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Warning: General Audience |
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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 THREE
FOUR DAYS AFTER CHRISTMAS
Chapter 14
PARFITT’S HOUSE
,
When Rossendale returned the invitation to Parfitt for his ball, he apologized that he could not attend. He asked Parfitt to receive him after the ball. Parfitt accepted to meet on the 29th of December.
Johnny preferred to go alone. Jane was most unhappy that she had to remain at Welling Park with no transportation and no one to talk with except Mrs. Trent.
While John rides in the coach, he keeps the curtains closed to keep the inside warm. Had he had the curtains open he might have seen Richard Sharpe ride past going in the opposite direction. He did here a horse pass at a rapid speed.
By mid’morning, John’s carriage pulls up in front of Parfitt’s house. Rossendale exits the carriage and walks up the stairs. The butler shows him to the study.
Parfitt has been waiting in his study , “Rossendale.
“My dear fellow. Thought you’d never come.”
“Welcome, welcome.”
“Willoughby, came as soon as I could. The new estate, you know.”
“Oh yes.”
“George, meet George. George Wickham.”
“Boss me yeomanry before your fellow came up.”
“Sharpe? You mean.”
“That’s him. Not the fighter you made him out to be. George got the better of him at the ball. Ran him ragged.”
Rossendale looks incredulously at Wickham.
“You fought Sharpe? And you beat him?”
George smiles, full of himself. Smacks his lips.
“Easy sir. Brain, not brawn.”
Parfitt checks him quickly.
“Stop bragging George. Tain’t attractive.”
Turns back to John, changes his tone to one of warm welcome.
“Come in Rossendale and tell me about this estate you charmed out of your aunt Tabby.”
Anne Camoyne watches them as they go the the study. She makes sure know one sees or hears her.
Parfitt, George and Rossendale enter the study.
Anne cautiously approaches the open door. She pauses behind the second, closed door. Raises her book to make it appear that she is reading by the light should anyone see her.
George sits. Willoughby warms himself in front of the fire.
Rossendale paces slowly in front of the desk as he removes his overcoat. After he places his coat and gloves over the back of a chair, he turns to Willoughby.
“The house has been somewhat neglected.”
“But it has a pleasant aspect and the rooms are comfortable.”
Parfitt snaps.
“Houses are easy. If you don’t like em, you knock em down.”
“How about the land?”
“You got plenty of farmers paying you rent, I hope.”
John, is disappointed to reply.
“In fact no. We have a few, but the rents are not much. Much of the land is rough moor. But it has promise.”
“Particularly for the kind of industry I see around here.”
Willoughby looks at John skeptically.
“Industry? Is that what you want?”
Willoughby pauses. Looks John up and down.
“I’m surprised a young gentleman like yourself would want to dirty his hands in industry.”
John purrs back.
“Others have Willoughby. Why shouldn’t I?”
Willoughby continues with the air of the man who has the experience and the results.
“Mills don’t grow on trees. No, they get built. Built by hard cash. Hard work.”
Rossendale flares the tails of his coat behind him. Makes a show of preparing himself, then sits.
“I believe the land gives me more than adequate collateral, sir.”
Willoughby nods his head. He knows that John is strapped for cash and is playing. He done his homework on Aunt Agatha’s estate already. But, to play the game he plans to play with John, he continues. He holds the lapel of his jacket. Smiles with a joy. He points around the room at the books on the shelves
“See all of this Lord Rossendale? My library. Latin. Greek. Homer. Tacitus, the lot. You think I built this up, book by book?”
“Ex liberous? Willoughby Parfitt. Did I ‘ell!. I bought it off a broke baronet. Same with my mills.”
“My first mill took five years to build and ten years to make a profit.”
“I thought I’d be suppin’ with worms before I’d get rich.”
“So, I went out and I bought other people’s mills.”
“Aye, and I bought them even if they didn’t want to sell.”
John has been listening and watching intently. As when he plays cards, he wants to know the other player.
“Then, why did they? Sell?”
George listening to Willoughby’s tale, smirks. Watches John as a cat watches prey.
Parfitt: Chuckles, “There are ways.”
Then, with little humor says.
“And once I’ve got em, I run em better. Harder. “
“I make the workers work. And if they grumble, well there’s always George here, “
Nods to George who nods back for being acknowledged that he is part of the game.
“or your man Sharpe to keep things in order.”
Pauses. Leans towards John until they are almost touching noses, with a knowing smile on his face;
With a sickeningly sweet voice asks
“Would you like a slice of that pie, Lord Rossendale?”
John can’t help but look at him, but with concern replies.
“I’d be happy to be part of any enterprise that shows a quick profit.”
“You need the cash, eh?”
“That’s the trouble with London.”
Rossendale looks to Parfitt with annoyance. Flatly he states.
“I need cash to pay Sharpe off.”
Parfitt and George both look at John with surprise. Parfitt continues.
“Pay him off? What for?”
George follows the conversation with interest.
Rossendale looks warily at Parfitt before answering.
“He abused his wife,.Neglected and beat her. She could stand no more and ran away. I took pity on her.”
