Act 1 Scene 7

Deneumont

Booths Hotel room.

Booth .       Father! O! dear blessed father! [We are now privy to the torment of Booth's tortured soul as all his demons offer him the worldly rewards he desires so much]

Lend me your holy strength to fortify myself. My heart pounds as if it would shake itself loose from my chest; I am drenched in cowards wine, which seeps from my pores as like a breached barrel. I do not dread the dying of the body, yet do shudder at the prospect of loising my earthly treasures, I fear that I will shame myself and my family name, by an unseemly and timid end. How can I face or be cognizant of an existence.( which is made unlikely by my potential course of action,) Yea even t’were on heavens shores, without the beauty of great language spoken by the earthly tongues of men.Who infuse their utterances with life from the black strife of their own souls; Can angels do what the lowliest man is capable of? I do not think it possible, for the gift with which God so blessed man, that they not be driven mad with the immensity of the unknown, is one an angel has no need to possess. To never again, feel a woman in my arms, to inhale her life from skin, and hair. To know the ecstasy of a lovers sweet, servitude. Only to face that emberless abyss, that extends for all eternity, with but the singularity of my besmirched soul as my tormenting shadow. “Damne’d Death!” I quake at your power to remove me from all I worship... [Lincolns shade appears] For what? A husk of a man? Lincoln, you are but an empty shell one whose juices have long since dried up, and ephaporized away. In me they leap and soar  like a raging torrent. He sits in that house of whitewashed walls. Yet I see them of the deepest carmine blush. A beacon as to where Satan resides, within the very heart of my Country, a hellish mockery to loyal Americans of either side. Yet hold off this dispair for just a heartbeat, perhaps more than one, just enough to fulfill my destiny. Mother always said I was to be the favored one.The war, is not yet over; I am an appointed agent of the South. No more will I practice inactive endurance. What intrigue henceforth I conduct, will be sanctioned by men of honor, everywhere. More than 100,000 men still fight and die for the cause of State Rights and to preserve our way of life. I am no different from any foot soldier in the field. To my dismay I find I am even less, than the 14 year old boy from the hills of Tennessee I stumbled upon today. His life’s blood seeping from his desecrated flesh blushing the streets of Richmond, a spectacle for gawkers, blood crazed warmongers. Politicians espouse hushed speeches above his torn and ruined beauty. Lincoln!! you weave and dart about, changing your policies to suit the mood of the victories and defeats. I listened to you tonight and told you that I had been changed. Yes! changed! However, contrary to your desire, I was not weakened, your lies they but made me bolder, did most assuredly confirm and sanction your mask as Caesar. By this casting, threw me, to my fated and long anticipated role as your Brutus. Should I have a soothsayer go to warn you of the Ides of April? No! A dusty plot line I think. ]He laughs shakily] He looks at his hands to see they are trembling[ What are these? I have known them all my life. Look this one bears my name so I am convinced that they are mine and have been molded for the task, To remove this demonspawn.

My country will rest (softly spoken)

[He goes to the writing desk desperately seeking some solace and finds some respite in the memories of his sister and Mother]  [He begins to write.and with some difficulty manages to set down these words]

Dearest Asia, I wish that you were with me, I would lay my head upon your lap as ever I was wont to do. Will you despise these appendages? which, when next I see you, will bear the calluses. Aye even the hue of Macbeths accursed clan. I was ever your Silver Paladin, mounted on a Palfrey of purest white, your favor tied around my sleeve. Asia, never, were sister and brother more tenderly loved by each other, I beg you, pray for me, endeavour with all your gentle heart to forgive your fallen champion. The Halo which you placed on my brow so many aeons ago has slipped. Please! Do not let them tarnish its bright glow, so completely, that you cannot find the shadow of the boy who will love you unto the end of all time. I will come to you soon, look for me ever. Fate with all its humors brought meface to face with a monster wearing the aspect of a man tonight, a man of whom you have heard me speak. In spite of great temptation I struck not the unmanly blow. (though temptation brought gobules of sweat to my brow) It would have been murder to slay even such a devel, in the dark, with no danger to myself. It would have brought disgrace to our father's great name. I  plan to run this course in full view of his friends and supporters, even if it is to be on holy ground, with many chances for his Lord to save him, were he to be so inclined. When the news does reach you, remember that this was the tyrant responsible for all our countries troubles I but performed my long delayed duty. I have written a letter to the newspaper's which I feel will clear my name and bring me safe home. However, if, I have misread my part? Well, I have had poor reviews before, and survived. A request, my dearest sister. When the time comes, say these words to our blessed mother. “All I did, I did for my country” softly embrace her for me…....... Her scent wafts through this rotted city and cleanses the stench of the dead and living dead who reside here. rememberance's of you both calm my beleagured soul..........My country thou dost exact a high price, if I be destined not to meet these sweet angels in life ever more. Yet even this must not be the price of inaction. Satan! You know me well to use such temptations here in my Gethsemane.....................[He looses control again his hands shake]  I seem to be detached from the intention of these things tonight; again I check their mark. Indeed these are the hands that Michael took in brotherhood and which in fey reproach return. I feel the burn of rejection still in their palms. Michael, why did you leave so swift upon the disclosure of my scheme? Could we not have talked further? Lincoln said that if we can sit and talk sorrow can be avoided. [Realises he has spoken Lincolns words and turns as a rabid animal to where he sees the features of his tormentor]

