For Whom the Wedding Bells Toll, Part 3 of 3

Announcer: Previously on Adventures in Odyssey.
Whit: I’d like you all to meet Margaret Faye.
Margaret Faye: I’m here to meet you, Mr. Whittaker.
Connie: This woman isn’t harmless.
Jason: So there’s nothing romantic going on.
Whit: She’s a sharp, intelligent woman.
Margaret Faye: Whit, I’m asking you to marry me.
Jack Allen: Owning my own shop is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time.
Joanne: I think the shop would be perfect for you.
Jack Allen: Do you like Odyssey?
Joanne: Jack, what are you asking me?
Jack Allen: Will you do me the honor of marrying me?
Eugene: Hello, Katrina.
Katrina: Hi, Eugene.
Bernard: Ha, she’s back. What am I supposed to do?
Connie: Because you still love her.
Eugene: Uh, yes. No, Hans, don’t throw the—Katrina!
Katrina: The truth remains that I love you, Eugene. Will you marry me?
Jason: Ah, home sweet home.
Connie: Oh, it’s good to be back.
Guest (Male): Hello?
Jason: Someone’s here?
Connie: It sounds like George Barclay.
Jason: Jason?
George Barclay: George! Hey, what in the world are you doing here?
Jason: Don’t tell me you’re getting married.
George Barclay: Thanks for the offer, but I’m only doing the ceremony.
Connie: Now don’t say anything, Mr. Barclay. I haven’t told him who’s getting married.
Jason: She’s trying to drive me crazy. So you came all the way from Pokenberry Falls for the wedding?
George Barclay: Actually, I came in for a pastor’s conference in Connelsville. Then when everything happened, they asked me to do the honors. Whit insisted that I stay in your guest room.
Jason: Oh, who asked you to do the honors?
George Barclay: I’d hate to give away any secrets.
Jason: It’s a conspiracy.
Connie: Look, I’m ready to tell you the rest of the story if you’ll just sit down long enough to listen.
Jason: Good, I haven’t heard a lot of this myself.
George Barclay: Well, let’s go in the living room. I’ll have to hurry though. I have a premarital counseling session in an hour.
Jason: Aha. How far have you gotten in the story, Connie?
Connie: Margaret Faye proposed to Whit, Jack proposed to Joanne, and Katrina proposed to Eugene.
Jason: Well, obviously somebody said yes.
Connie: Well, you know that Joanne said yes to Jack.
Jason: Yeah, but I’m not buying it. She has to take off for the Philippines and Jack has to make an offer on the antique shop. It’s too complicated. Something’s probably gone wrong.
Connie: Maybe, but I better back up and tell you about your dad first.
Jason: Finally.
Connie: They went to the restaurant and Margaret proposed. Uh-huh, and then Dad said...
Whit: Margaret.
Margaret Faye: I know this may seem sudden, but I’ve been thinking about it a lot.
Whit: Well, I don’t know what to say.
Margaret Faye: I’d be grateful if you wouldn’t say anything right now. Just think about it. At least I’ll know you took me seriously.
Whit: Oh, you can be sure I’ll take it very seriously, Margaret.
Margaret Faye: Please, please don’t say another word. Think it over and let me know.
Whit: All right, I will. Waiter, could we have the check, please?
Jason: Okay, so Dad said he’d think about it. But what about Eugene’s answer to Katrina?
Connie: I was getting to that.
Eugene: Katrina, are you in earnest?
Katrina: I am. I wouldn’t have asked if I wasn’t. Come to think of it, I probably shouldn’t have asked at all. It is rather unconventional.
Eugene: Oh, unconventional indeed, but I won’t quibble over procedure.
Katrina: Meaning you’ll marry me?
Eugene: Meaning I’m terribly confused.
Katrina: You are?
Eugene: Oh, please don’t misunderstand. I’m not confused about my feelings towards you. I love you. I’ve said so. But we’ve been on such a proverbial rollercoaster in our relationship.
Katrina: I know.
Eugene: I want to do the right thing for you, Katrina, but frankly, I’m no longer self-confident that I even know what the right thing is. I think that before saying yes, we should seek advice from those we trust, give the matter fervent thought and prayer, and then answer.
Katrina: Of course. That’s very sensible. Though it’s not the answer I expected.
Eugene: Nor I. Katrina, I can confess that I don’t need to seek further advice. I know my heart and I believe this is right for both of us now. But I respect your desire to consider our future and I’ll abide by your decision.
