1212 - Everyone clutches his or her lottery slips in their hands, not opening them at first. Are we ready to announce? asks Flora. Everyone has an "I don't wanna be first" look on their faces. Let's get this over with, urges Quentin--I'll begin--and starts to open his. Flora stops him, insisting, I'll go first. She opens her slip--I drew a blank, she says. Quentin, too, draws a blank, as does Julia. I can't bear this! wails Gabriel. Be quiet, Quentin (?) orders Flora--be quiet, Gabriel. Morgan opens his--blank. Catherine? says Flora. Catherine opens hers and turns to hug Morgan, relieved. Catherine--she drew the X, says Gabriel hopefully. Catherine turns and shakes her head--no, Gabriel, she says, holding out her paper--I drew the last blank. It can't be! protests Gabriel, already trying to bolt. Open the slip, orders Quentin. Gabriel refuses and throws the unopened slip away. Morgan retrieves it--Gabriel, you drew the X and shall have to go into the room, he says. I won't go, insists Gabriel, backing away from his family, you hear me, I won't go! I'm afraid you have no choice, says Flora. This isn't fair, says Gabriel, looking as if he's about to cry. Listen to me--it's as fair as it possibly can be in a thing like this, says Quentin--you predicted you'd get it, now it's come true. You voted to jeopardize the lives of the three women, says Morgan, it's what you deserve--now please don't expect me to have any sympathy for you, because I don't! Morgan, chides Flora, this is a time to set personal feelings aside--whoever goes into that room deserves the sympathy of the whole family.
Gabriel runs from the room--you'll never get me! He closes the double doors, locks them in and races away. Morgan retrieves the key from a drawer; he and Quentin take off after their brother. Flora sits down. Poor Gabriel, she says, I wish it hadn't been he, or any of you--I'd rather that I had been chosen. They'd never permit that, says Julia--no, they have to find him and he has to go through it. It's not fair, says Catherine sharply--not to him or any of us--I think what you have done to Gabriel and us is revolting. She, too, flees the room.
Woods - Gabriel runs from his brothers, who are right on his trail. He hides and they rush past him, but they come upon him seconds later. The three siblings get into a fight. Either try to kill me or take me back now! shouts Gabriel, struggling in his brothers' grasp. You were headed for the village, weren't you? demands Quentin. Listen to me, pleads Gabriel. There's nothing to talk about, insists Quentin. I'll give you anything, every cent of my inheritance! cries Gabriel, near hysteria. All right, settle down! orders Quentin, silencing him
--you said if you lost, you'd take this like a man. I don't care about taking it like a man, says Gabriel, still struggling, I'm not going into that room, I can't, don't you understand that? We understand, dear brother, Morgan assures him, but it makes no difference. Gabriel, says Quentin, you're going back--I can hit you and carry you back--but tomorrow night, you're going back to that room. Gabriel's brothers drag him back to Collinwood.
We see the vase, then the slips, which Julia viciously crumbles and throws into the fire. Quentin and Morgan, looking as if they are escorting a prisoner, bring Gabriel back into the drawing room. You ought to be ashamed of yourself, Julia says venomously. Don't you start lecturing me, says Gabriel--there's nothing wrong with being afraid to go into that room. Any one of us would have been afraid, says Julia, but would have gone in with courage. That's fine for you to say, Gabriel retorts--you didn't get picked, did you? Are you aware of what your behavior has done to your mother? Julia demands. What does she expect? Asks Gabriel--what do any of you expect? What are we going to do with him, Aunt Julia? asks Morgan--if we let go of him, he'll just run away again. Keep him under lock and key in the tower room, says Julia. Not the tower room, protests Gabriel. You've given us no other choice, says Julia, even if you gave us your word you wouldn't leave, we could not accept it. Oh what a lovely little civilized family you are, sneers Gabriel. You'll be given anything you want until tomorrow evening, promises Julia, including all the liquor you need. You're really beginning to sound like an executioner, Gabriel accuses, preparing a last meal for the for the condemned man--why don't you get a minister, and have him perform the last rites? Quentin places his hand on Gabriel's shoulder. I'm not enjoying any of this, says Julia. Yes you are, says Gabriel--you all are--you're so glad that you didn't get chosen--where's Mother? She's in her room and can't help you now, says Julia, then adds, with disgust--take him upstairs. Come on, says Quentin, that's it, boys--and he and Morgan haul their younger brother upstairs.
