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Mystery of Irma Vep

PLay : The mystery of Irma Vep by Charles Ludlam

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19 views29 pages

Mystery of Irma Vep

PLay : The mystery of Irma Vep by Charles Ludlam

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silvina
Copyright
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De 4 Ie WI WITH WM HHH ¢ 3 The » MYSTERY ——S of —~ IRMA VEP A Penny Dreadful 1984 A Penny Dreadful 2s is version of The Mystery of Irma ep if Teale e998 revival atthe Westside Theater New York ity, and reflects cuts the original text made by Everett Quinte cake. These cus are retained here and appear in rac > Production History —— ‘The Mystery of Irma Vep: A Penny Dreadfl was frst presented by ‘The Ridiculous Theatrical Company at the Sheridan Square ‘Theatre in New York City on 1984, Scenic design was by Charles Ludlam, costume design was by Everere Quinton, lighting design was by Lawrence Eichler and original musie was by Peter Golub. ‘Te Wwas directed by Charles Ludlam. The east was as follows: LADY ENID HILLCREST Charles Ludlam LORD EDGAR HILLCREST Everett Quinton NICODEMUS UNDERWOOD Charles Ludlam JANE TWISDEN Everett Quinton AN INTRUDER Everett Quinton ALCAZAR ‘Charles Ludlam PEY AMRI Charles Ludlam TRMA VED bP? The Mystery of Hema Feps A Penny Dreadfid was remounied Dracber 1, 1998atthe Westside Theatre in New York City. Scenic design was by John Lee Beaty, costume design was by ‘william They Long, lighting design was by Paul Gall, sound design was by ‘One Dream Sound and original music was by Peter Golub. 1 was dInevted by Everett Quinton and Eureka, The cast wasas follows: LADY EN1D HILLCREST Beret Quinton LORD EDGAR HILLCREST Stephen DeRosa NICODEMUS UNDERWOOD Everett Quinton JANE THISDEN stephen DeRose [AN INTRUDER stephen DeRosa ALCAZAR Everett Quinton pay ann Everett Quinton IRMA VEP Bee VALIANT SWING UNDERSTUDY ‘Mike Finesilver = Characters — LADY ENID HILLCREST LORD EDGAR HILLCREST NICODEMUS UNDERWOOD JANE TWISDEN AN INTRUDER PEV AMRI imMa VER. = Author's Note — The Mystery of rma Ve change “pis a full-length quick-change a ‘Alleles ve poaye by too perormecs SCENE I The library drawing room of Mandacrest, che Hillcrest estate near Hampstead Heath, between the wars The study isa large room wick French doors atthe back that open out on a garden. There is aside table. A freplace with a mantel over hick isa poreraieof Lady Ia in her bloom. Two deep armchairs flank the foeplace. There are signs thatthe Hillress have traveled: African masks, an Egyptian mummy case and «painted Japanese seren, There 4s « bookcase with moroeco-bound volumes and a door stage right. At rise, a lit candle is seen moving across the stage carried by Jane, Nicodemus enters fom the French doors with acrath of thunder. He has Tne Mesreny oF Jnua Vor icopzMus:If that French means what thinkitdoes you'd bet ter wash your mouth out with soap. Hlere’s eggs and milk. (Hand her a basket) The turtle wat wa eral ee slaying rather well today. NICODEMUS: I skimmed it JANB: Again? Ah, you're incorrigible Nrcopewvs: In what? ay JANE: Now what will I tell Lord Edgar when Listers idgar when he wants eream for NICODEMUS: Tell him what you like. (Lightning and a foud clap of thunder,) JANE (Shrieks): Ab! (The basker, ” ! (The basket goes fying) opens (Case the burke): There there. Donte seered ficodemus is heee to pr (Tre a a to protect you. (Tries to pus his arm JANE (Bluding his embrace): Keep your ha ang his embrace: Kesp you bands yours. You NtcopEMus: If you slept in a stable you'd smel! il JANE: Keep your distance, eee at NICODEMUS: Someday, Janey my gel, you're gong to smile on me J4Ns: Yeah, when hell freezes over and litle devils go ice-skati stcopeuvs:If I was cleaned up and had anew white calla and smelled of bay rum and Florida wate, you'd think different. JANE: Don’t get any ideas about me. You are beneath me and beneath me you are going to stay. NicopEMUS: Someday you might want to get beneath me janx: UGH! How dare you Jans UGH! How daze youspenktomein sucha manner. ve had sroopenus: What education ha : wwe you ever had? pve rend Banyan’ Pin’ Pres rm coves to Holy Bible, the almanac and several back isoues of oly Bible, a ack odes Ladys Book i sicobeaus: Well, ve re B rac: Well" rade Swine Manual rom ver JANE (Contemprucusly): Hurmpht “connie: You got no reson tok dwn your nos at me iss. We're cut from the same bolt of goods. : Cuantes Lucas — sans Don't go giving yourself air, Go on back 10 7008 pigsty before I say something Pll be sorry for xrcopenvs: Fm not leaving until you give me iss jane: ['llsee you hanged ist. sae paces (Chasing her round therm): Give me aie ‘iss and I'll show you how T'm hung. yaw: Get away from me you beast with your double estendres. wicopeMus: Double what? (Thunder, footsteps above,) awn: Now you've dope it You've waked Iady Bnid. Go quick ‘before she sees you in the house. veroomnness: What she geting up nov for? Tes just about evening. awa: Thats hee way She sleeps all day and she's all night, Jane Myuus: Tes them city ways of hers. Lord gar told me she'd heen on the stage yan (Shocked): The stage! Ugh! How disgusting! a ipevss To think, areal live actress here at Mandacrest ane: Yes, i’ utely degrading, But seis the mistress of the house now and we must adjust ro her ways. serconens: That’ not what I mean. 1 think Lord Pagar ‘has done really well for himself. yancx: You ncn areal alike You'e so easily en In (Footsteps) hear footsteps: Gol xrcopemus: But I want to get look at her. JAN: She's an ordinary woman and she doesn nec You gawk: ing at her. Go on back to you PigSy- e1co meus [found better company there than ever found at ‘Mandacrest. (Exits) apy ent (From offitage): Jane. yan: Yes, Lady Enid. soe ENYD (Off): Were you