ANNOUNCER
Our next scene is several days later, at the little shop of the shoemaker, Simon Carter, in Jamaica. Simon is sitting on his stool, hammering away at a half-finished boot, when he hears a knock at his door. [knock]
SIMON
Come in, come in, the door ain't locked! Come on in!
HALE
Is this the shop of Simon Carter, the shoemaker?
SIMON
It is, no less!
HALE
Are you at liberty today—at liberty to do a little work for me?
SIMON
Close the door!
HALE
SIMON [low]
Now—sir—I'll do what I can fer ye—in the cause of liberty. What is it?
HALE [low]
Have you any information for the General?
SIMON
Aye—a plenty!
HALE
Can you give it to me?
SIMON
It's all written out—careful.
HALE
Good! Give it to me.
SIMON
Jest a minute. Don't them boots of yours need new soles?
HALE
Why, I don't know. I think they'll do.
SIMON
Never! Ye must have new soles!
HALE
Why?
SIMON
See here? This here sole?
HALE
Yes?
SIMON
Well, listen—come close—
HALE
SIMON
The sole is split—the notes are inside it!
HALE
Good! That's an excellent idea!
SIMON
Slickest thing ye ever see. And it's my own idea!
HALE
I wonder if you could hide some notes I've gathered in the same way?
SIMON
O' course I could. I'll resole both boots. Give me yer notes.
HALE
Here they are. [rattle of paper]
SIMON
Pshaw, now—what kind o' writin' is this?
HALE
It's Latin. I thought if they were discovered on me—
SIMON
O' course—no soldier—that is, no redcoat could read that furrin writin'. Well, I'll put it where they'll never find it. Here—right in this sole. Now sit down there and pull yer boots off an' I'll fix 'em up fer ye.
HALE
Good! It's an excellent hiding place. Here you are.
SIMON
Yer a schoolmaster, I take it from the looks o' ye?
HALE
That's what I've been passing for.
SIMON
Now, where's that awl? Oh, here it is. And what name be ye usin' hereabouts?
HALE
Call me Master Nathan. [knock]
SIMON
Oh, someone at the door.
HALE
Had I better hide?
SIMON
No, no! 'tis better that ye sit right over there in the dark corner. Ye look innocent enough. Come in!
DREW [coming in]
Good morning, Simon.
SIMON
Good morrow to ye, Lieutenant Drew! I've got yer boots all finished fer ye.
DREW
Right! You're hard at work, I see.
SIMON
Always hard at work, Lieutenant. Here are yer boots. I'll wrap them up fer ye.
DREW [low]
Who's that gentleman over there?
SIMON [low]
A customer—I'm fixin' his boots.
DREW
Know him?
SIMON
DREW
Unless I'm much mistaken, I've seen him before—but I can't place him.
SIMON
Eh? Here's yer boots, Lieutenant. An' come around again when ye have need of a good shoemaker.
DREW
Thank you. I'm going to speak to him. [louder] Good morning, sir.
HALE
Good morning, sir.
DREW
Haven't we met somewhere?
HALE
I think you're mistaken, Mr.—
DREW
Drew—Drew—Lieutenant on His Majesty's gunboat, the Halifax. Are you a stranger hereabouts?
HALE
Yes, sir.
DREW
Do you live on the Island?
HALE
Why—ah—yes, sir.
DREW
Where?
HALE
Ah—er—near—Huntington.
DREW
Ah yes—well, no doubt I've seen you over there. I'm often at Huntington.
HALE
Yes, sir, no doubt.
DREW [jovially]
Perhaps you know that delightfully charming lady who keeps the tavern—Mrs. Chichester?
HALE
Slightly—only slightly.
DREW
Hm! You should know her—a delightful soul. Well, good day—good day, Simon.
SIMON
Good day, Lieutenant. [door closes]
HALE
Now, where have I met that man?
SIMON
Then ye have met him? He wasn't mistaken?
HALE
I've seen him somewhere—but I can't place him.
SIMON
Well—as long as he can't place you, yer safe, but git out o' this town as soon as ye can.
HALE
I will.
SIMON
Are ye from Huntington?
HALE
Never there in my life, except late at night when I landed on the Island.
SIMON
Well, I'll git the boots fixed for ye—then git out fast! No use runnin' any risks.
HALE
You're right, Simon. I shall take every care not to run into that man again.