Barry Lyndon Page #16

Roderick addresses the master, a handsome young man, and

asks him to order his driver to make way for him.

RODERICK:

I am posting, monsieur, and

furthermore I am a foreigner.

STRANGER:

Monsieur, here in Saxony, the post

has no special right, and if you are

a foreigner, you must admit that you

have no greater claim than mine,

since I am in my own country.

At that, Roderick gets out and holding his drawn-sword

tells the stranger to get out, or to make way for him.

The stranger replies, with a smile, that he has no sword

and that, in any case, he will not fight for such a silly

reason.

He tells Roderick to get back in his chaise, and he makes

way for him.

INT. GAMING ROOM - NIGHT

Roderick and the Chevalier running a faro bank when an

important lady suffers a huge loss.

RODERICK (V.O.)

The ladies were passionately fond of

play, and hence would often arise no

small trouble to us; for the truth

most be told, that the ladies loved

to play, but not to pay. The point

of honor is not understood by the

charming sex; and it was with the

greatest difficulty that we could

keep them from the table, could get

their money if they lost or, if they

paid, prevent them from using the

most furious and extraordinary means

of revenge.

EXT. ROAD - DAWN

RODERICK (V.O.)

On this evening, the lady of high

rank, after I had won a considerable

sum in diamonds and pearls from her,

sent her lover with a band of cut-

throats to waylay me.

Roderick and the Chevalier are sound asleep in their

carriage when they are awakened by a violent jolt, upon

which the carriage overturns in the middle of the road.

The Chevalier is underneath, and screams from the pain in

his right arm, which he thinks is broken.

Their servant forces the door open to help them out,

telling them that the two postilions have fled.

Roderick easily gets out of the carriage through the door,

which is above him, but the Chevalier, unable to move

because of his disabled arm, has to be pulled out.

His piercing shrieks make Roderick laugh, because of the

strange oaths with which he interlards his prayers.

From the carriage, Roderick takes his dueling pistols,

and sword.

Roderick tells his servant to mount and to looking for

armed peasants in the vicinity; money in hand, he leaves.

The Chevalier has lain down on the hard ground, groaning

and in no condition to resist robbers.

Roderick makes his own preparations to sell his fortune

and his life at the highest price.

His carriage is close to the ditch, and he unhitches the

horses, tieing them to the wheels and the pole in a

circle, and stations himself behind them with weapons.

In this predicament, Roderick cannot help laughing at the

poor Chevalier, who is writhing like a dying dolphin on a

seashore, and uttering the most pitiful execrations, when

a mare, whose back was turned to him, take it into her

empty head to empty her bladder on him. There is nothing

to be done; he has to put up with the whole stinking rain,

and to forgive Roderick's laughter, which he has not the

strength to hold in.

The chill wind and the silence are suddenly broken by an

attack, which is half-hearted and uncertain, by the lady's

lover, and his hesitant band of six cut-throats.

Some falter and run away as soon as Roderick fires his

pistol.

The leader and two heartier followers engage Roderick.

During the fight, they mortally wound the helpless

Chevalier and two of them are killed.

After they flee, Roderick kneels by the Chevalier, who

utters some appropriate last words, then dies.

His servant finally arrives at full gallop, shouting at

the top of his voice, and followed by a band of peasants,

each with his lantern, come to his rescue. There are ten

or twelve of them, all armed with muskets, and all ready

to obey his orders.

EXT. SPA - HOTEL - DAY

Roderick's carriage arrives.

RODERICK (V.O.)

After making suitable arrangements

for the Chevalier's burial, in

proper accord with his church, I

traveled to Spa, which was now in

season, alone, to continue my

profession which formerly had the

support of my friend and mentor.

INT. GAMING ROOM - NIGHT

Crowds surround Roderick.

RODERICK (V.O.)

I was by this time one of the best-

known characters in Europe; and the

fame of my exploits, my duels, my

courage at play, would bring crowds

round me in any public society where

I appeared.

INT. CASINO - NIGHT

Attractive women alone, while men are at the gaming table.

RODERICK (V.O.)

The passion for play is stronger

than the passion for gallantry; the

gamester at Spa has neither time to

stop to consider the merits of a

woman, nor the courage to make

sacrifices for her.

EXT. GARDEN IN SPA - DAY

The Countess of Cosgrove walks beside her husband, Sir

William Cosgrove, who is in a wheelchair. They are

accompanied by their young son, Lord Brookside, and two

servants.

RODERICK (V.O.)

In evoking the recollections of

these days, I have nothing but

pleasure. I would if I could say as

much of a lady who will henceforth

play a considerable part in the

drama of my life -- I mean the

Countess of Cosgrove, whose fatal

acquaintance I made at Spa, very

soon after the tragic events which

caused me to quit Germany.

Closer shot of the Countess.

RODERICK (V.O.)

Victoria, Countess of Cosgrove. A

Countess and a Viscountess in her

own right.

Closer shot of Sir William Cosgrove.

RODERICK (V.O.)

She was the wife of her cousin, the

Right Honorable Sir William Reginald

Cosgrove, Knight of the Bath, and

Minister to George II and George III

of several of the smaller courts of

Europe.

Closer shot of young Lord Brookside, walking behind them

in the care of his governor.

RODERICK (V.O.)

She was the mother to Viscount

Brookside -- a melancholy, deserted,

little boy, about whom his father

was more than indifferent, and whom

his mother never saw.

INT. GAMING ROOM - NIGHT

Shots of Sir William Cosgrove being wheeled in, and at

play with Roderick, and some other gentlemen.

RODERICK (V.O.)

I made Sir William Cosgrove's

acquaintance as usual at the play-

table. One could not but admire the

spirit and gallantry with which he

pursued his favorite pastime; for,

though worn out with gout and a

myriad of diseases, a cripple

wheeled about in a chair, and

suffering pangs of agony, yet you

would see him every morning, and

every evening at his post behind the

delightful green cloth.

SIR WILLIAM:

Hang it, Mr. Roderick James, you

have no more manners than a barber,

and I think my black footman has

been better educated than you; but

you are a young fellow of

originality and pluck, and I like

you, sir. because you seem

determined to go to the devil by a

way of your own.

Laughter at the table.

RODERICK:

I am obliged to observe, Sir William

Cosgrove, that since you are bound

for the next world much sooner than

I am, I will depend on you to get

comfortable quarters arranged for

me.

Laughter.

SIR WILLIAM:

Indeed, you are right, sir. Look at

me. Marriage has added forty years

to my life. I am dying, a worn-out

cripple, at the age of fifty. When

I took off Lady Cosgrove, there was

no man of my years who looked so

young as myself. Fool that I was!

I had enough with my pensions,

perfect freedom, the best society in

Europe -- and I gave up all these,

and married and was miserable. Take

a warning from me, Mr. Roderick, and

stick to the trumps. Do anything,

but marry.

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