Scene 21

[A lone, dark figure (Vincent) sits on a counter cluttered with different strange instruments. He is hardly clothed. A light is shone on him and his mask is scene, a white mask, smiling with a teardrop coming from the eye. He breaths heavily and he hums a sad-sounding song. In the background sinister laughter is heard, and then the sound of screams. But is it obviously going through his head. Then he hears the skulls voice…]

Skull: Vincent, is she coming tonight?

Vincent: Only if I may see her.

Skull: I so do want to see her again. Such a pretty girl. I hope she remembers her blindfold, or else I shall have to follow through with my promise.

Vincent: Yes…



Scene 22

[Elizabeth and Lilia are standing over the body, which Lilia has just identified as not being her brother.]

Elizabeth: What do you mean? How can it not be your brother? Maybe you just can't see it? After all, he has been dead for some time now.

Lilia: No, I am certain, it isn’t my brother. Though it looks similar it isn't him!

Elizabeth: How do you know?

Lilia: His forehead! It is perfect! There is no wound! Not even evidence of one!!

Elizabeth: So?

Lilia:(grinning) Don't you understand Elizabeth?

Elizabeth: Understand what?

Lilia: Indeed I was so cruel to my brother, and he never fought back! Only prayed for me! Wretched creature!

Elizabeth: What are you saying?

Lilia: I gave him a large gash in his forehead! Ah! I still recall the look on his face as his pretty red blood dove down into his eyes! I have never seen one bleed so much! It was delightful!

Elizabeth: You killed him?

Lilia: I still remember his scream! He was in such agony, and in that moment I felt such joy as cannot be described in words!

Elizabeth: Lilia! Did you kill him?

Lilia: No! I told you! He isn't dead! This is not my brother! My brother must have run away!

Elizabeth: Why did you hurt him?

Lilia: Because he angered me! He was so disgusting I hated him!

(Lilia turns to Elizabeth, smiling sweetly.)

Lilia: Dear Elizabeth, when I kill you, I promise it shall be painless and quick! And I will take special care of your body!

Elizabeth: What? Now you wish to kill me?

Lilia: I want to end your misery, Elizabeth, come here to me, and you shall be happy forever! I will visit your grave everyday until the day I die! And I will then be buried with you! And we will be together forever! But first I must prepare myself to be able to lie with you Elizabeth! Come quick!

(Elizabeth starts to back away, as Lilia comes towards her with her arms outstretched, a crazy look in her eyes. Soon, Elizabeth turns and runs through the dark hallway and into the ball room, Lilia is almost upon her when, Elizabeth hears a scream, she turns, to find Lilia has fallen to the ground, a spider sits on her chest, and has obviously bitten her. Elizabeth turns and runs away and out of the house. She is stopped on her way out by Lilia’s parents, her father grabs her by the arm.)

Hugh:(shocked) What are you doing Elizabeth?

Elizabeth: Oh! It’s awful! Lilia has been bitten by a spider!

Hugh: We will worry about her later, tell us, is there anything else wrong?

Elizabeth: Nothing! Because I wouldn't speak against Lilia!

Hugh: Even if it was the truth?

Elizabeth: Oh! She tells me she killed her brother! Though she is convinced he is still alive! She showed me the body in the hall! She said that it was not her brother! Oh!

(Covers her face, as she starts to cry.)

Elizabeth: Forgive me! I shouldn't have said a thing!

Hugh: But you are right in doing so Elizabeth! But we already knew!

Elizabeth: You knew? You knew she killed him?

Hugh: Indeed! And we knew that the body was not that of our dear sons! Oh no! His body is in a safe place from that evil girl’s hands!

Elizabeth: But I don’t understand! Why did she hate him?

Georgette: Because she is selfish and cares only for herself.

Elizabeth: But won't you go help her now? She may die. She's been bitten by a spider.

Georgette: We will worry about that wretch later. May we walk you home?

Elizabeth: No! I will be quite all right on my own! But please tend to Lilia!

Georgette: Certainly not. (grabbing Elizabeths arm) Would you like to know a secret?

Elizabeth: A secret?

Georgette: Lilia is not well.

Elizabeth: Well that I could tell…

Georgette: She is dying. Slowly, and she doesn't know why.

Elizabeth: Why is she dying? She cannot die!

Georgette: She is simply getting what she deserves! She may not show it, but she is dying.

Elizabeth: Getting what she deserves?

Georgette: Oh never mind dear girl, I don't want to trouble you anymore. Run home quickly, perhaps I will share the secret with you later.

(Elizabeth runs off without another word, running as fast as she can. Up the street. Rain starts to fall and lightning and thunder are seen and heard. She starts to cry again as she runs towards her house.)



Scene 23

[Elizabeth runs into her room, throwing herself on her bed as she continues to cry. Her sobs slowly calm down.]

Vincent: Elizabeth?

Elizabeth: Oh Vincent!

Vincent: What is the matter?

Elizabeth: Lilia…something awful is happening to her. She was running after me, bent on killing me, but…Oh! It was horrible! A spider, a huge spider! It came down and bit her. She fell immediately. Dreadful creature…

Vincent: Oh? But I thought you liked spiders?

Elizabeth: Well, I suppose I do. But can't I like dreadful things?

Vincent: Of course. But one doesn't normally like dreadful things, do they?

Elizabeth: If the dreadful thing is kind…and saves someone, I suppose they may like it.

Vincent: You weren't gone long.

