"EMILY OF NEW MOON"
Eighth Episode: "The Tale Of Duncan McHugh"
Leni's Role: May Brownell
Duncan McHugh is a boy in Blair Water that everybody shuns. His mother appears to never be available for him to receive solace and love. He has raised himself.
There is a prison outside of town that is preparing to hang a murderer, his name is also McHugh. Because Duncan and his mother are living alone without an husband and father, the town residents suppose that the condemned prisoner is Duncan's father.
Duncan is shy and withdrawn and does not attend school very often. However, one day he does show up for school. But, this is one day that he will always regret.
The school bullies, Jenny and Rhoda immediately jump on poor little Duncan and accuse him of being a murderer's son. He pulls away almost in tears, while Emily defends him. The rejected little boy walks very slowly toward Miss Brownell who has witnessed his humiliation. The concerned look on her face indicates that she understands his plight - but - - she does nothing to intervene.
The class begins for the day and May decides that the lesson should be about the triumph of goodness over evil. She teaches that the murderer that is about to be hanged, will be getting what he deserves, as it is the duty of good people to take action against evil, or evil will prevail.
After she makes her point, she asks the class if any of them have questions. Duncan has a question. Miss Brownell recognizes him with, "Yes, Duncan." He rises to his feet, but pauses too long and May becomes impatient, "Well??" He continues to pause, and Brownell responds again with, "Well?" He finally gathers up some courage and asks, "What's the murderer's name?"
May does have scruples and answers with reluctance in her voice, "I don't know - - - McGrath - - - or - - - McHigh, I'm not sure," as she holds her head down and to the side, we can see that she does have compassion for the boy. But loud mouth Rhoda decides to yell out, "Or McHugh!!!" And the entire class breaks out laughing.
Poor little Duncan holds his head down and is so upset that he urinates down his leg. Miss Brownell contains herself and almost appears to be aloof about the matter as she states, "You'll have to clean it up, Duncan!" The poor little guy runs out in tears!!!!
May seemed to identify with Duncan's feelings, and sometimes, she even appeared to want to help him, but at the last moment, withdrew. May Brownell, what has happened to you in the past?? Why do you cater to the needs of the bullies and turn your back on the children that need your compassion???
The next day, Duncan walks to school, but he stays outside in the falling snow. May is doing her usual strolling down the aisles, when she notices that Duncan is lingering outside. She runs to get her umbrella to encourage him to come in, but he runs away. She calls out to him, but her voice beckons in demands instead of compassion, so she slowly turns to go back into the school. As she steps in, one of the students is reading a poem out loud: "That not one life shall be destroyed, or cast as rubbish to the void!" She continues to walk to the front of the room with compassion on her face, as she feels the turmoil of Duncan McHugh.
Duncan runs home and his mother locks him out into the cold. He falls in dispair, as he feels that no one in the world loves him. So he begins to sit and stare without responding to anyone's call.
Mrs. McHugh goes to the school to confront May. "What did you do to my little boy?" She cries. "Do you know what I think?" She screams. "I think that you are a witch and have put a spell on my little Duncan!!" May demands that the woman leave at once, as she is disturbing the class. Mrs. McHuge retaliates with: "You've hurt him, I know you have!!!" Then May answers with, "Perhaps YOU hurt him!!!" "When was the last time that you cooked his dinner, or mended his clothes?" "Get a hold of yourself, Mrs. McHugh!!!"
So the woman turns and leaves the classroom, knowing that May was right. She had neglected her son!!! May looks on after her with compassion and worry on her face.
The next day Duncan comes to school, as he and his mother have mended the hurt between them. The kids stand aside and let him enter the doorway first, where May Brownell stands to greet him. He enters the door and she gently takes his cap off of his head. An act of kindness that brings a little smile to his face.
So we have learned a little more about May Brownell. She feels sadness and hurt within herself, and because of this she lashes out to others that visibly show pain. She has learnt to hide her emotions, so when she discovers a glimpse of vulnerability in her students, she tries to teach them her reality of strength, for only those with strength will prevail in this cruel world.
Photos were created by Ki'raa from The Television Series "Emily Of New Moon." Copyright 1997, Emily Productions Inc. Pigtail Productions Inc. AllRights Reserved. Copyright 2001-2003, Ki'raa. All Rights Reserved. Please do not use the photos without prior permission from Ki'raa.
