Series Tone: Late 18th Century Clockwork Romance...
Episode 1.0: The Day The House Stood Still
Synopsis
The Brinkirk-Camwright ancestral home comes to a complete stop for the first time in generations. A dark secret about the family's history is revealed.
Dramatis Persona
Nicholas Brinkirk-Camwright Jr. -- The reluctant Brinkirk-Camwright heir. (Screen Presence: 2)
Violet Brinkirk-Camwright -- Brilliant but unrecognized engineer and Nicholas's sister. (Screen Presence: 2)
Iris Brinkirk-Camwright -- Priest and Violet's twin sister. (Screen Presence: 2)
Charlotte Brinkirk-Camwright -- Nicholas, Violet and Iris's mother.
Nicholas Brinkirk-Camwright Sr. -- The ailing Brinkirk-Camwright patriarch.
Stephen Bainbridge -- Violet's Gentleman Suitor.
Dr. Rosenbloom -- Scientist and long time family friend.
Archimedes -- Violet's clockwork owl.
Summary
Stephen Bainbridge arrives late for a dinner engagement at the Brinkirk-Camwright house. Several shots establish that the house is entirely clockwork driven. Timed shutters close automaticlly, the coal in the fire is refreshed according to schedule, even the front door locks and unlocks through complex mechanisms. Stephen joins Violet, Iris, Nicholas Jr. and Charlotte at the table. After pleasentries have been exchanged the constantly ticking house suddenly falls silent for the frist time in generations.
Violet tries to leave the table to go investigate the problem but Charlotte interupts and insists the problem is Nicholas's responsibility. Nicholas seeks out his father and finds him shuffling through blue prints of the house. Nicholas Sr. confesses that the blue prints are incomplete and that indeed the house wasn't built by the Brinkirk-Camwright's as the children had been led to believe. Nicholas Sr. further explains that his grandfather tricked the original architects into making him executor of their estate, murdered them and then sent their only son off for adoption. Nicholas puts his father back to bed and assures him that he will take care of this problem.
Meanwhile, Iris rescues Stephen and Violet from Charlotte's embarasing intrusions. Finally alone Stephen confesses that he is impressed both with the house and with Violet's ability to understand it all. Nicholas arrives and gives the blue prints to Violet and explains that they're incomplete. He also reveals to Stephen that unless they can get the house working again there is no way to get out but he also reassures Stephen by making him feel useful and sends him off on an errand.
Iris visits her father and presses upon him that, in her capacity as a member of the clergy, he should confide in her his sins as his health wanes. Nicholas Sr. says that he will always see Iris as a daughter first and a priest second. He also mentioned that he has confessed his sins to Nicholas Jr. and they are now his to bear.
Violet plows through book after book attempting to find some clue as to what could be wrong with the house but all she turns up is another incomplete scrap of blueprint with the name "Barrymore" signed on it. After having sent Stephen on his task Nicholas explains the house's dark secret to Violet. Iris walks in on this conversation and learns the truth as well.
Iris returns to her father and against Nicholas Jr's wishes confronts him about the house's history. Nicholas Sr. expresses disappointed in his son and insists that his daughters shouldn't be burdoned with this information. Nicholas arrives and discovers that Iris has betrayed his trust. A circular unyeilding family argument ensues.
Violet tries a new approach to the broken house and uses her clockwork owl, Archimedes to communicate with Dr. Rosenbloom in the outside world. Dr. Rosenbloom agrees to come over and take a look at the problem from the outside. Sometime later a scream comes from just outside an east wing sitting room.
Stephen bursts in on the still arguing family expressing concern about the scream. The Stephen and the Brinkirk-Camwright sibblings investigate. They discover a rotating panel in the back of a fireplace that leads outside. Once forced open an unconscious Dr. Rosenbloom falls through, his arm crushed by a gear in an attempt to open the panel from the outside. Violet feels responsible. Nicholas sends Stephen off to fetch a doctor and consoles Violet.
Nicholas leads Violet back to the main research library and convinces her to focus and solve the problem of the house. With her brothers assurances in her abilities she works out a vital missing detail in the blueprints that leads to the main spring of the house. Nicholas and Violet work together to turn the immense winding key. The house springs to life and resumes its relentless ticking.
