Season 6

Episode 620: “Quality Time”

Episode 620: “Quality Time”
Original Air Date: April 2, 2000
Written by: Rosanne Welch
Directed by: Peter H. Hunt
Produced by:

Martha Williamson
Jon Andersen
R.J. Visciglia, Jr.

Guest Cast:

 

Amy Amanda Barfield
Toni Robin Bartlett
Paul Ray Abruzzo
Angelo Sean Marquette
Matt Nate Richert
Coach Duncan Robert Cicchini
Jerry Brian Howe

Toni Cozzi organizes her life the same way she runs her family — in adherence to a rigid schedule. Monica and Tess watch unseen as Toni prepares for her day, completing even the simplest of tasks with perfect timing — Toni’s way of keeping her family safe. That family includes: patriarch Paul, an idea man who is always preoccupied, Amy, a high school volleyball player, and Angelo, the youngest, whose specialty is playing the tuba and getting into mischief. The family is just days away from the grand opening of their new pizza parlor “Paul and Toni’s Perfect Pizza.”

Monica is hired as a chef and Andrew as a handyman. As Monica begins making the pizza, it becomes apparent that Toni won’t reveal the secret of her family sauce — not even to her own family! At the same time, Toni worries about Amy’s increasing appetite and water intake, and about her general moodiness, scared that Amy is getting into drugs. When Amy collapses on the volleyball court, the doctors diagnose her with juvenile diabetes. Tess, the nurse, teaches the family about the condition. Since the body has stopped making insulin, Amy will have to test her blood and give herself insulin shots. Toni immediately takes charge, planning to beat the disease with perfect scheduling. Tess reminds them that, as of yet, there is no cure for diabetes. Amy insists that none of her friends know about this, especially not her boyfriend Matt. While Amy recuperates at the hospital, everyone at the restaurant pitches in to do her duties.

Monica is reassigned to be the waitress and Andrew becomes the chef. When Amy comes home, Toni wakes up in the middle of every night to make sure that Amy has taken her shot. Paul, on the other hand, is squeamish around needles and can’t help. At the next game, Angelo tells a shocked Matt about the diabetes. The coach tells Amy that, in light of her condition, he wants her mom to travel with the team. Amy is horrified and decides to quit. The day before the grand opening, everyone rushes to prepare. When Toni learns that Paul has picked up the wrong uniforms and that Amy hasn’t taken her latest shot, she breaks down. Frustrated, Amy leaves to find Matt. When Matt tells Amy that he knows about her diabetes, Amy gives herself a shot to show him how easy it is, but she isn’t careful with the levels. Upset that Amy hid this from him, Matt breaks up with her. As Matt leaves, Amy becomes very sick.

Monica finds her and takes her to the hospital. When Paul and Toni hear the news they leave the restaurant for the hospital, accidentally leaving an apron on the lit stove. Soon a fire starts, and Andrew arrives to rescue Angelo and to douse the flames. When Paul and Toni return with a recovered Amy, they find a charred kitchen. First Paul and Toni begin to fight, then Amy and Angelo join in, each blaming the other for this setback. In the midst of the chaos, Monica reveals to the family that she is an angel, and reminds them that they need to make God a family member, and the first guest in the new restaurant. The family prays, committing themselves to God. Everyone pitches in to clean up the restaurant for the opening. Just before they open the doors to a huge crowd, Toni reveals the secret ingredient in the pizza sauce — nutmeg. Now it’s a family secret!

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