Barry Lindon Read online

  CAPTAIN GALGENSTEIN

  Do you want to see the loveliest woman in Europe?

  Roderick smiles.

  CAPTAIN GALGENSTEIN

  Ah! You sly rogue, I see that will influence you.

  RODERICK

  The place seems more a farm than an inn-yard.

  CAPTAIN GALGENSTEIN

  The people are great farmers, as well as inn-keepers.

  They enter by a great gate into a court, walled round, and at on end of which is the building, a dingy ruinous place.

  A couple of covered wagons are in the courtyard; their horses are littered under a shed hard by.

  Lounging about the place are some men, and a pair of sergeants in the Prussian uniform, who both touch their hats to the captain.

  The inn has something foreboding about it, and the men shut the great yard-gates as soon as they enter.

  CAPTAIN GALGENSTEIN

  (explaining the gate)

  Parties of French horsemen are about the country, and one cannot take too many precautions against such villains.

  The two sergeant take charge of the horses; the captain orders one of them to take Roderick's valise to his bedroom.

  Roderick promises the sergeant a glass of schnapps for his pains.

  They enter into supper.

  INT. GERMAN INN - LATE AFTERNOON

  A dish of fried eggs and bacon is ordered from a hideous old wench that comes to serve them, in place of the lovely creature which had been expected; and the captain, laughing, says:

  CAPTAIN GALGENSTEIN

  Well, our meal is a frugal one, but a soldier has many a time a worse.

  Taking off his hat, sword-belt, and gloves, with great ceremony, Galgenstein sits down to eat. Roderick puts his weapons securely on the old chest of drawers where the captain's is laid.

  The hideous old woman brings in a pot of very sour wine, at which, and at her ugliness, Roderick feels a considerable ill-humor.

  RODERICK

  (when she leaves)

  Where's the beauty you promised me?

  CAPTAIN GALGENSTEIN

  (laughing and looking hard at Roderick)

  It was my joke. I was tired, and did not care to go farther. There's not prettier woman here than that. If she won't suit your fancy, my friend, then you must wait awhile.

  This increases Roderick's ill-humor.

  RODERICK

  (sternly)

  Upon my word, sir, I think you have acted very coolly.

  CAPTAIN GALGENSTEIN

  I have acted as I think fit. Sir, I'm a British officer.

  CAPTAIN GALGENSTEIN

  It's a lie! You're a deserter! You're an impostor, sir; Your lies and folly have confirmed this to me. You pretend to carry dispatches to a general who has been dead these ten months; you have an uncle who is an ambassador and whose name you don't know. Will you join and take the bounty, sir, or will you be given up?

  RODERICK

  Neither! Springing at him like a tiger.

  But, agile as he is, Galgenstein is equally on his guard. He takes two pistols out of his pockets, fires one off, and says, from the other end of the table where he stands dodging Roderick, as it were.

  CAPTAIN GALGENSTEIN

  Advance a step, and I send this bullet into your brains!

  The door is flung open, and the two sergeants enter, armed with musket and bayonet to aid their captain.

  The game is up. Roderick flings down a knife with which he had armed himself, for the old hag, on bringing in the wine, had removed his sword.

  RODERICK

  I volunteer.

  EXT. A ROAD - DAY

  Prussian troops on the march. Roderick is now one of them.

  Captain Galgenstein rides by.

  RODERICK (V.O.)

  At the close of the Seven Years' War, the Prussian army, so renowned for its disciplined valor, was officered and under-officered by native Prussians, it is true, but was composed for the most part of men hired or stolen, like myself, from almost every nation in Europe. The deserting to and fro was prodigious.

  EXT. A FIELD - DAY

  Prussian punishment gauntlet.

  RODERICK (V.O.)

  The life the private soldier led was a frightful one to any but the men of iron courage and endurance. The punishment was incessant.

  EXT. VARIOUS RURAL LOCATIONS - DAY

  RODERICK (V.O.)

  I was not near so unhappy, in spite of all, as I had been on my first enlisting in Ireland. At least, there will be no one of my acquaintance who will witness my shame, and that is the point which I have always cared for most.

