- An outbreak of influenza comes to nearby Pinebury, and Honey's mission of good will leads her to a New Bedford woman who was exposed to the illness.
- Left to their own devices, Fat, Maisey and Violet get into a animal care/cooking mishap. This incident is only the latest which gets Honey into a old feud with May regarding what Honey sees as May's criticisms of her both as a mother and a human being. Honey has of late been assisting Iris Barlow in the women's mission, specifically in halting the spread of influenza that has not quite yet reached New Bedford, and providing services for and supplies to those on relief. What she feels is her small contribution, Honey provides free hairdressing service to those on relief. One of her free clients is Norma, who Honey sees much like herself immediately after Jack's death. Norma, with two children both still in the diaper stage, has been traveling around Northern Ontario looking for her husband who has been searching for work. Honey does whatever she can to help Norma get through this rough time. Norma and her two children become ill, and Honey appoints herself as their nursemaid. The illness turns out to be the virulent strain of influenza that has already killed six people in Pinebury. Honey ends up being quarantined at Norma's apartment because of it. Norma and her family recover from the illness, however Honey comes down with a worse case of the illness since Honey had had a previous chest infection which made her more susceptible to such. With the hospital in North Bridge already overflowing to the rafters, Dr. Barlow feels he can better treat Honey at home. May shows the family what she really thinks of Honey when it looks like Honey may not survive her illness.—Huggo
- Fat and Maisey smuggle unknown packages into the hotel under a blanket. Although Callie is in the lobby, they manage to get the packages by her. Callie hears a noise which came from the package, but she attributes it to squeaky wheels on a food dolly. When Fat and Maisey make it up to the Sutton apartment, they reveal it is a budgie named Pete and Pete's cage stand. When Max sees Pete, he lets the kids know about the no pet policy. But he agrees to at least talk to Honey about letting Fat keep Pete temporarily when Maisey tells him that someone pawned it and Leo will not let her keep it at the shop. Max soon falls under the bird's spell.
Iris Barlow and Myrt Dumphrey are getting their hair done in Honey's hairdressing shop. The two speak to Honey about joining the women's institute, a social group dedicated to community projects and programs. Iris talks Honey into attending the meeting that evening at May's house, although Honey is not too enthusiastic about it seeing as to her already busy schedule. After Iris leaves, Myrt is concerned about short-circuiting noises coming from the machine attached to her hair. Honey quickly unplugs the machine before any damage is done.
That afternoon, Honey comes home a little frazzled. She sees the bird, and allows Fat to keep it if he takes care of it. Honey, forgetting what day it is, wants Max to baby-sit the children while she goes to the institute meeting, but Max needs to rush off to a regular school board meeting. She co-opts Hub and Fat to help baby-sit and get dinner ready.
Later at May's house, May is chairing the meeting of the women's institute. Iris mentions the outbreak of influenza in North Bridge and at a relief camp in Pinebury, and wants the institute to do whatever it can to assist. May disagrees since it is not a New Bedford based issue. After the meeting, Honey admits to Grace and Toppy that she is embarrassed about her initial reluctance to join the institute as others there have less time and less money than her. When Iris and May join the conversation, Iris states that despite May's reluctance, she will organize assistance for the relief camp on her own and others can assist on their own volition. After Iris leaves, Honey openly disagrees with May on Iris' stance on the issue. May gives Honey a glare on that statement.
At home that evening, Honey complains to Max about the demeaning attitude May has toward her and anyone else who disagrees with her. Honey vows to help Iris in any way she can as she remembers back to the time when she could have used such help. Max gives her a reassuring kiss.
The next morning, Honey is about to leave for work. That morning, she is giving free hairdressing services to anyone on relief. Fat, however, asks if she had made the cookies he requested for a school fundraiser. Having totally forgotten Fat's request, Honey agrees to make the cookies later, asking Fat to get the macaroon recipe out so that she won't forget. Max suggests to Hub that he make the cookies himself to give Honey a break.
Before going to work, Honey drops Violet and Zach at May's house for the day and picks up Grace. At the hairdressing shop, Honey sees a long line of people waiting outside, including men. She asks Grace to grab Max's shaving materials from upstairs. Last in line is a young woman named Norma, with two children. Norma only wants Honey to get the tangles out of her daughter's hair, but Honey convinces Norma to get her own hair set as well. Norma is pleased to be able to pamper herself for the first time in a long time.
In her volunteer work, Iris asks an obviously exasperated and indifferent Callie for a donation of bed linens and toiletries. Honey overhears the request and offers some toiletry stock that was left over in the shop when she moved in. Later, Honey asks Iris if some of the donations can be given to a local woman Norma in need. Iris agrees to give Honey any of the leftover donations. They also talk about May's influence on what happens in town. Iris, who has known May a long time, admits that May gets things done, but if you disagree with her, it is best to try and work around her instead of through her.