Parfitt smiles leeringly. “Pity, eh?”
John stares sternly directly at Parfitt. “Yes, pity.”
Rossendale continues with a posture of righteousness: “He threatened her and me. Pretending an affection for her he has never shown.“
“He demanded money for his silence.”
“I obtained him his commission, yet he still wants more.”
Parfitt rolls his head. Returns an authoritative look. “Glad to be of service Rossendale.”
“How much cash does Sharpe want?”
Interested in where this may go, George looks to John’s response.
Rossendale answers flatly. “Ten thousand pounds.”
Parfitt and George gape at the reply
Parfitt says with sarcasm. “This Mrs Sharpe must be quite something! “
Rossendale’s face shows his affection for Jane and a sadness. He answers: “Yes, she is.”
“So, You sent Sharpe to me to get rid of him. But your aunt Tabby goes and dies Nearby.”
Rossendale doesn’t correct him that his plan had been to send Sharpe to New South Wales, not Yorkshire. Someone else arranged for Sharpe to come to the Yeomanry.
“That’s damn inconvenient, isn’t it?”
“The coincidence had not struck me sir.”
Parfitt looks to Wickham conspiratorially.
“Of course it hadn’t. Of course it hadn’t. “
George smiles and thinks of what all this has meant.
Parfitt redirects the conversation : Leans towards Rossendale: “Well John, Mrs Sharpe. What is she like, eh?”
George smiles leeringly while wetting his lips.
Outside the door, Lady Anne holds a book as if reading, but listens intently to the conversation. The others are unaware that she has heard all. She collects her thoughts on what she has heard. As she is very good at using information to gain things that she wants, she ponders how to use what she has heard.
Besides topping Major Sharpe’s wife, Johnnie has helped himself to Sharpe’s fortune. She doesn’t know that most of it was gone before Rossendale became involved with Jane.
WELLING PARK:
Sharpe rode from Keighley since daybreak. The road was mostly empty. He passed a few coaches and carriages that were headed in the opposite direction.
By ten in the morning, he arrives outside the drive to Welling Park. He pauses before he approaches the building. He sees no one around the property. But, a plume of smoke ascends from the chimney where the kitchen would likely be. He rides up to front of estate building.
Jane has been sitting alone in the bedroom since John left for Parfitt’s. Mrs. Trent served her breakfast and has been working on the house since. She sits in a chair near a window so that she may have light to read her book of poetry. She hears a horse approach. It is too soon for John to return.
Jane stands to look out the window. Riding up to the front door is Richard! “How did he find them here? What will he do? What can I do?”
Jane runs from the bedroom and down the stairs.
At the landing off the stairs, Mrs. Trent is scrubbing the stairs and railing at bottom. Jane grabs her arm. Mrs. Trent is startled and drops her scrub brush into the bucket which splashes soapy water over the floor.
Jane is fearful to confront Richard. She tells Mrs. Trent, “There is a man at the door. “ Mrs Trent has not heard anyone knock. “What man?”
“I am not home. Do you understand?”
Jane is very agitated. She grabs Mrs. Trent’s arm and pushes her towards the door. Jane kicks the scrub bucket and spills the contents across the floor..
Again, Mrs. Trent asks, “What man? I don’t hear no man.”
At this point, Sharpe pounds on the door.
Jane returns to the landing of the stairs to watch.
Mrs Trent opens the door. She sees a tall man standing in the doorway. Sharpe’s scarred face terrifies her. She says to him timidly, “There’s no one to home.”
Sharpe looks at her. Before he knocked on the door, he had heard voices inside. He doubts she is telling him the truth. He pushes past her to enter the house.
The lobby is dark, but he can see another person at the foot of the stairs. It is a woman. As his eyes adjust, he sees that it is Jane. He starts towards her, but goes cautiously because the floor is wet and soapy.
Jane pulls up her skirts and flees up the stairs.
Mrs. Trent is unsure what to do, so she watches while she collects her cleaning bucket and brush.
Sharpe strolls through the lobby, then runs up the stairs.
Jane reached the bedroom ahead of Sharpe. She slides into the room and locks the door behind her.
Sharpe stops outside the door. “Open the door.”
Jane stares at the door but does not answer.
Sharpe looks away from the door, then back, “Open the door or I’ll break it down.”
Jane continues to stare at the door and do nothing.
Sharpe can wait no more. He kicks the door open then struts into the room.
Jane gasps, then retreats behind the door.
Sharpe turns to her then looks around the room.
“Where is he?”
Jane whimpers, “He’s not here.”
Sharpe continues to scan the room to make sure that Rossendale is not there. “Tell me where he is.”
“He’s out hunting Richard. I swear it.”
Sharpe turns toward her.
Jane cringes. She is unsure what he will do. She is used to her uncle whipping her when she has behaved badly. She has seen Richard beat men mercilessly when they wronged him. “What will he do?”
Sharpe hasn’t moved. Jane looks at Sharpe with pleading eyes but says nothing.
Sharpe stares at her sternly. Slowly he says to her. “I’m not goin’ to hurt you.”
