Episode 2 of Season 1 of "Changing Ends" unfurls in the comfort of Alan's home, where the melodies of an ice cream van serenade the air, igniting his youthful exuberance. He dashes outside with bated breath, only to find his heart sink as the van speeds away, his eager strides in vain pursuit.
This fateful morning also marks Alan's inaugural day at "big school," a milestone captured through the lens of his mother's camera, while across the street, Mr. Hudson commemorates similarly, filming his son with pride.
Upon entering the school premises, Alan's eyes are met with a distressing sight—vandalism and litter adorning the playground like unwanted guests. As he indulges in sweets, his reverie is shattered by a conversation between two kids, who vent their frustrations over his father's stewardship of the local football team, vociferously demanding Graham's dismissal. They tag Alan in their grievance, vowing to subject him to a humiliating prank known as "bog-washing" upon sight. Alan, who overheads this, chokes on a sweet, his fear of revelation compelling him to feign identity, introducing himself as Aaron before making a hasty retreat.
Meanwhile, Graham and the football team find themselves in a dilapidated changing room, its decrepit state a topic of conversation between Graham and Ron, the building's owner.
Back at school, Alan shares his overwhelm with his friend Charlie, their camaraderie interrupted by the arrival of Charlie's girlfriend, who plants a kiss on him and curiously inquiries about Alan's romantic life. In a bid to diffuse the situation, Alan playfully confesses to having fallen for a sentient shop dummy, a whimsical nod to the 1987 film "Mannequin."
Meanwhile, Mrs. Hudson is grilling Christine about Alan, insisting that his sensitive nature might be causing him difficulties at school. However, Christine brushes aside her prejudiced remarks with disdain. As lunchtime rolls around at school, Alan finds himself in good spirits amidst the bustling dinner ladies. The boys he had encountered earlier approach him, inquiring if he roots for the local football team. Alan, fearing they might discover his identity as the manager's son, feels unease in their company. The conversation then shifts to physical education (P.E.) class and the subsequent showers, leaving Alan dreading the prospect.
Later, Christine finds herself envious of Mrs. Hudson, who is planning a romantic dinner with her husband. She longs for Graham to take her out sometime soon. Their conversation is abruptly halted by Alan, who announces that he is unwell. In reality, it's just a clever ruse to skip P.E. the following day. As he rests in his room, every TV channel seems to mention showers, further escalating Alan's anxiety about the upcoming class.
The next day, Alan is back at school, where he bumps into Charlie and his girlfriend. The couple is in hot water for being caught shoplifting. When Charlie mentions that he'll miss P.E. due to his punishment, it piques Alan's interest. Desperate to avoid P.E. himself, Alan agrees to take the blame for Charlie and pretend that he stole the hair gel Charlie had taken.
Alan finds himself in hot water with the headmaster for the alleged 'theft.' However, when the headmaster realizes that Alan is the son of Graham Carr, the football manager he deeply admires, his face lights up, and he lets Alan off scot-free. But Alan is far from pleased with this unexpected twist.
We then shift our focus to Graham, who boldly invites both himself and Nancy to a social gathering organized by Ron. Meanwhile, back at school, Alan dreads the prospect of his P.E. class, a subject he'd rather avoid. Upon reaching the changing rooms, Alan feigns distress, informing his teacher that his sports gear has mysteriously vanished. His teacher, taken in by his apparent distress, lends him a spare set out of pity.
After enduring an arduous workout in the open air, the teacher inquiries Alan's name. A nervous Alan, on the verge of confessing his true identity, is surprisingly "rescued by the bell," which conveniently halts his impending revelation amidst his peers.
However, Alan's true identity is eventually uncovered. When his parents dine at Wimpy, a renowned burger joint from the 1980s celebrating its grand reopening, Alan's father is honored with the task of cutting the ribbon. A photographer captures this moment, immortalizing both father and son in a snap.
This photo lands on the front page of the newspaper, much to the astonishment of the "bog-washing" bullies from earlier, who now realize that Alan is none other than Graham's son. The boys threaten Alan, but as he strides away from them, he resolves to embrace his authenticity, realizing that if these were indeed his final hours, he would live them true to himself. Thus, he confidently strides across the playground, adorned with a scarf, embodying a newfound sense of self.
