The Conspirator Page #4

the witness.

Incriminating? Sir,

Louis Weichmann shared a room

with John Surratt.

I have a tick et that puts him

in Richmond.

I think it reasonable to assume

that he knows more about this plot

to assassinate our president

than he supposedly reported.

What Mr. Aiken think s

is entirely immaterial.

Counselor, unless you have something

more relevant to ask,

the witness will step down.

No.

No, I have nothing more... relevant to ask.

You never... you never ask a question

you don't know the answer to.

I know. I know.

How... How did you know Weichmann

was lying about Richmond, Fred?

- I didn't.

- You didn't?

S-so you gambled twice?

How did you pass the bar?

Heh heh. Well, will, it work ed.

I mean, Fred made Weichmann

look as guilty as the others.

- It was perfect.

- You're right.

And that's the problem.

They all look guilty.

Freddie, I'm sorry.

First the senator drops your client

like a load,

and then with all these

secret meetings taking place,

either she knew what was going on...

Or she damn well should have known.

Senator?

In here.

I think she's as guilty as Booth.

How could I possibly defend her?

You assume that she's guilty,

like the Commission.

You don't have any proof.

Proof or no,

don't give a damn what happens to her.

I tell you what.

If you can prove that she's guilty,

you can take yourself off the case.

Thank you, sir.

You think it'll be that easy?

I know it.

Pardon me, Father.

I wish to confer with the prisoner.

Alone, if you don't mind.

It's... It's quite all right, Mary.

I... I must be going anyway.

All right. Well, thank you

for visiting, Father.

I'll see you soon.

Your words were most comforting.

The Lord's with you.

She's refusing to eat.

I've tried to convince her to no avail.

Perhaps you could help her.

Mm.

"Search me, and know my heart.

"Try me, and know my thoughts.

And see if there be any wicked way in me."

"The Lord knows the way of the wick ed.

And the way of the wicked will perish."

You know your Proverbs, young man.

Mm-hmm.

My father was a minister.

He taught them to me as a child.

So, what is it you wish to know?

Why Booth and his associates

were constants in your home.

I ran a boarding house, Mr. Aiken.

Forgive me if I chose

to fill it with boarders.

I checked your registry, ma'am.

There's no record Booth ever

stayed at your home.

No, the fact is he stayed at the National

whenever he came to Washington,

so why was Booth in your home?

I suppose my son invited him.

They were friends.

Famous actor like Booth?

Engaging your son

out of friendship?

Mr. Aiken, my son is no less

a gentleman than you

and very capable of forming

acquaintances in society.

I've... I've read all about

your family's acquaintances, ma'am,

about how your late husband contributed

to the Confederate cause

and about your Gentleman Johnny.

What about him?

He made quite a sum as a courier

carrying rebel secrets across Union lines.

Oh, I'm well aware

of what your family's capable of,

Mrs. Surratt,

so I know you're not

telling me the truth.

Well, then you know what I do not.

You were despondent

over losing the war,

and you would have done anything

you could to save the Confederacy,

including using your own son John.

Honestly, Mr. Aiken.

So you arranged a meeting with Booth,

figuring he'd befriend your son

because of what he knew,

what expert couriers do know.

And what might that be?

The best escape routes out of town.

Your son was supposed to lead the others

to freedom that night, wasn't he?

Except he was the only one

that got away.

My son was in Canada that day.

Can you prove that?

I received a letter on April 14,

same day as the assassination,

sent from Montreal.

Where is this letter?

I don't know.

I'm done,

done defending your lies.

You're so blind with hatred, Mr. Aiken,

you can't even see the truth.

Yes, my son hated the North.

We all did.

How can a Southerner feel anything

but bitterness toward your side?

But my son did not conspire

to kill your president.

He conspired to kidnap him.

All right, here he comes.

Ready your mount.

Surratt, where the hell's Booth?

He'll be here.

All right, steady.

Wait!

He's not coming!

Lincoln's changed his plans.

- What?

- He's still in town.

He just gave a speech

at the National.

Anna, back upstairs.

Who was in the carriage?

Doesn't matter. What matters

is he wasn't in the carriage.

You should have known.

What about the weapons?

We need to hide these weapons.

We can take them to Lloyd's.

I'll take 'em.

You'd shoot your own foot off.

I said I'd do it.

Don't push me.

Enough!

Fools like you are the reason

we can lose this fight.

Johnny Surratt,

I'd like a word with you, please.

Well, answer, Johnny.

Your mama's callin'.

They planned on ransoming

Lincoln in ex change

for all the Confederate soldiers

in your prisons.

Why didn't you report them

to the authorities?

Because one of them was my son.

So rather than kidnap him,

your son helped murder

the president instead.

No.

They nearly got the vice president

and the secretary of State.

No, it's not true. It's not my Johnny.

Damn it, ma'am, you just said

he was Booth's right hand.

My son is not a murderer, Mr. Aiken.

All right, then.

Swear to it.

Supper will be ready shortly.

John?

Can't stay, mama.

I have to leave town straightaway.

What's so pressing?

Nothing that need worry you.

Just some cotton speculatin'. That's all.

Don't sport with me, son.

You're not steppin' outside this house.

Don't talk to me like I'm a child!

Richmond's falling.

Something must be done.

Johnny, I'm aware of the news

from Richmond,

and it pains me terribly.

Supper's ready.

Wh... what is it?

I'm leaving town.

No, you're not leaving town.

Yes, I am.

You and Anna are the

only family I've got left,

and I'll be damned if I let you go out there

and do something else foolish.

- Foolish?

- Johnny...

What I'm fightin' for is far more important

than any of us.

Your family is more important

than anything.

That is your responsibility!

All of our men are buried underground

right now.

- The war is over.

- Oh, you're wrong about that.

There is nothing left for you to do.

The war is far from over,

and there's still plenty I can do.

- Johnny, please.

- Unhand me, Mother.

- Unhand me, Mother.

- Please, Anna.

John!

Mother.

John, are you coming or not?

Johnny, please.

If this cause ain't worth fightin' for,

then what is?

So that was the last time

you saw your son?

Yes.

Less than two week s

before the assassination?

Yes.

So then, you see, you admit

that your son conspired to kill

President Lincoln.

I don't know.

May God help you.

Honestly, Mr. Aiken, I don't know.

Lord, I pray not.

All I know is that I did not.

I swear.

Miss Surratt.

You have to tell me exactly...

How is my mother?

She's managing.

You have to tell me

exactly what happened here.

What do you mean?

Do you know that Louis Weichmann,

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