Episode 19
Episode 19
Episode 19: Early October, 1875
Scene 1: Belleterre, morning. John Henry is awake, dressed, and roaming about the yard.
John Henry: Calls out. Red! Here, boy! He whistles. Red! He shakes his head in frustration and starts walking to the stable. Damn dog.
Just prior to entering, a wagon appears around the corner of the house. Lazarus Carrol is sitting on the seat with the driver, a man from town. Red is standing in the back. Upon seeing John Henry, he jumps out and runs toward him.
John Henry: Bends down, pets his dog. Hey, boy. Where've you been?
The wagon stops and Lazarus climbs down. He walks over to John Henry, looking stern.
Lazarus: Good morning, John.
John Henry: Morning, Lazarus. Is there a problem? Where did you find Red?
Lazarus: In our kitchen with Princess. He came in through an open window, apparently. The two of them could have done God knows what all night long.
John Henry: Trying not to laugh. Red?
Lazarus: Yes.
John Henry: And that... canine debutante?
Lazarus: Yes.
John Henry: Well, damn, Lazarus. I'm sorry. Is there anything I can do?
Lazarus: Not anymore. It's probably already too late.
John Henry: You cannot say that for sure. Let's just wait and see what happens.
Lazarus: All right, but if something does happen, I don't want the responsibility and neither does Danielle, if you know what I mean.
John Henry: Yes. Yes, I do. Would you like to come inside? I know it's a little early for a drink, but Mrs. Anders makes a great omelet.
Lazarus: Thank you for the offer, but I've already eaten and I have... something to do.
John Henry: Still working on that fountain?
Lazarus: Yes. I've filled it and drained it twice now.
John Henry: Do you realize that it will be winter by the time you get it fixed? You have to drain it in winter or else the water freezes inside and you'll have a new problem on you hands.
Lazarus: I know. (He turns and walks toward the wagon) I'll see you later.
John Henry: Have a nice day.
The wagon turns around and heads out. John Henry first leans down and congratulates Red, then takes him back to the house.
Scene 2: Tess and Nick's house, the same time. Tess is sitting in front of her mirror, still wearing her nightgown and robe. Outside her room, she can hear Nick in the kitchen.
Tess picks up her brush once again and begins stroking her hair. She braids it, twists it, and pins the mass up. She stands, belts her robe tighter, takes a deep breath, and leaves the room. In the kitchen, Nick and Tess freeze and stare at each other for a few seconds. Nick makes the first move, returning to his frying eggs.
Nick: There's coffee ready.
Tess: Moves to retrieve a coffee cup. You didn't have to make breakfast.
Nick: It's nothing.
Tess: I'll finish that for you if you like.
Nick: I'm fine.
Tess: Sits down at the table. Why didn't you come to bed?
Nick: First lifts the pan off the stove and puts the eggs on the warming shelf. I didn't think you'd want me. Not after what I said.
Tess: You didn't mean it, did you? Marietta explained it to me.
Nick: She came here?
Tess: Yes, she did. Her timing could not have been more perfect. She told me Will accused you of seducing her several times.
Nick: He did. He puts six strips of bacon in the pan, then goes to stand beside Tess. Darling, I am sorry. I hope you believe that. It was a terrible, terrible thing to say and I did not mean one word of it. Please forgive me.
Tess: I forgive you. And I understand. You were angry, and you had every right to be. I would have come to the same conclusions had the roles been reversed, but you must believe that the hug was completely innocent.
Nick: I do, on your part, anyway. What exactly did he tell you?
Tess: I wish I could tell you, I really do, but I promised not to tell a soul. Will you give him his job back.
Nick: No. He'll find another nearby. I do not have a problem with him going to work with Philip or Benjamin and Joe, as long as he stays away from my sisters. I would like you to stay a away from him, too.
Tess: Whatever for?
Nick: You may not see it, but I do. I know that you were only trying to help him, but I believe he had other intentions. He's attracted to you, for good reason, but you're my wife.
Tess: Stuart is not attracted to me. I know it for a fact. You must trust that.
Nick: How do you know?
Tess: I... I cannot tell you.
Nick: Whatever he told you was most likely a lie. You cannot trust men like that.
Tess: Men like what?
Nick: Drifters. There is a reason they move from job to job, and it is usually not because they enjoy traveling.
Tess: You must trust me on this, Nick. I told Stuart to come to me if he wanted to talk, he could always come to me. I cannot go back on my word.
Nick: Don't you trust my judgement?
Tess:Yes, but you are wrong here. Don't you trust my judgement?
Nick: Of course, but—
Tess: But? But, what?
Nick: I am a man, Tess. I know how men think. I've been one for twenty-three years. Did you know my intentions before I made them known to you? All those times we went walking, riding, and picnicing before that night I proposed, do you have any idea what I was thinking?
Tess: You always told me you didn't realize how you felt until that day.
Nick: I lied. I didn't want to insult you. All those times we were alone together I wanted to throw you over my shoulder, carry you into the bush, and tear your clothes off. I am a man, for God's sake. And so is Stuart.
Tess: Now angry. Stuart is not a—
Nick: Yells. Not a what? A man? He's more of a man than I am. I don't want to tell you what to do, but I do not want that man sitting in our house thinking of doing God knows what to you.
Tess: Nick, please. You don't understand.
Nick: No, I don't. I don't understand why you're defending him. I'm beginning to think that you— He stops himself and slams his fist onto the table, making Tess jump.
Nick, breathing heavily, stares at his wife for a long while before saying anything more.
