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BARRY LYNDON A Screenplay by Stanley Kubrick Based on the novel by William Makepeace ThackerayFADE IN:EXT. PARK - DAYBrief shot of duel.RODERICK (V.O.)My father, who was well-known to thebest circles in this kingdom underthe name of roaring Harry James, waskilled in a duel, when I was fifte
scoundrel of a young Brookside who
was about to become my greatest
plague and annoyance, would have
inherited every penny of the
property.
INT. COSGROVE HOUSE - LONDON - RODERICK'S STUDY - DAY
Roderick, bored and distracted, sits before a stack of
bills and papers, with his accountant.
RODERICK (V.O.)
Humble people envy us great men, and
fancy that our lives are all
pleasure. But the troubles of
poverty, the rascality of agents,
the quibbles of lawyers are endless.
My life at this period seemed to
consist of nothing but drafts of
letters and money-brokers relative
to the raising of money, and the
insuring of Lady Cosgrove's life,
and innumerable correspondence with
upholsterers, decorators, cooks,
horsekeepers, bailiffs, and
stewards.
EXT. CASTLE HACKTON - GARDENS - DAY
Various cuts.
Birthday fete for Patrick who is now five years old.
Gaily colored tents, ponies, a puppet show, expensive
presents.
RODERICK (V.O.)
My own dear boy, Patrick, was now
five years old, and was the most
polite and engaging child ever seen;
it was a pleasure to treat him with
kindness and distinction; the little
fellow was the pink of fashion,
beauty, and good breeding. In fact,
he could not have been otherwise,
with the care both his parents
bestowed upon him, and the
attentions which were lavished upon
him in every way.
Brookside and Roderick.
RODERICK (V.O.)
Whereas, young Brookside had grown
to be a very nasty and disrespectful
fellow indeed. In my company, he
preserved the most rigid silence,
and a haughty, scornful demeanor,
which was so much the more
disagreeable because there was
nothing in his behavior I could
actually take hold of to find fault
with, although his whole conduct was
insolent and supercilious to the
highest degree.
INT. CASTLE HACKTON - LIBRARY - DAY
Brookside sitting alone reading a book.
RODERICK (V.O.)
In addition to this, the lad was
fond of spending the chief part of
his time occupied with the musty old
books, which he took out of the
library, and which I hate to see a
young man of spirit pouring over.
INT. CASTLE HACKTON - DAY
Brookside and the Countess.
RODERICK (V.O.)
The insubordination of that boy was
dreadful. He used to quote passages
of "Hamlet" to his mother, which
made her very angry.
Brookside quoting "Hamlet."
The Countess begins to cry and leaves the room.
INT. CASTLE HACKTON - RODERICK'S STUDY
Roderick caning young Brookside.
RODERICK (V.O.)
As it is best to nip vice in the
bud, and for a master of a family to
exercise his authority in such a
manner as that there may be no
question about it, I took every
opportunity of coming to close
quarters with Master Brookside.
INT. CASTLE HACKTON - DINING ROOM - NIGHT
Many guests around the table.
RODERICK (V.O.)
He always chose the days when
company, or the clergy, or gentry of
the neighborhood were present, to
make violent, sarcastic, and
insolent speeches.
Brookside begins to fondle and caress Patrick.
BROOKSIDE
Dear child, what a pity it is I am
not dead for your sake! The
Cosgroves would then have a worthy
representative, and enjoy all the
benefits of the illustrious blood of
the James' of Duganstown, would they
not, Mr. James Cosgrove?
INT. RODERICK'S STUDY - NIGHT
Roderick caning Brookside again. The boy bears the
punishment without crying.
EXT. CASTLE HACKTON - DAY
Roderick's reunion with his mother.
Present are the Countess, Patrick, Lord Brookside and
others.
Mrs. James flings herself into her son's arms with a
scream, and with transports of joy, which can only be
comprehended by women who have held, in their arms, an
only child, after a twelve-year absence from him.
INT. CASTLE HACKTON - DAY
Roderick and mother feeding Patrick.
EXT. CASTLE HACKTON - GARDEN - DAY
Roderick and mother playing with Patrick in the garden.
INT. CASTLE HACKTON - DINING ROOM - NIGHT
Mother at dinner with the family, in a strained
atmosphere.
INT. PATRICK'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Roderick and his mother talk in whispers near the bed of
the sleeping Patrick.
MOTHER
Ah, Roderick, it's a blessing to see
that my darling boy has attained a
position I always knew was his due,
and for which I pinched myself to
educate him. Little Patrick is a
darling boy, and you live in great
splendor, but how long will it last?
Your lady-wife knows she has a
treasure she couldn't have had, had
she taken a duke to marry her, but
if, one day, she should tire of my
wild Roderick and his old-fashioned
Irish ways, or if she should die,
what future would there be for my
son and grandson?
INT. RODERICK'S STUDY - CASTLE HACKTON - NIGHT
Roderick and his mother.
MOTHER
You have not a penny of your own,
and cannot transact any business
without the Countess' signature.
Upon her death, the entire estate
would go to young Brookside, who
bears you little affection. You
could be penniless tomorrow, and
darling Patrick at the mercy of his
stepbrother.
INT. MOTHER'S ROOM - CASTLE HACKTON - NIGHT
Roderick and his mother.
MOTHER
I shall tell you a secret -- I shall
not rest until I see you Earl of
Duganstown, and my grandson, a Lord
Viscount.
She smooths down Roderick's hair.
MOTHER
This head would become a coronet.
EXT. CASTLE HACKTON - GARDEN - DAY
Roderick and Mother slowly walking and talking. Young
Patrick, ahead of them sitting in a small cart, pulled by
a lamb.
MOTHER
These things entail considerable
expense, and you will need your
lady's blessing, but the young boy
forms the great bond of union
between you and her ladyship, and
there is no plan of ambition you
could propose in which she would not
join for the poor lad's benefit, and
no expense she will not eagerly
incur, if it might be any means be
shown to tend to his advancement.
You have important friends, and they
can tell you how these things are
done.
INT. LONDON GAMING ROOM - NIGHT
Standing away from the play tables, Roderick chats with
Lord West, a fat giant of a man.
RODERICK (V.O.)
And, to be sure, I did know someone
who knew precisely how these things
were done, and this was the
distinguished solicitor and former
Government Minister, Lord West,
whose acquaintance I made, as I had
so many others, at the gaming table.
LORD WEST
Do you happen to know Gustavus
Adolphus, the thirteenth Earl of
Crabs?
RODERICK
By name only.
LORD WEST
Well, sir, this nobleman is one of
the gentlemen of His Majesty's
closet, and one with whom our
revered monarch is on terms of
considerable intimacy. I should say
you would be wise to fix upon this
nobleman your chief reliance for the
advancement of your claim to the
Viscounty which you propose to get.
INT. LONDON CLUB - DAY
Roderick having lunch with Lord West and the Earl of
Crabs.
RODERICK (V.O.)
And for a five-hundred guinea fee,
paid to his City law-firm, Lord West
kindly arranged a meeting with that
old scamp and swindler, Gustavus
Adolphus, the thirteenth Earl of
Crabs.
EARL OF CRABS
Mr. Cosgrove, when I take up a
person, he or she is safe. There is
no question about them any more. My
friends are the best people. I
don't mean the most virtuous, or,
indeed, the least virtuous, or the
cleverest, or the stupidest, or the
richest, or the best born, but the
"best" -- in a word, people about
whom there is no question. I cannot
promise you how long it will take.
You can appreciate it is not an easy
matter. But any gentlemen with an
estate, and ten-thousand a-year
should have a peerage.
INT. DRAWING ROOM - EARL OF CRABS - DAY
Roderick being introduced to three noblemen, including the
Duke of Rutland.
RODERICK (V.O.)
The striving after this peerage, I
consider to have been one of the
most unlucky dealings at this
period. I made unheard of
sacrifices to bring it about. I can
tell you bribes were administered,
and in high places too -- so near
the royal person of His Majesty that
you would be astonished were I to
mention what great personages
condescended to receive our loans.
INT. DRAWING ROOM - NIGHT
Roderick gives a beautiful diamond to a fat princess on
her birthday. He is applauded by the other guests.
RODERICK (V.O.)
I lavished money here, and diamonds
there.
