QUEEN OF SWORDS SYNOPSIS
105 FEVER

WRITTEN BY: Scott Kraft
DIRECTED BY: Paolo Barzman

When Montoya, as well as most of the community, fall to fever, Grisham steals the antidote in hopes that Montoya will die and he'll be able to take over.

GUEST STARRING:
JESÚS TEMINO as Enrique
IRENE GONZÁLEZ as Pira

Grisham and his men are riding through the desert.

In a country house, the woman is sick and her husband helps her drink water. He wants to go and get a doctor, but the woman says they have no money.

ENRIQUE: Don't worry. He's a good man. He'll come.

Back to Grisham and his men riding. As the husband opens the door, Grisham and the soldiers are at his door.

GRISHAM: By the orders of Colonel Louis Ramirez Montoya, you are required to do military service. Be loyal, etc. etc. etc. Take him away.

The man fights, then runs. He's punched in the face.

GRISHAM: You're disobeying orders already?
ENRIQUE: Sir, please. My wife is sick with the fever.
GRISHAM: And so are half my men.
ENRIQUE: I can't leave my children to starve.
GRISHAM: You're breaking my heart here.

He runs again and is lassoed by a soldier. He's made to walk and looks at his wife and daughter cowering on the stoop as they lead him away.

~~~~~

He is brought to Montoya's home and Montoya chides Grisham about the quality of men he's rounded up.

GRISHAM: I did the best with what I had, sir.
MONTOYA: I know the feeling.

~~~~~

Marta and Tessa are in a store, Marta choosing marigolds to use to break the fever and Tessa watching the man who was just brought into town. Tessa recognizes him and walks over.

Enrique gets in trouble, pleading so he can go back home, but did the awful thing of touching Montoya. Grisham kicks him. Tessa and Marta to go Montoya, and once again, Tessa knows that the man in trouble surely hasn't committed a crime. During the conversation, Montoya tells her that the farmers have to be used to replenish the army many are sick with the plague. They must be on their toes because:

MONTOYA: The Queen of Swords remains a plague on us all.
TESSA: You took the words right out of my mouth.
MONTOYA: Where once I only had to send one officer to collect the taxes, I now must send three. I sympathize with the peasants' plight, but she's to blame for all of this.

He clutches his throat, it's sore, hoarse and makes his departure.

Tessa and Marta talk about Montoya's version of it all being the Queen's fault and Marta somewhat agrees.

MARTA: Hope is a dangerous thing to give desperate people.
TESSA: So what do you expect me to do? Nothing?
MARTA: No. I expect you to accept responsibility for your actions, and Montoya's reactions.

Tessa's going to come back at night and free Enrique.

Marta tells her that wouldn't do any good. He would be shamed and wouldn't be able to return to his family.

TESSA: First you tell me to be responsible, then you tell me to do nothing.
MARTA: What I'm telling you is that this is not a problem you can solve with a sword.

~~~~~

Grisham, shirtless of course, is in another part of town in hand to hand combat with Enrique, sparring session. He taunts Enrique, mostly because Enrique knows that if he fights back, he's in more trouble. Or, he's not a fighter, he's a farmer. I can't tell.

Tessa appears on the outskirts and watches. Grisham stops the sparring. She wants Enrique to work on her ranch. He asks how bad she wants the favor...

~~~~~

Helm is checking Montoya's breathing at his place.

MONTOYA: Where's my medicine?
HELM: Gone.
MONTOYA: Gone? To where?!
HELM: To the sick, oddly enough.
MONTOYA: You treat peasants before you treat their dying commander?!
HELM: You're not dying. At least not today.

Helm says he'll make more medicine.

MONTOYA: You just remember this, your duty is to me and me alone.
HELM: Death does not play favorites, Colonel, and neither do I.

Montoya alerts his men.

MONTOYA: Take the doctor to his office and be sure he stays there.
HELM: You're arresting me.
MONTOYA: No, I'm retaining you as my private physician. The medicine you make is for me alone. Do you understand that? I don't give a damn who else dies.

~~~~~

Marta is mixing her own medicine for Enrique's sick wife at their house. Marta knows she's getting sick as well.

