Relationship That Endures
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| Candy and Albert, Candy Candy |
So just who will Candy wind up with not in a fleeting pass time, but . . . in a lasting relationship? Firstly, Anthony, her first love died accidentally, tragically. Terry and Candy broke up unexpectedly, unceremoniously —taking a lot out of her. Candy had been through a lot. But who can make up this difference? Well, Albert. What a surprise. (The readers would have never guessed in the manga series.) Albert is a character who keeps appearing and reappearing throughout Candy’s life — from the age of 12 to age of 16 (when the manga series comes to a close). Candy first meets Albert after crossing the lake to the other side of the land at Lagan’s estate — falling asleep on a small wooden canoe, riding through the rough and turbulent waterfall, breaking the canoe, washing her ashore, before passing out in a strange land where she is found by Albert. After fearing for her pending eviction out of Lagan’s estates (Eliza and Neil’s family’s estate), Candy takes a canoe ride across the waters. Albert finds her and says consoling words to her: “All will be right now, sleep.” He takes over and takes her to an abandoned house —furnished minimally. The house has been unoccupied for a long time— cob webs dress the ceilings and the house has been kept messy and unkempt. Taking her in until her full recovery, Candy recuperates from the turbulent ride across the water to his section in the vast, stretched land. Candy rises to, sees Albert, and fears him from his hairy, disheveled appearance: Albert’s dark sunglasses, his long shaggy beard, his long wildly manes. (Gee, can it be more suspicious and dangerous to a stranger.) She faints on him twice because of his frightful appearance. Albert reassures Candy he is neither bad nor frightening. Candy walks into an empty, abandoned house where Albert had been staying, (not at all furnished like the Lakewood mansion) and full of live animals to liven the space: pet skunk, squirrels, rabbits, deer (friendly, harmless herbivore animals). Some girls would have run off by this time, but not Candy! She is warm, friendly, outgoing to everyone she meets. Albert and Candy talk a little and he finds that Candy is acting as a house servant at Lagan’s and living out in their barn. The news startles Albert. Candy stays overnight at his unclean, abandoned house. Before Candy returns to Lagan’s, Albert lets her know write to him on occasions when she saddens —via message in a bottle. His idea is the wind will pick up and the bottle will arrive to his side of the lake, to his land, and to his house. Candy expresses her gratitude to Albert and he intends to write to him as soon as she gets back. The reader takes away from their first meeting that Albert has helped Candy.
And they meet again. Where? Outside, outdoors, back at Lakewood’s in which Ardley family resides. This time, Candy is by the front gate, where she first met Anthony, but she is now on the ground —bawling, sobbing. She has been in tears after Anthony’s death. At an open space before the gate leading to the rose garden, she imagines where Anthony once sat and greeted her. She imagines exactly how he appeared the day they first met. I want to hear your voice, see your eyes, and feel you once again! Candy harbors a grave nostalgic sentiment for her loves. Candy cries and collapses onto the ground. Right then, Albert greets Candy. Whenever Albert meets Candy, he sees her upset —crying, sobbing, woe-stricken—and not her usual bubbly, lively, smiling self which everyone else sees. Not caring how she looks, she lets it all out in front of Albert —how Anthony was so warm to her, how he had loved her. Albert counsels Candy that she should be happy to have met someone like Anthony (and it’s not every day you meet someone like Anthony). His language hardens and questions her, “Are you going to cry over Anthony like this forever?” Albert’s advice to Candy: Your future lies in your own hands; find it, and make it— yourself. Albert leaves, letting Candy know they will meet again —when she smiles again.
So they meet once again— in London. Candy meets Albert unexpectedly, surprisingly in London when she is out on town at night, looking for a pharmacy to buy medicine for Terry after his scuffle. Candy is lost in the city; no map of the foreign city is at the boarding school. Albert sees Candy and calls her name. He takes off his dark glasses and says, “You haven’t forgotten about me, have you?” It’s Albert, clean-shaven but still with a long, wavy, shaggy dark mane topped with sunglasses to complete his look. (It is not the look of a guy you’d normally date.) Candy recognizes his voice. She jumps to him —hugging him, tearing up in joy. She thought she would never see him again. He said to her: “Let me see your face. You’ve gotten prettier.” (This line is not significant but it will be for the sweetened surprise ending) Albert takes a look at her face. Albert’s age is revealed: He is ripe at the age of 20. Not as old as he initially appeared on their first meeting, he looked older from his beard. Candy initially thinks of him as a senior citizen, a grandfather. Do the math —Albert is at most 8 years older than Candy. Albert informs Candy he is at the zoo in London and to come visit him. Candy readily replies she will be there Sunday. And Candy finds Albert at a run-down shanty at the zoo. But Terry is there also. (Albert does not know that Candy and Terry know each other.) Albert was the one who helped Terry when Terry got into a scuffle —bruised and bloody the night he got into Candy’s room. Albert helps others. (The reader gets this impression of Albert: a good character who helps others; he has helped both Terry and Candy who were strangers at first that he helped.) And he loves animals. Candy and Terry spend time at the zoo. SUPER FAST-FORWARD, Skipping Terry’s scenes —to Candy and Albert’s moments. Terry has left the zoo. Candy is still there, talking to Albert after he returned from work. She tells him she won’t be going to the May Festival at the school after all. He got the invite and replied nicely he’s looking forward. Candy cannot attend because she has gotten into trouble again at school. Candy gets an impression Albert has been let down from his grimaced face.