Catherine paces her room. Julia visits her--I have something rather important to say to you, she says--it concerns certain attitudes you've had since coming to this house--you've been against the lottery from the beginning--it had to be postponed because of you--because it was postponed, Melanie became seriously ill. Are you accusing me of Melanie's illness? asks Catherine in disbelief. If the lottery hadn't been postponed, says Julia, she would not have been ill. That's absurd, says Catherine. Tonight, you tried to stop the lottery again, says Julia icily. When I saw that I couldn't, I agreed to go along with the feelings of the rest of the family, says Catherine. You're new here, says Julia, new to our ways--of course you're entitled to whatever opinions you have--but I would caution you not to try to impose yourself on this house too quickly. What exactly do you mean by that? asks Catherine I mean, says Julia severely, that you are not the mistress of this house. Is it your impression that I am trying to take over the family? demands Catherine. You are an ambitious person, says Julia--there's nothing wrong with ambition, as long as it doesn't affect the rest of the family
--we don't like change, we will not accept it. Catherine, her forehead creased, says, "I see--are you finished?" Not quite, says Julia, since you objected so to the lottery, I might assume you would do something to change its outcome--you probably think you're alone in feeling sorry for Gabriel--that's not true--we all feel very sorry about the ordeal he has to face, but not one of us would stop him from going into that room. And you think that I might, suggests Catherine. Yes I do think you might, says Julia--you would regret it--the curse must be appeased, and it's our duty as a family to appease it--there's no other way. Having made her point, Julia leaves.
Heading for the tower room, Gabriel is sandwiched between Quentin, leading the way with a lantern, and Morgan, taking up the rear. If you need anything, ring the bell, says Quentin. Thank you so much, says Gabriel sarcastically. Quentin tosses the key into the air, catches it, gives Gabriel a warning look, and he and Morgan exit, leaving the terrified Gabriel alone to contemplate what is to come.
Drawing room - We once again focus on the lottery vase on the table. Flora gazes at it with hatred, then moves it to the top of the armoire. Morgan and Quentin join her. How is Gabriel? asks Flora. He'll be all right after a while, says Morgan, he has a flask with him. I'd like the key to the tower room, request Flora, I want to go up and see him. I don't think it a good idea, says Quentin. I owe it to him to be with him now, says Flora. You owe him nothing after what he did here this evening, insists Morgan. He's still my son, says Flora, I don't care what he's done--perhaps I can give him some small amount of courage. Very small indeed, opines Morgan. I understand how you feel, says Quentin, but I think it would be very dangerous, you might even feel very sorry for him. He'll encourage it, Mother, adds Morgan. I'm afraid you might do something we would all regret very much, says Quentin. I give you my word, she says, I will only try to comfort him--which of you has the key? Morgan retrieves it from his pocket and hands it to his mother. Thank you, she says, and leaves. As Quentin pours a drink, Morgan suggests, one us should go up there while Flora is with Gabriel. No, says Quentin, her word is good enough for me--she said she wouldn't let him go, and she'll keep her word. Quentin drinks, an odd look passing over his face. Are you all right? asks Morgan. I just felt dizzy for a minute, says Quentin, that's all. Morgan glances at him sharply--would you like me to get Dr. Fletcher? offers Morgan. Of course not, says Quentin, I'm all right, it's been a very strenuous night. He leaves the room. Again, we see the lottery vase.
