SCENE 8 - Same morning, LOCUSTS drawing room
(HENRY WHARTON, his father, sister SARAH, aunt, and the sentinel guarding
HENRY, are gathered in the drawing room as FRANCES enters leading MAJOR
DUNWOODIE, who has forebodings of the results to himself, yet is unable
to conceal it as he would wish, even with the cordial and friendly greetings
of HENRY, who is as collected as if nothing had occurred to disturb his
self-possession.)
(The reception by the rest of the family is kind and sincere, both from
old regard and the hopeful expressive eyes of the blushing girl at his side,
as each is greeted individually by the major, who then orders the sentinel
to leave the room.)
DUNWOODIE: Tell me, HENRY, the circumstances of your disguise in which
CAPT. LAWTON reports you were found, and remember - CAPT. WHARTON - your
answers are voluntary.
HENRY (gravely): The disguise was used by me in order to visit my family
without the danger of becoming a prisoner of war.
DUNWOODIE: But you did not wear it until you saw the troop of CAPT.
LAWTON approaching?
FRANCES: Oh, no, SARAH and I placed them upon him when the dragoons
appeared; it was our awkwardness that led to the discovery.
DUNWOODIE: Probably some articles at hand that were used on the spur
of the moment?
HENRY: No, the clothes were worn by me from the city. They were obtained
for the purpose to which they were applied. I intended to wear them in my
return this very day.
DUNWOODIE: But the pickets - the party at the Plains?
HENRY: I passed them in disguise; I made use of this pass for which
I paid, and it bears the name of Washington, I presume it is forged?
(DUNWOODIE takes the paper from his hand, studies it carefully, gazing
for some time at the signature, then with a searching look - )
DUNWOODIE: CAPT. WHARTON where did you get this paper?
HENRY: That is a question I feel Major DUNWOODIE has no right to ask.
MR. WHARTON: Surely, Major DUNWOODIE, the paper cannot be important;
such articles are used daily in war.
DUNWOODIE in a low voice: This name is no counterfeit. Is treason yet
among us undiscovered? The confidence of Washington has been abused for
the fictitious name is in a different hand from the pass. CAPT. WHARTON,
my duty will not suffer me to grant you parole; you must accompany me to
the Highlands.
HENRY: I did not expect otherwise, Major DUNWOODIE.
(DUNWOODIE looks at FRANCES, whose hands are clasped in front of her
in a pleading manner, he turns away and leaves the room with FRANCES following
him into the opposite parlor from where they came.)
SCENE 9 - Same morning, in the vacant parlor
FRANCES: MAJOR DUNWOODIE, I have told you of my esteem, even now when
you distress me, I do not conceal it. Believe me, HENRY is innocent of everything
but imprudence. Our country can sustain no wrong from this. I have promised
when peace it restored to our nation that I will become your wife. Give
my bother a parole and I will this day go to the alter with you, follow
you to camp, and as a soldier's bride, learn a soldier's privations.
DUNWOODIE: FRANCES, say no more, unless you wish to break my heart.
FRANCES: You then reject my offered hand?
DUNWOODIE: Reject it! Have I not sought it with pleading? Has it not
been the goal of all my earthly wishes? But to take it under such conditions
would be to dishonor both. We will hope for better things. HENRY must be
acquitted, perhaps not tried. No effort of mine shall be wanting, you must
well know, and FRANCES, I am not without favor with Washington.
FRANCES: That very paper, that abuse of his confidence to which you
spoke, will steel him to my brother's case. If threats or pleading could
move his stern sense of justice, would Andre have suffered?
(FRANCES flees from the room, leaving DUNWOODIE standing rather stupefied.
He follows her into the front hall as a small ragged boy rushes past CAESAR,
who has opened the front door. The boy looks at the major, places a piece
of paper in DUNWOODIE's hand, then runs back out the door.
DUNWOODIE reads the note: "The rig'lars are at hand - horse and
foot."
SCENE 10 - Same morning, fields below the house
(DUNWOODIE hurries out the door toward his troops, and sees on a distant
hill a vidette riding at great speed. Pistol shots are heard; the call "To
Arms" rings out across the valley. LAWTON from his saddle yells:)
LAWTON: Sound away, lads, let the Englishmen know the Virginia Horse
are between them and the end of their journey.
(Videttes and patrols come pouring in, each making a sweep to the commanding
officer who gives his orders coolly, and only once, when wheeling his horse
around, does he glance back at the house and see FRANCES at the window with
hands clasped.)
