Continuation of the Details--page 3 |
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Moonshine and Fighting Words Here we have another recurring situation in the series: a confrontation between Neil MacNeill and David Grantland, this time over illegal liquor. MacNeill is a fiery realist; David Grantland is an impassioned idealist. MacNeill understands the mountain people and their ways; David wants to change them. And therein lies the difference between these two, and in this argument Christy backs David. Nothing swoony about this scene but it establishes MacNeill as the voice of the mountain people among these outsiders, and over time, Christy will go to him again and again to seek out his experience and advice.
A Mountain Party There is a very subtle moment going on here at this corn shucking party when MacNeill spots Christy, and he obviously wants to speak to her. So he follows her through the crowd and when he almost reaches her, she turns away from him and toward David. Christy asks David if he will show her the steps to the dance that is taking place. What we get a sense of here is the tension between Christy and the two men and are led at this point to believe that Christy is mostly interested in David. But we do see MacNeill's obvious disappointment in her turning away from him in this scene. I also think there is something ironic at play here as Christy chooses to dance with David rather than MacNeill when in later episodes centered around the relationship of MacNeill and Christy, dance is a central motif. (See episodes Green Apples, Second Sight and The Road Home for more on this.) I am open to suggestions here; just what do you think is really going on in this scene?
Recently Karen M emailed this idea: -
Regarding the dancing
scene, I keep thinking of the scene in the novel where she dances with
MacNeill at Ruby Mae's wedding. That scene is so delightful and full
of sparks between the couple. I'll have to see those other episodes
again (I'm a fairly new Christy fan - lucky for me they have the whole
set at my library :), but I see the contrast and "safeness" of her
choosing to dance with David rather than MacNeill in this scene. We
know that she remains confused and in denial for quite awhile regarding
her feelings for these men, she often seems more comfortable sharing
'close' moments - a dance, a kiss - with David than with the more
mysterious, impassioned doctor. (SWOON)
Tom McHone's Injury Christy next encounters MacNeill when he is summoned to the Mission to treat Tom McHone's gunshot wound. He warns Christy and David about stirring up more feuding and leaves abruptly advising them to close the school while everyone cools off. This is to setup the critical incident that happens to Christy at the schoolhouse next.
Miss Alice on Neil MacNeill Christy confides to Miss Alice that MacNeill's criticism of herself and David stirring up more of the feuding concerns her. Alice reveals "Dr. MacNeill expects perfection from himself and from everyone else." By telling Christy this, Alice is letting Christy know that MacNeill is actually just as hard on himself, if not harder, as he is on others around him. We realize that Alice understands the doctor very well and she is trying to explain to Christy that MacNeill cares a great deal about the people in the cove and takes their well-being very personally. Many times he is angry at himself and his own failures as much as he is at any one other person in particular. This is a valuable insight into MacNeill that Christy will encounter several times over the course of learning about this man.
The Bedside Vigil Christy's life is nearly taken when the school house is set on fire and she is struck on the head by a burning beam while trying to save items from the fire. In the next scene we see a pale and motionless Christy lying in her bed with a sorrowful MacNeill at her side. He is holding her hand and kisses her very tenderly on the forehead while she lies unconscious. A very sweet SWOON! He is clearly distraught at what has happened, and it is obvious he cares deeply for this young woman (clue #4). The very subdued lighting here lit by moonlight and a lamp on a table behind MacNeill contributes to the subtle romanticism of the scene. There is an almost luminous presence in Christy's face which matches the glow of the lamp and the moonlight. The image here is a foreshadowing of how important this light that is Christy will become in MacNeill's life.
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