Episode 73
Episode 73: Early December, 1876
Scenes 2 and 4 written by Heather
Scene 1: Tess and Nick’s house, morning. Tess sits in a chair by the fire, the baby at her breast. Nick has just joined her, but he remains standing at the door as he gazes at the two of them.
Nick: It takes my breath away every time I see the two of you together.
Tess: He's amazing, isn't he?
Nick: Don't take all the credit from yourself, my dear. You're radiant.
Tess: Smiles. You want something.
Nick: Oh, ye of little faith. Andrew doesn't balk when I pay him compliments.
Tess: Andrew is preoccupied.
Nick: Mumbles. As I would be. Speaks up. Christopher and Lydia are here.
Tess: Send them up.
Nick: Christopher, too?
Tess: Yes.
Nick leaves and returns a short time later, Lydia and Christopher following behind him. Lydia carries baby Livie, nearly seven months old.
Christopher: Behold, the mother of my second namesake and the young man himself.
Tess: Laughs. Don't let it go to your head, Christopher. His first name is Andrew, for my father.
Christopher: Yes, but now I have two nephews named for me and Nick hasn't a one.
Nick: You'll have a boy next, won't you, Lydie?
Lydia: I'll try.
Christopher: What's the last you heard of Rilla?
Nick: Must we talk of her?
Christopher: It will be over soon. Dad was up to see us this morning. The sheriff is coming today to take her to Boise. She'll face trial in a week.
Nick: Good.
Tess: But those poor girls.
Christopher: Apparently they both know the truth, or most of it. They had to be told, since they'd hear it at school anyway.
Lydia: What a horrid thing to learn about your mother, especially at such a young age.
Nick: I hope they hang her.
Tess: Nick! What a terrible thing to say!
Nick: She killed her own son, Tess, and she would have done the same to you and Andrew. And for her girls... it's better she be separated from the permantly, rather than have them be obligated to send her letters and visit when they're older. They don't need that influence.
Scene 2: Taylor Estate, night. Emily and Thomas sit in the upstairs hallway, staring nervously at the closed door before them. Thomas has his arm around his wife as she quitely sobs, occasionally blotting at her eyes with a handkerchief.
The door opens, and Dr. Ashton, an older man with greying hair, emerges, leaving the door open behind him. Emily jumps up as he slowly approaches them.
Emily: How is she?
Dr. Ashton: She’s still very weak. It’s hard to say how long she will be unconscious.
Emily: But will she be alright?
Dr. Ashton opens his mouth to speak, but is interrupted by a faint moaning coming from the room behind him. Emily perks up at the sound, and the three of them all go in the room. The doctor places his palm upon Madison’s head, and she starts, he eyes flying open. She looks from face to face, then relaxes, her eyelids drooping.
Madison: She speaks weakly. Why am I here?
Emily: Angrily. Madison, what were you thinking? You could have killed yourself!
Madison: That was the point, Emily.
Emily: But why? I don’t understand...
Dr. Ashton: Perhaps we should all leave and let Madison rest.
Thomas leads Emily out of the room gently, but firmly. The doctor follows them, turning back to smile at Madison before shutting the door. Madison watches the door close before passing out again.
Scene 3: New York, a short time later. Roberta Carlson stops a maid just before she enters Mr. Carlson's room.
Mrs. Carlson: I'll take that into him, Ann Marie.
The maid nods, hands over the tray, curtsies, and leaves. Mrs. Carlson enters her husband's room. Peter Carlson lies in bed appearing quite weak.
Carlson: Oh, Roberta. I expected Ann Marie.
Mrs. Carlson: I wanted to speak with you privately.
Carlson: I told you I didn't want to deal with any business while I'm still ill, Roberta.
Mrs. Carlson: It isn't business, Peter. It's a personal letter.
Carlson: Snaps. Well, I'll bloody well not be accepting any invitations.
Mrs. Carlson: Not an invitation either. Here, take your dinner. She waits for him to sit up before placing the tray on his lap, then pulls the letter from her pocket. Shall I read some for you? She only briefly pauses. Carlson, I am finished with this. I don’t know what has taken me so long. I am not Belle, I never was. Our encounters sickened me, and don’t for a second think they were consentual on my part. She looks up from the paper. Peter is ashen. You can imagine how it goes on.
Carlson: You don't believe that drivel, do you? She's a silly girl who became fixated on me once. She's trying to force me to leave you.
Mrs. Carlson: I'm not stupid, Peter. I know you visit the brothels. I will save this poor woman the trouble of exposing you and herself. If you discontinue all contact with her and her family, I won't leave, I won't take your daughters, and I won't have my father recall the mortgage on every building you own or pull any investment he has in your businesses.
Carlson: Are you threatening me?
