EPISODE 333
Written by: Bre L Drew
March 2, 2025
Last Time on Town and Country
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Trying to get Deirdre to confess to her true paternity, Emma set her plan in motion.
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Daniel hired Murph to find Shauna, who, unbeknownst to Max, is hiding aboard a yacht, pregnant with Antoine’s child, planning to divorce him and leave with the baby.
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The Saunders' prayers were answered when a donor appeared, though they don’t realize it’s Emma due to their biological connection.
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Meanwhile, Jes Choudhury, a lifelong family friend of Jai and Mala, decided to stay in Radcliffe, hoping to restart her life.
THE WATERFALL BAR
So won't you hurry?
Come on boy, see about me
(Come see about me)
See about you baby (Come see about me)
​
"Come See About Me" by The Supremes fills the air of The Waterfall as the somewhat populated establishment on this late, chilly winter afternoon. The laid-back ambiance blends seamlessly with the vintage Motown tune.
Martha Saunders walks into the bar wearing a black faux leather coat, clutching her wallet, even though it’s her day off
the single mother bartender is on a mission before returning to the road, reminded of her purpose when she spots Antoine Hall behind the bar. She approaches him.
Antoine greets her, half-jokingly, "What you doin' here? I thought you were off. Miss this place that much?"
Martha shrugs, "Let's just say, I don’t envy you working here today. Just came to grab some food to go."
"Alright, what can I get you?"
"Can I get two Caesar salads, a corned beef on rye with Swiss, a turkey on rye with no mayo, two slices of cheesecake, and two iced teas?"
"You takin' that back to the farm?"
"Yeah," she lies, though she’s actually headed to the lake to deliver it to Shauna, who’s staying on a yacht, pregnant with
Antoine's child. Shauna has been hiding her pregnancy for months and Martha refuses to betray her, even if she disagrees with Shauna’s choices.
"How’s Lenny doin'?"
Martha sighs in relief at the change of topic. "Still waiting on results. They're only letting one visitor at a time."
"Hope she pulls through," Antoine says. "Heard from Shauna?"
Martha shakes her head, "A few texts, but nothing recent. You?"
"Last I heard from her was Christmas Eve," Antoine replies.
Martha already knew that from Shauna that he spoken to her when she had called her grandmother.
"I wasn’t on the phone long enough to find out where she was, but wherever it was, she wasn’t herself. Even Max doesn’t deserve this."
"You're right about that," Martha murmurs as Antoine heads to prepare the food.
As she waits, the door opens, and in walks Samuel Gupta with his family friend, Jes Choudhury, the stunning attorney is wearing a beige wool oversized jacket and holding onto her purse.
Samuel glances at Martha before approaching. "Hey, Martha, how are you?"
"Fine," she replies, her attention shifting to the other woman. "Jes, I didn’t know you were still in town."
Jes smiles, placing her hair behind her ear. "I will be staying in Radcliffe permanently. Jai and Mala have been kind enough to let me stay with them, and Samuel’s been showing me around."
"Well, that’s the kind of man he is," Martha adds.
Samuel still feels their breakup was too sudden, but he knows now that Martha’s decisions were made with her son in mind.
"See you around, Martha," Samuel says, and Jes adds a quick farewell as they head to a table.
Martha watches them head in the opposite direction as she tries to push down the inner conflict she feels.
FRANKLIN FARM: MAIN HOUSE
As it had been for countless years, the Saunders kitchen in the main house of Franklin Farm remained the lively epicenter of the Saunders family. Sarah Lynn and Esther Saunders sat at the opposite end of the table, while Sean Lockhart, seated closest to Esther, sips lemonade. Louise Saunders Lockhart stands near the counter on the phone with Dr. Saddleman, their daughter's oncologist.
"Hopefully, Dr. Saddleman will be able to give us an update on Lenny soon," Sean remarked, his voice tinged with impatience and worry.
His daughter had recently undergone a bone marrow transplant to treat her acute myeloid leukemia, a battle she had been facing for nearly a year now.
"I'm sure he will, and it will be good news," Sarah Lynn notes, offering some encouragement.
"Yeah, Sean, you just gotta have faith, alright," Esther advises.
"She's right," Sarah Lynn adds.
The kitchen door opened as Steven Sullivan and his wife, Courtney Covington Sullivan, enters, greeting the family warmly.
"Hey, what do we owe this visit?" Esther asks, her curiosity piquesd as she looked at her only son and his considerably younger wife.
"Well, we just came from lunch at The Chateau, and since we were nearby... well, sort of, we wanted to tell you something," Steven said,
Aware that the last time he spoke to his mother, it was about the fact that they knew Emma's biological connection to them and her potential role as Lenny's anonymous bone marrow donor.
"Ooh, what is this news?" Esther asked curiously. "Does it have to do with a future pitter-patter of tiny feet?"
Courtney shook her head and chuckled, while Steven smiles, but without much delight. "No, not anything like that in the immediate future," Courtney said, tucking a strand of her long, brownish hair behind her ear.
"We just wanted to let you know that tomorrow Courtney and I are heading to Orlando for a few days," Steven continued.
"Does this have to do with my grandbaby?" Esther asked, her concern evident, knowing her only grandchild resided there with his mother.
"It does," Steven, the veterinarian, confirms. "Lorraine and her fiancé were offered new jobs in Boston for the fall, but Evan’s not thrilled about it. He doesn’t want to move, so I thought I could talk to him."
"I hope you'll be able to do so," Sarah Lynn remarks.
"Lorraine is dragging that boy through another move," Esther said with a roll of her eyes. She was still not fond of her former daughter-in-law.
"I suppose it's a good opportunity," Courtney said.
"Don’t worry, I’ll straighten it out," Steven reassures them.
At that moment, Louise’s voice became audible as she finished her phone call. "All right, I’ll let everyone know… thanks, Dr. Saddleman. Bye."
She ended the call and received casual greetings from her cousin and his wife.
"So, what did Dr. Saddleman say?" Sean asked, his impatience creeping through.
"Uh, it's about the same as before; it's very much a waiting game... I know, I get it too," Louise said toward her ex-husband, and now someone she was growing closer to again.
"So, what did he want?" Steven asks.
Louise places her hands on her waist and sets the phone down on the counter. "Lenny's transplant coordinator contacted
"Dr. Saddleman to inform us that her bone marrow donor wants to meet us."
"What happened to her wanting to be anonymous?" Courtney asks a hint of surprise in her voice.
Louise shrugs. "Your guess is as good as mine, Courtney. But if we’re on the same page, we should at least go to the hospital to show our appreciation for him or her potentially saving my daughter's life."
Sean stood up, placing his arm around Louise's shoulders. "You're right; we at least owe this person that."
"We’ll all be there," Sarah Lynn nods firmly.
​
A strong suspicion come over both Esther and Sean.
​
HOME FARM
Doing her best to keep her thoughts and attitude in check, Emma Covington Laurent descends the grand staircase inside the palatial mansion that she and her family call home. She’s dressed in a black-and-white designer crochet sweatshirt and black slacks, sauntering with purpose.
As she enters the expansive living room, she spots her mother at the mini-bar, fixing herself a gin and tonic. Emma’s first instinct is to ridicule her for drinking this early in the afternoon, but she knows better. She has to keep her composure—this is all part of her plan.
Deirdre Covington, dressed in a raisin-colored tie-hem button-front collar satin blouse and matching pants, hears the footsteps approaching behind her. She turns her head, eyes narrowing slightly as she takes in the sight of her daughter.
"Mother, there is something I need to tell you, and it cannot wait," Emma announces, her voice laces with urgency.
The intensity in her daughter’s tone makes Deirdre pause and gesture for her to sit. She lowers herself onto the couch with her drink, waiting for Emma to speak.
