EXT. KENT FARM — KENT HOME — DAY
Night has passed and a new day has begun. With the blizzard over, Jonathan gets in his truck and begins moving up the long driveway which will get him onto the road into town. He only gets a fourth of the way up the driveway, however, before his wheels sink into the heavy sheet of fresh-fallen snow, refusing to go any further.
INT. TRUCK/CAB — DAY
JONATHAN
(frustrated) Sonuva— (shifts gears) Let’s try that again.
The engine roars and the tires spin, but the vehicle refuses to proceed any further through the fresh, glittering snow.
JONATHAN
(sighs) Wonderful.
INT. KENT HOME/LIVING ROOM — DAY
Martha is sitting cross-legged on the floor, playing with the baby, when Jonathan walks in.
JONATHAN
The truck got stuck in the snow and I can’t get it out. We won’t be going into town for a while.
MARTHA
So we’re in for the long haul.
JONATHAN
We’re well stocked up. We’ll keep 'til spring.
As Martha looks upon the baby boy crawling about the carpeted floor, he looks up at her and gives her a big, toothless smile.
MARTHA
From your lips to God’s ears, Jonathan.
KENT FARM — MONTAGE
As February gives way to March with nary a thaw, Jonathan works to keep the animals fed and the firewood stocked while Martha attends to the needs of the boy. Day after day, week after week, both Martha and Jonathan find themselves growing evermore attached to the child.
EXT. KENT FARM — ROAD — DAY
It is now late March and the sky is a clear, sunny blue. Jonathan makes his way to the truck.
JONATHAN
(rests hand on truck) Well, girl, let’s see how the elements’ been to you.
Turning the crank, he then slips inside and turns the key, automatically bringing the engine to life. Shifting gears, he backs up.
INT. KENT HOME/DINING ROOM — DAY
Martha is at the table, feeding the giggling baby boy, as Jonathan strides in. Putting the spoon in her hand down, Martha turns to her husband.
JONATHAN
The snow’s receded, Martha. I’ll be able to … to take the child into town. Sheriff Miller’ll know what to do for him there.
Returning to the child, Martha takes a napkin and cleans his mouth.
MARTHA
You’re right. After all, we can’t keep him. It’d be irrational. Hell, it’d be insane. A baby boy fell from the sky; we just can’t keep him. (beat) Even if it was monstrous for someone to put a child in a bombshell….
JONATHAN
Martha….
MARTHA
(cont’d) Even if the Birches are on their fourth and I … (crying) and I can’t keep a child.
Overwhelmed by her emotions, Martha walks out of the room.
JONATHAN
Martha!
INT. KENT HOME/LIVING ROOM — DAY
Collapsing onto the couch, Martha stares into space as tears stream down her face. Joining her, Jonathan places an arm around her shoulder.
JONATHAN
Good Lord, Martha, do you realize what you’re asking that we do? We don’t even know if he … if he’s from here. We don’t know —
MARTHA
(faces him) No, we don’t. We don’t know where he came from or if anyone will come for him, but if there’s anyone who might stand a chance to do right by that child, come what may, it’s you and me. Don’t … don’t you just know it? (beat) Don’t we deserve a chance to try?
Rising, Martha leaves Jonathan and walks over to a liquor cabinet. Opening it up, she takes a tall bottle of whiskey and a pair of glasses. Taking a seat in the armchair, she places the glasses and bottle down on a small table beside it.
JONATHAN
What’s the whiskey for?
MARTHA
(fills a glass) If we decide to keep the child, I’m going to pour you a glass and we’re going to celebrate. If we don’t … whiskey’s more convenient and less painful than a log to the head. (beat) While you take him into town, I’ll be doing everything in my power to forget the last several weeks ever happened.
As Martha takes a sip of her whiskey, Jonathan sits there, looking on her with brow furrowed in thought. Moments pass, then he gets up. Crossing over to her, he takes up the bottle of whiskey and the empty glass.
JONATHAN
I don’t want to be called “pop” — I’m not an old man. (fills glass) “Pa” has a nice ring to it.
Her face lighting up with a full grin, Martha raises her glass. Returning her grin with a smile, he brings up his own glass, clinking it against hers in a toast to their new parenthood.
INT. HEL’S BOUQUET — DAY
A lean, balding man in thick glasses stands before the front counter as Helen wraps a bouquet of flowers for him. Once she has finished securing the wrapping paper in place, she brings the bundle of beautiful flowers to the front and presents them to her waiting customer.
HELEN
That’ll be $1.30.
As he hands her the money, she hands him the flowers.
DAN
You have a good day, Helen.
HELEN
You too, Dan.
As Dan leaves the counter and walks out the door, another customer — a short woman with shoulder-length blond hair — walks in. With barely contained enthusiasm, she strides up to the counter.
HELEN
Hi, Rose. What can I do for you today?
ROSE GREER
(grins) Did you hear the news?
HELEN
What news?
ROSE GREER
The Kents came in today.
HELEN
The Kents? What about them?
ROSE GREER
Y’know that storm last month? The big one?
HELEN
The one that toppled the tree in my sister’s backyard. What of it?
ROSE GREER
It snowed in the Kents’ farm somethin’ fierce — buried it beneath a quilt of snow. That’s why they haven’t been in town since it hit.
HELEN
And?
ROSE GREER
You won’t believe what’s happened.
HELEN
(loses patience) Well out with it!
ROSE GREER
They had a baby!
HELEN
(taken aback) A baby?
ROSE GREER
Uh-huh. Looks like Jon put the bun in her oven some months back. (beat) You remember the ugly business with the miscarriages and that stillbirth —
HELEN
Yes, of course.
ROSE GREER
(cont’d) Well, they decided to keep it hush-hush — you know, just in case it didn’t keep. (beat) Anyway, Martha delivered a baby boy while cooped up in that there farm. He’s got the most gorgeous blue eyes.
HELEN
You’ve seen him?
ROSE GREER
Well, no — that’s why I came to see you. I thought you’d like to pay Jon and Martha a visit with me.
HELEN
Why, certainly. (smiles thinly) Why not?
EXT. KENT FARM — KENT HOME/FRONT PORCH — DAY
Having arrived together, Helen and Rose walk up the porch steps to the front door. Rose brings up her closed fist, announcing their presence with three quick raps on the wood door. A moment passes, then Jonathan answers the door.
JONATHAN
(stoic) Hel. (happier) Rose!
Leaning forward, he gives both women a hug. He doesn’t linger too long with Helen.
JONATHAN
You came to see the baby?
ROSE GREER
(grins) But of course. Can we come in?
JONATHAN
Follow me into the living room.
With no further need of persuasion on his part, the two women enter the Kent home.
INT. KENT HOME/LIVING ROOM — DAY
As Jonathan leads Helen and Rose inside, we find several family members and friends gathered around Martha, who sits on the armchair with the baby boy bundled up in her arms. As Rose and Helen approach the mother and child, their mouths fall agape.
HELEN
Martha … the boy …
ROSE GREER
He’s beautiful.
MARTHA
(beams) Thank you.
Standing at Martha’s side, Jonathan rests a hand on her shoulder.
JONATHAN
Helen Potter, Rose Greer, meet Clark Joseph Kent.
As the two women look down upon them. Clark meets their gaze and, smiling a wide, toothless smile, releases a giggle of delight.