Ep 22. A Little Night Music

A Little Night Music is the 22nd episode of the sixth season of Designing Women. The episode revolves around the Sugarbaker sisters and their companions, as they attend an outdoor concert. The cast includes Dixie Carter as Julia Sugarbaker, Delta Burke as Suzanne Sugarbaker, Annie Potts as Mary Jo Shively, Meshach Taylor as Anthony Bouvier, and Judith Ivey as Bonnie Jean, among others.

As the episode begins, the women are excited about attending a concert of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra with their male companions. Anthony is reluctantly dragged along by Mary Jo, while Julia's new beau, Reese Watson, is also in attendance. However, Suzanne is left without a companion as her husband is out of town. She is delighted when her friend, Carlene Dobber, offers to join her.

But things take an unexpected turn when the men start to bicker among themselves. A drunken Reese accuses another man, Marvin, of staring at Julia, leading to a heated argument. Meanwhile, Carlene keeps signalling to Suzanne, trying to get her attention. Suzanne is confused until Carlene finally admits that she is in love with her. Suzanne is taken aback by the confession and tries to keep her distance.

As the night wears on, Suzanne and Carlene have an argument, and Suzanne storms off to the car. However, when she realizes that Carlene is not following her, she goes back to look for her. She finds her lying unconscious on the ground, having fallen and hit her head. Panicking, Suzanne calls for help, and the ambulance is quickly summoned.

The rest of the episode revolves around the aftermath of the incident. We see the women fretting and worrying as they wait for news on Carlene's condition. Julia is particularly affected, and she confides in Mary Jo about her feelings for Reese. Mary Jo is sympathetic but advises caution. Meanwhile, Suzanne is racked with guilt over her role in Carlene's accident.

At the hospital, the women keep vigil, waiting for news. Carlene's sister arrives, and we see the two women reconcile after years of estrangement. The incident also serves as a wake-up call for Suzanne, who realizes that she needs to be more careful about how she treats others. She and Carlene share a heartfelt conversation as Carlene recovers, and the two women make amends.

The episode ends on a hopeful note, as the women gather for breakfast the next day. Carlene has recovered from her injuries, and the men have made peace with each other. Julia and Reese also seem to have worked through their issues, and the sisters' bond is stronger than ever.

A Little Night Music is a poignant episode that deals with themes of love, loss, and reconciliation. The cast delivers a powerful performance, with Dixie Carter, Delta Burke, and Annie Potts shining in their respective roles. Meshach Taylor and Judith Ivey also add depth and nuance to their characters. Overall, this is an episode that will resonate with viewers and leave them feeling moved and inspired.