As a Christmas gift, Bernice gives the ladies a three day endurance test in the woods. After the four hour orientation, the women are broken up into groups. Julia and Mary Jo are grouped with two tough women, Big Edie and Mickey Jr. Big Edie gets a bit riled when Julia informs the group that she thinks they have strayed off course. Big Edie lets her know, in no uncertain terms, that she is the boss of the group. Naturally, this doesn't sit well with Julia. Meanwhile, Charlene, Suzanne and Bernice are having the time of their lives. As they sit around toasting marshmallows, they wonder if Julia and Mary Jo are having as much fun.
Unfortunately, things have gone from bad to worse for Julia and Mary Jo. Big Edie has a personal grudge against Julia and Mickey Jr. insists on Indian wrestling with Mary Jo. As if that weren't bad enough, a bear has eaten all their food. Julia decides she has had enough. She and Mary Jo are going back to civilization. After wandering around for quite some time, Julia and Mary Jo happen upon a pay phone at the edge of the state park. They call Anthony and, in no time at all, they are eating real food as Anthony sets up a tent.
In another part of the forest, Suzanne, Charlene and Bernice are passing the wilderness test with flying colors. In fact, Charlene comments that she has never seen Bernice so incisive and energetic. Although, it appeas that the leadership has gone to her head. Bernice tells Suzanne that she is going to blow an elk horn as the ladies tow her down the river on a raft. At the camp headquarters the following day, Bernice is presented with a special leadership award. Bernice thanks everyone and announces that she is off to explore the Arctic Circle!
Additional Comments:
Although it's not mentioned in the above summary, while Anthony is inside finishing up the tent, Julia and Mary Jo are found and given their evaluation -- trapping Anthony and forcing him to pose as Cindy Birdsong.
Classic Scenes:
After the orientation.......
SUZANNE: Well, did you all hear what she said about that flushing? I mean they don't even have port-a-potties. Now I'm serious you all, I think we should just rethink this.
WILDERNESS LEADER CONNIE: Five minutes, busses are rolling.
JULIA: Suzanne!! Bernice has put out twelve hundred, non-refundable dollars. We have all just sat through a four-hour lecture. Now I don't want to go any more than you do, but I'm telling you, I have rolled my sleeping bag, I have backed my pack and I have filled my canteen.
SUZANNE: So what are you saying?
JULIA: I'm saying, "Get on the bus, Gus."
MICKEY JR: So where you folks from?
MARY JO: Oh, right here in Atlanta. We've got a little decorating firm. Our partners and a friend of ours are in another group.
MICKEY JR: Yeah I saw them. They're with the girl with the big hair who tried to get someone to carry her.
MARY JO: That's her sister.
BIG EDIE: I wish she was in my group. I'd love to get my hands on her.
JULIA: I beg your pardon?
BIG EDIE: I'd make her into a real woodsman.
JULIA: Listen, Edie....
BIG EDIE: Please, call me Big Edie. Everyone else does.
JULIA: Alright, I will next time. I appreciate your good intentions, but somehow I don't believe my sister would be interested in becoming a woodsman, but thank you for asking.
BIG EDIE: We'd see how interested she was when I was through with her.
JULIA: I don't know exactly what you had in mind, but I feel that I should warn you. She saw the Ned Beaty scene in Deliverance, and it didn't appeal to her.
JULIA: "Can you believe it? Twenty-five campers to choose from and we get stuck with Pauline Bunyon and Jocko, the woods-woman."
Anthony gets caught helping the ladies and pretends to be a woman camper.
CONNIE: What's this camper's name?
ANTHONY: (in a high-pitched voice) Cindy.
CONNIE: Cindy what?
ANTHONY: Cindy Birdsong.
CONNIE: Birdsong -- I don't remember that name. (to other leader) Check your list.
ANTHONY: I was late. I got on the bus at the last minute.
CONNIE: Who let you on?
ANTHONY: I don't know. Some white girl.
CONNIE: Where's your application?
ANTHONY: I turned it in.
CONNIE: To who?
ANTHONY: Some white girl.
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