ACT 1 SCENE 2

The Streets of Washington

 

Booth sat alone for a few minutes after Herold left but his excitement was rising to fever pitch and he needed to do something to fill in the time before the planned meeting. Rising he tossed some coins on the table, and exited to the sidewalk. He stood looking up at the marquee of the Ford Theatre. Startled he heard a voice call his name.

 

Paine         Booth? Booth!

Booth        Stand forth and make yourself known man or I will run you through with my steel.

Paine         I’d like to see you try it. Actor.

Booth        Lewis is that you? God man! I thought Banquos ghost had come for me.

Paine         Neither Banquo nor Duncan but Horatio is my role tonight.

Booth        Well then Hail and well met.

Paine         It would be better if there were other spirits than old Willys phantoms tonight, for its damned cold.

Booth        Here you are friend, [Hands him a hip flask] but keep your wits about you, for soon the South will have her Honor and her glory returned a thousand fold. Lincoln is to be on this very spot tomorrow evening!

Paine         Taking a long pull of the Brandy Paine pulled a face. I don’t know how you drink this stuff Cap; it tastes like a whore's perfume to me. Still, it warms the belly. [He takes another swig upon which Booth snatches it out of his hand and drinks deep.]

Booth        20 year old Brandy is wasted on you Lewis. I will keep the rest for my own consumption. Did you not hear me? Lincoln plans to attend the play tomorrow with Grant. He is to be unaccompanied, no soldiers or aides With but one  bodyguard, probably old Lamon the Marshal, and he is no threat.

Paiine         Of course I heard you Cap. I was just waiting for you to tell me what you want me to do. My Bowie is razor sharp and will cut his turkey neck like parchment. I also have acquired a nice new colt from a union soldier who won’t need it no more. On account, he’s crossing the Potomac. Face down!

       [Booth was fascinated by this man to whom death in its many forms was a matter of intense interest; his coarseness both repelled and attracted him.]

Booth        Lewis. I will take care of Father Abraham. I have a task designed just for you. To make sure that there is a break in the line of governmental succession. Seward the Secretary of State must also be removed. He has been injured in a fall from his carriage and lies gravely ill. He is attended by army nurses and doctors; also his son is home from the front. Lewis I am going to make sure the North suffers a blow from which they will never recover. As you attend to Seward, I will send some of the others to eliminate Vice President Johnson. To borrow from that favorite quote of Lincoln’s “Cut off the head and the body will die” How that Sodbuster loves to state the obvious.By this time tomorrow night the North will be without leadership. Davis and the Confederacy can walk in and take over. We will be the most famous men in the world my faithful Horatio, forever heroes in the history books and beloved in the eyes of the South. I to play Macduff, to Lincoln’s Macbeth.

Paine         Here! Isn’t it bad luck to mention that play? A curse or something?

Booth        A curse? a curse! By the blood of 600,000 American lives! What have we endured for the last four years? No, my friend I will not be felled by my own muse. [Gesticulating wildly he screams out ] Macbeth, Macbeth! Macbeth!! Beware for the army of righteousness comes to you old man. I throw your own challenge back at you.” Lay on and damn’d be him that first cries, “Hold enough!”

Paine         You better go easy on that Brandy Cap. You don’t want to letting the cat out of the bag yet.

Booth        My dear, dear, Paine how right you are. Like a good stagemanager you protect the actor. But, do not get in the way of creativity, for it is a mighty force. I am going for a walk around this accursed city to untangle and memorize the woof and weave of this great and glorious work. Be it tragedy or comedy? Only the audience will know, when this one time command performance has reached its dénouement. Adieu noble friend. I will meet with you and the merry band of players at Surrats when two bells strike on this fateful eve. Look for me then.

 ACT I SCENE 3                                           

                  Booth bowed formally if a little unsteadily to Lewis Paine and started up Pennsylvania Ave. He was staying at the National Hotel just a short stroll from The Theatre and an even shorter distance from where Lincoln would, if Booth’s plan went right, spend his last night on this earth.

 

Booth        I should be elated as I walk through these fouled streets, for by midnights toll today, I will have cleansed them of the effluence that pours forth from that house wherein he sits, gloating over his destruction of the South. The idolization of his sycophants sweet in his ears. He imagines himself as royalty. perhaps even as self crowned Emperor. One would need to strike him off at the knees to make that costume fit.Perchance if he was an actor to become. “Richard the Third” would be most perfect casting for him, his features be of a like to the crookback. America rejected royalty many years ago and yet it seems we have a potential king ruling half of our nation. This Country is for the chosen people who tamed her wildness and cultivated a splendid democracy.Yet along comes these republicans to pull it down around our ears and make the heathen negros partner's in our endeavors. America is for the white man! not this filthy stew from every poor and ignorant country in the world. I will not have it. Lincoln has given his last speech. He promised votes for right thinking darkies, the very ones who took up arms to slaughter the men and women of this land. ( An aside to a member of the audience)I ask you sir, is this a proposition any true Southerner could stomach? O' I believe there is a place, for Negroes, we need workers for tasks which are to dangerous or degrading for Americans to do. So I say give them a place to sleep and food to stop them from starving, its more than they had in those evil place's they came from, if they don’t like it send them back and get rid of them, We would have no more talk of abolition then I assure you.Stops in confusion Looks around.I fear I have walked right past my hotel, with this mist it is hard to see where I am. Ah yes.there, I see someplace I do indeed recognize. The capitol dome, finished but three weeks.The peoples house, they call it. That is if you wear Yankee Blue not Rebels Gray. To the devil with that, I will approach this house where I am not welcome, unless I bow the knee to that old retrobate. I would shoot myself before I would give obeisance to him or any of his kind. To die to end all this pain? Tempting! Yes!.. Hold! and consider, I be not unemcumbered in this world, I am tied to it by loves bonds.My Mother and sister Asia would be heartbroken. Forgive me my immodesty, they do love me so, if I was wounded or worse they would suffer greatly, that I will try to avoid for their sake..I see pictures in this mist. My home, Family, My brother Edwin’s face I do not envision, and that is a gift. How delighted he was at Lincolns re-election, misguided fool! How great will be his wrath at the stain on the Booth name,. In the South I will bear it proudly and will hear it shouted from vaulted rooftops, from everyman’s lips. Therefore, Edwin be damned! To those that matter, the name Booth will be crowned with laurel leaves.My Fathers shield honored by his sons unrivaled deed.(Whirls in fear ) Death still walks at my side. I do so miss the sight of my beloved Tudor hall and the Beautiful hills of Virginia.

 

Act 1 Scene 4