Episode 45
Episode 45: Early April, 1876
Scene 3 written by Heather
Scene 1: Stancliff Manor, late afternoon. Olivia's room is considerably brighter and fresher than it had been the night before, but the atmosphere is still grim. Olivia, refreshed but tired, sits in bed looking anxiously at the bassinet by the fire. Grace is walking from the bassinet, looking haggard.
Olivia: Any better?
Grace: The same as before.
Olivia: No better?
Grace: I'm sorry, not as far as I can tell.
Olivia: Sinks into her pillows in frustration, moans. I just can't take it anymore. I wish Aunt Mary would let Joey come in. He's harmless, and he may not get the chance.
Grace: Oh, Livie, don't say that! You don't know for sure. I'll sneak him in if you really want. He can hide under my skirt.
Olivia: With the gun?
Grace: I'll leave it in my room. Carey didn't tell you about that incident, did she?
Olivia: Yes, and we'll talk about it later. She gestures to the door, where Maggie is standing.
Maggie: There was an incident with a gun? Don't worry, I won't tell Mama. I came to tell you the vicar has arrived. Mr. Curtis will be up shortly.
Vicar: I am already here, Maggie. The others are on their way. How are you feeling, Olivia? You've certainly grown since I last saw you?
Olivia: We've met?
Vicar: I baptized you, and your brothers and sisters.
Olivia: Not Gracie. Grace, this is Mr. Curtis. Mr. Curtis, my sister, the baby of the family.
Vicar: Nods. Miss Marshall, a pleasure to finally meet you. You're a lovely young woman for, what? Fifteen?
Grace: Seventeen.
Vicar: Thinks. I've got a good memory. Wouldn't your sister—Julia was her name?—wouldn't she be seventeen?
Grace: Whispers. It was Carey's idea. Please don't tell.
Vicar: That Carey... Now, where is this baby girl?
Cut to: A short time later. Maggie, Edward, and the vicar stand close together at the head of the bed, close beside Olivia. Charles, Mary, Carey, and Grace stand nearby. Maggie holds the baby.
Vicar: Name this child.
Olivia: Stoically. Faith Chastity Kincaid.
Vicar: Faith Chastity Kincaid, I baptize thee in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.
Scene 2: The hunting cabin, mid-morning. John Henry and Elizabeth stand just outside the door wrapped in blankets and holding cups of coffee. Both smile.
John Henry: I still cannot get over the look on Nick's face yesterday. "But... but... the two of you... not here?"
Elizabeth: He must think he was left on our doorstep as a baby.
John Henry: He and his eight brothers and sisters.
Elizabeth: He has always been a sweet boy.
John Henry: Chuckles. He was different, all right. He begins leading Elizabeth inside. Come. We should get dressed.
Elizabeth: Must we?
John Henry: As inviting as that sounds, we've been up here too long.
Elizabeth: I am afraid things will be as they were before if we leave.
John Henry: No, no. We've settled all that. We've no more secrets, and we've left nothing unsaid.
Elizabeth: Speaks quietly. Yes, we have. I have. I do not think I have ever said it.
John Henry: By all means, let's leave nothing unfinished.
Elizabeth: Do not be so grave. It is not as hurtful as the other things we have said to each other. Je t'aime, Jean Henri.
Scene 3: Madison's cabin, mid-afternoon. Madison and Sally sit in a small, cozy sitting room. Beyond, through an open door, a kitchen and dining area can be seen. Above the kitchen and partially open to the front room, is a loft-style bedroom. A small fire is lit and the two sit with steaming mugs.
Sally: It sounds as if Dr. Jackson came just in time.
Madison: I suppose...
Sally: Only suppose? Madison, do you truly think you could have defended yourself against that man?
Madison: How would I know? I wasn't given the chance to see if I could or not.
Sally: You are no taller than I am and I'm told that... man was quite tall... I'm sorry. You must want to forget the entire incident. She takes a sip of her drink and smiles. Dr. Jackson seems to have taken quite an interest in you.
Madison: So I noticed.
Sally: You're not interested in him? He's very handsome. I've seen every single lady in town nearly stumbling over each other while attempting to capture his attention. Why not you?
