As Rosemary and Elizabeth walk from the daycare, they discuss how Elizabeth will be on “The Daily Dialogue” radio show to talk about her new curriculum with Ilene Bennett from the Department of Education. They see Ava and Elizabeth asks Rosemary how the play is coming along – Rosemary admits that she hasn’t asked Ava to be involved yet. When they approach Ava, Rosemary asks her if she’d like to come on board as assistant stage manager, helping Elizabeth with organizing schedules, tech, and wrangling talent; Ava accepts.
At the saloon on “The Daily Dialogue,” Elizabeth reads off of a card about her project-based curriculum plan. Rosemary asks for Superintendent Bennett’s opinion on Elizabeth’s new curriculum, and the Superintendent asks Elizabeth what kind of results she’s seeing in terms of measurable improvements in academic performance. Elizabeth doesn’t have test scores yet, but the students are applying their experience in the real world, like Allie’s work with the cattleman’s association. Superintendent Bennett doesn’t think that it’s practical to try to find lessons in nature, especially without measurable standardized results. She tells Elizabeth that it’s a worthy experiment for a one-room schoolhouse, but it’s naive to imagine that something so “fussy” might serve public education. The two disagree over the Department of Education’s fundamental mission and Rosemary works to carry on the conversation.
A man hits the service bell impatiently at the saloon and Hickam runs over. He tells Mike he’ll start with two nights but isn’t sure how long he’ll be staying yet. He asks for a map because he wants to do some exploring, and Mike gives him one, but directs him to Yost’s for a larger map of the territory.
At the Mountie office, Elizabeth laments to Nathan about how the curriculum discussion on the radio went and the words that Superintendent Bennett used. Nathan encourages her next time to try to be less like Mrs. Thornton, and instead channel Diane DeMarco, her undercover identity from their night out in Union City. He tells her that he’s going to make her a cheer-up dinner tonight and they share a kiss.
Fiona pitches story ideas to Rosemary at the newspaper office, as Rosemary recalls how Superintendent Bennett seemed so nice on the phone. A Mr. Rockwell, Randall Rockwell’s cousin, enters the office and reveals that he bought the radio station. He wants to discuss “The Daily Dialogue” as they’ve been receiving letters saying it’s boring. Rosemary says they can do “The Importance of Being Earnest” on the radio and Rockwell says he’d like to do it tomorrow – Rosemary and Fiona agree.
Nathan fills Bill in on Toddy’s story about the rancher from whom he bought the gold double-headed eagle pocket watches. They know that a rancher in a valley near Benson Hills sold these coins and watches before he died last year, and the loot ended up in Amsterdam. They realize that they will need to talk to the heir of rancher Ernie Martel, Edie.
Lucas introduces Allie and Oliver to the room of the cattleman’s association in efforts to propose the new plan, but one individual interrupts. Allie argues that it’s about the entire ecological system, and this man tells her that this is an issue for adults and she should leave. Allie sees his boots and realizes he was the person riding on the path that day that they were out exploring and trespassing. Lucas asks the room to take a vote, but they all abstain; Edie stands and declines the proposal on behalf of the cattleman’s association.
Lucas catches up with Edie outside after the proposal; she maintains that she was just doing her job. Edie tells Lucas that all further communication about this matter will need to go through her office.
Rosemary tells the play’s cast about moving the performance to the radio instead of the stage. Hickam has a hoarse throat and Ava suggests that Mike take a steam at the hot springs.
Oliver and Allie eat grilled cheese at the saloon bar and discuss that the cattle rancher who’s boots they saw was AJ McGinty, and he’s blocking access to the other pasture. The mysterious man from earlier at the saloon listens in to their conversation. Henry joins them at the bar and they relay what happened; Henry tells them that bullies are rarely as smart as they think they are. He tells Allie and Oliver that they need to be ready when McGinty makes a mistake and they’ll know it when they see it. The stranger from earlier eyes their map at the bar.
Faith enters the café as Fiona does dishes and asks Fiona about the radio play she’s working on with Rosemary. Fiona relays that she sold the salon and needs to get back to San Francisco and plan her wedding to Harold. Faith tells Fiona that she’s confused as she thought she didn’t love this man, but Fiona says he’s kind, and he’s a lawyer with friends in high places who can help her make a difference in the work she does. Faith tells her that as long as she is sure that this is what she wants, and Fiona says it is. Fiona asks Faith to be her maid of honor and she says yes; Fiona asks Faith not to be disappointed in her.
Edie enters the Mountie office as Constable Grant asked to see her; Nathan introduces Judge Avery. They ask her about her uncle Ernest Martel and his association to the Garrison gang, but she doesn’t think he could have been associated with them. She knows he was dead broke at the end and wanted the family to keep the farm. They tell her about the Garrison gang’s gold, and she tells them that if she finds anything they’ll be the first to know. Outside, Edie asks herself what her uncle Ernie has gotten them into now.
The mysterious man from the saloon is Woody, and he makes a phone call to a “Sonny” at the mercantile as Molly eavesdrops nearby. He tells Sonny that they’re all set with a room at the saloon and mentions about sneaking something through a balcony.
Over dinner, little Jack asks why everyone at the table is quiet and sad; Elizabeth and Allie share details about their respective tough days. Nathan tells them that they both got to stand up and make their case to someone in power, and sometimes it takes more than one try. Allie tells Elizabeth that she doesn’t know what that woman said to her on the radio, but she’s never loved school more. She feels like the whole world has opened up to her, even if not everyone is ready to see things from her perspective.
Faith and Molly call Rosemary to the doctor’s office. She sees that Hickam is sick with laryngitis, and Bill and Lee also went to the hot springs and got Mike’s cold. Rosemary says she doesn’t know what to do and needs a cup of tea.
Rosemary, Fiona and Elizabeth have tea at the café; Mei, Florence, Molly and Ava enter and Ava apologizes for sending the guys to the hot springs. Elizabeth reminds her that she said the show must go on, and Ava decides to play into it by putting on an English accent and doing lines from the play. Minnie and Rosemary join in, and Rosemary decides she can recast the roles regardless of if a man or woman plays them. Rosemary finally asks Ava if she would like to play the role of Gwendolen, and Ava effusively accepts.
While at their home, Minnie tells Joseph that she has stage fright. Joseph encourages her, reminding her that she’s good at what she takes on and to look at him during the play if she gets nervous. They head out to go to the radio show.
Florence, Minnie, Ava, Mei, Molly and Rosemary perform into the microphones at the saloon as Ned and Fiona run the control booth and sound effects. Townsfolk watch on from the saloon, and Mike, Lee and Bill listen on a radio from the back office. The crowd applauds and the performers take a bow.
Nathan brings flowers over to Elizabeth’s, along with a handful of letters that Ned gave him that came in for Elizabeth. They’re from other teachers and educators who listened to the radio show and agree with her new curriculum, with some even doing it themselves already. Nathan encourages Elizabeth to answer the letters and questions on the radio.
Edie comes to Lucas’s office and explains how McGinty has threatened all of the cattle rancher’s association if they were to vote against him. She apologizes to Lucas, and he knows that she was just protecting herself and her reputation.