Pilot
Directed by: Jack Bender & James Hayman
Written by: Barbara Hall
Original Airdate: Sep-26-2003
Typical in every imaginable way, 16-year-old Joan Girardi is dealing with her own adolescent issues, which are compounded by that fact that her family has recently moved into a new city. The Girardi family has recently relocated to the city of Arcadia, where her father, Will, is Chief of Police and her mom Helen, works part time at Joan’s high school. The family is rounded out by Joan’s two brothers - her older
brother Kevin, a paraplegic whose accident a year earlier shattered his dreams of continuing his football career past high school, and younger brother Luke, a bona-fide science geek. This transition period for Joan is further complicated by the fact that God decides to pay her a couple of visits in the form of strangers – a cute boy on the bus and the lunch lady in her school cafeteria. Without giving her any reasons, God advises Joan to find a job – which she reluctantly
does. It’s in taking His advice that Joan realizes her new friend seems to have subtly started the entire Girardi family on the road to healing, and helps Joan realize that it's the small things that can have the greatest impact.
The Fire & the Wood
Directed by: James Hayman
Written by: Hart Hanson
Original Airdate: Oct-03-2003
God asks Joan to enroll in an advanced chemistry course that is clearly over her head. Joan tries to bribe her brother Luke, who is in the class as well, to help her with her schoolwork but is ultimately paired with two oddball students. Joan is grouped with Adam Rove, a supposed stoner, and Grace Polk, a dysfunctional and rebellious outsider. Helen continues to encourage Kevin to get his hand-control driver’s license
so that he can be more independent and look for work. Helen then learns that there is an impounded hand-control van at the police station for sale, and quickly purchases the vehicle. Although Kevin is furious with his mother for her interference, he takes her for a practice drive and they visit a drive-thru restaurant. A girl working at the fast-food joint, oblivious to the fact that Kevin is wheelchair bound, flirts with Kevin, giving his self-esteem a much needed boost. While on an
arson investigation, Will learns that he is on the list to join a fraternal order. His willingness to play ball and fit in is put to the test after he clashes with two members of the order: the arson investigator on the case and Will’s number one suspect -- the fire chief, who Will believes is to blame for the catastrophic blaze.
Touch Move
Directed by: Josh Brand
Written by: Barbara Hall
Original Airdate: Oct-10-2003
When God asks Joan to learn the game of chess, she learns a little something about strategy and maneuvering people in real life. Kevin has a dream he walks, and awakens to believe he feels pain in his legs. Since his spinal cord wasn’t actually severed, Helen believes for a moment that there may be hope for Kevin to walk. Will disapproves of his wife’s false hope in their son’s ability to walk. That, coupled
with the skepticism he feels when a family asks the police to consult a psychic to help find their missing son, leaves him at odds at home and at work. During an encounter with the family, the psychic tells Joan she senses Joan has a special connection to the universe and whispers something to Kevin – which leaves the entire family wondering what she told him.
The Boat
Directed by: Kevin Dowling
Written by: Randy Anderson
Original Airdate: Oct-17-2003
Once again, Joan is given a mysterious task by God – he asks her to build a boat. Although Joan is inexperienced at such a task she finds that she possesses a certain knack for boat-building and even impresses her mom, Helen, by becoming somewhat consumed by the assignment. Unfortunately, as soon as she finds her rhythm, she feels that she looses whatever it was that made “boat-building” come so naturally.
In her frustration, Joan almost reveals to Adam that she speaks with God. The strain on Will and Kevin’s relationship is not easing up in the slightest. Kevin asks Will for a new transmission, and in turn Will introduces his son to Bear a paraplegic he works with. Will’s intention is for Kevin to start playing basketball with the wheel chair bound man, to get into shape. Kevin is convinced that his father loved him more when he was a jock, and once Will leaves the gym, Kevin
wheels himself home – an entire seven miles. When he gets home, Kevin burns his father’s memory book – a scrapbook filled with photos of Kevin’s achievements as an athlete. Kevin’s actions hurt Will and compound the stress in their already fractured relationship, but it’s Joan’s boat in the garage that puts them back on the road to recovery.
