#thelma schiller

[pixelnrd]

With Hugo's help and encouragement, Mac started trying to search for the next clue to their family history. They laid out all of their work so far and pinpointed where to focus next - Daisy Schiller. Who was Daisy, and where had she come from?

Try as they may, their searches for a Daisy by the name of Schiller and Weston still didn't produce any results. Until Hugo had a brainwave - to search more broadly for the name Schiller.

Mac was starting to lose hope, until Hugo's searching finally unearthed something - their first lead.

'It says here, that there was a bloke by the name of Schiller part of some gang in Windenburg back in the 1920s... the Gillespie Gang, there's all this history of them, apparently they were some notorious criminals,' they explained. Mac perked up.

'There's no photographs though,' said Hugo, disheatened.

'Let's go to Windenburg, then!' exclaimed Mac. 'This is all we have to go on, perhaps there's more to it there? Some niche local history, some kind of walking tour of local history. We've got to try.'

And so the pair travelled to Windenburg. Upon arrival, they entered the beautiful old Windenburg library and went straight for the section on local history. Perusing the books on the shelves, they found a local history of crime that contained a golden nugget - a histoy of the Gillespie Gang.

Flicking through the pages, Mac couldn't belive their eyes when they found a very old photograph depicting a group of young men. The photo was black and white and faded, but Mac stared at their young faces and the captions beneath nothing their names: Thomas Harrington, Jacob Schiller.

It still wasn't much to go on. They had a surname connection, but everything was still purely speculative.

'Do you think Jacob Schiller was the husband of Daisy?' they asked Hugo, as they left the library.

'I mean, it's plausible isn't it?' said Hugo. 'They were alive in the same time, living in the same region.'

They had begun to walk through the old historical slums of Windenburg - shabby brick houses, long condemned and abandoned, some restored, many preserved for historical purposes. Mac looked around and thought about what it must have been like for Daisy - to be a mob wife, living in these sad old buildings. They felt sad for her - she was a mother, she had three children. She clearly didn't live her life out here. What was her story? Would they ever know?

[richardcassidy]

Between Earth & Sky from Andrew Nadkarni on Vimeo.

Renowned ecologist Nalini Nadkarni studies "what grows back” after a disturbance in the rainforest canopy. After surviving a life-threatening fall from a tree, she must turn her research question onto herself to explore the effects of disturbance and recovery throughout her own life.

betweenearthandsky.com _____

a film by ANDREW NADKARNI   featuring NALINI NADKARNI   produced by SWETHA REGUNATHAN KATIE SCHILLER   executive producers CAITLIN MAE BURKE SU KIM   edited by PETER ZACHWIEJA   directors of photography JOE VAN EECKHOUT DEREK KNOWLES   original score SARI MELLAFE   associate producers MEGAN MASSEY DEVIN TUSA PETER ZACHWIEJA _____

additional cinematography KATELYN REBELO ANDREW HINTON   assistant editors JORDAN TULLIS REBECCA SCHWARTZ   additional footage provided by MERETE MUELLER   additionally featured KEYLOR MUÑOZ ELIZONDO INDIRA KULKARNI AMY McDERMOTT   business affairs DEVIN TUSA   clearance consultant ADAM LAWRENCE   graphic design MEGAN ROJEK _____   produced in association with AMERICAN DOCUMENTARY | POV Shorts   executive producers for American Documentary | POV Shorts OPAL H. BENNETT ERIKA DILDAY CHRIS WHITE   produced in association with IF/THEN SHORTS | FIELD OF VISION   consulting producer | IF/Then Shorts MERRILL STERRITT   coordinator | IF/Then Shorts CHRISTINE CHUNG _____   post production services CUTTERS STUDIOS   president & managing director | cutters studios CRAIG DUNCAN   managing director & executive producer | cutters CAITLIN GRADY   additional editing | cutters REBECCA SCHWARTZ   senior producer | cutters JAYSON RAMOS   executive producer | post-production ELIZABETH KRAJEWSKI _____   managing director | another country TIM KONN   executive producer | another country LOUISE RIDER   sound designer & mixer | another country JORDAN STALLING   associate sound designer & mixer | another country LOGAN VINES