Thereupon, a period has passed. When Candy is at the boarding school in London, she receives a letter from Albert. Albert is in Africa. He has not let her know his whereabouts (but that’s the type of person he is, he appears and disappears just as quickly—sounds familiar?) He wanted to let her know, but Candy was enjoying herself —smiling and all—and so he couldn’t. He did not have the heart to tell her. He writes in his letter his days in Africa—the wild animals that roam about, the nurse who resembles Candy. He closes the letter this way: “We’ll always meet again. There are no good-byes between us. We’ll probably be able to meet again; I left your turtle with the zoo.”
Candy leaves the boarding school in London and returns to U.S. —to Chicago. She studies to be a nurse, working (in the meantime) at the hospital. News of war breaks out. (Candy Candy takes place during pre-WW II era: a period where people dressed differently.) Candy thinks that she has met her benefactor, William Ardley at the hospital, but he is a different William. She nurses him to health regardless. Candy’s character is nice and warm to everyone. One day, an unexpected event unfolds. Albert has been rushed to the hospital —in a stretcher. Debilitating him as a patient in a serious condition, Albert lies in the stretcher with his body covered over like a corpse. Albert has been seriously injured. And Albert is blonde! Not a brunette. Candy identifies his pet skunk Buffet, which confirms his identity. Candy is shocked to see Albert like this —his usual soft smile and shining eyes— no longer alive in his visage. She immediately informs the head of the hospital she knows the unidentified patient. He asks her for his full name, address, and the essential details. But Candy does not know. She realizes she does not know Albert that well —not the least of the facts. She merely knows his first name and that they have been friends for a long time. The man at the hospital informs Candy they cannot get any information from Albert. Albert has forgotten everything . . . he has amnesia. Yikes! Rumors go around the hospital that Albert may be a spy. There are talks about Albert involved in an explosion — but on board a train in Italy, Albert has merely tried to save his pet skunk Buffet which leaped off the train before the train exploded. Most hospital patrons regard Albert as a bad person; having a negative portrait of him, they steer clear of him. So Albert has been left in a poorly-maintained room. Not considered an important patient, Candy goes into Albert’s room where he is asleep. Taking a closer look at him, he looks more attractive as a blonde than a brunette and much better without his glasses. Ah, his good looks and handsome face hides behind a dyed dark brown hair and a pair of tinted glasses.
Candy tends to Albert: He is her patient. She wants to give him good care while he is there. Suspicious of his character, most of the hospital patrons are fearful of him. Candy arrives back to his room with a tray full of fruits and other nourishing food. She finds him awake — standing tall and erect— letting sunlight hit directly onto his countenance and with his stance, he stands by the front of the windows. (If a character equals Terry in the manga series of his physical attractiveness, it has to be Albert in his natural self.) Albert is beautiful in this scene. He looks at her but does not recognize her. His amnesia asks her where he is. She answers that he has been in a Chicago hospital. Albert realizes he is in U.S. He tries to think Chicago but gets an immense headache. Candy immediately attends to his side and lays him down on his bed. She keeps calling him Albert, by his name she has known, but he does not respond. He does not recognize his own name. He knows U.S. but not his own name, Albert. Candy makes up a lie that she knows a friend named Albert and he looks like him. Candy introduces herself to Albert. Few days go by, Candy stops by his room again. She lets him know to wait a little longer when she will be a real nurse (after she passes the exam), and then she can bring food and medicine to him. He catches on and asks if he is pestering the hospital. Albert feels burdened by Candy’s care-taking role; she is too good to him. He discloses he had been moved — transferred in-and-out of hospitals in Italy —it is fine to let patients alone in the hospital even if death need be. Candy is surprised to hear Albert speak this way, referencing a dark subject matter. He has always been so nice and upbeat. Candy wants Albert to gather his health and memories. Candy wants to save Albert.
