Part 3 — Scene V. (Inside the Tobacco House.)

Harrold They’re walking toward us. Booth Do as I command. Baker (Outside.) Come out of there. Boston Corbett (Outside.) Lieutenant, they can pick The whole of us through cracks with their carbines. Old Garrett says they’re armed. (He goes back of the tobacco house.) Baker Come out of there. Five minutes to come out, then I set fire To the tobacco house. Booth (Inside.) Who are you? What do you want? Baker (Outside.) We want you. And we know you. Come, you are Booth, assassin of the President. Surrender arms. Come out! Booth (Inside.) I want a little time to think about it. (A silence.) Baker (Outside.) Well, now come out. Booth (Inside.) You are a brave man, captain, I believe, Honorable too. I am a cripple, have One leg, the other broken. Yet no less If you will take your men a hundred yards From the door of the tobacco house, I’ll come Out as you command and fight you all. Baker (Outside.) I have not come to fight, but capture you. Booth (Inside.) Give me a chance for life. I’ll better terms. If you will take your men off fifty yards I’ll come out, fight you all, till I am killed, Or kill you all. Baker (Outside.) No! Booth (Inside.) You are a coward, sir, Denying to a brave man chance for life. Harrold (Inside.) They’ve set the house afire! Now, let me out! (The house burns.) Booth (Inside.) You hellish coward, would you leave me now? Go! Go! and leave me. It would be dishonor To die with such a coward. Let this man Come out of here! Baker (Outside.) All right! Hand out his arms And come. Booth (Inside amid flames.) A coward goes to cowards. (The flames are coming up around Booth.) (He stands on a crutch, pale and defiant.)