producer | another country JOSH HUNICUTT _____   managing director | flavor NEAL COHEN   executive producer | flavor KATE SMITH   flame artist | flavor MOISES TAVERA   resource manager | flavor JULIE KLOS _____   color ASSEMBLY   supervising colorist MARÍA CARRETERO   colorist JOSÉ FONT   producer | assembly VERONICA WEBB _____   co-produced by IT DOESN'T SUCK PRODUCTIONS   impact support provided by THE REDFORD CENTER JILL TIDMAN HEATHER FIPPS ARATHI GOVIND CAIT FITZWATER NICO CADENA   production support provided by BRIC TV KUYE H. YOUNGBLOOD CHARLIE HOXIE SRIYANKA RAY   additional production funding provided by MOUNTAINFILM _____   special thanks to the family JACK LONGINO AUGUST LONGINO NATALIE VANDEVEN RIKKI NADKARNI LONGINO   special thanks to the family BOB DEUTSCH ELLEN DEUTSCH PAULA DEUTSCH THELMA DEUTSCH AMAL FALLAH SUSHA FALLAH SAROJ GHOTING MOHAN NADKARNI VINAY NADKARNI   special thanks EMILY BEST ELLA CHRISTIANSEN MARK DUPLASS DOUG FABRIZIO JESSICA FITZMORRIS DAISY FRIEDMAN PAUL GABRIELSEN JO GENNETT LORENA LOURENÇO RANDY MacLOWRY KHAULA MALIK CRISTY MEINERS KELSIE MOORE SKYLAR NIELSEN MALIKKAH ROLLINS ZEV ROSE BROOKE ROSS SUSAN SCHILLER KIRA SIMON-KENNEDY REENA SHAH KATRIN SPIRIDONOVA TRACY HEATHER STRAIN _____   location & access support MONTEVERDE CLOUD FOREST BIOLOGICAL PRESERVE MONTEVERDE INSTITUTE OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY - COLLEGE OF FORESTRY STARKER CAPSTONE WORKSHOP THE MOBILE MOON CO-OP UNIVERSITY OF UTAH _____   archival materials   "Climbing a Tree" produced by Elaine Clark & Doug Fabrizio cinematography by Nathan C. Balli provided by RadioWest   "Nalini Nadkarni | Tapestry Thinking: Weaving Together the Unexpected" provided by TEDxSaltLakeCity   "Not My Job: We Quiz Tree Canopy Expert Nalini Nadkarni On Canapés" Wait Wait… Don’t Tell Me! provided by NPR   "Fallen: A Transdisciplinary Tale of Disturbance and Recovery" provided by Society of Critical Care Medicine   "Rain Forest: Heroes of the High Frontier" provided by National Geographic   "The Second Voyage of the Mimi" provided by Bank Street College of Education   "Between Earth and Sky: Our Intimate Connections to Trees" provided by University of California Press _____   The filmmaking team would like to acknowledge that this documentary was filmed on the unceded territory of the Quinault, Rama, Eastern Shoshone, Chepenefa Peoples, who have stewarded this land throughout the generations.

We thank them for their strength and resilience in protecting this land, and aspire to uphold our responsibilities according to their example. _____

If you were affected by sexual violence, you are not alone.

NATIONAL SEXUAL ASSAULT HOTLINE 800.656.HOPE online.rainn.org 

The National Sexual Assault Hotline is operated by RAINN, the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization. _____   "Between Earth & Sky" won the 2021 IF/Then x The Redford Center Nature Access Pitch at DOC NYC 2021.

