Ellen Outside the Lines

Laurel takes Ellen aside and asks her how the scavenger hunt is going. She admits that her team hasn’t even started and that everyone is doing whatever Madison wants to do. Laurel wishes that Ellen had joined her team. Hearing this, Ellen feels bad but encourages Laurel to communicate her own desires to her team. Ellen then meets up with Isa, who notices that Ellen blushes when Meritxell’s name is mentioned. Ellen admits that she likes Meritxell, and Isa explains that they are pansexual. When Isa asks Ellen if she only likes girls, Ellen says she isn’t sure, but she knows she doesn’t have romantic feelings toward boys. Together, they plan out the team’s photo collage of all the places they have visited so far. Then, they go to Meritxell and Xavi’s room to invite them out for lunch on Saturday. Ellen bravely speaks up and asks if Meritxell is free on Saturday, and when Isa compliments her, Ellen plays it off like she was just trying to help Andy get a date with Xavi.

The team goes back to La Rambla, and Ellen brings her headphones to manage the noise. They find all of the things that match the description in the poem. That afternoon, they join the class for a field trip to the Picasso Museum. Ellen nominates herself to be the one to recite the clue and explain everything that the team found, but she freezes when the moment comes, so Gibs takes over. Ellen also observes that Laurel and her team seem to have finally started the scavenger hunt, and she is glad that Laurel found her voice. 

Later, Ellen is in her hotel room with her dot diary, and she pulls out the owl postcard. On the back, Ellen creates her own owl pun and feels giddy with pride for being able to do it. In the evening, Ellen and Abba call home and sing Shabbat songs with Ellen’s mom. The tradition makes Ellen feel safe and cozy, as if she is back in her own living room.

Ellen finally manages to sleep in on Saturday. She wakes up to texts from Isa, who wants to go to a nearby café and asks Ellen to see if Abba will take them. When Ellen invites Laurel to come, she declines the invitation, explaining that she is too tired. Isa, Ellen, and Abba make their way to the café, and Ellen notices that the atmosphere on the streets is less chaotic today. Andy and Gibs soon join the group, and Ellen mentions that Meritxell and Xavi might join them as well. Moments later, they arrive, and the various groups board the trains for their respective destinations. On the train, Laurel asks Ellen to come shopping with her, and Ellen doesn’t know what to do. When Meritxell mentions that she would prefer to go shopping as well, Ellen isn’t sure what to think of her. Ellen decides to stay with Laurel, even though she can tell that her teammates are disappointed.

Coming to La Rambla again is just as overwhelming as it was on the first day. Ellen puts her headphones on, which helps to mitigate her overwhelm, but when Madison tells her that she is being rude by wearing the headphones, Ellen takes them off again. At one point, Madison mentions that Ellen’s dad ordered shrimp at dinner a few nights ago. Ellen is under the impression that her dad only eats kosher food, so hearing this throws her off-balance. The chaotic smells and sounds also add to her stress. Laurel notices that Ellen is struggling and takes her to a quiet dress shop. Meritxell and Xavi declare that they are bored and leave. Ellen is then pressured to try on a dress, but she declines. Laurel can tell that Ellen has had a rough day, so she offers to have an old-fashioned sleepover with her that night.

Laurel and Ellen move their beds together, and Laurel pulls out her iPad. She suggests watching a cheerleading documentary, even though she knows that Ellen has no interest in this subject. After watching for a while, Ellen pulls out her phone and sees several texts between her teammates, who sound like they had fun watching the castells (human tower) earlier that day. When Laurel suggests that they give each other makeovers, Ellen isn’t really interested, but she agrees to help Laurel with her hair and makeup.

Sophie-Anne and Madison rush in, and Laurel invites them to join in. Soon, the girls are all done up and pressure Ellen into letting them do her hair and makeup too. They tell her that Meritxell will like it, so Ellen agrees. The girls straighten out Ellen’s hair and put more makeup on her face than she would prefer. Ellen thinks of Meritxell and suddenly realizes that it is actually Isa she likes, because Isa is the one who understands and supports her. Afterwards, the girls try to get Ellen to give them the answers to the first two clues of the scavenger hunt, but Ellen refuses. Sophie-Anne and Madison go to bed, and Ellen and Laurel don’t say much to one another for the rest of the night.

Ellen lies awake in bed and eventually goes to the courtyard to see her teammates. They are stunned to see her made-over appearance, and Ellen starts to cry, admitting that she hates the makeup and her straightened hair. Isa offers to help her take it off, and they go back to Isa’s room together. There, Ellen and Isa ask each other questions, while Isa explains to Ellen how they view gender and gender roles. Ellen asks Isa why they wore a skirt today, and Isa explains that anyone can wear a skirt. Isa reveals that their full name is Isabel, hinting that they could be the next “el” in Ellen’s life. Finally, Ellen asks about having more than one set of pronouns, and Isa clarifies that some people might still be deciding, and some others may have a more fluid identity. Ellen considers this and wonders if a she/they combination could be right for her. She goes to bed feeling happy and understood and looks forward to the next day.