Quigley and Quietly

The Residents of Muskrat Creek

Esther Field (Lindsey Walker) - elderly schoolmarm, who has taken a vow of silence
Chester Field (Peter Brown) - her other son, misses the old Muskrat Creek
Billy Minor (Ellie Heath) - his bartender with a heart of gold
Alma Grass (Caley Suliak) - Abandoned maid, cleans the whole town
Lady Lou Quigley (Stephanie Wolfe)- Owner of Lady Lou’s Saloon
Myrtle Wordle (Kristi Hanson) - Wealthy Entrepreneur
Justice Forrell (Randy Brososky) - Bounty Hunter
Calliope Jenkins (Kirsten Throndson) - nurse, Jill-of-all-trades
Dr Thaddeus Buckley (Joel Taras) - A Doctor with a shady past
Annabelle (Kelly Turner) - runaway acolyte
Vlad Impala (Breck Wiltshire) - Transylvanian immigrant with a sun allergy
Claude Hopper (Chris Bullough) - Half of the vaudeville team “Claude and Dill”
Dill Pickwell (Jason Hardwick) - Half of the vaudeville team “Claude and Dill”
The Stranger in the Cape (Cody Porter) - A stranger in a cape

The Dead, Missing, or Disappeared Residents of Muskrat Creek.

Sylvester Field (Jason Hardwick) - The town undertaker
Cyrus Lane (Jesse Gervais) - broken hearted widower
Lester Field (Randy Brososky) - Proprietor of Fields, the general store
Cyrus Lane (Jesse Gervais) - Broken hearted widower
Holden Strong (Joel Taras) - Hard working miner
Major Goldie Bullion (Cody Porter) - The Baron, coal miner, owner of Crooked Fang Saloon
Rev. Jebediah (Chris Bullough) - A Reverend.

Director: Jake Tkaczyk
Music: Paul Morgan-Donald
Producer: Nicole Thibault
Synopsis: Jim Cej
Technical Magic: Olivia Bogaard

Act I

Esther sits in her prison cell, when she is visited by her son, Billy. He’s her first visitor, since the town doesn’t like her. He wants her mayor’s hat, as she can’t stay mayor if she’s in prison. Whoever wears the hat is the mayor, and since they’re related… Esther proposes a deal. It Billy can get they keys so she can get some fresh air, she’ll give him the hat. Billy doesn’t fall for it. He’ll bring someone else to strong-arm Esther for the hat.

Lady Lou is back in town and sees Calliope Jones. She tells Lady Lou that she is the new mayor. She’s looking for Goldie Bullion. Calliope has some good news and some very very bad news. Lady Lou loves good news! Calliope tells her that she no longer has any competition for her saloon.

Claude sits with Justice Forrell, but neither can decide what to say.

Myrtle is still unlocking all the doors in town, when she crosses paths with Mr Silver. He is amused by the people’s illusion of safety. Alma is shocked to see Myrtle. She looks pale, but her skin is so soft. Myrtle asks for some lotion.

Claude tells Justice that he saw what he did. Justice corrects him. You saw me after whatever happened to Annabelle. He was trying to revive her, but wasn’t successful. Justice has put Esther in jail. Claude wonders if he’ll still be able to have his festival. Dill overhears them, and thinks that Justice is two-timing him with Claude. Justice says that it’d all business between them. This festival is the most important thing going on right now. Dill says that he’ll stand behind Justice. Claude tells Dill that he loves him.

Shit is getting real for Dr Buckley. He’s the only person able to administer a lethal injection. A LEGAL lethal injection. Judge Williams asks what Esther was like before she was arrested. Who is the father of her baby. The doctor gives her complicated history. Dr Buckley has a theory that precious metals change people. He has some misgivings about Justice Forrell. Calliope is no good. She has stepped on a path. Does she administer Justice or give Justice a bullet. Please, put a stop to this vigilanteism. It’s too much justice.

Alma rubs the lotion into Myrtle’s skin. Mr Silver explains that Dr Buckley is behind it all. Alma will do anything for Myrtle. She’ll get the doctor. When she asks about him, Mr Silver gives a brief rundown about the Silvers. He hopes that they enjoy licking things off of each other. Adieu.

Esther’s standing nap is interrupted by Calliope, Billy, and Lady Lou. Lady Lou is sorry for her situation, but Billy tells her that she did it all to herself. Calliope is in a difficult position. Esther deserves to be in jail, but she is sort of her friend and is pregnant. Calliope is torn as to whether or not to let her loose. Billy is thinking about their family. If she is let out, someone will try to kill her. Lady Lou offers to switch places with Esther. Esther is ready to be a mother again. Is it wrong to have a baby to have an emotional response from the residents of Muskrat Creek. She pleads for her release. Billy wants her mother to complete the sentence, “I love…” “You” Esther and Lady Lou switch places.

Dill is surprised to hear that Claude loves him. Claude says that they were terrible business partners, but thinks they’d make good partners. Why didn’t he say something before? Justice lets him in on their history. Justice has done terrible things for Dill. He has loved Justice for as long as he can remember. Claude has been tap dancing out his love for Dill in morse code. Judge Williams interrupts them with bad news. Calliope is about to abuse her power! That’s unheard of. Justice says that they have to start the trial for impersonating an elected official, conspiracy, and murder. Justice says that Calliope is the moral center if this town. She’s gone black. Claude points out that once you’ve gone black… Justice is confident that when he is presented with all the evidence, he’ll do the right thing.

Lady Lou and Esther are alone in the jail. Lady Lou feels that they, mother and stepmother, have let Billy down. Esther says that they can be mother and mother ruling the town. One has money, and the other has power. Together, they will be unstoppable. Esther tells her that what they do next will rock this town. If Lady Lou helps her, she will give her the mayor’s hat and sash. Esther will tell everyone that Lady Lou has always been in charge. Esther passes her the hat through the bars.

Act II

Claude, Dill, Justice, and the Judge go to see Esther in jail. They are surprised to find Lady Lou there instead, who tells them that she’s the mayor now. Esther is working on her defense. When they let her out, Claude shoves Dill and Justice onto the cell. Justice still has his skeleton key and lets themselves out. Dill tells everyone that Justice murdered Annabelle.

Billy and Calliope disguise Esther with Calliope’s kerchief. Esther needs to hide herself and Billy. Calliope will go to her shed and Esther needs to go to the mountain. She is reluctant to see the Silvers after many years.

Myrtle and Alma pay a visit to Dr Buckley for more of his lotion. He has everything she needs in the palm of his hand. He is in need of a great deal of silver. He applies lotion his hands temptingly. I’ll get you the silver!

Esther has snuck away and runs into Mr Silver. So, we meet again. Esther needs some help from his family. She is the reason that he cursed the gold. It’s going to cost you great deal. What we needs more than anything is more people to feed their appetite. There are a number of people that she can push his way. He has heard about the upcoming festival. Esther will need him to take care of the law, and the judge. She will make sure that half the town flows uphill to him, physics be damned.

Justice asks Billy and Calliope where Esther is. They answer in unison that a bird came down and bit her face. It picked her up and flew away. The judge says that two people’s stories are never exactly the same. They think that sounds like a policeman! Justice stops Billy from revealing the judge’s true identity. Calliope tells Justice that he can trust what she says. Dill freaks out. They have to find Esther! They all run off in different directions.

Dr Buckley is worried about Mr Silver’s infectious laugh spreading. Alma and Myrtle catch it and spread it to Dr Buckley. It’s silver fever! They must go to the top of the mountain armed with candelabras.

Esther and Mr Silver are coming up the other side of the mountain, and they all meet on the top. Mr Silver is repelled by the candelabras. Justice knows who Mr Silver is - the only one that ever got away. Everyone chases after him.

Dill and Claude watch everyone chase after them. They share a cigarette. Dill wants to talk about them. You knew that you were never very good and that I was carrying you, right? Dill knew that Justice was going to be in Muskrat Creek and that they were going to be together, but he wanted Claude there as a backup.

Mr Silver is nowhere to be found, but they have Esther surrounded. She says that they all present a united front against the Silvers for once, and obliterate them. But first, she would love to have a festival. When the Judge asks what she was doing with Mr Silver. He kidnapped me! Justice says that it will take a lot for the town to trust her. Esther reminds him that he’s not sheriff anymore. Calliope is the moral centre of the town and should be the sheriff. Lady Lou and Billy wonder where the Goldie is. They suddenly realise what has happened. Lady Lou swoons.

Dill says that it’s just business. Claude has a whole festival to plan. Fuck that festival! Dill announces that he will run for mayor. Good for you! Dill says that he will run for mayor, too. Claude will never win, so he can run the business side of things. Claude’s heart has turned black. They give competing slogans. May the best win. May the best CLAUDE win. God, you’re an idiot.

All Photos by Janna Hove