This film was produced by By the Creek Productions, which is solely responsible for its content.   © 2023 By the Creek Productions LLC All Rights Reserved ___

betweenearthandsky.com/resources

[papermoonloveslucy]

“The Lucy Show” ~ Season 1

A handy dandy guide to helping you find your favorite episode blogs here at Papermoon Loves Lucy. Click on the hyperlinks to be taken directly to that episode’s trivia, background, and bloopers!

“Lucy Waits Up For Chris” (S1;E1) ~ October 1, 1962

“Lucy Digs Up a Date” (S1;E2) ~ October 8, 1962

“Lucy Is a Referee” (S1;E3) ~ October 15, 1962

“Lucy Misplaces $2,000” (S1;E4) ~ October 22, 1962

"Lucy Buys a Sheep” (S1;E5) ~ October 29, 1962

“Lucy Becomes an Astronaut” (S1;E6) ~ November 5, 1962

“Lucy Is a Kangaroo for a Day” (S1;E7) ~ November 12, 1962

“Lucy the Music Lover” (S1;E8) ~ November 19, 1962

“Lucy Puts Up a TV Antenna” (S1;E9) ~ November 26, 1962

“Vivian Sues Lucy” (S1;E10) ~ December 3, 1962

“Lucy Builds a Rumpus Room” (S1;E11) ~ December 10, 1962

“Lucy and Her Electric Mattress” (S1;E12) ~ December 17, 1962

“Together for Christmas” (S1;E13) ~ December 24, 1962

“Chris’s New Year’s Eve Party” (S1;E14) ~ December 31, 1962

“Lucy’s Sister Pays a Visit” (S1;E15) ~ January 7, 1963

“Lucy and Viv Are Volunteer Firemen” (S1;E16) ~ January 14, 1963

“Lucy Becomes a Reporter” (S1;E17) ~ January 21, 1963

“Lucy and Viv Put in a Shower” (S1;E18) ~ January 28, 1963

“Lucy’s Barbershop Quartet” (S1;E19) ~ February 4, 1963

“Lucy and Viv Become Tycoons” (S1;E20) ~ February 11, 1963

“No More Double Dates” (S1;E21) ~ February 18, 1963

“Lucy and Viv Learn Judo” (S1;E22) ~ February 25, 1963

“Lucy Is a Soda Jerk” (S1;E23) ~ March 4, 1963

“Lucy Drives a Dump Truck” (S1;E24) ~ March 11, 1963

“Lucy Visits the White House” (S1;E25) ~ March 25, 1963

“Lucy and Viv Take Up Chemistry” (S1;E26) ~ April 1, 1963

“Lucy Is a Chaperone” (S1;E27) ~ April 8, 1963

“Lucy and the Little League” (S1;E28) ~ April 15, 1963

“Lucy and the Runaway Butterfly” (S1;E29) ~ April 22, 1963

“Lucy Buys a Boat” (S1;E30) ~ April 29, 1963

SEASON SUMMARY

Regular Cast: Lucille Ball (Lucy Carmichael), Vivian Vance (Vivian Bagley), Jimmy Garrett (Jerry Carmichael), Ralph Hart (Sherman Bagley), Candy Moore (Chris Carmichael)

Recurring Cast: Tom Lowell (Alan Harper), Dick Martin (Harry Connors), Donald  Briggs (Eddie Collins), Mary Jane Croft (Audrey Simmons), Charles Lane (Mr. Barnsdahl), Carole Cook (Thelma Green), Dorothy Konrad (Dorothy Boyer), Hans Conried (Dr. Gitterman), Lucie Arnaz (Cynthia), Desi Arnaz Jr. (Billy)

Guest Cast: Nancy Kulp, John McGiver, Majel Barrett, Janet Waldo, Peter Marshall, Frank Nelson, Alan Reed, Lou Krugman, Jerry Hausner, Don Grady, William Schallert, Herb Vigran, Mary Wickes, Ellen Corby, Sid Gould, Reta Shaw

