DARK EAGLE
FADE IN:
BEGIN FLASHBACK:
EXT. ARNOLD HOME - DAY (MORNING)
A beautiful fall morning--no hint of the darkness brewing under the surface. SUPERIMPOSE: Near Fort West Point, southeastern New York, 24 September 1780.
INT. ARNOLD HOME - DINING ROOM - DAY (MORNING)
A breakfast party--MAJOR GENERAL BENEDICT ARNOLD (39), MAJOR DAVID FRANKS (40), and several of ARNOLD’S STAFF MEMBERS--enjoys itself at the table.
A MESSENGER enters the dining room, pulling a letter from his satchel.
Arnold gets up and, limping heavily from an old wound that nearly cost him his left leg, goes to greet the newcomer.
MESSENGER
For General Arnold, sir.
ARNOLD
That’s me.
The Messenger hands him the letter.
ARNOLD
Join us.
MESSENGER
Thank you, sir.
The Messenger takes an empty place. The others pass bowls and platters while Arnold opens and reads the letter.
Only his sudden wide eyes betray him.
He looks up--no one has noticed. Arnold quickly limps out of the room.
INT. ARNOLD HOME - BEDROOM - DAY (MORNING)
PEGGY SHIPPEN ARNOLD (20), Arnold’s wife, sits on the bed playing with EDWARD (6 months), the Arnolds’ son.
Suddenly Arnold bursts into the room, breathing heavily, the letter scrunched in his fist. Alarmed, Peggy stands as Arnold shuts the door.
PEGGY
Benedict, whatever is the matter?
ARNOLD
Major André has been captured. Washington has the papers.
PEGGY
(growing horror)
But ... Washington was coming to inspect the fort ... this morning!
ARNOLD
I can’t stay here. But I will not abandon you.
Arnold drops the letter and kisses Edward on the forehead, then takes Peggy in his arms and kisses her.
A KNOCK at the door. The Arnolds abruptly pull apart.
FRANKS (O.S.)
Sir, General Washington’s servant has arrived. His Excellency will be here any moment.
Peggy sinks onto the bed. Arnold throws the door open and barges past the startled Franks and down the stairs.
ARNOLD
My horse! I have critical matters to attend to at Fort West Point!
EXT. HUDSON RIVER - DAY (MORNING)
The river flows past a steep hill. At the bottom, ROWER #1, ROWER #2, ROWER #3, and ROWER #4 wait on a dock, to which a rowboat is tied.
Arnold skids wildly down the hill on horseback. The bewildered rowers scramble into the boat, realizing that something is seriously wrong.
ROWER #1
The general’s here!
ROWER #2
Where’s General Washington?
ROWER #3
Changed his plans?
ROWER #1
Make ready to cast off! Quickly, now!
Arnold dismounts and leaps into the boat, rocking it hard. The rowers frantically try to keep from capsizing.
ARNOLD
Get a move on!
Arnold unties the boat and shoves off with his bare hands. The rattled rowers dig their oars into the water.
Arnold looks over his shoulder for pursuers.
ARNOLD
Put your backs into it!
INT. ARNOLD HOME - DINING ROOM - DAY (EVENING)
MAJOR GENERAL GEORGE WASHINGTON (48) stands in the Arnolds’ dining room, his expression deeply troubled. He rereads the letter in his hand, shaking his head.
An AMERICAN OFFICER, disheveled and dusty, enters the room.
AMERICAN OFFICER
(shaking his head)
General Arnold has escaped, sir.
WASHINGTON
(controlled but heartbroken)
Of all men ...
END FLASHBACK.
INT. BOARDINGHOUSE - NATHAN’S ROOM - NIGHT
Union Army veteran NATHAN GREEN (25) wakes with a start, his head pillowed on his book-and-paper-covered desk.
Coals smolder in the stove in the corner. From outside Nathan’s door, a clock STRIKES two a.m. SUPERIMPOSE: New Haven, Connecticut, October 1866.
Nathan takes a deep breath and begins closing and stacking his books: Eyewitnesses to Revolution, Northern Campaigns of the American Revolution, and similar titles. The palm of Nathan’s left hand is scarred from grabbing a bayonet during the war.
EXT. YALE UNIVERSITY CAMPUS - DAY (MORNING)
Nathan passes a sign reading "WELCOME TO YALE UNIVERSITY" and heads onto campus, protecting a neat sheaf of papers under his arm. Every so often he checks his pocket watch.
EXT. YALE UNIVERSITY CAMPUS - OUTSIDE CONNECTICUT HALL - DAY (MORNING)
NORA RICHARDS, Nathan’s fiancée, and her older brother, FREDERICK, turn as Nathan approaches. Nathan removes his hat, surprised to see his soon-to-be family.
NATHAN
Nora--Frederick.
Frederick switches his cane to his other hand and warmly shakes Nathan’s hand.
FREDERICK
We came to wish you luck.
Nora straightens Nathan’s cravat and smoothes his hair, then looks him over and smiles at him.
NORA
You’ll do wonderfully.
NATHAN
Thank you, darling.
FREDERICK
"Audentis fortuna iuvat."
Nathan gives him a blank look.
FREDERICK
"Fortune favors the bold." The Aeneid? Virgil, the poet?
NORA
Save the Latin for your students, Frederick.
NATHAN
(wryly)
Thanks.
FREDERICK
Will you come to supper on Thursday?
NATHAN
I’d be glad to.
INT. CONNECTICUT HALL - DR. COLLINS’S OFFICE - DAY (MORNING)
DR. COLLINS, Nathan’s primary thesis adviser, reads through Nathan’s papers. Nathan sits on the other side of Dr. Collins’s desk, trying to conceal his anxiousness.
DR. COLLINS
I would advise you to take another direction.
NATHAN
I beg your pardon?
DR. COLLINS
The rest of the committee will never accept this proposal.
NATHAN
As far as I’ve been able to determine, sir, no Yale student has ever written a thesis on this topic. I believe it’ll make a significant contribution to scholarship about General Arnold.
DR. COLLINS
Dr. Kilroy’s nephew lost a leg at Gettysburg, and Dr. Dewey’s son was killed at Second Bull Run. How are you going to persuade them to read a thesis that praises a man in the same category as Jefferson Davis and Robert E. Lee?
NATHAN
(getting defensive)
Praise isn’t my goal, Dr. Collins. An accurate, balanced discussion is.
DR. COLLINS
What’s there to balance about Benedict Arnold?
EXT. YALE UNIVERSITY CAMPUS - OUTSIDE CONNECTICUT HALL - DAY (MORNING)
Nathan leaves Connecticut Hall disgustedly.
ZEKE (O.S.)
Nathan? Nathan!
Nathan starts but keeps walking without looking up.
Finally Nathan’s burly friend from the army, EZEKIEL "ZEKE" GRIFFITH (25), catches up, drops his trunk, and grabs Nathan’s arm. Zeke grins, but Nathan tries to pull away.
ZEKE
Nathan!
NATHAN
Leave me alone.
ZEKE
Come on --
NATHAN
I said leave me alone, Zeke.
Zeke releases Nathan and steps in front of him. Nathan tries to go around, but Zeke grabs his shoulders.
ZEKE
(exasperated)
I’m your friend, remember?
NATHAN
I told you not to follow me.
ZEKE
I didn’t desert. I was discharged last June.
Nathan glares at Zeke, but Zeke’s stomach growls before either man can say anything else. Nathan sighs resignedly.
INT. BOARDINGHOUSE - DINING ROOM - DAY (NOON)
Nathan and Zeke sit at the dining room table. MRS. THOMPSON, the elderly widow who runs the boardinghouse, sets a bowl of soup in front of each man.
NATHAN
Thank you, Mrs. Thompson.
MRS. THOMPSON
You’re very welcome, Mr. Green. She leaves. Nathan and Zeke begin to eat.
ZEKE
(softly)
Mr. Green?
NATHAN
(softly)
Get used to it. It’s my legal name now.
ZEKE
When did you change it?
NATHAN
Soon as I got home, before my reputation caught up with me.
ZEKE
(perplexed)
Nobody ever mentioned it. I thought you had to put an announcement in the paper.
NATHAN
You think I would’ve paid for a full-page ad?
(beat)
How long have you been looking for me?
ZEKE
Since I was discharged. I found out you’d gone to Columbus, and then it was just a lot of asking: "You seen a man with a scar on his left hand? Name of Nathan Arnold?"
NATHAN
Shh!
(beat, angry)
You could’ve been looking for the rest of your life.
ZEKE
(rueful)
I only stayed a month. But then I remembered a couple of weeks ago that you’d said you wanted to go to Yale when the war was over. So here we are.
NATHAN
Here we are. And considering how Dr. Collins reacted to my thesis proposal, it’s a good thing he knows me as Nathan Green.
ZEKE
What happened?
NATHAN
He doesn’t think the committee will accept a thesis that might have anything good to say about Benedict Arnold.
ZEKE
The traitor?
Nathan takes a deep breath and concentrates on his soup for a moment, but Zeke is still staring when Nathan looks up again. Nathan sighs.
NATHAN
So you’ve found me. Now what’re you going to do?
ZEKE
This looks like a nice town. I think I’ll stay.
NATHAN
(irritated)
Don’t you have family back in Ohio?
ZEKE
My folks are gone. My sisters are all married. It’s not as though I’m needed there.
NATHAN
You could go west.
ZEKE
(laughing)
Wouldn’t that be something. Zeke Griffith the mountain man.
NATHAN
It’d be better for both of us.
ZEKE
(sobering)
So you can wallow in your misery? I don’t think so.
NATHAN
I’ve got a thesis to write. I’ll be fine.
ZEKE
I thought Dr. Collins rejected your proposal.
NATHAN
I never said that.
He leaves the table, his soup unfinished. Zeke sighs.
INT. CONNECTICUT HALL - CONFERENCE ROOM - DAY
Several days later. DR. KILROY and DR. DEWEY, the other members of Nathan’s thesis committee, sit around a table with Dr. Collins, reading Nathan’s revised proposal.
Nathan anxiously sits at the end of the table.
DR. DEWEY
So to summarize, you’ll be analyzing the role Arnold played in the Saratoga campaign from the time he was sent to help General Schuyler to the time of Burgoyne’s surrender.
NATHAN
That’s correct.
DR. DEWEY
This would be the point of Arnold’s highest heroism.
NATHAN
Yes, sir.
The advisers thumb through a few more pages, then exchange glances.
DR. KILROY
If you’ll give us a few minutes, Mr. Green.
NATHAN
Of course.
INT. CONNECTICUT HALL - CONFERENCE ROOM - DAY (LATER)
Dr. Collins lets Nathan in from the hall, and they return to their seats. The advisers look at each other.
DR. KILROY
This may be the best proposal I’ve seen in twenty-two years of teaching. You’ve obviously done enough background research to find an area of scholarship that’s relatively untouched, and the sources you’ve chosen should put you well on your way.
DR. DEWEY
But it’s that area of scholarship that presents a problem.
NATHAN
What do you mean?
DR. DEWEY
You can’t rewrite history, Mr. Green. Whatever Benedict Arnold was at the beginning of his career, it doesn’t alter the end of his story.
NATHAN
I would be the last person to try to do that, Dr. Dewey.
DR. DEWEY
Then why waste your time and talent on a subject that doesn’t matter?
Nathan hates what he has to say, but he does his best to hide it.
NATHAN
But it does matter, sir. No one would call General Arnold a traitor if he hadn’t been a hero first. He had to fall from somewhere. My thesis will show how richly he deserves the way history has judged him.
The advisers again exchange glances.
EXT. FREDERICK AND NORA’S HOUSE - DAY (EVENING)
Nora stands up from her chair on the porch as Nathan comes up the front walkway, somber-faced.
Nora starts to offer sympathy, but Nathan winks at her. She beams and opens her arms to embrace him.
INT. FREDERICK AND NORA’S HOUSE - HALLWAY - DAY (EVENING)
Nathan heads for the washroom but stops short when he sees Zeke inside, washing up.
NATHAN
Zeke?
Startled, Zeke accidentally inhales a little water and chokes. Recovering, he gapes at Nathan.
Nora joins Nathan and quickly realizes the problem.
NORA
Oh, I’m sorry, Nathan, I forgot to tell you. This is Zeke Griffith, Frederick’s and my cousin. He’s going to buy the blacksmith shop on Fifth Street and go into business here. Zeke, this is Nathan Green, my fiancé.
ZEKE
It’s all right, Nora. We’re old friends.
Stiffening, Nathan shakes his head ever so slightly, but Zeke misses it.
NORA
Really? How do you know each other?
ZEKE
We served together in the war.
NORA
(to Nathan)
In the war?
Furious, Nathan glares at Zeke, but a sudden CRASH interrupts the conversation. Nora hurries to the kitchen.
NORA
Oh, dear. Mary, if you’ve broken another dish ...
Zeke looks at Nathan with a mixture of bewilderment and anger. Nathan scowls back.
EXT. NEW HAVEN STREET 1 - NIGHT
Nathan and Zeke silently leave Frederick and Nora’s house.
ZEKE
(beat)
You haven’t told her.
NATHAN
It’s none of your concern.
ZEKE
She’s my cousin. Of course it’s my concern. You haven’t told Frederick, either, have you?
Nathan doesn’t answer.
ZEKE
If your intentions are serious --
NATHAN
Stop it!
ZEKE
I’m only saying the past has a way of catching up to people.
NATHAN
Like you did.
ZEKE
(sarcastic)
Funny, I was starting to think you didn’t want me here.
NATHAN
(blowing up)
I’ve done everything I could to start over! But if you keep jawing about who I was --
ZEKE
(blowing up)
How was I to know you hadn’t even told Nora you were in the army?
NATHAN
Do you think I’d tell anyone, much less her?
ZEKE
There’s no shame in it!
NATHAN
Not for you!
ZEKE
Do you love her?
NATHAN
What’s that got to do with this?
ZEKE
Do you love her?
NATHAN
Yes! Why?
ZEKE
Are you going to marry her?
NATHAN
We’re engaged, aren’t we?
ZEKE
Then she has the right to know who she’s marrying!
Nathan seizes Zeke’s shirt front.
NATHAN
If you say a word --
ZEKE
It’s not my secret to tell.
A tense pause.
Finally Nathan releases Zeke and stalks away. Zeke takes a deep breath and straightens his shirt.
BEGIN FLASHBACK/DREAM:
INT. DICKERSON’S TAVERN - DAY
Arnold, in uniform, stands calmly before several CONTINENTAL OFFICERS at a table. SUPERIMPOSE: Morristown, New Jersey, January 1780.
MAJOR GENERAL ROBERT HOWE (46), in charge, reads from a document.
HOWE
... not guilty. On the charge of providing an unlawful permit for the merchant vessel Charming Nancy: guilty. On the charge of
misusing government vehicles: guilty. It is ...
Shocked, Arnold grits his teeth, fighting to control his temper. He’d expected to be acquitted of all charges.
FADE TO:
EXT. 121ST OVI CAMP (SOMEWHERE IN NORTH CAROLINA) (22 MARCH 1865) - DAY
Nathan, in the uniform of a private in the 121st Ohio Volunteer Infantry (OVI), stands before several 121ST OFFICERS at a table. Nathan’s left hand is bandaged.
Nathan’s commanding officer, CAPTAIN DUVAL, stands several feet to Nathan’s right.
MAJOR GENERAL WATERS, in charge, reads from a document.
WATERS
... the sentence of this court-martial that Private Nathan Arnold, 121st Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment, be dishonorably discharged.
Nathan turns white.
Duval smiles tersely. Not what he wanted, but enough for his revenge.
END FLASHBACK/DREAM.
INT. BOARDINGHOUSE - NATHAN’S ROOM - NIGHT
Nathan snaps awake in his bed. Agitated, he takes several
deep breaths to calm down.
EXT. PARK - DAY (LATE AFTERNOON)
A few days later. Nathan and Nora stroll through a park
together. As Nora talks, Nathan stares ahead, his mind
elsewhere.
BOY #1 and BOY #2 scamper around playing soldier while their NANNY watches. Nathan’s gaze drifts to the boys.
NORA
I was fourteen when we went abroad. Can you imagine--the day we visited Versailles, we went to explore the gardens, and Mother and Father allowed Frederick and me to go our own way. We hadn’t been gone more than ten minutes when ...
BOY #1
Bang! Got you, Johnny Reb!
BOY #2
No fair!
BOY #1
Victory for the Union!
BEGIN FLASHBACK:
EXT. AVERASBOROUGH BATTLEFIELD (NORTH CAROLINA) (16 MARCH 1865) - DAY
UNION and CONFEDERATE SOLDIERS and OFFICERS fight a pitched battle.
END FLASHBACK.
EXT. PARK - DAY (LATE AFTERNOON)
Nathan has stopped in the middle of the path, staring off into space, face tight. Concerned, Nora jerks his arm.
NORA
Nathan!
Nathan snaps out of it with a startled gasp. Oblivious, Boy #1 and Boy #2 scamper over to the Nanny.
NORA
Tell me what’s wrong.
NATHAN
Nothing. I’m fine.
NORA
Is it Zeke? You haven’t been the same since he arrived.
NATHAN
No.
NORA
(beat)
Zeke’s like a brother to me, Nathan. I’m yours.