"Oh God, please don’t tell me you and that so-called husband of yours are about to make me a grandmother too?" Deirdre groans, her voice laced with dramatic exasperation. "Swear to me you’ll think twice before ever procreating with that man!"
Emma suppresses the urge to roll her eyes at her mother's comment, carefully reigning in her sarcasm. "No, mother. Jacques and I have no plans to ‘crank out any rugrats.’ No, this is far more serious. I don’t even know how to say this."
Deirdre looks at her daughter carefully, sensing the gravity of her words.
Despite their often-antagonistic relationship, she chooses to be patient, her voice softer. "I’m sorry, what is it that you need to say, Emma?"
Emma hesitates before continuing, trying to steady her breath. "Uh, not long ago, I had to go to the hospital for a minor medical procedure," she confesses, her gaze flickering to her mother to gauge her reaction.
Deirdre’s face shifts into one of genuine concern."Dear Lord!" she exclaims, her tone sounding with shock. "How serious is it?"
Emma pushes down the joy in this moment. "That’s the thing. I don’t know yet. I have an appointment today at Radcliffe Receiving to find out the results, and I was hoping you would go with me. I just don’t want to be alone."
She’s not surprised when Deirdre doesn’t ask why Jacques isn’t accompanying her. She knows her mother would rather pretend she never eloped with him nearly a year ago.
Deirdre’s expression softens, her concern evident as she rises from the couch. She steps toward Emma, hesitating for a moment before wrapping her arms around her in a brief embrace. Emma holds it in, reminding herself that this is rare—one of the few moments in their complicated relationship when her mother has shown affection.
Deirdre pulls away slowly. "All I need is about twenty minutes to get ready. Okay?"
Emma nods, watching as her mother heads toward the staircase. A slow smirk curls at the corners of her lips. She knows, in that moment, that everything is falling into place. Soon, it will all come together, and she will savor the satisfaction of it.
One floor above the mansion, Daniel Covington sits behind his desk, hoping to get in touch with Tommy regarding their plan to get his brother-in-law out of Covington. He dials, but instead of his son, he hears his youngest child’s voicemail.
"Tommy, this is your father. I just wanted to touch base. I'll call back later."
He ends the call with a sigh, wondering if his son is ignoring him because of his past actions or if he's genuinely busy. The damage caused by gaslighting Jordan still weighs heavily on him, and though he yearns to repair things with his children, he knows it won’t be easy.
The ringing of the phone pulls Daniel’s attention away. He answers after a few rings and then hears the familiar voice on the other end. As he listens, he spots Max walking by and snaps his fingers, prompting his eldest son to step into the doorway.
Daniel gestures for Max to come in. Max takes a seat across from him, the phone still in his father’s hand.
"It’s Murph," Daniel says, referring to the long-time private investigator searching for his estranged wife, Shauna.
Daniel hands the phone to Max, who braces himself and greets Murph.
"Yeah, I got it, thanks," Max says, wrapping up the call. He hands the phone back to Daniel, who thanks him before hanging up.
"Please tell me Murph found Shauna," Daniel asks
Max stands, the urgency of the news pushing him to his feet. "Murph found Shauna’s car in the hospital parking garage, then followed her out to Lake Hudson. Apparently, she's been staying aboard the yacht."
Daniel leans back, puzzled. "Now why in the hell Shauna would be out on the lake in the winter?"
"I don’t know,"
Max quickly heads for the door. Daniel follows, trying to catch up.
"I know you're going out there," Daniel says. "And I can't stop you. But if you need me—"
Max glances back, his decision clear. "No, whatever Shauna and I need to handle, we’ll do it alone. And thanks for reaching out to Murph."
With that, Max hurries downstairs, leaving Daniel behind, feeling a mix of helplessness and distant civility.
