SVH #4 Power Play (updated reissue)
SVH #4 Power Play (updated reissue c2008)
I’m sorry my recaps are always so long. Remember those English 101 comparison papers you had to write? I thought it might be fun to take the old school and 2008 reissue copies and compare them back to back, chapter by chapter. Little did I know what was getting into…
Here's the two covers we got old school classic SVH vs. the 2008 reissue. No contest here.
Here’s the blurb on the back:
Jessica Wakefield is used to setting off sparks. But when she starts a new, highly selective club-the Sweet Valley High Beautification Committee-she begins a war with her twin sister.
Elizabeth knows that Jessica has more on her mind than simply cleaning up the SVH campus. It’s obvious that the Beauties are out to become the most exclusive group of girls at school, even if it means walking all over those they deem unworthy.
Only one Wakefield can reign supreme. And Liz is determined to show Jessica that the final say on beauty won’t come from a committee vote.
The little SVH Flags at the top of each chapter have now disappeared I am saddend by their loss
Chapter 1
Elizabeth is eating her lunch with Enid, Todd, and Winston Egbert. Jessica suddenly appears tossing a clipboard at Elizabeth insisting everyone sign up for her new club, “the Beauties,” short for The Sweet Valley High Beautification Committee. Jessica excitedly tells them her new club idea will restore some pride in their school (and considering SVH’s homicide rate, they certainly need it!) but Liz knows her scheming twin really wants to be the school’s newest beauty queen in the upcoming Miss SVH pageant which requires every contestant to have performed at least eight hours of weekly community service, (something Jessica won’t experience until after Jungle Prom).
According to the SVH student handbook, Jessica needs at least twelve members in her club to be legal so Liz and Enid agree to sign up, that is, Liz passes the clipboard to Enid before a horrified Jess can snatch it away. Enid is described not only as being Liz’s best friend but smart and shy. Sadly, Enid wears Old Navy to school (LOO-SER!) unlike Jess and her friends who’re all described as “vapid, aloof and designer clad”.
Todd, whose only description is being Elizabeth’s tall, shaggy-brown-haired, ridiculously handsome boyfriend, hearing the new club referred to as “the Beauties” makes him snort soda out of his nose while our lovable Winston, who now wears glasses (glasses? Ok, maybe in the TV show but never in MY mind!) and has a mane of curly brown hair, and is still wildly crushing on Jessica, begs Jess to let him sign up but Jess wants to keep this mutually exclusive club an all female one.
At home that afternoon, Elizabeth is Swiffering (do I detect some product placement endorsement here?) and singing A Happy Working Song when the kitchen phone rings, the caller ID indicates Jessica’s cell. Jessica tells Liz she’ll be home to help with the housework as soon as she picks up her library books and Alice’s dry cleaning.
Elizabeth is about to start the vacuuming when Robin Wilson appears on her doorstep with all the items Jessica claimed to be out picking up. Robin begins chowing down on Snickers bars while Liz gains twenty pounds just watching her. Liz pats herself on the back for her “skinny genes” and being brought up on a healthy diet. This is also where we get the description of the twins “perfect size four figures” (wait, size FOUR???) healthy glowing skin and identical features right down to the lavalieres but different personalities. Elizabeth knows when to eat well and when it’s OK to indulge. She thinks to herself that Robin just MIGHT be better off if she carried an apple around with her once in a while, instead of junk food. Actual quote: “Sometimes Elizabeth couldn’t help thinking that Robin could be a serious hottie if she’d just stop giving into her cravings so easily.”
And now that we’ve had this “healthy lifestyle message” practically shoved down our throats by the ghostwriter, I can get on with the recap!
Robin, who just moved to SV, is described as “a pretty girl with thick brown hair and sparkling brown eyes”. But, tragically, Robin has one problem, she’s a BIT overweight AND she’s self-conscious about it. Saint Elizabeth feels her friend’s pain especially when Robin refers to her and Jessica’s relationship as “best friends”. Robin, who just heard about Jessica’s new club, is excited to join. Elizabeth promises to let her know when the first meeting of the club will be. Just then Jessica arrives home and Robin practically knocks her over with an enthusiastic hug before Jessica’s even had time to check her e-mail.
After Robin leaves Liz notices Jess’s extravagant necklace which Jess just shrugs off. Sparks begin to fly when Elizabeth says she’s going to help Robin get into Jessica’s exclusive new club. Jess responds it’s impossible; she and her friends secretly call Robin “The Wilsonator” behind her back, so obviously Robin will never be allowed to join.
I’m not sure if “The Wilsonator” is some kind of combination of Wilson and refrigerator or maybe the Ghostwriter’s been watching too much Terminator: The Sara Conner Chronicles.
So, Jessica files into a rage at her service club being overrun with overweight blobs, all being escorted into membership by Saint Elizabeth while Elizabeth calmly reminds Jess she takes all the same honors classes as Robin (sans “skinny genes” AND she does volunteer work on weekends), she’s just as smart and boring as Robin yet Jessica let HER join. Besides, the club might benefit having someone like Robin in it. Jessica says “That’s what you think,” and storms upstairs. The war has begun.
Chapter 1 (old school version)
Robin’s mother phones the Wakefield residence. Liz answers and Robin’s mom almost immediately starts crying, begging Liz to help get her poor, misunderstood, overweight, social outcast of a daughter into the school’s sorority, Phi Beta Alpha with all the pretty popular girls of which Jessica is president. Robin shows up with all of Jessica’s books and dry cleaning. Elizabeth promises to be Robin’s sponsor for Phi Beta membership. Robin gets so excited she flies at Elizabeth like a dog smothering her with hugs and kisses of eternal gratitude. Jessica arrives home, Robin leaves and the twins have their argument about Liz nominating Robin for membership at the next Pi Beta meeting.
Chapter 2
Elizabeth brings Robin to the first meeting of the Beauties. Jessica presents them with a club handbook authored by her which includes a bylaw about all new members needing at least a two-thirds vote from the twelve founding members. This is legal according to the SVH student handbook. Jessica is allowed to write up a handbook containing any governing rules she likes, including membership restrictions. Apparently, the school hasn’t updated their handbook’s extracurricular section in about twenty years, it’s archaic and Liz thinks it even supports discrimination (NO! Really?) but Jessica found her loophole and she’s going for it! Then she presents Robin with an application for membership containing pages and pages of essay questions which Robin eagerly takes, agreeing to everything, she’s just so ecstatic that they’ll even consider her! She bumps into the door frame on her way out while her classmates snicker at her.
That evening Jessica, Lila and Cara go over to Robin’s house to pick up her completed application and to tell Robin to meet them in the girl’s locker room after school tomorrow.
Elizabeth finds Jessica on the elliptical trainer at home, ipod cranked up loudly, interrupting her workout to talk about Robin just as Jessica was about to reach peak cardio level. Jessica tells Liz what they told Robin and is about to put her earbuds back in when Liz notices a large diamond earring dangling from her twin’s perfect, size four earlobe. Jessica again credits Lila for gifting them to her and Liz is suspicious.
Chapter 2 (old school)
Elizabeth attends a Phi Beta meeting and suggests Robin’s name for membership. Since Robin is obviously a friend of the Wakefield twins a stunned sorority agrees to let her be a pledge. Jessica and her minions go over to Robin’s to give her the good news and to tell Robin to meet them after school tomorrow for her first task. Elizabeth finds Jess exercising with a Jane Fonda video, notices Jessica’s expensive gold jewelry and Jessica recaps their visit with Robin. The next day Robin is made to run laps and then come to the beach party on Saturday wearing (GASP) a bikini and participle in physically demanding athletic sports like beach volleyball!
Elizabeth finds a miserable Robin, discovers Jessica’s bikini plots and helps Robin out like the saint she is. Then Jessica drops the bomb on Robin-for her last pledge task she has to ask Bruce Patman out as her date to the Discomarathon next Saturday night!
