EPISODE 8:

Anthony runs to assist Kate, then picks her up just as a horse-cart comes by.

Meanwhile:

INT. BRIDGERTON HOUSE – MORNING

Mary walks in the front door and comes to the foyer, looking around anxiously.

Violet walks in to foyer from the drawing room.

VIOLET
Lady Mary. I'm surprised
to see you here.

MARY
I apologize, Lady
Bridgerton, but is Kate
here?

VIOLET
No, she is not. She
must be at home.

MARY
She's not. I just came
from there, and neither
she nor Anthony were home.

Mary looks around anxiously, as she wonders where her daughter is.

VIOLET
Is something wrong?

MARY
I hope not.

Violet watches her, realizing, as a mother, that Mary is worried.

MARY
I saw Kate a few days ago.

VIOLET
Did you get into a fight?

MARY
No, but this morning…I
don't know why, but I
felt like something was
wrong. Maternal instinct
just kicked in. You probably
understand. I thought I was
overreacting, and went to go
check on Kate. She wasn't
there, so I was hoping she
was here, and my fears would
be alleviated, but –

Violet puts an arm on Mary's shoulder, stopping her chatter. Mary looks up, and Violet gives her a sympathetic look, knowing how it feels to be worried about a child.

VIOLET
I do understand. Let's take
a breath. I'll see if any
of my children have seen
her or know where she –

A commotion arises from the back sitting room. Violet and Mary both turn towards the noises.

Anthony walks into the sitting room from the back door, carrying an unconscious Kate while servants start to swarm him.

VIOLET (O.S.)
Anthony?

Anthony walks into the foyer, where Violet and Mary are.

MARY
Oh my god, Kate! What happened?

ANTHONY
She was thrown from her horse.

Violet comes to comfort Mary, while Anthony makes his way to the stairs. He turns for a moment to the servants.

ANTHONY
Call for the surgeon!

In the master bedroom…

Anthony tells the surgeon Kate has a cut on her head, and becomes annoyed, asking for an additional blanket. He stands back, while Mary & Violet stand on the other side of the bed.

ELOISE
Anthony?

BENEDICT
What happened?

Anthony looks towards the voices just as Benedict and Eloise enter the room. They see Kate on the bed.

ELOISE
Oh my god.

BENEDICT
Is she alright?

ANTHONY
I do not know.

ELOISE
What happened?

Anthony looks at Mary, who is anxious, and Kate, still being attended by the doctor.

ANTHONY
It's my fault.

Anthony walks out of the room, tense, as Benedict calls to him, but he doesn't respond.

Scene in the middle where Anthony yells at his family, stressed out

INT. BRIDGERTON BEDROOM – AFTERNOON

Anthony sits by Kate's bedside. It's been a few days, and she still hasn't woken up. Anthony hears a footfall to see Edwina in the room.

ANTHONY
Miss Edwina.

EDWINA
Lord Bridgerton.

Anthony wants to correct her, but he doesn't have the energy right now.

EDWINA
How is she?

ANTHONY
Just the same. She
still hasn't woken up.

Edwina sits on the chair pulled up next to Anthony, and takes out a bag. Anthony turns, smelling something unusual.

ANTHONY
What is that?

Edwina pulls out a string of jasmine flowers, placing it on the bed.

EDWINA
It's beautiful, isn't
it? They're jasmine. I
caught their scent today,
and knew I had to buy
it. They're common in
India. Didi and I used
to spend mornings stringing
them together. Women in India
wear them in their hair.

Edwina takes the flower string, and puts them near Kate's hands.

EDWINA
I thought it might help…to wake her up.

Anthony turns to face Kate again, as he and Edwina continue to watch Kate.

ANTHONY
She needs to wake up.
She was so excited
after she met your
suitor. Mr. Bugwell,
is it?

EDWINA
Bagwell.

ANTHONY
Pity.

Edwina swats his shoulder.

ANTHONY
Ow!

EDWINA
Be nice!

ANTHONY
Did Kate teach you to hit like that?

