EPISODE 2
Written By : Bre L. Drew
May 18, 2018
Last Time On Town and Country
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Friends and Family get together to celebrate Peter and Sarah Lynn's forty-fifth wedding Anniversary.
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Louise and Sean argue over some personal matters.
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After being away for two years, Martha Saunders return home from Los Angeles.
FRANKLIN FARM : MAIN HOUSE
Sarah Lynn Saunders, last twenty-four hours were something she only would have a dream of. Not only yesterday marked forty-five years of being married to her husband Peter. Her family surprised them with a surprise anniversary party with most of the family and friends here at the house. If that wasn’t enough, Sarah Lynn got another surprise this time was opening the door to find her youngest daughter Martha whom she couldn’t make contact with her for the past few days.
But more importantly, she was happy that her daughter is safe and accounted for. However, Sarah Lynn has lived far too long and suspect that her daughter is hiding something. Perhaps the reason why she rolled out of bed when the chickens began clucking and the sun was beginning to set. Sarah Lynn has been in the kitchen cooking up a storm for breakfast. Currently, she is placing dishes of pork sausage links, homemade buttermilk biscuits (Peter mother’s recipe) scrambled eggs and an assortment of flavors of jellies and marmalades on the table.
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She hears footsteps and then looks over her shoulder to see her husband Peter Saunders, who is wearing a black boiler suit.
“Martha, still asleep?“ as he takes the sight of the feast in front of him.
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"Yep,” she nods
Peter clears his throat.
“Did she say is this a visit?" he asks. "Or is she back for good? “
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"She didn’t say last night," Sarah Lynn answers. “Honey, it's the reason why I went out of my way to make all of this. “ she gestures to the food.
“Are you planning to fatten her up so she won’t be able to leave? “ Peter says in an upbeat tone of voice.
Both of them look at each other, and they begin laughing at the absurdity of this meal. Not even realizing that Esther Saunders has entered the room.
“Morning, Y'all,” Esther replies
She then pours herself a cup of coffee. As both husband and wife greet her back. Sarah Lynn rapidly informs her sister-in-law about her suspicion about Martha showing up out of the blue from Los Angeles.
The three of them compile their plates with food when Martha Saunders trails into the kitchen, still in her pajamas, which consists of a lime green spaghetti tank top and decorative pants. Her shoulder-length blonde hair is disheveled.
“Good Morning,” she says to her mother, father, and aunt.
“I was so glad that you were able to make it to surprise your parents by coming home,” Esther mentions.
It takes a few seconds for Martha to replay as she nibbles on a biscuit.
“Sorry, I didn’t call Aunt Esther,“ I actually found out about the party through Lynn’s Instagram. "So I just decide to hop on a plane, and here I am. “
Silently the three older adults remain silent wondering if her story has any holes in it.
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"When do you have to go back to California?“ Peter asks.
If anyone knows Peter Saunders, patience is not his virtue.
“Are you trying to get rid of me already, daddy? “ Martha laughs, “ I think that I’m going to stay here in town for now. "If that’s ok?“
“You know this is always your home baby girl,” Peter replies
After breakfast is over, Martha then retreats to her bedroom and she closes the door behind her. She goes over to her suitcase that is sitting on the bed. She unzips her bag inside among her shirts, pants, and cosmetics she retrieves a plastic bag which makes her sigh as she has it in her possession.
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HOME FARM
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The driver of a black stretch limousine pulls up in front of an estate on an expansive property.
“Sir we’re here,“ the driver informs the passenger who is in the back seat.
Daniel Covington takes out a fifty-dollar bill from the pocket square of the jacket of his suit. He hands the money to the driver who then thanks him. Daniel gets out of the limousine and then watches as the vehicle makes its way down the windy driveway. He then takes in the unique craftsmanship of the exterior of Home Farm - the name of the country estate. he purchased the property way below it's the initial asking price from the land company. In addition, the estate sits on 20 acres of land that also includes a guesthouse and a garage that is able to hold several cars.
He then makes his way inside of the foyer of the mansion. Noticing that it is in dire need of repairs which he is glad that he has a crew coming out in a few days to start working on it. Then he walks into the sizable living room, in spite of the lack of paint and flooring. He is already is mesmerized by the potential this estate can have.
“Hi, Dad. “ Courtney Covington calls out to her father.
Daniel turns around to see his only daughter dressed in a red and gray hooded flannel shirt and a pair of designer jeans.
He hadn’t realized that she entered the house.
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“Sorry, I didn’t even know you were here, I was just taken in by this,” he stops trying to find the right word.
“Empty room?“
Daniel laughs as he places his hand on the back of his neck. Whilst his daughter only sees the dilapidation. Nonetheless, he can’t help but feel emotional about being at Home Farm. The house he grew up in. He hadn’t been here since the family moved to New York City twenty-eight years ago.
“Did Tommy get back to school ?“ he asks as he pulls out of his iPhone from his pocket.
Tommy, his youngest son spent his spring break in Naples, Italy, with Daniel’s mother, Deirdre. And according to his mother, he has been keeping her on her toes on this vacation.
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"He did text me about an hour ago before he was heading to class," Courtney replies.
Tommy attends Wentworth Academy, an exclusive private boarding school in Massachusetts.
“Well, I got to go take care of some business before going back to the hotel.“
“I’m on my way out too, my first horseback riding lesson is today," Courtney said
Daniel places his arm around his daughter, happy that not only Courtney has chosen to move from Manhattan to Radcliffe, but she will be coming to work at the Covington Group, which is their family legacy. In the place where it all started.
FRANKLIN FARM : MAIN HOUSE
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In between determining procedural changes in drying, grading, and, storage, and shipment for greater efficiency and accuracy and coordinating activities for the workers. Louise Saunders Lockhart couldn’t take her mind off of the argument she had with Sean last night regarding him speaking to his whore when their daughters were home.
Both of them agreed on a while ago if he wants to call his whore then it has to be when their children are not home. She is so much wrapped in her thoughts she forgot that she was in her parents' living room, not to mention her mother is handing her a cup of tea.
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"A penny for your thoughts?“ Sarah Lynn says as she goes over to sit down in the green wingback chair.
Louise thanks her for the tea, “How is the Little Princess?“
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Knowing already that she is referring to Martha, Sarah Lynn has never been keen on the strained relationship between her two daughters. It bothers her greatly as sisters, they're not close.
“I think she is hiding something and does not want any of us to find out what it is.“
“Martha is probably is upset she is not opening up for Fifth Harmony,“ jokes Louise.
Sarah Lynn decides to ignore her insult, as she lowers her voice,
“Martha has been in her bedroom since after breakfast."
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“Well, you know mom, Martha is probably still on West Coast time,“ Louise counteracts
The Saunders matriarch does her best to ponder that her youngest girl can just be tired. Although, she knows that something ain’t right with both of her daughters.
“What’s going on with you?“
Louise sighs she then sees the woman of the hour nearly sashaying down the stairs in a sleeveless black dress with a matching feather boa.
“Look who is finally out of her pajamas in the afternoon.“ Louise blurts out.
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Martha throws a look of irritation “We all can’t be a slave to this farm big sis, “ Martha is not here for her sister’s crap, especially not today.
“You mean this farm that provides you with the money that you carelessly waste trying to be some sort of singer? “ Louise charges back
“Enough!“ Sarah Lynn spits out, wishing her daughters will get along a whole hell of a lot better they do now.
“I’m outta here, Mom can I borrow your car, please? “ Martha asks
As much as she wants to stop her from leaving and get them to hash it out. Sarah Lynn grabs the keys off the coffee table, tossing them to Martha who catches them in her hand.
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“Give Shauna our love,"
Shauna is the granddaughter of the Saunders family friend, Mae Jackson. Today she is graduating from Sampson University and she has been best friends with Martha ever since they were in diapers.