Next Time On A Conservancy of Gears...
Iris discovers a passageway that leads to a clockwork chapel.
Violet and Stephen finally share a moment alone.
Nicholas is cheered by the denizens of the Dirty Duck.
Madame Chesterfield introduces Nicholas to someone.
Pressure is put on the Brinkirk-Camwright siblings to form alliances with the Frohawk family whom they have depised all their lives.
Dramatis Persona
Nicholas Brinkirk-Camwright Jr. -- The reluctant Brinkirk-Camwright heir. (Screen Presence: 2)
Violet Brinkirk-Camwright -- Brilliant but unrecognized engineer and Nicholas's sister. (Screen Presence: 1)
Iris Brinkirk-Camwright -- Priest and Violet's twin sister. (Screen Presence: 1)
Ernest Frohawk -- The Frohawk patriarch and electrical scientist.
Madeline Frohawk -- Frohawk's eldest daughter.
Madame Chesterifield -- A society lady and Nicholas's friend.
Charlotte Brinkirk-Camwright -- Nicholas, Violet and Iris's mother.
Nicholas Brinkirk-Camwright Sr. -- The ailing Brinkirk-Camwright patriarch.
Pascal Pichette aka The Clockwork Cardinal -- Iris's superior in the church.
Stephen Bainbridge -- Violet's Gentleman Suitor.
Summary
The scene opens on a man giving a demonstration on electricity at a fashionable party. The camera pans to Nicholas watching from the back. Madam Chesterfield strolls up to Nicholas and comments on how his "eligibility" grows each day. She introduces the man giving the demonstration as Ernest Frohawk. Nicholas expresses both familiarity and disgust with the man. Made Chesterfield then points out Frohawk's beautiful young daughter Madeline and remarks on how she and Nicholas would make a good pair. Nicholas again dismisses the idea with disgust.
Iris is looking for Violet and upon finding her is about to start a conversation when he leans on a bit of wall and gets sucked into a secret passage. The passage leads to a small underground clockwork chapel. A crucifix hangs on the wall behind a gilded altar. Stations of the cross hang on the walls and mirrors cleverly filter sunlight from above to shine through stained glass windows.
A few moments later as the sun sets the chapel springs to life. The crucifix rotates upside down; the gilded altar flips over to reveal a bloodstained stone replacement. The Stations of the Cross rotate over to satanic images and nails shoot out of the seats of the pews. The mirror system now filters moonlight into the now sinister chapel.
Violet arrives just as this transformation is complete. Iris reminds Violet that the house technically isn't theirs as they once thought. Violet affirms her rejection of that notion. The sisters decide they need to persuade Nicholas to talk to their father about this.
After discussing the situation with his sisters Nicholas agrees to go talk to his father. On his way he is surprised to see Ernest Frohawk leaving his father's room. Nicholas asks his father about this and he simply replies, "Business." Nicholas then asks his father about the mysterious chapel. Nicholas Sr. unlocks a small cabinet and pulls out a leather bound journal and hands it to his son. Nicholas Sr. makes his son promise that he won't show the journal to his sisters nor tell them of its contents.
As Nicholas leaves his father's room he is attacked by his sisters. They try to wrestle the book away from him but he stumbles and falls over the second story banister to the floor below.
His sisters run to his side. Iris begins to work on his clearly broken arm but Violet is determined and yanks the journal from his possession injuring him further in the process.
Iris helps Nicholas to bed. Charlotte arrives to express concern for her sons well being and expresses disapproval at Iris. She also informs them that they need to be ready to entertain the Frohawk family at dinner tomorrow.
Violet spends the night reading the journal. She learns that Horace Barrymore, the original architect of the house, was obsessed with immortality. He posited that if he could live half his life in perfect piety and half his life in perfect wickedness that God and The Devil would be unable to decide his fate and thus he would live forever. It was fear of discovery of his second darker life by his wife and child that led him to confide in and trust Violet's great-grandfather.