Gabriel, who has already drained his flask, licks the remnants hungrily from the top. He wanders the tower room, pacing like a caged animal. Flora comes in and gazes at him sadly. Gabriel looks at her expectantly, pleased--you've come to take me out, haven't you? he asks eagerly--tell me yes, I've been sitting up here the whole while, thinking how Mother always used to protect me in the past, and let nothing happen to me, and she certainly wouldn't let anything happen now, would she? Flora closes the door, staring at him. "You've got to show some mercy, please!" he begs. Realizing there is nothing encouraging in her expression, he turns away from her and sits on the bed. Flora sits beside him--we are helpless to change our destiny, she says--we were born with a curse and there's nothing we can do about it but try to endure it. Clinging to the bedpost, Gabriel says, "You're not going to help me, are you?" When the lottery was held last, your father drew the slip marked with an X--he spent the night in the locked room, he did so bravely and with a sense of family responsibility--you are your father's son, and it has fallen on you to carry out the most serious obligation this family has. Mother, I thought I was going to get some pity from you, bleats Gabriel, but all you're doing is encouraging me to go into the room. If I had drawn the losing slip, I'd go in without hesitation, she says.
That's fine for you! says Gabriel, angrily slapping his thigh, but you're you and I'm me and where does that leave us? (He sounds like a spoiled brat.) Where we started, says Flora, handing him a small booklet--you're your father's son and the tradition is yours to uphold--I brought you this--I thought it might give you some comfort tomorrow night. What is it? asks Gabriel. It was your father's, she says, his favorite book on meditation--he took it into the room with him that night. A fat lot of good that did him, says Gabriel cruelly, don't you know that isn't what I need?--I don't need a book of meditation, don't you understand? I understand very well, says Flora, what you need is something I can't give you. You can get me out of here, he says hoarsely. No I cannot, says Flora, much as I would like to, it's impossible--you were chosen fairly, and the one who's chosen cannot be changed. Gabriel lunges for the door and opens it, intent on escape, but Morgan waits in the doorway, blocking his exit. I'm sorry, my son, says Flora, I will pray for you. She leaves the room; Morgan locks the door. Gabriel sits on the bed, dejected, and picks up his empty flask.
Julia enters the drawing room and finds Quentin lying on the floor, loosening his tie as if it's choking him. It's hot, so hot, he moans
--Julia, stay away--it's the plague--the plague! Julia gazes at him in horror.
Catherine paces her room, listless and upset. Miserably, she leans her head down on the mantel. Morgan enters--I just came from Melanie's room, he says--she's weaker--I just hope she will last until tomorrow night. Until Gabriel goes into the room, says Catherine--and you think that will solve everything, don't you? What's wrong? he asks. Everything that's happened tonight, she says--this lottery is barbaric, terrible! There's no point in going through all this again, he says. Stop and think about it--clearly, she urges. I know how strange it all seems, he says. Strange? asks Catherine incredulously--I think we should all be ashamed of ourselves--we couldn't be more cruel to Gabriel if we just took him out and shot him to death. You're being irrational, he accuses. I'm the only rational one, she counters--I think it vicious to force Gabriel to go into that room. You're the one who thinks this curse is a farce, he reminds her, if you're right, nothing will happen to Gabriel when he goes in. Think of the torture he's going through right now, she says, shaking her head. Please, let's don't discuss this further, he says, let's just forget about it. Now you're beginning to sound like Julia, she says. He stands at the mantel--what is that supposed to mean? he asks. She came in here a while ago and decided to give me a little lecture, says Catherine resentfully--she tried to put me in my place--accused me of being ambitious, of trying to impose my feelings on the rest of the family. She had no right to do that, says Morgan. I admit, says Catherine, I do have opinions, but I always felt I had the right to express them without fear of retaliation--I've never been so humiliated in my life. I will see to it that it never happens again, promises Morgan. Their door opens; Julia enters--Morgan, come quickly! I want to speak to you about something, he says. There's no time, insists Julia--the plague--Quentin has the plague! Morgan and Catherine quickly follow Julia out.