EXT. FARMLAND - DAY
Roderick and the seller, riding over a prospective
property. A broker shows them a survey map of the
property.
RODERICK (V.O.)
I bought lands at ten times there
value.
INT. SALON - LONDON - NIGHT
A musical evening.
RODERICK (V.O.)
I gave repeated entertainments to
those friends to my claims who,
being about the royal person, were
likely to advance it.
INT. STATELY HOME - DAY
Roderick buying pictures.
RODERICK (V.O.)
I purchased pictures and articles of
vertu at ruinous prices.
EXT. RACES - DAY
Roderick laughing and paying a bet.
RODERICK (V.O.)
I lost many a bet to the royal
dukes, His Majesty's brothers.
EXT. FIELD - DAY
Reviewing the company of troops.
Roderick, the Earl of Crabs, the Countess, Patrick and
Brookside, several princes and noblemen and the Duke of
Rutland.
RODERICK (V.O.)
One of the main causes of expense
which this ambition of mine entailed
upon me was the fitting out and
arming of a company of infantry from
the Hackton estates, which I offered
to my gracious sovereign for the
campaign against the American
rebels. These troops, superbly
equipped and clothed, were embarked
at Portsmouth in the year 1778.
INT. ST. JAMES - RECEPTION ROOM - DAY
George III meeting people and stopping to talk to
Roderick. Present also is the Duke of Rutland.
RODERICK (V.O.)
And the patriotism of the gentlemen
who raised them was so acceptable at
court that, on being presented by my
Lord Crabs, His Majesty condescended
to notice me particularly and said:
GEORGE III
That's right, Mr. Cosgrove, raise
another company, and go with them,
too!
INT. COFFEE HOUSE - NIGHT
RODERICK (V.O.)
Crabs was really one of the most
entertaining fellows in the world,
and I took a sincere pleasure in his
company, besides the interest and
desire I had in cultivating the
society of the most important
personages of the realm.
Roderick clumsily tries to engage in conversation with the
famed Dr. Johnson, on the subject of a book or play, of
the day, and is rebuffed for his trouble.
JOHNSON
If I were you, Mr. Cosgrove, I
should mind my horses and tailors
and not trouble myself about
letters.
Laughter, Roderick bristles.
RODERICK
Dr. Johnson, I think you misbehave
most grossly, treating my opinions
with no more respect than those of a
schoolboy. You fancy, sir, you know
a great deal more than me, because
you quote your "Aristotle" and
"Plato," but can you tell me which
horse will win at Epsom Downs next
week? Can you shoot the ace of
spades ten times without missing?
If so, talk about Aristotle and
Plato with me.
BOSWELL
(roars)
Do you know who you're speaking to?!
JOHNSON
Hold your tongue, Mr. Boswell, I had
no right to brag of my Greek,
gentlemen, and he has answered me
very well.
RODERICK
(pleased)
Do you know ever a rhyme for
Aristotle?
GOLDSMITH
(laughing)
Port, if you please.
JOHNSON
Waiter, bring on of Captain James'
rhymes for Aristotle.
RODERICK (V.O.)
And we had six rhymes for Aristotle
before we left the coffee house that
evening.
INT. LONDON CLUB - NIGHT
EARL OF CRABS
Henri, this is Mr. James Cosgrove,
who wishes to arrange a dinner party
next week for sixty guests.
HENRI
I am at your service, Mr. Cosgrove.
How much do you wish to spend?
RODERICK
As much as possible.
HENRI
As much as possible?
RODERICK
Yes, for I wish to entertain
splendidly.
HENRI
All the same, you must name an
amount.
RODERICK
It is entirely up to you. I want
the best.
EARL OF CRABS
May I suggest five hundred guineas?
RODERICK
Will that be enough?
HENRI
Last month, the Duke of Suffolk
spent no more.
RODERICK
All right, five hundred guineas.
INT. CASTLE HACKTON - RODERICK'S STUDY - DAY
Roderick is seated at a large table, stacked high with
bills and letters; his accountant is seated next to him,
aided by a bookkeeper. Roderick looks at each bill and
his accountant explains the charge.
RODERICK (V.O.)
The life I was leading was that of a
happy man, but I was not happy.