With tears in her eyes Violet finishes reading just as Stephen Bainbridge arrives with news that Doctor Rosenbloom is recovering nicely from his accident. Stephen expresses concern when he notices that Violet appears to be upset but Violet brushes it off as a result of a particularly moving novel. She then pushes past Stephen and urges him to go downstairs to tea.
Iris pays a visit to the archives at the rectory. There she encounters Cardinal Pichette, it is obvious that he has a clockwork heart. A small key protrudes from his chest. He tells Iris that he fears the research of Ernest Frohawk may be heretical. Iris reminds The Cardinal that if it weren’t for the sciences he’d be dead. The Cardinal comments that the physical is the realm of man but the soul is the realm of God. He fears electricity may be getting too close to the soul. The Cardinal wants Iris to get close to Ernest Frohawk and discover the nature of his research. Iris agrees but only on the condition that the final judgment lies with her.
Meanwhile, Nicholas is carousing with his friends at the Dirty Duck when Stephen Bainbridge arrives to further ask about how to properly woo Violet. Nicholas expresses that he would be happy if Stephen took Violet away from the madness that is the Brinkirk-Camwright household. He also successfully impresses upon Stephen the extent to which the household is dysfunctional and the toll the “clockwork coffin” has had on everyone.
That evening Ernest Frohawk and his wife and daughter join the Brinkirk-Camwright family at dinner. Nicholas Sr. announces that Ernest and he will begin work on a new project. He refuses to discuss details but intimates that the responsibility for completing the project will eventually fall on Nicholas’s shoulders. He further mentions that he hopes this project represents turning over a new leaf and will lead to further unity between the two families. He pointedly looks at Nicholas Jr. and Madeline. Iris insists to her father that she be allowed to supervise the project as a represented of The Church for purposes of evaluating any ethical problems. Nicholas Sr. reiterates that Iris will always be a daughter first and a Priest second but not wanting to make a scene at the already tense dinner acquiesces.
After dinner Iris takes Violet to her room. She pulls out a spare set of priests robes and hands them to Violet. She tells Violet that she mist pretend to be her to gain access to their fathers research because only Violet can understand it. Violet is clearly horrified.
Next Time On A Conservancy of Gears...
Violet and Iris are attacked by thugs!
Violet is seen getting dressed but then tucks a crucifix into her gown.
Violet is seen in the clockwork chapel in its day time holy configuration.
Nicholas opens a door and says to his sisters, "Madeline Frohawk is definitely NOT in my room right now."
The Brinkirk-Camwright siblings find themselves embroiled in a conspiracy between the Frohawk family and their own father.
Dramatis Persona
Nicholas Brinkirk-Camwright Jr. -- The reluctant Brinkirk-Camwright heir. (Screen Presence: 1)
Violet Brinkirk-Camwright -- Brilliant but unrecognized engineer and Nicholas's sister. (Screen Presence: 1)
Iris Brinkirk-Camwright -- Priest and Violet's twin sister. (Screen Presence: 1)
Nicholas Brinkirk-Camwright Sr. -- The ailing Brinkirk-Camwright patriarch.
Stephen Bainbridge -- Violet's Gentleman Suitor.
Ernest Frohawk – The Frohawk Patriarch
Ashlyn Frohawk – Ernest Frohawk's wife
Madeline Frohawk – The eldest Frohawk child.
Archimedes -- Violet's clockwork owl.
Summary
Picking up where the last episode ended Iris again impresses upon Violet the importance of swapping positions to infiltrate their father's planed experiments with the Frohawks. Violet reluctantly agrees but it is clear that she has trouble separating the clothes she wears from her own personal identity.
Violet arrives in Iris's clothes to the main laboratory of the Brinkirk-Camwright house. There she sees Ernest Frohawk and her father standing over a round glass ball filled with a cloudy electrical storm. Off to the side sits Ashlyn Frohawk taking notes in a small book. Nicolas Sr. apologizes for what is about to happen says that all this is for the children's own good. Suddenly, thugs come into the room and try to grab Violet but she manages to escape through the secret passage that leads to the clockwork chapel.