Chapter 3
During lunchtime the next day, Todd informs Elizabeth that Robin is out running the track while all the Juniors and Seniors are sitting in the bleachers laughing at her, like a peanut gallery. Even Bruce Patman is there adding his own snark. After telling off Bruce, Elizabeth runs over to Robin to ask her, why? Why is she going along with this? Hasn’t she heard of ‘Just say No?’ (as if the Beauties were making her smoke weed instead of run laps!) but Robin has committed herself to run during every lunch hour, as required by Jessica, for the rest of the week.
On Friday Liz congratulates Robin, but Robin looks more defeated than triumphant at meeting her pledge task requirement. She’s just been informed that for her next task she must attend the party at the beach tomorrow for the Beauties volleyball fund raiser and she has to show up wearing a TWO-PIECE! Elizabeth takes Robin shopping and the next day they both show up wearing modest two-piece tankinis!
Jessica and her minions give Robin a ride home in Lila’s Mercedes (NOOOOO! Not the Triumph! Not Lila’s awesome lime green Triumph! This reissue sucks!) Jessica tells Robin so far she’s done…pretty well but there’s just one more thing. Cara hands Robin a shoe box filled with slips of paper all the most gorgeous bachelors at SVH which Robin must draw from to ask as her date to next week’s 70’s dance. Jess admits it’s not PC but they DO have an image to uphold. Robin gulps and draws the lucky winner…Bruce Patman.
Chapter 3 (old school)
Elizabeth finds Robin crying under a tree on the SVH campus in defeat. Even Robin knows Bruce Patman will never agree to go out with her to the Discomarathon but Liz gets an idea. She finds Bruce on the school tennis court, bribes him with a feature story in the next Oracle about his star tennis skills and Bruce agrees to take Robin Wilson to the dance.
BEST LINE IN THE ENTIRE BOOK: (try saying this out loud, out of the corner of your mouth!)
Bruce: “All right, I’ll take her. But I want my picture in, see? A big one. And tell how I whipped that guy from Palisades.”
Chapter 4
Todd plays football now instead of basketball (will Liz still remember him playing baseball in the reissue of #5 All Night Long?) Elizabeth stops by the practice field to see him but finds Robin instead sitting on a bench and sniffling, “I’m done, Liz. Stick a fork in me.” and Jessica’s evil plot against Robin aka “The Wilsonator-Girl Indestructible” unfolds itself.
Elizabeth finds Bruce on the tennis courts. Seeing him reminds Liz of the brief fling her sister had with him ending in the fountain push at Guidio’s (at least they left THAT in! I haven’t read it so I hope someone will recap it) We’re also told Bruce drives a Cadillac Roadster (NOOOO! I miss Bruce’s black Porsche! Did I mention the changes in these reissues SUCK?) and he’s the richest, hottest, most obnoxious guy in the school. Liz proposes the captain of the tennis team (Bruce) should get more coverage on the school Web site and Bruce is hooked. Except there IS something she wants from him in return, on the DL.
“Her?” chokes Bruce, “The Wilsonator? Are you kidding me?” Bruce is about to die laughing when Liz reminds him about his rejection from Stanford (Yep, Bruce tried to apply to Stanford and got rejected, hee!) which hits a nerve and he reconsiders, Ok, he’ll do it, as long as Liz includes how he whipped that guy from Palisades. I tried saying it out of the side of my mouth but its just not the same.
Chapter 4 (old school)
Liz pushes Robin to ask Bruce. Later that day an ecstatic Robin flies into the Oracle office and she and Liz exchange “Omigods” because he said yes.
At the dance Elizabeth snuggles dreamily in Todd’s arms on the dance floor as Robin and Bruce make an entrance to impress the entire student body. Until Bruce leaves Robin alone in the middle of the dance floor calling out “Anyone want to steer the Queen Mary around the floor tonight?” and walks out.