Nathan sighs and finally smiles. Nora, though not totally convinced, smiles too, and they kiss.
Boy #1 and Boy #2 see the gesture and make disgusted faces.
Nathan gives Nora his arm.
INT. YALE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY - NIGHT
A LIBRARIAN comes around a bookcase with several books in his arms. Ahead, a tall stack of books on a table hides whoever is SNORING behind them.
The unshaven HIRAM RIGBY (30) wanders between shelves, aimlessly thumbing through a book. His eyes are chillingly empty, as if he’s lost the will to live and is simply waiting for his body to get the message.
Rigby glances over at the SNORING--then freezes and stares at the person behind the book pile.
The Librarian comes around the table. The snorer is Nathan, head in one hand and pencil to his paper in the other hand.
The Librarian rolls his eyes but turns to Rigby.
LIBRARIAN
Sir, the library is closed.
Rigby keeps staring as if he hasn’t heard.
LIBRARIAN
Sir, if you don’t leave the premises immediately, I’ll send for the police.
Rigby finally snaps out of it, glares at the Librarian with startling rancor, tosses the book onto Nathan’s table, and stalks away.
A little uneasy, the Librarian watches Rigby go, then touches Nathan’s shoulder.
LIBRARIAN
Mr. Green?
Nathan snaps awake, knocking a book off his stack.
NATHAN
(groggy)
What?
LIBRARIAN
(weary)
For the third time this week, the library closes at nine o’clock.
NATHAN
Yes. Sorry.
The Librarian retrieves the runaway book--The Saratoga Campaign--and hands it to Nathan as he gathers his things.
LIBRARIAN
The American Revolution?
NATHAN
How did you know?
LIBRARIAN
I grew up near Saratoga.
NATHAN
Did you?
LIBRARIAN
(nods)
Our neighbor used to tell us stories about the battles--he’d lived there all his life.
Nathan leaps to his feet, weariness forgotten, startling the Librarian.
NATHAN
Is he still living--do you know?
INT. DR. COLLINS’S OFFICE - DAY
Dr. Collins and Nathan bend over a map of the state of New York on Dr. Collins’s desk. Dr. Collins taps the town of Saratoga.
EXT. NEW HAVEN STREET 1 - DAY (EVENING)
Nathan and Nora walk down the street toward Frederick and Nora’s house, arm in arm. The area is deserted except for
Rigby, walking up the street, and OFFICER JOHNSON, leaning against a lamppost.
Seeing Nathan coming, Rigby rushes up to Johnson and speaks to him, pointing at Nathan. Johnson looks at Nathan and says something to Rigby, who nods.
Nathan and Nora have noticed none of this.
NORA
When will you leave?
NATHAN
I still have to work out the details.
Nathan and Nora part with a kiss at Frederick and Nora’s house. Nora goes inside while Nathan continues home.
Rigby, now on a nearby bench, takes a newspaper from his pocket and unfolds the paper wide enough to hide himself.
Johnson meets Nathan not far from Rigby’s spot.
JOHNSON
Good evening, sir. My name is Officer Johnson with the city police force. We’re looking for a dangerous criminal, and I’m going to need to ask you a few questions.
NATHAN
Certainly.
Johnson takes a notebook and pencil from a pouch on his belt and writes down Nathan’s answers as they come.
JOHNSON
Your name, please.
NATHAN
Nathan Green.
JOHNSON
And your profession, Mr. Green.
NATHAN
Graduate student at Yale.
JOHNSON
Address?
As Nathan answers, an especially noisy carriage drives past.
NATHAN
Eighty-six Columbia Lane.
JOHNSON
How long have you lived in New Haven?
NATHAN
(thinks)
It was a year this spring.
JOHNSON
Age?
NATHAN
Twenty-five.
JOHNSON
Place of birth?
NATHAN
(getting suspicious)
Delaware, Ohio.
JOHNSON
Where’s that?
NATHAN
Near Columbus.
Johnson puts away the pencil and notebook.
JOHNSON
Hold out your left hand, please, Mr. Green.
Wary now, Nathan obeys. Johnson examines the scar on Nathan’s palm.
JOHNSON
How’d you get that scar?
NATHAN
(getting defensive)
Who do you think I am?
JOHNSON
Just answer the question, please, Mr. Green.
ZEKE (O.S.)
Is something wrong, officer?
Nathan and Johnson both look up as
Zeke, sweaty and coal-dust-streaked from a day in the forge, comes toward them. Zeke still wears his leather apron and has his sleeves rolled up, showing heavily muscled arms.
Johnson releases Nathan’s hand.
JOHNSON
It appears I was mistaken. My apologies, Mr. Green. Good evening to you both.
He touches the brim of his helmet and leaves. Nathan and Zeke watch him until he turns the corner.
ZEKE
What happened? What did he want?
NATHAN
A dangerous criminal.
(beat, grudgingly)
Thank you.
Unnoticed, Rigby stealthily gets up and follows Johnson.
A little unnerved, Nathan adjusts his jacket. A train timetable flutters from his pocket, and Zeke catches the paper and looks at it.
ZEKE
You going somewhere?
Nathan takes Zeke’s arm and begins leading his friend toward home, getting excited in spite of himself.
NATHAN (V.O.)
The librarian told me there may be an eyewitness still living near Saratoga.
INT. BOARDINGHOUSE - DINING ROOM - DAY (EVENING)
Nathan and Zeke are eating at the supper table. Zeke has cleaned up and changed out of his work clothes.
NATHAN
If it’s true, the man must be at least in his nineties, so I’ve got to get up there as soon as possible.
ZEKE
Will he even remember anything at that age?
NATHAN
I’ve got to try.
ZEKE
When are you leaving?
NATHAN
One week, maybe. I’ve got to do some more research, see what else I can do while I’m there, who else I might be able to interview.
ZEKE
This must be the season to travel. Frederick’s going to a conference at Harvard in the morning.
NATHAN
Nora mentioned something about that. What’s it for, again?
ZEKE
"To evaluate the need for Latin instruction at the university level in the modern world," or something else only a Latin professor would think about.
(beat)
Nora’s worried about you.
Nathan glares at him, but Zeke holds up a hand defensively.
ZEKE
I told her I didn’t know what was wrong, but I don’t think she believed me.
Nathan puts his head in his hands.
ZEKE
Nathan, you’re going to make yourself ill. You’ve talked in your sleep almost every night this week. I can hear you clear across the hall.
NATHAN
I can’t tell her.
ZEKE
She deserves to know.
NATHAN
She’ll leave me.
ZEKE
You don’t know that.
Mrs. Thompson enters the room.
MRS. THOMPSON
Pardon me, gentlemen, but Mr. Griffith, there’s a carriage outside with a horse that's thrown a shoe. I thought perhaps ...
ZEKE
(gets up)
Yes.
(to Nathan)
Just tell her the truth. She’ll understand.
Zeke and Mrs. Thompson leave. Nathan stares at his plate.
EXT. NEW HAVEN STREET 3 - NIGHT
Nathan walks slowly, struggling with himself. In his mind’s ear, friends’ voices mix with memories of MEN SCREAMING and SHOUTING, HORSES WHINNYING, and GUNFIRE.
WATERS (V.O.)
Dishonorably discharged.
NORA (V.O.)
Tell me what’s wrong.
NATHAN (V.O.)
She’ll leave me.
FREDERICK (V.O.)
We came to wish you luck.
ZEKE (V.O.)
She has the right to know who she’s marrying!
DR. DEWEY (V.O.)
You can’t rewrite history, Mr. Green.
NORA (V.O.)
I’m yours.
Nathan finally makes a decision.
EXT. NEW HAVEN STREET 1 - NIGHT
Nathan hurries toward Frederick and Nora’s house.
A disembodied GROAN floats seemingly out of nowhere. Nathan pauses, looking around. Another GROAN.
EXT. ALLEY - NIGHT
Nathan comes into a dim alley and looks around. A few boards are stacked against the back of one of the houses.
NATHAN
Hello?
Something moves farther down the alley. Nathan looks closer and spies a human hand at the edge of the light.
Nathan hurries over to find a MAN sprawled face down on the ground, not moving. Nathan gently turns the Man over, moves him further into the light--and gasps.
It’s Johnson, semiconscious with a bloody nose and a gash on his forehead. One of his belt pouches--the one where he keeps his notebook--is torn open, empty.
Nathan quickly feels Johnson’s chest and listens at his mouth, then sighs in relief.
RIGBY (O.S.)
What happened?
Startled, Nathan turns and stands to find Rigby behind him. Unable to see each other’s faces in the darkness, neither man recognizes a former comrade-in-arms.
NATHAN
I don’t know. He’s badly hurt.
Rigby crouches and puts a hand on Johnson’s chest.
NATHAN
I’m going for help.
Rigby grabs Nathan’s ankle as Nathan starts to hurry back to the street. Nathan falls heavily, pulling Rigby with him and knocking over the boards with a loud clatter.
Nathan wipes at his cut, bleeding chin and tries to sit up.
NATHAN
(breathless)
What are you doing?
Rigby falls on Nathan’s back and wraps one arm around Nathan’s neck, but Nathan pulls the arm away just enough to keep from being choked. The two men roll over several times as they struggle.
A window SQUEAKS open in one of the houses, and Dr. Dewey, in his nightshirt, leans out, wielding a lamp and a pistol.
Nathan is now on top of Rigby, who still has his arm around Nathan’s neck, so Dr. Dewey sees only Nathan’s face--and the blood on his chin and clothes.
DR. DEWEY
What’s going on out--Mr. Green?
Rigby stiffens, then grabs for Nathan’s left hand. Unable to pull Nathan’s hand completely off Rigby’s choking arm, Rigby gets his thumb under Nathan’s palm and feels the scar.
JOHNSON
(delirious)
No. Stop. You can’t have it.
DR. DEWEY
Who said that?
Rigby glances sharply back at Johnson.
Dr. Dewey leans farther out the window and holds the lamp higher, trying to see where the voice came from.
Nathan almost breaks free. Rigby tries to roll on top of Nathan, but Nathan thrusts his head upwards and hits Rigby under the chin. Rigby grunts and loosens his grip.
Hearing, Dr. Dewey looks back at the fight and fires his pistol into the air.
DR. DEWEY
Stop! I don’t want to shoot either of you!
Nathan kicks and thrashes free and scrambles to his feet.
Dr. Dewey fires at Nathan’s leg but misses. Leaving Rigby getting to his hands and knees, Nathan stumbles away as fast as he can.
RIGBY
(out of breath)
Eighty-six Columbia Lane!
Dr. Dewey fires at Rigby, but Rigby scrambles up and takes off down the alley in the other direction.
INT. BOARDINGHOUSE - KITCHEN - NIGHT
Nathan, his cravat loosened, sits in a chair near the stove, holding a cloth to his chin. Zeke stands over him.
Nathan checks the cloth; the bleeding has stopped.
ZEKE
All right now?
Nathan nods, sets the cloth aside, and hurries to the hall door.
NATHAN
I have to get out of here.
ZEKE
What?
INT. BOARDINGHOUSE - FRONT ENTRY - NIGHT
Nathan marches through the hallway and up the stairs with Zeke at his heels.
NATHAN
Dr. Dewey recognized me. I had blood all over me. The police will think I attacked Officer Johnson.
ZEKE
They can’t prove it.
NATHAN
He and I didn’t exactly have a friendly exchange tonight, and Dr. Dewey and I aren’t on the most cordial terms.
INT. BOARDINGHOUSE - NATHAN’S ROOM - NIGHT
Nathan and Zeke enter Nathan’s room. Nathan drags a valise from under his bed and slams the bag onto the bed.
ZEKE
Running will make you look guilty.
NATHAN
I’m not going to wait for that other man to find me. He won’t want a witness.
Nathan strips off his blood-spotted shirt and cravat and stuffs them into the stove, then washes the blood from his face and neck in the washbasin and dries himself.
ZEKE
What are you talking about? Witness to what?
Nathan puts on a clean shirt and begins jamming clothes into the valise.
NATHAN
I think he attacked Officer Johnson and was coming back to finish him off. Why else would he have tried to kill me?
ZEKE
But you said you never saw the other man’s face.
NATHAN
He knows where I live. I won’t take that chance.
ZEKE
This makes no sense. How’d he know your address? And why’d he tell you?
NATHAN
So I’d know he was coming for me? Ask him when he gets here.
Nathan forces the valise closed and grabs his overcoat.
ZEKE
I’m coming with you.
NATHAN
Don’t be ridiculous.
ZEKE
If the police and a murderer are after you, you’ll need all the help you can get.
With an irritated sigh, Nathan gives in.
EXT. NEW HAVEN TRAIN STATION - PLATFORM - DAY (DAWN)
Nathan and Zeke, toting valises, hurry across the platform to their train, dodging PASSENGERS and EMPLOYEES.
FREDERICK (O.S.)
Nathan! Zeke!
Nathan and Zeke stop and turn, trying to act as if nothing is wrong, as Frederick approaches with a valise in hand.
NATHAN
’Morning, Frederick.
FREDERICK
’Morning.
(sees Nathan’s cut)
What happened to you?
The train WHISTLES. Nathan hurries off, but Zeke hesitates, unsure how to escape gracefully.
ZEKE
(awkwardly)
That’s ours. He's got research to do at Saratoga.
FREDERICK
"Ave atque vale."
Zeke looks at him blankly.
FREDERICK
Just take a guess.
ZEKE
Uh ... vale ... valley ... see you in the valley?
FREDERICK
Think about it. You’ve heard of the "Ave Maria," haven’t you?
NATHAN (O.S.)
Zeke!
ZEKE
(to Frederick)
Sorry.
Zeke dashes across the platform and boards as the train starts to move.
FREDERICK
(calling after him)
"Hail and farewell!"
Frederick shakes his head and heads off to catch his train.
INT. NEW YORK TRAIN #1 - DAY (DAWN) - TRAVELING
Nathan and Zeke settle into their seats. Nathan looks unhappily out the window.
ZEKE
Always the professor.
(beat)
You can send her a telegram when we get to New York.
Nathan thinks for a moment, then shakes his head.
NATHAN
She’d be in danger if she knew.
INT. FREDERICK AND NORA’S HOUSE - PARLOR - DAY (MORNING)
MARY, the maid, shows OFFICER YARROW into the parlor, where Nora is waiting. Officer Yarrow removes his helmet.
YARROW
Good morning, Miss Richards. My name is Officer Yarrow. I’m sorry to call so early.
NORA
Not at all, officer. Is something wrong?
YARROW
I’m afraid so.
EXT. ZEKE’S BLACKSMITH SHOP - DAY
A sign in the yard announces "Ezekiel Griffith, Blacksmith." Nora pounds on the closed door. No answer.
INT. BOARDINGHOUSE - PARLOR - DAY
Nora and Mrs. Thompson stand talking.
MRS. THOMPSON
I thought he was sleeping late. He’s been shouting in the night, you see, loud enough for me to hear all the way down here. But I had no idea he might be in trouble until the police knocked on my door.
NORA
I have to find him, Mrs. Thompson. Did he say or do anything out of the ordinary within the last few days?
MRS. THOMPSON
(thinks)
Well, ... he was speaking to Mr. Griffith during supper last night about taking a trip to interview some people.
With a sudden realization, Nora rushes out the door.
MRS. THOMPSON
Wait, where are you going?
BEGIN FLASHBACK:
EXT. SHIPPENS’ GARDEN - DAY
Several CONTINENTAL OFFICERS mingle with other GUESTS in the garden of the Shippen home. SUPERIMPOSE: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, spring 1778.
Arnold sits on a bench, a pair of crutches beside him.
MR. SHIPPEN (49), MRS. SHIPPEN (43), and their lively daughter Peggy (almost 18) mix with Guests of all ages.
A SOUTHERN GUEST touches the shoulder of a PHILADELPHIAN GUEST and indicates Arnold, who’s some distance away.
SOUTHERN GUEST
Is that the new military governor?
PHILADELPHIAN GUEST
Yes. General Arnold.
SOUTHERN GUEST
You say it as though it leaves a bad taste.
PHILADELPHIAN GUEST
He’s left a bad taste in many mouths here.
SOUTHERN GUEST
Do elaborate.
The Philadelphian Guest pulls the Southern Guest aside.
Arnold’s and Peggy’s eyes meet as she passes his bench. Something about her piques his interest, and he keeps watching her as she joins the crowd again.
Meanwhile, the Philadelphian Guest and the Southern Guest are still talking.
PHILADELPHIAN GUEST
There are people who lost everything when the redcoats were here, and now General Arnold treats Philadelphia like his own private kingdom. I doubt Congress has spent as much in the last six months as he has in the past two refurbishing
his residence.
SOUTHERN GUEST
Where does he get the money?
PHILADELPHIAN GUEST
(grim)
That’s what we’d all like to know.
Arnold picks up his crutches. He refuses help from several bystanders, stands on his right leg, and hobbles over to Mr. Shippen.
MR. SHIPPEN
General, how wonderful to see you. May I offer you a chair?
ARNOLD
(shakes his head)
Who is that young woman there?
He indicates Peggy, who’s talking with several young GUESTS.
MR. SHIPPEN
Oh, how careless of me.
(calls)
Peggy?
Peggy leaves her friends and joins her father and Arnold. Arnold removes his hat.
