Sweet Magnolias (2020–…): Season 1, Episode 4 - Lay It All Down - full transcript

♪ You don't owe me
One more minute of your wasted time ♪

♪ You act like it's all fine ♪

♪ It isn't hard to leave ♪

♪ Knowing that I'll be getting life
On track ♪

♪ I wanted to believe ♪

♪ I've gotta make a destination ♪

♪ Find where I belong ♪

♪ This time I've got no hesitation ♪

♪ And I'll be movin' on ♪

♪ To where I belong ♪

♪ I'll be movin' on ♪



♪ Over the line I've drawn ♪

♪ I'm already gone ♪

Still waters, Mr. Maddox?

Sorry, what?

Morning, man, and I do mean good
given the night you just had.

What the hell are you talking about?

- [chuckles]
- And how did you get Mrs. Alcott in on it?

You still afraid to use her first name?

- What is it?
- I have no idea.

But Carla told me
what you were up to last night.

Whoa, whoa, whoa.
What does your wife think she knows?

She heard from her sister
who heard from Mary Vaughn

who happened to drop by
at just the right moment...

Heard what?



That you and Maddie Townsend were, uh...

How did she word it? Uh...

Canoodling.

- For the love of God.
- Yep.

- That's not what happened at all.
- On the front porch in front of God

and Mary Vaughn.

What's the big deal, all right?

It's an oral presentation.
You can fake half of it

as long as you do it with style.

You could. I don't do
the whole talking in front of class thing.

Should I apologize
for taking all the charisma in the family?

Kyle! If I don't pass this,
I'm on academic probation from the team.

I need your help.

Say that again for posterity.

Coach saw your mom's posterity last night.
[laughs]

It's not even what that means.

What was he talking about, anyways?

I'll see ya.

Hey.

[Helen] Tom, you do not have a case.

Your client claims wrongful termination,

but he was quite rightfully terminated.

Prove it.

Quiet.

We all know that your claim is meaningless
without evidence.

Our witness will testify
to seeing your client remove,

without authorization,

several bottles of high-end whiskey
from the restaurant.

The value of those bottles
reaches near a thousand dollars,

and that is petty larceny.

- It's a misdemeanor.
- It's jail time,

or at the very least a substantial fine

which your client may be
hard-pressed to pay

given his lack of employment.

[Tom sighs]

Drop the suit.

And we don't press charges.

We'd also like to see your client
seek treatment for his drinking problem.

That, however, is a request
and not a demand.

- Screw you!
- Whoa!

You know, the only problem
is having to listen to this bullshit.

[exhales]

I apologize for my client's outburst.

I'm sure he will find the terms amenable.

I'll be in touch, Helen.

God bless Isaac for coming forward,

and you were fretting
that your staff doesn't like you.

[scoffs] Yeah.

[sighs]

So I told her, "I don't want to take you
to the restaurant where I work,"

and then she was all like, "Oh..."

Are we working, or are we chatting?

Working, Chef.

It's a madhouse out there.

Yes, thank you
for that brand-new information.

I'm getting my lunch to go.

Niçoise, madam,

and a treat for dessert.

Thank you.

You all right, Dana Sue?
You look a little flushed.

Well, I'm in a hot kitchen,
if you haven't noticed.

Dana Sue, I'm just worried about you.

Okay, stop fussing! I'm fine!

Dana Sue!

- [Erik] Hey, give me space.
- [man] Is she okay?

Somebody turn off that burner.

[Helen] Dana Sue.

Isaac, stockpot,

under her feet.

[Helen] What's wrong with her?

What's wrong with her?

Helen, call 911. Now.

[Helen sobs]

Now I know at least one of you can tell me
the key elements of the Marshall Plan.

Let me remind you that participation
is still ten percent of your grade

and that some of you need it.

So let's see some hands.

[knock at door]

Hi, um, I'm here for Annie Sullivan.

[indistinct announcement over PA]

Hi. I just want to say thank you.

- For what?
- Well, knowin' what to do.

Dana Sue's gonna be okay because of you.

[exhales, sniffs]

How's she doing?

Oh, they're, uh, running tests

and more tests

and other tests. I don't know.

That's good.

When, uh...

When Dana Sue went down,

you, uh, knew exactly...
exactly what to do.

And when the EMTs arrived,

you were rattling off information

and vitals and Lord knows what else.