Katrina: Thank you.
Eugene: You’re welcome. Well, it seems as if we should kiss or something.
Katrina: Oh, better not rip a stitch.
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Tom Riley: Whoa now, whoa, Leah, take it easy.
Whit: Tom!
Tom Riley: Well, hi, Whit. What brings you out here this morning?
Whit: Well, I need to talk to you about something. Oh, hi there, Leah. You been out riding this morning?
Tom Riley: Just a quick jog around the property. What’s wrong, Whit? You look tired.
Whit: Well, I didn’t sleep very well.
Tom Riley: Oh, why not?
Whit: Margaret proposed to me at dinner last night.
Tom Riley: Proposed? As in, will you marry me?
Whit: Yeah.
Tom Riley: You’re pulling my leg. I mean, I knew she was aggressive. What was she thinking?
Whit: Well, she said I’d make a good companion for her.
Tom Riley: Does she love you?
Whit: She respects me.
Tom Riley: Well, that’s not bad. Well, what did you say?
Whit: I said I’d think it over.
Tom Riley: Really? And then what? Are you interested in marrying her?
Whit: I don’t love her, if that’s what you mean. I respect her, but I don’t love her.
Tom Riley: Well, I reckon you need both for a good marriage.
Whit: You sure do. What bothers me more is that we hardly agree on most of the things I consider important. I mean, she’s a Christian and I’m a Christian, but of two completely different points of view. But that doesn’t bother her.
Tom Riley: It bothers you?
Whit: Of course it does. If I’m ever going to marry again, it’ll be with someone I can share my faith and my views with. That’s a priority.
Tom Riley: Well, it sounds like you know what you have to say to her, Whit. Why did you want to talk to me?
Whit: Well, because you know her. I know she won’t accept anything less than a direct answer, but how do you think she’ll react when I say no?
Tom Riley: Oh, I do not have a clue, Whit. I’ve only seen her in a business and political context.
Whit: Well, okay, so how does she react when she doesn’t get what she wants?
Tom Riley: I don’t know. She always gets what she wants.
Whit: Uh-oh.
Jason: Oh boy, that must have been really tough for Dad.
Connie: It was really awkward. I’ve never seen him so troubled. He didn’t want to hurt Margaret, I know that much. But I think he was genuinely concerned about how she would react.
Whit: Okay, Margaret. Yes, thanks. Right, I’ll see you tonight.
Bernard: Tonight’s the big night, huh?
Whit: Huh?
Bernard: You’re going to break the news to Margaret tonight.
Whit: Oh, you know about it, huh?
Bernard: You told me yesterday, remember?
Whit: Oh, did I? Oh, yes.
Bernard: I don’t get it, Whit. Why are you so bugged?
Whit: I’m not sure. Maybe it’s because I genuinely like her. Or maybe it’s because I’m a little out of my depth. I haven’t had any kind of romantic entanglements since I met my wife. I’m out of practice. I don’t know how to act or what to say. I feel like a stranger in a completely strange land.
Bernard: But that’s how everybody feels with dating. Nobody’s really confident when it comes to dealing with the opposite sex. You know, we just pretend that we are.
Whit: Well, I’m sure for some people it’s easy. Like Eugene and Katrina. I doubt they have very many surprises left in their relationship.
Eugene: What am I going to do about Katrina?
Bernard: You were saying.
Whit: Never mind. What’s wrong this time, Eugene?
Eugene: Katrina asked me to marry her and I don’t know how to answer.
Whit: What? She asked you to marry her?
Bernard: You must be a better nursemaid than I thought.
Eugene: She asked me last night and I’m at a complete loss as to what to do.
Whit: Oh, I know the feeling. What’s the problem?
Eugene: There’s no problem in particular, Mr. Whittaker, except that I no longer have the confidence to know how to proceed. Is this the right thing for us to do? Would I make a good husband? Is there someone out there who may be better for either of us?
Whit: Well, knowing you both, I’d say the answer is no, unless we’re surprised by visitors from another planet.
Eugene: So you think we should get married then?
Whit: Yes.
Eugene: Wait, got to write this down.
Bernard: Write what down?
Eugene: Your vote. I’m taking a survey.
Whit: Your survey?
Eugene: I want to tally the votes in favor of our getting married against those who advise we don’t. Right now, it is 14 in favor and three against.