Chapter 5
Liz listens carefully for any word from the grapevine about Bruce and Robin and the dance but the only gossip Caroline Pearce has is the lewd my space page some Miss SVH contestant recently posted. Robin finds Liz in the Oracle office, they squee together, and Robin rushes off to go shopping for a 70’s outfit.
Jess tells Liz they have to hold more cheerleader tryouts because Coach Freeling (whoever she is) needs 16 squad members in order to compete in the spring regionals.
Liz has feathered her hair for the dance (now she looks like Jess on the old school cover!) Todd wears a ridiculous paisley shirt open to the navel. Robin and Bruce arrive. Robin is dressed exactly like Tracy Turnblad from Hairspray while Bruce dressed exactly like John Travolta from Saturday Night Fever white shirt, black pants and all (EW! Get out of my head Ghostwriter!) Liz admits to herself Robin is more sixties than seventies here but her outfit is just glam enough to make it work. Bruce leaves Robin dry in the middle of the dance floor with “Anybody wanna steer the Pink Titanic around?”
Chapter 5 (old school)
Robin freaks and rushes out. Liz stops her. Enid follows begging to be of some assistance and Liz puts her on guard duty and pulls Robin into the girl’s bathroom for a pep talk. Robin insists she can never face anyone in this school again and bolts. In her haste to catch her Liz bumps tall, smart, but shy Allen Walters and sends him after Robin. He and Robin share a nice moment in the parking lot talking about Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall, two beautiful people who always knew what to say. Maybe we should hire scriptwriters, they joke. Though both cringe at the idea they decide to return and dance one dance together and Allen asks “Can’t I see you home?” Robin discovers Allen has nice eyes and there’s some chemistry.
Chapter 6
Elizabeth and Enid catch Robin as she’s about leave in humiliation, her makeup smearing everywhere, and pull her into the girl’s restroom. Enid, in her platform heels, follows Liz’s instructions to stand guard. Liz tries to give Robin the pep talk but Robin’s words eerily ring with this epic truth about SV: “I’ve always been fat and ugly but living here…I just feel fatter and uglier.” She flees the bathroom.
Todd is screaming in Bruce’s face he’s THIS close from a Toddpunch (Yes! Yes! Come ON!) when Liz spoils the moment by bumping into Allen Walters and the scene shifts to them. Liz suggests to Allen that he go after Robin and offer her a ride home while Liz goes to rescue Bruce from Todd’s lethal fist. The parking lot scene has been updated so Robin and Allen talk about Tom Hanks and Reese Witherspoon and Robin makes a crack about hiring their own scriptwriters, she’s heard they’re looking for work right now! (so now the reissue is outdated again) Allen suggests they go back and dance one dance. Robin agrees and Allen offers to drive her home. Robin notices Allen’s brown eyes have incredible green flecks in them.
Chapter 6 (old school)
Elizabeth confronts Jessica after the dance as they prepare for bed about the joke on Robin and they argue some more. The next day Elizabeth discovers a new store at the mall, Lisette’s and the saleswoman is suspicious of her for some reason.
Chapter 7
Liz confronts Jess in her bedroom after the dance about Robin. Liz goes to the Gap at the mall the next day, sees the new store and can’t help but notice they sell all the monster bling that Jess and Lila have taken to wearing lately. The saleswoman talks to Liz and asks her intimidating questions. Besides the Gap reference (more product placement) no major differences here.
Chapter 7 (old school)
Liz starts to suspect Jess might be involved in the shoplifting spree, especially when her twin starts wearing scarves. She discovers the voting meeting for Robin which Jessica tried to hide from her. At the meeting Liz drops her white marble in the box when Robin’s name is passed around but Robin gets blackballed anyway. The other two nominees make it in. Robin meets Jessica and Elizabeth at Casey’s Place at the Valley Mall where they give her the bad news. Robin’s dramatic reaction is to cry, “There isn’t any reason for me to go on!” and rushes out.
Chapter 8
Liz notices Jess’s new necklace and stresses even more that her twin might actually be masquerading as a common criminal (Jess? A criminal? Come on, Liz!) Alice will have an aneurysm if Liz confides her worries to her so Liz screams her frustration into a pillow instead.
