Hold on, love! Youre now part of another family, so you have to respect their ways. You didnt just drop in for a visityou married into this household.
What ways, Mum? Everyone here is absurd, especially the motherinlaw! She despises me, thats obvious.
Have you ever heard of a kind motherinlaw?
Out and about again! Always out! Margaret Whitaker stands in the middle of the kitchen, her face flushed with anger, eyes blazing. If a husband goes out, the wifes to blame. What else do you expect me to explain?
The motherinlaw is in a fury, shouting at her daughterinlaw Mabel Harper as if she were mad. The cause? Mabel has begun to suspect Davids infidelity.
Mabel, a young, delicate woman with innocent eyes, leans against the wall, trying to calm the angry woman.
Margaret, thats unreasonable. He has a family, children Mabel starts, but Margaret cuts her off with a flick of her hand, as if swatting a bothersome fly.
Is that your family? Or the child who wont even let us near his grandparents? Margaret snaps disdainfully. Your upbringing, for one!
What upbringing, Margaret? Jack is only a year old. Hes still a baby, Mabel whispers.
A baby? The Whitakers grandson is even younger. Hes clingy, not even learning to speak, unlike your whatever you have, Margaret waves toward the nursery.
Actually, hes your grandson, Mabel replies, voice trembling. Children sense bad people. Maybe thats why he stays away from you.
Bad people? Youre a disgrace! Margaret shouts. Whose groceries do you eat? Whose money do you spend? Thankless brat!
Mabel stops arguing. She has told David countless times she wants to live apart from his parents, but David, a pampered son, sees no need. He loves the comfort of his parents house, feels safe there like a child in a cradle. He works calmly while the elderly handle washing, cleaning, cookingmore a fairytale than a real life.
Meanwhile, Margaret relentlessly interrogates Mabel, trying every tactic to wear her down. At first Mabel attempts to be helpful, assisting with chores, listening to Margarets endless complaints about neighbours and life. Gradually she realises its all futile.
No matter how polite or dutiful Mabel tries to be, she hates Margaret and cant hide it.
She brought this useless girl into our home like there were no proper women left, Margaret tells her neighbour, as Mabel gathers the toys David has scattered, hearing every word.
Even the folk from the next village hear about it! Our grandmothers are far betterhardworking and sensible.
Nonsense! agrees Mrs. Nancy Bailey, the village gossip, who has already swept the rumours through the whole of Littleford.
You think you could do something? Youve always said your hands arent meant for work, Nancy says. Nothing you do can be straightened out.
You have no idea how terrible she is! You cant trust her with anythingshell lose it or break it. And that child of hers not right either.
The Whitakers grandson is a different storyquiet, sensible. This one is always whining, clearly the genes arent right.
When life becomes unbearable, Mabel calls her own mother in the nearby hamlet of Brookfield, crying and complaining. Her mother replies:
Hold on, dear! Youre now in another family, you must respect their customs. You didnt just pop in for a visit, you married.
What customs, Mum? Everyone here is ridiculous, especially the motherinlaw! She hates me, its clear!
Have you ever heard of a kind motherinlaw? We all went through it, youll get through it too. The main thing is not to show how hard it is. Be patient.
Realising her timid mother cant help, Mabel threatens to call her own father.
Dont you dare tell your father! her mother gasps. You know his conditional release is hanging by a thread. One step out of line and theyll lock him up again!
Mabel knows her father, Thomas Harper, loves his only daughter deeply. He earned a conditional sentence after a brawl at the village shop when someone insulted Mabel. Hes hotblooded and would never stay silent if he learned how his daughter was being tormented.
Alright, I wont tell Father, Mabel says, but if they keep this up, if Margaret continues like this I dont know what Ill do.
Everything will work out, love, her mother assures, trying to soothe her. Give it a few weeks and youll forget this ever happened.
Mabel wishes she could forget, but relations with Margaret only worsen. Margaret seems convinced Mabel is the cause of all her woes, even her husband, Arthur Whitaker, a weary old man, cant stand it any longer.
