FADE IN:

EXT. PARK - DAY

Brief shot of duel.

RODERICK (V.O.)

My father, who was well-known to the

best circles in this kingdom under

the name of roaring Harry James, was

killed in a duel, when I was fifteen

years old.

EXT. GARDEN - DAY

Mrs. James, talking with a suitor; Roderick, at a

distance.

RODERICK (V.O.)

My mother, after her husband's

death, and her retirement, lived in

such a way as to defy slander. She

refused all offers of marriage,

declaring that she lived now for her

son only, and for the memory of her

departed saint.

EXT. STREET - DAY

Mother and son walking together.

RODERICK (V.O.)

My mother was the most beautiful

women of her day. But if she was

proud of her beauty, to do her

justice, she was still more proud of

her son, and has said a thousand

times to me that I was the

handsomest fellow in the world.

EXT. CHURCH - DAY

Mother and son entering church.

RODERICK (V.O.)

The good soul's pleasure was to

dress me; and on Sundays and

Holidays, I turned out in a velvet

coat with a silver-hilted sword by

my side, and a gold garter at my

knee as fine as any lord in the

land. As we walked to church on

Sundays, even the most envious souls

would allow that there was not a

prettier pair in the kingdom.

EXT. FIELD - DAY

A picnic. The Dugan family. Roderick.

RODERICK (V.O.)

My uncle's family consisted of ten

children, and one of them was the

cause of all my early troubles; this

was the belle of the family, my

cousin, Miss Dorothy Dugan, by name.

EXT. DUGAN MANOR HOUSE - DAY

A sprawling run-down Irish manor house with large garden,

stables, barn and farm.

Idealized images of Dorothy.

RODERICK (V.O.)

Ah! That first affair, how well one

remembers it! What a noble

discovery it is that the boy makes

when he finds himself actually and

truly in love with some one! A lady

who is skilled in dancing or singing

never can perfect herself without a

deal of study in private. So it is

with the dear creatures who are

skilled in coquetting. Dorothy, for

instance, was always practicing, and

she would take poor me to rehearse

her accomplishments upon...

Dorothy talking with the exciseman.

RODERICK (V.O.)

... or the exciseman, when he came

his rounds.

Dorothy talking to the steward.

RODERICK (V.O.)

... or the steward.

Dorothy sitting under a tree with the curate, reading a

book.

RODERICK (V.O.)

... or the poor curate.

Dorothy talking to the apothecary's lad.

RODERICK (V.O.)

... or the young apothecary's lad

from Dugan's Town whom I recollect

beating once for that very reason.

Roderick, fighting with apothecary's lad.

RODERICK (V.O.)

The torments of jealousy she made me

endure were horrible.

EXT. FIELD - DAY

Dorothy, like a greyhound released from days of

confinement, and given the freedom of the fields at last,

runs at top-speed, left and right, back and forth,

returning every moment to Roderick.

She runs and runs until she is out of breath, and then

laughs at the astonishment which keeps Roderick motionless

and staring at her.

After catching her breath, and wiping her forehead, she

challenges Roderick to a race.

RODERICK

I accept, but I insist on a wager.

The loser must do whatever the

winner pleases.

DOROTHY

Agreed.

RODERICK

Do you see the gate at the end of

the field? The first to touch it

will be the winner.

They line up together and start on a count of three.

Dorothy uses all her strength, but Roderick holds back,

and Dorothy touches the gate five or six paces ahead of

him.

RODERICK (V.O.)

I was certain to win, but I meant to

lose to see what she would order me

to do.

Dorothy catches her breath, thinking of the penalty. Then

she goes behind the trees and, a few second later, comes

out and says:

DOROTHY

Your penalty is to find a cherry-

colored ribbon which I have hidden

somewhere on my person. You are

free to look for it anywhere you

will, and I will think very little

of you if you do not find it.

They sit down on the grass. Roderick searches her

pockets, the fold of her short bodice and her skirt, then

her shoes; then he turns up her skirt, slowly and

circumspectly, as high as her garters, which she wears

upon the knee. He unfastens them and finds nothing; he

draws down her skirt and gropes under her armpits. The

tickling makes her laugh.

RODERICK

I feel the ribbon.

DOROTHY

Then you must get it.

Roderick has to unlace her bodice and touch her pretty

breasts, over which his hand must pass to reach it.

DOROTHY

Why are you shaking?

RODERICK

With pleasure at finding the ribbon.

EXT. FIELD - DAY

Military review. One hundred English troops, a few

mounted officers, a small military band, fifty local

people.

The Dugan family, Roderick and his mother, Captains Best

and Grogan.

Roderick admires the troops in their splendid uniforms.

RODERICK (V.O.)

About this time, the United Kingdom

was in a state of great excitement

from the threat generally credited

of a French invasion. The noblemen

and people of condition in that and

all other parts of the kingdom

showed their loyalty by raising

regiments of horse and foot to

resist the invaders. How I envied

them. The whole country was alive

with war's alarums; the three

kingdoms ringing with military

music, while poor I was obliged to

stay at home in my fustian jacket

and sigh for fame in secret.

INT. BALLROOM AT FENCIBLES - NIGHT

Dorothy and Roderick entering.

RODERICK (V.O.)

Once, the officers of the Kilwangen

regiment gave a grand ball to which

Dorothy persuaded my to take her.

Several cuts depicting the evening.

Dorothy ignores Roderick; dances, chats, laughs, drinks

punch, and finally, strolls outside with Captain Best.

Roderick makes a half-hearted try at dancing with Miss

Clancy.

RODERICK (V.O.)

