EPISODE 77
Written by : Bre L. Drew
May 11, 2020
Last Time On Town and Country
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After a six month hiatus, it was revealed Peter suffered a massive heart attack and passed away. Leaving Louise, Martha, and Steven with his 50 % of the farm to be divided between them.
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Deirdre worried over her daughter's jet-setting lifestyle and the truth about the mystery of her paternity.
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Will Jackson was released out of prison.
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Shauna and Antoine decided to keep an eye on Will, for Mae's sake.
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We were introduced to Covington Group's new senior architect Mala Gupta.
FRANKLIN FARM: MAIN HOUSE
Louise Saunders Lockhart walks into the kitchen through the side entry door of the main house on the farm. She goes over to the sink to wash her hands. The hot water cleanses the dirt off them, giving her a momentary break from the daily grind. Since her father's death, she has been the only one in this family who has been working non-stop to make sure everything is running smoothly as possible. Hearing footsteps behind her, she maneuvers her neck to see they belonged to Steven, who is dressed in an olive green button-down shirt and a pair of blue jeans. Louise turns off the faucet.
"Hey, I thought you were tied up at the clinic all day," Louise says casually.
"The office manager was able to get a few vet techs to come in, so I decided to spend my lunch hour here before I have to get back," Steven explains.
Louise and Steven were close when they were children, however, as they grew older, their interests became different, and now they hardly interact with one another except for talking about things to each other in general.
She excuses herself to go back onto the farm, but Steven tells her to wait a minute before she does.
"What's up?" Louise asks
Steven approaches her over by the door. "Did you tell Martha that I wasn't pulling my weight out there?"
"Of course, she would run to tell you that."
She and Martha had got into it regarding both of them not doing as much work on the land since they all inherited half of her father's control of the farm. Her little sister, of course, blew it off like she thought she would. Louise assumed Steven would care more since he knew how much this farm means to his late uncle who was a father figure in his life.
​
"Refresh my memory Lou, but I seem to recall asking you did you need anything before I went to Orlando to visit Evan." You told me no," he says
"That was before two of our farmhands quit, and even when you returned, you could've at least shown any interest this farm which has been running for over one-hundred years."
Steven chuckles sarcastically. "Don't need a history lesson, I grew up in this house too." he raises his voice. "And Franklin Farm is just as much as my birthright as it is yours."
Louise crosses both of her arms onto her chest."Then act like it," she says firmly
​
THE WATERFALL BAR
The early afternoon rush was quietly filling inside the establishment. Antoine Hall is behind the bar giving two customers their drink orders. Mae Jackson is sitting in front of him over the other side of the bar working on bookkeeping. The Jill Scott song playing on the sound system gives the place a soulful ambiance.
"It's getting crowded in here," Antoine says to his boss and surrogate grandmother.
Mae looks up from the ledger with a satisfactory smile on her face. "Means we're still in the black which is always a good thing."
​
For the past four months now things have been looking up, in terms of the bar making additional profits.
Antoine picks up his iPhone in which he discovers he got a text from a girl he has been fooling around with for a while now.
Got plans 2nite?
Quickly he types out his response back to her.
Meet u at ur place @ 8
Good wit me
Will Jackson walks over to Antoine in which he gets his and his mother's attention.
"Hey Momma, I prepped all of the vegetables and put them in the refrigerator," he informs them.
Usually, the cook Burgess does all of the prepping and maintaining the kitchen in the back. But he has been out of town for a week now visiting some friends.
"Thank you, sweetheart," Mae says as she pencils in a number.
Will narrows his eyes to his mother. "Momma, can I speak to you alone?" he then glances at Antoine like he hasn't been part of this family for years.
Mae is about to tell him in about ten minutes but decides she needed a break from the books, so she gives in. The mother and son head over to one of the tables in the back.
Antoine's curiosity is piqued by Will's needing to talk. He and Shauna have been keeping a watch on him since he has gotten out of prison six months ago. And so far, nothing has made their spying worth the effort. Nonetheless, both of them are doing this for Mae, since they don't want her to be entirely taken in by him again.
​
COVINGTON GROUP
On the twentieth floor of the Covington Tower in downtown Radcliffe, Daniel Covington is in his office suite gazing at some insignificant paperwork at his desk. Try as he might, he couldn't stop thinking about the kiss that occurred between Louise and himself after her father's funeral.
The telephone rings on his desk, which he retrieves on the third ring.
"Hello," he answers
He hears whom his longtime secretary wants to send into his office.
"Let her in, thank you, Evelyn," he says, concluding the call.
As soon as he hangs up the phone, he is surprised to see his mother Deirdre Covington walking in since the last time he spoke with her she was spending time in the house in Aspen. The older woman is wearing a dark blue tunic and white slacks. Daniel also can tell his mother recently went to the salon because of the new trim, and her hair is back to her natural shade of red.
"Aren't you going to give your mother a hug?" she says in an evident southern accent.
Daniel gets out of the chair to put his arms around his petite mother. She kisses him on the cheek like she did when he was a boy.
"What are you doing here?" he asks cordially.
The Covington matriarch takes a seat in the club chair facing her son's desk.
"Well, I was on my way home to New York from Aspen and there is a three-hour layover at that dreadful airport so I had your Chauffeur Rod to drive me to come to see you," she replies. "You don't mind, do you love?"
Daniel shakes his head. "Not at all,"
He knew if he did, his mother would convince him otherwise.
Deirdre sighs before opening her purse to take out her iPad she then passes him the device.
"Mother did one of your socialite friends get caught wearing fur again?" he asks sheepishly.
​
"Good thing you aren't a comedian Daniel," She says
Daniel scans the headline on the wedding announcements of the love section online version of the New York Times.
Covington Real Estate Heiress To Wed
Underneath the page, it is a picture of his younger sister and her fiancé.
He continues to read the article shaking his head at silently cursing under his breath.
"What in the hell is she thinking?" he states aloud.
​
BARKER RESIDENCE
Upstairs in his bedroom, Elijah Barker was lying down in his bed heavily breathing. Beside him, Lynn Lockhart who too was out of breath. The two had just got done having sex, and neither of them could complain about how enjoyable the act was.
"That was great," Elijah says
"Agree one-hundered percent, Barker," Lynn replies
Elijah looks into her baby blue eyes. "Why did we break up again?"
Lenny sighs as she throws some of her thick blonde hair out of her face. "You know why Elijah,"
The two were going strong until about the end of February when Elijah told her he loved her, and she didn't answer back. Lynn has always loved Elijah like her brother, but as a boyfriend, she didn't fall in love with him as he did with her.
"Then why are we still screwing one another?" Elijah asks
Lynn sits up and puts on her bra. "Cause we both are better as best friends who have sex."
He lies there staring at the ceiling trying to gain a defense but realizing she is right. Elijah isn't the type of person to fight for someone who does not want to be with him.
Lenny stares at a photo in a red picture frame on Elijah's desk of she, he, Tanner, and Tommy at graduation. The four have managed to maintain a friendship despite their breakup. All of them were in their cap and gowns on. They had received their diplomas out on the football field three weeks ago at graduation.
​
"At least we're done with high school," Lynn says happily.
"And onto the real world," Elijah retorts. "When you do start working on the farm full time?"
"Next week,"
Lynn had been adamant about not pursuing any education post-secondary school. So she was elated when both of her parents stated she can work at her family's farm full time. She has been working there part-time for a few years now. From a young age, she knew she wanted to be a farmer.
Lynn who is now fully-clothed goes over to Elijah's desk and puts on his cap. "You think this thing will make me a genius like you?" she asks
"Very funny," he says
​
Having the highest honors of his class Elijah was valedictorian and class president. Making both of his parents proud of him along with him going to college nearby studying political science at Sampson University where his father Nathaniel teaches English Literature.
He gets out of bed and politely takes the cap off her head, putting it on his head.
"We're good right?" Elijah asks unsurely
She glances at him thoroughly. "You don't even have to ask that we've been inseparable since preschool, it's just wasn't in the cards for us to be together."
Elijah hugs her in a friendly manner. "I needed to hear that,"
​
ESTHER SAUNDERS STABLES
In one of the stalls on the property of her great-aunt's horse stables, Tanner Lockhart is softly brushing the mane of Marigold, one of the fox trotter horses. Working here almost made her forget her current predicament of what lies ahead for her. She reflects on the words she read in that letter from Berklee.
Unfortunately, at this time, we are unable to offer you a place in our upcoming fall semester.
She still can't believe after all of the years of practicing the violin amounted to being turned down by one of the top schools of music in the world. Not to mention she went to Boston last year to be in the school's summer music program where the instructors all told her she had promise.
Caught up in her thoughts, she was unaware of someone entering into the stall with her. She happens to look up and see Tommy Covington.
"Hey," she greets him.
Tommy goes over to kiss his girlfriend, however, he senses some apprehension.
"Let me guess you are still thinking about Berklee?"
Tanner is silent, so it confirms the answer to his question.
Tommy had been there when she, he, and Elijah all found out what colleges they got in. Whilst, Elijah got into Sampson University, and Tommy got into all of his chosen universities Michigan State, Harvard, USC, and his top choice Pepperdine. He knew right away Tanner hadn't gotten into Berklee by the disappointment in her face.
"Fuck that school, you're talented don't let anyone tell you you're not good enough." he encourages
She somewhat smiles. "Thanks, while you will be thousands of miles away, I will be here."
Tanner will be attending Sampson in the fall since she only applied to two schools. Whilst, Tommy will be attending Pepperdine University in Malibu, California, where he will be studying business.
