1600 Penn Episode 1.10 The Short Happy Life of Reba Cadbury

Skip is at NASA interviewing for his dream job: astronaut. But when the interviewer learns that Skip has not completed his college degree, he tells Skip that doesn't qualify for the space program. Chastened, Skip returns home and asks his father to pass a law waving the requirement of a college degree for astronauts. Dale refuses, but is willing to pull a string and get him a clerk job at NASA. Skip passes. Emily realizes Skip's dream has been dashed and offers to help him finish the final assignment he needs to graduate.

Becca's excited for her upcoming presentation to the energy task force her dad has appointed her to; she's prepared a voluminous binder of background notes. She wants to bounce some thoughts off Marshall, but he's swamped. She walks with him through the basements of the White House where he shows her a secret lair: a private office for Reba Cadbury, a staffer who doesn't exist. It's the only place he can get away and think, he tells Becca.

At the task force meeting, Becca is met by the chairman, Senator Faxler. Given that she's the President's daughter, he's very ingratiating, but ultimately demeans Becca and shows her out of the meeting. Becca consults her dad, who tells her that it's natural for the task force to be skeptical. He encourages Becca to break through whatever roadblock Senator Faxler has set up for her. Becca springs into action, sending the senator policy suggestions as Reba Cadbury; she even has Xander make a fake Wikipedia entry for her. Faxler likes Reba's ideas and wants to meet her for lunch. Marshall catches wind of the scheme and tells Becca she's playing with fire. Becca insists it'll blow over.

Skip's having trouble getting the all-important sociology paper started. Emily ratchets up the encouragement. Skip responds by dictating a screenplay, then cleaning; he'll do anything to avoid the work. Marigold is having her own problems getting started on a literary assignment. Skip actually helps her out, explaining the power of metaphor in science fiction. Emboldened by inspiring Marigold, Skip tells Emily to lock him in his room and shut off the Wi-Fi until he finishes.

Senator Faxler is interviewed by Chris Matthews and credits Reba Cadbury with opening his eyes on energy issues. Watching from the White House, Becca's thrilled, but Marshall is terrified. If the senator discovers he's been duped, it could have serious consequences. And it gets worse: the President has asked for a one-on-one meeting with Reba. Becca decides to come clean with her dad. But before she can break the news to him, Marshall interrupts to declare that Reba has tragically died in a car accident.

Skip trudges through the paper - but gets it done. Emily's thrilled; she's been able to get Skip to finish something that his father's been after him for years to complete. She waves the finished paper in Dale's face. Skip arrives but he doesn't share Emily's enthusiasm. He's afraid now that he's a college graduate, he'll have to start acting like an adult. He slinks off, depressed.

The President presses Marshall for details on Reba's demise. Marshall finally admits that she's a fake, created by him and Becca. Becca returns, still feeding the cover story about Reba's death. The President confronts her. She explains she was just trying to break through Faxler's roadblock. Suddenly Faxler himself shows up; Dale explains to him that Becca worked very closely with Reba and even gave her some of the ideas he's fond of.

A somewhat sad Skip is showing his new diploma off to the family. He's still in a funk about the implications of being a college graduate. Marigold enters, excited that the book report she was working on with Skip earned her an A. Skip gets an idea: he's become a teacher!