ability to accept guidance?" Caitlin responds, "Satisfactory." But then Caitlin suddenly gets sarcastic, and she begins to answer all of the questions before Mrs. Jennings even gets a chance to ask them: "Question two: never. Question three: sometimes. Question four: excellent. Now I'll answer their questions. How is she behaving? Wonderful. How is she in school? She's an excellent student. How is she adapting? Great! She's just like our own. But even better, she comes with a check!"
2. Caitlin is arrested for stealing from a photo store. As she is being walked down the hallway of the police department, she thinks to herself, "The city has thousands of people committing crimes every day, and hundreds of doughnut shops. Between the two, you'd think police would have their hands...er...uh...mouths full. But somehow, they've always got time for me!"
3. The cousin that Caitlin is going to live with in High River is named Dori Lowe. Dori and her husband Jim have a 14-year old son named Griffen. Dori explains to Griffen, "My mother and her grandmother were sisters. So that makes Caitlin your second cousin. And she's 14, too!" Griffen, however, doesn't like the situation at all. He exclaims, "Wait! You're letting a stranger move in with us?" Dori says, "Honey, we're the only family that she has! It's gonna' be great! It's gonna' be like having a sister." Griffen says, "But I don't want a sister!" Griffen turns to Jim and says, "Dad, how could you agree to this? And she's a juvenile delinquent!" Dori says, "Griffen, she's just had some tough times!" Griffen responds, "Wearing braces is tough times! Letting a girl move in, and one with a criminal past, that's just frightening!"
Episode Images:
