EPISODE 336
Written by: Bre L Drew
March 30, 2025
Last Time on Town and Country
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The Saunders, along with Courtney, were shocked to learn that Emma was related to them due to Deirdre's affair with Jimmy. They were even more surprised to discover that Esther and Steven had known about it, as Emma had donated bone marrow to Lenny.
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Meanwhile, an emotionally distressed Emma got intoxicated at The Cliffe, prompting Will to seek help from someone.
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Max was uncertain about how to handle the truth regarding Shauna giving birth to Antoine’s child, which had led to their estrangement.
FRANKLIN FARM: MAIN HOUSE
Attempting to focus on the work in front of her, Louise Saunders Lockhart sits at the kitchen table of her childhood home on Franklin Farm. However, since the revelation that Emma is biologically related to them, her mind has been preoccupied—not with gathering what she needs for the farm’s taxes, but with the news that has upended everything.
The back door opens as Martha Saunders saunters to the table where her older sister sits.
"Hey, I got the message, but something came up and by the time I could get to the hospital, I had to pick up SJ and take him to baseball practice. So, how did everything go?"
Their mother left a voicemail about Lenny's donor wanting to meet the family. However, Martha couldn’t come because she was there supporting her best friend through childbirth, along with all the drama that went with it.
The older blonde lifts her head, partly annoyed and partly snapping back into reality, as she should’ve expected this from her sister, though their distance is the least of their issues right now. "Well, let’s just say you missed a family reunion."
By now, Martha has taken a seat next to her sister, taken aback by her statement. "What are you talking about?"
Louise closes her laptop and glares at her sister. "Okay, how can I put this... The person who could save Lenny’s life has more of a connection than we thought. In fact, it’s someone we already know."
"Who?"
"Emma Covington."
Martha hears the name of the woman who went on to be involved with her good friend and one-time crush, Will. "Wow. I really don’t know her all that well, but she seems like the least likely person to do something selfless. But wait a minute—though you said a family reunion happened at the hospital. What does that mean, Louise?"
Seeing she has to remove the metaphorical Band-Aid, the farmer exhales. "Congratulations, we have a long-lost aunt, courtesy of Grandpa Jimmy and Deirdre Covington."
The confusion settles slowly on Martha’s face. "Say what now?"
Louise tucks strands of her hair behind both ears. "From what I gather, those two had an affair, and Emma is the product of it."
"Of course, she would make it about her," Martha responds.
"Don’t blame it on her. She’d been kept in the dark about this all her life. But I can tell you who wasn’t."
Before Louise can go further, the kitchen door opens, and Esther Saunders steps in. Upon seeing her nieces together, they turn to her in unison. They’ve been discussing their recently uncovered family secret. "I guess y'all are talking about me, huh?"
HOPE COTTAGE
The footsteps of Steven Sullivan break the unspoken tension in the residential cottage as he maneuvers himself throughout the house to the kitchen nook, where his wife, Courtney Covington Sullivan, is situated seemingly concentrating on work, however as soon as she realizes he's in her presence she sets the tablet aside.
"I guess time will tell whether or not you will continue to give me the silent treatment," Steven says.
Courtney shakes her head at his response, having not said two words to him since they left the hospital after Emma confessed to them in the hospital waiting room that she is the biological daughter of Jimmy Saunders due to an affair he had with her grandmother years ago and that Esther and Steven knew for the longest time.
"Oh, I think what I have to say to you trumps any silence," she expresses wholeheartedly.
"Courtney, look," Steven starts, but Courtney interjects.
"No, Steven, you look—how long were you going to keep me in the dark about Emma?"
Steven places his hands in his pants pockets as Courtney walks toward the foyer where he is standing with her arms folded.
"I know this will sound like more of an excuse, but it's complicated."
Courtney can recognize how it would be but decides to keep his feet to the fire, so to speak. "That is not good enough, Steven."
She then spots a piece of carry-on luggage near the door and then glances back at her husband while gesturing to the bag."What is going on now?"