Iris wearing Violet's clothing putters around Violet's laboratory. Archimedes sits in the corner mocking curiously, “Who... Who...” Stephen enters and attempts to discuss the effect of the house upon Violet. Iris gives him some advice on how best to woo “her.” Before Stephen can fully react thugs burst into the room and try to nab Iris. Stephen leaps to defend her but is quickly cornered. Iris barters her co-operation for Stephen's safety.
Meanwhile Nicholas Jr. is attending one of Madame Chesterfield's salon's with Madeline Frohawk. Madeline expresses a keen interest in Nicholas and hopes that their family differences won't get in the way of their friendship. Nicholas offers to show Madeline a “good time” and Madeline eagerly accepts, glad to find some escape from her sheltered life.
Cut-to Iris, still disguised as Violet, standing in an electrified cage. Ashlyn Frohawk looks on from outside the cage. Her demeanor is quite different from her public appearances. She reveals that in fact all the electrical research is her but that she presents everything through her husband Ernest so that it will be taken seriously. She explains that Iris's father has struck a deal with the Frohawks. Ashyln demonstrates a table with electrified head-gear. She explains that Nicholas Sr, wants the memories of his daughters removed to return them to their “innocence.” In exchange his family will construct a clockwork body to hook up the living consciousness in a glass globe that Ashlyn Frohawk has perfected.
Iris pretending to be Violet cuts a deal with Ashlyn. She convinces Ashlyn that her aging father is ill suited to the task that Ashlyn wants performed. She agrees to manufacture the clockwork body herself if Ashlyn agrees to release her unharmed and stop pursuing her sister.
Violet, still disguised as Iris, enters her laboratory to discover it thrashed. Stephen enters and explains his relief to see her unharmed. He expresses frustration that just as “Violet” appeared to be opening up to him they were interrupted. He tells “Iris” to return to the cloister and stay there so that he can go after “Violet.” Violet refuses and instead insists that she accompany him revealing that she knows the Frohawks are behind the abductions.
Violet and Stephen arrive at the Frohawk estate. A cloaked figure emerges from the fog and grabs at Violet. Stephen tackles the figure to the ground to discover that it's Iris, still disguised as Violet. Thinking he's just tackled the love of his life, Stephen immediately apologizes and expresses gratitude at her safety. He tries to bundle the two women off in the carriages while he confronts the Frohawks but the sisters insist he accompany them back to the Brinkirk-Camwright house.
Meanwhile Nicholas has taken Madeline Frohawk to the dirty duck. In a drunken stupor she confesses to Nicholas that her mother is in fact the brains of the Frohawk family and that Madeline faces many of the same pressures that Nicholas does. She says her mother wants her to, “continue making progress for the fairer sex...” She also reveals that her mother insisted that she go out with Nicholas that evening. She then collapses and Nicholas takes her back to his house and lays her out on his bed.
Violet and Iris knock on Nicholas's door. He blurts out that Madeline is in his room and they reveal the kidnapping attempts to him. Nicholas goes to confront his father. Nicholas Sr. is at first reluctant but then confesses that in exchange for building a clockwork body, Ernest Frohawk agreed to wipe the memories of Nicholas's daughters. Nicholas makes a veiled threat on his father's life. Nicholas Sr. waves it off and hands over the blueprints of the clockwork body to Nicholas Jr. before retiring to bed.
The three siblings return to Nicholas's room. Violet expresses concern over the moral nature of creating a human consciousness. Iris wonders if her clothes are contagious. The siblings debate using unconscious Madeline as leverage. They finally resolve to go to the laboratory and fetch the electrical globe....
Next Time On A Conservancy of Gears...
Violet confronts her father.
The Clockwork Cardinal gives Iris the key to his heart.
Stephen says to Violet, “I haven't been entirely honest with you...”
Nicholas Voice Over: “If the brain is already conscious then isn't destroying it murder?”
Pressure mounts on Violet from all sides to make a life changing decision.
