DOLLY PARTON'S HEARTSTRINGS: CRACKER JACK (TV)
Summary
One in this series of anthology dramas inspired by the songs and stories of country music legend Dolly Parton. Parton introduces the episode and discusses the song in question, which celebrates the love of a pet dog, and mentions "9 to 5" (1980) and "Steel Magnolias" (1989) as two of her best-loved women-centric movies.
The story begins as eight-year-old Lucy Jane finds an injured terrier in the woods and adopts him as her own, dubbing him "Cracker Jack." Years later, adult Lucy Jane prepares for a "ladies' weekend" at the elegant lakeside home of her childhood friend Scarlett, a famous news anchor and recently, a widow; Scarlett worries that her elusive friend seems to be hiding something. A third woman, Monica, is nearly prevented from leaving for the weekend by her controlling husband Wilson, and the fourth friend, Bitsy, bids an excited farewell to her partner, Rayanne. As the friends reunite, Scarlett tells Monica about a brief encounter with an old flame, Trey, and the three women begin to worry when Lucy Jane, a recovering alcoholic, arrives late after getting into a fender-bender.
Lucy Jane is bearing champagne, which she swears is only for the other three, after which the foursome reminisce about their lives and families. Lucy Jane stumbles while dancing with Bitsy, again suggesting that she has fallen off the wagon, but she distracts the others with a screening of their longtime favorite movie, "Dirty Dancing." Later, Monica ducks into the bathroom to change into pajamas and jokingly brushes off Bitsy's confusion; Lucy Jane thinks back to their teenage habit of sharing their "highlights of the week" with one another during sleepovers. Over breakfast, Lucy Jane emotionally declares herself "grateful" for the three of them, but Monica stops Scarlett from finally asking her friend a serious question. She argues that they are all entitled to "privacy" about personal matters, though Scarlett counters that close friends should be honest with one another, even about unpleasant things. She admits that she has never liked Wilson or the unkind way he treats Monica. Lucy Jane falls again during a hike, but when her friends confront her about the odd behavior, she finally explains that she is not drinking again; she has been recently diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and wanted a few more days of "being us" before breaking the bad news and seeing her friends' reactions.
In a flashback, teen Scarlett gushes about marrying her crush, Jamie, and Bitsy privately tells Lucy Jane that she likes girls "that way." In the present, Lucy Jane runs into a little girl, Nola, who explains that "they" want to take away her dog, Clara. As the others discuss Lucy Jane's shocking news, Trey arrives for a visit, having been secretly invited by Monica and Bitsy. He and Scarlett go for a walk and discuss Jamie, her late husband and his childhood best buddy, who died three years ago. Trey admits that he was always jealous of his friend's girl, and the two share a kiss. Back at the house, Scarlett's son and Lucy Jane's godson Connor returns home and chats with Nola, who admits that she, too, lost her father and now has a stepfather-to-be with a dog allergy, prompting her to run away for a day. Scarlett confronts Lucy Jane about hiding her illness, wondering why Lucy Jane's support of her after Jamie's death can't "go both ways." Lucy Jane confides in Monica about receiving her grim diagnosis after months of suspicious symptoms, explaining that she now has "visions and dreams" of times in which she and all of her friends are truly happy.
Wilson arrives and, angry that Monica has refused his calls, tries to bully her into leaving with him. Her friends valiantly defend her, as does a suddenly aggressive Clara. The women recall how, in the past as teens, they were horrified when Cracker Jack tried to fend off a venomous snake and was fatally bitten. Wilson quickly drives off, and Monica finally admits that he has been abusing and controlling her for a long time, leaving bruises that she is forced to hide under clothes. When she decides to leave him, Lucy Jane quickly offers to take her in, despite her own issues. She tearfully declares that caring for others is the only way she "knows who she is" and feels that she now "belongs to no one" because of her decision not to marry or have children. Her friends assure her that she is theirs, however, and Lucy Jane is touched when Nola asks her to care for Clara.
Later, out on the lake, Bitsy excitedly reveals that she has sold her jewelry business for a considerable sum and intends to start a family with Rayanne, but is not actually pregnant, as Monica had suspected. Scarlett admits that she feels unfulfilled in her personal life, and Lucy Jane, having learned from her diagnosis about the importance of true happiness, urges her to pursue her dreams once Connor leaves for college. Back on the shore, Lucy Jane announces that Scarlett is going to take her long-desired worldwide trip, leaving the house for her and Monica and her daughters to live in together indefinitely. In addition, there's an open invitation for Bitsy and Rayanne to stop by. Finally happy, the four friends kick back to enjoy the rest of their weekend together.
Details
- NETWORK: Netflix
- DATE:
- RUNNING TIME: 1:07:02
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: 140104
- GENRE: Drama
- SUBJECT HEADING: LGBTQ+ Collection - Drama; Drama; Friendship; Domestic violence; Women
- 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
- Joe Lazarov … Co-Executive Producer
- Lisa Melamed … Co-Executive Producer, Writer
- Billy Levin … Coordinating Producer
- Steven Summers … Coordinating Producer
- William Klug … Co-Producer
- Liesl Tommy … Director
- Velton Ray Bunch … Music by
- Mark Leggett … Music by
- Dolly Parton … Host
- Sarah Shahi … Cast, Lucy Jane
- Rochelle Aytes … Cast, Scarlett
- Jessica Collins … Cast, Monica
- Tammy Lynn Michaels … Cast, Bitsy
- Sara Boustany … Cast, 14-Year-Old Lucy Jane
- Aria Brooks … Cast, Nola
- Stevonte' Hart … Cast, Connor
- Joe Knezevich … Cast, Wilson
- Paul Rolfes … Cast, Trey
- Lauren Halperin … Cast, Rayanne
- Kennedy Chanel … Cast, Young Scarlett
- Madelyn Greene … Cast, Young Bitsy
- Olivia DeAmicis … Cast, Young Monica
- Briana Salene Tedesco … Cast, 8-Year-Old Lucy Jane