Hello Stranger is the seventh episode of the first season which was broadcast on December 10, 2000.
Synopsis[]
Ginger receives a 6th grade graduation card from her father and invites him to a poem reading she's doing at school. He never calls back, but she assumes he'll come and is crushed when he doesn't. Meanwhile, Lois accidentally drinks Carl's dehydrated snake potion that looked like lemonade and must stay in the hospital. Carl accompanies her when he's bitten by a monkey and starts acting like one, too.
Plot[]
It is nearly time for Lucky Jr. High's Fall Art Festival. Ms. Zorski approaches Ginger, Dodie, and Macie in the hallway. She asks Ginger what poem she will be presenting for the festival. Ginger says she was planning to write a new poem, but hasn't come up with anything concrete yet. After classes, she goes home and notices items in the mailbox. Of note are a package for Carl, and a letter to Ginger from their father, Jonas. Carl rushes outside and takes his package from Ginger, telling her that it is a dehydrated sea snake.
Ginger sits in her room staring at the envelope. She then gets a visit from Darren. He asks about the letter, but Ginger says she hasn't opened it yet. She hesitates for a while, but eventually opens it and reads. It is a card congratulating Ginger for graduating 6th grade. Darren points out that Jonas was late by a few months. Jonas' message continues with an apology for not being around much, and saying that he would like to spend more time with Ginger soon, along with his current phone number. Darren says that Jonas has said the same thing before, and tends to not follow through on his promises to see Ginger. Ginger responds that the addition of the phone number means that Jonas is willing to make more of an effort this time.
Meanwhile, Carl has opened his dehydrated sea snake pouch, and has mixed it with water in a pitcher. According to the instructions, the powdered snake must remain in the refrigerator for several hours in order to incubate. Carl speaks with Hoodsey over his walkie-talkie, and they plan to use their new snake at the elementary school's Pet Day contest. Carl runs off to plan some more, and a little while later, Lois comes home. She goes to the fridge for a drink, and sees a pitcher full of yellow liquid. She pours herself a glass and has a drink.
Ginger decides to call Jonas. But, she gets his answering machine, then hangs up without leaving a message. Then, Carl starts hollering from downstairs. Ginger rushes to see what's wrong, and Carl explains that Lois drank his dehydrated snake. Lois assumed it was lemonade since it was in the pitcher, was yellow, and tasted better than the regular drink mix. Suddenly, her stomach starts gurgling. She decides to call up the company that prepared the powdered snake to figure out what to do.
Later, Ginger tries thinking of a poem for the art fair before bed. Lois enters her room and tells her its time for bed. Ginger tells Lois about her letter from Jonas. She asks what to do about it. Lois says that Ginger should listen to her heart, and that she is getting old enough to decide how much of a role Jonas will be able to play in her life. She adds that Jonas isn't a bad person for not being around, but says that it's not likely that he will change his ways so quickly. After she leaves, Ginger suddenly gets an idea for a poem for the fair, and starts writing. That night, Lois has a nightmare about a giant snake bursting out of her stomach and attacking people.
At the elementary school, Pet Day is underway. Brandon has brought in his monkey, Mr. Licorice. Mrs. Gordon is enamored with it, but the class doesn't really care. Mrs. Gordon heads into the hallway to count up the votes for best pet. Carl is still fuming over his lost snake, and approaches the monkey. He throws away Mr. Licorice's banana, and rattles his cage. Then, he gets in the monkey's face and growls. The monkey gets scared and jumps onto Carl, biting him and hopping on his stomach. Mrs. Gordon comes back in, and sees what has happened. She tries to call for medical assistance, but Carl gets up, and starts angrily hooting like a monkey. He foams at the mouth and chases Mr. Licorice. Hoodsey threatens to sue Brandon.
At the middle school, Ginger talks with Dodie and Macie in the library. She tells them that she called Jonas and left a message on his answering machine about the upcoming art fair, and invited him to attend. He has not yet called back, but she wonders if this would lead to Lois and Jonas getting back together and the Foutleys being a family unit again.