I have endured torments in my life,

but none like that. Some of the

prettiest girls there offered to

console me, for I was the best

dancer in the room, but I was too

wretched, and so remained alone all

night in a state of agony. I did

not care for drink, or know the

dreadful comfort of it in those

days; but I thought of killing

myself and Dorothy, and most

certainly of making away with

Captain Best.

EXT. FENCIBLES BALLROOM - DAWN

The guests leaving and saying their goodbyes.

RODERICK (V.O.)

At last, and at morning, the ball

was over.

EXT. ROAD - DAWN

Dorothy and Roderick on horseback together.

DOROTHY

Sure it's a bitter night, Roderick

dear, and you'll catch cold without

a handkerchief to your neck.

To this sympathetic remark, from the pillion, the saddle

made no reply.

DOROTHY

Did you and Miss Clancy have a

pleasant evening, Roderick? You

were together, I saw, all night.

To this, the saddle only replies by grinding his teeth,

and giving a lash to Daisy.

DOROTHY

Oh! Mercy, you make Daisy rear and

throw me, you careless creature,

you.

The pillion had by this got her arm around the saddle's

waist, and gave it the gentlest squeeze in the world.

RODERICK

I hate Miss Clancy, you know I do!

And I only danced with her because

-- because -- the person with whom I

intended to dance chose to be

engaged the whole night.

DOROTHY

I had not been in the room five

minutes before I was engaged for

every single set.

RODERICK

Were you obliged to dance five times

with Captain Best, and then stroll

out with him into the garden?

DOROTHY

I don't care a fig for Captain Best;

he dances prettily to be sure, and

is a pleasant rattle of a man. He

looks well in his regimentals, too;

and if he chose to ask me to dance,

how could I refuse him?

RODERICK

But you refused me, Dorothy.

DOROTHY

Oh! I can dance with you any day,

and to dance with your own cousin at

a ball as if you could find no other

partner. Besides, Roderick, Captain

Best's a man, and you are only a

boy, and you haven't a guinea in the

world.

RODERICK

If ever I meet him again, you shall

see which is the best man of the

two. I'll fight him with sword or

with pistol, captain as he is.

DOROTHY

But Captain Best is already known as

a valiant soldier, and is famous as

a man of fashion in London. It is

mighty well of you to fight farmers'

boys, but to fight an Englishman is

a very different matter.

Roderick falls silent.

EXT. SMALL BRIDGE OVER A STREAM - DAWN

They come to an old, high bridge, over a stream,

sufficiently deep and rocky.

DOROTHY

Suppose, now, Roderick, you, who are

such a hero, was passing over the

bridge and the enemy on the other

side.

RODERICK

I'd draw my sword, and cut my way

through them.

DOROTHY

What, with me on the pillion? Would

you kill poor me?

RODERICK

Well, then, I'll tell you what I'd

do. I'd jump Daisy into the river,

and swim you both across, where no

enemy could follow us.

DOROTHY

Jump twenty feet! You wouldn't dare

to do any such thing on Daisy.

There's the captain's horse, Black

George, I've heard say that Captain

Bes --

She never finished the word for, maddened by the continual

recurrence of that odious monosyllable, Roderick shouts:

RODERICK

Hold tight to my waist!

And, giving Daisy the spur, springs with Dorothy over the

parapet, into the deeper water below.

The horse's head sinks under, the girl screams as she

sinks, and screams as she rises.

Roderick lands her, half-fainting, on the shore.

INT. MOTHER'S HOUSE - BEDROOM - DAY

Various cuts showing illness and convalescence.

Roderick feverish: the doctor taking his pulse.

Mother brings a tray of food.

RODERICK (V.O.)

I went home, and was ill speedily of

a fever, which kept me to my bed for

a week.

Dorothy visiting him.

RODERICK (V.O.)

Dorothy visited me only once, but I

quitted my couch still more

violently in love than I had been

ever before.

EXT. DUGAN MANOR HOUSE - DAY

The air is fresh and bright, and the birds sing loud

amidst the green trees. Roderick is elated, and springs

down the road, as brisk as a young fawn.

He encounters an orderly whistling "Roast Beef of Old

England," as he cleans down a cavalry horse.

RODERICK

Whose horse, fellow, is that?

ORDERLY

Feller, indeed! The horse belongs

to my captain, and he's a better

fellow nor you any day.

RODERICK (V.O.)

I did not stop to break his bones,

as I would on another occasion, for

a horrible suspicion had come across

me, and I made for the garden as

quickly as I could.

Roderick see Captain Best and Dorothy pacing the path

together. Her arm is under his, and he is fondling and

squeezing her little hand which lies closely nestling

against his arm.

Some distance beyond them is Captain Grogan, who is paying

court to Dorothy's sister, Mysie.

RODERICK (V.O.)

The fact is that, during the week of

my illness, no other than Captain

Best was staying at Castle Dugan,

and making love to Miss Dorothy in

form.

CAPTAIN BEST

No, Dorothy, except for you and four

others, I vow before all the gods,

my heart had never felt the soft

flame.

DOROTHY

Ah, you men, you men, John, your

passion is not equal to ours. We

are like -- like some plant I've

read of -- we bear but one flower,

and then we die!

CAPTAIN BEST

Do you mean you never felt an

inclination for another?

DOROTHY

Never, my John, but for thee! How

can you ask me such a question?

Raising her hand to his lips.

CAPTAIN BEST

Darling Dorothea!

Roderick rushes into view, drawing his little sword.

RODERICK (V.O.)

