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Worry Duty is the twenty-first episode of season one.


Summary[]

Frankie gets concerned when Axl's on-again/off-again girlfriend Morgan returns and tries to make him become the man she wants. Meanwhile, Brick learns what being a mother is all about when he has to take care of a baby chick for a science project.

Plot[]

Frankie Heck believes there are two types of people in the world, non-worriers, and worriers. She fits into the latter category. She’s not alone. Sue worries that she’s part of a secret experiment that’s trying to determine how long a person can last with braces on her teeth. It’s possible. And Brick is worried about a chick. That’s not slang. We’re talking a real chick! More on that later.

The past few months have been a roller coaster of pain for Axl. His first love, Morgan, broke up with him. Then she took him back. Then they broke up again. Frankie was thrilled when they finally parted ways for good. Or did they? A mysterious stick of lip gloss found in Axl’s room leads Frankie to believe Morgan is back in the picture. Mike confirms her suspicions as Axl gave him the scoop a while ago. He kept mum because he knows Frankie isn’t crazy about the girl who keeps breaking her firstborn boy’s heart.

Brick’s science class is hatching eggs for a school project, and his is the only one that hasn’t hatched. He vows to care for the egg until the chick inside comes out. Brick’s hoping for a boy, so he names the little guy Scout. When the egg finally does hatch, Brick realizes parenthood can be very demanding. He says, “I’m wiped. He always wants to eat, play. I’m constantly cleaning up after him.” Frankie replies, “Throw in a carpool, and we’ll talk.”

To prove that she’s willing to accept Morgan, Frankie invites her over for dinner. They’ll be having chicken—regular, extra crispy, and extra chirpy. Actually, the extra chirpy refers to Brick’s chick Scout, who joins them at the table. Hopefully, Scout doesn’t have any relatives in any of those takeout boxes.

Morgan has quite the influence over Axl. She rattles off a laundry list of things she’s ordered him to do. Frankie manages to make it through dinner without fulfilling her fantasy of jumping across the table to strangle Morgan. But she is concerned that the girl has way too much power over her son. It’s keeping her up at night. As we know, she’s a worrier.

Mr. Ehlert is throwing a big picnic for all his employees and their families. Actually, it’s a birthday party for his granddaughter. But by inviting everyone at the dealership, the bash becomes a write-off. Frankie decides to take the high road and asks her son’s girlfriend to join them at the picnic. She feels pretty good about it until she overhears Morgan complaining to Axl about the invite.

At the picnic, Frankie and Mike are teamed in a corn-hole beanbag toss game. Axl and Morgan are on the team across from them. When Frankie witnesses Morgan railing on her lovesick son once again, she can’t take it anymore. She takes aim and flings a beanbag at Morgan’s head. It’s a direct hit! Bossy girlfriend is down! Frankie claims her beanbag bean was unintentional, but Mike knows the truth. Frankie says, “I’m not proud, but I sure feel better.” Hey, losing control of your kids is a tough thing to accept. Mike, a lifelong non-worrier, tells his wife there’s nothing they can do about it. Of course, he sings a different tune when he finds out Morgan doesn’t want Axl to play football next season. Now Mike’s the one who can’t sleep at night.

Believe it or not, Axl and Morgan break up again. It likely has something to do with the beautiful new foreign exchange student from Finland. See, Frankie? Everything always works out for the best. No worries.

The Middle Episodes
Season 1
PilotThe CheerleaderThe Floating AnniversaryThe TripThe Block PartyThe Front DoorThe ScratchThanksgivingSiblingsChristmasThe JeansThe NeighborThe InterviewThe YellingValentine's DayThe BeeThe Break-UpThe Fun HouseThe Final FourTV or Not TVWorry DutyMother's DaySignalsAverage Rules
Season 2
Back to SchoolHomecomingThe Diaper IncidentThe QuarryForeign ExchangeHalloweenA Birthday StoryErrand BoyThanksgiving IIA Simple ChristmasTaking Back the HouseThe Big ChillSuper SundayValentine's Day IIFriends, Lies and VideotapeHecks on a PlaneThe Math ClassSpring CleaningThe LegacyRoyal WeddingMother's Day IIThe PromThe BridgeBack to Summer
Season 3
Forced Family FunHecking OrderMajor ChangesThe TestBad ChoicesHalloween IIHeck's Best ThingThe PlayThanksgiving IIIA Christmas GiftYear of the HecksThe MapHecking It UpValentine's Day IIIThe ConcertThe Sit DownLeap YearThe Paper RouteGet Your Business DoneThe Guidance CounselorThe CloverThe TellingThe Wedding
Season 4
Last Whiff of SummerThe Second ActBunny TherapyThe HoseHalloween III: The DrivingThe SafeThanksgiving IVChristmas HelpTwenty YearsLife SkillsOne Kid at a TimeThe FriendThe SmileValentine's Day IVWinners and LosersWheel of PainThe NameThe BachelorDollar DaysFrom Orson with LoveHallelujah HoedownThe DitchThe Graduation
Season 5
The Drop OffChange in the AirThe PotatoThe 100thHalloween IV: The Ghost StoryThe JumpThanksgiving VThe KissThe Christmas TreeSleepless in OrsonWar of the HecksThe CarpoolHungry GamesThe AwardVacation DaysStormy MoonThe WalkThe SmellThe Wind ChimesThe OptimistOffice HoursHeck on a Hard BodyOrlandoThe Wonderful World of Hecks
Season 6
Unbraceable YouThe Loneliest LockerMajor AnxietyThe TableHalloween V: The HangingThe SinkholeThanksgiving VIThe College TourThe Christmas WallPam Freakin' StaggsA Quarry StoryHecks on a TrainValentine's Day VIThe AnswerSteaming Pile of GuiltFlirting with DisasterThe Waiting GameOperation InfiltrationSiblings and SombrerosFood CourtingTwo of a KindWhile You Were SleepingMother's Day ReservationsThe Graduate
Season 7
Not Your Brother's Drop OffCutting the CordThe ShirtRisky BusinessLand of the LostHalloween VI: Tick Tock DeathHomecoming II: The TailgateThanksgiving VIIThe ConventionNot So Silent NightThe RushBirds of a FeatherFloating 50Film, Friends and Fruit PiesHecks at a MovieThe Man HuntThe Wisdom TeethA Very Donahue VacationCrushedSurvey Says...The LanaiNot Mother's DayFind My HecksThe Show Must Go On
Season 8
The Core GroupA Tough Pill to SwallowHalloween VII: The HeckoningTrue GritRoadkillThanksgiving VIILook Who's Not TalkingTrip and FallA Very Marry ChristmasEscape OrsonHoosier MaidPitch ImperfectOvary and OutSorry Not Sorry Dental Hijinks Swing and a Miss Exes and OhhhsThe Par-tayThe ConfirmationAdult SwimClear and Present DangerThe Final FinalFight or Flight
Season 9
Vive La HecksPlease Don't Feed the HecksMeet the ParentsHalloween VIII: Orson Murder MysteryRole of a LifetimeThe SetupThanksgiving IXEyes Wide OpenThe 200thNew Year's RevelationsThe Other ManMommapaloozaGuess Who's Coming to Frozen DinnerToastedThe Crying GameHecks vs. Glossners: The Final BattleThank You for Not KissingBat Out of HeckGreat HeckspectationsThe Royal FlushSplit DecisionA Heck of a Ride
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