Parnell Page #8

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Katie, what

are you doing here?

This.

What is it?

Read it.

"Honored sir, I have some hesitancy

in approaching you again"

Hesitancy...

Katie, where

did you get this?

I found it among

your unopened letters.

Mr. Pigott,

You admit that you were

engaged by the union

For the express purpose of finding

evidence against Mr. Parnell?

I do.

And you found these letters? I did.

Did you get any commission

for finding them?

Certainly.

A laborer is worthy

of his hire.

Have you finished your

cross-Examination, sir Charles?

Just a moment, please.

I crave your lordship's

indulgence

For a moment's

conversation with my client.

All this seems

very pointless.

Yes, just a moment,

And I hope to be able to

demonstrate the point to you.

Would you like to sit

down, Mr. Pigott?

I think not,

thank you.

Mr. Pigott, supposing you

wanted to forge a document,

How would you

set about it?

Milord, I suggest that's not a

proper question to put to the witness.

I should be interested to

hear the witness' answer.

As your lordship pleases.

Well, Mr. Pigott?

I don't know.

It is a realm of speculation

into which I have never entered.

You never have forged

a document?

I have not.

But if you did want to,

You think it would be

any help to have

A genuine letter

in front of you?

Oh, yeah. It might be

of some assistance. Yes.

Have you ever had

a genuine letter

Of Mr. Parnell's

in your possession?

I had. I had the letters

which the newspapers printed.

I said a genuine letter,

Mr. Pigott.

I believe those letters

to be genuine.

Well, that is the difference between us.

However, we shall see. Mr.

Parnell ever write to you?

He has not.

Or you to him?

Nor I to him.

Are you sure?

I am quite sure.

Mr. Pigott, I put it to you

that you wrote to Mr. Parnell

More than once

in an effort to obtain

A specimen of his

handwriting for you to copy.

I never wrote

to Mr. Parnell.

Very well.

Will you take a look at

that letter, Mr. Pigott?

May I see that?

One moment. I'm putting it in evidence.

You recognize that

letter, Mr. Pigott?

I think Ive

seen it before.

It is

in your writing?

I believe it is.

Believe? Come, Mr.

Pigott, don't you know?

Is it in your handwriting? Yes or no?

It appears to be.

I said yes or no!

Well, then, yes!

Good!

Well, that is one document

that we both regard as genuine.

Read it carefully,

Pigott.

You see anything

wrong with it?

How wrong with it?

Well, in the matter

of spelling,

Punctuation,

literary style.

As a scribe, you know something

of literary style, I imagine.

I don't see anything

wrong with it.

Read it carefully.

No, there isn't

anything wrong with it.

You sure?

Quite sure.

Good.

Now, Mr. Pigott,

Would you mind

spelling out

A few words for me?

I've never been very good

at spelling, sir Charles.

But you are good at writing. Is that it?

Usher, give Mr. Pigott

some paper, pen, and ink.

Milord, I protest.

I see no point

in this procedure.

Evidently,

sir Charles does.

Proceed.

Thank you, milord.

Are you ready,

Mr. Pigott?

Take your time.

"Livelihood."

"Likelihood."

"Parnell."

"Hesitancy."

Thank you. Let me have that, please.

No, no, don't

blot it.

Can we have that

photographed?

Would you mind not interrupting

my cross-Examination?

Milord, I would

like to point out

A somewhat

remarkable coincidence.

In the newspaper letter which

is attributed to Mr. Parnell

And which is the basis

of this investigation,

The word "hesitancy"

is misspelled e-N-C-Y.

Now, the letter which Mr. Pigott

has just acknowledged to be his

Begins as follows.

"Honored sir, I have some

hesitancy in again appealing to you"

And so on and so on,

And the word "hesitancy"

Is misspelled in

precisely the same way.

Again, in this list of words

which he has just finished,

The word "hesitancy"

is misspelled

In the same way

for the third time.

We've got him!

Quiet!

Quiet in the court!

Milord, when I

opened the case,

I said that I

represented the accused,

Meaning Mr. Parnell,

But since the appearance

of this letter,

I say that the tables

have turned

And that I appear

for the accusers,

And the accused stands

trembling there!

Yes! True!

Silence!

Is anything the matter,

Mr. Pigott?

I'm not feeling

very well, milord.

It's the heat, I think.

If your lordship

will excuse me,

I'd like to be allowed

to retire for a moment.

All right. The usher will

take you outside for 5 minutes.

It occurs to me, sir

Richard, that you might possibly like

A word with your witness

while he's outside.

You might like to give him

the benefit of your advice

And your legal

experience.

Pigott

committed suicide!

There you are, boy.

Mr. Gladstone.

Mr. Speaker, sir...

I feel sure I may be permitted

to express the sense of this house

In welcoming back

the honorable member for cork

After his vindication.

3 cheers

for Mr. Parnell!

Hip, hip-

Hooray! Hooray! Hooray!

Hooray! Hooray! Hooray!

Hooray! Hooray! Hooray!

"god save Ireland,"

said the heroes

"god save Ireland,"

say we all

whether on

the scaffold high

or on

the battlefield we die

oh, what matters

if for Ireland dear we fall?

"god save Ireland,"

said the heroes

"god save Ireland,"

say we all...

Charles,

it was wonderful.

I was there

in the house.

I heard them

cheer you.

What did it

feel like?

What were you thinking

of as you stood there?

Nothing...

Except how strange it was that

none of it would have happened

If you hadn't stayed

at home to tidy my desk.

Oh, on such things hang

the destinies of great men.

Was that really all you

were thinking about?

No, not really.

There was something else.

Something that happened

before I went into the house.

Not more trouble? Oh, no. The reverse.

Could you stand

another triumph?

I'm not sure.

Oh, well, perhaps

Id better keep it.

Oh, darling, what is it?

What is it?

Charles, don't be unkind! What is it?

Well, it's this.

I talked to Mr. Gladstone.

He congratulated me

and told me he has agreed

To all my terms

for the home rule bill.

He'll introduce it.

Charles!

It can only be

a matter of weeks now.

He's arranging a reception

to announce it.

You and aunt Ben are to be asked. Me?

Does he know

I exist?

Oh, yes. I told him

all about you.

The little woman who

means everything to me.

What?

Oh. Ha ha!

I believed you

for a moment.

Well, I wish I had

the right to say that.

When's

the reception?

In 3 weeks' time.

Will you give me 5 minutes

to tell them out there

What I just told you?

Then we'll go.

Gentlemen, gentlemen,

silence, please!

Mr. Parnell.

Fellow members,

Once again the Irish party

has emerged victorious

Against slander

and intrigue.

But it is not of that victory

I would speak now,

But of a still

greater glory to come.

I talked to Mr. Gladstone

this afternoon.

He has given me his promise

to introduce and support

The home rule bill

for Ireland.

Home rule is here!

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