Episode 61
Episode 61: Late July, 1876
Scenes 2 and 5 written by Heather
Scene 1: A London ballroom, after midnight. The dancing still goes on. Carey and Johnny, Grace and Scotty, and Allie and Edwin dance without notice of the new pairing of Frank and Belinda.
Frank: My dear, Miss Marshall, if I didn't know I was drinking non-alcoholic beverages all evening, I'd think myself thoroughly foxed.
Belinda: It must be all the dancing and excitement, Mr. Pritchett. I know you don't get events as lavish as this up in the Lake District.
Frank: No, I'm afraid not. He stumbles, requiring Belinda's help to remain standing. I must apologize, Miss Marshall, but I'm afraid I must excuse myself.
Belinda: Goodness yes, you look as if you need to get away from the crowd. Come.
Belinda watches to be sure her other companions for the evening do not notice their departure from the ballroom. She leads Frank to a private room and seats him in a chair.
Belinda: Perhaps some punch?
Frank: Yes, I think that would help. I'm sorry you must do this. Perhaps you should fetch Allie or Carey?
Belinda: I wouldn't dream of it, Mr. Pritchett. Ruin their good time, too? No, you wait right here.
Belinda hurries from the room, heading straight for the refreshment tables. She prepares a cup with far more hard liquor than punch and returns to Frank's side.
Belinda: Here you go. It's sure to set you to rights.
Belinda hands Frank the cup. She must cover her mouth with her hand to hide a smile when he desperately downs it in one swig. She watches him, a look of great concern on her face, for several moments. He soon wavers she again stops him from falling over.
Belinda: My, you are feeling ill. She looks around the room. There doesn't seem to be anywhere to rest comfortably here. Come, I will help you upstairs. I'm certain the marquess would not mind if you were to rest in one of his many bedchambers.
Frank: Thank you for your unselfish concern, Miss Marshall, but it would be most improper. The gossips, you know.
Belinda: You do need to lie down, Mr. Pritchett, and I would hate to disturb one of our friends. Here, now. I'll help you to the door, then look outside to be sure no one is there. I'll be able to help you upstairs without anyone taking notice.
Frank: If you insist.
Belinda opens the door and is immediately noticed by two men, who stand some distance down the hall in discussion. They watch her curiously.
Belinda: There is no one, Mr. Pritchett.
She takes him by the arm and leads him in the opposite direction of the men, making sure Frank doesn't notice them. She passes a private staircase in preference of one closer to the guests. Just as she and Frank reach the top, three women at the foot of the stairs take notice. They look on in surprise, and talk amongst themselves. Belinda notices them and feigns helplessness as she positions herself to make it seems as if Frank is leading her, not the other way around. She takes Frank to the first bedroom she comes to, ushers him inside, them follows and closes the door behind them.
Scene 2: Belleterre, mid-day. Robert is sauntering around in the foyer, waiting.
Robert looks up and sees Madison descending the stairs. He walks to meet her.
Robert: Lowers his voice. Could I speak with you for a moment?
Madison: Of course you may.
They make their way over to a corner. Robert turns to Madison, his back against the wall, and takes one of her hands in his.
Robert: I just wanted to apologize for that morning in your room. It was highly inappropriate of me and I am sorry.
Madison: Stares at her hand in his. It is all right. I know you were just feeling concerned for me.
Robert follows her eyes and quickly releases her hand.
Robert: Sorry.
There is a knock at the door, and both quickly turn from each other to watch as a maid rushes to open it. The exchange between the visitor and the maid is not heard, but Jack is soon admitted.
Madison: Smiles. Hello, Dr. Jackson!
Jack: Good afternoon, Miss Taylor. Are you ready to go?
Madison: Just one second. She quickly retrieves her shawl from a nearby table and places it over her shoulders. All right. Now I am ready.
Madison makes her way out the door, calling goodbye to Robert over her shoulder. Jack smiles at Robert as the door is closed behind him.
Robert: Mutters. Ignorant ass.
