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Episode seven focuses on Lacey’s ex-boyfriend coming to Dog River to see her and the attempts by the community to protect Lacey. Rumor gets around that her ex is a fugitive and that sparks everyone’s attention, especially the local law enforcement, who then try to arrest him on many occasions. In the end it turns out the reason he has come to see Lacey was to tell her that he was engaged to be married and wanted to make sure Lacey was alright with that. A side plot in the film was that Oscar would not go in to see the doctor despite everyone’s encouragement to do so. In the end, he had to be handcuffed and taken in a squad car.
Episode eight focuses on Brent’s cousin Carl returning to Dog River on his way out to Vancouver. Carl has become a very successful businessman in Europe and this leads to hostilities between Brent and Carl. The two make amends at the 17th annual Dog River Talent Show where they perform an act they had started as children. However, by the end of the show Hank wins with his magic tricks, leaving Carl frustrated and storms out of Dog River calling it a “hick town.”
These episodes portray the Plains very well I think. The talent show in episode eight shows an event that the whole community participates in, showing their closeness. Also, there is a line in the film where Brent is telling Carl how everything has changed since he left town, and Carl replies “This is Dog River, nothing ever changes here. Even the peanuts in the vending machines have been around for ages.” I think this line is very indicative of the resistance of change that occurs on the Plains.