6:05 - Flora comes downstairs--Julia, the doctor confirmed what we already knew, she says. By tomorrow night, says Julia, we may ALL have it. Yes, agrees Flora. The two go into the drawing room, where Morgan and Catherine wait. I think Gabriel should go into the room this evening, advises Morgan. No, she says, there's not enough time left tonight--whoever spends the night in the room must spend a full night--all we can do is wait and pray for Melanie and Quentin. And Gabriel, adds Catherine. Yes, says Flora--Morgan, I think Gabriel should be told about Quentin. I don't think that will give him any encouragement, objects Morgan. Quentin is his brother, he ought to know, insists Flora. I'll tell him, agrees Morgan. I'll come along and see if there's anything I can do, offers Julia. Left alone together, Catherine apologizes to Flora--I'll be in our bedroom if I'm needed--she leaves.
Morgan and Julia unlock the door to the to find the room empty.
He's gone! cries Morgan. The two of them look around.
NOTES: Gabriel has escaped--wonder how? He must have found a secret passageway out of there.
Interesting how Catherine objects to the family lottery and what is to happen to Gabriel. She is a newcomer, so skeptical, yet she's already seen two family members fall to the plague. Perhaps she shouldn't have married into it; Julia's already on her case about her bad attitude, and Catherine is a strong woman with her own feelings and opinions.
1213 - How did he get out? asks Julia. Morgan finds bed sheets tied together, hanging out the window.
This way, he says--what a pity it didn't break (he wishes death on his brother)--I'm going after Gabriel. Julia stops him--you don't know where he is or how far he's gone--we must have the lottery again--now, one of us must stay in that room tonight. No, says Morgan, he was elected, and it's going to be Gabriel. We don't know how long ago he left, says Julia--he may be in another town by now--no, Melanie is dying and Quentin might... He couldn't have gone far, insists Morgan, he didn't have any money on him--I don't understand, maybe I can--I'll go look for him. Maybe he hasn't gone far, says Julia, you may be right. Wait a minute, says Morgan--he went to Bramwell Collins! Bramwell wouldn't loan him any money, says Julia. Indeed he would--he'd do anything to spite me, says Morgan--especially our family--what irony--Bramwell Collins, the only man who wouldn't participate in the lottery--giving money to the loser--while a plague settles over our house. I doubt Bramwell gave him any money, says Julia, but we can find out soon enough--you should go to the stables and see if a horse and carriage are missing--I will go to the Old House and talk to Bramwell--he'll tell me if he's seen Gabriel. I doubt it, but it's worth a try, says Morgan. They leave.
Old House - Bramwell lies in bed. Hearing horses pounding by outside, Daphne wonders, who could that be? Any number of people, I would imagine, he says. Whoever it is seems to be in a great hurry, says Daphne, gazing out the window--it's Gabriel! Now you know--come away from the window, says Bramwell, irritated. He looks so frightened, as if he were being chased, says Daphne. Gabriel was born like that, says Bramwell, annoyed--now come away from the window. Daphne lets the drapes fall--Bramwell, she says, there's such sadness in Collinwood. Don't mention Collinwood, orders Bramwell, or anybody there again. If you hate them so, what must you feel for Catherine? asks Daphne. You know what I feel about Catherine, says Bramwell--she was trapped by them, lured into that house by its high style and grand fashion--by the inhabitants who buy everything they want. Except happiness, Daphne reminds him--they haven't been able to buy that. Morgan certainly didn't buy happiness when he bought Catherine, says Bramwell bitterly. You're being so unfair to her, I know she wouldn't have married Morgan unless she had great feeling for him, says Daphne. Are you saying she loves him? asks Bramwell. No, I'm not sure she does, says Daphne, but I know she must care for him a great deal or she never would have mar...never would have gone there. Bramwell smiles nastily--say it, he sneers--you said it before, you might as well say it again--she never would have married him. Bramwell, chides Daphne softly. Say it! he commands. All right--she never would have married him, says Daphne--I'm sorry if I upset you. It wasn't you, Bramwell says, you're a sweet, tender child, you'd never upset anyone deliberately. I'm not a child! she insists, I'm a woman!--well, I'm a rather young woman, but still a woman. Yes you are--aren't you? asks Bramwell, speculatively, looking at her as if for the first time.