Nick: Calm. I am going to leave before I say anything else I might regret. I am sorry it has come to this, but I forbid you to see Stuart MacKenzie. He is not to set foot in this house.
Nick turns and leaves the room. Tess promptly chases after him, but he is already going down the steps by the time she reaches the front door.
Tess: Pleads, tears in her eyes. Please don't leave.
Nick: Doesn't bother to turn around. Don't be so dramatic, Tess. I'm not leaving for good.
Tess stands at the door and waits till Nick leaves the barn on Sherman and rides away. When she returns to the kitchen, black smoke is coming from the burning bacon. She grabs the frying pan and slides it off the stove, burning her hand in the process. She grabs her wrist and looks around frantically. She finally opens the ice box, sits on the floor, and places her aching hand atop the fresh cube. Sitting there, she begins to cry.
Scene 3: Belleterre, mid-morning. Nick has just entered the house. He stops the first maid he finds.
Nick: Where is my father?
Maid: In his office with Mr. Will and Mr. Christopher, Mr. Nick.
Nick: Thank you.
He walks swiftly through the halls and walks into his father's office without knocking. John Henry is sitting behind his desk and Will and Christopher are sitting in chair closeby.
John Henry: Nick? What's wrong?
Nick: I don't know... I'm not sure. He takes another chair and pulls it close to the desk.
Will: It's Tess, isn't it? Mari told me. You don't really think she and that Stuart...
Nick: I don't know what to think anymore.
John Henry: I do think you're over-reacting, son. We all know the story. I'm sure Tess had the best of intentions.
Nick: So am I, but she refused to listen when I told her Stuart didn't. She kept defending him.
John Henry: Maybe she had good reason. She promised she would not tell anyone what Stuart told her and she's honoring that promise despite the problems it is causing. I don't know. Maybe he's a eunuch.
Nick: A what?
John Henry: A man who has no—
Nick: I know what a eunuch is! I highly doubt that Stuart is one of those.
John Henry: Well, maybe he's a... maybe he prefers...
Nick: Men? I doubt that, too. He might have told Tess that, and that would give her good reason to defend him, but he could have just as easily lied so she would feel sorry for him. What sort of man embraces another man's wife?
Will: You've hugged Mari countless times and I've falsely accused you of doing the same thing you're accusing Stuart of doing.
Nick: That's different! Mari is my sister.
Will: Sister-in-law. You are not related.
Nick: This is not helping.
John Henry: I know it isn't, son. I don't think anything we say would help. Did you and Tess have an argument this morning?
Nick: Sighs. Yes.
John Henry: Is that why you left?
Nick: Yes.
John Henry: You have a lot to learn, son. You're having a ridiculous argument with your wife and you left without resolving it?
Nick: I left before I could say something else I didn't mean. I almost accused her of sleeping with the man.
John Henry: Go home, Nicholas. Resolve this before it's too late.
Scene 4: Tess and Nick's house, a short time later. Tess has fallen asleep with her hand on the ice. Outside, Stuart, on a different horse than before, slowly approaches on horseback.
Stuart dismounts, walks up to the house, and pauses at the open front door. She knocks on the door frame and walks in when there is no answer. When she finds Tess in the kitchen, she kneels by her side and wakes her up.
Tess: Groggy. Stuart, you should leave. Nick will kill you if he finds you here.
Stuart: He isn't here and I don't plan to stay long. Why are you down here?
Tess: I burnt my hand on the frying pan, then I fell asleep.
Stuart: Let me have a look at that. Here, stand up first. She helps Tess stand, then looks at her hand. That's a bad burn. Do you have any salve?
Tess: Sits in a chair, points to a cupboard. In there, I think.
Stuart opens the cupboard and finds a small jar. She returns to Tess and starts gently applying the salve.
Stuart: Is Nick really very mad?
Tess: He won't believe me when I tell him that you didn't have ulterior motives when you were here yesterday. He slept in the other bedroom last night, and he left the house angry this morning. I think he'll calm down, but I really don't know what to do. He's forbidden me to see you.
Stuart: I cannot blame him. I will stay away from you.
Tess: It is not fair. I'm not going to tell him your secret, I do not want to have him distrust me, and I want to be your friend. I lose something either way. But how are you doing? Where did you go?
Stuart: Joe Kincaid's. He... he knows about me. That is an embarassing story I will not repeat now. His wife is not happy about me working there because of the trouble I'm causing you and Nick.
Tess: Does Liv know?
Stuart: No. And Joe won't tell her. Do you have any bandages?
Tess: Yes... She points... in that drawer.
Stuart carefully wraps Tess's hand with the white strip of cloth and the two go out into the parlor. They lose track of time and are startled from their conversation by thundering hooves.
Tess: Whispers. Please, God, don't let it be Nick.
Stuart: Stands. It is.
Nick storms into the house and stands in the middle of the room.
Nick: I cannot believe this. Two days in a row! Tess, I came back here to apologize and ask for your forgiveness and I find you with him. It doesn't appear that he's staying here against your will.
Stuart: Nick, you don't understand. I—
Nick: Quite loudly. Shut up, you! I'm talking to my wife. Tess, if you want him, you can have him. I'm giving you a choice. Until you make your decision, I'll be living at home.
He spins around and takes long strides out the door. The hooves thunder off again.
Stuart: This is ruining your marriage. I can't let that happen. She starts for the door.
Tess: You don't have to tell him. I can work things out with Nick.
Stuart: Even if you do, he'll always wonder. I have to tell him the truth once and for all.
Tess: If you go near him, he might shoot you.
Stuart: I don't care anymore.
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