Where on earth did you learn all that?

[chuckles] Um...

General Hospital
was my grandmama's favorite

when I was growing up.

I'm gonna go open the kitchen back up.

Let me know once you know something.

Anything.

Of course.

Get off my purse,
and hand me my phone right this second.

No, ma'am.

Well, I'm not staying, so...

Sit down, please.

You have another hour on that IV.

No, I can't spend that kind of time.

I gotta get back to the restaurant.

Howie, come on.

Now, it's very sweet of you to come
all the way down here to check on me...

I was called in
as your general practitioner,

- whom you rarely see.
- [scoffs]

Annie, give your mama and me a minute.

I want to stay, Dr. Young.

Annie and I don't have secrets, Howie,
and this is no big deal.

Dana Sue,
you had a hyperglycemic emergency.

You have a genetic predisposition
to insulin issues.

If you don't get your blood sugar
under control,

you're gonna be dealing
with type 2 diabetes, like your mother.

You have to do what he says, Mom.

We'll start with a series
of glucose tolerance tests

to establish a baseline

and we'll develop a treatment plan
from there,

but, Dana Sue,

the essential element is your cooperation.

You got it.

[Howie] All right.

All right.

I'm serious.

Watch your mother.

[sighs]

Maddie.

Hey.

Uh, coffee from Wharton's,
poured by Ms. Grace herself.

- Thought you could use a pick-me-up.
- I certainly could. Thank you.

How's Dana Sue?

She's doing better.

That's good.

It was nice of you to come down here.

Well, to be honest, I didn't...

come just to check on her.

Um...

You may have heard, but there are some...

rumors going around.

Welcome to Serenity,

where we all know each other's business
for good or for ill.

[chuckles]
Except there isn't any business.

I was fixing your sink.

If this is your first brush
with how tongues wag around here,

congratulations.

You've been here since September.

That actually might be
some sort of record.

Okay, well, uh,
how do you wanna handle this?

There's nothing to handle,

unless you keep changing clothes
in my driveway.

It was a shirt.

Don't worry.

By dinner, everyone'll have moved on
to Dana Sue having the bubonic plague

and we'll be fine.

[chuckles]

There's nothing wrong
with us being friends.

Friends.

Okay.

Here's to friendship.

Yes.

I'm driving you home or what?

Uh, yeah, thanks.

Sorry, it's been a weird day.

I bet. Heard my folks talking
about the whole thing last night.

And my mom said after everything
that your mom's been through,

you know,
she deserves a chance to be happy.

You driving, or you trying to be Dr. Phil?

Hey, man. Dr. Phil makes bank, all right?

Annie, what are you doing?

Dr. Young said that you need to watch
your sugar intake.

It'll be a lot easier
if none of this is in the house.

What are you planning on eating?

There's tons of Paleo recipes
on Pinterest.

I'll figure it out.

Okay, look. Look.

I know, today was scary,

but you are overreacting, okay?

And I am an adult,
and I'm perfectly capable

of watching my sugar intake

without any help from you, okay?

So as usual, you're perfect,
and everybody else is wrong.

- No, Annie, that...
- [Helen] Knock, knock.

- Y'all in the middle of something?
- [Annie] No, it's fine.

I'll clean this up later.

She's worried, and I was not gracious.

It's fine.

Y'all didn't have to go to Egret Falls
to pick up Thai food.

How'd you know it was Thai?

Chef's nose?

Well, seems like Bangkok Palace

is the only place
that you don't complain about.

Hey, I never complain.

[Helen] Okay.

Let us... Let us just give thanks...

- Helen.
- ...that you are safe at home

- [scoffs, clears throat]
- because, Lord forgive me

there was a moment this morning
where I didn't... I didn't know.

God bless Erik Whitley.

You're acting like I was on death's door.

I had a bad moment. I'm fine.

Okay, yes, but it was still serious.

I mean,
especially given all the... givens.

- Because diabetes killed my mother.
- [Maddie] Well...

Look. Honestly, I get the gravity. Okay?

And thank you for worrying about me,

but can we please just
worry about dinner right now?

Yes, ma'am.

- Of course. Mm.
- [Dana Sue] Thank you.

I'd use more lemongrass.

[snickers]

That is an opinion, not a complaint!

- No, of course.
- [laughs]

Yah!

