Excitement in Derry is at fever pitch for President Bill Clinton's visit, while James gets a surprise and Granda Joe embarks on a mysterious plan of his own.
Tropes
- Bait-and-Switch: Sister Michael begins talking about Clinton's visit in what sounds like admiring terms, accompanied by soft music as the soundtrack. Then there's a Sudden Soundtrack Stop and she announces that it's Wants a Prize for Basic Decency and she disapproves.Sister Michael: Just one announcement today, girls. I'm sure many of you have guessed what it's about. Although tomorrow's not officially a public holiday, schools across the city have decided to view it as such. Because tomorrow the President of the United States of America is coming here, to Derry. You're a little young to perhaps understand the enormity of this. A few short months ago, this would have been unimaginable. But here we are, and I for one can barely believe it. [Beat] I mean, people in this place stop killing each other for five minutes and the whole world loses the absolute run of itself. This visit concerns me for a number of reasons, girls, but mostly because I am scared it will give the Pope ideas, and that's the last thing I need. No. Our Lady Immaculate will play no part in this farce. And I expect to see you all here tomorrow morning, business as usual. Is that clear?
- Blatant Lies: Dennis is trying to sell off a shipment of off-color American flags that only have 30 stars. He claims that they're the new flag, changed because 20 states have left the United States, and it wasn't in the news because they didn't want to make a big deal about it.
- Bread, Eggs, Breaded Eggs:Erin: Help! This woman is trying to abduct us!
Clare: Help! Fire! There's a fire!
Michelle: Fire? What the fuck are you on about?
Clare: It gets more attention. I read it somewhere.
Erin: Kidnapper!
Clare: Help! Fire!
Orla: Help! There's a kidnapper on fire! - Crazy Jealous Guy: Kathy characterizes her ex as such... but she tells the story, and it's a Subverted Trope. It sounds like he was perfectly justified in being so.Sarah: We heard about your wee divorce. Nightmare.
Kathy: Yeah, it was a difficult decision, but Paul, my ex, well, he just became so controlling.
Mary: Jesus. Really?
Kathy: He was unbearable towards the end, it was always, "Oh, Kathy, why did you stay out all night?" Or, "Who was that man you were having dinner with, Kathy?" He was very insecure.
Mary: Wonder why. - Failed a Spot Check: It takes Gerry pointing it out for Jim to realize that "CIA agent" he heard on the radio had a very strong Donegal accent.
- Freeze-Frame Bonus: The 'USA' on Orla's forehead is inverted — it must have looked okay when she applied it in the mirror.
- Global Ignorance:James: I think I developed Stockholm syndrome.
Michelle: Catch yourself on, you've never even been to Switzerland. - I Choose to Stay: The crowning ending of the season is James deciding to stay in Derry with his friends.
- Insistent Terminology: Kathy makes "self-adhesive labels", not "stickers".
- Instantly Proven Wrong: Gerry is happy Erin isn't thinking somehow the family can meet the President and First Lady. Then he realizes Erin and her friends are convinced not only is Chelsea Clinton coming but the girl is planning to join them for fun.
- Only Sane Man: Gerry can't decide which is crazier: That his daughter and her friends are convinced they're going to be hanging out with Chelsea Clinton or his father-in-law and buddy dragging him on an all-night drive because they think the President of the United States is hanging around Burt.
- Punctuated! For! Emphasis!:James: I! Am! A Derry Girl!
- Secret Test of Character: Sister Michael refuses to cancel school for the occasion and orders all the students to come to class as usual. Every single student except Jenny cuts class, and when Sister Michael discovers Jenny showed up, she's first baffled and then annoyed, telling her she needs to "learn to push back".
- Skipping School: They skip school to go see President Clinton's visit. Subverted Trope when we find out that—despite saying otherwise—Sister Michael doesn't actually expect any students to attend school that day anyways.
- Title Drop: When Michelle tells James she wants him to stay, she says he's one of them now, he's a "Derry Girl".
- Would Hurt a Child: Clare beats up a little girl who couldn't have been more than seven or eight years old.Clare: See that bitch over there?
Erin: That wee girl?
Clare: She tried to muscle in, things got ugly. She'll think twice next time.
Erin: You didn't fight that wean, did you, Clare?
Clare: I did fight that wean, Erin, and I'll fight that wean again if I have to. - You Called Me "X"; It Must Be Serious: Poor Michelle must be distraught - she finally deigns to address her English cousin as James.
