Mary took fits at Reginald and cried and cried. She told him she was going to her family, to the McKinnons.
Letty made cryptic comments.
Party. Mac and Rachel arrived. Michael: you know, Peter, you disappoint me. I had expected you to come as the Great Pumpkin. Peter asked where Brittany was. Donna said she'd gone down to the stables.
Catlin advised Brittany not to move. Mitch appeared and advised her to shoot the rattlesnake. Brittany is paralyzed with fear. Mitch told her she had to shoot before it struck first. (Interesting allegory.) She slid down slowly and got her gun from her boot. Mitch talked her through it. She shot. The snake died. Mitch took her back to the house. Catlin suspects something.
Michael offered to give Mary a ride. She told Reginald she'd be back for a chat. Reginald relaxed. She and Michael left. Reginald danced with Cheryl. Scott cut in as he began to discuss her mother. Cheryl asked Scott if they could leave. He took her out. Brittany came in carried by Mitch. Peter said it looked as though his wife had had an accident.
MJ asked to speak to Letty alone. Letty said they had a lot of catching up to do. Zach and Adam evaporated. Adam made noises of concern. Letty and MJ went to high school together but they weren't Best Friends. Letty told her she'd better help her beat this rap.
Brittany told her rattlesnake story. Catlin stomped in with a cardboard box and shoved it at Peter.
Michael was nice to Mary. They went into Mary's Place. She asked Kathleen where Vince was. Kathleen took her aside and told her Vince knew she'd tried to come back but it didn't make any difference.
Cheryl and Scott went out to the gazebo. He told her they could deliver the party food to the skeet shoot together and goof off a little in the country. She's afraid MJ will find out.
MJ advised Letty to answer questions truthfully and openly. Adam and Zach came in.
Reginald ordered Catlin out. Catlin accused Peter of having planted the rattlesnake in the box in the stables to kill Brittany. (Oh, please. No one could seriously expect that to work. There are people in and out of the stables all the time.) A fight broke out. Catlin was unceremoniously ejected. Mitch told him not to make wild accusations without evidence. Reginald asked Brittany if she thought Catlin's accusations had any basis in fact. She said not so the whole party could hear. Peter swooned at his father's feet. My Noble rescuer! etc. Reginald had fought Catlin for him. He called Catlin an imbecile. He asked if he wanted to get rid of his wife. Brittany rushed up with a basket of ladies' names. The gentlemen have to dance with the ladies they pick. Everyone got the worst possible partner. How too droll. Reginald and Felicia. Peter and Brittany. Mitch and Rachel. Scott and Victoria. Mac and Cheryl. Donna was the odd woman, with Michael gone. (So is Mary gone.) Cheryl asked Mac not to tell anyone she'd been there. He promised not to volunteer the information.
Kathleen told Mary she wanted her at the wedding BUT. She told her about the candle tradition. The parents of the groom light a candle Ditto the parents of the bride. The bride and groom light a candle from the two flames. Mary told her she loved her. Kathleen said she'd ask Vince if she could come. Mary collected Michael and went back to the Love house to yell at Reginald. Kathleen cried tears of gladness because she has a loving mother again.
Adam tried to get Letty to talk. She clammed up except to say cryptic things about MJ knowing things about prostitution. Exit Letty. Adam noticed MJ looking weird. He comforted her. She told him he was the best thing that had ever happened to her.
Mitch and Felicia left. Rachel and Mac left. Mary stomped upstairs, saying she'd see Reginald in the study in 5 minutes. Reginald prevented Rachel and Mac leaving by claiming Rachel for a dance. Mac cut in. Reginald said weird things to Mitch. Michael kissed Donna and dragged her off to the stables. Victoria was nice to Reginald. He went to chat with Mary.
Michael told Donna that her father was not invulnerable and she'd be able to see for herself tonight. He kissed her.
Reginald groveled. Mary was in control. He tried to tell her she hadn't really wanted to stay with her family, but the priest had made her feel guilty. She told him to shut up and listen. She yelled at him for being so selfish. She told him he wasn't going to control her anymore. She stormed from the room, saying he was disgusting and beneath contempt. He called after her, begging and pleading. Mary left the house near tears. She collected Michael and got into his car. Reginald stumbled and fell in the drive. She told Michael to stop so she could go to him. She looked back and decided to keep going. Reginald shook his fist and cursed Michael. He swore he would die for this. Donna was lurking in the shrubbery. She was afraid. Victoria rushed up to That Old Carrot and comforted him. Reginald told her she was the only one who understood.