Just Say No
Directed by: Steve Gomer
Written by: Tom Garrigus
Original Airdate: Oct-24-2003
Joan is giving a new assignment from God, and that is to have a garage sale. Unfortunately, the same day she is told to have this garage sale, a cute, popular boy from school, Clay Fisher, decides to ask her out. Although she is tempted to agree, her final decision is to stick with God’s request, and have that garage sale. Helen feels that Joan never talks with her anymore, and that they have lost the bond that they once
had. Every time she tries to find out about Joan’s life, she is rebuffed, and shut out. When Joan finds some early paintings of Helen, it is Helen’s turn to shut Joan out, renewing the frustrations between the two. As Will struggles with a rape case, a secret in Helen’s life is slowly revealed. With Joan blossoming into adult relationships, Helen is faced with a hard decision - Does she open up to Joan about her past, no matter how difficult, in order to educate her
daughter on the dangers of becoming a woman, or does she hide from her past, hoping and praying that the same fate doesn’t fall onto her daughter? Joan’s garage sale opens up the wounds to Helen’s past, and an indiscretion by Clay opens up a facet of maturity for Joan. With Joan’s first heartbreak, Helen finally decides to open up to her daughter, as she wished Joan opened up to her.
Bringeth It On
Directed by: David Petrarca
Written by: Joy Gregory
Original Airdate: Oct-31-2003
Cheerleader tryouts are the next assignment Joan receives from God. She is well aware that her friends will find her new interest odd, but what she doesn't realize is that bonding with the squad may cause her to lose her old friends entirely. Will is investigating the abandonment of a newborn infant who was recently left in a dumpster. His investigation leads him to question the student's at Arcadia High, Joan and Luke's school.
As the investigation hits closer and closer to home, Helen makes it clear to her husband, and her supervisors at school that she doesn't feel the female students should be profiled the way the school is choosing to do so. Her stance comes in direct conflict with the way Will is choosing to do his job - which makes for tension at home.
Death Be Not Whatever
Directed by: Peter Levin
Written by: Barbara Hall
Original Airdate: Nov-07-2003
Will finds his department embroiled in a case of police brutality. He’s caught between a mayor who is looking to keep any kind of controversy away from the city government and cops who are looking for Will to come to their defense. As always, Will does his best to maintain his integrity and approach the situation impartially. Helen continues her dialogue with Father Ken, in hopes of relieving some of the anxiety she is
filled with. Although she would like to be able to speak with her husband about how she feels, she doesn’t want to burden him with any additional stress. Colleagues at the newspaper weigh in on the Chief of Police’s decisions on how to handle the case, which leaves Kevin in an awkward position since they are talking about his dad. Kevin emulates his father in his own way, when he tries to remain as neutral as possible. Joan meets who is in desperate need of a babysitter for
her son Rocky. Through this child’s energy and curiosity about life and death, Joan discovers the true value of mortality.
The Devil Made Me Do It
Directed by: James Hayman
Written by: Hart Hanson
Original Airdate: Nov-14-2003
Will is struggling in his new position as Chief of Police, and finding that they city’s District Attorney would prefer for him to stay silent on a lot of the city’s pressing matters that are relevant to him. Since he’s not the type to take things lying down, or to be passive with matters that fall in his jurisdiction, Will learns that his contract may not be renewed and he may be out of a job in six months.
Joan is instructed by God to help with the school’s student art show, which her mother Helen is overseeing. Joan volunteers to staff the show, and learns that her friend Adam has entered an art project. God then tells Joan to make sure Adam’s piece of art does not get entered into the competition. Mystified by His directions and full of doubt on whether she should sabotage her friend, Joan fulfills God’s request but jeopardizes her friendship with Adam in the process.
