The quadrangle at dusk two days later. One window is lighted. PHILLIPS enters carrying basin and cloth. He is about to go into the Scholars’ chamber when FORDE’S voice is heard calling for help at a distance, getting nearer. PHILLIPS puts basin and cloth on a bench and goes to investigate. He returns with FORDE, who is limping and whose head is bleeding.
FORDE They left me for dead, the bastards!
PHILLIPS Who were they?
FORDE I don’t know, but they were hired. Bastards!
PHILLIPS Where did they attack you?
FORDE Kingsgate. My head, I’ll bleed to death…
PHILLIPS Don’t talk nonsense. Sit down.
Lifts the basin and cloth while FORDE collapses groaning on the bench. He eyes
PHILLIPS resentfully.
FORDE You don’t believe me.
PHILLIPS Does that matter?
FORDE You think I just got into a brawl.
PHILLIPS Keep your head still.
He cleans the wound. FORDE makes a fuss.
Don’t yell, man.
FORDE They were hired, I tell you. Ow! They didn’t even rob me. Ouch!
PHILLIPS Keep still. The smallest chorister would make less fuss. Your head’s hardly broken.
FORDE My life’s in danger. Ouch!
PHILLIPS We’re all mortal, Master Forde.
FORDE Lucky I sensed danger and put my gown over my head, otherwise…
PHILLIPS Ah, you fear death? I thought perhaps your heresy made you immune.
FORDE Don’t mock me, you hypocrite!
PHILLIPS Keep still, man. I’m nearly finished.
FORDE You’ve got to believe me. It was deliberate. They were waiting for me.
PHILLIPS And where had you been?
FORDE What’s that got to do with it?
PHILLIPS It’s the first question Warden White will ask if you tell him.
FORDE I’m not going to do that.
PHILLIPS Why not?
FORDE (sulky) Because he already knows.
PHILLIPS What are you saying? That the Warden hired those ruffians?
FORDE These are desperate times for his faith.
PHILLIPS Take care, Hostiarius. That’s a very serious allegation.
FORDE He’s no other way of getting rid of me.
PHILLIPS So where were you tonight? Let me guess. The Plume of Feathers? The Golden Rose? I can see it in your face. The Golden Rose. Do you owe Jack Swaddon money?
FORDE I do not!
PHILLIPS Despite your perpetual complaints about your small salary?
FORDE I don’t owe money anywhere. I tell you, once and for all, I was attacked and left for dead on account of my religion.
PHILLIPS Well, Master Forde, if that’s the case, rejoice. Plenty have willingly gone to the stake in the same cause. No doubt your own martyrdom will shortly be assured in a second attack.
FORDE But I don’t want to be…
PHILLIPS Martyred? You should have tried hypocrisy.
Steps back.
There. Your head will mend. For the present.
FORDE You do think they’ll try again?
PHILLIPS Very possibly.
FORDE Sweet Christ…
He stands up and looks about him for the first time.
Why are there candles lit so late?
JOLYFF enters unseen by them and stands well back.
PHILLIPS Stephen Born is not expected to last the hour. The Warden is with him now.
FORDE And Master Cole, I presume?
PHILLIPS You stay away. At sixteen, Born could teach you how to die, but we can’t have his last moments disturbed by a heretic, can we?
Exit PHILLIPS with basin and cloth. JOLYFF steps forward hesitantly.
JOLYFF Master Forde…
FORDE jumps in fright, then turns on him
FORDE You! What have you been up to?
JOLYFF Nothing. Master Forde, Born’s…
FORDE Who have you been talking to?
Grabs JOLYFF and shakes him
JOLYFF No one!
FORDE Then explain this!
Points to head wound. JOLYFF stares at it.
Someone knows I spoke to you!
JOLYFF I haven’t told anyone.
FORDE You’re lying!
Cuffs JOLYFF
They nearly killed me!
JOLYFF Master Forde, Born is near death…
FORDE As I was tonight!
JOLYFF But Born will die. What am I to do?
At this FORDE calms down and becomes sarcastic
FORDE So you haven’t spoken to him yet?
JOLYFF He’s so peaceful, I can’t…
FORDE He’ll not be peaceful soon. Have you even read my books?
JOLYFF Yes.
FORDE And?
JOLYFF They have much sense in them.
FORDE Now you tell me, when it’s too late.
JOLYFF But isn’t there still time?
FORDE And now you want my advice, now you come running to me.
JOLYFF Master Forde, please…
FORDE Here’s my advice. Do nothing.
JOLYFF Nothing?
FORDE It’s too dangerous now.
He points to his head wound.
JOLYFF But Born…
FORDE It’s too late. Too late and too dangerous.
Eyeing FORDE dubiously, JOLYFF begins to edge away.
Think I’ve gone mad, do you? Stop!
Seizes JOLYFF before he can get away
JOLYFF Let me go!
FORDE Not until you give me a promise.
Shoves JOLYFF up against the wall.
You’ll see nothing to anyone about our conversation the other night.
JOLYFF But…
FORDE Promise!
JOLYFF I promise.
FORDE You’d better keep it.
Releases JOLYFF then grabs him again.
Another promise. That when you see them perform their mummeries over Born, you’ll do nothing.
JOLYFF I promise I’ll do nothing. Now let me go.
Released at last by FORDE, he is about to run away when GRYMSTON enters.
GRYMSTON So this is why you left Born on his deathbed, Tom.
JOLYFF Is he…?
GRYMSTON Not yet. For all you care.
FORDE Be afflicted and mourn and weep.
Exit FORDE
JOLYFF But I do care. I must get to Born.
GRYMSTON Well, you can’t. Scholars aren’t allowed near him any more.
JOLYFF But we’re his friends.
GRYMSTON It doesn’t matter. He has his soul to think of now. That’s what Master Cole told us.
JOLYFF I don’t care. I’m going in to him.
GRYMSTON Don’t be foolish. Tom…
Moves in front of JOLYFF, who has already taken a few paces.
It won’t help him to die in peace if he knows you’re in trouble for disobeying Master Cole.
This pulls JOLYFF up short.
JOLYFF No, I don’t suppose it will. I’m selfish, and I’ve left everything too late. Oh, Morgan, I don’t know what to do.
GRYMSTON What do you mean?
JOLYFF Can’t you guess?
GRYMSTON You’re not still thinking about Master Forde’s books, when Born’s dying?
JOLYFF (anguish) Yes, and what if they’re wrong in there, Master Cole and the Warden? What if they’re sending him not to God, but to the Devil?
GRYMSTON You’re possessed already!
Crosses himself
JOLYFF No! Why can’t you understand?
Enter COLE from the Scholars’ chamber
COLE What’s all this noise out here? Have you no respect for the dying? On your knees!
GRYMSTON kneels but JOLYFF stands his ground
JOLYFF May I speak with Born one last time?
COLE You may not. The last thing he needs is you disturbing him.
JOLYFF I’ll be very quiet.
COLE No. You’ll pray for him out here.
Turns away
JOLYFF But I’ve got to see him.
COLE turns back
GRYMSTON Tom, you idiot!
COLE Thomas Jolyff, when your friend is dead your stubbornness will be whipped out of you. On your knees and pray.
JOLYFF No, I must speak to him…
Makes a run for it. COLE catches him, but he struggles violently
Let me talk to Born! I’ve got to!
COLE Stop this! Grymston, hold him!
Reluctantly, GRYSTON stands up. PHILLIPS enters with another basin and cloth
PHILLIPS Jesu…
COLE Help me, will you?
Together PHILLIPS and COLE restrain JOLYFF who eventually goes limp
PHILLIPS lets go of him. COLE does not.
It’s a trick. He’ll bolt.
PHILLIPS Hardly. He’s exhausted.
But COLE grips JOLYFF even tighter
COLE You young savage. You’ll suffer for this.
PHILLIPS Master Cole, he’s distressed because his friend’s dying.
COLE No, he’s always like this, always questioning and disputing, always…
Enter WHITE; sudden, expectant silence.
WHITE Stephen Born has died in the faith of Christ.
COLE, GRYMSTON and PHILLIPS cross themselves. GRYMSTON starts to cry.
JOLYFF, still held by COLE, is rigid with shock.
He has departed this life easily, like a ripe apple from a tree.
COLE He is with the saints in heaven.
He pauses, then turns his attention to JOLYFF
And as for this boy, Warden…
GRYMSTON Master?
Still tearful, but desperate, he kneels before WHITE
WHITE Yes?
COLE Grymston wishes to plead for his other, abandoned friend.
GRYMSTON Master, Jolyff only wanted to say farewell to Born. His mother died of the same cause. It reminded him…
COLE Ha! We all know what happened to his mother!
JOLYFF You’ve no right to say that!
WHITE Jolyff!
Turns back to GRYMSTON.
My child, your devotion to your friend does you credit. Jolyff shall not be punished.
COLE Warden, order among the Scholars must be maintained. The boy was wild.
WHITE And arrangements must be made for the corpse. See to it.
COLE Very well.
He exits, still indignant. GRYMSTON moves towards JOLYFF, who turns away.
WHITE Jolyff, you may pray for your dead friend in Chapel tonight if you wish.
JOLYFF (dull) Thank you, Master.
WHITE Come, Master Phillips. We have much to do.
Exit WHITE and PHILLIPS, PHILLIPS glancing back at JOLYFF. GRYMSTON tries to speak to JOLYFF, who again ignores him. GRYMSTON exits, hurt. Slowly, fighting emotion, JOLYFF sinks to his knees and covers his face.
Blackout. End of scene.
© Karen MacLeod 2002.