Episode 3 of Season 1 of "Changing Ends" unfolds within the confines of Alan's home, where he sports a telltale black eye, sparking curiosity about its origin. A poignant flashback draws us back two days earlier, immersing us in Alan's school life—a place where he serves as the unwitting punchline of every joke. Amidst his ordeal, we switch scenes to his mother, Christine, engaged in idle chatter with Mrs. Hudson, a prejudiced neighbor. Mrs. Hudson inquisitively asks if Alan has a girlfriend, subsequently dropping a bombshell on Christine by revealing Alan's plight at the hands of bullies—news that comes as a stunning revelation to her.
Meanwhile, Graham finds himself at the football club, attending a meeting with Ron, where he receives a shocking disclosure: the club's premises have been deemed unsafe and condemned. Elsewhere, Alan too faces condemnation, but not for any infraction; rather, for simply being himself. The cruel taunts of his peers echo relentlessly around him, until an unexpected interruption arises in the form of Miss Gideon, a drama teacher who crawls across the floor, assuming the guise of a feline! It transpires that she is the school's new head of drama, fresh from the world of performance. Alan, captivated by her presence, inquiries if she has starred in his beloved "Murder She Wrote," to which she replies in the negative, though he recognizes her from a television commercial. Unlike the skeptical headmaster, who views her as an unnecessary expense, Alan is utterly enchanted by Miss Gideon.
We are then transported back to Alan's cozy abode, where Graham, engrossed in a television report, watches with dismay as the football ground is scrutinized negatively in the news. Christine confides in him about Alan's bullying, prompting Graham to suggest confrontation as the solution, which Christine rebuffs, mindful of Alan's spectacles that make him an unlikely candidate for physical altercations.
As Alan heads to Miss Gideon's drama club, the excitement in his step carries him through the school corridors. Inside, he immerses himself in the thrill of performance, while unbeknownst to him, the school bullies lurk behind the door, their cruel laughter echoing as a dark counterpoint to his joy. The drama session unfolds smoothly, each scene bringing Alan deeper into the magic of theater, until a glimpse of the bullies mocking him from afar shatters his euphoria.
Returning home, Alan recounts the day's festivities with a gleam in his eye, but his father's concern clouds the air, worrying that such involvements might not enhance Alan's reputation. Hardly had the conversation settled when Kay, a fellow drama enthusiast and budding friend of Alan's, steps into their home. Catching sight of Christine puffing on a cigarette, Kay's voice rises in earnest warning, her tone steeped in concern for her friend's well-being. However, in a typical 80s disregard for caution, Christine brushes off the advice with a casual shrug.
The narrative shifts briefly to the football club, where Graham's interview denounces the premises as a "death trap," painting a stark contrast to the warmth of Alan's home. Back indoors, Christine boasts to Mrs. Hudson about Kay, mischievously branding her as Alan's new "girlfriend," adding a layer of teenage intrigue to the domestic scene.
The following day, Alan and Kay find themselves back at school, where Kay eagerly anticipates their rehearsed kiss—a moment that fills her with anticipation but leaves Alan distinctly uncomfortable. Matters worsen when the bullies resurface, their threats hanging like a dark cloud over Alan's head. Fortunately, Miss Gideon enters the fray like a guardian angel, stepping in to quell the impending storm.
As Alan seeks refuge in the dim confines of the storage cupboard, she gently approaches to comfort him, inquiring with concern if he's the victim of bullying. With a whimsical yet determined tone, she confesses her inability to discipline the bullies with a cane but jokes, hinting at the iconic scene from the Joan Crawford biopic 'Mommie Dearest,' that perhaps she might wield a wire coat hanger instead. Miss Gideon, with unwavering support, urges Alan to embrace his true self, undeterred by the cruelty of his tormentors. Her words of encouragement breathe new confidence into him, a timely boost as he prepares to rehearse for the school's production of 'Romeo and Juliet.'
The rehearsal proceeds smoothly, each actor diving into their roles with fervent enthusiasm. However, during the intimate kissing scene with Kay, disaster strikes as the bullies' sudden and rude knocking startles her, causing their heads to collide with a resounding thud. This unfortunate encounter leaves Alan with a noticeable black eye!
When his father queries the source of his injury, Alan fabricates a tale of a heroic scuffle, a fib that delights his dad, who finds solace in the notion that his son has engaged in a display of machismo.
