Episode 2 of *Chad Powers* kicks off with Russ and Danny scrambling to secure Chad's forged documents. Just then, an acquaintance of Danny's shows up, and they strike a deal with him. There's just one catch: he needs a home address to wrap up the task. This extended negotiation leads to an unexpected revelation—he spots a fly trapped beneath Chad's skin. As Russ lifts his prosthetic limb in an attempt to dislodge the insect, chaos swiftly ensues. Danny frantically tries to intervene, while the other man starts screaming, demanding to know if Chad is some kind of "bug man."
After the commotion settles, Chad is all set to begin. Before the coaches make their appearance, he takes a moment to survey the field from the stands. Suddenly, an overly enthusiastic teammate named Gerry bounds over to greet him. After a brief exchange, Russ dismisses Gerry, assuming he's merely a backup quarterback.
However, Russ's ego takes a hit when he steps onto the field. His pass to Nishan, the team's star receiver and the same player who once labeled Chad a coward, goes horribly awry. Almost immediately, one of the coaches pulls Russ out of practice and substitutes him with Gerry. It turns out they're vying for the same starting quarterback spot.
Russ encounters another obstacle in the locker room. Due to his prosthetics, he can't shower with the rest of the team, further alienating him. Coach Hudson attempts to persuade Russ to integrate more with the squad, emphasizing the need for leadership. But Russ only exacerbates the situation by claiming he can't shower because of a medical condition—in his words, his "urethra is too large," and exposure to water would make him ill.
Yet, Russ can't dodge water forever. Coach Hudson invites him to a barbecue at his lakeside residence, stressing that participation is crucial for Russ to claim the team leader role. Living under Danny's roof, tensions flare at night as they debate Russ's proximity to water. The boy insists Chad should steer clear of all elements, while Russ only has complaints about Danny's living conditions.
Moreover, Danny warns Russ to tone it down, pointing out the outrageous lies he's already spun that he'll now have to uphold. He then presents Russ with a list of his most outrageous claims, some of which are downright hilarious. One such gem is Russ's explanation for avoiding performances in front of crowds: the fans feared wolves would devour their babies.
At the serene lakeside retreat, the coach attempted to persuade his wife to join him, but it was clear that the spark in their relationship had dimmed, and she firmly declined his invitation. Turning to his fellow coaches for counsel, they found themselves at an impasse, unable to reach a consensus on who should be named the starting quarterback. However, Ricky jogged their memories with a crucial reminder: the influential boosters also held a stake in this decision.
Almost in the same breath as Hudson confidently declared, "This is my team," Tricia made a striking entrance, asserting with unmistakable authority that she indeed had a voice in determining the team's quarterback. Meanwhile, Ricky slipped away from the house, determined to avoid the prying eyes of others seeing her arrive at the barbecue with her father. Outside, she unexpectedly crossed paths with Chad, who managed to coax a laugh out of her with his quirky and offbeat humor.
During the lively barbecue gathering, Chad made a valiant effort to bond with his teammates, but Nishan persisted in teasing him about his fear of water. When his attempts at being amiable fell flat, Chad retreated inside the house, where he encountered Tricia. She informed him that they were in search of old videos showcasing his past performances, only to discover that none were to be found.
In a desperate bid to maintain his fabricated image, Chad concocted an even more elaborate web of lies, claiming that his family had never had internet access and that their tradition was to pass down athletic highlights through oral storytelling. As his creativity began to wane and he struggled to come up with further excuses, Chad abruptly excused himself, explaining that the elders in his community had taught him never to remain alone in a room with a woman.
Then, this nightmarish barbecue party takes an even darker turn for Russ. The team launches into a water balloon war, and Russ finds himself reluctantly dragged into the fray. At first, he's all about dodging the onslaught of water balloons, desperately trying to stay dry amidst the chaos. But soon, Gerry steps up as the commander-in-chief of his team, hatching strategies with everyone around him. That's when Russ decides to throw caution to the wind.
He snatches a water balloon straight from Gerry's grasp and launches himself into full-on offensive mode. He takes down opponent after opponent, using his own teammates as human shields when necessary. When Nishan tries to take a shot at him, Russ cleverly positions Gerry in front of himself as a decoy and hurls the balloon at Nishan, clinching victory in the war. But the celebration is short-lived as his teammates promptly dump a bucket of water over his head.
He dashes off to the bathroom, hoping to salvage his waterlogged prosthetic, only to find it's completely soaked inside. Suddenly, there's a knock on the door. It's Ricky, passing on a message from Chad that her father wants a word with him. Hudson, the coach, pulls Russ aside and tells him he knows Chad is a standout player, but he also picks up on a sense of fear emanating from Russ. He insists they can't afford to be scared of losing in the game because, frankly, that's not an option.
That's when it clicks for Russ. Coach Hudson is basically saying he's lost the quarterback spot to Gerry. Russ tries to argue his case, but his prosthetic starts leaking water, almost as if it's shedding tears along with him. With no other recourse, he takes off running.
Once he's in his car, he dials his dad's number. But the conversation is a dead end; his father has already given up on him and makes no secret of it. Russ even tries to cut the call short by claiming they have a "bad connection," but his father is on the same wavelength, agreeing to end it there.
Although part of him yearns to go back home, Russ realizes that ship has sailed. So, he puts on his usual brave face, grabs a few pillows for comfort, and heads back to Danny's house. The next day, he finds himself at the field, a silent observer as Gerry takes his place and shines in the quarterback role.
