As Brian is happily decked out in his new cheerleader sweater, Lauren is bummed. She used to be popular, but now in high school she's no longer getting accepted in anything she auditions for, lately the Fall dance show. Rather than have Lauren resort to taking up the clarinet again, Judy drags Bill to visit the school dance teacher. While there, Bill meets up with Madelyne the new drama teacher, a former classmate with whom Bill had a passionate summer fling 20 years ago. Following this happy reunion, Lauren gets a small part in the school play. Coincidence? Bill doesn't think so, not with a note from Madelyne asking for help back stage, a comment about a lot of catching up to do, and an offer of chili and beer at her house at night. Bill wearily avoids going to Madelyne's, and Lauren's monologue is thereafter cut from the show. Still a coincidence? Being told something of their past relationship, Judy immediately sends Bill back to flirt with Madelyne for the sake of their daughter, and Lauren winds up with a bigger role in the show. All a coincidence? Maybe, but will several revelations of that "Free Pass" summer, as Judy proclaims it, bring down the curtain on Lauren's stage career?
—statmanjeff