Sweet Magnolias season 2 continues with the aftermath of prom night and Helen’s special news.
Sweet Magnolias Season 2 Episode 2
“So Much to Say”
Written by Anthony Epling
Directed by Norman Buckley
Sweet Magnolias season 2 episode 2 delves deeper into the fallout of Kyle’s car accident. Helen and her best friends celebrate her pregnancy news. Meanwhile, Ty must decide about whether to attend the state baseball championship. Dana Sue faces even more pressure to buy out her silent partner in the restaurant.
Read on for more details as we revisit the events of episode 2.
Home Sweet Home office
Helen is unpacking her home office. Her landlord decided to sell the building where she had been practicing law. Isaac is there to meet about his search for his birth parents.
Helen reviews Isaac’s history with him. Isaac shares that his parents are Tina and Eno, and they were hoping to adopt a baby with mixed ethnicity. We learned last season that his mom has passed and that his relationship with his father became a little strained.
Helen gives Isaac a form to complete for requesting his birth records in Gulfport, Mississippi. He knows very little about his adoption aside from the location and the Bible his biological mother left for him.
Helen receives a unique delivery, a box with a magnolia and a candy bracelet. She grabs her things to leave and ushers Isaac out with his form.
Another delivery
Over at Maddie’s house, Kyle is complaining of having to sleep in the living room while he uses the wheelchair. Maddie complains of still not knowing what happened the evening of the accident. Kyle is not talking about it. She reminds him it could have been even worse than it was.
Ty enters the room asking for a ride home after his French exam. Maddie asks if Cece can bring him home. Tyler quickly replies that his girlfriend is dealing with her own exams. Nana Paula assures Ty that she will pick him up if Maddie cannot.
As Ty leaves for school, the doorbell rings. It is a delivery. Maddie, too, receives a magnolia and candy bracelet. Paula seems to understand the gift and wonders what has gone wrong with Maddie and her best friends.
Pep talk
At the high school, Cal tries to encourage Jackson about pitching in the state championship. Assistant coach Harlan reminds Jackson to take the game seriously, while Cal tells him to approach it like he would any other matchup.
As they cross the hall, we see Annie and other students painting spirit banners for the team’s trip to State. Two bratty students walk by mocking Ty’s injury at the hands of Jackson. Annie quickly admonishes the insensitive students and gives Jackson a sorrowful look.
Making up
Maddie arrives to work at the spa. Trotter greets her as the scarlet (red-headed) magnolia and tells her he’s glad she is back. He shows her a stack of mail that includes a public hearing notice.
Maddie is anxious to see her friends and joins them at the spa café. Immediately, Maddie and Dana Sue both apologize recognizing that they were both overwhelmed in their own grief. They pledge to always think about what each other is feeling, too.
History lesson
Trotter walks in on the friends’ reunion with a message about a disgruntled patron, Mrs. Lester, complaining about a parking ticket. Helen suggests they keep her on hold for a bit.
Trainer Trotter (say that three times fast!) mentions their “flower show”. The ladies proceed to tell him the backstory of the “sorry magnolias” and candy bracelets. The best friends had their first big fight in second grade over what Care Bear is the best.
Young Dana Sue thought a gift of jewelry would ease the tension, something she witnessed her father doing when her mom was angry. She found candy bracelets in her Easter basket and shared them with her friends. Ever since then, the bracelets have symbolized a reconciliation. Helen explains that the fight is over once the bracelets have been eaten.
Trotter returns to the desk and Helen shares her pregnancy news with Dana Sue. The three friends chant gleefully about having a baby. We also learn that Ryan is the father and Helen is not ready to tell him. You may recall Ryan not wanting to have children was the cause of the couple’s breakup in season 1.
Financial woes
Helen and Dana Sue exit the spa talking. Dana Sue shares that silent partner Micah needs the buyout money even faster than she thought because the medical bills are quickly coming due for his brother.
Helen is blindsided when Dana Sue says she needs to come up with the money within 30 days. The attorney points out that loans and divorces take much longer than that.
Helen’s only suggestion is taking a second mortgage on Dana Sue’s house. Dana Sue hates the idea and reminds Helen that she will also need to pay for Annie’s college before long.
Mixed emotions
This time we see coaches Cal and Harlan talking to Ty about joining them at the state championship even though he cannot play. At first Tyler resists, but Cal reminds him that he helped the team get this far. Ty admits that his hesitancy was because he did not want to feel like he would be in the way. The young player quickly changes his tune and sounds excited about going.
Maddie arrives to pick up Tyler and seems distracted with all that is going on with Kyle. Tyler mentions going to the game. Maddie stumbles over the idea and Ty chooses to tell her it is not a good idea to go. We get the impression that Ty’s change of heart is really an effort to help his mother.
