Where the Heart Is “They say home’s where the heart is, Matthew.” Sully’s words ring true in this episode. Michaela’s home is in Boston and Colorado Springs, but which home is her heart? We find early on that Michaela is having a hard time returning to the life she used to lead. She hasn’t been home in some time, as Colorado Springs has become her new home. William Burke’s courting Michaela and Sully’s arrival in Boston to win her back, bring a new light to the episode. Aside from home being where the heart is, some may be wondering where Michaela’s heart lies, with William or Sully? It’s clear she likes them both, the doctor who knows how to flatter her and the handsome mountain man. I have always loved this episode, in getting to see more of the life Michaela had before she came to Boston and the declaration of love between her and Sully. The event that leads to Michaela returning home was unfortunate, hearing news of someone you love who is very ill, is scary. Michaela is a strong woman and she handled it all very well, after breaking down while packing. I noticed also how Sully hesitates before he follows her. Once he does decide to go after her, we get a moment between them, discussing where Sully was born. Sully never struck me as one who shared his past with anyone, and I think with some of it, he wanted to forget it. In this scene, the placement of his arms and the sharing of his past, show that he cares for Michaela. Later we see Sully coming and waving goodbye to Michaela and the children before the stagecoach departs. The look in Michaela’s eyes before that is almost as if she’s searching for him. Once in Boston, we get a bustling city with well dressed people, moving about on foot or in buggies; much more civilized and a far cry from Colorado Springs. We see the stuck-up ness of her sisters, except for Rebecca, and a beautiful home that is much more luxurious than Michaela’s home in Colorado. At the hospital where Mrs.. Quinn is a patient, Michaela meets two of the doctors taking care of her mother. One of them is a young man who is fascinated with her right from the start. Dr. William Burke stared into Michaela’s eyes the moment he met her, and from then on made his intentions very clear. He accepted her as a lady and a doctor, even helping her to cure her mother. In a more personal moment after Michaela examines her mother, William clearly wants to be on a first name basis with her, and it’s almost as if she is saving her name to be spoken by someone else. When Michaela cures her mother, one might wonder what got into her as she hugs William in pure joy. Obviously thrilled her mother is better and yet after her hug, she seems rather embarrassed, wondering why she just did that. Michaela also seems confused over her feelings of William, as if she’s not sure how she feels. Yet with the celebratory dinner they go on with the children, and the doctor’s visits they share, Michaela seems to hold him on a friendly level. Meanwhile back in Colorado Springs we find Sully and Cloud Dancing warming themselves over a small fire. Cloud Dancing being the wise old Indian that he is, seems to know those around him on a spiritual level. We see that in this scene as he’s asking Sully, what is troubling him. It is there that Sully tells his dear friend of the dreams he’s had of being in Boston. “Dreams are the spirits telling us of the past….of the future…” In Sully’s case, these dreams are of the future, as we see him the next day beginning his journey to Boston. Once he arrives, it’s clear that in Boston society, he is out of place. The citizens are shouting out his presence and moving quickly out of the way. During the evening meal, Sully arrives at the Quinn household unannounced. Michaela and the children are stunned to see him in Boston, and it is Mrs.. Quinn who has the only voice in which to speak and invite him to sit down. In this scene I noticed a few things happening, first off Dr. Burke seems a bit uncomfortable in Sully’s presence. Perhaps he sees the feelings Sully holds for Michaela. Also, up until this point, Michaela seems to have settled into her Boston way of life. With the arrival of Sully seems to come the remembrance of Colorado Springs. In a scene between Michaela and Sully right after his arrival, there is a lot of tension in the room and yet we know they love each other and haven’t admitted to each other. Michaela still set in her Boston ways lets Sully know the butler can lay a fire for him and if he needs anything there is a cord to pull. In an exchange of words, Michaela states she is surprised to see him in Boston, but it seems more to me she is now confronted with feelings she’s been trying to deny. Elizabeth Quinn from the start seems to suspect something in regards to Sully’s arrival, as if she knows the real reason why he came and Michaela as well. I admire her for helping Sully to fit into Boston society, more so for Michaela’s sake than her own. I really have to give credit to Matthew as well, for stopping Sully from leaving to go home early. He was right in saying that Michaela fell for the flattery of Dr. Burke. Sully would need to fight to win Michaela back. After being gone a month from Colorado Springs and being in the company of Dr. Burke who has made his intentions quite clear, it would seem in some cases that she’s falling in love with him. Even to Sully when he sees Dr. Burke kiss Michaela’s hand; “I’m not in any hurry,” a sign he is going to fight to get her back. Yet later on, we almost see him give up and go home. Matthew’s words to Sully seem to get through to him, “He just made her forget why she came to Colorado, and all she needs is someone to make her remember.” From then on with the help of Matthew, Colleen and Brian, Sully gets dance lessons and is given ideas on where to take Michaela. We also see Sully undergo a transformation, and he begins to “do as the Romans do,” fitting in to Boston society. Dr. Burke is less than pleased to see this happening. First we see Sully and Michaela sharing an elegant dinner followed by and evening of dancing. Later Sully takes her to the opera, and in a touching moment we see Michaela translating part of the opera for him. The words she speaks clearly mimic her situation with Sully. All does seem to be going well, till after a medical lecture in which Michaela is the speaker. She has the crowd on their feet as she concludes her speech on the Cheyenne tea. Backstage William is right there cheering for her, letting her know she was absolutely wonderful. It is then that Michaela is made fully aware of William’s feelings for her; Sully is nearby witnessing the marriage proposal. Sully is none to happy about the new development and in confronting Michaela about it; she promptly says that, “It’s none of your business.” He storms off in what may seem as if all is lost. Upon returning home, Michaela finds the children in a gloomy mood and Sully gone. She then takes off to the train station after learning that he is headed home to Colorado. The music as Michaela is searching the train for Sully adds very much to the mood. One may wonder if she is going to finally admit her feelings to Sully. Once she finds him, we witness another lover’s spat, only this time we hear the words from Sully as to why he came to Boston; “Because I love you.” The train seemed to lurch forward at the right moment, leaving Michaela in Sully’s arms, and then a moment later she would be gone. The music setting the scene returns again when Michaela arrives back in Colorado looking for Sully. When she finally spots him, the moments to follow are just priceless. I loved how she runs right into his arms, followed by a kiss and the declaration of love from Michaela herself; “I love you too.” This
is truly my favorite episode, watching two of my
favorite characters fully realize they are in love
with each other. Michaela’s heart is in Colorado
Springs with Sully, not in Boston with William Burke.
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