Episode Recap
In the Coopers’ kitchen, Mary is stunned to hear that Meemaw and Georgie have been arrested. George explains that it’s due to a customs issue, but Mary is baffled about why they were in Mexico. George doesn’t know the details but assumes they’ll have to pay a fine and stay in jail overnight. Mary is horrified that her son will spend the night in a jail cell, though she’s less concerned about her mother, who has been jailed before. When Sheldon expresses surprise that Meemaw is in jail, George tells him to forget about it. Sheldon then reminds them he remembers his own birth, prompting George to send him to his room.
In Judge Landry’s chambers, Meemaw insists they weren’t smuggling cigarettes and that this is just a misunderstanding. "400 undeclared cartons?" he questions. After Georgie asks if that’s over the limit, Judge Landry replies, "By 399." Judge Landry explains they could plead not guilty, post a bond, and come back for a trial, but they will lose because they are guilty. Alternatively, they can plead guilty, pay a fine, and he will never have to see them again. Meemaw tries to barter, even after the judge says it’s not a negotitation. Georgie then explains that he really needs the cigarettes back because he was planning to sell them to cover his pregnant girlfriend’s medical expenses. "That’s a touching story," the judge says, before calling for the guard to take them away. Meemaw offers $1,000 and tells Judge Landry he can keep her grandson.
Back in Medford, Sheldon sits on Missy’s bed as they wonder what’s become of their family. Missy points out that their older brother and grandmother are in jail. Sheldon adds that Mary got kicked out of the church, and Missy mentions that Georgie is having a baby out of wedlock. "You know what this all means?", Missy asks Sheldon before declaring, “We really are white trash.” Sheldon tells his sister to speak for herself. After all, he’s in college on a full ride, “but I wish y'all luck.”
In Dale’s office, George thanks him for his help. Dale can't understand why Meemaw was trying to smuggle cigarettes. George explains it was Georgie’s idea, which makes sense to Dale. When Dale asks whose truck they are taking, George is surprised Dale is planning to come along. Dale points out his ex-girlfriend is in jail on the Mexican border, so of course he wants to come along and take pictures. George agrees and offers to drive, but Dale says they need to stop and pick up film for his camera first.
Back home, Sheldon spots a strange woman loitering around Meemaw's house while looking out with binoculars. He wonders whether to call the police, but Missy thinks the woman is too attractive to be a burglar. As Mandy taps on Meemaw's windows and calls for her without a response, she declares she's going in. Missy shines a flashlight at Mandy and tells her to freeze. After Mandy asks who they are, Sheldon insists she should answer first as they have the moral high ground. Mandy explains she's a friend of the "woman who lives there." Sheldon says that's no "woman," that's their Meemaw. Mandy realizes they're Georgie's brother and sister. She introduces herself as Mandy, Georgie's... Mandy. Mandy explains she's just worried about Meemaw, but Missy insists their Meemaw is fine. Sheldon, missing Missy's attempt to be coy, wonders if their grandmother is not really in jail then. Mandy is stunned to hear Meemaw is in jail, while Sheldon is now unsure. Missy gives an oblivious Sheldon a scornful look.
After Mandy asks why Meemaw was arrested, Missy argues that it's family business. Sheldon points out Mandy is sort of family since she's pregnant with Georgie's child, and Georgie is in jail too. Mandy is shocked to learn Georgie is with Meemaw. After Missy questions why Sheldon is still talking, he notes that it’s past his bedtime and tells Mandy it was nice to meet her before heading home. When Mandy asks Missy what's going on, Missy explains that all she knows is they were caught at the border smuggling cigarettes. "What an idiot”, Mandy says. Missy defends her brother, arguing he was just trying to make some money after she got pregnant. Mandy questions whether Missy is saying it’s her fault. Missy points out her brother didn't make that baby on his own. Mandy tells Missy she’s just a kid and doesn’t know everything that's going on. After Missy points out that their mom lost her job and got kicked out of her church because Mandy refused to marry Georgie, Mandy admits she didn’t know that. Missy wonders if she won the argument, “It feels like I did.”
