Episode 57
Episode 57: Early July, 1876
Scene 3 written by Heather
Scene 1: Boise, early morning. Gabe and Louisa have arrived just as the stage was about to pull out.
Driver: You're lucky, Miss Louisa. We were just about to leave without you.
Louisa: I am sorry. It was my fault.
Gabe: Thank you for waiting.
Driver: We won't be very late a'tall. You'll have company this time.
Gabe: Oh? He opens the stage door and looks inside. Good morning ladies.
Gabe helps Louisa inside, then follows her. They sit across from a woman and two little girls.
Older Girl: My name is Hildegarde Schmidt, but you can call me Hildy. This is my mama, and that's my sister, Ada. She's sick.
Woman: Hildy, don't be so forward. I'm sorry, sir. She extends a hand and smiles. Rilla Schmidt.
Gabe: Shakes her hand. Gabe Hewitt, and my daughter, Louisa. I am a physician. Would you mind?
Rilla: Oh, please. Gabe opens his bag and kneels on the floor in front of the little girl. This started soon after breakfast.
Gabe: What did Ada eat?
Rilla: We all had omelets.
Gabe: Fresh eggs?
Rilla: Yes. I collected them myself. We were at a boarding house. The owner let us stay at a lower price if I made the breakfasts. She was feeling poorly.
Gabe: That was like unrelated to Ada's illness. It hurts your tummy? Ada nods. She's slightly feverish.
Rilla: Is it serious?
Gabe: More than likely food poisoning. What was in the omelet?
Rilla: Leftover ham from the night before. I cooked that myself. No one became ill.
Gabe: Anything else?
Rilla: No, nothing.
Hildy: Yes, Mama, remember? Ada's favorite.
Rilla: Oh, yes, mushrooms. Ada loves mushrooms.
Gabe: That's likely it, then.
Rilla: But that man... I don't remember his name. He was one of the boarders. He was with me when I picked them and assured me they were all right. He ate some, too. He did not become sick.
Gabe: Ada is very small. Things affect children more severely than they do adults. It does not appear serious. It should only last 24 hours. I'll get some water from the driver and give her something to settle her stomach as soon as we get out of the city.
Rilla: Thank you so much, Dr. Hewitt. How much do I owe you?
Gabe: Nothing! You did not seek my services. I offered them.
Scene 2: A small garden behind Charles Marshall's London town house, afternoon. Grace sits on a stone bench, writing in a small book.
She does not notice as Paul Moody approaches from behind. He stands, silently watching her, for a short time before purposely making a subtle noise. Grace turns around, smiles upon seeing him, then quickly turns back to her book to hide her blush.
Paul: I apologize if I startled you.
Grace: You didn't.
Paul: May I sit down?
Grace: Yes. What brings you here this afternoon, Mr. Moody?
Paul: I came to visit the prettiest girl here.
Grace: Smiles. Carey went out calling with her mother.
Paul: I have re-thought that little devotion. I meant you, Miss Marshall.
Grace: Looks up into his eyes. There is no need to flatter me, Mr. Moody.
Paul: I wasn't trying to flatter you. I was being entirely honest, Miss Marshall... Grace. May I call you Grace?
Grace: I wish you would. Everyone did until I came here.
Paul: Grace, I came here to confess something to you. I don't want to... what I mean is... I want to express my... I don't want to shock or offend you, but I'm finding it difficult to say that which I came to say.
Grace: I am not easily offended, Mr. Moody, and I will soon recover from any shock. I am not the delicate flower Carey leads people to think I am.
Paul looks at her for a moment, then suddenly jumps up and walks around behind her. Grace starts to turn around.
Paul: No, please, don't look. I'm having enough troubles saying this as it is. He begins walking backward toward the house. I... I love you Grace.
Paul quickly disappears into the house and Grace, no delicate flower, is able to save herself just before falling from the bench in a dead faint.
Scene 3: Emily, Greta, and Madison sit in the shade on Mrs. Pendergast's front lawn, lazily sipping iced tea as they watch David play with some of his friends.
Greta lightly nudges Emily in the side. Emily looks at her, puzzled, but then sees the expression on her face. She clears her throat and turns to Madison.
Emily: So, Madison, what do you think?
Madison: About what?
Greta: About Dr. Jackson asking you to the ball.
Madison: Oh. Well, it was a great effort on his part, I must say. Not only has he had to put up with my constant moods lately, but he also had to put up with Cole's protective nature twice.
Greta: Twice?
Madison: Yes. First, when Jack thought he had been attacking me, and second when he asked to escort me to the ball.
Emily: I remember you telling me something about that first incident before. But what’s this about Cole being protective of you when Jack asked you to the ball?
Madison: I don't know how to explain it, really. When Jack asked me if he could escort me to the ball, it just set something off in him. Some sort of internal alarm went off, so to speak. He wasn't going to let me go at first, but I spoke up and accepted Jack's invitation.
Greta: Men are often protective of the women who are most important to them. My father was just the way Cole is.
Emily: I surely hope Thomas doesn't act that way when Marie gets older! The poor girl...
The women share a laugh, then Greta speaks up again.
Greta: So I assume this means that you have forgiven Dr. Jackson for that rumor he inadvertantly started about you?
Madison: Yes, but even though I have forgiven him, I will not forget about what happened. My father raised me to always keep bad memories in the back of my mind.
Emily: Nods in agreement. It helps you to be more thankful for what you have now.
