Episode 71
Episode 71: Early November, 1876
Scene 3 written by Heather
Scene 1: Liberty Creek, shortly after dawn. Carey arrives at Jack’s clinic just as he does.
Jack: Well, good morning, Carey. It’s quite early, isn’t it?
Carey: Yes, but I wanted to see you before you left on your visits. Would you help me down?
Jack: Helps her down from the horse. I trust your ankle has healed well, then? Did you come to have me look at it?
Carey: No... yes... She laughs. Yes, it is healing. No, I didn’t come to have you look at it. It’s still a little painful when I walk on it, but I can still ride.
Jack: I’m glad to hear it. Why have you come?
Carey: I want to go with you.
Jack: Frowns. Where?
Carey: On your visits, if you wouldn’t mind. I want to learn about what it is you do, what doctors do.
Jack opens his mouth to say something, but hesitates and motions for Carey to follow him inside.
Jack: Come inside, it’s cold.
Carey: Follows him in. I want to learn about medicine. In England it “just isn’t done” by a lady. There are a lot of things I’d like to learn about that “just aren’t done” where I come from. Besides, perhaps I could be of some help to you. It’s the least I could do.
Jack: I appreciate the offer, but I don’t think I can accept.
Carey: Yes, you can. It would be easy.
Jack: No, it wouldn’t. It would involve long periods of time alone together in the woods travelling from house to house, sometimes even in the dark if a visit was long enough. Your reputation would be ruined.
Carey: Good God! Now men I don’t know that well are trying to protect my honor. I came here so I could forget my reputation and do some of things I’d always wanted to do.
Jack: I am sorry to disappoint you, but I cannot in good conscience allow you to do it.
Carey: Do I have to actually become a man before I can take control of my own life? No, don’t answer that. Good day, Dr. Jackson.
Carey turns swiftly and limps from the clinic. Jack sighs, disheartened, and slumps into his chair.
Scene 2: The schoolhouse, an hour later. David sits on the steps as Hildy and Ada approach.
David: Stands. I waited for you.
Hildy: Where is everybody?
David: They all went home. Look. He points to a sign posted on the door. Miss Taylor is leaving town.
Hildy: How come?
David: It doesn’t say. Come on. My Aunt Hedda was baking when I left.
The three race the length of the street and burst into the clinic laughing before tearing off their wraps and scrambling upstairs.
Mrs. Pendergast: I say, what’re you three doin’ in here. You’re makin’ enough noise to wake my Hezekiah from his grave, God rest his soul.
David: Sorry, Aunt. School was cancelled. Miss Taylor has left town.
Mrs. Pendergast: She has? Well... Well, you three run on and play. I’ll have some nice bisquits ready in a moment. That’ll warm you up. My lumbago’s tellin’ me we’re in for a snow.
David: Thank you, Aunt Hedda. Where’s Mom?
Mrs. Pendergast: Already at work, dear. Run on, now.
Hildy and Ada follow David into his bedroom.
David: Apologetic. I don’t have any toys for girls.
Hildy: That’s okay. She picks up a pillow, a devilish grin on her face. We could have a pillow fight.
With that she smacks David in the side with the pillow and a full-blown pillow fight ensues. It doesn’t last long, though, before Hildy is hit hard by David’s pillow and goes crashing to the floor. Her skirts flying up and landing well above her knees.
Mrs. Pendergast: Calls out. Here, now! What’s all that noise?
Hildy: Nothing, ma’am! I just fell down.
Mrs. Pendergast: Be more careful, dear. We don’t want you hurting yourself.
David: Rushes to Hildy’s side. I’m sorry! Are you all right?
Hildy: Yes, thank you. Don’t feel bad. I started the pillow fight.
Hildy begins to adjust her skirts but David sees an odd bruise on her leg above the knee and stops her.
David: What’s that?
Hildy: Startled. Um... nothing. I... I bumped into a table in the dark.
David: Doesn’t look like it. He the series of round bruises. Look, it’s like someone grabbed you.
Hildy: No! I bumped into a table.
She scrambles to her feet and turns away from him. David walks to her and protectively puts his arm around her shoulders, but she shrinks away.
Hildy: That hurts.
David: Worried. I’m getting Aunt Hedda.
Hildy: Scared. Please don’t!