Dramatis Persona
Nicholas Brinkirk-Camwright Jr. -- The reluctant Brinkirk-Camwright heir. (Screen Presence: 1)
Violet Brinkirk-Camwright -- Brilliant but unrecognized engineer and Nicholas's sister. (Screen Presence: 3)
Iris Brinkirk-Camwright -- Priest and Violet's twin sister. (Screen Presence: 2)
Nicholas Brinkirk-Camwright Sr. -- The ailing Brinkirk-Camwright patriarch.
Pascal Pichette aka The Clockwork Cardinal -- Iris's superior in the church.
Stephen Bainbridge -- Violet's Gentleman Suitor.
Constable Edward Cooper – A local police officer.
Summary
Violet is working in her lab when Stephen visits her. He expresses disappointment at not being allowed to confront the Frohawks directly about the kidnapping attempts. He also reveals that he had an ulterior motive for originally visiting the house. Stephen shows Violet a sketch that depicts Stephen’s grandfather as a toddler with Stephen’s great-grandfather and mother standing in front of the clockwork house. Stephen explains that he originally sought introduction to the family to gain access to the mystery house and find out why his family would have visited it.
Later Violet, Iris and Nicholas are searching the family laboratory for the Frohawk artificial brain. They find it locked up in a safe. They then debate what to do about it. Violet clearly wants to destroy it while Iris would rather use it as leverage against the Frohawk family. Nicholas wonders whether destroying it would constitute murder. Ultimately Iris decides to take the brain back to the cloister.
At the cloister Iris encounters Cardinal Pichette looking for an update on her investigation. Iris fills him in on the kidnapping attempt and the attempted mind wipe by the Frohawks. The Cardinal seems particularly interested in the fact that the Frohawk’s experiments work on biological entities. He reveals that no one above him is involved in this investigation. Iris tries to get the Cardinal to reveal why he is so personally interested in the Frohawk’s research. The Cardinal responds that for now Iris will just have to trust him. Iris agrees but only on the condition that the Cardinal trusts her in return and asks for the key to the Cardinal’s clockwork heart. He entrusts her with it and Iris reveals the electrical brain to him.
Meanwhile Nicholas Jr. is driving Violet back to the house in their clockwork automobile. Nicholas inquires about the book Violet stole from him. Violet changes the subject to her concerns about her future. Nicholas assures her that once father dies all their problems will be solved. He assures her that even though he’ll be the new patriarch she can have the run of the house and its laboratories. Violet says she’s sure that somehow father will find away to change the rules.
Nicholas Sr. summons Violet to his room. He tells her that Stephen is planning to ask her to marry him. Nicholas asks if she plans to accept. Violet notices that Nicholas has a loaded gun on his desk. She refuses to give an answer. Nicholas picks up the gun. He tells her that she is the reason that Nicholas Jr. hasn’t stepped up to the family business. He says that he needs her out of the house and away from the family one way or another. He again demands that she tell him whether she will marry Stephen or not. Violet expresses dismay at her father’s implications and turns to leave. Nicholas fires the gun.
Iris wakes up in her room at the cloister and clutches her chest.
Nicholas Jr. bursts into his father’s room in response to the gunshot. He sees that Violet has been shot through the abdomen. He strikes his father and pulls the gun out of his hand. He calls for the staff and starts ordering them to get help. Nicholas Sr. countermands the orders. The staff is torn between the two masters but ultimately respects the wishes of the elder Nicholas. They apologize to Nicholas Jr. as they flee the room.
Iris and Cardinal enter the house just as Nicholas Sr. is carrying Violet downstairs. He rushes out to the clockwork car as Iris rushes upstairs to her father’s room. In a rage she destroys his medical equipment and storms out. On the way she hears her father mutter, “Forgive me for I have sinned.”
Nicholas rushes Violet to a doctor. The surgery is touch and go but eventually the doctor informs Nicholas that his sister will live.
Nicholas returns to the house with Constable Cooper. The Constable takes note of the damaged medical equipment and thinks that Nicholas isn’t telling the whole story. Nicholas tries to convince the Constable that there’s nothing more to the story than his father tried to kill his sister. The Constable mentions that this isn’t a simple drunken disorderly case and that although he trusts Nicholas he intends to see this investigation through to the end. He takes Nicholas Sr. into custody.
