A CLASH OF IRON Written by Richard Brent Reed Based on the historical record © 2014 Richard Brent Reed WGA #1724017 Richard Brent Reed 5515 Malvern Way, Riverside, CA 92506 951 276 3322 [email protected] ii. Synopsis On April 6, 1861, Lt. John Worden is sent to Florida on a secret mission, much to the chagrin of his Quaker wife, Olivia. War breaks out and Worden becomes the first prisoner of war of the Confederacy. Olivia persistently pesters the War Department to get her husband back. Worden is, finally, set free by a prisoner exchange in Virginia, where he sees the hull of the Merrimack being fitted with armor and guns. When he arrives in Washington, he signs on as captain of the Monitor, the Union's answer to the South's new ironclad. The Monitor breaks down during its trial run, but its designer, inventor John Ericsson, puts her to sea anyway. She reaches Chesapeake Bay just in time to prevent the Merrimack from wiping out the Union navy. Worden is the hero of the day and Olivia's eloquence on his behalf makes the Quaker congregation accept him. Main Characters John Worden Captain of the Monitor Olivia Worden John Worden's Quaker wife Mrs. Toffey Olivia's mother John Ericsson inventor of the Monitor Gideon Welles Secretary of the Navy Fox Assistant Secretary of the Navy Cameron Lincoln's first Secretary of War Stanton Secretary of War Bushnell a fellow inventor Green Worden's second-in-command Stimers & Newton The Monitor's engineers John LaMountain Union balloonist Mallory Confederate Secretary of the Navy Buchanan Captain of the Merrimack Lt. Catesby ap Roger Jones Capt. Buchanan's second-in-command Marie Louvestre slave and spy Daniel Logue The Monitor's ship's surgeon The Ironclad Committee: Smith; Davis; Paulding EXT. QUAKER HILL FRIENDS MEETING HALL, APRIL 6, 1861 - DAY LIEUTENANT JOHN WORDEN, in full-dress navy uniform, sits in a carriage, smoking a cigar. INT. QUAKER HILL FRIENDS MEETING HALL - DAY The congregation sits in quiet study, meditation, and prayer. OLIVIA WORDEN, John’s wife, is sitting next to MRS. TOFFEY, her mother, who rises to speak. MRS. TOFFEY And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand and drew his sword and struck a servant of the high priest’s and smote off his ear. Then said Jesus unto him, “Put up again thy sword into his place, for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.” Mrs. Toffey sits down. Olivia is steaming with sarcasm. OLIVIA Thank thee, Mother. MRS. TOFFEY Thee are welcome, Daughter. EXT. QUAKER HILL FRIENDS MEETING HALL - DAY The meeting is letting out. Olivia comes out and climbs into the carriage. Mrs. Toffey comes out of the meeting hall, accompanied by her husband, HIRAM TOFFEY, John’s father-in- law. Hiram walks over to the carriage. HIRAM I do not believe as thee, John, but I respect thee. We battle, not with flesh and blood, but against princes and principalities. WORDEN Thank you, Hiram. Mrs. Toffey is standing impatiently some yards away. A Clash Of Iron 2. MRS. TOFFEY Hiram! HIRAM A moment, Betsey. OLIVIA Thee had better go, Father. HIRAM God go with thee, John Worden. MRS. TOFFEY Hiram!! WORDEN And God go with thee, Hiram Toffey. Hiram goes to his wife’s side and waves. Mrs. Toffey scowls as John tips his cap, nods at her, and drives off. She, then, scowls at her waving husband. EXT. THE WORDEN CARRIAGE - DAY WORDEN How did it go, Olivia? OLIVIA The usual: They that live by the sword shall die by the sword. WORDEN She never gives up, does she. OLIVIA No, she doesn’t. WORDEN How do I look? OLIVIA (Takes a lint brush out of her reticule and dusts John’s uniform.) As handsome as the day I married you, John. That Vincent knows his business. WORDEN You don’t think that I’ll be a might overdressed? A Clash Of Iron 3. OLIVIA To meet Mr. Gideon Welles, the secretary of the navy? How often does that happen? WORDEN Not often. I wonder what it’s all about. OLIVIA Perhaps they intend finally to promote you. WORDEN A peace-time promotion? Not likely. OLIVIA With all this secession going on, war can’t be far away. I wish you’d go to church with me next Sunday, John. WORDEN This uniform would look a might out- of-place at a Quaker meeting. Besides, won’t your mother be there? OLIVIA She’s always there. Hasn’t missed a meeting in thirty-three years, except when she had me. WORDEN I’ve got no issue with your father. He’s a copperhead, but we get along fine. But your mother . There’s something about