~~~~~

Store. Tessa and Vera are talking as they look at ribbons. Vera is worried that she'll get sick next. Talk turns to Grisham. She knows about their affair but doesn't say anything, only asks if she'll talk to him about letting Enrique go. Vera tells her it's too late.

~~~~~

Dr. Helm is making medicine in his office. A soldier comes in.

SOLDIER: Colonel Montoya wants you.
HELM: I'm working.

The soldier pulls out his gun.

SOLDIER: It's not a request.
HELM: Does the Colonel want me in attendance, or in a coffin?

While the soldier is thinking it over, Helm snatches the gun from his hand and tosses it in a pot of water. The soldier starts to pull out his sword when Helm has turned back to his workbench.

HELM: Would you like to lose your sword as well?

The soldier sheathes the sword and leaves. Helm calls to him:

HELM: Tell him I'll look in on him as soon as I can.

~~~~~

It's getting darker and Montoya is getting sicker. Montoya asks for Helm and Grisham sees him walking across the square to Montoya's. Enrique comes out from behind a wagon and hits Helm over the head, steals the medicine. Grisham, standing at the window of Montoya's room points his gun, ready to fire. He's got a lock on Enrique, but fires purposely to miss. Montoya jolts up. Grisham tells him that the Queen of Swords attacked the doctor and stole the medicine.

MONTOYA: (moan) My medicine...

He can't move, he's too sick.

~~~~~

Next morning, there's a 500 reales reward for the Queen on Swords. People of the town are talking about it, going back and forth about believing that she took the medicine. Tessa and Marta talk.

TESSA: But I'm not a thief.
MARTA: They have to blame someone and the Capitan gave them you.
TESSA: Grisham... again!

Tessa realizes that Marta is sick. As Tessa drives them home, Marta reflects that it was too bad the Queen hadn't stolen the medicine.

~~~~~

Enrique has given the medicine to his wife and she's perky and out of bed. He doesn't let her know that he stole the medicine for her but does tell her that he has to be back at the barracks by nightfall.

Later Grisham arrives at Enrique's. He runs, Grisham on horseback goes after him and clocks him over the head with the hilt of his sword.

GRISHAM: You've got something I want.

~~~~~

Tessa's. Marta is really sick, collapsed on the bed. Tessa wipes her forehead but Marta pushes her away.

MARTA: Let me be.
TESSA: When I had whooping cough, you stayed with me day and night for a month.
MARTA: I had no choice.
TESSA: And when I had scarlet fever, you didn't sleep for three days. You've taken care of me my whole life.
MARTA: That's my job.
TESSA: Grisham told everyone the Queen took the medicine. Why would he lie?
They look at each other.
TESSA and MARTA: Montoya.
TESSA: He blames the Queen and gets all the medicine for himself.
MARTA: Where are you going?
TESSA: Call me a thief, then a thief I'll be.

~~~~~

Enrique's not having a good time. Grisham's beating the hell out of him demanding the medicine. Enrique comes at him with a machete.

GRISHAM: Oh, you're a fool.

He shoots him. Then warns the wife that it would be better if she didn't talk, he died of the fever.

~~~~~

The Queen comes to town and wakes Montoya with her sword caressing his cheek.

QUEEN: How do you feel, Colonel?
MONTOYA: Oh, it's you. So you've come to gloat, eh?
QUEEN: I've come for the medicine.
MONTOYA: You took it.
QUEEN: No more games.
MONTOYA: Look at me... do I look well to you? (No, he doesn't. He's all sweaty with matted hair...) Am I the picture of health?

He gets the gun he had hidden under his pillow, but can't really see to aim properly and she just walks out of the room onto the balcony. She fights three guys out there and carefully steps over lattice work over the courtyard.

QUEEN: The trick is to not look down, Senor.

The soldier following her falls through. She fights two more, pushes over a ladder to the roof where she is with two soldiers on it. She fights two more, hears Chico neigh and jumps off the roof and climbs on him as he rides away.

~~~~~

At home, Marta is asleep with her head on the table. She had been reading the Tarot cards. Tessa puts a blanket over her. Marta already knew that Montoya didn't have the medicine.