Elizabeth: No! I ran into her parents as I ran out of her house in a panic. Her mother was behaving most strangely. I think they are doing something awful to Lilia.

Vincent: Do you care?

Elizabeth: Of course I do…

Vincent: If she dies, will you be sad?

Elizabeth: Yes!

Vincent: But…wouldn't death be better for her than the life that she leads?

Elizabeth: Maybe... I am very tired. I know it is quite early, but I would like to go to sleep.

Vincent: Don't forget…

(Elizabeth pulls a small piece of black cloth off of her dresser, it was obviously set there before, though she looks slightly puzzled to see it. She puts it over her eyes and goes to sleep)



Scene 24

[Elizabeth is blindfolded, standing in the same graveyard she was in before. The wind is quieter, but it still sounds like screaming. A quiet laugh is heard, she obviously recognizes the voice as that of the skull.]

Elizabeth: Oh, Mr. Skull

Skull: Oh, pretty lady, you are back. How delighted I am to see you.

Elizabeth: Yes, I wish I could say the same thing. But I am happy to hear you.

Skull: I am very happy you heeded my orders, dear girl.

Elizabeth: Of course, I wouldn't want to have my eyes bitten out.

Skull: You do not really believe that such a thing could happen in a dream, do you?

Elizabeth: Well…

(A man in a mask and tuxedo grabs Elizabeth’s hands gently.)

Elizabeth: Oh!

Skull: He can lead you about.

Elizabeth: And it's him that I'm not allowed to see.

Skull: He tells us of his awful face. Though we have not seen it.

(Elizabeth starts getting led away, she hears eerie music faintly. The wind is screaming. The graveyards is lit faintly by fireflies and a few old-fashioned lamps.)

Elizabeth: Won't you speak? (silence) You seem very kind despite your silence. Or else I wouldn't trust you. As I trust the skull and the spider despite their threats because of their kindness. I suppose this isn't good, why, so many people I am sure would deceive me with their kindness and then become evil before my very eyes. The first time I saw this place, I should have thought everything here was evil. Death is an awful thing and I fear my imaginings are obsessed with dead. Does that not make me evil? I apologize for my ramblings…But if I am evil can I not then trust evil, and undoubtedly I may trust good. So whether you are good or evil, leaving me to a place of happiness or no, I can trust you and surely deserve any outcome. No? I’m sorry…(blushing furiously) It's like I've been talking to myself! I'm never so forward with someone...it's not like me at all...

(She is stopped, and sat on a small bench. She can feel warm breath on her neck, silence follows for a few moments.)

Elizabeth: I shall return again, I promise you.



Scene 25

[Lilia lays sick on the ground, completely ignored by her parents who stand around with a couple of friends, laughing and going about their business. Having been sleeping for a long time she wakes in a cold sweat and sits up quickly.]

Lilia: Mother! What happened?

Georgette: Not now, Lilia dear. Can't see we are entertaining guests?

Lilia:(angrily) While I lay sick and forgotten on the floor.

Georgette: Oh, you seek too much sympathy Lilia. You were not disturbed.

Lilia: Well I certainly am now!

Hugh: Silence yourself. Why don’t you leave us and go to your bedroom? The maid is waiting for you with your tea.

Lilia: Tea indeed! I want no tea! Why, if only I could forever be rid of the awful stuff!

Hugh: Don’t be ridiculous. Quick! To your feet! Leave hastily you are disturbing our guests.

(Lilia tries to stand, but finds herself unable and falls to the ground.)

Lilia: Why can't I stand?

Georgette: Oh, perhaps because you have been sleeping so long, awful, lazy girl. Crawl to your room then, you will receive no help from us.

(Lilia slides herself across the floor, pulling herself forward with shaky arms. Stopping to rest every once in a while. Much to the obvious disgust of her parents. The guests completely ignore her. She finally gets into the main hall and now has just to pull herself to the end and to her room.)

Voice: May I help you, sister?

Lilia: No! Get away filth!

(swings her arms at empty space.)

Lilia: I hate you!

Voice: Why?

Lilia: You are so cruel to me!

Voice: No…

Lilia: Curse you! Stay away from me!

(pulls herself to her room, trying every once in a while to stand, only to have her legs buckle violently beneath her. She finally reaches her room. The door is open and the main is inside.)

Maid: Your tea is getting cold.

Lilia: I want no tea. (Pulling herself over to her bed. The maid helps her sit on the bed.)

Maid: You must have tea.

Lilia: No. I want none.

Maid: I insist.

Lilia: No.

Maid: Why won’t you?

Lilia: I hate tea.

Maid: Why do you hate tea?

Lilia: Especially in this house.

Maid: Why do you hate tea?

Lilia: Because it tastes awful.

Maid: But you drink it everyday and never complain. Why is today different?

Lilia: Leave.

Main: Will you have your tea?

Lilia: Certainly not. Hurry and go.

Maid: I beg of you.

Lilia: Are you deaf? (grabs the tea pot from the table and throws it in fury at the maids head, it breaks the hot tea burns her face, she screams as she runs from the room. Lilia lies back on her bed, suddenly feeling weaker.)

Lilia: Never again. Ghastly tea. I will have no more.

Voice: What are you planning?

Lilia: Only to be a thorn in the sides of… No! Leave! Leave now!

(Sits up, swinging her fists, she falls sideways off the bed, face first in the china that sits on the table. Cutting her face. She hits her head and becomes completely still, her face bleeding down onto the floor.)