MR. SHIPPEN
May I present my youngest daughter, Peggy Shippen. This is General Benedict Arnold, the military governor of Philadelphia.
Peggy curtsies.
Arnold attempts a modified bow but loses his balance and drops his hat to catch himself on his crutches. Mr. Shippen also catches Arnold.
MR. SHIPPEN
With all due respect, General, may I recommend that you sit down?
ARNOLD
(embarrassed)
A wise suggestion.
Peggy retrieves Arnold’s hat as Mr. Shippen helps Arnold into a nearby chair. Arnold sets his crutches down.
MRS. SHIPPEN (O.S.)
Edward?
MR. SHIPPEN
Excuse me.
He leaves. Peggy returns Arnold’s hat.
ARNOLD
Thank you.
He indicates the open chair beside him, and Peggy sits.
The Philadelphian Guest and the Southern Guest watch disapprovingly.
SOUTHERN GUEST
Surely he wouldn’t.
PHILADELPHIAN GUEST
(shrugs)
His wife passed on several years ago, from what I understand.
SOUTHERN GUEST
But he must be twice her age. And her parents are Tories....
PHILADELPHIAN GUEST
So are half the people of Philadelphia these days.
Peggy says something that makes Arnold laugh.
END FLASHBACK.
INT. NEW YORK TRAIN #2 - DAY (MORNING) - TRAVELING
Nora sits reading a book titled The Campaign That Saved America: From Ticonderoga to Saratoga.
Nora turns to the inside of the front cover, which has a handwritten inscription: "To my darling Nora, that you may understand the passion that consumes me, second only to my affection for you. Yours always, Nathan Green."
Nora takes a deep breath and gazes out the window.
EXT. GRAND CENTRAL STATION - PLATFORM 1 - DAY (AFTERNOON)
Nora’s train pulls into the station. A sign between sets of tracks announces "GRAND CENTRAL STATION, NEW YORK CITY."
On the platform, PASSENGERS and EMPLOYEES rush in every direction. Nora gets off, a valise in one hand, and hurries across the platform, looking at every man she sees.
INT. GRAND CENTRAL STATION - RESTAURANT - DAY (AFTERNOON)
Nathan and Zeke have just finished a meal. Nathan sets some money on the table while Zeke checks his watch.
ZEKE
Our train leaves in ten minutes.
NATHAN
All right.
They get up and retrieve their luggage.
INT. GRAND CENTRAL STATION - TICKET OFFICE - DAY (AFTERNOON)
Nora comes to the ticket window. The TICKET MAN looks exceptionally bored.
NORA
What time is the next train for Albany?
TICKET MAN
In ten minutes, ma’am.
Nora takes some money from her valise.
EXT. GRAND CENTRAL STATION - PLATFORM 2 - DAY (AFTERNOON)
Nathan and Zeke work their way across the crowded platform toward their compartment at the very back of the train.
Norma comes onto the platform from another direction. She has almost reached Zeke and Nathan, not yet seeing them, when a BAGGAGE HANDLER bumps her with his cart. Nora drops her valise,
which skids across the platform to end up at Nathan’s feet.
BAGGAGE HANDLER
Sorry, ma’am.
NORA
It’s all right.
Nathan picks up the valise
just as Nora looks in his direction. Their eyes meet.
NORA
Nathan!
Stunned, Nathan doesn’t move as Nora rushes to him. He lets both valises drop and catches her as she throws her arms around him.
NATHAN
What are you doing here?
NORA
Looking for you.
ZEKE
Is Frederick with you?
NORA
He’s on his way to Cambridge. He doesn’t know I’m here.
NATHAN AND ZEKE
What?
NORA
A policeman came this morning looking for you, Nathan. He told me about Officer Johnson. I couldn’t find either of you, and Mrs. Thompson said you’d been talking about your research trip.
Nathan and Zeke look at each other.
NATHAN
Did the police talk to Mrs. Thompson?
NORA
Yes, but why are they looking for you? What happened? How did you get this?
She gently touches the edge of Nathan’s wound.
Nathan struggles inwardly for a few seconds, but a train WHISTLE interrupts him.
NATHAN
That’s our train.
NORA
But where are you going?
ZEKE
Albany.
NORA
(points)
On this train?
NATHAN
Yes.
NORA
I’ve bought a ticket. You can tell me on the way.
NATHAN
(heavy sigh)
All right.
He picks up Nora’s valise and his own, but Zeke takes Nathan’s valise and nods to Nathan. Understanding, Nathan offers his free arm to Nora, and she takes it.
EXT. NEW YORK COUNTRYSIDE - DAY (AFTERNOON)
The train speeds along toward Albany.
INT. ALBANY TRAIN - HALLWAY - DAY (AFTERNOON) - TRAVELING
Nathan comes in from the car’s back platform. As he goes down the aisle, he doesn’t notice Rigby following him.
Rigby quietly checks each compartment as he passes, making sure that they’re all empty before he speaks.
RIGBY
Arn--Green. Nathan Green.
Nathan stops and turns just in front of his compartment. Recognizing Rigby, he looks wary--Rigby’s presence brings back many bad memories. And how does Rigby know Nathan’s new name?
Inside, Zeke and Nora look up from their books. Unable to see what Nathan is looking at, they give each other puzzled glances and go back to reading.
NATHAN
(stiffly)
Rigby. It’s been a long time.
RIGBY
Not long enough for you to forget.
NATHAN
Forget what?
Rigby puts one hand on Nathan’s shoulder and the other hand in his own pocket as he talks. Nathan doesn’t know how to react to the apparently friendly gesture.
RIGBY
Think about it.
Nathan maintains wary eye contact. He suspects what Rigby means but doesn’t want to be the one to bring it up.
Rigby abruptly pulls out a knife and tries to stab Nathan. Nathan barely reacts in time--the knife rips his jacket as he jumps aside and crashes into the door of an empty compartment.
Rigby snarls and comes after Nathan again, stabbing the knife into the door frame just past Nathan’s head.
Zeke and Nora gasp and jump up, dropping their books.
Rigby grabs Nathan’s collar and tries to yank the knife free. Gasping, Nathan struggles and tugs on Rigby’s arm.
Zeke tears open the compartment door and rushes out.
ZEKE
Nathan!
NATHAN
Get the knife!
Zeke grabs Rigby’s arm just as Rigby wrenches the knife out of the door. The door skids open, and the men fall in a heap onto the floor of the empty compartment.
INT. ALBANY TRAIN - EMPTY COMPARTMENT - DAY (AFTERNOON) - TRAVELING
Rigby, who still has Nathan’s collar, twists underneath Zeke and keeps trying to stab Nathan. Nathan struggles.
NORA
Hold on! I’ll get the conductor!
Nora rushes down the aisle.
Zeke grabs and twists Rigby’s knife hand. Rigby releases Nathan and rolls onto his back to deal with Zeke, who catches Rigby by the other arm and straddles him.
Nathan sits up, gasping and clutching his throat.
Rigby struggles but can’t break free.
ZEKE
(out of breath)
You all right, Nathan?
Nathan nods, getting his breath back
just as Rigby suddenly thrusts up hard with his hips. Zeke sails over Rigby’s shoulder and slams headfirst against the wall; he falls to the floor, stunned.
Rigby and Nathan scramble to their feet. Looking around wildly, Nathan spots a briefcase in the overhead rack and yanks the briefcase down.
As Rigby steps over Zeke, Nathan swings the briefcase. Rigby dodges, and the briefcase shatters the window.
Rigby charges again, but Nathan wallops him on the shoulder with the briefcase. Rigby drops the knife and stumbles toward the door.
Nathan swings the briefcase again, but this time Rigby catches it with both hands. Tugging back and forth, the men swing around so that Rigby’s back is to the broken window.
Nora and the CONDUCTOR come running down the hallway. Seeing them, Rigby suddenly lets go of the briefcase.
Nathan stumbles back into the wall.
Rigby grabs his knife and jumps out the broken window.
EXT. NEW YORK COUNTRYSIDE - DAY
Rigby falls into the grass beside the train tracks and rolls.
As the train speeds away, he gets up, glowering.
INT. ALBANY TRAIN - HEROES’ COMPARTMENT - DAY (AFTERNOON) - TRAVELING
Nathan and the Conductor help Zeke onto a seat. Zeke lies down, rubbing his head.
Nora and Nathan sit on the opposite seat.
CONDUCTOR
Are you sure you’re all right?
NATHAN
(out of breath)
Yes, thank you.
CONDUCTOR
I am so sorry this happened. We’ll report it to the police as soon as we reach Albany.
The Conductor closes the door and leaves.
Nathan takes Nora in his arms. No one speaks for a moment.
NATHAN
(out of breath)
Well done, Nora.
NORA
Who was that man?
NATHAN
(regaining his breath)
Hiram Rigby. He was in our regiment. I have no idea what was the matter with him.
ZEKE
(beat)
I might know.
Nathan and Nora look sharply at him. Zeke props himself up on an elbow.
ZEKE
Nathan, at Averasborough--you remember who went with you?
NATHAN
I try not to.
Zeke glares at him.
NATHAN
(thinks)
Jones, Ambrose, O’Leary, Hawker....
ZEKE
One more. Say it, Nathan.
NATHAN
(softly)
Cal Rigby.
NORA
Rigby?
BEGIN FLASHBACK:
EXT. AVERASBOROUGH BATTLEFIELD (16 MARCH 1865) - AWAY FROM 121ST OVI LINE - DAY
Nathan supports the wounded CALVIN "CAL" RIGBY (21) in a desperate run through the trees.
Behind them, a pack of CONFEDERATE SNIPERS gives chase.
Nathan is bleeding from a long wound across his left palm--the wound that will heal to form his scar.
END FLASHBACK.
INT. ALBANY TRAIN - HEROES’ COMPARTMENT - DAY (AFTERNOON) - TRAVELING
Nathan shudders and presses a hand to his eyes.
BEGIN FLASHBACK:
EXT. AVERASBOROUGH BATTLEFIELD (16 MARCH 1865) - CREEK BANK - DAY
Nathan and Cal tumble into a creek.
END FLASHBACK.
INT. ALBANY TRAIN - HEROES’ COMPARTMENT - DAY (AFTERNOON) - TRAVELING
NATHAN
Hiram’s younger brother.
The three friends sit quietly for a moment. Confused but sensing Nathan’s pain, Nora takes his hand and squeezes it sympathetically.
NATHAN
You all right, Zeke?
ZEKE
(nods)
You? Second time in two days someone’s tried to strangle you.
NORA
What?
Nathan glares at Zeke, then takes a deep breath.
EXT. NEW YORK COUNTRYSIDE - DAY
The train rolls on its way.
INT. ALBANY TRAIN - HEROES’ COMPARTMENT - DAY (AFTERNOON) - TRAVELING
Zeke lies across the seat, listening to Nathan and Nora.
NATHAN
And who should open the window but Dr. Dewey.
NORA
Your adviser?
NATHAN
The one who doesn’t like me.
NORA
But couldn’t he see that you were being attacked?
NATHAN
The other man had me around the neck, so I don’t know if Dr. Dewey could see his face. For all Dr. Dewey knew, I’d attacked Officer Johnson and --
(sudden realization)
Zeke, I’ll bet you anything you like that Rigby was the one who tried to kill me last night.
ZEKE
(sitting up)
How do you know?
NATHAN
They both tried to choke me. That was Rigby’s favorite trick when we used to wrestle in camp.
ZEKE
But how did Rigby find us here? He couldn’t have followed us to the train station--we were watching.
NATHAN
(to Nora)
Did anyone follow you?
NORA
I wasn’t paying attention. He could have. Oh, Nathan, I’m so sorry.
NATHAN
It wasn’t your fault.
ZEKE
Wait, wait. How would Rigby know to follow Nora?
NATHAN
We’ve been together in public quite a few times....
ZEKE
That means he’s been watching you for goodness knows how long. And he had to have been watching Nora this morning to have followed her here.
Nathan puts his arm protectively around Nora.
NATHAN
But it’s me he’s after. And he knows where I live.
ZEKE
I still want to know how he found that out.
NORA
If he knew your address, maybe it was the boardinghouse he was watching, not me. After you fought him last night, he probably didn’t want to go there right away in case the police came looking for you. But if he was there this morning, he could’ve seen me leave and followed me from there.
ZEKE
That still doesn’t tell us how he knew the address.
NATHAN
Or why he was in New Haven in the first place.
No one speaks for a moment.
NORA
(not really believing it)
I suppose all we can do is hope we’ve seen the last of him.
EXT. ALBANY - TRAIN STATION - DAY (EVENING)
The train whistles as it pulls into another station. A sign between sets of tracks announces "ALBANY, N. Y."
INT. ALBANY TRAIN - HEROES’ COMPARTMENT - DAY (EVENING) - TRAVELING
Zeke dozes on his seat. Nathan slips into a new jacket as Nora folds the ripped one and places it in his valise.
The train comes to a stop.
NORA
Zeke, wake up. We’re here.
As Zeke wakes up, four ALBANY OFFICERS and their SERGEANT board, batons in hand. They briskly march through the car, looking for people, until they reach the friends’ compartment.
The Sergeant knocks on the door, and Nora opens it.
SERGEANT
Nathan Green?
NATHAN
That’s me.
The Sergeant removes a slip of paper from a belt pouch.
SERGEANT
I have a warrant for your arrest.
Zeke snaps fully awake. All three friends quickly stand.
NATHAN, NORA, AND ZEKE
What?
NATHAN
On what charges?
SERGEANT
Desertion from the United States Army.
(to Nora and Zeke)
For your own safety, step out of the compartment, please.
NORA
Sir, there must be some mistake --
The Sergeant puts away the warrant, takes Nora’s arm gently but firmly, and pulls her out the door. The Albany Officers push into the compartment.
ZEKE
You’re police, not military. What right do you have --
Two officers restrain Zeke, while two others cuff Nathan with his hands behind his back (contrary to typical practice in this era).
SERGEANT
Sir, we received a telegram from the Poughkeepsie Police Department several hours ago about this man. He’s very dangerous.
INT. ALBANY TRAIN - HALLWAY - DAY (EVENING)
Nathan is dragged away. The remaining officers release Zeke and follow their colleagues.
The Sergeant lets go of Nora, and Zeke joins them.
ZEKE
(seething)
Where’s Poughkeepsie?
SERGEANT
About eighty miles south of here.
ZEKE
Eighty miles ...
He and Nora look at each other.
NORA
Rigby.
SERGEANT
You’ll both have to come with us for questioning.
INT. ALBANY POLICE STATION - SERGEANT’S OFFICE - DAY (EVENING)
Nora, Zeke, and the Conductor stand in front of the Sergeant’s desk. The Sergeant finishes filling out a form.
SERGEANT
You’re all free to go. I’m sorry for the inconvenience.
The Conductor nods, gives Zeke and Nora a sympathetic look, and leaves.
NORA
What about Mr. Green?
SERGEANT
We’ll need to detain him until the officer arrives from Poughkeepsie to identify him.
ZEKE
We’ve been through this. We’ve never been to Poughkeepsie.
SERGEANT
(sighs)
See for yourself.
He hands a telegram to Zeke. Nora looks at it as well.
INSERT - TELEGRAM
"DETAIN FOLLOWING PASSENGER ARRIVING ON NEW YORK 5 PM TRAIN STOP NATHAN GREEN 5 FEET 8 INCHES 160 LBS STOP BROWN HAIR BROWN EYES SCAR ON LEFT PALM STOP WANTED FOR DESERTION FROM US ARMY STOP VERY DANGEROUS STOP CAPTAIN SAMUEL WALKER US ARMY ARRIVING ON AM TRAIN TO TAKE CUSTODY STOP JAMES CALLAHAN CHIEF OF POLICE POUGHKEEPSIE POLICE DEPARTMENT."
BACK TO SCENE
ZEKE
And James Callahan really is the chief of police in Poughkeepsie?
SERGEANT
You think we’d arrest a man without checking the source of the tip?
Nora and Zeke look at each other.
INT. ALBANY POLICE STATION - JAIL AREA - DAY (SUNSET)
Nathan sits on a stool inside a small cell. A cot sits against one wall, and a chain runs from Nathan’s ankle to one of the cot legs.
A DOOR OPENS at the end of the hallway. Nathan looks up, then comes to the cell door to meet Nora and Zeke.
Nathan sticks his hand through the bars and grasps Nora’s hand. Nora looks worriedly at the chain.
NORA
What’s that for?
NATHAN
I’m very dangerous, remember? What happened?
NORA
They only questioned us. They’re letting us go.
ZEKE
We told them about Rigby, but they didn’t believe us.
NATHAN
Did you tell them he’s already tried to kill me twice?
ZEKE
Apparently the police chief in Poughkeepsie really did send the telegram.
NATHAN
Rigby’s probably been telling everyone the same story. Officer Johnson wanted to see my hand, too--said he was looking for a dangerous criminal.
NORA
But surely Rigby can’t take you from here. He doesn’t have a uniform or a commission to prove who he says he is ... does he?
NATHAN
He convinced the Poughkeepsie police. He must have something planned.
ZEKE
I won’t let him take you, Nathan.
NATHAN
You can’t stop him.
Nora begins to cry softly.
ZEKE
Yes, I can.
NATHAN
They’ll arrest you too if you interfere.