Cut to: A grassy field. Madison and Jack are sitting on a blanket next to the opened picnic basket.
Jack: And so my brothers and I were forced to hide under the table cloth for two entire hours while my mother and her friends discussed the details of such things little boys, and perhaps grown men, should never know. She never knew, of course.
Madison throws back her head in laughter and Jack laughs with her.
Jack: What was your mother like?
The smile falls from Madison's face and her eyes become distant as her mind wanders.
Flashback: Taylor Estate, 1868. Young Madison is sitting in the hall outside her parents' bedroom, swinging her legs back and forth under the settee on which she sits. She stares at her hands, which she has placed in her lap, and nervously twists a tiny silver ring around her finger.Jack: I am sorry. I should not have brought up your mother. It was most indelicate of me.The door to the room opens and her father walks out with the doctor. Senator Taylor is a tall man, with dark hair and blue eyes. He slowly walks over to his daughter and kneels before her. He takes her into his arms and squeezes her tightly, then holds her back and looks at her with tears in his eyes.
Madison: Papa? What is wrong? Will Mama be all right?
Doctor: Steps forward. Your mother is very sick, Madison.
Madison: How sick?
Doctor: He kneels next to her father and lowers his voice. She is dying, Maddie. There is nothing I can do to help her.
Madison: May I see her, Dr. Ashton?
Dr. Ashton and Senator Taylor exchange looks. Madison's father nods slightly, and the doctor turns back to Madison.
Dr. Ashton: Yes, Madison. You may go in and see her, but only for a short while.
Madison gets up and slowly walks over to the open door. She looks in the room and sees her mother lying in the bed, looking very pale and weak.
Madison: Mama?
Madison quickly blinks as Jack's voice disturbs her thoughts. She turns to him and smiles half-heartedly.
Madison: It is all right, Dr. Jackson. She sighs. My mother was a very kind woman. And a very social woman. In the same day, she would often volunteer at the local orphanage and host an elaborate dinner party.
Jack: Your mother was a very charitable woman, I see.
Madison: Yes, she was. I remember how she used to take me along with her whenever she went to help at the orphanage. She would help the nurses take care of the infants, and I would play with the older children.
Jack: You must miss her very much.
Madison: I do. But, fortunately, I was young when she died, so I did not have time to form that special bond that mothers and daughters have when they are older.
She looks over at Jack, who is staring at the sky.
Madison: What is it?
Jack: It looks like rain. We'd better get back before we get ourselves caught in a downpour.
Jack helps Madison to her feet, then packs the blanket they had been sitting on back into the basket. They then walk off together toward Belleterre, not noticing the figure looming behind one of the trees.
Scene 3: Belleterre kitchen, a short time later. Rilla stands by a counter, helping her mother, while Hildy and Ada sit at a nearby table shelling peas. There is no other kitchen staff in sight.
Mrs. Anders: Rilla, dear, not that I don't mind you being here, but when are you planning to return home?
Rilla: There wasn't really a plan, Mama. I like it here, and so do the girls. I might like them to start school here in the fall.
Mrs. Anders: But, Rilla, what of your husband and son? Markus and Konrad?
Rilla: I've... I've had letters from Markus. He enjoys being with his son, and one of his cousins helps him out during the day.
Mrs. Anders: Rilla, Konrad needs his mother, too. I know this is your life, but I can't help being concerned for my grandchildren. And Hildy and Ada, they need their father. It's not my intention to tell you how to manage your life, dear, but—
Rilla: Snaps. No buts, Mama. If it's not your intention, don't. I'm an adult, and this is my life.
Mrs. Anders: Rilla, please. You lost your father when you were but a few years older than Hildy. She stops what she's doing, takes Rilla by the hands, and looks into her eyes. I know how hard that was for you.
Rilla stares at her mother until tears form. She wipes her eyes and turns to the girls.
Rilla: Hildy, Ada, you've done a good job. Why don't you go outside and play?