According to Jessica’s handbook, Robin needs a two-thirds vote approval to be nominated into membership in the new club. Lila passes pink, flowered printed paper around and Liz writes a definite “YES” on hers before dropping it into the pink plastic box. Robin’s tally is seven yeas to five nays. She had no competition btw, her name was the ONLY ONE up for nomination.
Robin meets Jessica and Elizabeth at Casa del Sol (HUH? They scraped Casey’s for a Mexican Restaurant? These changes are really beginning to bug me!)
Robin takes the bad news awesomely by delivering a passionate speech about how superficial they and everyone at SVH is ending with; “You can take your precious Beauties and go to hell!” she storms out to the applause of some “skater dudes” in the corner. Surprisingly, I find myself also applauding for Robin here.
Chapter 8 (old school)
Liz calls Robin’s mother for damage assessment on Robin. It’s not good. Later she’s inspired by Mr. Collins to write an Oracle article about snobbery at SVH. On the day it comes out Jessica angrily confronts her about it in Liz’s room after school and calls her Elizabeth Wakefield Buttinski. She and Liz argue more circles around the Robin issue. Mrs. Wilson calls Liz to let her know Robin will be back in school but is deeply hurt. Over the next few weeks Robin only wears tent dresses, runs laps around the track after school eats nothing but lettuce and, except to put Liz and Jess in their places with a few tact words, talks to no one. Meanwhile Lila dresses more and more wildly in flashy outfits and jewelry and talks constantly about all the plans “daddy” has concerning her future.
Liz returns to the mall to purchase a birthday gift for Todd at a little jewelers shop. She sees Lila palm a bracelet at Lisette’s.
Chapter 9
Robin isn’t returning any of Liz’s e-mails, voice mails or texts and Liz is getting worried as she sits in the Oracle office.
Ladies, I give you Mr. Collins, “English teacher by day, web site advisor by later in the day” (and we all know what he likes to be by night!) described as young, handsome and popular with dark blonde hair (oh come on, Robert Redford isn’t dead YET!) All the SVH females have crushes on him but Liz is one of the lucky few who knows what all those other girls don’t, how great he is in bed that he’s a good listener.
After talking with Mr. Collins, Elizabeth is inspired to write an op-ed piece for The Oracle Web site which is updated every Wednesday. Since Liz likes to have hard copies of her work she goes to the school’s computer lab on the day the article gets posted to print it out and dash off another quick e-mail of concern to Robin. Jessica comes storming into the lab to confront her twin and they have the same argument about Robin and the failed date with Bruce. At the mention of Bruce, Liz bites back a retort about how Jessica had once “followed him around like his own personal geisha for weeks”. Robin finally texts Liz back “liz. am fine. stop emailing me. robin” (who actually SIGNS their own texts to their friends? I don’t!)
Liz and Jess run into Robin and her Mom at Guidio’s. Jess gabs on her cell phone outside while Liz finds out Robin and her Mom are considering homeschooling. When they pass Jess on their way out Robin completely ignores Jess’s weak, enthusiastic greeting and this offends Jessica.
Liz hangs by the Wakefield pool with Lila who’s telling Jess how concerned “daddy” is about her future and all the bling he’s been buying her of late.
Liz hits the Nike store at the mall for Todd’s b-day present and sees Lila palm the bracelet at Lisette’s.
Chapter 9 (old school)
Elizabeth follows Lila out to her awesome lime green Triumph then stupidly returns to the scene of the crime where the saleswoman recognizes her and Liz flees on foot for home. Back home Liz warns Jess to stay away from Lila, Jess screams in agitation but Liz won’t tell what she knows. The next day she sees Robin running the track, ALONE and stops to talk to her.
Lila phones the Wakefield residence in a panic because Jessica just got picked up for shoplifting, Liz runs to the rescue.
Chapter 10
Liz follows Lila “I Eat Gold For Breakfast” Fowler out of the mall and watches her drive off in her lame Mercedes wondering what reason she could possibly have for stealing anything (she carries a Chloe’ bag for pete’s sake!). She then stupidly returns to the scene of the crime blaming it on her “reporter’s instincts” where the saleslady recognizes her and screams, “There she is, GET HER!” and Liz runs for her life, without really knowing why, then drives home in the Jeep where she passes two people jogging in her neighborhood. One is a strange man the other looks suspiciously like Robin.
At home she tells Jess who she saw out running. Jess, who is busy making glittery posters for her Miss SVH campaign says, “Ah, the hermit lives!” (Robin’s been out of school for a week now) Jessica mentions Cara had recently seen Robin at a Fitness Max and the twins speculate, could Robin actually be working out? With a personal trainer? “It would be so cool if Robin had decided to get herself healthy.” Liz thinks to herself. She brings up Lila but doesn’t share her recent discovery at the mall with Jess.
Another week passes and Liz sees Robin out jogging alone and blocks her path with the jeep to force her to talk. Robin seems more at peace with herself but Liz just has to know, will she ever return to school? Robin just gives a cheery wave and jogs off.
Liz’s cell phone rings and it’s Lila (apparently, the number is programmed in for Jess’s benefit because Jess can’t keep track of her own cell phone!). Jessica’s been arrested for shoplifting at the mall.
Chapter 10 (old school)
Lila meets Liz in the mall parking lot. She breaks down under pressure from Liz, reveals all and they go in to spring Jessica. Liz can hear her twin’s heartrending sobs and calls her name. Jessica comes flying out, followed by the salespeople from Lisette’s and the mall security guards (all male). Liz sends Jess out to the car, pressures Lila to confess to the authorities and Lila faints.
Chapter 11
Elizabeth hurries through the mall food court passing McDonalds, Carl’s Jr. (yes, more product placement) on her way to the mall offices where Lila is waiting for her. She reports what she knows so far to Liz: mall security has Jessica, actual police haven’t been called yet, Lila’s only seen rent-a-cops. Under pressure from Elizabeth, Lila admits what she did and why, to get her father’s attention. Liz makes her enter the door marked Mall Security with her where a large man tries to stop them but Liz yells Jessica’s name and she comes out sobbing into her sister’s arms. All she did was walk into the store and they grabbed her! She shows Liz the red marks on her arms and Liz turns on the security people threatening to have Ned press charges since he’s “one of the best lawyers in Sweet Valley” (HA!). The security and Lisette’s people agree to let Jessica go, (she runs off to Jamba Juice for a smoothie) and they all turn to question Lila who faints.
Chapter 11 (old school)
George Fowler arrives, bails out Lila and Liz suggests he spend more time with his daughter. In the car Jessica wails in indignation because Liz won’t tell her anything. The next day Lila calls the Wakefield residence to tell Liz she needs her to come to juvenile hall with her and daddy tomorrow. Liz drives herself over to the Fowler mansion the next day after school; the Fowler chauffeur drives them all to juvie, Liz keeps her statement brief, the judge (a male) gives Lila a warning and lets her go. Liz is treated to dinner at the Palomar house “the poshest restaurant in Sweet Valley” by the grateful Fowlers.
The next day while typing up an Oracle article Elizabeth sees Robin has signed up for cheerleader tryouts.
Chapter 12
Mr. Fowler arrives, (we’re told he has BLOND HAIR!) bails out Lila from the two FEMALE security guards and the saleswoman from Lisette's. Liz tells Mr. Fowler to spend more time with his daughter and finds Jessica outside Abercrombie & Finch sipping her smoothie and bouncing on her toes because apparently somebody asked for too many boosts in her smoothie! Jessica’s so wired she can hardly talk slow enough for Liz to understand her. She just saw Robin with wet hair walking into that posh hair salon…omigod Forever 21 has pink jeans! Jess is off and running. The buzz from Jamba Juice has made Jess forget all her worries about Lila and Robin, now Liz can ponder the meaning of Robin’s new shopping habits.
