Scene 1 and 2
Nov 21, 2015 2:20:35 GMT
Post by joannem on Nov 21, 2015 2:20:35 GMT
Echoes of Midnight
by Phil Janvier
Characters: Cast of Four
Harriet Whittaker (Miss) - American accent - Actor 1:
Charles Willow - American or British accent - Actor 2:
Sir Malcolm Gracehawk - British accent - Actor 3:
Rebecca Holmes (Mrs) - British accent - Actor 4:
Rachel Whittaker (Mrs) - British accent - Actor 4
Lady Mildred Gracehawk - British accent - Actor 4
(FX: THERE IS A THEME OF TICKING CLOCKS AND WIND MOANING, OFTEN MUTED THROUGHOUT THE PLAY THAT ONLY STOPS AT THE CONCLUSION)
(MUSIC: SINISTER AND SETTING THE LISTENER 'ON EDGE.')
CHRISTMAS EVE 1879
SCENE 1 – THE WELCOME
Fade in
(FX: HOWLING WIND AND HAIL, THE SOUND OF FOOTSTEPS RUNNING ACROSS GRAVEL AS A HORSE AND CARRIAGE RATTLE AWAY. A LOUD KNOCK ON AN OLD OAK DOOR. THE DOOR CREAKS OPEN)
SIR MALCOLM
Harriet, my dear! Do come out of that appalling weather.
HARRIET
Sir Malcolm! Thank you.
SIR MALCOLM
How was the long journey?
CHARLES
Somewhat tiresome, I'm afraid.
HARRIET
We are here now and that is all that should concern us. May I present my fiance Charles?
CHARLES
The honour is all -
SIR MALCOLM
Come in dear boy, this wind is bitter.
(FX: COATS FLAPPING, THE DOOR SHUTS AND THE SOUND OF THE WEATHER FADES, GRANDFATHER CLOCKS CHIMES EIGHT O’CLOCK)
SIR MALCOLM
To the front kitchen. The stove makes it warm.
HARRIET
The weather is hardly your fault Sir Malcolm. And our journey could scarce be postponed. We have missed enough of these... family visits with my sojourn home to New England. A mere trip from London is....
SIR MALCOLM
Oh my dear. Do sit down.
CHARLES
She is faint with the journey. The funeral is set... for the Feast of St Stephen?
SIR MALCOLM
Boxing Day, indeed, indeed. Perhaps a small glass of something medicinal?
CHARLES
That would be most agreeable sir.
SIR MALCOLM
I meant for young Harriet here.
CHARLES
Of course, of course.
SIR MALCOLM
A glass of cook's brandy and then perhaps tea. Rachel will be down. She attends to Lady Mildred.
(FX: A DOOR OPENS AND THE SOUND OF A ROARING FIRE AND THE TICKING OF A SMALLER CLOCK CAN BE HEARD)
CHARLES
Sir Malcolm, call the butler or a maid?
SIR MALCOLM
I allowed them his eve to reside with their families. In the village, down the way... Sip this my dear. It will revive you.
HARRIET
Gosh!
CHARLES
Harriet please! The more distressing the circumstance, the more vital we retain our decorum. We are not in the colonies now.
HARRIET
Former colonies. But yes, you are right. Do forgive me. Did I hear talk of tea? Might I be of assistance?
SIR MALCOLM
No need my dear, I've become... Ah, here's Rachel. She must have heard the door.
RACHEL
Harriet!
HARRIET
Rachel… Oh, how awful. But so lovely to see you.
(FX: THEY EMBRACE)
RACHEL
Let us not speak of it now my dear. And... you must be Charles, I have heard so very much about you.
CHARLES
Nothing too beastly I hope!
RACHEL
Now that would be telling wouldn’t it?
HARRIET
How did... How is Lady Mildred these days?
RACHEL
Not as active as in former years. She wiles the days away in her room but seems content enough. In confidence, she is not herself and says but very little. We take her tea and try to see her comfortable as we can.
HARRIET
Will she be well enough to attend the...
RACHEL
I very much doubt it; she's not left her room in months. I regret to say the next funeral she attends may very will be her own.
HARRIET
I do hope I'll be able to our renew our acquaintance before... we retire for the evening.
RACHEL
Of course, I'll go up before you but you may find her sleeping.
CHARLES
Splendid. The water has boiled. Let Harriet - let me help you.
SIR MALCOLM
Thank you, my boy. My eyes are not what they were.
CHARLES
Rachel?
RACHEL
A splash of milk for me. I daresay you partook of supper on the train but I - cook took the liberty of preparing a stockpot of chicken and mushroom.
