The Lincoln Conspiracy

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" rowspan="2" width=210 BGCOLOR="#000000" TEXT="#F7F7FF"> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="denniskeeler.com"><U><B>Home</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id2.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Mata Hari"><U><I><B>Mata Hari</B></I></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <I><B>The Lincoln Conspiracy</B></I></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Nellie Bly: Ten Days in a Madhouse"><U><I><B>Nellie Bly:   Ten Days in a Madhouse</B></I></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id16.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact Me"><U><B>Contact Me</B></U></A></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Dennis Keeler</B></div> <div> <B>The Hague</B></div> <div> <B>Netherlands</B></div> <div> <B>070 336 1715</B></div> <div> <A HREF="mailto:dennis@denniskeeler.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:dennis@denniskeeler.com"><U><B>dennis@denniskeeler.com</B></U></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=82 BGCOLOR="#CCCC99" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="03f8dfe1esnpes.jpg"> <div> <B> </B><FONT SIZE="6" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Palatino Linotype" ><I>The Lincoln Conspiracy</I></FONT></div> <bR> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=398 colspan=2 BGCOLOR="#CCCC99" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="03f8dfc3.jpg"> <div> <I> <A NAME="lincoln"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></I></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="10" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="838" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" BGCOLOR=#003333 > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 424 ><NOBR><bR> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#CC0033" FACE="Palatino Linotype" ><I>The Lincoln Conspiracy</I></FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Palatino Linotype" > </FONT>is a 3-hour television</div> <div> drama set during the American Civil War.</div> <bR> <div> This is the complete true account of the</div> <div> Conspiracy--from Booth's desperate plot</div> <div> to kidnap and ransom President Lincoln, to</div> <div> the assassination and its bloody aftermath.</div> <bR> <div> <I>The Lincoln Conspiracy</I><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#A0A0A4" FACE="Palatino Linotype" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#BBBBBB" FACE="Palatino Linotype" >is a balanced portrayal</FONT></div> <div> of John Wilkes Booth--not the demonic madman</div> <div>  so often portrayed, but as a beloved brother,</div> <div> popular actor, and misguided Southern patriot.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <A HREF="#pages" TITLE="The Lincoln Conspiracy"><U>View Sample Pages</U></A>      <A HREF="id16.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact Me"><U>Get Syn</U></A><A HREF="id16.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact Me"><U>opsis</U></A><A HREF="id16.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact Me"><U> </U></A>     <A HREF="id16_i_would_be_happy_to_hear_from_any.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact Me"><U>Get Script</U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><bR> <div> <IMG SRC="0700e5d0.jpg" border=0 width="270" height="349" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="20" VSPACE="15"></div> <bR> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> Sample Pages <A NAME="pages"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></div> <bR> <bR> <div> FADE IN:</div> <bR> <div> EXT. FORD'S THEATER -- NIGHT</div> <bR> <div> PLAYBILL:  <I>John</I> <I>Wilkes</I> <I>Booth</I> <I>as</I> <I>MACBETH, May 9, 1863</I>.</div> <bR> <div> BEGIN MAIN TITLES</div> <bR> <div> INT. THEATER</div> <bR> <div> SERIES of ANGLES from the play.