At Myrtle's Home, Regina and Ted has left, as Sarah sits in the den with Myrtle, as Myrtle asks her Daughter "So when will we settle that bet?" Sarah responds "It looks like we both lost, so let's call it even Mama." Myrtle sighs "Yeah she lasted longer than a week, and Ted's been going down there all the time, or to his second home. It feels like normal around here." Sarah sighs with relief "It sure does Mama." Meanwhile there's a knock at the door, as Myrtle walks up into the living room, as she tells Sarah "I've been watching the movers. May be Alberta. Could be Mitzi." Myrtle opens the door, as her jaws drop, as her Sister, Betty Zane Waters stands at the door, and Myrtle stands in silence, as Sarah walks to the door, and asks her Mother "What's wrong Mama.." Sarah gets excited as Betty Zane looks at her Youngest Sister, and asks "Well Myrtle? Gonna let me in? I came all the way from Georgia." Myrtle hugs Betty Zane, the middle of Myrtle's three Sisters, as Myrtle tells her in shock "I'm just stunned you came up to Kansas City to see me Betty." Betty Zane jokes "Well honey, you've said for years you were coming home, but you haven't done it, so I felt it to surprise you and here I am!" Myrtle welcomes her Sister inside, as Sarah asks her Aunt "How's Uncle Fred doing?" Betty looks at her Niece, as she responds "He's well, be 90 next year. My wonderful Daughters thought it would be good if I took a vacation, and I chose Kansas City." Myrtle quips "As long as the wicked witch of the South still breathes, I won't be paying a visit anytime soon." Betty Zane sighs "Cora. Well Myrtle, don't you think it's time the two of you make peace?" Myrtle asks "Does she still think she's God's chosen saint?" Betty turns to Sarah, and asks "So I hear Billy's a Reverend?" Sarah re-corrects her Aunt "Priest Aunt Betty. He's serving overseas. Been doing it for years now." Betty Zane meanwhile looks at Myrtle, and asks "So where's Regina and the new Husband?" Myrtle responds "Likely doing something you don't want to know anything about." Sarah tells her Mother and Aunt "I think we should go out to lunch, my treat! I'll call Amelia and invite her also." Betty Zane asks Myrtle "Are you going to invite Regina?" Myrtle shakes her head, and tells her Sister "They can go rent a room in Grandview, and you stay here with me. I know how you are, and they would offend you." Betty Zane notices an empty beer can, and Myrtle motions to Sarah, as she quickly throws it away, and Myrtle sighs "I think you'll just sleep with me, like when we were younger. Otherwise all hell will break loose." Betty Zane sighs "So Regina's still herself?" Sarah and Myrtle both nods, as they all head off to Quivira Park Mall, located in Overland Park Kansas.