Whit: But you can’t take a survey, Eugene.
Eugene: Why not?
Jack Allen: All right, everybody, stop what you’re doing.
Eugene: Mr. Allen, just the person I wanted to see. Hello, Ms. Woodston.
Joanne: Hello, Eugene, Whit, Connie. Hi.
Jack Allen: Ladies and gentlemen, I have an announcement to make.
Connie: You bought the antique shop!
Jack Allen: No, better than that. Joanne has agreed to marry me.
Eugene: Oh. Really? Without a survey?
Jack Allen: What? I’m confused.
Joanne: Maybe we should go out and come in again.
Whit: Oh, no, no, I’m sorry. There’s just been an epidemic of engagements in the past 24 hours. I think we’re just stunned. Well, congratulations.
Eugene: Indeed.
Connie: Best of luck. Congratulations.
Joanne: Connie, I’ve been told that you can help us make all the arrangements. Is that true?
Connie: Oh, yeah, for you and Jack, Dreams by Constance is open for business.
Joanne: Wonderful.
Jason: That’s it? Seems a little too easy.
Connie: Well, it should have been that easy. After they told us the news, Jack and Joanne went to see Mr. Gumbley at the Antique Emporium.
Jason: So what’s the problem?
Connie: The problem is that your father met with Margaret.
Jason: I don’t get it.
George Barclay: I don’t either.
Connie: You’ll see.
Margaret Faye: Whit, I’m speechless. You’re telling me no?
Whit: Well, it’s not right, Margaret. I’m not looking for just a partner. If I ever marry again, I want a soulmate. I’m sure you’ll agree that we’re not soulmates. I’m sorry.
Margaret Faye: So am I. It’s too bad. I was going to ask you to be my campaign manager.
Whit: Well, thank you for the double honor then.
Margaret Faye: Suppose you don’t have to marry me to be my campaign manager though.
Whit: No, but I’d have to decline.
Margaret Faye: Oh, another rejection. I don’t know how much of this I can take. Ask anyone, I don’t take rejection easily. You won’t help me become mayor?
Whit: No, I can’t.
Margaret Faye: Your duties at Whit’s End?
Whit: Well, that’s part of it.
Margaret Faye: But not all. You’re not going to say that you don’t want to help me become mayor.
Whit: Well, I—
Margaret Faye: Whit.
Whit: Margaret, in all the time we’ve spent together, I can’t think of a single political issue we agreed on.
Margaret Faye: So, you respect my point of view. You said so yourself.
Whit: I respect the integrity of your point of view.
Margaret Faye: Meaning?
Whit: That you’re an intelligent woman and you’ve come by your conclusions honestly, but I don’t agree with your conclusions.
Margaret Faye: So you not only won’t marry me, nor run my campaign, you’re saying you won’t even vote for me?
Whit: I don’t see how I can. You stand for things that are against my beliefs. How could I possibly vote you into office when you’ll do things there that I’m against?
Margaret Faye: Well, Whit, I’ve enjoyed our time together, but I have to go.
Whit: Oh, now Margaret, don’t leave. Let’s talk about this a little bit. We’re still friends, aren’t we?
Margaret Faye: I’m not sure how we can be friends when I’m obviously so offensive to you.
Whit: That’s not true and you know it. Please, please sit down.
Margaret Faye: I can’t, I have a meeting at 7:00.
Whit: Oh, Margaret.
Margaret Faye: You wouldn’t want me to be late. It’s with some friends of yours.
Whit: Oh, who?
Margaret Faye: Jack Allen and Joanne Woodston. They’re interested in buying my antique shop.
Whit: Your antique shop? You’re the owner?
Margaret Faye: Yes, an investment of my husband’s before he died. I want to sell it to raise money for my campaign, though I’m not sure that your Mr. Allen is the right person to buy the place.
Whit: Well, why wouldn’t he be? I’ve told you all about Jack. You know how much he loves that shop.
Margaret Faye: Well, if he’s your friend, then he’s probably against everything I stand for too. Why should I want to sell my shop to him?
Whit: Now Margaret, don’t be like that.
Margaret Faye: Like what? I’m a businesswoman. I will conduct myself accordingly.
Whit: Well, then what are you going to do?
Jack Allen: She said no.
Whit: No?
Jack Allen: Yeah. Once I got over the shock that she was the owner, I started to make my offer and she cut me off. She said no.
Whit: Did she give a reason?
