Chemistry

*Series: A Girl Named Jo*

"**Chemistry**" is the third episode in the second season of *A Girl Named Jo*, and the eleventh episode overall. It aired on January 22, 2019.

## Synopsis

Jo learns an uncomfortable secret about Attaway's new principal.

## Plot

Its another day in chemistry class, Jo, Cathy and Allen are sitting with their partners and are given an assignment. They are assigned to choose and identify a chemical reaction from real life.

Dwight suggests that her and Cathy do a Halogen bulb reaction. He says that he was cleaning his garage one day and dropped a halogen bulb and it exploded. She asks what reaction that would be and he responds by saying he thought it was cool, Cathy smiles and they walk to class. Two jocks see this and follow him.

In the cafeteria, one of the jocks takes a hostess cupcake and smears it on Dwights back. Cathy hands him a napkin to whip it off. Then Cathy comes up with an idea to make a cake for their chemistry assignment using **baking soda** as the chemical.

Cathy sits with Junior, Jo and Allen who are discussing about Thomas' new girlfriend. Junior asks what she's doing with Dwight, she responds and says their just lab partners. Allen suggests that it isn't so bad that Jo's dad has a girlfriend, Junior agrees with him and saying their dad will have more time to spend with them if he shuts down the diner. Jo disagrees with them, and Cathy asks who the woman is, Jo doesn't know the woman and couldn't hear her voice. Then Jo and Cathy are called down to Principal Wilson's office through the PA.

In the hall, Lawrence walks up to Alice and asks her where she was last night. She says that her mother needed help around the house. Lawrence then reminds her that their dating and Alice responds saying that they only started dating to make Cathy jealous. He then says that every man needs a pretty face to be with and if she does what he says they may get married some day. She then tells him that she doesn't want to be in a relationship with him if that's how she's going to be treated. Out of anger, Lawrence rips her pin off her sweater and walks away bumping into Allen. Allen goes up to Alice to see if she's ok, then he says that they should start working together or else they will fail the assignment. She suggests him to do it himself and give her half the credit, he then reminds her that its a partnership assignment. She suggests they work at his house and tells him to make sure its clean and spotless, Allen disagreeing with this says they should meet somewhere else.

Cathy and Jo are in the Principal's office waiting for Wilson to arrive. Cathy wonders why their there, Jo believes that its because she was struggling with her chemistry work and took answers from Cathy. Then Principal Wilson comes in the room, she says that she's heard a lot about the two of them and was hoping to introduce herself better. She mentions that she noticed that their chemistry problem sets looked exactly alike when they were turned in, then Cathy explains that it wasn't Jo's fault and that they were working on the problem set together and their answers got mixed up. Admiring her honesty, Principal Wilson explains that she came from an academy where students were punished severely if ever cheated, knowing that wasn't the proper way to educate, she's hoping to be more enlightened with the students in Attaway. She mentions that everyone deserves equal opportunities and that's why she started the program for the Millwood students. She lets them off with a warning telling them to be more careful, then they leave.

Jo believes that Principal Wilson was acting suspicious and is hiding something from them. Then Abby shows up and tells Jo they need to start working on their assignment. Jo suggests they go to the diner to work so she can get to stay in it one last time before her father sells it to the bank, Abby doesn't like the sound of that and Jo offers to make her an amulet for free when they get there.

Alice barges right into the Alvarez's house saying she just wants to get this over with. Allen comes up with a few ideas for the project including **Iron Oxide,** she agrees with the idea jokingly saying his house is full of dust, making him feel bad. Alice realizes what she said was harsh and tries to explain that she's upset because Lawrence was acting like a jerk and hasn't been treating her well at all. He says that he always acts like a jerk. She then brushes it off saying his stress and feelings are no longer her business.

Cathy invites Dwight to her place to work on the chemistry project. Meanwhile, Jo and Abby are at the diner working on their project for the assignment, when Ernie Sutherland comes over and offers to serve them an "old mom omelette". Jo asks who he is and he introduces himself saying that he is from the Millwood bank and him and Thomas Chambers are business partners now. Jo asks him where her father is, he says that he gave him the night off so he could go on a date that he planned, Jo was shocked to hear this.

Allen and Alice are working on their iron oxide chemistry project, then she questions him why his mother isn't around. he hopes she can keep a secret, saying that his mother is still in Los Angeles having no clue about Lenny getting shot and explains that if she or the school ever found out what was going on, he would not be allowed to stay in Attaway anymore. Alice gives him the idea of staying with Jo Chambers assuming that he still likes her, he rejects the idea saying that they are just friends.

Meanwhile at the Fitzroy's, Cathy and Dwight are baking a cake for their project. Cathy gets frosting on her face and Dwight wipes it off for her. Then Russell and Virginia come home and are shocked to see that their daughter has brought a guest in their house without them home. Virginia says its lawfully late to have people over even though its not even 8 o'clock, then Dwight leaves.

Thomas come in Jo's room and asks to talk with her. Jo claims that she is not apologizing for lashing out at him earlier for selling the diner. He says that it kills him inside to give up the diner, Jo doesn't believe him, then he says that her and Junior are the best things in his life and he doesn't want to spend the rest of his life behind the counter and that selling the diner is the only way they can live a better life. Then Principal Wilson comes into the room, Jo shocked to see her asks what she's doing here. Thomas revealed that she is the woman that he has been dating.

## Cast

### Main cast

* Jules LeBlanc as Jo Chambers
* Addison Riecke as Cathy Firzroy
* Taylor Mosby as Abby Hughes
* Terrell Ransom Jr. as Dwight Hughes
* Reid Miller as Allen Alvarez
* Tanner Fontana as Junior Chambers

### Recurring Cast

* Joseph John Schirle as Lawrence DuPont
* Bella Shepard as Alice Hargrave
* Christie Lynn Smith as Virginia Fitzroy
* Tom Kiesche as Russell Fitzroy
* JF Davis as Thomas Chambers
* Bruno Oliver as Mr. RIchards
* Agnes Albright as Debbie Collins