A hour later, Myrtle, Sarah, and Betty Zane returns to Myrtle's home, as they hear yelling inside the house, as Regina and Ted have returned, and Myrtle looks at her Daughter and Sister, and tells them "Stay out here and come in when it's quiet." Myrtle walks inside, where Ted yells at Regina in a drunken tone "I told you to quit that damn job Regina! NOW!" Regina yells back "And when in the hell will you find something to do besides sit on a damn bar stool Ted?" Myrtle yells at her Daughter and Son In Law "Shut the hell up both of you! We have a guest staying with us! I won't tolerate this while she's here do you read me?" Ted snarks at Myrtle "Well tell Regina to quit working at Pancake King, and we won't have this damn problem!" Myrtle asks Ted "And did you find a job yet? Considered being a beer taster in St.Louis?" Ted yells "A woman's place is in the home!" Outside, Betty Zane looks over to her Niece, as she tells Sarah in a gentle tone "You have done a great job with Amelia. She's a pleasure. Reminds me of my Granddaughter." Sarah tells her Aunt "Amelia reminds me so much of Jenny, and I really don't feel like her Grandma, but her Mother." Betty Zane sits in one of the rocking chairs, as she holds Sarah's hand, and tells her "You have always impressed me my sweet Sarah. You are so strong, and to go through what you did.." Sarah gets quiet, as she sighs "I miss her everyday. I took that girl home from Park Lane Hospital myself. She's a miracle." Betty Zane smiles "God gave you a reason to keep going Sarah. Amelia needed you." Back inside, Myrtle pulls Regina into the kitchen, as Ted yells "Come back here Regina! We're not through yet!" In the kitchen, Myrtle tells Regina "Betty Zane's here." Regina gasps "Aunt Betty?" Myrtle nods, and sternly warns Regina "Any shit from you or Ted, and I'll throw both of you the hell out of my house!" Regina looks at her Mother, and responds "Mama, Ted will straighten up. I love Aunt Betty." Sarah and Betty Zane walks inside, as Ted yells "And here's Sarah and someone I don't know! More moochers?" Betty Zane looks up, and sighs "Oh my stars." Sarah tells her Aunt "Meet Ted Jones, King wino of South Kansas City, and the top moocher in this house." Regina walks out of the kitchen, as Betty Zane goes "Regina!" Regina hugs her Aunt, and Ted yells "This woman's another relative?" Myrtle walks into the den, as Betty Zane whispers to her Nieces "Myrtle's still fiery I see." Regina and Sarah takes Betty Zane into the kitchen, as Myrtle grabs Ted's shirt, and bluntly tells him "Pack your things, and find another place to stay!" Ted responds "I'll go! And I won't come back." Myrtle sarcastically responds "Maybe The Veteran's Club has a room available!" Ted storms out, as Regina shakes her head, and Betty Zane asks Regina "So you're married again. I've lost count, how many times have you been married?" Regina sighs "Ten." Myrtle warns Regina "He comes here while Betty's here, there will be hell to pay." Betty Zane shakes her head, and sighs "Myrtle Caney Thomas, you are still a spitfire." Myrtle stares at Regina, and quips "I have to be with her around." Betty Zane rolls her eyes, as Regina keeps her composure, and Sarah watches closely, as afternoon turns into evening.
It's night-time, and in the den, Regina lays on the pull out bed, as Sarah sits up in the living room, as Regina tells her Sister "Well Ted's staying in Grandview until Aunt Betty leaves, and things are peaceful for once." Sarah quips "When Aunt Betty visits, she brings this positive aura with her." Regina looks at her Sister, and asks "So why can't we be close like Mama and Aunt Betty?" Sarah sighs "I don't know. But let's play pretend." Regina confides "Sarah, I'm glad Ted's staying in Grandview. He's really pushing his limits with me with the job." Sarah bluntly asks her Sister "Does Ted work?" Regina shakes her head, and Sarah responds sternly "Well Ted needs to shut his ass up, and you stand up for yourself for once Regina! I've been divorced for 20 years, and I have enjoyed being independent. If you tried it, you would like it. Life doesn't revolve around men, and there's few Daddies and Uncle Freds." Regina sighs 'But Sarah, I don't like being alone." Sarah reminds her Sister "You can put all the makeup on you want, color your hair, but you have children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, hell you're too old to be playing slut. Accept the fact you're old, and ain't a damn thing you can do about it. Embrace it." Sarah heads to her bedroom, as Regina tells her Sister "Sarah?" Sarah turns, and Regina tells her Sister "Don't use this against me, but I wish I was strong like you." Sarah looks at her Oldest Sister, and heads to bed. In Myrtle's bedroom, Myrtle and Betty Zane sleeps together, as Myrtle tells her Sister "It feels like when we were kids." Betty Zane smiles, and goes "It does. You should see the homeplace now Myrtle. Popper and I renovated it, and it's beautiful." Myrtle looks over at Betty Zane, and tells her "After Merle passed, it's now just you, me, and Cora left. And you know you and I got married the same year too." Betty Zane responds "This year will be 65 years." Myrtle sighs "I miss Jimmy so much. I know Mama and Daddy had problems he was 14 years older than me, but he was my shining light. I lay here at night, and I pretend he's here." Betty Zane holds Myrtle's hand, and gently responds "He's in heaven now Myrtle, and he went the way we all would like to go." Myrtle tells her Sister "It meant so much to me when you and Fred came up and stayed that week with me after he passed." Betty Zane looks at Myrtle, and tells her Youngest Sister "That's what Sisters do." Myrtle hugs Betty Zane, and they say a prayer, as they go to sleep.