EDWINA
No. Eloise did.

ANTHONY
Oh, dear God.

Edwina smiles at Anthony's distress.

ANTHONY
You and Eloise have become close, haven't you?

EDWINA
Indeed, we have. Yours
and Kate's wedding has
given us even more time
to spend with each other.

ANTHONY
Even more reason to be worried.

EDWINA
I don't see it that way.

ANTHONY
Of course not. You
haven't experience
Eloise in full effect,
like me.

EDWINA
You wouldn't understand.

Anthony catches her tone, and looks to her.

ANTHONY
Understand what?

Edwina looks distant, even though she's looking at Kate.

EDWINA
For us, we had no one
else. It was just the
four of us. When Appa
died, it was the three
of us, and it wasn't hard
to figure out we were
struggling. I knew Mama
and Kate were counting
on me to make a good
match so that the family
could survive. I was
always worried about
what we could lose. I
never thought about…what
I would gain.

Edwina places her hand on Kate.

EDWINA
What we would gain.

Anthony looks back at Kate, thinking on Edwina's words. They apply to his situation, as well.

INT. BRIDGERTON BEDROOM – AFTERNOON

Edwina is with Kate, this time alone, begging her to wake up. Kate calls out just as Edwina walks away and opens her eyes.

EDWINA
Mama! Lord Bridgerton! Make haste!

Edwina comes to Kate, a relieved smile on her face.

MARY (O.S.)
Dearest?

EDWINA
She's awake!

Mary and Violet both run into the room.

VIOLET
Thank heavens. Find his
lordship and send for the
doctor at once.

Mary asks Kate if she remembers, and Kate recalls her falling, and is comforted by Mary and Edwina

KATE
Where am I?

VIOLET
Bridgerton House, my dear.
It was closer to where
Anthony found you. He brought
you back here instead of
going across the square to
your lodgings.

KATE
Is he here?

They all hear running steps, and turn towards the door just as Anthony rushes in. He sees Kate looking at him, and is overwhelmed with relief. Violet makes room for him as he sits on the bed next to Kate, and holds her hand.

ANTHONY
Kate. How do you feel?

KATE
I've been better.

Anthony shakes his head at Kate being sarcastic just as she's woken up from a coma.

KATE
When did I fall?

ANTHONY
It's been almost a week.

Kate looks around, and realizes why everyone looks so relieved

ANTHONY
The doctor needs to
come check her. I'm
going to go and make
sure he gets up here
quick.

Anthony leaves the room, as the other ladies watch with a range of reactions

INT. BRIDGERTON STUDY – EVENING

Violet is walking by the study when she hears a sniffle. She peers into the room, and sees Anthony with his face in his hands, silently crying. She walks in slowly, then puts his hand on his shoulder. He looks up and sees her, but is too exhausted to wipe his tears away.

Violet & Anthony have their talk about Edmund's death and true love

INT. BRIDGERTON BEDROOM – MORNING

Edwina and Mary both spend time with Kate, now sitting up in bed.

MARY
You have no idea how
relieved we are to
see you awake, dearest.

EDWINA
Mr. Bagwell is, too.
He had to leave town
while you were
unconscious, but I
let him know when you
woke up.

KATE
Sounds like you'll be
seeing him again soon.

EDWINA
So will you. Hopefully,
we will be planning our
wedding by the end of
the season.

MARY
I'm so proud of both
of you. I feel like
my job as a mother is
finally complete, now
that I know both of you
will be taken care of.

KATE
Oh, Mama.

EDWINA
We want you to be
taken care of, too.

MARY
Oh, believe me, girls,
as a mother, all I
need is for both of
you to be taken care of.

She holds both their hands.

MARY
Knowing that I've done
my part and raised you
two into beautiful,
young women who have
found men that show you
respect and love, that
you have not just found
security, but affection,
as well, it makes every
sacrifice, every scandal,
and every choice I made
worth it.

KATE
Did you ever regret
marrying Appa and leaving
England behind?