MARTA: Because whoever has it is already dead.
TESSA: How do you know?
MARTA: Don't ask me, ask the dead.

She flings the death card atop some flowers on the table.

~~~~~

Enrique's funeral. Enrique's widow tells Tessa that he died of fever, just as she was supposed to but Tessa doesn't believe her, it was too short of time for him to get sick and die. Grisham rides up. He greets her, she only stares at him, knows.

~~~~~

Helm's making more medicine in his office as Tessa walks in with a pleasant smile.

HELM: There's a sound that's made when a knuckle encounters wood. It's customarily used before entering. It's called knocking.
TESSA: Really doctor? I must try it sometime.

She wants medicine for Marta, but he's working as fast as he can. She asks about the length of time it takes to die, overnight?

HELM: No, Senorita. Five days. Not overnight. If you've died overnight it's probably because you've wasted the time of a very busy doctor. Now good day!

~~~~~

Tessa goes to Grisham's knowing he has the medicine and Enrique who had it was killed for it like Marta saw in the cards. She searches his place while he's not there. She finds handcuffs of the time period hidden in his bureau. Hate to hazard what he was using them for...

Grisham arrives home to see Tessa standing with a leg on a chair, her hand on her hip, wearing a pleasant smile.

GRISHAM: Well, I must say I never expected you to come.

He wants her to fulfil her end of the bargain, he did release Enrique...

TESSA: Captain Grisham, a lady likes to be romanced. Music. Wine. Flowers.
GRISHAM: Senorita, I know all about romance.

He's ready to kiss her when there's an explosion. Helm's office!

TESSA: What was that?
GRISHAM: Bad timing.

Helm staggers out of his office. He yells for water and throws bucketfuls in as they're handed to him. Tessa runs up and is to run into the office. Helm holds her back. The medicine is gone.

GRISHAM: You must be careful with your chemicals, Doctor.
HELM: There was nothing in there to cause an explosion!
GRISHAM: Well I guess we'll just call it an unlucky accident then.

Tessa watches him saunter away as everyone is filling and handing buckets down the line from the trough to Helm at his door.

~~~~~

Tessa throws cold water into the tub to bring Marta's fever down. She knows that Grisham has the medicine.

TESSA: If the Colonel dies, who's next in line?
MARTA: Grisham won't give it to the Queen.
TESSA: He will if I put a blade to his neck.
MARTA: Grisham is many things, but a coward is not one of them.

Tessa gives Marta lemon grass potion to drink that she's made. Marta warns that she shouldn't have used more than a half a teaspoon or she'll be sweating like a pig.

TESSA: Marta, even when sick you're a genius. Only for Grisham, I'll need something stronger.

~~~~~

Tessa is with Grisham in a courtyard. He sets their wine glasses down on the ground and leaned into her. She asks of Montoya. He says it's too bad, he's sick. Don't look good.

GRISHAM: One man's tragedy is another man's opportunity.

He moves to kiss her. She sticks a rose bud between them.

TESSA: Spoken like a true Colonel.

She kisses him while leaning over to sprinkle the powder from the rose into his wine glass. She pulls back.

TESSA: To ambition.

She picks up the wine glasses, swirling his glass.

He downs his glass and sets them both on the table.

GRISHAM: To my quarters. Let's go. I don't want to wait anymore.
TESSA: I don't either. But you can learn so much about a woman by watching her dance.

She sticks the rose stem between his teeth.

~~~~~

Helm goes through the ruins of his office. He finds something metallic... I'm not sure what it is. A dart, a trigger mechanism? No clue here.

~~~~~

Grisham watches Tessa dance and starts sweating like a pig. She fans him.

TESSA: What do you think about my dress?
GRISHAM: It would look better on the floor.

She gives him more wine and keeps asking if he's feeling all right. She tells him he's burning up when feeling his forehead.

TESSA: (enjoying herself) I hope you don't have the fever.

Grisham leaves to get his medicine.

~~~~~

Helm is at Montoya's and Montoya is holding whatever it was that Helm found. Thanks Montoya, he says this:

MONTOYA: It's a fuse plug.
HELM: I found it in the rubble of my office. It's proof that the place was deliberately burned.
MONTOYA: Who would want to burn down your office, Doctor?
HELM: To stop me from making anymore medicine. You're dying of fever, Colonel. Someone is killing you with it. Who wants you dead?
MONTOYA: Many want me dead. But most are dogs who would not dare turn on their master.

Helm picks up what I now know is a fuseplug and shows it to him.

HELM: All it takes is one.
MONTOYA: One who is familiar with military explosives.

They both know who it is.

~~~~~

Grisham slowly climbs up on his horse and the Queen watches him go. Then watches Helm ride off after him. Outside of town, Helm sees Grisham's horse and stops. Sneaks up on him as he's digging out the medicine from it's hiding place. Throws the fireplug in front of him as Grisham is facing away from Helm.

HELM: You can add that to your personal collection, Captain. You have enough medicine there to treat a dozen people. You can be first.
GRISHAM: This is the Colonel's private supply.
HELM: I think we both know that the Colonel will never see that powder.
GRISHAM: Okay. Okay.

He raises his hands. Pauses.

GRISHAM: Doctor? Are you armed?
HELM: Only with information. The Colonel knows everything and as his personal physician, I can assure you he'll live plenty long to see you hang. Now, a smart man would cut his losses and bide his time.
GRISHAM: Well. Doctor. A smart man...
He pulls a gun on Helm.
GRISHAM: Wouldn't try to be a hero without a gun.
HELM: Why don't you give me the medicine and we can all live through this?
GRISHAM: Why don't I just pull the trigger and I live through this?

They've been backing out of the cave deal that Grisham hid the medicine in and the Queen jumps off the roof onto Grisham.

QUEEN: Won't the Colonel be happy to find that you've had his medicine all along?
GRISHAM: He'll be happy to have your head.

Sword fight. Helm gets out of the way.

QUEEN: You've been practicing, Captain.
GRISHAM: I'll be burying you next to Montoya.

He loses his sword and throws sand in her face. Helm picks up Grisham's gun and takes a deep breath. He's affected by having to hold one again. Grisham has the better of the Queen. She can see Helm holding the gun.

QUEEN: Shoot him. Shoot!
GRISHAM: He's a healer, not a killer. Not like me.

YOWZA!! Helm shot Grisham's blade in half! The Queen takes control.

GRISHAM: How'd you do that?
HELM: Just lucky I guess.

The Queen locks him in his hiding place as Helm picks up the medicine. She takes a bit of the powder 'for a friend'. He thanks her.

QUEEN: That was a remarkable shot, Doctor.
HELM: I'll send you my bill in the morning.

~~~~~

Party at Montoya's. Everyone's well. Montoya is on the balcony overlooking his courtyard filled with guests.

MONTOYA: Ladies and Gentlemen, may I have your attention please. (He raises his glass) To a man who risked his life to make sure everyone received... What was in the medicine, Doctor?
HELM: Acetylsalicylic acid. (Aspirin) From willowbark.
MONTOYA: Who's bark is much better than his bite.

Grisham walks to Montoya.

MONTOYA: My brain is clear. I know everything, Grisham.
GRISHAM: You can't possibly believe--.
MONTOYA: You are an animal after all. But you are my animal. And I hold your leash. This was your first and only mistake. The next time you strike too far, I will take that leash and I will strangle you with it.
GRISHAM: Yes, sir.

~~~~~

Tessa joins Marta and Helm in conversation.

MARTA: Dr. Helm says that it was the Queen of Swords who recovered the medicine for him.
TESSA: The Queen of Swords?
HELM: Yes.
TESSA: Is that true?
HELM: Yes, it is.
TESSA: I thought she was a criminal.
HELM: Who knows what goes on in her mind.
TESSA: Doctor, what do you think?
HELM: I think it's best never to rush to a diagnosis. Ladies...

He leaves. Both of them are looking him over.

THE END

Synopsis by:
JoLayne
EnyaJo@aol.com

Jo's Obsessions
http://www.oocities.org/enyajo