talking 10 someone? Jae: Just Ncodemas He came to ring the eB apy exp (Off): Ts he gone? yan: Yes, Lady Enid. <-> Tan Mesteny or Inwa Var S03 mtr (Off): Has the sun set? Jane: It’s pouring down rain, your Ladyship, There's w« cout there that could be called sun. Se sane na (Off): Draw the draperies and light fire, I'm com. ing down. i pote: WS Bonar work is never done. (Draws che draperies ‘across the French doors, cutting off the view of the garden. takes a quick look at herself in the mirror, pilot ia then takes a bellows to the fire) “ LaDy EN1D (Eneering): Ab, you've made the room cheery. Thank you, Jane. eon jane: Can I fx you a nice cup of tea? Lapy ein: If it’sno trouble. jane (Sternly): That's what I'm here for. LADY ENID: Is Lord Edgar about? JAN: He was up and out at the crack of dawn, LADY ENTD: Out? Out where? Janz: He goes riding in the morning. It’s a custom with him. (Teaketle whistles off) ‘Ab, there’s the kettle calling. (Exits) (aby Bid begins lak rod the rom, Resranges Ce ee cae, veeeph ieee dee and opens the drapes and the dors slightly, looking out onthe evden. The ports over the mantel catches her atention; shi crosses the mantel and sares atthe portrait. na ‘Jane enters vith ea things. She sees the figurines mo pablo Sa How do-you take it? apy er: Tbeg your pardon? jane: Your tea, Miss. Baby enrD: Plain, JANE (Increduloas): No cream ot sugar? LADY ENID: No, quite pain. jane: That's queer. LADY ENTD: Queer? awe: Tea ain’t much without eream and sugar. Caanuze Luptan — LaDy ENID: I'm on an eternal diet. The stage you know. janet But thar’sall behind you now. LADY ENID: Yes, I suppose its. But the habit’s ingrained. I shall probably refuse bread and potatoes til { die. (Tadicaing che poriras} Who is that woman? jan: Why, that's Lady Hillerest.. Tmean, that’s che last Lady Hillerest. LADY ENrD: She was very beautiful, wasn’t she? Jane: There will never be another woman who's her equal—oh, 1 beg your pardon, Miss. LADY ENID: Thats al right, Jane. You were very fond of her, weren't you? JANE (Bringing her acup of tea): She was like apart of meself, Mis. LADY ENID: I see. (Sips tea. Sharp reaction tthe tea) You do make strong tea, don’t you? awe (Indignant): When I makes tea, I makes tea. And when I makes water, I makes water. LADY ENID: God send you don’t make them in one pot. (Beat,) jane (Realiging chat a joke was made at her expense): Hurmpht apy EN1D: You don’ like me, do you, Jane? janet I don’t hate you. Lapy eNtD: I should hope not! That would be a terrible thing, ‘wouldn't it? If you hated me and we had to live here together. ann: Yes, I suppose it would. I ssid I don’t hate you. Lapy eNtp: You don't hate me. But you don’ ike me. jane: I'mnot used to you. You'll rake getting used to, LADY ENID (Shivers) felt a chill, A cat walked over my grave. Jane: Ian’ there a draft there, where you’se siting, Lady Enid? LADY ENID: Yes, there isa litle. Perhaps you'd better close the French doors. jane: Did Nicodemus leave them open again? If I've told him ‘once I've told him a thousand times... Why isn’t thatthe ‘master coming over there? Lavy ENID (Quickly): Where? (Gets up. Hands Jane the teacup) Yes, it’s he. (Hiding behind curtain) Stand back! Don't let him see us. > THe Mysreay oF Jawa Ver JANE: Whar’s that he’s carrying? Armsful of heather and smsful of heather and he’s dragging something behind. Lapy ewrD: Dragging something? Jann: Itlooks likes big animal. Why, Ibelieye he’s killed the we LADY END (Wervously): Wolf? ee JANE: The wolf that’s been killing our lambs. Well, we'll all sley better too, without that devil howling all night. . LaDy ENID: He killed a wolf? Jawa: Yes, and he’s brought the carcass back with him. LADY ENTD: Is it dead? Is iteally dead? swat It's dead and it won't get any deader. LADY ENrD: Which way is he coming? JANE: He’s taking the path by the pyracanthas. LADY ENID: He’s done that before. But will he take the foot- bridge? JANE: ine use what I was asking meself. He’s getting closer— ‘0 he’s turned off—he’s going the long way ‘round an through the ivy arches, aad 7 LADY ENrD: Then he’s still not overt JANx: Ab, you can’t blame him for not taking the for eee ing the footbridge after LADY si: They cling to their dead a long time at Mandacrest Jane: Nay, think’ the dead thar cling tous. Ie if they ust. don’t want to let go. Like they can’t bear to leave us behind. (Comes back to herself abraptly) The master will be wanting his inner. Tring ache deo) How do youlke your mest, LADY ENID: Well done. JANE: No red meat? LADY ENtD: Not for me. JANE: See, there’s another difference. Miss Irma liked it sd liked it bloody. (he lights change and rausic plays. Lady Bnid turns sh uaa ge eee LADY ENrD: Don't look at me like that. I didn't take him away from you, you know. Someone was apt to take yout place sooner or later. Ithappened to be me. I know how you must 4 Cuantzs Lupiam —~ feel seeing us so happy under your very nose. But there’s nothing to be done about it, old girl. Life must go on. (Lord Bedgar enters dhrough the French doors and throws the wolf carcass onthe floor.) Loup ep@An (With armsfl of heather): Rough weather. (Spy as ling Lod gered eon Be) Edgar, daring, you're back. Lox EDGAR: Please, Enid notin front of ..