  Rape, pillage and burn.

  Brief thematic repeat of British army version.

  RODERICK (V.O.)

  I reasoned with myself thus: "Now you are caught, there is no use in repining -- make the best of your situation, and get all the pleasure you can out of it. There are a thousand opportunities of plunder, offered to the soldier in war time, out of which he can get both pleasure and profit; make use of these, and be happy."

  EXT. BATTLEFIELD - FRAGMENT

  Prussians against Austrians, or French, or Saxons. Roderick fighting.

  RODERICK (V.O.)

  I do not intend to make a history of battles in the Prussian any more than in the English service. I did my duty in them as well as another, and there was not a braver, cleverer, handsomer, and, I must own, wickeder soldier in the Prussian army.

  EXT. BATTLEFIELD - ACTION - DAY

  RODERICK

  I had formed myself to the condition of the proper fighting beast; on a day of action, I was savage and happy.

  Roderick saves Captain Galgenstein's life.

  EXT. FIELD - DAY

  Roderick is decorated by Colonel Bulow for his heroism in saving Captain Galgenstein.

  Colonel Bulow gives Roderick two Frederic d'or in front of the regiment.

  COLONEL BULOW

  You are a gallant soldier, and have evidently come of good stock; but you are idle, dissolute, and unprincipled; you have done a deal of harm to the men; and, for all your talents and bravery, I am sure you will come to no good.

  RODERICK

  I hope Colonel Bulow is mistaken regarding my character. I have fallen into bad company, it is true; but I have only done as other soldiers have done; and, above all, I have never had a kind friend and protector before, to whom I might show that I was worthy of better things. The Colonel may say I am a ruined lad, and send me to the devil; but be sure of this, I would go to the devil to serve the regiment.

  Captain Galgenstein looks pleased with Roderick's performance.

  BERLIN - 1763

  RODERICK (V.O.)

  Soon after the war ended, our regiment was garrisoned in the capital, the least dull, perhaps, of all the towns of Prussia; but that does not say much for its gaiety.

  INT. ANTE-ROOM - CAPTAIN GALGENSTEIN'S OFFICE - DAY

  Roderick enters and approaches the Captain's sergeant.

  RODERICK

  Private Roderick James. First Hanoverian Guards. Captain Galgenstein sent for me.

  PRUSSIAN SERGEANT

  You may wait.

  RODERICK

  Thank you, sir.

  Roderick stands stiffly. We can make out the sound of loud talking behind the closed door.

  Enter a private huffing and puffing.

  PRIVATE

  Sergeant, the wagon has arrived with the Captain's furniture, but the driver says he is not supposed to unload it. Is it possible for you to talk to him?

  Exit the sergeant, muttering. Roderick, now alone in the office, walks closer to the door so that he can hear what is being said.

  MINISTER GALGENSTEIN (O.S.)

  Give him his discharge! Bon Dieu! You are a model of probity! You'll never succeed to my place, my dear nephew, if you are no wiser than you are just now. Make the fellow as useful to you as you please. You say he has a good manner and a frank countenance, that he can lie with assurance, and fight, you say, on a pin
ch. The scoundrel does not want for good qualities. As long as you have the regiment in terrorem over him, you can do as you like with him. Once let him loose, and the lad is likely to give you the slip. Keep on promising him; promise to make him a general, if you like. What the deuce do I care? There are spies enough to be had in this town without him.

  Roderick hears the sergeant returning and walks back to the door.

  Then the office door opens, Captain Galgenstein looks out, sees Roderick, smiles and say:

  CAPTAIN GALGENSTEIN

  Good morning, Private James. Please come in. I should like you to meet my uncle, Herr Minister of Police Galgenstein.

  RODERICK

  How do you do, sir?

  The Minister nods.

  RODERICK (V.O.)

  The captain was the nephew and heir of the Minister of Police, Herr Galgenstein, a relationship which, no doubt, aided in the younger gentlemen's promotion.

