Episode 53
Episode 53: Early June, 1876
Scene 3 written by Heather
Scene 1: A sitting room in Belleterre, afternoon. The shades are pulled, but it's sunny outside. Olivia sits by herself, curled up in a plush chair in the corner in full mourning from the neck down.
A figure skulks past the window, opened but covered by curtains and shades. Olivia takes notice, reaches over to grab the fire poker, and hides it in her lap. The figure returns to the window and begins to crawl through.
Olivia: I'm armed, whoever you are.
The figure quickly steps through and stands where the light can show his face.
Olivia: Robert?
Robert: With fake enthusiasm. Surprise!
Olivia: I thought you were staying in Boston for the summer.
Robert: Promise not to tell anyone?
Olivia: I suppose.
Robert: I ran out of money.
Olivia: Lecher.
Robert: I know, I know. Leave that to Father and Maman. But... He notices Olivia's clothes... Why are you...?
Olivia: They didn't write you?
Robert: Probably, but I haven't been back to that address in quite some time. Livie, tell me who.
Olivia: Faith, my baby girl.
Robert: I didn't know. I mean... I didn't know you'd had her.
Olivia: Do you know any of it?
Robert: Any of what?
Olivia: Come sit with me.
Olivia stands, takes her brother by the hand, and pulls him onto a sofa. She ignores his cringing when she cuddles up against him. As she begins to relate the tale, he does the brotherly thing and wraps a protective arm around her, keeping it there until she's through.
Robert: If I had known I would have come to England with you. I needed something new. Boston got... dull.
Olivia: So... tell me about it. I've told you all my secrets.
Robert: Do I have to?
Olivia: Speaks with authority. Yes.
Robert: I stopped going to classes before Christmas.
Olivia: Oh, Robert, why?
Robert: I'm not going to tell you if you judge me. Olivia nods in agreement and tells and waves him on. University didn't suit me, and I'll leave it at that. And I did find a job, I just never mentioned it to Father... I may have lost the job, but I was good at it while I was there.
Olivia: What were you doing?
Robert: Banking. A friend of mine was the son of a banker, one of the first to successfully come back after the panic.
Olivia: So how did you lose the job?
Robert: I, uh... shall we say... deflowered my friend's cousin, my boss's most-favored niece. That was March. I had money saved... but I was gambling quite a bit. I was successful on several occasions, but these last weeks I had a terrible losing streak. I had just enough to come home.
Olivia: Daddy would have been quite happy with you if you'd kept the job.
Robert: I know... it really isn't all that bad. Rose's fiancé—
Olivia: Cuts him off. She was engaged?
Robert: Yes, and she came after me. I did nothing to discourage her, but she did instigate it. Anyway, Rose's fiancé had already done the original damage. Only my friend and his father ever knew about our little affair. Luckily, they also knew that Rose and her fiancé weren't exactly waiting for the wedding. Otherwise, I likely would have been forced to marry her.
Olivia: And I suppose that would've been the end of the world.
Robert: You know my feelings on the subject.
Olivia: I suppose. Why did you sneak in the window?
Robert: I didn't want to chance in on one of Maman's gatherings. You know how she can be.
Olivia: Maman has changed, brother, quite a bit... she'll probably still baby her darling little boy, though. She stands and pulls Robert to his feet. Come on. She's not home. She went to see Christopher and Lydia and the baby.
Robert: Baby?
Olivia: My namesake, but come. We can have a drink with Daddy.
Scene 2: Near Tess and Nick's little house, and hour later. Tess, Stuart, and the baby approach in a small buggy.
Stuart: Did anyone see us in town?
Tess: I don't think so. At least not you.
As the two approach the house, Nick comes out of the barn as he wipes his hands with a rag. He does not appear to see Stuart, and Tess is out of the buggy before he can help her.
Nick: Why didn't you wire me you were returning? I would have come to get you.
Tess: We couldn't risk it.
Carolina chooses that moment to let out a wail. Nick looks to Tess, than walks to the buggy.
Nick:You came all this way with an infant? And you? You only had the baby a few weeks ago.
Stuart: Are you going to help me?
Nick: Of course, I'm sorry.
Nick takes the baby, looks at it a moment, and passes her to Tess before lifting Stuart down. Stuart, in turn, takes the baby and makes her way into the house.
Nick: Whispers in Tess's ear. I thought she was giving the baby up.
Tess: Whispers. We have to talk about that.
Scene 3: Belleterre, afternoon. Madison is standing at a wall of books in the library, flipping through a copy of Hamlet. She doesn't notice Robert when he enters.
Robert: Taken aback. Madwoman?
Madison turns to face him, her jaw dropping open in surprise. The book slips from her fingers and lands open, face-down on the floor.
Robert: What the Hell are you doing here?
Madison: I would just as soon ask you the very same thing.
Robert: This is my home, but I imagine you knew that. I belong here. You do not. Why are you here?
Madison: Smirks. I'm the new schoolteacher.
Robert: A likely story.
Madison: It's true, Bobby. Do you have a problem with that?
Robert: Fumes. This is my home. I'll not have you calling me that childish nickname. I detest it.
Madison: Chuckles quietly. I know.
Robert: Ignores her. So what is the Gambling Queen of Rochielli’s Tavern doing in a small town like Liberty Creek?
Madison: If you absolutely must know, I came here because of you.
Robert: You always did have an obsessive nature.
Madison: Yes. You see, I seem to recall this one particular poker game in which you, Mr. Marshall, cheated me out of most of the funds my father had left me.
Robert: I never cheated you, Madwoman. I won that game fair and square.
Madison: Stop that!
Robert: Stop what?
Madison: Stop calling me "Madwoman!"
Robert: An eye for an eye.
Madison: You’re a real bastard, Bobby.
Robert: Perhaps, but I was raised a gentleman, so I won't actually say the word I'd use to describe you. Starts with "w", rhymes with "door"?
Madison slaps Robert hard across his face, leaving a red mark.
Robert: Do it again and I'll hit back.
Madison: You know, Robert, I would really like to know what you did with the portion of my money that you didn’t spend on booze and prostitutes.
Robert: And you'll never know, will you?
Madison: I'm willing to bet that your parents are clueless about what their dear, sweet son has become.
Robert: And what, pray tell, is that?
Madison: A drunk! You also haven't told them you haven't been attending classes for months.
Robert: How did you know about that?
Madison: You only told everyone at Rochielli’s about it that one night. You were probably too drunk to remember it, though.
Robert: And I'm willing to bet that no one in this town knows about your past, Madison. How do you think the parents would feel if they found out that their children are being taught by a swearing, racing, gambling woman? You have more to lose than I, so you'll not be saying a thing.
Madison: I stopped gambling when I left Boston, Robert.
Robert: It makes no difference, but I don't believe you.
Madison: Believe what you wish, but I would be willing to take you on again any day. It would give me a chance to prove that you're the cheater I know you are.
Robert: Folds his arms across his chest. So what are you saying, Madwoman?
Madison: I'm saying that I want a rematch. I want a chance to win my two thousand dollars back.
Robert: And what if you lose again?
Madison: Believe me, I won't.
Robert: As I recall, you were that confident that last time. What am I to gain if I win?
Madison chews her bottom lip for a while in thought.
Robert: I have an idea.
Madison: What?
Robert: If I win, again, you have to give me twice the amount I originally won from you.
Madison: I don't have that kind of money anymore, Robert!
Robert: I know. But you will once you fully inherit your father’s estate.
Madison: Sighs. All right, it's a deal.
Madison extends her hand and Robert shakes it to seal the deal. They stand glaring at each other for a moment, then pull their hands apart.
Robert: Name your time and your place.
Madison: Right here, in the library. Tomorrow night. I'll bring the cards.
Robert: Won't they find it a little strange that you're here?
Madison: I must have failed to mention that I am living here, as well.
