Rosemary And Thyme

Episode #7 – The Slaughter of the Innocents

(Music cue of scene transition)

Scene 1

Gabriel

What a mess! Lizzie, who had been part of the crowd, had been a witness to all this idiocy. An’ suddenly, an’ way too late, the light dawned.

(Musical sting)

Lizzie

Oh lord, what have I done?

(Music and Sound EFX)

Gabriel

(continuing)

She then separated herself from the mob and hurried off to warn Josiah and Thyme of the big trouble a’brewin’. I remember seein’ her runnin’ down the dark street to the church where Josiah an’ Thyme were. Mama an’ Gabe were with ‘em. Josiah, standing at the window.

Josiah

I wonder what’s all that commotion goin’ on down on Main Street. Sounds like one a’ them tumultuous town meetin’s I’ve learned ta’ stay away from. Hmmm, I donno, I got me an uneasy feelin’ ‘bout this.

Gabe

Follow your instincts, Preacher man. Follow your instincts.

Josiah

Oh look. Here comes Lizzie! Whoop! She jus’ fell down — right in the middle of the street. OK, she’s scramblin’ back up now. Comin’ this way!

Thyme

Lizzie …? What’s she want?

Gabe

Don’t worry none, Thyme. I got this covered.

Gabriel

Suddenly, Lizzie burst in through the front door of the church out of breath an’ in a panic.

Lizzie

Thyme! Josiah! You got to go! You got to get away from here! This dumb ass town jus’ ain’t no longer a place for you. They’re all down there at Jake’s Hardware an’ they’re jus’ sayin’ some awful things down there … an’ oh, Thyme, I am soooo sorry. I never imagined that somethin’ like this …

Josiah

Well, easy now girl. Who you talkin’ ‘bout? People is gonna say what they wanna say. We can’t be lettin’ that bother us none.

Lizzie

No! No, Josiah, they’re beyond talk. You don’t understand. Oh Thyme, I’m so sorry! I done ya’ wrong. I knows it. Somebody should jus’ take me out ‘hind the barn an’ whup me good. This is all my fault an’ here I am, yer bestest friend … an’ now this!

Thyme

Now Lizzie, like you always say, “Don’t git yer panties in a bunch here.” Josiah n’ Gabe here can jus’ calmly take care of this little matter.

Lizzie

Gabe?! C’mon Thyme, he ain’t ‘zactly the respected mayor of Skedee now, is he?

Josiah

Now Lizzie, be nice. We all know Gabe’s jus’ a sorry ol’ drunk, but stick around. He has a bit of an angelic side to him that’s in the process of emergin’. Slow down here. Take a deep breath and try to tell us what’s goin’ on.

Lizzie

Oh Lord, where do I start …? The whole town knows. Me an’ my big mouth jus’ went an’ tol’ jus’ a couple a’ them gossipy abgabblers ‘bout Thyme’s baby and then it just spread like wildfire. I spilled the beans. I let you down, an’ now I jus’ don’t know what to say ‘ceptin’ you an’ Josiah gotta git! Ya’ got an angry mob out there comin’ ta’ git ya’ an’ they’re fixin’ ta’ ride ya’ outta town on a rail!

Thyme

What are you sayin’? You can’t be serious …

Lizzie

I am serious! They got blood in their eyes an’ they are led into no good by none other than the Bishop Emanuel Goodspeed all the way from Cleveland!

Josiah

Good Lord! I thought he went on home!

Lizzie

Not true. He’s leadin’ the crowd. Bigger ’n life!

Josiah

Where are they now?

Lizzie

They’re all organizin’ down at Jake’s Hardware. Waiting’ for the boys to bring the tar an’ feathers an’ the rail an’ such.

Josiah

Ooooh Lordy … Gabe, you an’ me better go down there an’ see what we can do ta’ turn down the heat. Ladies, you better stay here an’ lock the doors to the church.

Thyme

Oh I don’t think we should separate. Ya’ gotta be careful. Lizzie says they got blood in their eyes!

Josiah

No worries. Most a’ these people are my friends an’ part a’ my flock. Gabe an’ me gonna take care a’ everything!

Gabe

We are?

Josiah

C’mon Gabe. We ain’t got a lotta time.

Gabe

Now Josiah, I … I … I don’t think …

Josiah

Grab a couple a’ them flashlights an’ let’s go! We got work ta’ do!

Gabe

Aaawww, I dunno ‘bout this.

Thyme & Lizzie

Be careful. boys. Be careful!

(We hear some hustle and bustle and the close of the church door as they leave.)

Scene 2

Gabriel

Now me, I could no longer interfere with the natural evolution of the plot in this here increasing drama. God would jus’ not allow it. There are some parts of this story that are jus’ fore-ordained and He don’t allow me to be tamperin’ with what certainly is ta’ come. So, I had to play it out as Gabe would, an’ let the chips fall where they may.

(Music cue.)

Gabriel

So like a couple a’ fools we took out for Jake’s leaving the three ladies behind (Mama included) in the church.

(Energetic and dangerous music)

Scene 3

Lizzie

Oh Thyme, this is all my fault. I put us all in desperate straits.

Thyme

Now Lizzie, no apologies necessary. The fact is you’re here with us here an’ now, an’ that’s all that matters. We’re gonna let the past be the past.

Lizzie

But I doubted you. An’ I doubted Josiah. An’ worst, I doubted God!

Thyme

Lizzie, do you doubt now?

Lizzie

No, Thyme. I jus’ got confused an’ put myself on the wrong side a’ the fence. I can see that now. I want no parcel with them folks. I’ll take my chances with you. I leastwise know your heart, an’ also know I can trust you. I promise you now, if you say jump, I’ll jump.