“Good riddance,“ Louise announces like it is some type of relief that her sister is out of the room.
Sarah Lynn restrains herself by grabbing her cup of tea and begin drinking it.
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THE WATERFALL BAR
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In a town like Radcliffe, there aren’t many things to do on a Friday after work. But The Waterfall Bar provides it's the town residents escapement from their daily grind.
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it is where in which Antoine Hall is tending bar, serving many of the locals. As he closes the drawer of the register, he looks towards the doorway where he spots two familiar women walking into the bar.
“The graduate is here Y'all,” he announces to everyone in the room,
Sounds of applause and whistles run through the establishment as the customers take in the sight of the bar’s proprietor Mae Jackson and her granddaughter Shauna Jackson wearing her black graduation robe and cap on her head, holding her bachelor's degree with a huge smile upon her face.
Mae embraces her granddaughter, “ I'm so proud of you baby, I just wish your grandfather was here to see you walk across the stage graduating from college.”
Horace Jackson, Mae’s husband passed away two years ago from an aggressive form of lung cancer that contributed to his years of smoking.
Esther Saunders makes her way over to them.
The three women greet one another then Esther hands her an envelope which Shauna presumes that it is a card with money in it.
Shauna excuses herself from her grandmother and her grandmother’s best friend. She goes up to the bar where she is served a flute of champagne and a kiss on the cheek from Antoine one of her best friends and occasional bed partner.
“Sorry, I didn’t make it to the graduation, but your grandmamma needed me to cover,“ Antoine apologizes
“You didn’t miss shit, but boring speeches," Shauna says. She holds up her degree again. “This is what I wanted, and I got it, “
For four years, Shauna sacrificed her own social life to be the first person in her family to graduate from university.
Antoine smiles “ Yeah, you sure did,”
The two of them walk over to the booth in the back of the bar to their favorite spot.
Shauna gulps her champagne, “Besides my mother didn’t even show up,“
Antoine knows that Shauna and her mother’s relationship is full of tension and resentment. Not helped by the fact that Shauna’s momma Cassie selfishly left her daughter in the custody of her grandparents when she was thirteen years old.
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Martha breezes into The Waterfall, She glances around the place which it instantly takes her back to the many times she has spent here. Many of the locals she has known, most if not all of her life. It is the price you pay for being from a small town.
She stops at the booth where Shauna and Antoine our sitting across from one another.
“Some things never change,“ Martha says, which ejects the two of them from their conversation.
“Well, Well, Well, I heard your behind was back,“ Shauna gets up from her seat. Before they know it they laugh, as they fiercely hug one another.
They then let go of one another and then she goes to Antoine who also welcomes her with a hug. Now the three of them sit down altogether in the booth. For Martha, it feels no time has passed since the last time she has been with them and they instantly click back before she left for Los Angeles two years ago.
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FRANKLIN FARM : MAIN HOUSE
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Upstairs, Louise comes out of the bathroom she had left her mother downstairs because she couldn’t bear her mother being hurt by the latest argument she and Martha had earlier. Before she heads to the staircase. She sees that Martha’s bedroom door is slightly open.
"Always a scatterbrain,“ Louise mumbles to herself.
For a few seconds, she contemplates leaving it open. Then she decides to go close the door before heading back downstairs.
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She gets close enough to the door she can see through the crack, she sees something that perks up some interest for her. She steps into the bedroom where of course her suitcase is open with her belongings strewn in different areas of the room.
She then makes her way to the dresser to confirm what she saw outside of the room.
“You have got to be kidding me?“ Louise says to herself.
The item in her hand leaves little to the imagination because the item in her hand is a pregnancy test kit box.
END OF EPISODE
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NEXT EPISODE OF TOWN & COUNTRY
Louise confronts Martha.
Steven and Courtney run into one another.
Someone from the past arrives at Franklin Farm.
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