ONE AND ONLY
Sitting on the couch in the spacious salon aboard the yacht, Shauna Covington is doing her best to dull the aching sensation in her back and the tiredness she's experiencing due to being in the third trimester of her pregnancy. Not to mention trying to relax as Dr. Jamison informed her that her blood pressure is high, which she knows is coming from the stress of keeping the fact that she is carrying Antoine's child instead of Max's, which is why she left her husband last fall knowing he wouldn't be able to handle it.
Hearing the expected knock upon the door, she slowly rises on her feet in a black strapped cami and sweatpants, displaying her round stomach; she opens the door to find Martha standing there with a takeout bag and a cupholder with two drinks.
​"I thought this time I would bring food," Martha announces as she walks aboard.
"Thanks, I appreciate it," Shauna tells her best friend.
The single mother takes off her coat, laying it on the couch and tucking a small strand of her short brown hair behind her ear. "And you should know when I got the takeout that I ran into Antoine at The Waterfall."
"And?"
"Look, it's obvious he still cares about you. He told me about you speaking to him during Christmastime. And then he asked me if I had heard from you."
"What did you say?" Shauna asks somewhat concernedly.
Martha takes the containers from the food bag and puts them on the dining table. "Shauna, come on now, you know I wouldn't tell anyone you didn't want to know about you being here."
Shauna had known that her best friend hadn't agreed with her about her hiding out here, thinking she should tell Max the truth about everything, though knowing she would hurt him, which she already felt bad about, sleeping with Antoine when their marriage was going through hell.
By now, Martha takes a bite of a fry that came with her meal and wipes her hands. "At least tell me that you have a plan when you leave town."
Shauna goes over to the table and grabs a straw to take a drink of the iced tea before responding. "I do. The baby and I are moving to Charleston, South Carolina. And in the meantime, I can start divorce proceedings."
"Why Charleston?" Martha asks curiously.
"It's hundreds of miles away, nice weather, and a girl from college started her own interior decorator firm, I've been in touch with her, and she gave me a position there."
Martha shakes her head at what her friend is saying to her in the moment.
"Look, I'm not going to push you, but as your best friend since we were literally in diapers, this plan is ridiculous. You still have time to get the hell away from here and go to your husband and be upfront with him; he at least deserves that, Shauna."
While attempting to adhere to the words given to her by Martha,
Shauna couldn't help but wince, causing her to be silent, which eventually Martha called her out on.
"Shauna, I know you're pissed, but you can at least say something."
The pregnant woman exhales. "Martha, my water just broke," she informs her.
Martha instantly goes over to her best friend, placing a hand on her back. "You sure?"
"Yeah."
Martha decides to take charge, instantly knowing firsthand what it is like to give birth in unconventional circumstances, as she had delivered SJ in the back of her cousin's truck in the middle of the traffic on the highway six years ago.
"All right," Martha notes. "Just take a breath, and we'll go to the hospital."
However, the pain becomes persistent for Shauna as she pivots her head. "I don't think I'm going to make it to the hospital. I think this baby is coming now!"
The urgency of the situation makes Martha stare at her purse where her phone is, making her debate whether or not she should contact a certain person she knows who would know what to do in this situation.
THE WATERFALL BAR
The New Jack Swing rhythm pulsates through the bar as Jade's "Don't Walk Away" plays on the sound system while Samuel and Jes consume their lunch, consisting of soup and salad a beer for the psychiatrist, and a Pinot Noir for the attorney.
“So, what’s the next phase of Operation Stay in Radcliffe?” Samuel asks, a smirk on his lips.
Jes leans back slightly, her fingers touching her glass as she considers her answer. “Well, you know me. I don’t do anything without a plan. And, with your mother offering me to stay at the cottage, it got me thinking about my next step.”
Samuel nods, recalling the prestigious firm she’d worked for in Toronto.
She hadn’t shared why she’d left, and he hadn’t pressed her on it. He did, however, find himself wondering how she’d gotten even more beautiful He quickly shook that thought away.