INT. CASTLE HACKTON - LONG GALLERY - DAY
Roderick, walking with big strides, leads Brookside by his
ear. Little Patrick runs alongside, pleading for his
brother.
PATRICK
Papa, please don't flog Brookside
today. It wasn't his fault --
really is wasn't.
Roderick ignores him.
RODERICK (V.O.)
By now, young Brookside was of so
wild, savage, and insubordinate a
nature that I never had the least
regard for him. As he grew up to be
a man, his hatred for me assumed an
intensity quite wicked to think of
and which, I promise you, I returned
with interest.
He drags Brookside into his study, slamming the door
behind him.
INT. LIBRARY - DAY
Roderick alone. Brookside enters with a pistol.
BROOKSIDE
(grinding his teeth)
Look you now, Mister Roderick James,
from this moment on, I will submit
to no further chastisement from you!
Do you understand that?
RODERICK
Give me that pistol.
BROOKSIDE
Take heed, Mister James. I will
shoot you if you lay hands on me
now, or ever again. Is that
entirely clear to you, sir?
Roderick stares hard at him, then he laughs and sits down.
RODERICK (V.O.)
I decided, at once, to give up that
necessary part of his education.
In truth, he then became the most
violent, daring, disobedient,
scapegrace, that ever caused an
affectionate parent pain; he was
certainly the most incorrigible.
INT. CASTLE HACKTON - BROOKSIDE'S ROOM - DAY
Brookside smashing a chair over the head of his governor,
Reverend Hunt.
RODERICK (V.O.)
Twice or thrice, Reverend Hunt
attempted to punish my Lord
Brookside; but I promise you the
rogue was too strong for him, and
leveled the Oxford man to the
ground with a chair, greatly to the
delight of little Patrick, who cried
out: "Bravo, Brooksy! Thump him,
thump him!"
EXT. CASTLE HACKTON - GARDEN - DAY
Brookside and Patrick.
RODERICK (V.O.)
With the child, Brookside was,
strange to say, pretty tractable.
He took a liking to the little
fellow -- I like him the more, he
said, because he was "half a
Cosgrove."
INT. CASTLE HACKTON - BALLROOM - NIGHT
RODERICK (V.O.)
Another day, it was Patrick's
birthday, we were giving a grand
ball and gala at Hackton, and it was
time for my Patrick to make his
appearance among us.
There is a great crowding and tittering as the child comes
in, led by his half-brother, who walks into the dancing-
room in his stockinged feet, leading little Patrick by the
hand, paddling about in the great shoes of the older.
BROOKSIDE
(very loudly)
Don't you think he fits my shoes
very well, Sir Richard Wargrave?
Upon which, the company begins to look at each other and
to titter, and his mother comes up to Lord Brookside with
great dignity, seizes the child to her breast, and says:
COUNTESS
From the manner in which I love this
child, my lord, you ought to know
how I would have loved his elder
brother, had he proved worthy of any
mother's affection.
Brookside is stunned by his mother's words.
BROOKSIDE
Madam, I have borne as long as
mortal could endure the ill-
treatment of the insolent Irish
upstart, whom you have taken into
your bed. It is not only the
lowness of his birth, and the
general brutality of his manners
which disgusts me, but the shameful
nature of his conduct towards your
ladyship, his brutal and
ungentlemanlike behavior, his open
infidelity, his habits of
extravagance, intoxication, his
shameless robberies and swindling of
my property and yours. It is these
insults to you which shock and annoy
me more than the ruffian's infamous
conduct to myself. I would have
stood by your ladyship, as I
promised, but you seem to have taken
latterly your husband's part; and,
as I cannot personally chastise this
low-bred ruffian, who, to our shame
be it spoken, is the husband of my
mother, and as I cannot bear to
witness his treatment of you, and
loathe his horrible society as if it
were the plague, I am determined to
quit my native country, at least
during his detested life, or during
my own.
Bursting into tears, Lady Cosgrove leaves the room.
Roderick loses control, and rushes at Brookside, knocking
down Lords, Dukes and Generals, left and right, who try to
interfere.
The company is scandalizes by the entire incident.
INT. LONDON CLUB - NIGHT
Action as per voice over. Roderick is shunned.
RODERICK (V.O.)
