Episode 25
Episode 25: Early November, 1875
Scene 1: The hallway outside John Henry's office, night. Several chairs lined against the wall are occupied by Lazarus and Danielle Carrol and Charles Marshall.
Lazarus: ... And so the man was hanged for killing his wife and I kept their dog. Never found out her name. I thought Princess suited her.
Charles: You have such interesting court cases here. I've been sitting in the House of Lords for twenty-eight years.
Lazarus: You know, I hadn't really believed John when he claimed his brother was a duke. He came into my court years ago to defend himself in a property dispute with a crazy neighbor. He refused to call me "Judge" or "your Honor" until I called him by his title, "Lord John," I think it was.
Charles: That's correct.
Lazarus: Well, I thought that was completely ridiculous considering we split from your little island competely when we one that little war some years back.
Charles: Lovely little war. My grandfather fought quite valiantly. Saved the life of the brother of one of the king's mistresses, who then persuaded ol' George to elevate my grandfather from the title of marquess to duke when he returned to England on the death of his father.
Lazarus: How does one address you?
Charles: Formally it is "your grace" and most address me as such. Familiars address me as "Duke" or "Stancliff." Family and very close friends address me by my first name.
Lazarus: Stancliff?
Charles: Our title. The surname is rarely used.
Lazarus: And is John truthful in saying now that he will one day take your place? He has a tendency to exagerrate and boast.
Charles: More than likely he will. I have no sons and will not be having anymore children, my younger brother Richard has two sons but they're illegitimate. Richard's is a story in itself. Tell me, do all people in this country make such a fuss when dogs... do this?
Lazarus: No, but they should. He checks his pocketwatch, stands up and looks at the door, paces back and forth several times, and sits down again. What is taking so long?
Danielle: Why did you not make such a fuss when I was having our children?
Lazarus: You can't know whether I did or not. You were on the other side of the door.
Charles: Mumbles. I was in the room when my daughters were born.
Lazarus: Ah, yes, you and John are definitely brothers.
The office door opens. Grace steps out and smiles.
Grace: Mr. Carrol, you may come in now.
Lazarus jumped to his feet and rushed for the door, but Grace stood in his way.
Grace: Slowly and quietly, please.
Grace lets all three pass. Inside, Nick and John Henry stand at the far side of the room, giving Princess her privacy. Charles and Grace join them. Lazarus kneels by makeshift bed on the floor while Danielle looks on from a short distance away. Princess ignores them, concentrating on her little ones.
John Henry: Congratulations, Grandpa.
Lazarus: How is she? Did she have any trouble?
John Henry: She's fine. She didn't need any help, it was as if she'd been doing it her entire life. Surprised me. Most debutantes know nothing about these sorts of things.
Lazarus: You'll not be provoking me tonight, Marshall, not if you know what's good for you. It's unfortunate they favor their father, all except that one. I like that one.
John Henry: That was the last one. The runt.
Lazarus: He is not a runt! He's just smaller.
John Henry: That's what a runt is. And he's a she.
Lazarus: Even better. So what are the rest of them?
John Henry: They're all puppies.
Lazarus: Male or female?
John Henry: Grace can identify them.
Grace: That fat one is a boy, as are the two red ones with the white spots on their ears. That red one with the white stripe on its head is a girl, as is the one with the white tail and the one with a more brown coat. The white one, as Daddy said, is a girl.
Lazarus: How do you tell which is the brown one?
Grace: She's the one on the far right.
Danielle: They are very... wet.
Grace: They will dry soon.
Danielle: They look like rodents.
Lazarus: They do not! Besides, our children looked liked rodents for the first few hours of their lives. Even you admitted that.
Grace: They will look like real puppies in a few days.
Lazarus: I will sleep here until then.
John Henry: That's fine. I'll have a room prepared for you.
Lazarus: No, I'm sleeping right here. In this room. You can prepare a room for Danielle, though.
Danielle: I do not want to impose.
John Henry: We'd be glad to have you. Besides, it is too late to go home now. I'll take you to see Elizabeth and the others now, if you like.
Danielle: Yes, thank you. We will leave Laz alone with his grandchildren.
Scene 2: Liberty Creek, morning, two days later. Nick and Tess are standing on the boardwalk with Stuart, their three horses tied to the railing at the street along with a pack mule.
Nick: When you get to Boise, there will be a friend of mine to help you get your things on the train. He will then take the mule. I want you to ride with the horse until the first stop—there will be a small stove in the box car—to make sure she'll be all right for the rest of the trip. After that, you will have a cabin in the sleeper car to yourself.
Stuart: I really don't need a cabin to myself. I can stay with the horse.
Tess: You can do no such thing. She lowers her voice. The train will stop for some time in Salt Lake City. From then on, you will be Mary MacKenzie, Stuart's sister. Make up your own reason for the switch and be sure to tell the conductor about the switch before you become Mary.
Nick: When you arrive in Lexington, the Burkes will have someone there to take your to their home. You will then be posing as Tess, but you must be sure to tell them that your escort had left you a note saying she would not be working for you anymore. This will work out well, since I have just learned that the horse is intended for Mrs. Burke. You will have to demonstrate the horse's abilities. Do you know how to ride sidesaddle?
Stuart: Yes, but I may be a little unsure of myself.
Nick: Fair enough. When you arrive at the Burkes, ask to go out riding. Say that the horse needs to stretch. That will give you practice.
Stuart: What do I do with that saddle?
