DOLLY PARTON'S HEARTSTRINGS: THESE OLD BONES {FIRST SEASON FINALE} (TV)
Summary
The first season finale in this series of anthology dramas inspired by the songs and stories of country music legend Dolly Parton. Parton introduces the episode and discusses her 2002 song, which tells the story of a "real mountain woman" shrouded in mystery.
The story begins in the Great Smoky Mountain region in 1944, as young Jonah Rayfield and two pals are caught spying on Mary Shaw, also known as "Bones," an eccentric local woman regarded as a witch for her ability to predict the future through divining bones. Elsewhere, lawyer Genevieve Carson, who hails from the same town, is sent back home by her client, a powerful timber company. The goal is to persuade Bones to sell her land and stop her from advising others in town not to sell their land, using criminal witchcraft charges against the old woman if necessary. Jonah's widower father Landon, also a lawyer, cajoles the boy to apologize to Bones for spying; she agrees to give him a few household chores, like repainting her "no trespassing" sign, as penance. Genevieve arrives in town and reunites with her parents Eli and Olivia, who seem uncomfortable with her plans to oust Bones. On her way into the mountains, she encounters Landon on the road, and he tells her about the enigmatic fortune-teller.
Upon arriving at her home, Genevieve informs Bones of the timber company's plans and offers her additional compensation to cease her "psychic" readings; Bones, noticing Genevieve's apparent migraines, firmly refuses. Jonah begins to enjoy his time with Bones as she muses that she's more of a prophet than a witch; when the sheriff arrives to serve Bones with a summons from the timber company's civil suit, as promised, Jonah suggests hiring his dad as her representation. Genevieve, aware that her colleagues have little faith in a "lady lawyer," talks to her father, who gently urges her to keep the case out of court, as Bones has already had a difficult life. Bones ends up hiring Landon when the fates apparently guide her to do so, and Genevieve is shocked when, rather than settling, Bones and Landon hit her with a countersuit for defamation of character.
In court, Genevieve accuses Bones of swindling the townsfolk with phony readings, though Bones declares that she "ain't no fraud." Various locals testify about their encounters with her, all of which seem to indicate genuine psychic ability. Genevieve's boss then orders her to "bring her down" by any means necessary. Still experiencing the disturbing visions, Genevieve interrogates Bones in court about her readings, for which she takes no personal credit or formal payments, and points out that eight people have changed their minds about selling their land after their readings. She then brings up Bones' personal tragedies, including her parents' deaths in a house fire and her assault by an unknown man back in 1914, demanding to know why she didn't foresee and prevent such things. Angered, the judge puts a stop to her line of questioning. Landon then asks Bones to settle the matter by simply demonstrating her abilities in court. She produces her bones and suddenly declares that the timber company actually desires their coal, not just their trees, and intends to strip the mountain bare. The townsfolk are outraged, and Genevieve, realizing that no one could have known of their secret plot, accepts that Bones' abilities are for real, and the case is dismissed.
Bones collapses and is rushed home. Genevieve finally understands the meaning of her visions and realizes that she is Bones' biological daughter, conceived during her assault. Her parents admit to having adopted her, and she rushes to Bones' home, where she is being cared for by Jonah and Landon. Bones explains that Genevieve, named for her own mother, shares her inexplicable "gift," adding that the Carsons have faithfully kept her informed of Genevieve's many accomplishments over the years. She advises her to keep an eye on the needy townspeople — and to consider the kindly Landon as a potential beau. Genevieve then reflects on the new possibilities for her life.
Details
- NETWORK: Netflix
- DATE:
- RUNNING TIME: 1:28:18
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: 140108
- GENRE: Drama, fantasy/science fiction
- SUBJECT HEADING: Drama, fantasy/science fiction; Fortune-telling; Lawyers
- 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, Director
- Steven Summers … Coordinating Producer
- Billy Levin … Coordinating Producer
- William Klug … Co-Producer
- Jim Strain … Writer
- Velton Ray Bunch … Music by
- Mark Leggett … Music by
- Dolly Parton … Host
- Kathleen Turner … Cast, Miss Mary Shaw / "Bones"
- Ginnifer Goodwin … Cast, Genevieve Carson
- Kyle Bornheimer … Cast, Landon Rayfield
- Tyler Crumley … Cast, Jonah Rayfield
- Mary Donnelly Haskell … Cast, Olivia Carson
- Ed Amatrudo … Cast, Henry Sullivan
- Michael Goodwin … Cast, Eli Carson
- Lindsay Ayliffe … Cast, Judge Thaddeus Buckner
- Kaira Akita … Cast, Darby Jenkins
- Stephan Jones … Cast, Milo Wilkes
- David Shae … Cast, Alex Sidwell
- Megan Hayes … Cast, Belle
- Chase River McGhee … Cast, Buddy
- Niland Aran … Cast, Ray-Roy
- Joshua Childs … Cast, Noah Heatherly
- Jessejames Locorriere … Cast, Sheriff Wade
- Ricky Muse … Cast, Cranky Curtis
- Adam Cronan … Cast, Court Clerk