</div> <bR> <div> ABRAHAM and MARY LINCOLN observe from the STATE BOX.</div> <bR> <div> Act I, Sc. III:  Three Witches upon the heath.</div> <bR> <div> WITCHES</div> <div> Sisters, hand in hand, Posters of</div> <div> the sea and land, Thus do go about,</div> <div> about:  Thrice to thine and thrice</div> <div> to mine And thrice again to make</div> <div> up nine--</div> <bR> <div> Enter Macbeth and Banquo.</div> <bR> <div> AUDIENCE applauds JOHN WILKES BOOTH and he bows.</div> <bR> <div> Mary Lincoln raises her opera glass for a closer look.</div> <bR> <div> MACBETH</div> <div> So foul and fair a day I have</div> <div> not seen.</div> <bR> <div> BANQUO</div> <div> What are these so withered and so</div> <div> wild in their attire.</div> <bR> <div> MACBETH</div> <div> Speak if you can:  what are you?</div> <bR> <div> WITCH</div> <div> All hail, Macbeth!  Hail to thee,</div> <div> thane of Cawdor!</div> <bR> <div> NEW ANGLE</div> <bR> <div> LADIES vigorously fan themselves--</div> <bR> <div> Act V, Sc. V:  Macbeth--a cry o.s.--Seyton entering.</div> <bR> <div> MACBETH</div> <div> Wherefore was that cry?</div> <bR> <div> SEYTON</div> <div> The queen, my lord, is dead.</div> <bR> <div> Mary gasps, and Lincoln takes her hand.</div> <bR> <div> MACBETH</div> <div> She should have died hereafter;</div> <div> There would have been a time for</div> <div> such a word.  To-morrow, and to-</div> <div> morrow, and to-morrow, Creeps in</div> <div> this petty pace from day to day</div> <div> To the last syllable of recorded</div> <div> time--</div> <bR> <div> Lincoln's mouthing the words--</div> <bR> <div> MACBETH (O. S.)</div> <div> --And all our yesterdays have</div> <div> lighted fools The way to dusty</div> <div> death. . .</div> <bR> <div> NEW ANGLE</div> <bR> <div> Act V, Sc. VIII:  Macbeth and Macduff prepare to fight.</div> <bR> <div> MACDUFF</div> <div> --yield thee, coward, and live to</div> <div> be the show and gaze o' the time!</div> <bR> <div> MACBETH</div> <div> I will not yield to kiss the ground</div> <div> before young Malcolm's feet!  Before</div> <div> my body I throw my warlike shield!</div> <bR> <div> Booth leaps from a high rock, thrilling the audience.</div> <bR> <div> MACBETH</div> <div> Lay on, Macduff, And damn'd be him</div> <div> that first cries 'hold, enough'. . .</div> <bR> <div> NEW ANGLE</div> <bR> <div> The Audience delivers a thunderous ovation.</div> <bR> <div> Booth takes his bow at the curtain.</div> <bR> <div> Lincoln stands, applauding warmly.</div> <bR> <div> Booth bows deeply, his eyes locked on the President.</div> <bR> <div> END MAIN TITLES</div> <bR> <div> EXT. CLARKE HOUSE -- DAY</div> <bR> <div> A large country house.  Summer.</div> <bR> <div> INT. DINING ROOM</div> <bR> <div> Booth dines with his brother EDWIN, his sister ASIA, and</div> <div> her husband JOHN CLARKE.</div> <bR> <div> BOOTH</div> <div> --Well certainly one has to admire</div> <div> Murdock.  And Davenport, for his</div> <div> finish.  But if you want my opinion,</div> <div> no one tops John McCullough.  He's</div> <div> the only actor I know worthy enough</div> <div> to fill Father's shoes.</div> <bR> <div> ASIA</div> <div> But what about Edwin?</div> <bR> <div> BOOTH</div> <div> I'm afraid our Ted will always have</div> <div> his detractors.  I mean those who</div> <div> think him a mere imitator of Father.</div> <bR> <div> CLARKE</div> <div> You, then.</div> <bR> <div> BOOTH</div> <div> I?  Oh I could never hope to be as</div> <div> great as Father.  Not in a million</div> <div> years.  Nor do I wish to rival you</div> <div> and Ted in New York.</div> <bR> <div> CLARKE</div> <div> That's a great relief.</div> <bR> <div> BOOTH</div> <div> I consider myself essentially a</div> <div> Southern actor.  After the war,</div> <div> I shall want nothing more than to</div> <div> play Atlanta or Richmond again.