Councilman Jamm proposes that only Pawnee citizens - not the citizens of former Eagleton - should be allowed to vote in Leslie's recall vote. His logic is that Eagleton voters would vote against the recall to support Leslie since she was responsible for saving their town. Leslie and Councilman Howser table the vote for now.
Leslie is having a 1990s-themed birthday party for Ben at the skating rink, but she learns that Jamm called a special council session. Though she is dressed for the party, including wearing roller skates, she must attend the session. Ben and Chris accompany her. In order to stop the vote, Leslie filibusters the session, but she must abide by Pawnee rules. When she tries to take off her skates, she gets one strike against her. Jamm tries several dirty tactics to dissuade Leslie, including turning up the heat in the council room so she will become thirsty. Eagleton votes arrive in support of Leslie, but they tell her that while they appreciate her defending their voting rights, they intend to vote against her in the recall vote so they can vote in an Eagletonian for City Council. Leslie faces a dilemma but ultimately finishes her filibuster, successfully delaying the vote, even though it means she will most likely lose her recall election.
At the skating party, Tom and Nadia are on a date. She is leaving for Rwanda in two days, and he wants her to like him enough to see him again when she returns. He offers to win her a large stuffed bear, but when Ann buys it for herself instead, Tom and Nadia steal it from her, enjoying themselves immensely. Donna plays a shooting game. Ron joins her, but he is frustrated that the game is nothing like shooting in real life. Donna tells him he's a sore loser, and he takes her out shooting for real. After their adventure, they return to the skating rink and play the game again.
Andy has returned to Pawnee for a day. He and April attend the skating party, but he later confesses to her that he has no idea what he's doing in his job in London and he doesn't want to go back. April tells him that nobody knows what they're doing in their jobs and encourages him to finish out his time in London.
Tropes
- Casual Kink: Ben has a thing for women in roller skates. When Leslie starts her filibuster, Ben admits that while he knows how dire the situation is, it's really turning him on. She also offers to wear them when they get home to celebrate his birthday and it takes him a bit to get the hint.
- The Gadfly: Nadia takes great pleasure in messing with Tom while they're at the skating rink.
- Holding the Floor: Leslie is trying to stop a city council motion that will prevent residents of the former Eagleton from voting in the Pawnee recall election.
- I Don't Know Mortal Kombat: Ron, a lifelong hunter, is angered when he finds that the hunting game at the roller rink arcade is different from the real deal and is quite bad at it.
- Jerkass: Jamm goes out of his way to try and force Eagleton citizens from voting in the election and then tries to sabotage Leslie in her attempts to filibuster.
- Potty Dance: Leslie does this because the filibuster prevents her from going to the bathroom.
- Ripped from the Headlines: The filibuster that Leslie finds herself forced into doing, and especially the strict "three strikes" rules (no sitting down, no one allowed to help), was inspired by the Wendy Davis filibuster in the Texas legislature on June 25, 2013. So says
the showrunners. - Sore Loser: Ron doesn't take it well that he sucks at the hunting game at the arcade. Donna finds it hilarious.
- Temporary Love Interest: Tom and Nadia go on one date before she leaves for her Doctors Without Borders mission. Whether they ever resumed their relationship, broke up off-screen or the worst possible case scenario occured is never explained in the series.
