Episode 70
Episode 70: Late October, 1876
Scenes 1 and 5 written by Heather
Scene 1: Belleterre, noon. Madison and Greta stand to the side of Belleterre’s family drawing room as maids arrange various foods and decorations on the table.
Greta: Are you sure you won’t reconsider?
Madison: Greta... I have made my decision. Couldn’t you be a little more supportive of it?
Greta: I do apologize, but I never did like to see two people wed who were not completely in love with one another.
Madison: Jack loves me.
Greta: But can you honestly say that you love him?
Greta leaves Madison and takes it upon herself to direct a confused maid with a tray of food. Madison, left to her own thoughts, walks over to the window and gazes outside into the courtyard. As her eyes fall upon Jack, in conversation with his grandfather and Cole, she is thrown into a distant memory.
Flashback: Taylor Estate, November 1875. Madison sits quietly by the side of her father, who is lying on his deathbed.Sen. Taylor: Maddie... He coughs violently. I know that your feelings for Jonathan have changed.
Madison: Father, I—
Sen. Taylor: Cuts her off. I was not finished speaking, Madison. Madison drops her eyes in silent apology, prompting her father to continue. I do not want you marrying a man that you do not love. All I have ever wanted for you is that you have a happy future, and I will not be able to go to my final rest until I am sure that you will be happy.
Madison: I was happy...
Sen. Taylor: But you aren’t now. So if you see fit to break your engagement with Jonathan...
Senator Taylor begins coughing violently once more, and Madison goes to the door to fetch the doctor from the hall. The doctor listens to her father’s chest with his stethoscope and nods sympathetically to her. Madison kisses her father’s forehead...
Madison: Whispers quietly to herself. I promise, Father.
Grace approaches Madison, a letter in her hand.
Grace: Miss Taylor, Madison... I know our initial meeting all those months ago did not get us off to the most pleasant of starts, but I harbor no ill feelings toward you.
Madison: Nor I you.
Grace: Perhaps not after I give you this. She hands Madison the letter. I want you to know that I heard your last conversation with Robert the other day. I know you love him, and I know he loves you. He’s much too stubborn and hurt to admit it, though. I’m telling you this because he’s my brother and I love him. I want him to be happy. My cousin is at this moment tearing herself apart because she’s desperately in love with a man she’s known her entire life, but she’s too stubborn to tell him. She’s wasting valuable time with him... I don’t know what point I’m trying to make. I already spoke with Robert, but he was too stubborn to listen. I suppose I was hoping you would be the one to fix things with him.
Madison: I don’t really understand what prompted all this.
Grace: You had best read the letter.
Madison opens the unsealed envelope and removes the single sheet of paper inside. Unfolding it, she reads.
|
Dear Maddie, I know I promised to stay for your engagement party, but the thought of watching you announce your engagement to that insipid twit made me physically ill. By the time you read this, I will already be on my way to Boise. You know my feelings, but if you refuse to reciprocate, whether you truly love me or not, I will not stand idly by while you pledge your life to a man you do not love. I barely recognize Madison Taylor anymore.
Robert F. Marshall. |
Madison: Quietly, still stares at the note. Excuse me...
Madison walks to the doors, enters the courtyard, and approaches Jack, who is animatedly discussing his work with his grandfather and Cole.
Madison: Jack, I need to speak with you.
Madison takes him by surprise when she grabs him by the arm and leads him into a small, empty sitting room
Jack: What is so urgent?
Madison: I can’t go through with this, Jack.
Jack: His face freezes. What did you say?
Madison: I can’t marry you, Jack. I... I’m sorry.
Madison leaves Jack, dumbfounded, and rushes back to the drawing room. She finds Grace and pulls her aside.
Madison: Grace, I need a horse.
Grace: Why?
Madison: I’m going after Robert.
Grace: You should change. Ask maid to show you to my bedroom. I’ll have the horse ready in the stables in five minutes.
Madison: Thank you.
Scene 2: San Francisco, a short time later. Georgie rocks in a chair while watching Randall nurse at her breast. She appears to be in deep, concerned contemplation.
Georgie: I’ve made such a mess of things, Randall. How could I ever... my God, I actually considered doing it. Selfishness, I couldn’t have my perfect life disturbed. But how could I do that to your father, and you? I didn’t even try... are you finished? Yes, you’re sleeping.
Georgie lifts Randall from her body and places him in the cradle beside her chair. She readjusts her clothing and walks into the next room, heading straight for a desk by the window. She sets several sheets of paper in front of her, dips the pen in the ink, and begins to write.
|
Carlson, I am finished with this. I don’t know what has taken me so long. I am not Belle, I never was. Our encounters sickened me, and don’t for a second think they were consentual on my part. I was not in that life by choice. I was coerced, and I never saw a penny of what I earned until I took it myself and left. You are a sick man. You have a wife and two children, and you did when you were visiting prostitutes. There is no doubt in my mind that you are still. If you value your friendship with Gabe at all you will not continue with this blackmail. I am willing to forget your existence if you forget Belle Lovelorn. If you go through with it, you will lose Gabe’s friendship as well as your livelihood. I have contacts now who could bury you. Not to mention your wife and daughters. If you expose me, I will have nothing to lose by exposing you. Either way, you will never succeed in getting what you want from me.
|
Georgie slips the letter into an envelope, seals and addresses it, and applies a stamp. She slips it into her pocket before returning to Randall’s side. He has wakened and is fussing.