- Lapy Ent: In front of who? (She closes dors) There's no one looking, (Pauses) Unless you mean her. (Points the painting) LORD EDGAR: It does seem abi odd. mean kissing rightin front of her apy gn1D: She looks vaguely sinister. LORD EDGAR: Please, Enid. She’s dead. LADY BN1D: Perhaps that’s the reason. Lond epoan: Let’sdon’ttalk about her. apy munp: Yess dons :b EDGAR: Are you quite comfortable? rlbv anto: Ye, quite Tone dos ike me, ue ek win her over. LORD EDGAR: J hope you'll ike ithere. LADY ENTD: I'm sure] will. Oh, Edgar, Edgar Lonb ppcaR: Oh, Enid, Enid LADY ENtD: Oh Wedgar, Wedgar, Wedgar. LORD EDGAR: Oh Wenid, Wenid, Wenid. Lapy ENID (With equal): Edga LORD EDGAR (Slightly rprimanding): Enid. LADY ENID (Reassured): Edgar. LORD EDGAR (Condescendingly): Enid. LADY ENID (Snuggling hi ches, wich asigh): Edgar Edgar Edgar. LonD 2DGAR (Comforting and comfortable): Enid tzid Enid. Lapy gxtD (Passionately): Bdge! LORD EDGAR (Avoused): Eni LADY ENID (More passionately): Egat! Lonn EDGAR (More passionately): Enid Laby aN1D (Raprurously): Edgar! Lono epoan (Likewise): Enidl 4 > Tue Mysteny of Inua Par Lapy END (Climactically): Bdgar!! Lop EDGAR (Orgasmically): Endl! LADY EID (Cooling): Edgar. LORD EDGAR: Enid (Lord Edgar and Lady Enid snore.) Lapy END (Waking Edgar): Edgar. LORD EDGAR (Drowsily): Enid. LADY ENrD: Take the painting down. LORD EDGAR: I couldn’tdo that. LADY END: Why not? just couldn’s. LADY ENID: She's been dead three years. Lon EDGan: Yes, [know, but... EADY ENrD: Let's make a fresh star Forget about the past. LORD EDGAR: I want to, Enid, believe me, I do, LADY eN1p: We'll never feel comfortable with her watching every move we make. LORD EDGAR: No, I suppose not. LApy ENID: Then, why not puther things away in a chest some- ‘where or make alittle shrine where you can visit her once in a while? But not our home. LORD EDGAR: You're right, of course. I know you are. It's just that. LADY ENID: Whar? LonD EDGAR: She made me promise that I would always keep 2 flame burning before her picture. LADY ENED: What nonsense, LORD EDGAR: I tell you she made me promise, LADY ENrD: Blow it out. LonD EDGAR: couldn't break my word. LADY ENsD: I thought you belonged to me now. That we belonged to each other. LORD EDGAR: We do, bur that was before we met. LADY erp: Which means moreto you? Your love forme or your promise to her? Lorp Epoan: Enid, please. Don't put it that way. Lapy ENID: Which isit, Edgar? Which will it be? Cuantes Lopuam —~ Lonp epean: Please don’t make me choose. LADY ENID: Do you love me? LoD EDGAR: How can you doubt it? LADY ENTD: Then the choice is already made. Blow it out! orp spoan: Dare I? (Blows out candle) aby ew: You see, nothing happened. LoD RDGAR: Weird that we thought it would. (They laugh.) apy sntp: And now, darling, as to this matter of dragging dead animals into the drawing room—it's really got to stop. Lonp EDGAR: I say, you're really out to reform me, aren't you? LADY ENID: Justa little. LoRD EDGAR: I'l have Nicodemus tend to it. Why don't you change for dinner? apy ex1D: Good. I'm famished. ronp EDGAR: Don'the long. apy ENrD: { won't, I promise, (Exits) Lorn EDGAR (Goes for painting): Forgive me, Irma, please Please forgive me! (icodemus encers) nicopzsus: Where’s the new lady? LoRD EDGAR: Changing, You know how slow women ate. NICODEMUS: So you've finaly killed the beast, eb, Lord Edgar? Lorp EDGAR: Yes, I've killed it. It will rage no more. icopewus: But what about the beast within? Is that through ‘with raging? Lonp epcan: It's esting peacefully at the moment. That’sabout the most we can expect, don't you think? fou're aman of will, you are, Edgar Hillerest. Loxp £pGan: Nicodemus, take the guts out and burn it. nicopemus: Don’t you want me ro save the skin? LORD EDGAR: No, burn every hide and hai of it. 1copEMUS: And the ashes? What should I do with them? LORD EDGAR: Scatter them on the heath, NICODEMUS: And let the wind take up ts howling? LORD EDGAR: Then throw them in the mill run, 6 —> Tu Mystzny of Inua Ver NICODEMUS: After her? LORD EDGAR: Yes, afer her. And Nicodemus... sicopemus: Yes, Lord Edgar? LORD EDGAR: Take down the painting, NICopExUS: And what do you want me to do with i? LORD EDGAR: Burn it with the wolf. (Exits) (Nicodemus goes toward the mantel and tries to take down the ‘painting. Jane enters, Jane: And what do you think you're doing? NICODEMUS: The master wants the painting dowa, Jan: You can’t do that. You can’t take Lady Irmal N1copeMUS: I can and I wll. 1s the master’s orders. (Jane rans to pull him away from the painting.) JANE: Stop it! Stop it! Don’t touch that picture. Ahgh! The sanc- tuary light’s gone out. Oh God, this will never do. NICODEMUS: Don't blame me. It was out when I came in. Lord Edgar must have extinguished it. Jans (Indicating the carcass): And what’ this here? NICODEMUS: You've got eyes in your head to see with. It’s the ‘wolf, He's killed the wolf. JANE: Glory bel Is it possible? NICODEMUS: It’s cause for rejoicing. JANE (Approaching the carcass warily, holding a poker): It’s no rejoicing there'll be this night, Nicodemus Underwood. He's killed the wrong wolf. (Blackout) SCENE 2 The scene is as before. is late evening. The household is asleep. Jone is stoking the last embers of the fire. Lady Enid enters silently in her poe gon She cds ov Jie wie eck he end ates jane suddenly becomes amare of her presence and, frightened, gay This in turn fightens Lady Enid, who gasps also aa Cuances ZupLam —~ LaDy Erp: I didn’t mean to frighten you. ; JANE: I didn’t mean to frighten you either. You shouldn’t creep up ‘on a person like that ‘apy met: I'm sorry, Jane, You have ied here a considerable time. Did you not say sixteen years ; jane: Eighteen, Miss. Teame when the mistress was marsied, to ‘wait on her; after she died, the master retained me as bis housekeeper. Though I knew him from childhood. I was ‘raised at the Frambly Parsonage. LADY END: Indeed. (Long silence beween them.) Jane: Ah, times have greatly changed since then! LADY ENID: Yes, you've seen a good many alterations, I suppose? Jane: Thave. And troubles, 100. , LADY ENID: The Hillerests are a very old family, aren’t they? yan: Oh, Lord yes. Why the Hilletests go back to... back to. ‘well, I don’t know exactly who. But they've been descend- ing for centuries. LADY ENID: Lord Edgar told me he was an only child Jane: Yes, a strange flower upon the