A/ N- This chapter is based on of the episode-'La place sans souci'. Suzanne treated the girls and Anthony to a weekend at a spa and...let's just say it was the usual weekend for them...Suzanne got tired of dieting...cheated at a board game...the women got into a mud fight in the spa and got kicked out. There was something that Julia said at the last that made me think of this story. Please read and enjoy.
~Fantasy story~
Set in the 1860's
A tall woman in an elegant emerald-green dress walks around and hangs her coat on a rack and behind her is a handsome man in an elegant suit of the times and two women behind him who are ...less attractive. The woman in front of them is a brunette and she turns to them and they see that she is in her 40's, chiseled cheekbones then she says. "How may we help you ?"
The man turns to the women behind him and he says. "This is Miss Ward and Miss Grovenger, they are with me on the small business committee and we are here to check out your establishment" She smiles and says. "Of coarse...let me show you around." They are walk around and come to a pretty black-haired woman sitting in a chair holding a small mirror and the woman says. "This is my sister Susannah, she is my partner as well as Mary Frances Spegal and Charlotte Evergreen who also helps us on the business end". The man tips his silk, black top hat and smiles then says. "Madam". He tips his hat to all the women then turns to the woman and she says. "My name is Judith Sugarbaker, welcome to Une Belle Masion...which means a beautiful house...we can transform a woman into tres belle femme". He smiles then says. "Into a beautiful woman" She smiles and nods her head then says. "You know the beautiful words...but do you know how a woman turns into a beautiful femme?" He shakes his head then says.
"No, I do not. That is what you must show me madame Judith, by the way, my name is Edward" Judith nods her head then he asks her. "All of you were able to put this place together?" Judith smiles then says. "Mercy me, no, may I introduce Madame Adriana Breuchamp. She helps us tremendously". Edward takes her hand after she takes off her long white glove and he kisses it and she does a little bow then he asks. "Can you and Madame Judith show me and these women, exactly what it is that you do?" Adriana then says. "We help women turn into bella femme's" Edward smiles then asks. "And how do you do it?" She simply tells him. "We take care of women's skin, show them how to take care and keep their luxurious hair; and on some women , we show them how to apply make up; mostly the actresses" Then one of the other women that's standing in the back, Miss Ward asks. "Can you show us how you do it? So we can advertize properly". Judith smiles then says. "Of coarse, tho my sister and Mary Frances will be able to show you more properly. They are the ones who handle it more. I handle the business ends more along with Charlotte"
Savannah and Mary Frances smile their best and get up and glide to go show the gentleman and women around then when they are out of ear shot, Charlotte comes over to her and says. "That was good Judith, you did a very good job there. " Judith turns to her and says. "Anything to get this going". Charlotte goes and sits down at her desk and she writes something down and she asks. "Do you think we can pull this off?" Judith looks at her friend then says. "No one is going to suspect four helpless southern belles running a beauty salon. We already got two families out" Charlotte smiles then goes back to filling out some papers then she hears a baby cry in the back room and she gets up and goes to the back then comes out with a baby in her arms then a few minutes later, Edward and the two ladies, Miss Ward and Miss. Grovenger; come out and when they see the baby girl, the women coo and Edward smiles then asks. "May I ask who this is?" Charlotte smiles and says. "This is Molly" He then asks something. "Your husband doesn't mind you working and rasing your daughter here?" She looks at him like he has stepped in gum then she says. "My husband is Col. William Evergreen, he is on assignment in Louisiana. He knows where Molly and I spend our times and he is in favor of it. It's better than sitting around and endlessly wanting him home when he cannot, excuse me; her nanny should be back by now...Mrs. Brown!"
An elderly woman comes and tenderly takes the baby and Edward turns to Judith, tips his hat and he says. "Well, we have seen what we needed to see. Good day ladies" He clicks his heels and he and the women behind him leave then Mary Frances says. "I want that man to come around as much as I want to go into the dark Georgia woods". Savannah then says. "Looks like ghost one and ghost two could use a touch that only I could give". Judith rolls her eyes then says. "Now you know why I bought my sister in, she adds a touch of realism to this place".