As he exits a record store, Kevin sets the security alarm off and the clerk lets him leave with no questions asked. When he gets home, he finds that a CD has accidentally slipped into his wheelchair and he goes back to the shop to admit to the error. Kevin’s ego is bruised when the shop owner tells him to take the CD because he feels sorry for him. Kevin’s frustration grows when while shopping with Luke, he feels his authority is undermined by his younger brother.
St. Joan
Directed by: Martha Mitchell
Written by: Randy Anderson
Original Airdate: Nov-21-2003
In History class, Joan is encouraged to learn the story of Joan of Arc. God directs Joan to study for the upcoming exam and to ace her test. In doing so, Joan raises suspicion with her teacher and the school's administrators who are convinced she cheated. Helen is truly worried about her family and talks to Will about possibly speaking to priest. Will is reluctant to turn to the church but agrees that the family should enter
therapy. During a family therapy session, Kevin reveals to the therapist how he became paralyzed. His outburst stuns the family but forces them to confront an issue they've made a habit of avoiding. Will greenlights a major drug bust and in doing so, discovers that the D.A., Gabe Fellowes, has made an inappropriate deal with the DEA - something clearly outside of his authority.
Drive He Said
Directed by:
Written by:
Original Airdate: Dec-05-2003
Joan is still facing the repercussions of her actions regarding Adam's art show sculpture on their friendship, which is not the same as it was before the incident. At the same time, she is somewhat reluctant to follow God's instruction for her to get her driver's license and begin to drive, especially after Kevin's accident. Will, experiencing his own reluctance towards a car ride, is taken hostage by a recently-released convict
he pulls over and forced at gunpoint to help the man escape the scene of the crime. When his family learns of the situation, Kevin feels bad that the last time he saw his father, they had an argument.
Uncertainty Principle
Directed by:
Written by:
Original Airdate: Unknown
Joan is instructed by God to ask Steve Ramsey, one of the school's biggest troublemakers to the Winter Semi-Formal. Her invitation to Ramsey threatens to further alienate her friend Adam, with whom Ramsey recently picked a fight. Much to the chagrin of her mother Helen, Joan refuses to rescind her invitation to Ramsey. Will and Helen insist that Joan meet her date at the dance, and give her strict guidelines on how she should
not leave the dance for any reason. At the semi-formal, havoc ensues, leaving Ramsey and Joan in a dangerous predicament. Will discovers information that could detrimental to the former Chief of Police, and other high ranking officials in Arcadia's city government.
Jump
Directed by:
Written by:
Original Airdate: Unknown
Joan is shocked and saddened to discover that Rocky Tardio, her baby-sitting charge, has passed away and tries to cope yet again with her ideas on mortality. She is even more surprised when Rocky appears to her both in a dream and at his funeral, and she questions whether these appearances were created by God. Joan's attempts to get more than subtle hints about life and death from God lead her to realize that one of her friends
is in more danger than she knew. Luke continues to work on the science project he hopes to present with Grace, while Kevin is injured during a game of basketball with other wheelchair-bound players -- one which upsets his family but is pleasing for him when it makes him feel like he used to playing sports. Will's whistle-blowing on a political conspiracy in Arcadia causes a larger ripple in the pond when the county dissolves the town's government and police force, leaving him temporarily
without a job and on the hot seat.
Recreation
Directed by:
Written by:
Original Airdate: Unknown
Helen's pleas for Will to spend some quiet time alone with her lead the two to a spa getaway, but Will finds it difficult to unravel and let Toni handle the crackdown on a meth lab in Arcadia on her own -- and Helen is disappointed to find that Will seems to want more to do with his job than with his wife. In their absence, the Girardi children find they have enough to cope with: Kevin's workplace starts to heat up as he and
boss Rebecca find their mutual attraction to one another coming to the fore, and Joan tries to sort out her feelings for a boy at school. Her romantic leanings are interrupted by God's latest visit -- while God acknowledges that their relationship is deepening and leading to more important events, the latest 'weekly task' comes as a counterpoint: Joan is to throw a party in her parents' absence. She goes all out with the help of Luke and the party is a success... but celebrations are
left behind when an explosion rocks Arcadia. |