After meeting up with her friends, Candy returns to Albert’s room but find him missing in his bed. He has left a short note: Candy, I won’t forget you, nameless Albert. Candy is alarmed to find his note, worrying over his physical condition. She searches for him everywhere in the city—walking in at every place, every corner in the streets. Where can he be? That is when it dawns on her — wait a minute, where did I first meet Albert? Passed out at the age 12, across the lake from Lagan’s and over the waterfall, to the other side of the land where animals abide. She has to find him at a nearby lake, water, stream of some sort in Chicago; Albert loves nature and parks. And Candy does find him late at night at the Chicago Park. He is near the stream, where he stands at the park alone with a small, carry-on sack. Candy rushes over to Albert, hugs him; as tears stream down her face, she asks why he has left without saying anything. Albert asks how she would know he would be here. He does not want to cause any more trouble to Candy. Candy shouts in her tomboy’s voice: “We’re not strangers. I looked for you here because I know you!” She reminds him that he loves nature like the park they are in now —at the deep Lakewood forest, London’s zoo, and Africa. “I’ve known you for a long time,” Candy said with teary eyes calmly. Albert reiterates everyone’s suspicions of him: no known name, unknown address, repeat pattern of constant travel to different locales. He might as well be a dangerous, suspicious person. Albert reminds Candy that she does not know his full name or his real occupation. She reinstates to him that she has known him; their times have revealed him to be upbeat and he has always offered her warm company. Albert has a fiercely independent spirit and sets off to leave, saying he can manage on his own. Candy cries out to him not to leave. She retells her story of their meetings—tracing her memory of him comforting her when she had been lost and passed out at the waterfall in U.S.; his comforting of her after Anthony’s death; and her wanting to see him when she and Terry broke up. She insists on being by his side, until he can recover his memories, like an older brother who is an orphan. It’s now her turn.
So it comes down to this: Candy and Albert live together. Candy writes a letter to Terry, disclosing her living situation, which completely catches him off-guard. But if there has to be a guy whom Terry can allow to live with Candy, it is Albert. He trusts Albert. Candy and Albert get to know each other better: her loud footsteps up the apartment stairwell, his cooking, cleaning, keeping house well, his nice gestures which covers a nice meal, finessed with vase of flowers and linen tablecloth, and his contributing to bills and expenses. Hence Albert is a nice housemate to live with.
Candy sets out to meet Terry in New York. While Candy and Albert are living together, Candy dates Terry. Albert thinks he can live with Candy like this — their lives have entwined so easily, harmoniously with one another. No conflicts nor tensions arise between the two. After the bad unexpected breakup with Terry, Candy returns to their apartment with a bad cold and fever. She sobs on Albert’s shoulders again and pours her heart out to him over her and Terry’s break-up —letting the actress Suzanna, who has more feminine wiles, take Terry out of her own hands. She had not wanted another girl to take Terry away —slip him out of her hands—but she had to. (She purposely lost Terry to Suzanna from her virtues. But that is Candy’s style; she sticks to her values.) Candy believed Suzanna was willing to sacrifice her life so she and Terry can be together (at least for a brief moment in the wintry night). Candy lays in her bed, grasping hard onto her bed sheets—tired, dejected with loss of vigor and energy. She has spent so much energy quivering, trembling the night they broke up and on her train ride back to Chicago. It has all taken a lot out of her. She cries on. Albert comforts Candy and reminds her that she liked Terry, the Terry who could not throw away and discard Suzanna. If Terry had thrown Suzanna aside, if he had stayed by Suzanna’s side instead, she would not have liked him. Candy sobs on her pillow, now lying in her bed. Albert sees Candy at her worst, not in her cheerful self but without smiles. He acknowledges that she must be tired and lets her sleep. He thinks to himself: forget everything Candy . . .
Albert shops to make soup for Candy’s cold and fever at a grocery store. Isn’t that nice? But he gets hit by a car and is taken to a run-down, small makeshift hospital at the zoo. Candy has been alerted of his accident. She rushes to his side where he comes to. After recovering his memory, he gets out of his bed and recollects the train accident in Italy. Then he sees Candy and calls her name out loud. Has Albert’s memory revived and remembers Candy?