He pauses, then maliciously says, “I’m goin’to hurt him.”
Jane watches Sharpe. She continues to say nothing.
Sharpe sighs. H
e rushed here to get Rossendale and Jane to give him his money. Now he is here, but only Jane is. And, she has nothing but the clothes on her back with her. He turns away, then back to Jane.
“What’re ya doin’ here Jane?”
“I came out with John.” Jane says with tremors in her voice.
“Why?”
“To see Welling Park. That’s all.”
Sharpe turns away again. When he looks at Jane, he doesn’t know what to say. He loved her. He thought that she loved him. He looks out the window.
He turns back to the room, but looks at the floor.
“How do ya find bein’ a lady, Jane?”
When she doesn’t reply, he turns to face her. He stares at her with stern face.
Jane shifts her eyes side to side, but does not reply.
Sharpe snorts. Looks around the room.
“I would’a thought my money would have bought better than this.”
“This is John’s. “
“It was bequeathed to him.”
“John has no money. He invested poorly and loses more than he wins when he gambles.”
“He has MY money.”
“You my wife he can keep.”
Jane flinches at these words.
“My money, I want back.”
Jane looks at him. With sad eyes responds
“It is gone.” She does not add that she spent his money, not John.
“Then he must get it back.”
“He can sell this rat hole for a start.”
Jane looks away from Sharpe. She continues to say nothing.
Sharpe looks at her. Her silence is making him angry. He tries to remain calm by turning his head away from her.
With his back turned to her, he tremulously asks.
“Why, Jane?”
“Why did you do it?”
Jane still avoids looking at Sharpe directly.
Pauses, emotion runs across her face.
Starts to say, “I thought you…”
Jane pauses
She starts again, “I thought…”
After another pause, emotion plays out into tears and a trembling voice.
“You broke your promise.”
Sharpe hangs his head. He should not feel guilty about what he did.
“You promised you would not fight again.”
“You fought a duel.”
Sharpe watches her
“And, you left me on my own.”
Sharpe looks at her, softening his look.
“I did not leave you.”
Sharpe looks at her. His face shows less hurt. He addresses her with a softer tone.
“I came back from battle, and you were gone.”
“You went to London.”
“You took a peacock for a lover.”
He tries unsuccessfully to hide his building anger.
“You emptied my bank account.”
Jane, avoids his look. She says meekly, “You broke your promise.”
Sharpe’s anger continues to build. Spending ten thousand pounds for breaking a promise is too much to forgive.
“That promise was foolish and I’m sorry for breaking it.”
“But, it does not balance what you did to me.”
Jane watches Sharpe. Jane’s face is drawn to a pinch from her emotions.
Sharpe looks at her.
She does not respond.
Sharpe shakes his head. Looks down.
Looks back up.
With emotion
“Jane, I thought you loved me.”
Swallows hard.
Jane looks down, then back at him.
With pleading eyes
Sniffs.
“And if I tell you I did, would that make everything better?”
Swallows. Continuing to look at Sharpe with questioning eyes.
“Would you have me back again?”
She says bitterly
“Rossendale’s whore.”
Sharpe looks at her. Wondering. Drops his head as an answer.
Jane, almost pleading
“Would you?”
Sharpe looks up
Looks down again.
Exhales
Looks back at her.
“Tell him I was here.”
Jane looks down and away.
“Tell him I will be back.”
Jane sniffles. Rubs her nose. Looks at the floor.
Sharpe walks to the door.
Before he goes, he pauses in front of Jane. He looks at the floor. He wonders if he has anything else to say.
Jane looks at Sharpe.
“Bye Jane.”
Sharpe walks out the door.
Jane stares after him as he goes. She wonders what he will do next.
Jane listens to his footsteps as he leaves.
All she do is purse her lips from the emotions they have gone through.
As his steps descend the stairs, she slowly shakes her head, then starts to sob, then to cry.
Why could John have not been here when Richard came. She should not have to face him alone. The sooner John returns, the better this will be. John may have an answer from Parfitt that can rid them of Richard forever.
If only Richard had more of John’s qualities, they she would have been happy to live her life with him. He has no culture. No wit. He is only a brute. How was she attracted to him in the first place? Why did she help him?
That is all past. Richard will not have her any more.
For now, she must wait alone is this big, cold , rundown mansion of Aunt Tabitha’s. The sooner they can be rid of this place, the sooner they can return to London and their life there.
Where is Mrs. Trent? She wants some tea to settle her nerves.
“Yes, tea and cakes will help. Then, I will need to see this shabby house to help to prepare it to sell. There is too much dust, dirt and gloom about it.
ON THE ROAD FROM WELLING PARK TO KEIGHLEY:
Sharpe has his own thoughts as he rides alone back to Keighley. He rides less urgently than on the morning ride.
He is surprised that he was softer with Jane than his anger would have led him. She looked good. But, he cannot forgive her for betraying him, as she could not forgive him for breaking his word. They are finished.
Sharpe rides on, Grim-faced.
He passes few other travelers on the road. As he gets nearer to Keithley, he passes the same coach that he passed in the morning. Could it be Rossendale returning from his business?