[stammers] Hold on, okay,
I genuinely need you to tell me...

how you're a Pirates fan.

Oh, um...

Let's see. When I was six,
I thought pirates were cool.

- All right.
- And, uh, now I'm an adult, and, uh...

pirates are still cool.
What's there to discuss?

How deeply concerned I am
that you don't have better taste.

In fact, you owe me a drink
for making me watch soccer.

This is the world's game.
Do not denigrate the name.

What? No.
But baseball's America's pastime.

I am so sorry to bother y'all,
but you're Cal Maddox, right?

Yes, he is.

I knew it.

- [chuckles]
- Mm-hmm.

I just have to tell you that I adore you.

I mean, as a ballplayer.

Uh, that's very kind of you.

You were my favorite player
your first season with the Braves.

I was getting my engineering degree
at Emory,

and I watched every home game I could.

I must have seen you play,
what, a dozen times.

You were, uh, easily the best looking guy
on the roster...

- [chokes]
- ...and the best rookie at bat.

It broke my heart
when you had to leave baseball.

Yeah.

It would be an honor to buy you a drink.

Thank you, but my friend here

already owes me a drink

and by the look of things,
a few more rounds of trash talking.

Of course. [chuckles]

Not to trouble you further,
but can I please get a selfie?

Just to prove to myself
that this actually happened?

- Yeah, of course.
- [girl laughs]

- All right. Ready?
- Mm-hmm.

One, two... One more?

[camera shutter clicks]

Thank you so much.

You're more than welcome.
You have a lovely evening.

[girl] Okay. See you around.

Come by anytime.

Brother, she's smart, she's gorgeous,

she digs baseball,
and she's into your mediocre mug.

She's basically the perfect woman.

Maybe, but not for me.

Yeah.

- Uh...
- Hey. TV?

[stammers] This is homework.

I'm trying to see as many interpretations
of Puck as possible,

and, yes, I put Katie to bed.

Okay, good. Did you brush her teeth?

I put her to bed.

[sighs]

It's basically empty.

How's Ms. Dana Sue?

She gave us a good scare,
but she'll be fine.

That's good.

Annie's doing fine too
if that's what you were gonna ask.

I wasn't, but that's great.

Whose are those?

- [Tyler] Kyle's.
- Kyle.

[Tyler] My coach, Mom?

Really?

- What in God's name are you talking about?
- It's all over school.

[laughs]

He came over to fix the sink.
Tyler, you were here. You saw him.

I don't know what I saw!

People are talking.

Look, Mom, if you want to date...

Ew. Fine, whatever!

But why couldn't you have literally picked
anyone else in this stupid town?

[scoffs] People just stopped talking
about Dad, now I have to deal with this?

I know, I know, and I'm sorry,

but there is nothing going on
between me and Coach Maddox,

and if that changes,

you will be the first to know.

Kyle, get your dishes.

[sighs]

Mommy!

You are supposed to be asleep, Baby Bean.

I waited
so you could say my prayers with me.

Well, then, I feel special.

Dear God,

please bless me and Mommy

and Daddy and Ty and Kyle

and Nana and Meemaw and Pop-Pop,

and please bless Ms. Belanger
and everyone else at school,

and please bless Becca's bunny
with the broken foot,

and please, God, please fix my family.

Amen. Good night, Mommy.

Good to hear Dana Sue's doing all right.

Been praying for her.

Yeah...

she'll be grateful to hear that, I bet.

- Mm.
- And she'll also be really grateful

to get a handle
on where we are with these repairs.

[Maddie] Mm. Subtle.

It'll be tight, but so long
as there's no more big hiccups,

we might just have a snowball's chance
of finishing on time.

Morning, y'all.

Oh, Mary Vaughn,
what an undeserved pleasure.

I don't know what you think you're doing,
but it has got to stop.

And, uh, who do you think you are?

Ryan.

Um...

Skeeter, you remember Ryan Wingate.

Ms. Frances' nephew...

who hasn't visited in a long while.

I have to say this is a surprise.

As big a surprise as learning
you're tearing up my aunt's house,

and no one bothered
to get my thoughts on the matter. Hm?

Well, given the fact
that she sold it to us outright,

it is quite literally
none of your business.

Ryan, have you spoken to Ms. Frances?

She told me she didn't want to discuss it.

The poor dear is clearly distressed.

