Big Little Truths

Detective Quinlan arrives at Melody Montclair’s home. He is met by her husband, Seth Montclair, who is about to leave and who confirms Melody is not at home. When Seth is confused about why Quinlan is at their home, Quinlan clarifies he is investigating a package sent to the school principal that contained Melody’s name. Seth states that everyone loves his wife but admits she has sometimes had conflicts with the parents of students she teaches. When Quinlan asks for specifics, Seth is vague and asks if his wife is in danger.

Renata drives Celeste, Madeline, Bonnie, and Jane to her mother’s funeral. The conversation touches on the canceled wedding of the gangster’s daughter, and Celeste reflects on her own mother’s funeral. Madeline shares he frustration that Ed is not responding well to chemo, and that Chloe has quit her part-time job (Madeline does not know the true reason why). The women discuss the ongoing presence of the strange man in the green car, but don’t know how seriously to take it. 

As they drive, Renata reveals her painful family history: her uncle molested her as a child, and when she told her family, they refused to believe her. When the uncle subsequently died of a heart attack, they blamed Renata for the shock. Renata’s subsequent educational and professional success further alienated her family, and she knows she will not be welcomed at the funeral. 

In the counseling session narrative, the teens discuss an incident that occurred while they were in kindergarten: Amabella accused Ziggy of bullying her, even though it was actually Max. This accusation led to conflict among their parents; Renata reacted very protectively and the teens can now see the connection to her own history of abuse.

At the funeral, Renata’s relatives are passive-aggressive toward her and her friends. During the service, Jane finds her thoughts drifting to her marital problems with Tom. Afterward, the women quickly leave. In the car, Renata thanks them for coming. She abruptly pulls over to the side of the road and begins to sob.

Renata explains she had always hoped her mother would one day apologize for never believing her. Her grief triggers a chain reaction. Jane begins to weep over her decision not to have a baby, confessing she has broken Tom’s heart. Madeline becomes angry with Jane for this decision and lashes out. Then she turns on Bonnie, demanding to know if Bonnie is still upset about Skye. Bonnie admits that she is, lamenting how Skye keeps pushing her away. 

Finally, Madeline shouts that her husband is probably going to die. The stark reality of the statement hits her, and she breaks down in sobs. The shared emotional release eventually tips into hysterical laughter from all the women, which is interrupted when a police officer pulls up.

On the night of the funeral, Amabella celebrates her sixteenth birthday party. Afterwards, Celeste cares for her sons, Max and Josh, who got drunk at the party. Josh excitedly tells her that he kissed Skye and that they are now a couple. He also reveals he drunkenly called his grandmother, Mary-Louise, to announce his new relationship and inform her that she would have to accept Skye at Christmas, despite what Skye’s mother did to his father. 

In the counselling session narrative, Skye recalls her excitement about confirming that Josh shared her feelings.

Meanwhile, Chloe returns from Amabella’s party, acting sullen. Ed notes her behavior and tells Madeline she needs to watch her more closely. Madeline is irritated by his tone and reflects on how cancer and its treatment have made him angry and combative. Ed also asks her about the cancelled wedding; the young woman who cancelled the wedding is the daughter of Bruce Tortinas (a local man known to be involved with organized crime). Madeline tries to reassure Ed. 

In the counselling session narrative, Chloe explains why Amabella’s birthday party was upsetting. One of her friends, Alicia, had a crush on Max and Chloe had been spending more time with Max ever since Madeline’s birthday party (where Madeline had deliberately brought the six teens back together). Alicia suspected that Chloe had a crush on Max and she and Chloe’s other friends began to withdraw. At Amabella’s party, Alicia and Chloe’s former friends announced Chloe was no longer part of their friend group. Chloe recounts how she subsequently began eating lunch with Melody Montclair, since she had no one else to socialize with. Eventually, Melody offered her a part-time job, which Chloe gratefully accepted.

Since Melody Montclair is not at home, Detective Quinlan drives to the nearby home of mobster Bruce Tortinas. He loiters outside, reflecting on how the mystery of the finger seems to be reaching a dead-end. A teenage girl, who lives next door to Tortinas and attends the local high school, approaches and asks if he suspects that Tortinas was the one who sent the finger. Quinlan declines to comment. The girl confirms that the Tortinas family is away, but mentions that she saw Madeline Mackenzie coming to their door the previous day. 

Before he can ask any more questions, Quinlan receives a call that Melody Montclair has been located at the school.

Jane and Melody attend an art exhibition featuring paintings by their fitness class instructor, Brody. Melody mentions that she and her husband move around a lot and don’t stay anywhere long. Noticing Jane seems to be in a rut, Melody impulsively suggests they abandon the exhibition and go dancing.

Celeste sees Jane and Melody leave Brody’s art show together. She leaves the exhibition to get some food, where she runs into Marco (the attractive man from the talk about communicating with teenagers). They recognize each other, and a mutual attraction is immediately evident.

In the counselling session narrative, Max and Josh recall how Celeste came home and told them about running into Marco by chance. The boys were supportive but also wary.

Jane and Melody go to a nightclub, where Jane feels liberated by Melody’s uninhibited dancing. On the dance floor, they share an intense, intimate moment where it seems Melody might kiss her, but the moment passes. Afterward, Melody dismisses the moment of attraction. The two women discuss their lives and Jane asks about whether Melody and Seth want children. Melody explains that she is too old but concedes that if Seth wanted a child, she’d do whatever was required to give him one. She hints that part of their dynamic revolves around her fulfilling his desires. Then Melody changes the subject, suggesting that she and Jane take a weekend trip together.

The morning after the art show, Celeste wakes up excited about her encounter with Marco. She recalls their conversation: he is a divorced father of two who is on sabbatical after selling his software company. Marco explained that he is concerned about his troubled younger daughter, Betty (who is in her early twenties) and that he has moved to the area to be closer to her. Celeste happily looks forward to the date they have planned. 

Celeste goes to meet her friends for their regular fitness class, but Brody (their instructor) cancels at the last minute. Celeste invites Madeline, Jane, and Melody to her house for pancakes. The women dote on Madeline, recognizing that she is overwhelmed and has no time for herself. Madeline thanks Melody for giving Chloe a part-time job; she is unclear on the details, but grateful that Chloe is keeping busy.

Melody suggests that Celeste and Madeline join she and Jane on the trip, and Celeste readily agrees. After Melody leaves, the other women discuss her and her marriage. Jane admits to feeling an attraction to Melody. Celeste then delights her friends by announcing that she met someone the night before.

Quinlan interviews Melody Montclair at the school. She denies any knowledge of who might have sent the finger and insists her relationship with the principal is purely professional. She also states she has no knowledge of Bruce Tortinas. While they are speaking, Quinlan receives a text identifying the finger as belonging to Ewan Drew. Melody does not react to the name. Quinlan mentions that when he went to Melody’s house and met with Seth, the latter alluded to another reason that the police might have been stopping by. Melody seems rattled by this comment but dismisses it, explaining that Seth misplaced his laptop, believed it had been stolen, and then found it.

Madeline comes home from Celeste’s and Ed tells her that Nathan is waiting for her. As Madeline tries to get out the door, Ed makes angry comments, heightening her awareness of how much illness is impacting his personality and mental health. Ed is suspicious when Madeline explains that Chloe has started working for Melody and will be going to her home. Madeline brushes aside his concerns about Chloe’s job and their daughter’s safety. 

In the counselling session narrative, Chloe explains what happened on the first day that she went to Melody’s home. She met Seth and Melody gradually explained that Seth was unable to read, but working to learn. Melody told Chloe that she had been hired to help Seth work on adult literacy activities and Chloe readily agreed.

Madeline and Nathan drive towards the location where they are meeting Abigail: They are going to view a potential wedding venue with her. Nathan confides that he is worried by the conflict between Bonnie and Skye. Madeline is unconcerned; she tells Nathan that Skye’s secret boyfriend is Josh White. Nathan is horrified because Josh is Perry’s son; he bitterly tells Madeline, “the son of the guy who secretly abused his wife is obsessed with my daughter” (276). 

Madeline defends Josh, insisting he is a sweet boy. Their argument is interrupted when Nathan thinks he spots the car driven by “Pedo Pete” (the man who has been watching the teenagers). He insists that Madeline try to photograph the license plate, but they are interrupted by a phone call from Abigail, sobbing that her wedding is off.

While Celeste makes pancakes, her son Max complains that Ms. Montclair is at their house too often. He describes the teacher as not “normal,” suggesting it wouldn’t be surprising if she’d “robbed a bank in her youth.” (280) Josh adds that she often discusses moral ambiguity in class. Their conversation is cut short when Celeste receives a call from a hospital nurse informing her that her mother-in-law, Mary-Louise, suffered a dizzy spell while shopping and was taken to the hospital. Mary-Louise needs to be picked up. Celeste is alarmed because the nurse reports that Mary-Louise mentioned her son travelling (implying that Mary-Louise is disoriented and has forgotten that Perry has been dead for years).

Tom’s mother, Hannie, makes an unannounced visit to Jane’s house. She gently pleads with Jane to reconsider her decision not to have a baby, explaining how heartbroken Tom is and even offering to provide full-time childcare. Jane explains her reasoning, citing the trauma of Ziggy’s conception and her deep desire for freedom once he is grown. Hannie listens with understanding before posing a painful question: If Jane cannot give Tom a child, can she consider letting him go?