If I had murdered my lord, I could
scarcely have been received with
more shameful obloquy and slander
than now followed me in town and
country. My friends fell away from
me, and a legend arose of my cruelty
to my stepson.
INT. ST. JAMES - DAY
RODERICK (V.O.)
My reception at court was scarcely
more cordial. On paying my respects
to my sovereign at St. James, His
Majesty pointedly asked me when I
had news of Lord Brookside. On
which I replied, with no ordinary
presence of mind:
RODERICK
Sire, my Lord Brookside has set sail
to fight the rebels against Your
Majesty's crown in America. Does
Your Majesty desire that I should
send another company to aid him?
The King stares at Roderick, turns on his heel and quickly
leaves the presence-chamber.
Roderick is approached by the Duke of Rutland, who takes
him aside into an alcove.
DUKE OF RUTLAND
(speaking very
quietly)
Let me tell you, sir, that your
conduct has been very odiously
represented to the King, and has
formed the subject of royal comment.
The King has said, influenced by
these representations, that you are
the most disreputable man in the
three kingdoms, and a dishonor to
your name and country.
Roderick begins to sputter.
DUKE OF RUTLAND
Hear me out, please. It has been
intimated to His Majesty that you
had raised the American Company for
the sole purpose of getting the
young Viscount to command it, and so
get rid of him. And, further, that
you had paid the very man in the
company, who was ordered to dispatch
him in the first general action.
RODERICK
Thus it is that my loyalty is
rewarded, and my sacrifices in favor
of my country viewed!
DUKE OF RUTLAND
As for your ambitious hopes
regarding the Irish peerages, His
Majesty has also let it be known
that you have been led astray by
that Lord Crabs, who likes to take
money, but who has no more influence
to get a coronet than to procure a
Pope's tiara. And, if you have it
in mind to call upon Lord Crabs, you
will be disappointed. He left for
the continent on Tuesday, and may be
away for several months.
INT. LORD WEST'S OFFICE - DAY
Roderick and Lord West.
RODERICK
I insist upon being allowed to
appear before His Majesty and clear
myself of the imputations against
me, to point out my services to the
government, and to ask when the
reward, that had been promised me,
the title held by my ancestors, is
again to be revived in my person.
There is a sleepy coolness in the fat Lord West. He hears
Roderick with half-shut eyes. When he finishes his
violent speech, which he has made striding about the room,
Lord West opens one eye, smiles, and says:
LORD WEST
(gently)
Have you done, Mr. Cosgrove?
RODERICK
Yes!
LORD WEST
Well, Mr. Cosgrove, I'll answer you
point by point. The King is
exceedingly averse to make peers, as
you know. Your claim, as you call
them, have been laid before him, and
His Majesty's gracious reply was,
that you were the most impudent man
in his dominions, and merited a
halter, rather than a coronet. As
for withdrawing your support from
us, you are perfectly welcome to
carry yourself whithersoever you
please. And, now, as I have a great
deal of occupation, perhaps you will
do me the favor to retire, or tell
me if there is anything else in the
world in which I can oblige you.
So saying, Lord West raises his hand lazily to the bell,
and bows Roderick out.
INT. CASTLE HACKTON - RODERICK'S STUDY - DAY
Roderick and his accountant going over the bills which he
has heaped on the table.
RODERICK (V.O.)
The news of His Majesty's disregard
were not long in getting around,
and, in a very short time, all the
bills came down upon me together --
all the bills I had been contracting
for the years of my marriage. I
won't cite their amount; it was
frightful. I was bound up in an
inextricable toil of bills and
debts, or mortgages and insurances,
and all the horrible evils attendant
upon them.
EXT. CASTLE HACKTON - GROUNDS - DAY
Roderick walking alone.
RODERICK (V.O.)
Was it my own want of style, or my
want of a fortune? I know not. Now
I was arrived at the height of my
ambition, but both my skill and my
luck seemed to be deserting me.
Everything I touched, crumbled in my
hands; every speculation I had,
failed; every agent I trusted,
deceived me. My income was saddled
with hundreds of annuities, and
thousands of lawyers' charges, and I
felt the net drawing closer and
closer around me, and no means to
extricate myself from its toils.
