Episode 77
Episode 77: Early January, 1877
Scene 4 written by Heather
Scene 5 written by Padeena
Scene 1: A Boise hotel, morning. John Henry descends the stairs with Georgie, Gabe, and baby Randall.
John Henry: I wish you both would stay longer.
Gabe: I wish we could, but there is an important hospital benefit ball we must attend.
Georgie: I know we spent most of our time visiting with Nick and Tess, but I enjoyed seeing you again.
John Henry: And I you. He takes Georgie's hand and kisses it. You are always such delightful company, Mrs. Hewitt.
Gabe: I meant to bring this up earlier, John, but I've noticed Steven and Grace are developing a... friendship.
John Henry: Laughs. Is that what you call it?
Gabe: It's hard to say what to call it when they are so young. If you are uncomfortable with Grace having a suitor feel free to speak with Steven.
John Henry: I was always uncomfortable with my daughters having suitors regardless of their age. Grace... she may be just sixteen but she knows how to handle herself. She has more sense than many women do when they're thirty. If it were Julia my sentiment might be different, but Gracie... she may be my baby but she's big enough to make her own decisions. Unless of course you're afraid my daughter will steal away your son and ruin his promising career?
Gabe: Laughs. Ha! No... they're just so young. It seems like it could be serious. And now with that fire at Steven's school... I'm glad Nick is letting him stay in the interim but Steven and Grace will be together quite a bit.
John Henry: Perhaps. He laughs at Gabe's serious expression. Relax, my friend. Your son knows his priorities and Grace does not want to marry young.
Gabe: When I was eighteen I did not wait for the benefit of marriage, my apologies, Georgie, and neither did my... friend.
John Henry: Grace knows the consequences if she were found to be in such a friendship. As I said, she has decided not to marry young. You have nothing to worry about, Gabe.
Gabe: I'll have to take your word for it.
John Henry: I knew you'd see things my way. Now, if you'll call for my carriage we'll get you to the train. I just have to ask at the front desk about that delivery I've been waiting for.
Georgie and Gabe approach a door man as John Henry walks to the desk.
Clerk: Good morning, Mr. Marshall.
John Henry: I instructed a package to be delivered here if it arrived on the morning train.
Clerk: Yes, for your wife's birthday. I am sorry, sir. We had several packages arrive from the train and yours was not one of them. Possibly tomorrow...
John Henry: It is her birthday today.
He goes tense and clench his fist, then takes a deep breath and turns to join Georgie and Gabe.
Scene 2: Upstairs at Belleterre, a short time later. Grace has just entered the outer room of Carey's small suite of rooms and knocked on the bedroom door.
Carey: Who is it?
Grace: Just me.
Carey: Well, I suppose you can come in.
Grace opens the door, showing no surprise at finding Carey laying in bed with Scotty.
Grace: Try to be extra discreet today, at least. It's Mama's birthday and you know what would happen if she found out what the two of you have been doing. She turns to Scotty. I want to talk to Carey, please.
Scotty: Would you throw me my trousers?
Grace walks to the end of the bed, picks up Scotty's pants, and hands them to him. He puts them on under the bed sheets, but she turns around anyway.
Scotty: Your mother would be equally scandalized if she found just how much you knew about Carey and me.
Grace: Oh, not quite.
Scotty gets out of bed and proceeds to put on the rest of his clothes before donning a full length robe. Grace sits beside Carey and waits until Scotty leaves the room.
Carey: So, what's the problem?
Grace: I'm attracted to Steven.
Carey: So I've noticed. I like Steven, why is it a problem?
Grace: What about Paul?
Carey: What do you think about Paul?
Grace: With Paul I was certain I finally knew what love was. By the time I got home I'd all but forgotten about him.
Carey: Do you promise you won't be angry with me?
Grace: About what?
Carey: Paul found out how old you were and went away so you wouldn't be insulted when he couldn't pursue the relationship any further.
Grace: Thinks for a moment. I don't know what to think about that.
Carey: I think Paul knew that you both would eventually move on. I say move on. This time you will not be so quick to call it love.
Grace: How will I know?
Carey: I can't tell you that. I was in love with both Johnny and Frank when I was fifteen and sixteen. I didn't say anything, of course. After a while I just realized that it wasn't romantic love. I loved them, but as if they were family. Take my relationship with Johnny now, for instance. We are so intimate many would assume we were lovers. We embrace, sit very close... but the thought of being romantic with him comes close to repulsing me.
Grace: And it doesn't when you think about Scotty?
Carey: Laughs. Does it appear to? You must also remember that those types of feelings alone do not define true love.
Grace: All right... but what about Paul? I feel terrible about it.
Carey: Write him a letter, Grace. He will understand, I promise.
Grace: Sighs. All right. I'll let you get dressed now. She walks to the door, but stops. Do Johnny and Frank know you were once in love with them?
Carey: I tell Johnny everything, so yes, he knows. I didn't tell Frank. Not the sort of thing you want to confess to a minister.
Scene 3: Tess and Nick's house, a short time later. Wesley Knowlton has just knocked on the door.
After a short wait, Tess comes to the door and opens it.
Wesley: Good morning, Mrs. Marshall.
Tess: Mr. Knowlton, good morning. Please, do come in.
She steps aside and opens the door wider, allowing Wesley to enter. She takes his coat and hat and stores them in a nearby closet.
Tess: Has your buggy been taken care of?
Wesley: Yes, a boy ran around as soon as I drove up. I'm glad you husband decided to meet with me today, but I must say I've never taken part in a business meeting over breakfast.
Tess: I hope you don't mind. Nick wanted to meet with you today but this was his only opportunity. It's his mother's birthday, and we'll be spending the day with her.
Wesley: I understand completely.
Tess: Nick is outside tending to his horses and will be in shortly. Would you care for some coffee?
Wesley: Please. Do lead the way.
Tess takes Wesley into the warm, sunlit breakfast room. A fire blazes on the hearth and Andrew sleeps in a basinet nearby. Wesley stands over him while Tess pours the coffee.
Wesley: Such a beautiful baby. What is his name?
Tess: Andrew, for my father. She hands him the cup. Milk or sugar?
Wesley: Sits. No, thank you.
Tess: Sits. Have you any family, Mr. Knowlton?
Wesley: Two children, grown. Alex is twenty-one and Evelina is nineteen. My wife Rachel died when Evvie was born.
Tess: Oh, I'm sorry. Did you never remarry?
Wesley: No. I enjoyed being a bachelor. My wife's sister and her husband helped raise Alex and Evvie.
Nick: Enters. Ah, Wesley. I'm sorry to keep you waiting.
Wesley stands and the two shake hands before sitting again.
Nick: I don't mean to talk the subject to death, but this whole resort thing really has come as a surprise to me.
Wesley: I don't mind at all. It is not Mr. Winfield's intention to make enemies with his new neighbors.
Nick: My father has still been unable to discover a thing about your Oliver Winfield, but that is not my concern today. Just what sort of establishment will this resort be, and why was this spot chosen?
Wesley: It is to be a health resort, and catering to only the best customers, so you needn't worry about that. By the time Mr. Winfield hired me, he'd already chosen the location. I imagine he had geological surveys and such. Hot springs are quite medicinal, you know. Perfect for a health resort.
Nick: The hot springs are no where near that area across the lake.
Wesley: Oh, no, you are wrong. It was quite hidden, there is one there.
Nick: No kidding?
Wesley: No, I'll show you myself some day. Mr. Winfield plans to offer a variety of activities for his guests. There will be indoor and outdoor spas, tapping into the hot springs, as well as several saunas. Swimming in the lake, of course, and boating. I planned to speak with you later about this, but I was also going to propose to Mr. Winfield that he offer horses for the guests, purchased through you. The clientele will certainly be impressed by your stock, and it will certainly expose you to a great deal of business.
Nick: Yes...
Wesley: The resort, it's tentatively called the Liberty Springs Health Resort, will bring a little culture to Liberty Creek, as well. The plans include a large dining room with a stage for singers—reputable singers, of course—and dramatic presentations. The employment opportunities for your neighbors alone are outstanding, and the revenues such an establishment would bring to the town.
Nick: Yes, I know, I've considered all the benefits. This whole venture, though, and your Mr. Winfield... it all seems suspicious to me. Too mysterious, too good to be true.
Wesley: I assure you, Nick, I would never get involved in any business dealing that wasn't on the up and up. Only the best can result from this.
Scene 4: Liberty Creek, a short time later. Cole has just walked out of the post office, a letter in his hand. Julia has just left the general store across the street and has spotted him.
She starts toward him, but stops half way down the stairs and starts to turn back. But she stops again, turns, and determinedly walks toward Cole just as he begins opening the envelope.
Julia: Good morning, Mr. Branden.
Cole: Startled. Oh, hello, Miss Marshall. Good morning to you.
Cole nods, tips his hat, and continues walking. Julia stands in her place for a moment, confused, then follows after him.
Julia: Mr. Branden?
Cole stops, somewhat frustrated, but manages to appear friendly when he turns around.
Cole: Yes, Miss Marshall?
Julia: I was... I was just wondering... well, with your sister out of town... I thought you might be getting lonely. Would you care to luncheon with my family and me today?
Cole: Thank you for the offer, Miss Marshall, but I'm afraid I'll be occupied with packing the rest of my sister's belongings all day. If you'll excuse me.
Julia: Oh! Oh, of course. Good day to you, then.
Cole nods and continues walking. Julia heads in the opposite direction, blushing and embarrassed. Cole removes the letter from its envelope and, without watching where he is going, begins to read.
Cole: Reads quietly to himself. “I write this as I wait for the carriage to arrive to take me to Boston where I will board the ship tomorrow morning. I am so sorry for sending you away, and hope you will forgive me. I wanted to spend time with Robert and I know how you feel about him. He will not be accompanying me to Paris. Write me at Aunt Vivienne's and tell me where you will be staying, and write often after that. I will do the same. All my love, Madison.”
He stops short and listens around him. He quickly turns and looks around, but sees no one. Putting the slip of paper in his pocket, he begins to walk swiftly in the direction of Madison’s old cabin. He hears a twig snap somewhere in the woods and stops dead in his tracks.
Cole: He shouts. Is someone there?
After a few moments of silence, he turns back to the path and continues up the lane to the front porch. Once again feeling eyes upon him, he turns and searches the darkness of the woods for some sign that someone is there, watching him. When he can find none, he unlocks the door and goes inside.
Scene 5: The Boise hotel, a short time later. John Henry is speaking to an acquaintance in the lobby and a beautiful young woman, followed closely behind by a companion, is descending the stairs.
John Henry glances at the woman briefly, then quickly turns his head to take a longer look, apparently confused at his recognition. He quickly finishes his conversation and follows the young woman to the front desk and observes her while pretending to look through the newspaper.
Woman: Speaks clearly with a slight French accent. I wish to check out please, Monsieur.
Clerk: Of course, Miss de Gironde. I will have a porter bring your bags immediately.
Woman: Merci.
As the clerk rings a bell and speaks to a porter, John Henry approaches the young woman.
John Henry: Excuse me, mademoiselle?
Woman: Oui, monsieur?
John Henry: Please pardon the intrusion. You don't know me, but you bear a striking resemblance to someone I once knew. I can scarecely believe I'm asking this, but is your mother Juliette de Gironde St. Laurent?
The woman is startled and does not speak. She looks down at her reticule and then back at John Henry. Seeing only kindness in his eyes, she begins to visibly relax.
Woman: Oui, I am Alicia Celeste de Gironde.
Elizabeth meets her niece for the first time,
and can only sympathize with her surprising tale Steven and Grace spend more time
together Who is following Cole?
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