old solid wood of the family tree. LADY ENED: Was he always so fond of hunting, even as a child? jane: Nay, he only took that up after the mistress passed away. Oh, Dut that’s long story. won'tbe after boring you with it. Lapy EnrD: Oh, do go on, Jane. Everything about Lord Edgar fascinates me. ye: Where is himself? ; Lapy ENtD: Sleeping soundly. Jane, it will be an act of charity to tell me something of the family history. I know I shall notbe able to rest if I go to bed, so be good enough to sit and chat for an hour. An: Oh, certainly, Miss just fetch a litle sewing and then 1 sit as long as you please. (Gees her sewing basket) Listen ‘that wind! It’s an ungodly night. Can I get you a hot toddy to drive out the cold? LADY ENrD: If you're having one, a ——> Tan Mysreny or Jaws Vee JANE (Pulls a bottle from the basket): Sure, I loves me toddy and me toddy loves me. Gane pours out two toddies from a pan she has nestled among the embers, Ske gives one drink to Lady Enid and setles into the hair opposite her befare che fie. Howling sound,) LADY ENTD: That wind! JANE: That’s not the wind. That’s a wolf howling LADY EMID: Itseems you've been troubled by wolves of late, Jan: Not wolves. It's one wolf in particular. Victor! LADY ENID: Victor? JANe: He was caprured as a pup and tamed, But his heart was sav- age. Miss Irma kept him as a per. LADY END: Like a dog, ‘an: He was bigger than a dog, so big the boy used to ride about on his back. Though Victor didn’t like that much, 1 ean tell you. Though he bore it forthe mistress's sake, for it was to herhe belonged. Hishappiest hours were spent stretched out at Miss Inma’s feet, his huge purple tongue lolling out of his mouth, He never lefther side the whole time she was earry- ing, Lord Rdgar locked him out when itcame time for her to deliver. And when he heard her labor pains, he howled. Lavy Erp: Lord Edgar told me that he'd had a son but that he died when he was sill a child. JANE: Aly there’s a tragic story, Miss. But your toddy’s getting cold. Finish that and I'll ix you another. LADY ENID (Drains hercup and passes it to Jane): He was taken off with chicken pox, wasn’t he? JANE: Chicken pox? Now who told you that? Lapy ENrD: No one told me. I was just supposing, JANE: If Lord Edgar told you itwas chicken pox, then chicken pox itwas. We'd better leave it at chicken pox. LADY EntD: No, really, he didn’ tell me anything. The chicken ox was pure conjecture. Jane: le’ understandable that he didn’t go into it I's notan easy Subject to tak about. Heie’s your rod. LaDy ENt: Thanks, Jane: And here’s one for me. Cuantes Lupuam —~ Lapy Ei: I'd like to know the tre history, if you don’t mind relating i. ANE (The toddy loosening her tongue): One clear winter day Victor and the boy went out to the heath to play in the new fallen snow. The wolf came back without the boy. We waited. We vwaiched. We called ourselves hoarse. And at dusk we Sound trim in the mill run, dead. His throat had been torn apart. Lapy ENID: Horrible, JANR: Lord Edgar wanted Vietor destroyed. But Lady Irma fought against it. She said it wasn’t Vie had done it. LADY eN1D: Perhaps it wasn't. JANE: His throat was torn. What else could it have been? They fought bitterly over it. He sai she loved the wolf mors than hher own child. Bur I think itwas the double loss she dreaded, for when Victor was gone she'd have nothing, yos see. ‘When the master came to shoot Victor, Lady Irma turned hhim loose upoa the heath and drove him away with stones, crying, “Run, Vie, run and never come back!” 1 don'tthink the poor beast understood what happened because’he still comes back to this day, looking for Lady Irma. LAby ENtD: Poor Vietor. Poor boy. Poor Irma. Jane (Reprimanding her): Poot Lord Edgar. LADY ENID: Yes, poor poor Lord Edgat! awe: But here’s the strangest part ofall. LADY ENrD: Yes? JANE: The fresh snow is like a map. I traced theie tracks meself. Victor's tral turned off. The boy was killed by a wolf that Jefe human tracks in the snow. LADY EN1D: Human? You mean the boy was murdered? Awe: But that takes us to the subject of werewolves. Lapy gn1D: Werewolves? Jane: Humans who take the form of a wolf at night. Laby ENTD: But that’s just superstition. Jane: Yes, superstition, the realm beyond the explainable where science is powerless. Of course everything pointed to Vietor. The boy fell down and skinned his knee. Helet the loving beast lick his wound. He tasted blood. The killer was aroused, He turned on the child and sank his fangs into is ——> Tue Mrsreay oF Inwa Ver tender neck. A perfectly logical explanation, But then there were those tracks in the snow. Wouldn't it be convenient for a werewolf to have a real wolf to blame it on? LADY NID: Didn't you show them to anyone? The tracks, Imean. sane: Ah, they woulda’ listen, ‘They sai they were my tracks, ‘That Vd made them meself.1 didn’t push it, Mis, or they'd i packed me off to Dottyville. I's hard 10 convince peo- ple of the supernatural. Most people have enough trouble believing in the natural. ae ae LADY ENID: Of course you're right, But those footprints. J4NB: I wish I had ’em here as evidence. But where are the snows of yesteryear? And that’s the werewolf's greatest alibi — people don't believe in him. Well Miss, I must be gettin’ meself to bed. My theumatism is starting to act up again. Lay mvp: Leave height, Jane. think I stay up and end for awhile. JAWE: Here’s a good book for you. It’s the master’s treatise on ancient Egyptian mythology. Laby ani: Thanks! JANE (Heading toward the door): Don’t stay up to late now. We're having kippers and Kidneys for breakfast and I know you ‘wouldn't want to miss that. LADY ENID: Jane, what was the boy's name? JANE: Didn't you know? That was Victor, too. Goodni Enid, (Exits) eae (Lady Enid sts in a char with her back to the glass doors