ZEKE
I’d like to see them try. But that’s not what I’m talking about. The regiment logbook?
Nathan freezes. Nora stops crying, looking alarmed.
Nathan is silent for a long moment, then lets out his breath and hangs his head.
NATHAN
Then we’ll need the records from the courthouse back home, too.
ZEKE
I’ll send for them right now.
He starts for the door.
NATHAN
They won’t get here before Rigby does.
ZEKE
A telegram can.
NATHAN
Anyone can send a telegram. We’ll need the documents.
ZEKE
Right.
He leaves the room. Nora begins to cry again. Nathan gently lifts her chin.
NATHAN
I need to tell you something.
BEGIN FLASHBACK:
EXT. AVERASBOROUGH BATTLEFIELD - CREEK BANK - DAY
The 121st Soldiers have made a battle line near a creek. A group of CONFEDERATE SOLDIERS flees into the distance, and the 121st Soldiers cheer. SUPERIMPOSE: Near Averasborough, North Carolina, 16 March 1865.
Duval rides up and down the line on his horse.
Nathan, Zeke, Rigby, Cal, and fellow soldiers JONES, AMBROSE, O’LEARY, and HAWKER stand near each other at the end of the line, reloading their rifles.
DUVAL
Stay in formation! Wait for further orders!
CAL
(quietly mocking Duval)
"This army does not move without orders."
Several nearby men snicker.
DUVAL
This army does not move without orders!
The men around Cal, including Nathan, laugh. Some playfully slap Cal on the back or shoulders.
Suddenly bullets WHIZ past from the right.
UNION SOLDIERS
Sniper!
Several 121st Soldiers fall; their comrades run for cover.
Clueless, Duval gallops back along the line, whacking men with the flat of his saber blade.
DUVAL
What do you think you’re doing? Back to the line!
Another SHOT, and Duval topples from his horse.
Rigby and Cal catch the horse and take shelter, while Zeke and Nathan rush to Duval and drag him behind a tree.
Two more 121st Soldiers fall to sniper FIRE as Nathan and Zeke examine Duval’s wound--just a graze. Zeke frowns; Nathan rolls his eyes.
DUVAL
(shouting)
Take cover! Return fire at will!
Zeke tightly bandages Duval’s arm with his handkerchief.
DUVAL
Fetch my horse.
Zeke leaps up to obey, ducking behind trees to avoid SNIPER FIRE as he moves.
NATHAN
Can you still use that arm, sir?
DUVAL
Are you questioning orders, Arnold?
NATHAN
No, sir.
Zeke returns with the horse, and Nathan and Zeke help Duval remount. Nathan returns Duval’s saber.
DUVAL
Hold your positions! Return fire!
The 121st Soldiers FIRE. One more is STRUCK DOWN.
A CORPORAL rushes up to Duval.
CORPORAL
Captain, I believe the snipers are trying to move behind us.
DUVAL
Turn with the snipers. Fire as soon as they do.
CORPORAL
Sir, that’ll leave our flank exposed.
DUVAL
Let ’em come. If they need another lesson, we’ll give ’em one.
Nathan and Zeke look at each other disgustedly.
Jones, Ambrose, O’Leary, Hawker, and the Rigbys have taken cover behind a pair of fallen trees. Zeke and Nathan join them, and the Union men return each sniping VOLLEY, turning as the Snipers do.
Nathan spies one Sniper moving through the trees and fires but misses. The Snipers SHOOT back.
DUVAL
Wait for their fire!
NATHAN
(angry but quiet)
They move as soon as they fire!
His companions shake their heads--they know Nathan’s right.
A YELL comes from the 121st’s left. Another group of CONFEDERATE SOLDIERS is charging toward the Union line.
The 121st scrambles to respond, and the Snipers TAKE DOWN several more Union men from the side.
Nathan leaps up and rushes to Duval, who reins up to keep from running Nathan down as Nathan salutes.
NATHAN
Sir, permission to take a squad and eliminate the snipers!
DUVAL
Denied! All men are needed here!
NATHAN
They’ll cut us to pieces if we don’t --
DUVAL
Permission denied!
Duval gallops away. Another man goes down to SNIPER FIRE.
Nathan, trembling with rage, drops down and starts to crawl toward the SNIPER FIRE, but Zeke grabs his arm.
ZEKE
Don’t cross Captain Duval, Nathan.
NATHAN
He’s going to get us all killed if we don’t do something.
His friends hesitate.
EXT. AVERASBOROUGH BATTLEFIELD - AWAY FROM 121ST OVI LINE - DAY
Nathan, Jones, Ambrose, O’Leary, Hawker, and Cal dart through the trees, running from cover to cover.
AMBROSE
Over there.
He points to where six Snipers are gathering at the edge of the creek as if preparing to cross.
NATHAN
Bayonets--we may need them. Spread out. Fire on my signal.
The men attach their bayonets and then duck behind trees.
The Snipers spot the Union men and fire, all missing.
Nathan motions sharply, and he and his friends fire. One Sniper falls.
NATHAN
Charge!
He and his friends charge with lowered bayonets, yelling.
The remaining Snipers scramble to attach their own bayonets, but when the Union men are only about twenty yards away,
a VOLLEY comes from the side. Hawker’s cap flies off.
Hawker leaps aside and knocks into Nathan. The resulting pileup disorients the Union men just long enough for
four more SNIPERS to charge out from cover, bayonets fixed. The original Snipers charge, too.
NATHAN
Retreat! Back to the line!
He and his friends bolt, the Snipers in pursuit.
Every so often, one or two Snipers pause, reload, and fire.
One SHOT strikes Cal, who falls and drops his rifle.
CAL
(in severe pain)
Arnold!
Nathan, closest to Cal, turns and runs back. One Sniper is closing in on Cal.
Nathan charges, and he and the Sniper exchange rifle blows.
Nathan grabs the Sniper’s bayonet with his bare left hand to avoid being stabbed in the face and bashes the Sniper in the chin with his rifle butt.
As the Sniper falls, Nathan drops his rifle, hauls Cal to his feet, and runs, dragging Cal with him.
EXT. AVERASBOROUGH BATTLEFIELD - CREEK BANK - DAY
The Confederate line retreats. The 121st cheers.
Zeke and Rigby turn at the sound of SHOUTING and see their friends approaching, the Snipers behind.
ZEKE
They’re coming back!
RIGBY
They’ve got company!
DUVAL
Prepare to fire!
The 121st Soldiers aim their rifles. Nathan and the others have almost reached the creek.
NATHAN
(gasping)
Come on, Cal. Almost there.
Jones, Ambrose, Hawker, and O’Leary leap across the creek.
Just as Nathan and Cal reach the edge,
ONE SNIPER fires again,
hitting Cal in the back. Cal convulses, knocking Nathan off balance, and both men tumble into the creek.
DUVAL
Fire!
The Union rifles roar
while Rigby, wide-eyed and white-faced, stares at the place where his brother disappeared.
Three Snipers fall. The others retreat.
Nathan pops up out of the water and drags Cal above the surface--then pales as he realizes that Cal is dead.
Aghast, Zeke glances at Rigby, whose face is full of shock and pain.
END FLASHBACK.
INT. ALBANY POLICE STATION - JAIL AREA - DAY (DUSK)
Nora stares in horror at Nathan, who’s looking at the floor. She turns his left hand over and opens it to look at the scar on his palm.
NORA
And then?
NATHAN
After the battle, I was court-martialed. Duval wanted me hanged for mutiny.
NORA
What?
NATHAN
(bitter)
Luckily, it wasn’t up to him.
BEGIN FLASHBACK:
EXT. 121ST OVI CAMP (SOMEWHERE IN NORTH CAROLINA) - DAY
The men of the 121st face each other in two lines. SUPERIMPOSE: Somewhere in North Carolina, 23 March 1865.
Nathan, shaved bald and wearing a sign--"For insubordination resulting in the death of a fellow soldier"--around his neck, is marched down the aisle between the lines. The insignia and buttons have been torn from his uniform, and his left hand is bandaged.
Four 121st men escort Nathan, carrying their rifles pointing toward the ground behind them instead of in the usual direction. The MILITARY BAND marches behind the group, playing the "Rogue’s March."
As Nathan passes, the onlookers shout insults at him.
Zeke sets his jaw as Nathan passes. Rigby glares at Nathan with undisguised hate. Ambrose, O’Leary, Hawker, and Jones say nothing and avoid eye contact with Nathan.
Duval sneers. Waters sighs, hating what must be done.
EXT. WOODS NEAR 121ST OVI CAMP - HEAD OF ROAD - DAY
At the head of the road, Nathan’s knapsack is tossed at his feet. The escort and the band return to the camp.
WATERS (O.S.)
All companies, dismissed!
Nathan, struggling not to weep, tears the sign from his neck and hurls it into the underbrush.
EXT. WOODS NEAR 121ST OVI CAMP - ROAD - DAY
Nathan trudges down the road, knapsack on his shoulder. Suddenly, sounds of CRUNCHING UNDERBRUSH rise behind him.
ZEKE (O.S.)
Nathan!
Nathan stops and turns as Zeke, knapsack on his back and rifle in hand, catches up to him.
ZEKE
I don’t care.
NATHAN
You were right.
ZEKE
No, you were.
NATHAN
Go back before they charge you with desertion.
ZEKE
So what if they do?
NATHAN
I won’t drag you down with me. Go back!
Nathan stalks away, leaving Zeke standing there.
END FLASHBACK.
INT. ALBANY POLICE STATION - JAIL AREA - NIGHT
Nora stares at Nathan, who’s still looking at the floor.
NATHAN
They wanted to make an example of me. And did they.
NORA
Oh, Nathan ...
NATHAN
That’s the other thing. Nathan Green is not my birth name. It’s Nathan Arnold.
NORA
Arnold? As in ... Benedict Arnold?
NATHAN
(nods)
My family is directly descended from his son Richard.
Nora slowly releases Nathan’s hand.
NORA
(cooling)
I see.
They stand looking at each other for a long moment.
NATHAN
(sighs)
I thought you would.
He slowly retreats and sits on the cot. Nora stares at him.
POLICE GUARD #1 and POLICE GUARD #2 enter the room. Both are armed, and each carries a chair.
POLICE GUARD #1
I’m sorry, miss, but visiting hours are over.
Nora glares at him, then quietly leaves.
Police Guard #1 and Police Guard #2 set their chairs against the wall and sit down.
The hall door SHUTS. Nathan buries his face in his hands.
INT. ALBANY POLICE STATION - FRONT DESK - NIGHT
Nora enters from the back just as Zeke enters from the street.
The FRONT DESK OFFICER doesn’t look up from his paperwork. His keys jingle on his belt as he shifts his weight.
ZEKE
I sent the telegrams. A courier will start from Columbus in the morning, but it’ll take him about three days --
He stops when he sees Nora’s face. Instead, he puts his arm around Nora and leads her out.
INT. HOTEL ALBANY - NORA’S ROOM - NIGHT
Restless, Nora gets out of bed, turns up her lamp, and picks up The Campaign That Saved America. She rereads the inscription, then pauses to think.
BEGIN FLASHBACK:
INT. ARNOLD’S OFFICE - DAY (EVENING)
Arnold examines a map of the state of New York at his desk. His AIDE stands at his elbow. SUPERIMPOSE: Fort Dayton, eastern New York, late summer 1777.
AIDE
The officers said at the meeting that we can’t possibly defeat a force that large, sir.
ARNOLD
I understand their fears, but unless we do something, St. Leger will take Fort Stanwix and --
There’s a KNOCK at the door, and the Aide goes to answer.
Outside, MRS. SCHUYLER and her adult son NICHOLAS stand at the door. Behind them, MILITIAMEN and CONTINENTAL SOLDIERS and OFFICERS work around the fort.
AIDE
General?
Arnold looks up and motions. He rises as the Schuylers enter, and the Aide follows and closes the door.
ARNOLD
Good evening. I’m General Arnold. What can I do for you?
MRS. SCHUYLER
General, I’m here on behalf of my son, Hon Yost Schuyler. I’ve come to ask your mercy.
ARNOLD
Mrs. Schuyler, your son was captured in the act of conspiring with men loyal to the Crown. He’s been condemned to hang.
MRS. SCHUYLER
Please, sir, Hon Yost has never harmed your men. I don’t think he knows what he does sometimes, but he’d never hurt anyone. He’ll not trouble you again if you release him.
Arnold ponders the request.
EXT. FORT DAYTON DETENTION AREA - DAY (EVENING)
The Aide leads Arnold, Mrs. Schuyler, and Nicholas along one wall of the fort to a barred door. A CONTINENTAL PRIVATE stands guard.
Toneless SINGING floats out of the storage-room-turned-cell.
AIDE
His behavior has been ... unsettling to the other prisoners, so we thought it best to confine him alone.
The Aide motions to the Continental Private, who removes the bar from the door.
ARNOLD
Remember I’ve not promised to free your son, Mrs. Schuyler. I need to observe him for myself before I can make such a decision.
MRS. SCHUYLER
I understand.
The Continental Private opens the door, and the Aide carefully sticks his head into the cell.
AIDE
Come out, Schuyler. Your mother and --
HON YOST (O.S.)
Go away!
MRS. SCHUYLER
Hon Yost, it’s Mother and Nicholas. These men brought us to see you. Please come out.
HON YOST SCHUYLER (33) ambles into the doorway. His clothes are rumpled, his hair and beard long and straggly.
HON YOST
(sings off key)
"Yankee Doodle went to town a-ridin’ on a pony, stuck a feather in his cap, an’ called it macaroni."
He shuffles out and embraces Mrs. Schuyler with a giggle. Arnold and the Aide exchange glances.
MRS. SCHUYLER
Are you all right, son?
HON YOST
They caught me, Mother. I tried to run away, but they caught me.
MRS. SCHUYLER
Hush.
HON YOST
Didn’t they, Nicky?
NICHOLAS
Yes, Hon Yost. Have you been good?
HON YOST
Yes.
Arnold spots something to the side and turns. An ONEIDA WARRIOR, an American Indian who’s joined the rebel cause, watches Hon Yost with a kind of awe.
ARNOLD
What are you staring at?
ONEIDA WARRIOR
He is special.
ARNOLD
What?
ONEIDA WARRIOR
The gods speak to him.
Arnold looks questioningly at his Aide.
AIDE
(nodding to Hon Yost)
I believe it’s because he’s demented, sir.
Thinking, Arnold returns his attention to Hon Yost.
HON YOST
And I had to line up the rocks, but the other men wouldn’t let me. So I threw a rock at them, and the men with guns locked me up.
MRS. SCHUYLER
For shame, Hon Yost.
HON YOST
(whining)
But I had to line up the rocks.
INT. ARNOLD’S OFFICE - DAY (EVENING)
Arnold takes a seat at his desk. His Aide waits by the door; the three Schuylers and the Oneida Warrior stand in front of the desk. Hon Yost looks around distractedly.
ARNOLD
If your son does his part in this, Mrs. Schuyler, I will release him.
MRS. SCHUYLER
What do you want him to do?
ARNOLD
Hon Yost, come here.
Hon Yost shuffles forward to the desk.
ARNOLD
I have something for you to do. If you do it, I will let you go.
HON YOST
What?
ARNOLD
I want you to find some people. I want you to tell them something.
HON YOST
What?
ARNOLD
Do you know who Colonel St. Leger is?
HON YOST
Yes. A soldier. From England.
ARNOLD
Good. Do you know who Joseph Brant is?
HON YOST
Yes. An Indian.
ARNOLD
Good. They’re your friends, aren’t they?
HON YOST
Yes. We’re friends.
ARNOLD
Good. I want you to find them and tell them something very important.
EXT. BRITISH CAMP - CENTRAL AREA - DAY (MORNING)
BRITISH SOLDIERS and OFFICERS and AMERICAN INDIAN WARRIORS stand or move around a forest campsite. Fort Stanwix is visible in the distance through the trees.
British commander COLONEL BARRY ST. LEGER (44) and JOSEPH BRANT (34), the Indians’ leader, sit talking by a campfire. Brant is not happy about something, while St. Leger tries to assuage him.
EXT. BRITISH CAMP - PERIMETER - DAY (MORNING)
A MOHAWK WARRIOR and a BRITISH PRIVATE talk together.
Hon Yost strolls out of the woods with several bullet holes in his clothing. Behind him, the Oneida Warrior watches from the shadows.
HON YOST
(sings off key)
"Yankee Doodle went to town a-ridin’ on a pony, stuck a feather in his cap, an’ called it macaroni."
The Mohawk Warrior raises his bow, but the British Private, recognizing Hon Yost, stops his comrade.
EXT. BRITISH CAMP - CENTRAL AREA - DAY (MORNING)
Brant and St. Leger are still talking as the British Private, the Mohawk Warrior, and Hon Yost approach.
BRITISH SOLDIERS AND AMERICAN INDIAN WARRIORS
It’s Schuyler. The lunatic. He is special. The gods speak to him. Why is he here?
St. Leger and Brant look up, and the British Private salutes.
BRITISH PRIVATE
Colonel, Hon Yost Schuyler is here. He has a message that he’ll deliver only to you and Mr. Brant.
ST. LEGER
I thought the rebels had taken Mr. Schuyler.
