If Truth Be Told is the seventh episode of the first season of Virgin River and the seventh episode overall.
Summary []
Preacher happens upon a secret. Mel's memories threaten to overwhelm her. Jack has a sincere talk with Charmaine about their relationship.
Plot Summary[]
The morning after the mingle, Joey is packing to go home early but Mel tries to convince her to stay. Mel asks her what is going on with her husband and Joey admits that things with Bill haven’t been the best and an end to their marriage may be on the horizon. They have grown apart despite being married for such a long time. Nonetheless, she has made the decision to return home and face the issues. Joey admits that she was wrong about Virgin River and is glad to see Mel happy here. She leaves as her car has arrived and despite Mel trying to get her to stay, it fails. Joey asks her to apologise to Jack for her out of character behaviour the previous night.
Meanwhile, Vernon is still angry about Hope’s failure to attend the meeting with the attorney. She arrives at the clinic and tries to make small talk but he dismisses her. Vernon reveals that he is going fishing to calm himself. Hope continuously tries to justify her absence, which only infuriates Vernon even more. He tells Hope that things with her are confusing and that she must decide quickly what she wants between the two of them.
At the bar, Jack tries to call Charmaine numerous times but she refuses to accept his calls. As Preacher leaves to run an errand, Brady enters the bar. Preacher mockingly comments that he would have hit him harder. Brady walks towards the kitchen and Jack follows him, telling him that he is late. Brady questioned whether or not he still had a job. Jack reminds Brady of everything he has done for him over the years but the latter remarks that they are no longer in Iraq and times have changed. Jack disregards this and Brady apologises, promising it will never happen again. Jack is doubtful, but Brady says that he will try. Jack says that he expects more effort from him, which the latter agrees with. The former then tells him that he owes Mel and Joey an apology.
Mel enters the bar and Brady goes over to apologise for his behaviour. He attempts to apologise to Joey but she has already left. Mel promises to pass on the message. She gets talking with Jack and apologises on Joey’s behalf. Jack says that no explanation is necessary. Seeing that she is upset by her sister’s departure, Jack offers her something to eat. He tells Mel that he smoothed things over with Brady but questions whether his care over him is doing any good. Mel remarks how hard it is to let go of the ones you love. Ricky receives a call from his grandmother asking for help as she is not feeling well. He starts to leave panicked as he cannot reach Doc and Lydie is diabetic. Jack and Mel offer to go help as Ricky stays behind to help with the bar.
Hope arrives at Paige’s for her usual morning coffee and the two talk about Doc’s absence. Hope does not understand the point of his fishing as he never brings anything home. Paige retorts that he may enjoy the solitude but immediately takes it back, seeing the glare on Hope’s face. Jo Ellen appears requesting an assortment of donuts. Hope is puzzled as there is a lack of guests at the B&B. She questions Jo Ellen, who nervously dismisses her accusations before walking away. Hope comments on her strange behaviour. Preacher shows up, whom Hope thanks for the food last night before walking off. He requests the usual stuff but Paige tells him that Jack already picked it up. Preacher is aware of this but used it as an excuse to see Paige. He questions whether he said something that upset her. After a brief pause, he dismisses it and start to walk away. Paige answers and asks what the specials are today, requesting he save her some, which he agrees to before leaving and having supposedly made amends.
As Jack and Mel drive to Lydie’s, the former comes clean with Mel, revealing that she was right all along about him and Charmaine and that he should have been upfront and open about his intention instead of leading her on. He tells Mel about their conversation and her reaction. Mel tells him that he needs to tell her how he really feels. Jack does not want to hurt Charmaine but Mel believes that he is scared about getting hurt himself. At that moment, they arrive at Lydie’s house.
Ringing the bell and knocking on the door, there is no answer. Mel emphasises the need to get inside as quickly as possible, which Jack agrees with. Finding a way to open the door, they find an open window and access the entrance. They find Lydie collapsed on the floor due to low blood sugar as she has not been taking care of herself. Mel gets her some sugar water to stabilise her levels. The latter feels guilty that Ricky is supposedly bothering others but Mel dismisses this, saying it’s not a worry. She tells Mel that she hates her medications and how they make her feel. As Jack goes to fix Lydie’s gate, the latter tells Mel about her family, including her daughter Elaine, who bears a resemblance to Mel in many ways, and her husband Herb as well as how she got in the position of taking care of Ricky following his mother’s death and his father’s abandonment. She expresses her grief over the death of her husband and daughter, saying that Ricky is the only reason she carries on. Mel advises Lydie to go the hospital but she is hesitant. Mel tells her that this is what Herb would’ve wanted and that Ricky would appreciate it.