I pulled out a knot of cherry-

colored ribbons, which she had given

me out of her breast, and which

somehow I always wore upon me, and

flung them in Captain Best's face,

and rushed out with my little sword

drawn.

RODERICK

She's a liar -- she's a liar,

Captain Best! Draw, sir, and defend

yourself, if you are a man!

Roderick leaps at Captain Best, and collars him, while

Dorothy makes the air echo with her screams.

Captain Grogan and Mysie hasten up.

Though Roderick is a full growth of six feet, he is small

by the side of the enormous English captain.

Best turns very red at the attack upon him, and slips back

clutching at his sword.

Dorothy, in an agony of terror, flings herself round him,

screaming:

DOROTHY

Captain Best, for Heaven's sake,

spare the child -- he is but an

infant.

CAPTAIN BEST

And ought to be whipped for his

impudence, but never fear, Miss

Dugan, I shall not touch him, your

favorite is safe from me.

So saying, he stoops down and picks up the bunch of

ribbons, which Roderick had flung at Dorothy's feet, and

handing it to her, says in a sarcastic tone:

CAPTAIN BEST

When ladies make presents to

gentlemen, it is time for other

gentlemen to retire...

DOROTHY

Good heavens, Best! He is but a boy

and don't signify any more than my

parrot or lap-dog. Mayn't I give a

bit of ribbon to my own cousin?

RODERICK

(roaring)

I'm a man, and will prove it.

CAPTAIN BEST

You are perfectly welcome, miss, as

many yards as you like.

DOROTHY

Monster! Your father was a tailor,

and you are always thinking of the

shop. But I'll have my revenge, I

will! Roddy, will you see me

insulted?

RODERICK

Indeed, Miss Dorothy, I intend to

have his blood as sure as my name's

Roderick.

CAPTAIN BEST

I'll send for the usher to cane you,

little boy, but as for you, miss, I

have the honor to wish you a good

day.

Best takes off his hat with much ceremony, and makes a low

bow, and is just walking off, when Michael, Roderick's

cousin, comes up, whose ear has likewise been caught by

the scream.

MICHAEL

Hoity-toity! John Best, what's the

matter here?

CAPTAIN BEST

I'll tell you what it is, Mr. Dugan.

I have had enough of Miss Dugan here

and your Irish ways. I ain't used

to 'em, sir.

MICHAEL

(good-humoredly)

Well, well! What is it? We'll make

you used to our ways, or adopt

English ones.

CAPTAIN BEST

It's not the English way, for ladies

to have two lovers, and, so, Mr.

Dugan, I'll thank you to pay me the

sum you owe me, and I resign all

claims to this young lady. If she

has a fancy for school-boys, let her

take 'em, sir.

MICHAEL

Pooh! Pooh! Best, you are joking.

CAPTAIN BEST

I never was more in earnest.

Best exits.

MICHAEL

(in a towering rage)

You -- you! Hang you for a meddling

brat, your hand is in everybody's

pie. What business had you to come

brawling and quarreling here, with

a gentleman who has fifteen hundred

a-year?

Michael runs after Best.

DOROTHY

(gasps)

Oh, I shall die; I know I shall. I

shall never leave this spot.

CAPTAIN GROGAN

(whisper to Dorothy)

The Captain is gone.

Dorothy, giving him an indignant look, jumps up and walks

towards the house.

CAPTAIN GROGAN

(in a soothing tone

to Roderick)

This is a pretty way to recommend

yourself to the family.

RODERICK

(shouts after

Michael)

The man that marries Dorothy Dugan

must first kill me -- do you mind

that?

MICHAEL

(shouting back from

a distance)

Pooh, sir. Kill you -- flog you,

you mean! I'll send for Nick the

huntsman to do it.

CAPTAIN GROGAN

You are a gallant lad, and I like

your spirit. But what Dugan says is

true. It's a hard thing to give a

lad counsel who is in such a far-

gone state as you; but, believe me,

I know the world, and if you will

but follow my advice, you won't

regret having taken it. Dorothy

Dugan has not a penny; you are not a

whit richer. And, my poor boy,

don't you see -- though it's a hard

matter to see -- that she's a flirt,

and does not care a pin for you or

Best either?

RODERICK

Dorothy might love me or not, as she

likes, but Best will have to fight

me before he marries her!

CAPTAIN GROGAN

Faith, I think you are a lad that's

likely to keep your word.

He looks hard at Roderick for a second to two, then he

walks away, humming a tune, looking back at Roderick as he

goes through the old gate out of the garden.

When Grogan is gone, Roderick is quite alone, and he

flings himself down on the bench where Dorothy had made

believe to faint, and had left her handkerchief and the

ribbons and, taking them up, hides his face in them, and

bursts into a passion of tears.

RODERICK (V.O.)

I must have sat for some hours

bemoaning myself on the garden-bench,

for the dinner-bell clanged as usual

at three o'clock, which wakened me

from my reverie.

EXT. DUGAN MANOR HOUSE - DAY

As Roderick passes the courtyard, he sees the Captain's

saddle still hanging up at the stable-door, and his odious

red-coated brute of a servant, swaggering with the

scullion-girls and kitchen people.

MAID

The Englishman's still there, Master

Roderick. He's there in the parlor.

Go in, and don't let 'im browbeat

you, Master Roderick.

INT. DUGAN MANOR HOUSE - DINING ROOM - DAY

Roderick enters and takes his place at the bottom of the

big table; the butler speedily brings him a cover.

UNCLE

Hello, Roddy, my boy! Up and well?

That's right.

AUNT

He'd better be home with his mother.