BRITISH PRIVATE
Perhaps he should tell you himself, sir.
St. Leger nods. The British Private turns and beckons to Hon Yost, who shuffles forward, grinning.
ST. LEGER
Mr. Schuyler, we thought you’d been captured by the rebels.
HON YOST
They tried to shoot me, but I ran too fast for them. See?
He proudly displays the bullet holes in his clothes. The British Soldiers and American Indian Warriors murmur.
BRANT
What do you wish to tell us?
HON YOST
Arnold is coming.
ST. LEGER
Benedict Arnold?
HON YOST
(nodding emphatically)
He is coming to destroy you if you attack Fort Stanwix.
BRANT
How many soldiers does he have?
HON YOST
(thinking)
Many. More than I can count.
He finally looks up and, with a sudden flash of inspiration, gestures with both arms to the leaves on the trees.
HON YOST
That many.
The American Indian Warriors immediately begin murmuring, louder than before. The British Soldiers look at each other, unsure what to think.
Brant glares at St. Leger, who reacts defensively.
The Oneida Warrior suddenly joins the group.
ST. LEGER
(flustered)
Who are you?
ONEIDA WARRIOR
I am a friend. I have just come from Fort Dayton.
ST. LEGER
Is Arnold coming?
ONEIDA WARRIOR
Yes, with two thousand men.
The murmuring becomes much more agitated.
ONEIDA WARRIOR
Perhaps three thousand.
The murmuring becomes an uproar. Brant leaps to his feet, scowling. St. Leger stands, holding up his hands.
ST. LEGER
Wait! Wait!
INT. ARNOLD’S OFFICE - DAY
The Aide hands a letter to Arnold, who’s at his desk. The Oneida Warrior and Hon Yost stand in front of the desk.
AIDE
From Colonel Gansevoort at Fort Stanwix.
Arnold opens the letter, reads it, and comes to his feet as a grin breaks over his face.
ARNOLD
(reading)
"St. Leger with his army is retreating, with the utmost precipitation." Well done, both of you. Hon Yost, you’re free to go.
(to Aide)
See to it.
AIDE
Yes, sir.
The Aide and Hon Yost leave.
HON YOST
(sings off key, fading)
"Yankee Doodle went to town a-ridin’ on a pony, stuck a feather in his cap, an’ called it macaroni."
Arnold, still grinning and shaking his head, sits down as he rereads the letter. The Oneida Warrior grins.
END FLASHBACK.
INT. HOTEL ALBANY - NORA’S ROOM - NIGHT
Nora closes her book on an illustration of Hon Yost delivering his message to Brant and St. Leger. She rests her chin on her hand and thinks.
INT. HOTEL ALBANY - LOBBY - NIGHT
LEVI BENTON (18), the desk clerk, looks up as Zeke approaches. Nora, back in her street clothes, waits by the front door.
ZEKE
(low voice)
You remember those documents I told you about?
LEVI
The ones that’ll prove your friend’s innocent?
ZEKE
(nods, motions to Nora)
When they arrive, keep them safe until one of us comes for them.
LEVI
You can count on me, sir.
Zeke nods and leaves.
INT. ALBANY POLICE STATION - FRONT DESK - NIGHT
Nora bursts in, her face streaked with tears. At the desk, the Front Desk Officer snaps awake.
NORA
Help! Help!
FRONT DESK OFFICER
What is it, miss?
NORA
Help me!
The Front Desk Officer hurries out from behind the desk and catches Nora by the shoulders as she runs for the back door. She struggles, and his baton falls out of his belt.
FRONT DESK OFFICER
Miss, please, calm down. What happened?
NORA
He’s after me! He said he’d kill me!
FRONT DESK OFFICER
Who said that, miss?
He grunts and collapses--revealing Zeke, holding the baton, behind where he was standing.
The door opens at the back of the room, and Police Guard #1 rushes out, brandishing his pistol. Nora thinks fast.
NORA
Oh, thank goodness! I came in to ask for help, and he assaulted me! If my cousin hadn’t been here . . .
POLICE GUARD #1
(warily)
He assaulted you?
NORA
Oh, dear. I don’t feel well at all. I think I may ...
She pretends to faint toward Police Guard #1, who has no choice but to quickly holster his pistol and catch her.
ZEKE
Here.
Zeke drags the Front Desk Officer out of the way while Police Guard #1 brings Nora over and sets her in the chair.
A CLICK, and Police Guard #1 slowly looks up to see Zeke holding the Front Desk Officer’s pistol.
INT. ALBANY POLICE STATION - JAIL AREA - NIGHT
Nathan is asleep on the bed, while Police Guard #2 sits with his arms folded. The hallway door OPENS and CLOSES, and FOOTSTEPS come down the hall.
POLICE GUARD #2
All right out there?
Zeke appears, brandishing the pistol, with Nora behind him. Their opponents’ weapons are stuffed into Zeke’s belt.
ZEKE
Kindly stand up and face the wall, Officer. No noise.
Nathan stirs at the sound of Zeke’s voice.
Police Guard #2 starts, then grudgingly obeys. Zeke confiscates his weapons, knocks him out with a baton, and ties him up with the officer’s own belt and handkerchief.
Nora uses the Front Desk Officer’s keys to unlock the cell. Nathan groggily lifts his head.
NATHAN
Nora?
NORA
We’re here, Nathan.
The door CREAKS OPEN. Nathan comes fully awake and sits up. Nora hurries into the cell and unlocks his chain.
NATHAN
How did you -- ?
NORA
We’ll explain later. Hurry.
EXT. ALBANY - POLICE STATION - NIGHT
A horse-drawn wagon rolls past a window in the police station, where a NIGHT OFFICER is working at his desk.
Seeing movement, the Night Officer opens the window and spots the wagon. He looks around the back of the building but can’t see the stable, so he drops out of the window and heads around the back.
EXT. STREET IN FRONT OF ALBANY POLICE STATION - NIGHT
Nathan peeks out from under a canvas tarp in the back of the wagon. The valises sit beside him. Zeke drives, Nora at his side.
Zeke turns the wagon down the street to avoid passing in front of the station.
NATHAN
He’s going around the back.
ZEKE
Hold on. Ha!
He slaps the reins, and the horse breaks into a trot, then a gallop. Nora grabs Zeke’s arm and hangs on.
Nathan and the valises skid along the wagon bed.
EXT. ALBANY - STREET 1 - NIGHT
The wagon thunders down the street.
INT. ALBANY POLICE STATION - FRONT DESK - NIGHT
The Night Officer rushes into the front room but finds no one. Hearing muffled MUMBLING, he peers under the desk
and finds the Front Desk Officer and Police Guard #1 there, tied and gagged with their own belts and handkerchiefs.
EXT. ALBANY - STREET 2 - NIGHT
The wagon screeches around a corner and careens on.
EXT. STREET IN FRONT OF POLICE STATION - NIGHT
On horseback, the Night Officer and Police Guard #2 charge off in the direction that the escapees went, while the Front Desk Officer and Police Guard #1 go the other way.
EXT. ALBANY - STREET 3 - NIGHT
The Night Officer and Police Guard #2 appear at the end of the street down which the wagon is rumbling.
Nathan spots the two riders and recognizes their uniforms as they gallop between streetlamps.
NATHAN
We’ve got company!
ZEKE
That was quick!
NORA
We’ve only woken half the town!
Zeke slaps the reins harder. The Night Officer and Police Guard #2 urge their horses on.
EXT. ALBANY - STREET 4 - NIGHT
The wagon takes a corner so fast that two wheels leave the ground. The passengers skid, then jolt as the wheels land.
As the police get within range, both draw their pistols.
One SHOT blows a chunk out of the wagon’s tailgate, and another SHOT chips a corner off the seat. Everyone ducks.
NATHAN AND ZEKE
Get down!
EXT. ALBANY - STREET NEAR DOCKS - NIGHT
Nathan ducks from another SHOT and realizes that the group has almost reached the Albany docks on the Hudson River.
NATHAN
Zeke, get as close to the water as you can!
ZEKE
Are you insane?
NATHAN
Trust me!
Nathan disentangles himself from the tarp and gathers the valises, keeping low as more SHOTS zip past. Zeke turns the wagon sharply.
EXT. ALBANY - DOCKS - WHARF - NIGHT
The wagon crashes along the wharf. Nathan stands and moves toward the water, hanging onto the back of the seat.
NATHAN
Get ready to jump!
Nora and Zeke slide over on the seat.
NATHAN
Now!
He jumps into the water. Nora and Zeke follow. The wagon keeps going down the wharf.
The Night Officer and Police Guard #2 charge around the corner onto the wharf.
EXT. ALBANY - DOCKS - UNDER THE WHARF - NIGHT
Nora and Zeke surface under the wharf. Nathan is barely visible in the shadows, hanging onto the valises and onto one of the poles that support the wharf.
Nora swims over to him and starts to speak while Zeke swims to another pole, but Nathan thrusts out a hand to silence Nora as HOOFBEATS go over the group’s heads.
NIGHT OFFICER (O.S.)
Get the wagon! I’ll look down here!
One set of HOOFBEATS goes after the wagon. The other stops, and there’s a THUD as the Night Officer dismounts. FOOTSTEPS rush across the wharf, then pause.
Clutching the poles, Zeke, Nora, and Nathan wait.
The Night Officer drops to his hands and knees to get a better look down at the water. Seeing nothing, he stands.
The CLATTER of the wagon and the horses’ HOOFBEATS, now at a walk, return and stop just above the friends’ heads.
POLICE GUARD #2 (O.S.)
Well?
NIGHT OFFICER (O.S.)
I can’t see anything--too dark.
POLICE GUARD #2 (O.S.)
We could come back with lanterns.
NIGHT OFFICER (O.S.)
They could be anywhere along these docks by now if they didn’t drown.
POLICE GUARD #2 (O.S.)
We can’t just let them go.
NIGHT OFFICER (O.S.)
True. I’ll go for more help.
Leather SQUEAKS as the Night Officer mounts and Police Guard #2 dismounts, and the HOOFBEATS and CLATTERING fade down the wharf and then down the street.
Police Guard #2 peers through the boards, sees nothing, and hurries down the wharf to keep looking.
Nathan, Zeke, and Nora sigh in relief.
ZEKE
Now what?
NATHAN
Good question.
NORA
Look over there.
She points to a nearby steamboat--the Mudcrawler--that has a rope ladder hanging over the side, low enough to reach the water. Smoke billows out of the boat’s smokestack.
EXT. "MUDCRAWLER" TOP DECK - NIGHT
The boat’s CAPTAIN and several CREWMEN work on the stern deck by lantern light. Nathan’s head appears over the railing.
NATHAN
Evening. Got room for three passengers?
EXT. HUDSON RIVER COUNTRYSIDE - DAY (MORNING)
The Mudcrawler steams on its way.
INT. "MUDCRAWLER" LOWER DECK - DAY (DAWN) - TRAVELING
Zeke and Nathan, wearing dry clothes borrowed from the crew, sleep in hammocks. Nora, also wearing sailors’ clothes, sleeps in the captain’s hammock behind a curtain.
The friends’ wet belongings are hung up or spread out across the floor to dry. Bales of cotton are stacked in the remaining space.
Nora wakes and spies her wet copy of The Campaign That Saved America spread open on the floor nearby. She sits up, picks up the book, and turns to the inscription. The ink has run so that the handwriting is no longer legible.
EXT. "MUDCRAWLER" TOP DECK - DAY (MORNING) - TRAVELING
The Captain leans against the railing, looking out over the countryside. Nora joins him, and he tips his cap.
CAPTAIN
Everything all right, miss?
NORA
Yes, thank you, Captain.
CAPTAIN
(beat)
What’ve you got there?
NORA
The Campaign That Saved America.
CAPTAIN
Which one’s that?
NORA
Saratoga. In the Revolution.
The Captain nods and returns to his observations.
Nora flips through the rest of the wet book--it’s ruined.
CAPTAIN
Must be a special book.
NORA
It was a gift from my fiancé.
CAPTAIN
Which one’s he?
NORA
The one with the cut on his chin.
CAPTAIN
When’s the big day?
When Nora doesn’t answer, the Captain gives her a raised eyebrow. Frustrated, Nora goes back to the book.
CAPTAIN
You gonna marry him or not?
NORA
(defensive)
That doesn’t concern you.
CAPTAIN
(taken aback)
So ... no?
NORA
No--yes--I don’t know. I’m so confused.
CAPTAIN
That makes two of us.
NORA
(increasingly frustrated)
I thought it was right.
A faint WHISTLING comes from the stern. The Captain, relieved to escape, heads for the wheelhouse.
CAPTAIN
’Scuse me.
He disappears around the corner. Nora leans on the railing and gazes across the water.
Zeke comes up the stairs and joins Nora.
ZEKE
Good morning.
NORA
Good morning.
ZEKE
(beat)
I think you missed your true calling in life. You would’ve made a wonderful actress.
NORA
(smiles, beat)
Is Nathan all right?
ZEKE
Still asleep.
They don’t speak for a moment.
NORA
You knew.
ZEKE
It wasn’t my secret to tell.
Another moment of silence.
FADE TO:
EXT. "MUDCRAWLER" TOP DECK - DAY (LATER) - TRAVELING
Nathan comes up the stairs. Nora gets up from where she’s sitting on a coil of rope.
NATHAN
Oh, hello.
NORA
I was beginning to wonder if you’d ever wake.
Nathan kisses Nora, but she’s hesitant in the embrace.
NATHAN
Are you all right?
NORA
(beat)
Why didn’t you tell me?
Grimacing, Nathan moves to the railing. Nora follows him.
NATHAN
I was afraid you’d react badly.
NORA
(increasingly angry)
What am I supposed to do? Pretend it doesn’t matter?
NATHAN
(increasingly angry)
No one else knows.
NORA
Your whole regiment knows.
NATHAN
And how many of them are in New Haven?
NORA
Two turned up within the last two weeks.
NATHAN
One is my best friend, and the other one wants to kill me. I’m as good as dead to the others.
NORA
Are you?
NATHAN
What?
NORA
You didn’t think it was worth mentioning that you’ve been disgraced for life. What else aren’t you telling me?
NATHAN
Now wait --
NORA
Who else out there might want to kill you or expose you?
NATHAN
Rigby doesn’t want to expose me.
NORA
He’s already called you a dangerous criminal and a deserter. Do you really think he’ll hesitate to tell people the truth if it’ll help him get to you?
NATHAN
The truth won’t help him.
NORA
(lightbulb moment)
That’s why you wanted the regiment logbook and the court records. You’d tell the truth to the police before you told it to me.
NATHAN
You’re being unfair.
NORA
I’m being unfair? How can I marry you when you keep things like this from me?
NATHAN
What bothers you more, the truth or the fact that I was afraid you’d become hysterical when I told you?
NORA
I’m not becoming hysterical!
NATHAN
Yes you are!
NORA
Then when were you going to tell me?
Angry, Nathan doesn’t answer.
NORA
You weren’t going to, were you?
NATHAN
(blowing up)
You want the truth? I was drummed out of the army for insubordination that got a man killed. I came to New Haven to start over, and it worked until Zeke came to town and couldn’t keep his mouth shut. I was coming to tell you the truth when I found Officer Johnson and Rigby attacked me. I wasn’t going to wait for Rigby or the police to come after me, so I left, and I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want to put you in danger.
Nathan glares out at the countryside.
NORA
(beat, still angry)
It’s not for you to decide what I need to know.
When Nathan finally looks up, Nora is gone.
Her engagement ring sits on the railing beside him.
Nathan clenches the ring in his hand and presses his fist to his mouth.
FADE TO:
EXT. SCHUYLERVILLE DOCKS - DAY (EVENING)
The Mudcrawler is tied up at a pier. A large sign hangs on the front of the dock office: "SCHUYLERVILLE, N. Y."
While the Captain and Crewmen unload the cotton, Nathan (now wearing his own clothes) storms down the gangplank with his valise, not glancing back.
Zeke, valise in hand, and Nora (both in their own clothes) come on deck from different directions. Zeke starts after Nathan.
ZEKE
Nathan, wait!
(to Nora)
What’s gotten into --
He looks over his shoulder as he speaks, only to realize that Nora isn’t following him and doesn’t have her valise. Zeke stops halfway down the gangplank.
NORA
Go on. He needs you.
ZEKE
(confused)
He needs you, too.
Nora looks down and folds her arms, exposing her bare ring finger for the first time. Zeke goes wide-eyed.
NORA
I’ve spoken to the captain. They’ll be sailing back to New York City once they unload their cargo. I’ll take a train home from there.
ZEKE
But you can’t --
NORA
They’re honorable men, Zeke. I’ll be fine.
Bewildered, Zeke looks around and spies Nathan going around the corner of the dock office.
ZEKE
(pleading)
Don’t make me choose.
NORA
Go!
She turns her back to him.
After a moment of hesitation, Zeke runs after Nathan.
A tear runs down Nora’s cheek.
EXT. FORT SAINT-JEAN - DAY (SUNRISE)
Arnold watches as CONTINENTAL SOLDIERS and OFFICERS canoe down the Richelieu River away from the burning Fort Saint-Jean. SUPERIMPOSE: Fort Saint-Jean, southern Quebec, Canada, summer 1776.
Arnold looks over his shoulder.
