Parks and Recreation: "How a Bill Becomes a Law"
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    Photo courtesy of NBC.

    After realizing that he needs help, Chris tells the Parks department that he has recently begun receiving intensive psychotherapy. This prompts him to come up with a “311 line” for Pawnee citizens – so that they can call the Parks department with any problems they have. Ron isn’t much help, as he just agrees with the people who’re calling in that the government is useless, but he does agree to go and fix a pothole for someone.

    In Pawnee’s city council, Leslie is trying to pass the bill “Fun in the Sun,” made by the kids’ group Porpoises, to keep the public outdoor pool open for several more weeks. Unfortunately, Jam, a councilman who said he’d vote for the bill – and also a dentist – tells Tom that he’s decided to vote against the bill. Tom delivers this news to Leslie as she’s getting her hair permed. As she pulls together an emergency meeting with the Porpoises, all everyone can really focus on is Leslie’s half-permed hair.

    Ron and Andy arrive at the house of the Pawnee citizen who called about the pothole. They’re greeted by two young girls dressed as princesses, who demand that Ron and Andy must ask their permission to fix the pothole. Andy immediately goes along with the whole thing, while Ron goes to work on the pothole. As he’s working – and Andy metamorphoses into Princess Rainbow Sparkle – the two girls’ mother, Diane, comes out to talk to Ron. It turns out she is the Pawnee citizen who called the 311 line. She brings Ron a glass of lemonade, and they begin to bond over the fact that they both shop at Food ‘n Stuff. Princess Rainbow Sparkle, while still engrossed in his new role as Pawnee royalty, senses that there may be mutual sparks flying between Ron and Diane.

    Leslie and Tom go after a different councilman, a racist old man named Milton, to make up for Jam’s vote – and as one would expect with old racist men, logic doesn’t always work in convincing them to vote for the right thing. As they don’t really make much headway with Milton, Leslie has Tom find out what Jam wants from Leslie in turn for his vote. It turns out that he has irritable bowel syndrome and wants Leslie’s office as it comes with a private bathroom. Leslie isn’t about to give up her office to some dentist with bathroom problems, though, and she attempts to get Milton’s vote again. Just as she succeeds, he literally falls over and has to be hauled away to the hospital. As she now has no choice, Leslie agrees to give her office and parking spot to Jam, as well as get Invisiline from him.

    Back at Diane’s house, Princess Rainbow Sparkle has convinced Ron to also dress up as a princess, saying that it would make Diane happy. Although Ron acts nonchalant about making Diane happy, he ends up allowing the two girls to draw on his face. Let’s be real: Princess Ron could give half-permed Leslie a run for her money any day.

    It’s a happy ending for everyone by the end of the episode (it always is in Pawnee). The Porpoises got to witness “Fun in the Sun” turn from a bill into a law, and Diane actually comes down to City Hall to ask Ron out to dinner! There may have been some help from Andy on that part, though, as he chalked “Ron likes you, City Hall first floor” in bright pink chalk over the asphalt in front of Diane’s house. Who says fairytales aren’t real?

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