Quaker women. OLIVIA You knew I was a Quaker when you married me, John. WORDEN And you knew I was a military man, but you married me anyway. OLIVIA And you married me, as well, John, Quaker and all. A Clash Of Iron 4. WORDEN Like I said: there’s something about you Quaker women. Besides, how could I resist the sweetest Toffey on Quaker Hill? OLIVIA And how could I resist the handsomest sailor in the U. S. Navy? Can you blame me for wanting to show you off to The Friends? WORDEN I don’t think the congregation would appreciate me showing up to Sunday Meeting dressed like this. I’m sure I would stand out. OLIVIA You would stand out anywhere, John Worden. EXT. WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, D.C. - DAY The carriage pulls up in front of the War Department. WORDEN Here we are. John and Olivia kiss like newlyweds. OLIVIA Now, off with you, Lieutenant. Don’t keep the secretary waiting. WORDEN I don’t know how long I’ll be. OLIVIA I’ll wait for you, John. Haven’t I always? Worden is hustles across the lawn toward the war department building. INT. GIDEON WELLES’ OFFICE - DAY Secretary of the Navy GIDEON WELLES is staring out the window. There is a knock at the door. WELLES Enter, Lieutenant. A Clash Of Iron 5. Lieutenant Worden enters smartly, removes his cap, and stands at attention. WORDEN Lieutenant John Worden, reporting as ordered, Mr. Secretary. WELLES At ease, Lieutenant. Have a seat. That’s a mighty spiffy uniform you are wearing. Who’s your tailor? WORDEN Vincent on First Street. When my wife heard that I was to call on the Secretary of the Navy, she laid out my dress blues. WELLES Good. It will impress General Bragg, when you meet him. WORDEN General Bragg? Worden sits. Welles crosses to a map of the United States over his desk. WELLES He is . was one of our generals, before Florida seceded. I have a special mission for you, Lieutenant Worden, if you are willing to take it on. (Pointing to the map) You are aware that several southern states have pulled out of the Union. WORDEN Yes, sir. WELLES We’ve decided to reinforce some of our military outposts south of the Mason-Dixon Line in case war breaks out. One of those is Fort Pickens in Pensacola, Florida. We plan to blockade the South, should it come to that, with Operation Anaconda. Bottling up the port of Pensacola is essential to that plan. Do you follow, Lieutenant? WORDEN Yes, sir. Where do I come in? A Clash Of Iron 6. WELLES The USS Sabine is anchored just off the Florida coast, loaded to her gunnels with infantry. I want you to carry orders to Captain Adams to put those troops ashore and reinforce Fort Pickens. Will you take the assignment? WORDEN Yes, sir. WELLES This is a secret mission, Lieutenant. You will be carrying secret orders. Welles takes a packet of papers off of his desk and hands it to Worden, then takes a tooth brush out of his desk drawer. WELLES (CONT’D) You will leave, by train, this afternoon. From here. Don’t go back home. No one must know of your travel plans, not even your wife. Here’s a tooth brush. WORDEN She’s waiting in the carriage. WELLES We’ll tell her not to expect you for dinner. WORDEN What will you tell her after that? WELLES We’ll think of something. When you reach Pensacola you’ll need to get a pass from General Bragg. You can tell him you have new orders for Capt. Adams, but, under no circumstances are you to let him catch on that we intend to reinforce Fort Pickens. Welles takes train tickets off his desk; hands them to Worden. WELLES (CONT’D) Here are you train tickets: round trip. God go with you, Lt. Worden. Worden salutes and exits. A Clash Of Iron 7. EXT. TRAIN HEADING THROUGH ALABAMA - DAY INT. PASSENGER COMPARTMENT ON TRAIN - DAY Worden is reading a Harper’s Weekly as the Alabama countryside rolls by. A corner of the packet of secret orders is sticking out of his coat. Across from Worden sits CAPTAIN FLETCHER who has been watching Worden. FLETCHER Nice uniform, Lieutenant . WORDEN Worden. John Worden. FLETCHER My name is Fletcher. I’m attached to General Braxton Bragg at Pensacola. WORDEN This is a stroke of luck. I’m going to Pensacola to see General Bragg. FLETCHER I’ll be happy to take you to him. (Indicating the packet bulging from Worden’s coat.) Those despatches for General Bragg? WORDEN No. No, they’re not. I wonder if I have time to relieve myself. FLETCHER Last car. Worden sets his Harpers down and makes his way to the back of the train.