Amy Needs an "I Chose Me" Moment

Last week on Secret Life of the American Teenager: Amy’s Dad and Molly met and argued over prospective parents before they both agreed—with Amy—on Leon and Donovan. Jack and Shawna keep up their slightly illegal affair while Ricky dumps both Grace and Adrian. He confesses to Jack he’s in love with Amy. Meanwhile, Amy and Ben take a break.

Ernie Hudson’s back! He’s surprised to hear that Bryan Callen came back and that Ricky didn’t call him. Ricky reminds him about the whole kissing his daughter episode. He recaps the Bryan Callen arc for Ernie. He is smart enough to know that Ricky is in love. He says he doesn’t love Grace or Adrian and mentions her feelings for her (step) brother. He admits his feelings for Amy, saying maybe he subconsciously wanted Amy to get pregnant. Ernie is incredulous, reminding Ricky will not be able to love until he loves himself. Ricky says he does because he knows he is not Bryan Callen and will never become him. Ernie is proud of the progress and presses Ricky for details about Amy and Baby Boy. Ricky tries to convince himself that Leon and Donovan will be good parents but then realizes he still wants to keep the baby. Ernie’s like “Two steps back.” He wants time with Amy. Ernie’s trying to insert logic into Ricky’s mind. Good luck. That’s like me trying to insert logic into a Mary Sue author’s mind. We go to credit as Ricky declares that Ben is not a problem.

CREDITS!

Amy’s Dad wants to know where Molly is going looking all dolled up. He works out that she is going on an interview. She wonders when he’ll move out. He points out that he has no money so he can’t…besides, it’s also his house. Molly asks Amy’s Dad to make himself scarce when Ricky and Amy meet with Donovan and Leon. He agrees as Ashley comes down to tell her parents Amy’s sick and not going to school. Molly knows this about Ben and Amy’s Dad is surprised to hear they are “taking a break.” He gets the story from Ashley and wonders if Amy should have sex with Ben. At a look from his youngest, he retracts it. He’s learning!

Molly tries to convince Amy to go to school, saying that even if she wasn’t carrying Ricky’s baby, Amy and Ben would still fight over something. Amy wonders if she would be better off with Ricky. Molly tries to squash that thought before asking Amy’s Dad to talk to her. He tells her that guys are bad at apologizing and she should call him. He reminds her that she is beautiful, even pregnant. Dad makes sure she isn’t going to fall for Ricky. Amy knows he has feelings for him. Molly asks them to find Ashley before Amy hints she isn’t too sure about giving up her son for adoption. Dad lets her stay home but encourages her to come out to look for Ashley, asking when she had fun last. As she looks down, he pleads to her not to answer band camp. She laughs and they have a very sweet moment.

He may be a bonehead husband, but he’s a good father.

Ashley, meanwhile, is waiting at a bus stop. A blond boy, named Thomas, says they go to school together. Ashley apologizes, saying she’s been preoccupied with her sister’s pregnancy. Thomas accepts it, countering with the death of his 17-years-old dog. The two commiserate over a…cigarette…as Dad pulls up. Amy wants to wring her neck for smoking and then lets her wait for the bus. He drives off as Thomas offers to skip with her. She refuses. Amy’s surprised that her dad left her there. Dad’s certain Ashley wouldn’t smoke. As he and Amy fight over her wrong choices, he offers to find Ben so they can make up—convinced the two are meant to be together. Amy wonders if fate meant for her to be with Ricky. Dad absolutely disagrees and takes her to school.

Grace is surprised when her mother hands her birth control. Josie Bisset was surprised to see condoms in the bathroom but eventually works out her daughter is still a virgin. Grace is thrilled to get birth control pills but Josie stresses that she should have sex once she’s married. She tells Adrian who is surprised as is Ricky, especially since he dumped her. Adrian reminds Grace not to have sex as she is a Christian before Ricky reminds her about he relationship with brother Max. Adrian admonishes Grace, telling her that people will try to sleep with her now that she has birth control. They argue over Ricky before Jack comes up, remind Grace she is a Christian. The Catholic over here is rolling her eyes. Jack goes to talk to…was that Alice? And adding his two cents is Ricky, repeating Adrian’s warning. Grace says he can call her.

Adrian asks if Ricky is going to sleep with Grace. He says he doesn’t care anymore. He tells Adrian he did care about her but not any more, not with the baby on the way. Adrian tries to convince him that he shouldn’t be with Amy.

Ben meets up with Ashley, saying he had to wait for his driver. Ashley tries to get him to reconcile with Amy so she won’t give the baby up for adoption. Ben says he can’t make that decision and if Amy wants to be with Ricky, he’ll let her. Amy reminds him of the wedding, he reminds her it was a not!marriage. Ben says something that would make Mr. Molina drop to his knees and praise the Lord that something got through—that people under 18 don’t get married because they change their minds. Ben says that Amy may have feelings for Ricky and he can’t put up with her deception. Ashley says her sister is crazy and doesn’t know what she wants. She feels like she is the only sane person in the world, but she’s starting to become the crazy idealist. Mr. Molina is still the sanest person, crazy wife or not.

