Plays by Alan Richardson

Telltale

THOMAS  Robert, I think I know you well. I know you don't take sides.
ROBERT  I can't. Because of my profession.
THOMAS  I understand. But you're still loyal to the cause?
ROBERT  Sympathetic, I'll say.
THOMAS  That's good enough. The cause needs every supporter it can muster. And I know I can trust you. I'll tell you straight; the rising has begun. In the highlands. The Earl of Mar has raised the clans. Already he has an army.
ROBERT  How large?
THOMAS  Almost a thousand strong.
ROBERT  Only a thousand....
THOMAS  Hundreds more are joining every day. And we've been promised the support of the English Jacobites.
ROBERT  Your army's marching south?
THOMAS  Soon. I daren't tell you everything. But I can tell you there'll be a French fleet with weapons and troops.
ROBERT  Sailing to Scotland?
THOMAS  It's been promised.
ROBERT  Another promise?
THOMAS  My brother, always the sceptic. What if I told you the King himself will be coming?
ROBERT  When?
THOMAS  Very soon. After his loyal subjects have secured his capital.
ROBERT  That's a daunting task. Troops outside the city and volunteers patrolling the streets.
THOMAS Volunteers? Traitors, you mean. Imagine honest men of Edinburgh turning against their true King and serving the wee German lairdie.
ROBERT  Thomas, they're merchants and traders. They've prospered thanks to the union. They've no reason to welcome back the Stuarts.
THOMAS  We'll teach them. There's a plan, my plan, in fact. Suppose I told you the castle is virtually ours.
ROBERT  The castle! But how? There's a garrison....
THOMAS  No more than a hundred men.
ROBERT  Still enough to withstand a siege.
THOMAS  No siege. That's the value of my plan. Instead, a surprise attack over the walls in darkness. We've men on the inside pledged to help us. A sergeant and two sentries.
ROBERT  Jacobites?
THOMAS  No, but they've been suitably rewarded.
ROBERT  Bribed?
THOMAS  Call it what you will.
ROBERT  And your plan depends on such men.
THOMAS  I know them! Don't forget I once served as an ensign in that garrison. I know the easiest section of wall to scale. When the sentries are changed. All they need do is lower ropes from the walls. We'll be ready below to attach our ladders to their ropes. Then we're over the wall.
ROBERT  And who is "we"?
THOMAS  I have fifty local men. All eager for the venture. I'll admit they're not trained soldiers, but they have every incentive.
ROBERT  A suitable reward?
THOMAS  A commission in King James's army.... and a hundred guineas.
ROBERT  Thomas, you're not thinking of the risk.
THOMAS  I'm thinking of the prize. Inside that castle is enough arms and munitions to equip an army. And thousands of pounds in money. Once I've secured the castle, I light a signal beacon that will be seen over in Fife. The message will be relayed and Mar will march south. I tell you, Robert, we can't fail. My plan is foolproof. Everything is almost ready.
ROBERT  Almost?
THOMAS  With one important exception. With surprise on our side, I don't foresee any casualties, unless the garrison are foolish enough to resist. But there's always that slight chance of a mishap, an accident. As a precaution, I've been ordered to recruit a medical man, a doctor. I know I should have asked you straightaway, but I wanted you to know the facts first.
ROBERT  You want me? As your doctor?
THOMAS  You're the man.
ROBERT  But I'm no dyed-in-the-wool Jacobite. Surely you have others more.... sympathetic.
THOMAS  None I could trust better than my own flesh and blood.

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