The Devil's Disciple Page #4

welcome for my own.

I don't think I'll break bread here, minister.

There is something in you that I respect,

and that makes me desire

to have you as my enemy.

I understand you very well.

On those terms, I'll accept any man's enmity.

Please, sit down.

Oh, Mr. Anderson ...

- What are you doing here?

- Christy, Mrs. Anderson doesn't want

the whole family to tea at once.

Mother is very ill.

- She wants to see Richard?

- No.

- She wants to see the minister.

- Yeah.

You go on there.

I'll catch with you later.

- Judith!

- It's stopped raining.

Give Mr. Dudgeon his tea.

I'll have mine when I come back.

- Tony, must I ...?

- The soldiers saw the grave and they'll be after him.

You must keep him here.

- Tony ...

- I know I can depend on you.

But ...

Mrs. Anderson, I am perfectly aware

of your feelings towards me.

I will not intrude on you.

No, no. Don't go:

please don't go. I ...

I ... I want you to stay, but

it is not because I like you.

- I see.

- I had rather you did go than

mistake me about that.

I hate you and disapprove of you

and my husband knows it.

If ... If you are not here when he comes back,

you think ... I disobeyed him and drove you away.

Whereas, of course, you've ...

been so kind and considerate

that I, I really want to go

out of mere contrariness?

Well, erm, shall we go to tea

like a quiet respectable couple,

and wait for your husband's return?

Ha-a, watch what I've missed, haven't I, ...

the truism of domesticity.

I expect that if any stranger

came in now, he would take us

for man and wife.

- If you mean that you are

more my age than he is, I ...

- Oh, I, ...

I see there is another side

to domestic bliss.

I, I'd rather be married to someone

that everyone respects than - than -

Than the devil's disciple and you are right.

But then your love helps him to be a good man,

just as your hate helps me to be a bad one.

My husband has been very good to you.

Can't you forgive him for being

so much better than you are?

How dare you belittle him

by putting yourself in his place?

- Did I?

- Yes, you did.

You said that we could, ... we could ...

Don't do that!

Here ...

- Tea?

- Please.

Do you take sugar?

No, but plenty of milk.

Toast?

- Why do you laugh?

- Oh, I think you are afraid that even tea and toast

for a man of my reputation might lead you astray.

That's the worst of conducting one's life

on the very highest principles.

One false step and

you have such a long ways to fall.

Are you afraid of heights, Mrs. Anderson?

Do they keep tempting you to throw

yourself over the precipice?

I think you find the view

down below almost irresistable.

So you take yourself and

your principles higher and higher

in the hope to getting away from it.

Of course the higher you go

the more irresistable it becomes.

Doesn't it? ...

Eh?

You see! The toast is harder

to swallow then the truth! ...

There!

Leave me alone!

Oh, leave me alone!

Can you ever do one kind thing for someone?

All you do is just ...

Sorry to disturb you, mum!

Duty!

Anthony Anderson: I arrest you

in King George's name as a rebel!

- But he is not ...

- Come on, parson.

Put your coat on and come along.

- But that is not ...

- Sergeant ... forgive me asking

what active rebellion exactly

have I committed?

That's not for me to say, sir.

But we don't arrest unless

we don't have to hang them.

You can't do this!

I leave one good thing for someone.

Sergeant, did you ever arrest a man of my cloth before?

Well, no sir.

At least, only an army chaplain.

Four in!

One gentleman to another, sir.

Wouldn't you like a word with

your missis before you go?

The last chance.

Oh, my love. This ... This gallant

gentleman has been kind enough

to allow us a moment of leavetaking.

- Yes, but ...

Get your husband safely out of harm's way.

You understand?

He can't save me.

They will hang him.

And they will not spare me.

Tell him that from now on

he better give the devil its due.

I am sure the sergeant will not believe

that you love me like a wife unless ...

you should give me one kiss before I go.

I can't!

- Sergeant, quickly.

- March!

- Where is Mrs. Dudgeon?

- Mrs. Dudgeon is critical. Very critical.

- Where is my husband?

- Mrs. Anderson! What's happened?

- Oh, it's Richard, he ..., he ..., he ...

- The scoundrel! He should be horsewhipped. The minister's wife ...

- No, no!

- What he did you?

- My husband!

I must see my husband.

- Yes, yes, directly ...

Judith!

What happened to you?

Are you hurt?

You should not have left him

in the house with her.

He is not to be trusted.

Richard?

Judith?

Judith?

Judith, did he ...?

No, no, you don't understand!

He did nothing!

- He's been arrested!

- Arrested?

- What we are going to do?

- Where they've taken him?

- No ... no, you mustn't go, you mustn't go!

He said you couldn't save him. You'd get out of

harm's way, he said that they will hang him and

not spare you. But there must be some other way.

Judith, Judith,

the man without much good,

but the least I can do is to talk to him.

But they want you! They will not

let you see him:
they will arrest you

the moment you give your name!

- Nonsense, my dear.

- It's not, it's not, it's God's truth!

It was for you the soldiers came.

- For me?!

- They gave your name.

We were there together ... and

soldiers thought he and I were ...

He put on your coat,

he went with them, to save you!

What is in there something we can do?

Get the people at the village together?

Against the army?

Do no such thing, Mr. Anderson!

Leave all alone.

- Sh-Sh ...

- Yes, yes my dear.

- You can't help him, minister, but you are free.

- Tony, you can't leave Richard now!

You can lie low somewhere

till it is safe to come back,

somewhere right clear of the village.

- Tony!

- Christy, help me to get out the buggy.

We'll leave your horse here.

Confound Richard!

Tony!

- Tony! He's trying to save your life!

- Yes, he's put me in a debt I can never repay.

- What he thinks I can do? What is he expecting?

- I don't know, but you must do something!

- You must save him!

- Stop hollering, girl!

Judith, ... Judith, listen to me.

If you can get word to him by

pretending to be his wife, do it.

The longer he'll hold his tongue,

the more start he will give me.

- Tony, what are you going to do?

- Judith, go home.

He's gone!

He's not going to the village!

He's run away!

My God, he's not such fool as I thought!

Mr. Hawkins!

- Mr. Hawkins! ... Mr. Hawkins!

- Come in, sir!

Mr. Hawkins, they've arrested Richard Dudgeon.

- You must go to the military.

- God, is that only what you want.

- Get the horses ready.

- What minister talks?

- He's no our friend of record.

- Mr. Hawkins, tell them I'll give myself up ...

if they release him.

- I am sorry but I can't help you. You better go yourself.

Get yourselfs down, in hurry.

You don't understand.

They thought he was me.

- If I go they'll hang us both, if you go to the ...

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes