Ed sits in his office, head in hand. Carol walks in to make sure that Ed still loves her even though she's dating Dennis. Well, she claims that she brought him string cheese, but we all know the truth. Carol makes a reference to Ed's new lady friend. Ed asks Carol that if someone does a bad thing for a good reason, is it okay? Carol says that she just had a big dinner, and she's kind of logy, so she doesn't understand the question. Ed says that Kate's going to jail unless Ed does something rotten. Carol asks what he means. Ed says that the DA has political aspirations and "an ugly little personal secret," which Ed knows about. So if he brings it up, the DA might go easy on Kate. Carol agrees that Ed is in a pickle. Ed sarcastically thanks Carol for her help, and says that he wishes there were another way. Carol says that Ed is a perfectionist and an idealist, and he "shudders at the sound of the word 'compromise.'" Ed asks if that's bad. Carol says that it's a hard way to be, which is why there aren't many people like Ed around.

At the courthouse, Ed tells Kate to go on ahead so that he can talk to the DA alone. They walk off, and Ed tells the DA to settle the case. The DA says that he's not going to do that. Ed asks if this is about the DA's political career, and the DA denies it. Ed asks if it would be ironic if a case that was supposed to help the DA's political career ended up destroying it. The DA asks what that means. Ed says that he knows a female other than Mrs. DA who has some information that might hurt the DA's career. The DA asks if Ed is threatening him, then chuckles and says that he knows that Ed's not the blackmailing type. The DA walks into the courtroom.

Nancy sits in the principal's office, waiting to be seen. She befriends a student named Gretchen Huber, who is also waiting. Nancy explains that she's waiting for Carol, and is probably about to be fired. Gretchen is taking a career test, and the results are "irrigation." Nancy jokes about irrigation, and then asks Gretchen what she wants to do when she grows up. Gretchen doesn't know. Nancy always wanted to be a concert cellist, but it turns out that she stinks at playing the cello. Nancy asks Gretchen what her specialty is. Gretchen admits that she likes to draw, but she's not very good. Nancy thinks that Gretchen is probably just being modest. Gretchen points out that Nancy is probably just being modest about the cello-playing. Nancy says that she really does suck at playing the cello, and they both laugh.