David: I’m sorry, but... He rushes from the room and into the kitchen. Aunt Hedda, Hildy’s got bruises on her legs and it hurt when I tried to hug her after she fell. She didn’t want me to tell you.
Mrs. Pendergast: It was right for you to do it. Wait here, dear.
Mrs. Pendergast walks into the bedroom and finds Hildy and Ada sitting close together on the edge of the bed. Ada is crying and appears a little fearful. Mrs. Pendergast smiles warmly.
Mrs. Pendergast: There, now. Everything’s all right. No need to be scared.
Hildy: I’m just clumsy, really. I bump into things.
Mrs. Pendergast: So do I sometimes, dear, but why don’t you let me look at your bruises. I have something that might make them feel better.
She lifts Hildy’s skirts and finds several more finger imprints. Hildy sniffles but doesn’t resist. Mrs. Pendergast gently undoes the back of Hildy’s dress and stifles a gasp when she sees the girl’s shoulders. She gently touches them, but Hildy cringes away. She takes a deep breath, smiles at both girls, and does the dress back up again.
Mrs. Pendergast: Do you have any bruises, Ada?
Ada shakes her head.
Hildy: Quietly. I’m the only clumsy one, ma’am.
Mrs. Pendergast: Yes, well... What’s say we go visit your grandmother, hmm?
Ada: I want Mama.
Mrs. Pendergast: We’ll get your Mama, but your grandmother is closer and she’ll make Hildy feel better sooner. Grandmothers work that way. You two stay here for now. She walks into the hall, closes the door behind her, and is soon met by David. Go get your mother, dear. We’re going to go see Hildy and Ada’s grandmother and we’ll need a buggy.
Scene 3: Just outside Liberty Creek, early morning. The stage drives away from town with Madison the only passenger. Jack rides horseback along the road in the opposite direction.
Madison knocks on the ceiling, signalling the driver to stop.
Driver: Only for a moment, ma’am. It looks like snow and we don’t want to be on the road when it starts.
Jack stops when the stage does but refuses to look at Madison when she leans out the window.
Madison: Good morning, Jack. He ignores her. Jack, I really am sorry—
Jack turns swiftly and takes a few quick steps toward the stage, stopping just inches from Madison’s face.
Jack: Angrily whispers. I know tact is difficult for you, but kindly refrain from humiliating me further. The entire town doesn’t know yet. I’d like to keep it that way.
Madison: Jack—
Jack: Why on earth would you wait till the day it was to be announced to call it off? Why not before? Why did you accept at all? Breaking my heart is one thing, but breaking my grandmother’s is entirely different.
Madison: I will apologize to your grandmother. And I know there is no point in apologizing to you now, but I hope you’ll accept it in the future. At least the whole town doesn’t know.
Jack: Damnit, you b— He takes a deep breath and exhales. The only people that matter to me already know. My grandparents here, I had already wired my family in Philadelphia, you know. They were planning to come here. And let’s not forget the telegraph operator, John Henry and his wife, your brother, Greta, who else? Robert Marshall, probably Julia.
Madison: I’m the one at fault, not you. They should know that.
Jack: You don’t get it, do you? I really don’t know what I was thinking. You’re barely out of childhood.
Madison: I— I felt we were rushing into it. It’s better that I stopped it now rather than after we married.
Jack: That’s funny... I didn’t ask you until I knew I was ready. You even took time to think about your answer. I suppose it was foolish of me to assume you were sure of it.
Madison: All I can say is I’m sorry. I’m going back east, to my home. I hope we can be friends when I return.
Jack steps back and looks up at the driver.
Jack: Thank you for stopping. You’d better hurry on now.
Madison stares back at Jack, still standing at the side of the road, as he quickly fades into the distance. She then pulls her head back in and closes the window, then shuts her eyes and lets out a deep sigh as she rests back against the seat.
Cut to: Belleterre, a short time later. Jack has found Carey in the music room.
Carey: Dr. Jackson, I didn’t expect to see you again today.
Jack: Yes, well... I’ve had a change of heart. If you want to follow along with me and learn about medicine you’re welcome to.
Carey: Oh, I’m so glad! Thank you.
Jack: Shrugs. Well... if you want to start today. I’m headed right now to visit a family of sick children, five of them.
Carey: Do I have time to change?
