Episode 55
Episode 55: Mid-June, 1876
Scenes 2 (second part) and 4 written by Heather
Scene 1: A sunny corner room at Belleterre, late morning. Nick and Tess have just arrived to find Olivia cradling Stuart's baby.
Nick: Approaches Olivia, speaks softly. Livie, you do know that's Stuart MacKenzie's baby?
Olivia: Don't speak as if I've gone mad, Nick. I know perfectly well whose baby this is.
Nick: Of course. How did you get her then?
Olivia: Stuart and I have reached an understanding. I don't blame her for anything. She knows she cannot care for her little Carey herself. She came here a little while ago and asked me to care for her as if she were my own. And she is Joey's sister.
Nick: Where is Stuart now?
Olivia: Gone. She was planning to walk as far as Boise, but I gave her my horse. Giving up her baby was very difficult for her. But she left this letter so I won't have any difficulty adopting her. I know you're Stuart's friend and you want to find her, but she doesn't want to be found. Here. Olivia shifts the baby and pulls a folded slip of paper from her skirt pocket. She left this letter for you. She has enough funds to start over with what she made selling your horses. Now, if you'll all excuse me, I must go change. It'll have to go talk to Joe eventually.
Scene 2: Moments later, all but Olivia and Robert have left the room.
As Olivia moves to the door, Robert steps in front of her.
Robert: Can I talk to you?
Olivia: If you're not going to discourage me from going away, yes.
Robert: No.
Olivia: All right then. Here, hold the baby. She lowers the baby into Robert's arms before he has time to protest. I have to get these shoes off. They're pinching.
Olivia sits on a small sofa and begins to untie a shoe. Robert awkwardly sits beside her, looking nervously at the child in his arms.
Olivia: What do you want to talk about?
Robert: I, uh... I need a loan.
Olivia: How much?
Robert: Remember I'm holding the baby.
Olivia: Suspicious. Robert...
Robert: Two thousand dollars.
Olivia's head twists so fast it makes a light cracking noise. She stares at Robert, speechless.
Robert: It's a matter of honor. There's a... young lady. She got herself into trouble gambling. I won the money off her originally, but she was certain I cheated. I did not, of course. I went on to lose all my money, but decided to submit to her rematch regardless.
Olivia: And she suddenly had a stroke of luck?
Robert: No, she still plays terribly. I threw the game. It was important to her.
Olivia stares Robert in the eye for a long while, then twists her head more and stares closer.
Olivia: You're telling the truth, aren't you?
Robert shrugs his shoulders and nods.
Olivia: I withdrew more than that this morning for my trip. I can get more later. Come up to my room.
Cut to: As Robert nears the music, a woman's voice drifts through the slightly open doors. Confused, he puts his ear to the door and listens.
Voice: Sings. Alas my love you do me wrong to cast me off discourteously; And I have loved you oh so long, delighting in your company.
Robert opens the door enough to squeeze in and stops short when he sees Madison singing as she flips through a book. Her voice reaches a crescendo.
Madison: Sings. Greensleeves was my delight, Greensleeves my heart of gold, Greensleeves was my heart of joy, and who but my Lady Greensleeves...
Robert: Sarcastic. Well, I certainly didn't expect to find you here.
Madison: Startles. What are you doing here?
Robert: This has been my home for the past fourteen years. It has been your home for the past fourteen days. Madison opens her mouth to speak. No, no. I don't feel like getting into anything right now. I have your money.
Madison closes her mouth, then opens it again in awe as Robert pulls a thick wad of bills from his inside breast pocket. She takes when he hands it to her.
Madison: Almost whispers. Thank you. Raises her voice. So, er... how long were you standing there?
Robert: Long enough.
Madison: So... get the snide comment over with.
Robert: Not today.
Robert turns to leave but stops in the door and faces Madison again.
Robert: You have a lovely voice.
With that, he walks out the door and disappears.
Scene 3: A London ballroom, night. Carey has just been deposited by the refreshment table by Johnny, who promptly found another partner.
Scotty: How are you this evening, Mrs. Pritchett?
Carey: Oh, stuff it, McLeod. You know it's not real.
Scotty: It might as well be. You spend all your time with him now.
Carey: Why, Scotty, you sound jealous!
Scotty: No, I'm just wondering when I'll be able to collect on that bet of ours.
Carey: It will not happen at any time in the near future, McLeod, so you can stop asking. My fiancé might just feel the need to defend my honor.
Scotty: Johnny? I think not. Scribbling with a pen is not conducive to developing physical strength.
Carey: Ignores him, instead watches Grace dancing with Paul. Has Paul said anything to you regarding what he's doing with Grace?
Scotty: He needn't say a thing. He's dancing with her.
Carey: You know what I mean. Has he spoken to you?
Scotty: No. What? You think there's something?
Carey: I haven't told Grace because I don't want her forming an attachment, but Paul has been sending her love letters. Don't even think about mentioning this to either of them.
Scotty: Grace doesn't know the letters are from Paul?
Carey: They're unsigned, but they're written in his hand.
Scotty: Why is it you don't want Grace forming an attachment?
Carey: She is going home again. Even if something were to form between them, it couldn't happen for another few years.
Scotty: Why not? They seem compatible.
Carey: It is more complicated than that.