Days go by, time passes and seasons subside. Candy cleans out her closet and opens up her small box which keeps her most precious treasure: the medallion, the Ardley family emblem. Her memento, her souvenir that dates back to the age of 6, her first love. Safely encased in her jewelry box, she has kept this medallion throughout her youth —her most precious treasure. Now she is 16 years old; it has been ten years since. She holds the medallion in her hand, recollecting every memory of her first love, the prince on the hill. She thinks to herself: Where did he disappear after saying “you look prettier when you smile.” The prince who looks a lot like Anthony, but she was never able to get his name nor did she see him again. Candy thinks to herself: I even broke up with Terry, even with Terry! She tears up while thinking about her break-up with Terry. Candy returns to her work at the hospital and is told she is fired. And no hospital in the city hires Candy. How can this be? Well, it is the work of . . . Neil. After Candy’s rejection, Neil has made sure Candy pays the price, a very hefty price. He told the head management in charge of the hospital that Candy lives with a single male, painting their relationship in a sordid, scandalous ordeal. Leaving out the fact that Candy knows Albert and she has been helping him recover his memories.
Back at the apartment, Candy cleans up. In the meantime, Albert has another one of his episodes of immense headache at work in a restaurant and lies down on the kitchen floor. Upon cleaning up the apartment, Candy uncovers dusty, old newspaper articles. Bad headline news cover all of them of Terry Grandchester, the actor and her ex-boyfriend: Broadway’s Romeo and Juliet shut down, Poor Quality, In Ruins! Terry Grandchester’s Romeo Role Ends! His dialogue is all wrong and acting is terrible. Terry’s Acting after Marriage to Suzanna Leaves No Marks or Trace. Candy tears up. Tears drip down from her eyes, down to her cheeks in absolute awe and disbelief at the terrible headlines. Terry had been in just as bad shape as Candy after their break-up. Have you been just as beset and plagued after our breakup? He must’ve been —more than I had been. . . (They’re so in sync . . . in all the wrong ways)
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| Albert at Chicago park |
Meanwhile, Albert lies down on the grassy slopes at the Chicago Park with his pet skunk, Buffet. He lies down on the grass, with his body stretched out onto the field, in many ways like Candy. They both like to lie down on grasses, grassy planes, knolls. Another thing Albert and Candy have in common? They both help others, even strangers. That is how they met. Coincidentally, Albert has regained all his memories. He lies on the grassy slope contemplating what he should do. (Albert is such a refreshing, stable temperament to Terry’s emotional rollercoaster ride.) Albert feels has awaken from a long sleep. First thought that came across Albert’s once he has regained his memories: Candy, cute freckled face. He reflects on their meetings at different places: her near drowning in the lake, her mourn for Anthony’s death, London, letters to her in Africa, and now here in Chicago. Can I still live with Candy after I regained all my memories? We’ve been living as nurse and patient . . . Albert returns to the apartment and see Candy passed out (and so unglamorously), lying down on the floor amidst the piles of newspapers all headed with Terry’s bad news. (She fell asleep crying on top of the newspapers.) Albert has intentionally hid them from her; but she has found the papers. Albert sees Candy’s tears which still remain on her face from over-crying. He lifts her up and puts her to bed. Just as dashing as Terry, right? ;) (The writer does not disappoint!) Albert thinks in his mind as he looks at Candy: You’ve been through a lot, Candy. I want to make you happy. With a little more time pass, I’ll tell her I regained my memories. Candy remains in her bed with her eyes open now; she is crying, tears dripping down her face. Candy’s thoughts on Albert: Albert’s warm hands, he wiped away my tears; the only people that treated me like this were teacher Rainn and Pony at Pony’s. Thanks, Albert. I won’t be so saddened by Terry’s news.
One day, Candy leaves the apartment in search of a new job and without letting Albert on. But she is turned down at every hospital (thanks to Neil’s disreputable comments about Candy). Candy is at the park and bumps into Albert. Suddenly, a loose lion step towards them and Candy trips on a tree’s branch, setting the lion off. Albert jumps and intervenes, getting Candy out of harm’s way and the lion tears his shirt, scratching Albert’s chest and shoulders. He protects her. The zoo keepers were about to shoot the lion down, but Albert stops them. He has trained lions and other wild animals during his stay in Africa. He pacifies and palliates the lion and the lion rests in repose. Isn’t Albert something? Candy wraps Albert in bandages at the small, run-down makeshift hospital by the zoo. She cries over Albert’s sudden jump-in, risking his own body, getting injured while fending the lion. Candy does not realize now just how good of a relationship she has with Albert—he dashingly protected Candy, not once ever doubting or rethinking, for her safety. Candy is blind to Albert, not as a dating prospect. Candy is at the drug store, getting whisky for the doctor at the zoo’s small hospital when girls at the store gossips about Terry Grandchester’s bad news. They talk of how attractive he used to look, how charismatic and charming he once had been. Candy peers over the papers and reads the line: Terry Stops Long Awaited Theater Production, Disappeared. Terry is Missing. Candy drops the papers in utter shock and disbelief. Terry, you’re giving up on your dreams! She leaves the store and cries. Later on that night, she thinks: Terry has quit . . . Terry . . . I wanted you to be happy with Suzanna, even separating from you . . . I thought everything was over . . . But you’ve been . . . you have been destroying yourself! You’ve been alone, worrying all by yourself . . . She ceases crying once Albert’s pet skunk Buffet comes into her room, not wanting to cause Albert any more worries. But Albert see Candy crying despite her attempts to conceal her emotions.
