Maquis Act 38 - The Trial of Kathryn Janeway
Scene One
Kathryn was speechless for once!
"Are you sure there isn't another way for Katy to testify?" asked Father O'Malley.
"Yes Father, she can only testify for him in court if they are husband and wife."
"Do you think they will execute him for the crime if we can prove that he was an innocent bystander?"
"Unfortunately, it's his word against Mr Capone's. He has a lot of Judges and Police on his payroll."
The Father glanced over at Kathryn who hadn't said a word.
"I'll take Katy home to discuss her predicament. We'll let you know her decision tomorrow. Thank you, Declan!"
"I can't pay you back for everything you've done for me, Father so I'm glad to be able to help your friend."
Scene 2
Chakotay and Miss Q were visiting their fourth precinct. Sergeant O'Halloran was the officer manning the desk.
"How can I help you, Miss?"
Miss Q passed him a photograph, "Have you seen this man? He is travelling with a female companion.
"The noisy fella! If his lady friend hadn't persuaded him to shut up, he would be dead by strangulation," swore the Sergeant.
"That must be Q. He has a habit of upsetting everyone he comes into contact with. Come to think of it - he has got an annoying voice."
"Could you take us to see him, Sergeant?" asked Chakotay.
"Okay, see if you can persuade him to tell us what happened and why he was there."
When Q saw his visitors, he groaned.
"How did you find me? As if I'm not in enough trouble - go away."
"I came to beat some sense into you; he came to rescue Miss Janeway from your evil clutches."
Q turned to stare at a Chakotay, "Well you can go back to your own time empty handed, as you can see she isn't here."
"Where is she Q? I'm not playing silly games with you," emphasised Miss Q.
Q lied, "After the jump, we lost contact. I haven't managed to find her yet."
"I know when you're lying Q." replied Miss Q.
Q glared at her, "Find her yourself then!"
"We're not going to get any sense out him," she looked around the Holding cell, "He's not going anywhere. Let's find your lady friend."
Q thought that she was bluffing, "You're not going to leave me here with all these low life criminals."
Miss Q grinned at him, as three of the large criminals started to object to his opinion on their good character.
"If I were you, I wouldn't upset these gentlemen. You're going to be living with them for a little while longer, added Miss Q."
As they walked away Q was still screaming at them. "You can't leave me here, what will the Others say?"
"They will congratulate me Q because you have made a lot of enemies on the Council."
"You will regret this. I'll have plenty of time to plan my revenge."
Scene 3
Kathryn and Father O'Malley returned to his house in silence. His housekeeper had left some slices of ham; cheese and a loaf of bread, out of the oven for lunch.
"I'll make us some coffee then we can devise a plan to get your man out of jail."
Kathryn found a knife and started to cut the loaf. She could hear the Father humming a hymn in the kitchen. She dropped the knife when a gloved hand covered her mouth. She was dragged backwards against the person who was gagging her.
The intruder was precise, "Make a noise and we'll kill the Priest."
He slipped a hood over her head and manhandled her out of the door. There was a car waiting outside with its engine running.
She kept asking her kidnappers, "Let me go and I won't say a word?"
The man holding her shoved her into the back of a car. She banged her head on the door which made her dizzy. She shut her eyes and listened to the men talking.
"She's a tough broad. She followed every instruction without a whimper."
"Why does Mr Capone want her? She's nothing special to look at."
"Do you remember that rube, Quinn?
"I didn't know the Boss was still looking for him?"
"He caught Virginia necking with the tool. He's going to torture her and make Quinn watch. Then we can take our time clipping her and then him."
"Why does your Boss want to kill me? I've done nothing to him."
"I'm sorry doll face, you chose the wrong man to visit Chicago with."
I don't know Quinn very well. I've only met him twice. He doesn't care about me." swore Kathryn.
"If that's true why did you visit him in Jail?"
Kathryn stopped talking to them when she realised that she was making matters worse.
Scene 4
Father O'Malley carried the tray with the coffee pot and cups and saucers into the dining room. He dropped them on the floor when he saw that Kathryn wasn't there. The bread knife and the bread were still on the table. He rushed out of the room to the front door. The door was wide open with a piece of paper sticking out of the letterbox. The Father tore it open and felt sick when he finished reading.
'We have taken Quinn's lady. Tell him to meet us in front of the precinct at midnight. If we spot the coppers - she dies.'
Father O'Malley opened the front door as Miss Q was knocking it. She fell through the door with a yelp. The Father helped her to stand up.
"I am so sorry," apologised Father O'Malley, "Can I help you?"
"You've done enough," snapped Miss Q,
"I have a terrible memory for faces - have we met before?" asked the Father.
"No, but you know my friend," Miss Q handed Q's photograph to him. "A policeman told us that the woman travelling with him is staying with you."
Father O'Malley was suspicious, "Who told you that I have a guest?"
"The coppers told us that a Catholic Priest and a lady visited my friend. It wasn't hard to find out where you live."
"Katy has disappeared. She was in my dining room preparing lunch. When I finished the coffee in the kitchen, I couldn't find her. The front door was open and the food and utensils were lying all over the floor. I never heard a thing."
They heard the loud banging at the front door. Father O'Malley opened the door to find Joseph, the shoeshine boy, crying.
"Father, Mr Capone's men have taken Miss Janeway. She was sitting in the back of their car and there was blood on her face."
"Thank you, Joseph," He slipped a coin into his hand, "Get yourself a hot dinner at the cafe."
He shut the door behind Joseph and beckoned the others to follow him. He poured three cups of coffee and sat down at the table.
"Katy told me that Mr Capone caught Quinn, with his moll, Virginia, in a compromising position."
"Q is a womaniser. He has made love to thousands of women. What is so special about this one?" asked Miss Q.
"She is Al Capone's moll." answered Father O'Malley.
Miss Q put her head in her hands. "Q is going to get us all killed!"
"Katy's rescue is our first priority, not Quinn," warned Father O'Malley.
"Al Capone is a thug with a talent for organisation, " stated Miss Q.
"You shouldn't underestimate him. He is a devious, clever man who plans his crime in minute detail. Quinn took something from him and the heads of the other gangs will not respect Capone if he isn't punished ."
Miss Q asked for a favour, "We need some help to rescue Miss Janeway. Could we stay here with you? You have priceless local knowledge."
"I like Katy a lot so I want to help you rescue her."
Father O'Malley's housekeeper arrived to cook his dinner.
"Mrs O'Reilly could you set two more places for dinner and make up the beds in the guest rooms."
Scene 5
The car came to a sudden halt. The driver opened his door then went to help the other thug manhandle Kathryn into a doorway. She could hear loud jazz music and the clink of glasses. The laughter and loud chatter sounded alien from underneath the hood. The men pushed her into a quiet room and pulled the hood off. She couldn't see much due to a bright light shining onto a single chair, in the middle of the room. The chair had restraints on the arms and legs.
"Good evening Ma'am. Allow me to introduce myself, Alphonse Capone."
"I am Kathryn Janeway. Why did your men abduct me?"
"We have a mutual friend, Mr Quinn. He took something of mine without asking the last time we met. That was rude and disrespectful."
Kathryn decided, to be honest, "I agree with you. He is rude, obnoxious and a narcissist of the highest order."
Mr Capone hadn't expected that response. Either this dame was crazy or she had the most courage of anyone he'd ever dealt with.
"If you hate Quinn, why are you travelling with him?"
"He annoyed other important people and we had to go on the run. I came with him because he promised that he would keep me safe. He is the biggest blowhard you'll ever meet."
Capone relaxed, he was very impressed with Miss Janeway. He could actually talk to her as an equal. Up until this moment women, in his opinion, were either whores or mothers.
He made an impulsive decision, "Would you like to come with me to my office and have a drink? The good stuff - nothing bootleg."
"I would be delighted - lead the way."
When they reached the office Mr Capone pulled the chair out for her.
"Thank you, my Grandmother always insisted on good manners. She believed that it made the world a more civilised place."
"I was always scared of my Grandmother. Good manners saved me from a whipping."
"My Grandmother was Irish with a wicked temper. My Grandpa hid in the garden until she calmed down."
"Irish and Italian grandmothers have a lot in common."
Capone opened a drawer in his desk and pulled out a large bottle of Irish Whisky and two shot glasses.
"Let's have a drink and find out what other things we have in common."
He poured out two glasses and waited for her reaction.
"This is exquisite." exclaimed Kathryn.
She took another mouthful and swirled it around her mouth and let it slip down the back of her throat.
"You can say what you like about the Irish but they make excellent whisky. How did a classy broad, like yourself, end up with a schmuck like Quinn?"
"I met him through my work. A colleague needed expert advice and Quinn was the expert they provided."
"Are you sweet on him?" asked Capone.
"No. I'm afraid that he loves himself too much!" replied Kathryn.
Al Capone was developing a crush, "I'm sorry that we met under these circumstances. Could we start again?
Kathryn knew he could change his mind and return her to the room with the chair and drain. She decided to agree to start again.
"I'd like that!" agreed Kathryn.
"I'm throwing a little party later for some close friends. Would you like to have dinner with me then be my personal guest at the party?"
"I haven't got anything to wear."
Capone checked her out from top to toe, "I will ask one of my secretaries to fetch you a choice of dresses to wear."
Kathryn tried to sound enthusiastic, "I can't thank you enough for rescuing me from that odious little man. Thank you for inviting me to your party this evening."
Scene 6
Miss Q slipped out the back door of the rectory. She found a place where she couldn't be seen and waved her hand. A bag appeared stuffed with money. She picked it up and went to find Chakotay and the Father.
"Let us go back to the precinct and pay Q's bail. Then we'll look for a way to rescue Miss Janeway."
When they arrived at the Precinct there was a familiar face at the desk.
"Please tell me that you want to post bail for your noisy friend?" begged the Sergeant.
"That is exactly what we are here to do," replied Miss Q.
Q was quite angry when he saw him again, "I thought you were going to leave me here to rot."
"Don't tempt me, Q. We could always leave you here and rescue Miss Janeway ourselves," threatened Miss Q."
"Why does Kathy need rescuing? I thought she was staying with the priest, asked Q"
"Al Capone abducted Miss Janeway from the Priest's home."
"You have to get me out of here - he'll kill her for revenge," swore Q.
"Father O'Malley and Captain Chakotay are sorting out the paperwork now. What did you do to make him so angry?"
"I seduced his Mistress. He caught us in flagrante delicto by Capone and his most trusted lieutenants."
"Marvellous, now your human pet has to answer for your sins - how Shakespearean!" Miss Q was in her element.
"I loathed Shakespeare, he was so pretentious. Why couldn't he write in plain English?"
The Sergeant rushed down the stairs with Chakotay and the Priest lagging behind. He was eager to get rid of his unwelcome guest.
"Father O'Malley provided a character reference and paid your fine for resisting arrest. Try to behave yourself because we do not want you back here under any circumstances."
"He was warming to me!" declared Q.
Miss Q stifled a laugh, "What part of telling you he never wanted to see you again did you miss?"
"If you're so clever, how are we going to rescue Kathy from under Capone's nose? We can't let anyone know that we are aliens from the future."
Chakotay offered his advice, "Why do we need to involve Q? Without any powers his value is limited."
"What do you mean my value is limited? I have an IQ of over two thousand," boasted Q.
Miss Q raised an eyebrow, "Did you measure your own IQ?"
"I will ignore your vitriol. I propose to visit Capone and swap myself for Kathy."
"That is brilliant Q, he will shoot Miss Janeway because he won't need her any longer than torture and kill you."
Miss Q suggested a better plan, "I should talk to the gangster. The history books portrayed him as a womaniser."
Father O'Malley agreed, "He wouldn't see you as a threat because you are a woman. He will give you to his men for recreational use!
Scene 7
Kathryn was brushing her hair after a long soak in a clawfoot bathtub. There was a knock at the door. She opened it to find a young man trying to hold three large boxes with ribbons tied around them.
"These are courtesy of Mr Capone, Ma'am. He said to try them on and pick the one you like the most."
He was blushing so much that she felt sorry for him, " Thank Mr Capone for me. I will mention how courteous you were."
"Thank you, Ma'am, and enjoy your evening."
Kathryn couldn't wait to try the dresses on. She opened the first box. She removed the tissue paper and unfolded the dress. It was a deep midnight blue with silver sequins shaped like the moon around the bodice. The tassels were made from white crystals which shimmered when moved. She hung it up carefully - it was perfect. There was even a small box included with high heeled black shoes. After she dressed and brushed her hair, she was ready. Kathryn flicked through a magazine while she waited.
About half an hour later there was another knock at the door. Al Capone was outside with a red rose in his hand.
"You look beautiful Kathryn. The colour is perfect for you!"
She replied, "Thank you for the dress. You have impeccable taste."
Kathryn decided to enjoy the evening. She would never get another chance to have dinner with the notorious Al Capone. She hadn't expected him to be charming and attractive.
When they reached the restaurant, there was nobody there. There were a lot of tables but only one had candles and was laid with silverware. Capone pulled the chair out for her and sat down opposite.
"I can't tell you how nice it is to have dinner with a real lady." admitted Capone.
He popped the champagne bottle and passed her a glass.
Kathryn proposed a toast, "To a beautiful friendship!"
Capone reciprocated, "To a classy dame!"
He snapped his fingers and the starter arrived with another bottle of champagne. When Kathryn spotted the bottle she asked for some water. It wasn't the time to lose her inhibitions. She had to stay one step ahead of this dangerous man.
Scene 8
The escape committee sat around the table discussing the details of their rescue plan.
Q started, "I will march in there and demand Kathy's release."
Miss Q couldn't help herself. "Good because you will be killed in the first two minutes and the Continuum will be minus one idiot."
Q sat down and sulked. "If you're so brilliant, let's hear your ideas."
Joseph interrupted them, "Mr Capone is having a party tonight. It should be easy to slip in there without getting noticed."
Father O'Malley burst out laughing, "This kid is brighter than all of you put together.
The Father looked at Chakotay's tattoo, "I'm afraid this fella won't be able to fit in. He's a little too exotic for Chicago.
Miss Q interrupted, "Q and I will disguise ourselves as waiters. When we find Miss Janeway, Chakotay and the Priest need to create a diversion, while we get her out of there."
Joseph was indignant, "Can't I help as well?"
Miss Q liked his enthusiasm, "I'm sure we'll need you at some point during the evening."
Father O'Malley had a brainwave, "We have some fireworks left over from New Year's Eve. From inside the building, they will sound like gunfire. My guess is that they will evacuate the Club while they find out what is going on."
"The infant can hang around and tell us when Capone is outside and we can leave by the back entrance," added Q.
Miss Q pointed at Q, "You have to sort out this mess that you've created for Miss Janeway. We need to have a chat outside.
Q went on the defensive as soon as they were alone, "This isn't my problem. The Others have a problem with my relationship with Kathy."
"You will have to make things right Q. Running away isn't the answer." advised Lady Q."
"When will you stop being right? It's an extremely annoying character flaw."
"Why are you pursuing this female? She's not your usual type."
"Kathryn Janeway is like a drug. When I am with her, I am ridiculously happy. When we are separated it feels like a part of me is missing," he pointed to his chest, "I ache here."
"They will end her existence if you don't leave her alone," warned Miss Q.
"Can't you persuade them that she doesn't deserve to die."
"If we manage to get her back safely from the Gangster then I will intercede with them. I won't make any promises, Q. I will be doing this for her not you."
Scene 9
Dinner was over and the staff had cleared the table. They were drinking brandy in huge crystal glasses.
"The Mayor will be arriving shortly as he is the guest of honour. I have to thank him, with a stuffed brown envelope because he's done me a few favours recently. I will see you later my dear, we will pick up where we left off."
When he stood up he held her in his arms and kissed her possessively on the lips, "I've wanted to do that since I first saw you."
Kathryn knew that she had to escape before the party ended. He wasn't going to be satisfied with a good night kiss.