What’s The Rush!?

Episode 2.
October 28, 2024

The Residents of Muskrat Creek

Esther Field (Lindsey Walker) - elderly schoolmarm, who has taken a vow of silence
Lester Field (Randy Brososky) - her son, proprietor of Fields, the general store
Sylvester Field (Jason Hardwick) - her other son, town undertaker
Chester Field (Peter Brown) - her third son, misses the old Muskrat Creek
Cyrus Lane (Jesse Gervais) - broken hearted widower
Holden Strong (Joel Taras) - hard working miner
Major Julien Bullion (Cody Porter) - The Baron, coal miner, owner of Crooked Fang Saloon
Billy Minor (Ellie Heath) - his bartender with a heart of gold
Old Man Muskrat (Vince Forcier) - town eccentric
Alma Grass (Caley Suliak) - Abandoned maid, cleans the whole town
Lady Lou Quigley (Stephanie Wolfe)- Owner of Lady Lou’s Saloon

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

Act I

Alma and Billy meet at the creek on their union sanctioned 15 minute break. Billy can’t get a direct answer on how long she has worked for Lady Lou. Julien Bullion angrily searches for Billy. He calms down when he sees that he’s not alone. Julien needs to know Lady Lou’s secret. He gives Billy some truth serum. Be careful using it. If you use it on the same person more than once, it becomes poison. And keep an eye out for anyone who can fight in his saloon.

Lester meets Holden String. He’s trying to get his bearings in town. He’s looking for an empty storefront. Holden points out the location of the old general store. Who owns the property? I think it’s Julien Bullion. He’s bought up all the spare property one town. Billy sees them and says that he’s looking for scrappers. Lester doesn’t do that anymore, but he can coach Holden for his fighter audition. He can fight himself. Billy was a just going to give him the job, but this sounds really cool!

Cyrus and Lady Lou hide Joanne’s cursed gold from Old Man Muskrat. Cyrus insisted that he did not kill the preacher. He was going to give him Joanne’s gold. Old Man Muskrat doesn’t care about the preacher anymore, now that he knows about Joanne’s gold. Cyrus offers him a nugget for his silence. He accepts, and Cyrus tells him he is now in his service. He works for them now. Maybe you need another little nugget…

Lester coaches Holden on how to kick his own ass.

In the Field house, Esther meets with Sylvester and Chester. She shows them the vista outside their window. Yes, we have plans to make. Esther shows them that they need to bury or unbury something. It has something to do with Lester. He walked out on the family, the town, and everything. Chester says that Lester was only 10 years old at the time! Sylvester will do whatever his mother wants, but he doesn’t know about anyone else. Chester will too, because family comes first. Sylvester will be happy to out him in the ground.

At Lady Lou’s, Alma enlightens a frustrated Lady Lou on what she has learned. A townie interrupts, wanting whiskey and a flapjack. She’s not sure what that is, but she’ll make him a whiskey and wine. It’s a lover’s drink that she created. Lady Lou can see that Alma has something on her mind, and sits her down to talk. Alma asks about that new employee, Billy Miner. Guess who the wind blows in. He has some “bitters” for them to drink. Lady Lou downs hers.

Esther Field and Cyrus walk through the garden. He tells her about his grief, because she doesn’t talk back. He remembers when he and Joanne and all their kids first came to Muskrat Creek. She has been there through all his heartache. I should have buried the gold with her, it’s weighing him down. Joanne is gone, but Lady Lou is there. Old Man Muskrat is under their control now. He’s kind of his slave, but he doesn’t want to do anything wrong. Esther clears her throat. He asks Esther to take the burden from him. But don’t spend it. You will surely die if you do. He gives her the gold and runs off.

Holden is sore and tired after his training. Chester and Sylvester go to see him. Chester needs his advice on digging a hole. Sylvester has some experience digging holes that he can share with them both. Holden sees his mistake. He’s been digging up, not down. Chester asks for his help. 6’ long, and 6’ deep. And wide, too. Holden asks about the pay.

Julien Bullion counts his proceeds from the day. Old Man Muskrat comes in with a bit of a spring in his steps. He’s feeling a bit of luck. Muskrat don’t do nothing for nothing. He has something important to do. Cyrus and Lady Lou enter and tell him that they need him. Cyrus tells Julien that Muskrat is in good hands.

Act II

Chester goes to Lester to tell him what’s happening and to get out of this mess. Chester is the only family member to give him a warm welcome back. Chester says that 50% of the family wants him gone. Their mom sent him away because Lester was hurting things. He’s trying not to be now. She sent him into the hands of someone that wanted him to hurt things. Lester came back to start a general store. They can work together to open it, but have you changed? Lester doesn’t want o hurt things anymore. People only cared what Lester thought when he held his life in his hands. Whenever you feel yourself going to that bad place, come and see me.

Lady Lou feels funny after that drink. Alma tries to make her feel better. Lady Lou tells her that Alma is the most beautiful person that she has ever meet. She’s been underpaying her. She’ll give her a raise. Billy hides and listens in. Alma warns Lady Lou that they’re not alone. Sylvester comes in for a drink and asks Alma to leave. Lady Lou doesn’t appreciate anyone coming in and bossing her people around. He bursts into tears. She is the only person that can help him. Billy comes out and offers to make Sylvester a drink. Sylvester tells Lady Lou that he’s in love with Calliope, now that she has told him that she loves him. Why are you so afraid? Because of my m-m-m-mother. Esther appears in the saloon. Esther asks if she can have a moment with her son.

Julien Bullion is looking out over the town, and Cyrus sees that his surveyors are looking over his claim. What would it take for Cyrus to break off a bit of his claim for him? Subletting. That’s a big city idea. Cyrus is tired of Julien being in his town. The town is watching him. If he steps on his claim again, I will bring out some iron. Julien says that he’s looking forward to the next time they meet. So is Cyrus.

Holden pans for gold. Old Man Muskrat has been watching him beating the shit out of himself. How would you like to do that to someone else. Holden is doing his best to be the best fighter this town has ever seen. You’d better not miss, because Old Man Muskrat is there best fighter in these parts. He cold cocks Holden. We’ll see you at the fight.

Old Man Muskrat remembers his first fight. He kicks the whole town’s asses. They all cheer for him.

Esther, Sylvester and Lady Lou. Can you give my son and I a moment together. Lady Lou tells her to turn down that attitude. This is a happy bar. She steps out. My beautiful boy, I have news for you. I decided my decade long silence to give you this important piece of information. Because I’m your favourite? Well, believe that. We don’t need to work anymore. Look what have here. A sack! But what’s inside? Oranges! No, gold. Where did you get it. Cyrus gave it to her, but no one else can know. Lester overhears. It was always about the money. She has taught him a lesson of betrayal. I saw a bag like that that you gave to the man who took me away. YOU SOLD ME! Billy Miner has overheard this revelation. Esther tells her that she is going back to her silence, and she’ll find a way to communicate when she needs to.

Chester has purchased the old general store. Cyrus enters and Chester hears the bell ring. What can I do, my good man? Is that something a shopkeeper would say? I’m looking for something to eat. He hasn’t eaten in 3 days. Cyrus tells him he gave away his gold and now he needs it back. He pissed off the most powerful man in town, and now I need protection. Lester comes out of the storeroom. He tells Chester that he had a conversation with their mother. Cyrus says that she’s the one that has his gold.

Alma goes to The Crooked Fang. Julien offers his a beverage. Have you ever heard of a hippopotamus? If I could get a hold of one, he could pit it against a bear. Alma asks about Billy Miner. He’s an employee, but my attention is best paid to women. She has a proposal for him.

Lady Lou needs answers from Sylvester. What did she say? Well, she SPOKE. She broke her vow of silence, but I can tell you why. Why? Because she has gold! Where did she get it from? She didn’t say. Try to remember. CYRUS!

Esther sits alone at home and Cyrus enters. He tries to trick her into talking. A little birdie told me that you can talk. SHIT! I knew it! I was bluffing. Why did you stop talking. Sometimes you witness horrors that the mind can’t comprehend. You’ve had a rough time with your wife and many children. Maybe you should be silent as well. Isn’t that why you came to see me? He tries to ask for his gold back, but he cannot speak the words!

Photos by Janna Hove