About a Boy Episode 2.06 About a Balcony

Fiona mocks Will and his many boxes filled with breakaway glass bottles. Isn't he supposed to be saving money until his royalty check comes in? Will explains that he's preparing for a Three Stooges marathon with Marcus; money is the least of his concerns. Marcus shares exciting news about his new drama teacher, Mr. Chris, who is producing a play of Shakespeare's best scenes. Marcus will be playing Romeo in the famous balcony scene, and he volunteered Will to build the balcony. Fiona's delighted by the news; she and Marcus have been performing the scene together since he was four. But when Marcus shares what he's practiced for the play and raps a version of Shakespeare's lines that Mr. Chris taught him, Fiona flips out. How can this Mr. Chris mess with the words of the master?

Fiona marches down to the school to confront Mr. Chris. She doesn't like the way he's revamping Shakespeare's enduring lines. Can't Marcus perform the balcony scene the way Shakespeare intended? Mr. Chris refuses, then suggests Fiona meet him at a local restaurant for further discussion. Fiona runs into Dakota, who's suffering through the last weeks of her sex-free year, and thinks Mr. Chris is the hottest teacher in school. When Fiona wonders if Mr. Chris has, in fact, asked her on a date, Dakota offers some advice: if he orders a drink, shows a little bit of chest hair and/or finds an excuse to touch Friona, then it's a date.

Andy finishes off the balcony while a jealous Will watches Marcus bond with Mr. Chris during play rehearsal. Thinking Mr. Chris is a pompous ass, Will bristles when he criticizes the diminutive size of the balcony - didn't Will check his director's notes? Marcus offers Mr. Chris' help, since he once built a cabin by hand, tongue-and-groove, no nails! Steamed, Will promises what he's created is only the foundation for a much, much bigger balcony. At the restaurant, Fiona learns Mr. Chris is having his students rap to Shakespeare to get them interested, then reverts to working on the original text. Mr. Chris orders a drink and starts showing the exact signs Dakota described, warming Fiona to the idea of a date... until a bunch of the other parents show up to join the discussion at his invitation. Back at home, Marcus is so excited by the prospect of his upcoming performance that he can't focus on the Stooge-athon.

It's the night of the play. Fiona settles in the audience next to Dakota, dejected that her evening with Mr. Chris was definitely not a date. Backstage, Will's balcony is finally revealed. It's so tall and rickety that the student playing Juliet refuses to climb to the top. Fiona offers to play the role of Juliet since she knows the part by heart. Marcus hesitates; performing a love scene with his mom in front of the entire school is just too weird, even for him. Mr. Chris steps in to play the part of Romeo, and a romantic spark is lit... which fades when Mr. Chris' ladder starts to wobble. Posing as The Craftsman, Will rushes onstage to keep Mr. Chris from falling. Fiona wants Will out of there; he's ruining the scene. But the ladder keeps teetering so Will brings the Stooges-style comedy to Shakespeare. The audience laughs along and cheers until the balcony, incredibly unstable at this point, collapses and Mr. Chris falls off the ladder and onto Will's shoulders. The audience goes nuts - standing ovation!

After the performance, Mr. Chris invites his students out for a pizza celebration. Marcus waves bye to Will, then bumps into Shea, who explains Will is jealous of Mr. Chris. Marcus takes one look at Will and decides to ditch the pizza to watch Three Stooges movies with Will. Meanwhile, Fiona asks Mr. Chris if their connection at the restaurant and during the play was real; it felt real to her, but maybe it was just the Shakespeare of it all? Mr. Chris leans in and answers with a kiss.