Before he can choose to stop the coach to answer his question, he sees a rider approaching rapidly. It his Harper.
Harper rides up and reins in next to him. His horse skids on the road surface as Harper has urgent news.
“There’s a crowd gathering in town.”
“Truman’s with them.”
“Show me.”
They ride off at the gallop.
KEIGHLEY
At the market place, at least forty men, and women have gathered around some of the vendor’s stalls.
Included in the crowd is Crowley.
Truman stands on a stone “table?” in the market.
He holds the lapels of his jacket.
Scans the crowd. Then, addresses them.
“Times are hard, he says.”
The crowd responds with jeers and catcalls.
“It’s a wage cut, he says.”
“The crowd rumbles again.
“Did he say he was cutting his wages?!”
Faces in the crowd grow angrier.
“No, of course not!”
“His wage stays the same.”
The crowd grows more agitated.
Amid them, Crowley looks around.
Worries what may happen.
Truman pauses, then sternly starts again.
“His pocket stays full.”
Crowd boils again.
“His stomach stays full,”
One of the workers from his mill shouts
“And, big enough!”
Crowley stares attentively at what will come next.
Truman goes on.
“They say…”
Pauses.
“They say it is because the war is over that times are ‘ard.”
Crowd responds.
“Yet, well ask yourselves.”
“When were they ever easy?”
The crowd agrees.
“So why did we even fight the war?”
Voices from the crowd echo “Why”
“Who was our enemy?”
Some from the crowd offer
“The French. “
“The people of France?”
The crowd responds
“No.”
“What wrong did they do you, but throw out a cruel, corrupt and feeble regime and install a government that was truer to them and their needs.”
The crowd assents
“Well, I’ll tell you why.”
“To put back that cruel, corrupt and feeble regime so that Louis the gouty could be winkled out of exile’s trough in England to oppress his people again.”
The crowd agrees.
Crowley looks around, then agrees.
“So fat he can hardly fit his carriage.”
The crowd laughs at the image.
“He’s so feeble, he must carried everywhere in a chair.”
“That’s why our soldiers fought.”
“That’s why they died.”
“We have our own lords and masters…”
“I say throw them out! Points finger into the air.”
“Drive them out! Raises fist in the air.”
Crowd roars.
“We will not have peace”
“Or Justice “
“Until we choose the people who rule us.”
Crowd cheers.
As Sharpe and Harper approach the village, they hear the noise of the crowds.
Wickham and half his troop of yeomanry wait in the woods outside the village.
Sharpe and Harper meet them, then ride to the village.
Sharpe and Wickham lead.
Saunders is waiting outside the village.
They halt to talk with him.
Saunders holds Wickham’s reins while he addresses Wickham.
“He’s in the square, sir.”
Sharpe listens and looks at Wickham.
Saunders turns to Sharpe when Wickham does not reply.
Sharpe pauses.
Wickham turns to Sharpe.
“Well, sir?” with emphasis.
Sharpe thinks about what options he has. This is not a military situation. They are a police force. Those that have gathered are not armed.
Wickham looks at Sharpe with eagerness to act. He smells that Truman is ripe to be taken in the square. Why does Sharpe not act?
Sharpe continues to look forward to assess the situation. He decides that he needs to look more closely. As he starts to ride forward he calls to Wickham and Harper, “Come with me.”
The three of them cautiously approach the square. From a distance, they listen to Truman’s speech. Truman notices them sitting their horses, but not acting.
As Truman changes from what the French have done to dealing with those in power here, Wickham says
“There’s enough to hang him already.”
Sharpe says nothing but understands that Truman has crossed a line that Sharpe will now have to act. He scans the square quickly as to his tactical choices.
“Send half the men down that street.” He points to the street that exits opposite to where they sit.
“Bring the rest to me here.”
“When I signal, proceed slowly into the square.”
Wickham looks at Sharpe. He appears agitated with Sharpe’s choice.
“But, that will leave egress, THERE sir.“ He points to the third street that serves the square.
“Truman will escape.”
Sharpe glares at Wickham.
“I will cover those.” He directs to Wickham. His tone is clear that he expects to be obeyed.
Sharpe ignores Wickham and returns to scanning the crowd.
“I want to leave egress for the crowd, not for Truman.” Although he doesn’t need to explain his order, he goes on to describe for Wickham and for Harper. He knows Harper will understand.
“Truman will stay to the end. He wants to make the crowd see him as their champion.. “I reckon’ he’ll have words for this.” He will want to protest that we are breaking up this gathering.
“When your horse move into the square, we converge on THAT point THERE.” He points to the area in front of where Truman stands. “The crowd will have no choice but to move away to THAT street to avoid us. When the square is clear, then’ s our chance to take Truman.”
Harper has been sitting his horse behind them watching and listening. He has served with Sharpe in many fights. He understands the maneuver to separate Truman from the crowd.
“Patrick!”
“Sir?”
“Return with Captain Wickham to the Yeomanry.”
“Return HERE with half the men to me.”
“Sir!”
“Wickham, take your men to THAT street THERE.” Wickham sits his horse between Harper and Sharpe. He is clearly unhappy with the orders that he has been given. Especially, that the order has been given to the civilian Irishman Harper. Harper has no authority.
Although he is angry at this slight, when Harper rides away, Wickham follows.
Sharpe sits his horse in the entrance to the westbound street. He listens to Truman as he speaks further to the crowd. When Truman pauses, he frequently looks towards Sharpe to see if he needs to finish.
When Harper and Wickham arrive with the troop, Wickham commands Lieutenant Foscyck before Harper can speak.
“Mr. Fosdyck!”
“Sir?”
“Take half the horse.”
“Circle round the back of the square so that you may enter the square from the road to Halifax.”
“Come to Major Sharpe from that point.”
Harper says with some alarm, “Sir, Major Sharpe says they should go direct to him at the westbound street into the square.”
Wickham stares ahead at Fosdyck avoiding looking at Harper.
“And they do go direct, but by a circular route.” Wickham has decided that HE will take command of this situation. He does not agree that Truman may be collected after the crowd disperses. And, that the crowd is listening and ‘whooping’ their support for Truman’s words, they are traitors as much as is Truman.
“Mr. Fosdyck, if people start to run, sift them for Truman.
Pauses, says with emphasis. “SIR! The road to Halifax is to be left open. We are instructed to let the crowd exit.”
“MISTER Harper, you do NOT have authority here. I understand that Major Sharpe wishes half of the Yeomanry to join him at the westbound street. AND, they will, but means of the Halifax Road.”
“Mr. Fosdyck, should you encounter any people in your path as you go to Major Sharpe, SIFT them for Truman! Sift them fine.”
“Do you understand? I want NO rebel to escaping.”
Fosdyck is confused by the conflict between Mr. Harper and Captain Wickham. However, he has served with Wickham longer. He chooses Wickham. “Right, sir.”
Wickham smiles at Fosdyck and then to Harper. “Here’s some fun.”
Fosdyck pulls on his reins. He turns his horse about, then rides off with half the yeomanry.
Wickham turns his horse to face Harper. “Mr. Harper, I shall take the remaining yeomanry to the street to Shipley. PLEASE inform Major Sharpe that we are executing his orders to the letter.”
Harper stares at him realizing that he can do nothing. Wickham’s commands can lead to a very bad situation at the square.
Wickham smirks at Harper, then he tugs on his reins as he rides off with the other half of the yeomanry.
Harper glares at him as he rides away. He knows he has no authority as a civilian to intercede.
Harper turns his horse and returns to Sharpe alone.
Sharpe has been listening to the end of Truman’s speech. As Harper approaches Sharpe asks, Where are they?
Harper looks at the crowd. Sees how agitated they are.
“He’s gone around back somewhere with Fosdyck. They will come in by the east and south entrances. We are in the west. There is no escape route.”
As they speak, the troopers enter the square from the other two entrances.
Sharpe turns to Harper. “Bastard!”
Wickham rides to the front of the east entrance, halts his horse and pulls his saber. He holds the sabre to his shoulder. He commands his troopers with a sneer. “There he is.”
“Get him!”
The troopers unsheathe their sabers. They place them to the ready on their shoulders.
“Troop forward.”
Truman and the crowd see them approach.
“Here they come friends!”
The crowd becomes quiet. Many start to look for places to run.
“The tools of tyranny!”
The crowd recedes before the horses.
Truman looks towards the west gate. “Major Sharpe and his merry men!”
“He hasn’t had enough putting the French back to slavery.”
“Now, he wants to put you to the sword.”
Some of the crowd starts to form a barrier between Wickham and Truman.
At this, Wickham accelerates and his men follow.
Wickham sweeps his saber to strike at men within his reach. His troopers maneuver to encircle members of the crowd.
They look for Truman.
Sharpe watches. Wickham has drawn innocent blood. He decides to act.
To Harper who is behind him, he calls, “Come on. Let’s find them a way out. If we move, then can leave here.”
The soldiers indiscriminately attack men and women. Many of the men fight back to help the women and children.
Fosdyck sees a woman with her child helping her man on the ground. Instead of using his saber, he reins his horse to rise, then strike the man and woman with its hooves.
The woman screams.
Truman continues to talk to the crowd. He helps those close by.
Sharpe watches the frenetic actions of the crowd and soldiers. He turns to the nearest soldiers. He yells “Hold your weapons!
Truman adds his voice to Sharpe’s. “These people are not armed!”
Sharpe calls again, “Hold your weapons!”
Truman throws down the stick that he has been holding. He opens his arms to implore the crowd while he retreats to a place he can escape.
“Stay to the sides, my friends.”
“Don’t fight them.”
Some men see only a few soldiers blocking an exit. They run at them to try to clear an exit.
Four of them pull a soldier off a horse.
Another comes to help his fallen comrade.
Crowley is in the midst of the crowd. He sees the troopers striking people.
From his experience, he knows that to fight cavalry, you fight the horse, not the soldier.
