Episode 54
Episode 54: Mid-June, 1876
Scene 4 written by Heather
Scene 1: The porch of Tess and Nick's house, early afternoon. Stuart sits in a chair, holding a sleeping Carolina, and has just dozed off herself.
Olivia: Oh! I didn't think you were coming back.
Stuart is jolted awake. Upon seeing Olivia at the foot of the stairs leading to the porch, she blushes and tries to hide the baby.
Olivia: Starts up the steps. It's all right. I mean, I knew you would have the child eventually. I don't even think I'm angry with you.
Stuart: You should be. I... I didn't mean for you to see me. No one was supposed to. Tess and Nick aren't here. They went to see how their house is coming along.
Olivia: Sits beside Stuart. I had the opportunity to do quite a bit of thinking in England. Well, before... And I finally started listening to what my brother had told me. At first I was angry with both you and Joe, but more humiliated. I thought it would be something that would be easy to forget, or at least forgive, and it might have been. But more things kept coming up. More things Joe had done, more lies. I found out he went to see you in San Francisco.
Stuart: I sent him away! I swear to God I did.
Olivia: I know, which is why I don't blame you. I've never heard anything but the truth about you after everything came out in the open, and from what Nick has told me you've tried to do the right thing from the beginning and I... I do commend you for that.
Stuart: But you shouldn't. I ruined everything. Ever since I lost my father's land, I haven't done anything right or good.
Olivia: You had a baby. A healthy baby.
Stuart: But I shouldn't have. You're Joe's wife, not me.
Olivia: It was just as much Joe's mistake as yours. Nick and Tess haven't told me anything. She pulls back the blanket and fornlornly looks at the sleeping child. Boy or girl?
Stuart: A girl.
Olivia: Stifles a moan. I think she takes after you.
Stuart: More my mother, I think. She's darker skinned than I. It will be hard for her being so different. My mother's father was a Mexican born Spaniard and her mother was a full-blooded Apache.
Olivia: She will be exotic when she grows up. What is her name?
Stuart: Carolina Theresa Georgina. Carolina was my mother's name.
Olivia: May I... may I hold her?
Stuart pauses, then slowly passes the baby to Olivia. Olivia looks down at the small bundle for a long, then sniffs and covers her face with one hand as she begins to cry.
Olivia: I'm sorry. I had a baby girl, too. She was too... and she died. She quickly passes the baby back to Stuart and stands. I'm sorry. I have to go.
Olivia runs down the stairs and soon disappear. Stuart remains seated, stunned.
Scene 2: Liberty Creek, a short time later. Julia and Louisa are approach Jack's clinic, Louisa appearing incredibly nervous.
Julia: I think this is just wonderful. I wish I had the talent you do.
Louisa: All my life I've wanted to be a doctor, though. I just don't want to get distracted.
Julia: Only for a little while. You are such a well-rounded individual. You could be a successful artist and a successful doctor, and you'll be admired more for it.
Louisa: I'm not looking for admiration.
Jack: Opens a window and leans outside. Good afternoon, Miss Hewitt, Miss Marshall. Out for a stroll?
Louisa: Actually, I've come to see you, Dr. Hewitt.
Jack: I'm flattered. Does this mean you've made a decision?
Louisa: It has.
Jack: Then by all means, come in.
The two girls pass through the gate and reach the door as Jack opens it for them. They enter and the three seat themselves in Jack's office, which doubled as a waiting room.
Jack: So... tell me, Miss Hewitt. Do you have good news?
Louisa: I thought about it, and wrote my father. I waited till I received his reply to make my decision. He wrote about my mother, and how she would have felt about all this. I didn't have to think much more after I received his letter.
Jack: And? You have me on the edge of my seat.
Louisa: I've decided to accept the invitation. My father will arrive in a few days and we will go together to see the school.
Jack: I'm so glad! Talent like yours should never go uncultivated. I'll wire the friend of my father's immediately.
Scene 3: Belleterre, late afternoon. Olivia is seated in the middle of her bed writing in a small, leather-bound book. A handkerchief is clutched tightly in her left hand, but she is no longer crying.
Maid: 'Scuse me, Miss Olivia. Telegram just came for you. From Austria.
Olivia: Australia, I think. She takes the paper. Thank you.
Olivia reads. "You have my deepest sympathies. If I were there I would take care of the bastard myself. All I have to offer is a safe home to stay and gather your thoughts without judgement. Lord knows I have no business doing so. Your loving Uncle Richard." Olivia carefully folds the paper, finishes her thought on paper, and gazes out the window, deep in thought. After some time, she gets off the bed and leaves the room. She walks downstairs, through the halls, and eventually makes her way to John Henry's office.
Olivia: May I speak with you, Daddy?
John Henry: Of course.
John Henry remains seated. Olivia rounds the desk and sits on the edge of it, her feet dangling in mid air.
John Henry: You haven't done that since you were ten. What's on your mind?