I hate that despot more than any man, he has destroyed the greatest crop raised since this country became a sovereign nation. We matured such a bounty of beauteous manhood the world had never seen its like before. Now, it is but manure for grasses and weeds to thrive upon. (He comes downstage and kneeling speaks directly to the house.)Shushhhhh come close so I may impart this knowledge to you..Death Is not content to merely cease the functions of a man, but must degrade and violate him, until what remains loses all that once made miracle in men’s eyes. We make such haste to cover the empty shell beneath the worm tunneled sod, and bedeck the horror with all manner of beauteous covers. Once removed from living sight, we may make fallicious our senses. So by, surmise that they remain forever unchanged as in our minds eye. Therein lies the magic of my profession, the dead rise night after night, to fold their waists before you our mortal judges, of their doings they comfort the people, whom deaths foul specter, would rob of life’s sweet illusions, while yet they  breathe in full contentment. What fools we mortals be, yet all in innocence is done, to ease deaths grim looks and lies Some in haste to reap all of life’s fair blooms will rob each of his neighbors and yet add not one second to his own preordained skein. Nay for me, I wish the clean flame and the soul's flight to the heaven's:................................. I remember now, that we did drink out of the same bottle. It is as if we exchanged a kiss. His breath was... sweet! I would have thought it to stink of brimstone. Michael, as Spartans we ever were in our youth. I feel as though you plunged a traitors spike into my soul. Traitorous cowards! they were not true soldiers, for they lusted after gold, not a cold night and vengeance for Virginia. My money bought them out of the army! It seems as if they believed it bought them out of their honor as well, How pernicious is friendship. Better Lewis with his many instruments of honest death than the cruel slow poison of a friends knavery. My hands have ceased their shaking no tremor is visible. Indeed I have achieved a courage newly delivered. with solidity in my convictions. God has sent an angel to guide me, this being so. I need not a weapon which fires so many darts, Lifts pistol and moves to his luggage, When God guides the missile; one is sufficient unto the task. I choose you my tiny friend,one bolt for Lincoln. None can say I meant harm to another. I go to battle with unremarkable arms, inferior to my enemies, yet go with steadfast conviction in the right of my belief. The almighty has lightened my heart he has annointed me the instrument of his punishment,by holy cause, made invincible! Lincoln pray tonight for your black soul and keep your promise, that you will bespake the name of John Wilkes Booth in your plea's

[the lights brighted suddenly then fade]

Oh fickle courage what bothers you now? Yes! yes poor and ill-favored troops I command yet  am convinced they will do their duty; Paine is as a Berserker when his blood grows hot. I will not be the man to bring him to heel. Davey? a feeble minded boy, still his task but to hold the horses. George, George? George!! will fail! He loves the whisky more than country… Perhaps it is time to play the card which I have withheld so long. Vice President Johnson is an ambitious man, of many sides; perhaps I will have him turn his skin once to often.

I was, if truth be told, much impressed by Lincoln tonight. He spoke as if an actor trained, with eye and body working to capture his audience within his plot. He employed the fantastic to spin his tale and delight his fellow actor. With easy words and elegant turn of phrase all upon the spot, improvised. He did most smoothly create the play. Such a man by his own talent's has condemned himself. Beware! A devious man of surpassing genius, who would make the Whitehouse his stage, is too dangerous a man to let live... By his martyrdom he will become a rallying force for both sides in this tortured land. In death if not in life I may find it within myself to grant him absolution. I may even love the man that history and I will make of him. I know the name that the ages will give to me. An ancient name. “Cain” Tomorrow, all will be history what we will have done will belong to the ages. So I say. 

“Right or wrong

"God judge me not man"

   

TM. Connolly  " © 2000.