V.C. Andrews' Landry Family (2021) s01e03 Episode Script

1
♪♪
PAUL: Okay, just a little farther.
I can't see. Is the baby okay?
Pearl is fine.
This better be good.
- It's good. Okay.
- Hmm?
- Ready?
- Mmm-hmm.
Welcome to Cypress Woods.
What do you think?
Paul, it's amazing!
Yeah?
Yes!
Oh
[LAUGHS]
Never thought a simple Cajun boy
would have this kind of life, did you?
I never doubted you to have
an amazing life, Paul.
But no amount of money
can buy happiness.
I wanna show you something.
Let me make you happy
for the rest of your life.
Paul
I adore you.
I love you,
but we can't marry.
I I wanna live an honest
life without sin.
- I I want
- Beau.
You want Beau.
Beau has moved on.
He's in Paris and Gisselle tells me
he's engaged to a rich,
glamorous heiress,
so that's that.
Paul, you know why we can't be married.
Ruby, I love you more than I've loved
- anyone in the world.
- Stop it.
You shouldn't have
to live in that shack.
Are you really gonna make
me say it out loud?
And raise Pearl in destitution?
We are brother and sister!
For god's sake.
Half.
We're only half brother and sister.
That doesn't make it half right.
It's not our fault.
We were in love.
Madly in love before
we knew any of this.
You can't deny that.
I can't.
We can't ignore the truth.
Or the sin.
I have a way.
Separate suites.
Right?
We won't share a bed.
We'll live side by side
but not together.
Paul, you deserve a real marriage.
You deserve passion in your life.
We both do.
I'm willing to give all of that up
to be beside you always.
I don't know if I'm willing to do that.
I know what it's like to be in love.
Passionately in love.
Okay.
Well, then, if either of us
desires to find that ecstasy
with someone else
we won't stand in each other's way.
Really?
However would that work?
Why don't we at least give it a chance?
Let's do it for Pearl, for her future.
That's dirty pool, Paul Tate.
You leave that bundle
of joy out of this.
She'll have the best of the best here.
Right? A deluxe nursery
with loving childcare
so you can do your painting.
We'll tell the world that she's ours.
I'll love her as if she is my own.
And Beau sure isn't
lining up to do that.
He doesn't know she exists.
You know what he thinks happened.
Well, you didn't go through
with it, did you?
Now you have an amazing little girl.
I want to help you raise her.
RUBY: I wish I could just
tell your father everything.
[SIGHS]
We could get married
and live as a real family.
Isn't he handsome?
[COOS]
He's a wonderful man
but he has another life now.
RUBY: I know if you met him
you would love him, too.
He's got this kind, gentle way about him
but he's also got this wicked
sense of humor,
and he always knew how to make me laugh.
He lives in Paris, France.
It's such a romantic place.
I know, not like here.
But if he were here now
it might even make this little
shack seem romantic.
[CLOSES DOOR]
[GASPS]
Ruby Landry in the flesh.
You haven't been in the swamp
in some time, missy.
There's no phone lines out this way.
Buster Trahaw.
Get out of my house.
You are not welcome here.
I gave your grandpére a thousand bucks
and he said I could marry you.
But I get to try the merchandise first.
I had no part in that agreement.
[BABY FUSSES]
You making babies without me?
Don't. Don't. Don't! Please, don't!
[BABY CRYING]
Don't hurt her.
Please.
Buster don't hurt babies.
Buster makes babies.
Please.
[BABY CRYING]
Now, put her down.
Shh.
[BABY CRYING]
We can do this the easy way
or the hard way.
Thing is, I kinda prefer the hard way.
Like wrestlin' an alligator.
[SCREAMS]
[BABY CRYING]
[GROANING]
[BABY CRYING]
[BABY CRYING]
Ruby?
Oh, oh, hey.
Take Pearl. Take Pearl.
Hey. You're okay. You're okay.
You're never gonna have to worry, okay?
You're never gonna have to worry again.
Okay.
Come on. You're okay.
♪♪
Welcome to your new home,
Pearl and Ruby Tate.
Hi Pearl. Hi, we're home.
You'll both be safe
and happy here forever.
Thank you, Paul.
Truly, it's all so much more
than I could have imagined.
I should be thanking you
for the company.
To our wonderful life together.
Are you toasting with a dessert fork?
Why not?
I say we toast to our life
whenever and however we can.
Cheers.
[CLINK]
Cheers.
[LAUGHS]
Well, I guess this is goodnight.
Hey, you you look really
stunning tonight.
You're not so bad yourself, mister.
It's not our fault we feel this way.
But it is a sin.
We have to resist.
Can I at least kiss you goodnight?
On the cheek.
No.
I'm sorry.
Goodnight, Ruby.
I love you.
I feel the same way, Paul.
♪♪
Let's put Mrs. Tate next to Paul.
Thank you.
Hello, Mr. Tate.
My goodness.
You really are the spitting
image of your mother.
And she was an enchantress, you know.
If you say so.
Ruby, my wife, well, she's
terrified that your marriage
will expose the truth that
you're half brother and sister.
That Paul is not her son.
If you could keep the illusion alive
it would mean a great deal.
Our daughter, Jeanne, she doesn't know.
Of course.
Thank you.
♪♪
All right, ready to go?
Oh, um
[CLEARS THROAT]
All clear.
Wow.
Another stunning outfit
for Mrs. Ruby Tate.
Well, Ruby Tate can afford a lot
more than Ruby Landry could.
Sometimes I wish I could
just become someone else.
