Annabelle 4/5

Laura sulks her way back to the big top where Albert is moving around bales of hay. The sad clown has also arrived and taken a seat in the back corner of the tent. Laura returns the ticket to Albert and he asks what happened. Laura tells him that Almanzo is going to the circus with Christie, who Albert calls “Miss Snootypants”. I think Laura has a different name for her, but she is too polite to say it. Albert consoles his sister by saying that Almanzo is too old for her. Thank you! I’m glad somebody in town has finally said it. Laura denies this, pointing out that in all the famous marriages the man is much older than the woman. Let’s see, the first example that jumps to my mind would be Romeo and Juliet. Is that what you want, Half-Pint? Albert brings up Ma and Pa as a counterexample, but Laura declares them “not famous”. I guess that internship at Us Weekly is finally starting to pay off for Laura. Albert tries one more time to tell her to forget about Almanzo, but Laura doesn’t respond one way or another.

Instead, Laura walks over to where the sad clown is sitting and joins in the sulkfest. She confides that she is as sad as the clown is, or at least looks. The clown sighs, either as part of his shtick or because he knows he is going to be the unwilling audience of a “woe is me” monologue. After he flicks a pretend tear away, Laura tells him that the two of them are a lot alike because neither can effectively communicate their sadness. She then goes on to give the whole sordid history of her unrequited love of Almanzo. At least she acknowledges that she is a little young now but she is scared that he is going to find someone else before she reaches the age of consent. The clown kisses Laura’s hand and says “que sera sera.” Oh jeez, it’s London. Laura is completely surprised and asks if the others know. I guess she hasn’t seen the living quarters yet because the only privacy that any of the performers have is a bunch of ugly blankets hanging on a clothesline acting as a wall. Laura starts to freak out a bit, not because of the sad clown “Crying Game”, but because she doesn’t want anyone to know what she just told him. He promises discretion, so long as she doesn’t spoil his secret. He goes on to offer her the opportunity to be a guest clown in the circus. This intrigues Laura and she asks if anyone would know it was her. London asks if she had any clue he was the sad clown before the reveal. “Not until now,” says Albert off screen. Laura asks how long he has been there. Uh, the whole time, you were talking with him about ten feet away no more than five minutes ago. Albert asks if he can be a clown too and London agrees.

That night in the Oleson parlor, Harriet is putting the finishing touches on Nels’ ringmaster uniform. Nellie and Willie are watching from the sidelines, eating candy and telling their Pa that he look really important. Nels admits he doesn’t feel that way, but Harriet shushes him. She loves the idea that the circus sponsor gets the ringmaster gig. Nels thinks that London should do the job, believing that the ringmaster should be loud and funny. Harriet assures her husband that he can be loud and that he did say something funny once. Again, it is almost a sweet moment those two are having before Harriet spoils it by suggesting a run of jokes about the fat lady. I’m a little curious what happened in Harriet’s past that has made her such a Fat Nazi. We can see Nels internally counting to ten as Harriet makes quip after obnoxious quip, but then the kids get in on the action. Willie makes the suggestion that when the elephant comes in Nels should say he thought it was Annabelle in a gray dress. This cracks up the women, but Nels loses his temper, takes off his coat, throws it on the floor and says “That fat lady is my sister!” Harriet laughs it off, probably because she didn’t listen to what he just said. Nels grabs Harriet by the wrists, looks her in the eyes and emphatically says “she is my sister.” Dramatic music plays as Nels storms out the front door.

Nels has made his way to the big top looking for Annabelle. He doesn’t spot her right away, but Annabelle calls out asking if he is looking for her. Nels comes back into the tent as his sister walks in. Annabelle is working on a needlepoint project as she tells her estranged brother that she won’t tell anyone in town about their relationship. Nels says she doesn’t have to be secretive, but Annabelle isn’t interested. She reminds him of when they were kids and he would leave for school so early that he would have to wait outside in the cold just so that he didn’t have to walk with her. Annabelle knew what was what even back then and accepted his behavior, both then and now. Nels starts to make an excuse, but stops himself and acknowledges that he was about to make up something to finish his sentence. Annabelle goes on to explain that she was put on this planet for a purpose, “not an exulted purposed”, but a purpose. Nels asks for forgiveness, but his sister is not interested. He apologizes for driving her away, but Annabelle says she has a new family now that she has always been happy with. London calls for Annabelle and she takes her leave. Before she leaves, she takes one look at her brother and comments on how skinny he still is. Nels slowly and sadly departs.