A woman holding a child tries to run past the fallen soldier. The mounted trooper raises his sword to strike them. As the soldier raises his sword, Crowley punches the horse in the mouth. The horse rears. While the soldier is off-balance, Crowley pulls him from the saddle to the ground. He pulls a knife from his boot, then stabs the soldier.
With these two soldiers down and the horses out of the way, there is an opening out of the square.
From his position on his horse, Harper can see the opening. He yells,
“Get out of here!”
“Now!”
“This side.”
Those that hear him, turn to see where they can go. They go as fast as they can to the opening.
The soldiers continue to strike people close to them.
Truman yells,
“Call your men off!”
Wickham sees Truman and that the crowd is thin in front of him. He starts to ride towards him when Sharpe grabs his arms.
“Truman will escape.”
Sharpe checks him, “Bugger Truman. You’re killing innocent people.”
George replies emphatically, “They are NOT innocent. The are HERE.”
He shakes off Sharpe’s grip, when the crowd starts to pull at Sharpe.
Amidst the chaos, Harper and Crowley help people towards the exit. When a soldier tries to stop Harper, Harper knocks him from the saddle.
“You bastards!” he shouts as he pulls a child from the crowd to take to the arch that is an exit from the square.
Truman gives up trying to get the attention of the crowd. He’s sees Sharpe and yells.
“Sharpe!”
“Sharpe!” until Richard turns towards the voice.
When Richard fully faces him, Truman points an accusing finger at him.
“This is YOU Sharpe!”
“You!”
Sharpe looks at him meeting eyes. Knowing that the crowd will blame him.
Truman breaks eye contact. He sees another group of people heading to Harper’s exit. While Harper is turned away, he runs through the crowd and out of the square.
Behind him in the square, the crowd continues to tend to those killed and hurt.
Sharpe ignores Wickham. He rides to each remaining trooper to call them to stop fighting. Any trooper who continues, Sharpe grabs and shoves out of the saddle. After a while, those that are able, leave the square.
Sharpe solemnly rides among them surveying the damage that has been done. As he rides, some look up at him.
“You murdered children.” One who is holding a child says with tears in his eyes.
Women and men tending to the wounded watch him silently, but accuse him with their eyes.
He stops by one boy who is about the age that he was when he had been here years before. The boy is holding a woman who appears to be dead. He looks up. Tears run down his cheeks. He rocks the woman’s head in his arms. Then, he lowers his head to avoid looking at Sharpe.
Sharpe watches them and knows that the boy blames him. He knows that he will have to make this right for the boy and the others.
Many years ago in London, cavalry broke up the crowds of the Gordon riots. His mother had died when the soldiers used force on the crowd. He was even younger than the boy who just lost his mother. He recalls how scared he was when he learned he had no one to care for him.
He tugs on the reins of his horse, to join Harper who sits his horse at the edge of the crowd.
Harper looks at him.
Sharpe asks, “Where’s Wickham?”
“That bastard gathered the troopers and rode off.”
“Even left his own wounded and dead.” For Harper and Sharpe, when you commanded the field after a battle, you made sure that your wounded were cared for and that the dead were properly buried.
He points to the bodies on the ground.
“They did manage to remember to take the horses.” He spits out.
“Bastards value the horses more than their own people.” He says with disgust.
Sharpe looks around the square. “Pat, it’s time we showed how real soldiers treat our own and those we serve.”
“Well, it’s a good thing I have my leeches with me.”
Sharpe’s not sure he is serious, but he has known Harper to treat wounded soldiers, including his own wounds with more success than the surgeons.
“Let’s see how we may help.”
Sharpe and Harper go from person to person seeing how they can help. Many of the civilians shrug them off with a shout to go away. Harper has more success than Sharpe as he does not wear a uniform.
After too many rejections, Sharpe seeks the wounded soldiers. He takes the first he finds who has been knocked unconscious and beaten. He hoists him over a shoulder then carries him outside the east entrance. He returns to point another who is dragging a leg towards the east gate. Another sits shocked with his crippled horse. He holds the horse’s head knowing that the horse will have to be put down.
“Come on lad, let’s go.”
“Major Sharpe? Did we win?”
“What’s your name?
“Ryan, sir. Private.”
“No, Ryan, we did not win here. These are the people we should protect.”
“Now let’s go take care of our men. They need our help. Our neighbors don’t want our help now. We hurt them.”
Sharpe and Ryan walk out to the others that have collected outside the east gate.
PARFITT’S HOUSE
George returns to the estate with the remainder of the troop. Sir Willoughby has heard them arrive. He sees the wounded troopers and the empty saddles.
“What’s happened, George?”
“Truman was speaking. We were attacked by the crowd.”
Parfitt’s face turns red. “Inside now!”
George leaves the others to follow Parfitt into the house. Parfitt goes directly to the library. Inside, Lady Anne sits in a chair working on needlepoint. As Sir Willoughby and George enter she looks up, but chooses to say where she is. This could be an interesting meeting.
Sir Willoughby ignores her. He strides to a spot in front of his desk. When he stops, he turns and points to where George is to stand.
George stands to attention with his helmet in hand. While looking over Parfitt’s shoulder, he reports the events at Keighley.