  CAPTAIN GALGENSTEIN

  Your loyalty to me and your service to the regiment has pleased me very well -- and now there is another occasion on which you may make yourself useful to us; if you succeed, depend on it, your reward will be your discharge from the army, and a bounty of 100 guineas.

  RODERICK

  What is the service, sir?

  CAPTAIN GALGENSTEIN

  There is lately come to Berlin a gentleman in the service of the Empress Queen, who calls himself the Chevalier de Belle Fast, and wears the red riband and star of the pope's order of the Spur. He is made for good society, polished, obliging, a libertine, without prejudices, fond of women, of good food, of high play, prudent and discreet.

  The Captain smiles at Roderick.

  CAPTAIN GALGENSTEIN

  He speaks Italian and French indifferently; but we have some reason to fancy this Monsieur de Belle Fast is a native of your country of Ireland, and that he has come here as a spy.

  The Captain rises and begins to pace back and forth.

  CAPTAIN GALGENSTEIN

  Naturally, your knowledge of English makes you an ideal choice to go into his service. Of course, you will not know a word of English; and if the Chevalier asks as to the particularity of your accent, say you are Hungarian. The servant who came with him will be turned away today, and the person to whom he has applied for a faithful fellow will recommend you.

  Roderick nods.

  CAPTAIN GALGENSTEIN

  You are a Hungarian; you served in the army, and left on account of weakness in the loins. He gambles a great deal, and wins. Do you know the cards well?

  RODERICK

  Only a very little, as soldiers do.

  CAPTAIN GALGENSTEIN

  I had thought you more expert. You must find out if the Chevalier cheats. He sees the English and Austrian envoys continually, and the young men of either ministry sup repeatedly at his house. Find out what they talk of, for how much each plays, especially if any of them play on parole. If you are able to, read his private letters, though about those which go to the post, you need not trouble yourself -- we look at them there. But never see him write a note without finding out to whom it goes, and by what channel or messenger. He sleeps with the keys of his dispatch-box with a string around his neck -- twenty frederics, if you get an impression of the keys.

  MINISTER GALGENSTEIN

  Does this assignment interest you?

  RODERICK

  Yes, Minister, I am interested in any work in which I can be of service to Captain Galgenstein.

  The Minister studies Roderick, coldly.

  EXT. CHEVALIER DE BELLE FAST'S HOUSE - BERLIN - DAY

  Roderick, now dressed in civilian clothes, admires a beautiful carriage, waiting at the door. Then he enters.

  INT. CHEVALIER DE BELLE FAST'S APARTMENT - DAY

  CHEVALIER

  You are the young man who M. de Seebach recommended?

  RODERICK

  Yes, sir. Here is my letter.

  Roderick bows, and hands him a letter from that gentleman, with which the Captain had taken care to provide him.

  As the Chevalier reads the letter, Roderick has the leisure to examine him.

  He is a man of sixty years of age, dressed superbly, wearing rings, diamonds and laces.

  One of his eyes is closed with a black patch, and he wears a little white and red paint, and a pair of moustachios, which fall over his lip.

  The Chevalier is seated at a table near the window to read the letter.

  CHEVALIER

  Your name is Lazlo Zilagyi?

  RODERICK

  Yes, sir.

  CHEVALIER

  You come highly recommended by Herr Seebach.

  RODERICK

  Herr Seebach was a very kind employer.

  CHEVALIER

  For whom else have you worked?

  RODERICK

  No one, sir. Before that I served in the army but had to leave due to weakness of the loins.

  CHEVALIER

  Who else can give me information about you?

  RODERICK

  Only the agency of servants.

  The Chevalier puts the letter down, looks at Roderick for a few seconds, and then smiles.

  CHEVALIER

  You will do. I will give you 30... a day. I do not provide your clothing; you will sleep at home, and you will be at my orders every morning at seven o'clock.

  He notices Roderick begin to tremble and look peculiar.

  CHEVALIER

  Is there something wrong? He goes up to Roderick.

  RODERICK (V.O.)

  It was very imprudent of me; but when I saw the splendor of his appearance, the nobleness of his manner, I felt it impossible to keep disguise with him. You, who have never been out of your country know little what it is to hear a friendly voice in captivity; and there's a many a man that will understand the cause of the burst of feeling which was about to take place.