Live Animal Cast: Dog (Tiger), Elephant (Jumbo), Horse (Annabel), Sheep (Clementine)

There were 30 new episodes

All episodes written by Bob Carroll Jr., Madelyn Martin, Bob Weiskopf,  Bob Schiller

All episodes directed by Jack Donohue

Episodes 1 through 15 produced by Desi Arnaz

Filmed and Broadcast in Black and White

Filmed at Stage 21, Desilu Studios, Hollywood

Total Binge Hours: 15 hours (with commercials)

Papermoon’s Full Moon Pick: “Together For Christmas” (E15)

Papermoon’s Half Moon Pick: “Lucy and Viv Learn Judo” (E22)

Season 1 was #4 in the ratings (tied with “Bonanza”) with a 29.8 share

The season started later (October 1) and finished later (April 29) than any other season of “The Lucy Show”

Lucille Ball was nominated for a 1963 Emmy Award as Best Actress in a Series, but lost to Shirley Booth (“Hazel”) 

Episode 11 was originally meant to be "Lucy and Viv Fight Over Harry", but was shut down during filming due to production problems. This was the only episode of the series to be shut down.

"Lucy and Viv Put in a Shower" (E18) and  "Lucy's Barbershop Quartet" (E19) somehow fell out of copyright protection and were subsequently issued on poor quality discount video and DVD.   

Season 1 was released on DVD on July 21, 2009

[pixelnrd]

Mac’s investigation into Theodore Brown was coming up short. They knew that the further back in history they went, the less likely they would find any digitally preserved records of their ancestry. And so far, their searching had failed.

In an act of desperation, they decided to visit the Henford cemetary - and finally, the pieces fell together.

They found the gravestones of Douglas Brown and his wife Joan - listing their descendents, Margot, Vincent and Lewis. Mac finally had their answer - Margot was the daughter of Douglas Brown!

And Douglas was the son of Theodore - for they then finally found what they had been searching for. Side by side were two individuals, Theodore and Ruth Brown (nee Langston), survived by their children Douglas and Eileen.

But then Mac noticed something more. Next to the gravestone of Ruth was another person - Daisy Adelaide Schiller (nee Weston). Mother of Ruth, Thelma and Mabel.

It was another clue to the past. Here was proof of another lineage - Daisy Weston, mother of Ruth. But if Daisy was the mother of Ruth, why did they not share a surname? Where did Langston come from?

Mac was stumped. There were too many surnames now, and what hope would they have of finding an individual who existed in the 1920s. It felt like the trail had finally run cold, and when their usual internet searches produced nothing on a Daisy Schiller, Weston or Langston, Mac felt defeated.

That evening they sat slumped in the local pub, beer in hand. They thought about going home. What were they doing here, on their own, searching up ghosts. Families were messy and complex - Mac knew that - and they couldn't blame their ancestors for following non-traditional paths. But now they were stuck and couldn't figure out how to go further.

'Hey, you ok?' asked a voice. Mac looked up and noticed it was Hugo from the farm. 'How's the family history going?'

'Oh yeah...' sighed Mac. 'It's not anymore. Dead end. Might be time to go home... I just feel like I came so far, so it's hard to accept.'

Hugo sat down with them and listened. 'That is a bummer,' they admitted. 'But do you want some help maybe? An extra brain to work out the mess with? I love a bit of family history... you can come over some time and we can go through it together. Maybe we can figure out the next step. You came all this way - don't give up just yet.'

[pixelnrd]

✨ The Langston Legacy - Modern Alternative ✨

1930s - Teddy, Ruth, Thelma and Mabel

Teddy and Ruth are eco-hipsters living a purely green lifestyle. They grow their own vegetables on their urban farm and practice permaculture. Dress all their kids in linen overalls and homeschool.

Thelma is a tattoo artist and runs her own indie studio for queer artists. Enjoys boozy picnics with her enormous social circle and petting all the dogs.

