Ep 16. Ms. Meal Ticket

In Designing Women season 3 episode 16, titled "Ms. Meal Ticket," the ladies of Sugarbaker and Associates are struggling to come up with new business as they are low on clients. When a wealthy, social-climbing woman named Linda Bloodworth-Thomason contacts them for a design consultation, they believe their luck is finally changing.

However, the ladies soon realize that Linda is more interested in using their company's name to advance her own career as a television producer than actually hiring them for their design services. To make matters worse, Linda is constantly demanding their time and attention, disrupting their work and causing tension among the group.

As the situation escalates, the women begin to question whether they should continue to work with Linda or cut ties and risk losing a potentially lucrative client. Their decision is complicated by Linda's high-profile connections and the fear that she will smear their reputation if they don't cooperate.

Meanwhile, Julia struggles with her own issues when she discovers that her ex-husband Reese has been seeing someone else. Hurt and angry, Julia tries to distract herself by throwing herself into work and putting on a brave face for her friends. However, her emotions soon boil over and she is forced to confront Reese about his actions.

As the episode unfolds, the women navigate the challenges of their personal and professional lives with humor and grace. They ultimately learn that staying true to their values and standing up for themselves is more important than any fleeting success or fleeting fame.

"Ms. Meal Ticket" is a poignant and entertaining episode that showcases the strengths of the Designing Women ensemble. With its witty script, nuanced performances, and timeless themes of friendship and empowerment, the show remains a beloved classic of television history.