I'll Fly Away

Lawyer Forrest Bedford struggles to raise a family amid the civil-rights strife of the 1958 South, aided by Lily, a lack housekeeper who comes to work in the opener to find Forrest prosecuting a young white for a bus accident that killed three black; and little John Morgan missing his hospitalized mama.

With Forrest away on a weekend hunting trip, womanhood takes aim at Francie, who feels utterly alone; while worries about the fate of an errant arrow dog, John Morgan.

John Morgan is upset when he doesnt get to go to Lillys birthday party; the wrestlers arent celebrating Zollicofers decision to let a black join the team; Forrest realizes running for office isnt going to be a piece of cake.

Slocum wrestles with his conscience—-and with-–Evans as Zollicfer applies pressure over the brick-throwing incident; Lilly balks when Lewis, wanting to relive his time in the Negro Leagues, takes his eyes off the ball at home.

A game of checkers turns deadly serious for Nathan and Slocum; Lilly helps Francie, whos afraid shell lay an egg singing in the church benefit.

John Morgan makes up a tall tale about his absent mother joining the rodeo; as the trial approaches, Forrest lassos a witness and then tightens the rope; Slocums father brands his son a loser and kicks him out of the house.

As Election Day nears, John Morgan plans a post-victory show, but Forrest isnt sure he can pull a win out of his hat in his race for attorney general. Hes facing a blackmail threat from a drunken Tyler. Meanwhile, Lillys determination to vote remains unabated, even after her faith is tested by the opposition of her minister. But discrimination at the polling place makes that step forward seems more like an illusion.

An impromptu lunch-counter protest leads to a more serious demonstration; Lilly has to chew out John Morgan and an unruly friend; Nathan, stunned by a revelation about his girlfriend, wishes he could eat his words after Slocum repeals them to her.

Dianes father tries to put a damper on her and Nathans passions; racial tensions heat up with the department-store boycott, leaving Lillys cousin Oscar out in the cold.

Lilly finds herself in time with a visiting sax player; a frustrated Forrest wants someone to face the music about his incompetent opposing counsel in a murder trial; Slocum is jazzed to find Zollicofer in town, trying to get his job back.

Lilly feels no pain when shes with Clarence, but Lewis isnt as intoxicated by his presence; Christina faces her own demons helping alcoholic tucker dry out; Nathan keeps his anger bottled up after catching Forrest in a compromising position.

In the second-season opener, Nathan reacts to Forrests infidelity by deciding to confront Christina; Lilly struggles to give an answer to Clarence, whos new York bound; and Forrest opts to take the job as U.S. attorney, even though it means an FBI investigation of his life.

On his first day at work as a U.S. attorney Forrest must break some bad news to his children about Gwen; the two suspects accused of killing Col. Landers are released—to no ones surprise; Slocum finds out that Parkie might be pregnant.

Civil-rights leaders converge in the ""trial"" of the two men accused of killing Col. Landers, including Rev. Henry, who persuades Forrest to get involved. Meanwhile, Slocum and Parkie make some decisions about their unborn child; and Francie has trouble with her home-ec class.

Slocum decides to marry Parkie, but not before he and Nathan make a trip to a brothel; Lilly asks Forrest for a raise and is unglued by his response; Forrest persuades a young man to infiltrate the Ku Klux Klan.

Frankie gets deeper into the KKK and finds out that there was a third man involved in the killing of Col. Landers; Slocums trial commences; and Lillys ex-husband comes to town, bringing with him his new fiancée.

Lilly finds the holidays difficult to bear after she is brutally beaten by a freedom-bus protester; the Bedfords attend a Christmas party at Christinas house; and Slocum finds some Yuletide cheer in an unlikely place—Zollicofers circle of friends.

Nathan is falsely arrested for narcotics possession; the Landers trial concludes with a shower of publicity, but its not exactly what Forrest would have liked; and John Morgan becomes jealous of Lilly and Joes relationship.

Lilly tries to study for her high-school final exams despite continual interruptions; Forrest confides to Christina that hes being matched and then goes to Washington to see if he can do something about it; and a group of students stages a sit-in.