Originally aired January 28, 2002
Written by David E. Kelley, John J. Sakmar & Kerry Lenhart
Directed by Jeannot Szwarc
Harry and Scott go to war when some of Scott's debate team members insult three of Harry's students. Brooke is discovered to be dating an older man.
Tropes present in the episode:
- Age-Gap Romance: Brooke is seeing Roland McClane, a 27-year-old insurance adjuster. Steven is not pleased.
- Auto Erotica: Downplayed. Ronnie and Danny catch Brooke and Roland making out in his car.
- Continuity Nod:
- Harry sardonically asks Lauren "Are we dating again?"
- When Danny tries to intercede in a shouting match between Scott and Harry, Scott orders Danny to "Go pick on a fat girl, Mr. Hanson!"
- Get Out!: Steven, fresh off his argument with Brooke, does a non-verbal variation by opening his office door and leveling a Death Glare on Ronnie.
- Hypocrite: Scott orders his debate team to not mock or talk down to the Dungeon kids. This, from the guy who earlier derided the Dungeon kids as "idiots" and "thugs."
- Leonine Contract: Danny agrees to keep Brooke's relationship with Roland a secret. But when Ronnie learns Roland is ten years older than Brooke, Danny decides to inform Steven.Brooke: You told. You said you would keep my confidence. You lied. You told.Danny: First of all, you didn't take me in your confidence. I caught you in a car. Second of all, I said I probably wouldn't tell, but at the time, I had no idea that your date was a contemporary. Of mine.
- Obstructive Bureaucrat: Harry complains that Scott doesn't let him deal with problems involving his students.
- Papa Wolf: Steven is not happy to learn of Brooke's Age-Gap Romance. Plus, he has a hard time reining in his protective impulses during his meeting with Roland. He even warns Roland about this prior to their conversation.Steven: Obviously, as a father, my protective instincts may kick in. If I speak with some emotion, I apologize in advance. Let me begin...if you continue to see her, I will kill you.
- Slobs Versus Snobs: Scott's preppy debate team kids versus Harry's so-called "Dungeon dumb-bells." Steven expresses concern of this happening.
- So Proud of You: Harry expresses this sentiment to his students after they lose the debate, citing they rose to the challenge with just a couple of days' preparation.Harry: Look at me. Nobody in here should be happy that we came close. If you're capable of winning, and you don't, you underachieved, it's plain and simple. And you were capable of winning. On two days of preparation, with no debate training. You just showed that you were capable of beating the school's debate team. You almost did. Three days ago, you might have had an excuse for moping, thinking about the other classes and how they're smarter, but now you have no such excuse. Sitting in this room is a group of students that would stack up against anybody. Anybody. I mean, I'm pissed that we lost, but I'm really. Proud of you guys.
- Stuffed into a Trashcan: Jamal, Miguel, and Isaiah retaliate against Scott's debate team members by stuffing some of them into garbage cans.
- Took a Level in Jerkass: Scott is normally a Jerk with a Heart of Gold, but here he dives headlong into pure Jerkass territory. He contemptuously refers to Harry's students as "idiots" and "thugs," doesn't seem to consider the fact that his debate team insulted Harry's kids first, and blames Harry's hot-headed attitude for what happened.
