6teen/A Crime of Fashion

A Crime of Fashion
Season 2, Episode 24
Airdate	April 10, 2006
Written by
Directed by
← 2x23 Over Exposed	2x25 → Spring Fling
6teen — Season Two

A Crime of Fashion is the twenty-fourth episode of the second season of 6teen, and the fiftieth episode overall.

Guest Stars: Krista Sutton (Courtney Masterson)

Plot Overview

Caitlin and Jen are window shopping at Albatross & Finch when Caitlin discovers a purple beaded halter top that she likes and wants to try on. While trying on items in the change rooms, Caitlin tells Jen about an employee from Taj Mahome Videos, Ryan, whom she met while closing up the Big Squeeze the previous night, when her rival Tricia shows up and "accidentally on purpose" spills the milkshake she had down the top Caitlin wore at the time, ruining the clothing item, then stealing Ryan away while Cait was in the washroom cleaning up. Caitlin finds out the price of the halter top and realizes she can't afford to buy it, then comments to Jen that Tricia is too selfish to care about hurting the feelings of others before the girls leave to return the items they tried on. Unknown to Caitlin and Jen at the time, Tricia is in a neighboring stall and comes out moments later, having heard every word Caitlin said, and she begins plotting a diabolical revenge against her ex-friend.

At the food court, Jonesy announces that he has landed a new job at the Soda Hop ice cream parlor, and the gang discovers the reason he wants to work there—his co-worker is Amélie, a French exchange student whom many of the mall's male patrons lust after because of her big breasts. Moments later, Jen arrives with Robbie, Jonesy's bratty youngest brother, in tow and tells Jonesy that it's his turn to look after him until his father returns from his business trip because she has had enough of Robbie's antics, which he continues getting into when he gets hold of two of Caitlin's tampons and stuffs them up his nose, then snorts them out into a blender which he turns on without the cover, splashing lemonade all over Cait, before running off laughing. Nikki then volunteers to watch Robbie while she works at the Khaki Barn, saying that her main reason for doing so is because Robbie's presence there will drive The Clones crazy.

After the gang heads their separate ways to return to work, Tricia shows up at the Big Squeeze and, as part of her revenge scheme, offers a phony apology to a wary Caitlin for spilling her milkshake on her and for stealing Ryan from her, with Tricia claiming that she only found out Caitlin was into him after her friend Gwen told her about it (when, in truth, she knew about Cait's crush on him in advance). Tricia then offers to make amends by going shopping with Caitlin, who is still unsure of her former friend's intentions until Tricia flashes an Albatross & Finch discount card in her face, which then convinces Caitlin to go along.

While Jonesy and Amélie are on duty at the Soda Hop, a long lineup of male patrons is forming, there primarily because of Amélie (whose ample breast cleavage can be seen by each customer as she scoops ice cream for their orders). Jude and Wyatt drop by the store and Jude makes fun of the hair net Jonesy has to wear while Wyatt notes that Amélie is not wearing one, to which Jonesy replies if they would make her wear a hair net, noting Amélie's long, luxurious dark hair. Jonesy serves Wyatt and Jude before sending them on their way, telling them that he wants to get "alone time" with Amélie.

Outside a men's formal wear store, Jude notices a clothing mannequin, which looks remarkably like him, inside the store window, and Jude decides to have fun with the mannequin by going inside the store and posing beside it to scare passers-by who see what they think are two mannequins when the second "mannequin" comes to life. Jen walks by and sees Jude, who shows her the resemblance of the actual mannequin to him, which astonishes Jen. Meanwhile at the Khaki Barn, The Clones have their hands more than full dealing with the rambunctious Robbie, who answers the store phone, redubs the store as "The Cracky Barn", farts into the phone and finishes the phone conversation with "Have a Cracky Day" (a play on The Clones' departing tagline to customers), causing Nikki to laugh herself silly over Robbie's hijinks with the unimpressed Chrissy and Kirsten.

Caitlin and Tricia arrive at Albatross & Finch, and Tricia heads straight to the very halter top which Caitlin wants and hands it to her, telling her that it looks perfect on her. Caitlin explains that she loves the top but is unable to afford it, then while she turns her back to look at some camisoles on sale, Tricia seizes her chance and stuffs the halter top into one of Cait's shopping bags. As the two girls leave to head to Huntington's Department Store, a store alarm goes off inside Albatross & Finch and two Greeter Goddesses show up and request to see Caitlin's bags, which she willingly hands over—and the top Tricia placed inside one of them is discovered. Tricia, satisfied at the success of her evil plan, fakes surprise at Caitlin "shoplifting" from A&F while Cait protests and proclaims her innocence. Ron the Rent-a-cop arrives and, after he asks who the shoplifting suspect is, Tricia and the Greeter Goddesses point at Caitlin, who is next seen in tears in the mall's security office holding cell after Ron arrests her on the false charge.

Jonesy attempts to ask Amélie out on a date after the customer rush at the Soda Hop dies down, but the disinterested Amélie turns him down. Later at the food court, Caitlin tells the gang about what happened to her earlier, explaining that Ron would not release her until mugshots were taken and her parents arrived to post her bail. Jonesy, Nikki, Jude and Wyatt automatically believe Caitlin is innocent, but Jen is not so sure because the item Cait was accused of stealing is the halter top she likes. Jen mentions that her sister Courtney is stuck to babysit Robbie, then calls Jonesy the real loser after telling him that she heard about Amélie, which Jonesy brushes off as a minor setback and declares that he will get a date with her in time. After everyone else leaves, Nikki asks Caitlin to talk her through what happened at Albatross & Finch, and the moment she hears Cait mention Tricia's name, Nikki puts the clues together and Caitlin automatically discovers that Tricia framed her for the crime.

Nikki puts together a plan to prove Caitlin's innocence and clear her name by telling her that they have to get the security tape from Albatross & Finch, but Caitlin explains that she has been banned from the store and Ron, who seems sure of her guilt, will not look at the tape, so Nikki tells her that she will distract the staff while Caitlin looks for the tape. Nikki buys time for Caitlin by telling three Greeter Goddesses that a new, even cooler store has opened at the mall, but Caitlin is unable to find the tape before the unimpressed Goddesses return and spot her, and Cait is arrested again. At the Soda Hop, Jonesy finally convinces Amélie to go on a date with him when she gives in after his repeated requests. Jude is still looking at his doppelganger mannequin at the formal wear shop when Stanley the brat recognizes him and points out that there is another mannequin which looks like him, wearing only skimpy swimming briefs inside a swimwear store, which causes Jude to freak out.

Back at the Big Squeeze, Jonesy brags about his planned date with Amélie and Jen tells him not to bring Amélie back to their house, which gives Jonesy the idea to do exactly that following dinner out, much to Jen's chagrin. Caitlin, who could not bring herself to ask her parents to bail her out of security holding a second time, thanks her friends for bailing her, then Nikki suggests trying again to get the security tape, this time getting Darth from Stereo Shack involved. Darth has ethical doubts about doing it, but his girlfriend, Wonder Taco Julie, convinces him to agree by using Star Wars references as precedent, making Caitlin happy.

Meanwhile, Jonesy gets ready for his date with Amélie when Courtney shows up with Robbie and unloads him on his big brother, telling him her plans have changed because she now has a date and wants Jonesy to watch him. Amélie returns, marvels over Robbie and asks Jonesy to bring him on the date, but a frustrated Jonesy warns his younger sibling not to do or say anything. The threesome head to Super Terrific Happy Sushi for dinner (which does not sit well with Jonesy because of his hatred of sushi) at the suggestion of Robbie, who gets up to his usual mischief there, including sneaking under the table to try and look up Amélie's skirt, then getting Jonesy framed for the dirty deed after he tells his bratty brother to get back to his seat. Amélie has her doubts about the date, but Robbie convinces her to stay by telling her that Jonesy is in love with her and thinks that she's the hottest girl he has ever seen, flattering Amélie.

At Albatross & Finch after hours, Darth uses an electronic device to bypass the store's security systems and allow Caitlin to get inside and get the security tape she needs to prove her innocence. Outside A&F, Jonesy, Amélie and Robbie walk past when Jonesy finally has enough of his brother's pranks and hauls him off to the center court fountain, leading Amélie to call for help. Ron arrives and sees Jonesy gorilla-pressing Robbie over his head in preparation to throw him into the fountain pool, when at the same time, he spots Caitlin and Darth with the tape at the A&F entrance, and Jonesy, Cait and Darth all end up in the security office lockup. The three are released shortly after when Ron finally looks at the tape, and Caitlin gets the gang (including Jen, who is finally convinced of her friend's innocence and apologizes for doubting her) to follow her to the Khaki Barn, where Ron shows up and arrests Tricia for framing Caitlin for shoplifting.

At the food court, Caitlin reveals that she has been cleared of all charges against her and Albatross & Finch, in light of the security tape, has allowed her to shop at the store again and given her a $50 gift certificate, enabling her to get her prized halter top, while Tricia has been sentenced to 100 hours of community service for shoplifting. Jonesy, however, laments that he has been dumped by Amélie and fired from the Soda Hop, when moments later, he sees Amélie walking by with Robbie and he starts chasing after his brother.

Arc Advancement

Referbacks

• In the two mugshots taken of Caitlin after she is framed for shoplifting, the first one shows her crying as she holds up her information card, which first appeared in "One Quiet Day"
• The Soda Hop is first mentioned in "Take This Job and Squeeze It", but its format then was listed as a 1950s-themed restaurant. Jonesy had worked there then as well, but was fired 10 minutes after being hired when he makes a pass at the hostess, who was also the boss's daughter

Trivia

Allusions and References

• Caitlin's plea to Darth to help clear her name—"Help me Darth, you're my only hope!"—mirrors that of Princess Leia to Obi-Wan Kenobi in the holographic message carried by R2-D2 in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope