Queen of Swords

Episode Transcripts

 

Episode 3: Fever

Written by Scott Kraft
Directed by Paolo Barzman
Aired: 10-21-00
 
Transcript revised: 7-16-06

 

Zzickle's Notes:

I don't own Queen of Swords - if I did, *all* the episodes would have had Dr. Helm in them! The contents of this transcript are taken directly from the episode (with help of closed captions), to the best of my ability.

If you want to post this transcript on your site, please let me know where it is going so I can visit it. Also, please post it with my name (Zzickle) and website (http://www.zzickle.com/) on it.

You are more than welcome to use these transcripts in your fanfiction stories, no notification required.

Cast List:

Tessa Alvarado - Tessie Santiago
              our heroine

Marta - Paulina Gálvez
              Tessa's gypsy servant

Dr. Robert Helm - Peter Wingfield
              the town doctor

Col. Luis Montoya - Valentine Pelka
              the bad guy

Cpt. Grisham - Anthony Lemke
              Montoya's lackey

Queen of Swords - Tessa's alter ego

Vera Hidalgo - Elsa Pataky
              the don's young wife

Enrique - Jesus Temiño
              a peasant farmer

Pira - Irene Gonzalez
              Enrique's sick wife

 

Enrique's Farm

[Pira coughing]

Enrique - Here, try and drink.

Pira - I'm so cold.

Girl - Mama? [lays blanket on Pira]

Enrique - I'm going for the doctor.

Pira - Enrique, Enrique, we have no money.

Enrique - Shh, don't worry. He's a good man. He'll come. I'll be back in no time.

[Enrique opens door, Grisham & soldiers waiting outside]

Grisham - By the orders of Colonel Luis Rimera Montoya, you are required to military service as a loyal . . . et cetera, et cetera, et cetera . . . Take him away.

Enrique - No! No! [pulls away from soldiers, tries to run]

Soldier - Halt!

Grisham - Are you disobeying orders already?

Enrique - Sir, please, my wife is sick with the fever.

Grisham - Well, so are half my men. You think you'd be my first choice?

Enrique - I can't leave my children to starve.

Grisham - Well, you're breaking my heart here. Bring him.

[Enrique tries to run, soldier lasso's him]

Pira - No, Enrique!

 

Santa Helena: street

Soldiers - Keep moving! Move! Come on. Hey! Get those men over there!

Montoya - Soldiers, Grisham? Where? Surely you don't mean this motley crew of peasants?

Grisham - I did the best with what I had, sir.

Montoya - I know the feeling . . .

Marta - Tessa, look . . . marigolds. This might help the fever.

Tessa - [looking out into street] Enrique?

Enrique - Please, colonel. What kind of an animal drags a man from his sick wife and hungry children?

Montoya - Presumably, the same kind that allows one to assault his commander.

Grisham - You're a soldier! [hauls Enrique to his feet] Now act like one. [Tessa & Marta walk up] Ladies.

Tessa - Good day, colonel.

Montoya - Senorita Alvarado.

Tessa - Colonel, I know that man. Surely he can't be guilty of any crime.

Montoya - Heavens, no, senorita. These happy few, this "band of brothers," is replenishing the ranks of our army.

Tessa - You mean those farmers?

Montoya - The fever has depleted our ranks, and the Queen of Swords remains a plague on us all.

Tessa - You took the words right out of my mouth.

Montoya - Where I used to send one man to collect the taxes, now I must send three. I sympathize with the peasants' plight, but she is to blame for all their suffering. Adios. Beunos dias, senorita.

Tessa - Beunos dias, colonel. [Montoya leaves] Montoya says it's all the Queen's fault.

Marta - Maybe he's got a point.

Tessa - I don't think so.

Marta - The Queen gives the peasants hope.

Tessa - And?

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 - Fine. Then I'll come back tonight and free Enrique.

Marta - And turn him into a deserter? Then he'll never be able to return home to his wife and family.

Tessa - First you tell me to be responsible, then you tell me to do nothing.

Marta - What I'm telling you is this is a problem that cannot be solved with a sword.

 

Santa Helena: courtyard

Grisham - [boxing with Enrique] Come on! Fight back! Come on, come on, you baby, fight back! Fight back! Defend yourself! You called me an animal in front of my commander? [throws punch, Enrique falls] Pick him up. Now remember, you've got to keep your guard up. [throws another punch, Enrique falls again] Who else wants a piece? Huh? [points to another 'recruit'] You? [turns, sees Tessa] Senorita.

Tessa - I'm sorry, captain. I didn't mean to interrupt.

Grisham - No, no. Come on! Go wash your colonel's horses. All of you!

Tessa - I've come to ask for a favor.

Grisham - You've come to ask a favor of me?

Tessa - A small personal request.

Grisham - It's personal? Would you pass me that, please. [points to towel]

Tessa - Here you are, captain.

Grisham - Thank you. Now, what could a simple soldier like myself possibly have to offer the daughter of a wealthy Spanish don? Pass my shirt too, please? Now, what was that favor?

Tessa - I'd like you to release Enrique to me.

Grisham - What do you want with trash like that?

Tessa - My hacienda needs workers. Enrique's as strong as a mule.

Grisham - Just how bad do you want that favor?

 

Montoya's Office

Dr. Helm - Breath deeply. [Montoya takes deep breath] Again. [Montoya inhales again]

Montoya - Where is my medicine?

Dr. Helm - It's gone.

Montoya - Gone!? Gone where?

Dr. Helm - To the sick, oddly enough.

Montoya - You treat peasants before you treat your dying commander?!

Dr. Helm - You're not dying, colonel, at least not today. I can't even be sure you have the fever yet.

Montoya - Don't you dare turn your back on me!

Dr. Helm - I will make some more medicine, and you can have it as soon as it's ready.

Montoya - You just remember this: your duty is to me and to me alone.

Dr. Helm - Death does not play favorites, colonel . . . and neither do I.

Montoya - As you rightly say, doctor, death is nobody's servant. You, however, are. Guard!

Guard - Sir.

Montoya - Escort the doctor to his office and see that he stays there.

Dr. Helm - You're arresting me?

Montoya - No. I am retaining you as my private physician. The medicine you make is for me alone. Do you understand? I don't give a damn who else dies.

 

Enrique's Farm

Pira - What's happened to Enrique?

Marta - Don't worry. He'll be home soon. Senorita Alvarado is talking to the capitan. She'll get medicine from the doctor. [to herself] And perhaps she'll spare a pinch for me as well.

 

Santa Helena: store

Vera - Why is it I can never find the shade of blue I dream about?

Tessa - It's aways like that.

Vera - Maybe I should buy black. Everyone is getting sick. Maybe I'll be next.

Tessa - Impossible. You've never looked healthier or more beautiful.

Vera - You think the way I look comes easy? But you know, I work very hard.

Tessa - The women envy you, but it's the men who really appreciate you. I was talking to Captain Grisham . . .

Vera - Yes, so I heard.

Tessa - It was about my worker, Enrique.

Vera - You show a great deal of concern for a peasant.

Tessa - It's just that I can't afford to lose him now, and I know how much the captain respects your concerns.

Vera - Very impressive the way he fights, no? Like an animal.

Tessa - I hadn't noticed.

Vera - That's hard to believe.

Tessa - I was just asking him a question, Vera.

Vera - Right. About your worker.

Tessa - Do you think you could speak to the captain about Enrique?

Vera - I'm sorry, it's too late now. You should have come to me first. You should wear more red, Tessa. It will make you look less pale.

 

Dr. Helm's Office

Soldier - Colonel Montoya wants you.

Dr. Helm - I'm working.

Soldier - It's not a request. [points gun at Dr. Helm]

Dr. Helm - Does the colonel want me in attendance or in a coffin, hm? [takes gun & dumps it into a bowl of water] Thank the colonel for his invitation. [Soldier pulls out a sword] Would you like to lose your sword as well? [Soldier resheaths sword & leaves] Tell him I'll look in as soon as I can.

 

Montoya's bedroom: evening

Montoya - Open the window.

Grisham - It's open.

Montoya - Open it more! I'm burning up.

Grisham - Yes, sir.

Montoya - [coughing] Where is the doctor?

Grisham - [looks out window] He's crossing the street right now.

Montoya - About time. Did you tell him to hurry?

[Man in street knocks Dr. Helm on head, steals medicine. Grisham aims gun]

Montoya - I'll be dead before that medicine arrives.

[Grisham pauses before firing, then aims to miss]

Montoya - [when Grisham fires] Idiot! Are you trying to kill my doctor.

Grisham - It's the Queen of Swords! Get after her! [to Montoya] She's attacked the doctor and stolen the medicine.

Montoya - My medicine?

 

Santa Helena: street, next morning

Marta - [reading poster] 500 reales for the Queen of Swords.

Tessa - Who says she stole it?

Man - Capitan Grisham. He saw her.

Old Man - (??) (something in Spanish)

Tessa - They can't actually believe I stole that medicine!

Marta - Their children are sick. Their wives are dying

Tessa - But they know I'm not a thief!

Marta - They have to blame someone . . . and the capitan gave them you.

Tessa - Grisham . . . again! Marta? What is it?

Marta - Nothing. I stumbled . . .

Tessa - Marta, you're burning up.

Marta - We're standing in the sun.

Tessa - Oh my god, you have the fever.

Marta - I'll be fine.

Tessa - I'm taking you home to bed.

Marta - To bad it wasn't the Queen who stole the medicine.

 

Enrique's Farm

Enrique - So how do you feel now?

Pira - The doctor's medicine is strong.

Enrique - Hm. See, I was right. He is a good man.

Pira - But . . . Capitan Grisham?

Enrique - I told him I couldn't let anything happen to my beautiful family, but I promised to get back to the barracks by nightfall.

Pira - What will I do without you?

Enrique - Shh. I'll be back before you know it.

[outside, Enrique draws water from the well]

Grisham - [on horseback] You know what we do to deserters, don't you? [Enrique runs] Hiyeah! [chases Enrique] You've got something I want.

 

Alvarado's hacienda

Marta - Leave me be.

Tessa - When I had whooping cough, you sat with me day and night for a month.

Marta - I had a choice?

Tessa - And then, when I had scarlet fever, you didn't sleep for three days.

Marta - You were delirious, how could you remember?

Tessa - Marta, you've taken care of me my whole life.

Marta - That's my job.

Tessa - Now it's my turn. So be good.

Marta - Stubborn, fool-headed girl.

Tessa - Shh, quiet. I'm trying to think. Grisham told everyone that the Queen stole the medicine. Why would he lie?

Tessa & Marta - [together] Montoya.

Tessa - Of course. He blames the Queen and gets all of the medicine for himself.

Marta - Where are you going?

Tessa - Call me a thief . . . and a thief I will be.

 

Enrique's Farm

Grisham - Where is it? Where's the medicine you stole?

Enrique - I didn't steal it. It was the Queen!

Grisham - Where is it?

Enrique - Over there.

Grisham - Get it then.

Enrique - [getting pouch from hay] Sir, she's my wife. And my daughter may be next. Any man would do the same. [grabs scythe & attacks Grisham]

Grisham - Oh, you're a fool. [shoots Enrique] Now your wife's a widow.

Pira - No, Enrique!

Grisham - He died of the fever, you understand? You should be careful for your family. I understand this fever is very . . . contagious.

 

Montoya's bedroom

Montoya - [mumbling in his sleep] Queen . . . the Queen of Swords . . .

[QoS rides to Santa Helena, enters Montoya's bedroom]

Montoya - Grisham? Do you have it?

QoS - [places sword point against Montoya's throat] How are you feeling, colonel?

Montoya - Oh, it's you. So you've come to gloat, eh?

QoS - I've come for the medicine.

Montoya - [tries to laugh] You took it.

QoS - No more games.

Montoya - Look at me. Do I look well to you? Am I not the picture of health?

QoS - So you don't have it?

Montoya - Do you think I'd be lying here in a pool of my own sweat if I did? I'm dying, you fool!

QoS - So who did Grisham see?

[Montoya pulls gun from under pillow, aims at QoS, QoS salutes Montoya with sword, exits out window]

Montoya - [fires gun] The Queen of Swords! Get her!

[QoS fights soldiers/guards on balcony]

QoS - The trick is to not look down, senor. [Soldier falls, more fighting, QoS jumps on horse & escapes]

 

Alvarado's hacienda

Tessa - Marta? Marta? [sees Marta sleeping at table] Marta?! Marta. Marta.

Marta - I'm still here.

Tessa - What are you doing out of bed?

Marta - In a bed, in a chair, what does it matter?

Tessa - Montoya didn't have the medicine.

Marta - I know.

Tessa - How do you know?

Marta - Because whoever has the medicine is already dead.

Tessa - What is that supposed to mean?

Marta - Don't ask me. Ask the dead. [tosses Death tarot card onto table]

 

Santa Helena: street

Pira - Thank you for coming, Senorita Alvarado.

Tessa - Pira? What happened?

Pira - Enrique's dead.

Tessa - I'm so sorry. How?

Pira - The fever.

Tessa - But I saw him yesterday. He seemed fine.

Pira - It happened quickly.

Tessa - But it was only a day.

Pira - I tell you, senorita, it was the fever.

Tessa - There's something else.

Pira - [sees Grisham ride up] There is nothing else. Please let me bury my husband.

Grisham - [to Tessa] Senorita. [rides off]

 

Dr. Helm's Office

Dr. Helm - There's a sound that's made when a knuckle encounters wood. It's customarily used before entering. Don't know if you've ever heard of it - it's called "knocking."

Tessa - Really, doctor? I must try it sometime. How's the medicine coming?

Dr. Helm - Slowly. [moves Tessa out of the way] Excuse me.

Tessa - By all means. I love to watch men at work.

Dr. Helm - Senorita, I am extremely busy.

Tessa - Yes, I can see that, but my servant is ill. How long before you have more medicine.

Dr. Helm - A few days, allowing for interruptions.

Tessa - Will that be soon enough? I mean, how long does it take the fever to kill?

Dr. Helm - Five days, as long as you're healthy to begin with.

Tessa - So a healthy man . . . woman . . . couldn't become sick and die overnight?

Dr. Helm - No, senorita. Five days, not overnight. If you die overnight, then it's probably because you wasted the time of a very busy doctor! Now good day.

Tessa - Thank you, doctor. You've been most helpful.

 

Grisham's Quarters

Tessa - Captain? Captain Grisham? [enters & begins searching for the medicine, eventually hears noise, Grisham comes in] Hello, Captain Grisham.

Grisham - Senorita. Well, I must say I certainly never expected you to come.

Tessa - Well, I was a bit delayed. Enrique's funeral, you know

Grisham - Oh, yeah. Yeah, it's sad. To die just like that [snaps fingers] right after I release him. Just as you asked. You know what? I could swear we had a bargain.

Tessa - Please, Captain Grisham, um, it would be disrespectful to the dead.

Grisham - All the more reason to seize life.

Tessa - But not on an empty stomach, of course!

Grisham - What, you're sad . . . and hungry?

Tessa - Captain Grisham, a lady likes to be . . . romanced. Music, wine, dinner, flowers . . .

Grisham - Senorita, I know all about romance. [leans forward to kiss Tessa, Dr. Helm's office explodes]

Tessa - What was that?

Grisham - Bad timing.

 

Santa Helena: street

Dr. Helm - [stumbling out of his office] Get water! Come on! Come on! Give it to me! More, more! Keep them coming! [Tessa tries to run into burning office] No, senorita! It's too dangerous!

Tessa - The medicine!

Dr. Helm - It's gone!

Grisham - Be careful with your chemicals, doctor.

Dr. Helm - There was nothing in there that would cause an explosion.

Grisham - Well, I guess we'll just call it an unlucky accident, then. Excuse me.

Dr. Helm - Keep them coming! Bring them!

Grisham - [to people helping] Fast here, aren't we?

 

Alvarado's hacienda

Marta - [in bath] Aah! That's cold!

Tessa - [pouring water into bath] We've got to bring your fever down.

Marta - By freezing me to death?

Tessa - I underestimated Grisham. I'm sure he has the medicine.

Marta - But Montoya's sick. How does that make sense?

Tessa - Well, if the colonel dies, who's next in line? I'm going to get the medicine.

Marta - Grisham won't give it to the Queen.

Tessa - He will if I put a blade to his neck.

Marta - The man is many things, but a coward is not one of them.

Tessa - [handing Marta a glass] Drink that.

Marta - What is it?

Tessa - Lemon grass, hesperidin.

Marta - Dios Mio . . . what parts?

Tessa - I've seen you make it a thousand times.

Marta - How much hesperidin?

Tessa - Half a teaspoon?

Marta - No more, or you'll have me sweating like a pig.

Tessa - Marta [reaches around Marta to take rose from vase] . . . even when you're sick, you're a genius. But for Grisham, [dips petals in glass] I'll need something stronger.

 

Santa Helena: cafe

Grisham - To a woman as beautiful as her rose.

Tessa - How could I be so lucky? A warrior *and* a poet.

Grisham - And who knows, one day soon . . . maybe a colonel.

Tessa - And Montoya?

Grisham - He's very ill. It doesn't look good.

Tessa - How tragic.

Grisham - Well, one man's tragedy is another man's opportunity. [leans forward to kiss Tessa]

Tessa - [blocks lips with rose] Spoken like a true colonel. Ambition becomes you. [kisses Grisham, dumps powder from rose blossom into wine cup] To ambition.

Grisham - [takes glass] To us. [drinks] To my quarters. Let's go.

Tessa - Patience, captain. Good things come to those who wait.

Grisham - I don't want to wait anymore.

Tessa - I don't either. Although, you can learn so much about a woman by watching her dance. Don't you agree?

 

Dr. Helm's Office

[Dr. Helm looking at burned office, finds fuse plug on floor]

 

Santa Helena: cafe

Tessa - [dancing for Grisham] May I help you, captain? [waves hand fan at him] It's a warm afternoon, no?

Grisham - Yeah.

Tessa - What do you think about my dress?

Grisham - It would look better on the floor.

Tessa - I wore this to the Fiesta de San Isidro. The king himself stopped to talk to me. I'm so rude. Let me get you some more wine.

Grisham - Yeah.

Tessa - Are you feeling alright, captain? [feels Grisham's forehead] Oh, you're burning up. I hope you don't have the fever!

Grisham - Excuse me. Hold that thought. [leaves]

 

Montoya's Office

Montoya - It's a fuse plug. Very nice. You got me out of my death bed for this?! [coughs]

Dr. Helm - I found it in the rubble of my office. It's proof that the place was deliberately burned.

Montoya - Why would anyone want to burn down your office, doctor?

Dr. Helm - To stop me from making any more medicine. You're not 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.

Dr. Helm - All it takes is one.

Montoya - [looking at fuse] One who is familiar with military explosives.

 

Santa Helena: street

[Grisham gets on a horse, rides off. Dr. Helm follows on another horse. QoS watches both leave from rooftop.]

 

Abandoned Mine

[Grisham retrieves medicine from hiding place]

Dr. Helm - [walks up behind Grisham, throws fuse plug at Grisham's feet] Care to return 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.

Dr. Helm - I think we both know that the colonel will never see that powder.

Grisham - Okay. Okay. [raises hands] Doctor, are you armed.

Dr. Helm - Only with information. The colonel knows everything. And, as his personal physician, I can assure you that he will live plenty long enough to see you hang. Now, a smart man would cut his losses and bide his time.

Grisham - Well, doctor, a smart man [pulls gun, turns, points it at Dr. Helm] wouldn't try to be a hero without a gun.

Dr. Helm - Why don't you just 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?

QoS - [leaps from above mine, lands on Grisham] Won't the colonel be happy to find you've had his medicine all along.

Grisham - Happier to find your head.

[QoS & Grisham swordfight]

QoS - You've been practicing, captain.

Grisham - I'll bury you next to Montoya. [more fighting, Grisham grabs medicine from the ground.]

QoS - Your life or the medicine. [Grisham throws bottle into the air, fighting continues]

[Dr. Helm sees Grisham's gun on ground, Grisham disarms QoS, Dr. Helm picks up gun]

QoS - Shoot him.

Grisham - [chuckles] No.

QoS - Shoot!

Grisham - He won't shoot me. He's a healer. He's not a killer. Not like me. [raises sword to deliver killing blow]

[Dr. Helm shoots at sword, breaking it, QoS knocks Grisham down, holds sword to his throat.]

Grisham - I guess that leaves you on top.

QoS - [pulling Grisham up by his hair] Get up.

Grisham - Gently. [to Dr. Helm] How'd you do that?

Dr. Helm - Just lucky, I guess.

Grisham - Yeah, I'll say. [QoS throws Grisham into store room, bars door]

QoS - [takes bottle from Dr. Helm, pours out some powder] For a friend.

Dr. Helm - Thank you.

QoS - And you. That was a remarkable shot, doctor.

Dr. Helm - I'll send you my bill in the morning.

 

Santa Helena: courtyard

Montoya - [from balcony] Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention? To a man who risked his life to make sure everyone received . . . what was that concoction, doctor?

Dr. Helm - Salicylic acid . . . from willow bark.

Montoya - Doctor Helm . . . whose bark is much better than his bite. [crowd laughs] Music!

Grisham - Sir.

Montoya - Ah, capitan. Another hero in our battle against the epidemic.

Grisham - There's something I need to explain to you.

Montoya - My fever has passed, and 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 one and only mistake. The next time you stray too far, I will take that leash, and I will strangle you with it.

Grisham - Yes, sir.

Dr. Helm - Senorita.

Marta - The doctor informs me that it was actually the Queen of Swords who recovered the medicine for him.

Tessa - The Queen of Swords?

Dr. Helm - Yes.

Tessa - Is that true?

Dr. Helm - Yes, it is.

Tessa - But I thought she was the criminal.

Dr. Helm - Who knows what goes on in her mind?

Tessa - Come on, doctor. What do you think?

Dr. Helm - I think it's best never to rush to a diagnosis. Ladies. [Dr. Helm leaves]

 

End of "Fever"

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