The Wicked Lady Page #5

Now Mrs. Price.

Not that name, not here.

The poison was not enough.

Captain Jackson told me,

Mrs. Price, you were reliable.

Oh, the gentleman in question,

he is not unwell?

He is ill.

Ill is not dead.

MAN:
Muffins! Fresh muffins!

Come and get your muffins!

You said today was

to be special. Why?

I'm going to seduce you.

This seduction, am I to

have a say in the matter?

The less said.

You said there was another.

Now there is you.

We were both sighing

for the moon.

We were.

Oh, thank you, my Lady.

Have you slept a little?

What did the physician

say, my Lady?

He doesn't know

quite what ails you.

But with careful nursing...

Here, this will make

you feel better.

No one could have a better

nurse than you, my Lady.

Sleep, Hogarth.

"For Him that is joined to all

the living, there is hope."

"For the living know that

they shall die, but the

dead know not anything."

Yes.

Look, look at that.

Will you marry me?

Kit, I've told you, I'm in

love with someone else.

We can't both go on

chasing shadows forever.

Caroline! Is it all settled,

then? Are you getting married?

Not yet, sir.

(LAUGHING)

Keep at her, my boy.

A letter came,

it's marked urgent.

Anything wrong, my dear?

Hogarth is ill. Barbara's

looking after him.

The house is in chaos.

Ralph wants me back to help.

You came! Ralph said

he'd sent for you.

How is Hogarth?

I would love to see him.

He is very ill.

Please leave Hogarth to me.

My Lady, I know it

won't be long now.

Here, drink,

you'll feel better.

I'm not afraid to go

but what would you do

without my guidance?

I don't know. Drink.

Let me tell Sir Ralph,

my Lady.

He'll be able to help

you after I'm gone.

No, Hogarth.

You'll tell no one!

God in Heaven!

What is it, Hogarth?

Sir Ralph! Help! Help!

Sir Ralph!

Hogarth?

Get Sir Ralph!

HOGARTH:
Sir Ralph, help!

Sir Ralph!

Good Hogarth,

you must be quiet.

Sir Ralph, quickly.

He's coming.

He's wandering in his mind.

He can talk to Ralph

when he's rested.

Oh, Ralph, quick!

Hogarth wants you.

RALPH:
I can't hear you.

If only you'd left him to me!

Or to us!

(SHUSHING) Quiet!

What did he say?

His voice is so weak,

I couldn't hear.

Let me try,

I'm used to him.

Keep them back.

He must have quiet.

(GASPS)

(MUFFLED GROANING)

(MURMURING)

I tried to hear.

It was too late.

Her Ladyship wore herself

out nursing poor Hogarth.

She needs rest.

Caroline will stay with you.

You are all so kind. But if

you left, I could sleep.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

Captain Jackson, is he here?

(EXCLAIMS)

In his usual room upstairs.

Barbara!

She means nothing to me.

What?

This wench, cheap

though she looks,

will cost you dear!

Who the f*** was that?

(GLASS BREAKING)

(DOG BARKING)

"If you would catch

Jerry Jackson go now to

the Leaping Stag Inn."

I've got hold of you,

I got hold of you.

(BOTH LAUGHING)

Now!

(SCREAMING)

Come on,

let's get inside, quick!

(ALL SCREAMING)

Will you all be

drinking, then?

Give us Jerry Jackson and

there'll be no trouble.

Jerry Jackson? Who's he?

She's right. Who cares?

We'll hang the lot of them!

Just Jackson.

I am. Take me,

then I confess.

It's me.

Nonsense,

my name's Jackson.

It's me you want!

(ALL LAUGHING)

It's a small point,

I know,

but do any of you

gentlemen know what Jerry

Jackson looks like?

Without his mask, I mean.

There are those

who have seen him.

Let's have done with it and

move them all to prison.

We can find the one

we want later.

Did I hear my name called?

Why, Captain!

I knew he'd come.

I would not have my friends

inconvenienced or you,

my dear Betsy, or you.

We are outnumbered.

These gentlemen have

their accomplices all

around the house.

(ALL MURMURING)

May I go upstairs

and finish dressing?

You're well enough

dressed for a hanging.

(ALL CHATTERING)

A few seconds only.

Thank you.

(SCREAMS)

(GRUNTS)

You bastards!

Leave him alone!

(GROANING)

Well, it was worth

a try, wasn't it?

And now you hang.

See what they call him? The

most popular gallows-bird

for the last 20 years.

Another chop, Barbara?

I see you get all the credit

for his capture, Ralph.

The credit's for the

accomplice who betrayed him.

I'll wager he's shaking

in his shoes.

Why should he?

Jackson didn't give

him away at the trial.

HENRIETTA:
There's still time.

Ah, he's probably saving it

up for his dying confession.

They love to make a

show on the gallows.

I wish I could be there.

I wonder if dare I put off

the fitting of my new gown?

Ralph will tell you

all about it.

I do not share the popular

view that hanging is

an entertainment.

I shall not be going.

What about you, Barbara? Don't

you long to see him dangle?

My dear, you've gone

as white as a sheet.

Just one of my headaches.

I think I'll get some air.

Ralph, will you

order my carriage?

Jerry Jackson's hanging today!

Come on now, come on.

Don't miss this

opportunity now.

Come on

I've told James to keep well

away from Tyburn. Are you

sure you don't want...

I'll be fine.

Caroline! How are you?

Well, thank you. I heard

you were both in town.

Good morning, Barbara. Where

are you going so early?

To take the air.

May I come with you?

Why don't you stay

and entertain Ralph?

Oh, no. It's you

I came to see.

Goodbye, Ralph.

Oh, goodbye.

BARBARA:
Why do you

force yourself upon me?

CAROLINE:
I want to talk

to you about Ralph.

You want him, you can

have him. There, that

should settle everything.

You were in love with Ralph.

You could be again.

Heaven preserve us

from your advice.

I came to tell you I was

getting married, Barbara.

I won't come between

you and Ralph anymore.

Do I dance with glee?

I thought it might help.

James! James!

James, stop the coach! Turn

the horses towards Tyburn.

The Master's orders were...

My orders are Tyburn.

And get there in

time for the hanging!

A beautiful souvenir of

a beautiful hanging

ladies and gents.

But what's the greatest

secret we may learn today?

I'll tell you what it is.

MAN:
Make no mistake,

they had been tipped off.

So we may hear the name

of the woman who

betrayed Jerry Jackson!

And they say

it was a woman for sure.

And I have

my own ideas who it is!

But I'll let Jerry Jackson

tell you that one before the

rope tightens round his neck!

Here you see the Captain

dingling dangling.

I'll take one. Thank you.

MAN 1:
Thank you, my lady.

Look, the legs and arms move.

MAN 2:
Ridiculous.

Barbara, why have

you come here?

I've never seen

an execution.

It will be a new sensation.

MAN 3:
Here he comes!

(CROWD CHEERING)

(CRYING)

JACKSON:
It's good

to see you all.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Friends! My friends!

My friends!

I don't care whether you're

for me or against me.

All that matters is that

you've come here today in

your thousands to give me

a grand send-off.

To you lovely ladies I say...

Don't throw your love,

your caresses, your tears

on villains like me.

(CROWD GROANING)

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