Episode 21
Episode 21: Mid-October, 1875
Scene 1: The mountain cabin, early morning. Joe, sleeping on the bed, is covered with several blankets and furs; the fire is almost out. He is alone.
Joe stirs, rolls onto his back, and opens his eyes. He sits up, collecting the covers around his waist, and looks around.
Joe: Stuart?
Upon receiving no reply, he gets to his feet and shuffles toward the table. After sitting with his head rested in his hands for some time, he finally notices the tattered piece of paper. He picks it up and reads. "It was a mistake. I blame myself. I cannot seem to keep myself out of other people's marriages. I am returning to Belleterre to work. I fed your horse, and I'm taking the other back with me. Please do not try to contact me. I am sorry. Stuart." Joe shakes his head and crumples the paper into a ball.
Joe: Mumbles What the hell was I thinking?
He throws the balled paper into the fire. It soon flares and is gone in less than a minute.
Cut to: The main ranch house at the Kincaid ranch, an hour later. Olivia is sitting on the back porch, facing the field, with Victoria. She is holding Victoria's littlest one, baby Kenny, on her lap. Victoria's older children, Benjie, Lizzie, and Teddy, are playing with little Joey on the lawn in front of them.
Victoria: I'm telling you, Liv. I'm sure he's all right. They were heading up towards the cabin. They would have taken shelter there. Benjamin has to stay at the Elliots last night.
Olivia: I just have something important to tell him.
Victoria: You could tell me.
Olivia: I suppose. You see, I—
Olivia suddenly stands up, adjusts the baby in her arms, and walks to the middle of the yard. She waves her free arm.
Olivia: Yells. Stuart! Where's Joe?!
Stuart, on horseback, hesitates. Reluctantly, she urges the horses forward. When she reaches the main yard, she swings off the horse and stands her ground in front of the taller Olivia. She does not look Olivia in the eye, but instead appears to be interested in the baby.
Olivia: Impatient. Where's Joe?
Stuart: We, uh, we had to stay at the hunting cabin last night. The rain was too heavy.
Olivia: But where is Joe now?
Stuart: Still there, I suppose. I left early. He might be heading back by now. She looks up at the approaching Victoria. Is Mr. Kincaid at home?
Victoria: Benjamin's in the barn. I see you found the horse.
Stuart: Absently, already leading the two horses to the barn. Yes.
Olivia: Heading back to the porch with Victoria. He certainly was acting strange.
Victoria: He's a strange fellow, but nice enough. And you see? Joe is all right. Come sit down and tell me what you were saying before.
Olivia's face lights up, but she waits till she and Victoria are sitting side-by-side on a bench. She leans over Victoria's shoulder and whispers something in her ear. Victoria squeals and gives Olivia a hug.
Victoria: I'm so happy for you.
Scene 2: An enclosed ring outside the stables at Belleterre, an hour later. Nick is running a saddled white horse around in a large circle. Stuart walks up and sits on the fence, but it is a while before Nick notices her.
Nick: Surprised. Stuart! I didn't see you there. I thought you were working with Joe now.
Stuart: Jumps into the ring. I decided I preferred working with the horses, if that's all right.
Nick: Of course it's all right, but you're having a hell of a time keeping a job.
Stuart: Looks the horse over. Yes, well...
Nick: Did something happen? You sound as if something happened. Did Joe try something on you?
Stuart: Starled. What? No! Listen, you don't need to be protective of me. I don't want to be treated any different now.
Nick: I wasn't. Well, maybe I was, but you look as if—
Grace: Stuart! You're back!
Nick and Stuart look up to see Grace running across the yard. She climbs onto the fence, but stays there.
Grace: I saw you from the house. Has Nick hired you back?
Stuart looks to Nick questioningly.
Nick: Yes, I have.
Grace: That's great! Are you going to tell me what the big problem was, then?
Nick and Stuart: No.
Grace: Fine with me. I'll find out eventually. I always do. It's great to have you back, Stuart. I have to get back to the house now. We're in the middle of writing our play.
Nick: You're actually going through with it?
Grace: Yes, of course. And you're going to be in it. Daddy said you weren't allowed to protest.
Nick: Is that so?
Grace: Yes, it is. Goodbye, Stuart!
She jumps off the fence and runs back to the house.
Stuart: Play?
Nick: Yeah, I'll tell you about it later. He gestures to Grace. She's sweet on you.
Stuart: God, I hope not.
Cut to: The Kincaid ranch, a short time later.
Olivia comes flying out of the house and runs across the yard to the barn. Inside, she flings her arms around Joe's neck, knocking them both onto a pile of hay. Her good mood is undaunted by Joe's somber facial expression.
Olivia: I've been waiting for you since I got back yesterday evening.
Joe: Defensive. There was a rainstorm. I had to stay up at the cabin.
Olivia: I know that, there's no need to be defensive. Whatever's the matter?
Joe: I have to tell you something.
Joe begins to roll Olivia off him, but she holds firm and stays where she is.
Olivia: And I have something to tell you. My news is better, so I'll go first.
Joe: Starts to say something, then gives up. What is it, Livie?
Olivia: Leaning her head even closer to Joe's. I'm going to have another baby.
Joe soon forgets everything he had on his mind. He jumps up, picks Olivia into his arms, and spins her around.