At Connie’s store, the ladies prepare for a game of cards when Hope suddenly appears. She is surprised as she was not aware of a gathering with the friends. She senses that they are hiding something from her and when the group is reluctant to reveal it, Muriel exclaims that the group doesn’t want to play with her. They believe that she is too competitive and her outbursts ruin the fun. However, when she promises to be respectful, the group agrees to give her a chance.
At the bar, Brady tells Preacher that he is leaving early as he is not feeling well. Preacher is not surprised as it is just like Brady to do so. Brady retorts that Preacher still hasn’t changed in Iraq and mocks him. Preacher confronts him over stealing from the bar whilst Brady accuses him of being jealous of his and Jack’s friendship before leaving. Paige arrives and asks for Preacher’s aid when her car battery dies.
At the hospital, Mel sees a doctor couple kiss and begins having flashbacks of her at the hospital covered in blood and desperate to see her husband. She becomes distracted as Jack continues to talk to her before she sits to calm down.
Looking around Paige’s car, Preacher notices numerous suitcases in the back of the car, appearing suspicious.
Jack drives Mel back home in silence. He asks her what is going on, which leads to her having a breakdown.
Preacher starts to work on Paige’a car when he notices an ID with her picture but a different name, Michelle Logan. He becomes worried that Paige is not who she says she is.
At the general store, the ladies continue to play cards. When Jo Ellen wins repeatedly, Hope explodes, leading to a shocked reaction from the others. Muriel simply says that’s the way the game works but Hope is adamant that Jo Ellen is cheating. Demanding a rematch, Connie tells Hope that this the reason they didn’t invite her. Annoyed, Hope leaves the store as the others watch.
Following Lydie’s talk of Herb, Mel is concerned that she will never stop missing her husband. Her and Jack talk about the extent to which love is worth the risk. The two decide to take a small detour.
Back at the bar, Preacher has managed to fix Paige’s car and delivers the news to her. He questions her about the suitcases but she brushes it off, saying they contains clothing donations that she is planning to take to Goodwill. She thanks him before leaving as Preacher watches skeptically.
Mel and Jack go to a bar play a few games, joking that they could be competitive players. They decide to go and get some food. Later, Jack walks Mel back to her room at the B&B. She confesses that Jack is the only reason she has stayed in Virgin River. Jack doesn’t believe that is true but she reassures him that it is.
Hope enters the clinic to retrieve some papers she requires. She sees a photo of Vernon from when he was younger and it is clear that she misses him. She attempts to call him but he doesn’t answer. Hope leaves a message, joking and saying that she hopes he is okay, wishing him a good night.
Charmaine cleans the salon at the end of the day. Jack decides it is finally time to have an adult conversation with her and arrives to talk. Charmaine says that is ironic that he is the one chasing after her this time. He tells her that he isn't in love with her and she questions if it has anything to do with Mel. She tells him that she cannot wait around and breaks up with him. He wishes her the best before leaving and going to his car. Charmaine, in tears, watches him drive off.
At the B&B, Mel receives a phone call from Joey, who has made it back after a flight. She reveals that Bill is packing up his things to give her some space. Joey is faced with having to accept the state of her marriage. At that moment, Jo Ellen arrives, bringing Mel some tea. Joey ends the call, promising to return it in the morning. Mel decides to take off her wedding ring. She has a flashback of her at the hospital, stressing about the unknown. A doctor approaches and presumably gives her bad news. Back in reality, Jack returns to her room. Finding a pair of Mel's gloves in his truck, Jack makes a special trip to drop them off. He arrives just in time to see Mel's wedding ring on the bedside table. Mel says that she felt it was time and Jack reassures her that she and her husband could still work things out. Mel replies that it isn’t possible and Jack says he is sorry. She finally reveals that her husband is dead and it was her fault.
Cast []
Main Cast[]
- Alexandra Breckenridge as Melinda Monroe
- Martin Henderson as Jack Sheridan
- Colin Lawrence as John Middleton
- Jenny Cooper as Joey Barnes
- Lauren Hammersley as Charmaine Roberts
- Annette O'Toole as Hope McCrea
- Tim Matheson as Vernon Mullins
- Benjamin Hollingsworth as Dan Brady
- Grayson Gurnsey as Ricky
Guest Cast[]
- Lynda Boyd as Lilly Anderson
- Nicola Cavendish as Connie
- Lexa Doig as Paige Lassiter
- Teryl Rothery as Muriel
- Gwynyth Walsh as Jo Ellen
- Chase Petriw as Christopher Lassiter
- Christina Jastrzembska as Lydie
- Nicole Anthony as Nurse Konjek
Co-Starring[]
Trivia[]
- This episode marks the official ending of the relationship between Jack and Charmaine.