Yeah. Yeah, if only it were that easy.
Okay, uh, so remember,
there's sensitive information
about my family that
Jeanne doesn't know
Oh, you mean that your father
and my mother had a secret fling
and we're a married half
brother and sister?
You know, when you say it like
that it sounds downright awful.
But you forgot to mention
how much we genuinely
care for each other.
Congratulations to the happy couple.
Oh, I wish you two hadn't eloped.
[CLINK]
Where's the baby?
She's upstairs with the nanny.
You hired a nanny to raise
your daughter?
Well, she's very nice and very
experienced with babies.
And that way Ruby can focus on
on her painting for some
of the day, huh.
That is so wonderful that
you get to focus on your art.
JEANNE: And I'm sure the time
that you spend with Pearl
- is real quality time.
- Yes, that's exactly right.
It's a good situation for all of us.
If you say so.
I just loved spending
every moment with my son
and beautiful daughter
when they were little.
You know, Mom, Ruby and I
were actually hoping
we could get some tips
as we continue to decorate.
Oh, you were, were you?
Paul says you have
a great eye, Mrs. Tate.
Maybe after dinner we
could take a walk around.
Yes, that would be lovely.
I was thinking maybe pale blue?
Why did you do it?
Why did you marry Paul
when you knew the truth?
Mrs. Tate, Paul and I
have always been close.
It crushed us utterly
when we learned the truth.
How do you think it was for me?
Your mother put a spell on
my husband all those years ago
and now you have done
the same to my son.
I have cared for that boy
since he was an infant
and made my husband's secret my own.
I had to pretend to be pregnant
and lie to everyone I have ever known,
including my own daughter.
Now Paul must raise another
man's child and I
must pretend, with a new baby,
so the family isn't a public disgrace.
I promise I won't tell a soul
about the true circumstances.
Of course you won't.
Look at all you have to lose.
Deep down I know you love
Paul like your true son,
and he loves you.
I will never do anything
to interfere with that.
Paul loves Pearl with all his heart,
as if she were his own
and I hope you will accept that
and love her as much
as a grandmére should.
Love.
Everyone needs so much of it.
No wonder we're all exhausted.
Goodnight, Ruby.
It's been such a pleasure
to spend the evening with you.
♪♪
I don't know about you, Pearl,
but I can barely remember
that old dresser drawer
we used to call a crib.
Flower delivery for my girls.
They're beautiful.
Like the woman who planted them.
Other people planted them for me.
Well you made this
you made this place a real home.
Your loving attention
to detail really shows.
Thank you, honey. That's so nice.
That's the truth.
You really are something, you know that?
[HORN HONKING]
Oh, my god.
[HONKING CONTINUES]
[HONKING]
Gisselle, is that really necessary?
Just trying to get a little
attention around here.
After all, it is my specialty.
[CHUCKLES]
My dear, darling twin sister.
Mistress of Cypress Woods.
I have to admit,
you haven't done too bad
for a Cajun swamp girl.
Now, are we going to
stand out here all day
or are you gonna show me around?
I actually have to get to work,
but uh, you two ladies have fun.
You.
We'll take tea in the parlor.
I assume this place has one.
Does the swampy smell ever go away
or do you just get used to it?
I'd rather live here than
the Dumas mansion any day.
Bruce is as creepy as ever since
marrying Daphne, by the way,
but Daphne is mellowing out
as she crumples into old age.
Do you ever have anything
genuinely nice to say about someone?
Yes, actually, your husband.
Paul is a saint.
What's it like being married
to our brother
so you can spend his money
and live in his mansion?
He is our half-brother.
If you've just come here
to make trouble
I'll keep your secrets, Ruby,
- and take to heart how grateful you are.
- Thank you.
I mean, one teeny tiny
leak to the public
and you might lose all of this.
What do you want? Money?
[LAUGHS]
I might not be an oil millionaire
but I don't need money.
I just like knowing
I'm playing some role
in helping you keep your
fancy new lifestyle.
You always have to find a way
to feel superior to me, don't you?
The shoe fits, Rubes.
[BABY CRYING]
Oh.
Here's Beau's baby.
Gisselle.
I just told you I'm good
at keeping secrets, Ruby.
- Calm down.
- Why don't you take a few hours off?
She has Beau's eyes.
I know.
They're beautiful.
Oh, so you do still have Beau
on the brain after all this.
I do not.
That doesn't mean his baby's
eyes aren't beautiful.
Huh.
Whatever you say, sister.
You wanna
[BABY CRYING]
[SPLAT]
[GASPS]
Disgusting!
Your little love child
just ruined my outfit!
Okay, okay.
Shhh, shhh
Careful with my handbag.
It cost more than you make in a month.
Leaving so soon?
Well, my sister doesn't seem
too keen on playing host.
Oh, I'm so sorry to see you go.
Pearl's upstairs napping,
but she wishes she could say goodbye.
By the way,
Beau broke off his engagement
to his Parisian debutant.
I figured you'd wanna know, even
though you're totally over him,
he is officially single.
Totally available now.
He didn't get married?
Nope.
In fact, he's back living in New Orleans
and we're planning on getting
together next week.
You know, if you had just
waited a little bit longer
before diving into all of this
you might have still
won him and had it all.
Don't worry, I'll tell him
all about your luxurious life,
your amazing, happy marriage
and your new little baby when I see him.
And his eyes.
Those beautiful eyes.
If you think I'm jealous of your
life because of this big house
and all of your money you've
got another thing coming.
I've got a feeling you'll be
envious of my life soon.
Just you wait.
[HONKS HORN]
Hi.
Why does Gisselle have to be so awful?
Sometimes I really hate her.
She's jealous.
I mean, you're everything she's not.
Caring, thoughtful, kind.
You are 100 times more beautiful
than she'll ever be
because of the goodness inside you.
If only we could become other people.
Just for a day.
[KNOCKING]
[DOOR OPENS]
Pardon me, Madame.
Colonel William Henry Tate
at your service.
Paul, that's not funny.
I'm not aware of a man
by the name of Paul.
I'm Colonel William Henry Tate.
May I be so bold as to invite
you to dinner this evening?
It would be my pleasure to join you.
I'm thrilled to hear it, Madame.
In fact, I've acquired a special
gown for the occasion.
It's gorgeous!
I shall relish the opportunity, Colonel.
Very well. I eagerly await
our rendezvous.
Paul.
This is all a bit silly.
Once again, Madame, it's William.
A toast, Madame, to the
return of better times,
when the most important
thing for a man to do
is make the woman of his heart happy.
[CLINK]
This night is truly magical.
Thank you, William.
[DOOR OPENS]
♪♪
What are your plans for the day?
Painting.
Oh, wonderful.
Paul, we have to talk.
Thank you.
Paul, I know what you're trying to do
but we violated our promises
to each other last night.
What do you mean?
I just told you, I was out
quickly last night.
Did you have some kind of dream?
[BABY COOING]
Please, I'm sure it was just a dream.
Yes, I'm sure it was just a dream.
[PHONE RINGING]
Yes?
GISSELLE: Ruby.
Gisselle, hi. What do you want?
I don't want anything
but I thought you'd like
to know what's happened.
Our lovely stepmother was out riding
when her horse spooked
and threw her off.
She hit her head on a rock.
It was hours before someone found her.
She's dead, Ruby.
BRUCE: Ruby, thanks for coming.
Oh, it's awful. I'm devastated.
Well, we sure are sorry
for your loss, Bruce.
That bitch locked me
out of her will entirely.
I'm gonna be destitute.
What am I going to do?
You always said you married
Daphne for love,
not her money.
You try living without it.
Sorry Bruce. We have to find Gisselle.
Please, just talk some sense into her
about your mother's will.
As far as I'm concerned
Gisselle can handle Bruce.
I don't even
Hello, my love.
Oh.
Hi, Ruby, I didn't see you there.
Wha
Isn't it wonderful to see Beau?
Beau by name and by nature.
Handsome as ever and all mine now.
[GISSELLE GIGGLES]
Hi, Ruby. It's nice to see you.
Hi.
Hello, Beau.
Paul.
Paul Tate.
Beau Andreas. Pleasure.
What are you doing here?
He's been such a support
through this difficult time
as I recover from the death
of our stepmother.
After my visit to you I met up
with our beautiful Beau
and, well, you might have
stolen him from me once
but I think he ended up
with the right Dumas girl.
Right baby?
Isn't it nice to see the happy
married couple, honey?
You should just see their
beautiful baby girl, Pearl.
Yes, uh, congratulations
on your marriage.
It sounds like the two
of you are very happy.
I think I left something in the car.
Oh.
I just um, I just need
a moment alone.
Okay.
[SIGHS]
I'm sorry.
I should have told you.
It's okay.
It's just a shock.
I have to ask.
How's Pearl?
That's her name, right?
Yes.
And she's wonderful.
Cuddly, sweet.
Curious.
Sounds like her mother.
Beau.
Don't.
Is she mine?
I should have never
listened to my mother
and gone off to Europe.
Can you ever forgive me
for leaving you like that?
Of course I forgive you.
Don't hold onto that guilt.
I ran off to have Pearl
so you wouldn't be burdened.
And we've managed to make
a wonderful life together.
With Paul.
Yes.
He's a wonderful man.
Well, I'm happy the two
of you are so happy.
And that Pearl be raised
in a respectable way.
Did you not have a fantastic
time in Europe?
It sounded like a dream.
What happened with
your Parisian heiress?
I did meet someone,
and yes we shared a life,
but I'd wake up every morning
and look at my beautiful fiancée
and still feel empty inside
because she wasn't you.
So I broke it off with her
and I moved back
fully intending to tell you my feelings.
But Gisselle told me you'd
married Paul and had a baby.
His baby.
I was crushed.
But I wanted you to be happy
so I stayed away.
I didn't know Pearl was mine until now.
You didn't want to know!
And now you're with Gisselle?
There you are, honey.
I've been looking everywhere for you.
And Ruby, don't you get any ideas.
You're a married woman
with an important husband.
Wouldn't want to mess
that up now, would we?
Let's go, darling.
We have guests.
A letter for you, Madame.
It's from your sister.
Thank you.
"Darling sister, we eloped
just like you and Paul did.
After our honeymoon we'll come visit
and settle Daphne's estate.
Gotta go, my Beau's
calling me back to bed.
Ciao for now".
[SOBBING]
BEAU: What an incredible place.
Gisselle, you really
didn't do it justice.
Gardens can be so much work.
It's our little corner of the world.
We love it here, don't we?
How long is this going to take?
As long as it takes to make sure
Bruce doesn't get that money.
Shouldn't be more than a few
hours to settle Daphne's estate
and make sure we're all
on the same page.
[BABY BABBLING]
And who is this little one?
Hello, darling. Come here.
Beau.
Meet Pearl.
Hello there, Pearl.
I'm Beau.
Can we go inside now?
The swamp smell makes me gag.
Maybe pay less attention to Ruby
and more attention to Paul
and his success.
You might learn something.
Or at the very least, butter him up
to help make sure we come
out of this better off.
I don't wanna give Ruby the satisfaction
of getting the better end of the deal.
It's time for your nap, my darling.
Sweet dreams, my sweetest.
I didn't expect to get so
emotional when I met her.
But now that I have it's so clear.
You, Pearl and me,
we should be a family.
We are a family.
We are both married to other people.
It's it's too late.
I can't just keep going on
pretending my heart isn't
exploding every time I see you.
The only reason I married Gisselle
was for the illusion that it's you.
Ruby, I've done something crazy.
I've leased an apartment
in the French Quarter
that Gisselle doesn't know about.
I want you to visit me there.
If you want to.
Deep down you know we
were meant to be together,
and if fate won't let us do it properly
then we can make our own fate.
Please, just think about it.
GISSELLE: Beau, where are you?
BEAU: I love you, Ruby.
Paul ran circles around you.
I mean, I know you're not the
brightest bulb in the chandelier
but you always surprise me
with new ways of proving it.
Well, it was very nice
to see both of you.
Thank you so much for the tour.
Would love to stay for dinner, sis,
but we just got our new bed, so
May I?
Think about it.
Leave some room for , you two.
Get in the car and drive me home, now.
Bye, honey.
Have a good trip.
Oh, thanks, sweetie.
Oh, and I was thinking
I might take your advice,
maybe set up a few meetings
with art dealers in New Orleans.
That's terrific.
I've been saying it forever,
you're gonna be a famous artist.
Hey, let me know when.
I'll come along with you
and I'll make sure they don't
gouge you on commission.
All right, bye.
Bye-bye.
[EXHALES]
[KNOCKING]
[DOOR OPENS]
♪♪
I'm afraid I can't live without this.
This place can be just for us.
Hidden away from the real world.
I'm gonna have to head back soon.
I hate lying to Paul,
but we made an agreement
when we got married
to let each other explore
real physical passion
if we found it.
For all I know he's doing the same.
You don't already have physical
passion with your husband?
Paul's father and my mother had
a secret affair a long time ago.
Paul is the result.
Rather than face the shame,
Paul's father asked his wife,
Gladys, to raise Paul as her own.
Paul is my half-brother.
And we care about each other,
but it can never be more than platonic.
This changes everything.
You made an agreement.
But I don't think Paul really meant it.
He loves me so much,
and it kills me to picture his face
when I tell him the truth, but I must.
Paul?
Is anyone home?
Oh, honey, you scared me.
Where is everyone?
Where's Pearl?
I gave everyone the day off.
I needed the quiet. Pearl's napping.
I know what you did, Ruby.
- I know what you did!
- [GLASS SHATTERS]
We had an agreement, Paul.
An agreement you suggested.
I didn't think it would hurt this much.
I didn't want to hurt you.
That's why I didn't tell you.
You had every right to do
what we agreed.
Please.
Please, please, please, please,
don't see him again.
You mean the world to me,
and if you see him again
you'll leave me.
I'll be alone.
Please.
Please, please, please, please.
Hold on now, you and Paul
had an agreement.
True, but what if Gisselle finds out?
That is what makes this untenable.
She'd seek revenge.
If she tells the world about Paul and me
it would destroy him and his
family, and she knows it.
It has to be over.
Good morning to the most amazing
woman in the world.
Sorry, she's gone for the day.
It's just me, Ruby.
What can I do to help you feel better?
Name it. I'll I'll buy it.
I just need time.
Okay.
Well, if you think of
anything just call.
I love you, Ruby Tate.
[KNOCKING]
Come in.
It's your brother-in-law, he insisted.
He sounds troubled.
Hello?
BEAU: Ruby, something's happened.
Gisselle and I, we've been up
at your family's country chateau
and a few days ago Gisselle
was bitten by a mosquito
and she fell ill.
I called a doctor to the chateau
and he said the mosquito
could be carrying a rare
form of encephalitis
and passed it to her.
Oh, my god.
BEAU: She's in a coma.
It could be permanent.
No.
Fate is trying to help us.
BEAU: Come to the chateau and
switch places with Gisselle.
You look so much alike no one
will ever question it.
Ruby will be the one who fell ill
and you can assume
Gisselle's life with me.
You can bring Pearl and we can
all live together as a family.
Beau this is crazy.
What?
We're getting a second
chance at first love.
BEAU: I've already laid some of
the groundwork with the doctor here.
He'll take money in exchange for silence
and if we pull the switch fast enough
none of the staff will ever know.
You've really thought this through.
If we're gonna do this without suspicion
you need to decide today.
Living this half-life isn't working,
and now fate has stepped in
with Gisselle's illness.
That's a good idea.
I'll bring Gisselle here.
I'll take care of her as if
my wife, Ruby, got sick.
I'll send Pearl off with her
Aunt Gisselle and Uncle Beau
until her mom gets better.
I can't believe you're willing
to go along with this.
Honestly, seeing you so miserable
has made me miserable.
Ashamed.
We had an agreement.
It was my idea.
I'm a man of my word.
Really?
Ruby, all I ever wanted to do
was make you happy.
I'll be getting her the best care.
She might even recover, you know?
Or perhaps Ruby will
decide to switch back.
We have to switch wedding rings.
It's the only piece of jewelry
people will notice.
If I get even an inkling
that you mistreated her,
I will blow this whole
charade up in an instant.
[BABY BABBLING]
You know, Pearl, this used to be
my room when I lived here.
[LAUGHS]
Yeah, feels familiar.
That's important these days.
My gorgeous daughter.
Welcome to your new life, Mrs. Andreas.
The life that was meant to be.
[BABY LAUGHING]
[PHONE RINGS]
Hello?
Oh, hi Pauline.
I'm not sure, let me check.
Is Gisselle here?
Who is Pauline?
Gisselle's regular tennis partner.
This is as good a time as any.
Hello?
Hi, Pauline.
Well, it was a disaster, that's why.
My sister came to visit and she
was bitten by a mosquito.
She came down with
this stupid, rare disease
so we had to come home
and I had to take my niece.
Well, maybe you don't know
everything about me, Pauline.
I can be good with kids if I wanna be.
No, I don't have time for tennis,
and to be honest your backhand
wasn't anything to boast about.
She asked if we'll be
at Kitty's private party
at Fancy's on the weekend.
Well, I think it's time
to rip the bandage off.
Introduce you to society.
♪♪
I'm really gonna have to get
used to showing this much skin.
Gisselle liked to walk into a room
and have every head turn her way.
I'll be blushing so hard
everyone will know it's me.
People will just think it's
Gisselle's way of flirting.
Plus, you look spectacular.
When in doubt, be mean.
Gisselle, it's so good to see you.
Cynthia, hello.
It's been too long.
For you, maybe.
You never cease to amuse, Gisselle.
Well, I aim to please.
Speaking of which, tell
your husband I said hi.
[LAUGHS]
Beau, I'm thirsty.
Let's grab a drink.
But first I need to go to
the little girl's room.
Gisselle! Baby!
You're back in town
and you didn't call me?
I thought we were closer than that.
Well, uh, you thought wrong, I guess.
What's wrong with you, baby?
Are you insane?
Beau is just out there.
I thought that was part of the fun.
Well, I intend to get my fun
in other ways from now on.
Now, I'll tell you the truth,
just this once.
You are no longer worth my
time, so get out of my life.
And by the way, that cologne
is doing you no favors.
Abby? Is it really you?
What are you doing here?
How have you been?
Save the niceties, Gisselle.
I've done just fine for myself,
no thanks to you and people of your ilk.
Let me get this straight based
on what I've seen tonight.
You somehow stole Beau,
the love of your sister's life,
then decided that wasn't enough
and started cheating on him.
Well, Abby, maybe you should
get your own business.
I mean, mind your own life.
[STAMMERS] I'm sorry, Abby
Ruby?
Oh my god, Abby, is it so obvious?
You can't hide your heart, Ruby.
But why on earth are you
pretending to be Gisselle?
It's a long story,
I'd really rather not get
into it right now.
I trust you have your reasons.
Your secret's safe with me.
Thank you, Abby.
It's truly wonderful to bump
into you like this.
It feels so good to have someone
see who I really am.
Well, I'll be in New Orleans
for a whole month
so you should stay in touch
if you ever need someone to talk to.
I'd like that, Abby.
I'd like that very much.
[LAUGHS] Oh. It's so good to see you.
You too.
[PHONE RINGS]
Hello?
Uh, it, it's Paul. Ruby there?
Yeah, one second.
It's Paul.
Paul?
Ruby, how are you? I miss you.
How is Gisselle?
I've been uh, getting her looked
at by different specialists.
Well, Paul, that's great.
Thank you for taking
such good care of her.
Actually, uh, one of the specialists
is a little more optimistic than
Beau's country doctor was.
He says she can come out of the coma.
That sounds like great news.
Keep us updated.
That was rude, Beau.
You just hung up.
Well, he says he wants you to be happy.
He should let you be happy.
I love you, but I can't
shake this feeling
that something's gonna
take you away from me
and separate us all again.
Well, my mother is returning
from a trip overseas,
and she expects to see Gisselle and me.
It's not gonna be easy
to face her, I know.
Gisselle wasn't fond of my mother,
so you don't have to say much.
We see her often, but this
dinner is non-negotiable.
[EXHALES]
So, Gisselle, Beau tells me
you've been watching
that Cajun baby for a while,
since your sister fell ill?
She's not a nameless Cajun baby.
Her name is Pearl.
Oh, so you've really taken
a shine to little Pearl then.
I didn't say that.
I don't like her very much
and I wish I never committed
to this whole "aunty steps in" thing
but I'll be damned if anyone tells me
I can't take care of a simple infant.
It's my own fault for being too nice.
And the father, Paul Tate,
he's become very wealthy, I hear.
Yes, Paul made money.
A lot of it.
Well, maybe the two of you
will think of having your
own children someday soon.
I'm certainly hoping for a grandson.
Well, keep hoping,
because if all children
are like my sister's
I'll check myself into a nunnery
before I carry a baby to term.
Yep, that Cajun baby is the
closest thing you'll ever have
to progeny so get used to it.
You really let my mother have it.
It was as if Gisselle
crawled up inside of me
to make that remark.
I couldn't control it.
It was surging through me.
Well, it worked.
She didn't suspect a thing.
As far as she's concerned,
you are Gisselle.
Are you concerned?
Of course not.
I know who you are.
[PHONE RINGS]
PAUL: Ruby? Ruby?
Paul?
Is everything okay? You sound different.
It turns out all those fancy,
expensive doctors were wrong.
Tests came back and Gisselle's
prognosis is even worse.
Oh, no.