Madison: Over the past few months, I've learned not to trust members of the opposite sex easily.
Sally: Why don't you tell me why?
Madison: How do I know you won't spread it around the rest of the town?
Sally: I can be trusted. I have my secrets, too. A very big one.
Madison: Can your husband be trusted, though?
Sally: Yes, but I don't have to tell him if you don't want me too.
Madison: I'd rather if you didn't.
Sally: I won't. Please, you need to tell someone. I know what it's like to keep a big secret.
Madison: I've already told someone.
Sally: Someone in Liberty Creek?
Madison: No, a good friend of mine back home.
Sally: But you cannot talk to her. Believe me, it is much nicer to say it aloud.
Madison: It's not something that's very easily brought into a conversation, I'm afraid.
Sally: Pauses. Neither is the fact that I had a baby out of wedlock, but I just brought that into the conversation.
Madison: That may be a dark secret to you, but mine is even darker still.
Sally: Sighs, slightly frustrated. Is it something you've done?
Madison: In a way, yes... but not directly.
Sally: What did that man do to you before? It is obvious that you've known him before.
Madison sits her cup down, stands, and walks over to where Sally is sitting. Kneeling down, she pulls her hair back to reveal a scar alongside her neck.
Madison: He tried to kill me.
Sally: Oh, dear! She gently touches the scar. That really is something you should tell someone. He's hurt you before, dear, and he tried to do it again. He should go to jail. You must send him to jail.
Madison: He won't even make it to the stand.
Sally: I do not know much about the law, but if he is called, he must go.
Madison: He won't have to. His father is too powerful. And even if he did have to testify, he would be able to talk his way out of any accusations I make regarding all the things he's ever done to me.
Sally: You really should speak with John Henry, then. I know Mr. Carrol is going to help you, but John Henry has high connections. Wasn't you father a senator? You must have some important friends.
Madison: Speaks softly. Yes.
Sally: You must try, at least. Even if it did not go your way, you would end up no worse than you are now.
Madison: That is where I am afraid you may be wrong. If I even try to go against Jonathan, and he ends up with no punishment...
Sally: This is why you must make friends with people who can help you, or renew old friendships. You can be protected.
Madison: My father was the only one who ever could have protected me from him. That's why he's no longer living.
Sally: This man killed your father?
Madison: I did not say that.
Sally: What do you mean, then?
Madison: It was merely a... spiritual observation. Fate has a way of taking all protectors in the end.
Sally: I see... somewhat... do you plan to do nothing, then?
Madison: I suppose something should be done. God protect me if he is not made to pay for his sins.
Sally: Then you must try to make him pay. Nothing will happen unless you speak out.
Madison: I am afraid that if I do speak out, against all that he is done, I will become a social leper. Not even Jack will want to have anything to do with me...
Sally: But do you really want him to hurt someone else?
Madison: Not if I can prevent it.
Scene 4: Stancliff Manor, the next morning. Olivia is lying in bed with the baby in her arms. Grace has just entered.
Olivia: Well?
Joey: Crawls out from under the skirts. Mama!
Olivia: Darling, I'm so happy to see you. Come here, and be careful.
Joey pulls himself onto the bed and crawls over to his mother, whom he promptely kisses.
Joey: Is that my sister?
Olivia: She sure is, Joey. Her name is Faith. Be very careful. She is... sick.
Joey: Gently brushes the baby's cheek. Can I give her a kiss?
Olivia: Be very, very gentle.
Joey leans over slowly and carefully kisses the baby on the forehead.
Joey: I miss you, Mama.
Olivia: I miss you, too, honey. We can spend more time together when Faith is stronger. But you're having fun with your cousins, aren't you?
Joey: Makes a face. Connie made me wear a dress.
Olivia: Oh, dear!
Joey: But I like playing with Prinnie.
Olivia: That's good. The baby starts to wimper. You should go out and play now, darling, before your Aunt Mary finds you in here.
Joey runs from the room and Grace goes to the bed, concerned.
Grace: Is she all right?
Olivia: I believe she is just hungry. Do you mind?
Grace shakes her head "no" and sits with Olivia on the bed as Olivia begins to feed the tiny infant.
