Dumplin

Willowdean is watching television on a Friday night when her mother sits down next to her and mutes the TV, telling Will that she wants to talk. Without Lucy’s disability checks or insurance, there’s no money to get Willowdean’s car fixed.

In the bathroom at the Sadie Hawkins dance, Callie tells Willowdean that asking Ellen to not participate in the pageant was a lousy thing to do. Willowdean tells Callie to mind her own business, and Callie tells Will that Ellen is better off without Willowdean as a friend. Callie also tells Will that if she tried harder to take care of herself, it would make a difference.

Willowdean rejoins Mitch at the dance, and they dance with Millie and Malik, who came to the dance with a dateless Amanda. Will slow dances with Mitch until they are approached by Patrick Thomas, who comments about Will and her friends’ participation in the Miss Teen Blue Bonnet Pageant: “You better make sure they know it’s a beauty contest and not a livestock show” (202). Will reminds Mitch that his friend is a jerk, and Mitch agrees. Will then catches Bo’s eye. Bo is slow dancing with Bekah across the gym auditorium.