ACT 1 SCENE 5

Capitol grounds

Paine turns back to Booth suspicion in his eyes. Booth does not speak but hands Paine the hipflask which he takes eagerly. A second later he up ends it in disgust.

Paine         Seems as if your new friend likes your fancy taste in liquor.

Booth        Lewis! I warn you say nothing that will arouse my ire just now or our friendship will suffer a grievous hurt.

Paine         Here now Cap is that anyway to be talking to your good friend and brother in arms? Can I at least ask who he was, seems I knows the shape of the figure but I can't place him. Have new orders come? Is tonight still on? Ah Cap don’t tell me I Can’t try out my pretty new colt. 

Booth       Is that all you ever think about. Spilling blood and causing death.You are well named Paine.

Paine             I learned from some real masters Cap, when those Jacks start in with their bayonets you better be able to give as good as you get. You never was a soldier was you Cap? Ah! But that’s alright, you backstage boys do a mighty fine job as well, someone has to give the orders

 Booth           I do not like the tone of your ramblings Lewis, if you have something to say then say it, otherwise. Shut your damned mouth!

 Paine           Listen Cap, I came looking for you because its twenty minutes after two and everyone else is waiting. Ma Surratt is squealing like a stuck pig about all the comings and goings, and I find you shaking hands with a total stranger. I am your true friend Booth but a man must watch his own back. I ask you one more time who was that? Sorry, correction, who were they? For I observed a second man some distance beyond.

 Booth              Booth tried to gather his shattered thoughts quickly; Paine was a young cutthroat but far from stupid. He had to be given an answer. A believable one… You are right Lewis I owe you an apology. I beg your forgiveness. The first man was a Southern agent         He has brought news from our friends in Canada. We are assured of sanctuary when we complete our task, or if we need a place to go until things quiet down, the other, was a lookout. What else? Lewis you offend me with your suspicions.

 Paine           Fine, fine. However, why meet here? Was the White House busy?

Booth          [Booth found it within himself to laugh wryly.]  Every now and then Lewis.I am reminded of why I do enjoy your company. Come we have important business to attend to. The morrow speeds ever closer and we must gird our loins to snatch this war from the jaws of peace. At least a northern peace.

Paine             Lead on Cap, I ever the loyal confrere will follow to your banner.

 

  ACT 1 SCENE 6

 Surratt House

 The two men made good time getting to Mary Surratts boarding house at 541 H street. The front room was full of the party as John Surratt was wont to call the band of conspirators. All were present.

Michael           Wilkes ! Where were you? We have been out of our minds with fearing that you had been taken?

Booth              It would take better men than they, to capture me, Michael. No I was merely delayed by the vagaries of this most portentous night. I do humbly beg your pardon for my tardiness

While John seats himself in a chair making Surratt vacate it first, there was tension between the two men. Paine stayed standing at the window ever watchfulThe men were excited but strangely very quiet. Surratt trying to save face angrily throws a newspaper in front of Booth.

J, Surratt        Johnny have you seen the Southern papers today?

Booth              I cannot rightly say I have paid to much attention to newspapers. Seems to me we only need to look out our windows to assess the State of our country.

J,Surratt         They got a picture by Brady, of Lee and Grant at Appomattox. Now that’s bad enough. But take a look at the picture on page two. A Georgia  boy stole a plate from the Yankee’s when they weren’t looking. Its got me mad enough to spit Johnny, those boys don’t even got shoes. I heard that there was cholera and typhoid killing our boys so fast, the feds will hardly have to fire another shot in this here war.

Booth              This is Alton prison camp in Illinois. A rugged land indeed when you have no covering on your feet. Or food in your'e belly. It is the closest thing to hell in this country. However, John as ever your eyes have missed the greater sin and permitted your vision to be clouded by the skillful manipulations of their subterfuge. Here! on the other page in all the insignia of his soul, is the sight which causes my blood to come to a heat that will overflow and cause to burn this progeny of Hades. See! Tis Lincoln himself, he walks amongst the toppled edifices of our formerly sacrosanct and untouchable Olympus. Richmond! Fair and virginal she once was, now is raped and her virtue spread out, a prospect to be ogled by this beast as a prize, a diadem to set forever on his self garlanded  head, O! Look! He has caused the blackest of vermin and  insects to crawl from out their hiding places to pay him homage. They clutch his hands and kiss his coat as if he was in truth the redeemer, reborn. It is repugnant! I can  look on it no more!

I bless you for this missive John,  like you this sours my stomach. Yet does stoke the fire of Southern ardor in veins that had been cooled by the treacherous words of a man who is Satan’s own right hand. How could I have been so weak to have allowed that nigger lover power over my manhood? Now I am that Colossus once more. I feel the  fervor of my Virginian heritage scorch its way through my body like wildfire. Any spell I have been under is broken into a million pieces. He will pay for his deception, by my Mothers life! He will pay. Herold get out a bottle or two we have a long night ahead of us and need fortification, but before that, we drink a toast to Virginia and the Southern States of America. As Herold scurried to do his masters bidding, Maps and documents are produced and placed on the table for all to peruse.

Scene 6