Barry Lyndon Page #4

DOROTHY:

Ah, you men, you men, John, your

passion is not equal to ours. We

are like -- like some plant I've

read of -- we bear but one flower,

and then we die!

CAPTAIN BEST:

Do you mean you never felt an

inclination for another?

DOROTHY:

Never, my John, but for thee! How

can you ask me such a question?

Raising her hand to his lips.

CAPTAIN BEST:

Darling Dorothea!

Roderick rushes into view, drawing his little sword.

RODERICK (V.O.)

I pulled out a knot of cherry-

colored ribbons, which she had given

me out of her breast, and which

somehow I always wore upon me, and

flung them in Captain Best's face,

and rushed out with my little sword

drawn.

RODERICK:

She's a liar -- she's a liar,

Captain Best! Draw, sir, and defend

yourself, if you are a man!

Roderick leaps at Captain Best, and collars him, while

Dorothy makes the air echo with her screams.

Captain Grogan and Mysie hasten up.

Though Roderick is a full growth of six feet, he is small

by the side of the enormous English captain.

Best turns very red at the attack upon him, and slips back

clutching at his sword.

Dorothy, in an agony of terror, flings herself round him,

screaming:

DOROTHY:

Captain Best, for Heaven's sake,

spare the child -- he is but an

infant.

CAPTAIN BEST:

And ought to be whipped for his

impudence, but never fear, Miss

Dugan, I shall not touch him, your

favorite is safe from me.

So saying, he stoops down and picks up the bunch of

ribbons, which Roderick had flung at Dorothy's feet, and

handing it to her, says in a sarcastic tone:

CAPTAIN BEST:

When ladies make presents to

gentlemen, it is time for other

gentlemen to retire...

DOROTHY:

Good heavens, Best! He is but a boy

and don't signify any more than my

parrot or lap-dog. Mayn't I give a

bit of ribbon to my own cousin?

RODERICK:

(roaring)

I'm a man, and will prove it.

CAPTAIN BEST:

You are perfectly welcome, miss, as

many yards as you like.

DOROTHY:

Monster! Your father was a tailor,

and you are always thinking of the

shop. But I'll have my revenge, I

will! Roddy, will you see me

insulted?

RODERICK:

Indeed, Miss Dorothy, I intend to

have his blood as sure as my name's

Roderick.

CAPTAIN BEST:

I'll send for the usher to cane you,

little boy, but as for you, miss, I

have the honor to wish you a good

day.

Best takes off his hat with much ceremony, and makes a low

bow, and is just walking off, when Michael, Roderick's

cousin, comes up, whose ear has likewise been caught by

the scream.

MICHAEL:

Hoity-toity! John Best, what's the

matter here?

CAPTAIN BEST:

I'll tell you what it is, Mr. Dugan.

I have had enough of Miss Dugan here

and your Irish ways. I ain't used

to 'em, sir.

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