99A INT-OPERA HOUSE-BOX-FIVE
Cleaning and dusting is ANNE, maybe twenty-buxon and beautiful. She is the young woman who minds Box Five. As she plumps up the pillows of one of the chairs, she jumps startled…
RICHARD (O.S) : Are you the young woman who tends to this box every night?
ANGLE ADJUSTS to INCULDE Richard as he passes through the curtains.
ANNE: Yessir…(beat catching breath) You scared me out of my skin.
RICHARD:(beat)I’m sorry. (beat) Has there been someone using this box?
She plays nearer to Richard-aware of his social station and wealth. Sexual tension.
ANNE:Yessir—he treats me right nice. I keep the box nice and tidy. (beat)
A girl has to do what she can to stay in a gentleman’ s favor. Especially a generous one…
RICHARD:Then you know him…
ANNE:Well, sir. I’ve never seen him really. He never comes before the curtain. Fashionably late, I think they call it. (Beat)I hear him singing sometimes—with the music.He has a fine voice. Knows all the words.
Richard notices the gold coin on the velvet seat and picks it up.
RICHARD:Then he’s not a ghost at all—just a man…
Richard puts the coin in his vest pocket, then pulls out several notes worth at least the value of the coin. She takes the money and tucks it in the front of her blouse.