New Year, New Plotline

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
Myrtle Wordle (Kristi Hanson) - Wealthy Entrepreneur
Justice Forrell (Randy Brososky) - Bounty Hunter
Annabelle (Kelly Turner) - runaway acolyte

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

Act I

After shooting Lester Field, Alma and Myrtle run behind some buildings. Alma says that we can find someone else to frame for the crime of killing Lester.

Esther, Sylvester, and Chester are at Lester’s open casket funeral. He is only assorted pieces. Esther can’s wait to shovel dirt on his face. Chester his taken aback by their harsh attitude. But he was also a bit of a turd. And he walked out on us. But he came back to us. He wanted a new life, but they never gave him a chance. He couldn’t get their approval. Esther and Sylvester swear that they don’t talk about Chester like this behind his back. Chester wonders how they would feel if they were dead instead of him. This is the worst family in the world. CXhester tyjhinks maybe he sjhouild leave town. Maybe he should.

Major Bullion, Billy, and Holden wonder if they have gotten away with assaulting Burnaby since he doesn’t remember anything. Holden says that they need to come up with a plan. Holden steps around the idea of killing him. No one would be the wiser, then. Major Bullion doesn’t like to work that way. He likes it face to face, as long as he’s not in the room. They think that they could use a bolo tie as the murder weapon. Major Bullion tells them to bring him Burnaby’s head in a box.

Cyrus and Lady Lou rearrange the furniture to turn the saloon into a house of worship. She welcomes Annabelle to Lady Lou’s House of Worship and Saloon. Lady Lou is tired of all the sinning in this town. Annabelle tells them about when she was taken away as a child by a religious cult, but now she has run away. If she doesn’t have any place to stay, Lady Lou has some rooms that are only going to be used for good now.

Chester storms out of the church and runs into Alma and Myrtle. He asks if they are distressed. Why are they feeling bad. They are sorry about his brother. Chester cries. He thought he was the only one that cared about him.

Calliope is washing her fence, when Justice Farrell approaches. He’s trying to get to know the people in town and their alibis. Calliope is preparing for a painting party and Justice Farrell asks her about her shed. She gets defensive, but he wasn’t trying to be of any offence. He can sense that she’s a person of character. He asks if there’s anyone suspicious in town. Why should she trust him? Her attention to her fence means that she is trying to protect her property. She says that she always found Holden Strong suspicious.

Burnaby talks with Jebediah, but he can’t remember anything. He thinks that he may have been beaten up. Maybe he’s just a dead cow. Do I look like a dead cow? Where are we? Burnaby says that it’s a support group.

Everyone turns out for Lester’s funeral. Chester calls out his mother’s inappropriate horniness with the preacher. People grieve in different ways. Chester warns him not to be sexy. He reads from his bible, and Chester keeps an eye on him. Myrtle runs in, followed by Alma. Myrtle weeps and almost gives herself away. Alma claims Myrtle as her own, and they close this chapter of their lives. Chester wonders if he was the only one that cared about his brother. He’s going to avenge his death. Myrtle hopes that she can still be family with Esther. Of course.

Calliope tells Cyrus and Burnaby about a strange man that she met. He was so creepy and sexy. He’s a bounty hunter, but he doesn’t know for whom. Burnaby asks if he is checking for clues and footprints. Cyrus asks if he is starting to remember things. Calliope tells them that she through him off by saying that Holden acts suspicious. He and Billy Miner overhear. Cyrus and Calliope say that they can kill someone and hide it under Lester.s body in his casket.

Lady Lou recounts the funeral to Major Bullion. She is hysterical, and he slaps her. No one showed any kind of respect for Lester. She can’t bear it anymore. The cruelty and ugliness. Major Bullion says that he’s an odd person for her to confide in. She can see some goodness in him. He will help her get ride of all the violence and ugliness by taking her customers. She says that they will have to say 5 nice things before they can enter Lady Lou’s. They try to come up with compliments for each other when they are interrupted by Justice Farrell. She recognizes him from her past. He introduces himself to Major Bullion, who won’t shake hands with him. Lady Lou reminds Justice that she still remembers what he did.

Sylvester finishes burying his brother and is interrupted by Annabelle. Sylvester knows her. He told her to get out when he did. He never took off his wedding ring.

Myrtle and Alma visit Esther. Lester has no will, and he had nothing, Myrtle says that they should let bygones be bygones and let this float away. Since they were never legally married, Lester has no claim on Myrtle’s fortune. Esther is not fond of not getting what she deserves. Even though they weren’t married, they both had a lot of feelings about each other, and they weren’t entirely above board. There is a dark history between them and the world. A little money, and your secret is safe. She wants 75% of what Myrtle has. She won’t give a penny to a crone like her.

Act II

Chester clears out his brother’s goods. He finds a piece of paper, telling him about a terrible secret… but where is the rest of the note? Cyrus overhears and they rummage through his papers to find the rest of there note.

“Looking for gold will bring the foretold certain doom.” Cyrus was just going to give Chester his gold. Whoever takes his gold will be doomed. Cyrus leaves it on the counter, and wants to warn the town. Chester thinks that the curse should run its course.

Annabelle tells Sylvester that the person that started the cult lives in Muskrat Creek, and she is going to seek her revenge. She wears all back. Sylvester thinks it is his mom. Does this mean the whole town is a cult?!?

Jedediah has a few questions for the Lord. Who treats their child and their remains like that? It looked like Esther loved it. He doesn’t know what to do and say. He needs to find his way back and show the town the way to the Lord. Esther has overheard, and she has a few things to say. She wants to have child with him. She brings out feeling in him that he shouldn’t have. He came to Muskrat Creek to save people. Jebediah loves her, but he can’t. She asks if he can’t have it both ways. Jebediah is torn.

Lady Lou confronts Holden and Billy. What has happened to them? They were good people. She wants to bring sunshine to this town. She needs someone to make an example to the town. Everyone already hates Holden. She sees potential, though. He can become the Martyr of Muskrat Creek. People love redemption! The people will forgive you then. They try to convince him to turn himself in. He tells the people of Muskrat Creek. He got drunk and accidentally shot Billy Miner. And Major Bullion tried to get me to kill his wife and a policeman. Burnaby attacks Holden.

Alma and Myrtle go over Esther’s demands. Myrtle doesn’t know what Esther has on her. They can find out all about Esther instead and then they’ll have the upper hand.

Annabelle and Sylvester are in agony. Are they in another cult? Calliope goes to her husband. Sylvester has some explaining to do. Annabelle is his first wife. Annabelle knows about Calliope’s shed full of weapons. They can use them on Sylvester. Annabelle says that they are both members of Sylvester’s cult. He tells Calliope that she is the only women he ever loved. He tries to explain, but runs out instead.

Burnaby is pulled off of Holden. Lady Lou says that he is suppose do be upholding law in this town. Billy Miner and Holden tell Burnaby that he is out of control. Holden gives him a bolo tie and tell him to tighten it until he can’t breathe. Lady Lou is outraged. Every time she tries to bring goodness to town… She is through with people. Major Bullion says that they can still make the town good.

Sylvester literally runs into Justice Forrell. He asks Sylvester what his favourite colour is. Black. That rules him out. There seems to be a lot of death and murder in this town. Sylvester has not killed a single person. Ever? Did you know your brother was dead before you cut him up? Yes, because I drained the blood out of him first. Good riddance to him. He asks Sylvester about his mother.

Calliope needs advice from Cyrus. He and Chester are arguing about saving the town. She tells them that she has met the most horrid woman and learned the most horrid thing. What has Sylvester done? He married someone else before her. And that women is here in Muskrat Creek. Chester confesses that they were all in the cult. Calliope needs to get over it. Cyrus says that he is there to help this town and to spread the wealth. Cyrus gives Calliope the cursed gold. Chester says that it will give her the resources to get things done. Follow your heart, and listen to the gold. Calliope runs out. What have we done?

Jebediah is drawn towards Esther. Annabelle watches. Esther notices her. Are you done with your fun, Mother Esther? It’s been a while since she’s been called that. Esther asks Jebediah to leave the room, and think about what the Lord has done for him lately. Esther admits that she wasn’t a fan of Sylvester’s multiple marriages. She was hoping not to see Annabelle there. Come back in 8-10 years. You’d like that. In that time, Annabelle’s daughter will ben old enough to come under her control.

Lady Lou gathers the things that she needs. She thanks Cyrus for… well, thank you. She hopes life brings him joy and gold. He tells her that he has given away his gold. Lady Lou wants to leave town. He didn’t think that was ever possible, She is gonna try. Sometimes it’s good to do something for love. Maybe they can make a go of it together. I can’t think of any reason why they shouldn’t. They can let go of their lost families and get dogs instead. Should we go? They shake hands. To a new partnership. And maybe more, down that dusty trail.

Photos by Janna Hove