The girls all giggle then Miss. Adriana comes in and she says. "I'm glad you can all laugh now because later we will have to get serious. The first two families we got out were by luck and chance. But now, we have to be really careful, people are coming around more" The women all look at each other and Judith looks at Adriana then asks. "What do we do?"
A little while later, Judith goes to the back of her "beauty salon" and she looks at a young black man in his late twenties who is looking around and straightening up boxes and she asks,
"Andrew?" He turns and looks at her and she says. "Andrew? I just wanted to say how sorry I am that I cannot let you go like we are helping the others". Andrew nods his head then says. "Miss. Judith...I understand. You're good to me, I feel good here". Judith smiles and says. "Thank you Andrew, it's just that I'm afraid if Sugarbaker's delivery man escapes, people might start wondering" He smiles then says. "Miss Judith, I would be here no matter if I were free or not, you're good to me. You teach me to read even tho it's again' the law". She smiles and squeezes his hand then goes back inside.
A few months pass and in that time, several black families are able to go escape to the north by the underground railroad and Une Belle Maison helps them do that. One day a family comes to a door, a coded knock is heard on the door and Andrew opens the door and there is a family of 4, a mother, father and brother and sister. The boy is 6 years old and he has a noticable limp then the mother says. "That's why we leave, the master was gone to sell us since he don't see no use for my boy. I not going to split my family over that." Andrew looks at the father and he says. "I can take the beatings and working in that hot sun all day long and ruinin' my hands...they look like rags but I can't lose my family". Andrew looks at the hands on a man the age of 30 and realize the hands look like a 60-year-old man and the woman picks up her boy then says. "Sides, my son is crippled because of that master, he ran over my boy with his wagon but he don't care"
Andrew then says. "Let's hurry, get you in before a white man sees..." Andrew opens the door on the opposite wall and when he does, he accidentally kicks the small bag of clothes the family has and they slide under the large wooden workbench and when he reaches under the bench, he goes under with his whole back and his shirt catches on a nail and rips the shirt off and he says. "Damn". He stands up and he notices the 10-year-old girl looking at him wide-eyed and the small boy then he says. "I sorry for saying bad word". The mother shakes her head and she says. "They have heard worse. It's just they never saw a back on a black man with no scars...and neither have I". Andrew looks at them then he turns around and says. "Go on, touch it". The girl looks at her mother then she and her little brother nervously touch his back that is cool to the touch ...then they snatch their hands away and Andrew smiles for a second then he opens a latched door on the floor and the family goes in. Andrew throws down their clothes and covers up the door with a large crate.
A while later, the girls are in their shop and working on some clients in several ways but than Charlotte sees Miss Ward and Miss Grovenger standing outside the windows and she says. "Oh Lord, it's them, what are they doing?" One of the women who are getting their make up put on by Savannah, looks at them and says. "They probably lost their broom so they are fluttering round like ghosts". All the women look at each other and giggle and Charlotte asks. "What do we do Judith?" Judith stands up straight and she smooths down her dress then says. "All we can do, invite them in and see what they want, they may just want a relaxing bath in the scented waters". Mary Frances stands up and she says. "Judith, the last two those were relaxed was when they got their last meal of tarantulas". Judith looks at her and smiles then says. "Nevers less, let's graciously invite them in"
The client stands up and she says. "Well, it's good then that Miss. Savannah is finished, I prefer to breathe fresher air...Miss. Savannah, a excellent job as usual". The woman goes to pay her bill and Judith lets the women in and they say with a touch of venom in their voice.
"Oh, Cleo, how lovely to see you". Cleo smiles and she says. "Nice to see you". One of the women asks Cleo. "Going back to the playhouse?" Cleo nods her head and she says. "Yes, I must be going, I'm sorry for running off. I do invite you to opening night, we are doing the play, A Christmas Carol" . The women say. "We will try". Cleo hurries to leave and Judith says.