Mrs. Carlson: No, Peter, I'm blackmailing you. How does it feel?
They stare at each other for a moment before she leaves the room.
Scene 4: Taylor Estate, morning. Emily sits on the edge of Madison’s bed as Madison pets her cat. She has recovered, but has not completely regained her strength.
Emily: Maddie... She receives no response. Madison, look at me. Why did you do it? Why did you try to... to... I can't even say.
Madison: Smiles down at the cat. I didn't realize how much I missed her until I came back.
Emily throws up her arms in frustration. The door opens, and the two women look up to see Dr. Ashton enter. He looks somberly at Madison before siletly closing the door behind him.
Madison: She smiles. Good morning, Doctor! Is there something troubling you?
Dr. Ashton: Madison, I am afraid that I am the bearer of some bad news.
Madison: What is it? Did the alcohol do something to me? Am I going to be a cripple?
Dr. Ashton: No, it’s—
Madison: She gasps loudly, cutting him off. Oh, dear God... It’s Cole! Something has happened to him!
Dr. Ashton: No, Madison. Cole is fine. He waits for her to relax before he continues. What I have to tell you has to do with your condition, but not directly with you.
Madison: What do you mean?
Dr. Ashton: Well... He sits on the edge of the bed closest to the door opposite Emily. What you did last night could have killed you. You were aware of that when you did it. But... by some miraculous chance you survived. I only wish I could say the same for you child.
Madison: Surprised. My child?
Dr. Ashton: Yes, Madison. I can tell from your reaction that you did not know this before. He pauses a long time, searching for the easiest way to tell her what he must say. You are three or four months pregnant, Madison, and I am afraid that because of what you did last night, your child may not survive. He stands. Now, if you take it easy for a while... there is a good change that your baby may recover along with you. But I cannot promise you any more miracles.
The doctor leaves, and Madison and Emily sit together, both stunned by his revelation.
Madison: It’s Robert’s child... She closes her eyes tightly, forcing back tears. Oh, Emily... What have I done?
Emily: You didn’t know, Maddie. Don’t blame yourself.
Madison: If I lose this baby, it’s all my fault.
Scene 5: A field near Belleterre, that afternoon. Jack and Carey ride in a sleigh across the snow-covered ground, a picnic basket at their feet.
Jack: Are you sure you want to have a picnic outside? It is quite cold.
Carey: I'm quite suited to this weather, I think. I like it.
Jack: And the sun is shining, which is nice. How about there, by that stand of trees?
Carey: Perfect, and do let's put the buggy top down.
Jack stops the sleigh and together they unhook the buggy cover before spreading the food out on the seat between them.
Jack: So what is it like being a real English gentlewoman?
Carey: Speaks with mock seriousness. Well, if you want to be precise you must call me a lady, as my father is a peer. A mere gentlewoman would be the wife or daughter of one of the gentry.
Jack: Laughs. I see.
Carey: It's all dreadfully important in England.
Jack: I gather it is not for you?
Carey: Pointless drivel, all of it. I spent my first few Seasons pursued by insipid fellows who either wanted my dowry or my social status. It's part of the reason I came here.
Jack: I suppose you left at least one broken heart when you left.
Carey: Why do you say that?
Jack: When we were at the Lucas's, you asked me if I would follow a girl if she left. I assumed you were speaking of someone specific.
Carey: Ah, Scotty. It was nothing. We've been friends our whole lives. I suppose when two people of the opposite sex know each other that well they can't help but wonder what a closer relationship would be. He kissed me on the ship just before I left. He would have followed me by now if he were interested in me that way.
Jack: I see your point of view.
Carey: What about you? Who scorned you?
Jack: What?
Carey: At the Lucas's, your answer to my question had some bitterness in it. I assumed you'd been scorned.
Jack: Sighs. She was my fiancée, but she only accepted my proposal to make another man jealous. I had told my entire family before she told me the truth, just before she left to go after him.
Carey: Well, that certainly explains your answer. We're a well-suited pair, aren't we?
Jack: Seems that way.
Cut to: The end of lunch. Carey and Jack have just finished packing the things in the basket and Jack is urging the horse back to Belleterre.
Carey: I had a lovely time.
Jack: As did I. We should do it again. Have you ever been snowshoeing?
Carey: I haven't had the courage to try it.
Jack: Do you think you could summon the courage within a few days? We could walk up to those hot springs and rest in the cabin.
Carey: It's a plan.
Jack turns to look at her and smiles. They gaze into each other's eyes for a few moments and Carey closes hers as Jack begins to move closer, but he sits back again.
Jack: Not yet... not yet.
Robert shows up to see Madison Scotty finally arrives, but is it too late for him
and Carey? Rilla's trial yields shocking results
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