[laughs] The poor dear!

The poor dear who could,

by the way, still chew you up
and spit you out,

was delighted to entrust this house
to people who care about its history.

If you cared,
you wouldn't be tearing it down.

Renovating it!

Speaking of, I'll get back to work.

Thank you, Skeeter.

Well, you can't because I am petitioning

to have this declared
a historic structure.

- A what?
- You are joking!

While the City Council considers
Mr. Wingate's petition,

there can be no more construction

that alters the original character
of the house,

which, of course,
halts y'all's project here.

After all, we have to consider what's best
for the future of Serenity.

I don't know what
the mayor's little lady told you,

but every step of our approach
to this project

has been with respect to this house
and to your aunt

who we see on an almost daily basis

- because we don't live in San Francisco.
- I cared enough to come, didn't I?

Or maybe you would care enough

to allow me to show you
our business plans.

I can answer all your questions then.

- [Mary] I've got a showing...
- I can handle it...

but I doubt I'll be persuaded.

- The Ryan?
- Yep.

You know he didn't come
all this way for the house.

- He came for you.
- [Helen] That is crazy.

Why do you act like it's impossible?

First love never truly goes away.

You guys always had my definition
of great romance.

Stealing kisses,

sneaking around.

Summertime when he was here
visiting Ms. Frances.

- I was there. Thank you very much.
- Okay.

Yeah, sneaking around

'cause Ryan's daddy couldn't stand
a Wingate dating a black girl.

You can stop at any time.

There was always that hint of destiny,

how you kept finding each other.

College.

San Francisco.

Which they wouldn't have had to do
if he didn't keep taking off

and breaking poor Helen's heart.

Whoa, whoa.
[stammers] There's no poor Helen.

It was a long time ago,
and it was fine, just fine.

Except the part
where he's threatening the spa.

And that will be fine, too.

- You're sure about that?
- Yes.

Our business plan's rock solid.

[stammers] We're barely changing
the exterior of the house

and most importantly,
[stammers] Ms. Frances is on board.

Okay. Then why are you so fluttery?

'Cause she's gonna go see Ryan.

Just the two of you. Private meeting.

I have a deposition.

You two can feel free to continue
this little Tiger Beat meeting without me.

[chuckles]

Oh, hey.

Hey, uh, Maddie.

- Hey.
- Hey, uh, you got a second?

Yeah. Half a one.
What's... What's going on?

Well, I've been thinking,
um, about what you said,

you and I being friends,

and I have one problem.

I don't want to be friends.

I want more than that,

and you are beautiful and kind

and interesting

and I couldn't care less
what people say or think about us.

Now I know things
are a little more complicated on your end,

but I really think
we got a shot at something.

That is if you are interested.

I don't quite know what to say.

And I totally respect that.

I just thought you should know
where I stand.

[Helen] Our crew is, uh, very experienced
in converting older houses into businesses

while retaining the character.

And most of the crew is local,

and so they love this place
as much as we do...

and they're showing it in their work.

Mrs. Lewis painted
a very different picture

about... what y'all were doing here.

Of course she did. I...

I was a part of scrapping one
of her pet projects a little while ago,

so this is payback.

I'm sorry to hear that...

Hm.

...but I'm glad she called.

Ryan, we, um...

We all love your aunt,

and we are committed
to making this project

one that honors her legacy...

You should have called me.

Why?

You know what this house,
the time I spent there,

what that means to me.

- You couldn't pick up the phone?
- It is not your house.

I know you and Ms. Frances
were close once,

but you haven't set foot in Serenity in...

Fourteen years. Believe me, I know.

And I thought you didn't care.

About the house or about us?

Six of one, half dozen the other.

- About your petition...
- I'll get back to you.

I got more thinking to do.

Huh.

[sighs]

What on earth were you thinking?

I was thinking of you.
I figured something had to be wrong

for them to get you to give up the house.

You are so full of nonsense,
I can see it leaking out your ears.

No, ma'am, Aunt Frances.

If I had sold it to anyone else,

you would not so much
as raised an eyebrow.

You came flying back here
because I sold it to Helen Decatur.

I gotta tell ya, you shutting down
the girl's brand-new business

is not the best way back into her heart.

This is not about Helen.

I wanted to check on you.
Am I not allowed to miss you?

[chuckles] Oh.

