EPISODE 205
Written by: Bre L. Drew
October 10, 2022
Last Time on Town and Country
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Jacques is determined to win Emma back in order to obtain the funds to save his family's shipping company at the behest of Deirdre.
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Jai voiced his opinion on Louise involving herself in Sean's marital problems.
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Aaliyah hadn't been happy about her parents' entering into new relationships after their divorce.
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THE WATERFALL BAR: JACKSON APARTMENT
On her feet most of the day downstairs at the bar, Mae Jackson is grateful to have them in her slippers as she stands over the stove with her pot of chili simmering nicely in the apartment kitchenette. She maneuvers down the oven with her dish towel to check on the homemade cornbread baking. After being satisfied with its progress, she closes it.
An audible knock gets her to leave her current post to answer the door. She is surprised yet elated to see the particular person on the other side.
"Hey, Momma," Will Jackson addresses his mother. "How you doin?"
"Come on in," she says, while enveloping him in a hug. "It's so good to see you."
Her son enters the apartment, instantly enamored with the aroma of food.
"You throwin down in the kitchen, ain't you," he compliments her.
"Just putting together a little supper," she responds. "You on your way to the club?"
Will now stands in the living room of his childhood home and shakes his head. "I just came from there; then I decided to come by and see how you been."
"I'm all right," she tells him. "So, how is everything going with you?"
His lips form a telling grin.
"Can't complain; the club is doin well, and things with Emma and me ain't bad."
Despite his happiness, Mae could easily detect a hint of reservation in his voice.
From her silence, he knows that his mother is holding something back.
"What?"
Mae, by now, takes the cornbread out of the oven to put it on the stove. "It's just that I heard Jacques Laurent is back in town."
Will leans behind the pillar of the kitchen wall.
"Momma, I know you don't care for Emma, but she and him been over."
Jacques was initially engaged to Emma until she discovered he was using her financially to rescue his family's shipping company from going under; his womanizing ways ended their engagement.
"Are you sure about that?" she asks in an accusatory manner,
THE CHATEAU
Emma Covington finds herself giving her keys to her Jaguar to the male valet driver in front of The Chateau this autumn evening when the temperature is below sixty, which makes the wealthy heiress grateful she is wearing her fur coat. Though aware that the chilliness is partly the issue, she also expects to face Jacques tonight to convince him to leave town. She, for one, had enough of him trying to win her back.
She is about to give the driver a fifty-dollar bill out of her clutch handbag when he shakes his head, refusing it.
"It's already taken care of, Ms. Covington," he casually informs her.
"Of course, it is," she mumbles, deducing that Jacques had paid him.
Emma enters the restaurant while the valet driver gets in her car to park in the designated area.
She knows he would be furious at the thought of her going to meet her ex-lover; she is doing this for their own good, even if Emma had to be creative with the truth, telling him she was unable to come into the club tonight because she was meeting with an old friend in town who was here on a layover.
She realizes the restaurant didn't have any other diners, wondering at first if it was a slow night. However, when the college-aged hostess guides her to the table near the stage, she spots a string quartet on stage playing the "Autumn Allegro" from Vivaldi's "Four Seasons."
When Emma arrives at the specific table, she sees Jacques Laurent in a black Armani suit smiling his trademark charismatic smile that once upon a time would make her weak in the knees.
"What in the hell are you trying to pull?" Emma queries through her teeth.
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"I know nothing of the sort," he feigns modestly. "But why can't we surround ourselves in a dinner just for two with a string quartet?"
"Whatever you have up your sleeve, it will not make me leave Will for you." she reacts strongly,
Emma removes her coat, revealing her dark green long halter satin dress that makes Jacques pay even more attention to her.
LOCKHART LAKE COTTAGE
With the flat-screen television displaying the Hulu home menu and a large pepperoni pizza delivered, Louise Saunders Lockhart and Lynn Lockhart hunker down in the living room of the residential cottage near the lake.
"Looks like we're finally ready to catch up on the newest season of The Handmaid's Tale," Lenny says while sitting on the couch with a slice of pizza on a plate.
"When was the last time it was just the two of us hanging out watching TV and eating junk food?" Louise wonders aloud beside her fraternal twin daughter.
"It's been a minute," Lenny says, then takes a bite of her slice of pizza.
"Ready?" Louise asks while picking up the remote near her.
Lenny gives a thumbs-up.
Louise selects the play episode option, which cues up the Hulu Originals intro on TV. Not long after the doorbell rings,
"You weren't expecting anyone?" Louise questions her daughter, who says no.
She then walks out of the room into the foyer and opens the door, where she sees Jai Gupta standing in the doorway.
"Hey," she says guardedly.
The two hadn't spoken much since they nearly got into it about Sean's dependence on her relating to his marital problems with Tricia.
"Hey," she replies in his casual British accent. "May I come in?"
At first, Louise contemplates but knows they can't, so she steps aside to let him in, closing the door behind them.
The two appear in the living room while Lynn tries to shield her confusion.
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"Hey, Jai," the young lady says, greeting her mother's boyfriend.
"Hi, Lynn," Jai tells her. He then observes the pizza plates, soda cups, and the paused television.
"I didn't mean to interrupt you two. I can come another time,"
Louise is about to say something when Lynn gets off the couch, grabbing her cup off the coffee table.
Knowing that her mother and Jai need to hash out their problems with each other. "I'll be in my room if anyone needs me,"
She then shuffles out of the living room, giving the two the chance to be alone to talk.
"About the other day," the two say in unison, which makes the other chuckle.
"I'm sorry, go ahead," Louise tells him.
Jai folds his arms over his toned chest. "I'm not going to lie when the other day, I saw Sean here. It made me doubt some things."
His response surprises Louise. "Like what, Jai?"
"If the reason why you continue to interject in his life is that you aren't over him?"
SAMPSON UNIVERSITY: ASHTON DORMITORY
The ticking sounds of the sewing machine fill the dorm room as Aaliyah Gupta concentrates on guiding the piece of fabric onto the slide plate.
In addition to the noise, her iPhone on her bed is playing Lake Street Dive's cover of "Automatic."
A few minutes pass before she hears the faint knock on the door, which makes her stop her current activity. Thinking it is one of the freshman girls who need her assistance as Resident Advisor of Ashton Dormitory; when she opens the door, however, it isn't a student across from her.
Her mother, Mala Gupta, stands in a beige leather trench coat while holding onto her Louis Vuitton purse.
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"Mommy, hi," she politely addresses her.
She hadn't known her mother had decided to come out here to visit her this evening.
Mala enters the room while Aaliyah closes the door behind them.
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"I was just on my way home from the office, and it dawned on me that I hadn't checked on you in a while, so how are you doing? Is school going well, and are you maintaining your grades?"
Aaliyah turns to her mother, nodding knowingly. "Yes, mommy, school is going fine, and I currently have A's in all my classes."
She wanted to tell her that she could've called or texted her to find this out but knows her mother would go on this tirade about her being the one paying, so she decides to avoid that altogether.
Mala eyes her daughter's sewing machine, seeing she was working on something. "Have you talked to your father lately?"
"I talked to him yesterday. He was busy with the store, but something sounded off in his voice, but I don't know why."
Mala sighs, knowing the exact reason.
"I shouldn't say anything because it isn't any of my business, but your father and Louise are having some issues, but I'm sure they will work them out."
Aaliyah could sense that her mother had some hesitance in the way she was conveying the statement.
"Wait, how do you know about their issues?" Aaliyah wonders aloud.
Mala exhales loosely. "Because your father and I spoke about it the other day at The Waterfall. Tanner hadn't said anything to you about it."
The junior-year student shakes her head.
"No, but maybe she doesn't know the details either."
"Like I said, they will work it out."
Aaliyah puts her hands on her hips. "Maybe not,"
"What are you saying?" Mala says in a disapproving manner.
"Since he is confiding in you about his issues with Louise, maybe this can leave room for you two to get back together."
Aaliyah hadn't exactly been pleased with her parents' moving onto different relationships after their divorce, not to mention she still thinks they belong together after all the years they were married.
"Aaliyah, I know you didn't take the news of your father and mine's divorce well, but I thought by now you would've grown out of this immature relationship." She replies. I will always love your father; he is a good man without whom neither you nor your brother would exist. But I believe we're better off as friends. Besides, your father still loves Louise, and nothing will change that, keep focusing on school and even Lorenzo."
Mala then embraces her daughter in her arms.
"I better get going, and I will see you later. Maybe we can meet up for dinner sometime next week."
Aaliyah nods, confirming they will find a day for it as she lets her out of the room.
Now alone, Aaliyah sits back down at her desk.
"You and Daddy belong together, but I'll let you figure that out,"
She starts the machine back up as she completes her assignment for her advanced fashion construction class.
LOCKHART LAKE COTTAGE
Louise stands across from her lover, who has just accused her of still having feelings for her ex-husband.
"First of all, I'm not interjecting myself into his marriage. I told you what I told him. I do not want to be involved in his marriage."
"But it hasn't stopped him from coming to you every time he has a problem with Tricia. You've got to admit a line need to be drawn when it comes to him constantly leaning on you," Jai says defensively.
Louise tucks a few loose strands of her blonde hair behind her ears. "Jai, I understand where you are coming from, but if I said the same thing about you and Mala, would you listen, or would you tell me that I'm overstepping my boundaries?"
Jai clears his throat, reflecting on meeting up with his ex-wife to discuss this very issue, which she told him to discuss his feelings towards Sean and Louise's co-dependence.