UNCLE

Don't mind her. It's the cold goose

she ate for breakfast -- didn't

agree with her. Take a glass of

spirits, Mrs. Dugan, to Roderick's

health.

It is evident that his uncle doesn't know of what

happened, but Michael, who is at dinner too, and Harry,

and almost all the girls, look exceedingly black and the

captain foolish; and Miss Dorothy, who is again by his

side, ready to cry. Captain Grogan sits smiling, and

Roderick looks on as cold as stone.

His uncle is in high good-humor.

UNCLE

Dorothy, divide that merry thought

with the captain! See who'll be

married first. Jack Best, my dear

boy, never mind a clean glass for

the claret, we're short of crystal

at Castle Dugan; take Dorothy's and

the wine will taste none the worse.

Mrs. Dugan and ladies, if you

please; this is a sort of toast that

is drunk a great deal too seldom in

my family, and you'll please to

receive it with all the honors.

Here's to Captain and Mrs. John

Best, and long life to them. Kiss

her, Jack, you rogue; for faith,

you've got a treasure.

RODERICK

(spring up)

His already?!

HARRY

Hold your tongue, you fool -- hold

your tongue!

RODERICK

(shouting)

He has already been slapped in the

face this morning, Captain John

Best; he's already been called a

coward, Captain John Best; and this

is the way I'll drink his health.

Here's your health, Captain John

Best.

Roderick flings a glass of claret into his face. The next

moment, he is under the table, tripped up by Harry, who

hits him a violent cuff on the head; as he goes down, he

hardly has time to hear the general screaming and

scurrying that is taking place above him, being so fully

occupied with kicks, and thumps and curses, with which

Harry is belaboring him.

HARRY

You fool! You great blundering

marplot -- you silly beggarly

brat --

(a thump at each)

Hold your tongue!

When Roderick gets up from under the table, the ladies are

all gone; but he has the satisfaction of seeing the

captain's nose is bleeding, as his is -- Best is cut

across the bridge, and his beauty spoiled forever.

UNCLE

In Heaven's name, what does all the

row mean? Is the boy in fever

again?

HARRY

(turning to his

father)

The fact is, sir, that the young

monkey has fallen in love with

Dorothy, and finding her and the

captain mighty sweet in the garden

today, he was for murdering Jack

Best.

CAPTAIN BEST

(bristling up)

And, I'll tell you what, Mr. Dugan,

I've been insulted grossly in this

house. I ain't at all satisfied

with these here ways of going on.

I'm an Englishman, I am, and a man

of property; and I -- I --

HARRY

If you're insulted, and not

satisfied, remember there's two of

us, Best.

On which, the captain falls to washing his nose in water,

and answering never a word.

RODERICK

(in dignified tone)

Mr. Best may also have satisfaction

any time he pleases, by calling on

Roderick James, Esquire, of

Jamesville.

His uncle bursts out laughing, and in this laugh, Captain

Grogan joins.

RODERICK

Captain Grogan, I beg you to

understand that, for my cousin

Harry, who has been my best friend

through life, I could put up with

rough treatment from him; yet, even

that sort of treatment I will bear

from him no longer; and any other

person who ventures on the like will

not like the cost. Mr. Best knows

that fact very well; and, if he's

man, he'll know where to find me.

UNCLE

It is getting late, and your mother

will be anxious about you. One of

you had better go home with him.

(turning to his sons)

Or the lad may be playing more

pranks.

HARRY

Both of us ride home with Best here.

CAPTAIN BEST

I'm not afraid of highwaymen. My

man is armed, and so am I.

HARRY

You know the use of arms very well,

Best, and no one can doubt your

courage; but Michael and I will see

you home for all that.

UNCLE

Why, you'll not be home till

morning, boys. Kilwangan's a good

ten miles from here.

HARRY

We'll sleep in Best's quarters.

We're going to stop a week there.

And, in another week, my boy.

And here, Harry whispers something in the Captain's ear.

CAPTAIN GROGAN

I'll go home with the boy.

EXT. ROAD - LATE DAY

Grogan walks with Roderick.

CAPTAIN GROGAN

A pretty day's work of it you have

made, Master Roderick. Knowing your

uncle to be distressed for money,

and try and break off a match which

will bring fifteen hundred a-year

into the family? Best has promised

to pay off the four thousand pounds

which is bothering your uncle so.

He takes a girl without a penny -- a

girl that has been flinging herself

at the head of every man in these

parts these ten years past, and

missing them all, and a boy who

ought to be attached to your uncle

as to your father.

RODERICK

And so I am.

CAPTAIN GROGAN

And this is the return you make for

his kindness! Didn't he harbor you

in his house when your father died,

and hasn't he given you and your

mother, rent-free, your fine house

of Jamesville yonder?

RODERICK

Mark this, come what will of it, I

swear I will fight the man who

pretends to the hand of Dorothy

Dugan. I'll follow him if it's into

the church, and meet him there.

I'll have his blood, or he shall

have mine. Will you take my message

to him, and arrange the meeting?

CAPTAIN GROGAN

Well, if it must be, it must. For a

young fellow, you are the most

bloodthirsty I ever saw. No

officer, bearing His Majesty's

commission, can receive a glass of

wine on his nose, without resenting

it -- fight you must, and Best is a

huge, strong fellow.

RODERICK

He'll give the better mark. I am

not afraid of him.

CAPTAIN GROGAN

In faith, I believe you are not; for

a lad I never saw more game in my

life. Give me a kiss, my dear boy.

You're after my own soul. As long

as Jack Grogan lives, you shall

never want a friend or a second.

They embrace.

RODERICK (V.O.)