Tommy holds his girlfriend's shoulders to calm her down. "Hey, we don't have to focus on that right now we're young and dammit we're going to make this the best summer of our lives."
The couple begins kissing one another more intensely.
"You're right we have our whole lives ahead of us," Tanner says
It makes her think about the day she lost her granddad Peter. She and Tommy were in his bedroom at Home Farm in the process of having sex for the first time. Tanner had decided around New Year's Eve she wanted to intimate with her boyfriend. However, before anything did happen, she got a call from Lenny stating she needed to get over the farm now. Luckily for her, the two of them hadn't brought it up again. She still is nervous about losing her virginity.
"What about we go on a trail ride together?" Tanner proposes
Tommy nods somewhat. "Okay, I think I can handle that."
He is determined to be the best boyfriend he can be. The kiss between him and Jordan still weighs on him at times. Though he loves Tanner and that fact she wears the necklace he gave her with the words Life's a Song engraved on the treble clef pendant still means a lot to him.
​
COVINGTON GROUP
"I figured this wasn't the news you would want to find out over telecommuncation."
Deirdre was on the plane heading here from Colorado when she discovered it. She almost spat out the wine in her mouth she was drinking. She made contact with her a month ago, and now her only daughter is tying the knot with some man they don't know.
"When I talked to her two weeks ago, she didn't even mention about seeing anybody."
He gives the tablet back to his mother.
Emma has always been irresponsible, often jet-setting all over the world and spending a small fortune in the process. It took Deirdre threatening to come to Europe before she contacted her last year. She has been living in Paris for six months now.
"Who in the hell is Jacques Laurent anyway?" Deirdre inquires
Daniel pinches the bridge of his nose. "The son of some French billionaire shipping magnate."
He remembers reading about the magnate scoring some lucrative business deal about ten years ago.
"Can we throw a Britney Spears style conservatorship on her?" she proposes. "I bet Fredrick can get right on that," Deirdre petitions
Fredrick Pyne has been legal counsel for the Covington's for thirty years now.
"Mother, let me handle Emma, I will talk to her to see where her head is at?" And if I feel it isn't in a good place, well I have an idea that might make her rethink her current status." he says sympathetically
"Please keep me informed,"
Daniel promised his late father Patrick that he would look out for his family, and that's what he intends to do.
"How about I take my mother out to lunch before you have to be at the airport?"
"Thank you very much son,"
Deirdre waits for him to call his secretary to tell her he will be out of the office for a few hours.
​
The two walk out of the office into the hallway in which the mother and son talk about his children as they get onto the elevator, they both see that it isn't just them riding it down.
"Hello, Daniel," Mala Gupta breezily greets in her British accent.
Today she has on a black sleeveless jumpsuit that shows off her curves in all of the right places.
"Hey, how are you doing?" I hope you're finding everything well here?" Daniel addresses her.
​
She motions her head downward. "So far so good,"
Deirdre turns to see what floor they're descending and clears her throat purposely.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Mala this is my mother, Deirdre Covington, mom, this is our new senior architect Mala Gupta."
The women shake hands and make small talk until they arrive onto the eighth floor where Mala's office is located. She exits off with a friendly wave at both of them.
As the door closes, they continue to descend Deirdre suspiciously smiles.
"What?"
"You like her, don't you son?"
Daniel turns back to her. "No … even if I did, she's a married woman."
He was informed by his daughter-in-law that she has been married since 1992.
Deirdre clicks her teeth at what was said to her. "It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know she is interested in you too."
"How do you know that mother?"
The lift finally stops onto the ground floor in which they scatter out onto.
"Intuition, baby,"
​
​
THE WATERFALL BAR
Mae crosses her legs as she settles into the booth. Her son rubs his hands together like he does when he wants something.
"Momma, I appreciate everything you done for me since I got outta prison by letting me move back home and giving me a job here."
Will could've mentioned even though he doesn't make the kind of money he was used to making being an entrepreneur. But decides it wouldn't get him what he needs.
"Family is important to me you know that," Mae says
"I guess I'm sayin is I can handle more responsibility, so if you need me behind the bar I got you," he says meaningfully.
Mae grabs both of her son's hands into her own hands. "Working behind the bar is a lot of work can you handle that?"
Will gives her an incredulous look. "I used to serve all of the time when dad was alive." Momma, are you embarrassed by me?"
The older woman is silent for a few seconds before answering. "It's not that,"
"Then what Momma?" he glances at her noticing the way she looks uneasy.
Before Mae can get her words out, Will dashes out of the booth upset. He goes back over to the bar where Antoine is giving a customer their change back. He takes a quick glimpse of him going to the door where the stairs lead up to the apartment.
"The hell you staring at?" Will verbalizes
Antoine shakes his head, refusing to let him get him worked up.
