Who Wants Cake? is the fourth episode of the first season of Strangers with Candy, and an adaptation of the series' unaired pilot episode, Retardation: A Celebration.
Plot[]
Jerri goes to her dentist, Dr. Harry Link, who reveals she needs braces (as well as having other dental issues). Jerri is seen in school, ordering a rack of ribs from a vending machine when two girl tease her for her braces. Another student, Kimberly Timbers, comforts Jerri. Jerri goes to Noblet's class where she reads a poem about her days as a prostitute, following a boys poem about the Louisiana Purchase. Noblet holds Jerri back after class and recruits her to snitch on Kimberly, who Principal Blackman suspects is mentally r*tarded. Jerri has reservations until Noblet threatens to exclude her from the The Pleasure Club's tripf to Good Time Island, even though Jerri's father had signed her permission slip.
Jerri begins to try coerce information out of Kimberly, and begins to suspect she is r*tarded. When Kimberly leaves, Jerri opens her own locker to talk to her pet lobster, Blossom. She goes to the room of Geoffrey Jellineck to find Mr. Noblet, who is posing nude for Jellineck. He puts a towel on and leaves for Blackmans office for a shower, telling Jerri to meet him there. Jerri speaks to Jellineck about r*tarded people and their dangers, to which Jellineck makes many references to gay people being both dangerous and r*tarded. Jellineck reads a book with Jerri titled "Retardation: A Celebration". The book contains a cassette tape with a man named Wilford Brimley, who expels myths about r*tarded people such as them ruling the night, running in packs, and being as strong as apes, while also saying not to look into their eyes and that they love cake. It ends the tape by saying "they're just like you and me", a message which Jerri takes forward with her.
Jerri speaks to her father about her dilemma, while he is working on a car. Her brother comes in asking their father for the keys to the car when is done working on it, and then makes fun of Jerri for being a snitch and having braces. Jerri speaks to her step-mother, who reveals every item of food she is preparing for dinner is not suitable for braces. Mrs. Blank then reveals herself and Jerri's father will be chaperoning the Good Time Island trip.
Jerri speaks to Principal Blackman as he puts up the sketch of a nude Mr. Noblet. He asks why Jerri never returned a report on Kimberly. He reveals that if Kimberly was revealed to be r*tarded, she would be captured and her strength harnessed. Jerri protests, angering Blackman who presses a button making two chairs holding Jerris parents come into the room. Mrs. Blank disapproves of Jerri's refusal to betray Kimberly. Jerri runs out of the office and falls, only to see Kimberly eating a slice of cake.
Mr. and Mrs. Blank leave for home, with Principal Blackman calling them as soon as they leave, waiting until they get home to pick up the phone. Mrs. Blank picks up the phone, and gives it to Mr. Blank. Blackman tells him they can't go to Good Time Island if Jerri doesn't cooperate, to which Mr. Blank uses strong language to Blackman's disapproval.
Jerri overhears members of the Pleasure Club talking about the trip. She returns home with Blossom and Mrs. Blank tells Jerri the situation, urging her to snitch. When Jerri tries to leave, Mrs. Blank grabs her arm and accidentally knocks Blossom into a pot of boiling water.
Jerri goes back to Dr. Link to tighten her braces. She confides in him about the Kimberly situation. He tells her a story about his polio, and how his unwillingness to disclose it left him in a leg brace for life.
Jerri goes to the bus for Good Time Island and tells how she won't snitch to everyone inside. She tells how she has changed, and isn't the same person who snitched on blind orphans or exposed the hiding place of Guatemalans. When Blackman tells her to get off the bus, she quickly snitches on Kimberly who is escorted off the bus by Noblet. Jerri takes her seat and reveals she hopes to get laid.
End Dance Scene[]
Jerri, Noblet, Jellineck, Blackman, Kimberly and a cheerleader wearing no underwear dance down the bus walkway.
Characters[]
- Jerri Blank
- Chuck Noblet
- Geoffrey Jellineck
- Principal Blackman
- Sara Blank
- Gary Blank
- Derrick Blank
- Kimberly Timbers
- Dr. Harry Link
- Students (Cheerleader, Pleasure Club)
Production[]
Trivia[]
The Venetian Scares released a song called "Who Wants Cake?" on their 2010 album, My So-Called Life. The song contains samples from the episode.