Dark Interlude
This series of vignettes takes place in the empty story arc between Julia's release from jail sometime in late 1900 (September?) (S6:E13) and May 24 1901 (S7:E1). Even being generous and forgiving with the timeline (it is TV-fantasy after all) it is arguably as much as eight months' of the show being "dark," as they say in the theatre. So what happens to bridge that time? How do William and Julia end up where they do by the middle of the next year? I decided to pick specific turning points to highlight character development and motivation, and practice writing flashbacks/ remembrances within a story. No plot folks, just looking at how (in my view) the characters tick underneath. Bolded lines are dialogue straight from in the show.
Prologue:
"Do you have anything you wish to say?" Judge Matthews asked the condemned.
Julia managed to bring enough moisture to her mouth to answer: "If Detective Murdoch should ask what my final words were, tell him he never failed me. And I so love him…" before fear stole her speech. She stood on the wooden trap door staring at the judge who was in turn staring at his watch, counting the seconds ticking off.
A noise towards the hallway drew everyone's attention away from the proceedings. Detective Murdoch threw open the door in the Don Jail and immediately cried out: "No, NO! STOP! We have the killer." He had been forced to race there in person because the telephone lines to the Jail had been cut. He gestured to the bundle in his arms and thrust it over to the Judge, willing him to understand. "This is his confession. She's innocent." He came over to the steps of the gallows, breathing hard, making eye contact with Julia so she would know it was him and that he was going to make it right.
Judge Matthews weighed his decision for a moment. "Take the noose off her neck," he told the hangman.
At that, Julia released a cry of her own and pulled on the noose. William hung on to Julia for dear life, her trembling body racked with sobs, knees buckling, forcing him to hold her upright.
"You better not be stalling for time, Detective Murdoch," warned the Judge.
"I'm not your honor, I swear to you, I'm not." She was crying, her arms were around his neck squeezing him, her hands frantically clutching at him. "It's all right…It's all right," he told her.
They clung together for several minutes as the Judge conferred with the witnesses, with William just repeating variations of "It's all right" and "I'm here."
"All right, detective. You and the guard can take her back to her cell," ordered the judge.
"Your honor, no, she is innocent, not back to that cell…" William protested, unwilling to let her out of his sight or his arms.
"That is my best offer. The law requires things to be done in a certain way, detective. I will review the evidence and if it is convincing, Dr Ogden will have a new day in court. Until then, she stays here. In a cell." Judge Matthews was feeling relieved that the execution did not go forward and that the constabulary obtained what was hopefully enough proof. He did not like justice to be subverted. His next move was going to be calling Chief Constable Giles and the crown prosecutor.
"I don't care, I want to leave." Julia was so willing to get out of the execution room she would have gone anywhere, so she just kept nodding that it was all right for her as long as she did not have to stay there. She found she could not walk effectively and stumbled on the stairs. William picked her up and carried her down off the scaffolding, and through the long hall, escorted by the jailers, all the way to her cell.
William refused to leave her and since the jailors had witnessed the unusual events of a few minutes before, they simply locked him in there with her, one guard explaining he would be back with a matron and whispering to him that Julia had not eaten nor drank anything for at least 2 days. William found he could not let her go, wanted her to be next to him, hear her heart beat, calm her shaking. He stroked her hair, patted her back, and rocked her all the while talking softly and reassuringly. He found himself to be crying as well, in relief and love, and sent many prayers to God and the saints for preserving this precious woman.
Julia's sobs subsided eventually and she asked for water that she gulped in a long draught. "William, you came, you're all right, and you came…"she babbled, with shock and her own relief jumbled in her mind. "Where were you? I had given up hope…"
"Julia, hush now. None of that is important anymore. We have Gillies in custody and all the proof we need to free you. This will all be over soon, I promise." William's words set off a fresh round of sobs from Julia and he continued to hold and rock her until she fell in a fitful sleep. He was concerned she would succumb to physical shock, so he kept her warm and monitored her as she slept.
After a very long delay, a matron and guard reappeared. "Detective, Judge Mathews and the Warden will let you take Dr Ogden out of this area. Please come along with us." The guard motioned to William to rouse Julia. Instead he swept her up again and carried her motionless form up the stairs to a small cell where he put her on a cot and covered her up with the waiting blanket.
"Detective, you can leave now. We have everything under control here." The matron ordered him to go, and when he refused, she pointed out that this was the women's prison wing, and men were not allowed.
"I will go if you allow me paper and pencil to write Julia a note and promise me that she will not be alone while I go fetch someone else to be with her." She looked at him steadily and then shrugged. He asked, "Is the telephone repaired?"
"I believe so. That was the strangest thing you know…."
William interrupted her. "Can you get her food and more water? And may I use the telephone?" The matron shrugged a second time and pointed down the hallway to the office for his pencil, paper and telephone. This was the strangest thing she had witnessed in a long time and would have quite the story to tell when she got home tonight.
From a prison office William rang the city morgue. "Dr Grace, thank goodness. I assume you heard the news?" Without really letting her answer he asked if she would come to the jail to be with Julia right away.
"Of course I will, Detective. You must be so happy," she said. "Yes. You have no idea how much," he answered, before hanging up and making a new call.
Constable Crabtree informed him that he had set up a projector for the inspector, chief constable and the judge who were reviewing Gillies' filmed confession at that very moment. William checked his watch—much more time elapsed than he realized, and explained why he was becoming aware of his own hunger and thirst. "George, thank you. I can't tell you how much I appreciate everything you and the men did to find me and free Julia…"
"Detective, we all are so very happy we came through for you and Dr Ogden. Is there anything else you need?"
"No, George, thank you." William looked out office door and down the hallway to where Julia was. "I have everything I need right here."
# # #
Julia woke from her nightmare gasping for air and calling William's name. "It's me, it's Emily. Julia…it's all right. You're safe." Emily Grace sat on the cot next to Julia and helped her sit up and orient herself. Julia pushed her disordered hair out of her face, eyes still red and skin blotched from crying, and noticed where she was and who was with her, then looked around for William.
"Emily. What time is it? Where is William?" Julia struggled to absorb her surroundings, hoping it could be true that she was safe and was going to be all right. She reached out to hold her friend's hand, needing an anchor to reality. "Emily, talk to me…"
"Julia, you were moved to a new cell. Look…" she went to the door and showed her it was not even locked. "You have been asleep nearly 8 hours, assisted I admit, with a little heroin I provided. Detective Murdoch asked me to stay with you since he was practically forcibly removed from here and sent home. Mrs Brackenreid and I have been taking turns looking out for you. Detective Murdoch brought in Gillies's confession and by now arrangements are being made for you to go back to court and be officially exonerated." Emily looked at the other woman closely. "You need to eat and drink something." Emily found a tin cup and poured water in it and handed it to Julia, who sipped it slowly as she examined the puncture mark in her left arm.
Julia started to tear up again and her hand trembled making water in the cup jump. Using her other hand she steadied herself, finished the water and put the cup gently down. "Where are my manners? Emily, thank you so much for coming to stay with me." She tried to smile graciously and put on a brave face that she in no way felt. She did not think she was fooling the other woman in the least, but she was searching for control. "If it is permitted, I would like to use the washroom and clean up a bit. Do you suppose I will be able to have my clothes back for court?"
"I will ask the matron for you. Mrs Brackenreid has already gotten your things, a dress and undergarments are waiting for you. Don't worry, one of us will help you get dressed." Emily could restrain herself no longer, and put her arms around Julia, offering a hug of comfort. "Julia, I cannot tell you how happy we are that you are going to get out of here come back to us." She paused. "I will go ask the matron about the washroom and obtain a meal for you. I will also find out when you will be back in court and when you can have visitors."
"Thank you Emily." Julia hesitated. "I do not think I want any visitors. Tell William if you talk to him I will see him at court."
Emily was surprised, but said only, "Of course. Whatever you want. I will be back in a few minutes." She left to find the matron.
Once alone, Julia was unable to keep herself from shaking and sat back on the cot. She saw a folded paper sticking out from under the pillow and brought it to her lap, recognizing William's handwriting.
My Dearest Julia,
I will be parted from you only ever so briefly. I leave solely to assure that you get released immediately and then I will see you get home safely. I will ask Dr Grace or Mrs Brackenreid to stay with you until then. Have the matron to call the station house when you are ready and I will come over to see you as soon as you call. I love you. Ever yours, William.