Jack Allen: She said that Jack didn’t have enough experience with antiques. She didn’t want to sell her shop to someone who might mismanage it. It was outrageous. What could she know about Jack’s management skills?
Whit: Yeah, I didn’t know what to say. I tried to assure her that I have enough experience to do well with the shop, but she wouldn’t listen.
Jack Allen: I’m so sorry, Jack.
Whit: This affects everything. I was counting on buying the shop and then Joanne and I would come back here after our honeymoon and now it’s all changed.
Jack Allen: What’s changed?
Whit: That was my reason to stay in Odyssey. Without it, well, we may as well leave and not come back. Or maybe we shouldn’t rush into getting married now at all.
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Eugene: Would that be a yea or a nay, Mr. Walton?
Bernard: Now hold on, Eugene, what are you asking me?
Eugene: I’m conducting a survey to discern whether or not Katrina and I should get married.
Bernard: A survey?
Eugene: Yes, sir.
Bernard: Eugene, you’re unbelievable.
Eugene: I believe that I am entirely based within the realm of plausibility.
Bernard: But nobody does a survey to decide who they’re going to marry.
Eugene: Oh, did you not ask the advice of your family and friends before you married your wife?
Bernard: Well, I asked their advice, yes. I wanted their opinions. I sought their help, but I didn’t take a vote, for crying out loud. Eugene, use your head.
Eugene: Well, my head is not in question here, actually it’s my heart.
Bernard: Now put that clipboard away and listen to me.
Eugene: Yes?
Bernard: Now if you and Katrina want help with your decision, then go and get help. Talk to someone who’s qualified to guide you through the decision, but in the end make it your decision. You want my opinion, there it is.
George Barclay: That’s where I come in.
Jason: You?
George Barclay: Yeah, Eugene called me and asked if I would meet with him and Katrina to talk about their future together and I said I’d be happy to.
Jason: When did that happen?
George Barclay: Well, it’s going to happen in about 15 minutes.
Jason: You mean you’re meeting them now?
George Barclay: Sure. Why are you so surprised?
Jason: Well, because that means we’re caught up to today.
Connie: So?
Jason: Well, then whose wedding are we going to? Are Jack and Joanne getting married or are they postponing it because he didn’t get the shop? Or did Margaret change her mind?
Connie: Well, your dad’s having lunch with Margaret right now to find out.
Jason: Now?
Connie: That’s the reason he couldn’t pick you up at the airport.
Jason: But you keep talking about a wedding. I mean, it sounds like everything’s off. How do you know there’s even going to be a wedding at all?
Connie: Oh, there’ll be one.
Jason: What makes you so sure?
Connie: We couldn’t have all these close calls and not have a wedding.
Jason: Ah, Connie, your logic is your own.
Connie: Thank you.
Eugene: Ha, well, thank you for meeting with us, Pastor Barclay. It was fortuitous if not providential that you would be in Odyssey at this very moment.
Katrina: We’re very grateful for your time. Though I have to be candid, Pastor Barclay, I’m not sure why we’re meeting with you.
Eugene: Well, to get counseling about our engagement.
Katrina: Do we need counseling?
Eugene: Well, I thought it would be good for us, yes.
George Barclay: Oh, how did you think I could help you, Eugene?
Eugene: Oh, well, it might be useful if you had a little background first. 29 in favor to seven against. That was the vote until Bernard Walton confiscated my clipboard.
George Barclay: I see.
Katrina: Eugene, do you really think it matters how many are in favor and how many are against?
Eugene: Well, I only thought it would be useful information.
Katrina: Oh, and what’s the margin of error? Plus or minus five points?
George Barclay: Maybe we should start with—
Katrina: Eugene, are you angry with me?
Eugene: Katrina, why wouldn’t I be angry? I put my heart on the line. I asked you to marry me and you responded by conducting a survey? Why didn’t you bring in the census bureau?
Katrina: It’s an off year for them in this district.
Eugene: Katrina, I explained that I was having a crisis of confidence about my ability to make this decision. We’ve had so much turmoil in our relationship that I can barely see straight.
Katrina: Yes, to which I take my share of the blame. We’ve had a difficult time, I know. We’ve had our share of misunderstandings, but I’ve seen so much growth in you and in myself and I thought the time was right to move forward. But your reaction, I mean, what am I supposed to make of it? How should I respond?
Eugene: You know, I was thinking that—
Katrina: Well, I asked you to be patient.