Soldiers sing: MOUNT AND RIDE AGAIN
"Mount and ride again ... mount and ride again ... mount
and ride ... for at your side ... are brave and gallant men ... who courageously
... meet the enemy ... and will never stop ... unless they drop ... as casualties
... 'till the common man ... is in full command ... and the rights ... for
which he fights ... will meet with his demands."
(The gathering of American troops now totals around 200 horsemen plus
a small group of guides or foot-soldiers who were ordered to tear down fences
that may interfere with movements of the cavalry. Some high sections of
the stone fences, especially those close around the house, were in good
state, but most were neglected and more like casual piles of rocks from
clearing the land for farming, over which horses could easily bound.)
(DUNWOODIE had received from his scouts all the intelligence concerning
the foe. The bottom of the valley was an even plain that fell slightly from
the foot of the hills on either side. Meadows wound through the country
along the banks of a small stream, not wide enough to impede the movements
of horses except in two places where the highway crossed over rough wooden
bridges a half mile above and below the LOCUSTS.)
(Hills on the eastern side of the valley were steep and rocky, with overhanging
precipices. Behind one rocky protrusion the Major ordered Capt. LAWTON to
conceal himself with two troops. This was obeyed with surly reluctance as
LAWTON was always eager for battle, but accepted in the thought of surprising
the enemy. Too hasty to engage in battle at times, LAWTON was reliable in
responding to orders with discernment and self-control.)
(On the left where the Major intended to meet the foe were dense woods
extending a mile; guides were stationed along its edge to affect a scattering
fire at an advancing column of enemy.)
SCENE 11 - Same afternoon, LOCUSTS drawing room
(Those witnessing this scene from windows of the LOCUSTS hold a variety
of emotions. Mr. WHARTON, has no hopes for himself in the results of the
coming battle. If the British win, his son is rescued, but he faces the
anger of the loyalists by his early consenting to the marriage of his younger
daughter, FRANCES, to a rebel officer; if the Americans win and he must
accompany his son, a British officer, to the impending trial as a spy plotting
against the freedom of the States, then consequences may be more dreadful.)
(In either case, he cares more for the happiness and safety of his children
than probable loss of home and wealth. He gazes on the movements with listless
vacancy, like imbecility.)
(Far different are the feelings of his son, Capt. WHARTON, left in the
keeping of two dragoons, one who marches to and fro on the piazza, the other
inside with the watchfulness of Argus to guard HENRY from escape. While
admiring the strategy, he dislikes the ambush prepared by LAWTON's men for
his English comrades. SARAH and AUNT JEANETTE are most concerned for HENRY's
safety, but not wanting to watch the impending bloodshed, leave for an inner
room.)
(FRANCES's pounding heart reacts to all of PEYTON's movements, in the
deadly preparations which send a dread chill through her, in her admiration
on watching her brave young officer give courage to all he addressed, yet
knowing this courage she so valued could place the grave between herself
and him so easily.)
(She notices two men and a boy in the field off to the left; one unarmed
has dismounted, wears spectacles and divides his attention between a book
and movements of the troops.)
(FRANCES decides to send a note to them and scribbles: "Come to
me, PEYTON, if but a moment." She gives it with instructions to CAESAR,
as he emerges from the cellar kitchen, to deliver by leaving the back way,
as the family has been ordered to remain indoors by the sentinel.)
( Hurrying back to the window, she sees him give the note to the bespectacled
surgeon of the troops, then appear repulsed at the sight of something on
the ground, which are surgical instruments for use in operations. The surgeon
motions for the young boy to convey the note to his commander. CAESAR returns
to the house and steps up onto the piazza as DUNWOODIE rides up at half
speed)
THE GUARD: Harkee, blackey, if you quit the house again without my knowledge,
I shall shave off one of your ebony ears.
(CAESAR retreats into the house when the Major enters the door.)
FRANCES: Major DUNWOODIE, I have done you an injustice, if I have appeared
harsh - . (She bursts into tears.)
DUNWOODIE with warmth: FRANCES, you are never harsh, never unjust, but
when you doubt my love - .
FRANCES: Oh, DUNWOODIE, you are about to risk your life in battle; remember
that there is one heart whose happiness is built on your safety; brave I
know you are; be prudent - .
DUNWOODIE: For your sake?
FRANCES: For my sake.
(He folds her to his heart, and is about to speak when a trumpet sounds
in the southern end of the vale. Imprinting one long kiss of affection on
her unresisting lips, he tore himself from her arms and hastened to the
scene of the strife.)
(FRANCES throws herself on the couch and covers her ears with a pillow
to stifle as much noise as possible from shouts of the combatants, rattling
of firearms and thundering tread of horses.)
