Dr. Syn, Alias the Scarecrow Page #7

you what they knew

when you promised

them their lives,

would you have kept

your side of

the bargain?

(SCOFFS)

Don't be a fool.

They're to hang,

anyway.

Of course, sir.

With your permission, sir,

I'll go to the dungeons now.

Your servant, sir.

I need an ally here.

I wonder if I've

found one.

Wake up!

On your feet!

Show some respect

to the chaplain,

you dogs.

Kneel.

Lift up your hearts

in hope and trust.

Let us pray.

(KNOCK ON DOOR)

Open up! Naval picket!

By your leave,

Reverend.

I want six men.

Come on, step lively

if you don't want

a rope's end

across your backs.

Get them chained!

Press-ganged,

the poor devils.

You lot will board

the lugger for

H.M.S. Defiant.

Wave your mates

goodbye, you dogs.

We're gonna make

men of you.

You obstinate dogs.

We haven't finished

with you yet.

PETTY OFFICER:

Here we are

again, mate.

Six less mouths

for you to feed.

March!

God be with you

and have mercy

on you.

I'm about to conduct

a service here, Jailer.

I should like to

be alone with

the prisoners.

But it ain't safe,

your reverence.

Let me be judge

of that. Leave us.

Oh, Harry!

They didn't

make us talk.

Hello, Vicar.

We ran out

of luck.

Get up, John. Get up.

The rest of you,

kneel again.

And listen to me.

Does the naval picket

come and go like that

to take men to the ships?

Yes, sir,

we never know when.

DR. SYN:
I see.

Harry, Mr. Bates,

I don't know by

what means,

but somehow,

I'm going to get

you away from here

before Pugh

breaks your spirit

as well as your body.

They'll never break us.

And we'll never talk.

There's no way out

of here, except in

a coffin, not for us.

There must be. Trust me.

All of you. Somehow,

I will get you free.

Free? Free, sir?

Not so loud.

Repeat after me.

"Letteth now thy servant

depart in peace."

ALL:
"Letteth now thy

servant depart in peace."

"For mine eyes have

beheld thy salvation."

ALL:
"For mine eyes have

beheld thy salvation."

I wanted to fly

at them for what

they've done to Harry.

Poor Bates.

You did very well

in there, John.

Do you...

You really

think you...

You'll be able to

help them escape,

sir?

I... I don't know.

I have an idea.

It's a wild gamble,

an outside chance.

Stand against the

door a minute, boy.

Hmm, pretty good,

though I say so myself.

Here it is, sir.

I hope it works.

It's the key to

the whole plan.

What is the

plan, sir?

The Scarecrow will

tell you that tonight.

Get word to all our men,

there'll be a meeting

at 10:
00 tonight at

Five-Mile Barn.

Tonight?

Time is running out.

Get on your way, Mipps.

Here they are.

SCARECROW:
All here?

SAM:
All who

were asked for.

There's shipment

due from Holland

tomorrow night.

There's a change of plan.

We will not be

taking the cargo.

We shall take the ship!

ALL:
Ship?

I have business,

export business,

not import,

to transact

from Dover.

There are some

prisoners in

the castle.

They have asked

for my help.

I intend to release them.

Release them, Scarecrow? How?

Twelve men will board

the Dutchman's ship.

Force him to sail her

into St. Margaret's Bay,

this side of Dover.

Heave to there,

and bring two

boats ashore.

Six others will report

to Hellspite, masked,

at Dymchurch

graveyard, 8:
00.

Sam, Ben Davis,

you will be required to

enter the castle dungeon.

(SMUGGLERS MURMURING)

You will be led

by the Vicar of

Dymchurch, Dr. Syn.

The Vicar?

Why's that?

He's under my orders,

too. He has no choice.

And the squire's

son, John.

I have proof that

they gave shelter to a

deserter from the Navy.

This proof will be

given to General Pugh

if they refuse to

help me with my plan.

They will hang.

You mean you

blackmailed

the Vicar?

To keep my word

to those who ask

for help,

I'd blackmail

the King himself.

My plan is set.

Ben Davis?

You trust me?

All of you?

Or will you stand

forward now, and say

that you're afraid?

I trust you, Scarecrow.

I ain't afraid.

Nor me.

But the Vicar?

Leave Dr. Syn to me.

I have him like that.

And the boy.

Tomorrow night,

the Scarecrow

and his Gentlemen

will thumb their noses

at General Pugh

and the King's injustice.

Be on time!

Our orders are to

get the press-gang

uniforms.

Who are these men?

HELLSPITE:
Never you mind.

Put this on, young master.

Now, follow me.

To you fair ladies

now at land

We men at sea indict

But first would

have you understand

How hard it is to write

HELLSPITE:
Mrs. Waggett will

look after the drummer boy.

(GRUNTING)

(GRUNTING)

HELLSPITE:
Right.

Off with their uniforms,

mates, and don't tear them.

You'll come to

no harm, lad. Go on,

take off your uniform.

HELLSPITE:

Then tie the

buzzards up.

Upstairs, missus.

Upstairs!

(SCREAMS)

Now, come on,

hurry up, lads.

(DRUMMING)

Halt!

Who goes there?

Naval picket for

the pressed men

in the jail, sir.

I'll escort them.

GUARD 1:
Sir.

Forward.

You wait outside the gate,

powder monkey.

What are you

trying to do,

sir?

Release the prisoners

from injustice

and torture.

Isn't that what

you want?

How will you open

the dungeon?

Even the Vicar will

hang, dressed like that,

if they catch us now.

JAILER 1:
Why don't

you give up, then?

JAILER 2:
No.

JAILER 1:

I'm finished, anyway.

And it's time for

me to do the rounds.

JAILER 2:
Sit down.

Later for that.

JAILER 1:

I'm late already.

Sit down. Your deal.

JAILER 2:

I give the orders here.

Come on, your deal.

You didn't shuffle

them cards very

well, did you?

JAILER 1:
Yes,

I did. You saw me.

It was a fair deal.

JAILER 2:
Fair

to you, maybe.

JAILER 1:
My trick.

JAILER 2:
All right,

but you can take that

grin off your face.

JAILER 1:
What's wrong?

It was your idea to

go on playing anyway.

My trick.

JAILER 2:
Your trick?

Your trick?

It's unnatural.

There. Take that one.

JAILER 1:
Like this?

JAILER 2:
What?

JAILER 1:
That's

mine. And that.

And the next two.

Your deal.

JAILER 2:
Wait.

Give me that card.

(LOCK CLICKS)

(DOOR CREAKS)

(DOOR CREAKS LOUDLY)

What was that?

I'm Dr. Syn.

Keep quiet and do

as you're told.

We'll get you

away from here.

Will you be able

to walk? Feel

strong enough?

No noise.

We have to chain

you together,

so that it looks

correct when you are

crossing the courtyard,

so that one of you doesn't

make a break for it and

spoil everything.

(SHUSHING)

DR. SYN:
Down!

(THUDS)

(WINDOW OPENS)

All right. Quickly.

Quickly.

Nothing. The louts

have probably

been fighting.

Let's get on

with the game.

JAILER 2:

It don't make

any difference.

I haven't won a hand yet.

JAILER 1:

I'm not surprised,

the way you play.

JAILER 2:
All right, then,

we'll play one more hand.

Double or quit.

JAILER 1:

How are you gonna

settle if you lose?

You owe me a week's

pay already.

JAILER 2:
Stop gabbing!

If I could get half

the talk out of

them two prisoners

Pugh gave me to work on

as I get out of you...

Wait a minute.

My trick.

JAILER 1:
It's my trick.

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