The Price of Demand (Dialogue Edit 11)

(Altman Dolet) “Stop!”

(Kaylene Dolet) “Get him!”

(Altman Dolet) “We’ve got you! What are you playing at, causing all these accidents?”

(Culprit) “I don’t know what you’re talking about!”

(Kaylene Dolet) “You’re a filthy liar!”

(Culprit) “That’s ridi—”

(Altman Dolet) “You’ve got the evidence all over you. I spread red iron oxide over all the roofs in this town; there’s nowhere else you’d have gotten covered in it.”

(Culprit) “Look, I swear I didn’ come here jus’ to cause trouble, I was put up to it! E’s the one you want.”

(Altman Dolet) “And who is he?”

(Culprit) “Some Mitchell bloke back in ‘ol Holdswaine, a high-up rich type with plenty ‘o influence. ‘Ad his thugs visit me after I ‘ad some … troubles … payin’ a debt. Them’s the ones set me up with this job an gave me the … er … extra instructions.”

(Altman Dolet) “That’s a tough position you found yourself in.”

(Culprit) “You’re tellin’ me! I carried th’ bruises for days after that, an’ I didn’t even give ‘em any trouble. Them’s bad sorts.”

(Altman Dolet) “Did you leave family behind in Holdswaine? Friends?”

(Culprit) “Nah, just me mates at the waterin’ ‘ole, but thems that ain’t ‘ere won’t care. Uh, what’re you plannin’ on doin with me?”

(Kaylene Dolet) “They’ll kill ‘im, or make ‘im wish they had if we send ‘im back.”

(Altman Dolet) “I don’t doubt it.”

(Culprit) “You can’t send me back there! It’s like she said, I’m as good as dead if I show my face in Holdswaine!”

(Altman Dolet) “No, you can’t go back to Holdswaine. But we can’t keep you here, either. Mitchell has too much influence over the union men. Sias would never stand for anything happening on his watch, but that’d be cold comfort to you if you’re already dead.”

(Kaylene Dolet) “One of the northern cities?”

(Altman Dolet) “The bigger the better, I think. Big enough to have its own unions, where Mitchell has no power.”

(Culprit) “You’ll let me go? Oh thank you sir! I won’t forget this, see if I don’t!”

The Price of Demand (Dialogue Edit 10)

(Altman Dolet) “You don’t have to strain your—”

(Kaylene Dolet) “Shut your mouth right there, husband. You aren’t as strong as you let on, an’ you’re dizzy on your feet. You need me when you catch this man, ‘specially if it comes to fightin’. Just be ready to give me my staff if it comes to that.”

(Altman Dolet) “But—”

(Kaylene Dolet) “No buts! Whoever’s up to this is hurtin’ people, has hurt you, and is threatening the future of this place. Our lives’re tied up too tight with the future of this village. I know you won’t rest while our future’s at risk; why should I?”

(Altman Dolet) “You’d think I’d know better than to argue—wait, there, that’s him. See the rust on the boots, the trouser legs, the sleeves of the shirt?”

The Price of Demand (Dialogue Edit 9)

(Altman Dolet) “It surely does; all of the ‘accidents’ have involved heavy objects falling from roofs, complete or incomplete. I spent time dusting the roofs of those few buildings that have them with rust.”

(Waldon Sias) “An’ then ‘oped whoever’s behind it didn’t decide to go up a tree for ‘is next trick, yeah, I getcha.”

(Altman Dolet) “A risk I had to take, but if tree-climbing is in his repertoire, he’s saving it for later. I mean to ensure he doesn’t get a later.”

The Price of Demand (Dialogue Edit 8)

(Altman Dolet) “I didn’t get a look at whoever it was that dropped the stone on me, but that won’t be a concern.”

(Kaylene Dolet) “But if y’didn’t see who did it, why are we rushing into it? You should be resting!”

