Episode 65
Episode 65: Late August, 1876
Scenes 1 and 3 written by Heather
Scene 1: Jack's clinic, afternoon. Madison and Cole are alone in a room together.
Madison clutches a handkerchief as she stares out the window, her eyes red and swollen from crying.
Madison: Quietly. How could this have happened? Was it meant as some sort of punishment for me?
Cole: Walks up beside his sister. This was not your fault, Madison.
Madison: How can you be so sure? She sighs. Who could have done such a thing, Cole?
Cole: I don't know, but I have a feeling that all fingers are pointed directly at you right now.
Madison: She turns to him. I may have hated Jonathan, Cole... but not enough to kill him.
Madison slowly makes her way across the room to Jack, who has just entered. He rests an assuring hand on her shoulder and whispers a few comforting words. Madison steps back from him when Sheriff Gowan enters.
Madison: Good day, Sheriff Gowan.
Gowan: Tips his hat to her. Miss Taylor. He clears his throat. I need to ask you a few questions, if you don't mind.
Madison: Of course not.
Gowan: This way, please.
Madison goes into the next room, Sheriff Gowan following her. Cole sighs deeply as the door closes behind them.
Scene 2: Meanwhile, at the hot springs, Hildy, David, and Ada have been playing there for just a short time.
Hildy and David, apparently playing a mother and father, talk together with their backs to Ada. Ada, feeling ignored, wanders off a short distant into the bush. After a short time she lets out a shriek.
Ada: Frantic, bees swarming around her. Hildy! Help!
Hildy runs to her sisters aid and pushes her out of the swarm. Some bees follow, but most remain around Hildy. Ada has not been stung. Hildy screams, though, as several bees land on her and sting. David eventually runs to her aid, and she is barely conscious as he helps her to the cabin. The bees have not followed.
David: Go inside and close the door, Ada. I'll get help.
David runs as fast as he can, and luckily runs into Will, Marietta, and Annie on another walk. He is breathless and can barely speak.
Will: What is it, young man?
David: Bees... Hildy... she's sick.
Will: God, everyone was supposed to be warned. Mari, take them back to the house. I'll go get her. Send someone for Dr. Jackson. He's probably on his way back to town from the lake. And Rilla at Belleterre.
Cut to: A bedroom at Will and Marietta's house. Hildy lies motionless in the bed while Marietta sits beside her holding a cold compress on her head. Outside, David sits comforting Ada, who is crying.
Will jogs upstairs and enters the room with a fresh bowl of ice.
Marietta: Where is Dr. Jackson?
Will: They had to go all the way into town to get him. I doubt there's anything to do besides wait.
A door bursts open down stairs and heavy feet thunder up the stairs. Rilla bursts into the room and shrieks.
Rilla: Hysterical. Oh, my God! She turns to Will and clutches at his shirt. Will... Will, what happened?
Will: The children were playing by the hot springs. The bees.
Rilla: Moans. Oh, God! She's allergic to bees. Where is the doctor? Why haven't you called the doctor?
Will: We have, we have. He's on his way.
Rilla nearly throws herself to the floor. She grabs the compress from Marietta's hand and pushes her out of the way.
Rilla: Leave me with her.
Marietta: Rilla, please...
Rilla: Screams. Leave me with her!
Will leads Marietta out of the room.
Will: Speaks to the children. Why don't you two go downstairs and see if Cook has something for you?
David whispers something to Ada, then takes her hand and walks her down.
Will: Poor Rilla... He shakes his head. First Markus leaves her, taking her son... now this.
Marietta: Skeptical. Yes, poor Rilla.
Scene 3: Jack's clinic, some time later. Madison has just emerged from the room with Sheriff Gowan.
Cole approaches his sister as she goes over to him.
Cole: How did it go?
Madison: I was forced to tell him the truth about everything... She lowers her voice. Well, almost everything.
Cole: What do you mean?
Madison: Lowers her voice even more. I told him Jonathan was trying to blackmail me, but I didn't tell him what Jonathan had against me to blackmail me with.
Cole: I see. What else did you tell him?
Madison: I told him about Jonathan's tendency to get drunk and then go out wandering around in places that are completely alien to him. And I also mentioned the fact that he never learned how to swim.
Cole: So they're letting you go.
Madison: I doubt it. I have a motive.
Cole: But you also supplied a perfect explanation of what could have happened.
Madison: Yes, but they might see it as a confession of how I committed the murder. Think about it, Cole... If I knew Jonathan was drunk, I could have followed him to the lake and easily pushed him in, causing him to drown.
Cole: Now, Madison... Really. I don't think that someone of your... stature could have pushed a fully grown man into the lake, whether he was drunk or not.
Madison: Perhaps, but...
Madison trails off as she catches a glimpse of Robert Marshall out of the corner of her eye. He walks over to Sheriff Gowan and whispers a few words to him. The two of them then go into the same room that had been used to question Madison. Robert looks back over his shoulder at Madison just before the door is closed, just catching a glimpse of the nervous look on her face.
Cut to: A short while later. Robert and Sheriff Gowan have just come out of the room.
Robert slowly walks over to Madison and Cole. Madison lowers her eyes, not wanting to face him.
Robert: To Madison. You're clear.
Madison: Puzzled. What on earth are you talking about?
Robert: I just supplied you with an alibi.
Madison: You mean you told him about...
Robert: No, I didn't have to. Don't worry.
He turns to leave. Madison quickly walks over to him and stops him.
Madison: Thank you.
