Sweet Magnolias season 3 episode 9 finds the vow renewal getting smaller and the playground project growing larger.
Get the latest news for Sweet Magnolias with SERENITY SCOOP Volume S3E9 ‘A Game of Telephone’.
As Ronnie and Dana Sue’s renewal ceremony draws closer Dana Sue has concerns about the cost. Her friends make plans to come to the rescue.
Cal’s ex-wife Vicky invites him to dinner out of the blue. The playground project grows, and Katie inspires a special writing project.
We learn the official foundation name when Helen, Maddie and Dana Sue make their “Serenity Serves’ presentation to the interfaith council. The “Magnolia Community Foundation” is underway.
Read on for more scoop on Sweet Magnolias season 3 episode 8.
Town Council Notes
Serenity’s high schoolers continue to plan for renovations and improvements to the Ashford Grove Playground. They make plans for requesting a permit from acting mayor Vernon Hall. CeCe agrees to work on that and Ty volunteers to help.
Imagination for the project is growing as well. Later in the episode, Sophie points out that the new playground would be a great venue for LARP-ing (live action role play). Hey, sounds fun to me! She and Willow ask about making an old slide look like a waterfall.
By the episode’s end the project is approved by Vernon. After celebrating the victory, Ty and CeCe talk about how their relationship ended. CeCe apologizes for not giving him the closure he wanted back then. They talk about it and Ty assures her that he appreciates the conversation means even more now.
Margarita Chatter
The Sweet Magnolias gather at Dana Sue’s house for Margarita Night. Helen mentions hearing about the arrival of some new formalwear. Dana Sue announces that they will not need to go shopping. She feels like they probably should cancel the vowel renewal ceremony because have diminished. After Ronnie paid Kathy to get out of town, most of the money left to their discretion will be used for Annie’s college costs.
Helen and Maddie are so disappointed at the idea of a cancellation. They propose a smaller event and volunteer to make all the arrangements. It takes a bit of convincing, but eventually Dana Sue agrees and thanks them for their generosity.
Dana Sue does reveal one concern, however. When they mention the cake, Dana Sue becomes quiet. We learn that she fears Erik is avoiding her. She wanted him to take time off after burning his hand and reeling from Helen going back to Ryan. But why has he not come back? Has she done something wrong? Maddie agrees to look far and wide to find the perfect cake.
Another topic for discussion is the need for some practice time with June for their upcoming presentation to the interfaith council. Dana Sue proposes a date, but Maddie is unavailable that night. The ladies learn that she and Cal are scheduled to have dinner with Cal’s ex-wife Vicky. Oooh, they tell her they want all the scoop about how it goes.
Small Town Life
One of the best community events of the season has to be the Forager Festival. No one ever found North the ceramic fox that stays beneath the stairs at the chapel. Or did they?? Cal and Maddie practice their tango on her front porch. Cal lowers her into a dip. As her head swings back, she sees North tucked in the corner of her patio furniture.
Maddie gasps and asks if it was Dana Sue and Helen. When the answer is no, she realizes it must be her mom, Paula. Clearly, Cal has enjoyed being a part of the prank!
The small town really seems to care for and appreciate each other. Maddie and Helen meet with Wharton’s owners Grace and Neville about purchasing a small number of sandwich platters for the renewal ceremony. Grace and Neville want to provide the food at no charge. When Helen and Maddie try to refuse, they share a funny story about a deer who ambushed Wharton’s kitchen years ago. The deer demolished all the olive jars leaving them emptyhanded for an olive pizza birthday party scheduled. Dana Sue came to the rescue with 12 jars of olives free of charge. So, that is why the platters will be on the house.
Grace politely requests that they be able to come to the ceremony since they love Ronnie and Dana Sue so much. The ladies hesitate, trying to abide by Dana Sue’s mandate for a very small select group of people. But they cannot resist and add Grace and Neville to the list. Oh, and there’s one more according to Grace. She knows Collins would love to donate some wood for the arbor, so let’s add him as well. The list is growing!
The “Serenity Serves” presentation goes well at the interfaith council. All the leaders vote yes to coordinate their efforts to help those in need. Pastor Moseby even hopes that the Magnolia Community Foundation will let them know about other projects, too.
The Sweet Magnolias debrief, celebrate and taste wedding cake possibilities back at Sullivan’s. Dana Sue learns of all the people wanted to donate to their ceremony and be present at the event. Maddie points out that the budget has not changed, just the number of attendees. Dana Sue agrees and is grateful for everyone’s generosity.
Peggy pops in with “close friend” and investigative journalist Charles. She introduces the women since they initiated the mayoral recall. Charles is apparently going to help with Peggy’s probe regarding fiscal responsibility. Dana Sue invites them both to the renewal ceremony.
It’s all “relative”
Paula tells Maddie how much Katie’s recent letters have meant to her. She compliments Katie’s writing and shares her joy over her grandkids carrying on her late husband’s legacy. They are writing letters like Walter did and Ty restored the desk that he made.
