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SHARPE’S Justice
Richard Sharpe and the
Peace of the Congress of Vienna
Screenplay Written by Patrick Harbinson and Bernard Cornwell.
Novel Adapted by Paul Kaster
PART TWO
1814 THREE DAYS AFTER CHRISTMAS
Chapter 13
, PARFITT’S MILL
At Parfitt’s ball, Parfitt told Sharpe that he planned to address the workers at all of his mills the in two days. The message he would deliver would not be one that the workers would receive well. He expected Sharpe with the appropriate number of Yeomanry to accompany him. He would start with
Sharpe and Harper have been called to support Parfitt when he plans to speak to the workers.
They enter the workhouse, pause to watch all until Parfitt arrives.
They gathered people stand away from them, quiet, hanging their heads.
Harper says jovially, “Hmmm, seems they like us.”
When Sharpe doesn’t respond to his joke he continues, “Anyway, this lot don’t look like they need any keepin’ in order.”
Sharpe mumbles, “They look as if they need a good meal or a bath.”
Harper questions, “Don’t know why we are botherin’.’”
Sharpe barks back, “Nobody asked you to come.”
“So, if you don’t like it, go.”
Angrily he continues, “Nothin keepin’ ya. I need the pay.
So I’m stayin’, alright.”’
Parfitt, Saunders and George enter, march down an aisle between the machines until they reach the center of the crowd.
Parfitt and Saunders stand on a bench to address the workers.
Parfitt swivels his head to all. War’s ended lads.
God Save the King, etc. etc.
Now we ‘oped with the war done, Europe would open up for our goods.
We ‘oped that the ladies of Paris would be swanning around in fancy smocks woven by the workers of Keighley. But it hasn’t worked out that way. There’s no money in Paris, nor in Madrid. Nor in Berlin. Nor in any other damn place.
Maybe Major Sharpe here took all their damn money.
Background: Wouldn’t be surprised.
Maybe we should ask him, eh?
Many in the crowd look at Sharpe and Harper with suspicion that they may have taken money.
Anyway, the thick and the thin of it is that times are hard.
Choices are hard.
And the choices I’ve had to make is this
Should I lay folks off.
At this, many of the gathering shout
NO! NO!
Or should I cut wages.
Even more of the crowd join to shout.
No! No!
Well It seems better to me that all should have less, than some should have none.
That’s what I’ve chosen.
Weekly wage cut from 8 shillings to 7 shillings a per week
Now all, shout.
No! No!
Parfitt, looks as many in the crowd appear to say something.
It comes hard, I know. But that’s the way things are.
Sam West says: I can’t hardly support my family on 8 shillings. How can I do it on 7.
Another worker says, “I’m in the same boat..”
Parfitt, I’m sorry Sam West, but we’ve just got to draw our belts tight.. That’s all.
I don’t see your belt gettin tight.
Parfitt stops any more questions or complaints by changing to a new topic.
With his face stern and severe he turns to those talking the most, then directs his statement to them
The last thing is this.
I’ve ‘eard tell of meetings in town. Meetings addressed by a wanted man. A traitor. A trouble stirrer. Matthew Truman.
These meetings are unlawful
While he talks, from the crowd, some try to shout over him,
decent wages, we need decent wages.
Parfitt continues.
He shouts emphatically, If there are any more,
Major Sharpe and his men will break them up
and ARREST all attending.
NO! NO!
Parfitt steps down. Pushes through row of workers to leave.
Wickham and Saunders lead the way by pushing through the crowd. Parfitt follows them closely to avoid to any of the workers grabbing him.
Sharpe and Harper watch them go. They trail behind acting as much of a rearguard as ever they did when they were fighting the French. The workers try to follow Parfitt, but Sharpe and Harper close behind him to keep them away.
KEIGHLEY
Sharpe again travels Skipton Road, but past the churches to the cemetery. He dismounts to walk among the headstones. He finds the one he seeks.
Sharpe pauses long as he looks at the shabby wooden cross. Not much of a headstone. He waits as Sally Bunting said she would join him.
Shortly she emerges from one of the churches where she had gone to pray. As she joins him, Sharpe says to her, “Elsie Myers.
“April 5, 1812.”
“Forlorn Hope went through the breach at Badajoz.”
“We walked on nothing but the dead. They were so thick on the ground.”
“Did Mr. Whitbread read you that Sally?”
Sharpe turns back to the headstone lost in his thoughts of the losses and terror of Badajoz.
“No Richard.”
“How did she die?”
“After you left, she was not the same. She hid in her room at the inn. She wouldn’t eat. We couldn’t find you or the owner of the inn. I tried to get her to meet with the vicar at the orphanage. She wouldn’t go. She was afraid to be alone with any man, including Matthew Truman.”
Sharpe frowns at Bunty. “
Don’t look at me like that. I know you and Matthew were sweet on Elsie You know she was so young and pure. But after that night, she changed.”
“After a week, the coaching staff could not find the owner. The coaching manager told the constables that the owner was missing. After a week, the constables could find nothing of the owner or his horse.” Sharpe wondered what became of the horse. He had stripped it of the tack on it, then hid the tack in the small cave that he buried Mr. Eagleton.
“The constables sent word to all the coaching inns to the north and south that Mr. Eagleton owned. None of those inns had seen him. He had vanished. As he owned the inns alone, we had no one to talk with. His business manager in London arranged to pay the employees and keep the coaches running until someone could buy the business.”
“After a few months, Mr. Parker bought the coaching stations from Skipton to Sheffield. Another man bought those between Sheffield and London.”
“By the time, Mr. Parker came to Keighley to live, Elsie was already very sick. She would not eat. She drank too much. She could barely work most days. B’fore long, she had no money. I helped her, but she just drank. The inn kept her for a while so she had a place to live. But finally they
had to throw her out.”
“I let her stay with me from time to time. But I could not keep her for long stays. She would take up with a man who would use her, and give ‘er some money, food and drink. When the man would tire of ‘er, she would be on the street again. Almost twenty years she lived like that. I was surprised that she never did get sick or pregnant. Maybe she did, but Matt and I never saw her if she was.”
“After almost twenty years, she did get sick. We found her in a ball outside one of the inns. She could’na go no more. We think she passed out and died there on the street.”
Sharpe has listened to all this. All these years gone by and he didn’t know that killing the man that was raping Elsie had not spared her. Sallly and Matt had tried to help her. If he had not killed Eagleton and stayed, Elsie would not have been the same.
“Sal, did she ever talk about what happened to her?”
“No Richard, she did na. Do you know?”
“Aye, I do, but telling now won’t change anything.”
“You knew?! All these years. And you left her?”
“Shame Richard. Shame that you did abandoned her.”
“Sal, if I had been here, would it ‘ave made a difference.”
“Aye, Richard. Probably not.”
“I am sorry that I could not help her more than I did. Some day, maybe I’ll tell you Sal. But not today.”
“Sal, I want to talk with Matthew again. How may I contact him?”
“He comes to the Methodist meetings sometimes. If’n he attends when I do, I’ll tell him. I know some of the men he is friends with too. Will tell them. But I expect none of ‘em will want to talk with YOU.”
“I understand. I am investigating what is going on here. I do not want to arrest Matthew. I need to hear his story.”
“I will tell him. Now good day to you. I must go back to the children. I have been away longer than my normal visit to church.”
v“Thank you Sal.”
VILLAGE OF ROSSENDALE
Rossendale and Jane woke early to prepare to meet with Aunt Agatha’s solicitor. Mrs. Trent served them breakfast, but remained cold to Jane.
“John, as you are the master of this house now, how do you expect your servants to treat your guests?” She asks this obliquely to avoid pushing him directly to tell Mrs. Trent to treat Jane as if she is the lady of the house now.
“Sweetness, after the meeting with the solicitor, I will better understand how many servants we may keep.”
“How many?”
“Yes, as Welling Park has been neglected, Aunt Agatha may not have had access to much income to keep the property and pay the servants. We may have to choose to release some of the servants if we want to improve the property.”
“Why would we want to improve the property if we will sell it?”
John remains concerned at Jane’s lack of worldly experience, especially regarding money. Not that he can say too much as he understands much, or he thinks he does, but has failed to amass new or keep the money that he has had.
“My dearest, it is when selling real estate, where the property is located is a top priority to attract buyers. Once they choose to look, the first impression they get when they see the property can make a difference as to whether they will buy it AND if so, how much they will pay.”
“What was your first impression of Welling Park?”
Jane makes a face.
“So, you would not choose Welling Park, as it currently is?”
“No, I would NOT.”
“That my, Dear, is why we should spend some of the money that MAY be available.”
“Then let us see what the solicitor has to tell us.”
He sips the last of his coffee and takes her hand to have her rise to go.
They ride to the solicitor’s office in the village. After a brief wait in the receiving room, the solicitor invites them to join him and his clerk in the inner office.
“Good day to you Lord Rossendale. I am Mr. Applegate, Esquire and my clerk Mr. Calder. Welcome.”
“Good day to you gentlemen.”
Applegate turns to Jane, “and you are…?
Rossendale speaks for Jane, “This is Mrs. Jane Sharpe. She accompanies me.”
Jane turns and makes a face at John, “Good day to you gentleman.”
Mr. Applegate notes the interaction between Rossendale and Jane, but chooses not to comment.
“Well, shall we review Aunt Agatha’s will?
“Yes, please.”
“Well your Aunt Agatha was the daughter of your grandfather, the Third Baron of Rossendale.”
“When your aunt Agatha married William Reed, your grandfather gave Agatha Welling Park as a wedding gift. He and your father had already taken residency in London and preferred it to Lancashire.”
“Your uncle, nor has family has no claim on Welling Park as he was never named to the deed. However, upon his death, your uncle left your aunt a stipend of fifty pounds per year to be paid from the business founds from the trading company he owned with his partners. The trading company has continued to pay that stipend.”
“Will the stipend continue?”
“No, it will not. Your uncle specified that upon the death of Agatha, the stipend will be paid to surviving members of the Reed family or be donated to charity.”
John is disappointed as the fifty pounds would have been a help with preparing Welling Park to sell and his current expenses.
“Thank you. Is there more?”
“Yes, you have Welling Park which is the five hundred acres of land with all buildings on the land. Also, there are two tenant farmers that pay rents that total 2 pounds per month.”
“And, are they current?”
“They are, I hold the funds for the estate.”
“Thank you. Is there anything else?”
“There are no further assets. There are expenses unpaid.”
“And they are?”
“The servants remain unpaid. The total due them is twenty-two shillings for the maid, stablehand and gardener.”
“Gardener? We saw nothing that would say any gardening has been done for a long time.”
John chose not to add that the interior of the house showed that the maid might have been neglecting her activities too.
“Yes, all three remained on the property after her death.”
“And then there is my fee four pounds for serving the estate until you take over.”
“Four pounds, that seems severe.”
“It is w1hat your aunt agreed. See here.” He points to words in the will.
“Very well then. How may we settle the cash?”
“My clerk has prepared a summary the plus and minus balances, as well as those that you will have to pay to the servants, as they have not been paid.”
“We can pay you the net in cash today.”
“I will gladly relieve you of the caretaker responsibility.”
“And the cash.”
“What do I need to do.”
“Sign here.”
John looks at Jane. She has understood all of this. She sits frowning, as the sums are meager.
John signs the document.
The clerk leaves the room to return with a purse containing the small cash sum.
Before they may leave, Mr. Applegate adds. “It has been a pleasure to serve your family these many years. Should you need the service of a solicitor as you manage Welling Park, I would appreciate the chance to serve you, my Lord.”
“Mr. Applegate, should I need such a service, I will contact you.”
With this, John and Jane rise to leave.
In the carriage back to Welling Park, Jane who has been sinisterly quiet speaks. “John, “
John feels trapped in the coach as Jane prepares to vent her anger.
“Why do you introduce me as Mrs. Sharpe? And that I accompany you? It makes me sound as if I am your concubine.”
“um, Jane, you ARE Mrs. Sharpe and you do accompany me. What do you recommend that I tell others?”
“Lady Rossendale?”
“My dear, I cannot. Until I marry, my MOTHER is the Dowager Lady Rossendale.”
“Your mother, pooh. Even if I am rid of Richard, she will not accept me. And, I have not seen that you are willing to fight her for me.”
John has not presented a case to his mother that he would marry Jane. He has not extended their relationship to marriage. He does love Jane, but except for the money that Sharpe expects to be paid to release Jane, he is happy with the relationship as it is.
“Now, now Jane. It is a moot point to discuss the day we can marry. Until you can be free of Major Sharpe, it is impossible for us to wed. Before that day, fighting my mother for you is pointless.”
“Well then, we must focus on paying Richard. Will Welling Park generate sufficient funds?”
“My dear, I am not sure. We need to have someone familiar with selling real estate here estimate the value.”
“And how long will that take?
“It could take months, many months as the economy in England is not good now.”
Jane frowns.
John hopes the coach arrive at Welling Park before Jane starts again. He is not so lucky.
“Richard WILL seek us out for the money. How can we raise at least five thousand pounds now to give him?”
“Five thousand? He expects ten thousand.”
“I AM his wife. I earned half of what he has be being his wife.”
“You may think that, will he?”
“Today, we have nothing to give him. Perhaps, if we have half, he will accept and leave us alone.”
John understands what she says, but doubts that Sharpe will be satisfied that he has been paid all that is due him. In the short time that he has known Sharpe or of him, he thinks that Sharpe can be quite intractable about what is fair.
“Jane, I will see what I can do. Sir Willoughby Parfitt has a way of raising money, even in bad economies. Perhaps he can help. As we did not go to his Ball, I should visit him.”
“Will you take me?”
“Um, I think it better that I go alone, as the focus is business and not social.”
Jane’s face shows clearly that she does not like this answer.
“As you wish.”
John anticipates that not only will the Manor house be cold when they return, but Jane’s affections will be too.”
John is happy to see that the coach has turned into the lane for Welling Park.
KING’S INN
After meeting Sally at the cemetery, Sharpe returned to the inn. He has waited impatiently to hear anything from Harper. Harper has had all day on his own to investigate where Rossendale and Jane are staying. Sharpe paces. It is now dark and nothing.
Finally, someone knocks on his door.
“Who is it?”
Harper walks in. Head hung low.
“Well, where is it?”
“Rossendale’s estate, man?”
Harper tries to calm Sharpe, “Listen to me. I don’t think you should get involved.”
“I don’t care. Where is it?”
“Welling Park. About twenty-five miles from here. South of Burnley. And I think you’re mad.”
Sharpe looks at him. He starts to let his anger bleed off. “It’s too late to go tonight. Let’s go downstairs. Tell me where you went today. Who did you talk with?”
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