RADCLIFFE RECIEVING HOSPITAL
By the sound in his voice, Shauna Covington knows her husband is serious about wanting to speak, a far cry from earlier when he could barely look at her after discovering her one-night stand with Antoine. The discovery had turned their world upside down, leading her not only to leave him but also to give birth to his baby, who now lies peacefully in her arms in the hospital room.
"We do have some things to talk about," Shauna responds, her voice steady but laced with uncertainty, unsure how to approach this conversation without making it worse.
"The way you said some makes it sound like you forgot our anniversary or my birthday," he says, the tension in his voice evident. "You left me to have Antoine's child."
His words hang in the air, raw and unfiltered. Max immediately regrets his tone, glancing quickly at the baby in Shauna’s arms, hoping he hasn’t awakened her.
She takes a deep breath, and slowly shifts the baby in her arms, trying to find the right words.
THE CLIFFE
Will Jackson attentively glares at Emma Covington Laurent with alertness, standing behind the bar of the nightclub he manages, and she owns. He can tell she's still riddled with emotions, the weight of her revelations from earlier still hanging in the air. She's been consuming tequila steadily since revealing to not only her mother but also the Saunders family the truth of her parentage—the revelation that she was the reason she could donate bone marrow to Lenny, stirring up emotional upheaval for both families she belongs to.
Emma takes another shot of liquor before responding. "You know, it all makes sense now," she remarks, her voice laced with reflection.
"What's that?" Will queries, unsure where the subject is heading.
Emma places the somewhat empty bottle of tequila on the counter, its glass clinking against the surface. "All of my life, I've wondered why my father, and I never were close. Growing up, I saw how much closer he was to Daniel. But when it came to me, I could count on one hand, including my sixteenth birthday and high school graduation, the times he actually attended my important events. I suppose he saw me as the reminder of his wife's adultery era."
"Emma," Will says softly, his voice laced with concern as the petite heiress walks around the bar towards him. "How about you go upstairs to your office and sleep it off, huh?"
However, instead of responding, Emma wraps her arms around him, catching Will off guard. His expression shifts to confusion and worry as he looks down at her.
"What you doin'?" he asks, his tone cautious.
"I was a fool for the way I treated you,"
"Emma," Will says, trying to pull back slightly, but she holds on.
She shakes her head, her eyes never leaving his. "You've been so kind to me, even after the way things ended between us. And I will always be sorry for that."
Will freezes, his mind briefly flashing to the unfortunate memory of walking in on her just moments after she slept with someone else.
Emma leans in closer, her touch warm against his skin, and for a moment, the air between them seems to flicker with something unspoken.
Just then, the nightclub door swings open, and Jacques Laurent walks in, his eyes immediately locking onto the scene unfolding before him. His expression hardens as he takes in the sight of his wife clinging to another man which doesn't sit well with him.
FRANKLIN FARM: MAIN HOUSE
Stillness falls over them as Esther walks into the kitchen, while her nieces exchange looks.
"I’m still confused," Martha says, breaking the quietness. "How did you know about Deirdre sleeping with Grandad?"
Esther places a hand on her hip, clearly not keen on delving into the story but knowing she can’t deny it now. "Years ago, before you were even a thought, I stumbled upon them, and I told them both they needed to end things, or it would hurt everyone involved. And look where we’re at now."
"The letter," Martha says, her voice catching as the pieces begin to fall into place.
"Letter? What are you talking about, Martha?" Louise asks, her curiosity piqued.
Hearing the mention of it makes Esther turn to her younger niece. A knowing look crosses her face as she recalls the memory.
"Steven found a letter written to Granddad in the attic a while back… it was from Deirdre."
Her grandfather, who had passed away a year before she was born, was always a figure in the background of family stories. She knew him only through old photographs and memories shared by the family. However, it seemed there was more to the late farmer, including an ongoing affair with her aunt's ex-best friend. And a daughter he never knew he had.
Louise resists rolling her eyes at her late father’s sister. "Don’t leave out the best part." She turns to Martha. "She and Steven snuck into Home Farm and stole some of Emma’s hair for a DNA test."
Martha jerks at the thought of her aunt and cousin knowing this, as Esther has had enough of this.
"Look, blame me for this or for global warming, but I did the right thing, and now there’s a good chance... no, a great chance Lenny will live to see 25. I know things are tricky, but we’re still family, and that’s what matters."
"And in the process, you’ve got a half-sister old enough to be your granddaughter, and we have an aunt old enough to be our sister," Martha notes.
Esther is about to ask how old Martha thinks she is but abstains from challenging her.
"Look, I understand you thought you were trying to protect the family, but my daughter could’ve died."
The look on her niece’s face softens Esther's sympathy. "You know I would never allow that to happen, Louise."
Louise stands up. "But you did! If you had put family first, you would’ve come to us, told us, and found a way to approach Emma. Instead, you kept it a secret until Lenny was almost on death's door."
"I’m sorry." Esther says. "But it’s not that simple, darling. And besides, we wouldn’t have known if Emma was a match or not, regardless."
"But at least I would’ve known before the eleventh hour," Louise replies.
Martha steps between her aunt and sister. "This isn’t going to accomplish anything."
Louise looks at her sister and then her aunt. "You’re right."
She gathers her things and exits through the side door, leaving Martha and Esther trading looks.
HOPE COTTAGE
Steven lightly coughs before he gives his answer. "I'm going out of town."
Courtney stomps one of her heels onto the ground. "You mean after all of the turmoil our families are currently going through you pick this exact time to leave town Steven?"
The veterinarian places his hand on the back of his neck. "I decided to hop on an earlier flight to Orlando. I got to be there for my son, remember?"
His son, Evan, is already having a difficult time adjusting to the fact he will be uprooting from Orlando to Boston in a few months due to his mother and soon-to-be stepfather's new teaching jobs.
"I thought we were going to go together," Courtney said.
"I know," he automatically answers. "But with everything going on, I think I should go alone, all things considered."
Courtney slowly looks as if she's insulted by her husband's admission. "When do you have to leave for the airport?"
Steven looks down at his watch on his wrist. "In about twenty minutes."
"So much for our getaway, huh?" Courtney remarks sarcastically,
"Courtney, listen, I know what I did was wrong, but I never lied to you, okay? Maybe I should've said something, but it wasn't my truth to tell."
"But was it your mother's?" Courtney retorts, catching Steven off guard a bit.
"I can also admit the way my mother handled things wasn't perfect."
"Your mother took control and still wanted everything hidden," Courtney says defensively.
"I get that she's family, but you and Emma have never been close," Steven concludes.
"I'm well aware of that, but she is my aunt, and I cannot imagine what she is going through right now."
"Is that the same kind of line Jacques gave you to take pity on him?"
Courtney knows Steven has never been fond of her relationship with her aunt’s husband, believing that Jacques is using her.
The petite businesswoman bobs her head, rejecting the comparison. "The difference is, Jacques has never hidden anything from me, and besides, you can't compare my friendship with him to what's going on, Steven."
"As I said, she could've handled things a lot better, but I'm not going to let you, or Deirdre stand here and place all the blame on my mother as the sole scapegoat in this. My grandfather and your grandmother were the ones to get the ball rolling on that." Steven comments.
Courtney doesn't deny the statement but isn't keen on hearing it right now. "You don't want to miss your flight."
Steven turns toward the door and then looks back at his wife. "I don't want to leave things like this, Court."
Courtney runs her fingers through her long brown hair. "Well, don't worry; I'm sure things will still be in disarray when you get back."
With that, Steven walks toward the suitcase, grabs it, and pulls his keys from his jacket pocket. "I'll call you when I land."
Courtney gives a terse nod, watching as her husband steps outside.
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Courtney walked back towards the kitchen, grabbed a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon, and a glass. She poured the dark red liquid, then took a seat back in the nook, taking a pensive sip, her mind on something other than work for the moment.
RADCLIFFE RECIEVING HOSPITAL
Shauna gives a meaningful enough look at her husband. "Look, Max, I know what I did was wrong," she starts.
