1803. One year after the collapse of William's business, the Seton family has grown, but their financial worries and William's illness are worse than ever. Advised to travel abroad for William's health, the Setons spend their last pennies getting to Italy. Nothing prepares them for the trials lying ahead. The Saints. Adventures of Faith and Courage. Elizabeth Ann Seton. Episode 2 in the Las Areto. Listen to all the episodes and discover new shows at thesaintspodcast.com Is there any other treatment? I don't have any new treatments for you, Mr. Seton. I'm afraid it's time for you to put your affairs in order. I'll leave medicines with your wife to make you more comfortable. Is there nothing else we can try, Doctor? Well I have had some patients recover after a visit to a warmer climate. You could try that. Good day, Mr. and Mrs. Seton. Thank you for your visit. Of course. Tuberculosis. It's my family's curse. Not a curse, William. Hush back. No need to cry. Will you do if I die, Elizabeth? I don't know. I have been sick for a year and a half. I'm not getting any better. The doctor said a warmer climate might help. Let's go, William. We can stay with her business partners, the Filiicis, in Italy. We don't have the money. Not with a newborn baby. Now we have five children to look after. And we are ruined financially. I will take what's left and spend it all to bring you to Italy. It's not worth it, Elizabeth. You'll be in trouble when I die. God will provide. How? You keep saying that, but nothing has changed. We have good friends. They won't let us go hungry. We don't have enough money to take five children to Italy. They can stay with Julia in Pennsylvania. Baby Beck? I can't take her and care for you as I ought. Such a talkative baby. Bring Anita. Anita? Yes. She's old enough to remember the trip and having one of the children will help you. Yes. That's settled then. I'll book our passage to Italy today. And you will get better. It won't be for lack of trying if I don't. Get the last of the luggage below decks. We'll leave port in half an hour. Yes, Captain. Children, come give your father hugs. I'll take good care of them, Elizabeth. You know I love them as my own. I know. Papa, how long will you be gone? Six months or more, Elizabeth. Why are you going away again? There is a conference for doctors in England. I miss you when you're gone. Be a good child. Come on, you're stepmother. Papa, wait! It's time to go, Elizabeth. Yes. Little Beck, don't grow up too quickly without me. I love you. Good for your Aunt Julia, alright? Yes, Papa. That's my boy. Cross the heart and raise yourselves! It's time to board the ship, my friend. You'll come home, won't you, Mama? Of course I will. And, Papa? Pray hard, Willie. Pray very hard. When? When will you be home? We'll be back in a month for Christmas. Go with Aunt Julia back. Are you ready? Yes. Come on, Nina. Goodbye, my friend. Goodbye. I love you. Who's that man in the rowboat, Mama? Someone from the Italian government. There's yellow fever in America and it's very contagious. Italy won't let anyone who has it into their country. D'oh, I'll just go to Italy, right? Of course. Do you have any sick on board? Yes, one, sir. William Seton. Take him to the Lasareto. He has tuberculosis, not yellow fever. He's not contagious. No one who's sick can enter the country. He's here for his health. We are friends of Antonio Felici. I don't care who he's a friend with. I have my orders. Quarantine, uh, Seton's in the Lasareto. Spiegatti. What's a Lasareto, Mama? It's an old out-of-use prison, like a lighthouse on an island. Dear Lord, have mercy. An abandoned prison is no place for a sick man. Ha! Today it is. Andiamo! We'll unload your luggage, Mrs. Seton. Go ahead to the rowboat. I wouldn't want to be left in a place like this. Feels like being marooned by pirates. Mama? Yes, Nina? Sure. How long will they leave us here? Come on, let's get out of here. I don't know. Until Papa is better? I hope they bring us to the Felici's very soon. There's been a grave mistake. Look, Mama! Someone's coming! Maybe they're coming to get us! Go into the Lasareto! You've got a visitor. You can speak to him from the window. I will come down to the beach. Thank you. I'm not ill. No, no, no, no. Doesn't matter. You must go inside. Fine then. Come, Nina. Mrs. Seton! Who is it? I am Antonio Felici, Mrs. Seton. It's good to meet you. I'm so sorry you've been sent here. I am doing everything I can to get you onto the mainland. He isn't contagious. I told the officer so. It's not yellow fever. I know, Senora. I have explained that to these simpletons, but they will not listen. I promise you, I will not let the day pass without doing everything I can for William. Thank you. We can't stay