A visit with Lee Ann, and a minor mystery solved

[Bob Gutowski]

Last Monday, on our way to Provincetown, Jay and I stopped by The House, looking for Shelley. The gift shop was locked, and the side door to the kitchen was ajar, so we cautiously entered and discovered a tour in progress, which we cheekily interrupted (well, it was a SMALL tour). On our way out, whom did we surprise coming up from the basement but Lee Ann, who does not know me by sight, and so who was a bit startled to see us. I introduced myself and apologized, and I told her we'd be back to see Shelley Friday, if possible.

So, feeling a little burglarish and repentent, we left, had a great week in P-Town, and then headed back to Fall River on Friday.

We went to the open gift shop, and encountered Lee Ann, to whom I profusely apologized. I left a note for Shelley, whop wouldn't be in until later on, and I picked out a few new items to buy. In between other Bordenians coming and going, I met the lovely Colleen, and Lee Ann and I had a nice chat. While she took a phone call I noticed she had a framed xerox of the title page of THE LEGEND OF LIZZIE BORDEN adorned with a photo of her with Fionnula Flanagan, who played "Maggie," of course.

With hope in my voice, I asked Lee Ann if she had a full copy of the screenplay. She did, and she told me that if we weren't in a rush, she'd be glad to let me look it over. I explained that I was looking for cut scenes - I have always been fascinated by a brief shot of Fritz Weaver having some sort of fit at the breakfast table in the montage during Andrew's murder. It didn't look as though it had been specially shot, but had been picked up from the editing room floor.

Lee Ann invited me up to her office, where she has wonderful things (I assumed by then I'd truly been forgiven for trespassing Monday!), and we brought the script, the one which had belonged to the film's hairdresser, Sugar (and which was missing two pages), downstairs so I could carefully go through it.

I read through it, and reached Lizzie's flashback during the inquest, in which she sits surrounded by the stew-slurping Andrew and Abby. In the finished film, she pointedly pushes her empty dish away from her, gazing at the noxious tureen...

BUT, in the screenplay, Andrew, affected by something in the stew, has conniptions, followed by Abby, as Lizzie sits, unaffected. They both die at the table as a smile plays about Lizzie's lips!

"I found it!" I yelled out, making Jay jump. So that had to have been where that twelve-frame shot of Andrew, with his hand out, came from. In the screenplay it was a flashback which turned into a fantasy of Lizzie's. I can see why it was trimmed, but I was transported to have finally tracked the sequence down.

In fact, the kindness and warmth Lee Ann showed had me on a cloud for the rest of the afternoon. Thanks you, dear Ms. Wilbur - and I hope you got my brief note, Shelley!

[Shelley]

Sorry to have missed you and Jay. I arrived about 3:30 and yes indeed, I found your note. It has been quite a week with the heat, the air conditioner down and so many repairs going on in the house. I hear everything will soon be in order and back to normal for the influx of guests we get this time of year.

August 4th is only 2 weeks away and we are working on our presentation with the largest cast ever assembled.
Abby, Andrew, Lizzie, Emma, Bridget, Mr. Winward, Mrs. Churchill, Alice Russell, Mrs. Bowen, Mrs. Kelly, Detective Seaver and Dr. Dolan will all be on board as well as a special reporter in costume from the Herald. This year will be more interactive with our "guests". Hope to see you soon Bob.

[Kat]

Wow! What a Great Story Bob! So cool you got to make a "find" like that- and that your memory led you to it! That must have been satisfying.

(Yes, Lee-ann is very helpful and gracious and accommodating. And peaceful...)