Hildy: All right. Bye, Mama.
Ada: Bye, Nana.
Mrs. Anders: Goodbye, dears. Have fun.
Rilla: Waits till the girls leave. Come sit down, Mama. I suppose it's time I told you the truth.
Mrs. Anders: Follows Rilla to the table. This sounds serious, Rilla. Why haven't you told me before?
Rilla: Because... She sobs, then falls to her knees and buries her head in her mother's lap. Oh, Mama, I feel so ashamed!
Mrs. Anders: Rilla, darling. She tips Rilla's head up to look at her, then wipes away a few tears. Darling, what is it?
Rilla: You must promise not to tell the girls, Mama. They can never know. I haven't figured out what to tell them yet.
Mrs. Anders: What, Rilla? You really are scaring me.
Rilla: When I left with the girls, Markus and Konrad weren't even in Columbus. The girls think Markus took Konrad to visit cousins for a few days. Now they think they're just waiting at home while we visit you. They're having so much fun here, they don't seem to mind the separation.
Rilla begins to sob again, and her mother can do nothing but comfort her. After several minutes, she gets Rills sitting in her chair again.
Mrs. Anders: There now, take a deep breath. She waits while Rilla complies. Now, where are Markus and Konrad?
Rilla: That's just it, Mama! I don't know!
Mrs. Anders: Dear, you're not making any sense.
Rilla: It doesn't make sense to me, either. I... I just woke up one morning and they were gone. Markus took my baby and left, Mama! He left me, and he left the girls, and he just disappeared.
Scene 4: Charles Marshall's London townhouse, late evening. Carey and Belinda stand in confrontation in the formal drawing room.
Carey: How dare you, you deceitful, common harlot? You deliberately got Frank drunk, then deceived him all the way to the nearest bed! You weren't even discreet about it! He is engaged to be married!
Belinda: You have it wrong, dear cousin. I admit, I suffered a failure in self control, but it is your friend who lured me upstairs.
Carey: Oh, stop playing the innocent maiden! I know that's how the rumors are going, but I know Frank. I also know you were the one fetching his supposedly non- alcoholic drinks all evening. What's your intention? Frank doesn't live the lifestyle you enjoy.
Belinda: I don't see why you're defending him! Men do things like this all the time, it's the woman's reputation that suffers for it. God forbid I find myself with child.
Carey: That's it, isn't it? You already were pregnant and the father refused to own up to it. Poor, unsuspecting Frank.
Belinda: Listen, Cous— She is interrupted by loud voices outside the room and scuffling feet. It can't be proven, so don't make the situation worse for everyone by bringing it up.
Just then a man and a woman burst into the room, followed by a frazzled butler.
Butler: I'm sorry, Lady Carey. Lord and Lady Benton to see the Miss Marshall.
Lord Benton: I want to see Stancliff right now.
Belinda: Runs to the woman. Mama, it's so terrible!
Belinda sobs into her mothers arms as her step-father and Carey stand by, annoyed. The butler leaves and Charles arrives a short time later.
Charles: Lord Benton, Ellen. I assume I already know why you're here.
Lord Benton: Richard left this girl under your charge, but I will not have her scandals disgracing my family.
Charles: I understand that perfectly, but Richard left her under her brother's charge, and he has yet to return home. What do you expect me to do about this situation?
Lord Benton: Mr. Pritchett's reputation as a man of God will be destroyed if he does not do right by my step-daughter. Use your influence to force him into marriage as soon as possible.
Carey: Shouts. No! She's pregnant already and it isn't Frank's child!
Lord Benton: Is this true, Belinda?
Belinda: No, sir. She sniffs. My cousin merely cares very deeply for her friend, as he is soon to be her brother-in-law. She obvisouly cares more for him, then for me. It is only a desperate defense.
Charles looks to his daughter, who vehemently shakes her head no.
Lady Benton: Mr. Pritchett has thoroughly compromised my daughter. She has no other choice but to marry him.