Later that afternoon at the Sutton apartment, Fat notices that Honey did not make the cookies. Max suggests that Fat and Maisey make the cookies instead as Honey is still busy helping Iris. Max also reminds Fat to clean Pete's cage. Maisey makes the cookies, while Fat cleans the cage. In the middle of this, Maisey has run out of vanilla for the cookies. Max, sending Maisey and Fat to the store to buy vanilla, leaves Violet to stir the cookie dough. Fat inadvertently leaves bird seed next to Violet, who pours some into the batter.
Honey, with supplies in hand, heads over to Norma's, where a relief inspector is hassling her. After the inspector leaves, Honey helps Norma with her children who have been cranky and will not stop crying. Norma breaks down that everything in life is going wrong she doesn't know where her husband is (whether he's left her or is still searching elsewhere for work she did look for him at the relief camp in Pinebury), and that the relief inspector is threatening to take her children away.
At the Bailey house, Fat and Maisey have just made their first sale of cookies to Grace. The three are about ready to eat them. Grace takes the first bite and almost dies from choking. May comes home to the commotion of Grace choking. Fat and Maisey are still confused about what happened with the cookies.
Back at the Sutton's, May confronts Honey about the cookies and leaving the children to their own devices. Although Honey accepts the responsibility for the error, she also confronts May about an ulterior motive of her criticism. Honey thinks that it has to do with going against May's wishes about assisting the relief camp. May denies that accusation and states it only has to do with doing what's best for the children. This brings up the issue of May previously wanting to take the children away from Honey, and May only wanting to hurt Honey. Again, May denies this. Honey states she will have to take May on her words because her actions say otherwise.
Honey unloads her feelings later to Max, both about how May gets under her skin and how she wants to help Norma as someone who is just like she was at her most vulnerable.
The next day, Honey brings more supplies to Norma, most coming from her own household. Norma's children are even crankier today. But Norma looks bad, as do the children. Honey decides to call in Dr. Barlow. Honey is concerned that the family has influenza picked up from the relief camp. Honey decides to stay since if she is also now exposed, she doesn't want to expose her own family to the virus. Dr. Barlow tells Max of the news, also informing him of the dangerous nature of the virus. Max and the boys are concerned for their mother's well being.
As time goes on at Norma's, Honey tries to reassure Norma that everything will be OK. But Max cannot stay away, and despite the quarantine notice on the door, he decides to go see Honey. Getting her attention by throwing rocks at the window, Honey comes to the door to talk to her husband. Honey apologizes for not being at home to look after the children, but Max reassures her that everything at home is fine, and that Honey should do what she feels is the best for herself, with no one to answer to.
As Max goes home, he runs into Callie in the hotel lobby, she who tells him that everything in town is shut down due to the possible infection. New Bedford has turned into a ghost town. Thinking that he may have been exposed to Honey, Callie also callously informs Max that he should stay in his apartment until the infection blows through town.
The next day, Norma and the children look to be improving, but Honey is now obviously ill herself. Dr. Barlow suggests bringing Honey back to the apartment, Max as nurse with the children moving in temporarily with May. As the apartment is prepared for Honey's return, Callie notices the bird cage, which Henry states is going with him to his grandmother's.
At home, Honey is having difficulties breathing. Dr. Barlow states that it is fluids in her lungs: an onset of pneumonia, caused by the influenza in combination with weakness from a previous chest ailment. There is no hospital space for her, so Dr. Barlow suggests bringing in medical supplies and treating Honey at home. Max is worried.
The family less Honey and Max have congregated at May's and worry about Honey's well being. When May hears whats going on, she decides to disobey the doctor's orders and heads to the apartment. In addition to bringing food for Max, May does whatever she can to speed up delivery of medical supplies which are currently two days away. She calls George Murphy to fly in medical supplies on the company bush plane. In her concern, May calls Honey a member of her family. In the delivery, the plane is grounded en route due to weather. In the meantime, May acts as nursemaid and reassures Honey the best she can. However Dr. Barlow informs Max and May that he has to drain the fluids from her lungs immediately or else she may die. May and Max prepare the kitchen for the doctor to perform his emergency procedure, with May acting as his surgical nurse.
Following the success of draining her lungs, Dr. Barlow needs to get her on a plane for immediate transport to Toronto General Hospital for more complete treatment. Honey is bundled up on a stretcher in the back of the Wanless Furniture truck for transport to the air strip. Her entire family is there to see her off. Norma is also there, concerned for her new friend. As the truck drives off, the boys run after the truck, not knowing for sure when they will see their mother again.
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