Shot 04 - written / audio

[easierdonethansaid]

[The neat, precise script reveals little, except, perhaps, that the writer is applying more pressure to his pen than is actually necessary.]

It seems I've got a window that's broken. Damage from the storm.

[Which he has iignored for a few days in the wake of the draft.

He's fought wars enough, but that... was new. To say the least.]

Could someone direct me to some supplies to fix it up? I can do the labour myself, but an extra pair of hands or two wouldn't go amiss.

Col S. Moran

[Now, he switches to speaking into the journal.]

Sharpe. [Friendly enough, though perhaps with some personal strain in it. Man to man, not colonel to sergeant.] Care for some shootin'? Jus' good target practice.

[He needs to shoot something to silence his thoughts. He doesn't have the patience to hunt today, and picking off fellow villagers won't do him any favours.]

Comments

[greenjacketed]

When I think about life after the war, I...

[ he doesn't know, really. but he has a line that he likes to give out. a line that's mostly a lie: ] I wouldn't mind buying a little farm.

[easierdonethansaid]

Make sure it's a new one. Or one stugglin'. Gives y' somethin' to do.

Nothin' worse for a soldier after war than havin' nothin' to occupy himself.

[greenjacketed]

And I'm not looking to be the bedraggled drunkard on soft duty at the Chelmsford depot. Something to do, aye. That's what's needed.

Here, too.

[easierdonethansaid]

Jus' a matter of time here, I figure. [Shift the bolt, put it back, fire.] 'Til trouble starts creepin' up on me.

Happened in India after the war, an' I haven' found much t' do here to keep it away.

[greenjacketed]

[ a harsh laugh. ]

My RSM hates to see me bored out of my wits for the same reason, I reckon.

[easierdonethansaid]

Y' always could [he's teasing] start a nice little farm here. Plenty of land t' do it.

[greenjacketed]

And make no profit off the fruit and vegetables of my labour? God no.

[ but he laughed some more. ]

[easierdonethansaid]

No' a man for charity? Quite unbecomin', I'll have you know.

[But he's grinning.]

[greenjacketed]

Charity is one beast, Moran. Given away every last drop of your sweat for no pay and little comfort is...well, bloody hell. It's the army all over again but without the chance to shoot at anyone.

[easierdonethansaid]

You find somethin' to do to keep yourself busy, Sharpe? Wouldn' mind hearin' about it.

[greenjacketed]

And you. Moran. Have you any plans?

[easierdonethansaid]

None.

God, if I don' need to make some, though.

[greenjacketed]

...Practice shooting'll only take the pair of us so far. [ he snaps his rifle up into place and -- after only a moment to check his target -- another harsh cough of smoke fills the air. ]

[easierdonethansaid]

Well, least this place doesn' give a man much way to ruin himself. [He sounds almost disappointed.]

No money, so no room to gamble.

[No cause to steal, either. Nothing worth stealing. Otherwise he'd do it just to not be bored. That was how he got started with Moriarty. Not in need of money-- in need of something to do. Here, there are no rubies or emeralds or diamonds. No temptation.]

Plenty to drink, but never been one to care for too much too often.

[And sex? He hadn't seen the slightest opportunity.

...Well, he'd seen one...

But not one he was desperate enough to take yet.]

Quiet when there's no war, an' a man doesn' need to find a livin' to support himself here.

Bad, that. Don' think the lot in charge here thought that one through much. Man needs a livin' if he's good for anythin', somethin' so he isn' just sittin' 'round idle.

Not good for anyone, that. Military men, especially. No good comes from us lot not doin' anythin'.

[greenjacketed]

[ while sharpe loves him a good brandy or a skin of wine, he also isn't one to make a habit out of drinking. when his commission was first granted, he'd heard the preemptory accusations: jacked up soldiers -- up from the ranks -- fall most often to drink, driven there after being ostracized by both their 'fellow' officers and the men they once fought beside but now had to lead. at that point, sharpe decided to act with moderation in his vices. except, perhaps, when it came to women...

but the lass he has his eye on right now might take a little more persuading before she so much as held his bloody hand. ]

No war to occupy him and no army to drill him when he's not fighting. [ actually, it's fairly sad how aimless sharpe's become without the army telling him when to get up and when to eat and when to march. he might be an officer but he was still just as subject to the war machine's whims. ]

[easierdonethansaid]

Didn' do well m'self after I retired 'til I was workin' again.

Didn' expect a pr'fessor to have much use an army man, but he kept me busy.

[At first as a "consultant" on matters of jewel theft. Then with increasing responsibilities until he was second-in-command and a personal companion.

Not, of course, that he could discuss any of that.]

He's the sort, Sharpe-- mark me, if he were here? You an' me wouldn' want for somethin' to do. Smart, smart man.

He'd have a hundred ideas to two idle military men.

[It's so casual, so full of friendly fondness.]

[greenjacketed]

[ sharpe grows even more curious. ]

What? Mercenary work?

[easierdonethansaid]

[...Yes.

But Moran doesn't know how well that will go over.

So...]

He... All kind of work, really. People come to him when there's a problem. He does wot he want to help.

[greenjacketed]

[ odd. and richard's not entirely certain he likes the sound of it. at first blush, it seems too easy. but...but who was he to complain? the army made use of him all the same. and what was an army but a band of mercenaries, joined under the threat of prison and starvation? ]

You make him out to be quite the...[ he doesn't realize that the word he wants is 'philanthropist' ] bloke.

[easierdonethansaid]

The pr'fessor is... somethin' else.

But, then. [He smiled faintly, as if giving it thought.] Wot y' have to remember is-- was out of the army, no one t' keep me in line, an' with a fortune at hand.

[It's not a boast. He came from a wealthy family, and he was the only heir. It was all his upon his return.]

I... I'm not too ashamed to say it: I'd've been in the gutter in a year, if I'd made it that long.

The pr'fessor gave me plenty to do. Made sure I didn' get m'self into trouble.

[Partly because Professor James Moriarty had enough lawmen in his pocket to protect his employees if anything minor occurred. Which Moran prided himself on needing only once-- on his third assignment.]

Not another one like him I won' find a better employer I know that much.

[greenjacketed]

[ as a man who fully expected to find himself in the gutter should he ever be ousted from the army, sharpe felt a tug of sympathy. ]

Bless him, then. For it's not often you see any once-a-soldier man find gainful employment after he's out. Was back in England, recently -- it's a bloody shame, the way they treat those who fought but fight no longer.

[easierdonethansaid]

He takes care of his, too. Good times or bad. Don' find that enough, I think.

[None of it was a lie, really. He might be ignoring what others would say, but... Well.

He had every reason to have the highest of opinions of the professor.]

[greenjacketed]

...An admirable quality in a -- what did you say he was? A professor?

[ perhaps sharpe doesn't think much of those but...eh, if moran has good things to say... ]

[easierdonethansaid]

Pr'fessor, yes.

[He smiles faintly. He'd never been fond of the academic types himself, but. Well. His professor had turned that around quick enough.]