Joe: Are you sure?
Olivia: Nods. Absolutely. Joey and I rode into Smithson to see the doctor yesterday. He was wonderful at keeping the secret.
Joe: Hugs Olivia tighter. I love you, Livie.
Olivia: I'm so lucky to have you. She leans her head onto Joe's shoulder, but soon lifts it up again. What was it you wanted to say before?
Joe: Nothing. Nothing at all.
Scene 3: The library at Belleterre, mid-afternoon. Julia, Grace, Louisa, and Sally Mason are gathered around a table. Spread across the table are several books and many sheets of papers.
Sally: You must take some part, Julia.
Julia: I couldn't. I am no actress. I would look silly.
Grace: None of us are actresses, Jule. You are just frightened. Take a small part. You're lucky. No one except us is allowed to choose their parts.
Julia: If I must. But I cannot choose.
Grace: All right. You be Kitty, I'll be Mary.
Sally: Good! Grace, write that down.
The library door flings open and Libbie flies inside.
Libbie: Somewhat desperate. How far have you gotten?
Grace: In what?
Libbie: In that casting. Daddy just told me that's what you were doing. You are still doing Pride and Prejudice, aren't you?
Sally: Grace wanted to be Lydia, but we thought the real Lydia fit better into that role with the name and the elopement. Then she wanted a man's part, but she's too short. She finally settled on Mary so she could show of her superd musical talents. Louisa chose Mrs. Bennet and Julia has just resolved to take on Kitty.
Libbie: Oh, good. I want Elizabeth, and I'll do anything to get her.
Sally: What do you think, girls?
They nod in agreement.
Libbie: Thank you. I know Vic was going to try to weasel it away from me. Do not let her. She knows very well Lizzy is my favorite. Just don't put any of our brothers in the part of Darcy.
Sally: We'll try not to.
Grace: What do you think of having Nick and Marietta play Jane and Bingley?
Libbie: I think it is an excellent idea. It would make Will very jealous. And if you might as well make Christopher play Wickham if you're having Lydia play Lydia Bennet. That is basically how Philip saw Christopher for the first few weeks, anyway. But it is up to you. I just wanted to make sure I got Elizabeth. I'll leave you four to work now.
Julia: Are you going home?
Libbie: No, to town. Philip and I are going straight from there to--well, that is a secret.
Grace: Is it not your anniversary? Why is Philip out of town anyway?
Libbie: He was not supposed to be, and I was not pleased with it, but he and Christopher were forced to stay in Chicago for one more day. He is coming home this afternoon. Christopher and Lydie are going to watch the boys all night. They need the practice. I'll see you.
She kisses Julia and Grace goodbye, smiles to Louisa and Miss Mason, and leaves the room.
Scene 4: A well-furnished room in a large London town house, evening. A well-dressed man is sitting in a chair by the fireplace smoking a cigar and reading the newspaper.
He turns a page, frowns, and quickly reads one article.
Man: Yells. Mrs. Franklin!
Shortly thereafter, a middle-aged woman, slightly over-weight, bustles into the room.
Mrs. Franklin: My lord?
Man: Have my children come down immediately.
Mrs. Franklin: Frederick, too, Lord Richard?
Richard: He is one of my children, is he not?
Mrs. Franklin: Yes, my lord. I'll fetch them straight away.
A short time passes and three people enter the room. The first, a tall man of about twenty-five, is slender and well-dressed, though he has removed his coat and collar. The second, a shorter young man of about eighteen, is similarly dressed, though he looks much different. The third, a confident young woman of about eighteen or nineteen, is dressed in a lavish gown.
Richard: Close the door, Belinda.
The young woman does so, then sits down in a chair beside her father.
Belinda: Have we displeased you?
Richard: No. He adjusts the paper. Listen to this. "Shortly before boarding a ship destined for New York City, Mr. Philip Elliot II confirmed that his daughter, Miss Lydia Elliot, married Christopher Marshall, nephew to the Duke of Stancliff, while eloping to America. 'I was shocked by the news, of course, but her mother and I could not be happier,' he said. Mr. and Mrs. Elliot will be traveling with the Duke of Stancliff and his family to the Idaho Territory in America, where the young couple now resides, to attend a second wedding ceremony hosted by the groom's father, Lord John Marshall. The families of both the bride and the groom will spend Christmas together there." Did any of you hear of this?
Older son: I heard the rumors, Father, but not this.
Richard: "The families of both the bride and the groom will spend Christmas together there." I did not receive an invite, did you? He doesn't wait for an answer. It does not matter. We are going. All of us. Freddie, can you get several month's vacation from the bank?
Freddie (older son): I believe so.
Richard: Good. Speak with them about it tomorrow. Adam, I want you to speak with your grandfather tomorrow. He will not like it, but if he refuses to let you go, go anyway. You may come work with me. You would be doing that anyway if it were not for your mother. Belinda, wire your mother and tell her I'm taking you to America. We'll leave as soon as possible.
Belinda: But, Father, they're so uncivilized, especially where Uncle John lives. There are savages there, you know. What if we were raided?
Richard: Have you been reading that trash again? I already told you not to. I do not want to have to tell you again. We are going and I will not be talked out of it, so you had better get used to the idea now. Goodnight.
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