</div> <div> I'd give my right arm to be</div> <div> playing there now.</div> <bR> <div> Asia reacts.</div> <bR> <div> BOOTH</div> <div> It's just an expression, Asia.</div> <bR> <div> CLARKE</div> <div> You love the South that much?</div> <bR> <div> BOOTH</div> <div> I do.  I am passsionate about the</div> <div> South.  I love everything about</div> <div> her, and all that she stands for.</div> <div> My heart and my soul are with her</div> <div> now in her great ordeal.  I despair</div> <div> lest the North win out and conquer</div> <div> us in the end.</div> <bR> <div> ASIA</div> <div> But, Johnny, we are of the North.</div> <bR> <div> BOOTH</div> <div> No, Asia.  You are, not I.  I may</div> <div> be Maryland born, but Dixie is my</div> <div> country now.  And has been for some</div> <div> time.</div> <bR> <div> EDWIN</div> <div> Well and good, my boy.</div> <bR> <div> BOOTH</div> <div> You object to my sentiments, Ted?</div> <bR> <div> EDWIN</div> <div> We've heard all this before.</div> <bR> <div> BOOTH</div> <div> My apologies if I've bored anyone.</div> <div> Perhaps I should shut up.</div> <bR> <div> EDWIN</div> <div> I don't see you scrambling to put</div> <div> on a Rebel uniform.</div> <bR> <div> ASIA</div> <div> Edwin!</div> <bR> <div> EDWIN</div> <div> If you feel so strongly, why don't</div> <div> you fight?</div> <bR> <div> BOOTH</div> <div> I promised Mother I'd stay out of</div> <div> it.  And to be honest, I'm sorry I</div> <div> promised.</div> <bR> <div> INT. MAIN ROOM -- NIGHT</div> <bR> <div> Booth plays with his NIECE and NEPHEW.</div> <bR> <div> Edwin and Clarke are drinking brandy, as Asia enters.</div> <bR> <div> CLARKE</div> <div> Your brother is spoiling my</div> <div> children.</div> <bR> <div> EDWIN</div> <div> They thrive on his attention.  And</div> <div> he theirs.</div> <bR> <div> ASIA</div> <div> All right, children.  Time for bed.</div> <bR> <div> NIECE/NEPHEW</div> <div> We want Uncle Johnny to tuck us in!</div> <div> Please!  Please!</div> <bR> <div> BOOTH</div> <div> Aren't you forgetting something?</div> <div> Go kiss your Uncle Edwin good-night.</div> <bR> <div> NIECE/NEPHEW</div> <div> Good night, Uncle Ted!</div> <bR> <div> EDWIN</div> <div> Good night, my dears.  Sweet dreams.</div> <bR> <div> NIECE/NEPHEW</div> <div> Come on, Uncle Johnny!</div> <bR> <div> BOOTH</div> <div> Race you to the top!</div> <bR> <div> INT. HALL</div> <bR> <div> Booth and Asia follow the children down the hall.</div> <bR> <div> ASIA</div> <div> I believe Edwin's a little hurt.</div> <bR> <div> BOOTH</div> <div> Oh Asia, do you think so?  I hope</div> <div> not.</div> <bR> <div> ASIA</div> <div> He loves you very much.</div> <bR> <div> BOOTH</div> <div> I love him, Asia.</div> <bR> <div> INT. CHILDREN'S ROOM</div> <bR> <div> They observe the children saying their prayers.</div> <bR> <div> ASIA</div> <div> Johnny, did you really mean what</div> <div> you were saying?  About the South?</div> <div> Johnny?</div> <bR> <div>          BOOTH</div> <div> Shh.</div> <bR> <div> NIECE/NEPHEW</div> <div> God bless Mommy and Daddy and Uncle</div> <div> Johnny and Uncle Edwin, and bless</div> <div> the United States of America, and</div> <div> God bless President Lincoln and all</div> <div> the soldiers in the field.</div> <bR> <div> Booth spots an ETCHING OF LINCOLN on the wall above the</div> <div> children's bed.</div> <bR> <div> INT. HOTEL ROOM -- DAY</div> <bR> <div> Booth plies SAMUEL ARNOLD and MICHAEL O'LAUGHLIN, his former</div> <div> schoolmates and ex-Confederates, with brandy and cigars.</div> <bR> <div> TITLE--"BALTIMORE, AUGUST 1864"</div> <bR> <div> BOOTH</div> <div> I repeat, gentlemen, it is no</div> <div> longer a question of strategy</div> <div> or tactics or who's got the best</div> <div> damn generals.  That game ended at</div> <div> Gettysburg.  It's now a question of</div> <div> manpower, a simple human equation.</div> <div> The fact is--more brandy?  