Degrassi/Recap/S2 E5 Weird Science

"From my heart and from my hand

Why don't people understand

My intentions..."

- Oingo Boingo, "Weird Science"

A Plot
Spike and Snake are getting closer and closer. They get close while eating Chinese food at Spike's house, much to Emma's dismay. Snake tries to be friendly towards Emma, but Emma ices him out. Snake brings up her project for the science fair (the effects of healthy breakfast on school performance) but Emma is distant, and calls him Mr. Simpson, despite Snake wanting her to call him Archie outside the classroom. The next day, Emma laments to Manny (who's participating in her project) about how she just cannot get away from the guy.

In science class, the Grade 7s are working on their science projects. Liberty brags about how she'll win the science fair with her project. Emma is still worried about her science project: two of the kids she tested are doing better just eating junk food: Spinner and JT. Emma accuses JT of cheating during her tests, which JT denies. Emma then accuses Spinner of fudging his results, but Spinner denies that as well, and points out her healthy food "unleashed the beast."

Emma's house. Spike and Snake are getting cozy watching a movie. Snake makes conversation with Emma about her science project. Emma sneers and tells him her hypothesis is falling apart. Snake gives her the Albert Einstein quote that imagination is more important than knowledge and suggests she look at her project more creatively. Emma just waves him off.

The next day at the Degrassi, the science fair is here. JT has his natural-ingredient Fake Boobs project. Toby has his surveillance project, and Liberty has her photosynthesis project. Emma sighs over her project, and Manny comforts her while eating a chocolate bar. Emma wonders why Manny's eating chocolate in the morning and Manny acknowledges it isn't good for her but "it tastes like...happy." Emma's eyes widen and thanks Manny for her inadvertent insight. Emma runs off to the MI lab and re-titles her project "The Mind/Body Connection" and runs back off the to science fair. Emma comes back and is surprised to see that Snake is one of the judges. She explains her original premise of the project and how she worked with her results to reach her new hypothesis: better mood, better performance. Snake remarks it's a very original project.

Science fair winner announcements. First prize is about to be announced. Liberty is very confident she'll win and even makes way for the stage. But then Ms. Hatzilakos announces first prize...to Emma Nelson. Liberty is stunned, and thinks Nepotism had a role in it. In media immersion, while Snake is lecturing, Manny exchanges messages with Emma about Snake and Spike and accidentally sends it to the entire class. Emma is mortified and tells the class not to look at their e-mails, which of course makes the entire class read Manny's message. Snake sees the message and tells Manny to see him after class.

Girls' bathroom. Manny laments her punishment (1000 word essay on Internet privacy) to Emma. Liberty approaches the duo and asks if it was true if Snake is dating Emma's mom. Emma confirms the news, and Liberty reminds her that she was a victim of gossip last year. Liberty says that their was a bias in the science fair awards and Snake just picked her because he's dating her mom. Furious, Emma confronts Snake in the MI lab about the favoritism in the awards. Snake tells her that they need to talk about this later, and Emma says that they need to discuss this now and makes a scene. Snake tells her that Liberty lost because her project lacked flair and Emma's was exciting and different. Snake then hands her the judging sheets.

Emma's house. Snake and Spike come home from dinner and see that Emma is still up. Snake says he should probably go, but Emma tells him to stay. She apologizes about the scene in the MI lab. Snake says it's understandable and it takes some adjusting. Emma says that she's okay with it, but everyone at school thinks she's a Teacher's Pet. Snake promises that he won't treat her different that maybe she should transfer out the class. Or stop dating her mother. Emma says no to both. Snake tells her that he was proud of her and how she saved her project. Emma smiles and thanks him and calls him Snake.

B Plot
Degrassi. Spinner is participating in Emma's project and is suffering side effects. Or so he thinks. Namely, unwanted and frequent erections. At Degrassi, Spinner tells Jimmy of his problem. Jimmy tells him that the healthy food has nothing to do with it but Spinner insists otherwise. The next day, he presents Jimmy with a hypotheses of his own - the chemicals and preservatives of junk food will kill the health food molecules and he'll stop getting the bones. Jimmy calls him an idiot.

However later that day, Spinner decides to embrace the stiffies. He thinks the food is turning him into a Chick Magnet and cites Sheila the lunch lady giving him food for free. Jimmy rolls his eyes. But it looks like Spinner was right. He manages to get Ellie's number -- a number Jimmy's been chasing. Jimmy is upset but Spinner tells him not to hate on his swagger. In Ms. Kwan's class, she arranges an improv exercise and asks for volunteers. Jimmy nominates Paige and...Spinner. Spinner is mortified due to his "condition." Kwan asks for a situation and Jimmy suggest Spinner is a mailman delivering "package" (meaning his erections) to Paige, a very lonely housewife. Spinner and Paige act it out and Paige gets all into it and comes on to Spinner. Spinner blushes and turns around quickly. Ms. Kwan tells him to face the audience to which Spinner is clearly reluctant. Ms. Kwan marches to him and turns him around, revealing his pitched tent to the entire class. The whole class laughs and Spinner runs out the class.

Spinner mopes in the caf and Jimmy comes up to cheer him up. Spinner isn't hearing it, and is still embarrassed and blames the food. Jimmy tells him that the food has nothing to do with it and calls Shelia over to prove it. Jimmy tells her he has this friend who as a problem and thinks it's with health good. Shelia laughs and tells him that it's all about hormones in the teenage years -- and tell him that it's just a phase and he'll get through it. Jimmy is shocked that Shelia thinks it's him and Spinner rubs it in his face.