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Mary Shelley's birth of Frankenstein

 

Run with a narrator, an anonymous narrator. This can be changed later if need be, to a character or decedent of a character or even taken out completely.

Characters on the evening: Mary (Seventeen)

Percy (Twenty two)

George (Twenty six) Byron

Claire Claremont (Nineteen)

Edward John Trelawny (Twenty four) arrives the following day.

Dr John Polidori (Twenty)

Narrator walking about the grounds of the Villa Diodoti.

Narrator: The Villa Diodoti on the shores of Lake Geneva, which John Milton, the author of Paradise Lost, had visited in the sixteen hundreds. Rousseau and Voltaire had also resided on these shores. Yes idyllic one may say as one looks across and down Lake Geneva. But alas no, far from it not in the summer of eighteen sixteen, in the previous year a volcano Tambora in Indonesia, had erupted, the largest volcanic recorded eruption ever recorded.

Killing an estimated some The after effects of the eruption of Tambora reached Europe within months. Cut to dramatic thunder and lightening storm around and about the Villa Diodoti. The following is spoken over.

Thirty seconds

The weather went from being beautiful and radiant to melodramatically tempestuous. Torrential rains and incredible lightning storms plagued the area, but we have to ask ourselves was it this freak weather indeed contribute to the writing of Mary Shelly�s Frankenstein.

It is said that Mary considered the area to be sacred to enlightenment. She spent the greater part of the summer of eighteen hundred and sixteen, at Chapuis a few miles down the road from here near Geneva, Mary was then just seventeen. Cut to George, Mary, Percy, Claire, and John are sat out on the balcony of the Villa Diodati. George, Percy & John are sat at a table. John plays the flute through out the scene, stopping playing to speak then continuing to play. Percy is making a �cigarette� there is little conversation between them. Mary & Claire sit in their colourful underwear with their legs dangling over the balcony. The skies already blacked with the aftermath of the volcano, they are watching a large thunder storm break over the mountains at the far distance edge of the lake. Narrator speaking over It�s the sixteenth of June, Percy Shelley, Mary Shelley, her step sister Claire Clairemont, Doctor John Polidori, George Byron better known as Lord Byron are sat on the balcony of the Villa Diodati.

SCENE ONE

All characters are present Claire Claremont, John Polidori, Edward John Trelawny, Percy, Mary and Byron at the Villa Diodati.

George, Mary, Percy, Claire, and John are sat out on the balcony of the Villa Diodati. George, Percy & John are sat at a table. John plays the flute through out the scene, stopping playing to speak then continuing to play. Percy is making a �cigarette� there is little conversation between them.

Mary & Claire sit in their colourful underwear with their legs dangling over the balcony. The skies already blacked with the aftermath of the volcano, they are watching a large thunder storm break over the mountains at the far distance edge of the lake. Claire: Could this be the end!

Mary: (Beat.) Then end! Then end of what Claire?

Claire: The end of life as we know it!

Mary: But we don�t know life we have merely sampled a small taste of life.

Mary points to two farmer workers in a distant field who are bringing together their cattle

Thirty Seconds.

Mary: See those to there!

Claire: Which two where?

Mary: Those two peasants there, over there tending their beasts. Look! See!

Claire: Yes, yes I see what about them.

Mary: Who is to say that they that there is not the life eternal.

Claire: Their lives eternal! What are you on about Mary!

There is a large thunderbolt of lightening followed by a clap of thunder then hail stone. Mary & Claire remain sat as the hail stones hit them.

Thirty Seconds.

Percy: Come and shelter the pair of you, you shall get soaked!

George: Don�t they hurt?

Mary: (Half laughing and shouting over the noise of the hail.) No! No! No they tickle! They tickle! They tickle don�t they Claire?

Claire: (Half Laughing.) Yes, yes they do! They do! (Laughter.)

The hail stones get heavier. There is a second bolt of lightening and an even louder clap of thunder than before making the peasants beasts run about the field, the peasants run about in panic after their panicked beasts.

Thirty Seconds.

Mary: See them chasing their cattle is an experience that you and I or dare say one of us will share, that is their and their alone experience.

Claire: But never the less it is the now it is theirs yes but I am observing them as you are observing them so therefore it is our experience too!

Mary: Yes indeed

George: But, but sometimes it is for the best to observe, for by observing others we learn about others, therefore learning about others we learn more about ourselves. Think of it this way, if the beasts did not scare of the thunder, the beasts would not have ran, their tenders would not have taken chasen the beasts, therefore the two of you wouldn�t have spoken and I would not be speaking about this now.