I guess I made the mistake of thinking of you as the young girl I knew when I went away, says Bramwell--a great deal must have happened to you, tell me about yourself--I don't think I even know you. Do you really want to know? she asks eagerly. Yes, very much, he says. I don't think anything terribly interesting happened, she says--I just grew up, that's all--it's really funny, I always thought it would be different, but it's not different at all. You mean being an adult? he asks. Yes, she says. Why should it be different? he asks. I don't know, she says, I thought it would bring some freedoms that I didn't have as a child--I guess if I were a man, it would have, I don't know--but as a woman, well, I'm still living in Collinsport, as restrained as always, yet wanting so much to go beyond it. It's no better out there, I've been there, he says, but if you're so sure of it, go--you must have a sweetheart--marry him and go together. You make it sound simple, says Daphne, but I don't have a sweetheart, so that's out. I find that difficult to believe, remarks Bramwell. It shouldn't be, says Daphne--the young men want to leave Collinsport, too, and so they do, they go off and find jobs or go to school, some of them come back--but with wives--I did go out for a while with Gerard Stiles. Who? asks Bramwell. Don't you remember him? she asks. I guess not, says Bramwell. He's the man with the psychic powers, reveals Daphne, grinning, he taught me how to read palms--would you like me to read yours? If you want to, he says--do you think you can? I know I can, she says, no one else believes me--you don't really want me to. Of course I do, he says, holding out his hand.
She takes it in both of hers. What do you see? he asks. It's really very nice, she says, I don't think you'll believe it because of the way you're feeling now--but all that will change. Tell me what you see, he urges. I see happiness, she says, great happiness. Impossible, he says--when? Very soon, she says. You know I don't believe you, he teases, smiling. You'll find out, she promises. Julia knocks at the door--sorry for interrupting, she says, has Gabriel been here? I saw him ride by, says Daphne. He didn't stop--why should he? asks Bramwell--there's no reason for any of you people to stop here! I know you're bitter, says Julia, and I'm sorry, but I do need your help--we held the lottery last night--Gabriel was chosen. And? asks Bramwell. He ran away, says Julia. Naturally, says Bramwell. Gabriel wouldn't do that, says Daphne. You don't know Gabriel, insists Julia. What are you doing here, Julia? asks Bramwell--what has that got to do with any of us?--you think I was helping him? (Julia looks away)--of course you did--and Morgan thought of it--I'll wager he did--well I would have helped Gabriel--you can tell Morgan that--let Morgan and Quentin draw again. More is involved than Morgan and Quentin, says Julia--we all draw. The women? asks Bramwell. Catherine? asks Daphne. Yes, says Julia. But why? demands Daphne. Because she's a Collins now, says Julia, as is Bramwell. A fact that I'm trying to forget, says Bramwell. Julia closes her eyes--I'm sorry, I don't mean to continue old quarrels, she says--but if Gabriel comes here, will you keep him here for a while and let us know?--for Catherine's sake, if no other reason (shrewd, Julia)--because we've got to find him--if we don't, we'll have to have another lottery--and next time, Catherine could be chosen.
Or Morgan, suggests Bramwell curtly--good day, Julia. Without another word, Julia leaves. What's happening? Daphne asks Bramwell--why does Catherine have to draw? If she's so determined to be a Collins, says Bramwell, let her do as the rest of them do--let her draw!
Catherine sits in Collinwood's drawing room, exhausted. Morgan enters. Catherine calls him "darling." A horse is missing from the stables, reveals Morgan--I think Gabriel has gone into town, and I'm going after him. Catherine stops him--be careful--in his condition, there's no telling what Gabriel will do to you. I can handle him, he assures her. That poor, poor man, she laments--I just feel so sorry for him. Start feeling sorry for both of us, advises Morgan--if I can't bring Gabriel back, one of us might have to go into the room--I'm going to leave. Darling, please be careful, she begs, hugging and kissing him. I'm sorry for being abrupt, he says. It's all right, she says--You have every reason to act this way--and I'm sure you will find Gabriel. I must, says Morgan, and he must go into that room tonight. He goes.
Catherine is helping Morgan on with his cloak when Julia returns--Gabriel wasn't at the Old House, she says, but Daphne saw him riding by on a horse. What is Daphne doing with Bramwell Collins? asks Morgan. Catherine reacts, too. I suppose since Daphne has had experience as a nurse, she's treating the wounds that he got during the duel, says Julia. Catherine, you must ask Daphne to come back to Collinwood, urges Morgan--Bramwell is my enemy. Be sensible, says Julia, Daphne can't come here--this place is infected with plague--you don't want to expose her to it. You were just with her, right? asks Morgan--then she's been exposed. Stop it! Catherine orders both of them--Julia's right--I've been so involved with what's happening here I didn't even think of that--you can't go into the village--if Daphne's been exposed, it's too late for her, but the good people of the village must be protected--they must. The one thing we must do is bring Gabriel back to the house to go into the room, insists Morgan--if it's the last thing I do! He leaves, exiting the front door Julia left open.
Gabriel sits at a table in the Eagle, laughing, getting soddenly drunk. Morgan joins him. Sith down, invites Gabriel. Come back to Collinwood now, orders Morgan. Please, just for a few minutes, begs Gabriel. Morgan tries to grab hold of him, ordering him, come on. No, says Gabriel--sit down, please. What do you want? demands Morgan. I have something to tell you--I think this is going to surprise you, says Gabriel. Nothing you ever do surprises me, says Morgan coldly--revolts me, yes, surprises me, never. This is going to surprise you, says Gabriel--I didn't have to stop here, I could have gone right on going, but I didn't--I wanted you to find me here--I wanted somebody to find me. If that's all you had to say, Morgan says, you've said it, now let's leave. Wait a minute, says Gabriel, there's something more--you see, I knew I couldn't get away, really--I knew I'd have to go in there--and I know when I do, I'll die--and you know that may be the luckiest thing that ever happens to me--I'll die in there--I could go insane--insane! I know all about that, says Morgan impatiently, what are you trying to say to me? I'm trying to tell you that I'm willing to do it now, says Gabriel--I wasn't willing then, last night, whenever it was--but I am now--all I needed was one more day--a day of grace?--I needed my day of grace--and I just live one day at a time, anyway. Yes, that's all any of us can do, agrees Morgan, more gently. But now that this is gonna be my last day, says Gabriel--and it is my last day, you know that--I had to have one free day, just to be my own man, you know?--I did it and I'm ready to go home. I wish I could trust you, says Morgan. You won't have to trust me, says Gabriel--I'm going home to die! No more tricks? asks Morgan. No, says Gabriel, how can I trick my way out of it--wherever I'd go, it would follow me--I can't go through my life running away from it
--it would find me, whatever it is--I'm ready now--I'm going to go home, Morgan, and who knows?--maybe I won't die--maybe I'll be the first one to end the Collins curse. He rises, walking unsteadily, and waits for Morgan to come along with him.
Collinwood - Daphne and Catherine walk downstairs. Catherine, asks Daphne, why do you want me to stay away from Bramwell when you know he needs someone to watch over him until he recovers and you know I'm trained to do it? He can hire someone, insists Catherine--it's not good for you to be in that house--besides, you know it doesn't look proper. Morgan asked you to say these things, didn't he? queries Daphne. All right, yes he did, says Catherine, but I happen to agree with him--Bramwell has caused nothing but trouble since he came here--and it's not going to help matters at all for you to be in that house. You mean, counters Daphne, it's not going to help matters for Morgan?--I know he's your husband, but I would appreciate it if he would kindly stay out of my life--Bramwell's a strange, bitter man, and frankly, I think he's got good reason to be.
