Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 29:42 — 13.6MB)
Title: Claudia Says Goodbye to Her Family.
Claudia has everything all packed up that she won’t need as she goes to visit Nick. She says a few words of goodbye to Father Barber before leaving for the airport. He tries to explain why he and Ma feel so sentimental at the changes, and departures in the family.
Afterward, Margret pops in to catch Ma Barber talking to herself. Claudia tells her mom goodbye as they remember how Nick came into their lives. Hazel enters with a last minute crisis with one of the kids. Claudia is to leave her oldest girl Joan, while she takes the younger kids. A painful moment is shared as Joan lays on the guilt trip, missing her mom even before she is gone.
Father Barber conforts Margret, who claims to have a stomach ache. Alone, he lists the names of his kids, and their significant others who have left, and are gone for him. At the airport, Cliff has followed Betty, Paul, and Claudia to tell about the case of measles that has broken out back at the ranch. Also to tell about the emotions that Joan is going through in being left. The final moment arrives, and Claudia boards the plane, saying goodbye to her brothers and sisters. That closing of the door, and the plane roaring through the air makes it seem so final as Claudia departs. With the ending of the day, Betty announces her new arrival might be ready to be born.
