Excluding and Abstemiousness (S05E05)

Emmett tells Debbie that the flowers and candy that Loretta brings her clearly indicate that she is in love with Debbie. Loretta misinterprets Debbie's suggestion that they go to a lesbian bar together. When Debbie finally tells Loretta that she cannot pursue a sexual relationship with her, Loretta resolves to leave Pittsburgh as the only way to cope with her fixation. Michael leaves Jenny Rebecca in the care of Justin and Daphne (recurring guest star Makyla Smith) to attend a meeting with Ben at Hunter's high school with parents who are concerned about having an HIV-positive former prostitute among the students. When Jenny Rebecca develops a fever, Justin is unable to contact Michael by phone. He contacts Melanie and Lindsay, who rush to the local hospital emergency room. When Michael joins them, he tries to explain the situation, but an irate Melanie threatens to have Michael's custody rights revoked. The hostility of the argument between Michael and Melanie provides a moment of clarity for Lindsay, who decides that she no longer wants to participate in a custody-sharing plan that does not have the baby's interest as its primary focus. Michael ultimately realizes that he has been more concerned about his parental rights than about his infant daughter's needs. Meanwhile, the viciousness displayed by the parents of his classmates and his ongoing ostracizing at school momentarily lead Hunter back to the streets, but Ben and Michael will not allow him to simply give up on his education and his future. Brian can hardly believe his doctor's diagnosis of syphilis. When Brian begins to notify recent sex partners so that they can get tested, the shocking rapidity with which an epidemic can explode is revealed. Justin is bothered by Brian's cavalier attitude toward this bout with a sexually transmitted disease and unresponsive to sex when Brian's recovery period is over. Meanwhile, following his cosmetic surgery, Ted refuses to show his new face to the world. When Ted finally goes out in public, Michael, Ben and Brian rave about how much younger he looks, although privately they say they do not notice much of a change. (Warner Bros. UK)