Eugene: And I was, when I thought you were going to talk to Mr. Whittaker or Jack Allen or someone you trusted. But to discuss our relationship with everyone in town—
Katrina: 36 people is hardly everyone in town.
Eugene: That is not the point.
Katrina: What is the point?
Eugene: The point is that I needed help. I wanted to get much needed input about our decision. That was the point.
Katrina: Was it? Is it?
Eugene: Is what?
Katrina: The point.
Eugene: What is?
Katrina: I don’t know. Pastor Barclay?
George Barclay: What?
Eugene: You’re supposed to counsel now.
George Barclay: I am? Oh, yeah, but I lost track of where we were.
Eugene: We were discussing the point.
Katrina: What is the point, Eugene?
Eugene: Precisely, what is the point?
Katrina: You don’t know?
Eugene: Do you? Look, if there’s no point, then why are we meeting like this? Why are we even talking? Suddenly I’m very confused. Pastor Barclay?
George Barclay: Hmm?
Eugene: Isn’t there something you’d like to say now to assist us in this conversation?
George Barclay: No.
Eugene: No?
George Barclay: No. There’s no way to assist you in this conversation. I never heard such a verbal crossfire in my life. To be honest, this conversation needs to be scrapped and started over again.
Eugene: I thought we were making progress.
George Barclay: Not an ounce. Can we go back to the beginning and deal just with a couple of heart issues?
Eugene: Yes.
Katrina: I’d like that.
George Barclay: Katrina?
Katrina: Yes.
George Barclay: Will you love and cherish Eugene and comfort him and honor and keep him in sickness and in health while forsaking all others for the rest of your life?
Katrina: Yes, I will.
George Barclay: And Eugene, will you love and cherish Katrina and comfort her and honor and keep her in sickness and in health while forsaking all others for the rest of your life?
Eugene: I will.
George Barclay: Then I now pronounce you man and wife. What? Just kidding. But the answer to those questions tells you a lot about your hearts. If you love each other and are ready to commit to one another for the rest of your lives, in all circumstances, then there’s no reason not to be engaged. Though I think the idea of being betrothed is better.
Eugene: Betrothed?
George Barclay: Yeah. With betrothal, you’re committed to getting married, but you now use the time before the wedding ceremony to nurture and build your relationship. You get regular counseling and work out some of the kinks, like these moments of miscommunication and misunderstanding you seem to have so readily. What do you think?
Eugene: I think it’s very wise advice. Are you sure you don’t want to take a vote first? Oh, yes. But what about you, Katrina? Will you marry me?
Katrina: Eugene, I thought you’d never ask. Yes, I would be delighted to marry you.
Eugene: Oh, Katrina. Oh, my stitches.
Katrina: Oh, sorry.
Eugene: That’s okay. Well, that was easy.
Whit: Well, thank you for meeting me, Margaret.
Margaret Faye: I’m sorry I’m so late. I was delayed with a board meeting. You know how they are.
Whit: Uh-huh. I ordered you a salad.
Margaret Faye: Oh, thank you. That’s exactly what I wanted.
Whit: Well, there’s no point in beating around the bush, Margaret. I want to talk to you about your antique shop.
Margaret Faye: What about it?
Whit: You refused Jack.
Margaret Faye: So? Hasn’t he ever been refused before? I have. The other night, in fact.
Whit: Yeah, that’s what I thought. You’re angry with me and you’re taking it out on him.
Margaret Faye: Now Whit, honest.
Whit: Honestly, Margaret, you know there are no valid reasons to keep you from selling him the shop except that I hurt you. I wounded your pride and I’m deeply sorry. Margaret, we’re humans and sometimes we just lash out when we’re in pain. I can’t help but believe that that’s what you did with Jack when you turned him down.
Margaret Faye: You turned me down, Whit. Not once, not twice, but on three counts. That hasn’t been easy for me to swallow. I don’t let many men get away with that.
Whit: I believe you. But I also believe that my respect and admiration for you as a friend is justified because you’ll do the right thing. You’ll put us aside and deal with Jack on his own merits, right?
Margaret Faye: Well, I don’t have any other takers and I do need the money for my campaign.
Whit: It would be a shrewd business move.
Margaret Faye: It would. All right, I’ll sell the shop to Mr. Allen.
Whit: Thank you, Margaret.
Margaret Faye: You’re welcome. But you’re still not getting my vote.