and reads The shadow of the sranger cn be en throgh these curtains, illuminated incermicently by flashes of lightning. bongs aire select, hand foals forthe latch, tt de ‘fie sernails againse the window pane.) LADY ENID (Seeing something): What—what was it? Real or a delusion? Ob God, what was it? (Suddenly a single pane of the French door shatters. The bony ‘and reaches through the curtains and opens the latch. A gaunt figure enser the room slowly. A ray of light strikes the pallid ‘face. He foxes her with a seare,) sa a Cnanues Luptau —~ ‘Who are you? What do you want? (The clock chimes one. The intruder emits a hissing sound.) ‘What do you want? Oh God, what do you want of me? (She eries to nto the door but the intruder catches her by her dong hair end, winding icarcund his bony fingers, drags her back toward the mantel. Ske grabs a burning log from the fireplace cand thrusts ic inso the inaruder’s eye. The inaruder lets out cry and releases her. Ske rans across the room, tips and falls wv the ‘ground. He follows her. Ske stabs him with scissors from Jane's sewing basket. Inruder staggers back and falls through open door down right. Lady Enid crosses the mantel and tries to get control of herself. Ske sighs with relief. Intruder reensers and, clapping his hand over her mouth, drags her othe door, locks it, then crosses up center to the double doors where shriek follows strangled shrick ashe seizes her neck in his fanglikereeth and a ‘hideous sucking noise follows. Lady Enid emits « high-pitched seream made atthe back of the throat by drawing a breath in, Running footsceps are heard off) Lonb eDean (From offtagerighs) Did you heara scream, Jane? anu: (Brom ofitage right): di. Where was i? orp EDGAR (Off): God knows, Itsounded so near, yet Far away. 1 gotup and dressed as soon as I heard it. JANE (Off: No pause): Allissill now. Lonp uDaar (Off) Yes, but unless Iwas dreaming there was a sane (Off):We couldn't both have dreamed it? Lon epoan (Off): Whereis Lady Enid? Jase (Off): Ine she with you? (Lady Enid eres enter high-pitched sertam,) orp EDGAR (Off): There itis again. Search the house! Seach the house. Where did it come from? Can you rll? (Cady Enid screams egcin as before) Good God! There it is aguinl (Fe ries she dor from offnage right But ie will open) Esl Enid! Are youin there? Speak forheaven'ssakel Speak! Good God, we mst force the door. <> Tus Mysteay of Iaua Fup (hey beat on the door.) Get the crowbar, JANE (Off): Whereis it? LORD EDGAR (Off): Inthe cellar. Hurry! Hurry! Run! Run! Enid! 5 ‘y! Hurry! Run! Run! Enid! JANE (Off): Here itis, (They fore the dor open and Lord Edgar buss ins the oom.) NICODEMUS (From offiage up center): Lady Enid! Lady Enid! Oh God not Lady Enid! 3 dl (Micodemas enters carrying the limp body of Lady Enid. Her dy dong hair hangs on her nightgown.) Help oh help ob heaven ob help (He caris her body ou the door stage right) Now where che blue hell am T bringing her beyond the veil? dictiaiee Non pcan (Following then): What isi? What's happened? Who's done this thing o you? NrcoDsiuS (Reentering): Who or what? I saw something mov- ing on th heath, LORD EDGAR: Something? What kind of something? “roopestus: Dog's skl. Dog's body. Is plazing eyes staring out of death's candle to shake and bend my soul. (Suddenly something with ahorible face appears atthe window. [lee out a fighening, earpliing sound andthe, laghing, ange apainse the windowpanes,) (Growling ina hoarsened, raspy voice) There! There itis, (The hing emits a sri igh ite the sound of eerie fd fas i of electronic fed LORD EDGAR: Lord help us! NtCopemus: Be it whatever thing it may—T'l follow itt LORD EDGAR: No! No! Do not! NicopzMus: I must! I willl LORD encar: Not without a gun! Don’tbea fool! Cannes Luptam ~~ icopEwus: Let whoever will come with me—T'll follow this dleead formal (Ex) on ED@an: Waitfor me you fol Teka genom seman) NICODEMUS (From offitage):1 see it! I see it! Trgpes downthe ws and through the wisterias. | Lop epoan: It’s dark down there. There isn’t any moon. le and then a Phere are animal sounds, the sounds of a straggle oraietale The doors fly open and a wooden leg, one that ‘had formerly belonged to Nicodemus, is thrown in,) Great Scott! (He rushes out. And is heard calling fom off) ‘Which way? Which way? xicopenus (OfP} This way. Over here. Help! Oh help mel (Exits) (There isthe sound of shots off.) i ots I heard? yance (Entering from stage right): Was them shots I heard? Ee (Sticking her head in through che door stage right): Jane. Jane. sxe: Yes, Lady Enid. 1p ib: Come need you. Pm afd tbe alone, (Sh wih draws) as: T'll come and Ill bring the ghost eandle to light your agony. Penis the cars of the Druids that's what iis, The Druidy Dinuids. (She withdraws) (Animal sounds.) :Tsaw it. [touched it. Istruggled wicopaaus (Entering up center): Tsaw it. Liou 8 ‘with it. Tt was cold and clammy like a corpse. It can't be human, LORD EDGAR (Entering): Nothuman? No, of course not human. ‘You said it was a dog. wicopenvs: Then it looked like a wolf, then it looked like a ‘woman! Tetore off me leg and started chewing onit. LOND EDGAR: Great Scott! It can’t be. : NICODEMUS: IF ithadn’tbeen wood I swear it would have eaten it. LORD EDGAR: Not M > Ths Mystery op Inwa Ver NrcopEmus: Yes! Yest Ghoul! Chewer of corpses! And all the while it made this disgusting sucking sound. It sucked the very marrow from me bones, can fee it now. Its very near Bride bed. Child bed. Bed of death! She comes, pale vam- pite, through storm her eyes, her bat sails bloodying the seas! Mouth to her mouth’s kis! Her eyes on me to strike me down, | feltthe green fairy’s fang, (Howling off.) LORD EDGAR: What was that? NICODEMUS: Justa wolf, Lonp EDGan: Nol It's Victor! Victor come back to haunt mel (Start ous) Give me that pistol there. This time