Mabel is dark academia personified. Studies literature and languages at University and is President of her student union. Is a secret Marvel fangirl.

1940s - Joan, Douglas, Eileen, Cecil and Bernard

Douglas is overly invested in politics and annoys everyone with his rants on why all parties are corrupt. Only drinks black coffee and none of his family know what his job is.

Joan is a preschool teacher who runs her own cake business on the side. Always makes amazing desserts and is the reason people still hang out with Douglas.

Bernard looks like Chris Hemsworth. Loves lifting at the gym and driving his Jeep to go on weekend camping adventures with his Border Collie and his girlfriend.

Cecil is a party boy who lives for the weekend. Know and loved by all in the queer scene for his pure sunshine vibe. Does make up tutorials on YouTube and aspires to compete on Drag Race.

Eileen is a high flying Public Relations executive who religiously practices Pilates and sips oat lattes. Is constantly on her phone, earns more than all her siblings and owns her own apartment. Is known as the cool aunt because she buys the best gifts. Is Samantha.

1950s - Lewis, Vincent, Margot, Alex and Emmanuel

Margot is an Instagram influencer with a substantial following for her outfit and fashion sponsorships and cute gym routines. Secretly can’t wait to have kids so she can pivot into monetising her well dressed children.

Alex runs a neighbour writers group. Is working on his first screenplay but still has to support himself by working at a call centre. Likes red wine a bit too much. Is Bernard Black personified.

Emmanuel works at a record store and believes vinyl is superior. Rides his fixie bike everywhere and talks about how much he wants to move to Berlin. Isn’t aware that he is a fuck boy because he believes he is smarter than everyone else.

Vincent is a fresh army recruit who learnt everything he thinks he knows from playing too much COD. Posts lots of pictures of himself with his Mum and other peoples dogs.

Lewis is a dope smoking slacker whose only purpose is backpacking overseas seeking enlightenment. Always has to phone home to ask for more money. Most likely to try psychedelics in a foreign country.

[pixelnrd]

WHOA another lookbook! This time for my favourite historical queer - the 1930s were an excellent decade for breaking conservative fashion traditions and Thelma is in her element.

OUTFIT RESOURCES

Casual: Top / Pants

Going Out: Coat / Pants / Shirt (Base Game) / Hat

Formal: Blazer / Top / Pants / Hat / Shoes

Party: Outfit / Hat / Shoes

Athletic: Sweater (Discover University) / Pants / Hat (Eco Living)

Sleepwear: Cardigan / Pants

Swimwear: Swimsuit / Hat

Summer: Shirt (Base Game) / Pants / Hat

Winter: Coat / Pants / Scarf / Hat (Eco Living)

[pixelnrd]

As the Langstons enter the 1950s, I wanted to sum up the lives of some gone but not forgotten family members.

After Ruth and Teddy passed in the mid-1940s, the 1920s generation continued on with Thelma and Mabel.

Thelma had spent much of their adult life living itinerantly with their partner Alby throughout the Great Depression. Together they traveled on the road, following work. They never had a permanent, settled home, but they always had each other and a sense of adventure.

Both Thelma and Alby served in the War, and in its aftermath found themselves with a secure pension. And so they were finally able to settle down, and purchased a place to call their own in Brindelton Bay.

Thelma and Alby enjoyed their retirement, living off the land and enjoying the peace of the countryside. They maintained a good relationship with their family and would visit from time to time.

But a life of hard work and age eventually caught up with them, as it does to all. Alby passed away first, and Thelma not long after in 1948. They were buried in the Brindleton Bay cemetery - next to Thelma's Langston ancestors.

[pixelnrd]

The funeral for Theodore and Ruth Brown was held at the Henford Church. They were buried next to Ruth's mother Daisy in the churchyard.

Everyone in the family attended to say their farewell. Though the most devastated were their two remaining children Douglas and Eileen, Ruth's sisters too were heartbroken at the loss of their big sister. Even their grandson Harry attended the funeral with his mother.

Little Maggie was also allowed to attend, and as she said goodbye to her grandparents she felt very alone. She had only ever known life with her granny and grandpa on the farm.

[pixelnrd]

Dear Mother and Father,

I write to let you know that I am doing quite well. I am stationed at an army base in the South where I am now working as a mechanic. Who would have thought us girls would become mechanics of all things? Sometimes I think, if not for this war, perhaps I never would have been able to learn such skills. That is the silver lining to all the tragedy, I suppose.

You will be most excited too, mother, to know whom I am stationed here with - your sister! Aunt Thelma is quite experienced and she is in charge of us all. I never knew what it was that she did all these years but she is really quite handy. She tells me that Uncle Alby is also working for the war effort here at home as he was too old to be sent abroad.

I have attached a photograph for you so you can see how well I am doing. I miss you dearly but do not worry for me, for I am most proud to be contributing to the war effort and it looks like it will all pay off soon.

Eileen

[pixelnrd]

Mabel Primrose Weston married Nicholas John Isaacs in the Spring of 1936. Both of her sisters and their families attended the small wedding ceremony at the Henford-on-Bagley church. It was a wonderful day and Mabel thought of how much she wished her mother could have been there to see her final daughter wed and happy.

[pixelnrd]

Christmas comes and the children are so excited when their father brings in the Christmas tree. They all decorate it together and sit around wondering what they will get this year.

It was the first Christmas without their mother and Daisy’s girls intended to spend it together. Thelma and Alby come to stay at the farm, and Mabel invites Nicholas to spend the day with them too.

Money was always a problem these days, but Ruth and Teddy wanted to give their children something special that year - and the boys were all overjoyed when they were presented with a little puppy.

[pixelnrd]

The funeral for Daisy took place on the day of the first winters snow. She was buried in the Henford-on-Bagley cemetery. All of the family congregated to bid her goodbye. Thelma travelled to Henford for the funeral of their mother. And Tommy came to say goodbye too, accompanied by his sons. He was thankful he had at least had the opportunity to set things right with Daisy before she passed.

As they left the cemetery Daisy’s daughters walked arm-in-arm. Though all so different they were united by their sisterhood and how much they loved their mother. They agreed to try and see each other more, as it was what she would have wanted. Thelma even promised to return to Henford to spend Christmas with her sisters that year.

[pixelnrd]

As their mother and sister began packing up their lives into boxes, Thelma watched on, conflicted. The plan was to move away to an old farm in Henford. But Thelma didn't want to go. Their life was here. Alby was here.

Thelma ran to Alby, to tell him the news. They didn't know what would happen. Would this be the end? Thelma felt tossed around like she had no choice in this mad world they were existing in.

Alby looked heartbroken when Thelma told him the news. 'I don't want to go,' said Thelma, taking his hand. 'Not without you.'

'Stay with me, then,' he said. 'We are grown now Thelma, we can leave this place. I know there is work out there, perfect for us. We can travel all over and find a place for ourselves. It would be an adventure.'

And Thelma liked that idea.

Thelma broke the news to Daisy that she was not going with them. Thelma knew it would break her, as much as it hurt them too to leave the one constant person who had stood by them all their life.

Daisy's heart ached, but she held herself together. Her Thelma had always been headstrong and brave, and she knew Thelma was ready for the world. Ruth needed her a little longer, but Thelma... Thelma would be ok.

And so Thelma bid goodbye - to the seaside cottage, to their mother and sister, to Windenburg, to childhood - and embarked on her own adventure into the world. Who knew where it would take them...

[pixelnrd]

A long post under the cut 💕

Thelma was content enough with life. Her sisters and mother were well. She had finished her schooling. But she continued to struggle with understanding her place in the world. She didn't fit in. She didn't understand why.