CHARLES
If you were to include a glass of brandy, I do believe I would be in heaven.
RACHEL
Then heaven it is.
(FX: A CRASH OF THUNDER)
HARRIET
You are too kind. But I feel I must pay my respects to Lady Mildred. She was so kind when I first arrived on these shores.
RACHEL
But of course. Bear with me a moment to ensure she is presentable.
SIR MALCOLM
Thank you, we will join you once we've drunk this cup of tea.
Fade out
SCENE 2 – LADY MILDRED
Fade in
(FX: A CRASH OF THUNDER INTERRUPTS THE SOUND OF FOOTSTEPS CLIMBING CREEKY STAIRS)
CHARLES
Pray tarry a moment, Harriet dear. I do believe Sir Malcolm is struggling.
HARRIET
My apologies. I was impetuous in my haste. I was positively leaping up the stairs.
SIR MALCOLM
How quickly you young things recover their vigour. These stairs will be the death of me; I do declare they grow a little steeper every day.
CHARLES
Allow me.
SIR MALCOLM
Thank you young man, that will not be necessary. Here is her bed chamber door.
(FX: A GENTLE TAP ON THE DOOR. A SMALL CLOCK TICKS IN THE BACKGROUND)
HARRIET
Lady Mildred?
LADY MILDRED
Not too close my dears. I fear you'd catch my chill. Harriet? Is that really you? What an unexpected pleasure. Moreover, that fine young fellow must be that dashing fiancé.
CHARLES
Charles Willow, at your service.
LADY MILDRED
Oh, delightful. You really must marry him.
HARRIET
Thank you. I believe I will. It is sad we meet again in such distressing circumstances.
HARRIET
I was devastated by the news, we hurried up without delay.
SIR MALCOLM
It is good to hear your voice again. Seems an age since last we conversed.
LADY MILDRED
Indeed, and yet already I grow weary.
CHARLES
Perhaps we should let her be.
(FX: SILENCE APART FROM THE CLOCK'S REMORSELESS TICKING)
SIR MALCOLM
Upon my word, I do believe she has fallen asleep. The night grows long for me too. I will retire and leave you to your refreshments. May I bid you good night.
HARRIET AND CHARLES
Good night.
(FX: FOOTSTEPS WALK AWAY. A DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES)
CHARLES
For someone at death’s door Lady Mildred seemed in decent fettle. Must be the fine food here. Let's not let that stockpot grow cold.
Fade out
by Phil Janvier
Characters: Cast of Four
Harriet Whittaker (Miss) - American accent - Actor 1:
Charles Willow - American or British accent - Actor 2:
Sir Malcolm Gracehawk - British accent - Actor 3:
Rebecca Holmes (Mrs) - British accent - Actor 4:
Rachel Whittaker (Mrs) - British accent - Actor 4
Lady Mildred Gracehawk - British accent - Actor 4
(FX: THERE IS A THEME OF TICKING CLOCKS AND WIND MOANING, OFTEN MUTED THROUGHOUT THE PLAY THAT ONLY STOPS AT THE CONCLUSION)
(MUSIC: SINISTER AND SETTING THE LISTENER 'ON EDGE.')
CHRISTMAS EVE 1879
SCENE 1 – THE WELCOME
Fade in
(FX: HOWLING WIND AND HAIL, THE SOUND OF FOOTSTEPS RUNNING ACROSS GRAVEL AS A HORSE AND CARRIAGE RATTLE AWAY. A LOUD KNOCK ON AN OLD OAK DOOR. THE DOOR CREAKS OPEN)
SIR MALCOLM
Harriet, my dear! Do come out of that appalling weather.
HARRIET
Sir Malcolm! Thank you.
SIR MALCOLM
How was the long journey?
CHARLES
Somewhat tiresome, I'm afraid.
HARRIET
We are here now and that is all that should concern us. May I present my fiance Charles?
CHARLES
The honour is all -
SIR MALCOLM
Come in dear boy, this wind is bitter.
(FX: COATS FLAPPING, THE DOOR SHUTS AND THE SOUND OF THE WEATHER FADES, GRANDFATHER CLOCKS CHIMES EIGHT O’CLOCK)
SIR MALCOLM
To the front kitchen. The stove makes it warm.
HARRIET
The weather is hardly your fault Sir Malcolm. And our journey could scarce be postponed. We have missed enough of these... family visits with my sojourn home to New England. A mere trip from London is....
SIR MALCOLM
Oh my dear. Do sit down.
CHARLES
She is faint with the journey. The funeral is set... for the Feast of St Stephen?
SIR MALCOLM
Boxing Day, indeed, indeed. Perhaps a small glass of something medicinal?
