Scene 7.09 - A Fellow Of Infinite Jest
EST: Havana, Cuba - January 17th, 1799
(A bold MOE bursts into the office of WINNIE, flanked by MISTY and BENNIE. The TALL GUARD NOW WITH SOUL PATCH waits at the door.)
TALL GUARD NOW WITH SOUL PATCH
Their appointment isn't for yet another ten minutes, sir -- I tried to stop them, milord, but they insist-
MISTY
What have you done with Monty!?!
BENNIE
I know the boy; he's no traitor!
MOE
Misty, Uncle Jack, please, allow me. Chief Prosecutor; thank you for seeing us, I know you are a busy man. Allow me to introduce myself, as we are not yet acquainted, I am Count DeMoney, heir to my late father's estate, and as close friends to the accused, we are here on his behalf. This is the honorable Lord Bennie of The Royal Shipyards and this is Misty Milquetoast, fiancee to Monsieur Monty Bizkit, a man who was brought here for questioning last week. We are anxious to know of his state.
WINNIE
I remember; a nice lad. He was brought here in the middle of the night. I'm afraid you're now speaking of the late Monty Bizkit.
(Gasps. Strong reactions.)
WINNIE (Cont'd)
I'm as shaken as you are over it, I only heard the facts this morning. I truly believed him innocent; he only needed to answer some follow-up questions. Yet charges had been filed and justice mandated that I had to schedule an inquest in The Keys. As he was being transported to the Federal Judiciary, he jumped overboard; trying to escape. The ship's jailers saw him drown in the sea.
MISTY
Drowned? Not Monty! Not Monty!
(She faints.)
BENNIE
Monty knows the sea as well as I, he's sure to have esc-
WINNIE
I'm afraid his skills at swimming didn't prevail; they fished-out his corpse yesterday.
MOE
Where is this body now, sir?
WINNIE
The body had decomposed somewhat; but his identity was verified. The body was burned at Castle Rock and his ashes spilled into a lime-pit at St. Benedict Monastery. That is all I know of the matter. (Sure.) You could travel there; they may tell you more.
(MOE comforts a roused MISTY.)
MOE
You've been of invaluable service, Monsieur; I know it must have been difficult for you to dash our hopes in such a way.
WINNIE
I liked the illiterate lad, yet I'm afraid the world will never know his heart. (To MOE:) He is gone for good. God is his judge now.
(MISTY begins weeping. BENNIE embraces her left flank.)
MOE
(Holding MISTY'S right flank, guides her out.) I'm sure you have more pressing matters at hand, sir. You have our thanks. Adieu.
FTB