Second farewell

Just recently, I came across a long article that blamed Albert for depriving Candy of seeing Terry when the actor had been feeling regretful and numbing himself with drinks. I believe many Candy Candy fans who had only watched the anime version probably have similar opinions, which is a pity. I really don’t understand why the anime adaptation has replaced the Rockstown episode in the manga with a totally opposite one that frustrated many fans, in which Albert talked some sense into Terry after punching him in the face, and Candy had no idea that Terry had been watching her. In the manga, Terry had been depressed and resorted to heavy drinking, but he didn’t go to Chicago at all.

In any case, Mizuki’s design of the Rockstown episode in the manga was so much more brilliant. It wasn’t Terry who decided to leave Candy alone, but it was Candy who made the decision herself without letting Terry know. I’m fully aware that I have talked about Rockstown a lot on my blog already, and I honestly don’t want to repeat myself again and again. 🙁 However, I do have new readers to my blog, and rather than pointing them to my old posts, I’m going to revisit this topic from another perspective. 🙂

I suppose somehow Albert had found out about Terry’s miserable situation in Rockstown and possibly attempted to help both Terry and Candy by getting them back together. However, I don’t understand why Albert chose to send a parcel to Candy instead of informing her directly about Terry.

What was Albert thinking, really?

If he believed Candy wanted to reunite with Terry, why did Albert write a note, telling her that she was on his mind wherever he was (in other words, he missed her)? Did Albert think their friendship, his present and his brief note were enough to lead Candy to where Terry was? Since the town was small, Candy couldn’t possibly miss the huge sign of the roadside theater. That is, if Candy would go to Rockstown, she would definitely see Terry as Albert had planned.

Did Albert somehow know that Candy had promised Susanna not to see Terry again (based on Candy Candy Final Story, please read Love Triangle (Part 3) for details)?

Or do you think Albert was trying to gauge Candy’s feelings for him? If Candy decided not to go to a place she hadn’t heard before, or if she hesitated because she didn’t know if Albert actually resided in that town or had just passed by the place to send her a present, then Albert would understand that he wasn’t very important to Candy after all. That she wouldn’t bother tracking down a friend who had vanished in her life.

Once again, actions speak louder than words. Bravo to Mizuki, the fact that Candy did go to Rockstown without knowing for certain if this would be a waste of time reveals a lot. 😀 I bet Candy recognized Albert’s handwriting, and driven by her desire to see him again, she blindly headed towards a strange town, wearing the Spring coat he had given her and bringing a drawing of Albert with her.

Yet, instead of Albert, Candy saw with her own eyes how Terry could barely stand straight on the so-called stage. Contrary to the anime version, she wasn’t deprived of the chance of seeing Terry, and not so surprisingly, she cried, but she wasn’t acting jealous or bitter at all. She shed tears of empathy for Terry though. According to What Kind of Tears do you Cry?, empathy tears fall when you feel the pain of others acutely. That’s Candy. Terry remained special in her heart, but long gone was the girl who had tried so hard to see him…. I can easily name several scenes in the manga that show how desperate Candy used to be:

(1) She hired a carriage and rushed to the harbour, attempting to catch him before he left London

(2) She was near Pony’s Home, running around frantically trying to find him because he had just left

(3) She skipped the hospital shift to see him play in “King Lear”, the charity performance in Chicago

(4) She went to the hotel to find him after failing to get his attention among the screaming fans

(5) She ran alongside the train to take a last glimpse of him as it chugged down the tracks, leaving Chicago

(6) She followed a stranger to a distant place just to meet with him, only to discover that it was Neil’s trap

This time however, Candy chose not to see Terry or speak to him, not even as an old friend, so her behavior was drastically different. Not long after Terry had got back on his feet, Candy left on her own accord, not due to her promise to Susanna I think but because Candy’s mindset had changed. She wanted to resume her search of Albert but got interrupted. After having a heartfelt talk with Terry’s mother, Candy said in her mind,

<em>Terry… I believe you will return to Broadway!</em>

<em>Because I loved you…</em>

While Terry attempted to find Candy in the empty tent after the show, she was nowhere to be found. Terry then concluded it must have been an illusion, and I guess he supposed Candy would have stayed to talk to him if she had been around. I truly wonder if he would find out one day, from his mother, that Candy had indeed shown up earlier, watching him with tears pouring down her cheeks.

How would Terry react to this?

In any case, Albert’s original intention of helping Terry had been achieved. After sobering up, in his solitude, Terry remembered his promises to Candy and Susanna, and he was aware that his actions had disappointed both of them. In short, he had failed them. Having no more excuses to live in the past, he finally resolved to return to Broadway. His passion of acting had helped him emerge from deep depression.

On the other hand, Candy went back to Chicago rather saddened and down, not about Terry (she was clueless that Terry had quit his job with the roadside theatre), but because she couldn’t find Albert as she had expected. Before long, she figured out why Albert had led her to this town, and she was glad to have “met” Terry. Candy then appeared placid, remembering her “encounter” with Terry during the trip. No more turbulent emotions at that moment, and no more sad tears. She understood this was the second time she bid Terry goodbye, and she accepted the closure of a chapter in her life.

Note: I hope you like the way I have colored this famous manga scene. 😀