CHARLES
That would be most agreeable sir.
SIR MALCOLM
I meant for young Harriet here.
CHARLES
Of course, of course.
SIR MALCOLM
A glass of cook's brandy and then perhaps tea. Rachel will be down. She attends to Lady Mildred.
(FX: A DOOR OPENS AND THE SOUND OF A ROARING FIRE AND THE TICKING OF A SMALLER CLOCK CAN BE HEARD)
CHARLES
Sir Malcolm, call the butler or a maid?
SIR MALCOLM
I allowed them his eve to reside with their families. In the village, down the way... Sip this my dear. It will revive you.
HARRIET
Gosh!
CHARLES
Harriet please! The more distressing the circumstance, the more vital we retain our decorum. We are not in the colonies now.
HARRIET
Former colonies. But yes, you are right. Do forgive me. Did I hear talk of tea? Might I be of assistance?
SIR MALCOLM
No need my dear, I've become... Ah, here's Rachel. She must have heard the door.
RACHEL
Harriet!
HARRIET
Rachel… Oh, how awful. But so lovely to see you.
(FX: THEY EMBRACE)
RACHEL
Let us not speak of it now my dear. And... you must be Charles, I have heard so very much about you.
CHARLES
Nothing too beastly I hope!
RACHEL
Now that would be telling wouldn’t it?
HARRIET
How did... How is Lady Mildred these days?
RACHEL
Not as active as in former years. She wiles the days away in her room but seems content enough. In confidence, she is not herself and says but very little. We take her tea and try to see her comfortable as we can.
HARRIET
Will she be well enough to attend the...
RACHEL
I very much doubt it; she's not left her room in months. I regret to say the next funeral she attends may very will be her own.
HARRIET
I do hope I'll be able to our renew our acquaintance before... we retire for the evening.
RACHEL
Of course, I'll go up before you but you may find her sleeping.
CHARLES
Splendid. The water has boiled. Let Harriet - let me help you.
SIR MALCOLM
Thank you, my boy. My eyes are not what they were.
CHARLES
Rachel?
RACHEL
A splash of milk for me. I daresay you partook of supper on the train but I - cook took the liberty of preparing a stockpot of chicken and mushroom.
CHARLES
If you were to include a glass of brandy, I do believe I would be in heaven.
RACHEL
Then heaven it is.
(FX: A CRASH OF THUNDER)
HARRIET
You are too kind. But I feel I must pay my respects to Lady Mildred. She was so kind when I first arrived on these shores.
RACHEL
But of course. Bear with me a moment to ensure she is presentable.
SIR MALCOLM
Thank you, we will join you once we've drunk this cup of tea.
Fade out
SCENE 2 – LADY MILDRED
Fade in
(FX: A CRASH OF THUNDER INTERRUPTS THE SOUND OF FOOTSTEPS CLIMBING CREEKY STAIRS)
CHARLES
Pray tarry a moment, Harriet dear. I do believe Sir Malcolm is struggling.
HARRIET
My apologies. I was impetuous in my haste. I was positively leaping up the stairs.
SIR MALCOLM
How quickly you young things recover their vigour. These stairs will be the death of me; I do declare they grow a little steeper every day.
CHARLES
Allow me.
SIR MALCOLM
Thank you young man, that will not be necessary. Here is her bed chamber door.
(FX: A GENTLE TAP ON THE DOOR. A SMALL CLOCK TICKS IN THE BACKGROUND)
HARRIET
Lady Mildred?
LADY MILDRED
Not too close my dears. I fear you'd catch my chill. Harriet? Is that really you? What an unexpected pleasure. Moreover, that fine young fellow must be that dashing fiancé.
CHARLES
Charles Willow, at your service.
LADY MILDRED
Oh, delightful. You really must marry him.
HARRIET
Thank you. I believe I will. It is sad we meet again in such distressing circumstances.
HARRIET
I was devastated by the news, we hurried up without delay.
SIR MALCOLM
It is good to hear your voice again. Seems an age since last we conversed.
LADY MILDRED
Indeed, and yet already I grow weary.
CHARLES
Perhaps we should let her be.
(FX: SILENCE APART FROM THE CLOCK'S REMORSELESS TICKING)
SIR MALCOLM
Upon my word, I do believe she has fallen asleep. The night grows long for me too. I will retire and leave you to your refreshments. May I bid you good night.
HARRIET AND CHARLES
Good night.
(FX: FOOTSTEPS WALK AWAY. A DOOR OPENS AND CLOSES)
CHARLES
For someone at death’s door Lady Mildred seemed in decent fettle. Must be the fine food here. Let's not let that stockpot grow cold.
Fade out