Episode #402 "The Big Flouncy Thing"

  Zoey is playing at a recital and needs a new dress. At the department store, Cybill and Zoey disagree on the style of dress Zoey should wear. Zoey favors one with a big, flouncy, feathery thing on one of the shoulders, saying it will distinguish her from the others at the competition. Cybill spots a man, Larry, and his effusively perky daughter, Melinda, who are shopping for a dress for Melinda. Cybill envies the easy-going father-daughter banter these two share in contrast to hers and Zoey’s relationship. We learn later that Larry has a dead wife. Maryann concludes this makes him very desirable for Cybill. The next day Zoey finds Cybill and Maryann with a video camera. Zoey forbids her mother from videotaping the recital. In the not-so-subtle way of a mother, Cybill suggests Zoey remove the big flouncy thing made out of feathers from her dress. Zoey adamantly tells her she’s playing what she wants and wearing what she wants. Maryann and Cybill arrive at the recital where Ira is preparing to videotape. Cybill wonders why Zoey didn’t allow her to videotape. Ira says it’s different with fathers and daughters. Zoey takes the stage and plays beautifully. However, the flouncy thing on her shoulder is a distraction and keeps migrating down her arm. Unable to continue watching this, Cybill goes to the wings and snips it off. Cybill, Maryann and Zoey return the dress. Zoey, to make amends with her mother, agrees to try on the original dress Cybill had suggested. While there, Cybill and Maryann spot Larry and Melinda. They hide behind a clothes rack and see Larry coaxing Melinda to lure another woman into talking to her. We find out Larry has paid Melinda, an actress, to lure women for dates. Cybill convinces Melinda to get back at Larry, via security cameras and ear pieces. Cybill "feeds" Melinda rude lines to say to Larry‘s potential dates. The women who hear this attempt to get back at Larry by chasing him around the store, trying to pummel him with various objects.