Friday, February 13, 2015

Three Ships-A picture is worth 1,(800) words















          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.

              A month later Jarvis takes his usual morning run on a beach and down a pier with a lighthouse at the end. It is an early fall windy day and the waves are crashing the pier spraying him as he runs. At the lighthouse he meets with another man in his early 40s wearing a nice black suit and a grey fedora. The man in the suit speaks first “You’re late.”

“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.

        It is mid-November now and Jarvis is standing on the pier looking out at the open water when Fiona walks up behind him and places her hands on his eyes.
He responds “Whatever you want I will get it for you, don’t hurt me.”

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.”

               It is Christmas Eve and the household is all decorated for the holiday.
Alfred Jarvis goes into the wine cellar to collect the wine for dinner, unknown to him he is followed and the door is locked.

“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.