Olivia: You told me that you would support me in whatever decision I made.
John Henry: Yes. Have you made up your mind?
Olivia: I think so. I've just had a telegram from Uncle Richard. He invited me to come stay with him.
John Henry: Richard lives in Australia, Livie.
Olivia: I know, but... but I think it would be good for me to get away from everything for a while. I'd take Joey of course. He would think it very adventurous. What do you think?
John Henry: Despite what I think about your husband, I can only imagine what it would be like for Joey to be without his father for such a long time, but—
Olivia: Cuts him off. Joey was fine in England. He barely asked for Joe once.
John Henry: Speaks pointedly. But, you are his mother and I know you would never let your own feelings get in the way of Joey's needs. If you think it would be best for both of you, you have my blessing.
Scene 4: Belleterre, night. Robert is pacing the library, drink in hand, constantly checking the time on the clock. The clock reads five minutes before midnight.
Madson steps into the room holding a deck of playing cards in her hand.
Robert: You're late.
Madison: No, I'm not. I said midnight. It's eleven fifty-eight. That means I'm early.
Robert: Let's just get this over with.
Madison: Why, Bobby... You certainly are nervous for someone who is so confident that he will win.
Robert: Nerves have nothing to do with it. I'm tired and I feel I'm wasting my time.
Robert and Madison sit across from each other at a small table. Madison shuffles the cards with a flourish, causing Robert to roll his eyes at her and snatch the deck from her hands. He then deals and they each pick up their hands before rearranging the cards into a particular order.
Robert: How many do you want?
Madison: Placing a few of her cards face-down on the table. Three.
Robert deals three cards to Madison, then takes two for himself, replacing those he had discarded. Madison smiles.
Madison: Well, well, well.... It seems I have a five, six, seven, eight, and nine in my hand. That's a straight, if my memory serves me correctly. She places her cards on the table, revealing her hand as previously described. Beat that.
Robert: Pauses, frowns, lets out a long breath of air. I can't. He places his cards face-down in front of him on the table. I fold. Congratulations, Madwoman. You win.
Madison: I knew it! I knew you cheated! And I beat you, this time! Now you have to pay up.
Robert: I am a man of my word, Miss Taylor. You will have what's rightfully yours tomorrow before sundown.
Madison twirls herself around the room, then throws her arms around Robert and kisses him on the cheek. She immediately pulls away, clears her throat and straightens her posture.
Madison: Good night, Robert.
Robert: Good night, Madison.
Madison leaves the room and Robert slowly finishes his drink, taking several minutes to do so. He takes up his hand again and smiles to himself as he looks at the cards. He lays them down face-up to reveal a full house before removing all evidence of the game and leaving the library.
Scene 5: Tess and Nick's house, late the next morning. Tess and Nick approach their house on foot.
Nick: Are you sure we should be leaving Stuart alone for such long periods of time?
Tess: She needs time alone to think. I suppose now is as good a time as any to bring this up.
Nick: Bring what up?
Tess: The reason Stuart came here. She was never able to find a good family to adopt the baby.
Nick: But why did she come here?
Tess: Nick, she wants us to keep Carolina.
Nick opens his mouth to speak, but thinks again and walks on in silence for a while longer.
Nick: I don't want to lose Stuart as a friend. It would be hard for her visiting us and seeing her daughter call you "Mama."
Tess: But you'd consider it? Nick nods. Then let's go talk with her.
The two walk onto the porch and into the house, but find the front room empty.
Tess: Perhaps she's feeding the baby.
Tess walks to the first bedroom, knocks lightly, and opens the door. The room is empty.
Tess: She's not here, not the baby, either.
Nick: She's taking a walk then.
Tess: No, come look. Her bags, they're gone. And... She opens a few drawers... all her clothes, and the baby's, all gone.
Nick: No note?
Tess: Nothing.
Cut to: Belleterre, a short time later. Nick and Tess have just arrived, both on horseback. Elizabeth comes out to meet them, appearing quite distressed.
Elizabeth: I am glad you are here, Nick. We found them a half hour ago and did not know what to make of it. Olivia is to stunned to explain a thing. Venez, venez. Hurry.
Nick and Tess follow her into the house and into a sunny corner room. Olivia is standing at a window, her back to everyone–John Henry, Julia, Freddie, Sally, Will, Marietta, and the new arrivals.
Elizabeth: Two hours past she announced she was going to take Joey to Australia– Australia! Then a maid called her to luncheon and found her like this.
Olivia: You talk as if you found me unconscious on the floor.
Nick: Why is everyone here, Livie?
Olivia says nothing, simply turns around. Nick sees her smile first, then the month-old baby in her arms.
How did Olivia get Stuart's baby? Madison gets a surprise visitor, but her visitor
ends up surprising everyone else Robert swallows his pride and asks for a loan
to pay off his gambling debt, but is shocked by his own reaction when he goes to pay it off.
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