Grosse Pointe Garden Society Episode 12 Recap: The Fallow Period

In the previous episode of ‘Gross Pointe Garden Society,’ we finally learned that Keith, Alice’s father-in-law, was the murder victim buried in the Grosse Pointe Garden Club at the start of the show. As such, episode 12, titled ‘The Fallow Period,’ finally connects the dots behind a number of disparate future timelines that are interspersed throughout the show. Things start to take shape in a more concrete manner as we learn the whole truth behind Keith’s murder and how our main characters decide to deal with the situation. With so much at stake from a personal angle, the episode provides the necessary context behind why the cover-up is their only way to deal with the situation. However, it also leads to a tricky turn near the end as the drama ramps up, heading into the final episode. SPOILERS AHEAD.

The Group Try to Find Ways to Hide Their Wrongdoing

Moments after Keith’s tragic accident, the group tries to come to their senses as they realize he is potentially fatally wounded. However, the concerns turn out to be moot because Keith is pronounced dead after a simple pulse check. Brett points out that if they report Keith’s death, the four of them might be implicated in a manslaughter charge. While Catherine and Alice are reluctant to simply give up on Keith, they realize that the text messages the latter sent to Patty could be misconstrued as a murder confession. It becomes evident that they must try to save their skins now. First, Brett and Alice must make sure Patty does not read the text messages the latter sent on her phone. In the meantime, Catherine and Birdie take the responsibility for driving Keith’s body and his car to a secluded spot.

Outside the Mack Avenue Garden Center, Kenny, the PI hired by Connor, keeps a watch over the building. While he is busy trying to get in touch with a loved one who is ignoring his calls and messages, he turns his attention to the garden center as the lights go out, indicating that the four inhabitants are on the move. Meanwhile, Ford is out on a fishing expedition with a friend to procure some beer and drugs for a house party he wants to attend. While scouring some potential spots, he runs into Birdie at the gas station, linking to a scene from earlier where we saw Catherine entering the convenience store to sell her wedding ring. Birdie has no choice but to offer Ford and his friend a ride in the car because they are both in an inebriated state and not fit to be left by themselves.

Alice Makes a Startling Admission to Patty in a Difficult Situation

Alice and Brett arrive at Patty’s home, where they manage to find her phone in the kitchen. However, before they can break into the device, Patty comes downstairs. Brett hides himself while Alice engages Patty in a conversation about her behavior earlier in the night. She apologizes for her actions and sowing division in her relationship with Doug. During the exchange, she also admits that she has feelings for Brett. However, it might be part of her ploy to distract Patty from finding him in the kitchen. When she heads out of the room, she deletes the messages on Patty’s phone while Brett makes a swift escape. After taking care of her business in the store, Catherine heads out and tells Birdie that they need to leave. However, Birdie tells her that they need to make a detour for Ford, revealing the truth behind their connection.

While roaming around the police precinct, Joel and Deputy Lange run into Donna, who is there to report the altercation she saw between Brett and Doug during the gala. Lange takes point on the case. Elsewhere, Catherine and Birdie drive Ford and his friend to the party. However, on the way there, Patty calls Keith, which shows up on the car dashboard. Ford realizes that his biological mother and her friend have stolen the car. Matters get further complicated when his friend vomits all over the backseat. Meanwhile, Kenny decides to follow up on her estranged loved one, who turns out to be his daughter, Lexi. She is seemingly out on a date with another man outside a bar, which enrages Kenny. He confronts her only to learn that she is talking with her boss. Kenny pleads with her to bring him back into her life, promising to pay her tuition fees somehow if she does.

Alice and Brett Find Themselves at a Crossroads Yet Again

After dropping Ford at the party, Birdie learns from him that things are not great at home. Apparently, Misty has been fighting with him constantly because he expressed a desire to spend more time with Birdie. She is moved by his admission and states that she is willing to take him up on the offer. Catherine offers more words of encouragement in the car. In the meantime, Alice and Brett wait in their car for Birdie and Catherine to show up. Due to their delay, they grow increasingly concerned that police may have intercepted them. When a cop car stops by, Alice decides to kiss Brett, using a lover’s guise to distract any investigation. It primarily works but leaves things in an awkward place for both. Moments later, Catherine and Birdie show up with the car and the body.

The four do the dirty work of digging a grave for Keith and burying him within, which serves as a full circle moment for the story as this is also the show’s opening. Subsequently, they are left with the challenge of disposing of the car and also sending a text to Patty to alleviate her concerns over Keith’s unresponsiveness. Unbeknownst to them, they are photographed mid-act by Kenny from a collection of bushes. The next morning, Catherine heads home and shares a tender moment with her daughter after the night’s madness. At the precinct, Birdie flags down Joel to deliver the news about her involvement in Keith’s death – another scene from a previous episode. Brett receives a visit from Melissa and the children at his home. While Melissa is excited about rekindling their bond, Brett is too zoned out to care, especially with the murder and his kiss with Alice.

Kenny Catches the Group Red-Handed

Alice returns home to find a handwritten note left by Doug on the kitchen countertop. The message states that he is willing to move to NYC with her and live their dreams together. However, it only leaves a bitter aftertaste in the mouth because she feels directly responsible for killing Keith. She gathers herself swiftly when a phone call arrives from Marilyn. This again connects back to a scene from earlier. Back at the police station, Birdie and Joel discuss her involvement in Keith’s murder. The former hopes that the police sheriff will keep the incident a secret while helping clear the evidence at the garden center. Sadly for Birdie, he is still hung up on how she broke up with him. Seeing no way out, she reveals that their baby will grow up in prison if he reports her.

After clearing away all the garden tools from the shed, Joel and Birdie reconcile and rekindle their passionate love affair. Elsewhere, Melissa meets up with Kenny to find out what he discovered about Brett. She is particularly curious because of how different Brett was acting when she visited him earlier. However, her curiosity remains unsated when Kenny states there is nothing of importance concerning Brett. Clearly, the man is keeping his cards close to his chest. Joel sends a few text messages to Patty through Keith’s phone, keeping up the ruse that the man is still alive to avoid police interference. In the meantime, Kenny stands on the gravesite where Keith’s body was buried as he calls an unknown person on his phone, likely Lexi, to inform her that he has found a way to pay for her tuition.