Scotty: Tell me.
Carey: I can't.
Scotty: So after all these years you don't trust me? I'll bet Johnny knows all about it.
Carey: No, he does not. And I will not tell you. You're not being fair to me.
Scotty: And you're not being fair to me. You've known me just as long as you've known Johnny, but you've never— oh, never mind.
Scotty downs the rest of his drink quickly, then stalks off. Carey, shocked, can only watch him leave.
Scene 4: Madison's room, late afternoon. She sits marking papers at her desk.
There is a soft knock on the door, and Madison turns around.
Madison: Come in.
Maid: Enters. You have a visitor, Miss Talyor.
Madison: Who could it be at this hour?
Madison follows the maid out of her room and to the library, where the figure of a woman can be seen staring in awe at the mountains of books. Madison walks up to her slowly, not being able to tell who it is from behind.
Madison: You wished to see me?
Woman: Speaking in a blended accent. I have never seen so many books in all my life, Maddie.
Madison: Emily?
The woman turns around, her dark brown skin glowing with the warmth of her smile.
Emily: Surprise!
Madison screams with joy and throws her arms around her friend, embracing her in a big hug.
Emily: Now, now... She laughs, pushing Madison back. Don't go breaking every bone in my body. I'm an old woman now, you know.
Madison: Matter-of-factly. You're only five years older than me.
Emily: Really? Ever since I had Marie, I feel like I'm twenty years older than I really am.
Madison: Speaking of Marie... where is she?
Emily: I left her back home with Thomas.
Madison: Why? You should have brought her along. It's been so long since I've seen her, she must have grown quite a bit since then.
Emily: She has. But this wasn't meant to be a family vacation. I just wanted to come and see how you're making out here, and now that Robert has returned—
Madison: Cuts her off. How did you know Robert was back?
Emily: I met him when I got here. His father, Mr. Marshall, introduced me to everybody. I must say, they seemed a bit surprised when they first met me, but they were still very hospitable.
Madison: I can't see why... Oh! I see.
Emily: What?
Madison: I'd mentioned you to them before, but I never told them about your... ancestry.
Emily: In other words, they didn’t know that I'm black. You can say it you know, Madison. I don't mind.
Madison: I know, but I don't like saying it. It just feels awkward, putting a label on the one person you've confided in all your life.
Emily: Enough about labels and social standards... Tell me how things are going between you an Bobby Marshall.
Madison: Smiles. I demanded a rematch.
Emily: And you won?
Madison: Of course!
Emily: You really must tell me all about it.
Madison: Okay. We can discuss it after we get something to eat.
Emily: Sounds delightful.
The two women walk out of the library arm-in-arm, chatting and giggling like little girls as they make their way down the hall.
Scene 5: Olivia and Joe's house, afternoon. Olivia sits on the back porch with the baby in one arm and a glass of ice water in another.
Joe appears in the distance. As he nears the house, he sees Olivia and runs closer, then slows to a walk when he sees the baby in her arms.
Olivia: Calls across the distance. We're adopting her, Joe.
Joe: Reaches the porch steps. Does this mean you're...?
Olivia: No, and I must talk with you about that, too. I'm still not leaving you, Joe, and that was never my intention. I just need some time away from you.
Joe: I suppose I can understand that, but... Why have you decided to adopt this baby?
Olivia: She mustn't suffer for the sins of her father. She deserves to grow up with her father and brother.
Joe: What?
Olivia: I thought you would have seen her. She didn't mention it, but... this is your child.
Joe: I don't under– you don't mean... ?
Olivia: I met her yesterday quite by accident. Then today she came and asked me to care for the baby as my own. She's gone now... Don't just stare, Joe. You should hold her.
Joe: Walks up and lifts the baby against his shoulder. Does she have a name?
Olivia: Yes, and it's already official. Carolina Theresa Georgina. I think it is beautiful. I will call her Carey, after my cousin.
Joe: What about... what about our daughter? Faith?
Olivia: I'm not trying to replace her, if that's what you're thinking. I think about her all the time, but that does not mean I can't care for Carey. She deserves a family just as anyone else.
Joe: Pauses for a long while. You were going to say something about us? You came to talk about something other than the baby?
Olivia: I'm going away.
Joe: Away? Where?
Olivia: To visit Uncle Richard.
Joe: Australia? For how long?
Olivia: I don't know, I really don't.
Joe: And I suppose you're taking Joey.
Olivia: He needs me.
Joe sighs, turns, and stares out into the field.
Joe: Does not turn around. If that's what it takes for you to make your decision about our future... but I want Joey here with me until you leave.
Olivia: That's fair. I don't look forward to separating the two of you, you know, but I need this time. Being separated from you for several months will be better for him than having us separated for the rest of his life.
Joe: I realize that, and it's the only reason I'm letting you take him. How long before that happens?
Olivia: A week. I'll talk to him when I get home and send him to you tomorrow. You won't have much time with him today before his bedtime anyway, and he doesn't know about Carey yet.
Joe: First thing tomorrow morning.
Olivia: First thing.
Joe: I will miss you.
Olivia: I'll miss you, too.
Louisa visits the art academy in Philadelphia
with her father Madison is asked to the 4th of July ball, but
who is left feeling jealous? Does Grace realize what she's getting herself
into?
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