Please. You've missed me
to the tune of a Christmas card

and a birthday card for plenty of years.

You would have been just fine
missing me a little longer.

Why are you wasting time denying it?

It's Helen Decatur you're after,
and you're going about it like an idiot.

Ugh, stop shooting me
those puppy dog eyes,

and get the pork chops on the griddle.

We're all just worried about you.
Have you eaten today?

No, because I am fasting
for another Dr. Young test,

and I can take care of myself, all right?

Don't need you poking at me
every 30 seconds.

Table 12 would like to speak
to someone in charge.

They're unhappy with the shrimp and grits.

Of course they are.

- Mom, you okay? Have...
- Okay.

Just stop!

Chef, I need you take a look at something.

All right. Let's go. [sighs]

- Is something on your mind?
- With all due respect,

I've never heard you rail on Annie
like that.

- You're over the line.
- Chef, Dana Sue,

please, it just tells me
there's something wrong.

You're not letting Helen
or Maddie help you.

You're not letting Annie help you,

and I got a feeling you won't let me help.

Because I don't need it.

Look, all I know is,

I've walked through some valleys.

I thought I could do it alone,

and I couldn't.

And you shouldn't be trying to either.

I'm fine.

We're swamped.

- I know.
- Yeah, you've been ill,

and you'll make yourself worse

if you keep trying
to do it all by yourself.

You don't have to talk to me,

but talk to someone.

Lay down your burden

before you drive people away.

Anything else?

That's the last of the pork chops.

Well, then I guess
we better get back in there

and cook some chicken.

Plus, the last thing I need
is people whispering about us

being back here whispering.

Okay. Prynne is the protaganist.

Ty. Ty, you're making this way harder
than it needs to be.

Okay? It's like...
like being on the pitcher's mound.

Right? You don't mind folks
watching you then.

Yeah, but then I'm in my zone.

- You know, I know what to do.
- Then find your zone.

Okay, look. You gotta believe
what you're saying.

Okay?
And try to bring the audience with you.

Yeah, but I don't even get this stuff.

How am I supposed to bring the audience
with me

when Jackson Lewis is sitting
in front of me?

First, he was trash-talking Dad
and his baby mama

and now Mom and Coach.

I just don't understand why
they can't act like freaking adults.

- Look...
- [Tyler sighs]

...you can't control what other people do.

All you control is how you react.

And freak out
about Mom and Dad, I... I get it.

But you're really gonna let Jackson
"Skid Marks" Lewis intimidate you?

[chuckles] Where'd you get that?

[chuckles] I just made it up.

Now think about that
during your presentation, okay?

Let's hear it.

[sighs] All right.

[sighs] All right.

What are you doing?
Don't look at me like that.

[chuckles] Stop, you're gonna
make me laugh. All right.

Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter

- examines sin, society, and freedom.
- [phone vibrating]

It asks the reader
if maybe the people we shun

might be stronger than the rest of us.

Morning, my darling. Mwah.

Mama, what are you doing here?

[Paula] I am here to measure

for that painting I'm doing for y'all.

[stammers] Painting? What painting?

My gift to y'all, for your opening.

You know, give the place some panache.

A commissioned Paula Vreeland original

- on your walls.
- On our walls.

Mm-hmm.

You know, Mama, that is very sweet of you,
but that is not necessary.

[stammers] No, gifts are never necessary.

That's why they're gifts.

- [exhales]
- I'll keep measuring in a minute,

but right now,

you have stories for me.

About you...

and that prime hunk of a baseball coach

restaging The Rite of Spring
in your front yard.

Mama, there is nothing going on
between me and Cal Maddox.

Nothing.

Oh.

Well, that's a shame.

- [exhales]
- He is gorgeous.

He is kind...

and he's not Bill.

What more could you ask for?

Well, baseball is Ty's safe haven.

Look, things are hard enough
for all of us as it is

without my taking up with the coach.

Do you remember that self-portrait
I did when you were a teenager?

Oh, the abstract nude
that hung in the public library

for eight days?

No, I can't say I recall that at all.

[chuckles]

I know it was hard for you, but...

it was...

it was something
that I needed to do for myself.

You needed the whole county
to see your breasts.

I needed to remind myself
that I was a woman.

Remember I'd had my hysterectomy
a couple of months before?

Mm-hmm.

It changed me.

