Practical Magic

Gideon learns that his mother is getting remarried. To escape his home, he goes to see Kylie and challenges her to a game of chess. They bet $10 on the winner, but really it’s a test to see if their friendship is still alive. Kylie wins, and they go for a walk. Gideon tells her about his new family and says he’ll have to move to a new school, but Kylie doesn’t think it will impact their friendship. The next day, the Owenses are planning to visit the aunts, but Gillian refuses to go. Although Kylie knows every step of their journey, she has the distinct feeling it will never happen. She begins to feel as though she’s hitting a crossroads in her own journey and is approaching adulthood.

Meanwhile, Gary Hallet has arrived in town from Arizona, a place where there is more lightning than anywhere else in the world. He knows two people who were struck by lightning and lived. One was his grandfather. Previously, Gary’s grandfather had been an alcoholic, but after the lightning strike he remained sober for life. He became Gary’s legal guardian after his parents’ deaths. Gary is working as an investigator and looking into the deaths of the teenagers who bought drugs from Jimmy. He enjoys his work because it feels like solving puzzles. He knew Jimmy in high school, although Jimmy was older than him and always in trouble. While searching for information about Jimmy’s whereabouts, Gary intercepts Sally’s last letter to Gillian. He reads it and falls in love with Sally’s words, feeling that she knows him intimately. He goes to Sally’s house, claiming to be looking for Gillian to see if she can lead him to Jimmy. Sally meets him at the door and can immediately see that he’s attracted to her; Gary is awestruck. Gathering himself, he confronts Sally about her letter and asks to see Gillian. He tells her that he’s after a murder suspect and that the suspect’s car is in front of the house. Sally invites him in for coffee, and Gary begins crying because the coffee reminds him of his grandfather. Sally feels an oncoming panic attack and goes to get Gillian. They discuss what to do, and Sally confesses she can’t lie to Gary. They go downstairs and Gillian explains that she stole Jimmy’s car when she left him. Gary shows them Jimmy’s arrest record and tells them about the dead teenagers. While Gillian tries to deflect, Sally interjects by saying Jimmy won’t hurt anyone again. Gary leaves the address of where he’s staying and starts to go when he notices Jimmy’s ring on the counter. He takes the ring with him and leaves.

Gillian celebrates their victory, but Sally is sick with guilt. She decides to follow Gary and tell him the truth. Gillian is forced to stay behind and take care of Kylie and Antonia. Ben, Gideon, and Scott join them for dinner. Later, when Gillian looks out the window, she sees the lilac hedge growing tall again and covered with thorns. Kylie joins her and realizes they’re not going to the aunts’ after all. It starts to rain, and Jimmy’s boots start rising to the surface. Elsewhere, Sally drives to Gary’s motel. She waits in the lobby for him to return and thinks about her childhood with Gillian. When Gary arrives, Sally tells him to stop looking for Jimmy. They both realize they’re in love and start kissing, but Sally retreats and goes home. When she arrives, Gillian tells her that Jimmy’s body is rising in the ground. They agree to call the aunts for help.

The aunts arrive at Sally’s house, looking old-fashioned and out of place. Gillian is nervous about seeing them again. Outside, the aunts reminisce. They remember when Sally’s and Gillian’s unexpected arrival displaced their orderly lives. When Gillian was young, she was badly bullied but was too embarrassed to tell Sally about it. The aunts deduced what was wrong and appeared at a class party. Afterward, the children who bullied her became very ill. Now, the aunts give her a hug—an uncharacteristic gesture on their part—and all is forgiven. Gillian tells the aunts about Jimmy. Sally considers sending her daughters away but decides they’re already grown up. The aunts reassure Gillian that the belladonna dosage she gave Jimmy was correct, and she wasn’t responsible for his death. Together the family brews a large batch of the aunts’ slug killer, which will get rid of all garden pests and stubborn weeds. While they wait for it to be ready, they order pizza. Ben arrives, and Gillian introduces him to the aunts. He impresses them with his magic and his kindness. After he leaves, the family carries the brew into the garden and pours it over the lilacs. The noxious mixture destroys everything it touches. The ground crumbles beneath Kylie’s feet, and she begins to fall in, but Antonia pulls her back just in time. Afterward, they use stones the aunts brought to cover the area with a new patio, making sure nothing ever rises again. A storm comes, and lightning strikes all over New York. Sally and Gillian watch the rain and feel grateful for everything they have learned.

A few months later, Sally holds a Thanksgiving dinner at the aunts’ house. Gillian, Ben, and Scott all come to visit. Recently, they had received word that Gary had identified Jimmy’s body in Arizona with the ring he wore; they realize he had created a false report to protect Sally. Unknown to Sally, Gillian had written to him and asked him to come. Gillian marries Ben, having finally gotten things right. Gary arrives at the house, and Sally runs to him.