MARY
Never.

KATE
Not even when we were
struggling and your
parents came by?

Mary looks at her, confused.

MARY
What are you talking about?

KATE
After Edwina was born?
Your parents came by,
and offered to raise her
so she could make her debut.

MARY
How did you know
about that? Did
your father -?

KATE
Appa didn't tell me.
I was there. I couldn't
sleep that night, and
overheard.

MARY
Oh, Kate…

She grasps Kate's hand again.

MARY
I'm so sorry you had
to hear that. But know
this: I have loved you as
my own as much as Edwina,
and don't feel you
deserve any less. I made
that choice when I accepted
your father's proposal,
and I never went back. Even
when the Earl of Colchester
asked me to renounce my
title as Dowager Countess
when we got engaged, I
did not hesitate for a
second. Lord and Lady
Sheffield would never have
been able to give either
of you the love and respect
you deserve. They were never
an option. I chose my heart,
and I have two beautiful
girls and happiness that
will last a lifetime. (she
squeezes their hands) It
was worth it.

Kate and Edwina smile at her and each other. The family shares a bonding moment.

MARY
Now, let's talk about
planning your wedding.

EDWINA
Oh, I doubt there will
be much planning to do.
I just want a simple
church wedding.

They all laugh, and continue to talk.

Anthony and Gregory bond over Edmund

INT. BRIDGERTON HOUSE – AFTERNOON

Anthony arrives at the house, walking into the main foyer. He sees Mary come down the stairs, and comes towards her. She doesn't see him.

ANTHONY
Lady Mary.

She looks up and sees him.

MARY
Lord Bridgerton.

They both looks upstairs.

ANTHONY
Is Kate better?

MARY
Should I not be asking
you that? You're her
husband. I trusted her
to you.

ANTHONY
I know.

MARY
You should be by her
side, Anthony. I know
a wife is expected to
be by a husband's side,
but she should not
expect any less from him.

ANTHONY
You are right, Lady
Mary. And I intend to
rectify that.

Mary starts to leave, but Anthony calls out to her.

ANTHONY
Actually, before I do,
there was something I
wanted to ask you. One
of my footman said that
the day before her accident,
Kate asked him to take
her to Mason Road.

MARY
Mason Road?

ANTHONY
Not a slum area, but
a lower gentry
neighborhood. Do you
know why she has any
reason to go there?

MARY
Yes, it's the street when she grew up.

ANTHONY
Pardon?

MARY
It's where her father
got a house after coming
to England. I moved after
we married, and we stayed
there before moving to India
the next year.

ANTHONY
Well, the footman said
she didn't go into the
houses. She went to the
woods behind them.

Mary sighs and looks wearied suddenly, as realization dawns on her. Anthony notices.

ANTHONY
What is it?

MARY
She went to see her mother.

ANTHONY
Her mother?

MARY
Naren wanted to have
her cremated, but that's
difficult to do in England.
His employer, the earl,
arranged to have a small
stone plaque created so she
could be buried in the
nearby woods, where Naren
and Kate could visit her.
I used to go there
sometimes, too. When Naren
got the offer to go back
to India, he had her body
cremated, and scattered her
ashes in the Ganges River
at home. But he let the
plaque remain there in case
Kate wanted to visit when she
came back to London. Guess
he was right.

Anthony digests that, thinking of how he and Kate are bonded over the loss of their family.

INT. BRIDGERTON BEDROOM – LATE AFTERNOON

Anthony walks into the room, only to find maids and footmen cleaning up the room and Kate nowhere to be found.

ANTHONY
Where's Kate?

The FOOTMAN making the bed turns around and bows.

FOOTMAN
My lord.

ANTHONY
Where is my wife?

FOOTMAN
She's gone, sir.

ANTHONY
What do you mean, she's gone?

MAID
(timidly walks up next
to footman) She went back
to your lodgings across
the square, my lord. We
thought you took her.

Anthony is surprised Kate left without him. He still needs to find her, and immediately leaves the room.