After hearing about what happened to Violet, Stephen rushes to her bedside. Afraid he may not get another chance Stephen proposes to her. Violet politely defers her answer.
Next Time On A Conservancy of Gears…
Iris and the Cardinal perform an exorcism on a glowing Nicholas Sr.
Violet gives Nicholas Jr. Stephen’s family sketch and the stolen diary.
Many clockwork feet are seen marching on the street.
Cardinal Pichette demands a heart from Ashlyn Frohawk.
The Clockwork Cardinal brings pressure on Iris to make good on her deal with Ashlyn Frohawk and see the artificial brain project to completion.
Dramatis Persona
Nicholas Brinkirk-Camwright Jr. -- The reluctant Brinkirk-Camwright heir. (Screen Presence: 2)
Violet Brinkirk-Camwright -- Brilliant but unrecognized engineer and Nicholas's sister. (Screen Presence: 2)
Iris Brinkirk-Camwright -- Priest and Violet's twin sister. (Screen Presence: 3)
Madeline Frohawk -- Frohawk's eldest daughter.
Ashlyn Frohawk -- Madeline's mother.
Pascal Pichette aka The Clockwork Cardinal -- Iris's superior in the church.
Constable Edward Cooper – A local police officer.
Summary
The Frohawk electrical brain sits on the Cardinal’s desk as he studies it intensely. He turns to Iris and tells her that she must convince her sister to complete the project. Against threats of being transferred away from her family Iris impresses upon the Cardinal that no amount of “convincing” will get Violet to agree to work on the project.
Iris goes to Madeline Frohawk and her brother Nicholas to discuss possible strategies for dealing with Ashlyn Frohawk. Madeline expresses fear of her mother and says that after her drunken revelry with Nicholas, he may be in danger from retribution from her family. Iris offers the solution that she should simply marry Nicholas. Nicholas quickly changes the subject but does agree that Madeline can stay at the house as long as she likes. Madeline then reveals that her mother’s primary objective is to prove that electricity is the source of all life but that there are aspects of her research that Madeline has never been given access to.
Meanwhile, against her doctor’s recommendations Violet escapes from the hospital and returns to the house. There she takes one of Nicholas’s suits and lines it with copper creating a boyish, bulletproof outfit for herself.
Later the Cardinal and Iris further discuss how to approach the Frohawk project. Suspecting his underlying motives she raises the issue of why he feels incomplete because of his clockwork heart. Instead of getting through to the Cardinal he is angered by her line of inquiry and questions her loyalty to him and the church. She retaliates by reminding him that it is the human soul and not the heart that makes the person. The Cardinal laments, “And how are we to know where the soul resides?”
A scene wipe transition replaces the Cardinal with Constable Cooper. He asks Iris to give her account of what happened the night her father shot her sister. Iris dodges the question and instead tries to persuade the Constable that the shooting is the greater and only crime that matters. Before taking his leave, Constable Cooper reminds Iris that a crime is still a crime no matter how minor and that it’s his job to see justice done.
Cut to Nicholas Sr. surrounded by an electrical storm. The Cardinal and Iris are reading from the exorcism rites. A door opens and a clockwork Violet walks through followed by an army of clockwork men. Nicholas is dead on the floor stabbed to death.
Iris wakes up screaming….
The Cardinal looks up at her and it is show that he is reading the exorcism rites by the light of the electrical brain.
Meanwhile back the house Violet hesitantly hands over the black journal to Nicholas. She also shows him the drawing of Stephen’s grandfather as a young boy in front of the house. She waits patiently as Nicholas read the journal.
As Nicholas is finishing the journal Iris bursts into the room with the Cardinal behind her. He is carrying the electrical brain. Iris is relieved to see that Nicholas is fine. The Cardinal takes the opportunity to confront the entire family about the electrical brain. He reveals that he needs to know if an artificial thing is capable of faith. Violet is vehemently opposed to the whole project and tries to demonstrate to the Cardinal that she understands the religious aspects and not simply the mechanical ones but the Cardinal is too self absorbed to listen. Iris convinces Violet to stay her hand until further investigations can be made.
