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"Kids in the Mist" is the twenty-fourth episode of the first season of Recess, which was first broadcast on January 10th, 1998.

Summary[]

A researcher named Dr. Quilty wants to research by video about recess. When she first tries it, she fails, then T.J. and the gang decide to help her out. How will it turn out?

Main Story[]

The story opens on the kids playing in the playground, while we hear Child Psychologist Dr Quilty speaking to Principal Prickly. She's proposing to Principal Prickly the idea of creating a documentary about the children and their antics at school and during recess. He's clearly not interested in what she has to say until she says that the Superintendent thinks the idea is genius and that the Principal of the school featured in her documentary will be showcased with wisdom in education, which makes him change his mind and agree.

Dr Quilty then spends the next few days trying to inconspicuously film the students. Trying to communicate with them and even going as far as to disguise herself in the jungle gym to hide from and observe them, all to no avail. She then returns to her camera sets to find her team, a group of Grad Students, have left because it is 'too much work for no cash money'. Dr Quilty grabs the camera, insisting that she doesn't need any help. To which then, the camera breaks and she falls to the ground in tears. T.J and the gang notice her anguish and offer to help her with Spinelli saying 'if you wanted to video tape us that bad, why didn't you just ask us?' T.J strikes a deal with Dr Quilty 'you promise to get off our playground and stop bugging us, and we'll help you make your video'. The gang then spend the next few days playing and frolicking as they would usually, while Dr Quilty films them and captures the very best and most fun elements of their recess time.

Dr Quilty expresses her gratitude to the gang, while taping up her temporary door name sign over the janitor's closet's door. She then says to the kids, 'I'm sure the final result will ensure that a lot of important changes get made around here', all while locking the closet door. Vince queries when they will be able to see the final result of the documentary, to see the efforts of their labours and Dr Quilty tells them 'let's say sometime around November...of next year'. The gang are shocked at this but she tries to cover by saying 'these things take time', she starts to leave and says goodbye to the kids, expressing that it has been a 'most interesting experience'. The gang are understandably confused and angry that she has dismissed them like this. T.J points out that if she is showcasing the film on the following Monday, then at least some of it must be done by now. Spinelli picks the lock to the door and the kids go inside. Mickey finds the movie and presses play, while the kids sit down to watch. The movie starts and the opening seems very normal as an immersive documentary into recess in a typical Elementary School.

"This is recess. The average student spends nearly minutes, more than hours, nearly three work weeks of every school year, on the playground. But do any of us know what our children are really doing out there? After years of painstaking research, I have discovered the truth. Recess: it's a place where dangerous antics rule the day. Where children are taught to steal bases and balls. Where the smartest, most intelligent child, is chased like a wild animal. Respected expert, principal Peter Prickly, has this to say: 'Recess? It's a waste of time, that's what it is. Kids today should be spending more time in the classroom, learning to compete in a global economy, and less time on the playground acting like... like children.' Perhaps this great man is right. Today's society stands at a crossroads. Do today's kids have time for recess, or should we get rid of this archaic institution? You be the judge!"

The kids feel betrayed as they discuss how she used them to film a movie that will encourage the possible banning of recess. They insist they must do something and T.J suggests that they make a new movie and swap it out for the old one, without anyone knowing. They film their own version of the movie, which they then do change out and edit with the old one. Dr Quilty, Superintendent Skinner, Principal Prickly and the head of Quilty's department, Dr Fitzenberg all arrive to the closet to preview the tape, so the kids hide themselves away, as they didn't have time to escape. Dr Quilty plays the tape and is pleased with herself to begin with, until she notices the changes. The kids had edited the movie to create a complete parody version, including; Micky pretending to be a train and then a clip of a train collision to show 'dangerous antics'. Spinelli and Gus are chased by police officers after 'stealing bases and balls'. Gretchen 'being chased by the wild animal' which cuts to tigers in the jungle. The adults are all laughing, except Quilty, at the parody as they're approaching Principle Prickly's section, where he hushes them for his moment. To then discover that his entire section has been dubbed over with a pig snorting. The movie is then changed in voiceover to T.J and the gang;

"But what do the real experts say? Recess is a place where you can swing so high, you can see over the tops of houses. Where you can slide so fast, you can't even walk afterwards. A place where hanging with your friends really means hanging with your friends. The average kid spends hours in school very year, more than hours doing homework, hours doing chores, and only minutes a day on the playground. Sure, we want to learn to become good adults, but we're only kids for a little while. So just give us a break. Please?"

Prickly then berates Quilty and she defends herself saying it's some sort of mistake. However, Superintendent Skinner & Dr Fitzenberg express their love for the movie. They say it's brilliant and how great of an idea it was to give the control and cameras to the kids for the movie. She expresses that Quilty will be working and studying with children for a very long time, based on how impressed she is, much to Quilty's dismay. She then asks Superintendent Skinner if she would like to join both ladies for lunch, while Skinner asks Fitzenberg if she knows anyone who she would recommend for a Middle School job he has open. Prickly interjects, saying he knows someone, to which Skinner says 'Shut Up Prickly'.

The gang go out onto the playground to see Dr Quilty trying to engage with the Kindergarteners, before they tie her up and pull her into their pen with her shouting 'Why me!' as they do.

Goofs[]

  • Animation/continuity error: During the opening scene, there is a girl sliding down in the playground. Once she walks away, her hair is still floating up in air and keeps floating until the scene is over.
  • Animation/continuity error: During the opening scene, Dr. Quilty is shown watching the playground by staying close to the left side of the window. Once perspective changes while she is talking, she is much farther and by the right side of the window.
  • Animation/consistency error: In the beginning, while Dr. Quilty is talking to Principal Prickly inside his room, the room lacks consistency. Its size varies several times. The windows vary in number and size. The view from the windows also varies from visible kids playing at the jungle gym to a deserted playground.
  • Animation/continuity error: While Dr. Quilty is crying beside the camera and its tripod stand, it is visible that the stand lies between her and the tree. Once perspective changes to show her talking, the stand is missing. The stand reappears in the following scenes.
  • Animation/continuity error: When the gang decides to enter Dr. Quilty's room to see the video, Vince talks and then looks to Gretchen, who has both arms down. When the perspective changes to show Spinelli coming to pick the lock, Gretchen's arm is suddenly up and is moving down. It is possible that Gretchen was supposed to do something, but the scene has been cut.
  • Animation/continuity error: When the Recess Gang watches Dr. Quilty cry, a line is drawn around Spinelli's waist, making her look like she is wearing a shirt and a skirt instead.

Trivia[]

Regular[]

  • In this episode, it is revealed that Gretchen wears a retainer.
  • It is revealed that Principal Prickly's first name is Peter.
  • It is revealed that Skinner's first name is Fred.

Cast[]

Gallery[]

Photos The Recess Wiki has a collection of images about Kids in the Mist
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