The Language of Flowers

In the past, after two months of probation, Meredith sets a new court date for Victoria’s adoption hearing. Elizabeth has apologized many times for ruining the first hearing, but Victoria believes that she no longer wants to be her mother. She overhears Elizabeth leaving another voicemail for Catherine and has an outburst, believing Catherine is the reason why Elizabeth did not take her to court. Elizabeth tries to soothe her, but Grant arrives unexpectedly. He tells Elizabeth to stop calling, as Catherine is no longer the woman whom she knew, and that he has been lining up jars of lighter fluid to burn down the vineyard. He leaves the two alone with their shock.

In the present, Victoria goes to Bloom, where Renata is shocked and hurt by her not informing Grant and rejecting Mother Ruby’s help. Victoria asks to continue her job without Grant knowing; Renata rejects this idea because she is a bad liar. Renata gives Victoria an envelope and her final paycheck; the envelope contains an invitation to Bethany’s wedding as well as a request that Victoria arrange the flowers. Victoria and Renata arrange a meeting, and the former sets up a small business area in the building downstairs. Victoria meets Bethany and Ray and lets them use her dictionary to pick out their arrangements. The couple designs their wedding around the flowers.

Victoria designs business cards (for her new florist business Message), then hires Marlena, a girl from the Gathering House (her halfway house), to go to the flower market. The day of Bethany’s wedding, Marlena helps prepare flowers while Victoria arranges them. Victoria pays Marlena and tells her to call every Monday in case she needs help with future arrangements. Victoria distributes irises with business cards at Bethany’s wedding, and her business grows as a result; she also makes additional copies of her dictionary for customer use. In late February, Victoria goes into labor alone in her room. The pain of childbirth gives Victoria a moment of empathy for her own mother, but then she thinks of Elizabeth.

In the past, Victoria and Elizabeth taste grapes which, after a heat spike, are no longer predictable in their ripening. Victoria finds the first of the season’s ripe grapes and calls to Elizabeth. Elizabeth tells Victoria that they have to help take care of Catherine because she has fallen ill. Victoria refuses to move into Catherine’s house, still believing she ruined her life.

In the present, an overwhelmed Victoria calls Renata, who calls Mother Ruby. Mother Ruby arrives and helps Victoria deliver the baby.

Victoria is awed at how perfect her baby is, and Mother Ruby reassures her of a job well done. Mother Ruby comes by the next day and teaches Victoria about childcare. Renata comes by with a featherbed and a basket for the baby, as well as food. Renata takes over Victoria’s last floral event for a month and has Marlena watch the baby while Victoria sleeps. However, a week passes and Mother Ruby stops visiting because of how well Victoria is doing; Victoria panics.

In the past, Victoria regrets her outburst and feels that Elizabeth has chosen Catherine over her. She develops a plan to turn Elizabeth against Catherine and waits until Grant’s truck drives by, leaving his home unattended.

In the present, Victoria struggles to balance motherhood and self-care without the help of Mother Ruby, Renata, and Marlena. The baby is ravenous, leaving Victoria’s nipples bleeding from breastfeeding. Victoria begins to hallucinate from hunger after spending nearly a week alone; she sets the baby down to make herself food. She leaves the apartment to get a bottle and some formula, hoping to satiate the baby and give her body reprieve. She takes her time walking to and from the store, getting food for herself. Having eaten, Victoria feels more like herself and returns to her baby.

In the past, Victoria returns to Elizabeth’s house late at night with a heavy bag.

Mother Ruby comes to check on Victoria and the baby. Victoria is ashamed for having left the baby the day before, and her guilt causes her to refuse Mother Ruby’s help. Victoria grapples with depression, feeling better when the baby sleeps but crying when she wakes. The baby’s insistent feeding becomes overwhelming again, and Victoria tries to feed her with formula. The baby rejects it and Victoria flees the apartment, going to the park and promising herself just five minutes of reprieve. She falls asleep in her old garden.

In the past, Victoria climbs into bed as Elizabeth tries to talk to her. Victoria asks what Catherine did and learns that she had an affair with Elizabeth’s lover and became pregnant with Grant. Elizabeth leaves, taking Victoria to be asleep, and the latter sneaks outside. She retrieves her bag, which is filled with jars of lighter fluid stolen from Catherine’s house. She makes a trail of fluid and lights a match. The fire moves faster than she anticipated as she runs to the house to get water, her plan having been to put the fire out before it did permanent damage. Victoria screams for Elizabeth, and the two watch as the fire spreads across the vineyard.

In the present, Victoria wakes the next morning. She reflects on her life and all the choices that she wishes she had made. She also thinks about how she has failed her daughter.

In the past, Elizabeth runs to call the fire department while Victoria tries to carry water out to the fire. When this fails, she tries to slap the fire out with her nightgown, and Elizabeth runs to her. The two fight as Elizabeth tries to pull Victoria back to the house. Victoria’s arm is dislocated in the scuffle, and Elizabeth hits and kicks her as she tries to drag her into the house.

In the present, Victoria returns to find her baby awake but silent. Victoria teaches the baby to drink from a bottle and decides to take her to Grant “before my toxicity would taint her perfection” (254). The next morning, she drives the baby out to the redwoods and collects moss, draping it over her basket. She drives to Grant’s apartment, where she deposits the baby after the two briefly cuddle. She drives away before Grant returns, going to her apartment where she finds Natalya preparing to leave for another tour. Natalya expresses concern for Victoria, but the latter locks herself away. She experiences an extreme fever and starts to fall unconscious, thinking she is dying. The last thing she hears are footsteps.

In the past, Victoria wakes in an ambulance, where she hears Elizabeth and the paramedic talking about having to report the fire to the state. At the hospital, Elizabeth is forced to wait in the lobby while Meredith and a nurse examine Victoria. Victoria realizes that by living with Elizabeth, she would continue to cause suffering, and is filled with guilt for starting the fire. When Meredith asks if Victoria was beaten, she says “yes.” Victoria falls asleep and dreams of fire.

In the present, Victoria recovers from mastitis, a breast infection that became so extreme that the doctors have never seen anything like it. When they question the whereabouts of her child, she breaks out of the hospital. She has the apartment’s locks changed and ignores Renata and Mother Ruby. When Marlena returns, Victoria confesses the truth about her baby, then asks that they never speak of her again. The next day, Renata arrives and starts to tell Victoria about seeing Grant and the baby. Victoria begs her to stop; Marlena arrives with a delivery of flowers to be arranged, and Renata leaves.