I'l get him! (Par at she door) Look! There itis now! It won't escape me this time. Nicopestus (Clinging to hi eg): Nol Master, do not go! There is ‘no help for ie (Reening lament is heard on the wind.) LORD EDGAR: Let go of my leg. Goblin damned, I'll send your soul to helll ies) NICODEMUS: Nol Master! Master! I's Irma, Irma Vep! A ghost ‘woman with ashes on her breath, alone, crying in the rain. (Shots, running footsteps and howling heard off) JANE (Rushing in): Whats all this yelling? You'll wake the dead. NICODEMUS: The master’s at it again—hunting. JANE: Is it wolves again? NIcoDEatus: This time he's sure it’s Victor. JANa: Victor? NICODEMUS: That's what he says! Jawe: Well, don'tjust stand there gawking! Go after him! Be some help! NICODEMUS: Oh no, Not me! There’s something on that heath that would make your blood run cold, JANE: Ab, you big sissy: If you don’t go to his aid I'll go meself. Nrcopmus: Oh, very well, woman. Wait until I serew in me eg. (He goes off, serews it in noisily, returns) ay Cuanves Luiaw Janu: Itseems that more than your leg got bitten off, There’salso been a loss of virility. (She sakes a gun down off the wall.) Nicopeaus: Where are you going with thar gun? JANE: Let go! Let go! Get out of my way. Lord Edgar needs me. (The gun goes off and the bulle ies the painting. The pointing Bleeds) NICODEMUS: Nowsee what you've done. You've shot Lady. a ‘The painting is bleeding] (Wieser che gum fiom her grasp an sata hee Ure aa pA |ANE. (Calling fier him): Down past the mill run and out onto the Te oe hth a dal Ti or Te shortent through the cedar grove. Faster. Faster, Nico~ cdemmus! Faster! He (Enters): Where is Lord Edgar? [a's uarding ie mor. Hedin esc Vitor LADY ENID: The wolf or the boy? JANE: Both, (Blackout) SCENE 3 eis nearly dav of the same night. Lady Enid sts in a chair by che fires Lord Edgar hovers near hes. LORD EDGAR: Can you tell me how it happened, Rnid dearest? aor ant fe wel Teacup haeibe apg eo Mandacrest, its history, legends and such. As the hour grew late I prepared myself for bed as is my wont. When I had completed my beanty ritual T went straight to ourbed cham- ber and discovered that you had fallen asleep over one of ‘your books. I crawled in beside you. Buc unable to sleep myself got up again and came downstairs. As there were some embers ofthe fire still aglow, I instructed Jane to eave the light when she went to bed, which she did. Then Isat in 36 > Tun Mesveny ov Jawa Per fhat chair and began reading your treatise on lycanthropy and the dynasties of Egypt. There was lightrain s you wil ‘recall, Then i turned to hail. And as I read, 1 listened wo the patter ofthe halstones on the windowpanes. Ir was during ‘that chapter on how the priests of Egypt perfected the art of mummification to the point thatthe Princess Pev Amei was reserved in astate of suspended animation and was known 4s She Who Sleeps . Lonp epoan:.... but Will One Day Wake, tay antD: Yes, that’s idl She Who Sleeps but Will One Day Wake. And how her tomb was guarded by Anubis the Jackal-headed god. Bue that her tomb had never been found. LORD EDGAR: That is whats generally believed. ‘aby extb: Then suddenly che pattering at the window caught ‘my attention, forthe hail had stopped but the pattering went ‘on. The glass shattered. I turned, It was in the room. I think. 1 screamed. But I couldn't run away! coulda’t run any! It ‘aught me by the hair and then ... [can tell no more! Tcan tell no more! LORD ean: Youseem tohaye hurt your neck, Thereisa wound there. ‘-xDy Exp: Wound? feel so wenk. I feel o faint. As though 1 hrad almost bled to death 1ORD EDGAR; But youcouldn’thave bled very much. There were zo more than five little drops of blood on your dressing gown. Now you'd better get some sleep. LADY END: No slepl No sleep for mel I shall never sleep again! Sleep is dead. Slep is dead, She hath murthered sleep. dare notbe alone to sleep. Don'tleave me alone. Don’tever leave me alone again. For sleep is dead. Sleep is dead. (She moves offitage) Who murthered sleep? FORD EDGAR: Jane will it with you. (Stands with door open call ing t0 Jane) Take care of her, Jane. Jane: I will Lord Edgar. LORD EDGAR: Good girl, Jane! (Nicodemus enters from French door NicoDEMus: Is Lady Enid alive? Cusates Luptau LORD EDGAR: She is weak and will sleep long. (Sighs) NICODEMUS: You sigh ... some fearful thoughts, I fear, oppress your heart. LORD EDGAR: Hush. Hush. She may overhear. NtcoDEMUS: Lord Edgar, look at that portrait. LORD EDGAR: Why, that’s blood isn’t it? NICODENUS: You must muse upon it. LORD EDGAR: No, no. Ido wish, and yet I dread Nicopemus: What? LORD EDGAR: To say something to you all. But not here—not now—tomorrow. NicopEMUs: The daylight is coming quickly on. LORD EDGAR: will sit up until sunrise, You can fetch my pow- der lask and bullets. And if you please, reload the pistol. Nrcopesus: Lady Enid is allright, I presume? LORD EDGAR: Yes, but her mind appears to be much disturbed. nrcopeMus: From bodily weakness, I daresay. LORD EDGAR: But why should she be bodily weak? She was strong and well but a few hours ago. The glow of youth and health was on het cheeks. Is it possible that she should become bodily weak in asingle night? Nicodemus, sitdown. ‘You know that I am not a superstitious man. Ntcopzatus: You certainly ate not. LORD EDGAR: And yet Ihave never been so absolutely staggered as Iam by the occurrences of this night NicopEMus: Say on. Lop EDOAn; I havea frightful, hideous suspicion which I fear to ‘mention to anyone lest Ibe laughed to scorn, NICODEMUS: I am lost in wonder. LORD EDGAR: Nicodemus, swear ome that you will never repeat to anyone the dreadful suggestion Iam about to make. NrcoDEmus:I swear. LORD EDGAR: Nicodemus, you have heard of the dreadful super stition which, in some countries, is extremely