The kiss with Alby had made things so much worse. It had ignited something inside her, but it also conflicted with her idea of who she was. She wanted so much not to be forced into womanhood, and yet she also wanted to be held by someone again... by Alby. But no! What did that make her? What would he expect - what would society then expect? To be married and a wife and a lady in a dress? She couldn't ever do it.

And yet as she had matured, she found that she liked to style her hair, and select her clothes, and sew her own slacks... so was she in fact a woman? The thought caused her anguish. She couldn't understand why.

And underneath it all, she longed to feel closeness with someone. She wanted that experience of intimacy. Seeing her sister Ruth find someone had made her realise that soon, she would be alone. Her father was gone, never to return. Mabel was gone to school. One day Ruth would leave with her own family, and one day her mother would pass. And what would become of her? She didn't want to be alone. But she didn't know how to make her life work.

Alby found Thelma one afternoon, staring out to sea at their usual spot on the beach. He had been trying to catch her for weeks. He knew she had been avoiding him. But he couldn't stop thinking about what had happened between them. He was determined. He had to make her see how he felt. She didn't seem to get it, and he had to make her see. Her worries and fears were nothing because it did not matter to him who she was or who she wanted to be.

'I hoped you'd be here,' he said, sitting down next to her.

'Hi,' said Thelma awkwardly.

'Thelma, I want you to know how much I care for you. It was so wonderful just to kiss you that night and well, I'd never kiss another person again if I could even hope to one day be yours.'

'Alby...'

'I know you don't want me to think of you as a girl. I can read you like a book. And the honest to goodness truth is that I don't. I love you Thelma, because you are my best friend. I love you for who you are and none of the rest, not what you look like or your hair or your clothes. I have always since we were children.'

He kissed her on her forehead, and Thelma felt herself soften. She daredn't believe his words to be true. But they caused her such elation to hear. Her heart began to pound. This was all she wanted, and yet...

'I don't want to be your wife. I don't want to be a mother. I can't be that way, Alby...' she prepared herself for him to pull back.

'Ok, that's fine. I don't care for any of that. I only care about you.'

'Are you sure?'

'I promise. I just want to be with you all the time, wherever it takes us.'

And as they fell into one another's arms, Thelma finally believed his words to be true. She felt the wall she had built to restrict her feelings crumble away. It was so wonderful, to cuddle someone in the sand, to have a partner in life. And for the first time Thelma began to feel hopeful.

[pixelnrd]

The wedding portraits of Ruth and Theodore Brown c. 1930.

[pixelnrd]

One day an unexpected visitor arrived. It was Walter Harrington Jnr, who came into the living room awkwardly. Something was wrong.

'I am sorry Mrs Schiller,' he sighed, looking sad as he came clean to his only family. 'I am going to have to charge you rent to continue living in the cottage. If you can't, then I'm going to have to sell. I'm so sorry.'

Daisy was shocked. How could he do this? Walter had promised her that this would be her home, that she would be looked after. She had planned the future of herself, her girls and their finances around that promise.

Ruth was angry, and felt betrayed by Walt Jnr, whom she regarded as something of a brother from their childhood together. 'How can you do this, Walter? We cannot afford the rent - my mother has no means, my husband is out of work, I have a baby on the way. What are we to do? We are your family!'

But Walter defended his decision. 'If I do not make income off the estate properties then the Harrington name will be worth nothing. I have already had to sell most of the properties in the estate to pay all of my parents debts. I left yours until last in the hopes that it would be enough. But I have no other choice. These are terrible times, I know, and we all must do what we can to get through. I truley am sorry.'

Ruth frowned at Walt Jnr as he departed, vowing to never forgive him. Meanwhile, Thelma comforted her despondent mother, who for the first time in so long felt afraid for the future of her family. How could she keep Mabel in school and pay rent on the cottage? How would they afford food with no money coming in? What were they to do?