Carey: If that logic held to everyone, Lady Benton, you would have married my uncle instead of holding out while your father bought you a better match.
Lady Benton: Insolent witch!
Charles: This is my home, Lady Benton, and I'll chastize my own daughter, if you don't mind.
Butler: Appears at the door. Your Grace, Mr. Frank Pritchett and Mr. John Pritchett are waiting in the front hall.
Belinda: Send them away, please!
Charles: No, send them in.
The butler leaves and Frank and Johnny appear a short time later. Frank stands silent, his head bowed and his hands folded in front of him. Johnny stands beside Carey.
Johnny: Whispers. I tried to convince him otherwise, but he wouldn't listen to reason. I tried to tell him that we'd look into it, see if she didn't have other motives. Allie's in hysterics, her father wants Frank hanging from the nearest tree.
Frank: I have sinned, your Grace, and for that I apologize. I would not be able to live with myself if I did not own up to what I have done. It was a dreadful error in judgment, and although it pained me to break my engagement to Miss Johnston, I know it was the proper thing to do. I have come to ask for Miss Marshall's hand in marriage, if she'll have me.
Charles remains silent, hesitant to answer. Belinda continues to cry into her mother's chest. Lady Benton looks from her husband to Charles, waiting. Carey and Johnny stand by, waiting and hoping.
Lord Benton: Angry, demanding. Stancliff, answer him.
Charles: I will not be ordered about in my own home. It is not my decision to make. Mr. Pritchett did not ask me. If Belinda will have him, I suppose they must marry.
Lord Benton: Belinda, tell the man you accept his offer. He has asked you of his own free will, which is more than we expected. He waits, but Belinda doesn't reply. He raises his voice. Answer him!
Lady Benton: Calm. Lawrence, please. You can see how distraught she is. Give her time.
Belinda: Looks up at her mother. No, Mama. She steps away and stands on her own, looking directly at Frank. I accept Mr. Pritchett's proposal.
Scene 5: Liberty Creek, late afternoon. Cole and Madison are walking along the wooded path to Madison's cabin.
Madison: It was very kind of Mr. Marshall to allow me to stay with him and his family in their home while my cabin was being repaired, don't you think?
Cole: Yes, it was. He pauses for a moment before continuing. Madison, about earlier today...
Madison: What about earlier today?
Cole: I saw you talking with Robert Mashall. I can't help but wonder what you two were discussing.
Madison: I do not think that is any of your business, but if you must know, he was apologizing for what happened that morning in my room.
Cole: Is that all?
Madison: She lets out an exasperated sigh. Yes, Cole. That is all.
Cole: I have also noticed that Dr. Jackson has been spending more time with you lately.
Madison: Yes, he has.
Cole: And?
Madison: And what?
Cole: How is the relationship moving?
Madison: She shrugs her shoulders. Fine, I suppose. It isn't as if I'm pushing it any farther than it is going to go on its own.
Cole: Why not?
Madison: He's just not right for me. I mean, he is a really nice young man... handsome, intelligent, funny... But there's something missing... I don't know, perhaps I'm just not ready for another romance yet.
Cole: I can understand your concerns, but I still think you should give him a chance.
Madison: I will, I promise.
The two of them stop as they reach the front door of Madison's cabin. Cole gives his sister a kiss on top of her head.
Cole: You be careful out here all by yourself.
Madison: Smiles. I will. Don't you worry.
Madison watches her brother as he walks away, then unlocks the door and steps carefully inside the small cabin. She breathes a sigh of relief when she sees that everything is back in its normal place. She walks into the small sitting room and stops short at the sight of a figure sitting in the shadows.
Man's voice: Whispers hoarsely. If I were you, I wouldn't even think to scream right now.
Madison backs up slowly as the figure stands and takes a few steps toward her. She gasps as he steps into the light, her face contorting into fearful recognition.
Madison: You!
Olivia arrives in Australia What more will result from Belinda's
deception? Madison's visitor attempts to blackmail
her
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