He's been working on you already, hasn't he? asks Catherine. He hasn't been working on me at all, insists Daphne--I just think behind that facade he shows to the world is a kind, gentle man, and he needs a friend--I'd like to be his friend. It frightens me to hear you talk like that, says Catherine--I know him so well--don't let him use his charm on you--it can be devastating--you'll be trapped, I know you will! You sound almost as if you miss that charm, remarks Daphne. Catherine doesn't reply. Morgan and Gabriel return; the latter drunkenly says, "Ah, it's my dear sister in law, Catherine!--and my dear brother in law's brother's sister in law, Daphne--welcome to our happy home, ladies!" Let's go, says Morgan, annoyed. Just a moment, says Gabriel, pulling away from his brother's grasp--Daphne, sweet Daphne--I've heard that the kiss of a good woman on a condemned man's lips assures his soul of eternal peace--and do you know I'm shortly going to become a martyr to our blessed family name?--so I think that calls for a kiss--and he leans in to get one. Morgan yanks him away--you're acting like a fool, he says. Laughing, Gabriel lurches into the drawing room, repeating, "A martyr to our precious family name!" Julia comes from the kitchen, walks past the other ladies and coldly asks Gabriel, where have you been? Isn't that obvious? he asks. Are you aware of what's been happening in this house? she asks. He rocks in his chair a bit before replying, that surely is a rhetorical question. Is it? she asks--do you know that Melanie is dying because you are such a coward? You shut up! orders Gabriel, suddenly sober. And do you know, continues Julia, that Quentin may very well die, and that would be because of you, too. You shut up! orders Gabriel again. And if they both die, continues Julia relentlessly, you will be murderer! This time, Gabriel again tells her to shut up, but rises from the chair and lunges at his aunt--"I said shut up!" That's enough, insists Morgan, grappling with him as Julia backs away. If she's going to call me a murderer, says Gabriel, let me have at her! Morgan shoves Gabriel back into the chair--shut up, he commands. She knows I'm going into the room, says Gabriel. Yes, says Julia, you certainly are, as soon as it gets dark--and I will take you there myself and see that you go in. Gabriel thinks that over.
6 PM - Drawing room - Gabriel listens to the clock striking the hour. Julia stands watching him, silent, as is he. Morgan enters--Gabriel, he says, it's time to go. Gabriel looks at his aunt, then walks, slowly, toward the stairs, Morgan and Julia following. They reach the room. Gabriel stares at the doors, licking his lips. He turns to his brother and aunt--"Goodbye," he says--just remember that I said my last good-byes with a sober, even voice." Morgan unlocks the door and opens it. Gabriel goes in.
Morgan closes the doors and locks them behind Gabriel. He and Julia gaze at each other in satisfaction, just standing there, gazing at the doors.
NOTES: Kudos to Chris Pennock once again for his excellent portrayal of the drunken, cowardly Gabriel. He isn't much better in this storyline than he was in RT, but at least he doesn't pretend he can't walk. Will he die or become insane in the room? His drunken speech to Morgan at the bar was touching, in some ways, and his final walk into the room, with dignity--combined with his sad little speech--also poignant. We knew what made RT Gabriel a bad guy, since we met Daniel and know he murdered his sons' mother. You have to wonder what Justin and Flora did to turn their son into a pathetic drunkard.
I enjoyed the conversation between Daphne and Bramwell about her growing up. He's noticing her as a woman, and in some ways, Catherine's warning is apt--Bramwell can be devastatingly charming--and we sense Catherine doesn't want anything to happen between Bramwell and her sister more for herself than Daphne.
Morgan does seem cold in so many ways, but now that his father's dead, I suppose he feels like the head of the family. His treatment of Melanie and Gabriel is terrible, and it's hard to decide whether he hates Bramwell more than Bramwell hates him or vice versa. At least Bramwell offered his hand to Morgan at the duel.
Julia is something of a bully in this storyline, isn't she? She's almost as hard as Morgan.
I felt sorry for Flora trying to imbue Gabriel with courage. That's a lost cause.
Love, Robin
