Ep 14. Runaways

The Golden Palace season 1 episode 14, titled "Runaways," follows the group of four women who run a hotel in Miami Beach. The ladies find themselves in a bit of a predicament when they discover that two young runaways, a boy and a girl, have found their way into their hotel and are now squatting there. They both appear to be homeless, with no family to return to, and no place to call home.

The story opens with Roland, the hotel's cook, discovering the two runaways hiding in a supply closet in the kitchen. He quickly alerts the women that there are intruders on the property, and they soon find the two children and try to figure out what to do with them. The young girl appears to be very sick and needs medical attention, which worries the ladies even more.

Blanche, the resident sexpot of the group, is the first to offer up a solution. She suggests that they call the police and have the children removed from the premises. Rose, however, takes a more compassionate approach. Being a former schoolteacher, she has a soft spot for children and wants to help the two runaways. Blanche, on the other hand, seems to be more concerned about her image and the potential bad press that could come from being associated with two homeless kids.

The ladies argue back and forth, with Sophia playing mediator, as she usually does. They eventually decide to take the children in and provide them with a place to stay until they can figure out what to do with them. In the meantime, they call a doctor to come and check on the young girl's condition. The doctor arrives and diagnoses her with pneumonia, which immediately puts the ladies into a state of panic. They realize that they may be responsible for this young girl's life.

The rest of the episode revolves around the ladies trying to take care of the two runaways and make them feel at home. They all pitch in to provide the children with food, clothing, and bedding. The little boy is enamored with Roland's cooking and can't seem to get enough of his homemade macaroni and cheese. The young girl, however, is still very ill and requires constant attention from the ladies. They all take turns sitting with her and trying to make her feel comfortable.

Throughout the episode, we learn more about the backstories of the two runaways. The young girl reveals that she ran away from home because she couldn't stand living with her stepmother, who was abusive to her. The young boy, on the other hand, seems to be more of an adventurer, saying that he left home to see the world, but quickly became homeless and unable to take care of himself.

By the end of the episode, the ladies have grown quite fond of the two runaways. They realize that they cannot just put them out on the street and hope that they will find a better life. Instead, they make the decision to take them in permanently and become their legal guardians. This decision will not be without its challenges, but the ladies are willing to take on the responsibility and provide these children with a loving and stable home.

The episode ends with the ladies all gathered around the young girl's bedside, singing her a lullaby and promising to take care of her and her brother from now on. The camera pans out to show the lights of Miami Beach outside the window, as the city bustles with life. The Golden Palace, it seems, has become a sanctuary for these two young runaways, and for the ladies who have taken them in.