  The Chevalier takes Roderick by the shoulder.

  RODERICK

  (as he speaks, bursting into tears)

  Sir, I have a confession to make. I am an Irishman, and my name is Roderick James. I was abducted into the Prussian army two years ago, and now I have been put into your service by my Captain and his uncle, the Minister of Police, to serve as a watch upon your actions, of which I am to give information to the same quarter. For this odious service, I have been promised my discharge, and a hundred guineas.

  Sobbing, Roderick falls into his arms.

  CHEVALIER

  The rascals! They think to catch me, do they? Why, young man, my chief conspiracy is a faro-bank. But the king is so jealous, that he will see a spy in every person who comes to his miserable capital, in the great sandy desert here.

  EXT. BERLIN - PARK - DAY

  Roderick and the Chevalier walking.

  RODERICK (V.O.)

  And I think he was as much affected as I was at thus finding one of his kindred; for he, too, was an exile from home, and a friendly voice, a look, brought the old country back to his memory again, and the old days of his boyhood.

  CHEVALIER

  I'd give five years of my life to see the old country again, the greenfields, and the river, and the old round tower, and the burying place.

  EXT. BERLIN - STREET - DAY

  Roderick and the Chevalier walking.

  CHEVALIER

  My lad, I have been in every service; and, between ourselves, owe money in every capital in Europe. I have been a rolling stone. Play -­play has been my ruin! That and beauty. The women have made a fool of me, my dear boy. I am a soft­hearted creature, and this minute, at sixty-two, have no more command of myself than when Peggy O'Dwyer made a fool of me at sixteen.

  EXT. BERLIN - LAKE WANNSEE - DAY

  Roderick and the Chevalier walking along the bank.

  CHEVALIER

  The cards are now my only livelihood. Sometimes I am in luck, and then I lay out my money in these trinkets you see. It's property, look you, and the only way I have found of keeping a little about me. When the luc
k goes against me, why, my dear, my diamonds go to the pawnbrokers and I wear paste. Do you understand the cards?

  RODERICK

  I can play as soldiers do, but have no great skill.

  CHEVALIER

  We will practice in the mornings, my boy, and I'll put you up to a thing or two worth knowing.

  INT. CHEVALIER'S ROOMS - BERLIN - DAY

  Quick cuts -- Roderick being taught the profession of cards and the dice-box.

  EXT. GARDEN HOUSE - BERLIN - DAY

  Roderick, Minister Galgenstein, and Captain Galgenstein.

  RODERICK (V.O.)

  I carried my little reports to Captain Galgenstein at the Garden house outside the town where he gave me rendezvous. These reports, of course, were arranged between me and the Chevalier beforehand. I was instructed, and it is always the best way, to tell as much truth as my story would possible bear. Dialogue comes up from under voice over.

  RODERICK

  He goes to church regularly -- he is very religious, and after hearing mass comes home to breakfast. Then he takes an airing in his chariot till dinner, which is served at noon. After dinner, he writes his letters, if he has any letters to write; but he has very little to do in this way. His letters are to the Austrian envoy, with whom he corresponds, but who does not acknowledge him; and being written in English, or course, I look over his shoulder. He generally writes for money. He makes his party with Calsabigi, the lottery contractor, the Russian attaches, two from the English embassy, my lords Deuceace and Punter, who play a jeu d'enfer, and a few more. He wins often, but not always. Lord Deuceace is a very fine player. The Chevalier Elliott, the English Minister, sometimes comes, on which occasion the secretaries do not play.

  INT. CHEVALIER'S APARTMENTS - NIGHT

  The Chevalier is at play against several gentlemen, including the Prince of Turbingen, while Roderick signals the cards.

  RODERICK (V.O.)

  It was agreed that I should keep my character of valet, that in the presence of strangers I should not know a word of English, that I should keep good lookout on the trumps when I was serving the champagne and punch about; and, having a remarkably fine eyesight, and a great natural aptitude, I was speedily able to give my dear benefactor much assistance against his opponents at the green table.