Episode 13
Episode 13
Episode 13: Late-August, 1875
Scene 1: Belleterre, night. Only the Elliots have yet to go home. The Hewitts have all retired. The family is gathered in an informal sitting room.
Philip: I suppose we should be getting home now. I imagine Lydia will be sleeping till noon tomorrow.
Lydia: I'll be glad to finally get settled, but Philip, would you mind terribly if I stayed here tonight. The thought of spending another forty minutes in a carriage right now makes my head spin. I'd much rather make the trip after a good night's sleep. That is, if you wouldn't mind having me, Uncle.
John Henry: You're always welcome to stay here, but look how you've disappointed your brother. I do believe he's pouting.
Lydia: Looks at her brother, then goes to him and plops herself on his lap. Philly, I would love to go with you, but you must understand. I've been traveling for over three weeks. First it was the rocking boat, then the jiggling train, and then that bumpy stage. I haven't had a good night's sleep in a long time.
Lydia: Stands again. You're all coming tomorrow?
Philip: I suppose we are. We must allow Christopher to get properly acquainted with the children.
Libbie: Oh, stop being such a sourpuss. She stands and gives Lydia a kiss. It was wonderful seeing you again. Come on, Philip. Let's get the children while they bring the carriage round.
Philip reluctantly stands and hugs his sister goodbye.
Philip: Go to bed, Lydie, you look exhausted.
Scene 2: Belleterre, early the next morning. The sun is up, but the house is still sleeping. In Lydia's bedroom, Christopher is trying to sneak out without waking her up, but it isn't working.
Lydia: Where are you going?
Christopher: If they find me in here, I'll be dead before either of us can explain.
Lydia: You should have thought of that before you came here at the middle of the night.
Grace appears at the door to the balcony. She sees Christopher, standing in the middle of the room naked, from behind. She looks from him to Lydia, who stares back. Christopher looks over his shoulder just as Grace turns to run from the room. He catches her, covering her eyes with his hand.
Grace: I can't believe you, Christopher. When you left for university, I was ten. You told me then not to let a man take any liberties with me or they'd have to answer to you when you got back. I didn't know what you meant at the time, but I certainly do now.
Christopher: Don't be so dramatic, Gracie. He leads her to a wall and points her to it. Stay there until I tell you to turn around.
Christopher finds his pants and quickly pulls them on before slipping into his shirt.
Christopher: All right, you may turn around now.
Grace turned around, arms folded, and tapped her foot while waiting for Christopher's explanation.
Christopher: Oh, stop that. Why are you here, anyway?
Grace: I came to see if Lydia was awake and wanted to come out to the stables. Why are you here?
Christopher: I thought you'd already figured that out.
Grace: I'm telling Daddy. She heads towards the door. I could scream.
Christopher: But you won't. Lydia, do you have the photographs?
Lydia: Who has gotten out of bed and slipped on her robe. Yes, I'll get them.
Christopher: Gracie, we were going to tell everyone today. We already told Nick and Tess. Lydia and I, we married. The day after we left port in London.
Grace: Shocked. I will not believe that.
Lydia: Here. She hands Grace several framed photographs. A lovely man on the ship made these for us.
Grace: Looking at the pictures. I still don't believe this.
Christopher: Oh, for Heaven's sake, Gracie. We have the marriage certificate, too. And the rings.
Grace: Where's yours? Or do you not want to wear one?
Christopher: We were thinking about having another family ceremony. I'll get one then.
Lydia: Handing Grace the marriage license. This is the marriage certificate. And look, my rings.
Grace: So you lied about burning your hand?
Lydia: I did not want to take my rings off, and I did not want anyone to see them yet.
Grace: You're not pregnant, are you?
Christopher: Gracie!
Lydia: It's all right. No, as far as I know, I'm not expecting. We had an innocent, platonic relationship before we married.
Grace: And how long have you been planning to marry?
Lydia: We've wanted to for four years.
Grace: They're going to kill you, Christopher. Daddy, Mama, especially Philip. You're lucky Uncle Phil is so far away. When is he going to find out?
Lydia: He already knows, or he should. I wrote him a letter before we left.
Christopher: Speaking of leaving...
Grace: All right, all right. I'll go.
Christopher: I was talking about myself, but I think you should come with me. I'll see you later, Lydia. Go back to sleep.
Lydia: Actually, I was thinking of taking Grace up on her original offer. Will we be going riding, Grace?
Grace: If you want. Meet me in the stable whenever you're ready. She pauses. I am glad you're my sister.
Lydia: So am I.
Christopher: All right, Grace. He starts leading her towards the balcony door. Let's go.
Grace: Would it not be more sensible to go through the halls? Most of the bedrooms face the balcony. Someone might wake up and see you. Did those four years at Oxford teach you anything practical.
Christopher: No, but I still remember how to beat up my little sisters.
Grace: I'd like to see you try.
Lydia: Frustrated Both of you leave now before you wake up the whole house.
Grace: Already in the attached sitting room. Are you coming, Christopher?
Christopher: Kisses his wife. I'll see you later. Right now I must kill my sister.