Georgie: Come, Randall. She picks him up. Let’s get ready for a walk to the post office.
Scene 3: The woods near Belleterre, mid-afternoon. Carey is walking by herself, blankly staring upwards in deep contemplation.
Carey is not watching where she is going. The path is wide and she takes all the right turns, but she pays no mind to the roots and rocks which litter the ground. Just as she adjusts her sable hat, her foot catches under a root and she falls to the ground. The palms of her hands are badly scraped as catches herself on the ground, but it is her twisted ankle that causes her to scream out in pain. She clutches it for a few moments, wincing against the pain, before lifting her skirts slightly and removing the shoe. The swelling is already noticeable. She manages to stand, but the pain is too great when she tries to walk on it. She finds a nearby log and sits.
Carey: Well, this should be an enjoyable experience.
Jack: Did you scream, miss?
Carey quickly turns to face Jack, who has come around the corner on the path.
Jack: I heard a scream while walking. Are you all right?
Carey: Gestures to her foot. I have twisted my ankle.
Jack: Oh, dear. I’ll look at it for you.
Carey: Sir, I don’t know you. If you would kindly go tell my uncle that I am here, John Henry Marshall.
Jack: I am Dr. Jackson, miss... would it be Miss Marshall? But you may call me Jack.
Carey: Actually it is Lady Carey, but you may address me as Carey. They have mentioned you, you were to be at the party. Quite frankly I’m glad my uncle cancelled it. I’m not up for parties.
Jack: Mumbles. Nor am I. He steps closer. May I examine you ankle, then?
Carey: Oh, yes, please do. I apologize for being so rude.
Jack: It was quite prudent of you. You didn’t know I was the doctor.
Jack bends and takes Carey’s foot in his hands. She winces as he applies pressure in various places on her ankle, then attempts to move it.
Jack: I’m sorry, but it’s the only way I can tell what’s wrong. You have not broken it. In fact, it’s only a mild sprain.
Carey: It doesn’t feel very mild to me.
Jack: The pain will subside substantially in a few hours. You’ll be able to walk on it in a day or two. I could carry you back, it isn’t far. If you wait here you’ll get awfully cold.
Carey: How gallant! Yes, please do.
Jack tries not to look at Carey as he picks her up. She puts one arm around him and their eyes meet momentarily. Both quickly dart them away and watch the trail ahead. The walk back is done in uncomfortable silence.
Scene 4: Tess and Nick’s house by the lake, a short time later. Rilla and Hildy are alone in the girls’ third floor bedroom. Rilla kneels before Hildy, who is crying.
Rilla: Hildy, please... you understand that Mama gets frustrated, don’t you? It very hard for me, with Papa and Konrad gone. Hildy, I don’t mean to. Please, stop crying. She pauses, and Hildy continues to crying. Rilla shakes her a little. Please! Stop crying!
Hildy cries even harder and Rilla gasps, covering her mouth in shame. She pulls Hildy close and hugs her tightly. Rilla: Oh, Hildy, I’m so sorry. It’s not your fault. You know that, don’t you? Hildy nods, tears still streaming down her cheeks. Will you forgive your mama, Hildy? Please...
Hildy: Chokes a little. It’s okay, Mama. I know you don’t mean it.
Nick enters the room. Rilla stands to face them while Hildy stays close at her side.
Nick: Is everything all right?
Rilla: Um... yes, everything’s fine.
Hildy: Speaks up quickly. I miss Papa.
Nick: I don’t blame you one bit. Ada and I are going into town. Would you like to come with us?
Hildy nods.
Nick: Good. You should dress extra warmly. It just might be snowing by the time we get get back. He looks up at Rilla. Don’t let Tess go too far from the house. She’s getting restless and has been pestering me to take her for a walk.
Rilla: You can trust me on that.
Scene 5: Liberty Creek, late night. Madison and Grace approach Madison’s cabin with a full moon’s light to guide them.
Grace: I can’t believe you didn’t make it in time. Robert did not have much of a lead on you.
Madison: I was so close...
Grace: Thank you for leaving that horse to rest in Boise. Nick would have killed me if you rode him all the way back here.
Madison: I hope it was all right to trust the livery owner.
Grace: Oh, yes, we do it all the time. That is one of our horses.
Madison: Thank you for riding back here with me. I know it’s late.
Grace: I wasn’t at all tired. Get some rest. You can do your thinking tomorrow.
Madison dismounts and hands the reins to Grace, who waits for Madison to enter the cabin before riding away. Inside, Madison does not bother with a light.
Female voice: How did it go?
Madison: Greta? Is that you?
Greta: Stands and steps into the light coming through the window. You did not make it, did you?
Madison: Slumps into a chair. No. Sighs deeply. I got there just as the train was leaving. I tried to catch up to it, but...
Madison puts her head in her hands and begins to sob. Greta kneels down in front of her and places her arms lovingly around Madison’s shoulders.
Greta: There, there... Perhaps it was not meant to be, after all.
Madison: Speaks in a muffled voice. It is meant to be, Greta! I can feel it in my heart...
Greta: Then there is only one option that is left open to you.
Madison: What?
Greta: You have to go after him... to Boston.
Madison suddenly looks up, her eyes red-rimmed and her face streaked with tears, and searches Greta’s eyes.
Madison: Do you really think I should go after him?
Greta: Only you can make that decision, Madison.
Carey and Jack become friends Madison goes on a trip Rilla’s secrets are exposed, but is it too
late?
© 1998, all rights reserved.
Get your own Free Home Page