In the distance, a column of BRITISH SOLDIERS and BRITISH OFFICERS is approaching--a column far too large for Arnold’s little army to fight.
Arnold’s face darkens in angry frustration.
The Aide approaches but hesitates, trying to decide how best to get his smoldering superior to leave.
AIDE
Sir?
Finally Arnold turns and goes with the Aide to where CAPTAIN JAMES WILKINSON (18) waits with the last canoe.
EXT. TOWN OF SARATOGA - DAY (AFTERNOON)
A FARMER drives a wagon past a large wooden sign--"Welcome to Saratoga"--into the town of Saratoga. Nathan and Zeke
ride in the back of the wagon.
Though still hurt by Nora’s rejection, Nathan looks eagerly around and checks the paper in his hand.
EXT. SARATOGA BATTLEFIELD - AREA 1 - DAY (AFTERNOON)
Nathan sketches and takes notes furiously in a small notebook while Zeke helps MR. HARRIS (99) along as they walk around the battlefield.
MR. HARRIS
(points)
Right about here was the outside edge of the American camp.
NATHAN
(points)
Here?
MR. HARRIS
Yes. General Gates had his tent over there.
Nathan adds a note to his sketched map.
ZEKE
Gates?
NATHAN
The American commander.
ZEKE
(to Mr. Harris)
What were you doing here?
MR. HARRIS
Hiding in the trees, watching. Soldiers, they’re the grandest thing in the world when you’re ten years old.
Nathan and Zeke nod in understanding.
EXT. SARATOGA BATTLEFIELD - AREA 2 - DAY (AFTERNOON)
Zeke, Mr. Harris, and Nathan come to another area. Mr. Harris points out locations or paths as he talks.
MR. HARRIS
Home was that way, but the shooting started right about the time I got
(points)
to there. Scared me so stiff, I couldn’t move.
ZEKE
So you saw the entire battle?
MR. HARRIS
Well, there were two, you remember, a few weeks apart. It was the second one I saw, the whole thing, right from that very spot.
NATHAN
It’s amazing you can still remember.
MR. HARRIS
There’s some things that even time don’t erase.
(beat)
General Arnold came riding right along there, swinging his sword, yelling like a crazy man. I thought if the Hessians or the lobsters didn’t get him, his own men would just by accident.
ZEKE
The who?
NATHAN
Hessians: German mercenaries fighting for the British. Lobsters: the British--you know, red coats.
(to Mr. Harris)
Some people say General Arnold had been drinking. Do you believe that?
MR. HARRIS
Well, if that’s how he fought drunk, I’d hate to be facing him when he was sober. You boys ain’t never heard such a commotion--muskets and rifles, cannon and grapeshot, men and horses getting hit and screaming and going down left and right. And he just charged right through it like he didn’t care what happened to him. And his men, they followed him, and they took them Hessian fortifications. I don’t think they would’ve if he hadn’t been there to keep them going.
Nathan and Zeke listen, transfixed, hearing GUNFIRE, CANNON FIRE, HORSES WHINNYING, and MEN SHOUTING and SCREAMING in their minds’ ears. Nathan even forgets to take notes.
MR. HARRIS
(points)
Along about there, that’s where he got shot.
BEGIN FLASHBACK:
EXT. AVERASBOROUGH BATTLEFIELD (16 MARCH 1865) - AWAY FROM 121ST OVI LINE - DAY
A SHOT STRIKES Cal, who falls and drops his rifle.
END FLASHBACK.
EXT. SARATOGA BATTLEFIELD - AREA 2 - DAY (AFTERNOON)
Nathan catches his breath.
BEGIN FLASHBACK:
EXT. AVERASBOROUGH BATTLEFIELD (16 MARCH 1865) - AWAY FROM 121ST OVI LINE - DAY
Nathan, bleeding, supports the wounded Cal as the Snipers chase them through the trees.
END FLASHBACK.
EXT. SARATOGA BATTLEFIELD - AREA 2 - DAY (AFTERNOON)
Nathan grips his notebook, struggling to suppress memories.
BEGIN FLASHBACK:
EXT. AVERASBOROUGH BATTLEFIELD (16 MARCH 1865) - CREEK BANK - DAY
Nathan and Cal tumble into the creek.
END FLASHBACK.
EXT. SARATOGA BATTLEFIELD - AREA 2 - DAY (AFTERNOON)
Zeke touches Nathan’s arm, and Nathan gives an "I'm okay" nod. Mr. Harris doesn’t notice.
MR. HARRIS
But he was still yelling his head off, telling his men to keep going, get them Hessians. Never seen anything like it.
No one speaks for a moment.
MR. HARRIS
When I heard he’d gone over to the lobsters ... near broke my heart. He was just about everything a boy could want in a hero.
Nathan slowly nods as he comes to a conclusion.
EXT. SARATOGA BATTLEFIELD - AREA 2 - DAY (EVENING)
The beginning of a glorious sunset is visible over the treetops. Nathan gazes across the battlefield, thinking.
Zeke joins Nathan.
NATHAN
If Arnold had died here, he’d be a hero.
ZEKE
It’s hard to believe.
NATHAN
Do you know why everyone thinks of him as a traitor?
ZEKE
("duh" look)
He betrayed his country--for money, right?
NATHAN
Do you know the other reasons?
Zeke shakes his head.
NATHAN
He never got the recognition he thought he deserved for what he did here. And Congress did him some injustices with promotions and command seniority that they never fully righted--at least, not to Arnold’s satisfaction.
BEGIN FLASHBACK:
EXT. ROAD FROM ARNOLD HOME (24 SEPTEMBER 1780) - DAY
MAJOR JOHN ANDRÉ (30), Arnold’s British contact, rides down the road on horseback, wearing civilian clothes.
Suddenly three American soldiers--JOHN PAULDING (21), ISAAC VAN WART (21), and DAVID WILLIAMS (26)--step out of the underbrush along the side of the road and stop André.
After an increasingly tense discussion, André slowly dismounts. Paulding holds a rifle on André as André gingerly removes his coat.
NATHAN (V.O.)
Arnold thought the British would give him his due, so he started secretly negotiating with them to hand over Fort West Point. But then his contact, Major André, was captured by American soldiers en route from a meeting with Arnold, and when the soldiers found the papers André was carrying, the game was up.
INT. ARNOLD HOME - DINING ROOM - DAY (MORNING)
Arnold reads the Messenger’s letter. His eyes go wide, and he gets up and limps quickly out of the room.
NATHAN (V.O.)
The soldiers’ commander wasn’t sure whether he should suspect Arnold--he was a hero, after all--so the commander sent the papers to George Washington and sent Arnold a letter explaining what was going on. That gave Arnold enough time to escape before anyone realized what was happening.
END FLASHBACK.
EXT. SARATOGA BATTLEFIELD - AREA 2 - DAY (EVENING)
NATHAN
André was hanged as a spy, but the Americans never caught Arnold.
ZEKE
Too bad.
(thinks)
But it makes sense. Didn’t the Indians call Arnold "Dark Eagle"?
NATHAN
Only if you believe a certain novelist. But it fits.
ZEKE
I just don’t understand how he could put his life on the line for something and then turn his back on it. It doesn’t make sense.
NATHAN
(bitter)
Maybe it will when the people you’ve served turn their backs on you.
Zeke starts to reply, then stops.
NATHAN
I don’t condone what he did. But I understand.
ZEKE
(beat)
I don’t think the committee’s going to like your thesis.
NATHAN
All I want is to give him the credit he deserves.
(beat)
I’m going back to Albany.
ZEKE
You’re insane.
NATHAN
If all I can do is crawl away when I get knocked down, I’m no better than Arnold.
ZEKE
He turned traitor. This is completely different.
NATHAN
He got as far from the problem as he could, didn’t he? And I’m not going to be him.
ZEKE
(angry)
Is your whole family this stubborn?
Both men glare at the sunset.
ZEKE
(beat)
This isn’t because of Nora, is it?
Nathan ponders for a moment, then shakes his head.
INT. FREDERICK AND NORA’S HOUSE - PARLOR - DAY (MORNING)
Nora sits in a chair while Frederick angrily paces the room.
FREDERICK
And I come home and find you gone and no one has the slightest idea where. Do you have any idea the things that happen to women traveling alone?
Mary enters with a telegram in hand and sneaks up to Nora while Frederick’s back is turned.
MARY
(whispering)
Telegram for you, Miss Richards. Gentleman said it was urgent.
Nora takes the telegram, and Mary quickly leaves. Frederick hasn’t noticed.
FREDERICK
Robbers and drunkards and confidence men and all sorts of devilish people.
Nora looks at the telegram.
INSERT - TELEGRAM
"DONE RUNNING STOP RETURNING TO ALBANY STOP ALL MY LOVE STOP NATHAN."
BACK TO SCENE
Nora stares at the telegram, understanding--and with it, horror--breaking over her face as Frederick keeps pacing.
BEGIN FLASHBACK:
EXT. CONTINENTAL CAMPGROUND - DAY
CONTINENTAL SOLDIERS and OFFICERS and MILITIAMEN sit at unit campsites or mill around the main campground. SUPERIMPOSE: Saratoga, eastern New York, 7 October 1777.
INT. GATES’S COMMAND TENT - DAY
COLONEL DANIEL MORGAN (41) enters the command tent to find MAJOR GENERAL BENJAMIN LINCOLN (44), BRIGADIER GENERAL EBENEZER LEARNED (49), BRIGADIER GENERAL ENOCH POOR (41), and MAJOR HENRY DEARBORN (26) seated around a table. Morgan takes an empty chair.
The American commander, MAJOR GENERAL HORATIO GATES (50), sits at the head of the table. Arnold, on his feet at his seat, is livid, while Gates tries to keep calm. The others squirm inwardly.
ARNOLD
You can’t possibly think those units alone can defend our entire left flank!
LINCOLN
(hesitant)
I agree, sir--General Gates.
GATES
(thinks)
Major Dearborn, Colonel Morgan, you and your men will go to the left to assist.
ARNOLD
(blowing up)
I could find a jellyfish with more spine than you!
Gates lunges to his feet.
GATES
(blowing up)
And you, sir, will return to your tent and remain there until I order otherwise!
Speechless with shock and rage, Arnold pauses for an instant. Then, with a curt nod to his fellow officers, he storms out.
Gates resumes his seat, pretending nothing has happened. The other officers look awkwardly at each other--surely Gates has gone too far.
END FLASHBACK.
EXT. ALBANY - STREET 5 - NIGHT
The following night. Valises in hand, Zeke and Nathan walk down the dark street, avoiding ALBANY RESIDENTS and trying to look around unobtrusively.
NATHAN
(low voice)
I thought you said the hotel was on High Street.
ZEKE
(frustrated)
I thought it was.
They pause on a corner, trying to read a sign on the side of a building in the not-quite-adequate light of a nearby streetlamp.
A hunched-over TRAMP shuffles out of the shadows, startling both friends.
TRAMP
Lookin’ for somethin’, fellas? Ol’ Ted knows his way around.
ZEKE
Yes, we’re looking for --
The Tramp comes closer, and the light falls across his face.
It’s Police Guard #2.
Both sides recognize each other simultaneously. Police Guard #2 sneaks one hand into his pocket, but Zeke sees.
ZEKE
Nathan, run!
Police Guard #2 dodges as Zeke swings the valise at him.
Nathan bolts.
As Zeke stumbles past, reeling from the missed blow, Police Guard #2 yanks out a police whistle and blows several shrill BLASTS. Zeke drops the valise and comes after him.
EXT. ALBANY - STREET 6 - NIGHT
Nathan runs for his life. Police Guard #2’s whistle BLASTS behind him.
Several ALBANY OFFICERS, led by ALBANY OFFICER #1, appear at the end of the street. Maybe they’ve seen Nathan, maybe they haven’t.
ALBANY OFFICER #1
This way, boys!
Panicking, Nathan backtracks into an alley and presses against the wall. The Albany Officers run right past him.
Shaken, Nathan emerges and looks around--no one. He hesitates, unsure whether he should make good on his escape or go back to help Zeke.
EXT. ALBANY - STREET 5 - NIGHT
Zeke and Police Guard #2 wrestle furiously on the pavement.
Albany Officer #1 and the Albany Officers rush onto the scene and dive into the tussle.
Nathan rushes back around the corner
as Zeke is overpowered, handcuffed, and hauled to his feet.
Nathan stands stunned for an instant. Then, silently berating himself, he beats a hasty retreat.
EXT. ALBANY - STREET 7 - NIGHT
Nathan rounds the corner and slumps against a building, breathing hard, as agitated as if he’s just woken from another nightmare.
Frederick suddenly arrives.
FREDERICK
Nathan!
Nathan spins, clenching his fists for battle, but Frederick grabs Nathan’s shoulders.
FREDERICK
(angry)
Nathan, what happened?
Nathan freezes in shock, especially when Nora arrives.
NATHAN
What ... what are you -- ?
NORA
Are you all right?
FREDERICK
Where’s Zeke?
Nathan looks from Frederick to Nora, then nearly melts.
NATHAN
(almost whispering)
It’s my fault.
FREDERICK
(still angry)
What happened?
NATHAN
The police have him.
FREDERICK AND NORA
What?
NATHAN
We ran into an officer. Zeke attacked him so I could escape.
FREDERICK
And you left him?
Nathan wrenches free of Frederick’s grip.
NATHAN
(blowing up)
Do you think I’m proud of it?
Nora quickly steps between the men.
NORA
Stop it, both of you!
The men glare at each other, still ready to fight if they get the chance.
NORA
We have to get off the street before the police find us.
INT. ALBANY BAR - NIGHT
Nathan hunches over a table from one side of a booth, staring into his untouched drink.
Nora and Frederick sit in the opposite side of the booth with their own untouched drinks. Frederick still glowers.
NATHAN
The logbook and court records are probably here by now. Once we had them, we were going to save everyone the trouble and turn ourselves in.
NORA
What? Why?
NATHAN
They couldn’t give me to Rigby, not with the documents.
FREDERICK
They could still prosecute you for escaping and Zeke for helping you.
NATHAN
We thought they’d be more lenient once they knew why we did it.
NORA
Then what are we waiting for?
Nathan looks up at the word "we."
INT. HOTEL ALBANY - LOBBY - NIGHT
Frederick and Nora approach the deserted front desk.
Nathan hangs back, his hat pulled low, and keeps his back to the desk, pretending to examine a painting on the wall.
Nora rings the desk bell.
Levi gets up from resting on the floor behind the desk. He has a black eye and several bad scratches on his face.
LEVI
Sorry, ma’am ...
NORA
What happened to you?
Unable to restrain his curiosity, Nathan turns briefly to look at Levi, then faces away again.
LEVI
Long story.
(recognizes Nora)
Oh, ma’am--oh, no.
NORA
What? What is it?
LEVI
A courier brought your documents yesterday afternoon, but then an army officer came here last night asking about you and your friend.
NORA
Yes ... ?
LEVI
I went to see if you were in your rooms, and when I came back, he was walking away with the documents. I tried to stop him, but ...
He motions to his injuries.
Furious, Nathan knocks over a chair. Nora goes to him and takes his arm, trying to disguise her stress.
NORA
Nathan, calm down.
NATHAN
Rigby’s got the documents!
FREDERICK
Did you notify the police?
LEVI
They said they’d look into it.
NATHAN
Their word’s good for nothing.
FREDERICK
(angry again)
You’re not helping.
NATHAN
If they think Rigby’s an officer, they’ll never believe he’s a thief! They’ve got their theories, and to blazes with anything that contradicts them!
NORA
(nods)
They ignored our explanation very effectively last time.
NATHAN
(simmering)
And they’ll use Zeke to get at me.
NORA
They probably expect you to try to help him escape, the way we did with you.
NATHAN
It’ll be a trap.
LEVI
(to Nathan)
You’re the one the documents were for, aren’t you?
The adults all freeze, realizing Levi could give them away. Levi holds up his hands defensively.
LEVI
No, I believe you. You don’t look like a deserter.
NATHAN
(deep breath)
I’m sorry you were hurt on my account.
LEVI
(waves it off)
You better get out of town. The police are going to be looking for you.
NATHAN
I can’t help Zeke if I leave.
FREDERICK
(still angry)
The boy’s right, though. Even if they agreed to release Zeke in exchange for you, it’d be difficult to get to the police station without being caught en route. They won’t sacrifice Zeke if they can catch you another way.
NATHAN
Like you turning me in?
NORA
Stop it, Nathan.
FREDERICK
Mors tua, vita mea.
NORA
Frederick!
NATHAN
Will you stop with the Latin?
Frederick starts threateningly toward Nathan. Nora grabs her brother’s arm, but he pulls away.
FREDERICK
Loosely translated: if I have to turn you in to protect my family, that’s what I’ll do.
NATHAN
Just you try it.
Nora suddenly steps in front of Nathan and slaps him across the face. As he recoils and grabs his cheek, she whirls and slaps Frederick, who staggers a step.
Sudden silence. Everyone stares at Nora until she subdues her anger enough to speak.
NORA
You ought to be ashamed of yourselves. Zeke would be.
(beat)
Now think. This whole city is a trap. We need to either spring it or escape it.
NATHAN
(thinks)
What if we could persuade the police to bring Zeke somewhere outside of town?