Poor fellow! He was shot six months

afterwards, at Minden, and I lost

thereby a kind friend. But we don't

know what is in store for us, and

that's a blessing.

EXT. HOUSE - LATE DAY

Mother greeting Roderick and Captain Grogan.

RODERICK (V.O.)

In spite of my precautions to

secrecy, I half-suspected that my

mother knew all from the manner in

which she embraced me on my arrival,

and received our guest, Captain

Grogan.

His mother looks a little anxious and flushed and, every

now and then, gazes very hard into the Captain's face.

RODERICK (V.O.)

But she would not say a word about

the quarrel, for she had a noble

spirit, and would as lief have seen

any one of her kindred hanged as

shirking from the field of honor.

INT. MOTHER'S HOUSE - RODERICK'S BEDROOM - DAY

Roderick waking up.

RODERICK (V.O.)

I never slept sounder in my life,

though I woke a little earlier than

usual, and you may be sure my first

thought was of the event of the day,

for which I was fully prepared.

Roderick at table with paper and ink.

RODERICK (V.O.)

And now I sat down and wrote a

couple of letters; they might be the

last, thought I, that I should ever

write in my life.

See him write: "Dearest Mother."

INT. MOTHER'S HOUSE - KITCHEN - DAY

RODERICK (V.O.)

Then I went down to breakfast, where

my mother was waiting for me, you

may be sure. We did not say a

single word about what was taking

place.

Roderick eats his breakfast with a good appetite; but in

helping himself to salt, spills it, on which his mother

starts up with a scream.

MOTHER

Thank God, it's fallen towards me!

And then, her heart being too full, she leaves the room.

RODERICK (V.O.)

Ah! They have their faults, those

mothers; but are there any other

women like them?

There is an elegant, silver-mounted sword that hangs on

the mantelpiece under the picture of Roderick's late

father.

A pair of pistols hang on each side of the picture.

Roderick takes down the sword and pistols, which are

bright and well-oiled, and collects flints, balls and

gunpowder.

EXT. MOTHER'S HOUSE - DAY

Captain Grogan and Orderly arrive.

RODERICK

Have you taken my message to him?

CAPTAIN GROGAN

The meeting is arranged. Captain

Best is waiting for you now.

RODERICK

My mare is saddled and ready; who's

the captain's second?

CAPTAIN GROGAN

Your cousins go out with him.

Roderick and Grogan, and the Orderly ride off.

RODERICK (V.O.)

I didn't take leave of Mrs. James.

The curtains of her bedroom-windows

were down, and they didn't move as

we mounted and trotted off.

EXT. COUNTRY ROAD - DAY

They ride their horses at a leisurely pace.

CAPTAIN GROGAN

That's a very handsome sword you

have there.

RODERICK

It was with this sword that my late

father, Harry James, God rest his

soul, met Sir Huddelstone

Fuddelstone, the Hampshire baronet,

and was fatally run through the

neck. He was quite in the wrong,

having insulted Lady Fuddelstone,

when in liquor, at the Brentford

Assembly. But, like a gentleman, he

scorned to apologize.

CAPTAIN GROGAN

And now you risk the same fate. If

you are killed, your mother is all

alone in the world.

RODERICK

I am Harry James' son, and will act

as becomes my name and quality.

EXT. FOREST CLEARING - DAY

Harry, Michael and the Captain are already there. Best,

flaming in red regimentals, a big a monster as ever led a

grenadier company. The party are laughing together.

RODERICK

(to Captain Grogan)

I hope to spoil this sport, and

trust to see this sword of mine in

that big bully's body.

CAPTAIN GROGAN

Oh, it's with pistols we fight. You

are no match for Best with the

sword.

RODERICK

I'll match any man with the sword.

CAPTAIN GROGAN

But swords are today impossible;

Captain Best is -- is lame. He

knocked his knee against the

swinging park gate last night, as he

was riding home, and can scarce move

it now.

RODERICK

Not against Castle Dugan gate, that

has been off the hinges these ten

years.

CAPTAIN GROGAN

It must have been some other gate.

They alight from their horses, and join and salute the

other gentlemen.

CAPTAIN GROGAN

I have just explained to Mister

James that Captain Best is lame, and

that swords are impossible.

HARRY

Oh, yes! Dead lame.

Harry comes up to shake Roderick by the hand, while

Captain Best takes off his hat, and turns extremely red.

HARRY

And very lucky for you, Roderick, my

boy. You were a dead man else, for

he is a devil of a fellow -- isn't

he, Grogan?

CAPTAIN GROGAN

A regular Turk. I never yet knew

the man who stood to Captain Best.

HARRY

Hang the business. I hate it. I'm

ashamed of it. Say you're sorry,

Roderick. You can easily say that.

CAPTAIN BEST

If the young feller will go to

Dublin, as proposed...

RODERICK

I'm not sorry -- I'll not apologize

-- and I'll as soon go to Dublin as

to hell!

Grogan takes him aside.

CAPTAIN GROGAN

Look here, Roderick, my boy; this is

silly business. The girl will marry

Best, mark my words; and as sure as

she does, you'll forget her. You

are but a boy. Best is willing to

consider you as such. Dublin's a

fine place, and if you have a mind

to take a ride thither and see the

town for a month, here are twenty

guineas at your service. Make Best

an apology, and be off.

RODERICK

A man of honor dies, but never

apologizes. I'll see the captain

hanged before I apologize.

HARRY

(with a laugh to

Grogan)

There's nothing else for it. Take

your ground, Grogan -- twelve paces,

I suppose?

