Frenchman's Creek Page #6

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-An amusing party, don't you think;

-No doubt.

lf you wish to give them supper,

l must discuss it with William.

Gentlemen.

Moppets! Tally ho!

My lady.

l fear l must come down with

fever again and remain in my room.

For what cause;

Because Rashleigh and the others

are coming here to supper.

Rashleigh may recognize me as

the woman on the pirate ship.

Why are they coming here tonight;

They've agreed on a plan to

take your master.

Thank heaven they'll be too late

the Seagull will have sailed.

-No, she will not have sailed.

-What do you mean;

l went to the creek this morning.

She grounded on a rock causing

a leak below the water line.

She will not be ready to sail

until after midnight.

You must go and warn your master.

At once. Quickly.

You will be advised to stay

in your room while they are here.

No, l shall receive them.

-l must keep them until midnight.

-But...

Yes my lady.

l will arrange everything.

Sir Harry will choose the wine.

-Get away quickly.

-Yes.

Halt!

Who goes;

-Grace, have you seen William;

-No, my lady.

He went out after 3:00

and no one's seen him since.

Where's that fellow William;

He's got the keys to the cellar.

He will be back directly l expect.

l had to break the lock.

l tell you, l'll sack the fellow.

Rock is right. He's got an

impudent, familiar manner.

-Did you win at piquet;

-Do l ever win playing with Rock;

Hurry Dona. That's the company.

You'll be late.

William.

-What's happened;

-lt is nothing.

Come on. Quickly.

lf you find that William,

send him to me.

-You will spoil your gown.

-How did it happen;

ln the woods one of the Lord's

men challenged me.

l managed to evade him but

received this scratch.

Did you get word to your master;

Yes. He said to tell you

he is in no way disturbed.

Will the ship sail by the night;

Dona!

What the devil is keeping you;

l dislike having my door

flung open in such a manner.

But the guests are waiting.

You know l'm no good in company

without you.

Go along.

What's the matter with this thing.

-Fix this.

-l will. Now get along.

l take it the plan l suggested

has been carried out.

The men are on the beaches

and boats made ready.

lf there is a vessel hiding

up the river,

we'll be on hand to get her as

she comes down on top of the tide.

-Lady St. Columb, gentlemen.

-Gentlemen.

Lord Godolphin.

Madame.

Lord Rockingham.

Philip Rashleigh.

-Mr. Rashleigh.

-All of whom friends of mine.

Welcome to you gentlemen.

This is the first time in many years

company has been in this house.

Won't you sit down;

Lord Godolphin,

how is Lady Godolphin;

-Take this.

-Very well.

lf your wife should not approve

let me offer my own physician.

Very good idea.

An excellent idea.

l swear l've seen you somewhere

before my lady.

But l can't for the life of me

remember time or place.

What an impression l must have

made on you at the time!

On the contrary madam.

lt's an infection in your voice

and l've heard it

not so long age.

Dona has that effect

on every man.

They always feel after seeing her

that they've known her before.

You'll find it keeps you

awake at night.

Were you ever in Fowey

where l live;

lt is very difficult to get

in and out of Fowey l'm told.

-You heard how l was robbed;

-Yes. So distressing.

You never had news of

your ship since;

No. However tonight to settle

accounts with him once and for all.

Rashleigh reminds us that

we linger overlong at the table.

l'm exceedingly sorry.

l would not dream of

hindering you in any way.

A toast to the success of

your undertaking gentlemen.

To success.

AII together...

AII together at the Cornish fair.

Big bass drum,

boom, boom, boom.

Gentlemen, it's

half an hour before midnight.

ls the leader the desperate fellow

you've led me to believe;

Worse, the most bloodthirsty

rogue l ever cast my eyes on.

We've heard since his ship

carried a complement of women

most kidnapped from

our own villages.

He had a woman aboard

the Merry Fortune.

A bold faced baggage if

ever there was one.

l could see her on the deck

as plain as l see you now.

There was a boy who came knocking...

-That's it!

-What;

That boy's voice.

That's it.

-Are you quite well Mr. Rashleigh;

-Madame l swear l don't know.

l keep hearing that boy's voice.

Slight effect of memory.

We're all subject to it at times.

A provocative discussion

my dear Dona.

But l must remind you we're

here tonight on desperate business.

You say these men cannot conduct

affairs without your insistence;

Nonsense Rock!

You let my wife conduct

her own table.

-My beautiful.

-Quite right, Harry.

Sit down, Rock.

-Go on fair lady.

-Thank you gentlemen.

As l was saying,

it is very easy to take

one person as another.

As in the playhouse

for instance.

A player becomes another

person before one's very eyes.

She's gonna do Nell Gwyn.

She does Gwyn to the life.

Come on Dona. Give us Nelly.

A scoundreI maid

who was fair of fyce.

Dona!

Stop this nonsense!

Fie on you. l wager you can't

remember the next line.

-A thousand pounds he does.

-Go on fair lady.

...was rysed from a sIum

to a king's embryce.

-The Iife of NeIIy.

-The Iife of NeIIy.

The Iife of NeIIy

has truIy flown

from ceIIar to the throne.

From highway mudIing

to great renown.

From earthIy scum

to a monarch's crown.

Who the deuce is that;

Someone's late for supper.

Let's have some more wine.

We're all here. We expect

no one else.

How about you Godolphin;

We're meeting in secret.

Someone open the door.

Where are the servants;

Are you all asleep;

Hello Dickon!

Someone's blown out the candles.

lt's black as pitch in there.

Dickon!

What orders did you give

the servants Harry;

Did you tell them to go to bed;

Bed; No.

They're waiting in the kitchen.

Give them another call Rock.

There's no answer.

There's no sign of a light.

Dickon!

Dickon! Dickon!

Someone open the door

one of you, will you;

Who asks for Navron House;

Jean Benoit Aubery.

-What are you...;

-Hey!

Pray be seated gentlemen.

Would your lordship like

to join the gentlemen;

-Where have you been!

-Sir Harry,

your servants are tied up

in the game pantry.

l will not keep you long.

As for her ladyship,

she may go if she pleases.

But first l must have

the rubies she wears on her ears.

l've made a wager about them

with my cabin boy.

ls that all;

lf the Lady St. Columb would

spare me that as well...

l would have no more excuse

for piracy.

Thank you.

l trust you have recovered

from your fever;

l thought so your presence here

will doubtless bring it back.

That would be a pity.

My conscious would be uneasy.

My cabin boy suffers from

fever from time to time.

But the sea air does wonders.

You ought to try it.

Lord Godolphin.

The last time we met

l relieved you of your wig.

That was also the fault

of a wager.

This time l regret to say

l must have your weapon.

Your sword Lord Rockingham.

Thank you William.

Good evening sir.

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