Anthony brings Bernice by the shop to pick out material to reupholster her couch. Bernice has a momentary mental block and can barely remember her name, let alone why she is in the shop. Mary Jo realizes she is lonesome and invites her to dinner with the rest of the ladies. Meanwhile, Charlene is fit to be tied. It seems her minister, Reverend Nunn, led the fight to stop women from entering the ministry. Julia, however, has some good news and some bad news. The good news is that they've asked her to sing a solo at the closing ceremony. The bad news is that she is scared to death!
Charlene has invited Reverend Nunn over for dinner so that she can work on him and try to get him to change his mind about women. She then invites the rest of the ladies over for their help. At first, Charlene attempts to keep Bernice distracted. She is afraid that Bernice will say the wrong thing and blow her chance at changing Rev. Nunn's mind. However, it is Bernice who exchanges passages from the Bible with the Reverend. Unfortunately, Rev. Nunn refuses to change his position.
Before the closing ceremony, Charlene pays a visit to Reverend Nunn. She tells him that she can no longer belong to a church that does not think women are fit to preach God's word. Charlene, having forgotten her purse, stops back at the shop and finds Julia alone, dressed in her church gown. Julia is afraid she will botch up the song and has decided not to go. Charlene talks her into going through with it by telling her that she needs to be proud of women tonight. Not only does Julia go, but she sings the hymn beautifully.
Additional Comments:
Hal Holbrook makes an uncredited appearance in this episode as Reese Watson, who can be seen sitting in the church during Julia's solo.
As part of an agreement with Writer/Producer Linda Bloodworth-Thomason, Dixie Carter was allowed to sing in at least one episode a season (in exchange for "Julia" voicing Linda's very left-liberal political ideals without argument). This actually marks Dixie's third turn behind the microphone this season, the first being in I'll Be Seeing You, and the second in I'll Be Home For Christmas.
This episode earned the series the Angel Award for Best Television Comedy.
A review of this episode including additional information on the subject of Women in the Ministry is available in the September, 2000 edition of Belled Online.
Classic Scenes:
After much soul-searching, Charlene pays a visit to her minister, Reverend Nunn......
CHARLENE: For the past nine years I've come to you with whatever problems, worries or grief I've had in my life, and I really appreciate the way you've looked after me. But, I don't think I can do that anymore.
REVEREND NUNN: Charlene, you don't mean that.
CHARLENE: I've been up all night, and I just can't figure out how I can belong to a church that doesn't think I am fit to preach God's word.
REVEREND NUNN: You want to be a minister?
CHARLENE: Well, I've never told anyone this before, but as a matter of fact I did. When I was about six or seven, I got my first Bible. It had my name embossed in gold across the front. My parents gave it to me the night I was baptised. I'll never forget it came with this beautiful cardboard bookmark that had Jesus with a pink halo painted on it. I don't know -- there was something about the way the light shown in that picture -- I couldn't take my eyes off of it. I thought, "Boy, that's for me." I was gonna travel the world preaching and teaching -- maybe even become a saint.
REVEREND NUNN: What happened?
CHARLENE: I don't know. I guess I figured I couldn't make saint. Anyway, my point is, I had that dream because no one told me I couldn't. But what about all those other little girls out there, hundreds of them, just waiting to become ministers and spend their lives preaching God's word -- except for the fact that you and a bunch of other people got together and decided that God doesn't want that. That just doesn't make any sense, Reverend Nunn. I mean, for what possible reason would God not want that?
REVEREND NUNN: That's not for us to say, Charlene. I don't think we should question his wisdom.
CHARLENE: I'm not. I'm questioning yours.
Anyway, I just wanted to thank you for everything you've done for me. I'll never forget you.
REVEREND NUNN: Charlene, I wish you'd give this some more thought. Let me put you in touch with another minister. Maybe he can counsel you.
CHARLENE: No. Thanks anyway. I'll be talking to someone, but I think I'll keep this one just between me and God. Don't look so surprised, after all, we have his number too.
Charlene drops back by Sugarbaker's to pick up her purse and finds Julia still there.........
CHARLENE: Aren't you supposed to be at the church?
JULIA: I'm not going.
CHARLENE: Why?
JULIA: I just can't do it, that's all. I know you're disappointed in me. I'm disappointed in myself.
CHARLENE: Why don't you think you can do it? Are you still afraid you can't hit that high note?
JULIA: That, among other things.
CHARLENE: What other things?
JULIA: Oh, I don't know -- laryngitis, forgetting the words, getting my choir robe trapped up in my pantyhose -- you name it, I've thought of it.
CHARLENE: (sad and teary) I just resigned from my church.
JULIA: Oh, Charlene. I'm so sorry.
CHARLENE: Yeah, me too.
JULIA: Is there anything I can do?
CHARLENE: Yes, as a matter of fact there is. My minister, Reverend Nunn, is gonna be at the closing ceremony tonight, and for some reason I need to be proud of women tonight. I wanna hear you hit that high note.
JULIA: No, Charlene. No, I can't.
CHARLENE: Yes you can. Julia, I know you can. Now what I just did took more courage than I ever thought I had, and it would be impossible for me to have more courage than you.
JULIA: What makes you so sure?
CHARLENE: Well....... 'cause you're my hero.
JULIA: (touched).............heroine.
CHARLENE: Even better.
JULIA: Charlene, that's a nice idea, but just because you have faith in me doesn't mean I'll be able to do it.
CHARLENE: Well, who said anything about having faith in you? I'm just asking you to have the guts to step up to the microphone and open your mouth. I think I can get him to supply the notes.
JULIA: Exactly how sure are you?
CHARLENE: Just a feeling. Oh please, Julia. Do it for me. Do it for all us girls.
JULIA: You mean you, Mary Jo and Suzanne?
CHARLENE: I mean all us girls............everywhere.
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