Albert pulls up in a car to Candy. A broken down car. Albert has not given any impression that he has money. Candy gets into his car and he takes her to an area outside of the cityscapes — where vast stretches of land sprawl wide above — across and abroad; a scenic landscape of trees, hills, brooks, grasses, slopes like the open field at Pony’s in Michigan —where they can run freely. He wants to show this to her. Candy gets excited and cheery again and her usual lively, happy, sprightly self returns. She points to a tree she is ready to climb. No skirt can stop her. They both climb a large tree together. Albert has brought a small basket of sandwich for them to share. He comments he had been under low budget, so he was only able to buy one sandwich. It is okay with Candy and she suggests splitting the sandwich in half. Albert replies to Candy: it’s nice to share one thing amongst two people. Candy looks startled. Albert continues: from now on, why don’t we do that? Your worries and sorrows, wouldn’t you like to share them with me? Candy’s face changes from cheery to teary, at his poignant gesture which is so much like Albert. Promise me, Candy, Albert says. Candy is . . . so thankful.
One night, a man comes to Candy, letting her on that Terry summoned him to bring her to Terry. Candy goes along with the man. She gets into a house and waits for Terry. She has been anticipating meeting Terry and thought of what she would say to him. But Terry does not show. Neil enters the room instead, locking the door behind him. Candy realizes she has been fooled by Neil’s deceit and trickery. Disgusted at Neil for resorting to such a low move, she pushes him away when he makes a move on her. Wandering around amidst the greenery, Candy gets lost in the dark night —sounds of hooting owls and the black of the night arouse fear — she rethinks her whereabouts. Then, a shape merges before her in the shadow: Albert. He went looking for her. And his beat-up vehicle had been wrecked in the process. Candy shares her sad story of Neil, deceiving her into meeting him while posing as Terry. “How pitiful, he can only make himself loved that way,” Albert comments. He gives her a kiss on the forehead.
Back at the apartment, talks of Albert’s character spreads inside the building. The landlady approaches her and informs her that Albert has been seen with strange men who look conspicuously suspicious late at nights. Candy questions Albert’s character for this second. Can Albert be dealing in shady business transactions?
Meanwhile, across the oceans — Candy’s friend Starr dies during war while flying a plane. Candy grieves his loss. Climbing on top of a branch of a large tree at Chicago Park, she looks up at the sky. Here, she talks to Starr. (Everyone Candy is close friends with is vested in her heart.) Albert finds her and consoles her. He said he has just received his bonus; he will treat her. Candy’s eyes widen (from the landlady’s accusations), but she does not want to question Albert, she believes him.
Candy’s
landlady is on her case, demanding Albert has to go. Albert overhears in the stairwell outside the
apartment. Candy sits at the kitchen
table, putting her head down from stress and falls asleep. While she sleeps, Albert leaves a note to
Candy. He leaves an envelope full of
cash along with the note. He writes to
her: I
heard the women talk earlier. I’m sorry
to cause you worries. But you believed
me til the end. Thanks . . . I was
happy. But I cannot be a bother any
longer. I regained my memories because
of your help. Thanks. I haven’t been able to tell you . . . This money isn’t much but to show thanks to
you . . . we’ll definitely be able to
see each other again one day. Candy
tears up. She thinks to herself: I have
been fine . . . Albert, where did you go?
Not doing bad things, I hope . . .?
