A Little Men Soap Opera
by Lindsey
What if Little Men was a soap opera? Just think: episodes five times a week, no summer reruns, and more drama, intrigue, and romance--it would be great! Or would it?
Here is my idea of what we might expect from season two if Little Men suddenly became a daytime soap:
First, in the soap opera tradition, all of the Plumfield students would develop SORAS (Soap Opera Rapid Aging Syndrome), be aged into their early twenties, and recast. Some favorite characters (Asia & Emil in my story) would move to the backburner and only be seen for holidays, and children (Rob) would be almost non-existent except when their paternity is in question.
Season two begins simply and happily enough. Dan & Bess are officially courting, Meg & Edward are talking marriage, and Jo & Nick's feelings towards each other have become apparent to everyone, including themselves. Nat is in pursuit of both a music career and Nan, though Tommy rivals him in the latter.
Though Dan has found a family at Plumfield and has a promising future with Bess, he cannot ignore his desire to search for his roots. Bess, with the support of Laurie & Amy, encourages him, and they travel to Boston to begin their search. After many dead ends, Dan & Bess learn that the couple who cared for Dan as a child were not his natural parents-he was actually born in Europe. When Laurie & Amy generously offer to fund the trip, Dan & Bess cross to the Atlantic where they learn the truth: Dan is the product of an affair between Nick & Amy!
Back in Concord, Nat and Tommy are both vying for Nan's affections. Nan, though flattered and aware of a certain fondness for both boys, is intent on her medical studies. Unable to sort out her true feelings, Nan travels to Boston to take a medical course, promising the boys a decision upon her return. Walking through town one afternoon, Nan accidentally bumps into another young woman, only to find that they look exactly alike!
Meg and Edward have just announced their engagement, when a terrible fire breaks out in the Brooke household. Fortunately, Nick is nearby and is able to save the lives of Meg and her family. While Daisy and Demi escape unscathed, Meg is left blind.
The news of Dan's parentage causes a sensation in Concord when Dan and Bess return with their findings. Nick and Amy admit to having met in Europe while Amy was travelling with Aunt March and Nick was with the Merchant Marines. When Amy discovered she was pregnant, Nick had already returned to sea. Not wanting to disgrace her family, Amy arranged for their child to be adopted by a couple in Boston, hoping she would be able to see the boy from time to time. But she soon lost touch with them and never new that Dan was really her son. While Nick, Amy, and Dan are thrilled to have reunited their family, Laurie & Jo are shocked and Bess is left heartbroken.
Nan cannot find a way to explain the similarity between she & Jan, her lookalike. When they find they're the same age and share the same birthday, they know something is up. Nan confronts her father, who is amazed. Jan, it turns out, is Nan's long-lost twin, who was kidnapped from the Hardings when she was just a baby. Nan is thrilled to have a sister and determined they will be best friends, but Jan has an evil side.
While Nick & Amy try to make up lost time with Dan, Jo & Laurie are left spending a lot of time together. Both are shocked, hurt, and betrayed by this turn of events. With their young romance acknowledged and their son returned to them, many wonder whether Nick & Amy will rekindle their relationship. Laurie & Jo are confused and jealous and turn to each other for comfort. But things become even more complicated when Nick is shot and left for dead by an unknown assailant.
Meanwhile, Meg has broken off her engagement with Edward, believing he deserves a wife with the full power of sight. Despite Edward's many protests, Meg remains firm. Edward, unwilling to lose his love, takes Meg to specialists in Boston, but they believe that nothing can be done. Their house left in ruins after the fire, Meg, Daisy, and Demi move into Plumfield with Jo.
A miracle surgery by Dr. Pierce manages to save Nick's life. Nick, however, never saw his attacker and has no idea who might want to kill him. The whole town is shocked when Laurie is arrested for the attempted murder, suspected of attacking Nick out of jealously over Nick's relationships with both Amy and Jo. Edward assures everyone that the evidence is only circumstantial and Laurie is sure to get off. But the testimony of Dr. Pierce causes a sensation when he confesses that Fritz Bhaer died in an almost identical manner.
Nan returns to Concord, bringing Jan with her. Nat and Tommy are disappointed when Nan hasn't made her decision as promised, but she assures them she'll make it soon. While Nan continues her studies with Dr. Pierce, Jan becomes quite popular with all the men of Concord, trying to seduce everyone from Nat, Tommy, and the other boys to Nick and Laurie. Nat soon sees through games and tries to warn Nan about her sister's behavior. But when Nan is too busy to give him any attention, he turns to Bess, who is nursing her own heartbreak after finding out Dan is her half-brother.