Todd and Liz are making out at the beach that Saturday when they’re interrupted by an incoming text from Liz’s cell phone. It’s from Robin asking if Liz will do her a favor. Liz texts back sure. as long as is not illegal. *smiley face* Robin’s reply: def not. Thx! will B in touch.
Todd and Liz are about to kiss again when the cell rings, it’s Lila asking Liz to be her character witness at Juvie on Monday for her. Liz agrees. Todd takes Liz’s cell phone and turns it off.
Liz rides in the Fowler’s limo. At the Sweet Valley Municipal Building they meet with a female judge (I love how they’ve given all the predominant male 80’s roles to females here. As if we need to make female domination in the 21st century any more obvious!)
As Liz is brought forward to testify the judge says (out of the corner of her mouth probably) “I know your father. Good man. Good lawyer.” Liz gives her statement to the judge, Lila just missed her father, that’s all. The judge gives Lila six months probation and they can leave. Outside Lila sighs happily in relief, wonders if this harrowing experience has given her any premature wrinkles, then shrugs, it’s nothing a little Botox won’t fix!
Liz is treated to the Palomar House and upon leaving exchanges texts with Robin about cheer tryout times and asks Liz to sign her up. She’ll be back in school on Monday
Chapter 12 (old school)
At breakfast Jessica practically falls off her chair when she sees Robin’s name listed in the Oracle with all the other tryout hopefuls but Liz tells her to get used to it. Robin’s made some big changes and everyone, even Bruce Patman, is starting to take notice. Robin Wilson is now skinny, has a healthy glow and has traded in tent dresses for more stylish outfits.
On Monday Robin shows up with a new hairstyle, make up and a rainbow top that would make Tom McKay drool in envy.
I love the exchange Liz and Bruce have when Bruce sees the new Robin for the first time:
Elizabeth: “She just moved here from Mars, we call her Wrecker Wilson.”
Bruce: “Boy, she can wreck me anytime,”
And Robin says: “They call me hell, they call me Stacey, they call me her, they call me Jane, that’s not my name…”
Chapter 13
Starbucks gets a nod because Liz looks wired to Jess as they sit in homeroom Monday morning but Liz is actually just nervous for Robin’s big entrance that only she knows about. When Robin walks in she’s “at least 15 pounds lighter, 3 times tanner and a hundred times more stylish than anyone had ever seen her before.” The entire room falls silent over Robin’s new look. Jessica, seeing Robin wearing new high heeled sandals she herself had been coveting for weeks is floored. While announcements are read Liz continues to check out the new Robin: pedicure, manicure, jewelry, new clothes, better posture, she’d indeed hired herself a personal trainer, her mom set her up with a frined who’s a nutritionist and most of all, she got a new attitude. It’s all pretty impressive.
“Finally, all cheerleaders are required to be at the tryouts today.”
“Yee-freaking-haw” Jessica grumbles becasue the "new Robin" is upsetting her groove (hee)
At cheer tryouts even Cara has to admit to Jessica that Robin is GOOD.
In homeroom that Friday cheerleading tryout results are read off and of course Robin is one of them. Jessica tries to muster up some genuine congrats but Robin says it’s OK, she’s totally over the whole Beauties rejection thing now. Besides if not for Jessica she never would’ve had time for her campaign. "Uh, what campaign?" asks Jessica, walking right into her trap. Robin stands to make her announcement to the entire class, she’ll be running for Miss SVH and hopes everyone will vote for her
Chapter 13 (old school)
Apparently, Liz has been bugging Editor Louis Westman at the Sweet Valley News for months to print one of her Pulitzer prize winning Oracle articles. Today a letter (FINALLY) came for her and Mr. Collins reads the kind rejection over Liz’s shoulder and tells her not to give up.
Elizabeth finds Jessica in her room plotting to be nominated Miss Sweet Valley High, the football queen. Liz helps her in planning her wardrobe for the week which will include Jess’s new Jordache jeans.
