From Gaskell's 'North & South'. A love story.

North and South, Alternate Universe. Rioters have stormed the gates of Marlborough Mills, but strangely, they seem to have no interest in the newly arrived Irish workers - rather, they seem to be after a certain Northern mill owner...

The speculation of 1851. It was hailed as a sure prospect, every cotton mill owner who invested was sure to succeed, but what it it failed? The city of Milton was soon to find out as some of the most prominent mills closed their doors leaving hundreds out of work. Within all this seeming calamity was Marlborough Mills and it's master; Mr. John Thornton. He was never one to engage in speculations, but this venture affected him none the less. Then there was Margaret Hale. She was from the south and never cared for his harsh northern ways, or so he thought; but she would always be the only women he would ever love. Now Marlborough Mills was struggling and thru a series of events Mr. Thornton found that his new land lord was none other than Margaret Hale of London. Could John and Margaret find their way back to each other and set matters right or were they always destined to be apart... This story is based on the novel by Elizabeth Gaskell, North and South, and the adaptation by the same name.

From 'North & South'. A mini-series based look at Thornton and Margaret's reunion.

John Thornton is engaged to Ann Latimer, but one evening when Margaret Hale walks into his life, everything changes.

Margaret Hale is being courted by the charismatic Earl of Milton; but His Lordship has a secret.

When she arrives with her parents in Milton after her father takes a job there, Margaret Hale, with the prospect of adapting to a new life ahead of her, catches sight of a man in the street that looks like a "perfect stranger". However, on an errand to speak to the family's landlord, Margaret finds this romantic image shattered when she finds that her perfect stranger is not so perfect after all. For John Thornton, both the Hales' landlord and proprietor of the Milton Hotel, this first encounter with Margaret has an equally profound impact when she catches him arguing with his brother-in-law. He knows that he must try and rectify her bad opinion of him - but first she has to agree to talk to him.

John Thornton and Margaret Hale are happily in love and going to get married. But an accident leaves John with partial memory loss and what he has forgotten is his life and love for his bride to be. Margaret's whole world seems to come crashing down around her. This modern story is based upon and inspired by E. Gaskell's classic novel North & South.

This is a continuation of the story of North and South, many years after the last meeting between Margaret and John. In 1854, Margaret was living with her aunt and cousin in London after the death of her father earlier in the year. John Thornton comes to dinner at Harley Street as a guest of Henry Lennox, and Margaret hears of his failed business. With Henry's assistance, Margaret comes up with a scheme to loan Thornton the money to restart his mill. In this story, Margaret does not keep the appointment with Thornton, flees to Spain, and leaves it to Henry to tell Thornton about the loan. It is now 1862 and Margaret must return to England, to start over again once more. Although the BBC adaptation of North and South is a favorite, this story is based on Mrs. Gaskell's novel, which did not end at a train station, it ended in a London parlor, much the same way the book began. Apologies for not having a train scene; however, inferences to actor Richard Armitage as John Thornton are simply unavoidable.

I love both the book and miniseries North & South, and it has inspired me to finally start writing, with a sequel. It starts at the last scene in the movie, a scene I have probably watched hundreds of times, and mostly draws from the miniseries rather than the book Enjoy, and please comment..I'm interested to know what you think!