FREDERICK
(anger returning)
But where? They’d still patrol the area, and if you arranged to meet in another city, they’d notify the local police to watch for you.
NATHAN
(thinking aloud, anger returning)
Then we strike while they’re between towns. On the train--confined areas are harder to escape from.
LEVI
You a soldier or something?
Nathan pauses, struggling not to snap at Levi. Realizing he’s touched a nerve, Levi speaks quickly.
LEVI
I want to help. I owe that "officer."
Nathan takes a deep breath and offers his hand.
NATHAN
Nathan Green.
Levi takes it.
LEVI
Levi Benton.
INT. ALBANY POLICE STATION - SERGEANT’S OFFICE - DAY (AFTERNOON)
The Front Desk Officer brings a telegram to the Sergeant, who’s talking to Rigby. Rigby wears his old private’s uniform, altered enough to look like a captain’s uniform to anyone who isn’t familiar with the difference.
FRONT DESK OFFICER
From Boston, sir.
The Sergeant reads the telegram, then hands it to Rigby.
INSERT - TELEGRAM
"WILLING TO EXCHANGE SELF FOR RELEASE OF EZEKIEL GRIFFITH STOP IF AGREEABLE MEET IN FRONT OF OLD NORTH CHURCH BOSTON NOON OCTOBER 10 STOP BRING HIM OR NO DEAL STOP NATHAN GREEN."
BACK TO SCENE
The Sergeant looks questioningly at Rigby.
EXT. ALBANY - TRAIN STATION - PLATFORM - DAY (MORNING)
Zeke, hands cuffed in front of him, is helped aboard a train by the Sergeant and Police Guard #2. Police Guard #1, ALBANY OFFICER #2, ALBANY OFFICER #3, ALBANY OFFICER #4, and Rigby climb aboard after them.
No one else is in the car. Rigby and the police are all armed and keep alert for trouble.
Farther back along the platform, Frederick and Levi watch the police party board, then climb onto another car.
INT. TELEGRAPH OFFICE - DAY
A sign on the wall reads TELEGRAPH SERVICES OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.
Nathan and Nora quickly stand as the telegraph starts BEEPING. The TELEGRAPH OPERATOR takes down the message, transcribes it into English, and hands it to Nathan.
INSERT - TELEGRAM
"VICTORIA AUT MORS STOP FREDERICK."
BACK TO SCENE
NORA
"Victory or death." They’re coming.
Nathan rolls his eyes, but he and Nora exchange tense, satisfied looks.
BEGIN FLASHBACK:
INT. ARNOLD’S TENT (7 OCTOBER 1777) - DAY
Seething, Arnold sits on his cot, listening to the sound of distant GUNFIRE.
Gates is visible in his tent, calmly working at his desk.
Suddenly Arnold lunges to his feet and grabs his hat.
EXT. GATES’S COMMAND TENT - DAY
As Gates leaves his tent, Arnold spurs his horse past in a cloud of dust. Gates watches openmouthed as his defiant subordinate heads for the battlefield.
END FLASHBACK.
EXT. SPRINGFIELD TRAIN STATION - DAY
The train pulls up to the station with a WHISTLE. A hanging sign reads "SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS."
Rigby and the police glance out the windows but see nothing to alarm them.
INT. BOSTON TRAIN - HEROES’ CAR - DAY (TRAVELING)
Nathan and Nora sit down across from Frederick and Levi. The men seem to have agreed to a tense truce.
NATHAN
What’s the situation?
FREDERICK
Zeke’s in the car directly ahead of us. Rigby and six policemen are with him.
LEVI
But there’s no one else in the car.
NATHAN
We’ll need to draw some of the police out.
He hands a gunnysack to Levi. The sack wiggles; Levi jumps and gives Nathan a startled look.
EXT. BOSTON TRAIN - HEROES’ CAR - DAY (TRAVELING)
Nathan and Frederick nonchalantly slip out the door at the back of the car. Frederick peeks in the window to make sure no one’s watching, then signals Nathan.
First Nathan, then Frederick climbs the ladder on the side of the car, and they carefully cross the roof and jump to the police’s car. Frederick barely makes it, and Nathan catches him by the arm.
INT. BOSTON TRAIN - HEROES’ CAR - DAY (TRAVELING)
Levi looks at his pocket watch and then at Nora.
She nods.
BEGIN FLASHBACK:
EXT. SARATOGA BATTLEFIELD (7 OCTOBER 1777) - STREAM - DAY
Arnold gallops up to a group of lost CONTINENTAL SOLDIERS and OFFICERS and MILITIAMEN from Learned’s command, who are taking a water break at the stream.
ARNOLD
(rallying)
The fight’s this way, boys!
Learned’s men snatch their guns and run after him.
END FLASHBACK.
INT. BOSTON TRAIN - HEROES' CAR - DAY (TRAVELING)
Gunnysack in hand, Levi approaches an ELDERLY WOMAN, who’s reading a book.
LEVI
’Scuse me, ma’am, but have you seen Archibald?
ELDERLY WOMAN
Archibald, young man?
LEVI
Yes, he’s --
Nora SCREAMS. Levi and the Elderly Woman look up to see
a garter snake in the luggage rack above Nora’s head. The Elderly Woman SHRIEKS.
LEVI
Oh, there he is!
Nora bats at the snake, knocking it out of the luggage rack and onto the floor, where it coils, HISSING.
NORA
Somebody do something! Kill it!
LEVI
No, don’t!
A BUSINESSMAN leaps up, brandishing his cane and looking around. By accident, he nearly steps on the snake, which HISSES and slithers under a seat.
PASSENGERS SCREAM as they try to escape or find the snake.
INT. BOSTON TRAIN - POLICE’S CAR - DAY (TRAVELING)
People are scrambling and falling all over in the next car.
POLICE GUARD #1
What’s going on back there?
SERGEANT
(points)
You three.
Albany Officer #2, Albany Officer #3, and Albany Officer #4 hurry out of the compartment.
INT. BOSTON TRAIN - HEROES’ CAR - DAY (TRAVELING)
The policemen enter to absolute chaos. They’re jostled by SCREAMING passengers as they try to assess the situation.
LEVI
Don’t kill him! He’s my pet!
ALBANY OFFICER #2
What’s all the commotion?
ELDERLY WOMAN
Kill it! Kill it!
NORA
Someone step on it or something!
ALBANY OFFICER #3
Step on what?
The snake slithers past his foot, and he jumps aside and knocks into Albany Officer #4, sending them both sprawling across a row of seats.
A SMOKER runs into Albany Officer #2 and drops his smoldering cigar, which hits a seat and sets the upholstery on fire, then falls to the floor and ignites the varnish on a floorboard. The flames spread rapidly.
EVERYONE
Fire!
INT. BOSTON TRAIN - POLICE’S CAR - DAY (TRAVELING)
Flames leap up past the bottoms of the windows in the passenger car. Passengers and police scramble to put out the fire, but it’s not working.
SERGEANT
(motioning)
Come on!
He and Police Guard #2 dash out of the car to help.
Rigby eyes Zeke, then takes his knife from inside his coat. Police Guard #1 looks suspiciously at Rigby.
A window SHATTERS inward on the other side of the car, and Nathan swings inside, brandishing Frederick’s cane.
ZEKE
Nathan!
Rigby and Police Guard #1 leap to their feet. Police Guard #1 FIRES his pistol. Nathan dives behind a row of seats.
Rigby spasms as if the bullet has struck him.
Police Guard #1 FIRES again, pinning Nathan down.
Gritting his teeth, Rigby motions wildly to Police Guard #1.
RIGBY
Stop it!
Hearing the strain in Rigby’s voice, Police Guard #1 stops and stares at him.
Behind the seats, Nathan looks stunned as the revelation sinks in: Rigby can’t handle the sound of gunfire.
Trying to regain control, Rigby turns in Nathan’s direction.
RIGBY
Come to give yourself up, Arn--Green?
NATHAN (O.S.)
If by "give myself up" you mean "rescue my friend," then yes.
POLICE GUARD #1
And just how are you going to do that?
NATHAN (O.S.)
It’d be no fun if I told you.
Frederick TAPS on Zeke’s window, making Zeke jump. Hanging on with one hand, Frederick motions for Zeke to open the window.
Moving as quietly as possible, Zeke slides closer to the window and struggles to open it unnoticed.
POLICE GUARD #1
I have a pistol, Green.
NATHAN (O.S.)
But you won’t use it.
POLICE GUARD #1
How do you know?
NATHAN (O.S.)
You don’t want to upset your friend. Besides, you can’t try a dead man.
RIGBY
You’re already dead, Arn--Green.
Police Guard #1 stares at Rigby, finally realizing that something’s not entirely right with his ally.
Frederick climbs in through the now-open window--but loses his balance and falls to the floor with a loud THUD.
Police Guard #1 and Rigby spin around, and Police Guard #1 tries to shoot, but the pistol MISFIRES. Spooked, Frederick scrambles under some empty seats.
Police Guard #1 tries again--another MISFIRE. He quickly examines his pistol.
Nathan jumps out of hiding and attacks with the cane. Rigby spins and parries with his knife, and the two men begin swiping and jabbing back and forth.
Police Guard #1 spins at the noise and raises his pistol but hesitates, unwilling to shoot if he might hit Rigby.
Zeke jumps up and catches Police Guard #1 around the neck with the chain of the handcuffs. Police Guard #1 drops the pistol and grabs at his neck.
BEGIN FLASHBACK:
EXT. SARATOGA BATTLEFIELD (7 OCTOBER 1777) - BREYMANNN’S REDOUBT - DAY
Arnold leads a roaring wave of CONTINENTAL SOLDIERS, OFFICERS, and MILITIAMEN--including Morgan and Dearborn--toward fortifications manned by HESSIAN SOLDIERS and OFFICERS.
ARNOLD
This way, boys! Take it!
The Americans skirt around the back of the fortifications and pour in through a gap.
Both sides FIRE in volleys and in sporadic bursts, and men fall left and right.
Arnold is everywhere, seemingly heedless of the mortal danger he’s putting himself in.
END FLASHBACK.
INT. BOSTON TRAIN - HEROES’ CAR - DAY (TRAVELING)
The flames and smoke have grown more intense. Nora, Levi, the Elderly Woman, the Businessman, the Smoker, the police, and the Passengers desperately battle the fire.
INT. BOSTON TRAIN - POLICE’S CAR - DAY (TRAVELING)
Zeke drags Police Guard #1 into his row of seats.
Frederick, shaken, crawls out to join the fight. Police Guard #1 kicks Frederick in the ribs; Frederick falls and grabs his side.
Police Guard #1 elbows Zeke hard in the stomach. Zeke doubles over, nearly pulling Police Guard #1 to the floor.
Nathan narrowly dodges a stab and lashes out with the cane. Rigby ducks, but both men stumble when the train jolts over an uneven section of track. They pause, panting.
NATHAN
This won’t bring Cal back.
RIGBY
You think I’m stupid?
NATHAN
It was my fault. I have to live with that.
RIGBY
I can fix that.
He lunges forward, and the fight resumes. Nathan whacks Rigby across the knuckles with the cane, and Rigby drops his knife with a gasp.
Nathan drops the cane and jumps on Rigby. The men struggle furiously, rolling across the floor.
INT. BOSTON TRAIN - HEROES’ CAR - DAY (TRAVELING)
SERGEANT
It’s too much! Everyone get out! Go to the next car!
Passengers scramble to the back of the car, out the door, and across the coupling to the next car.
NORA
But my brother’s in the --
Albany Officer #4 grabs her arm and begins pulling her towards the door.
ALBANY OFFICER #4
We’ll get word to him that you’re safe.
He finally gets a good look at Nora’s face and abruptly stops and tightens his grip.
ALBANY OFFICER #4
You’re Nora Richards.
NORA
Let me go!
ALBANY OFFICER #4
Sergeant, I’ve got a suspect here! Nora struggles in his grasp.
Levi, realizing that she’s in trouble, ducks under a seat and grabs the snake.
As the other policemen fight through the crowd, Levi reaches Nora and Albany Officer #4 and throws the snake, which gets caught around Albany Officer #4’s neck.
ALBANY OFFICER #4
Argh! Get it off! Get it off!
He lets go of Nora to try to dislodge the snake. Levi grabs Nora’s hand and pulls her out the door.
INT. BOSTON TRAIN - POLICE’S CAR - DAY (TRAVELING)
Rigby grabs his knife again and stabs up
and Nathan barely catches Rigby’s hand. The two men twist and roll as they struggle for the knife.
EXT. BOSTON TRAIN - HEROES’ CAR - DAY (TRAVELING)
While the other passengers try to get to the next car, Levi helps Nora onto the ladder, then follows her up.
The police stagger out of the car. Albany Officer #4 hurls the snake away ...
EXT. MASSACHUSETTS COUNTRYSIDE - DAY
... and it falls into the grass and coils again, HISSING.
INT. BOSTON TRAIN - POLICE’S CAR - DAY (TRAVELING)
Police Guard #1 frees himself and smashes Zeke over the head with his baton. Zeke collapses.
Frederick, hunching over from his sore ribs, grabs Police Guard #1’s legs. Both men fall over.
EXT. BOSTON TRAIN - HEROES’ CAR - DAY (TRAVELING)
Levi and Nora scramble across the top of their car, with the police climbing up behind them.
Nora jumps to the top of the police’s car and barely makes it. Levi follows suit.
INT. BOSTON TRAIN - POLICE’S CAR - DAY (TRAVELING)
Rigby gets control of the knife and stabs Nathan in the shoulder of his dominant arm. Nathan screams.
Rigby yanks the knife out and tries again. The knife stabs into the floor by Nathan’s wounded shoulder and catches.
Gasping, Nathan clutches Rigby’s knife wrist with both hands and looks around wildly for help.
Zeke isn’t moving. Frederick tries to disentangle himself from Police Guard #1, but the officer renews his attack.
Realizing he’s on his own, Nathan looks up at Rigby.
Rigby sneers. He’s about to win.
Nathan looks to the other side.
Police Guard #1’s dropped pistol is just within reach.
Nathan looks back at Rigby. Rigby hasn’t seen the pistol. But if Nathan lets go, Rigby will get the knife loose.
EXT. BOSTON TRAIN - POLICE’S CAR - DAY (TRAVELING)
Nora climbs down the ladder on the side of the police’s car. Levi, still on the roof, watches tensely as
the police hurry across the roof of the first car.
INT. BOSTON TRAIN - POLICE’S CAR - DAY (TRAVELING)
Nathan takes a deep breath, then suddenly lets go with one hand and grabs for the pistol.
BEGIN FLASHBACK:
EXT. SARATOGA BATTLEFIELD (7 OCTOBER 1777) - BREYMANN’S REDOUBT - DAY
Arnold gallops through the redoubt.
END FLASHBACK.
INT. BOSTON TRAIN - POLICE’S CAR - DAY (TRAVELING)
Rigby wrenches the knife from the floor and draws it back.
BEGIN FLASHBACK:
EXT. SARATOGA BATTLEFIELD (7 OCTOBER 1777) - BREYMANN’S REDOUBT - DAY
HESSIAN SOLDIER #1 and
HESSIAN SOLDIER #2 snap their muskets around.
END FLASHBACK.
INT. BOSTON TRAIN - POLICE’S CAR - DAY (TRAVELING)
Nathan seizes the pistol--no time to bring it around--and fires at the wall.
Rigby convulses, turning a would-be fatal stab into a painful slash across Nathan’s chest.
Nathan screams and fires as his arm spasms.
BEGIN FLASHBACK:
EXT. SARATOGA BATTLEFIELD (7 OCTOBER 1777) - BREYMANN’S REDOUBT - DAY
A SHOT punches through Arnold’s left thigh to the bone. He drops his saber.
More SHOTS and Arnold’s horse falls with a scream, crushing Arnold’s wounded leg against the ground and pinning him. Bone cracks, and Arnold screams.
END FLASHBACK.
INT. BOSTON TRAIN - POLICE’S CAR - DAY (TRAVELING)
Rigby falls back, drops the knife, crawls away. Nathan tries to sit up but fails, so he fires again. And again.
Rigby curls up and covers his head, shaking.
The pistol clicks, empty. Nathan drops it and clutches his wounded shoulder.
BEGIN FLASHBACK:
EXT. SARATOGA BATTLEFIELD (7 OCTOBER 1777) - BREYMANN’S REDOUBT - DAY
From different parts of the redoubt, Morgan and Dearborn sprint over to Arnold, who tries to sit up but fails.
Morgan arrives first, but Arnold pushes aside his hand.
ARNOLD
(in severe pain)
Go on, boys! Watch there, on the right!
Several MILITIAMEN turn at his warning and fire at a clump of HESSIAN SOLDIERS, killing some and forcing the rest back. The Militiamen rush off in pursuit.
Dearborn rushes up to Arnold and Morgan.
DEARBORN
How bad?
ARNOLD
The heart would’ve been better.
Morgan waves to some nearby MILITIAMEN.
MORGAN
You there, a hand!
END FLASHBACK.
INT. BOSTON TRAIN - POLICE’S CAR - DAY (TRAVELING)
The door bursts open, and Nora and Levi tumble inside. Levi trips over Rigby and falls flat on his face.
Police Guard #1 and Frederick roll into the aisle, still fighting.