(Altman Dolet) “I spent some time last night spreading iron dust over all the roofs in town; I’ve never been so thankful there are so few of those! Whoever did it will be wearing the evidence on his skin and clothing for the rest of the day, and with luck, we may even catch traces of it on the ground to help narrow the search. We must get to Waldon Sias immediately.”

(Kaylene Dolet) “To get his help identifying the man, of course.”

(Altman Dolet) “Yes, once we’ve confirmed it wasn’t Sias himself.”

(Kaylene Dolet) “You suspect him?”

(Altman Dolet) “In all honesty, no, but we must be thorough. And we do have to talk to him regardless, if we want him to help identify the real culprit.”

(Waldon Sias) “Good mornin’ t’ya, Mr. & Mrs. Dolet. I—by my grandfather’s hammer, what’d you do to yer head, Altman!”

(Kaylene Dolet) “Good mornin’ Mr. Sias. My husband was feeling entirely too clever today and got himself hurt.”

(Altman Dolet) “I was today’s victim. Luckily it’s not bad. Quickly, have you seen anyone on your crews this morning with reddish stains on hands, legs, clothing, anything? Red-brown, like rust.”

(Waldon Sias) “Mrs. Dolet, are y’sure yer husband’s okay?”

(Kaylene Dolet) “It’s fine, I’m keeping an eye on him. We really must know though, have you seen someone covered in rust?”

(Waldon Sias) “Can’t say’s I have, not today. This ‘ave somethin’ to do with the meetin’ we had yesterday where the rocks’re run through with iron?”

The Price of Demand (Dialogue Edit 7)

(Altman Dolet) “I knew it—I’ve got you now. The rust stains will give you away as plain as day.”

(Medic Cranford) “… his head. He’ll be fine now, though it was a nasty hit and he’ll be feelin’ it for some weeks I ‘magine.”

(Altman Dolet) “How … how long?”

(Medic Cranford) “You’ve been out fer four hours. That was a nasty crack on the head. Found you myself, lyin’ sprawled out on the steps right by the door, bleedin’ something fierce an’ a big stone fallen right from the roof beside you. Turns out the cut was worse than it looked, lucky fer you. Yer head ain’t broke, but you’ll be feelin’ like it is for a while.”

(Altman Dolet) “I … I have to—was on the trail—”

(Medic Cranford) “Never you mind that, you’re not t’leave this bed till I give the say-so. Whatever you think you gotta do can wait.”

(Kaylene Dolet) “It’s a good thing you’re so hard-headed, Altman. Never thought I’d have to admit to it bein’ a good thing! We’ll have you out of here in no time.”

(Altman Dolet) “No! There’s no time. I was on the trail of the man responsible for all this, and if I delay, all the evidence will wash away! I have to get after him, there’s no time to waste!”

(Medic Cranford) “You can go now if you must, though I’d rather you stayed. You ain’t gonna do that though, are you.”

(Altman Dolet) “No, I’m afraid not. Dearest, with your help …? I must examine the stone that hit me, first. Is it still where it landed?”

(Kaylene Dolet) The stone? Yes, it was there last I saw it. What of it? I told you when we moved in that roof was in need of repair.”

The Price of Demand (Dialogue Edit 6)

(Altman Dolet) “That ought to about do it.”

(Kaylene Dolet) “What are you up to? What happened t’ your hands? Is that blood?”

(Altman Dolet) “Iron oxide, love. Simple rust to catch our troublemaker, if all goes well.”

(Kaylene Dolet) “Whatever you think it’s for, you’d best be washin’ it off before you touch any of my good linens or it’ll be me droppin’ stones on someone’s head, and you won’t like it one bit. And you’ve got some on your trousers, it’ll be murder to get out!”

(Altman Dolet) “I’m afraid so, but that’s exactly why I needed it. I can attend to the cleaning later. I have some ideas on how the iron’s magnetic properties may allow it to be removed more easily. For now, let me just go get cleaned up. I’ll be retiring early tonight to track down whoever’s behind the assaults tomorrow.”

(Kaylene Dolet) “Solves crimes and cleans his own clothes … no wonder I agreed to stay here with you.”