It's one week later, and Betty Zane prepares to return home to Georgia, as Betty Zane asks Myrtle "So where's Regina?" Myrtle tells her Sister "Working. I think she's enjoying herself." Betty Zane gently tells Myrtle "I know you still have hard feelings about years ago, and you take it out on her. Maybe you need to grow close to her and let it go." Myrtle sighs "It's hard to do Betty. I wasn't blessed with three great Daughters like you were. I have a good Son I haven't seen in years, and Sarah." Betty compliments Myrtle, and reminds her "You and Regina try to grow closer. It isn't her fault Myrtle." Sarah meanwhile walks inside, and Betty Zane hugs her Niece, as she tells Sarah "You take good care of your Mama." Sarah tells her Aunt "You give everyone a big hug for me, and send my love, and have a safe flight." Myrtle asks Betty Zane "Want me to go with you to KCI?" Betty Zane tells her Sister "I remember the way to the airport Myrtle, and I think I'd feel safer driving myself. You get too angry on the road." Sarah laughs, as Myrtle quips "Aggression pays dividends in this town." Betty Zane responds "Well if you ever come visit, you'll be surprised how much Carrollton's grown." Myrtle laughs "When Cora's gone or placed in a nursing home, then maybe." Betty Zane hugs her Sister, and tells Myrtle "I love you." Myrtle responds "I love you too Betty. Be careful and call me when you get home." Betty Zane smiles, and tells Myrtle and Sarah "I will, and remember what I said." Myrtle nods, as Betty Zane pulls out of the driveway, and heads to the airport to return to Georgia. Myrtle stands on the porch, as Sarah stands next to her Mother, as Myrtle has a tear in her eye, and Sarah notices, and whispers "Do I see some emotion?" Myrtle sighs "Betty's a saint. Time's been good to her." Sarah tells her Mother "It's been good to you also Mama." Myrtle hugs her Daughter, as they walk back inside.
Three hours pass, as Regina has returned, and tells her Mother and Sister "Ted's on his way home." Sarah sighs "You didn't listen to a damn word I said did you Regina?" Regina responds "He'll have to accept that I'm working, and if he doesn't like it, then he can kiss my ass." Meanwhile Myrtle paces the kitchen, as she calls the airport in Atlanta, and responds "Thank you." and hangs up, as Myrtle walks back into the living room, as Myrtle quips "Betty's plane landed safely, and she promised to call me!" Sarah reminds her Mother "Traffic in Atlanta's worse than here in Kansas City." Myrtle responds "I wouldn't know because I haven't been to Georgia in 35 years." Suddenly, the phone rings, as Myrtle quickly answers, and goes "Betty Zane, I told you to call me as soon as....you.......landed....." Myrtle drops the phone, as Regina and Sarah looks at their Mother, as Myrtle stares at them, and Myrtle is speechless, and she looks at her Daughters, as Sarah picks up the phone, and speaks to her Cousin, and tells her "I will tell her." Sarah hangs up, as Myrtle looks at Sarah, and Regina, as she tells them with her voice trembling "Betty's had a stroke." Sarah and Regina comforts their Mother, as Myrtle cries "This can't be true. This just can't be true.."
(Dedicated with love to Betty Zane Waters, and the Waters family.)
VERY GOOD EPISODE !
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