Grace reaches out to Alma on the phone, but Rita harbors doubts about Alma's suitability. The entire nominating committee is soon to descend upon Alma's home for an inspection, leaving Alma with plenty of tasks to tackle. She gathers what she needs from Mrs. Yost's abode, a home now shrouded in mystery.
Mrs. Yost's car has been discovered, and the initial assumption is that she dozed off and accidentally drove into the lake. However, curious male footprints in the mud surrounding the vehicle raise suspicions. Rocco resumes his search for Mrs. Yost, while Bertram stumbles upon Alma busily filling her home with her late neighbor's belongings.
Rita, determined to protect her secret, clears out Scooter's apartment, hoping to coerce him into fabricating a compromising scenario with Catherine. But Scooter remains unmoved, indifferent to Rita's schemes.
A husband, enraged by Vern's interference in his life, calls to threaten him. But Vern calmly reminds the man that it was his own indiscretions with his secretary that truly ruined his life.
In desperate need of funds, Scooter visits Dee in his overalls, pleading for money. He claims he's on the verge of homelessness, and Dee, despite his recent abandonment in the rain, relents and hands over some cash. Tears stream down Scooter's face as he apologizes, claiming he never meant to hurt her and that they were just having fun. Dee, who was falling in love, listens quietly. Scooter continues, saying perhaps this is for the best, and there must be someone out there who can treat her better than he ever did.
Meanwhile, Alma selects a dress from Mrs. Yost's closet, intent on having all of her late neighbor's possessions taken to the attic, including their joint family portrait. The house is slowly transforming, reflecting Alma's determination to reshape her life and home.
As the police vehicles screeched to a halt outside, the group was gathered in Mrs. Yost's cozy living room. The officers peered through the window, yet Alma's resolve remained unwavering. She urged Bertram to snatch the painting, then darted out the backdoor and circled around to the front, shouting frantically to the police. Alma's dramatic fainting act was almost convincing, but the policeman merely chuckled, remarking that his own mother was going through a similar phase, sweating even more profusely than Alma.
Dee invited Vern out for lunch, an unexpected invitation that left him momentarily bewildered. Rita's sudden entrance only added to the commotion, demanding to know who Dee really was. But Vern remained tight-lipped.
Unbeknownst to them, another shadowy figure was keeping tabs on their every move. Just when the garden club arrived, Rita's rude demeanor preceded her entrance, as Grace tried to diffuse the tension with lighthearted remarks while Rita mocked Alma's garden.
Rita couldn't help but feel that the timing of everything was too convenient. The French painting became the focal point of conversation, forcing Alma to fabricate elaborate stories about her frequent visits to the city. Another guest entered with her aunt, a seeming friend of Mrs. Yost's, but the atmosphere took a sinister turn.
Vern confronted the mysterious figure, only to discover it wasn't a gumshoe after all. It was the enraged husband, brandishing a knife. In a swift move, Dee tackled the man to the ground, accidentally slicing his leg. Upon examining the wound, Dee was horrified, and the man's fury boiled over.
Meanwhile, Aunt Martha's distressing state captured Bertram's attention. The women expressed disgust when they learned that Martha's son, Chip, was dating a woman twice his age. Rita attempted to defend the relationship, but the topic soon became too much for her, prompting her to retreat to the kitchen for a stiff drink.
Alma praised Rita's breathtaking beauty, expressing envy for her flawless appearance. Rita, realizing Alma's sincerity, began to see her in a new light. Perhaps Alma was too kind for the club, but Rita sensed a cunning side to her, challenging Alma about her Parisian past and the dress. However, Rita admired Alma's desire for reinvention, as she had undergone a similar transformation.
Rita decided to take Alma under her wing and admit her to the club, but only if Alma upgraded her liquor selection.
Scooter ventured to Rita's abode, desperation etched on his face, begging for a few coins. Catherine, inadvertently, caught his desperate gaze. He managed to scrape together some extra cash and left a lasting impression on her delicate mind.
Aunt Martha, her face etched with the pain of cancer, beamed with joy when he announced his intention to visit, despite her reputation as a "dear windbag." Rita and Joan's friendship was a tenuous one, with Rita's incessant chatterbox tendencies often dragging Alma into their conversations, hoping for a nodding agreement.
Rocco, his arms buried deep in the soil of the garden, unearthed a ghastly surprise - Mrs. Yost's lifeless arm. Alma and Bertram, with quick wits and nimble fingers, concealed the gruesome find while keeping the women at bay.
The piano notes filled the air, and their voices chimed in, singing "Anything Goes" with abandon. But Rocco had other plans for Bertram, plans that did not involve him tending to the unfortunate Mrs. Yost.
Vern's heartbreak was etched on his face when his girlfriend, upon seeing his injured leg, called it quits on their relationship. Dee could not fathom how he had given up on love so easily.
When Mike's detective friend, who had previously visited the Yost house, arrived, Dee boldly declared herself as Vern's girl, her eyes sparkling with defiance.
Alma was elated with the events of the day, her heart swelling with pride. Bertram, however, was intent on returning Mrs. Yost's belongings, but Alma disagreed. How could she explain the disappearance of their most prized possessions?
He gazed fondly at the portrait of the woman he loved, remembering the scraps she had clung to for so long, told that those were all she would ever have. Alma wanted to bury the old Alma and assured Bertram that the family was her true heart.
Outside, the ladies discussed the prospect of new members and decided to nominate Alma, their eyes shining with admiration. Rita's jealousy of Alma and Bertram almost bubbled over, but then Dee's arrival diffused the tension.
