Peacock Page #2

to raise money for my shelter.

- Mrs. Crill, I need to go upstairs.

- Come on now.

Life doesn't begin and end with housework,

and please call me Fanny.

Mrs. Skillpa, this photo will help us

get donors for the shelter.

I don't know.

I know that the Skillpas have a long history

of keeping to themselves.

But you're your own woman.

Remember that.

Okay, well, it was a pleasure meeting you

and if you need anything,

just come out back

and we'll only stay a few minutes.

I have to tell Wanda.

- What have you got there?

- Mrs. Skillpa, how're you feeling?

- You look so much better.

- That is so lovely.

- Careful. Watch yourself.

- John should really fix that step.

- Fanny?

- Yes?

When is the shelter clothing drive

this year?

It's closer to Christmas.

Mrs. Skillpa, I'm sure you know all about

Fanny's work at the shelter

with displaced women and children.

Displaced children?

Well, we've been known

to help in the adoption process.

Find good homes for children.

Well, you should come

and meet some of my girls sometime.

So, where are your kids?

Well, Mr. Black, I don't know

how you folks do it in Lincoln,

but in Peacock, we don't pry.

I'd love to hear you say yes to this rally.

If it's John,

only you know the best way

to get through to your husband.

So get through. Understand?

It's moments like this

modern women take advantage of,

because it's moments like this

that put us on the map.

We ladies have to stick together,

Mrs. Skillpa.

Emma. Please call me Emma.

Hello?

Yes, Mr. French.

I'm so sorry,

but John is running a little late.

Yes, I'll have him off to work in no time.

Johnny, man of the hour.

- Did I do something wrong?

- No, no, no, no.

Come on. Connor, this is our guy.

John Skillpa, meet Connor Black.

It's a pleasure to meet you.

Hey, how about this?

- That's really something, isn't it, Johnny?

- I loved meeting your wife.

- Who?

- Emma.

She's wonderful and that house,

I can see why your family loved it so much.

God, you were in my house?

Connor, why don't you explain to John

our plan for the rally?

What we'd like to do is hold a political rally

in your backyard

using the train as a backdrop.

The whole town will be there.

Well, the train's gonna be gone on Friday

'cause I spoke to Mr. Clapp

- and he said...

- John.

John, hear Mr. Black out.

- Yes, sir.

- Emma loved the idea of the rally.

Your wife made us lemonade and cookies.

She was so hospitable...

Well, she's not the boss of me!

- Don't speak to my wife that way.

- I...

You don't know what you're doing.

Everything just needs to get back

to how it was before.

Mr. Clapp promised the train

would be gone on Friday,

and that's what needs to happen.

John, I spoke to Albert Clapp this morning.

- The train's gonna be there a while longer.

- Well, it's my house.

And I don't know what she told you.

I don't know what she told you,

but she's not the boss of me.

I make the decisions, not Emma.

I'm the man of the house.

We know you're the man

of the house, John.

Now, Mark Huggins is coming to take

that train away on Friday, and that's that.

Connor, why don't you and I

go to Ray's office

and let him speak to John alone?

John.

John, I wanna run for Senate someday.

Now this could really get me

in with the big guys.

I don't understand how your wife can see

how big this is, and you don't.

No one understands, sir.

John, I don't wanna hear

another word out of you.

You need to sit here and think about this.

I can't let her do this.

John?

It's me.

Jake! Come back to Mama right now.

Is anyone home?

What do you want?

There just isn't any easy way

to say this, John.

Jake and me, we...

We're getting out of this town.

I need your help.

What kind of help?

Money help.

It's been almost a year now.

I've doubled up shifts just to keep my place.

I don't know what else to do.

I mean, I've been planning

on getting out of here for a while now.

You know, saving and all.

- Look, I know you've got...

- Why are you asking me for money?

The checks.

I haven't got a check in a year now.

- If I could just...

- What checks?

I wasn't sending you any checks.

Your... Your mother was.

My mother died a year ago.

I didn't know that.

What were the checks for?

He's two now.

I... I honestly thought you knew.

Your mama was sending me checks

as long as I stayed away.

John, please. John, where are you going?

I have my own money.

Don't go.

John, I really think...

Come here, honey. I'm so sorry.

I didn't realize anyone else was home.

We better be going. I'm so sorry.

What's his name?

Jake.

Who are you?

I'm Maggie.

Just an old friend of John's.

Why are you here?

I read in the paper about the train and all.

I just wanted to stop by

and make sure everything was okay.

I better be going.

- I'm Emma. John's wife.

- Nice to meet you.

Good night.

Maggie.

Where's your car?

I let a friend borrow it.

Her aunt's real sick in Lincoln, so Jake and I

just been doing a lot of walking.

You don't really own a car, do you?

I don't mean to pry or be rude,

but where's his bed?

Why don't you let me drive you home?

That'd be real nice.

I'm sorry, where's John?

He's sleeping.

You ready?

Do you... Do you drive much?

You caught me.

You don't drive?

No.

Okay. You just use one foot.

Don't put one on the gas

and one on the brake.

- Just use one foot to go back and forth.

- All right.

Just like that.

- Just easy.

- All right.

I think you're ready for the open road.

Thanks for driving me way out here.

I'm sorry if I caused you any trouble.

You didn't, you didn't. Don't be silly.

Let me help you into the house.

Have a seat. I'll be right out.

Here you go, sweetie.

Good night, Jakey.

Would you like a drink?

Just a little something would be nice.

- Do you like it here?

- It's all I can afford right now.

Excuse me.

- I got a few bucks, if you got a few minutes.

- Not now, cupcake. I got company.

Okay.

Well, you know where to find me.

Is that how you met John?

Emma, I'm sorry.

I'm so sorry.

It's okay. It's okay, Maggie.

I just want...

I just want what's better for Jake.

You know what, I went...

I went as long as I could

without that money.

What money?

Was John sending you money?

His mother was.

Emma, it's bad.

It's really bad.

Please, I need to know.

I won't judge you.

Please believe me when I say that.

I met his mother

three years ago in a bar, and she paid me.

She said it was just to meet John.

She brought me to that house

and she brought me...

She brought me up those stairs,

and I thought you were her.

She was wearing this old

blue and white dress.

And the creaking of that bed.

John didn't wanna do any of it.

I swear, Emma.

But I couldn't stop her.

And she just stayed in the room

the whole time.

And then I was forced to stay.

I was so scared.

She made him do...

She made him do horrible things.

And I'm the worst person in the world.

- It's okay, Maggie.

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