Nick: My friend in Boise will take it with the mule. You should reach the train station with an hour to spare, but you will be able to wait on the train. It will be dark by the time it leaves. He pulls some money from his pocket. Here is some money in case you need it. Do you have any questions?
Stuart: The doctor?
Tess: Tell Mrs. Burke the truth. You think you may be pregnant, and would like to see a doctor before you return home.
Nick: But tell the Burkes that you are not pregnant whether you are or not. Gossip circulates quickly, and Tess is not pregnant as far as I know. Anymore question?
Stuart: No, but thank you. For all your doing for me.
Tess: Think nothing of it. We like you, and we want the best for you.
Nick: Exactly. Now go. You don't want to be late for the train.
Scene 3: Belleterre, mid-day. Lazarus is sitting in the plush chair in John Henry's office, Charles' youngest daughter Connie on his lap. The puppies have been enclose in a wooden box with low walls.
Connie: But why did the man who used to own Princess kill his wife? How did he do it?
Lazarus: It's a really scary story, are you sure you want to here it?
Connie: I like scary stories. And I like your voice. It sounds funny.
Lazarus: Does it now? Well, you've made fun of my voice, I don't know if I want to tell you the story.
Connie: Please! I didn't mean it!
Lazarus: All right. You see, a husband and wife moved to my city and opened a store. The man was very very ugly and very very mean. He always yelled at little children in his store if they touched things.
Connie: Why?
Lazarus: Because they might get the things dirty or break them and he didn't want any of his goods wasted.
Connie: I broke something in a store once. Daddy just paid for it.
Lazarus: Chuckles. Not all little boys and girls have that advantage, Connie. This was at a time when most people here were very poor. Anyway, this mean man also liked to spend lots of time in the saloons.
Connie: What's a saloon?
Lazarus: I believe you call them pubs. This man liked to spend his money in these saloons on whiskey and he would get very drunk. Sometimes he would be so drunk he would need other men to carry him home because he couldn't walk. This man also liked to gamble. One night he got very drunk and lost a lot of money gambling. He lost his store in his gambling. So this man went home and had to tell his wife that he'd lost their home. She got very mad, as anyone would. This man, being drunk and having just lost his business, was very angry. He hit his wife and threw her down the stairs and she died.
Connie was left awe-stricken. When her father walked into the room, she jumped off Lazarus' lap and ran to him.
Connie: Mr. Carrol just told me the most wonderful story, Daddy.
Charles: What was it about?
Connie: About the man who got hanged for throwing his wife down the stairs and killing her and he was where Mr. Carrol got Princess from.
Charles: Angered. You told that story to Connie?
Lazarus: It won't do her any harm. She'll have to learn about things like that sooner or later. Besides, she said she liked scary stories.
Charles: She forgot to mention that she has nightmares after she hears them.
Lazarus: If you get scared, Connie, you come down here and sit with me. I'll be staying here one more night.
Connie: Can I even if I don't get scared? I don't have a grandpa.
Lazarus: You'll have to as your daddy?
Connie: Can I daddy? Please?
Charles: You may. Now run along to the library. Your cousins want you.
Connie: Surprising Lazarus with a kiss. Goodbye, Mr. Carrol. She runs from the room.
Charles: Laughs. Grandpa?
Lazarus: I don't mind that. I'm a great-grandfather twice over. And didn't your first grandchild arrive shortly before you left? I wonder if she knows I'm just thirteen years older than you.
Charles: How do you know my age?
Lazarus: John told me. They're planning a birthday dinner for you tonight. Sixty years.
Charles: John Henry turns a half century old in December.
Lazarus: I knew that. You shouldn't be so defensive about your age. Us older people know that it merely means that you are wiser and more experienced than everyone else. I'm surprised you aren't gloating about it. You look younger than John Henry.
Charles: I do not.
Lazarus: You do. He's worked harder so he aged faster. Stand by a mirror next to him, you'll see.
Charles found a small mirror and looked at his reflection. After scratching his chin and looking at himself from different angles, he quickly left the room.
Scene 4: Boise, twilight. Lord Richard Marshall and his three grown children are standing just outside the train station. There luggage is being loaded onto a wagon and a covered carriage awaits their departure. All are huddled separately, unaccustomed to such cold at that time.
Richard: That's a fine horse. He points out the horse Stuart is riding as she passes at that very moment. That's a Thoroughbred. He calls to Stuart. You there! Yes, you. Where did you get that fine horse?
Stuart: I belongs to my employer, sir. I'm takin' it to be sold.
Richard: Does your employer have any more like that one to be sold.
Stuart: Yep.
Richard: Slightly annoyed. And where may I find your employer? What is his name?
Stuart: Nick Marshall, sir. He lives in a town called Liberty Creek. Excuse me, I must meet someone. She continues on.
Richard: Well, I'll be damned. My nephew raises fine horseflesh. He looks to his driver. Driver, where can we arrange to travel to a town by the name of Liberty Creek?
Driver: Your hotel will do that for you, sir. Just ask at the front desk.
Belinda: Will we have to stay in this horrid town long, Father? It's so... ugly.
Richard: All cities have ugly sections, Belinda. You are not exposed to them. I hope to be able to leave tomorrow. I hope John Henry's place is not far.
Driver: Liberty Creek is a day's journey by stage, sir.
Richard: An entire day! There is no train?
Driver: Town ain't big enough.
Richard: They'd better bloody well be glad to see us.
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