INT. KATE/ANTHONY BEDROOM – LATE AFTERNOON

Kate is unpacking a bag and putting clothes away. She's down and worn out, from both the injury and from not seeing Anthony.

The door opens, and Anthony comes in. Kate looks up, startled to see him. They stare at each other for a moment.

ANTHONY
You shouldn't be out of bed.

Annoyed, Kate goes back to going through her bag.

KATE
The doctor cleared me.
I figured it would be best
to come back so that your
family doesn't have to keep
worrying about me.

ANTHONY
They're your family too now.

Kate pauses for a moment, but doesn't respond. Anthony walks towards her.

ANTHONY
You could have told
me that you were
coming back.

KATE
When? In that one time
you showed up at my
bedside after I woke up?
I haven't seen you since
then. I had no idea
where you were, and
since I'm a married woman
now, I no longer need a
chaperone to take me around.
I figured I could take
myself home.

ANTHONY
Kate –

KATE
I heard you the first
time when you said
there would be no love
in our marriage, and
I haven't expected it
at all from you. I've
realized that I should
lower my expectations from
our marriage. You clearly
don't want to be there
even to make sure I'm ok,
so I'm doing what I can to
take care of myself. I'll
be a good viscountess,
that's it. I'm doing what
you want.

Kate looks at Anthony, as they just stare at each other. She finally walks towards the balcony.

ANTHONY
I don't want that anymore.

Kate stops, slowly turns towards Anthony.

ANTHONY
I don't want us to have
a marriage without love
anymore. I needed to find
you and say that…I love you.

Kate is stunned by his declaration, as he walks towards her.

ANTHONY
I went after you the day
of your accident to tell
you that. It's why I found
you when I did. And then
when you didn't wake up, I
couldn't bear the thought
that I would never get a
chance to tell you that I
love you.

He takes a step towards her.

ANTHONY
Because I do love you,
Kate. I was afraid of
what would happen if I
died because I saw how
my mother fell apart
after my father died. I
didn't want you to go
through that. But then, I
was in my mother's
position. I was faced
with losing you. I
wondered if you would…

He pauses, thinking about how close he came to losing her.

ANTHONY
And when you woke up,
I couldn't believe it.
I was given a second
chance, and I don't want
to lose it, Kate. I
can't lose you, because
I love you. I've loved
you since that moment
I saw you in the park,
and I've loved you
with every dance, every
moment we've spent
together and apart since.
I need you to know that.
I love you.

Kate just watches him, as tears slowly fill her eyes.

KATE
I never thought I'd hear you say that.

ANTHONY
And I'm a fool for letting you think that.

KATE
I won't argue with you
there. (pause) I'd hoped
you say it, though, because…I
love you too.

Anthony's face brightens, buoyed by Kate's words

ANTHONY
I want us to have a
marriage filled with
love. I realize that
now. For so long,
all I thought about
was what I stood to lose.
Never once did I think
about…what I could gain.

He speaks Edwina's words reverently.

ANTHONY
It should not be filled
with just duties, it should
be filled with laughter and
joy and love, because that's
what we both deserve to
have in our lives. That
is what I wish to give
you, because you deserve
it and should get it.

Kate smiles through her tears.

KATE
And how exactly do you plan
to do that, Lord Bridgerton?

Anthony teasingly thinks for a moment, then looks at Kate.

ANTHONY
Well, Lady Kathani Bridgerton…

He steps closer, his nose almost touching hers.

ANTHONY
How about an extended honeymoon
for just the two of us?

Kate smiles brightly.

KATE
Now, that is a perfect beginning.

She throws her arms around him, and kisses him, finally claiming the love she's wanted. He wraps his arms around her, as he finally finds happiness and peace with Kate.

FADE TO BLACK

Ending scene with Kate and Anthony in bed, then meeting the family for Pall Mall at Aubrey Hall. They kiss in their happy ending.


And that's the end! I'm so glad to have written this, and been able to share it. Please comment and review with what you think! :)