Day two in Newport, and the women are discovering that even a 29-bedroom mansion cannot provide sufficient distance from one another’s problems. We’ve got mysterious ghosts, questionable childhood memories, a 23-year-old butler, an inflatable waterslide, and, most importantly, video evidence that could finally put the Brian affair rumors to rest. Or, more accurately, make everything considerably worse.
We begin with Alicia having a little morning conversation with her dolls. Because of course we do. Somewhere in Newport, a historic mansion is hosting seven grown women, and one of them is having a chat with an inanimate audience. Honestly, Alicia is becoming one of the more entertaining people in this group.
Rosie, meanwhile, is feeling physically and emotionally unwell after the previous night’s confrontation with Kelsey. She tells the cameras that she spent much of the night throwing up. Apparently, defending your square footage and employment history is hard work.
Rich agrees with Rosie’s assessment that Kelsey is projecting her own insecurities onto Rosie. The theory is that Kelsey resents the fact that Rosie has a husband, a house, and a career history. Kelsey, naturally, would probably describe the situation somewhat differently.
At breakfast, Kelsey and Rosie revisit their argument. Kelsey insists that her comment about Rosie being genuine was intended as a compliment. Rosie remains unconvinced, pointing out that saying somebody is finally being genuine implies that they’ve been fake up until that point.
This is not complicated, Kelsey.
Alicia attempts to join the conversation by comparing Rosie’s personality to Beyoncé’s alter ego, Sasha Fierce. It’s an interesting contribution, although Liz seems increasingly irritated by Alicia’s tendency to interrupt conversations with random observations.
Ashley also becomes emotional while defending Rosie. She says she cares about her friend and doesn’t like watching her get attacked. The tears arrive, and the women are once again left wondering whether this is a serious emotional moment or simply another morning in the Newport mansion.
Eventually, Rosie and Kelsey agree to have a private conversation.
The two women acknowledge that they both have strong personalities and can come across as standoffish. Kelsey says she genuinely wants to be friends with Rosie, while Rosie explains that she’s tired of feeling judged.
Surprisingly, they actually make some progress. They agree to move forward and try to get along.
It’s a lovely development, although given this group’s track record, I’d suggest nobody get too comfortable.
Rulla remains absent from the trip. Alicia reaches out to check on her, and Rulla explains that she’s been sick and had to go to the hospital. Apparently, doctors haven’t found anything particularly conclusive.
Jo-Ellen is skeptical, pointing out that this is not the first time Rulla has missed a group event because of a medical issue. Given the circumstances surrounding Brian, Jo-Ellen suspects there may be more going on than a mysterious illness.
Of course, speculating about someone’s health in their absence is never an especially attractive look, but the ongoing marital drama has made everybody suspicious of everybody else.
Meanwhile, the women are preparing for some outdoor entertainment.
The younger ladies head for an enormous inflatable waterslide, and the mansion’s handsome young butlers are apparently part of the attraction. One of them, Boris, is 23 years old, and the women are having a wonderful time checking him out.
Kelsey is amused but makes it clear that a 23-year-old isn’t exactly her target demographic. Rosie has a different concern: Boris may be attractive, but he doesn’t appear to have the financial qualifications she’s looking for.
Ashley, meanwhile, is happy to announce that her husband Jared is hotter than any of these young men.
We get it, Ashley. Jared is the prize. You may proceed.
Liz is considerably less enthusiastic about the waterslide festivities. She isn’t particularly interested in flirting with men young enough to be her children, and she eventually retreats indoors.
She admits that sometimes it is exhausting being friends with women in a much younger age group.
Ashley notices that Liz has withdrawn and goes inside to check on her. The two share a surprisingly sweet moment. Liz appreciates Ashley’s concern, and Ashley gets to see a softer side of her friend.
Ashley even gives her the nickname Lamby Liz.
Aww. A brief moment of tenderness in a franchise where most friendships seem to be maintained through mutual surveillance.
Jo-Ellen and Alicia, meanwhile, decide to take a walk along Newport’s famous Cliff Walk.
On the drive there, their chauffeur Jamie explains that he actually lived in the mansion while attending college. He also shares that the property has a reputation for being haunted.
Alicia is fascinated by the ghost stories. Her enthusiasm is considerable, although her pronunciation of the plural form of ghost becomes its own little subplot.
The conversation eventually turns serious.
Alicia remembers that Jo-Ellen was sent away as a teenager but admits that she never really understood what happened. Jo-Ellen begins explaining the painful details of her childhood and her relationship with her mother.
She says she was sent away three separate times, beginning in seventh grade. The first placement was supposed to address drug-related concerns, although Jo-Ellen insists she had never used drugs. Her mother also accused her of promiscuity, something Jo-Ellen strongly disputes.
The third placement was particularly traumatic. Jo-Ellen says she spent more than a year there, and that her mother only removed her when the state threatened to take custody.
She describes the experience as devastating and says it left her struggling with suicidal thoughts.
It’s a heartbreaking revelation, and suddenly the woman we’ve watched participate in so much gossip and confrontation is showing us a much more vulnerable side.
Alicia is deeply affected by the story. She begins connecting Jo-Ellen’s experiences to her own childhood, particularly her feelings about her father and the instability she experienced growing up.
She explains that her father’s absence has affected her relationship with men and her willingness to get married. One of the things that frightens her is the thought of not having a father to walk her down the aisle.
She admits that she has often preferred to leave relationships before somebody else has the opportunity to leave her.
It’s a genuinely emotional conversation. The two women have known each other for years, but this is a level of intimacy they haven’t previously shared.
Alicia and Jo-Ellen discover that beneath their very different personalities, they have some significant experiences in common.
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