Robert turns away from Madison and leaves. Cole walks up to his sister and taps her on the shoulder. She turns around and sighs.
Cole: I would like an explanation.
Madison: I figured you would.
Cole: So?
Madison: Whispers. Robert and I spent the night together on the night that Jonathan was murdered.
Gowan: All right, Miss Taylor. You're free to go now. Turns out Mr. Ruherford was a victim of drunkenness and a slippery rock.
Madison: Thank you, Sheriff.
Gowan: Good day to you, Miss Taylor.
Madison: Good day.
Madison shakes hands with the sheriff, then watches as he leaves. Madison is about to leave when Cole suddenly grabs her by the arm.
Madison: What is it?
Cole: I knew all along that you couldn't have possibly done that bastard in.
Madison: Smiles. Thank you for having faith in me, Cole.
Cole: This was no matter of faith, Maddie. I knew you didn't kill him.
Madison: What do you mean?
Cole: There is no way you could have killed Jonathan... Because I killed him.
Scene 4: Scotty's home, Marshton, early morning. Carey and Johnny have just arrived and are waiting in the drawing room, both appearing very tired.
Scotty: Arrives wearing a robe. So the maid wasn't lying. What are you two doing here?
Carey: I insisted as soon as we received your telegram.
Scotty: You rode in a carriage all night?
Carey: I slept through most of it. She stands and allows Scotty to hug her. I never, ever expected her to do this. How is she, Scotty?
Scotty: She was still alive last night. I just woke up. Haven't heard a thing.
Carey: I'll feel so guilty if she doesn't survive this.
Scotty: You? Why?
Carey: Because I knew what Belinda had done and why. I could have put the wedding off... or at least tried. It just isn't right.
Johnny: Can we get something to eat?
Scotty: Yes, of course. Come, Carey. I always take breakfast in my boudoir.
Carey: Stuff it, McLeod, this isn't the time.
Scotty: So there will be a time, then? Remember our bet.
Carey: Forceful. I said stuff it, McLeod. Johnny and I will take breakfast in the morning room. You may eat wherever you wish.
Scotty: You'll come around eventually.
Carey: Not bloody likely. I'm going back with Grace and I'll be there for quite some time.
Cut to: The Johnston home, a few hours later. Carey waits anxiously in Sir Roger Johnston's office.
Sir Roger: Enters. I apologize for keeping you waiting, Lady Carey.
Carey: It's quite understandable, Sir Roger. How is Allie doing? I came as soon as I heard.
Sir Roger: She'll live. He gestures to a chair. Please, sit. They both sit. I feel comfortable speaking about this with you because, though you are Mr. Pritchett's good friend, you have always been my daughter's friend as well. Allie is... that is to say... she is no longer in her right mind.
Carey: Oh, dear. Poor Allie. How long has she been this way?
Sir Roger: Since she found out Mr. Pritchett had betrayed her.
Carey: May I see her?
Sir Roger: I'm afraid she does not want to see you.
Carey: What is to be done?
Sir Roger: My wife and I have debated the possibility for quite some time. After yesterday... well, it was determined.
Carey: Yes?
Sir Roger: Please understand I've done considerable research in order to find the best. Lady Johnston has a sister in America, so we feel comfortable leaving Allie alone. We're sending her to a sanitorium in Virginia.
Scene 5: San Francisco, the Hewitt home, night. Gabe and Nick wait downstairs, both visibly nervous.
Gabe: I should be the nervous one, Nick.
Nick: You've done this twice before. I don't think I could stand waiting all this time.
Gabe: You could and you will. It doesn't matter how long you wait, it still feels like forever.
Nick: Do they all take this long?
Gabe: Some do, some don't. I am nervous, you know. I have played the waiting game before, but the last time was fifteen years ago and Louisa's mother had already had Steven. Georgie's new to all this. Staying calm goes hand-in-hand with being a doctor.
Nick: Grunts, stuffs his hands in his pockets. So, what do you want?
Gabe: What do you mean?
Nick: The baby. Boy or girl?
Gabe: It makes no difference to me. I have both, but I don't suppose it has ever mattered. What about you? Boy?
Nick: That's what Tess seems to think, but the more I think of it the more I think I might like a little girl. My sisters are far more interesting than my brothers. I think Tess would like a boy... for my sake.
Gabe: Beth–Beth was my first wife–was that way.
Steven: Enters, dressed but disheveled. I wouldn't mind another sister.
Gabe: I thought you were sleeping.
Steven: I was. She woke me up.
Gabe: You hated Louisa when you were children.
Steven: She got better. Did I take this long?
Gabe: Smiles. Longer. Much longer.
Tess shuffles into the room, visibly exhausted, and gives Nick a hug before turning to Gabe and Steven.
Tess: Smiles. Georgie would like to see you now. Both of you.
Upstairs, Georgie's grandmother has just finished washing and wrapping the sleeping baby when Gabe and Steven enter. Steven stands with Louisa, who has just finished washing her hands, and watches as the baby is handed to Gabe.
Georgie: Isn't he perfect?
Gabe: He?
Georgie: Yes, he. I hope you don't mind, I'd like to name him.
Gabe: You did more to earn that privilege than I did.
Georgie: You know my father's name was Jeremiah. I've moved the names around to make it sound more harmonious, but I've used all the ones I wanted to. How does Randall Stuart Jeremiah Hewitt sound to you?
Cole his more than a few things to explain to
Madison Marietta makes some accusations, but with
Hildy's situation touch-and-go they don't have the desired effect Georgie's recovery is disturbed by an
unwelcome well-wisher
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