Thyme

All is forgiven, dear friend.

Lizzie

Well, is that all you got to say?

Thyme

All is forgiven. It’s easy. Let’s keep it simple. I love you. All is forgiven.

(We hear a panicked knocking on the church door.)

Scene 4

Josiah (yelling)

Thyme … Thyme … Open up! Let us in! Thyme! It’s me, Josiah. Thyme … They’s a’comin’!!! We gotta git!

Gabriel

Now Mama, who had been sitting at the window the whole time looking out, spoke up.

Mama

Why don’t I just go an’ talk to ‘em?

Thyme

(ignoring her)

Oh Lord, what we gonna do ‘bout Mama?

Lizzie

Oh don’t worry ‘bout that. I’ll take care of her.

Thyme

Lizzie, you can’t do that. You ain’t …

Lizzie

No you go. I owe you big time. I’ll never forgive myself if … (she breaks down crying again.) You gotta get outta here!! They got nothin’ but murder on their minds.

Gabriel

Now I up an’ surprised everyone! Y’all now, watch me in action!

Gabe

Lizzie, you stay here with Mama. Thyme an’ Josiah, grab anything you can an’ git out now. You need to save your lives an’ the life of that baby in there. I’ll take care of the mob an’ head ‘em off. That should give you a little more time. Take that old dirt road out past the junkyard and git out to the highway. Get as far away from Skedee as you can! Now go. Git on now an’ never come back!! I’ll take care a’ that mob.

(Music U/S)

Gabriel (continues)

We all sprang into action as the roar of the crowd grew louder. I remember Thyme ran to Mama, still staring out the window, and threw herself at her feet in an awkward embrace.

Thyme

I love you, Mama! Never forget that! Ooohhh …

Mama

Well, I’ll just go out an’ reason with ‘em. Here ya’ go. Take this.

Gabriel

Mama pressed a 50 cent piece into Thyme’s hand.

Thyme

What’s this, Mama.

Mama

Spendin’ money. My lucky half dollar, for the road. You be good now. Jus’ you watch out fer them white futhamuckers.

Josiah

Thyme. Now! We gotta go. Thank you Lizzie. Y’all take care now. Thyme, we gotta go!

Scene 5

Gabriel

They ran on out the back door of the church as the roar of the mob swelled. Lizzie ran to Mama’s side. Mama never blinked an eye. She just kept staring out the window. I took a deep breath and went out the front door to meet the coming mob.

All I could see of the mob was their torches in the night. As they came closer an’ the noise became deafening, I stood my ground to face ‘em comin’ down the street standing on the front lawn of the church. Having promised God, I could not use my powers. That fella, Bishop Goodspeed, led the charge. As he approached, I carried my flashlight an’ shined the beam right in the Bishop’s face. This seemed to stop him for a moment as the crowd formed up behind him.

Scene 6

Gabe

Can I help you, Bishop?

Bishop Goodspeed

An’ who are you?

Gabe

Ma’ name’s Gabe.

Abigail

That’s jus’ ol’ Gabe. He’s the night watchman down at the junkyard!

(Some people laugh.)

Bishop Goodspeed

We’ve come for Josiah an’ Thyme. Are they in there?

Gabe

Yes sir, they are, but they ain’t comin’ out.

Bishop Goodspeed

Well then, ma boy, we’ll just be goin’ in.

Gabe

I don’t think so, Bishop.

Gabriel

Now picture this: Mama, unseen by me, cuz she were behind me, comes out the front door of the church an’ down the front walk. I never saw her comin’ cuz both my eyes were on that snake, Goodspeed.

Bishop Goodspeed

An’ what you gonna do to stop us? Get that light outta my eyes, boy.

Gabe

I ain’t a boy, an’ I certainly ain’t your boy. Now git on home! All a y’all. Go on! Scat!!

Abigail

Shut up ya’ old drunk!

(They all laugh derisively.)

Rufus

Here ya’ go Gabe. A little hair a’ the dog that bit ya’! Have a drink on me!

Gabriel

(So, he goes an’ throws a whiskey bottle to me … or at me. I’m not sure which. At first, I didn’t see it comin’, but as I turned to see the jackass who’s mockin’ me, I then saw it comin’ and at the last second, I duck. The bottle flies past me an’ hits Mama, who is now coming up behind me, square between the eyes and knocks her flat.)

(The crowd laughs even more derisively.)

One of the Mob

By Jesus, I think she just passed out!

(More laughter …)

Bishop Goodspeed

Now people, we still got a job to do here. Y’all bring that rail up here. An’ you men go on into that church an’ bring ‘em out! Where’s the rope at? I need that rope …

Abigail

(kneeling on the ground with Gabe)

Oh my God … hold on, Bishop … She’s dead. She ain’t breathin’. Her head’s split wide open. Oh my god … she’s dead.

Gabriel

(The crowd went hush. I rushed to her side, but I was too late. You could see immediately … that Mama was dead.)

(The Bishop doesn’t miss a beat.)

Bishop Goodspeed

Now ya’ see what they’ve gone an’ done? This dear woman would still be alive this very minute if those two people in there hadn’t wreaked such havoc with their transgressions!

Gabriel

Then he pointed his icy finger at me.

Bishop Goodspeed

An’ it’s all your fault! It’s time we put an end to all this, an’ do what we set out to do. Ride ‘em outta town on a rail before Satan comes up from Hell an’ possesses ALL A’ Y’ALL! Let us finish God’s work here, people! Strike down these Satan worshipers!!! Take back our great city!

(The crowd roars and we hear them going wild.)

(Blackout.)