Parfitt paces the floor of the library while he listens to George tell of the events.
“It won’t do.”
“It won’t do at’ll.”
He points his cane at George.
“Workers dead!” He paces past George then turns to him.
Workers dead by MY yeomanry!” He waves the cane at George who remains standing at attention.
“How’s that going to look at Horse Guards?!”
At this, Lady Anne raises her eyes to them, then returns to looking at her sewing. All the while, she soaks in what they are saying.
George offers, “They attacked us, sir.”
Parfitt angrily says, “Did they?”
He pauses. “Where’s Sharpe?”
“Still in town.”
“Sent you back to face the music, did ‘e?” Looks at George and raises an eyebrow.
“Where’s Truman, then?”
“He got away.”
Parfitt looks at him. The color rises in his face.
“You… didn’t…catch…Truman!!!??” he says emphatically.
He yells
“What the blasted ‘ell were ya playin’ at?!!!!”
George continues to avoid looking directly at Parfitt. With low, but calm voice he says, “Major Sharpe ordered our forces split and that we advance on the people in the square, despite my advice that we concentrate on Truman only.”
Lady Anne looks up intently as George speaks of Sharpe’s responsibility for attacking the people.
“The result was inevitably panic.”
Flatly, and factually he says, “The mob turned on my men.”
“One was killed.”
“We had to defend ourselves.” At this point, he turns to look at Parfitt.
“Unfortunately, Truman made off in the confusion.”
Parfitt looks at him incredulously. After, pausing to think on what he has heard, he nods his head a few times. With composure returned to his voice he says, “That’s what happened. Is it?”
George continues address him directly.
“Yes.”
Then he turns away.
Lady Anne says nothing. She has heard all that has been said. George’s story does not match the Sharpe she knows nor what she knows of Sharpe from others. She puzzles what George is not saying. Or, what he has said that is not true.
She ponders whether to ask George her own questions. But, opts to wait to hear more. So far, they have treated her as if she is a piece of furniture in the room. If she speaks, they may ask her to leave. By staying, she can gain more.
Before they can continue, there is noise outside the library. The butler knocks at the door then opens it without waiting for a reply.
Rossendale surges into the library..
John walks up to Parfitt and Wickham. Standing between them, he says. “I have just heard, Sir Willoughby. This is terrible news.”
“Terrible.”
Aye.
“Shocking.”
Slowly nods his head.
“After all, Sharpe was in command.”
Turns to George.
“Was he not?”
Turns to George.
He gave the orders. Did he not?”
John looks back and forth to Parfitt and Wickham. Wonders what he walked in on.
George replies
“He did”
Parfitt continues
“So if Horse Guards sent me a blood thirsty maniac, what do they expect would happen?”
With this statement, Anne lifts her head to watch what is going on. She focuses very intently as now seems to be the time that Parfitt will reveal how he plans to cover what has happened.
George turns to Parfitt. He has followed Parfitt’s reasoning until now worried that he would bear the responsibility for the events in the square. He now sees that Parfitt has a plan to remove the guilt from both of them and to place it on SharpeWith confidence returning to his voice he says.
“Exactly, sir.” .
Parfitt nods slowly. Turns to the windows,
“Strange thing is, all those poor folk died for nothing. Truman’s free.
Partfitt turns his head slowly to George, but without facing him fully. He rolls his eyes until he meets George’s.
“Ain’t he?”
George remains standing at attention. He offers nothing to the question.
Parfitt returns his stare to the window. He continues to ponder.
“A wanted traitor. Let…run…free.”
He pauses as he tries to connect the points of this new line of thinking.
When he formulates an idea, he again turns his head and eyes to George.
“Now why do you think that happened?”
After another pause,
“Heh?”
George continues to offer nothing.
Parfitt and Wickham look at each other continuing to behave as if they are alone in the room.
John looks to both of them. He knows he has walked into the middle of something, but doesn’t know what.
Lady Anne watches the three of them. She knows John has influence with the Prince of Wales and Horse Guards. If Parfitt chooses to have Sharpe punished for the deaths and letting Truman escape, John can be a helpful ally.
KEIGHLEY
Sharpe walks alone on the street back to his room. After the events of the square, he rode alone for a while. Now his horse is boarded for the night. He needs to eat and rest.
As he approaches the inn, he hears a sound to his left. When a figure emerges from the shadows, he draws his sword.
The figure approaches slowly. It is Harper.
Sharpe returns his sword to its scabbard.
Harper falls in step next to Sharpe.
Says, “This is a bad business.”
Sharpe replies, “And we’ll be blamed for it.”
The continue on.
When they enter the inn, the first to see them turn stop talking and glare at them. As they move towards their room, all others turn to them and stop talking. All look to them. Their stares are hard and accusing.
Before they can leave the common room, the innkeeper says to them,
“You…are not wanted here.”
Sharpe had been trying to avoid anything in the room. Trying to keep his tone low, he turns to the innkeeper,
“Nonetheless. Here is where we are.”
A man at a table behind Harper grabs a bottle on his table by the neck then breaks the bottom against the table. He stands holding the bottle as a weapon.