CAPTAIN BEST

(in a big voice)

Ten, sir, and make them short ones,

do you hear, Captain Grogan?

HARRY

Don't bully, Mr. Best. Here are the

pistols.

(with some emotion

to Roderick)

God bless you, my boy; and when I

count three, fire.

RODERICK

This is not one of my pistols.

HARRY

They are all right, never fear.

It's one of mine. Yours will serve,

if they are needed, for the next

round.

CAPTAIN GROGAN

Roderick, fire at his neck -- hit

him there under the gorget; see how

the fool shows himself open.

Michael, who has not spoken a word, Harry, and the Captain

retire to one side, and Harry gives the signal.

It is slowly given, and Roderick has the leisure to cover

his man well.

Captain Best changes color and trembles as the numbers are

given.

At "three" both pistols go off. Best gives a most

horrible groan, staggers backwards and falls.

THE SECONDS

(crying out)

He's down! He's down!

Running towards him, Harry lifts him up -- Michael takes

his head.

MICHAEL

He's hit here, in the neck.

Laying open his coat, blood is seen gurgling from under

his gorget.

HARRY

How is it with you?

The unfortunate man does not answer, but when the support

of Harry's arm is withdrawn from his back, groans once

more and falls backwards.

MICHAEL

(with a scowl)

The young fellow has begun well.

You had better ride off, young sir,

before the police are up. They had

wind of the business before we left

Kilwangan.

RODERICK

Is he quite dead?

MICHAEL

Quite dead.

CAPTAIN GROGAN

Then the world's rid of a coward.

It's all over with him, Roddy -- he

doesn't stir.

He gives the huge prostrate body a scornful kick with his

foot.

HARRY

We are not cowards, Grogan, whatever

he was! Let's get the boy off as

quick as we may. Your man shall go

for a cart, and take away the body

of this unhappy gentleman. This has

been a sad day's work for our

family, Roderick James, and you have

robbed us of fifteen-hundred a-year.

RODERICK

It was Dorothy did it.

Roderick takes the ribbons she gave him out of his

waistcoat, and the letter, and flings them down on the

body of Captain Best.

RODERICK

There! Take her those ribbons.

She'll know what they mean; that's

all that's left of her of two lovers

she had and ruined.

MICHAEL

And now, in Heaven's name, get the

youngster out of the way.

HARRY

I'll go with you.

They mount up and gallop off.

EXT. MOTHER'S HOUSE - DAY

Upon seeing Roderick and Harry ride up, his mother, who

has been waiting outside, rushes to her son with wild

screams of joy. He dismounts, and she kisses and embraces

him.

RODERICK (V.O.)

I need not tell you how great was my

mother's pride and exultation when

she heard from Harry's lips the

account of my behavior at the duel.

INT. MOTHER'S HOUSE - PARLOR - DAY

Still much excitement and hustle and bustle.

HARRY

The boy must go into hiding, for a

short time anyway. Dublin is the

best place for him to go, and there

wait until matters are blown over.

MOTHER

Dublin? But the poor lad has never

been away from home. He will be as

safe here as in Dublin.

HARRY

I wish that were true, Auntie dear,

but I'm afraid the bailiffs may

already be on their way from

Kilwangan.

INT. RODERICK'S BEDROOM - DAY

His mother is rushing about and packing a valise. Harry

sits on the bed.

RODERICK (V.O.)

Harry persisted in the necessity of

instant departure, in which

argument, as I was anxious to see

the world, I must confess, I sided

with him; and my mother was brought

to see that, in our small house, in

the midst of a village, escape would

be impossible, and capture would be

impossible to avoid.

INT. MOTHER'S BEDROOM - DAY

His mother takes out a stocking from her escritoire, and

gives Roderick twenty golden guineas.

MOTHER

(gravely)

Roderick, my darling, my wild boy, I

have forebodings that our separation

is to be a long one. I spent most

of all night consulting the cards

regarding your fate in the duel, and

all signs betoke a separation. Here

is twenty guineas -- all that I have

in the world -- and I want you to

keep your father's sword and

pistols, which you have known to use

so like a man.

EXT. MOTHER'S HOUSE - DAY

Roderick's departure.

RODERICK (V.O.)

She hurried my departure now, though

her heart, I know, was full, and

almost in half-an-hour from my

arrival at home, I was once more on

the road again, with the wide world,

as it were, before me.

Roderick waves. His mother cries.

EXT. HIGH ROAD TO DUBLIN - DAY

RODERICK (V.O.)

No lad of seventeen is very sad who

has liberty for the first time, and

twenty guineas in his pocket; and I

rode away, thinking, I confess, not

so much of the kind of mother left

alone, and of the home behind me, as

of tomorrow, and all the wonders it

would bring.

Roderick happily riding down the road.

RODERICK (V.O.)

I had no doubts of the future;

thinking that a man of my person,

parts, and courage, could make his

way anywhere. So I rode on, singing

to myself, or chatting with the

passersby; and all the girls along

the road said, "God save me, for a

clever gentleman."

Farm girls in the fields flirting with him.

RODERICK (V.O.)

As for thoughts of Dorothy Dugan,

there seemed to be a gap of a half-

a-score of years.

EXT. ROAD TO DUBLIN - DAY

A well-armed gentleman dressed in green, and a gold cord,

with a patch on his eye, and riding a powerful mare, puts

his horse alongside.

ARMED GENTLEMAN

Good day to you, young sir.

RODERICK

Good morning.

ARMED GENTLEMAN

Where are you bound for?

RODERICK

(after a long look at

his companion)

That is none of your business.

ARMED GENTLEMAN

Is your mother not afraid on account

of the highwayman to let one so

young as you travel?