Helen is also feeling emotional as she opens a package at her house. Her mom has sent some of Helen’s baby things. Helen tears up as she looks through the box of sweet memories.
Basketball therapy
I am not sure I can do the next scene justice. It is delightful! Cal, Howie, Trotter, and Isaac are playing basketball outside. Howie reminds the men that they are playing to ease Cal’s nerves about State.
Cal is teasing Trotter about who his favorite player is in their basketball group. After recalling Trotter’s Dolly Parton themed campaign to join the basketball group, Cal tells his best friend, “I will always [pause] ‘beat’ you.” Dolly Parton fans will recognize that Cal is doing a play on words with the title of Dolly’s legendary song “I Will Always Love You”.
Isaac thanks the guys for including him in the game. He says Erik should be back soon because things are almost settled with the partner buyout at the restaurant. Cal inquires further and Isaac realizes it may not be his place to share about Dana Sue’s financial dilemma. Howie assures Isaac that what they say stays on the court.
Mystery friend
Kyle is in the living room texting a friend. Maddie asks if it is Nellie. Kyle says no. She wonders if it is a friend from church. Kyle says no.
Kyle continues to keep any details about the night of the accident from his mom. Maddie even points out that he will not be punished for telling her what happened. That does not help. Both Kyle and Maddie appear frustrated.
Ty walks in as Maddie leaves the room. Ty asks his brother to stop giving their mom such a hard time. She’s just worried about what’s going on with Kyle.
Making a deal
Dana Sue talks to Ronnie about remaining married instead of getting divorced. This is for business reasons only, she says. She has accepted the idea that a second mortgage is her only choice, and she needs Ronnie to sign off on the paperwork.
Ronnie says he may be able to help her get a lower interest rate. He has made gains in his credit score and even invested in a trailer at the lake to rent out in the summer. When Dana Sue suggests he must be trying to impress an attractive bank teller, he suggests it is a “beautiful chef” that he is trying to impress.
Dana Sue resists his flirtations and says she does not want to hear about how he has become a different man. She just wants him to sign the papers because it’s what’s best for taking care of Annie.
Ronnie offers another way he can help. Why not move back into the house and save the money he is spending at the motor lodge?
Dana Sue makes a final plea for him to agree to the refinance. They shake on it, even though Ronnie wishes they could seal the deal with a kiss instead.
Encounters
Helen bumps into Ms. Frances as she walks to a meeting. They catch up a bit and Ms. Frances tells Helen she was worried about how things ended with Ryan. Helen assures her that she is fine.
Ty tells Coach Cal that he will not be going to the state championship. Cal is confused as to why.
Tyler walks away and sees Annie standing at her locker. He continues to walk her way but stops when he sees Jackson come up to her.
Jackson talks to Annie about the spirit banners, and she encourages him saying she believes they will win. Jackson goes on his way. When Annie turns back around, Ty is no longer in sight.
A proposal
Okay, it’s not a marriage proposal, but Helen and Cal do have an interesting offer to share with Dana Sue. The attorney and coach enter Sullivan’s and Dana Sue can tell they have something up their sleeve.
Cal announces that in the interest of diversifying his investments, he would like to buy out Micah and take over as her partner in the restaurant. Helen assures Dana Sue that this is an excellent deal and points out that it is a solution that does not involve Ronnie.
Dana Sue is certainly surprised by the unexpected offer. She promises to evaluate the idea further, but right now she needs to leave for her date. Smiles come across Cal and Helen’s faces as they tell her to go ahead and leave for her date.
Hurt feelings
Annie arrives at Maddie’s house with food for the family. Maddie suggests that she go talk to Kyle. They chat briefly and Annie tells Kyle that people are wondering when he will be done using the wheelchair. He perks up at the idea of people talking about him. Then Annie explains that people are concerned about him, and Kyle is not as excited when she describes it that way.
Annie wants to sign Kyle’s cast because that’s what friends do. Kyle scoffs at the idea and acts like she’s just being charitable. She insists they are truly friends and Kyle begins to berate her for choosing to only be a friend, and one that chooses other guys over him when she wants to. Annie is visibly hurt by Kyle’s comments and rude attitude. She quickly exits and Maddie enters the room in disbelief.
Take a walk
Maddie wants to know why Kyle would be so rude. He tries to defend himself saying, “You don’t know what she did!” But that’s exactly what Maddie wants to know. She wants to understand what is going on in Kyle’s heart and mind, but he refuses to open up. As Maddie becomes increasingly frustrated, Paula suggests that she and Maddie go for a walk.