Later, Lois has been admitted to the hospital. Dr. Dave looks over her charts as she explains the situation. Dr. Dave performs an ultrasound on her, and notices some movement within her stomach. He said that it might just be gas, but wants her to stay overnight for observation. Lois tries to protest as she will miss Ginger's performance, but Dave insists. He then gets called away by a nurse to go to ER, as a boy was just admitted after being bitten by a monkey. Carl spends some time in a padding room, jumping around, hooting, and screeching at observers.
At home, Ginger sits in the backyard, fine-tuning her poem. Mrs. Patterson shouts from the window to Ginger, updating her on Lois' condition. Darren arrives and informs her that Carl is at the hospital as well, so after the art fair, Ginger will be staying at the Patterson house. Ginger is irritated, and says that the "family" reunion won't happen like she hoped. Darren is surprised that Jonas might be coming, and Ginger gets angrier at Darren doubting her. She asks him to leave so she can concentrate, and he does.
Lois calls up a flower shop, and orders two dozen sunflowers to be delivered to Ginger. She asks the clerk to put a personalized message from "Dad."
At the art fair, the students are showcasing their talents. Courtney paints on a canvas for the audience. Macie and Dodie, working as ushers, approach Ginger backstage and report that they don't see Jonas. Ginger is positive he will come. Ms. Zorski gets on stage and introduces Ginger as the last act of the night. Ginger reads her poem, "Hello Stranger," but scans the crowd a few times. Jonas never arrived. Ginger sadly finishes the poem, and receives a standing ovation from the audience. This cheers her up. Zorski, Dodie, Macie, and the Patterson family congratulate Ginger on a job well done. Darren pulls Ginger aside, and says that Jonas technically didn't break his promise since he never agreed to show up in the first place. But, at that moment, the delivery of sunflowers arrives, and Ginger reads the card from "Dad."
Lois and Carl sit in the hospital room together watching TV. A nurse enters and tells them they can both leave in the morning. Then, the room's phone rings. Ginger is calling from the Patterson house. Lois congratulates Ginger and asks for a rundown of the event. Ginger says she will, but before she does, she thanks Lois for sending the bouquet of flowers.
Appearances[]
- Dr. David Dave
- Mrs. Gordon
- Lois Foutley
- Ginger Foutley
- Brandon Higsby
- Darren Patterson
- Carl Foutley
- Macie Lightfoot
- Dodie Bishop
- Hoodsey Bishop
- Ms. Zorski
- Courtney Gripling
- Joann Bishop
- Mr. Patterson
- Mrs. Patterson
- Lonnie (in the audience)
- Mipsy Mipson (in the audience)
- Winston (cameo)
- Student
- Mr. Licorice
- Librarian
- Snake
- Nurse
- Delivery Guy
- Florist
- Jonas Foutley (voice only)
- Miranda Killgallen (in the audience)
Ginger's Poem[]
Hello Stranger
Hello stranger, you came just in time
I look for your face in a crowd, or in line
Hello stranger, not a moment too soon
See that old picture is fading in the drawer of my room
Now toys have gone lost, baby teeth have come loose
There were accidents involving stitches, spilled juice
Report cards were shown, and one time I got sick
But it's nothing I couldn't catch you up on real quick
Hello stranger, I saved you a place, and it hardly seems strange
Now that I've seen your face...
Quotes[]
Ginger: Friday of freedom from fish sticks; fried food. Friday of freedom; repair my foul mood.
Nurse: (asking about Carl) Do you think he's rabid?
Lois: Not clinically.
Macie: (asking about Ginger's dad) He doesn't have a giant silver afro does he?
Courtney: (onstage and offscreen) And I use the edge of my brush to make the pattern that looks like the bark of a tree. See?
Dodie: Oh, I have got the permanent chills and I don't think they're ever gonna go away.
Macie: I know someone you can see about that.
Ginger: Ok, but Ma?
Lois: Yeah?
Ginger: I just want to... I mean... thanks for the flowers. (last lines of the episode)
Trivia[]
- This episode reveals that sunflowers are Ginger's favorite flower.
- This episode was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Animated Program (Less Than One Hour) in 2001. It ended up losing to The Simpsons.
- When Lois and Carl are watching TV in the hospital, Lois says "Would you just buy a vowel already?" It is implied they are watching the long-running game show Wheel of Fortune.
Video[]
Gallery[]
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