The Wicked Lady Page #4

(EXCLAIMS)

(HORSES APPROACHING)

What's that?

Someone's coming.

(WHISPERING)

BARBARA:
Why the horse?

I'd rather kill a man any day.

JACKSON:
If you're caught,

and no one's dead,

you can buy an acquittal.

The first lesson on the road

is not to be followed.

I have

a lot to learn.

You do. You do.

But there's time enough.

The second lesson on the road

is to learn to enjoy yourself.

Let's go to the inn,

come on.

Good boy. Come on.

Good boy.

Where's Barbara?

Abed, with one

of her headaches.

I love you, Caroline.

You are fond of me.

I love you.

I love you,

ever since I can remember.

I'll get a divorce.

Not possible.

We must fight.

We must part.

Well, where will you go?

To London,

to my Uncle Martin.

Please...

I beg of you,

don't make it difficult.

(DOG BARKING)

I baptize this child

Luke Thomas.

In the name of the Father,

Son and Holy Ghost.

(ORGAN PLAYING)

All people that on Earth

Do dwell...

(BLEATING)

RALPH:
Well, it seems

only yesterday

since we were here

celebrating our young

friend's wedding.

MAN:
Aye, he didn't waste

no time, did he?

(ALL LAUGHING)

RALPH:
Well, I know it

was a disappointment

to my friend Tom here,

when his son Ned

forsook farming

for a more exciting life,

but now there is

another Cotterell to carry

on the old tradition.

To the future

farmer Cotterell.

(ALL CHEERING)

And what is this

new exciting life, Ned?

I'm with the coaching

company, Milady. A guard.

Oh, indeed?

I hope you guard

your passengers well.

Oh, no passengers, ma'am.

I'm on the baggage coach.

We take valuables.

Valuables? Come now, Ned...

I do that.

Gold bullion and all.

That's most exciting.

When do you next do that?

Well, Milady, I'm not

supposed to say like...

I understand, Ned.

It's all right telling you.

On this Thursday, gold,

for a bank in London.

It's not every highwayman

that has a lady of

quality for his doxy.

Doxy? Me, a doxy?

That means a lady

of easy virtue,

not usually the only lady.

(LAUGHS) There is no other.

Keep to that, my love.

If you ever deceived me,

I'd make a dangerous enemy.

You make

a dangerous partner.

How?

This plan of yours

to rob the gold coach.

(SIGHS)

The odds are against us.

It's by daylight,

the guards are doubled.

It is doubly exciting.

We'll come to the

gallows soon enough.

Let's not race to get there.

Life's too sweet

to throw away.

Then, I'll do it alone.

I believe you would, too,

green eyes.

NED:
So, I says to me wife,

"I wager baby knows

what we're talking about."

So I says,

"Cat's drunk baby's milk."

Do you know

what the little fella did?

No idea.

Lammed his milk

straight at the cat!

COACHMAN:
Did he really?

NED:
Hey, what's that?

Looks like an accident.

Here, I'll go see.

(SCREAMS)

BARBARA:
I'll get the horse.

Here!

(BARBARA PANTING)

JACKSON:
We've got as

much as we can carry.

BARBARA:
Just this one more.

Well, come on!

JACKSON:
Someone's

following us!

We'll outdistance him!

Not with this damn

gold, we won't!

Aim lower, hit the horse!

Ned!

Ned! Ned!

Ned, I aimed at the horse.

(GASPS)

My Lady!

Is he?

Dead!

I told you to

aim for the horse.

We've got the gold,

haven't we? That's worth

killing a man for, isn't it?

(WOMAN SCREAMS)

BARBARA:

"On September 14th,

near Waterbrook Farm

"in the Parish of

Maiden Worthy

"was committed by two men,

murder and robbery on

the highway to the value of

"1,130 pounds.

"Whoever shall deliver the

said felons to Sir Ralph

Skelton of Maryiot Cells

"shall have their charges

and 30 pounds reward

with a further 20 pounds

"to be paid upon one

of the robbers convictioned

for murder."

So I'm valued at 20 pounds

more than Jackson.

(KNOCK AT DOOR)

Come in. Yes, Hogarth?

Is this your handkerchief,

my Lady?

What concern is it of yours?

I found it at the spot where

Ned Cotterell was murdered.

The embroidery is

of a "K," Hogarth.

Not my name.

I have seen you with

it often in this house.

You are mistaken.

May the Lord have mercy

on your unclean soul.

How dare you!

My soul was tortured

with suspicion.

The Lord commanded me to

observe your movements.

What do you mean?

I have seen you leave at night

dressed like a man of evil.

I have seen you ride

out with your horse's

hooves shod with clothes.

And I have seen you return.

Once I saw you riding

with another

dressed in like fashion.

I saw you embrace.

Then you understand.

I fear that I do.

I have wrestled

with the matter.

Whether to dishonor

the noble family I serve,

or to remain silent and

pray for your repentance.

This highwayman had me

in his power.

He is one of

the devil's men on earth.

He forced me to rob,

to do terrible things.

He threatened to wash

his hands in my blood

as he did with poor

Ned Cotterell.

You swear you had

no part in this?

I have been bewitched,

but not to kill, Hogarth.

I know true goodness

when I see it.

You are good and you must

be strong. Help me, Hogarth.

Help me to save my soul.

Poor, wretched sinner.

It is not too late. Save me

from the power of the devil.

That the Lord should

entrust His humble servant

with such a mission.

Promise me that henceforth

you will lead a pure

and blameless life?

With all my heart.

You will never

communicate with that

evil highwayman again?

Never!

Then your secret shall go

with me to my grave.

Let us pray.

(ALL GIGGLING)

Oh, I'm sorry.

RALPH:
"I was glad when they

said unto me, let us go

into the house of the Lord.

"Our feet shall stand within

thy gates of Jerusalem.

"Jerusalem is builded

as a city that is

compact together."

HOGARTH:
This column

has the household items.

Here is a list

of the servants' wages,

and here the outdoor staff...

No, no more, good Hogarth.

My mind is spinning.

Will Heaven ever

forgive me?

There shall be more

joy in Heaven over one

sinner that repenteth.

What should I do without you,

good Hogarth?

Let me give you some of

my homemade fruit cordial.

I'd like your opinion

of the flavor.

Excellent, my Lady.

Just like Mistress Caroline

used to make.

It's practically

the same recipe.

Have you heard from

the young mistress since

she went to London?

I fear not.

I am told the city is in

the grip of a great frost.

People skating on

the River Thames.

Skating and sinning,

too, no doubt.

Yes, Hogarth.

Sinning and skating.

Let me try by myself.

Be careful! Watch out!

(EXCLAIMS)

Why, Mr. Locksby!

I'm afraid I...

The last time we met,

sir, you were kissing

a friend of mine.

On her wedding day.

(LAUGHS)

May I teach you to skate?

Lady Skelton herself!

Look at that coach!

Good morning, Milady.

And pray what can

I show your Ladyship?

Pray serve your other

customers, Mrs. Munce.

Oh, we are done,

Lady Skelton.

How is Sir Ralph?

Quite well, thank you.

And dear Mistress Caroline?

She is in London.

Oh, on a visit?

For good I fear.

Oh, how nice, how nice.

I do hope she's having

a great deal of fun.

Good morning.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes