Synopsis: We open to find Elizabeth Springer bound to a chair and coming out of consciousness. She at first hears only the sounds of a fire crackling nearby but soon realizes she is not alone and she is confronted by her abductors. They end up being Lynden Dale and her new friend Lynn Bridge. As their plans and purposes for abducting her are revealed to Elizabeth, she realizes that it all stems from Lynden's history of a strange obsession he has with her which he has manifested into a seeming desire for everyone in the town to have her remain and not follow through with her business expansion with Elizabeth Glenwood. She tries to reason with Lynden as to his true intents but not being ready to face reality, Lynden adheres to his initial misinterpretations and continues to keep her captive, much to the discomfort and moral objections of his partner in the abduction, Lynn.
Setting: Saturday November 30th, 2002: Around 9pm A dilapidated old hunter�s cabin on the south face of the highland mountain ridge, about half a mile from the Ridgetop Lodge.
Characters: Elizabeth Springer (Hopeless Grace), Lynn Bridge (Rebecca), and Lynden Dale (Jeremyguy)
Fade in on an unfocused fire burning in a fireplace, slowly coming into focus and then panning to a desk chair with wheels near the fire. In the chair is Elizabeth who is just coming to consciousness. She is bound at the wrists, upper torso and legs with long silk scarves to the chair. The bindings do not impede movement of the chair.
Elizabeth: (Moaning softly as she comes to) �Wh-where am I? [opens her eyes and slowly focuses on the room, noticing it is dim and lit only by the firelight] Laura?��Where are you? (tries to get up, but realizes she is bound to the chair) �What the!?�
Elizabeth begins struggling to free herself, but the bonds are too tight. Suddenly there is a noise from a heavy chair at the other end of the room. She looks to see the dark form of someone sitting in it.
Elizabeth: (Struggling against the scarves) �Who are you! What do you want with me and why have you done this!?�
The form rises and walks forward into the light. As the firelight shines on the form Elizabeth is surprised to see that it is none other than Lynden Dale.
Lynden: �My dear Elizabeth, I�m glad to see you have finally awaken. (He leans forward toward her and clicks on a penlight to shine in her eyes, checking her pupils) Tell me, how are you feeling? Well, I hope.�
Elizabeth: (Wincing a bit from the bright light) �YOU!? How could you do this to me, and why Lynden?! And what have you done with Laura!�
Lynden: �Oh you needn�t worry about your friend dear Elizabeth, she is fine. She is with her Aunt Noelle at the moment.
Elizabeth: (Her eyes widening as her memory of her abduction fully returns) �Oh my God! I remember now! Laura passed out and then��[seeming confused]��some��someone came after me! But it was a woman!, and you were supposed to be in your office today!
Lynden: (Leans down to her eye level and looks into her eyes) �Oh I was in my office today. All day in fact. Truth is, I just got finished with a final meeting a little over an hour ago. A meeting about you my dear Elizabeth and your disappearance.�
Elizabeth: (Glaring at Lynden defiantly) �So then, who did you get to do your dirty work Lynden?�
Enter into the room Lynn Bridge, from the next room which looks to be a kitchen
Lynn: (Responding to Elizabeth�s question in a cheerful tone) �That would be me Elizabeth. (moves to stand beside Lynden) I hope I didn�t scare you too badly.�
Elizabeth: (Shocked) �LYNN!? But, how could you!? I thought we were friends?�
Lynn: (Leaning down and seeming sincere) �We ARE friends Elizabeth. But Lynden said we had to talk you out of this business deal with Elizabeth Glenwood or you would go off to other countries as a missionary and we would never see you again. You know how persuasive this man can be. (kisses Lynden on the cheek and then looks at Elizabeth with imploring eyes) You aren�t mad at me are you? You know I would never do anything to hurt you Elizabeth! Just think of it like a hazing ritual from college days.�
Elizabeth: (In a tone denoting anger) �But you drugged Laura and I! How could you do that!?!�
Lynden: (In a calm voice) �Now Elizabeth, don�t be so upset. I assure you, it was nothing more than a delayed effect mild anesthetic. I promise you that you and Laura will be fine. I�m sure that your bodies have already metabolized them and rendered them completely harmless, and besides I know what I�m talking about. Or have you forgotten that before I came here I used to work in a pharmacy?�
Lynn: �Yeah Elizabeth, they were just like sleeping pills or something. I just crushed them up and mixed them in with your breakfast this morning at the children�s center.�
Elizabeth: (Still angry) �So that�s why you asked to go with Laura and I. But why did you decide not to go at the last minute?�
Lynn: �Lynden said we had to keep it a secret and that I had to have an alibi by being seen in town after the two of you left to go hiking. I went to see Karleen at the fitness and sports center and told her I decided not to go with you two, but was going to visit friends out of town instead. After a short while I got everything together and waited by Buena Vista for you.�
Lynden: �You see Elizabeth, I calculated the dosage so that the exertion from the hike would activate the anesthetics just around that time.�
Lynn: (A thoughtful look comes over her) �You must be very thirsty by now Elizabeth, I will get you some water.�
Lynn gets up and goes back into the other room.
Elizabeth: (Still angry, but a bit confused) �O.K., fine. But why all the elaborate deceptions? What is it you are really after Lynden?�
Lynden: (Seeming a bit cocky) �It�s like Lynn said, we simply can�t have you running off around the world, seeing you only once or twice a year. And when you wouldn�t even talk to me about other options I knew I had to get you away from all the other influences where we could talk in private.�
Elizabeth: (In a defiant and sarcastic tone) �Oh, so you think that drugging and kidnapping me will make me see things your way?