Scene 3: Belleterre, mid-day. The family is gathered in the courtyard having a picnic. Lydia is elated, surrounded by her nephews. Christopher, too, is meeting his nieces and nephews.
Gabe: How is your hand feeling, Lydia?
Lydia: Startled at first. Just fine, thank you.
Gabe: I could look at it if you like.
Lydia: That's quite all right. I'm fine, really.
Philip: Have there been any advancements with Lord Denbury, Lydie? Father wrote me about his interest. Any marriage plans I should know about?
Lydia: Lord Denbury and I will not be marrying.
Philip: Good. I never liked the man. But there seems to be something you're not telling us.
Lydia: Well...
Christopher rises and stands by Philip. Lydia, realizing the time has come, lifts little Marshall from her lap and joins them.
Christopher: There is something we've been keeping from all of you. We planned on making the announcement when we arrived, but decided it would be best not to take the attention away from Nick and Tess.
Philip: I do not like the sound of this.
Christopher: You'll have to. Lydia and I... eloped... almost four weeks ago.
Philip: First shocked, then angry. You bloody bastard!
Lydia screams as Philip's fist makes contact with Christopher's face. Christopher falls to the ground with a thud and sits there dazed as Lydia kneels beside him. Philip is restrained by his wife, and the children are calmed. Someone runs from the house with a pack of ice and Christopher holds it against his swelling eye. Lydia soon turns on her brother.
Lydia: Pushes herself into Philip's face. How could you do that? How could you?
Philip: Lydia, he promised Father he would watch out for you! Instead, he seduced you and coerced you into marriage.
Lydia: Do you really believe I would allow myself to be seduced? Really, Philip, we've been separated for a long time, but I thought you knew me better than that. Christopher and I discussed marriage for a long time, and we decided to marry on the ship from London two months ago.
Philip: Am I supposed to believe that you entered into this marriage willingly?
Lydia: I know exactly what you're thinking, Philip, and I want you to stop it right now. I've loved Christopher since I was thirteen, but we hardly even kissed until we were married, let alone what you are thinking. I want you to apologize right now.
Philip remains silent, still brooding and staring at Christopher.
Libbie: Philip, act like a man. Admit that you're wrong.
Philip: To Lydia. I thought you always wanted to marry someone titled.
Lydia: I don't give a fig about titles. That was always Father, and you know it. That is why we eloped. Father would never have agreed to the marriage.
Philip: You could have married here.
John Henry stands and approaches them.
John Henry: No, they couldn't have. I wouldn't have allowed it out of respect for your father. Although I am disappointed that I could not witness the marriage, I understand completely. Lydia, my son could not have found a better bride. Do not pay any attention to your brother. He's simply in a state of shock. Welcome to the family.
John Henry hugs his god-daughter tightly.
Lydia: Thank you, Uncle John.
John Henry: As far as I'm concerned, you were already part of the family. Now, did you really burn your hand on a pot of coffee?
Lydia: Smiles. I'm sorry, I had to lie about that. She unwraps the bandages on her hand. I assumed these would give our secret away.
John Henry: Taking her hand and inspecting. Yes, I suppose they would. My son has good taste.
Lydia: I thought so. She pauses shortly. We have several photographs! A lovely man on the ship did them as a wedding gift. Another woman supplied gowns for Delie and me. Another woman, God rest her soul, supplied flowers. It was all beautiful.
Christopher, behind them, rose with Gabe's help and approached Philip with a hand extended.
Christopher: I'm sorry I seduced your sister.
Philip: I suppose it's only fair. He takes Christopher's outstretched hand. After all, I seduced yours. He waits for the dirty look from Libbie. I'm sorry I hit you.
Christopher: That's all right. I'm just glad you never developed any muscle out here. Lydia assured me the you would not hit me.
Philip: She does not know me as well as she used to. I suppose you'll want to stay with Lydia when she comes to live with us.
Christopher: That was our original plan.
Philip: Was it, now? What if I refused to have you?
Libbie: I would have put you out on your posterior in no time at all.
Scene 4: John Henry's office, early evening. John Henry is sitting at his desk, a man with a badge is sitting across from him, and Georgie and Gabe have just entered.
John Henry and the badged man stand.
John Henry: Georgie, Gabe, this is Sheriff Gowan7. Georgie and Gabe shake hands with the man. Sheriff, Dr. and Mrs. Hewitt. Do sit down.
Georgie: Have you come to arrest me, sir?
Gowan: I hope not. Mr. Marshall has told me most of the story, but I wanted to here it from you, personally, before I made my decision. I hope you will not mind answering a few questions.
Georgie: Ask me anything you like. I have nothing to hide.
Gowan: Why did you choose to move to New York with Mr. Buckley?
Georgie: He told me he could give me a good, decent job. I had just lost my home, and I needed it.
Gowan: You consider prostitution a good, decent job?
Georgie: No, I do not, and I did not then. Leroy led me to believe that I could find a job as a governess. I was desperate and not thinking straight. He gave me a contract and I signed it without reading it. He told me it guaranteed him a share of the money I'd make from any job he found for me.
Gowan: And he put you to work in his pub?