SCENE 12 - Same afternoon, vale below the LOCUSTS
(DUNWOODIE scarcely gets into the saddle before a body of the enemy sweeps
around the base of the hill intersecting the view to the south. In one troop
the Major sees green coats of Refugees and other the leathern helmets and
wooden saddles of yagers [German mercenaries]. They appear equal in number
to the Major's troops.)
(On reaching the open space near the BIRCH house, the enemy halts and
draws up his men in line. At that moment a column of foot soldiers appear
in the vale by the bank of the brook. DUNWOODIE, distinguished by coolness
and judgment, sees his advantage and takes it. The column he leads slowly
begins to retire from the field; when seeing this, the youthful German commander
gives the word to charge. The hardy Refugees rush eagerly forward in pursuit,
with confidence created by a retiring foe, as the Hessians follow more slowly
and in better order. )
(Trumpets of the Virginians now sound long and loudly, answered by a
strain from the party in ambush that drives to the hearts of the enemy.)
BACKGROUND CHORUS sings TO ARMS:
"To arms ... To arms ... the trumpet sounds ... and
"charge" the battle cry ... on horse ... on foot ... to meet ...
the foe ... no matter who may die ... in this bloody fight."
"Sabers' wild slashing ... muskets balls crashing ...
galloping hoof beats ... clanging as swords meet ... all sounds of the battle
tale ... may end brave warriors' lives ... before this fateful night ...
again hears qui-et ... descend ... on the vale."
(The column of DUNWOODIE wheels around as the word to "Charge"
is given; troops of LAWTON emerge from their cover, with their leader in
advance, waving his saber over his head and shouting above the clamor of
the martial music.)
(The charge threatens too much for the Refugees and they scatter in
all directions leaving the field as fast as their horses can carry them.
Only a few are hurt, but those who met the arms of their avenging countrymen
never survived the blows. The poor German tyrants, disciplined to exact
obedience, charge bravely, but are swept before the nervous arms of their
opponents like chaff before the wind. DUNWOODIE soon sees the field empty
of opposing foe.)
SCENE 13 - Same day, outside front of LOCUSTS
( The sentinel guarding HENRY is drawn to the window by shouts of his
companion.)
GUARD on the piazza: See, Tom, how Capt. LAWTON makes that Hessian's leather cap fly, and now the
Major has killed the officer's horse. Zounds, why did he not kill the Dutchman,
and save the horse?
(Pistol shots at the flying Refugees stray off course, and one brakes
a pane of glass near CAESAR, who immediately finds himself a safer place
behind walls. The lawn in front of the LOCUSTS is hidden from view of the
road by a close line of shrubbery, and horses of the two sentinel guards
had been left there under its shelter until needed by their masters.)
(Two Refugees, cut off from their group, ride furiously through the
gate, intending to escape to the open wood in the rear of the house. On
seeing the tied horses, they could not resist their usual activity of acquiring
additional horseflesh when opportunity presented itself, and quickly begin
untying the horses.)
(The trooper on the piazza fires his pistol at them and rushes, shouting
with sword in hand to the rescue. The guard inside again turns his attention
to action on the lawn, and hurls himself out the window on to the piazza
to help his comrade.
(HENRY sees the man is stunned, rushes out and throws him onto the lawn,
while CAESAR runs around locking doors, so when the dazed guard gains his
feet, he finds himself locked out of the house.)
(His comrade now calls loudly to him for aid, so he rushes to his side
and the four disappear at the side of the house cutting furiously at each
other with sabers. CAESAR throws open the front door and points to the untied
horse quietly enjoying the herbage of the lawn.)
CAESAR: Run, now, masta HENRY, run; that horse's free.
HENRY: Yes, my honest fellow, it is indeed time to run. (turns to the
window) God bless you, CAESAR, salute the girls.
(As CAESAR watches him head for the highway, ride furiously under the
brow of some rocks, which rose perpendicularly, then disappear -)
CAESAR sings HIS CHILD:
"There goes ma boy ... ridin' like the wind ... that young
scamper, Lord ... please take care of him ... I raised this child ... when
he was a lad so young ... before he left for England ... I love this boy
... like he was ma only son ... No one may guess ... what pride an' joy
... he's been to me ... though secretly ..."
I taught him how to ride ... I taught him 'bout the stable
... he was always helping' me ... with whatever he was able ... Lordy, Lord,
please help him now ... get him through these times alive somehow ... I'd
give my life anytime ... so that he could live ... to reach his prime ...
If there ever comes a day ... if I have to, Lord, I pray ... You'll give
me the strength to say ... I'll take his place ... so he can live."
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