Jack: Quickly.
Carey: I will. Could you find my uncle and tell him what’s up? And get a horse for me?
Jack nods and Carey beams, then rushes from the room. Jack sighs, then slowly follows.
Scene 4: San Francisco, a short time later. Gabe sits alone at the breakfast table, but is surprised when Georgie enters the room fully dressed and presentable.
Georgie: What’s the matter, Gabe?
Gabe: What are you all dressed up for?
Georgie: I’m no more dressed than I was before Randall came along. I’m going to work today.
Gabe: Splendid! You’ve been moaping about the house for far too long. And Randall?
Georgie: Insulted. Coming with me, of course.
Gabe: Of course.
Georgie: Don’t mock me.
Gabe: Chuckles. There was a letter from Peter Carlson this morning.
Georgie: Stiffens, tries to appear nonchalant. Oh?
Gabe: He won’t be visiting as he thought. He’s taken ill.
Georgie: Oh. She turns away to the side bar to fill her plate with breakfast and smiles. Oh dear.
Scene 5: The woods near the hotsprings near Belleterre, a short time later. It is just starting to snow rather heavily, and the wind is picking up. Rilla and Tess are walking through the woods.
Tess: This was not a good idea, Rilla. I told you I had indigestion, we should not have walked so far.
Rilla: Perhaps not. I’ve always found it good to walk off indigestion, though.
Tess: I’m not so sure it’s indigestion now. She clutches at her abdomen. Oh!
Rilla: Oh, dear! The baby’s coming, isn’t it?
Tess: I believe so. We’d best head to, well, I suppose Will and Marietta’s house is closest now.
Rilla: You’re in no fit condition to walk anywhere now. That little cabin by the hot springs is just over here.
Rilla takes Tess by the arm and leads her over the rise, then helps her down the hill and inside the little cabin.
Rilla: I’ll get help for you. I’ll be back as soon as I can.
Tess: Pleads. Find Nick, please.
Rilla: Yes, I will. She leaves, closing the door behind her. I will soon enough. He’ll need someone to comfort him in his grief.
She pulls her wraps closer around her and hurries off toward home.
Cut to: The kitchen at Belleterre. The help has been cleared out and Mrs. Anders sits with her two grandchildren at a table, Nick standing nearby.
Hildy: It really isn’t that bad, Gran. I frustrate Mama sometimes. It’s not her fault. Ever since Konrad— She cuts herself off.
Mrs. Anders: What about Konrad, dear?
Hildy: Nothing.
Nick: Sits beside Hildy. Could you tell us about the night your father left?
Hildy: Mama doesn’t like us to talk about it.
Nick: It’s all right, really.
Hildy: Looks to her grandmother, who urges her with a nod. Mama and Papa were arguing. They did that a lot. Konrad was crying, too, and Mama... Mama didn’t want him to be crying. She came into our room and tried to hush him, but he wouldn’t. I pretended I was asleep, but I liked watching Mama take care of the baby. All she had to do was put her hand over his mouth and he stopped after a moment. She even shook him a bit but he must have been sleeping really hard. Then she picked him up and left the room. I heard her say to Papa to hold him while she fixed him something to eat. I guess Papa did, but I don’t know what happened because a while later Mama started screaming that it was all Papa’s fault, that he did it. I don’t know what he did but that’s when he left and... and I think he was crying, too.
Mrs. Anders: There, you don’t have to talk anymore. Why don’t you both go find David?
Nick anxiously watches the two girls leave the room, then turns to the old cook.
Nick: She killed... she killed her own baby and then made her husband believe it was his fault.
Mrs. Anders: Nick, you don’t know that.
Nick: What other explanation is there? The poor man was so guilt-stricken he up and left right there. He suddenly jumps from the table, toppling his chair. Mari was right... Oh, God! I left Tess alone with Rilla. Please, I know she’s your daughter, but... tell my father... and Grace, tell Grace to follow me, and to bring her gun.
Mrs. Anders: Nick, you can’t...
Nick: If she’s hurt Tess... just tell them. I have to go.
With that he tears out of the kitchen and sprints to the stable, racing out bareback moments later.
Madison finds Robert in Boston, but his
reaction is less than welcoming Another revelation in the Peter Carlson
mess Rilla is exposed, but it may be too late for
Tess
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