In the heat of the discussion Ashlyn Frohawk bursts into the room. She confronts Violet on whether she intends to honor the deal. Violet refuses. Ashlyn tries to impress upon Nicholas that its his responsibility to honor his father’s deal. Violet interjects and confronts Ashlyn with the hypocrisy of her attempt to mind wipe the Brinkirk-Camwright daughters. Ashlyn is shamed by Violet’s words and turns to leave briefly saying to Nicholas, “I hope you haven’t ruined my daughter.” The Cardinal, realizing he’s losing ground, runs after Ashlyn calling, “Can you give me a real heart?”
Next Time On A Conservancy of Gears...
Nicholas Jr. exclaims “You’re supposed to be locked up!” as his father stalks him through a ruined hallway.
Iris confronts the Cardinal about his fears of deficiency.
Stephen offers to buy the house from Nicholas Jr.
As Stephen is leaving the house, Violet grabs him and kisses him.
Oh man. This game sounds fantastic. I wish I was gaming with you all. I wish it was a series on TV. Or at least a comic book.
Very good stuff. My hat's off to your gaming group and to Matt Wilson.
__________________
"Every normal man must be tempted at times to spit
upon his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin
slitting throats." - Henry Louis Mencken
Synopsis
Ernest Frohawk challenges Nicholas to a duel on which Nicholas stakes the reputation of his entire family.
Dramatis Persona
Nicholas Brinkirk-Camwright Jr. -- The reluctant Brinkirk-Camwright heir. (Screen Presence: 3)
Violet Brinkirk-Camwright -- Brilliant but unrecognized engineer and Nicholas's sister. (Screen Presence: 2)
Iris Brinkirk-Camwright -- Priest and Violet's twin sister. (Screen Presence: 2)
Nicholas Brinkirk-Camwright Sr. -- The ailing Brinkirk-Camwright patriarch.
Stephen Bainbridge -- Violet's Gentleman Suitor.
Ernest Frohawk – The Frohawk Patriarch
Ashlyn Frohawk – Ernest Frohawk's wife
Madeline Frohawk – The eldest Frohawk child.
Charlotte Brinkirk-Camwright -- Nicholas, Violet and Iris's mother.
Pascal Pichette aka The Clockwork Cardinal -- Iris's superior in the church.
Constable Edward Cooper – A local police officer.
Summary
The opening sequence mirrors the opening sequence of the first episode as a man arrives at the mysterious clockwork house. The man is revealed to be Ernest Frohawk and he arrives demanding to know what has happened to his daughter. Nicholas levies thinly veiled insults and insinuations at him but ultimately leads Ernest to the room where Madeline has been staying. When Madeline doesn’t reply the door is opened revealing an open window and an empty room. Infuriated by his missing daughter and Nicholas’s chevalier attitude Ernest challenges Nicholas to a duel. For weapons Nicholas chooses technological marvels created by the two families. Ernest is thrown by this unusual request but accepts stipulating dawn by the lake shore as the location.
Nicholas quickly goes to Violet and tells her that he needs a clockwork battle robot in working order by dawn tomorrow. Violet is upset by her brother’s foolishness but agrees to the task.
Meanwhile Iris shows the clockwork chapel that is holy by day and demonic by night to the Cardinal. The Cardinal is horrified by this heresy. Iris tells the Cardinal that the chapel was not built by her family and expresses concerns that there may be others still out there practicing whatever heresy was performed in the chapel. The Cardinal and Iris decide to consecrate the chapel.
Cut to Nicholas running through the town looking for Madeline and telling everyone about the duel that is to take place tomorrow. He arrives at The Dirty Duck to discover Madeline hiding in the corner. She is quite drunk. He does his public announcement of the duel which gets Madeline’s attention. She apologizes for getting him into such trouble. She tells him that since she can’t go back to her family and it’s clear that he doesn’t want her then she plans to go to the convent. Nicholas attempts to raise her spirits but Madeline is put off by his dismissive attitude and flees The Dirty Duck in tears.