Back in the Coopers' kitchen, as she loads the dishwasher, Mary talks to God. She wonders if she's been singled out for punishment. Is she Mrs. Job? Mary knows this might seem ungrateful, given she's loading her new dishwasher, which she loves. Sheldon enters and wonders who his mother is talking to. God, she explains. "Yourself. Got it," he sarcastically notes. After Sheldon questions why Mary thinks God is testing her faith like Job, Mary argues it would explain a lot of what's been happening lately. Sheldon struggles to understand why it's easier for Mary to believe in a God who would purposefully punish her rather than believe in no God at all. Mary tires of this conversation and asks Sheldon if it's not past his bedtime. As Sheldon heads to bed, Mary stops him to ask where Missy is. Sheldon explains she's at Meemaw's, talking to Mandy. Mary has questions about this, but Sheldon asks if they can continue in the morning as he's running on fumes.
As they drive towards the Mexican border, George is unhappy listening to Dale drone on about Meemaw. Dale can’t understand why, instead of spending her retirement traveling the world with him, Meemaw is trying to smuggle cigarettes across the border. Dale insists he treated her like a queen. "Didn’t you break up with her?", George questions. Dale argues it was a bluff; he never thought she’d call it. George wonders whether Dale is coming to her rescue so he can win her back. "Who says I want her back?", Dale huffs. George is happy to drop the conversation, but Dale continues, admitting he misses the sex with Meemaw. After George sees a hitchhiker, he jokes about picking him up; maybe he’ll kill him, and he won’t have to hear any more of this conversation.
Back on Meemaw’s porch, Missy asks Mandy if she hates Georgie. Mandy insists he’s a good guy; she just hates herself for making bad decisions. Like having sex before marriage? “More like having tequila before sex,” Mandy answers. After Mary comes over to check on them, Mandy tells Mary she’s sorry about her troubles at the church. Mary wonders what Missy told her. "Just the highlights," Missy says, before revealing that she also punched a kid in Sunday School. Mary tells Missy she doesn’t need to share that. Missy points out that if Mandy feels guilty, she might change her mind about marrying Georgie. Mary looks expectantly at Mandy, but Mandy says no.
In the jail cell, Meemaw asks Georgie how he’s holding up. Georgie admits he's not doing well, feeling like a terrible father even though his child isn't born yet. Meemaw insists he’s not a terrible father, saying a bad father would have just walked away. Georgie wonders if his dad is annoyed about having to pick him up. Meemaw sarcastically claims George is thrilled to drive eight hours to free him. After Georgie points out that his dad is also picking her up, Meemaw admits she likes it when George is mad at her. Georgie suggests this could be a funny story to tell his kid one day. He proposes naming the baby Winston if it’s a boy, after the cigarettes, or Virginia if it’s a girl, after Virginia Slims. Meemaw decides she’s had enough of Georgie for now and moves away from him.
As Mary struggles to put the trash cans out by the curb, Pastor Jeff says good evening and questions why George isn’t doing that. Mary insists she’s perfectly capable of putting the trash out herself. Pastor Jeff changes the topic and says he hopes to see Mary and the family at church tomorrow. Mary claims she’ll think about it. After Pastor Jeff inquires about Georgie and his lady friend, Mary insists they’re fine. Jeff wonders if anything’s changed about their nuptial status. “Nope. Baby’s gonna be a bastard,” Mary says. Jeff insists he doesn’t like to use that kind of language, saying the most important thing is a happy, healthy… “Bastard,” Mary interjects.
Back inside, Sheldon uses his contraption to knock on Missy’s bedroom wall. Over the walkie-talkie, Missy admits she can’t sleep either. Sheldon explains it’s the confusing nomenclature around Mandy that’s keeping him awake. If Georgie and Mandy were married, she would be their sister-in-law. But they’re not. Missy thinks “Mandy” works just fine. Sheldon suggests “nephewterus” if the baby is a boy but admits “nieceuterus” doesn’t sound right. Missy still supports “Mandy”. Sheldon mentions a word invented in the 1950s which takes the "N" from niece or nephew and the “ibling” from sibling, creating “nibling”. But that describes the baby, not Mandy. He suggests “niblingess” or “niblinger” for her. Then Sheldon says they could break from traditional German suffixes and go with “niblingo”. That’s the one, Missy says, as she drops the walkie-talkie.