Laurie is now on trial for both the attack on Nick as well as Fritz's murder. While Jo refuses to believe that Laurie could have been involved in either crime, Amy feels disgraced-not only because of Laurie's actions, but because they were presumably committed out of love for Jo. Amy finally decides to divorce Laurie and pursue a relationship with Nick.
Franz, disturbed by the commotion going on around him and without an occupation since all of Plumfield's students have graduated, begins to drink heavily.
Laurie is sure that the divorce is the low point of his life, but days later his is found guilty of both Nick's attack and Fritz's murder and sentenced to death. Jo, the only one to stand by Laurie, intends to do everything she can to make his last days easier. He confesses to her how scared and alone he feels and makes one final request from her: marry him.
When Nan finally takes a break from her studies, she realizes just how much has been going on in Concord. Jan has been making mischief everywhere: breaking hearts and even masquerading as Nan! And Nat and Bess seem to have become inseparable! Nan finally realizes that it is Nat who she cares for, but she fears she may be too late. Though Bess, aware that Nat still has feelings for Nan, makes every effort to keep the couple apart, they eventually sort out all the misunderstandings and decide to marry right away.
Nick, knowing he loves only Jo, has kept busy eluding the attempted seductions of both Amy and Jan. But he is shocked when Jo reveals her plan to marry Laurie. Nick confesses his feelings to her and begs her to reconsider, but Jo will not desert her friend in his final days. She assures Nick that he has her heart, but she feels compelled to grant the last request of her old friend. Nick, unable to see Jo be married to another man, goes on a sea voyage, and Jo promises to wed him when he returns.
With Jo always at Laurie's side, and Amy desperately attempting to win Nick back, only Franz is left to care for Meg and her family. The situation turns out to be beneficial to both: Franz helps Meg to become self-sufficient despite her handicap, and Meg helps Franz overcome his alcohol addiction. When Meg one day finds that she has regained her sight, Edward is thrilled that they will finally be able to marry. But Meg finds it is Franz, not Edward, who she truly cares for, and fakes a relapse
Jo and Laurie are married, and Jo stays with her new husband all the way to the gallows. As they prepare for the hanging, however, a stranger appears in the crowd and demands that they halt the execution. It is Fritz.
When Jan finds out that Nan and Nat are to be married, she is furious. Already becoming a prominent musician, Nat seems to Jan the best catch. When her attempts to woo Nat away from Nan fail, Jan kidnaps Nan on the day of the wedding and takes her place.
Meanwhile, Nick's voyage had ended in a terrible shipwreck, leaving him stranded on a deserted island. Though a passing ship finally rescues him, he has developed amnesia and has no memory of his time at Plumfield or Jo.
It is just as well that Nick is unable to claim Jo as his bride-she already has one husband too many. Fritz, it seems, was kidnapped and sent back to Germany. He had been trying desperately to return to Jo and Rob, but his captor, lack of funds, and immigration laws prevented him. The culprit in Fritz's kidnapping and the attack on Nick: Eli McBride.
Nan finally frees herself and hurries to stop the wedding. But she is too late. Nat and Jan are married and on their way to Europe for their honeymoon.
Meg lets it slip that her sight has been regained, and Edward comes to take her to Boston with him. She is sorry to hurt Edward, but the truth must be told, so she confesses that she has fallen in love with Franz. Edward is heartbroken, but wishes her well. Franz, however, sees them together and is certain they are making plans to marry. Devastated that he has lost Meg's love, he tries to drive the wagon after drinking heavily and is involved in a serious accident.
Edward turns to Amy for comfort after Meg breaks their engagement, and Amy is happy to oblige. Meanwhile, going through her father's things, Bess finds papers that indicate she was adopted…
In a true soap opera this could (and would) go on and on. Will Nick make it back to Plumfield? How will Jo escape charges of bigamy? Will Franz survive the accident? What happens when Nat realizes he has married the wrong girl? If Bess is really adopted will she & Dan finally be able to find happiness? If anyone has some more ideas, you're welcome to continue the saga. But, personally, I think this would be a bit much for Plumfield and PAX!
CONTINUED...