Iris takes the Cardinal to Violet to consult further about the likely hood that there was more than one person involved in the construction of the chapel. Violet concurs and then tells Iris about Nicholas’s duel. The Cardinal tries to get Violet to use the electrical brain as a component of her robot but she refuses.
Iris and the Cardinal leave. Violet takes a moment to consider the electrical brain when she is interrupted by her mother. Her mother looks at all the strange machinery and explains that she always felt that somehow it didn’t belong; that in many ways it was wrong. She expresses her wish that Violet would accept Stephen’s proposal and escape. She also notes that she sees something in Stephen that she never saw in her own husband. Violet impresses upon her mother that she appreciates Stephen but also that her mother should appreciate her sense of belonging with the machines. It’s clear that Charlotte understands and she leaves with a tearful, “I’m sorry.”
Nicholas is at Madame Chesterfield’s salon when he is approached by Stephen. Before Stephen can say anything Nicholas enthusiastically tells Stephen about the duel. Stephen wonders how Nicholas convinced Violet to participate in such an event. Nicholas responds, “Tell her she’s a genius and she’ll do anything for you.” Stephen smiles at this and then turns the subject to Nicholas’s house. Stephen reveals his desire to buy the house from Nicholas. Nicholas tentatively agrees on the condition that Violet is allowed to stay there.
Later that evening Constable Cooper comes by the house to warn the siblings that their father has escaped from jail. It appears he had outside help.
Early the next morning, the Cardinal and Iris are out scouting the lake shore before the duel when the Cardinal expresses doubt in Iris’s devotion to the church since she seems so clearly devoted to her family. Iris retorts that perhaps she is the only one who is truly devoted to her faith and pushes the Cardinal for the third time to talk about his feelings. The Cardinal confesses that he misses the way his heart used to race when confronted with beauty and slowed when confronted with sadness. He says that the monotonous ticking of his artificial heart has made him question his capacity for love and therefore his capacity for faith. Iris comments, “We have a lot of work to do.”
Visually a large crowd fades into view at the lake shore. It is time for the duel. Everyone, including Madame Chesterfield and Stephen, is there. Violet and Nicholas setup the battle robot. Ernest Frohawk steps forward with a simple box with a button on it. Nicholas wanders over to Ashyln and whispers, “My sister is going to kick your ass.” It is clear that everything is riding on the outcome of this confrontation. The battle robot advances and the box springs to electrical life as coils upon coils of electrical tentacles spill forth. The robots whirling blades sever some of the tentacles but like a hydra there seems to be more to replace them. Quickly the tentacles overwhelm the robot and tear it to pieces. The audience is stunned. Several prominent men of the community rush over to congratulate Ernest. The Brinkirk-Camwrights are crushed. The Cardinal expresses sincere condolences to Iris.
Nicholas goes to the convent to fetch Madeline. He says he has to take her back to her father now. Madeline agrees only because she doesn’t wish to cause anymore trouble for Nicholas.
Meanwhile, Violet is tearing her laboratory apart in frustration. Stephen arrives and tries to calm her. In the emotional scuffle he blurts out, “I still think you’re a genius” and Violet responds by kissing him. The Stephen tells Violet of her brother’s agreement to sell the house to him and that Violet shouldn’t worry as her ability to stay in the house is part of the deal. Violet is angered and storms out. Stephen is left realizing he just lost the small amount of ground he had just gained.
Nicholas returns to the house to discover his father has broken into the house and is rummaging around in his old bedroom. Nicholas Sr. confronts his son with a clockwork sword. He says, “You’ve let me down again Nicholas. If you’re going to fight a duel, this is how you should fight a duel.” Nicholas Jr. shoots his father. The wound however is not immediately fatal.
Iris arrives in time to witness the shooting. In a coach on the way back jail Iris confronts her father about everything he does wrong and how he has destroyed the family. In one lucid moment Nicholas Sr. looks at his wound and just says, “I guess my son finally did something right,” and then dies.
The episode ends with a montage of Violet in her broken laboratory and Iris bringing the family’s dead father back to the house. The final image is of the siblings holding hands at the lakeshore among the wreckage of the battle robot.
Re: [PtA] A Conservancy of Gears
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