Will enters into the kitchen of the apartment about to grab a Pepsi when his phone rings. He answers it, surprised since all of his friends and contacts haven't talked to him since he got out.
An automatic voice speaks.
"You have a collect call from the Hudson Correctional Facility will you accept the charges?"
He is confused as to who will be calling him from the same prison he was in.
"I'll accept," he answers unconfidently.
The line is silent.
"Hello, who is this?" Will says a tad bit boisterous
The line remains quiet.
He ends the call, instinctively knowing whoever is trying to reach him is up to no good.
FRANKLIN FARM: MAIN HOUSE
Sarah Lynn Saunders widens her eyes at the digits on the alarm clock on the nightstand. She hadn't known she slept in that late again. Ever since Peter passed away, she has been sleeping in longer than she anticipated.
She stretches her arms feeling the weight of tension in them. The act of hardly being active in the last two months is taking a toll on her. But she couldn't bring herself to get out of the room, let alone do anything physical.
A knock on the door interrupts her concentration.
"Come in,"
Esther Saunders walks into the room, satisfied her sister-in-law is at least awake. Thinking she might've been asleep. She is shocked at the state of Sarah Lynn's hair is in dishevel.
"Hey, sweetie, how are you?" Esther greets her.
"Okay, I know I gotta get on with my life, but... it's easier said than done." Sarah Lynn admits.
​
There isn't a second where Sarah doesn't think about her late husband. How eerily ironic it was of him dying from a massive heart attack on his way home from his doctor's appointment. According to the police, he had pulled over on the side of the road to call 911, informing them about his excruciating chest pain. The ambulance arrives took him to the hospital where he went into cardiac arrest, and he was unable to be resuscitated.
Esther gazes around the room then back on her little brother's widow. "How about we go into town do some shopping my treat?"
Sarah Lynn sighs. "Maybe tomorrow,"
Truthfully she didn't want to run into everyone she knew in town asking how is she feeling and to be given any more condolences; she had enough of them at his funeral from friends and acquaintances.
"Babe, you gotta leave this room it'll at least do you good to go outside get some fresh air you can tend to the garden or the chickens," Esther suggests
"Goddamn it!" she shouts, "I don't wanna do any of that," Sarah Lynn says strongly
She sees the reluctance on Esther's face making her regret what she said.
"I'm sorry,"
"Don't be,"
"You were trying to help, thanks for the offer, another time." Sarah Lynn concludes
As soon as Esther is about to speak, both their awareness is drawn to voices yelling downstairs.
Seeing her sister-in-law isn't in the mood, Esther saunters out of the bedroom towards the stairs to put an end to this chaos for some peace around here.
Sarah Lynn exhales deciding to at least get on her feet. She throws the blanket off her legs and slowly walks over to the vanity. At first glance, she hardly recognizes herself. From her hair to the red eyes from crying, she knew she has to put herself together, or she will look even worse for wear. She sits down on the bench and grabs a hairbrush off the table.
Esther's voice travels into the living room before she physically does. She spots her son and her niece going at it back and forth over something she is going to get to the bottom of.
"What is going on?" Esther declares
Steven turns to his mother. "Getting a few things out in the open,"
"Louise Elizabeth?" Esther inquires, using her first and middle name.
"I'm tired of being the only one in this family working day in day out on the farm," Louise reveals
Esther knows that her niece has been doing exactly that. And part of her understands that dilemma. Nonetheless, arguing back and forth during this time isn't doing anyone any good.
​
"And I was telling her if she needs help, all she has to do is to let me know, and I will make time." Steven remarks defensively
Esther places her hands on her hips. "Whatever, you two were arguing about put a pin in it."
Steven checks the time on his watch on his wrist. "I got to get back to the clinic."
He steps out of the house leaving the Saunders women there.
"Of course he leaves," Louise says
Louise is about to say something else, but Esther gestures her not to.
"I'm now the majority stockholder of Franklin Farm, making me the one responsible for what's going on out there. "I will hire another laborer." Esther informs her.
"All right, I can use all of the assistance that I can get,"
Esther nods knowingly. "Don't worry about Steven he'll get out there when he can, and I'll talk with Martha, about doing some work in between her own."
Louise thinks what exactly does her sister does other than pulling pints for five hours and trying to become the next Taylor Swift. Though she doesn't express it to anyone.
"Thanks, Aunt Esther,"
Esther puts a hand on her eldest niece's forearm. "Now go talk with your mama, she needs some company."
​
Louise follows her aunt's command by heading up to speak with her mother.
Esther looks up in the air. "Oh, Peter, this family can use some divine intervention."
END OF EPISODE
ON THE NEXT EPISODE OF TOWN AND COUNTRY
Will gets another mysterious call.
Tricia and Sean have differing opinions.
Jordan aspires for so much more.
​
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