RODERICK

(pulling out a

pistol)

Not at all, sir. I have a pair of

good pistols that have already done

execution, and are ready to do it

again.

At this, a pock-marked man coming up, the well-armed

gentleman spurs into his bay mare, and leaves Roderick.

EXT. ROAD TO DUBLIN - DAY

RODERICK (V.O.)

A little later on, as I rode towards

Kilcullen, I saw a crowd of peasant

people assembled round a one-horse

chair, and my friend in green, as I

thought, making off half-a-mile up

the hill.

A footman howls, at the top of his voice.

FOOTMAN

Stop thief!

But the country fellows only laugh at his distress, and

make all sorts of jokes at the adventure which had just

befallen.

COUNTRY FELLOW #1

Sure, you might have kept him off

with your blunderbush!

COUNTRY FELLOW #2

O the coward! To let the Captain

bate you, and he only one eye!

COUNTRY FELLOW #3

The next time my lady travels, she'd

better leave you at home!

RODERICK

What is this noise, fellows?

Roderick rides up amongst them, and seeing the lady in the

carriage, very pale and frightened, gives a slash of his

whip, and bids the red-shanked ruffians keep off.

Pulling off his hat, and bringing his mare up in a prance

to the chair-window.

RODERICK

What has happened, madam, to annoy

your ladyship?

MRS. O'REILLY

Oh, I am grateful to you, sir. I am

the wife of Captain O'Reilly

hastening to join him at Dublin. My

chair was stopped by a highwayman;

this great oaf of a servant-man fell

down on his knees, armed as he was,

and though there were thirty people

in the next field, working, when the

ruffian attacked, not one of them

would help but, on the contrary,

wished him "good luck."

COUNTRY FELLOW #1

Sure, he's the friend of the poor,

and good luck to him.

COUNTRY FELLOW #2

Was it any business of ours?

RODERICK

(shouting)

Be off to your work, you pack of

rascals, or you will have a good

taste of my thong.

(to Mrs. O'Reilly)

Have you lost much?

MRS. O'REILLY

Everything -- my purse, containing

upwards of a hundred guineas, my

jewels, my snuff-boxes, watches.

And all because this blundering

coward fell to his knees...

FOOTMAN

Be fair, ma'am, them wasn't so much.

Didn't he return you the thirteen

pence in copper, and the watch,

saying it was only pinchbeck?

MRS. O'REILLY

Don't be insolent, or I'll report

you to the Captain.

FOOTMAN

Sorry, ma'am.

He shuffles a few steps away and frowns in the direction

that the Captain has vanished.

MRS. O'REILLY

That fool didn't know what was the

meaning of a hundred-pound bill,

which was in the pocket-book that

the fellow took from me.

RODERICK

I am riding to Dublin myself, and if

your ladyship will allow me the

honor of riding with you, I shall do

my best to protect you from further

mishap.

MRS. O'REILLY

But I shouldn't like to put you to

such trouble, Mister...?

RODERICK

O'Higgins... Mohawk O'Higgins.

EXT. ROADSIDE INN - DAY

They stop at the inn.

RODERICK

(very gallantly)

As you have been robbed of your

purse, may I have permission to lend

your ladyship a couple of pieces to

pay any expenses which you might

incur before reaching your home?

MRS. O'REILLY

(smiling)

That's very kind of you, Mr.

O'Higgins.

He gives her two gold pieces.

INT. INN - DAY

Roderick and Mrs. O'Reilly finishing their meal.

We will hear dialogue underneath Roderick's voice over.

RODERICK (V.O.)

How different was her lively rattle

to the vulgar wenches at Kilwangan

assemblies. In every sentence, she

mentioned a lord or a person of

quality. To the lady's question

about my birth and parentage, I

replied that I was a young gentleman

of large fortune, that I was going

to Dublin for my studies, and that

my mother allowed me five hundred

per annum.

MRS. O'REILLY

You must be very cautious with

regard to the company you should

meet in Dublin, where rogues and

adventurers of all countries abound.

I hope you will do me the honor of

accepting lodgings in my own house,

where Captain O'Reilly will welcome

with delight, my gallant young

preserver.

Paying the bill.

RODERICK (V.O.)

Perhaps had I been a little older in

the world's experience, I should

have begun to see that Madame

O'Reilly was not the person of

fashion she pretended to be; but, as

it was, I took all her stories for

truth, and, when the landlord

brought the bill for dinner, paid it

with the air of a lord. Indeed, she

made no motion to produce the two

pieces I had lent her.

EXT. DUBLIN - STREET - NIGHT

They ride by.

RODERICK (V.O.)

And so we rode on slowly towards

Dublin, into which city we made our

entrance at nightfall. The rattle

and splendor of the coaches, the

flare of the linkboys, the number

and magnificence of the houses,

struck me with the greatest wonder;

though I was careful to disguise

this feeling.

EXT. O'REILLY HOUSE - DUBLIN - NIGHT

RODERICK (V.O.)

We stopped at length at a house of

rather mean appearance, and were let

into a passage which had a great

smell of supper and punch.

INT. O'REILLY HOUSE - DINING ROOM - NIGHT

Captain O'Reilly, a stout red-faced man, without a

periwig, and in a rather tattered nightgown and cap.

Roderick and Mrs. O'Reilly.

CAPTAIN O'REILLY

Mr. O'Higgins, I cannot say how

grateful I am for your timely

assistance to my wife.

RODERICK

I am only sorry that I was unable to

prevent the villain from carrying

off all her ladyship's money and

pearls.