All my schemes had turned out
failures.
INT. LONDON GAMING CLUB - NIGHT
Roderick at the gaming table.
RODERICK (V.O.)
My wife's moody despondency made my
house and home not over-pleasant;
hence, I was driven a good deal
abroad, where as play was the
fashion in every club, tavern, and
assembly, I, of course, was obliged
to resume my old habit, and to
commence as an amateur those games
at which I was once unrivaled in
Europe.
Roderick loses a large amount of money.
RODERICK (V.O.)
I had a run of ill-luck at play, and
was forced to meet my losses by the
most shameful sacrifices to the
money-lenders, and was compelled to
borrow largely upon my wife's
annuities, ensuring her ladyship's
life, which was the condition for
every loan against her property.
INT. LONDON OFFICE - INSURANCE BROKER - DAY
Roderick and the broker.
BROKER
Your wife's life is as well known
among the insurance societies in
London, as any woman in Christendom,
and, I'm sorry to say there is not
one of them willing to place another
policy against her ladyship's life.
One of them even had the impudence
to suggest that your treatment of
the Countess did not render her life
worth a year's purchase.
EXT. STUD FARM - DAY
Roderick buying a horse.
RODERICK (V.O.)
In the midst of my difficulties, I
promised to buy a little horse for
my dear little Patrick, which was to
be a present for his eighth
birthday, that was now coming on. I
may have had my faults, but no man
shall dare to say of me that I was
not a good and tender father.
Roderick admires the horse.
RODERICK (V.O.)
It was a beautiful little animal,
and stood me in a good sum. I never
regarded money for that dear child.
EXT. ROAD - DAY
The horse kicks off one of the horse-boys who tries to
ride him.
RODERICK (V.O.)
But the horse was a bit wild, and he
kicked off one of the horse-boys who
rode him at first, and broke the
lad's leg.
EXT. ROAD - DAY
Roderick riding the horse. The horse-boy lies in the back
of a wagon.
RODERICK (V.O.)
But he was a beautiful animal and
would make a fine horse for Patrick
after he had a bit of breaking-in.
EXT. ROAD - NEAR CASTLE HACKTON - DAY
Roderick dismounts and gives the horse to one of the
horse-boys.
RODERICK
Timmy, take the injured lad to see
the doctor, and then bring the horse
to Doolan's farm, and tell him to
break him in thoroughly. Tell him
it's for little Patrick, and that
I'll be over to see him next week.
HORSE-BOY
Yes, sir.
RODERICK
One more thing, and listen well, I
don't want little Patrick to know
where the horse is being kept. It's
going to be surprise for his
birthday.
EXT. CASTLE HACKTON - DAY
Patrick rushes out to greet his father.
PATRICK
Hello, papa!
Roderick picks him up in his arms, and kisses him.
PATRICK
Did you buy the horse, papa?
RODERICK
Now, just have a little patience, my
boy. Your birthday isn't until next
week.
PATRICK
But I will have it on my birthday,
won't I?
RODERICK
Well, we'll just have to wait and
see, won't we?
He walks up the steps holding Patrick, who hugs and kisses
him.
RODERICK (V.O.)
My son, little Patrick Cosgrove, was
a prince; his breeding and manners,
even at his early age, showed him to
be worthy of the two noble families
from whom he was descended, and I
don't know what high hopes I had for
the boy, and indulged in a thousand
fond anticipations as to his future
success and figure in the world, but
stern Fate had determined that I
should leave none of my race behind
me.
INT. CASTLE HACKTON - DINING ROOM - NIGHT
Roderick is drunk. Patrick is brought in by his governor,
Hunt, to say good night. His kisses his mother first,
then approaches Roderick.
PATRICK
(kissing him)
Good night, papa.
RODERICK
Good night, my little darling.
PATRICK
Papa?
RODERICK
Yes?
PATRICK
One of the boys in the stable told
Nelly that you've already bought my
horse, and that it's at Doolan's
farm, where Mick the groom is
breaking it in. Is that true, papa?
RODERICK
(angered)
What the devil? What kind of fools
do we have here? Pottle, who told
the lad this story?
HUNT
I don't know, sir.
PATRICK
Then it's true! It's true! Oh,
thank you, papa! Thank you!