Why are you always shouting at her? Arthur asks one morning as the argument reaches its peak. Shell leave us! Thats the right thing to do!
Ill take her! Margaret yells, directing all her fury at Arthur. Ill drag her to court, get every pound weve paid back over the years! Ill take the child away so he isnt raised in this worthless family!
Mabel knows Margarets words are nonsense, yet the fear grips her. She still loves David.
Rumours about David secretly seeing his exgirlfriend Oksana turn out to be nothing more than stale village gossip, spread by the same women who repeat Margarets stories.
How long would Margarets torment have lasted if her sharp tongue hadnt been silenced? One day, after a petty victory over Mabel, she boasts to her best friend, Mrs. Nancy, about her exploits, embellishing each detail, then passes the tale to another neighbour and even to her own husband. The legend of the troublesome daughterinlaw finally reaches Thomas.
Thomas, a broadshouldered man nearly two metres tall, grabs his axestill smelling of fresh wooddoesnt bother to remove his work jacket, hops onto his old motorbike, and without a word to his wife, rides to Brookfield to rescue his daughter.
Meanwhile, in the Whitaker house a fresh scandal erupts. Margaret leaves baby Jack for a moment to fetch a fresh diaper, placing him on the brandnew brightorange sofa. When she returns, a brown stain marks the fabric. To Margaret, the stain looks like a black hole ready to swallow the whole room. She bursts in like a thunderstorm, screaming at Mabel.
Youve ruined my sofa! My favourite! Do you know how much it cost? I could tear your hands off and stitch them back just to make you feel the pain!
Ill fix it. Ill clean it, Mabel says, voice shaking, clutching a cloth.
What will you clean? Its brandnew! How would you even know? Youve never bought anything with your own money!
You think youre better than us? Mabel snaps, and Margarets face turns scarlet.
Now scrub that spot, then march out with your son! Youll keep living here, making a mess, until you learn some decency!
Tears stream down Mabels face as she scrubs at the stubborn brown patch, which refuses to lift, as if mocking her helplessness. Little Jack, sensing his mothers distress, wails loudly, his cries heightening the tense atmosphere.
Margaret towers over Mabel, raining down curses. She doesnt notice a stranger slip through the doorwayThomas, Mabels father, standing like a statue, axes wooden handle gripping his hand.
For a split second Margaret senses someone, turns, and her eyes land on the axe.
She knows Thomass temper, his past conditional release, and the fear spikes through her.
Realising the situation has turned serious, Margaret tries to keep her composure, voice trembling.
Oh, hello, Thomas! Im just looking after your dear Mabel
Ive heard how youre raising her, Thomas growls, stepping into the room barefoot.
He lifts the axe above his head, forcing Margaret to flinch and step back. Instead of striking, he rests the axe on his shoulder and extends a hand to his daughter.
Come on, Mabel, youve got no business staying here, he says, leading her toward the exit.
Wait, fatherinlaw! Margaret cries, trying to regain control. What will I say to my son?
Let your son come to me himself, with his wife. Ill speak to him like a man should, Thomas replies, giving her a cold, icy glance that says more than words.
Thomas takes Mabel and baby Jack out. David hesitates long before he dares to travel to fetch his wife and son, fearing a clash with his fatherinlaw. Eventually he gathers his courage.
Thomas sits down with David, shaking his hand firmly. He doesnt threaten, but his calm, steady voice and the axe on the table give his words weight.
David promises to live separately with Mabel, that his mother will no longer interfere, and that he will protect his wife and child from any harm.
When Thomas grips Davids hand firmly, David feels the seriousness of the pact and knows he must keep his word.
From that day onward Margaret avoids Mabel and the grandson. She no longer greets them on the street, keeping her distance.
David and Mabel move into their own cottage, and life settles into harmony and understanding. Whether its the old Whitaker advice or true love, the peace finally returns.
