A young
man wearing a grey t-shirt and sweatpants walks into a room with book selves
along the walls, there is a desk from a long ago era and standing behind it a
man in his fifties looking through a file he looks up and speaks first
“Is
this what you normally wear?”The younger man answers “I am sorry sir I had just returned from my run when I was notified that you wanted to see me. I didn’t have time to change”
“You’re wet”
“Yes sir it started to ran and I forgot an umbrella.”
“How
long have you been working for me Mr. Jarvis?
“Four
months, three weeks, four days, six hours… he looks at his watch “and 17
minutes Mr. Andrews”“A stickler for details that must be why Mr. Charles recommended you”
“Recommended
me for what sir?”
He
doesn’t answer and continues his questioning “How old are you?”
“28”
“All of
28. And you are American”“I was born in London. My family moved to the States when I was 12”
“Yes
your background check from when you were hired said you lived in New York City.
But you never lost your accent.”
“Unlike
SOME I am proud of where I come from.”“An eye for detail and loyal yes I agree Mr. Charles he is the man for the job.”
Jarvis turns to see an elderly man standing by the door “Yes sir I do believe he will serve you well.”
Jarvis confused “What job? Am I being fired?”
Mr.
Andrews laughs “Not at all, in fact Mr. Charles will be retiring at the end of
the month and it looks like we have found his replacement.”
A
surprised Jarvis asks “Me sir you want me to take over as head butler?”Mr. Charles answers “You would be the youngest head butler this household has ever had and although you haven’t worked here for very long I know you will serve Mr. Andrews and his family the best you can “
“Mr.
Charles, Mr. Andrews I am honored you have chosen me but won’t some on the
staff who have been here longer think they deserve the promotion?”
Mr.
Charles responds “I have already talked with the others and they understand, if
any of them have a problem they will come to me and it will be settled.”
Uncertain
of what “settled” meant Jarvis answers “In that case Mr. Andrews I accept the
offer, thank you and I will not let you down.”
Misters
Charles and Andrews leave the room. Jarvis looks up at a portrait of a young
couple and follows.
As Jarvis walks down the stairs to the kitchen a young
lady of the house smiles at him as she gently passes. Once in the sevents
dining area he is met by several eyes staring back ate him “Everyone I just
want to say that once I’m in my new position I look forward to continuing our
work together. I hope for the same respect for me that you have had for Mr.
Charles.” Without another word they all get back to work.
“It’s
been a busy week as you know I start a new job tomorrow.”
“Yes
almost a year into this investigation and the master of the house finally trust
you enough to make you his right hand man.”
“I’m
not sure head butler and his right hand are the same besides I really think we
have it all wrong here.”
“Alfie,
this is your first field assignment your job is to do what I say!”
“And
we’ve been listening to chatter for almost two years, I’m beginning to have as
much faith in the NSA as the rest of the American people!”
“A Presidential
assassination isn’t something you make jokes about!”
“Yes
but do we really think one of the richest men in England is the Assassin?!”
“Maybe
not but we DO know the threats are coming from this house it could be one of
the sons or perhaps the daughter?”
“IT’S
NOT FIONA”
“If you
believe that then get me the proof. The chatter is escalating and I need
something to move on before it’s too late.” With that the man gets in a motor
boat tired to the pier and drives off.
Back at
the house Jarvis is walking down the hallway with the family’s bedrooms when
the same young woman who smiled at him pulls him into her room. She closes the
door and kisses him “How does it feel to be in charge?”
“Fi,
I’m not in charge of anything yet and nothing about us will change.”“But father trust you…you will be with him most of the day. He will love you as much as I do”
“I’m
not his aide I will help him in the mornings and evenings the rest of the time
I will still be downstairs with the cooks and other servants.”
Fiona
kisses him again “I will make him love you” and she pushes him out of the room.
