Sweet Magnolias season 2 episode 5 brings several newsworthy discoveries.
Sweet Magnolias Season 2 Episode 5
“Great Expectations”
Written by: Shani Am. Moore
Directed by Norman Buckley
A new Instagram account has surfaced for Serenity and its secrets. Jackson apologizes for the hurt he has caused Annie and asks to start over as friends. Bill and Zoila both have interesting news for Maddie.
The teenagers help prepare for Vacation Bible School (VBS) while the adults join forces to examine the parking problem. Meanwhile, Isaac finally meets his birth mother.
Read on for more details about all the developments in episode 5 “Great Expectations”.
Serenity Secrets 415
Dana Sue is already frustrated with the kitchen drawer that will not close properly. But the news she receives next brings even more frustration. Annie joins her mother in the kitchen and reveals an online post showing her mom breaking up with Jeremy in the town square.
Dana Sue looks on in disbelief and desperately wants to know how to make it go away. Annie advises that there is not much they can do, plus the post has already garnered 73 comments. Gossip prevails in Serenity!
Comparing notes
Ty and Cece have a picnic for breakfast. Once again, Tyler points out how busy Cece is. He seems to be struggling with all the free time he has without being able to attend baseball camp as usual.
Tyler mentions that his father wants to watch the Braves baseball game later, but Ty is not keen on watching baseball right now. It only reminds him of what he has lost. Unfortunately, baseball is about the only thing he and his dad share.
In contrast, Cece doesn’t really have anything in common with her own dad. Despite being very different, she and her dad love spending time together. Cece suggests that Ty try to show interest in something else Bill likes instead of baseball.
They share a kiss.
Let’s get ready for VBS
Many of the young people in town are gathered at the church to assist with preparations for VBS. Most of them are there willingly, or perhaps per their parents’ instructions. Kyle, however, is the only one there by a court order.
That’s right, Judge St. Clair ordered Kyle to do community service as penance for his reckless behavior in the accident. We later learn that the circumstances surrounding Kyle’s incident would usually only involve a fine. Instead, Mary Vaughn and Trent made exaggerated claims about Nellie’s suffering to sway the judge for harsher sentence for Kyle. With that said, Kyle is polishing silver instead of decorating like the other teens.
Meeting Lily
We meet Annie’s friend Lily. She shows great interest in any scoop that Annie might when Annie points out that she is trying to hang out outside of her usual company of the Townsend family. Lily also shows a very keen interest in Ty when she sees him there helping.
When Lily asks Annie about Ty, Annie describes him as being self-centered. Annie also complains that Ty has never thanked her for always being so supportive of his interests.
To be honest, Lily seems a little self-serving, if not at least a little boy crazy. Lily acts super nice when Ty walks over, but Annie dismisses him asking why he is helping as he usually does not. Of course, he is usually at baseball camp, yet another reminder of his loss. Lily gushes over Ty.
A move for Bill
Maddie meets Bill for coffee. He announces that he is moving to Castlewood. He has accepted a position at Pioneer Medical Center. Maddie congratulates him. She also asks why he did not attend Kyle’s court appointment. Bill says he wasn’t sure if Kyle would want him there, but Maddie thinks it was simply easier for him not to attend.
Bill explains that he thinks moving would give her and the kids some needed space from him. He also complains of the kids hating him. Maddie assures him that this is not true. Regardless, Bill wants to be the one to share the news of his move with the kids.
At Sullivan’s
Dana Sue tasks Eric with handling the produce deliveries from now on. This allows her to avoid Jeremy. Erik calls her a “heartbreaker”.
Dana Sue breaks Cals heart just a little, too. Her new business partner arrives at the kitchen excited to share lots of ideas for the restaurant. Dana Sue slows him down and directs him to the dishwashing station. She explains that is where you begin learning about the restaurant business.
A major confrontation
Things really heat up when Maddie meets with Helen about the parking issues. Maddie shows Helen the list of properties recently purchased by the mysterious company Fast Molasses LLC. All of them appear to be prime locations to purchase as parking lots for adjacent businesses. One of them includes the location where Helen used to maintain her office.
Helen adds to the news by informing Maddie that Fast Molasses is a company opened in Delaware by none other than Mary Vaughn! This all looks very unbecoming for Mary Vaughn and her husband the mayor.
Maddie confronts Mary Vaughn about her scheme to make money by changing town ordinances that favor purchase of her properties. Mary Vaughn fires back saying their investments are not illegal. She also claims that creating Fast Molasses out of state was simply for tax advantages.