Julia crumpled the note and smiled and cried into it at the same time. Then every unspeakable moment rushed back to her at once, and she felt if she did not have something to hold on to she would go quite mad.
# # #
"All Rise!"
Judge Matthews sat at the bench and called court into session. He acknowledged Dr Ogden at the table with her barrister and the crown prosecutor on the other side. The judge noticed that the gallery hosted only a few members of the public, including the Chief Constable, Inspector and Mrs Brackenreid, Constables Crabtree and Higgins, and directly behind the defense table, Detective Murdoch. All had agreed it was more important to officially vacate Dr Ogden's conviction than wait for a larger audience or a more convenient time for the proceedings. There was one lone reporter from a local paper who was getting the story-scoop of his nascent career, if he could write fast enough and get to his editor before deadline.
The bailiff asked everyone to be seated, and the judge turned immediately to the defense table. "Do you have a motion to bring before this court?"
"Yes, your honor. My client seeks to be exonerated and immediately freed based on new evidence. I am petitioning the court for her conviction to be vacated." He put his hand on his client's arm as she sat rigidly in her seat, staring straight ahead.
"Does the crown have anything to say in this matter?" he asked the prosecutor.
"I do, your honor. The crown wishes to reverse the conviction and withdraw all charges against Dr Julia Ogden for the murder of her husband, Dr Darcy Garland."
"For the record. On what grounds?"
"On the grounds she is innocent and that she was wrongly convicted."
"And on what evidence?"
"A confession from the actual murderer and substantial evidence that he framed Dr Ogden for this murder. We do not oppose the defense motion and submit one of our own to vacate the conviction."
The judge accepted the documents brought forward to his bench by the bailiff. He was aware that his next words would be read and parsed by his colleagues and the general public, so he took his time formulating them.
"While it is unusual and of grave consequence to undo the judgement of a legally impanelled and sanctioned jury, the evidence in this case is compelling." He looked over at the woman at the defense table in his court, still staring into space.
"Dr Julia Ogden. It is the opinion of this court that you were wrongly convicted and are innocent of the crime for which you were charged and convicted. It is to the credit of the Chief Constable and the Toronto constabulary, specifically Inspector Brackenreid and his crew at Station House No 4 for bringing new evidence to light. I am pleased to officially vacate your conviction, declare you innocent and free you immediately. The court apologizes for the miscarriage of justice." He tapped his gavel and immediately stood and left the bench for his chambers, while the crown prosecutor came over to shake the other lawyer's hand and murmur a kind word to Dr Ogden.
After the judge left the room, several people crowded around, offering Julia congratulations, including hugs from Emily, Constable Crabtree and the Brackenreid's, which she mutely accepted. When they released her, William approached her and took her hands in his, gently telling her he would see her home. He had been overjoyed at how quickly the judge granted this hearing and could barely contain his excitement at seeing Julia again, hoping to hold her and reassure each other that the darkness of recent days was finally over. Once in the court room, however, he became worried about her listlessness and the odd look on her face. When they left the courtroom, he found a hansom to bring her back to the city, and had already booked her a set of rooms at the Queen's Hotel, as her own quarters had by now been given away. She remained unspeaking in the carriage, looking intently out the window and avoiding interacting with him.
Once deposited back in the city by the hotel, he was at a loss to start any conversation that would shake her out of her stupor, so he asked her, "Shall we go to dinner, and celebrate?"
"I don't know, William," Julia said simply, holding back tears.
"What is it?" he asked.
"Darcy is dead because of me… because of us."
"Julia …" William wanted to reassure her.
"Can you deny it?" She faced him directly, looked him in the eye.
He examined his conscience and then shook his head. He had already known the answer anyways. He said softly, "No."
She looked at him a moment more, then said, "I should rest."
"Some other time, then," he offered vaguely and separated from her.
"Yes," she said politely.
He turned and walked away, stunned and confused. He was trying to understand what was happening, feeling his eyes start to water a little, and willed himself to be steady and not look back.
Julia's scanned where William had passed between the buildings, and she saw he had disappeared from view. She had gone to the gallows innocent and in love with him, and came away from death and the courtroom today feeling guilty and unable to bear his presence.