“You know my parents consider you family,” Samuel remarked, trying to shift his thoughts.
Jes clears her throat, offering him a quick smile. “Your father had a little trouble with it at first, but other than that, no issues.”
Samuel raises an eyebrow. “That doesn’t sound like my father.”
He knew his father well—one of the warmest, most welcoming people he’d ever known—but Samuel reasoned that maybe his father just wanted the house to himself after the recent remarriage. “Well, I’m sure you’ll enjoy your new room, just like I did,” Samuel said, catching himself too late. He quickly corrects, “I mean, it’s a great bedroom.”
Jes flashes him a playful wink. “Oh, I know exactly what you mean.”
A quiet apprehension hung between them as they continued their meal in silence, when suddenly, the bar manager, Antoine, approached.
“Hey, how you doin’, man?” Antoine greets Samuel with a handshake.
“Good,” Samuel replies. Then, realizing Jes and Antoine hadn’t met yet, he quickly introduces them. “Antoine, this is Jes Choudhury. Jes, this is Antoine Hall. He’s the manager here.”
Antoine shook Jes’s hand with a charming smile lingering a little too long, which made Samuel notice the attraction in his eyes.
“So, how y’all know each other?” Antoine asked, his tone easy and warm.
Jes picked up the conversation. “We've known one another all of our lives. And our parents grew up in London together back in the day."
Antoine nods thoughtfully. “Cool. So, what’s your story?”
Jes took a breath. “Until last year, I worked at one of the best firms in North America. Then I decided I needed a fresh start. So here I am in Radcliffe.”
“Radcliffe’s a good place for that,” Antoine remarks.
As the conversation flowed, Samuel’s phone buzzed in his pocket, the ringtone cutting through the banter. When he glanced at the screen. The name on the screen is unexpected, but he answers anyway, his voice carefully controlled.
“Hey,” he said, his tone clipped.
The conversation on the other end was quick, and though he was stunned by the news, Samuel managed to keep his emotions in check.
“I’m on my way,” he said, ending the call.
Jes and Antoine were chuckling over something Samuel hadn’t caught, and he felt a small pang of irritation. Still, he turned back to them.
“Looks like lunch has hit a snafu,” Samuel said. “An emergency came up at the hospital with one of my patients.” He hesitated before adding, “But if you’re not ready to leave yet.”
Jes shook her head with a small grin. “I can get a cab back to the house.”
Antoine stood up, offering a reassuring smile. “Go on and do your thing. I’ll make sure she gets home safe.”
Samuel gazes dashes between the two before making way out of the bar, he couldn’t help but wonder if Jes wasn’t leaving a little sooner than expected because of Antoine.
RADCLIFFE RECIEVING HOSPITAL
At Radcliffe Receiving Hospital, Louise, Sean, Sarah Lynn, Esther, Steven, and Courtney arrive at the waiting room. The same waiting room had become the family’s second home over the months of Lenny’s hospitalization.
"Too bad Lenny is having tests and won’t be able to meet the person who might save her life," Sean mutters, his voice heavy with disappointment.
Courtney glanced up from her phone. "Maybe they’ll speak with her later," she suggested.
Esther and Steven exchange a brief, uncertain glance. They both understood the possibility but couldn’t shake the feeling that the person behind this life-changing act might not be who they expected. Still, they had a strong suspicion about who it could be.
Sarah Lynn looks at her phone, her fingers hovering over the screen. "I left a message for Martha to get here."
Meanwhile, Louise had already texted Tanner. She looked up from her phone and relayed the message. "Tanner said she’ll catch up if she can."
The room hummed with quiet conversation and the soft noises of the hospital, but the air remains thick with anticipation.
ONE AND ONLY
Martha had been able to escort Shauna towards the bedroom she had been sleeping in as she was lying down, ready to give birth. Martha tried her best to calm her friend down while awaiting the person she hopes could help them.
