Jacob (Chris Perfetti) announces it’s time for their yearly field trip on Abbott Elementary Season 3 Episode 13, “Smith Playground.” In true Jacob nature, he makes worksheets to make the trip educational, but everyone — including Barbara (Sheryl Lee Ralph) — says that isn’t necessary. He managed to pull off a field trip with no money, so he should just relax and enjoy.
Meanwhile, Jacob tries to get both Gregory (Tyler James Williams) and Janine (Quinta Brunson) to admit their feelings for each other. Gregory says he will tell her when the time is right. But, Jacob mentions to Janine that he knows the other teacher has feelings for her and encourages her to talk to him.
RELATED: Read our recap of the previous Abbott Elementary episode, “Mother’s Day”
Trouble in the Park
As soon as they arrive at the playground, a girl tells Melissa (Lisa Ann Walter) that a kid from another school pushed her to the ground. Melissa approaches the other teacher who claims the Abbott girl did the pushing. Trying to keep things civil, Melissa agrees both kids should apologize.
Meanwhile, Gregory and Janine talk about the kids when Janine asks him to take a photo of her with her kids in the background since she has no pictures of the school year. As Gregory is taking the picture, she receives a text from Manny asking her to have dinner.
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Barbara, Melissa and Jacob watch as the kids from the other school keep cutting the Abbott kids in line. They decide to approach the teachers from the other school, but they give them back attitude. So, Melissa and Barbara start doing the same. Things turn ugly when the other school teachers mention how terrible it is that they work at Abbott Elementary.
Moments later, a kid from the other school kicks a ball that lands at Melissa’s feet. One of the teachers asks her to send it back to them, careful not to hurt herself. Of course, Melissa kicks it as hard as she can, landing it further away from those teachers.
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Janine and Gregory seem miles away from the school as they play on the swings and talk about their favorite colors. The kids interrupt them asking for a turn on the swings.
Later, he helps Janine off the monkey bars and they briefly talk about the EMT he had gone on a date with. As Janine mentions how great it is to have this day with Gregory and the kids, Jacob fights with a teacher from the other school who won’t let him fill his water bottle.
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While the teachers are having their playground war, Mr. Johnson (William Stanford Davis) goes to the basement and discovers Ava’s bathroom.
Relay Race in the Park
The Abbott Elementary kids and teachers are looking for a place in the shade to have lunch. When they arrive at their location, the other teachers have moved their lunches to the sun. Barbara and Melissa are extremely upset.
Jacob approaches Gregory to find out if he has told Janine about his feelings. Gregory tells him about Manny’s text but claims it hasn’t discouraged him. On the contrary, it has motivated him to tell Janine next time they are alone.
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Melissa tries to cheer up the kids about their warm lunches, and a teacher from the other school approaches them to gloat. Barbara interferes, saying they don’t have to interact as they will go to the slides, but the other teacher says it’s their turn. Ava tries to calm them down but changes her plans when she discovers the other school is Crystal’s.
She has watched them mess with Abbott all day, but now it’s personal. The resolution is to do a relay race around the playground. Whoever wins gets to use the big wooden slide.
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While the other teachers get ready for the race, Gregory and Janine hang out by the wooden slide and decide to go down it. Gregory tells her he has never done it behind.
Ava tells the teachers to be aggressive and focus on winning. Even though Ava says they don’t need Gregory and Janine, Barbara tells her to go get them if they want to win.
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It’s a No-Go for Gregory and Janine
Gregory and Janine go down the slide, but when he is about to tell her how he feels, Ava interrupts. She makes Morton tell them why they should never date someone they work with. His story with his ex-wife is quite similar to Gregory and Janine’s, so they both get scared.
Gregory mentions he thought of all the reasons why this could work. He never stopped to wonder if it could go wrong. He finally agrees with Jacob that Morton sucks.
RELATED: Read our Abbott Elementary recaps, here!
Ava and Crystal start the race. Ava takes the lead by pushing Crystal to the side. She is followed by Jacob, Gregory on a tricycle, Melissa in a swing and Janine on the monkey bars. Barbara is the last one, running, going through a tunnel and running to the finish line. Abbott wins the race.
As they arrive back at school, Ava freaks out, discovering Mr. Johnson has used her bathroom. Barbara and Melissa congratulate Jacob on the best field trip ever. Gregory and Janine say their goodbyes. The next day, everyone but Gregory feels sore and exhausted.
Abbott Elementary airs on Wednesdays at 9 PM on your ABC affiliate.
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