Mary Vaughn threatens Maddie about interfering using the metaphor of Maddie kicking a hornet’s nest. Maddie replies that she is willing to get stung if that means she can “exterminate” said hornets.
A major discovery
Helen and Isaac visit Peggy at the Serenity Sentinel newspaper office. Helen recognized the highlighted passage John 8:32 as being posted on the wall of the office. Perhaps the newspaper archives hold some clue about Isaac’s parents.
When Isaac starts telling Peggy about the highlighted Bible passages, she stops him and says she knows them all. She begins reciting from the Bible. Helen is overcome with the realization that the Bible belonged to Peggy. She is Isaac’s birth mother!
Helen leaves Isaac and Helen alone. Both mother and son begin to tear up over. As Isaac begins to ask questions, Peggy says she needs something and runs out of the room leaving Isaac alone.
Feeling abandoned
Back at home, Isaac tries to tend to his flower garden. He begins angrily pulling weeds, kicking and throwing them. He finally falls to his knees in frustration.
Maddie, Helen, and Dana Sue enter the yard and begin helping him with the gardening. Isaac thanks them and appreciates their prayers. Helen learns from Isaac that Peggy ran out before they could talk about her being his biological mother.
Trying too hard?
Bill arrives at Maddie’s house to tell the kids about him moving. Before giving them the news, Tyler asks about a book of Bill’s that he found at the house. We assume that Ty is trying to find something his dad might be interested in besides baseball. Bill reports that the book was a gift and one he never read.
Bill shares the news about moving to Castlewood but reminds them he will always be there when they need him. He then gives them each a key with special keychains based on their individual interests, a ladybug for Katie, theater masks for Kyle, and a baseball keychain for Tyler. Tyler seems frustrated with another reminder of baseball.
Kyle confronts Bill about not showing up for his court date. Again, Bill says he wasn’t sure if Kyle wanted him to come. Kyle sarcastically replies, “Glad to know you’re here whenever we need you.”
It’s hard not to feel a little sympathy for Bill at this point. He does seem to believe that giving Maddie and the kids some space would be a good thing for them. And he did put thought into the keychains, even if the baseball one was not the best choice right now. What do you think? Is the family being too hard on him?
A different court appearance
It’s the basketball court this time. Cal, Erik, Howie, Ronnie, and Trotter are talking about how to “court” a woman while playing ball. Lots of good teasing ensues.
Trotter points out that he is the only happily married one there. Ronnie corrects Trotter pointing out that he, too, is married. Then Howie drops a zinger reminding him that his wife won’t let him in the house. Erik chimes in with suggestions about patience and taking things slow. The guys ask him if he is referring to Helen. Erik denies it, but I think we all know at this point that Erik is very fond of Helen.
Margarita Night
The three best friends have their weekly gab fest, catching up on all the details of their lives over “Killer Margaritas” at Helen’s house. They begin speculating about the circumstances of Peggy’s teen pregnancy. Was the move to Memphis really about Peggy’s parents or a way to hide the pregnancy? Helen cautions them not to make assumptions and the three friends make a toast to Peggy.
Maddie tells Helen and Dana Sue about confronting Mary Vaughn and that there is no way she will purchase property from the mayor’s wife to make their parking lot. She reminds them that Mary Vaughn has tried to destroy so many things in Maddie’s life – interfering with her relationship with Cal, the spa and even Kyle’s sentence for the accident.
The ladies decide to meet with Grace and Neville to see if they can combine forces and somehow share parking using a shuttle.
They also bring up Noreen wondering how long she is going to be in Serenity.
Conversations
Speaking of Noreen, the pregnant nurse meets with Howie to see if he can use any help at his office. He gives her some files to transcribe while his transcriptionist is out, and she thanks him for the work.
Jackson stops by the church to talk to Annie. He tells her he wanted to check out the volunteering that everyone was doing. He also wanted to see if she was okay after running out of the restaurant upset the night before.
Lily asks Annie why Jackson was there, and she says she’s not sure. But she is smiling about it!
Teamwork
Helen, Dana Sue, and Maddie talk to Neville and Grace at Sullivan’s. It turns out Wharton’s patrons are getting parking tickets as well. And now it just so happens that a property nearby is available for purchase, all part of Mary Vaughn’s scheme.
They decide to enlist the feedback of other business owners in the community. They will all meet at the spa that evening.
Cal had a mohawk?
Cal brings Kyle and Ty home in his truck. They exit the vehicle talking about Cal sporting a mohawk while playing a guitar in a band. Another truck drives by with the owner shouting, calling Cal “Coach Useless”. Cal reacts calmly shaking off the incident. The boys are impressed that Cal did not get angry.
Inside, Cal notices the book that Ty asked his dad about. Cal actually is interested in the book, which is about George Washington. They decide to each read their own copies and compare thoughts on the book.
Maddie returns home and Cal says the boys gave their blessing for him to take her out to dinner. She tells him about the community meeting at the spa happening that evening. They begin kissing
Making a scene
A very romantic scene, that is.
Dana Sue is in the house, struggling again with the kitchen drawer. She hears loud music outside. Ronnie is outside standing by his truck, flowers in hand with the music blasting. Dana Sue walks toward him grabbing the loose porch rail on the way.
He wants her to take him back. He realizes he was not as involved as a marriage partner as he should have been. Dana Sue reminds him that it is not that simple. She thanks him for the flowers and walks back inside, smiling.
Decisions
Ashley meets Trotter at the spa for the community meeting about the parking. Trotter explains that he would prefer they adopt an older child instead of a baby. Trotter has a heart for those older kids wanting a parent. Ashley agrees to the idea, and they embrace.
Noreen as decided she would like to take Isaac up on his offer to use his spare room. He hesitates at first given all his emotions related to learning Peggy is his mother but quickly changes his mind and helps Noreen unload her car.
He shows her around and she is impressed with the décor. Noreen asks where Isaac is from originally and what brought him to Serenity. There is an awkward pause, and he says he needs to go tend to something.
It sounds like Ty may have some decisions to make as well. He talks to Cece on their date about how he feels like he is “drifting”. She reminds him that his life is not all about baseball.
Productive meeting
There is a huge turnout of business owners at the spa. While there Helen tries to talk to Peggy, but Peggy dismisses her reminding Helen to keep the news about Isaac private.
The business owners generate a plan for the parking problem, but they want to keep talking about other issues. The crowd names several campaign promises from Mayor Lewis that remain unfulfilled.
After the meeting, Erik sits with Helen on the Ms. Frances’ bench outside the spa. She talks Erik, Maddie and Dana Sue being there for her through this difficult time. She thanks him and pats his knee. Erik moves his hand to cover hers.
Coffee shop
Annie and Lily grab some coffee and sit down to talk. Jackson walks in and asks to speak with Annie alone. He explains that there was more to his visit at the church earlier than he originally said.
He admits that he hurt her while trying to hurt someone else, we assume Ty. Despite his bad behavior, Annie still came to his defense at the hospital. He apologizes and thanks her for being so kind. He also tells her she is special, and he wants to know if they can try to move forward getting to know each other. Annie agrees she would like to be friends and Jackson suggests he is open to seeing what else might happen beyond friendship.
On the rooftop
Cal takes Maddie to the rooftop of Sullivan’s, and they look out over the town square. It’s a romantic encounter complete with champagne.
They profess their love for one another, first Maddie and then Cal. They move to the couch and kiss, a lot!
Repairs
Dana Sue returns home noticing the porch railing is no longer loose. She finds Ronnie inside. He has fixed many things around the house, including that kitchen drawer. Ronnie admits he broke their home by cheating on her, but he can try to fix their house. He wants to do everything he can to earn her forgiveness.
Dana Sue moves closer. They begin kissing and move towards the bedroom.
Serenity Soundbites:
- “When are you gonna start letting the men in here? This place is nice!” Mr. Van Crockett referring to the spa when the floor is open for questions. He’s the sweetest! Maybe they should make an exception!
- “Do what you feel in your heart to be right. You’ll be criticized anyway.” Cal quoting Eleanor Roosevelt after a resident insults on the drive by.
- “I can’t fix all the ways I broke our home, but the least I can do is fix our house.” Ronnie to Dana Sue trying to earn her forgiveness.
Food for Thought:
- Do you trust Lily? Is she being a good friend to Annie or thinking mostly about herself?
- Is Bill really trying to do the right thing? Are good intentions being misinterpreted?
Stay tuned for our ongoing coverage of Sweet Magnolias with recaps, trivia and interviews!
S2E1 recap S2E2 recap S2E3 recap S2E4 recap S2E6 recap
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