Flatpoint High is unnerved when a racist word beginning with "N" and ending with "IGGER" is spraypainted on the wall of the school. Mr. Jellineck and student Paul Cotton are the first to the scene. A high-pitched scream resonates throughout the school, which Mr. Noblet instantly recognizes as Mr. Jellineck's. With axe in hand, Mr. Noblet rushes to Mr. Jellineck's rescue. Other students, along with Principal Blackman, also crowd around the spraypainted wall.
For some reason, Mr. Jellineck seems to be the most disturbed by the word, and he can't be consoled. Everyone thinks that Paul Cotton is the culprit. Principal Blackman grills Paul about his bowel movement, but Paul still does not finger the guilty party. Before complimenting Susie's "nice cameltoe," Jerri finds time to talk with Paul, so that she can ask him what he might have told "Principal Cue Ball" about the spraypainted wall. He tells her he didn't spill the beans.
In art class, Mr. Jellineck explains that he's still "shaken and upset" about the recent racist incident, "so," he informs, "if you'd like to send baskets or donations, I've written my address, it's at the back of the class, it's on an easel. But please, no Mylar balloons. They never deflate and I just don't have the heart to throw them away...don't." He soon leaves to collect himself in the little boy's room. In the shower located in the staff lounge, Mr. Noblet joins Principal Blackman for "quite a lather" and they discuss the "Cotton Caper." Mr. Noblet explains that Mr. Jellineck is upset by the recent display of racism. Principal Blackman enlists the assistance of Percy Kittens, a former grief counselor who now reenacts crime scenes.
The football players harass Paul, since they think he's a racist and/or protecting a racist, and the only thing they hate more than a racist is Spics. Jerri gets the bullies to leave and she flirts with Paul. She recommends "some TLC and some Vitamin P," and she informs him that she likes "the pole and the hole" and is "as moist as a snack cake down there." She tells Paul that she wants him to come over to her crib, so that she can make his "pinky all stinky." Orlando warns Jerri that, according to the rumors he started, Paul is a racist. Jerri concludes that Orlando is just jealous. She says that Paul is not racist and that she doesn't even know if racism exists anymore. She assures Orlando that just because she's spending time with other people, all that means is that she's spending less time with him.
Percy Kittens talks to Mr. Jellineck about the incident. Mr. Noblet is worried about Mr. Jellineck's fragile state and tells him that he doesn't have to talk about the incident with Percy. Principal Blackman sends Mr. Noblet out of the room, but Mr. Noblet watches the conversation from outside the door. Mr. Jellineck verbally reconstructs the day's events, starting with some not-so-sensitive ethnic descriptions of his attire. He laments that he can't get the spray paint smell out of his nose. When it comes time for Mr. Jellineck to say the word he saw on the wall out loud, he breaks down. Principal Blackman instructs, "Put away your claws, Kittens, he's about to blow." Mr. Jellineck runs out of the room. Mr. Noblet runs after him and Principal Blackman observes, "Those two are an odd pair."
Jerri brings Paul home with her, but her stepmother, who thinks Paul spray painted the word on the wall, doesn't want him there. She's very offended by the graffiti he may have created, but not by the actual word he may have spray painted. When Jerri gets Paul alone in her room, they quiz each other on dates for a history test, but Jerri stumps Paul with her made-up dates. She removes her pants and panties in order to show Paul her liberty bell. He is not impressed, but Jerri tries to force herself upon him sexually. A bottle of spray paint falls out of Jerri's bag and Paul thinks she's the one who spray painted the word on the wall. He doesn't believe her when she says she bought the spray paint for her stepmother. Paul begins spray painting a word on Jerri's bedroom door as Jerri guesses what the word might be that he's spray painting: "G-spot," "gonads," "gooks" and "good times!" However, the word turns out to be "Goodbye," and Paul leaves.
At school, Principal Blackman and Percy Kittens show Paul a video on racism, in order to convince him to reveal the person who spray painted the wall. Although Paul is ready to reveal the culprit, he soon sees some bottles of spray paint and second-guesses his earlier conclusion that Jerri was the racist spray painter. Jerri overhears that Paul is going to be suspended. She enters the room, since she's "got something to say." She explains that she spray painted the wall, because she meant it as a parable, a pun or a riddle. Finally, she reveals, "I don't like black people." Paul tells her that he is actually "a person of color," as his parents are both people of color and his skin is a recessive trait. Jerri realizes that she likes black people after all, although it took a white one to prove it to her.
Mr. Jellineck scenes: Mr. Jellineck is one of the first witnesses to the spray painted display of racism. He's later in art class, telling the students how they can help ease his pain over the racist incident. Percy tries to counsel him, but due to his apparent Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, he runs away after he attempts to say the racist word out loud. We never find out if and/or how he finally comes to terms with the horrific event he had to endure.
and an Indian-pattern shirt.
"N" word.
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