He continues down the hall, down the spiral staircase and past Mr. Andrews’s
office where the door is ajar and he hears loud whispers. They are of youngest
son David and a man he has never seen, he leans in to listen.
“David
once this starts there will be no stopping, we need to know that you’re all
in.”
“I want
this as much as The Golden Order. The Prime Minister has nothing to worry
about, the President will be dead by the New Year and he will get his war.”
A maid
drops a breakfast tray and Jarvis goes back to his work before he could be
caught.
After
dinner Mr. Charles asks to talk to Alfred Jarvis. “Mr. Jarvis before I leave
for the final time I want to give this to you.” He hands Jarvis an old silver pocket
watch “Mr. Charles I can’t this was your fathers.”
“And
his father’s before him. I am an old bachelor who never had kids, you are a
young man with a whole life ahead of you and you need to be on time working for
a man like Mr. Andrews, please take it. Jarvis accepts and Mr. Charles exits
the house for the final time.
Later that night Jarvis is lying in bed with Fiona, she
has the pocket watch “It’s beautiful” She opens it and reads the inscription
“To my son, stay true to yourself” She places it on the nightstand and leans in
to kiss him, Jarvis doesn’t stop her.
At his
next meeting with the man in the suit, Jarvis tells him what he has learned and
the man gives him his orders.
When he
gets back to the house David is waiting for him “Mr. Jarvis, Daisy was making
my sister’s bed when this fell off her nightstand” He holds up the pocket watch.
“I was
looking for it last night after dinner, Miss Andrews’ must have found it.”
“And I
was going to return it to Mr. Jarvis after his run” Fiona appears from the
dining room.
“Thank
you, and now if you don’t mind I have to check on lunch.” Jarvis exits and
Fiona turns to her brother.
“David
I love you but my life is my own stay out of it.” She walks in the other
direction leaving him alone.
She whispers in his ear “Why would I want to hurt you?”
Jarvis
turns and they kiss then he notices that she has brought a picnic basket “I
know everything that happens in this place and a picnic wasn’t on the schedule”
“I
admit I had to do some sneaking around, from you and my family but with help
from Daisy I wanted you to have a Happy Thanksgiving, I remember you telling me
it’s your favorite American tradition.”
“I am
missing my family this year, thank you, I do love you.” They kiss and are about
to set up the food when a boat arrives, knowing who it is Jarvis asks Fi “Can
we move this to the garden?”
“Of
course”
“I’ll
go check out this guy and will meet up with you in 10.” Fiona picks up the
basket and begins to walk down the pier alone, Jarvis quickly meets with the
man in the suit.
“What
are you doing here?”“Everything is moving into place here are your final instructions.” He tells the driver to go.
In the garden Fiona and Jarvis are enjoying their picnic
when David appears “What’s going on here?”
“Dave,
your sister was kind enough to make me a small yet tasty Thanksgiving meal.
Would you like to join us?”
“It’s
Mr. Andrews, like my father and I have a meeting.”
As he
walks away Jarvis turns to Fiona “Your brother really doesn’t like me.”
“Alfred
Jonas Jarvis, born London England 1987 moved to the US at the age of 12, Valedictorian
of his class, studied history at NYU disappeared for a few years before showing
up as a BUTLER back in England. Does that sound right, so, Jarvis where were
you between NYU and here?”
Alfred
turns around to see a gun being pointed at his heart “I told Fi you didn’t like
me but a gun really?” He tosses the bottle of wine towards David and takes his
own gun from his side. They stand there guns at each for a few seconds
“Who do
you work for FBI, MI-6, CIA?” Jarvis stays silent “I bet CIA. A CIA agent
sleeping with my sister I have to say that is way worst then the butler a
butler I could fire a federal agent I well you know.” Still no reaction from
Jarvis “Whatever happened to being loyal to one’s country?”
“I love
Fi! And I am loyal to country and myself! David…You don’t have to do this.”
“YES I
DO”A gunshot is heard throughout the house.