"It wasn't wrong, Shauna," Max interjects. "It was selfish as hell! You suddenly, out of the blue, left, making it seem like our marriage couldn't be repaired. Like it was my fault, but the reason why you left was because you couldn't tell me you slept with Antoine."
"You're right," Shauna admits reflectively. "I was going to tell you about Antoine and me when I came home the night after, but you were out of that chair, which was such a miracle, and I didn't want to add that kind of confession to your recovery. And when I found out I was pregnant, I was scared to tell you about it."
Max approaches closer to his wife, seeing the beauty on her face, which hurts him more. "Shauna, look at me, look at me. I think I'm probably the least physically imposing person you know. And you know I would never intentionally hurt you."
Shauna maintains her hold on the baby as she feels the newborn wriggling in her arms slightly. "I was afraid if I told you about what happened, then I would lose you. You have to admit things between us were only starting to get back on track, but if I had told you, how would you have reacted?"
"You never gave me the chance, did you?" Max says lowly.
Shauna's facial expressions turn mournful. "Do you want a divorce?"
That question takes Max aback, not expecting anything of that nature.
Pockets of cries fill the room as Shauna looks down to see the baby is awake and whining. She gently tries to quiet her down while trying to remain calm; as her attempt seems to be slowly working, she looks up at her husband, whose eyes are already on them.
THE CLIFFE
Jacques clears his throat, his voice cuts through the heavy silence of the nightclub. "Emma," he begins, his tone clipped and irritated, "There’s no need to make a scene. Let’s go."
Emma looks up at him with a mix of defiance and resignation. "There’s my husband," she mutters, her words slurred but pointed.
Jacques exchanges a brief nod with Will, who had contacted him to come down after seeing Emma in such a fragile state.
The French businessman’s gaze hardens as he assesses the situation. It’s clear to him that his wife is far beyond the point of rational conversation.
He quickly notices the depth of her intoxication as Will steps back, releasing his hold on her, only for Emma to stumble back toward the bar.
She reaches for the bottle of alcohol, her movements unsteady. Jacques moves swiftly, placing a firm hand on the bottle and pulling it out of her reach with quiet authority. "Oh, I think you’ve reached your limit," he says calmly, but with unmistakable finality.
Emma’s lips curl into a pout, her defiance still present, despite her condition. "You’re no fun," she notes, watching him take the bottle away.
"I’m here to take you home," Jacques responds resolutely.
"Oh god, anywhere but there," Emma moans
Will folds his arms across his chest and watches the interaction with growing concern. "I don’t think that’s a good idea after what went down."
He had already informed Jacques of what had transpired at the hospital—the revelation that had sent Emma spiraling. But Jacques, of course, wasn’t caught off guard. He already knew the truth. He had pieced it together nearly a year ago when Emma and he had eloped in Puerto Rico.
Jacques, unfazed by Will’s words, steps behind the bar to position himself next to Emma, wrapping his arm around her in a protective grip.
He also grabs her purse and coat off the top of the bar. "We are going now," he says, his tone brokering no argument. With that, he begins guiding her toward the exit.
"Hold up," Will says, his voice firm as he steps forward, his eyes narrowing. "If she doesn’t wanna go back to that mausoleum y’all call a home, that’s her prerogative, Jacques."
Jacques looks over his shoulder at Will, the tension between them observable. His grip on Emma tightens slightly, though his gaze remains cold. "Thanks for contacting me, but Emma is my wife," he replies, his voice calm but carrying an edge. "And we’ll deal with this in private."
Emma looks up at Will just before she follows Jacques out the door, her eyes wide with fear and uncertainty, a silent plea for understanding. Her steps are hesitant as she walks alongside her husband, but her gaze lingers on Will, as though asking him to somehow make sense of it all.
Will exhales sharply, watching the two of them leave as he resists the urge to act on the frustration building within him.
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END OF EPISODE
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ON THE NEXT EPISODE OF TOWN AND COUNTRY
Max surprises Shauna.
Jordan and Tricia catch up.
Will check in on Emma.
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