CAPTAIN O'REILLY

Mr. O'Higgins, we are in your debt,

and rest assured, sir, you have

friends in this house whenever you

are in Dublin.

(pours a glass)

Mister O'Higgins, I wonder if I know

your good father?

RODERICK

Which O'Higgins do you know? For I

have never heard your name mentioned

in my family.

CAPTAIN O'REILLY

Oh, I am thinking of the O'Higgins

of Redmondstown. General O'Higgins

was a close friend of my wife's dear

father, Colonel Granby Somerset.

RODERICK

Ah -- I see. No, I'm afraid mine

are the O'Higgins of Watertown.

CAPTAIN O'REILLY

I have heard of them.

There are relics of some mutton-chops and onions on a

cracked dish before them.

CAPTAIN O'REILLY

My love, I wish I had known of your

coming, for Bob Moriaty and I just

finished the most delicious venison

pasty, which His Grace the Lord

Lieutenant, sent us, with a flash of

sillery from his own cellar. You

know the wine, my dear? But as

bygones are bygones, and no help for

them, what say ye to a fine lobster

and a bottle of as good claret as

any in Ireland? Betty, clear these

things from the table, and make the

mistress and our young friend

welcome to our home.

Captain O'Reilly searches his pockets for some money to

give to Betty.

CAPTAIN O'REILLY

I'm sorry, Mr. O'Higgins, but I

don't seem to have any small change.

May I borrow a ten-penny piece to

give to the girl?

MRS. O'REILLY

I have some money, my dear. Here,

Betty, go to the fishmonger and

bring back our supper, and mind you

get the right change.

She takes out one of the golden guineas Roderick gave to

her.

INT. DINNING ROOM - LATER

They are eating.

RODERICK (V.O.)

Our supper was seasoned, if not by

any great elegance, at least by a

plentiful store of anecdotes,

concerning the highest personages of

the city, with whom, according to

himself, the captain lived on terms

of the utmost intimacy. Not to be

behind hand with him, I spoke of my

own estates and property as if I was

as rich as a duke.

INT. O'REILLY HOUSE - BEDROOM - NIGHT

The couple wishing Roderick goodnight.

RODERICK (V.O.)

Had I been an English lad, the

appearance of the chamber I occupied

might, indeed, have aroused

instantly my suspicion and distrust.

But we are not particular in Ireland

on the score of neatness, hence the

disorder of my bed-chamber did not

strike me so much.

Broken door.

RODERICK (V.O.)

Was there a lock to the door, or a

hasp to fasten it to?

Dress lying over bed.

RODERICK (V.O.)

Though my counterpane was evidently

a greased brocade dress of Mrs.

O'Reilly.

Cracked mirror.

RODERICK (V.O.)

And my cracked toilet-glass not much

bigger than a half-crown, yet I was

used to these sort of ways in Irish

houses, and still thought myself to

be in that of a man of fashion.

Drawers, full of junk.

RODERICK (V.O.)

There was no lock to the drawers,

which, when they did open, were full

of my hostess' rouge-pots, shoes,

stays, and rags.

INT. BEDROOM - O'REILLY HOUSE - NIGHT

In the middle of the night, Mrs. O'Reilly comes to

Roderick's room on a flimsy pretext, and in the course of

events, he has his first woman.

INT. COACH - DAY

Roderick, Captain and Mrs. O'Reilly.

CAPTAIN O'REILLY

I needn't ask whether you had a

comfortable bed. Young Fred

Pimpleton slept in it for seven

months, during which he did me the

honor to stay with me, and if he was

satisfied, I don't know who else

wouldn't be.

EXT. PROMENADE - PHOENIX PARK - DAY

Roderick, Captain and Mrs. O'Reilly, their friends.

Various cuts.

RODERICK (V.O.)

After breakfast, we drove out to

Phoenix Park, where numbers of the

young gentry were known to Mrs.

O'Reilly, to all of whom she

presented me in such a complimentary

way that, before half an hour, I had

got to be considered as a gentleman

of great expectations and large

property.

INT. O'REILLY HOUSE - NIGHT

RODERICK (V.O.)

I had little notion then that I had

got amongst a set of impostors --

that Captain O'Reilly was only an

adventurer, and his lady a person of

no credit. The fact was, a young

man could hardly have fallen into

worse hands than those in which I

now found myself.

An evening of gambling.

RODERICK (V.O.)

Their friends were always welcome on

payment of a certain moderate sum

for their dinner after which, you

may be sure, that cards were not

wanting, and that the company who

played did not play for love merely.

Various cuts of the characters present.

RODERICK (V.O.)

What could happen to a man but

misfortune from associating with

such company? And in a very, very

short time I became their prey.

Roderick loses two hundred guineas to Captain O'Reilly in

a single hand.

We see Captain O'Reilly cheat, but Roderick does not.

He pays him the 18 gold guineas, remaining from the sum

his mother gave him.

RODERICK

I shall have to write out a note for

the rest of it, Captain O'Reilly.

EXT. STREET - OUTSIDE O'REILLY HOUSE - DAWN

Roderick exits to the street. The sound of the gambling

can still be heard in the street. He is soon joined by

Councillor Mulligan.

COUNCILLOR MULLIGAN

Master Roderick, you appear a young

fellow of birth and fortune; let me

whisper in your ear that you have

fallen into very bad hands -- it's a

regular gang of swindlers; and a

gentleman of your rank and quality

should never be seen in such

company. The captain has been a

gentleman's gentleman, and his lady

of no higher rank. Go home, pack

your valise, pay the little trifle

you owe me, mount your mare, and