As the curtains rise on the second chapter of "Sullivan's Crossing," Maggie Sullivan (portrayed by Morgan Kohan) finds herself ensnared in a nightmarish reverie, reliving the hospital's hallways where Lola (Amalia Williamson) and her father, Sully (Scott Patterson), cast disappointed glances her way. Awakening abruptly, Maggie instinctively dials Scott's number, her voice laden with the urge to return home. Scott, ever the reassuring presence, suggests he inquiries with the hospital, knowing such dilemmas often unravel swiftly. Hanging up, Maggie steels herself with the mantra, "I've got this."
Her footsteps lead her towards the quaint local diner when Phoebe's call interrupts the serene walk. The conversation reveals that Walter has consulted another law firm, assuring her the lawsuit is a non-issue. The call concludes, and Maggie steps into the diner, greeted by Cal (Chad Michael Murray), who offers to fetch her a coffee. She gently reprimands him for his rhythmic table-tapping, to which he apologizes, calling it a nervous tic, albeit insisting she doesn't evoke such jitters in him. Bidding farewell to Rob (Reid Price), Cal departs, tasked with assisting Sully. Intrigued, Maggie inquires about Cal's background, to which Rob offers a cursory yet positive assessment.
Sydney's entrance prompts Rob's departure, and Maggie, sharing her sudden plan shift, unravels her tale from the outset. She reveals a partner's indictment for billing fraud, her reputation inadvertently tarnished, and the unforeseen lawsuit filed by a patient's mother. Despite her protestations of innocence, Maggie acknowledges the unpredictability of such matters. Sydney, who has been in New York, shares her own hard-learned lesson about dating one's manager in the modeling world, emphasizing the difficulty of extrication once entangled.
Maggie encounters Sully and Frank (Tom Jackson) in close conference. Seeking a fax machine to expedite medical records, she is met with Sully's characteristic briskness, appending a reminder to restock shelves post-task. Stepping inside, Edna (Andrea Menard) grumbles about the refrigerator, adding to Maggie's burgeoning list of responsibilities. Jackson's belated arrival and helplessness with the fax machine are followed by Cal's timely entrance. With a few adept moves, he resolves the issue, much to Maggie's chagrin as she dubs him "annoying" after he leaves.
Confiding in Edna about the negligence lawsuit, Maggie's emotions overflow into tears, a rare vulnerability in her usually composed demeanor. Edna, offering comfort, reassures her that all will be well, gently reminding her of fridge duties once the self-pity subsidess. Frank, in deep conversation with Sully, suggests emulating Mother Earth's nurturing and healing ways towards their kin.
In this nuanced portrayal, each character's actions and reactions weave a tapestry of emotions and responsibilities, enriching the narrative of "Sullivan's Crossing."
Sully harbors doubts about rectifying the past, believing the elapsed time has rendered it irreparable. Frank, sensing his friend's defeatism, endeavors to sway his perspective. Meanwhile, James Fish arrives at Edna's doorstep with a dire tale about his husband, Jim, who has retreated to their car, refusing to budge. James elaborates on their plight: the absence of hot water and the persistent rust stains in the shower, contrasting starkly with the warm welcome and inclusivity praised by their recent guests. In response, Edna hands him the keys to the prestigious VIP cabin, much to Maggie's astonishment. She marvels at how she had persuaded Sully to construct new cabins, a move Edna justifies as a strategy to lure fresh clientele. When Maggie reminisces about Sully's former orderly demeanor, Edna confides that his disorganization stems from the heartbreak he endured when her mother took her away. Maggie expresses disbelief that he ever cared, but Edna insists that he was deeply hurt by her departure. Maggie wonders aloud why he never pursued her, leaving the conversation tinged with unresolved emotions.
Later, Scott's call interrupts Maggie's thoughts, informing her that the insurance company intends to offer a settlement as per routine procedure, sparing her of any blame. Maggie listens to a voicemail from Andrew, who apologizes for his earlier outburst. Just then, Cal knocks, relaying that Lola has contacted Sully because Roy has stumbled and suffered a head injury. Maggie promptly agrees to lend a hand, while Edna attends to James and Jim. Maggie examines Roy, who sports a head wound, and Cal offers to fetch him some juice. Upon his return, Cal notes the fridge's abundance of untouched food, suggesting Roy's lack of appetite. Roy complains of recent stomach troubles, prompting Maggie to check his abdomen while Cal persuades him to stay put. Roy's conversation drifts to Ruthie, describing her as a spirited firebrand, and he inquiries about her whereabouts. Maggie urges Lola to take Roy to the doctor for his abdominal pain. Lola agrees to call them once they depart, but before they can, Roy faints, prompting an immediate decision to summon an ambulance.
As they arrive, Maggiebriefs the paramedics on Roy's condition, hypothesizing that his weakness led to the fall, potentially due to an undetected infection. Maggie cautions Lola that such infections can pose severe risks for someone of Roy's age, painting a picture of urgency and concern.
Later, Cal expressed his gratitude to Maggie, commending her kindness towards Roy. Maggie confessed that it felt refreshing to be needed once more before offering an apology for her earlier rudeness. Returning after nearly fifteen years had proven somewhat overwhelming. Her mother had taken her to Boston following her separation from Sully. Intrigued, Maggie inquired about the moniker "mystery man," to which Cal replied that he was unaware of its usage.
Upon her return, Maggie discovered a message informing her that her fax had arrived. Meanwhile, Frank approached Edna with plans for a romantic dinner. Sully prepared a sandwich for Maggie, prompting her to reveal that she had discarded his expired blood pressure medication. Dismissing the need for it, Sully also came across some overdue bills. To his surprise, Maggie shared that she was being sued by the mother of one of her patients. Sully speculated that the woman was heartbroken over the loss of her child, asserting that nothing could be more painful for a parent. Maggie thanked him for the sandwich and for preserving the mural.
After Sully left, Maggie decided to call Claire but was greeted by Kevin's voicemail. She headed to the diner, where Sydney offered her tequila shots. Cliff and his friend snatched their shots and demanded more, mentioning a cabin rental on Highway 17 where they planned to host a party. Rob stepped in to curb their drinking, having deemed them already over the limit. Shortly after they departed, Cal entered the diner. Rafe approached to buy drinks and engaged in flirtatious banter with Sydney, who casually mentioned him as a friend with occasional benefits.
Maggie shared with Sydney about her long-distance relationship with Andrew, which had spanned nearly two years. Rafe returned and whisked Sydney away to dance. Meanwhile, at home, Sully reminisced through old family photos. Back at the diner, Sydney and Maggie belted out a tune together. Following their performance, Sydney left with Rafe, while Maggie settled into a booth with a couple of beers, joined by Cal. He agreed that they should recreate their evening, and chivalrously walked her home, where the night sky was adorned with stars. Maggie admitted that she missed such moments, thanking Cal before Andrew emerged from the house. Cal bid them farewell and departed.
Inside, Andrew confessed his longing for Maggie and his regret over how things had ended. They retreated to Maggie's room, where Andrew apologized for his hurtful words about her and Bob. Maggie admitted that his comments had deeply wounded her before they shared a tender kiss, while Cal continued to drink alone, marking a date on his calendar. Andrew emphasized his desire to never lose Maggie.