By the way, the actor who plays Mr. Molina was spotted on "Eleventh Hour" last Thursday (2/12) as a Mexican sneaking his girlfriend and cloned baby into the country. So that's what Mr. Molina does when he isn't going crazy at Ulysses S. Grant High School. 

Molly meets with Ernie Hudson, probably trying to fish for information about Ricky. She calls in Amy and Lauren’s friendship, then remembers Lauren’s mom’s rule about “no seeing the pregnant teen.” Molly is afraid Ricky will go back on the adoption, disappointing Donovan and Leon again. Ernie tells her to trust her gut, advice he always gives. He says to observe Ricky—that’ll answer her questions.

Ricky and Amy talk in the band room. Ricky’s nervous about meeting Donovan and Leon. Amy calms him down, saying that all they want is to meet Ricky. He worries that they might move away or get divorced. Amy’s certain that won’t happen and then realizes Ricky’s having second thoughts. He tries to calm her now. She tells him to be himself as he wonders who that is.

Max brings his (step) sister flowers. She is surprised and says they aren’t courting. He says he is and that he remembers she likes flowers. She can’t remember saying anything about that. She wonders what the flowers mean and he counters he wonders what she means. Adrian is confused, saying they were just going to hang out. She wonders when they are going to have sex. He wants to get to know her first. Adrian asks if he is gay. He’s put off, arguing that if someone doesn’t want to sleep with her, they aren’t gay. She thinks Daddy Dearest is behind it. Max argues he isn’t and just wants to have a regular date with her. Adrian agrees to go.

Grace fields a call, from someone asking if she wants to go somewhere. She’s now Miss Popular. Tom and Grace don’t know why. Josie does and lets Tom go to Tammy’s house. Josie thinks the birth control is the result of her sudden popularity. Really, a girl getting birth control is still a big deal? Maybe it’s because I went to an all-girls school…Grace says she likes the feeling the pills give her and remind her that sex is physical. That reminds me of when I turned 18, minus the sex part. Josie is afraid with Grace’s newfound attraction to sex but Grace still wants to do it with someone she wants to be with till death do them part. Grace fields another call.

It’s Duncan! He knows Jack is with Shawna, saying that they are stupid and obvious. Duncan warns Jack to be careful and to not hurt his sister. Jack assures him that he isn’t with Shawna because she’s a “good time.” Duncan asks him about his plans for Shawna. Jack answers the prom and admits he isn’t sure. He and Duncan go out to hang—like Jack’s court order mentoring advises.

Ricky’s foster mother knows Donovan and Leon and he praises her. Donovan and Leon listen intently. So does Molly, eavesdropping and knows Ricky is sabotaging the adoption. A blind person can tell Ricky is trying to get Donovan and Leon to take in an older child in foster care. Molly asks if Ashley knew about this. She says no as Molly continues to look nervous.

Donovan and Leon talk in the car, feeling that Ricky is screwed up. They don’t want the baby, they want their foster children back. They feel Amy’s baby will be fine no matter what happens. Ricky’s plan worked. I think. Anyway, Adrian and Max come back home and she is surprised she enjoyed going on an actual date. She agrees to do it again as he kisses her good night. She’s over the moon. She cancels a call—from Ricky. He leaves a voice message and then calls Grace. She doesn’t pick up as Josie looks on.

Back at the house, Molly is having a piece of cake. She wonders if Amy’s Dad talked to Donovan, but he forgot. Molly is afraid Ricky will sabotage all the other adoptions. They learn Ben is coming over, courtesy of Ashley, and then Amy’s Dad tells her that Ashley was “smoking” with some guy at the bus stop. Ben rings the bell and Amy is ready to kill him. She asks for one moment of privacy, kicking everyone out. Ben asks if she is in love with Ricky. She says no. Ben asks if she loves him enough to spend the rest of their life together. She says she just loves the baby and says it loud enough so Dad, Molly and Ashley can hear it. Ben says he loves Amy, she asks for some time. They continue to argue over Ricky. She says she can take care of herself and the baby will be adopted. Ben says he doesn’t want her to put the baby up for adoption. He reiterates that he wants to be with her. The family is still listening as Ben kisses Amy.  He lets her think.

As the Chords of Meaningfulness play us out, Amy lets Ben feel her baby kick.

Quote of the Episode:

“We’re not a couple anymore. You’re just some guy living in my garage.” –Molly

Next week: Grace tells Adrian to become a virgin again, Molly forces Amy to get a job and Ben has it out with Ricky.