HARROLD
They’re walking toward us.
BOOTH
Do as I command.
BAKER
(_Outside._) Come out of there.
BOSTON CORBETT
(_Outside._) Lieutenant, they can pick
The whole of us through cracks with their carbines.
Old Garrett says they’re armed.
(_He goes back of the tobacco house._)
BAKER
Come out of there.
Five minutes to come out, then I set fire
To the tobacco house.
BOOTH
(_Inside._)
Who are you? What do you want?
BAKER
(_Outside._)
We want you. And we know you. Come, you are
Booth, assassin of the President. Surrender arms.
Come out!
BOOTH
(_Inside_.)
I want a little time to think about it.
(_A silence._)
BAKER
(_Outside._)
Well, now come out.
BOOTH
(_Inside._)
You are a brave man, captain, I believe,
Honorable too. I am a cripple, have
One leg, the other broken. Yet no less
If you will take your men a hundred yards
From the door of the tobacco house, I’ll come
Out as you command and fight you all.
BAKER
(_Outside._)
I have not come to fight, but capture you.
BOOTH
(_Inside._)
Give me a chance for life. I’ll better terms.
If you will take your men off fifty yards
I’ll come out, fight you all, till I am killed,
Or kill you all.
BAKER
(_Outside._)
No!
BOOTH
(_Inside._)
You are a coward, sir,
Denying to a brave man chance for life.
HARROLD
(_Inside_.)
They’ve set the house afire! Now, let me out!
(_The house burns._)
BOOTH
(_Inside._)
You hellish coward, would you leave me now?
Go! Go! and leave me. It would be dishonor
To die with such a coward.
Let this man
Come out of here!
BAKER
(_Outside._)
All right! Hand out his arms
And come.
BOOTH
(_Inside amid flames._)
A coward goes to cowards.
(_The flames are coming up around Booth._)
(_He stands on a crutch, pale and defiant._)