"I don't know," he answers. "Look, after Mala, I thought I'd never meet anyone I cared about until you came into my life. I don't want to lose you."
Louise finds herself locking her hands into his. "I can say the same about you, Sean, and I, like you and Mala, have been through a lot and still care about each other, but you're the most important man in my life, and I hope it stays that way. "
Jai smiles appreciatively, "I love you."
Louise exchanges radiantly, "I love you too."
They wrap their arms around one another as they kiss one another.
THE WATERFALL BAR: JACKSON APARTMENT
"Wanna stay for dinner?" Mae says, hoping to change the subject.
"Momma, I wish you'll at least take the time to get to know Emma; she isn't what you think she is."
Mae sets the table in the small dining area of the apartment.
"Will, I don't know her, so I can't say I like her, but women like that usually don't bring men home like you."
"Men who are what momma?" Black, broke? Spent time in prison? I expect to hear this from Deirdre Covington but not you."
Mae stares at her son with the utmost care. "You're grown, so I can't tell you what to do, but just don't put all your hope into this relationship. It's no telling what can happen, so please keep your eyes open."
Will tries to absorb what his mother advises him.
"I'm no fool. I know Emma isn't perfect, but deep down, I know she cares about me as I do about her, "he admits honestly.
The bar owner nods her head sympathetically.
"Like I said, you're a grown man, but I'll say this to you because I do want the best for you," Mae says. "Anyway, would you like to stay for dinner? There's plenty to go around, and besides, it will keep me company since Antoine is working down at the bar."
He exhales while taking off his black jacket.
"Sure, why not? I have missed your home cooking." No offense to Sarah Lynn, but sometimes I miss some seasonin' in my food."
The older woman bursts into laughter while she is satisfied to have this time with her son. Something she prayed for only a few years ago.
THE CHATEAU
The string quartet starts playing the familiar notes of "Allegro" by Mozart.
Despite her lack of patience, Emma waited until the main course was served to them until she stated what was on her mind.
"When are you leaving town?"
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Jacques chuckles while sipping on his red wine. "If there is one thing about you, Emma, it is that you don't beat around the bush."
He is doing his best to hide his true intentions, which is that her mother, Deirdre, is paying him generously to come in between his ex-fiancée and her ex-con beau. After she convinced him to step up his game, he came up with the idea of paying the staff for the night on the business they would've lost without having their usual flow of customers. Yet he finds himself still very much attracted to the woman.
"I told you I'm taking care of business stateside for my family," he admits. "Anyway, it's a shame to waste this night on a frivolous conversation."
Emma takes a bite of her pan-seared salmon, hating that it was delicious and satisfying to her empty stomach.
"Was it frivolous when you flirted with my married niece?"
Jacques mischievously smirks while taking another sip of his wine, recalling him chatting up the beautiful younger woman in the hotel lobby.
"I did not know of the relation between you and Courtney nor her marital status," he remarks candidly. "But if I didn't know any better, it almost sounds like you're envious of her."
Swiftly Emma rolls her eyes at the claim.
"Oh, don't flatter yourself; I came here to inform you that as long as you're in town, stay away from me because I'm not going to let you ruin what I have with Will."
Jacques shakes his head, refusing to believe her declaration.
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"This is what you're giving up if you continue to be with someone like Will Jackson?"
"It's not because he's black?" Emma asks outright. "If that's what you're getting at, I swear I will pour that bottle of cabernet all over you."
"Would you think that low of me?" Jacques mentions. "But he has a rap sheet, who is on your payroll currently residing on a dairy farm," he said in his heavy French accent. "All I'm telling you is that you deserve better,"
"I almost forgot to give you this," he adds.
Emma watches him pull a velvet rectangular jewelry gift box inside his blazer pocket.
"What is this?" she asks partly curiously and annoyingly.
"Just open it," he says benevolently.
Emma watches him pull a velvet rectangular jewelry gift box inside his blazer pocket.
She finds herself being cautious while opening the box, where she sets her sights on a silhouette diamond bangle bracelet.
"Oh my god, this is exquisite... but I can't accept this."
"If you'd told me a year ago that Emma Covington would turn down expensive jewelry, I would never have believed it." He states, "Allez bébé, gardez-le."
Instantly recognizable in English as "Come On, Keep It, Baby." Emma closes the box, setting it aside on the table.
"All right," she admits truthfully. "The ambiance and the dinner aren't quite bad, but this is the one; and only time we will be together in this capacity, Jacques."
Jacques scoffs humorously, knowing Emma is beginning to soften with him. Nonetheless, he found another way to get the funds and the woman he still adores.
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END OF EPISODE
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ON THE NEXT EPISODE OF TOWN AND COUNTRY
Jordan drops a bomb.
Jai has words with Sean.
Dr. Toussaint calls Daniel's bluff.
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