Lynden: (Leans in close to whisper seductively in her ear) �Elizabeth, you know how I feel about you, and I know how stubborn you can be. The thought of you leaving is just too much for me to bear. Just say you will stay and I will untie you and we can all just forget this ever happened.�
Elizabeth: (Turns her head away from his and speaks softly in an even tone) �Lynden, you need help. Can�t you see that? You can�t go on with this insane obsession of yours towards me. (Lynden slowly backs away from her) Can�t you see how you have used poor Lynn�s affections for you to your advantage to fuel this obsession? Please Lynden, let me help you. Untie me and I promise, we will go see Dr. Route and we will work this out with her and get you the help you need.�
Lynden: (Stands up taking a step back from Elizabeth but seems somewhat shaken and uncomfortable by her words) �Well, I can see you won�t listen to reason. Perhaps you just need some time to think it over. I will go for now and leave you to reconsider and I will return tomorrow.�
Lynn re-enters the room with a tall glass of water
Lynn: (In her usual cheerful tone) �Here you go Elizabeth, nice and cool to whet your whistle.� (puts the glass to Elizabeth�s mouth so she can drink)
Elizabeth takes a drink while locking eyes with Lynden, seemingly studying his reactions.
Lynden: (Looks to Lynn as she sets the glass on a nearby stand and seems a bit distracted) �Well, it seems that our dear Ms. Springer needs some more time to think things over Lynn. I want you to stay with her tonight and keep an eye on her. Don�t let her out of your site and I will be back tomorrow.�
Lynn: (Looks up at Lynden confused) �But I thought we were going to untie her now? Lynden, what�s the matter? C�mon, enough is enough. The game�s over now, right?�
Lynden: (A bit annoyed) �Tomorrow Lynn! As I said, she needs time to think!� (Looks at Elizabeth who looks back at him defiantly)
Lynn: (Concern comes over her) �So you want me to keep her tied up all night!? She can�t be comfortable! Lynden, isn�t that going a bit too far? I mean, you�re not serious are you?�
Lynden: (In a serious tone) �You heard me Lynn! I will be back tomorrow and everything will be worked out then. Just do as I say. (moves back over to Elizabeth (who struggles a bit in vain) and takes a loose scarf, putting it over her mouth and tying it behind her head to keep her from speaking)
Lynn: (Takes Lynden�s arm to lead him toward the kitchen. She is obviously in a moral dilemma) �Lynden, I would never have agreed to do this if I knew it would come to this! You said everything would be alright, that you just wanted to get her up here to talk some sense into her. Now it has gotten way too serious!�
Elizabeth sits without struggling, trying to listen to Lynn and Lynden�s discussion as they move into the other room.
Lynden: �Well maybe it�s just a reaction from the anesthetics that is causing her to be more prone to irrationality. [he seems to regain some composure at this thought] Yes, that must be it. It happens sometimes. We will wait until the morning to make sure they are completely out of her system and then I�m sure we can get her to understand and listen to reason.
Lynn: (A hint of fear in her eyes) �Well you better hope that�s what it is! If it�s not a side effect and she�s seriously angry and goes to the police then we�re in some really deep trouble. (obviously worried) How on earth did I ever let you talk me into this!? And to my own friend too! Damn you and your charming ways Lynden!�
Lynden: (In an even tone) �Well, it�s too late for regrets now, so let�s just keep our heads Lynn. Let�s just get through the night and in the morning I will bring some food and drinks by and I�m sure everything will work out once she realizes that we only did this because we don�t want her to leave and that we truly care about her. Just try to make her as comfortable as you can tonight. There is some wood stacked in the back of the closet for the fire to keep you two warm tonight.�
Lynn: �The closet! Ewww! It�s filled with cobwebs and big hairy spiders! I�m not going in there!�
Lynden: (Rolls his eyes in mild annoyance) �Well, then you are just going to have to bring some in from the stack on the side of the cabin outside. Just do what you have to and I will be back tomorrow. And don�t let Elizabeth out of your site!�
Both of them re-enter the main room and Lynn continues on to go outside for the wood.
Lynden: (Looks to Elizabeth with a seeming affection) �Elizabeth my dear, I truly am sorry for any discomfort, but please realize that we are only doing this because none of us in the entire town want to see you leave. Please believe me and think over it long and hard tonight. I will be back in the morning with something to eat and no matter what you decide by then I will untie you. In the meantime Lynn will keep the fire going and try to make you as comfortable as possible.�
Lynn re-enters the room from outside, her arms filled with firewood
Lynden: (Taking some wood from Lynn and stacking it near the fireplace) �I have to go now ladies. Lynn, make sure to lock and bolt all the windows and doors once I�ve gone. You have the keys to the ATV and buggy outside, right?�
Lynn: �Yes, the keys are in my pocket and I covered the ATV with a tarp not too far from the cabin.�
Lynden: (Takes a deep breath and shrugs his shoulders, looking at Elizabeth) �I know you were out most of the day, but try to get some sleep anyway Elizabeth. (he turns toward the door) Well, I will see you both in the morning.�
Fade out as Lynden leaves the cabin, while both Lynn and Elizabeth watch him go. Elizabeth looking a bit angry yet saddened and Lynn with a longing but confused look.
End of scene 6