Percy: Do never stop playing that infernal flute!

John: (Silence.) Yes.

Mary: Let him play, you keep playing John.

John continues to play the flute, it continues to hail and a dark cloud moves up the lake. A rainbow appears which gives the impression that one end in the field where the peasants are, the other end at the other side of the lake.

Thirty Seconds.

Mary: The weather, the weather is changing.

Claire: Is it?

Mary: Yes.

Claire: It looks like it is going to get worse to me.

Mary: (Beat.) I didn�t say that is was changing for the better. I said it is changing. (Beat.) People hear what they want to hear or see what they wish to see. Don�t you think?

George: I think that the two of you should stay here, you can�t possibly return to Chapuis this evening.

Percy: Stay the evening!

George: Yes why I insist! In fact why not stay until the weekend!

Percy: The weekend!

George: Yes indeed be our guests!

Mary: We do have things to attend Percy.

Percy: Nothing that cannot wait Mary!

Claire: (Beat.) And we do have to work on Chillion.

Percy: Chillion! What�s this Chillion?

George: Yes Chillion, it what I am working on at the moment.

Claire: Where are they going to sleep?

George: Mary and Percy can stay in your room with you, and well John can stay in with me.

John takes the flute from his mouth, then pauses before speaking.

John: Are you sure! I mean do you mean it?

George: Yes, yes of course I mean it or I would not have said it would I now.

John: No I suppose not you wouldn�t have.

George: You keep on with you flute!

John: Yes, yes of course, of course yes!

George: Yes Chillion

Cut to Mary and Claire.

Claire: Come let�s go and change.

Mary: Yes lets

Mary and Claire get up and go inside the villa.

Cut back to George, Percy & John sat at the table.

Twenty Seconds.

George: We must go there and visit whilst you are here.

Percy: Where?

George: Why Chillion of course!

Percy: So this, this Chillion isn�t an imaginary place!

George: Why no, no, no! It�s at the end of the lake! It will be a jaunt for the two of us!

John: Can I join the two of you on, this, jaunt?

George: Let me think about it. No you can�t. Just play your flute. No a much better idea go to the room and make ready for diner.

John: But I have something that I have been working on, I thought that I might discuss it with you and now that Mary is here well I just thought.

George: (Interruption.) Don�t, don�t think.

Percy: What is it that you are working on?

John: Well it�s about vampires

George: Vampires! And what indeed would vampires be! (Laughter.)

John: Vampires are creatures of the night. They are bats!

Percy: Bats! Well there are plenty of those around here on an evening I can tell you. Dam nuisance if you ask me, don�t see how one can make anything out of bats if you ask me.

John: (Beat.) Yes but these are no ordinary bats, these are vampire bats.

Percy: A bats a bat, don�t see what�s so special about these what do you call them?

George: Vampire bats.

John: Yes, yes vampire bats, vampire bats they such blood. Well that is to say that they mainly suck the juice of fruit, peaches, nectarines and such like. But, but on occasion when provoked they have been known to take the blood of humans!

Percy: Do they?

John: Indeed yes, not much blood mind you, not even a thimble full, but you see they usually go for the neck, the neck been exposed from clothing you see. (Beat.) Yes they leave to small puncture marks.

George: (Beat.) Feasible I suppose but I can�t see where this is going there doesn�t appear to be any, to be any well. Balance!

John: Ah yes well you see that�s just it you see, I have well, bent the laws of nature!

Percy: Bent the laws of nature! One can�t go around bending the laws of nature where would that leave us!

George: No Percy he does have a point, who would have believed that a volcano so far away could darken the skies for so long, bring snow in the June and cause the potato crops in Ireland to fail. The failure of the potato crop will be the ruination of that country, you just mark my words! So John, do continue.

John: Yes so what my idea is bat is a man that turns in to a man. Well rather the man, well a Count turns into a bat and sucks all the blood out humans, killing them!

Percy: (Beat.) Oh I have had enough of this! You should just concentrate on playing that flute! I�m going to make myself ready for dinner.

Percy stands up and leaves, camera fades to that evening at dinner as George & John continue to talk.

SCENE TWO

Set in the villas library, the library has large high windows to one wall the other three walls are filled floor to ceiling with shelves filled with books. Claire, John, Edward John, Percy and Mary are sat around the large table in the centre of the room, passing around and sharing two large hand made cigarettes which contain poppy seeds. Byron stands at the centre window, his back to the others in the room as he watches the raging storm outside.