here. He won't recover if we do. I understand. I will do everything possible. What's in the box? This is my inquisitive daughter, Nina. Ciao. I am Mr. Felici. I brought blankets, and my wife Amabilia has sent food. Tell me if you need anything else. Thank you. I will leave it with the guard. I believe I have made them nervous, and they won't let me come any closer. I see. Tell me. William, how is he? How is he? Shut up between damp walls, smoke and wind from all corners. His bones almost chilled through, trembling if he only stands a few minutes. He can't stay here. He's not contagious. Get us out of here, Mr. Felici, please. We despiace, Signore. I'm so sorry. I'll do everything I can to help William and his family. While shepherds watch their flocks by night, all seated on the ground, the angel of the Lord came down. And glory shone around. And glory shone around. Anina? Yes, Mama? It's time for bed. It's Christmas Eve, Mama. Yes, sweet child. Come and sing for Papa, and then go right to bed. Go right to bed. Thank you. What lovely voices my girls have. Happy Christmas, Papa. I love you. I love you too, Anina. Happy Christmas. Now, go get your sleep. Yes, Papa. Good night, Mama. Good night, Mama. I wish God was here. What did you say? I wish I could feel God's presence. He is always with his suffering children. Pray with me. I'm not as good at it as you, but I want to pray. Yes. Yes, of course. Heavenly Father, today our Redeemer was born in a little stable in Bethlehem. It must have been cold there like it is in our Lazaretto. Lord, be present to us here. Bring us peace, if not healing. In your name we pray. Amen. Amen. Thank you. Elizabeth? Yes. I believe, and I believe Christ came for me. Me in particular. I didn't care like you do before, but now I do. Do you know what I'm trying to say? Yes, my love. I'm so glad. I should have bought the children's Christmas gifts before we left. Julia will take care of their Christmas. She and your brothers will make sure they don't miss us. I thought we'd send them gifts from Italy. I mean, we could send them the freezing wind in a bottle. Willie would like that. He'd unleash it on his little sisters and send them squealing. Oh, love. Oh, love, here's some water, hush. When I die? If you die. When, sweetheart? William, I can't go on without you. God can't ask me. If he takes me to him, he will send you another provider. Yes. When I die, tell my friends not to weep for me. I'll die happy. Yes, love. I'll tell them. Do you remember our first Christmas together? I remember. I bought you a necklace and you said it was ugly. Oh, no. I just said I wouldn't have bought it for myself. And then you never wore it. Here, have a sip of water. Thank you. In exactly one month, we'll have been married nine years. What should we do to celebrate? I don't have any money for gifts. Oh, you spoiled me. So that I'd already forgotten. We're staying in a picturesque Italian lighthouse. That's our anniversary gift. That's my jury, Elizabeth. Always keep your smile close by. It's always near when I'm with you. What's your name? I'm Elizabeth. I'm Elizabeth. I'm Elizabeth. And I'm with you. What is it? Buenos Aires, Mrs. Sinton, and a happy Christmas to you. What is it? Is something wrong? You've been approved to enter Italy. Antonio Filiici is waiting for you at the harbor. Make him comfortable, Elizabeth. My house is yours. Thank you, Amabilia. Quickly. My dear wife, and little ones. Yes, William. What is it? May Christ Jesus have mercy on me and receive me. He'll receive you. He has to. I'll pray you all the way home. Your prayers are powerful. My love, go to Jesus. You can bring all our prayers straight to him now. Pray for me? Yes, every moment. My Christ Jesus. So beautiful. Elizabeth? Elizabeth? Oh, God. He's with God, Amabilia. But I wanted him to stay with me. My dear Julia, after 25 days in the Lazareto, we are finally with the Filiici's and in a warm home. But it is too late. The grief is met with joy. However, for William prayed with a devotion I had never seen before in the last days of his life. My William's heart seemed to be nearer to me for being nearer to his God. Antonio is indispensable to me in making arrangements for my William's burial. Amabilia attends to Anina and I as if we were her own little children. But, oh Julia, my heart aches for home now that William is gone. How big is Beck now? I've missed all her sweet snuggly baby months. Today would be my ninth wedding anniversary with William. I feel so alone. But God is my Father and I have you and my little ones. But I'm scared. Can I afford to feed my little ones? William isn't here to help me anymore. Where will we live? What can I do? The Writers is the Entertainment Division of Relevant Radio.
