DOLLY PARTON'S HEARTSTRINGS: IF I HAD WINGS (TV)
Summary
One in this series of anthology dramas inspired by the songs and stories of country music legend Dolly Parton. Parton herself introduces the episode and discusses the song, which was first adapted as a stage play titled "As the Crow Flies."
The story begins as sales rep Clay Fox gets into a minor car crash as he drives through a wooded area and is soon rescued by the attractive Phyllis, a bohemian jewelry designer, but she ousts him from the car when he hides his wedding ring and attempts to flirt. Elsewhere, widow Ellie Holder makes a birthday breakfast for her longtime partner Tom Freeman, and pious nurse Nancy stops at a gas station and swipes a candy bar – for the homeless man outside. Tom is then shocked when Ellie reveals that she has secretly tracked down his three long-estranged children and invited them all to the house for an overdue reunion; he storms out to go fishing with his pal Kendall. Out on the lake, he breaks his long sobriety as he confesses to Kendall that he abandoned his kids when they were six, four, and in the womb.
Clay, a.k.a. Thomas Jr., arrives at the house and meets Ellie, who explains that she's been "living in sin" with Tom for eight years. Clay, who seems thoroughly uninterested in a heartfelt reunion, is then stunned to learn that he has a half-sister: Phyllis. Clay is further disgusted when Phyllis casually reveals that Tom abandoned her pregnant mother, who then raised her with a stepfather. Kendall soon brings a very drunk Tom home, and when Nancy arrives, she frets that he has given himself alcohol poisoning by falling off the wagon so suddenly. Clay drives Kendall home and drops the bomb that Tom is wanted for murder – but Kendall already knows and adds that the dead man was Tom's own father. Tom soon wanders out of the house, and Phyllis and Nancy rush off to find him; Nancy explains that she has already forgiven him for leaving and now wants only to "save his soul." When Phyllis unintentionally reveals that she is pregnant, Nancy offends her by voicing her stern disapproval of her raising a child alone and unmarried.
Clay encounters Tom on the road, and father and son finally have a serious talk as Clay recalls receiving a harsh beating after damaging a penknife right before Tom's disappearance. Tom explains the knife belonged to his brother Ben, whom he saved from their cruel and abusive father at age 14 by shooting the man dead. He then fled from the law, taking only the knife as a keepsake, and eventually settled down, but then ran off again when he saw drunken and violent tendencies in himself. Back at the house, Ellie gives Nancy some frank advice about not using religion to excuse her judgmental attitude. Embarrassed, Nancy apologizes to Phyllis, who in turn opts not to judge her when she discovers Nancy's kleptomaniac habit. Tom returns with Clay and finally makes amends with his three children, tearfully thanking Ellie for engineering the reunion. Moments later, however, he takes a tumble down the stairs and is rushed to the hospital, where he is eventually diagnosed with a serious brain herniation. With no choice but to remove life support, Ellie, Nancy, Phyllis and Clay all say their farewells to Tom, with Clay returning Ben's penknife. Ellie asks God to take care of her beloved as Tom dies. Several months later, a heavily pregnant Phyllis is living with Ellie, and they are happy to learn that both Nancy and Clay are bringing their families over for Thanksgiving.
Details
- NETWORK: Netflix
- DATE:
- RUNNING TIME: 1:05:54
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: 140103
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: Women's Collection - Drama; Drama; Families; Religion; Child Abuse
- SERIES RUN: Netflix - Internet series, 2019-
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Sam Haskell … Executive Producer
- Patrick Sean Smith … Executive Producer
- Dolly Parton … Executive Producer, Based on the stories and songs of
- Hudson Hickman … Co-Executive Producer
- Lisa Melamed … Co-Executive Producer
- Joe Lazarov … Co-Executive Producer
- Billy Levin … Coordinating Producer
- Steven Summers … Coordinating Producer
- William Klug … Co-Producer
- Timothy Busfield … Director
- Jim Strain … Writer
- Gary Grubbs … Based on the play by
- Velton Ray Bunch … Music by
- Mark Leggett … Music by
- Dolly Parton … Host
- Delta Burke … Cast, Ellie Holder
- Ben Lawson … Cast, Thomas "Clay" Fox Jr.
- Brooke Elliott … Cast, Nancy
- Michele Weaver … Cast, Phyllis Powell
- Tim Reid … Cast, Kendall
- Gerald McRaney … Cast, Tom Freeman
- Orelon Sidney … Cast, Dr. Jane Crawford
- Satya Nikhil Polisetti … Cast, Gas Station Attendant