Melissa grapples with her conflicted feelings for Doc Lopez, while Josh tries to court Emma, the schoolmarm, in the latest episode of Schmigadoon!. Written by Cinco Paul & Ken Daurio and Kate Gersten and directed by Barry Sonnenfeld, here’s what went down in the episode, “Suddenly.”
Testing out his theory that the schoolmarm could be his ticket out, Josh (Keegan-Michael Key) heads to the school to find Emma (Ariana DeBose), the only other single woman who hadn’t crossed the bridge with him. “I wouldn’t cross that bridge with you for $100,” she straight out tells him. They both find a common hatred toward Mildred Layton, the reverend’s wife. Josh challenges Emma to let him use the room above the class to show that she is not being controlled by Mildred. She agrees under the condition that he be the handyman.
Melissa (Cecily Strong) begins her first day as a nurse for Doc Lopez (Jaime Camil). He lays out his expectations to his new hire: hard work, discipline, and a willingness to follow all of his orders. A young pregnant woman enters his office in need of help, but he turns her away because she’s having a baby out of wedlock. A dumbfounded Melissa finds it outrageous that he won’t help her, considering he’s the only doctor in town… or is he?
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At the Schmigadoon multi-faith bake sale, Reverend Layton (Fred Armisen) is manning the Methodist table, which has a variety of tasty treats. Mayor Menlove (Alan Cumming) approaches the table and both are delighted that they share a love for rhubarb squares. The mayor buys two and offers his second piece to the reverend. Mildred, his wife, however, snatches it away before he could take a bite. Mayor Menlove offers a piece of his square and they both share a smile. Mildred watches in the distance disapprovingly.
Melissa tracks down Nancy, the pregnant woman, at her shack where she is joined by the baby’s father. “Don’t worry, Nancy,” Melissa says. “I’m here to help.” She learns that Melissa is staying in that shack because her parents don’t want a scandal. The future parents would like to get married but Nancy’s mother doesn’t approve of sailors. WIth the pregnant woman unaware of where the baby comes out, Melissa sings an anatomy song to better explain. “Vagina is where the penis goes,” she starts.
Back at the school, Betsy’s father aims his shotgun at the not-so-handyman. “You’re headed with me and my Betsy right now to the church to get married,” the farmer orders. Emma snatches the gun out of his hands and swiftly disassembles it. “You will not come into my classroom waving a gun around,” she says. “Do you understand me?” “Uh, yes, ma’am,” he stammers. Emma tells him to let his daughter live her own life, and that he will get his gun back when he has learned his lesson.
Despite Doc Lopez not wanting to have anything to do with Nancy’s pregnancy, Melissa offers to help deliver the baby at his practice, with the surprising help of Josh. It was an easy delivery for her to perform, saying, “It’s the first time I’ve ever had a baby come out completely dry.” Josh commends her on her work. In return she tells him how appreciative she is to have had his help. “Happy to do it,” he says. There’s a brief glimmer of hope as they seem to be slowly reconnecting.
At the funeral for Doc Lopez’s father, Mayor Menlove interrupts the service to make a big announcement at the podium. “Life is precious, and we shouldn’t waste a single minute,” he says, addressing the mourners. He shares that there is something that he’s wanted to say for years, but has never had the courage. He sings loud and proud that he is a homosexual. His wife Florence storms out of the church in tears.
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Josh gifts Carson (Liam Quiring-Nkindi) a kazoo in the hopes of amusing him and charming his sister Emma. The young boy turns down the kazoo, saying the other kids will just make fun of him. Josh tells him that he worked hard, became a doctor, and now has a ton of friends. The boy tries out the kazoo and is so excited that he can make music that he shows his sister. As the brother and sister hug, she smiles at Josh who is surprised that his plan worked.
Later that night, Doc Lopes opens up to Melissa and says that because of her, he’s a changed man. He also confesses that he admires her for standing up to him. Meanwhile, Emma tells Josh that he’s not the man she thought he was. She’s appreciative that he reached out to her brother, because he grew up without a mother or a father. The schoolmarm and the doctor sing to their respective counterparts that they are in love. “All I know is suddenly I love you, and suddenly that’s all that matters now.”
Have Melissa and Josh found true love with Doc Lopez and Emma Tate? Will they now be able to cross that bridge and get into the real world? Will Lopez and Tate even want to go into the real world? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
Schmigadoon! airs Fridays on Apple TV+.