rife, wherein it is believed that there are beings who never die, NICODEMUS: Never die? LORD EDGAR: Ina word you have heard of a—heard of a—oh God in heaven! I dread to pronounce the word, though I <= Tam Mvsteay of Inua V2? heard you speak itnot three hours past. Dare Isay?... Dare Isay? NICODEMUS: Vampire? LORD EDGAR (Excitedly): You have said it, You have said it Nosferata, But swear to me once more that you will not repeat itto anyone. ‘NIcoDEwus: Beassured [shall aot 1am fr from wishing o keep ‘up inanyone’s mind suspicions which I would fain, very fu refute. . ice ee ORD EDGAR: Then ler me confide the worst of my feats, Nico- demus, NICODEMUS: Speak it. Let me hear. LORD EDGAR: believe the vampire... is one of us. NICODEMUS (Unering a groan of almost exguisive anguish): One o! 1? Oh God! Oh God! Do not readily yield hee ee dreadful a supposition, I pray you. LORD EDGAR: Nicodemus, within 2 fortnight I shall embark for Cairo, there I will organize an expedition to Giza, and cer tain obscure Numidian ruins inthe south, NICODEMUS: Are you taking Lady Enid? Hop EDGAR: No, fear that inher delicate mental state the tip might be too much for her. I will arrange for her to rest in » private sanitarium. Look afier Mandacrest until I return. | believe the desert holds some secrets out there among its Pyramids and sacred mummies. Atleast I know I shall be far avay from her. NtCoDENUS: From Lady Enid? 1ORD EDGAR: No, from Lady Irma. For Nicodemus, itis she 1 believe has extended hee life by feasting on human gore. NICODEMUS: Say not sol LORD EDGAK: Irma could never accept the idea of death and decay. She was always seeking consolation in the study of spiritualism and reincarnation. Afier a while it became an obsession with her. Even on her deathbed she swore she would come back, {CODEMUS: Do you think she will come again? LORD EDGAR: [knownot. But] almost hopeshe may. For! would fain speak to her. Cuantes Luptam —— nicoDEaus: It is said that if one burns a love letter from a lover ‘who has died at the third crowing of the cock on Saint Swithin’s Day, you will see the lover ever so briefly LonD EnGan: More superstition. d NICODEMUS: Very like, Yet after the occurrences of this night 1 can seareely distinguish teuth from fancy. (Cock rons off.) ‘There's the cock. “Twill soon be dawn, Damned spirits all, that in crossways and floods have burial, already to their ‘wormy beds have gone, for fear lest day should look their shames upon. LORD EDGAR (Amazed): Nicodemus, you know your Shakespeare! xrcopEMws: paraphrase. (Exits) (The cock crows again.) LORD EDGAR: The second crowing of the cock. (Takes out letcers bound with a ribbon) Irma’s letters. Of course it’s ridiculous . . . but what harm can it do? Pd best part i them anyway. (Quotes) “In all the world. In all the worl ‘One thing 1 know to be true, You'd best be off with the old love before you're on with the new.” (Burns leer in foncof he painting using apiece of flash paper Cock crows. Painting flies owt. A woman's face appears in the painting. Ske screams.) Irmal (Curtain.) SCENE Various places in Egypt LORD EDGAR: Ah Egypt! It looks exactly as I pictured it! ALCAZAR: Ositis heat you! Lon EDGAR: This invocation is certainly permissible opposite the ancient Diospolis Magna. But we have failed so often, ‘The treasure seekers have always been ahead of us, ALCAZAR: In recent years our work has been made doubly diff- cult by the activities of certain political groups secking 0 halt the flow of antiquities from out of the country. These armed bandits use this high moral purpose to seize any and al reasures. And this, after the excavators have penta great deal of time and money to unearth these precious objects, the existence and whereabouts of which these scum were totally unaware, 2oRD xDGAR:IE wecanbut find an untouched tomb that can yield ‘up to us its treasures inviolate! ALCAZAR: I can spare you the disappointments of places I know to be quite empty because the contents have been removed and sold for a good price long ago. [1 believe I can take you to a syrinx that has never been discovered by the miserable lide jackals who take it into their heads ro seratch among the tombs. LORD EDGAR: The idea fascinates me. But to excavate an ‘unopened tomb—not to mention the dificulties of locating Cnantes Lupa —~ ‘one—would requite manpower and organizational abilities almost equal to those the pharaohs employed to seal it. ‘A.cAZAR: I can place at your disposal a hundred intrepid fellahs, ‘who, incited by baksheesh and a whip of hippopotamus hide ‘would dig down into the bowels of the earth with their fin- gernails. We might tempt them to bring to light some buried sphinx, to clear away the obstructions before a temple, to open a tomb. zonp EDGAR (Smiles dubiously): Hmmm. ‘ALCAZAR: I perceive that you are nora mere couristand that com ‘monplace curiosities would have no charm for you. So] T shall show you a tomb that has escaped the treasure seck- ers. Long it has lain unknown to any but myself. Itis aprize [have guarded for one who should prove worthy of it [Lorn epcan: And for which you will make me pay around sum. ALCAZAR: T-will not deny thai T hope to make money. I ucearth pharaohs and sell them to people. Pharaohs are getting scarce these days. The article is in demand and itis no longer manufactured.) LORD EDGAR: Let’s not beat about the bush. How much do you ‘want? Atcazan: [For a tomb that no human hand has disturbed since the priests rolled the rocks before the entrance thee thou- sand years ago,| Would it be too much to ask a thousand guineas? LORD EDGAR: A thousand guineas! ALCAZAR: A mere nothing, Afterall, the comb may contain gold in the lump, necklaces of pearls and. diamonds, carrings of carbunele formed from the urine of lynes, sapphire seals, ancient idols of