Olivia: So, tell me about the incident with gun. And why did you tell Mr. Curtis that you were seventeen. I just recalled that.
Grace: Carey wanted to introduce me to society but felt fifteen was too young, that is all.
Olivia: And the gun?
Grace: Carey has five gentlemen friends in Marshton—like brothers, she says, but I think she's attracted to at least two of them. Three of them were target shooting. One was winning far beyond the others and one did not hit even one. So, on his last shot, when no one was looking, I used my gun at the same moment he did. He was very happy.
Olivia: Carey made it sound much worse.
Grace: Carey shouldn't have mentioned it. She didn't think I would tell. It seems the gentleman who did so well had seen me shoot. He thought it was a chance occurence. I challenged and one. He was my servant for a week. Then he challenged me to try archery. It was even all the way through and I eventually tired of it and threw the competition.
Olivia: You lost on purpose?
Grace: I didn't lose a thing. If I won, he was my servant for a week, as I said. If he won, he was allowed to have his way with Carey. I didn't force Carey to agree with that. He was just claiming his prize when word came of you. I think they're attracted to each other but won't admit it. Her fellows are wonderful. You can do or say anything and they won't tell a soul.
Olivia: Why, then, are you hiding all your best talents? Why are you suddenly acting like the perfect lady Maman always wanted you to be?
Grace: I... I tired of it, is all.
Olivia: Suspicious. Gracie... Don't lie to me. We've been through too much together.
Grace: Pauses, takes a deep breath. It's been since I told you everything. I realized I was exactly like... like...
Olivia: Stuart. It is all right to say her name.
Grace: I didn't want to be anything like her. She was a liar, a coward, and a... a whore.
Olivia: Don't be so harsh, Grace. I've been thinking a lot about it lately. I've had the time. I was angry with her, of course, but Joe is just as much to blame. He knew about her and didn't tell anyone. He knew about her for quite some time, or so Nick told me. Nick explained a lot to me, but I didn't even want to consider it until recently.
Grace: You don't blame her at all?
Olivia: Not as much as I did. Nick told me Stuart did not want to be found out at all. I do not think she planned to do... that... with Joe. And now she is in a worse circumstance than I am.
Grace: How can you say that, Livie? She deceived everyone and you're left estranged from your husband.
Olivia: I know why you feel deceived, Gracie, and that is part of the reason I'm still so angry with her. You will get over it eventually. But Stuart is pregnant, and she does not have the benefit of legitimacy for her child or a wealthy family to care for her. You should read the letter Nick gave me. You will understand better.
Grace: But I don't want to yet.
Olivia: You will have to at some point, Gracie. There are more important things in life.
Olivia lowers her head and kisses Faith's head, then gently squeezes Grace's hand.
Scene 5: Liberty Creek, mid-morning, several days later. A light rain is falling while Madison, Jack, Lazarus, Sally, and Freddie stand underneath the overhang in front of Mr. Howell's store. John Henry has just joined them, and the stage waits as the luggage is loaded.
Lazarus: Any response?
John Henry: Two. I'm sorry, Miss Taylor, but it seems Mr. Rutherford has already contacted his friends in high places. Promises have been made. I could go through several people and eventually get to the president himself, but I don't want to do that until it appears for sure that this won't go our way. I still want to have that opportunity in the future. It would be an international effort.
Madison: Thank you for all your help, Mr. Marshall. I was afraid that Jonathan might get word to his father before we had a chance to take him to court.
Lazarus: I haven't done it in a while, Miss Taylor, but I was a good lawyer.
Madison: I haven't doubted that you are, Mr. Carrol, but I know that Jonathan's lawyer will be just as good.
Sally: It will be all right. If, God forbid, it does not go our way, we will still protect you.
Driver: All right, folks, we're about ready to go.
Sally kisses Freddie goodbye and Madison receives a reassuring pat on the shoulder from John Henry. Jack helps Sally and Madison into the stage, but Lazarus waits to talk with John Henry.
Lazarus: Any word on which judge?
John Henry: Yes.
Lazarus: Hansen?
John Henry: I'm afraid so.
Lazarus: Damn.
The future of tiny Faith is determined Will Jonathan Rutherford get his just
rewards? Will Libbie let Philip out of the dog
house?
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