Candy sojourns the apartment, cold and alone. She feels lonely. She pictures Albert entering the apartment when they were living together. She is left wondering, where could he be? Soon after, she receives a package, which is left outside her apartment. It is from Albert. The return address is Roxtown. She opens the package to find a spring coat. A note is in the package—Candy, it’s your spring coat. Wherever I am, I’m thinking of you. Albert. Candy decides to visit Roxtown to find Albert. She finds it to be a small town. There, she overhears upset female customers exiting a run-down vaudeville theater house. They complain: “Let’s leave together. He definitely drank alcohol!” “His lines were all wrong, too many mistakes.” “Terry isn’t much of anything.” “I thought I’d like but it’s disappointing.” Candy’s eyes widen and she thinks: No way! It has to be a lie! Terry wouldn’t drink and then come to a vaudeville. Not at this type of poor, run down theater . . . It can’t be true! (The story is about to get more melodramatic.) She enters the premise — a messy, run-down space with noisy, rowdy audience, all rudely shouting —“Take it off, mam,” “I can’t hear,” “Take it off, take it off!” The male audience are drinking. Disorderly seats, smells of alcohol, cigarette smokes infuse the air in the room. Candy is bewildered: At this type of place, at this type of place, Terry . . . Terry used to shine more than anyone else . . . He performed at the Chicago Theater as a king of France . . . Candy sees Terry on stage — scruffy, scrimped, scrounged up, indifferent to his line and his acting. The audience continues to shout rude, scathing remarks, “Is that acting you learned on Broadway?” Terry drops down to the stage’s floor, looking weak. Candy tears up, Terry, Terry . . . He lost that much weight . . . The audience continues to shout loud, boorish remarks. Thoughts rush inside Candy’s mind —Terry! What happened? You’re not like the ones to deliver such poor act! I remember! That summer’s day in Scotland . . . Your face shined so much . . . And now . . . now . . . The Terry that took Suzanna . . . Terry who couldn’t throw away Suzanna . . . I took great measures, heart wrenching means to separate from you . . . But now this is the result? This is the love that you had for me? I tried so hard to forget you . . . Praying for time to pass quickly, but you’ve been falling apart . . . You loved me that way . . .
Members of the male audience continue with their rude remarks shouting on to stage. Then Candy’s eyes fire up. Her feisty side comes out. She grabs, takes hold of a bearded man’s collar and exclaims, “If you keep on cursing and shouting, he can’t act! He’s very good actor!” The man abides. “Be quiet! I can’t hear his lines,” she demands. The bearded man shouts to the rest of the audience to quiet down. Audience is silent. Terry carries on with his lines, nonchalantly, carelessly. Then he notices the audience is different tonight. The room full of rowdy male audience stopped being rancorous. He can hear his voice echo. And he sees Candy, the semblance of Candy and the shadows of her silhouette (her ponytail hair and dress) in the rear of the room all the way in the back —tearing up and crying. Am I dreaming? What have I been doing . . . After Candy and I separated, I . . . Terry tears up. He gets his act together. He starts to act. He acts well. He delivers his lines like a seasoned actor he is. Terry decides now to return to his Strassport days and back to Broadway Theater. This shall be his path! Candy watches on and she smiles. Terry . . . It is you! Please don’t stay at a place like this, return to Strassport . . . And to Suzanna, be happy with her . . . If you two were happy, I would . . . The audience claps, applauds, praises. Candy leaves the room. Her job is done. Candy’s tears remain in her eyes and she thinks: ‘I have to find Albert.’ Then Terry’s mother comes up to her.
Terry asks the custodian attendant if he has seen a cute, freckled girl. He cannot recall. Terry takes a seat and rethinks his stay here. Was it a phantasm? It felt like Candy was here. Candy . . . feeling sorry for me . . . looking so sad. Definitely . . . you’ve given me strength again. I’ve become like this . . . I came because I needed the money. What type of theater and with that type of actress . . . I’ve become a mess after the breakup . . . Terry takes a cigarette for a smoke. He reminisces of his past with Candy—lively, sprightly Tomboy who angers easily and smiles —and his days with her at the London boarding school. Then he thinks of his girl now, Suzanna on her clutch. Suzanna did not stop me from going on a trip. She never asked when I’ll return, just said have a nice trip. I couldn’t forget about Candy . . . And that made it harder for me to be next to Suzanna . . . I won’t have a love like my father. To love someone like that! But I threw away Candy . . . I couldn’t make her happy . . . Am I just like my father! (Terry is an unstable, tormented character.) Terry thinks of Suzanna’s last words before his trip: “I’ll wait for you. . .” Terry goes on thinking: I cannot forget Suzanna no matter how much of a distance I keep from her. That night, I chose not to be with Candy but Suzanna. I couldn’t make Suzanna happy, how could I wish for Candy’s happiness! Terry gathers himself and makes a firm commitment. I have to return to Strassport! Start over once again! He returns to New York that same night. He thinks it must have been a mirage of Candy.
