Still Valley At 20,000 Feet by Mike Burns (my reading book .TXT) 📖

SGT. PARADINE (staring at one book, then the other) No matter...Tom. It doesn’t change what I’m gonna do.

Sgt Paradine puts the smaller book back in his pocket. He opens Teague’s book, and starts to read aloud (AUDIO FADE OUT, SCENE FADE OUT).

END OF ACT ONE


ACT II

INT. LOOKING DOWN LONG CORRIDOR IN AN OLD STONE SPANISH FORTRESS, WITH SUNLIGHT STREAMING IN THROUGH BARRED WINDOW IN THE EXIT DOOR. AT ITS END, CAMERA MOVING SLOWLY TOWARD IT. MID-MORNING


PARADINE(VOICEOVER)
Mr. President, Mr. Lincoln. It’s not often I get to address the two o’ you. A big honor for a Virginia farm boy, I will admit.

PRESIDENT JEFFERSON DAVIS (VOICEOVER)
I must confess, I too am swept up by the grandeur of this moment. I could never hope to meet a more worthy adversary, Mistuh Lincoln. I hope this summer’s day finds you healthy and in good spirits. I hope the hospitality of the state of Georgia is acceptable, sir, and that it will be memorable for you, as it is for Ser--Mr. Paradine.

ABRAHAM LINCON(VOICEOVER)
Gentlemen, I suppose I must express some token amount of thanks for the fact that you continue to allow me to go on living. Having expressed it, I now feel free to say that I consider my detention here illegal, just as I consider the continued existence of your supposed “nation” illegal and contrary to the laws and the essential spirit of the American constitution. I must request that you release me and transport me back to Washington, or at least refrain from hindering my return under my own means. I know full well you won’t grant my request, Mr. Davis. But perhaps you will at least consider granting another request--that you feed me whatever is standard prison fare in Georgia, and do not serve me again with “breakfast al fresco,” as you call it. It’s just not meet or proper that Union soldiers are undoubtedly still languishing in your prison camps while their commander-in-chief is feted in such a luxurious manner. And, of course, my original request still stands--that you, if you have any shred of American decency left in your souls and in your institutions, give me my right of due process and a speedy trial, even if the verdict be guilty and the sentence be hanging. Does the Confederacy no longer value these things?

PRESIDENT DAVIS(VOICEOVER)
Mr. Lincoln, I am most regretful that the mere fact of your detention is one you find onerous. I have no wish to impose any discomfort upon you whatsoever, whether physical or moral. But the moral discomfort you feel is of your own makin‘, and beyond my power to alleviate. The special circumstances of your capture and the political circumstances prevailin’ in our two countries make it impossible for me to release you, OR to try you at this time. An’ sentencin’ you to death would be the most egregious breach of morality. In due course, I judge there will be a fitting time for your release and return to YOUR OWN country. Consider it to be the rulin’ of the highest court, one consisting in the unitary executive authority of the Confederacy, that has sentenced you to at least ten years’ time.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN(VOICEOVER)
Sophistry to whitewash creeping autocratic practices, Mr. Davis? Given your countrymen’s (and I use the term loosely) desire to let states’ rights prevail, I wonder what the government of the state of Georgia--for instance--would think of your “unitary (CONTINUED) ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
ABRAHAM LINCOLN (VOICEOVER)
executive court” and its broadly-defined powers? Not very much, I suspect!

PAN BACK to show the three men and the two guards escorting them, reaching the door at corridor’s end, door opening, and the whole party stepping outside into bright sunlight. One is dressed in white, with a white hood. The door shuts behind them.

FOCUS ON THE THREE MEN, STANDING IN FRONT OF DOOR WITH THE WHITEWASHED STONE OF THE BUILDING FRAMING THEM.

Outside in the sunlight, Paradine, the one hooded and dressed in white now, is squinting painfully against the sun’s brightness. His hood has a peaked crown, and openings for eyes and mouth. He also carries a leather briefcase.

Blinking against the sunlight himself, President Lincoln makes condescending note of Paradine’s attire. He is moved to comment on it.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN
Mr. Paradine, is it? Sir, why do you wear such ludicrous garb? I suppose it is of little consequence, as you seem to have obtained remunerative employment and are in no danger of losing it. Still, I must pose the question--why wear such a thing? You appear ready to attend some European monarch’s costumed ball. Is Mr. Davis intent upon imitating them in this respect? What’s next? His coronation as king?

President Davis seems no more eager to answer this question than the previous one. Paradine answers as they all amble toward an outdoor dinette set, complete with linen table cloth, silver and wine goblets.

PARADINE
Well, Mr. Lincoln, that’s a bit of a story. I will tell you, if you really want to hear it.

PRESIDENT DAVIS (interrupting briefly)
If you gentlemen will seat yourselves, I’ll go get the wine and the servants will bring our breakfast out (departs to right). By the way, Mr. Lincoln, I see my tailor has already visited you. I hope the suit is to your likin’. He’ll have a couple more made in the next day or so.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN(sitting down)
It’s actually rather well-done, Mr. Davis. Thank you.

Lincoln turns to Paradine as President Davis strides away.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN
Well, why not tell me the story of your peculiar mode of dress, Mr. Paradine? Leisure time is something I have no shortage of these days, galling as that is to my soul.

PARADINE (also sitting)
All right, Mr. Lincoln. The truth is, I come down with an ailment after I had a near-brush with an unexploded shell, the day before we were supposed to head up to Gettysburg. I think it had somethin’ to do with my affliction. My skin and my eyes just have a hard time bearin’ sunlight ever since then, Mr. President.

ABRAHAM LINCOLN
That was right around the same time as the calamity that overtook the garrison in (CONTINUED)
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ABRAHAM LINCOLN