#mccarric scenes season3

[danjaley]

The Year in Review

I was tagged for a similar challenge by @kimmiessimmies but I always do a year-review anyway. This time almost entirely with McCarric Scenes (Bagpipes-Nessie is not really canon). To my own surprise I posted story content worth mentioning at least once each month.

January: Roseanne's bright suggestion

February: Nicolas entering the Roman inn like James Bond

March: Matt, André and Gulliver contemplating eternity

April: The supportive grandfather and the unappreciative grandson

May: Sarah contemplating illegality

June: A spiritualistic session

July: An unexpected grand-nephew

August: Christoph and Brigitte lost in Scotland

September: Nessie playing the bagpipes

October: A last-minute mourner

November: Fergus in the library

December: The supportive father and the son who takes it entirely for granted.

[danjaley]

James: I’m not really your brother. I’m your uncle. You’re my poor sister Catherine’s daughter. She was only sixteen when a soldier got hold of her on her way to the village. We did all we could for her – and for you. We sent her away to relatives, while Mother pretended to be with child again. But Catherine died of a fever a few days after you were born.

Alice: I know. I always knew. I just didn’t realize.

[danjaley]

End of Season 3

[danjaley]

Andrew McCarric 1701-1785

[danjaley]

It wasn’t until Matthew was born that Louise started wondering if she had been right in allowing Fergus to marry so young. Andrew had fussed a lot over his little son back in the day, but Fergus surpassed him easily. He was just like a child who had had a younger sibling – to be fair, he was the youngest and had missed that experience so far.

As it was slow work spoon-feeding Matthew, he was being fed whenever he wasn’t asleep, and while the ladies took turns at it, Fergus was inevitably present.

When he asked if he should actually help feed the baby, Louise lost patience. “Fergüss! Gentleman do not feed babies. At least not when there are three women and a maid in the house. I understand that you’re worried, but you must remember your position and your duties as the head of the family. Have you attended to your correspondence at all? You might sit down and write the news to Marianne and Rosalie, and also to the Lochinvárs and your uncle William.”

[danjaley]

Matthew: But – he’sh a perfec’ ‘eauty! A shon o’ mine!

Alice: I’d love him just as much if he looked exactly like you. It’s only right and proper that I should! I can’t wait to write the news to my brother. Perhaps he’ll speak to me again.

Matthew: He’ll pro’ably shay the nexsht one will ‘e like me.

Alice: The Good Lord Above doesn’t ask James’ opinion before He does anything. I learned so much, since I left home. But even if it should happen that way – I just told you, any wife should be proud to have a baby that looks like her husband.

Matthew: ‘ell him Ah love him very mush.

Alice: You can tell him yourself. He’ll learn to understand you early on.

Matthew: Bu’ wha’ if he picksh up bad pronounshiashion fro’ me?

Alice: I’ll be there to correct him.

Matthew (with an effort): Hello, Robert. I’m your father. Welcome home.

[danjaley]

Matthew: Hello Father. Actually I’m here to talk to Gulliver. We came here together so often. Owen buried him on the moor, but I didn’t want to take out Flintstone to talk to another horse. The new horses aren’t very good listeners. They’re always bickering at each other. Flintstone doesn’t like Biscuit, and Biscuit doesn’t like Damsel. Perhaps that’s why they were on sale. I always thought all horses were friends. Gulliver got along so well with the carthorses, but the new horses are just too fast for them.

[danjaley]

Matthew: I met Mr and Mrs Stevenson today. I always wondered if I’d better be able to suffer Mrs Stevenson if I were married myself. The good news is, it wasn’t jealousy. She’s exactly as insufferable as ever. Just like that arrogant Frenchman still makes me sick. Jonathan deserves so much better, and so does Roseanne!

Matthew: Mrs Stevenson asked very concerned-like when the happy event was expected. It’s a weird feeling to have achieved something I wasn’t supposed to. Like I broke the order of the world. It will probably end in disaster like it did for you. I just hope fate won’t take it out on Alice and the baby.

Fergus: You didn’t break the order of the world. You’re not that important.

[danjaley]

Matthew: Wha’ did he shay?

Alice: Oh – only that I’m the daughter of my sister Catherine. (suddenly starts crying) Oh Matthew! This makes little Robert the grandson of a debauched soldier. I don’t mind my parents being my grandparents, but this – !

Matthew: If it didn’’ rub off on you, Ah don’’ ‘hink it will on him. Look – thish e’en makesh you a bi’ like me. We were both raished by a family who wash mourning our parentsh.

[danjaley]

Alice: Are you by any chance a bigamist?

Matthew: Have you losht your min’?! It wash nexsht ‘o im’oshible ‘o find one wife! How ‘o you exshpect me ‘o have managed twishe!?

Alice: There you see, James. And now I want you to apologize to Mr McCarric. In the light of what you just told me, it was him condescending to take me. I’m very sorry to have caused you so much anxiety. But my husband says we should always think for ourselves and I think I made the right choice.

[danjaley]

Rosalie: I’m glad Jonathan is still getting along with Matthew. Whenever I mention Marianne’s grandchildren he changes the subject or removes himself from the conversation. If he wants a family himself, why doesn’t he just get married?

Alice: Probably because of his Italian bride?

Rosalie: Italian bride!?

[danjaley]

Alasdair: May I ask you another question? Do you have a chain you could rattle?

Catherine: (disappears)

[danjaley]

Alasdair: May I ask you something? Are you a ghost?

Catherine: (nods)

Alasdair: Will Mr McCarric come back as a ghost to read books with me?

Catherine: (shakes head)

Alasdair: I thought so. He’ll want to be with his own little boy. He told me about him. I’m no longer important. That’s the worst about not being a duke any more. Now that I think of it, the gentleman with the ruff at Mama’s place must have been a ghost too. He scared me a little, he was always so terribly sad. You are nice though, even though you’re a girl.

[danjaley]

Christoph: Brigitte! Ruf einen Krankenwagen!

Brigitte: Du, also der Empfang – der ist hier ganz schlecht.

Christoph: Brigitte! Call an ambulance! Brigitte: You know, mobile reception – it’s very bad round here.

[danjaley]

Alasdair: I’m staying up! I’m not tired at all!

Ysobel: Avons-nous un plan pour Alasdair lorsque l'événement se produira? [Do we have a plan for Alasdair when the event takes place?]

Alasdair: Quel événement? Pourquoi parlez-vous français tout à coup? [What an event? Why are you speaking French suddenly?]

Ysobel: Alasdair! Why did you never tell us you speak French!? I could have included it in your lessons!

Alasdair: Exactement.

Fiona: Those aristocrats!

[danjaley]

Alice: I’m afraid I can’t sit up any longer. If you’ll excuse me, I’ll go and lay down.

Fiona: Yes, of course.

Matthew: Wai’, Ah’ll come wi’ you, an’ hel’ you down ‘he shtairsh.

Alice (sighs): I’ll never get the knitting done in time, if things continue like this!

Ysobel: Would you like to take it with you?

Alice: Oh no! My brother says knitting in bed is almost as bad as smoking in bed.

Ysobel: Has he tried it or what?

Alice: Of course he would never do such a silly thing!