Scenes 1-5
Scenes 6-10
Scenes 11-15
Scenes 16-20
Scenes 21-25
Scenes 26-30
Scenes 31-36
| The Voice of Vincent: Scenes 16-20
Scene 16
[Elizabeth is in a graveyard, she stands near a gnarled black tree, the moon seems to smile. The picket fence around the graveyard is abnormally warped and the wind seems to scream. The shadows are strange and move, and bats fly overhead. In the distance, she hears singing.]
Elizabeth: Who is there? Who is singing?
(Suddenly, a human skull falls before her, grinning. She jumps back and shrieks.)
Skull: Worry not, pretty girl.
Elizabeth: Where am I?
Skull: You are in a graveyard.
Elizabeth: Am I dreaming?
Skull: Do you wish for a pinch to find out?
Elizabeth: How could you possibly pinch me?
(A large spider crawls in top of the skull. Elizabeth shrieks again)
Skull: I think he could pinch you.
Elizabeth: Perhaps. But I don't want him to.
(Elizabeth picks up the skull, and holds in the palms of her hands.)
Elizabeth: And how do I leave this graveyard?
Skull: Why would you wish to leave? Do you not like the company?
Elizabeth: N-no…the company is certainly very nice…
Skull: You did not strike me as the adventurous type, pretty girl. Are you?
Elizabeth: No…I'm not.
Skull: What are you doing in this place?
Elizabeth: I don't know…
Skull: You came here against your own will?
Elizabeth: Well…
Skull: Do you wish to visit a second time? Once you leave? Would you like to come back?
Elizabeth: Now…I’m not sure. Would you be here again?
Skull: Perhaps. But you may not always be able to find me. But could we ask one favour? If you plan to return, we would like you to do this for us.
Elizabeth: What is it?
Skull: Could you wear a blindfold next time?
Elizabeth: Why ever would I do that? If I have already seen it, what is to be hidden?
Skull: You would not like to spoil anything, would you?
Elizabeth: I suppose I don't wish to spoil anything.
Skull: The hands that will lead you, will not want you to be without the blindfold.
Elizabeth: Well if I must. I promise that I will wear a blindfold next time, but could you just tell me how?
Skull: Simply put on a blindfold! Is that so difficult?
Elizabeth: And what will happen to me if I forget it?
Skull: I will bite out your eyes.
Elizabeth: My!
Skull: But only in love. We cannot help but love you here, pretty girl. Please return.
Scene 17
[Elizabeth is in a clothing shop, forced by her mother to buy a new dress. Her mother is off In the corner speaking with the seamstress, Elizabeth is standing around in the center. Suddenly the door opens and Lilia comes in.]
Elizabeth: Lilia! What are you doing here?
Lilia: My mother told me that you would be here, I came to see you…
Elizabeth: Oh…
Lilia: You don't seem to be happy to see me.
(Elizabeth places her hand on her neck.)
Lilia: Did I really hurt you, princess?
Elizabeth: No. I'm fine. But you really scared me.
Lilia: I will try not to scare you again.
Elizabeth: You will try?
Lilia: Well we sometimes give in to urges.
Elizabeth: To murder our friends? That sounds awful.
Lilia: Everyone has different urges, princess, I am sure yours are not always good.
Elizabeth: I’m sure. But none so evil.
Lilia: Ah! But are you certain! Just wait a little while… You will find something delightful that you shouldn't be doing…
(Mom (Rafaela) approaches the girls, as the seamstress scurries to the back with a nearly finished dress.)
Rafaela: Oh Lilia! What are you doing here?
Lilia: I was simply passing by when I saw-
Elizabeth: But-
Rafaela: Silence Elizabeth! Are you always so rude to your friends?
Elizabeth: Sorry Mother…
(Rafaela walks off to the back where the seamstress is. Elizabeth faces Lilia.)
Elizabeth: You lied!
Lilia: Only to her. I told you the truth, that is all that matters.
Elizabeth: One shouldn’t lie needlessly. I don’t see why you would want the truth kept from her.
Lilia: Oh no, I just enjoy lying. You understand, don’t you?
Elizabeth: No…
Lilia: Well then, that’s OK. A simple-minded princess won't understand a lot.
Elizabeth: I suppose not.
Lilia: Shall we take a walk?
Elizabeth: I can't. I must stay, I’m getting a new dress.
Lilia: I think I can convince your mother.
Elizabeth: How?
Lilia: Come with me?
(The two go back, hand in hand to where Rafaela is.)
Lilia: Please Mrs. Hetherington, may Elizabeth join me on a walk?
Rafaela (ignoring her): Elizabeth is getting a new dress she must be here.
(Lilia starts to cry)
Lilia: Oh! But I so hate to be alone! My parents never walked with me! And you truly don't need her here, do you?
Mom: Oh Poor child! Elizabeth! Go with her now!
Elizabeth: I don't need to be here?
Mom: No! Go quickly! Make her stop crying!
(Rafaela pushes Elizabeth out of the store, Lilia is following closely behind. Her hands folded in front of her, a grin on her face.)
Lilia: My, wasn’t that simple?
Elizabeth: I now fear your strange talent you have to manipulate my mother, why, you could almost make me live with you.
(Elizabeth’s hand shoots to her mouth.)
Lilia: Oh! That would be splendid if you could live with me!
Elizabeth: I can't though.
Lilia: Ridiculous! Of course, I would never make a princess live with me. But to stay for some days would be delightful, wouldn’t you say?
Elizabeth: I like to be at home at night.
Lilia: Is that so? Why?
Elizabeth: Well…I can't seem to sleep in any bed but mine.
(Lilia is silent for a few moments as she surveys Elizabeth’s expression)
Lilia: I give you some courtesy! You could at least show me the same!
Elizabeth: What do you mean?
Lilia: Please don't pretend! I know you're lying!
Elizabeth: But it’s true…
Lilia: You have some strange secret at your house? One you don't wish to share with me? Well! I don’t want to see you right now then!
Goodbye!
(Lilia storms off from a bewildered Elizabeth, who turns and heads home.)
Scene 18
[Elizabeth walks into the house just as Jonathan comes up from the basement, carrying a large basket full of bloody rags.]
Jonathan: Oh dear! Elizabeth! What are you doing home? Is your mother here?
Elizabeth: No…
(Elizabeth looks at the basket.)
Elizabeth: Those are Vincent’s?
Jonathan: What? Who is Vincent?
Elizabeth: You know who he is...don't pretend not to.
Jonathan: I am sorry Elizabeth, please stop asking questions. I must wash these before your mother returns.
(Jonathan runs off to the dining room. The sound of the back door opening and then slamming shut can be heard. Elizabeth stands in silence for a few moments before running up the stairs and into her room.)
Scene 19
[Elizabeth jumps down onto the floor near the vent.]
Elizabeth: Vincent?
(There is a short silence)
Vincent (groaning): Oh dear Elizabeth…you are home early today.
Elizabeth: Vincent, you don't sound well. Are you alright?
Vincent: I am.
Elizabeth: What happened?
Vincent: Nothing important. I started to bleed today. Your father tried very hard to stop the bleeding…I believe it is stopped for the most part.
Elizabeth: Oh! Are you all right?
Vincent: I am now. I am so happy that you have returned.
Elizabeth: I am too Vincent! Shopping is dreadful business. And then Lilia came and I'm afraid she is angry with me again.
Vincent: Elizabeth, why do you always speak of the awful things that happen to you and of the awful people that you meet? Is your life really so horrible.
Elizabeth: I’m sorry Vincent. Do I disappoint you?
Vincent: No, it just saddens me.
Elizabeth: I did have a nice experience. I made some friends.
Vincent: Really?
