The Patriot Page #4

CHARLOTTE:

Come, come, inside, wait until you

see what I have...

THE CHILDREN:

(simultaneous)

Presents! For me? What do you

have?

CHARLOTTE:

Inside, inside...

Charlotte sweeps past Marion who smiles and follows her

into the house.

INT. PARLOR - CHARLOTTE'S HOUSE - DAY

Marion watches as Charlotte finishes handing out presents.

Susan plays with a new doll. William has half-a-dozen new

spinning tops, skimming around the floor. Margaret holds

a new dress up to herself. Samuel, Nathan and Thomas tear

into packages holding platoons of lead soldiers. Gabriel

looks through a new book.

Charlotte sees Marion watching her, rises and joins him at

the doorway.

MARION:

You look well, Charlotte.

CHARLOTTE:

As do you.

Suddenly Thomas and Samuel race through the doorway,

forcing Marion and Charlotte together, their bodies close.

They step back and exchange warm but uneasy smiles.

The moment is broken by the SOUND OF CHILDREN. Marion and

Charlotte gratefully turn their attention back to them.

EXT. CHARLESTON SQUARE - NIGHT

Down the block from the Motte house. A yelling crowd of

Sons of Liberty is massed around a Liberty Tree from which

hang dozens of glowing lanterns. Most of the men in the

crowd are drunk. Vendors sell rum, ale, food and banners

emblazoned with a coiled snake and the legend, "Don't

Tread On Me." Scores of on-lookers, including respectable

people, as well as street urchins, whores and drunkards,

watch the proceedings.

Several Sons of Liberty string up effigies of King George

III and Governor Wilmington. They light the effigies on

fire. As they begin to blaze, the crowd cheers.

EXT. CHARLOTTE'S BALCONY - NIGHT

Marion's children, except Gabriel, stand on the balcony

watching the mob. Marion steps out onto the balcony.

MARION:

Inside, all of you...

The children turn to Marion with stricken expressions.

Marion relents.

MARION:

Very well.

The children turn back to the mob. Marion joins them.

THOMAS:

Look! There's Gabriel!

They see Gabriel making his way through the crowd. He

sees them and waves, then enters the house.

A moment later Charlotte steps out onto the balcony and

sees:

IN THE SQUARE, a pair of drunk Sons of Liberty, pull down

one of the smoldering effigies, cut off its head, then

start hacking at it's groin with a sword.

Appalled, Charlotte shoots a glare at Marion and snaps at

the children.

CHARLOTTE:

Children, inside! All of you!

Right now.

The children start to protest, but a glance at Charlotte's

resolute expression makes them think better of it. They

file into the house. Charlotte shoots a glare at Marion

and shoos the children inside. Gabriel steps out and

joins them.

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