Georgie: It was a dingy bar that fronted for a whore house.
Gowan: Why did you not leave when you discovered Mr. Buckley's plans for you?
Georgie: I tried to, of course. He beat me... raped me. Whenever he left, he locked all the doors from the outside. None of the other girls could leave. Most of them weren't there of their own free will. He never gave us a share of what we earned. We weren't fed well. If we did not submit, we were beaten and starved for several days.
Gowan: And how did you finally come to leave?
Georgie: When Leroy brought Tess in, I was finished with it all. She looked so sweet and innocent. I mustered the courage to escape, and I took Tess with me. I took some of the money Leroy owed me, placed a floor board from the back window of one of Leroy's rooms to the back window of an abandoned building across the alley, and left with Tess. We got on a train that day and headed west.
Gower: How did you meet Dr. Hewitt?
Gabe: Angry. What are you suggesting, Sheriff Gowan?
Gowan: Nothing, I assure you.
Georgie: It's all right, darling. Sheriff, I met Gabe in a hospital. I was struck by a carriage, Gabe's carriage, in the street. He took me to the hospital and operated on me himself. He saved my life. I met him for the first time when I woke up. He was sitting at my bedside. During my examinations after the accident, I learned to trust him. I told him about my past. He later commissioned me to sew his daughter a new wardrobe.
Gower: You own your own business, I understand. A dress shop?
Georgie: Yes. Sheriff Gowan, I cannot see where these questions are leading. I imagine John Henry would have told you all of this.
Gowan: He has, I admit. When did you first see Mr. Buckley? Recently, I mean.
Georgie: It was our first night in Liberty Creek. Gabe and I stayed in Tess's cabin. He left in the middle of the night to help Mrs...
Gabe: Schumacher.
Georgie: Thank you. He left to help Mrs. Schumacher deliver her baby. He was still gone when Leroy came into the cabin at day break and forced me to go with him. I made me leave a note for Gabe, telling him that I had gone for a walk. We rode several hours to an abandoned cabin.
Gowan: Did he... violate you?
Georgie: Yes, he violated me, but he did not rape me. He tried, and he would have if it were not for Grace. I fought him off and ran from the cabin, but he grabbed me and held me on the ground. That's when the shots rang out. Leroy was hit and I ran back to the cabin for his gun. The horse ran off and Leroy escaped into the woods.
Gowan: Tell me what happened the next time you saw him.
Georgie: I was following Tess down the aisle. I looked down beside me and there he was. I screamed. He jumped up and held a gun to my head. He demanded a horse. The workman who brought it tried to stop him with a gun. It didn't work. Leroy fought for the gun and got it, but a shot went off. We got on the horse and started riding away. Several shots were fired after us, but they missed. Then another shot came from a different direction. It hit Leroy in the side. He fell from the horse. I got down and retrieved the second gun from the saddle bag. Leroy shot at me, but there had only been one bullet in the gun and it only clicked. I shot the gun from his hand.
Gowan: Why did you continue to shoot him? He obviously was not going anywhere.
Georgie: I'm not quite sure. Something came over me. I remembered everything he did to me, and what he made me do. What he tried to do to Tess, and what he did to so many other girls. What he threatened to do to Louisa, my step-daughter. I wanted him to feel the same pain he made me feel. You can arrest me if you want, but I will never feel sorry for what I did to him.
Sheriff Gowan nods, then stands from his chair. Georgie, Gabe, and John Henry stand, too. Gowan shakes Georgie's hand.
Gowan: Mrs. Hewitt, as far as I'm concerned, you saved us the time and cost of a trial. Maybe other men would arrest you, but I don't see the need. Mr. Buckley would have hung for several reasons, kidnapping and horse thievery among them. You have suffered enough, and it would not be fair to put you through more.
Georgie: Thank you, Sheriff.
Gabe: Yes, thank you.
Gowan: There's no need for that. Good day, to you.
John Henry: I'll see you out.
Gowan: No need, sir. I'll find my way.
Sheriff Gown leaves, closing the door behind him. Gabe pulls Georgie to his side and gives her a reassuring hug.
John Henry: Well, now that that dirty business is over with, I've been meaning to ask the to of you what your honeymoon plans were.
Georgie: This is our honeymoon. We were going to stay here, if you'd have us, or return to San Francisco and spend a few weeks at home.
John Henry: Nonsense! You're welcome to stay here, of course, but I was thinking more along the lines of a real honeymoon. Stay in a hotel, have people wait on you. Chicago, perhaps.
Gabe: We have Steven and Louisa to think of. They need to return for school soon.
John Henry: I will make sure they get back, but I have been meaning to speak with you about Louisa.
Gabe: Oh?
John Henry: Yes. She has expressed an interest in staying here, and we would love to have her. I think it would do her some good to get out of the city.
Gabe: Louisa has school.
John Henry: If she stayed on here she would be tutored along with Julia and Grace. The three have already made fast friends. Although I do not think she would even mention it to you, I think she was a might unhappy in San Francisco. I asked her about her friends once, and she responded vaguely. She seems very unsure of herself.
Gabe: I will speak with her about it.
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