Elizabeth: Yes. It was last night.
Vincent: Who are your new friends?
Elizabeth: Well I'm not sure of their names…but they are a delightful pair. A skull and a spider. I had a short conversation with them.
Vincent: And you enjoyed their company?
Elizabeth: Oh! Certainly! Though they were somewhat frightening I still managed to enjoy them.
Vincent: Will you go to meet them again then?
Elizabeth: Yes, if I may, but I am told I must wear a blindfold next time I go.
Vincent: And would it be wise to obey?
Elizabeth: Certainly, I was threatened with having my eyes bitten out if I did not abide.
Vincent: And you truly trust your new friends so that you would be blinded to them?
Elizabeth: I feel I will be perfectly fine, I think I will have a protector there.
Vincent: Wouldn't your protector want you to take your blindfold off?
Elizabeth: No, he is the one who wishes me to have it. The skull and spider are also his friends. They simply communicate for him. For the time being.
Vincent: So you will meet your protector next time?
Elizabeth: Oh I sincerely hope so!
Vincent: And when do you go next?
Elizabeth: I don’t know. Perhaps tonight.
Vincent: AUGH!
Elizabeth: Vincent! What’s wrong? What happened?
Vincent (in obvious pain):Elizabeth dear, I am perfectly all right.
Elizabeth: No you aren’t! What hurts?
Vincent: Don't worry…
Elizabeth: Please! Is my father down there? Is he helping? No! Impossible! He is washing those rags! I will come down and tend to you!
Vincent: Please don't. I am too weak at the moment to search for my mask and put it on.
Elizabeth: But I want to help you! I don't want for you to be in pain, What can I do from up here to help you?
Vincent (after a short while):Kiss me.
Elizabeth: Pardon?
Vincent: Please forgive my bluntness. But it will heal me.
Elizabeth: But how? Through the vent?
Vincent: Yes…please…
(Elizabeth puts her face close to the vent and kisses Vincent who is close on the other side. The two rest like that for a few moments.)
Vincent (after another short silence): Thank you...The pain has stopped again...
Elizabeth: Impossible!
Vincent: It's true. You have relieved me.
Elizabeth: I wish that was possible...
Vincent: If you don't think it is possible, why did you kiss me?
Elizabeth: I...Maybe I wanted to?
(Suddenly, Rafaela barges into the door.)
Rafalea: Are you talking to someone? What are you doing on the floor?
(Elizabeth stands up)
Elizabeth: Sorry mother, I fell on the ground and was much too tired to stand up.
Rafaela: Nonsense! How would you explain your talking?
Elizabeth: I was talking to myself. You know I do that.
Rafaela: You need some help.
Elizabeth: Why?
Rafaela: Never mind asking “why”. You should certainly know “why”. All this talking to yourself and leaving Lilia by her lonesome.
Elizabeth: Lilia?
Rafaela: I saw Lilia as I was walking home, poor girl was alone. She told me you simply left her.
Elizabeth: She is lying to you mother.
Rafaela: Shut up. I won't hear it. Such lies against your friend. But I felt so sorry for the dear child I brought her here.
Elizabeth: What?
(Mom leaves as Lilia enters the room. Mom closes the door.)
Lilia: Hello Elizabeth.
Elizabeth: You lied again…You were the one who left me. I thought you were angry with me.
Lilia: Indeed I was. But your are my best friend, so I cannot stay mad at you for long. I missed your beautiful face as I walked away. When I saw your mother I thought it would be the perfect opportunity.
Elizabeth: To make her hate me even more!
Lilia: Her love doesn't matter. Only mine.
Elizabeth: Do your parents know you're here?
Lilia: No. But they won't notice that I'm gone.
Elizabeth: I think they will.
Lilia: Your judgement is never correct, simple-minded princess. But I would expect no different, so it doesn't anger me.
Elizabeth: Why wouldn’t they notice you were gone?