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| Eleanor Baker as a famous actress |
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| Eleanor Baker, Terry's mother |
Terry’s mother Eleanor Baker, the famous actress, sits with Candy at a café. She had been visiting Terry at the run-down vaudeville theater for five days consecutively, not being able to go up to her own son. (Terry’s father, Richard Grandchester, does not want his son meddling with Eleanor Baker, his own mother and once his father’s love interest.) She tells Candy that Terry will rise again because of her efforts. Candy realizes on the train ride back that Albert has set this meeting up with Terry. He wanted her to see Terry one last time. She returns to the apartment lonely. She remembers her time with Albert at the apartment together —colors of the curtains they once picked out, identical pajamas they wore, initialized cups they both shared and used. She cannot bear it any longer. Candy has to return to Pony’s. Then Juru, William Ardley’s chauffeur, shows up to drive her back to Lakewood Estates where the elderly matron Mrs. Ardley awaits. Mrs. Ardley demands a marriage between Candy and Neil. It is Neil’s will. (Candy once helped Neil when he was caught in a scuffle in the streets of Chicago. That’s Candy —she helps others, despite her likes or dislikes of them.) Candy strongly objects Neil’s marriage proposal. The only person who can stop the marriage is William Ardley himself, who is in charge of the entire Ardley family (whom she has never met). Permission is granted to Candy to meet William Ardley at the Lakewood Estates.
After four years has passed since her last visit, Candy returns to Lakewood Estates. She has not returned since Anthony’s death. Her first time at Lakewood’s in years and now more grown up than ever, she finally waits to meet her benefactor, Mr. William Ardley. She finds him in a large room and begins speaking to William. She express her objection to Neil’s marriage proposal. Few feet away, in a cushioned chair, his body faces away from hers. She sees that a man is sitting, his visible arms resting on the arm of the chair. She stops talking. Is it you, William Ardley? Pause. William stands up. “Is that all you have to say, Candy?” Williams said. Candy’s eyes widen. She recognizes that voice. William gets up, facing Candy. William is Albert! Her benefactor has been Albert all along! Albert stands as he faces Candy —tall, erect, more dashing than ever—and dressed in dark debonair fashion. The large French window shines sunlight through the room and onto Albert’s beautiful figure and presence. Candy tears upon seeing it has been Albert all along. She talks formally to him. Albert said to Candy to talk to him like she normally does. Albert assures Candy not to worry about Neil. Candy sinks down to the ground. Her energy has been sucked out from his suddenly grand, stupefying surprise —a very pleasant surprise. She never once thought that Albert was William Ardley. Why has he not told her? He replies he has been busy. Candy reflects on her memories with Albert: Albert . . . always supportive Albert. When I first met him . . . at the waterfall, he saved me and took care . . . At Ardley’s mansion after being adopted . . . dream-like happy days after days . . . After Anthony died, he said “Candy, fate is not something anyone gives you . . .” Be strong Candy . . . Your fate is what you find and create . . . When I broke up with Terry and when Starr died, Albert was the one by my side . . . “Candy, taking one and sharing it between two people is a good thing. Why don’t we do that from now on? Your worries and sorrows, share that with me? Promise . . .” Albert embraced me warmly . . . Always, unchangingly . . .
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| Candy and Albert by his abode |
Albert offers to get her tea. Candy stops him and tries to get it herself. She accidentally tips off the cups. Her heart still beats fast from the stupefying surprise. She addresses Albert as William Ardley for the first time. “I always wanted to meet you, I feel like I’m dreaming right now. A beautiful day like this . . . I really thank you for everything you have done. Thank you.” Candy tears up and tears roll down her face. Albert tells her to stop. He prefers to be called Albert than William Ardley —why he travels alone a lot. Albert and Candy sit at the table drinking tea. Candy notices paintings hung in the room. She points to a portrait of a woman, saying how pretty she looks. The woman in the painting is Rosemary Brown: his sister and Anthony’s mother (whose eyes are like Candy’s). Albert and Candy take a walk outside to the gated entryway where Anthony’s garden of roses still blooms. Candy says with regret: “I didn’t get to do anything for Anthony.” Albert mentions Anthony used to run around a lot here outside at the garden. After giving birth to Anthony, Rosemary, his sister became weak and pale, but always worrying about her son. Candy reflects on her memories. Albert and Candy take a boat ride on a swan-shaped boat Starr once built, to the other side over the lake where they first met. The boat collapses (humorously) once they reach the other side. The animals are still at the abandoned house: rabbits, raccoons, squirrels, deers, birds —so friendly to Candy. They change their clothes. Albert starts his fireplace. He updates on Terry, who has returned and is doing well now. Terry has returned to Strassport and has started over again. Candy reflects on Terry — You’ve returned, Terry . . . And now . . . Now you’ll be okay, Terry? I haven’t heard from Terry since . . . Time really changes a person . . . Things that are not before my eyes disappear little by little. Candy and Albert feasts outside in the grass on a small table with animals as their friendly companions. Candy sleeps with animals by her bed at night. Candy and Albert go fishing, climb trees, lie down, and loll around on the grass together. They get along harmoniously. Juru comes to the estate and Candy is summoned to the other house where the elderly matron Mrs. Ardley resides.
