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A far cry from the dangerous dalliance of Episode 7, When Calls the Heart Season 12 Episode 8 treads the boards, radio style. However, someone is also leaving Hope Valley for the long haul.
The 1920s means a time of change for When Calls the Heart. The next generation is growing up, new ways of life are being introduced, and people are partying like it’s 1929. Before an “intense” new storyline is set to “shatter” Hope Valley, there’s still some fun to be had.
When we last saw them, Elizabeth and Nathan went undercover to get information from Toddy Davis, a criminal wanted in connection with the Great Train Robbery. Now Nathan’s back handling the investigation where he belongs, Elizabeth is free to push forward with her new curriculum.
Rosemary equally has her hands full, deciding to put on a local production of The Importance of Being Earnest. But before she can get that far, disaster strikes in When Calls the Heart Season 12 Episode 8, and one person leaves for good. Warning: spoilers ahead!
Elizabeth gets smacked down in When Calls the Heart Season 12 Episode 8
HallmarkWhen Calls the Heart Season 12 Episode 8 begins with Rosemary giving Elizabeth a pep talk. She’s about to be interviewed on the radio about her curriculum, which Rosemary assures her people won’t find boring.
However, her partner for the Daily Dialogue has changed – it’s now a woman called Eileen Bennett, who is a school superintendent. This freaks Elizabeth out, with Rosemary saying she was “lovely” on the phone.
Meanwhile, Rosemary still hasn’t asked Ava to join the cast of the play, with Rosemary claiming she’s “waiting for the right moment.”
When they spot her in town, Elizabeth says there’s “no time like the present,” but Rosemary can’t bring herself to give over the role of Gwendoline. Instead, she offers Ava Assistant Stage Manager, working alongside Elizabeth.
On the radio show, Eileen isn’t convinced when Elizabeth doesn’t have any hard test results to show that her new curriculum is actually improving things. She calls the idea “naive” and “a worthy experiment” rather than anything that can truly be implemented, leaving Elizabeth furious.
She complains to Nathan, who tells her to take a leaf out of Diane DiMarco’s book. Nathan says he’ll make a “make-up dinner” for her and little Jack.
Rosemary’s play rebrands for radio
HallmarkMike checks a mysterious young man into the saloon, claiming he’s “seeking something big” in the local area. He’s got no luggage and is very abrasive when he talks. Fiona tries to plan future episode ideas, while Rosemary feels bad for booking Eileen.
Roland Rockwell (Randall’s cousin) from Benson Hills Broadcasting knocks on the door. He’s basically their boss, saying his views about radio are the polar opposite of his cousin’s. Roland tells him the Daily Dialogue is “boring,” losing listeners to shows that shouldn’t even be competing.
In the heat of the moment, Rosemary pitches The Importance of Being Earnest as a radio play, which Roland likes. He wants to air it tomorrow, which panics Rosemary. Nathan fills Bill in on what Toddy said at the party, already able to track down the deceased rancher Toddy mentioned getting his stock from.
Lucas presents Allie and Olivier at a meeting about the cattle crossing, with attendees reluctant to change what’s already working for them. While an old man called McGinty patronizes her point of view, Allie recognizes his boots as the man who was dragging trees through the woods when they first expired the stream.
The men all abstain from voting on any changes, with Edie stating the Cattlemens Association formally declines the proposal.
Illness strikes Hope Valley
HallmarkWhen Lucas runs after Edie, she recalls that she told him to drop it. Lucas accuses her of knowing McGinty would “railroad the whole thing,” with Edie saying she was just doing her job. “Any further communication should be directed through my office,” she says while leaving.
Back at the schoolhouse, Rosemary tells the players about the radio change. They’re all hesitant but enthusiastic, particularly about being able to read straight from the script. “Shall I say about my scratchy throat?” Mike says to Mei, coughing as he practices his lines. Ava encourages him to go to the hot springs to steam his voice, which he agrees to.
Allie and Oliver debrief in the saloon, with Allie claiming she’s not going to be bullied by any of the men. Oliver tries to find another solution, with our mysterious man from earlier eagerly listening in. “He’ll make a mistake. What’s important is you give him room to make that mistake,” Henry says of McGinty.
Fiona tells Faith the salon sale went through and she has to get back to San Francisco to plan her wedding. Faith doesn’t think Fiona loves him, with Fiona convinced she can do what she cares about if she goes through with it. Fiona asks Faith to be her maid of honor.
Nathan and Bill pull the deceased rancher’s heir in for questioning – which surprise surprise, is Edie. Edie says she only knows her uncle was in debt and penniless, a burden she is now saddled with. They tell her about the Train Robbery connection, with Edie sighing to herself, “Oh Ernie… what have you got us into now?”
Fiona leaves town for a new adventure
HallmarkWe learn our mystery man is called Woody, phoning a man called Sonny to tell them they’re “all set.” Molly overhears his plans to sneak Sonny into the saloon room through the balcony. Allie tells Elizabeth she’s never enjoyed school more thanks to the new curriculum.
The next day, Mike is fully sick with laryngitis, angering Rosemary. However, it gets worse: Bill and Lee are ill too. They all went to the hot springs, making it easy to catch Mike’s cold.
The solution? An all-female cast. While having tea, Minnie reveals she knows all of Jack’s lines, with Rosemary’s Algernon a perfect fit. Fiona, the suffragette she is, is obviously right behind the idea.
Mei takes over Mike’s role, with Ava finally getting her time as Gwendoline. As the girls perform, the boys listen in. Nathan brings Elizabeth flowers after, with a bunch of letters from Ned. They’re all in support of Elizabeth’s curriculum, immediately seeing its benefits.
Edie stops by Lucas’ office, not happy with the way things were left. She explains why McGinty has monopoly, tricking other ranchers into signing a loan on the cattle land many years before. He can seek repayment and interest any time he wants, with any votes against him calling that into play.
Edie apologizes, saying she’s also trying to protect his reputation. Elizabeth shows Fiona the letters, hoping to influence her decision. She later shows them to Roland, telling her and Rosemary both the Daily Dialogue and the play have been a hit.
He’s got a bigger vision, asking them to program for a bigger station in Port Townsend. While Rosemary doesn’t want to leave Hope Valley, Fiona jumps at the chance. The town sees her off, and we learn she’s called off the engagement. Elizabeth replies to her letters on the radio, sharing other ideas on the waves.
When Calls the Heart Season 12 is airing weekly on the Hallmark channel. Catch up with its episode release schedule and how to watch outside of the US.
English (US) ·