Paula admonishes Kyle using his full name (that means business) and then joins Maddie outside. Maddie expresses her frustration with not being able to help Kyle more. Paula explains that she cannot protect her kids from every problem, but she can love them through all the hard times. She says Kyle will have to decide when to share.
Date night
We see Dana Sue on her date with Jeremy in the park. The two share a picnic dinner in the back of Jeremy’s truck while the fireflies twinkle in the night sky. It is certainly a romantic setting. Jeremy is reading Dana Sue’s palm and makes a flirtatious transition to kissing her.
When Jeremy expresses his wish for Dana Sue to come home with him, she hesitates. She explains all the distractions in her life and that she does not want to be distracted when they decide to take things further. Then there is more kissing.
Conversations
Jackson joins Annie outside when she is taking photos. He thanks her for making signs as well as for shutting down the bratty teens who had been mocking Ty’s injury. He also sort of apologizes for any rude comments that were made to her because of him earlier in the year. Annie comments that “people can be idiots”. Jackson offers that “people can learn”. They share a meaningful glance.
Trotter approaches Helen at the spa. He shares that he and Ashley are interested in adoption. Helen gladly agrees to be their attorney for that process.
Cal and Maddie also have an encounter at the spa. Maddie tells her boyfriend that they will celebrate his first year of teaching after the championship. He shares that he is disappointed that Ty will not be joining the team on the trip. Maddie agrees that Ty is so sad to miss playing because of his injury. Cal points out that he was referring to Ty going in the role of team captain. Cal seems confused and wonders if Ty misunderstood his intentions. He is hearing different stories after all!
No records
Helen tells Isaac that they are unable to make progress in getting his birth records due to the closed adoption. But she assures him that they will try other methods for tracking down his birth parents.
She inquires about his reason for wanting to find them. She wonders if there is a “void” he needs to fill. Isaac says there is not a void. He goes on to describe all the wonderful traits passed down to him by his adoptive parents. He knows he is very blessed to have been adoptive.
As far as identifying his birth parents, he explains that he wants to know “whose eyes are staring back at [him] every single time [he] look[s] in the mirror”. Helen grabs his hand in a comforting gesture.
Margarita Night
It’s another margarita night, this time at Dana Sue’s house.
Dana Sue shares how blindsided she was to hear that Kyle had unrequited feelings for Annie. Annie had not shared anything about it.
The friends also talk about the idea of Ryan possibly changing his mind about not wanting kids once he finds out about the pregnancy. Helen insists that she does not want any change to be because of obligation instead of love. She will tell him when she believes the time is right.
Helen updates the ladies on Isaac’s search. They wonder if Paula may know anything that was going on 22 years ago that might be relevant.
Maddie shares that Kyle still will not talk to her about circumstances surrounding the accident. Helen suggests that Kyle talk to a therapist. She says that Ty is being a “trouper” and that Katie is alright.
Helen talks about needing help with a newborn when the time arrives. Cue the gift! Dana Sue and Maddie have a present for the baby, a little onesie with Paula’s magnolia painting. It says, “Sweetest Magnolia”.
Heartstrings
Later that night, Maddie joins Ty in his room for a heartfelt conversation. She wants to know if he chose to miss State because of her. She describes how brave he is and that she does not want him to miss the game because she is not as brave as he is. He agrees to go.
In the kitchen at Sullivan’s, Isaac thanks Dana Sue for making people like him. She scoffs at such an idea and insists that he is the reason people care about him. She talks about the practice of a community caring for one another. They share a hug.
Cal has been called to the kitchen to pick up something. They have multiple boxes of cookies, brownies, and cupcakes for the team’s trip. Cal is thrilled to take the boxes and thrilled to hear Dana Sue refer to him as her partner. Now he is ready for her to name a menu item after him!
Final notes
Maddie tells Kyle she wants him to see a therapist. Kyle is against the idea and immediately makes a call to someone asking if they have time to talk.
Helen is at home reading a pregnancy book when she hears her phone. Ryan is calling. Will she answer the call?
Serenity Soundbites:
The phrases for this episode belong to Dana Sue.
- “That woman is set off by a light breeze.” Dana Sue is referring to cranky customer Mrs. Lester who is on the phone complaining about a parking ticket.
- “I need to make that divorce happen faster than a knife fight in a phone booth.” Who else is seeing red when Dana Sue tells Helen about the urgent timeline for buying out Micah’s half of the restaurant?
Food for thought:
Have you ever thought about how all three magnolias have lost a parent? Perhaps Dana Sue has lost both of hers. Do you think these losses have brought them even closer together?
Stay tuned for our ongoing coverage of Sweet Magnolias with recaps, trivia and interviews!
S2E1 recap S2E3 recap S2E4 recap S2E5 recap S2E6 recap
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