Back at the border, Meemaw wakes up in the jail cell to a camera flash as Dale takes her picture, declaring it’s going to be his Christmas card. After Meemaw questions what he's doing there, Dale replies he's saving her. George points out he doesn't have this kind of money just lying around. Later, as Georgie drives home with his father, he admits he messed up. “Mm-hmm,” George says. Georgie insists he’s going to pay his father back, every penny. “Mm-hmm.” Georgie wonders if his father understands that he was doing this for his baby. “I do,” George says. Georgie suggests that could be a reason for his father to be proud of him, but George shows no sign of that.
As Dale drives Meemaw home, he asks if she wants copies when he gets the photos developed. No. Dale comments that jail made Meemaw cranky, noting he still hasn’t heard a “thank you.” After Meemaw drily says “thank you,” Dale responds that the words are right, but the tone is off. Meemaw explains she’s tired, sore, and embarrassed, and asks if they could not do this right now. Dale apologizes, before humorously asking if she joined any gangs while she was in there.
Meanwhile, Georgie asks his dad if he was scared when Mary was pregnant with him. George admits he was terrified, prompting him to question whether Georgie is scared. After Georgie admits he is, George says that’s good and that he’d be a fool not to be. Georgie confesses he doesn’t know what he’s doing or what’s expected of him because he and Mandy aren’t in a relationship like his parents were. As Georgie wonders if it ever stops being scary, George points out that he just got a phone call saying his son was in jail near the Mexican border. “Fair point”, Georgie concedes.
Back in Dale’s car, after he tells Meemaw not to worry about the money, she insists she is bothered by it. Dale says to think of it as a gift - one that he'll be holding over her head. Meemaw says that doesn’t work for her and offers to “make it up to him” when they get home. Dale is surprised, wondering whether one “roll in the hay” can really wipe out a $2,500 debt. Meemaw questions whether he doesn’t think she’s worth it. Dale makes clear he didn’t say that, but Meemaw says it’s too late and the offer’s off the table. Dale admits he was thinking a fair price would be around $500 per “roll.” “Seemed fair to me,” he insists.
In the Coopers’ kitchen the next morning, Sheldon asks his mother if she thinks Georgie got a tattoo in jail. Mary says no, but she’s less certain when Sheldon asks the same about Meemaw. When Missy gets up and sees her mother dressed nicely, she asks if they’re going to church. Mary confirms she is. Missy wonders if it will be weird after everything that happened, but Mary insists she needs to go. Missy decides to go with her mother to show support. They both look at Sheldon, who is oblivious.
As Mary, Missy, and Sheldon arrive at the church, one of the attendants gives Mary an unwelcoming look. Sheldon is surprised when Mary suggests they sit towards the back of the church. Mary insists it's fine, but Sheldon argues it's not in the acoustic sweet spot. After the Coopers sit down, a woman decides to move her and her young daughter away from them.
After Pastor Jeff delivers a sermon about loving one another, he asks his congregants to hold hands and pray. The woman next to Mary turns to hold someone else's hand. Mary decides she's had enough, so she and the twins head for the exit. After they leave the church, Sheldon returns to challenge Pastor Jeff on the hypocritical nature of his sermon, given how they are treating Mary. Sheldon isn’t particularly tactful, explaining in detail how Georgie impregnated a woman 11 years his senior. “An act of love,” Sheldon says you might argue, before he notes that Mandy seems less keen on Georgie. As Mary returns to stop Sheldon, he starts nitpicking Pastor Jeff’s pronunciation of Nebuchadnezzar before Mary practically drags him out.
Back home, as Sheldon reads on the couch, Missy sits next to him and turns on the TV. When Sheldon asks how their mom is, Missy replies that she's pretty upset. Sheldon is surprised given the speech he just gave, but Missy suggests that, for once, Sheldon might not be the problem. When the doorbell rings, Sheldon points out he's busy reading, so Missy answers the door. Pastor Jeff asks if Mary is available. When Mary comes to the door, Pastor Jeff says he understands why she's upset, but argues the church is still her family. He’d hate to see her walk away from God. Mary sighs and says it feels like God is walking away from her. She then closes the door on Pastor Jeff.