"Okay, just keep those deep, deep breaths," she coaches her friend.
Shauna follows her instructions, but the pain is relentless, causing her to sweat. "I don't think I can do it."
Moments later, they could hear footsteps, and Martha called out, "We're in here."
However, the person who came into the bedroom wasn’t who she had imagined.
Max is taken aback at the sight of not only Martha but also his wife, lying in pain.
"Max," Shauna said in a combination of surprise and shock.
"What can I say?" he said, walking over to her. "I wasn't giving up until I found you."
But before Shauna could react, she groans in pain, causing Max to wonder what was happening. He gently pulled the blanket off his wife and noticed her swollen stomach. "Oh my god!" he exclaims
Both Shauna and Martha throw worried glances before Shauna could respond.
"I'm about to be a father!" Max declared, genuinely elated.
"I'm having a baby," Shauna said softly, still in pain.
Max doesn't hide his happiness, though his mind is still racing, wondering why his wife had left. But it didn't matter to him right now.
Shauna groans again, her pain intensifying. Max stayed by her side, trying to stay calm, but his mind was still trying to make sense of everything.
"Max, I have to tell you something."
"Shh," he told her, gently. "Concentrate on bringing this baby into this world. We'll have time to talk later."
Shauna inhales deeply and exhales slowly, focusing on her breath. Then, in a soft voice, she said, "Max, this baby isn’t yours… It’s Antoine’s. I’m so sorry."
Hearing that revelation left Max momentarily speechless, unable to react to the admission
RADCLIFFE RECIEVING HOSPITAL
Emma and Deirdre maneuver down the hallway, both women still wearing their coats.
Deirdre’s mind was clouded with memories—memories of Emma being there when she had been in a coma, memories of her parents' deaths in that terrible fire. The pain was still so fresh, even after all this time, and it hit her again as they walked.
"Something tells me it will all work out," Deirdre murmurs, trying to reassure herself as much as Emma.
Emma glances over at her mother, her voice gentle but firm. "It’ll be over before you know it," she reassured her, her hand squeezing Deirdre’s as if to remind her that they would get through this, even if the road was long.
They reach the room where the Saunders family were waiting. The female transplant coordinator opens the door, stepping aside as she prepared to introduce them.
"I would like to introduce you all to Lenny's bone marrow donor." the coordinator began, her voice polite but unable to mask the underlying tension.
The room fell silent, the weight of what was about to be revealed hanging in the air. Deirdre’s heart raced, and her gaze flickers from one face to another, but it wasn’t until her eyes locked on Emma’s that a sudden jolt of recognition hit her like a tidal wave.
Emma didn’t wait for the coordinator to respond. She continued with a quiet but piercing intensity, her words cutting through the atmosphere. "I’m the donor," she repeats, her gaze locking with the Saunders family. "And it makes sense, right? We have ties... deep ones."
The Saunders family turns toward Emma in confusion, their eyes wide with shock.
Esther and Steven, however, exchanges glances of understanding, their faces registering a mix of surprise and recognition.
Deirdre’s face twists in disbelief. "What in the world is going on here?"
"That's what I like to know too." Sean contributes.
Courtney, looking bewildered, opened her mouth to speak. "What do you mean? Ties?" she asked, trying to piece together what was happening with her in-laws, aunt, and grandmother.
Steven and Esther exchange distressed looks, sensing that something far more complicated was unfolding before them.
But Deirdre was too consumed by the words to notice. She tried to stop Emma, her voice trembling with panic. "Emma, don’t. Please."
But Emma wasn’t stopping now. She took a deep breath, her voice still steady but now filled with unmistakable weight.
"I’m Jimmy Saunders’ bastard daughter," she reveals.
The silence that followed was deafening. The shock in the room is palpable, as the Saunders family processes what had just been said.
END OF EPISODE
The revelation takes its toll.
Shauna gives birth.
Jes gets reassurance.
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