precious metals; why, the currency of the time, that by itself would bring.a good price. LORD EDGAR (Aside): Artful scoundrel! He knows perfectly well thar such things are not co be found in Egyptian sepulzhres. ‘ALCAZAR: Well, my lord, docs the bargain suit you? LOND EDGAR: Yes, we will calla thousand guineas, Ifthe tomb thas never been touched and nothing—not even a stone— has been disturbed by the levers of the excavators, and on condition that we ean carry everything away. a <> Tun Mvsreny oF Fema Vs7 ‘ccept. You can risk the bank notes and gold without fea I sera your prayer as been answered LORD EDGAR: Perhaps we ae rejoicing too soon and ae ahout to experience the same disappointments encountered. by Belzoni when he believed he was the first to enter the tomb ‘of Menepha Sei. [He, after having passed through a maze of corzidors, pts and chambers, found oaly an empty sazcoph- agus with a broken lid for the treasure seekers had attained serie by mining through the rocks from the other 4104248; Ohno! [This tomb s too farrem mol tobave ound iay thee hve tnel ear in the Valley of the Kings and my eyes have become as piere- ingas chose ofthe saced hawks perched on the enablarrea of the temples. For years Ihave not so much as dared to cast 4 glance in that direction, fearing to arouse the suspicions of the violators of the tombs. This way, my lord (They exit. The lights fade and come up somewhere inthe tomb, Ieisvery dark. From time to time some detail emerges from the darkness in the light oftheir lanserns,) LORD EDGAR: The deucel A re we going downto thecenterof the earth? The heat increases to sucha degree that facfrom theinferalvegons, es Neemnnot be : Tt isa pit, (With an ech) pt, pit. Milord, lord, or What's he done, done, done? sea LORD EDGAR: We must lower ourse elves on ropes, (Ech) ropes, tens Rips pow ef eng. Tha clint plat) The cured Egyptians Were so cunning hou hiding the etances ofthe Bul hurovs [Tey couldnt sink of enough ays 1 puale poor people} One can imagine shen laugh ing beforchand atthe downeas faces ofthe excavators. Aucazan: Another dead end : a LorD EDGAR: I looks like they've beaten us this round. It's bi Tow, we'l have tocrawlon our faces en Ab AueAzan: Oy! Cuaries Lucan o— LORD EDGAR: Rap on the floor and listen for @ hollow sound. (They do so, After much capping, the wall gives back a hollow sound.) Help me 0 remove this lock. avcazar: Oy! (They remove animeginary block, which puis the setchangeinto action, revealing the tomb.) {Look there] Milord. ; [Lon pcan: The familiar personages of the psychostasia Osiris as judge. (Stands) Well well, my dear Alcazar. So far you have kept your part of the bargain. We are indeed the frst ‘human beings who have entered here since the dead, who- ever he may be, was abandoned to eternity and oblivion in the tomb. suoxzan: Oh he mus have been very powerful personage— ince of the royal household at least. ono spoan: Iwill youafter I decipher his cartouche ‘ALCAZAR: [But first let us enter the] We have entered the most ‘beautiful room of all, the room the ancient Egyptians called ‘The Golden Room. [ono epoan: Really, I have some compunction of conscience about disturbing the last rest of this poor unknown moctal ‘who felt so sure that he would rest in peace until the exd of the world. Our visit will be a most unwelcome one to the hostof this mansion, ‘aucazan: You'll be wanting a proper introduction and I have lived long enough among the pharaohs to make you one. T iknow how to present you tothe illustrious inhabitant of chis subterranean palace. LOR EDGAR: Look, afive-toed footprint in the dust. ALCAZAR: Footprint? LORD EDGAR: It looks as though it were made yesterday. ALCAZAR: How can that be? LORD EDGAR: It must have been the last footprint made by the last slave leaving the burial chamber thirty-five hundred years ago. There has not been a breath of air in here to disturb it. u > Tux Mysreny oF Jnwa Per ‘Why, mighty civilizations have risen and fallen since this foorprint was made. Their pomp, their power, their monu- ments of stone have not lasted 2s [ong as this insignificant footprint in the dust.] oe (Sarcophagus revealed.) aucazar: [My lord! My lordl] The sarcophagus (Pronounced “rarcoFAGus”) is intact! LORD EDGAR: Is it possible, my dear Alcazar—is it intact? (Peamines the sarcophagus then exclaims rapturously) Incredible ‘gpod forrane! Marvelous chance! Priceless treasurel ALCAZAR (Aside): | asked too little. This my lord has robbed me, zonp epGan: There there, Alcazar. A bargain is a bargain. Here are the vases that held the viscera of the mummy contained in the sarcophagus. [Nothing has been touched in this palace of death since the day when the mummy, in its coffins and cere- ‘ments, had been Iaid upon its couch of basalt] ALcazAR: Observe that these arenot the usual funeraty offerings. LORD EDGAR: Don'ttouch it [Touch nothingl] 1t might crumble. First I must decipher this cartouche. “She Who Sleeps but Will One Day Wake.” A lotus sarcophagus. Hmmmm. Notice that the' lotus motif recurs as well as the ankh, ‘emblem of eternal life. Must you smoke those nasty musk scented cigarettes? [There's little enough air in here asics] ‘ALCAZAR: Shall we open the sarcoFAGus? LoD EDGAR: Certainly. [Buttake care not to injure the lid when ‘opening it, for I want to remove this monument and make a present of it to the British Museum] (They remove the cover.) ‘ALCAZAR: A woman! A'woman! Lon mDGAn: Astonishing novelty! But [the necropolis of the «queens is situated farther off in a gorge of the mountains) the tombs of the queens are very simple, Letme decipher the cartouche, “She Who Sleeps but Will One Day Wake.” ALCAZAR (Pointing othe “but"): This isa very primitive hiero- glyph. Lon epoan: Ir’sallile behind.

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