He hugs his father.
COUNTESS
Promise me, Patrick, that you will
not ride the horse except in the
company of your father.
PATRICK
(unconvincingly)
I promise, mama.
RODERICK
I promise your lordship a good
flogging if you even so much as go
to Doolan's farm to see him.
PATRICK
Yes, papa.
INT. RODERICK'S BEDROOM - DAY
Roderick is awakened by his valet and Hunt, the governor.
RODERICK
Yes...?
VALET
I'm sorry to disturb you, sir, but
Mr. Hunt has something important to
tell you.
RODERICK
Yes?
HUNT
I think Master Patrick has disobeyed
your orders and stolen off to
Doolan's farm. When I went to the
lad's room this morning, his bed was
empty. One of the cooks said she
saw him go away before daybreak. He
must have slipped through my room
while I was asleep.
EXT. CASTLE HACKTON - STABLES - DAY
Roderick, in a rage, taking a great horse-whip, gallops
off after the child.
EXT. ROAD - CASTLE HACKTON - DAY
Roderick comes upon a sad procession of farmers, moaning
and howling, the black horse led by the hand, and, on a
door that some of them carry, little Patrick. He lies in
his little boots and spurs, and his little coat of scarlet
and gold. His face is quite white, and he smiles as he
holds a hand out to Roderick and says painfully:
PATRICK
You won't whip me, will you, papa?
Roderick bursts out into tears in reply.
INT. PATRICK'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Some doctors around the bed, Roderick and the Countess
anxiously waiting upon them.
RODERICK (V.O.)
The doctors were called, but what
does a doctor avail in a contest
with the grim, invincible enemy?
Such as came could only confirm our
despair by their account of the poor
child's case. His spine was
injured, the lower half of him was
dead when they laid him in bed at
home. The rest did not last long,
God help me! He remained yet for
two days with us, and a sad comfort
it was to think he was in no pain.
INT. PATRICK'S BEDROOM - DAY
Roderick, Countess and Patrick.
PATRICK
(weakly)
Papa, I beg you and mama to pardon
me for any acts of disobedience I
have been guilty of towards you.
COUNTESS
(weeping)
Oh, my little angel, you have done
nothing for which you need pardon.
PATRICK
Where is Brooksy? I would like to
see him.
RODERICK
Your bother is in America fighting
the rebels.
PATRICK
Is he all right, papa?
RODERICK
Yes, he's fine.
PATRICK
Brooksy was better than you, papa,
he used not to swear so, and he
taught me many good things while you
were away.
Patrick takes a hand of his mother and of Roderick, in
each of his little clammy ones.
PATRICK
I beg you not to quarrel so, but to
love each other, so that we might
meet again in heaven where Brooksy
told me quarrelsome people never go.
His mother is much affected by these admonitions, and
Roderick is too.
Patrick gives Roderick a ring from his finger, and a
locket to his mother.
He says that these gifts are so that they will not forget
him.
RODERICK (V.O.)
At last, after two days, he died.
There he lay, the hope of my family,
the pride of my manhood, the link
which kept me and my Lady Cosgrove
together.
EXT. CHURCH - GRAVEYARD - DAY
Funeral.
RODERICK (V.O.)
I won't tell you with what splendor
we buried him, but what avail are
undertakers' feathers and heralds'
trumpery.
EXT. CASTLE HACKTON - STABLE - DAY
Roderick enters the stable and, after a few seconds, we
hear a pistol shot. He exits rapidly, the smoking pistol
still in his hand.
INT. CASTLE HACKTON - VARIOUS - DAY AND NIGHT
The Countess: Praying. Waking up screaming. Fits of
crying. Severely depressed.
RODERICK (V.O.)
Lady Cosgrove, always vaporish and
nervous, after our blessed boy's
catastrophe, became more agitated
than ever, and plunged into devotion
with so much fervor that you would
have fancied her almost distracted
at times.
Countess sees visions.
RODERICK (V.O.)
She imagined she saw visions. She
said an angel from heaven told her
that Patrick's death was a
punishment to her for her neglect of
her firstborn. Then she would
declare that Brookside was dead.
INT. RODERICK'S STUDY - DAY
Roderick and his accountant. Bills, bills, bills.
