7th Heaven

Annie joins Our Favourite Family for breakfast, while Eric is still upstairs. She urges the kids, Robbie, Ben and Kevin to go to Eric with their various problems; as Eric will still feel needed while off work. When Lucy complains they don't have problems, Ruthie points out they do: Ben's still in town, much to Kevin's dismay; Kevin can't get himself to pop the question to Lucy; Lucy is still jealous of Roxanne; Robbie won't ask Roxanne out on a date; and Simon can't sort out his problems with Cecilia.

Meanwhile, Eric is taking off his suit, and not too happy about it. His replacement at the church is doing fine (his name is Richard -- could it be Sarah wasn't kidding about her rabbi-father filling in for Eric?) and Lou had told him he's not needed at the church. Eric still feels he has to get back into his routine. When Annie says there's plenty to do, Eric replies rather sarcastically: watch his homocystene levels and cholesterol; exercise, but avoid heavy lifting, etc.

Robbie asks Lucy for help with Roxanne, thinking the two women made peace. Lucy replies she still can't get over Kevin being partnered with Roxanne, then heads off to the library to do some research for an assignment. Ben confirms he's gotten extended leave, ostensibly to help Eric out during his recovery, but also to spend more time with Kevin. Naturally, Kevin is suspicious and wants to know what his brother is hiding from in Buffalo. Eric tries to help Simon with Cecilia, but he doesn't want help. Ruthie urges her father to help out with whatever they need, especially those who need help the most.

Stopping over at the Promenade, Lucy meets a friend of hers, Paul. He is developmentally challenged, but he eoesn't show it. He tells her that's he's quit his job at Pete's Pizza to join the Famous People Players; a black light puppetry group founded and run by Diane Dupuy (who, BTW, is a Canadian; as is the group). The show stars special needs persons doing "invisible man" routines. Lucy is intrigued and decides to ask Dupuy, who's in town, about it to see if the group is legit. But Paul has a bigger problem. His brother and sister-in-law still treat him like a baby and don't want him to do anything that will deviate from his established "routine," the one they're comfortable with. He needs Lucy to talk to them as well.

Cecilia, invited over by Eric, confronts Simon in his room wanting to know what's going on. Robbie confronts Kevin, asking him to back off on Roxanne. Kevin replies that it's Robbie's problem since he hasn't asked her out in weeks. When Simon confronts Eric wanting to know what Cecilia is doing at the manse, Eric says Ruthie gave him the girl's number. Simon is frustrated. She is under the impression that he had something to tell her and now she won't leave until he does. Kevin admits he wants Ben to leave, then tells Eric to back off on both his brother and Roxanne. Simon and Kevin decide to confront Ruthie, wanting to know why she's butting in to their problems. Lucy comes home, Paul in tow, expecting a meeting with Paul's brother and sister-in-law. When Eric moans on the back porch he's not needed any more, Paul strikes up a conversation with the minister. Ruthie tells Kevin and Simon she pointed them in Eric's direction. They urge her to find problems of her own to solve.

Paul's family shows up, wanting to confront him. When Eric says that he feels validated for the first time in a month having talked to Paul, Lucy replies the man asked her to help, not the minister. Eric comes crashing back down. Ruthie, left alone to her vices, sits on the staircase from the kitchen wondering what to do next. In Eric's office, Lucy talks to Paul's brother and sister-in-law talking about what he has in mind. They, however, are concerned he won't be able to handle it just like so many other jobs he hasn't been able to pull down because of his disability and that he will blame himself like he has so many times. Lucy is clearly stumped, not sure what to say. Meanwhile, Eric tells Paul he doesn't feel needed anymore; in response, Paul replies he needs to feel validated as well. Ruthie then confronts Eric, saying she has a problem she needs help with.

Roxanne gets a call from Ben. She thinks he wants to date her, but it turns out Robbie wants to date her. Furious, Roxie wants to know if Lucy is interfering. Cecilia tells Simon she knows that he's not comfortable with their current relationship, and that it's OK if they're friends. She then admits she's interested in a popular football player. When Lucy tries to make peace with Roxanne, the cop tells Lucy to back off, that it's none of her business. Up in the attic, Ruthie says a classmate of hers is in trouble: her parents are starving her and really mean. Eric asks to help, but Ruthie wants advice on how she can help her friend. Eric replies it's not that simple; that he's bound by law to report any suspected case of child abuse or neglect. Ruthie then drops a name. Robbie calls Roxie, but when he says hi, she has two words for him: "Drop dead," then hangs up.

Kevin confronts Ben again. He knows what's up: Ben is having trouble with his girlfriend and can't stand the idea of moving back in with his mother. As Ben leaves, Eric goes into the attic; armed with Ruthie's tip, he asks Kevin to help. In the backyard, Paul's brother and sister-in-law order him to go home with them. Lucy tells her friend there's really nothing more she can do; reluctantly, Paul leaves with the couple. As evening arrives, Lucy tells her parents she's decided to confront the creeps, alone. She also tells Robbie she's "officially" backing off on the Roxanne issue. Eric suggests he try calling Rox again. Cecilia tells Eric they've worked out their problem and leaves. Simon, however, is furious. He didn't call her again because he thought she didn't want a relationship, and vice versa; even though he did want a relationship and she did too. Now that she's dating the football player, she just wants them to be best friends. Sarcastically, Simon asks Eric if he knows how to do a perm, since "that's what sisters do for each other."

Ruthie's friend, along with her parents arrive at the Camden house; along with Roxie who was asked by Kevin to handle the call. The parents deny they've ever starved their daughter. Ruthie admits she made the whole thing up; the parents and the girl accept her apology. Roxanne then accosts Robbie, wanting to know why he didn't call after they first made out. She then gives him a French kiss and calmly walks away, as if nothing happened. Left alone with her parents, Ruthie admits she only made something up because she wanted Eric to do what he always does at work. She then points out that it was Annie who had urged OFF to make Eric feel wanted. When Ruthie walks away, Eric tells his wife he feels even worse. When asked whose fault it was that Eric needed heart surgery, Eric bluntly replies: "God."

At Paul's house, Lucy joins her friend and the couple watching a videotape of the Famous People Players, along with its founder, Diane Dupuy (who plays herself). Doing a fast rewind, Dupuy points out one of the performers is in fact Paul, who snuck out of the house two nights before and took a bus to the next town. The couple is horrified, but Paul tells them off in no uncertain terms.

Dupuy explains that when she founded the troupe in 1974, everyone was laughing at her, too; in fact most people dismissed it as a freakshow. But what she was trying to do was not only give developmentally challenged people a chance to perform, but also a chance to assert their independence in a society that generally presumes that a person with any disability automatically has a lower IQ than the average person; which is clearly not the case. She normally doesn't hire walk-ups, she added, but was so impressed with Paul that she decided to give him a chance, and urges the couple to do the same. They finally agree, asking if Paul can get them free tickets. Paul thanks Lucy for helping him out and believing in him. The group rewinds the tape to watch Paul perform his routine again as we FADE TO BLACK.