Robert: I'll have to see about moving in with one of my brothers. As for the game, I'll be here.
The two stare coldly at one another for a full minute, then Madison quickly rushes past Robert and out the library doors. Robert stares after her, a forlorn look in his eyes. He bends down and picks up the book Madison had dropped in her shock and carefully places it back on one of the shelves.
Scene 4: Charles Marshall's London townhouse, afternoon. Carey, Grace, Laura, and Samantha sit in a drawing room after having just said goodbye to several gentleman callers.
Grace: This is fun, Carey, I don't know what you complain about.
Samantha: It is not fun. It is dull. Incredibly dull.
Carey: I'm inclined to agree with Sam.
Laura: I don't know. I enjoyed talking with a few of them.
Carey: You're new. Just wait. After a few years you'll feel the same way.
Laura: Are you saying insuating that I will not find a husband this year?
Carey: Sam and I did not find a husband our first years.
Laura: Perhaps that is saying more about you than me.
Maid: Enters the room. A letter for Miss Marshall. A boy just dropped it off.
Grace: Takes the letter. Thank you.
Grace slowly reads the letter, going over some parts several times. She smiles at parts, blushes at others, and giggles at a few. Her usual front is gone when she is finished as she sighs and rests the letter protectively in her lap.
Grace: Blushes and smiles. It is signed "Yours Forever", and that is all.
Carey: May I see?
She takes the letter, skims it long enough to recognize the handwriting, and shakes her head in concern.
Carey: Mumbles. Yes, I wonder.
Mary: Appears at the door. I hear congratulations are in order, Carey.
The voice surprises the young women and they all look up.
Carey: What do you mean, Mama?
Mary: Lady Beaconsfield has just congratulated me on your upcoming nuptials, my dear.
Carey: What?
Mary: My daughter, Lady Carey Marshall, daughter of the Duke of Stancliff, soon to be Mrs. Pritchett.
Carey: Hangs her head an moans. Oh, no.
Scene 5: Liberty Creek is one year old. Tess and Georgie have found happiness and success, as have the other friends they have made since they first met.
Georgie, seven months pregnant, sits with Gabe on a sofa in a sunny breakfast room. Steven sits across from them as they all eat breakfast. They talk and laugh and Gabe tenderly caresses his wife's belly.
At Belleterre, Louisa secretly sketches Robert's profile in the large family drawing room as the rest of the family gather around him. Elizabeth smiles, beaming with pride. John Henry holds Joey on his lap. Will, Libbie, Victoria, Nick, and Christopher sit with their spouses. Christopher holds his new daughter. The children play behind them. Even Annie, Bobby, and Kenny, infants a year before, join in the fun. Olivia is in the room, but she sits by herself forlornly gazing at the children.
Grace sit in a spacious drawing room with her cousins and some gentleman callers. Carey is forced to sit close to Johnny, but it is Scotty who watches her intently and with a hint of jealousy. Grace sits chatting with one gentleman, but only Carey notices Paul watching her. Charles, Mary, Connie walk by the door. Charles smiles and continues. Mary stops for a moment and looks on with a frown, but is soon urged forward by Charles. Connie, with her Prinny on a leash giggles before walking on after her parents.
In the middle of the night, Richard and Flora look in on a sleeping Jamie before standing on the veranda of their ranch-style home. The full moon illuminates the dozing cattle in the fields beyond. They stand closely together, both contentedly smiling.
In Liberty Creek, Lazarus and Danielle Carrol sit with Mrs. Pendergast in the shade in front of her home. Jack stands in the doorway, but steps aside just as Greta and David come out. Madison and Cole approach on the road, and Madison goes to visit with Greta just as David is called away by several friends. Cole approaches Jack. They talk for a moment, scuff their feet, and eventually shakes hands and smile. Some distance away, a shadowy figure drops a cigar butt on the ground and stamps it out before continuing his watch.
Stuart learns about Olivia's baby Louisa makes a decision regarding her artistic
future Madison gets her rematch
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