The fact</div> <div> is, the South's running out of men</div> <div> faster than the North is.  Unless</div> <div> something's done about it, and soon,</div> <div> we'll be out of an army by spring.</div> <bR> <div> ARNOLD</div> <div> The Yanks've lost just as many men</div> <div> as we have--more.</div> <bR> <div> BOOTH</div> <div> They've more to lose.  They can take</div> <div> two casualties to every one of ours</div> <div> and still win.</div> <bR> <div> O'LAUGHLIN</div> <div> You can't resurrect a dead man,</div> <div> Wilkes.</div> <bR> <div> BOOTH</div> <div> Don't be so sure.  What if I spoke</div> <div> of an army of dead men, tens of</div> <div> thousands, all of them just itching</div> <div> for a chance to rejoin the fight?</div> <div> What would you say to that?</div> <bR> <div> O'LAUGHLIN</div> <div> I'd maybe wonder 'bout this liquor</div> <div> you been pourin'.</div> <bR> <div> BOOTH</div> <div> Such an army exists, Mike.  Fifty</div> <div> thousand Confederate soldiers, all</div> <div> rotting away in Federal prisons,</div> <div> useless both to themselves and to</div> <div> our cause.</div> <bR> <div> O'LAUGHLIN</div> <div> You talking prisoner exchange?</div> <bR> <div> ARNOLD</div> <div> The Yanks put paid to that.</div> <bR> <div> BOOTH</div> <div> It's true, they did.  Grant realized</div> <div> we were rearming our boys as fast as</div> <div> we got them back.  Nonetheless, I do</div> <div> have a trade in mind--not prisoner</div> <div> for prisoner or general for general,</div> <div> but a trade the Yanks will have no</div> <div> choice but to accept.</div> <div> (drawing them in)</div> <div> Sam, Mike, I am proposing to you</div> <div> nothing less than the capture and</div> <div> ransoming of Abraham Lincoln.  Now</div> <div> a small band of us should be able</div> <div> to take the president at gunpoint.</div> <div> It can be done, I myself have stood</div> <div> this close to him.  Seizing Lincoln,</div> <div> we escape Washington City for Lower</div> <div> Maryland.  This is the best route,</div> <div> the area's crawling with sympathizers</div> <div> who'll help us to cross the river.</div> <div> Skirting then behind the lines, we</div> <div> drive on to Richmond and deliver our</div> <div> captive over to Jeff Davis himself.</div> <div> As to what will be the price for</div> <div> Lincoln's freedom?  Nothing short</div> <div> of the immediate and unconditional</div> <div> release of all fifty thousand of our</div> <div> boys from Federal prison.</div> <bR> <div> ARNOLD</div> <div> My God, can you be serious?</div> <bR> <div> BOOTH</div> <div> You know me better than to ask that.</div> <bR> <div> O'LAUGHLIN</div> <div> It does seem a mighty desperate plan,</div> <div> Wilkes.  Think of the risks.</div> <bR> <div> BOOTH</div> <div> Risks?  I'm not concerned with</div> <div> risks.  My concern is for the land</div> <div> that I love, and for her cause.  The</div> <div> Yankee press tells us the South has</div> <div> reached her last ditch.  Well I will</div> <div> make for her a prisoner of this man</div> <div> to whom she owes so much misery.</div> <div> And should I reach Dixie in safety</div> <div> and find it to be true, I will</div> <div> proudly beg permission to triumph or</div> <div> die by her side in that same ditch.</div> <div> What say you, then.  In or out?</div> <bR> <div> He raises his glass.</div> <bR> <div> O'LAUGHLIN</div> <div> In.</div> <bR> <div> BOOTH</div> <div> Sam?</div> <bR> <div> ARNOLD</div> <div> God help us. . .</div> <div>                                                                                                                </div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="#lincoln" TITLE="The Lincoln Conspiracy"><U>Back to Top</U></A></div> <bR> <div> Copyright <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Palatino Linotype" >© </FONT>2006 by Dennis Keeler</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>