Changed the way I felt about myself.

Oh. You made it seem...

so simple. I... I... I didn't realize that.

The gossip died down.

It always does, but the work...

the...

the feeling that the work gave me

and all the women who saw it...

that remained.

Well, I'm glad.

If you want to start something
with Cal Maddox, do it.

You've been doing

for other people for 20 years.

It is beyond time you did something...

or someone...

for yourself.

Okay. Well, thank you very much.

Now let's go.
Why don't we go to the yoga studio

that I think will be perfect
for your commission piece?

Pastor June?

- Dana Sue.
- [laughs]

[clears throat]

Something on your mind?

Well...

I'm not too fond of myself these days.

I've been wrangling some health problems,

so everyone's hovering
and I know that they mean well,

but it's driving me crazy.

You're getting your health under control?

[laughing]

The only way I could see Howie more often
is if I took him home with me,

and I am following his instructions

to each and every aggravating letter.

Doctors and preachers.

Telling you to give up stuff
you already know isn't good for you.

And that's the thing. I know what to do,
and I'm willing to do it...

but for some reason, it, uh...

it... it makes me tense, or angry.

I feel like I'm crazy.
All I'm doing is snapping at folks.

You know, the loving,
caring, nagging folks closest to me.

And the fact that they're only doing it
out of love clearly doesn't help.

No.

No. And I know I gave 'em a scare,
you know, but I...

[sighs]

...I scared myself, too.

I watched my mother go through this,

and I remember how helpless I felt
just watching her slip away.

[sobbing]

So you know how they feel.

But, see, I'm not her,

because I am in control of my life
and my health...

and having them fret,

it just makes me feel weak,
and I hate that.

What makes you feel stronger?

Um...

[sniffs] Well, other than the company
of my wonderful pastor

- and my steadfast faith in the Lord...
- [laughing]

...uh...

cooking...

'cause I know I'm good.

- Mm-hmm.
- [both laugh]

And my food makes people happy.

You know? It gives 'em a reason
to come together and...

and my kitchen is my kingdom...

Mm-hmm.

...which is why passing out there
was so utterly mortifying.

"Even the youth shall faint and be weary

and the young men shall utterly fall,

but they that wait on the Lord...

shall renew their strength."

So I should grow eagle's wings.

- [laughs]
- No.

If in the kitchen
is where you feel the strongest,

reclaim that space, that strength,

and do it out of joy,

not anger.

[chuckles]

Thank you.

[sighs]

Aunt Frances, Ms. Paula, and Ms. Grace.

Ah.

I thought it was just gonna be
the two of us.

Oh, we didn't mean to intrude,

it's just that it's been so long
since we saw you,

and we couldn't miss the opportunity

to hear all about
what you've been doing with yourself.

And why you're messing
with my daughter's business.

All right, mama bear,
this is intended to be a friendly lunch.

I hear you, Ms. Paula,
and I mean no disrespect.

I admit I might have gotten
a little overheated

when I heard what was going on
with Aunt Frances' house.

A house that you haven't set foot in
since the Bush administration!

That doesn't change
what the house means to me.

I see it all the time in San Francisco.

New businesses popping up
in old neighborhoods,

destroying the history.

Summers in Aunt Frances' house
were the best times of my life.

I know the story of how the whole town
sprang up around that house.

And I don't want it paved over.

What makes you think the Magnolias
don't feel the same way?

[Paula] Those three are creating jobs.

They are creating a destination

that's gonna bring customers
from Castlewood, Egret Falls,

even Charleston.

You'll always have your memories
of the house.

We all will.

So, what are you hanging on to?

[Dana Sue] Afternoon.

An amuse-bouche with my compliments.

- Oh.
- [chuckles]

It is just so wonderful
to see you all here today.

Enjoy.

- [Paula] Thank you, darlin'
- Thank you.

Afternoon, Mr. Van.

I should engrave your name on this table,
you're here so often.

- You giving me the brush-off?
- Never.

- Hmm. Good.
- [laughs]

Sullivan's is the closest I've come
to a home-cooked meal

since my wife passed.

[chuckles] For a man that can't cook,
y'all are a godsend.

Well, that's the sweetest thing
I've heard all week.

I'll be sure to share that with Erik.

The only thing saving me from TV dinners

is you and the fish fries at the VFW.

Well, it's good you're gettin' out.