Over the next two weeks every beauty at SVH clamors for votes: they wear Jordache, Calvin Klein, miniskirts, tapered slacks, new makeup and hairstyles. Robin doesn't have to do anyhing but put up a challenging sign about how the Phi Betas blackballed her and they suck so everyone should consider voting for HER. The Jessica camp and the Robin camp of supporters, mostly football team guys and Chemistry nerds led by Allen Walters, begin rallying their support for both girls.
The ballot boxes on every floor of the school are clogged with votes, everyone is participating.
Liz runs into Louis Westman at the game, offers to help and this time he agrees!
The winner for Miss SVH is announced (by Enid??!!) during Friday’s homecoming game halftime. Nats. Robin wins
Chapter 14
With shaking hands, Liz clicks open an e-mail on her inbox at home from Louis Westman who edits the SV News high-school-beat. It’s a kind rejection but keep trying, he tells her. Tragically, Mr. Collins has been cut from this scene so let us all take a moment of silence.
Liz can’t understand why Louis has no need for anything she’s sent him, other morons get their stories about ipods in the local paper and they were SO five years ago, everything she’s sent in so far has been au courant.
Jess suddenly charges in to ask her twin which dress she should wear for the Miss SVH ceremony then she sees the profiles of all the contestants her twin had been typing up for posting on the Oracle site tomorrow. Because Jessica participates in fewer clubs and never receives any awards she’s dismayed to see her profile paragraph is much smaller than all the other contestants but Liz knows the truth, everyone’s rooting for the underdog and it’s not Jessica! (I’ll leave out any comparisons to a recent presidential election!)
At the questioning assembly of the candidates Liz can’t help but notice how Robin shines a little more brightly than all the others with her answers being the most funny and genuine. Everyone is given just one voting card and 8 ballot boxes are set up outside the cafeteria. While Jessica passes out cupcakes and buttons, flirts with every guy she can and do her best to win as many votes as possible Liz notices Robin works hard to make new friends, aces a chem. test and works her butt off during cheer practice. She drops her card into Robin’s box.
At the football game (not homecoming) Louis Westman finds Elizabeth and offers her a chance to help out by writing up a story on today’s big events. Liz screeches happily into Lila’s pom-poms then grabs her digital recorder and notebook and gets to work interviewing.
At halftime Principal Cooper makes the announcement. The winner is, of course, Robin.
Chapter 14 (old school)
A local TV station camera focuses on Robin, the Sweet Valley News is there and of course the Oracle are all clamoring for Robin’s attention. Allen Walters steps up to take pictures, Mr. Cooper hands the new Miss Sweet Valley High a dozen American Beauty roses and the traditional limo ride of the football queen around the stadium is about to begin. Robin wants Bruce’s Porsche, which just happens to be conveniently parked near enough for him to fetch. Robin gets the final laugh and humiliates Bruce by making him chauffeur her and Allen in the procession.
All this time Jessica has been looking in her pocket mirror, trying to figure out why she lost.
There is no chapter 15 in the old school edition. Chapter 14 ends with Elizabeth finding out Jessica has started hanging with the college crowd at the beach and is getting involved with an OLDER BOY!
Chapter 15
Robin comes forward to accept her crown, sash, and two dozen red roses. Allen takes her picture and a Corvette is waiting on the track. Robin asks Bruce for his car. “The Caddy?” asks Bruce and a few minutes later the black roadster comes zooming into the stadium. Bruce turns the color of a lobster as Robin asks Allen to be her escort and an old man from the local classic car shop drives them around. Bruce trudges off into the sunset in defeat and Liz begins planning her blurb for her article.
Whatever Jessica's reaction was to loosing out on this popularity beauty contest we'll never know.
And here is how we all can become as popular as Robin who seemed to be going about it all the wrong way:
“All she had to do was be confident, take care of herself and treat people around her the way they deserved to be treated and here she was-the most popular girl in school."
Wow, the ghostwriter makes becoming popular in high school sound so EASY!