The tables have been all set up with catered foods, decorations, guests for Neil and Candy’s engagement party. Candy lets Mrs. Ardley know firmly that she cannot and will not get engaged to Neil. (How dare she speak like that to Mrs. Ardley! But that’s Candy.) Albert, dressed in a dark suit, steps in. Everyone in the room turns to look at him. “Engagement won’t take hold like Candy said,” Albert interjects. Neil mentions to Mrs. Ardley that he is the guy who lived with Candy after losing his memories. Mrs. Ardley realizes that Candy is the one who helped Albert when he had amnesia. Neil demands to know who he is. Albert introduces himself finally to the crowd of guests: “Everyone, I’m William Albert Ardley.” (If anyone can outdo Terry’s stylish, dashing presence in a room —it is Albert) Now everything has been cleared for Candy. They cannot possibly object to William’s words. He is in charge of the whole Ardley family. Albert lets Candy know he will be waiting in the woods.
Candy climbs a large tree in her dress. Albert looks for her. Sitting on top of the branch, she sees him, calls for him. He climbs up the tree along with her, tearing his shirt just like Candy has done on her skirt. Albert calls for the birds —whistling—and the birds fly over to his hand. “I sometimes wonder if I can work in the trees. I like nature more than money,” Albert said. Albert mentions if she can picture him like the rigid, stern matron Mrs. Ardley. Candy replies, “No, not at all.” Albert laughs at her too honest of a response. Candy adds on, “Because you want to work on top of the trees.” Candy and Albert carry on, enjoying each other’s company. Albert is much younger than what she has imagined William Ardley to be like. The wind picks up amidst the leaves of the trees. Candy realizes she must return to Pony’s. Candy lets Albert know she intends to return near Pony’s, helping the orphanage and plans on working at a hospital near Pony’s. Albert accepts Candy’s decision. It is like Candy’s, so true to her character. Albert thinks good of Candy, as an Ardley family member. Candy does have style. She is dashing, also. Like Albert has style. The pair does in their own ways.
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| Albert at Pony's hills |
Candy
returns to the pastoral region of her home, Pony’s —tall, standing larches, broadleaf
trees align, shoot up sky-high, grassy planes sprawled out in the greenery,
slopes of the hills stretch out for miles for her to run through all day. Candy looks on cheeringly at Pony’s. Mina, her dog which once belonged to other
William at the Chicago hospital runs up to her, barking. Pony and Rainn greet her, warmly. They inform her she has guests. Her
guests? She was not expecting any
guests. Annie, Pattie, Archie (all her
childhood friends) —they are all here at Pony’s. Archie informs Candy Albert is here
also. Albert has brought wondrous abundance
of foods as a gift to Pony’s. Candy is .
. . so happy. She tears up, not out of sadness, but so much happiness. Finally, Candy is . . . so happy. Candy wipes her
tears and sets outside to look for Albert.
She runs outside in the grass on the hills with her arms wide open like
wings of an airplane flying. Candy
reflects on her memories of her loves in the Pony’s hills: Anthony
said he’ll want to be here with me in the hills before he passed . . . And
during the cold winter day, Terry
stopped by here in the snow . . . So many memories on my hills . . .
My
laughter during childhood . . . And tears . . . Candy tears in joy and happiness. Just then, she hears a voice: “Little girl, you look prettier when you
smile!” Candy turns around and sees
Albert standing behind her by the tree. Lord
and behold, upon closer look, Albert looks like . . . well, his blue eyes, firm voice, and blonde hair— Albert is not only William
Ardley (superimpose, reverting years of age back down to a decade) but he is
and has been O-H M-Y G-O-S-H my prince on the hill. (A decade of keeping her medallion, her most
precious treasure comes down to this wonderment.) Candy runs up to Albert —her first love, her prince on
the hill at age 6. Albert looks on and what are his thoughts? ‘You
really look prettier when you smile . . . Do not
ever forget that smile . . . Don’t ever
forget . . . Candy!’ Candy runs up to Albert —her first love, her supportive
Albert, her benefactor William . . . he has been all of the above to her. Therefore
all of her heart-wrenching pasts mend in this delightful surprise. Because he has been there all along . . . all
through the years . . . Her first
love, her last love . . . he has been the one. Sweet.
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| Candy with her first love, the prince on the hill |
I wrote the poem inspired by their story, Candy and Albert's, most of it is based on the last scenes of the manga, where Candy learns of William Ardley's identity, who is Albert all along and her prince on the hill (while listening to Celion Dion's songs several times) This is based on the fantasy-fiction manga, not to be taken literally.
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