Well, the VFW is more about company
than food.

Oh.

Makes me feel good spending time
with the fellows, helping out,

but, Lord, I didn't know
catfish could taste that bad!

Oh, now, see, bad catfish is a crime.

What spices are you using?

Spices?

Mr. Van...

All right, now you are not leaving here
without a bushel of spices

and some good oil.

You know what, you sit tight.

[phone chimes]

They won. Hey, they won!
Noreen! They did it!

Ha ha!

- That's amazing!
- The Bulldogs are goin' to regionals.

How 'bout that, huh?

Well, aren't you just
prouder than a peacock!

The whole team's gonna be at Wharton's.

Why don't you go
and just say congratulations?

No, heck no. We are going to Wharton's.

- Me and you. Come on, let's go.
- Okay.

[Bill laughs]

Later.

Hey.

Are these seats taken?

Not yet, but I do have to warn you,

I have been told that people might talk.

Let 'em.

Talk about what?

Katydid! Come with Nana.

I need someone to eat my pepperoni for me.

[laughing]

They just delivered it.

And I remember this dude
from earlier in the season, right?

- Yeah, yeah, yeah. Number 15.
- Yeah, exactly.

And I'm, like, signaling like crazy,

and this guy right here,
Mr. Laser Focus over here...

You were going so fast, I couldn't even
tell what side you were throwing on.

No, he just throws a freaking...

Hey, good job, team! Good game!

Good game, Tyler!

- Hey.
- Oh, I'm proud of you, son.

You were great tonight, honey.

- I appreciate that.
- Hashtag Team Ty.

Yeah.

Well, uh, thanks for stopping by.

Ah, come here, boy.

[Bill] Oh, I'm proud of you.

[Tyler] All right.
I gotta get back to the team.

- Okay.
- Yeah. I'll see you guys.

[Katie] Daddy?

[Bill] Howie told me something
might be going on,

but I thought that woman had more sense.

I mean, has she given any thought
to what this is gonna do to Tyler?

Here she is, out in the open.

Just out in public, flirting it up
with the high school baseball coach,

like everything is just fine.

Perfectly fine.

I mean, she grew up in this town.

She knows how people talk
and gossip and carry on.

Though the novel was published in 1850,

Hawthorne's use of...

Puritan culture...

uh, his use of Puritan culture was...

Focus, Mr. Townsend.

Sorry.

[sniffs]

Hawthorne's use of Puritan culture
was deliberate.

Puritans prized conformity.

They couldn't question the rules
and any infraction was punished severely.

In comparison to Hester Prynne,

the townspeople shunning her
come across as...

cowardly and... pretty darn pathetic.

[whistling]

Afternoon, y'all.

Who the hell are you?

[stammers]

Well, I'm Dana Sue Sullivan.
I'm here to see Van Crockett.

You was the one
who had Van coming back here

messing with how we do things?

Yes, sir.

Well...

God bless you.

- Oh.
- [laughs]

- Let me help you with this.
- Okay.

- I got 'em all. yeah, I got 'em all.
- You got 'em?

- Hey, I'm Vernon.
- Hello.

And this is Collins.

I know Dana Sue, you fool.

You just gonna stand there,
let him intimidate me like that?

- Yeah, sure.
- Yes, see how he did?

Didn't trust me to do things myself, huh?

Trust has nothing to do with it.

I just wanted to help is all.

That's why you brought
your own provisions?

Well, I thought I would show you
how to bake the fish.

It'll be crispier and better for you.

Plus, I brought some... healthier sides.

- Healthy.
- Okay, then.

Why don't you show us what you can do?

- Yeah.
- Oh, my.

♪ Get up
Taste the flavor ♪

♪ You gotta rush
To get the cream ♪

♪ Mix it up
A lil' later ♪

♪ 'Cause life will get thicker
By the stream ♪

♪ Get up
Taste the flavor ♪

♪ You gotta rush
To get the cream ♪

♪ Mix it up
A lil' later ♪

♪ I hope you know
That everyone's an innovator... ♪

[Dana Sue] Watch your fingers.

[Dana Sue] You're doing great.
You're doing great.

[Vernon] Set it right over here
or right over there?

♪ Yeah, everyone's an innovator... ♪

[laughing]

[Van Crockett]
We've been waiting for the big reveal.

- What we got?
- [Vernon] Oh, yeah!