Madison takes a large gulp of her iced tea and swallows it hard, holding back the tears of pain that only Emily notices behind her eyes.
Madison: After a long silence. I am not expecting much to come of this outing with Dr. Jackson.
Greta and Emily: In unison. Why not?
Madison: She shrugs her shoulders. He's just not the kind of man I'm usually attracted to. He's too straight-backed. I like my men on the rebellious side. She stares into the ice swirling in her glass. With dark hair, and blue eyes like the sky on a summer's morn...
Greta and Emily smile at one another as they notice the man she is describing nearing the house.
Jack: Walks towards them, smiling. To what do I owe the honor of having three lovely ladies such as yourselves sitting outside my office window?
Emily: Oh, hush! We married women are not for your browsing pleasure.
Jack: Perhaps not, but two of you... He gestures to Greta and Madison with his bag... are very much eligible.
Greta: I am sorry to disappoint you, Dr. Jackson, but I am far to old to be courted by a young man such as yourself.
Jack: Clutches his chest with a hurt expression on his face. Greta... I'm crushed. The two women laugh at him, and he looks over at Madison. She is still staring absent-mindedly into her glass. Is everything all right, Miss Taylor?
Madison: Hmm? Oh, hello Dr. Jackson. I didn't see you there.
Jack: Concerned. Is something bothering you? You seemed a little distracted.
Madison: Oh, no, I'm fine. Just a bit tired, that's all. This heat is starting to get to me.
Emily: Perhaps we should go home, then? I could use some rest myself.
Madison: Standing. That sounds like a good idea.
Greta: I'll come by later to pick up those dresses.
Jack: Have you been taking in sewing, Miss Taylor?
Madison: No, quite the opposite. Greta was kind enough to offer to alter some of my mother's old dresses for the three of us to wear to the ball.
Jack: Speaks to Greta. You're a seamstress, then?
Greta: I used to make clothes for the neighbors' wives. I made some good money off of it.
Jack: Are you looking for employment? I'm sure the Marshalls could keep you very busy.
Greta: I'll keep that in mind.
Emily and Greta take their leave, each receiving a kiss on the cheek from Greta and one on the hand from Jack. Emily and Greta smile knowingly at one another as Jack kisses Madison’s hand. As Madison and Emily walk away, Emily looks back at Greta over her shoulder. Greta winks at her, and she smiles.
Scene 4: The lake, late afternoon. Rilla and Hildy Schmidt drive in a small, one- horse buggy toward the building site. Workers are busy working on the second floor.
Rilla stops the buggy near the house and she and Hildy walk toward the back together. In the kitchen, the only room closed off to the outside, Mrs. Anders works with several kitchen maids making food for the next day. When Rilla appears at the back door, she remains unnoticed. Mrs. Anders turns, wiping her hands with a towel and taking a short rest, and stops short when she sees Rilla at the door.
Rilla: Hi, Mama.
Mrs. Anders nearly screams, then hugs her daughter tightly, leaving two faint handprints of flour on her back.
Mrs. Anders: What a surprise! It's so good to see you, honey. Why are you here?
Rilla: I can't visit my mama?
Mrs. Anders: Of course you can. And is this my little Hildegarde?
Hildy: Hildy, please.
Mrs. Anders: Yes, Hildy. She picks up the little girl and holds her on her hip. You're so big! Where's your sister and brother?
Rilla: Ada wasn't feeling well. She's resting at Belleterre with a doctor who's staying there.
Mrs. Anders: Oh, so Dr. Hewitt and Louisa have returned. And Konrad?
Rilla: Markus wanted to keep Konrad with him in Columbus.
Mrs. Anders: Oh, Rilla, do you really—
Rilla: Looks pointedly at Hildy. We'll talk about it later, Mama.
Mrs. Anders: Yes, of course. Let's go out front. She turns to the maids. You girls keep working.
Mrs. Anders puts Hildy down and the three walk toward the front of the house, standing on the porch to look out at the lake.
Rilla: So this is Nick Marshall's place?
Mrs. Anders: Yep, building it for his wife. Thoroughly devoted to that girl. It was a year ago now I was pushing him to get over his shyness and propose.
Rilla: And who is she?
Mrs. Anders: You don't know her, dear. She came here last February as teacher.
Nick: Obnoxious. My God, could it be?
Nick, Tess, Will, Marietta, and a walking baby Annie have approached from the side. Nick and Will approach more quickly and Rilla hurries down to meet them. She hugs and kisses them both quickly on the lips. Marietta and Tess, appearing thoroughly annoyed, look on. Marietta picks up Annie when she begins to fuss.
Tess: Who is that woman?
Marietta: I do not know that, but I know a brazen hussy when I see one.
Tess: Mari!
Marietta: Look at her. She could not get closer.
Tess: They just look like old friends.
Marietta: Very close friends.
Marietta walks up quite determinedly, with Tess following close behind, and sets Annie on Will's hip.
Marietta: Annie wanted to see her papa. She turns to Rilla and speaks with her most formal tone. I do not believe we have met. My name is Marietta Marshall. I am Will's wife. She pulls Tess beside her. This is Tess Marshall, Nick's wife. Who are you, s'il vous plait?
Rilla: Does not appear phased. My name is Rilla Schmidt, formerly Rilla Anders. Nine years ago I was in love with your husband... She turns to Tess and smiles... and your husband was in love with me.
The Fourth of July is celebrated The future of Grace and Paul is
determined Madison brings and abrupt end to the
festivities
© 1998, all rights reserved.
Get your own Free Home Page