One night, Katie asks her mom to make up a bedtime story to tell her. Maddie makes the story about “Princess Katie” and the beautiful letters she writes that make people feel better. Later, Maddie tells Paula her plans to write a book with Katie celebrating her letters. She wants Paula to illustrate the book. Three generations will contribute to the book. Maddie shares how Katie’s original apology letter to Kyle led her to write the notes to her friends that spawned their reconciliation.
Bill takes Ty, Kyle and Katie out for pizza. They talk, laugh and catch up on the latest news. Bill really seems to be showing interest in their lives. When Kyle tells him about the playground project, Bill recalls some fun memories even though he gets the details mixed up. Kyle talks about the rising cost of the project like paying Mr. Ramsey for consultation. He talks about the fundraiser they are planning. Bill becomes quiet and reflective.
Later, we see Bill visiting the park alone. His foot sinks into the mud. Is he thinking about donating to the project?
Counseling Corner
Noreen consults with Helen on her agreement with Bill about support and visitation of baby Rebecca. Helen talks about all the legal steps in making their arrangements formal. In the end, they consider keeping it simpler. Noreen does realize that she needs to think further about a future guardian should anything happen to her.
At first, CeCe believes Ty is only volunteering to help her with the permit because he does not think she has the appropriate clout. Lily and Annie assure her that Ty is a helper. They do not think she has anything to worry about, pointing out the long history of helping and hard work in the Townsend family.
Annie talks to her mom about wanting to have a great relationship like hers and Ronnie’s. Annie appreciates the work they did to reconcile after previous mistakes. Dana Sue tells Annie how proud she is of her and reminds her that while she does not enjoy grounding her, she is responsible for helping Annie to become the best person she can be.
Olivia tries a new tactic in tutoring Ty in statistics. When he struggles, she suggests incorporating music into the lesson as both things involve math.
Ty also stays for a talk with Helen after dropping off the playground permit papers for CeCe to sign. He reveals that he does not want to attend college. She is surprised but happy for his time of reflection and encourages him to find what is best for him (and, of course, keep his mom involved in the conversation.). He wonders if he will ever get it all right. Helen reminds him that she is much older than him and she still does not get it right all the time. They talk about changes in direction.
Romance Review
Kyle dumps the pressed flowers from the book where he was saving them. He then realizes that someone else still gave him flowers. Later, Lily reveals herself as the one who brought the flowers to his door. She tells him that she wanted him to know how wonderful he was (just like the first note said). She also indicates interest in spending more time with him and they start planning their first date.
Jeremy brings a case of goats’ milk to Noreen at the spa. She is grateful and a little surprised that he came just for that reason. He tells her is supposed to meet with the Sweet Magnolias about the “Serenity Serves” project. But since they are not there yet, he seems quite happy to stick around with Noreen.
Howie and Helen play a game of tennis. After the match, Howie tells Helen that Erik is thinking about her suggesting that she is also thinking of Erik. Howie encourages Helen to reach out to Erik. She worries about how much she has hurt him, but Howie still thinks she should. Howie leaves and Helen leans on her car staring at Erik’s contact page in her phone.
Maddie and Cal go to dinner with Vicki and fiancé Drew, who looks suspiciously like Cal. And what do you know? Drew is the guy that Cal beat up years ago when his anger was not being managed. Vicky tells them all about Drew’s plans for baseball (since he can still play, you know . . . snark alert!). It does not take long to see that Vicky seems to be insecure and is trying to prove that she is better off without Cal. Cal is just fine, though, proudly sharing he is pursuing carpentry and happily in love with Maddie.
Maddie takes a restroom break and Vicky follows her. In the ladies’ room, Vicky tries to toot her own horn and suggests that Maddie might be feeling insecure. Maddie assures her that she has no doubts or insecurities about Cal and suggests that Vicky take her drama elsewhere.
The two couples finish dinner and part ways. Cal and Maddie are free from any concerns about Vicky.
(By the way, how fun is it that Vicky is played by Justin Bruening’s (Cal) real life spouse, Alexa Havins?)
After a homework session, Annie looks down at the tin can (okay, plastic cup) phone that Ty gave her. She looks contemplative as she stares out her window. Is she thinking about Ty? For whatever it’s worth, consider checking out this Wikipedia entry about tin can phones, which it interestingly says are also referred to as “lovers’ phones” . . . hmm.
Mystery Musings
Will Bill donate to the playground project?
Can Dana Sue and Erik reconnect? Could Erik return to Sullivan’s and make Dana Sue and Ronnie’s cake?
Speaking of Erik, what about Helen? Will one of them reach out about their relationship?
Finally, who’s excited for the renewal ceremony? I am, for sure!
As always, so many questions in Sweet Magnolias!
Watch for our next edition of ‘Serenity Scoop’ for S3E10.
All 10 episodes of Sweet Magnolias are available on Netflix. Follow our continuing coverage of the series at So Many Shows.
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