- [Van Crockett] It smells delicious.
- [Dana Sue] Do you like that?

Dig in.

Ah.

Not bad. Not bad.

Not bad?

That's fantastic!

It's the best we've ever done.
Thank you, Dana Sue.

- Dana Sue, you're the best.
- This is marvelous.

- Oh, I love my boys. Thank you.
- Mmm.

♪ That boy's an innovator ♪

What's all this?

Well...

I owe you an apology.

I shouldn't have yelled at you
the other day...

and the other other day.

[laughs]

Who are you
and what have you done with my mother?

[laughs]

I know. I know, it just...

[sighs]
hasn't been easy around here lately,

and me going to the hospital...
scared you.

A little bit. Yeah.

I am not Grammy.

I'm not leaving,

and I'm taking good care of myself,

and I'm gonna be here to drive you crazy

for a long time to come.

Okay?

Okay.

Come here.

Why have I been summoned to the bar
on a weeknight?

Are we at war?

[chuckles] Not at all.

An old-fashioned for my friend.

- She doesn't see the irony.
- [laughs]

Aren't you feeling your oats this evening?

I have been trying to paint all day,

and I needed a break

with some inspiring company.

I will do my best.

What are you working on?

Something for the Corner Spa
and... I'm a little stuck.

Oh.

To inspiration.

Ah!

- Indeed.
- [laughs]

What's the painting about?

Us...

you, the girls,

that magical house of yours.

Growing up,

that house was filled with people.

Parties, meetings, visits.

Near the end, I told Daddy

it didn't make sense for me
to keep such a big house

when it was gonna be just me,

and he said,
"Why would it ever be just you?"

[both laugh]

So when all my family was gone,

I kept filling it with people
who needed laughter

or shelter

or quiet,

but most of all,
I kept filling it with friends.

We bloomed there.

They will, too.

Yeah. Okay.

You girls all right in here?

- Yes, ma'am.
- Yes, Mommy.

[chuckles]

Daddy was at Wharton's last night...

but he didn't come sit with me.

He didn't even say hi.

Do you think
Daddy doesn't like me anymore?

Of course he still likes you.

He was probably in a hurry
and didn't know you were there.

Do you miss your daddy?

I do.

Very much.

But we talk and we text all the time,

even if we don't see each other,
so I know that he loves me,

just like I know
that your daddy loves you.

[phone vibrates]

[phone vibrates]

Who you texting?

No one.

So, just when I get Katie
to understand the divorce

and that her daddy still loves her,

he walks out of Wharton's
without so much as saying hello.

[sighs]

Do you think he saw you with Cal?

Ugh... I don't know,

but if he did, I will hear about it.

What's going on with you?

Well, I mean, I don't have
an ex-baseball star chasing me around,

but I did just get myself

three new boyfriends.

[laughs] Wait, what?

Well, I'll explain when Helen gets here,
if she ever does.

I've been in court all day.

If you're here to play more games,
I have happier places to be.

Come inside.

Please.

This used to be the living room.

I mean,

like, when the house was first built,
it was the school.

I can recite this house's history
backwards and forwards

just as well as you can.

When I was growing up, the...

the couch was here.

Green and gold floral...

and that is where you were sitting
when I saw you for the first time.

Your mother left you with Aunt Frances
while she ran some errands.

It was the summer
after your father passed,

and she still didn't want
to leave you alone.

So...

you were curled up
right in the corner of the couch

with a book, of course...

and I was 14
and I wanted to fix the world for you.

Um, earlier... tonight, I started to write
my righteous statement

for the City Council...

on how the Wingates used to run
a soup kitchen

out of here during the Great Depression,

fed the town.

But all I could...
All I could think about was you.

[chuckles] You were standing right there

introducing me
to homemade lemonade popsicles.

That was, uh... That was my room...

during the summers...

where you'd sit and...

talk me through all my family drama.

This was the tree
where we had our first kiss.

Don't you dare imply
that this house, its history,

our history

means less to me than it does to you!

I loved you!

Do you think I forgot about that?

I needed to know that you hadn't.

Ryan, please.

Please. What do you want?

You.

Only you.

♪ It's our time ♪

♪ But wait ♪

♪ 'Cause I can see the silence ♪

♪ In the space ♪

♪ Between us ♪

[instrumental music playing]