S04E04 - Open Enrollment
"Open Enrollment" is the fourth episode of Season 4 of We Can Fix Pawbert. It introduces Luther's parents and establishes Pawbert's academic path toward Social Work.
Synopsis
Pawbert and Luther visit Gnu York University to explore re-enrollment, navigating bureaucratic holds and a reporter ambush. Luther's parents Harlan and Maris arrive unexpectedly at the mansion and welcome Pawbert into their family. Pawbert decides to pursue Social Work instead of Business.
Plot
Pawbert visits the GYU Savanna Central Hub with Luther to begin the process of returning to university. His former enrollment has three holds---academic (incomplete courses from mid-semester arrest), financial ($1,263.16 in unpaid fees), and administrative (coursework referencing Lynxley Holdings flagged for review). Reentry advisor Dr. Hornridge asks the question that reshapes his path: "What do you want? Not what you think you should want. What do YOU want?"
On campus, reporter Bree Vantage ambushes Pawbert for a story. He handles the confrontation with composure: "My relationship is not a public bargaining chip" and "I'm not here as a Lynxley. I'm here as a student." Luther guides him away---shaken but intact.
Back at the mansion, the pack discovers an unfamiliar car in the driveway. Luther's parents, Harlan Pawthorne and Maris Pawthorne, have arrived unannounced. Maris pulls Pawbert into a hug: "Luther hasn't smiled like this in years." Over dinner, they reveal Luther's childhood---he labeled his socks with symbols before he could read, decided to join ZSI at fifteen, and came out to his parents the same week. Harlan's response: "We told him he was our son. That his heart wasn't a problem to solve." Nick discovers Luther's childhood nickname: "LUTE? Your name is LUTE?"
Maris tells Pawbert directly: "You're welcome here. In this family. Not as a project. As family." That night, Pawbert tells Luther he wants to try Social Work---inspired by Sorrel's work at ZRS and his own experience navigating systems that don't care about the mammals inside them. The episode ends on a course catalog dog-eared to Introduction to Social Work Practice.
Key Moments
- Dr. Hornridge asks Pawbert what he truly wants, not what he thinks he should want
- Pawbert handles Bree Vantage's reporter ambush with composure
- Nick discovers Luther's childhood nickname "Lute"
- Harlan reveals the Pawthornes' accepting response to Luther coming out
- Maris welcomes Pawbert into the Pawthorne family
- Luther's coming-out backstory revealed (age 15, same week as ZSI decision)
- Pawbert decides to pursue Social Work
Key Lines
| Line | Speaker | Context |
|---|---|---|
| "I was a student once. Before everything." | Pawbert | Cold open; staring at GYU website |
| "If I don't do it today, I'll find a reason not to do it tomorrow." | Pawbert | Motivation to face GYU |
| "I chose something that mattered." | Luther | On choosing ZSI over family business |
| "What do you want? Not what you think you should want. What do YOU want?" | Dr. Hornridge | Permission to not know |
| "My relationship is not a public bargaining chip." | Pawbert | To reporter; finding voice |
| "I'm not here as a Lynxley. I'm here as a student." | Pawbert | Standing ground |
| "LUTE? HIS NAME IS LUTE." | Nick | Discovering Luther's nickname |
| "We wanted to meet the mammal who makes our son look like he's remembered what joy is." | Maris | Defining Pawthorne warmth |
| "Luther hasn't smiled like this in years." | Maris | After hugging Pawbert |
| "His heart wasn't a problem to solve." | Harlan | On accepting Luther |
| "He labeled his socks." | Harlan | Embarrassing Luther |
| "You're welcome here. In this family. Not as a project. As family." | Maris | The offer |
| "I didn't know it could be like that." / "Neither did I." | Pawbert / Luther | Processing healthy family |
| "I think I want to try Social Work." | Pawbert | First seed of direction |
Characters Introduced
| Character | Species | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Harlan Pawthorne | Gray wolf | Luther's father; distinguished, warm |
| Maris Pawthorne | Gray wolf | Luther's mother; sharp, directly loving |
| Ayo | Gazelle | GYU Student Services coordinator |
| Mr. Hedger | Gnu | GYU Registrar |
| Dr. Hornridge | Kudu | GYU reentry advisor |
| Bree Vantage | Cheetah | Reporter, Zootopia Enquirer |
Locations
- Pawthorne Mansion --- Kitchen, living room, dining room, master bedroom
- ZPD Precinct 1 --- Front desk, break room
- GYU Savanna Central Hub --- Pawsington Square, Pawbst Library, Silvermane Center
- GYU Silvermane Center --- Student Services, Registrar's Office, Dr. Hornridge's office
Items
- GYU course catalog --- Dog-eared to "Introduction to Social Work Practice"
- Maris's casserole --- Brought to the mansion; symbol of parental care
Notes
- Luther's background is revealed: Columbear University (Economics-Political Science), decided to join ZSI at 15, came out to his parents the same week.
- The Pawthorne family has five generations in Zootopia; shipping fortune; charitable foundations.
- Harlan's "His heart wasn't a problem to solve" stands as the direct antithesis of Milton Lynxley's approach to Pawbert.
- Bree Vantage returns in Front Lawn during the media siege.
- Pawbert was a Business major before his arrest; this episode marks his pivot to Social Work.
- The Zootopia Enquirer is a nod to the National Enquirer, the American tabloid known for celebrity gossip and sensationalist journalism.