"How may we help you Miss Ward?" Miss. Ward shakes her head and says. "Eve please". Judith smiles and says. "Eve". Eve then says. "I would like one of your charming baths with lavender and I believe that Patricia would like a crimping of her hair". Judith then says. "Well, I'm sure that we can do that...Mary Frances, would you take care of Miss. Grovenger and I will take care of Eve." Mary Frances gets up to escort Patricia and Judith and Eve go to the back but before they do, Andrew makes a appearance and when he sees Judith, he makes a small signal and Judith says. "Excuse me for a moment, I have to tend to some business" Eve smiles then she watches Judith and Andrew talk and her curiosity is peaked.
A bit later, Judith runs Eve's bath water and she puts scents in it and other oils then leaves Eve to undress but Eve doesn't do that. She sneaks out to the back and she sees Andrew helping another family come from the door and he removes the large crate and opens the hidden basement door and they go in and escape a life of slavery and as he closes, she gasps. He hears her and sees her. He quickly closes the door and she runs back in to where her bath is.
Andrew quickly runs out front to the beauty salon and he says. "Miss Judith!" She quickly turns to him and asks. "What is it? What's wrong?" He takes a deep breath then says. "Miss Judith, she saw! That Miss Ward saw! She saw me helpin' that family and the door, everything!" All the women gasp and stand up then Mary Frances asks. "Do you think she's gone to tell?" Judith looks around then says. "Only one way to know ". She walks straight over to the door hiding Eve's bath and she opens the door to see an empty bathtub and the door flying open and Judith turns to the others and says. "I think we need to get out of here"
Later, Judith, Savannah, Mary Frances and Charlotte are running down a dirt road going into the woods with the nanny holding the baby and Andrew leading the way. Savannah whines a question to her big sister. "Why couldn't we take that railroad like the others have?" Judith rolls her eyes then stops in her tracks then says. "I told you Savannah, they just call it a railroad, it is as dirty and grimy as this but if you want to take it so bad, you can just go back there and take it!" Savannah makes a face then says. "No thank you. I heard what those men do to people who do this...my hair would be worse off than it is now". Judith taps her foot and says. "So shut up and come on!"
They go a few feet when a man jumps out in front of them and says. "A hah! I got you! You all thought you could outsmart us white men! Ain't a bunch of women and a nigger going to outsmart old Cole Martain!" Charlotte asks. "Where's the other men?" He then says almost in shame. "Well, they didn't believe me when I said I could track you down but this will show them!" He gets out an old gun to wave around and force the women back to town but Andrew hits it out of his hand. Cole throws a punch but misses Andrew, Judith jumps on his back and fights him and they roll down the hill. Savannah picks up the gun and she nervously points it at the rolling couple and she shoots. After a minute or two, Judith stands up and she says. "Thank you Savannah". Savannah smiles then says. "Well, it was my sister. I can't let anybody hurt my sister" Judith and Savannah share a warm sister glance then Andrew runs in the woods then he comes back down the road driving a wagon and he stops and everybody gets on board and Judith asks. "Where did this come from?" Andrew looks at her and says. "I hid this a long time ago, I thought something like this would happen" Judith then says. "Smart man..." She helps Charlotte and her nanny get on board then she climbs in and says. "We better get going , that shot probably alerted every Ku Klux Klan man around"
Andrew gets the horses to go on the road fast and the 4 women with the nanny look around as they leave in the dark Georgia night.
"Here we are...four aging southern belles and we are going down the highway in the dark Georgia night with war-torn hair, dirt on our faces; a nanny, a baby and a crippled black man'
A/N- That's what Julia said at the last of La Place Sans Souci, the show that this is based on and I couldn't resist doing a story round it. I hope you liked it.
From what I have read, only actresses and prostitutes wore make up in those days. Cleo did not guest star on the episode, she is my creation but the women and that man did, just not as creepy as I made them. I had to make them bad news for my story.
Please read and review.
Sand n' Sable.