Fences

Connie is in unusually high spirits because her father, Bill, is coming from California for a visit. She compliments Eugene, makes elaborate sundaes, and counts the seconds until his arrival. Whit has given her time off, and she hurries home expecting to find Bill there.

Instead, June tells her that the trip has been canceled. Bill’s mother-in-law, April’s mother, is ill in the hospital, so he has remained in California. Connie says she understands and insists that everything is fine, but the disappointment immediately changes her mood.

From the porch, Connie talks with her elderly neighbor, Mr. Mitchell. Workers are building a tall fence around his property at his son’s request because he no longer moves easily and may be vulnerable to thieves. Mr. Mitchell dislikes the barrier but appreciates that his son visits every Sunday. Hearing that a father reliably makes time for his child deepens Connie’s hurt.

She returns to Whit’s End despite having the day off. She forgets orders, snaps at Charles, and tells everyone that she would rather numb herself with television and candy. Whit and Eugene understand that Bill’s cancellation has disappointed her, but Connie continues claiming that she is fine.

Bill telephones and explains that a conference may prevent another visit the following month. Connie asks him to skip it, then gives up and repeats that everything is all right. Outside, Mr. Mitchell’s finished fence now prevents them from seeing each other. When he says that he would travel across the country several times a year to visit his son, Connie decides that any normal father should do the same. She turns her hurt into anger and concludes that Bill simply does not care enough.

Her bitterness spills onto everyone at Whit’s End. She frightens Charles over an ice-cream order and quarrels with Eugene. Both retreat from her temper. Whit warns that she will explode if she keeps refusing to speak honestly, but Connie still will not open up.

Scheduled to teach a girls’ Bible study, Connie creates a lesson called “The Evils of Men.” She pulls isolated verses out of context to claim that men are dirt, rodents, stupid, and uncaring. June recognizes that the lesson expresses rage at Bill, not the meaning of Scripture, and tries to stop her. Connie leaves before her mother can finish.

The next day, Whit reports the result. Girls from the class have formed a Men-Haters Club, lashed out at Eugene, and hung Charles from a tree by his belt loop. Connie admits the lesson was wrong but still refuses to explain her anger. Since her behavior is alienating customers and teaching children harmful ideas, Whit sends her home until she is ready to deal with it.

A delivery driver later asks the Kendalls to accept a package for Mr. Mitchell because his locked fence prevents access. Connie realizes that she has not heard her neighbor for some time. With June’s help, she looks over the fence and sees him lying unconscious on his porch. Connie climbs over while her mother calls an ambulance. Mr. Mitchell is breathing and eventually receives the care he needs.

He has fallen and struck his head, but doctors expect him to recover. Connie tells Whit that the fence meant to protect him instead cut him off from anyone who could notice his trouble. Whit gently compares it to the emotional fence Connie has built. God made people to need one another, yet she has hidden behind anger and refused every offer of help.

Connie finally admits that she is angry with her father. She understands why he stayed with his sick mother-in-law, but she has looked forward to his visit and feels that something always prevents him from choosing her. She feared that saying so would sound selfish, so she buried the pain and attacked everyone else instead. Whit tells her that hurt must not become a wall separating her from people who care. She needs to let others - and God - help.

Charles runs in seeking protection from the Men-Haters Club. Connie apologizes and explains that her anger at one man does not make all men evil. She promises to correct what she taught and plans to apologize to Eugene as well. Unfortunately, the girls have already locked Eugene in a closet, where he loudly declares that the joke stopped being funny long ago.