I'm so sorry to hear that.
Are you?
I I mean, do you know
that even if she survives
she'll have permanent brain damage?
Do you remember when we were kids
and you went to see that voodoo queen?
You had her conjure up some nasty spell
to cast over Gisselle?
That was a long time ago, Paul.
And I regretted it immediately after.
Yeah, well I guess it's still working.
I'm happy for you two.
Really am.
RUBY: Paul.
I have to go now.
He sounded so strange.
Not like the man I know.
He thought he could cure
Gisselle and bring you back.
I think we should visit
Cypress Woods soon.
Monsieur and Madame Andreas.
Any new developments, Jeanne?
They uh, checked Ruby
into the hospital permanently.
He just wallows around all day.
We're all really worried about him.
Especially my mother.
Jeanne, it's not polite to talk
about your host like that.
She's just making sure you're okay.
Oh, I'm fine, Beau.
Just accepting my fate.
As if you know anything about that.
I'm suddenly not feeling well.
I'll be in my office.
[KNOCKING]
I wanted to check in on you.
You should see how small
she's getting, Gisselle.
She is wilting away, like a flower.
Decomposing right before my eyes.
It's just us, Paul.
It's me, Ruby. You don't
have to pretend.
You were always jealous of
the love that Ruby and I had.
Paul, I'm not Gisselle.
You know, jealousy is a terrible thing.
Because it rots you away
from the inside.
Ah, you'll see. You'll see, Gisselle.
You'll see.
Please stop talking like this.
Go. Go.
Go. Go back to your life
of pleasure and your
your dashing husband. Go.
Isn't he lucky
that he doesn't have a wife
on her death bed?
♪♪
I'm sorry we could never be real twins.
We had the greatest gift in the world
and we took it for granted.
I'll always regret that.
This is a pouch of five-fingered grass
that Nina Jackson gave
to me to ward off evil.
Do you remember her?
Papa's favorite cook.
This is my old dime bracelet
I used to wear for good luck.
It's not much but it's all
I have right now.
Other than money.
I see it now that I'm in your shoes.
The world was a great playground to you,
and anything that threatened it
was to be destroyed.
How easy is it to just enjoy life
and toss off a calloused remark.
It feels powerful.
Whereas me, I felt helpless.
Powerless, often.
I waited for other people to help me.
And now, treating people as you do,
it makes me feel in charge.
And I'm scared.
Because I'm getting really good at it.
I'm starting to like it.
[LAUGHING] Oh, sweetie,
do you really think
we befriended you because
of your personality?
It's the yacht, darling.
[LAUGHS]
And god knows I certainly
didn't marry Beau
for his brains or good business sense
so clearly we'll never be
able to afford one.
[SIGHS]
[LAUGHS] Yes!
Honey, I'm sorry about the joke
about your brains last night,
I got carried away with my Gisselle act.
There were points in the conversation
where even I couldn't
tell the difference.
Where are you going?
I want to call Paul.
He said if you ever call to just
tell you he's unavailable.
How is he doing?
He's been getting worse
and worse, Gisselle.
He's even started sleeping
in your grandmére's shack,
saying it reminds him of when
he and Ruby were younger.
It's so unfair.
They were the most perfect
couple in the world.
Two people living a fantasy romance.
Yeah, well, maybe it was a fantasy.
Gisselle.
Bruce.
How on earth did you get in?
Well, I lived here for years, remember?
I know every nook of this place.
Well, now that you've found your way in,
use those same skills
to find your way out.
I'm not going anywhere
until I get what I deserve.
That will was not fair
and I deserve my share
of the family fortune,
and you're gonna give it to me.
There's nothing in the world you can say
to make me give you even
one penny of that money.
Wait a minute, did you do this?
Because only Ruby could do
something like that.
Oh
[LAUGHS]
You're Ruby.
Bruce, you're drunk.
You don't know what
you're talking about.
Yes, I do.
I know you're up to something,
and I'm gonna tell the
whole world about it
unless you give me what I want.
'Cause once I start pulling at threads,
something's gonna unravel.
You're not gonna say a word
because I know enough
about all of your back-alley deals
and the crap you pulled
when you were the Dumas family fixer
to discredit you up and down the state.
And if I really need to,
I know you and Gisselle
once messed around
while my father was dying.
And what's that gonna
look like to polite society?
A creepy old man making an advance
on his sweet little underage
future stepdaughter?
That's not true.
Yes, it is.
You've always been inappropriate
towards me and Gisselle.
No.
And you can't prove any of that.
Well, I bet if I start
pulling at threads
something will unravel.
That's what I thought.
Now, get out of my house.
I have company coming
and I don't want you here
when they arrive.
I'm just worried about who I'm becoming.
There is power in Gisselle's
assertiveness that feels good,
but it also feels ugly.
Well, the fact that
you're worried about it
tells me you'll never become Gisselle.
You'll always be that
kind-hearted Ruby on the inside.
Will I, though?
Today, with Bruce
Gisselle just took over
and it felt right.
Sometimes anger is justifiable.
You have lived the real truth
of that statement.
So have you, my friend.
[PHONE RINGS]
Excuse me.
[PHONE RINGS]
JEANNE: Ruby is dead.
Ruby is dead?
Yes, she she died this afternoon.
Paul was there holding
her hand as she went.
Oh my god, Jeanne, this is awful.
Paul has requested that you
not bring Pearl to the funeral.
If you even bother coming at all.
[SOBBING]
They're thinking it's me who died.
I just couldn't bear the sadness
and anger in Jeanne's voice.
And then they said,
"if you come at all".
Of course we're coming to the funeral.
We're not monsters.
Oh, my god.
I am going to my own funeral.
I'm so sorry for your loss,
Madame Gisselle.
Your sister was a wondrous person.
Paul really believes he's burying Ruby?
In a way, he is.
Oh Ruby.
My sweetest sunshine.
I miss you.
That's my true love.
I'll never know another
like Ruby Landry.
She's gone.
She's never coming back, Gisselle.
It's over.
I'm sorry, Gisselle.
I didn't know it was gonna end this way.
[SOBS]
This is so surreal,
watching people cry over me,
and gazing into a coffin that's
supposed to have my body in it.
It makes me feel absolutely ghoulish.
Paul is a complete shadow of himself.
I don't know if he'll ever
come back to us.
I don't know what you
want me to do about it.
Oh, stop your pretending.
I know what you and your lover did.
I don't know what you're talking
I always knew that
you would destroy Paul.
Ruby.
Maybe my husband, Beau and I,
can help Paul get back on his feet.
I'd rather ask the devil
himself for help.
I just want you to know that I know
why my son is so broken-hearted
and I will not sit by
and let him suffer.
Without you suffering twice as much.
- Paul's missing.
- What?
- He's gone.
- Where?
I don't know, he just ran off.
He was talking crazy about how
he couldn't live without Ruby.
Where did he go?
- We have to stop him.
- JEANNE: I don't know, I don't know.
This way.
How do you know about this place?
Ruby used to describe
it to me in detail.
She and Paul used to come here
to be together when they were kids.
Somehow it's the only thing I
ever remembered that she said.
Have some respect
for the dead, Gisselle.
I'm sorry.
That was uncalled for.
Shall we?
There!
He's under there!
[GASPS]
He couldn't live without his Ruby.
Honey, come back!
[SOBBING]
[WAILING]
It's okay.
It's gonna be okay.
Alright.
It's okay.
- Are you okay?
- No.
Fair enough.
I just wanted to let you know
that a special little someone's
here and wants to say hello.
Thank you, sweet Pearl.
I really needed to see your smile today.
[CHILD'S LAUGHTER]
You know, all I ever wanted was for you
to have a better life than I had.
You deserve it, baby girl.
What on earth is it?
How dare you disturb me like this?
Sorry, ma'am.
There's a young woman
at the door for you.
I'll be down in a minute.
As you wish.
Go back to daddy, Pearl.
Jeanne, hi.
What are you doing here?
My parents asked me
to deliver this news to you
in person, Gisselle.
First, we would prefer if you
did not attend Paul's funeral.
Second, Paul and Ruby's daughter
belongs with her grandpére
and grandmére,
not her self-centered aunt.
So your promises, your
obligations, are over.
You can go back to living your
life of pleasure and not worry.
Oh, that's okay. I'm
sort of getting used to it.
And so is Pearl.
It seems she thinks I'm her mama.
Hmm.
And yet you are not her mother.
Mrs. Gisselle Andreas,
I represent Octavious and Gladys Tate.
They have filed a custody lawsuit
and a judge has issued
a court order saying
that we will take your niece,
Pearl Tate, with us
back to her grandparents.
No, there's been some
sort of misunderstanding
I'm afraid not and I can't
leave without the child.
We are prepared to charge
you with obstruction
if you choose not to cooperate.
Ultimately, the courts will decide,
but until then Pearl will be in
the custody of her grandparents.
What the hell is going on here?
They're taking Pearl, Beau.
They're taking Pearl.
Slow down.
They're claiming custody of Pearl.
They filed a court order.
The lawyer, the police,
they've come to get her.
This is what Gladys meant by
making Ruby suffer twice
as much as Paul.
She's taking vengeance.
It'll be all right.
We can figure it out.
They can't take our baby away from us.
Please, don't do this.
Mrs. Andreas, don't make this
harder or more dramatic
than it needs to be,
especially for the child.
It's okay my sweetest Pearl.
You're just going on a trip
to grandmére and grandpére's
house for a while.
They'll take good care of you
and then I will come get you back.
[EXHALES]
Mommy!
It's okay.
It's okay.
It's okay.
[PEARL CRYING]
[SOBBING]
What if we tell the truth?
We just say Gisselle
and I switched places.
To hell with what everyone thinks.
We have to be strategic about this.
No, Beau, I am tired of lying.
I said a long time ago that
the most important thing
was to live a good life.
To be honest and always
do the right thing,
but look at what I've become.
I only recognize myself
when I look in my baby's eyes.
So I'm gonna get back
to being who I really am.
And I'm gonna start
by telling the truth.
I switched places with Gisselle
to be with the man I love.
If we can prove that you're Ruby
then Beau can testify
to being the father of the child.
Of course.
And yet you say there are
no birth certificates
or medical records of
your birth or your sister's.
I'm afraid not.
My sister and I were born
in swamp country.
No doctors, no hospitals,
which means no paperwork
or birth certificates.
I hear there's something
called DNA technology,
which will be able to clear this up
with a simple blood test one day.
But we're years away from that.
A handwriting sample?
Their penmanship is clearly different.
That's hardly conclusive.
What about the doctor
who originally treated Gisselle
for encephalitis?
We can't call on him.
I made a deal financially
and he disappeared west.
Uh-huh. Very well.
The staff at the ranch
or the Dumas mansion?
None of them knew what was happening.
We were very careful.
So the Tates believe
that they buried Ruby Tate
and there was a death certificate
issued in your name.
Yes.
I can't believe we did so much
to convince the world
I was Gisselle and we did it so well
that now no one will believe the truth.
This may end up being your
word against the Tates,
and we'll do our best to tell
your story as sympathetically
as we can, but this will be
assigned to a Bayou court,
with a Bayou judge,
so we will likely be at a
significant disadvantage.
And prepare for the press
to have a field day.
We're prepared for that,
as long as it means
we can get Pearl back.
If you really want my advice,
I say you should go over to the Tate's
and do whatever is necessary
to avoid this trial.
Mrs. Tate, as one mother to another,
I beg of you, please let this matter go.
I am doing what is best for this baby.
That child does not belong with
a pair of pathological liars.
For better or for worse,
your son offered to make
a home for Ruby and Pearl.
It was for worse.
Look at where he is now.
I understand that, Mrs. Tate.
But hurting another family
won't solve anything.
In fact, when Paul saw the love
between Ruby and I
he agreed to help us have
a real shot at being a family.
[LAUGHS]
If this is about the money,
we can sign over anything we
might stand to gain from it.
You think I'm worried about money?
My son is dead because of you.
Get out of my house.
And out of our lives.
You put your sister's face on
and you crawled into her skin.
Now, live there.
[GAVEL POUNDING]
Andreas versus Tate,
custody trial of Pearl Tate.
Counsellor, do you have
an opening statement?
Thank you, your honor.
I'd like to leave that
statement for my client,
Ms. Ruby Tate.
Do you swear to tell the truth,
the whole truth,
nothing but the truth, so help you god?
I do.
Please be seated.
So you are telling this court under oath
that Paul Tate married you,
took in someone else's child,
provided you and her with an
unbelievably lavish lifestyle,
and then when you committed
adultery right under his nose,
he didn't bat an eye?
And then he agreed to
take in your dying sister,
assume the responsibilities
of her daily care,
lie to his entire family,
saying that you were her,
and then when she, I mean
"you" passed away
he became so distraught
that he took his own life.
This is the story that you
expect us to believe?
I uh
No more questions, your honor.
JUDGE: The court will
take a brief recess.
[GAVEL POUNDING]
Gladys, tell us about your
relationship with Ruby and Paul.
I just adored them.
Ruby was such a wonderful girl.
I was I was so touched
she asked me to um,
help decorate her and
Paul's beautiful home.
I can't possibly imagine Paul
doing the things they are
they're saying that he did.
She said earlier that
that names are just a formality.
But I was there when my Paul
collapsed with grief,
desperately calling out
"Ruby, my sweet Ruby, Ruby".
As if it would bring her back.
I'll never shake the horror of that day.
Not as long as I live.
It was Ruby Landry we buried that day.
That is her sister, Gisselle.
That is not Pearl's mother.
Thank you, Gladys.
I know that was really hard for you.
Your witness.
Your honor, we'd like
to request a recess.
[CROWD WHISPERING]
JUDGE: Very well.
I wish I could just tell them
I know you're Ruby
because I can see your heart.
What are we gonna do?
We're gonna lose Pearl.
Keep being yourself.
Keep telling the whole truth.
No one can hide from who they are
and what they've done in the end.
The whole truth.
Haven't we already told the truth?
Not everybody has.
Call Octavious Tate.
Excuse me?
He knows the truth.
I'll write down exactly what to ask.
[GAVEL POUNDING]
This court is back in session.
Mr. Polk, are you ready
for your closing?
Uh, yes, your honor.
[CLEARS THROAT]
Uh, we would like to call
one more witness
if it pleases the court before closing.
Please, your honor.
There's something everyone
needs to hear.
Uh, we would like to call
Octavious Tate to the stand.
Objection. Process violation.
Overruled. I I want to hear this.
Thank you, your honor.
Octavious?
Mr. Tate, were you happy when you heard
that Paul and Ruby had married?
No.
I wasn't.
You didn't want your son Paul
and Ruby Landry to marry?
It wasn't simply because
you didn't think
they made a good couple, was it?
It was another reason.
- Please do what is right, Mr. Tate.
- [GAVEL POUNDING]
Ma'am, do not speak to the witness.
Mr. Tate.
Yes.
There was another reason.
Octavious!
I am tired of hiding behind a lie,
and I cannot separate
another mother from her child.
Your honor, when I was a young
man I was hunting in the Bayou
and I came across an
enchanting young woman.
And though I was married
to Gladys at the time,
I gave in to my desires that night.
And as a result, my son Paul was born.
Your honor, I have made a mistake
that I have had to live with
and cover up all these years.
The truth is,
that enchanting young woman
was Ruby's mother.
My son, Paul Tate, and Ruby Landry
were half brother and sister.
[CROWD WHISPERING]
My wife and I, we kept up the
lie for the sake of propriety,
but this, this is not proper.
Pearl is not Paul's daughter.
Case dismissed.
[POUNDS GAVEL]
Congratulations.
I am so happy for you.
Pearl my darling, where are you?
Pearl, no.
These things are not for you.
I've told you, never touch
mommy's stuff.
Sorry, Momma. They're just so pretty.
Come here, sweet love.
What do you think?
Does that look like Mommy?
Mm-hmm.
Hello, my lovely ladies.
Daddy!
Mommy, can I rub your belly
and say hi to the boys?
Sure you can, sweetie.
[GASPS] I felt them kick!
[LAUGHS]
To fate.
And family.
To fate, and family.
To fate, and family.
[LAUGHS]