“You murdering bastards.”
Harper and Sharpe turn to face him.
Other men at the tables that face Sharpe stand.
Sharpe swivels his head to them all.
“What happened in the square was not my doing.”
The innkeeper makes his way from behind them to their front.
“It was YOUR men.”
Harper scans the room from behind Sharpe. He sees Crowley sitting at a table at the back of the room.
Thinking that they will need help, he yells,
“Nate, to us man!”
Without saying a word, Crowley looks down at the table. Pauses, then reaches for his things. Slowly his stands. Then, walks out of the inn.
Sharpe and Harper stare incredulously as he leaves. No one moves until the door has closed.
The men at the front of the crowd break the stalemate by inching towards the two men.
Sharpe pulls his sword up his scabbard and prepare to defend himself. Harper pulls a knife and reaches for a pistol.
Harper in his parade ground voice yells, “Stand back! Or, more will die.”
The crowd checks their advance.
From a dark corner at the back of the a man stands. The crowd parts to let him come to the front of the room. As he emerges from the shadows, Sharpe sees that it is Truman.
He slowly walks up to Sharpe. He fronts him.
He looks sadly to Sharpe and says softly,
“Aye, and you among ‘em.”
Sharpe and Truman look at each other.
The crowd waits to see if they will need to fight.
Truman says to Sharpe,
“You should leave, Sharpe.”
Sharpe quickly responds, “I will not.”
Truman quickly nods his head to each side. “Then, they’ll fight ya.”
Sharpe swallows to clear his throat. Clearly so that he would not be misunderstood,
“Then, I will kill ‘em.” Truman responds, “Before they will kill you.”
“And what will that achieve?”
He shakes his head slowly,
“More dead?”
And more people to ‘ate you for killing their friends and wives?” A
ye, and their poor children?”
Truman looks sternly to Sharpe,
“Leave now, while ya still can.”
Sharpe considers what to do. He realizes that these people are not ready to listen to his story about what happened.
He starts to walk. One man moves to block him.
Sharpe is taller than the man. When he stares down at him, but does not threaten with his sword, the man moves to the side.
Sharpe walks slowly towards the door. Harper follows a few paces behind to create space should they need to fight.
The crowd forms a corridor from them to the door.
Voices from the crowd follow them.
“Go on. Get out.”
“Murderers.”
“Traitors.”
“Don’t show your face here.”
The crowd’s words follow them to the door. But only words, not weapons.
Truman stands at the head of the corridor. He looks to the people in the crowd, then to the backs of Harper and Sharpe. His face is a mix of emotions.
One man opens the door to speed their exit.
Outside, Harper offers with his usual humour,
“Just when I was starting to like the place.”
Sharpe walks down the street.
Harper asks, “Where to now?”
Sharpe suggests, “Maybe Sally Bunting will take us in, otherwise….”
Before he can continue, a shout comes from behind them.
“Sharpe!”
“Sharpe!”
Sharpe and Harper turn. From the shadows back to the inn door, Truman emerges. Alone, he walks towards them.
Sharpe and Harper stop to wait for him.
Truman walks up to him. As inside, he stands directly in front of him.
Harper turns to watch Sharpe’s back.
Face-to-face, Truman asks, “What happened in the square?”
Sharpe drops his head and shakes it side-to-side.
“I gave the orders. They were not followed.”
“He inhales and exhales, then turns back to Truman before saying,
“I didn’t mean for what happened to happen.”
“I tried to stop it.”
“I’m sorry.”
Truman looks at Sharpe. He quickly looks to Harper to see his reaction. When Harper remains focused behind Sharpe, he turns back to Sharpe.
“It’s too late for sorry.”
Sharpe lowers his head in guilt, but then looks back up.
“I’m still sorry.”
Truman tells him,
“You should leave.”
“Contrition might not be enough for these folk.”
Nodding, he continues.
“A slit throat on a dark night will be enough for you.”
Sharpe responds to the challenge,
“I’m surprised you care.”
Truman looks away from Sharpe,
“Aye,”
Inhales, “Well,”
Looks back to Sharpe, “There’s a lot about me you don’t know Dick Sharpe.”
Sharpe returns Truman’s stare.
“Well, there’s one thing you don’t know about me. I don’t run away.”
And, I’m not leaving.”
Truman shakes his head.
“Then you’re a stubborn fool.”
Sharpe sniffs, “aye. Maybe, it was you that taught me to be stubborn.”
Truman cocks his head.
“Didn’t teach you to wear that uniform.”
“But, it ‘tis the one I wear.”
“I heard what you said about the war.”
“I’ll tell you this much.”
“That I did fight for my king.”
“But, mainly I fought for myself and my friends and to stay alive, because, I was good at it.”
Truman pauses at hearing this. Smacks his lips.
“Trouble is, you were fighting the wrong people.”
Waits to hear if Sharpe responds. When he doesn’t he continues.
“You still are.”
Sharpe has heard enough. He turns and walks away. Harper looks at Truman, then follows Sharpe.
Truman watches them go.
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