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Rose is out hanging laundry and is startled to see her friend Stanley Perkins arrive on foot. He is dishevelled looking and in need of a shave. He claims that his car broke down and he had to walk the remaining way to see her. She hadn’t heard from him in so long and is thrown back by his sudden appearance. She invites him in for some nourishment.
Elizabeth walks in to the kitchen and Rose is all flustered and admits to her that Stanley Perkins has returned and looks like something the cat has dragged in. He comes down from cleaning up in the bathroom and Rose pours him a tea. Stanley tells Rose that he has been training a new man to take over his sales territory out west. She is surprised and he admits that he retired after 37 years and was presented with a gold watch. He was planning on staying at the boarding house but Rose tells him that Zuleika is away seeing the sights in Little Rock. Elizabeth suggests that he could maybe stay in John and Olivia’s bedroom. Stanley says that it won’t be for too long as a man of his abilities should surely be able to find a position almost immediately.
Stanley’s sister is paid a visit by a Doctor that is caring for her brother. She had dropped him off at the hospital after the weekend where he is to be receiving care for a yet unknown ailment but he never readmitted himself.
Elizabeth helps Rose make up Stanley’s bed. She thinks that Stanley looks a little under the weather and suggests that maybe Mary Ellen should look at him. While Rose unpacks his suitcase she finds an article of clothing that belongs to a hospital. Mary Ellen then walks in that she picked with John Curtis for Stanley. Rose asks her if she has heard of the Marshall Hospital and learns that it is a mental illness facility.
Stanley approaches Ben to see if he can get some work in the Mill but Ben knows that he is not suited for such physical labor.
Stanley asks Rose if he can keep her company on her way to Ike’s Store. He admits that he has fallen on some bad times. He asks if she will stand behind him as he needs her support.
When they get to the store they find Ike has been stocking a pile of unsold “Weenie Rosters”. Stanley talks his way into a trial period working at the store.
Stanley shows up at 8am for work and both Ike and Corabeth leave him on his own while they do there errands. The Baldwins sisters arrive and Miss Emily remembers Stanley as the gentleman that broke Rose’s heart. She then says that he at least came back unlike Ashley Longworth who she waited so long for. He tries to sell them a Weenie Roaster but they in fact bought the only 2 that Ike and Corabeth have sold so far. They ask for some silver polish to shine up an old popcorn maker they have for sale at their antique shop. Stanley suggest that Jason Walton might be interested to buy it for the Dew Drop as a novelty item.
Stanley receives a phone call from his sister Elvira who has found him on the mountain. She wants him to come back to the hospital where he has been a patient for the past 6 months.
Rose pours him a some of the Baldwin ‘recipe’ while he tells her his story. After the war many young capable men came back and were after his job. He was fired. There was no retirement dinner or gold watch. He went to his sister’s in Richmond and fell apart.
He had a nervous breakdown. He father did as well and ended up taking his life with a gun.
Corabeth is pleased to have sold 4 Weenie Roasters after Stanley suggested that they place an ad to promote them. The Baldwin sisters come in with their Papa’s duelling pistols which Emily takes out and points at Stanley. It rattles him and makes him nervous for the rest of the day upsetting customers. While pumping gas into a customer’s old beater of a truck it leaks gas on the round which catches on fire after the truck backfires. Stanley throws in his apron saying that it is all too much for him. He decides to return to the hospital.
Rose is upset that she lets Stanley affect her feeling so. Mary Ellen advises her to fight for him.
Elvira Perkins arrives to take her brother back to the hospital. He says that he needs to say goodbye to Rose first. She arrives back at the house with the Godseys, the Baldwin sisters and Jason and Toni who all thank him for helping them out so much with his suggestions and help. Ike tells him that the Rockfish Gazette was so impressed with the Ad he wrote and designed that they have offered him a job. Rose gives Stanley a gold watch saying that if anyone deserves one it his him. He is so touched by their words and acceptance that he decides to stay and not go back to the hospital. He invites Rose out dancing that night.
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