| A Picture Worth A Thousand Words | |
 | |
| Episode No. | Season: 9
Overall: 317 |
| Air date | September 5, 2024 |
| Previous | "Once A Traitor, Always A Traitor" |
| Next | "Catwalks and Catfights" |
| Credits • Gallery • Transcript | |
A Picture Worth A Thousand Words is the ninth episode in the eighteenth season and the three-hundredth-and-seventeenth episode ever produced of The Real Housewives of Orange County. It premiered on September 5, 2024, to an audience of TBC million live viewers.
Synopsis[]
On Bravotv.com: "The ladies head to wine country for Heather’s fundraising event with Family Equality. Jenn has a court date to determine her financial future. The group navigates supporting Shannon and Alexis during a lawsuit deadline. Shannon finds out about the video from the night of her DUI and confesses shocking details about her accident."[1]
Summary[]
The Dubrows gather in their house in Beverly Hills. Heather likes living in Los Angeles for the inclusivity and opportunities for her children, her kids affirm it.
The ladies get ready for Heather's charity event with Family Equality, they are hosting a fashion show where the ladies will participate in in Sonoma. The vision of Family Equality aligns with Heather's as Heather's children range across the sexuality spectrum. Jenn calls Katie and informs her that she will be arriving separately, as Jenn is attending court for temporary child support and alimony, which has taken 4 years to process. Jenn breaks down due to the uncertainty and being overwhelmed. Katie relates from her own experience and consoles Jenn.
The ladies fly to Sonoma via Heather's private jet. Heather assigns sitting to prevent conflict between Shannon and Alexis, and herself and Katie. However, she does assign Katie next to Gina, who have tension. Shannon showed the ladies a photo of Alexis and John Janssen at the Oscar Party, she points out that John is wearing the Ferragamo shoes she bought him. Emily playfully brings it up, leading to Alexis's anger which she expressed later in the car with Gina and Katie post landing. Gina tells Alexis the Ring footage of Shannon on the night of her DUI cannot be released in fear of the repercussions it can have on Shannon and her family.
The ladies settle in at Dawn Ranch before heading to lunch in two groups. Katie, Shannon, Gina, and Emily have lunch, Heather arrives to inform them the schedule before joining Tamra and Alexis. Shannon and the ladies talk about Alexis and John attending the Oscar Party, their first public appearance together. Shannon clarifies John sold his company, but he only had a small dividend. The deadline for the John's lawsuit is today, Shannon prepares to offer him about half (of $75,000), and "not a penny more". The ladies sympathize with Shannon, Shannon feels she's being extorted.
Tamra and Alexis discuss her and John's red carpet "debut". Alexis thanks Heather for not excluding her. Alexis thinks she and Shannon need to speak their mind regarding the issue. They go to Equality Wine after lunch, Jaymes Black, Family Equality shares the good news of their successful suit against the State of Florida's "Don't Say Gay" policy. Equality Wine has a collaboration with Family Equality and Heather, creating 4 sparkling wines each based on Heather's kids. The ladies taste the wine while Jenn joins them. Jenn shares the bad news of only getting $6,000/month for herself and the 5 kids. Tamra shares Alexis and John's debut, and a photo of Shannon drinking at a bar by herself circulating online. Shannon clarifies that it was a virgin cocktail, which the ladies express doubt. Heather tells the ladies she invited Katie "in the spirit of inclusion", and fails to see the gravity of the words. Tamra encourages Heather to get to know Katie and thinks Gina is behind the paparrazzi situation. The ladies don't want Alexis to confront Shannon. Alexis wants John to settle but John refuses, Alexis thinks Shannon destroyed John's reputation.
Katie, Shannon, Gina, and Emily enjoy spa. Gina tells the ladies they got a new dog, Clover. Katie thinks Clover is Gina's way of coping with her relationship situation with Travis. Gina confides with the ladies about Travis, they spend more time at Travis' as Travis views Gina's ongoing renovation as a clean slate without him. Gina worries about her daughter Sienna, who does not do well in transitions. Shannon receives a call from her lawyer and steps out. Gina states she likes her current situation living separately from Travis. Shannon returns and reveals John rejected the offer, and they will proceed to court. Shannon breaks down and the ladies console her. Gina is confused by the vindictiveness of John as he portrays he and Alexis' relationship to be happy. The ladies encourage Shannon to give John the amount demanded and put it behind her due to her current mental state. They voice disbelief of Shannon needing to sit in a dinner table with Alexis later on. Gina accidentally brings up the Ring footage, the ladies tell Shannon. Shannon is infuriated and overwhelmed, as expected, and breaks down even more. Shannon calls her lawyer to relay the new information.
Emily and Katie leaves for treatment. Shannon returns and reveals she is going to pay John's demand in full. Gina consoles Shannon, and feels guilty for slipping out the Ring footage. Shannon returns to her room to rest. Emily and Katie discuss what just occurred, Emily clarifies she knows Alexis for years but they are not within each other's close knit circle of friends. Katie wonders if Emily can talk to Alexis for Shannon's sake.
Shannon showing Heather the picture she sent John on the night of her DUI
Shannon visits Heather's cabin to ask to be excused from dinner and relays what happened earlier. Heather consoles Shannon. Shannon reiterates that she did pay for John for the first few years of their relationship. Shannon recalls the night of the DUI, and a friend told Shannon that it is strange that John did not investigate once he had heard the crash. Shannon looked back on her and John's texts and discovered she had sent him a picture of herself post car accident, which John ignored until the police brought Archie to him later on.
Starring[]
Main Housewives[]
- Tamra Judge
- Heather Dubrow
- Shannon Beador
- Emily Simpson
- Gina Kirschenheiter
- Jennifer Pedranti
- Katie Ginella
Husbands[]
- Ryan Boyajian
- Shane Simpson
- Terry Dubrow
Friends[]
Family[]
- Sophia Barney
- Nicky Dubrow
- Ace Dubrow
- Kat Dubrow
Quotes[]
- Emily: "I'm wearing like three different outfits, I hope they will fit." Shane: "Because you had Taco Bell last night?"
- Katie: "I just looked at one of his (ex-husband) photos today, and his hairline didn't even like him. It's chasing away too."
- Alexis: "Did you bring mace or anything just in case we really do see a...." Katie: "No I was not prepared with bear spray, I have hair spray." Alexis: "Bring that."
- Katie: "Gina getting a puppy is like a bandaid on a situation, and I totally get it. I had a third child with my ex-husband trying to put a bandaid on a situation."