Lilia: Because, they will be out of the house until very late. But---My, Elizabeth, do you have blood on your lips?
Elizabeth: No!
(Wipes her lip, the blood comes off onto her hand.)
Lilia:(rolling her eyes)Well not anymore! What have you been doing? Biting your lip?
Elizabeth: No…I don’t know. It’s not even blood.
Lilia: Then what is it?
Elizabeth: The juice from the cherries I was eating?
Lilia: You're lying to me again. I think you should stop getting angry with me for lying to your mother. At least I don't like to my best friend.
Elizabeth: You're beginning to tire me Lilia. May I please ask you to leave?
Lilia: What? How could you ask me such a thing?
Elizabeth: I’m sorry, I didn't mean to say that…But tonight I am going to see some friends.
Lilia: You never told me that you had friends!
Elizabeth: Well that's because I just made new friends very recently.
Lilia: I see. Well I have no friends to see so I suppose it is fair if I don't allow you to go see them.
Elizabeth: May I ask when you plan on leaving? I don't mean to be rude, I am just curious.
Lilia: Oh…I see…
Elizabeth: See? What do you see?
Lilia: Dear Elizabeth, what ever is bothering you?
Elizabeth: Nothing is bothering me...
Lilia: Then why are you acting so strange?
(Lilia looks down at the vent.)
Lilia: Oh? Where does that lead to?
Elizabeth: I-I don't know…perhaps my fathers lab.
(Lilia gets onto her knees, looking down. Vincent, who had been trying to watch, ducks down, knocking something over.)
Lilia: Somebody is down there! Somebody very quiet!
Elizabeth: No! Nobody is down there! I swear!
Lilia: My Elizabeth, if you wanted to hide something, you could at least protest a little less.
Elizabeth: I’m sorry Lilia. I am just a little excited today. There is nobody down there.
Lilia: I know that you are lying to me, why don’t we go down and see if there is anybody? That door by the stairs at the bottom leads to your basement doesn't it? The door was left open and I managed to look down while your mother was not watching at me, it looking awfully queer, I wanted to go see, but now is a perfect chance!
Elizabeth: You can't go down until everyone is gone.
Lilia: Nonsense! We can get passed them if we are careful.
Elizabeth: It's very dangerous down there. And I assure you, no human is down there.
Perhaps…may we go to your house instead? My room is not nearly as pretty as yours…
Lilia: Oh! Of course we may go! I was getting somewhat tired of this dark house.
Scene 20
[The girls enter Lilia’s house, it is completely quiet and empty.]
Lilia: So what do you wish to do here Elizabeth?
Elizabeth: Perhaps we may go see your brother? I am sorry for asking…
Lilia: Oh! With him again! Do you ever stop thinking about my brother?
Elizabeth: I just want you to look at him.
Lilia: I won't look at him.
Elizabeth: May we go to see him, please? If you are my friend you will let me see him.
Lilia: Follow me then…
(Lilia leads Elizabeth through the ball room, to the back where the door to the dark hallway is, at the end the door where her brother is is open a little bit. The enter in the awful-smelling room.)
Lilia:(holding her hand over her nose) My! It smells awful here! Why would you want to come here?
(Elizabeth takes the sheet off the boy, it now looks even more hideous than it did the first time she saw it, and Lilia immediately looks away.)
Lilia: Oh! Cover the hideous thing back up! Now!
Elizabeth: No Lilia, I won’t, not until you look at him.
Lilia: I'm not going to look at him!
Elizabeth: Lilia…If you don't look at him, I will leave you forever and never see you again.
(Lilia stands in silence for a few moments, obviously getting very angry.)
Lilia: You are so cruel Elizabeth, I thought you were kind…
Elizabeth: Look at him, Lilia...Look at the face you so desire to see.
(Lilia slowly turns her head, her eyes slowly venture towards the body. She gasps)
Lilia: My! That is not even my brother!
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