The Sergeant, Police Guard #1, and the Albany Officers appear in the doorway, pistols drawn.
SERGEANT
Everyone freeze!
Everyone obeys except Rigby, who’s still trembling.
The Sergeant looks around with increasing astonishment--what on earth happened in here?--and finally holsters his pistol.
SERGEANT
(to Albany Officer #2)
See if there’s a doctor in one of the other cars.
(to Police Guard #1)
Let him up, Officer, but watch him.
Police Guard #1 obeys. Frederick gets up and carefully brushes himself off, glaring at his erstwhile opponent.
Albany Officer #2 leaves as the Sergeant rushes over to check on Nathan. Nora tries to follow, but Albany Officer #4 grasps her shoulder.
Levi sits up as Albany Officer #3 approaches. Levi’s face darkens when he recognizes Rigby, but Albany Officer #3 grabs Levi’s arm.
ALBANY OFFICER #3
Wait, I know you. You came in the other night.
LEVI
And this is the skunk that robbed me.
ALBANY OFFICER #3
You hit your head when you fell, boy?
LEVI
Check his luggage. You’ll see.
Albany Officer #3 thinks, then looks to Police Guard #2.
The Sergeant examines Nathan’s chest wound and pries Nathan’s hand away from his shoulder, making Nathan gasp.
SERGEANT
Steady.
NATHAN
(in pain)
Haven’t you done enough?
SERGEANT
I’m trying to help, Mr. Green.
He binds Nathan’s shoulder with his own handkerchief and waves to Albany Officer #4 to come help. Nora gets up and hurries ahead of the policeman.
Behind the Sergeant, Police Guard #2 enters the police’s row of seats. Frederick helps Zeke, who’s finally recovering, onto a seat.
Nora falls to her knees beside Nathan and grabs his hand.
NORA
Nathan.
POLICE GUARD #2 (O.S.)
Sergeant, look at this.
The Sergeant joins Police Guard #2. Police Guard #2 hands the Sergeant a wrapped packet addressed to Ezekiel Griffith, care of the Hotel Albany.
SERGEANT
(to Zeke)
Ezekiel Griffith?
ZEKE
That’s me.
POLICE GUARD #2
But it was in Captain Walker’s valise.
Puzzled, the Sergeant opens the packet and removes the 121st Ohio Volunteer Infantry Regiment Logbook and a small bundle of documents marked "Delaware County (Ohio) Courthouse."
ZEKE
Look under March 23, 1865.
The Sergeant flips to the right page and reads the entry.
SERGEANT
It says Private Nathan Arnold was dishonorably discharged.
ZEKE
He changed his name. Look at the papers.
The Sergeant examines the documents detailing Nathan’s name change. His eyes widen, and he looks back at the logbook, then quickly flips to another page.
Albany Officer #4 presses Nora’s shawl to the cut on Nathan’s chest, while Nora keeps holding Nathan’s hand and strokes his hair.
The Sergeant storms past the trio and crouches by Rigby, who’s finally calmed down enough to sit up. The Sergeant still has the wrapping and court papers in hand, but he brandishes the logbook, open to a page listing the regiment’s officers.
LEVI
That’s the package he stole from me.
SERGEANT
(to Rigby)
And would you care to explain how you happen to be here when Captain Samuel Walker was killed at the Battle of Chickamauga in 1863?
He snaps the book shut. Rigby catches his breath, then scowls defiantly and motions to Nathan with his head.
RIGBY
My brother’s dead because of him. I don’t regret anything.
SERGEANT
You may live to.
He motions to Albany Officer #3, who cuffs Rigby with his hands behind his back and hauls him to his feet.
SERGEANT
You’re under arrest for impersonating an officer of the United States Army, fraud, attempted murder, assault, and larceny. Put him in another row.
(to Police Guard #1)
Release them, Officer.
Albany Officer #3 shoves Rigby down the hallway, maneuvering him past the people on the floor.
Police Guard #1 unlocks Zeke’s handcuffs, and he and Police Guard #2 go to help Albany Officer #3.
The Sergeant, Levi, Zeke, and Frederick join the cluster around Nathan. Zeke is still rubbing his head, while Frederick holds his sore side.
SERGEANT
I’m deeply sorry to all of you, particularly you, Mr. Green. Our department’s done you a great injustice.
NATHAN
(in pain)
I’m getting used to it, Sergeant.
NORA
Hush.
Everyone but Nathan looks up at the sound of a DOOR OPENING.
Albany Officer #2 enters with DR. WILCOX, a Boston physician.
Nathan finally passes out.
NORA
Nathan!
SERGEANT
Hold on. The doctor’s here.
He gets up, and Nora moves over to make room.
BEGIN FLASHBACK:
INT. AMERICAN MEDICAL TENT (7 OCTOBER 1777) - DAY
Arnold lies on a table, face white and twisted, as a SURGEON examines his wounded leg. Morgan and Dearborn stand at Arnold’s other side.
SURGEON
General, this leg is beyond saving. I’ll need your permission.
ARNOLD
(in severe pain)
Denied.
SURGEON
Sir, the bone's shattered. Even if I --
MORGAN
Then do what you can.
Arnold smiles weakly at Morgan. Morgan grips his shoulder.
END FLASHBACK.
INT. MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL - DAY (EVENING)
Nathan slowly wakes up. He’s in a hospital bed, wounds bandaged, arm in a sling, and a wet cloth on his forehead.
Nora sits on one side of the bed, trying to read The Campaign That Saved America.
Zeke comes down the ward; a bump has risen on his head. As he reaches the bed, he notices that Nathan is awake.
ZEKE
(grins)
Welcome back to the land of the living.
Nora looks up sharply, drops her book, and turns to call to someone who’s out of sight.
NORA
Nurse, he’s come to.
NURSE (O.S.)
I’ll fetch Dr. Wilcox.
Zeke sits in the chair on Nathan’s other side, trying not to show the depth of his relief.
ZEKE
I told you he’d be all right.
Nora scoots closer to the bed and takes Nathan’s good hand.
NATHAN
(whispers)
Where are we?
ZEKE
Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.
NORA
But you shouldn’t talk. You need to rest.
Nathan scowls as he remembers what happened.
NATHAN
(whispers)
Rigby.
ZEKE
(grim)
At the police station downtown. When I left, everyone was arguing about whether Massachusetts or New York gets to prosecute him first.
Nathan chuckles but instantly winces, just as Dr. Wilcox arrives. The NURSE follows with a bowl of broth on a tray, sets it on the nightstand, and leaves.
DR. WILCOX
You all right?
Nathan nods. Dr. Wilcox gently shakes his good hand.
DR. WILCOX
Dr. Thomas Wilcox. I would’ve introduced myself on the train, but you were unconscious at the time.
NATHAN
(whispers)
Thank you.
DR. WILCOX
(nods)
How do you feel?
NATHAN
(whispers)
Dizzy.
Dr. Wilcox lifts the cloth, feels Nathan’s forehead, and replaces the cloth.
DR. WILCOX
Well, you’ve lost quite a bit of blood and you’re starting to fever, so that feeling is very normal.
NATHAN
(whispers)
I see.
DR. WILCOX
But you’ve got a strong constitution, so I think you’ll be back on your feet in a few days. Can you eat something?
When Nathan nods, Dr. Wilcox motions to Zeke and Nora and gently lifts Nathan. Zeke and Nora adjust the pillows to prop Nathan up, and Dr. Wilcox sets him down.
Nora puts the tray on Nathan’s lap. Nathan clumsily grasps the spoon with his good hand, but his arm trembles so badly that Nora finally takes his wrist and helps him.
NURSE (O.S.)
Dr. Wilcox?
DR. WILCOX
I’ll be back.
He leaves.
NATHAN
(whispers)
Where are Frederick and Levi?
ZEKE
Looking for a place for us to stay tonight.
(checks his watch)
And I was supposed to meet them ten minutes ago. I’ll tell them you’re awake.
He stands but hesitates, not wanting to leave before saying something he doesn’t know quite how to adequately put.
ZEKE
Thanks.
Nathan nods. After a moment, Zeke leaves.
Nathan sets down the spoon with a weary sigh.
NORA
What are you doing?
NATHAN
(whispers)
Just let me sleep.
NORA
You haven’t eaten since this morning. Here.
She begins feeding him.
INT. MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL - NIGHT
Nathan snaps awake, gasping. Frederick jumps out of his chair, nearly knocking a dimly lit lamp off the nightstand, and steadies Nathan to keep him from moving.
FREDERICK
Nathan, it’s all right. You’re all right.
Nathan takes a few deep breaths. Frederick touches Nathan’s forehead and frowns. He grabs a glass of water from the nightstand and helps Nathan drink.
FREDERICK
Where does it hurt?
NATHAN
(shakes his head, hoarse)
Nightmare. Rigby.
Frederick puts the glass aside and sits down.
FREDERICK
Hiram or Cal?
Nathan looks at him in unhappy surprise.
NATHAN
What else did Nora tell you?
FREDERICK
Everything.
NATHAN
And you’re still here?
FREDERICK
I thought you might like some company. Nora wanted to stay, but she was worn out.
NATHAN
You’re not?
Frederick shrugs, wincing a little.
NATHAN
What's wrong?
FREDERICK
Nothing.
NATHAN
And I’m Abraham Lincoln.
FREDERICK
(sighs)
I got kicked in the ribs during the fight. Dr. Wilcox said there’s nothing broken.
Neither speaks for a moment.
FREDERICK
(deep breath)
Listen ... the way I treated you in Albany ... I’m sorry. I’m a teacher; I know what it’s like to be judged on all the wrong criteria.
NATHAN
(beat)
If it’d been my family, I probably would’ve done the same thing.
Another silent moment. Frederick shifts his position, and his foot hits something on the floor. He picks up The Campaign That Saved America.
NATHAN
What’s that?
FREDERICK
(shows him)
The book you gave Nora, isn’t it?
NATHAN
Oh, no.
FREDERICK
What happened to it?
NATHAN
It must’ve jumped in the river with us in Albany. Why’d she bother keeping it?
FREDERICK
You’ll have to ask her.
Nathan considers this--maybe there’s still hope after all.
EXT. MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL - DAY (EVENING)
Nathan shakes Dr. Wilcox’s hand with his good one (his other arm is still in the sling), then leaves with Nora and Frederick. Nora keeps an arm around Nathan to steady him.
Zeke, grinning broadly, marches up the street with several sheets of paper in hand and joins his friends.
FREDERICK
What are you looking so smug about?
ZEKE
This.
He thrusts the papers at Nathan, who takes and reads them.
ZEKE
Rigby confessed to everything. The murder attempts, stealing the documents, giving the police false information, even attacking Officer Johnson back in New Haven.
NORA
Why did he do that?
NATHAN
(reading)
"I drifted around the country after the war and ended up in New Haven."
BEGIN FLASHBACK:
INT. YALE UNIVERSITY LIBRARY - NIGHT
Rigby stares at Nathan, asleep behind his stack of books.
RIGBY (V.O.)
The night I arrived, I encountered Green by chance at Yale but was forced to leave before I could be sure it was him.
EXT. NEW HAVEN STREET 2 - DAY (EVENING)
Rigby talks to Johnson, pointing to
Nathan and Nora, who are coming down the street.
Johnson nods, and Rigby heads for the bench.
RIGBY(V.O.)
The next evening, I encountered Green on the street. Officer Johnson happened to be standing nearby, so to confirm my suspicions, I told Johnson that I’d seen an armed robbery committed by a man who looked a great deal like Green. I knew Johnson would question Green, so I stayed to listen, but a carriage drove past as Green was saying his address, and I didn’t think it was wise to follow him once his burly friend arrived.
ZEKE (V.O.)
(laughs)
At least he got one thing right.
NORA (V.O.)
(laughs)
Zeke.
EXT. ALLEY - NIGHT
Rigby asks repeatedly for something, and when Johnson refuses, Rigby grabs him by the collar with both hands.
RIGBY (V.O.)
I found Johnson later that night and asked for Green’s address. When Johnson wouldn’t tell me, I knocked him unconscious and took his notebook.
EXT. ALLEY - NIGHT (LATER)
Rigby heads down the alley, only to find Nathan kneeling by Johnson’s body.
RIGBY (V.O.)
I realized Johnson was a liability, so I went back to kill him but found another man by the body. He tried to go for help, so I had to stop him.
EXT. ALLEY - NIGHT (LATER)
In the light of Dr. Dewey’s lantern, Nathan is now on top of Rigby, who has his arm around Nathan’s neck. Dr. Dewey says something.
Rigby stiffens for an instant, then grabs for Nathan’s left hand. Unable to pull Nathan’s hand completely off Rigby’s choking arm, Rigby gets his thumb under Nathan’s palm and feels the scar.
RIGBY (V.O.)
It wasn’t until I heard his name and felt the scar on his palm that I knew I was fighting Green.
END FLASHBACK.
EXT. MASSACHUSETTS GENERAL HOSPITAL - DAY (EVENING)
NATHAN
(reading)
"When he escaped, I hid for several hours to avoid the police, then went to Green’s home. He didn’t come out, but his fiancée did, and I followed her to the train station."
FREDERICK
Where’d he get the uniform?
NATHAN
It was his old one, just altered a little.
(reads more)
And he forged a commission for himself.
ZEKE
If any of the Albany police had ever been soldiers, they would’ve seen right through him.
NATHAN
(shakes his head)
All that just to get at me.
NORA
And he very nearly succeeded.
NATHAN
(beat)
Will the police need us to testify?
ZEKE
They said they’d send word. And they sent two officers to New Haven last night to clear you of the assault on Officer Johnson.
NATHAN
Is he going to be all right?
ZEKE
Apparently the doctors think so.
Nathan lets out his breath.
FREDERICK
Did Levi catch his train?
ZEKE
Yes. I got the tickets for tomorrow morning, too.
FREDERICK
Wonderful.
Nathan takes a deep breath.
NORA
Are you all right?
NATHAN
Lots to think about. Will you go for a walk with me?
Nora looks to Frederick, who nods.
EXT. OLD NORTH CHURCH (BOSTON) - DAY (SUNSET)
Nathan and Nora sit down to rest on a wall in front of the Old North Church and gaze up at the spire.
NORA
"He said to his friend, 'If the British march / By land or sea from the town to-night, / Hang a lantern aloft in the belfry arch / Of the North Church tower as a signal light.'"
NATHAN
"'One if by land, and two if by sea; / And I on the opposite shore will be, / Ready to ride and spread the alarm / Through every Middlesex village and farm, / For the country folk to be up and to arm.'"
They chuckle.
NORA
Do you think the Founding Fathers knew what they were starting?
NATHAN
I think they had a notion, but I doubt they had any idea what it would become.
NORA
Many things seem to happen that way.
NATHAN
Like what?
NORA
I never dreamed this trip would turn out the way it did. Prison escapes and mysterious telegrams and fights ... nearly to the death ...
Nathan gently turns her face toward him.
NATHAN
I don’t want you to worry about that anymore.
NORA
I don’t either.
NATHAN
Rigby can’t hurt me again, not where he’s going, and there’s no reason for anyone else to hold a grudge against me.
NORA
But if there were, would you tell me?
Nathan hesitates, then suddenly stiffens.NORA
What is it?
NATHAN
Nothing.
Nora gives him a penetrating look. Finally Nathan sighs and smiles ruefully.
NATHAN
With all the excitement, I forgot to pay Mrs. Buckley my rent for this month.
Nora bursts out laughing.
NATHAN
(sobering)
But that's the only thing I know of that anyone could hold against me now. I give you my word.
Nora takes his hand, pauses as she realizes how warm his skin is, and touches his forehead.
NATHAN
I’m fine, Nora.
NORA
On the inside?
Nathan sighs heavily and looks away.
NATHAN
There are wounds, and then there are scars.
NORA
(thinks)
But not all scars disfigure.
Nathan looks at her, still hardly daring to hope.
NATHAN
When did you become a philosopher?
NORA
Since I received your telegram from Saratoga.
NATHAN
What did I say, again?
NORA
"Done running. Returning to Albany. All my love."
NATHAN
How eloquent of me.
NORA
I’d been so angry at you, and then I read that and went half out of my mind with worry.
NATHAN
I’m sorry.
NORA
No, I’m glad you sent it.
Nathan waits, almost holding his breath.
NORA
I understand why you kept your past from me. I was wrong to judge you. I’m sorry.
NATHAN
No one should have to endure what I’ve put you through. I should’ve told you the truth from the start.
NORA
It’s an awful burden to have to carry alone.
NATHAN
Few people are willing to share it.
NORA
I am.
Nathan turns to her, finally letting hope take hold.
NORA
I know it’s incredibly presumptuous after what I’ve done to you....
Nathan takes her hand and kisses it but doesn’t let go when he’s finished.
NATHAN
(deep breath)
If my past comes out again, there’s a good chance my career will be over.
NORA
People will think what they’ll think. It wasn’t your career I fell in love with.
Nathan releases her hand and slowly takes her engagement ring from his pocket.
NATHAN
Then ... may I ask you again to marry me?
NORA
You may ... and I will.
Nathan slips the ring onto her finger, and they embrace as well as they can and kiss.
NORA
You need to rest.
NATHAN
Yes, ma’am.
They leave, arm in arm but also hand in hand.
FADE OUT.
THE END
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