Sanctum Stevenorium. "I'm sorry. Even with a petition, you can't stop somebody from running for prom queen." Steven is facing down what appears to be a group of attractive, popular kids. The kind who run for prom king and queen. One of them points out, about the person whose candidacy they're protesting: "He's a boy." Steven explains that discrimination based on sexuality doesn't fly at Winslow. Then he adds, "Even when it makes total sense to do so." Huh? "He could win, Mr. Harper. For the sheer novelty of it. How's it gonna look if a transvestite wins prom queen?" The girls especially think it's not fair for those of them who've been dreaming about this for years to have "some guy waltz in and make a mockery of the whole thing. It's not fair." Wait, he's planning to waltz in? That's really the last straw.

In the hallway, Steven flags down Harry. "Robin Chambers. Is he in your suicide club?" Harry confirms that he was, yeah. "He's causing a bit of a stir. He wants to run for prom queen." Harry doesn't know what he could possibly say to the boy, and Steven blows up: "Just talk to him! Can't we have a damn prom around here without controversy! You people wonder why I wanna leave every now and then? This is why! It's always somethin'! Today it's a boy wanting to be a damn queen! Just talk to him!" Harry's all, "Well, I can see why Marla's the natural choice to replace you."

The Un-geon. "You're not going?" Ronnie is asking this incredulous question of Home-lita, who explains that she can't go, because Jason -- that being Jason Paul, the vandal -- has been banned from the prom. "Well, wait! You can go to the prom alone! I mean, a lot of girls are!" Natalie demurs; Ronnie tries to persuade her, but to no avail.

Marilyn is having a little chat in her room with the girls who were auctioning themselves off. "We're not selling sex, Ms. Souter." They explain that that's just how the pitch makes it sound, but in fact the contract makes clear that the purchase is only of time, and the pleasure of their company, as prom dates. "You make them sign a contract?" One of the girls shows Marilyn a copy. Another asks Marilyn how often she saw her prom date again. Only once, says Marilyn, and the girl is all, "See? So what's the point?" Another adds, "Why make the prom this big emotional touchstone when you can make money instead?" They are, they insist, doing the boys a favor: "Supply and demand! Every guy wants a hot prom date. Trouble is, there's not enough of us to go around." The other girl chimes in, finally, that "with an auction, we level out the playing field. Guys like Matthew Carlson get to have their dream date. It was Mr. Guber's idea."