Dr. Syn, Alias the Scarecrow Page #2

my justice.

I don't care for

your manner, sir.

There is a definition

of a gentleman that

says, "He is one who

"never wittingly

gives offense."

And what do you

think of that, sir?

(SCOFFS)

And my definition of

a good soldier, sir,

not having had my

commission bought for

me by a gentlemanly father,

but having made me

own way in the army,

is, "One who

achieves his aim

and gets results,

"in the end

justifies

the means."

KATE:
Father.

JOHN:
General.

And what means

do you intend

to use, sir?

My son, John,

General.

Know that everybody

has a price,

young man,

and for the price

of freedom from the

harrying of my troops,

someone will come

forward in the end

and inform against

this smuggling fellow,

this Scarecrow,

as he calls himself.

And I'll not only be

using troops, either.

What then, General?

I must warn you,

I'm afraid that the

men of this parish

are sturdy

independent folk.

They do not

frighten easily.

And their women?

Women, sir? Women?

You'll frighten

women?

I'll do whatever I think fit

to achieve my purpose here.

I think the women will

talk when they start

to lose their men folk.

The Navy needs

sailors.

I've asked for

the press-gangs,

whose job it is

to get them to

come and help

themselves here

in the King's name,

and none too gently.

General Pugh!

Father, no.

You keep out

of this, Kate.

Press-gangs.

Don't dare mention

those blackguards

in this house.

In fact, sir, I've had

all your talk I can

stomach. Good day.

Sir Thomas!

Well, what have

I said wrong?

My brother

was press-ganged

into the Navy, sir.

Clubbed insensible and

dragged away to sea

on his 18th birthday,

four years ago.

KATE:
And no word

from him since.

Now can you understand

my father's feelings?

I can, Miss Banks,

believe me.

The Navy needs men

and must get them how

it can, Mr. Brackenbury.

Do you deny that?

BRACKENBURY:
No, sir.

Then hold your tongue.

Thank you for

your hospitality.

If I upset your father,

I'm sorry for it.

But I'm under orders,

and orders are

written to be obeyed.

Madam, Dr. Syn,

Master Banks,

good day.

Your men of the marshes

have asked for rough

treatment,

and that's what

they're gonna get.

I tell you, I will

not tolerate

your troops

burning cottages

on my land.

Why not?

Because the people

here are my people,

General Pugh.

My family have been

squires of Dymchurch

for 200 years.

I'm acting under orders

that you're under, too,

to maintain the law.

You're Justice

of the Peace.

Peace, yes,

and you've brought

war here.

This is a war,

against time.

Offering a reward

for the capture

of this Scarecrow fellow

who leads this rabble

has been useless.

Yes, and so will be

burning, terrorizing.

My people hate you.

All right.

I'll make a bargain

with you, hmm?

I'll call off my men

if you'll help me

try another way.

Yes, well?

Now then.

The marsh people

share equally

the proceeds of these

smuggling runs,

that's the story,

is it not?

So, you're the squire here.

Who among your tenants

has been behind

in his rents

and then paid up recently,

suddenly, inexplicably,

perhaps? Well?

Yes, I see what

you're getting at.

I'll go through my accounts.

Yes, do that. Give me the

names and get the fellows

round to your house

for questioning. They won't

suspect anything if you

ask them there.

Then you leave them to me.

There's one that comes

to mind, you might make

a start with him.

Mmm-hmm.

Difficult fellow.

Bad farmer, too.

A widower with two sons

and an old mother he

treats none too well.

Ransley's the name.

Right. He'll do for

one. Send for him.

Very well.

He'll be round at

my house tomorrow

morning.

Stop this burning,

do you hear?

Your servant, sir.

(KNOCKING ON DOOR)

Come in.

Joe Ransley, sir.

Morning, sir.

Joseph Ransley,

North Farm,

Bonnington?

You're not much of

a farmer, are you?

Three years of bad

harvests, your sheep

flock down to 60 head.

It's poor land, sir.

I do my best.

Yet you stayed on it.

You got six months

behind with your rent,

and suddenly paid it.

And you've been

paying it ever

since.

Yes, sir.

Well, I...

How?

I've been selling off

some of my sheep, sir.

(GENERAL PUGH SCOFFS)

Sir Thomas never

questioned it, sir.

No? Well, I do.

I don't think you

sold your sheep, Ransley,

I think you're a smuggler.

Smuggler? I'm an

honest man, sir.

Yes?

You suddenly raise

money from selling

sheep?

Where? To whom?

Prove it with dates

and bills of sale.

I don't keep

no bills, sir.

Don't try lying

to me, Ransley,

you paid with

smuggler's gold.

You know who

I'm after.

The man who leads you,

pays you off.

I don't know what

you mean, sir.

Oh, yes, you do,

and I'll give you

a simple choice.

I'll throw you into

jail on suspicion

and I'll keep you

there for questioning

until you rot or...

Jail, sir?

Let me finish.

Or you'll turn

King's evidence.

Tell me all you know

about the Scarecrow's

smuggling gang.

Their movements,

where they meet

and when.

Nobody'll know

you talked, Ransley,

but it's you or them.

I don't know

nothing, sir.

I swear I don't know.

You're under arrest.

No, no, wait,

sir, wait.

Well?

I said I don't

know nothing, sir,

and I don't.

But I may be able

to find out, sir.

I'd try, if you'd

give me a little

time, sir.

I'll give you

48 hours.

You'll either

come forward with

the names of the men

you know to be in

this madman's gang,

these so-called

Gentlemen of

the Marshes,

or you can

rot in jail.

You've got 48

hours, Ransley,

you understand?

Now get out.

RANSLEY:
Yes, sir.

I'll find out

all I can, sir.

You'd better.

Well, that's what

I heard, sir.

And one traitor's

enough to get you

hanged.

The rest of us

as well.

Hmm.

And there's a shipment

due from France tomorrow.

General Pugh is staying

at your father's,

did you say?

Your head's really

in the lion's mouth,

isn't it?

They don't

notice me,

sir.

You're going to let me

ride with you tomorrow

night, aren't you?

No, I'm afraid not.

It's too risky.

I don't see why.

I said no,

and you'll

obey orders.

Your task is to

keep your eyes

on General Pugh.

And what about

Ransley, sir?

He's under orders

for tomorrow's run.

Ransley's one of my men,

and has to be protected.

I'm going to Bonnington

this afternoon.

I'll see what frame

of mind he's in.

Hello, Mrs. Ransley.

Nice to see you

getting about again.

Thank you, Vicar.

I've brought something

to cheer you up.

Oh, Vicar,

you shouldn't,

and to come

all this way.

I've a big parish,

Mrs. Ransley.

Not as big as

your heart, Vicar.

You're too kind.

Well, how are you? Joe

and the boys looking

after you properly?

Joe? My stepson looks

after himself, sir.

He don't care

for nobody else.

Oh, that can't be true.

Whatever comforts

we have here, sir,

me and the boys,

is no thanks to him.

It's because

of the...

You won't say I told you?

I'm not supposed

to tell nobody.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes