Love, Once and Always Page #3

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You have a fantastic memory.

So what've you been up to?

Just working here, helping

Eleanor when she has errands,

helping out with the festival.

You should stop by

if you have time.

I'd love to.

Ok. I'll put this in.

Randall's still a hoot.

At least he had the courtesy

to send me

a Christmas card

every now and again.

You left the country.

You never replied

to any of my letters.

You know what?

Water under the bridge.

So how is it that

you're still so close

with everyone here

in Newton?

I thought you were some

high-flying architect

in the big city.

I have been coming down

to Newton every weekend

for one reason and one reason

only and that is the estate.

It is a monster that needs

constant feeding

and I am finished with it.

But that house has been here

for over 100 years.

How can you turn your back

on it?

Easy. Look, Lucy, if we could

just sell this estate

I would have the funds to start

my own architecture firm

and you could go back to London

with a tidy little nest egg.

What do you say?

But if Niven goes for it,

what happens to the estate?

Well, the plans that I suggested

would see the grounds

opened up for the fairways

and we would probably have

to lose the coach house,

the gardens-

Bulldoze the gardens?

Duncan, over my dead body.

Do you have any idea

what it takes to maintain

an estate like this?

No, but I wanna leave it

in good hands.

I don't know, maybe I could

get it designated

as a historical landmark

and then I could start

applying for grants

to protect it.

We would be lucky if Niven

picked it up.

Our other option is putting it

on the market

and honestly, at this rate, it

wouldn't even pass inspection.

Ok, so what

do you propose?

I suggest that we sell off

a few odds and ends

so we have the funds

to patch up the roof

while we try to figure out

what to do with

the rest of the place.

Fine.

Ooh.

Did you know that Belgian

waffles were invented

in the 1800's by the Prince

Bishop of Liege?

Nobody knows that, Lucy.

[laughs]

Well, what do you think,

dad?

My money's on Lucy.

She always was headstrong

as a kid.

True, but Duncan's

always got a trick or two

up his sleeve.

It's a shame they can't just-

Work together. I know.

Of course, maybe they

just need a nudge.

Coffee. Coffee. Coffee.

Coff-

what? No, out.

Out.

Shoo. Shoo. Shoo.

Shoo. Shoo.

Go on.

Out. Out. Out. Out.

Go!

Morning.

Where's Eleanor?

Uh, she left a note.

She went to town to help out

with the festival

and left breakfast on the stove.

Meanwhile, why don't

you put your world class

architectural skills to use and

fix the lock on the kitchen door

so Percy will stay

where he belongs?

Percy?

I mean the sheep that just

pushed his way into the kitchen.

Why Percy?

Because he's so persistent.

Huh. Sounds like somebody

else I know.

I'll add it to the list.

So I've totaled the amount

of money we'll need

for the essential fixes before

we can even show this place.

We'll need to touch up

the paint,

fix some of these windows,

and of course pay the roofers.

Better get started.

This house has lasted

for 100 years.

I think it can make it

through breakfast.

No time like the present.

Duncan. Duncan, what're you

doing with those?

We need money to fix

the roof, remember?

So I thought we could sell off

a few of these things

at the antique auction

in Newton.

It's just collecting dust.

But these are

Aunt Grace's things

and Wycliffe family heirlooms.

Sacrificing themselves

to keep this house

from falling apart seems like

the most noble duty of all.

It's just random stuff.

Random stuff?

That is a 19th century

oil painting.

Yeah.

Of, like, trees.

And that antique Venetian vase

is in perfect condition.

What, this old thing?

Oh!

Oh, those chandeliers

in the great hall

are probably worth something.

No. Duncan, I love those.

Ok.

How about this?

We've got dozens of these.

Those are emblematic of

the fascination

in the 1890's of botany

and floral history.

We have to keep at least one.

Ok. What is your obsession

with history?

No, those are treasures and...

this is Aunt Grace's diary.

We certainly can't sell that.

Ok, granted, that was a mistake.

What about this painting

with the pretty girl in it?

Haha, very funny.

This Victorian hall stand

is an antique.

Lucy, be practical for once.

We need to fix this roof.

[sighs]

Ok. Fine. But make it quick.

Ready?

Ok.

And this one?

I'm proud of you.

I'm going to give Randall a call

and see if he can give us a hand

to bring this down to auction.

I'm going with you to make

sure you get a fair price.

Deal.

[piano playing]

Sold.

One antique oil painting

for $1,200.

Not bad. That's $3,000 in total.

Alright, I'll admit it.

You have an eye for this stuff.

Oh my, a compliment.

Will the wonders ever cease?

Alright.

[laughs]

It's like traveling

back in time.

It's fascinating, isn't it?

Mmmhmm.

Yeah, fascinating.

You know, that beer garden

back there

sounds pretty fascinating, too.

You want to join me?

You go ahead.

I'm going to browse.

Lucy Windsor?

Is that you?

Mr. and Mrs. Jorgensen.

You remember my husband Marcus?

Of course.

Lucy, it's been ages.

Randall told us you were

in town.

Grace would be so happy

to have you back home.

You're here to handle

the estate, no doubt?

Yes.

And give Hannah Rourke

a little competition?

You and Duncan were pretty

serious back in the day.

Are they, uh, dating?

No, but Hannah's the top shot

in the darts contest every year

and Duncan's got a bullseye

on his back

whether he knows it or not.

[laughs]

Well, she can tag and release

him for all I'm concerned.

Well, Eleanor says that

you're undecided about

what's to come of the estate.

Yes, things are up in the air

but we'll figure it out.

Lucy, you must come by

the cafe for dinner

to welcome you back to town.

I would love to but I'm a little

concerned about leaving Duncan

and the estate alone,

goodness knows what he'll try

to sell off next.

Well, bring him along, then.

The more the merrier.

Yeah.

Ok. Sure.

See you then.

Ok.

We'll take it.

Well, that's very gallant

of you.

Are you buying me a gift

with our money?

No, I got this.

We need every cent of our

antique money for the repairs.

Ok, I take back what I said.

You always did have

a tiny sweet spot.

Mmm.

So now you remember.

Too bad posterity will remember

you as the guy

who tried to turn a landmark

into a sand trap.

Right. And uh, remind me,

what was your idea again?

I told you, I'm thinking on it.

Oh, can I grab one of these?

Egg cream?

You know the way

to a girl's heart.

Just like old times.

Ooh, those look pretty yummy.

Yeah, it smells good.

Yeah.

Oh, look at these.

Wow.

Can you believe we once

dressed like this?

Decades from now some modern

architect will be saying

the same thing

about photographs of us.

Oh, I love imagining

who these people were.

Where they worked, where they

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