RODERICK (V.O.)
By now, my financial affairs were
near to ruin. I could not get a
guinea from any money-dealer in
London. Our rents were in the hands
of receivers by this time, and it
was as much as I could do to get
enough money from the rascals to pay
my wine-merchants their bills. Our
property was hampered, and often as
I applied to my lawyers and agents
for money, would come a reply
demanding money of me for debts and
pretended claims which the rapacious
rascals said they had on me.
EXT. CASTLE HACKTON - DAY
Mother arrives. Roderick greets her. Servants unload her
bags.
RODERICK (V.O.)
My mother was the only person who,
in my misfortune, remained faithful
to me -- indeed, she has always
spoken of me in my true light, as a
martyr to the rascality of others,
and a victim of my own generous and
confiding temper.
INT. CASTLE HACKTON - DAY
Mother supervising kitchen staff.
RODERICK (V.O.)
She was an invaluable person to me
in my house, which would have been
at rack and ruin before, but for her
spirit of order and management and
her excellent economy in the
government of my rapidly dwindling
household staff.
EXT. CASTLE HACKTON - GARDEN - DAY
Roderick and his mother.
RODERICK (V.O.)
If anything could have saved me from
the consequences of villainy in
others, it would have been the
admirable prudence of that worthy
creature.
INT. CASTLE HACKTON - DRAWING ROOM - NIGHT
Action as per voice over.
RODERICK (V.O.)
She never went to bed until all the
house was quiet and all the candles
out; you may fancy that this was a
matter of some difficulty with a man
of my habits who had commonly a
dozen of jovial fellows to drink
with me every night, and who
seldom, for my part, went to bed
sober.
INT. CASTLE HACKTON - RODERICK'S BEDROOM - NIGHT
Actions as per voice over.
RODERICK (V.O.)
Many and many a night, when I was
unconscious of her attention, has
that good soul pulled my boots off,
and seen me laid by my servants snug
in bed, and carried off the candle
herself...
INT. CASTLE HACKTON - RODERICK'S BEDROOM - DAY
Action as per voice over.
RODERICK (V.O.)
... and been the first in the
morning, too, to bring me my drink
of small beer. It was my mother's
pride that I could drink more than
any man in the country.
INT. RODERICK'S STUDY - NIGHT
Roderick and his mother holding a letter before a fire,
which slowly brings out the writing in lemon juice between
the widely-spaced lines of directions to her milliner.
RODERICK (V.O.)
My mother discovered that always,
before my lady-wife chose to write
letters to her milliner, she had
need of lemons to make her drink, as
she said, and this fact, being
mentioned to me, kind of set me
a-thinking.
RODERICK
(reading letter
aloud)
"This day, three years ago, my last
hope and pleasure in life was taken
from me, and my dear child was
called to Heaven. Where is his
neglected brother, whom I suffered
to grow up unheeded by my side, and
whom the tyranny of the monster to
whom I am united drove to exile,
and, perhaps to death? I pray the
child is still alive and safe.
Charles Brookside! Come to the aide
of a wretched mother, who
acknowledges her crime, her coldness
towards you, and now bitterly pays
for her error! What sufferings,
what humiliations have I had to
endure! I am a prisoner in my own
halls. I should fear poison, but
then I know the wretch has a sordid
interest in keeping me alive, and
that my death would be the signal
for his ruin. But I dare not stir
without my odious, hideous, vulgar
gaoler, the horrid Irish woman, who
purses my every step. I am locked
into my chamber at night, like a
felon, and only suffered to leave it
when ordered into the presence of my
lord, to be present at his orgies
with his boon-companions, and to
hear his odious converse as he
lapses into the disgusting madness
of intoxication."
INT. CASTLE HACKTON - DINING ROOM - NIGHT
Roderick, and the Countess and mother, at a silent dinner.
RODERICK (V.O.)
It was not possible to recover the
name for whom the note was intended,
but it was clear that, to add to all
my perplexities, three years after
my poor child's death, my wife,
whose vagaries of temper and wayward
follies I had borne with for twelve
years, wanted to leave me. I
decided it best not to reveal to her
ladyship our discovery, that we
might still intercept and uncover
further schemes with might be afoot.