There is a large clap of thunder which rattles the windows, making a rumble in the room in turn making the candles flicker. Then a bolt of lightening lights up the mountains across the lake and the room. As the brightness of the room fades George turns to face the rest of the group.

Claire: Come sit George you have barely eaten a thing!

Mary: Yes you must eat George

George: No, no this evening is not an evening to eat!

Percy: An evening to make merry!

George: (Mockingly.) Why no this is an evening for evil!

Another bolt in lightening brightens the room, followed by another clap of thunder. Followed by another.

Twenty Seconds.

George: For this evening is an evening for the telling of stories! Ghost stories! (Pause.) Maid clear the table then leave us be!

George walks to the table, turns his chair so the chair back is facing the table the straddles the chair seated. The maid begins to clear the table.

Percy: Ghost stories! Do you jest George!

George: No I do not jest, think the unthinkable. Imagine the unimaginable! Why who could imagine that we could have weather like this in June!

Mary: But this is Gods work!

George: Gods work! Gods work! And who may I ask is this God have you seen him?

Mary: Well know, but God is everywhere!

George: And this is so because it says so in the Bible! The Bible a book! A book, written hundreds of years after the death of Christ, that�s taken for gratis that there was a Christ! Why I would give as much credence to these, to these bats things.

John: Vampire bats!

George: Yes indeed vampire bats, at least I can see a vampire bat if I so wish. But this God.

Claire: (Interruption.) George you shouldn�t take the Lords name in vain!

George: I am merely speaking words, one strung after another! So Claire you appear most vocal why don�t you be the first to tell us all a ghost story?

Maid: Should I serve chocolate?

Percy: No we will be fine. (Beat.) Yes Claire, you start but be visual with the use of your words!

Claire: (Pause.) This isn�t easy.

Percy: Nobody says that it would be easy.

Claire: (Silence.) Wait! Wait! Wait I�ve got something! I�ve got something! (Pause.) Imagine a wood, no a forest, a deep black forest where you can hardly see between the trees. It is beginning to become dark. Behind a large tree hides a wolf, its hear pointing to the sky as the wolf watches over a narrow winding track. On the track walks a girl alone, she is on her way to her grandma�s cottages which is lays in a clearing below the Count�s castle in the centre of the deep dark forest. Saliva ran from the wolf�s mouth as the girl came into the wolf�s view.

Fade to the forest scene as just described.

Twenty seconds.

Claire: Then suddenly without warning and unknown to the girl the wolf sits up, then stands up on all fours and begins to run through the forest.

Then camera as if the camera is on the wolf�s back the wolf races through the forest.

Twenty seconds.

Then cut back to the girl and voice over.

Claire: It gets darker and darker as the girl walks further and further into the forest until eventually she came to the clearing where the path crossed the road which leads to the castle. The girl stopped dead in tracks and looked up at the castle at the top of the hill.

A shiver went down her spine, it was if somebody was looking at her from inside the castle. Standing there on the track motionless she just stared at the castle. (Beat.) Then, then there was a noise. Too wit too woo, too wit too woo. She looked about her, at first she could see nothing, the girl heard the sound again. Too wit too woo, too wit too woo, she looked above her, then she could see it, an owl perched high in a trees.

The owl broke eye contact and flew down the path which leads towards where the girl�s grandma lives. The girl continued to walk along the path, the owl kept just in front of her, as if guiding her, watching over her. Meanwhile the wolf had arrived at the girls grandma�s cottage.

Cut back to the room.

Percy: (Interruption.) Just, just! Just don�t tell me! The wolf goes into the grandma�s house, lock the grandma in the cupboard and then get into the grandma�s bed and when the girl arrives

Claire: Yes, yes alright, alright, yes, yes little red riding hood!

John: Well you certainly had me convinced I was beginning to fear for the poor girls safety! I was, I really was.

Mary: (Pause.) Yes well the picture was painted. Good

Claire: These things take time that was off the cuff so to speak.

Mary: I am in total agreement with you Claire. At least Clare had a try! Who�s the next?

George: Why not you Mary?

Mary: No, no I need more time. No time to develop an idea.

Claire: I didn�t have the time! Have arty at least. It�s not as though you are going to write a book about it or anything about it! Is it now!

Percy: Yes and look what you came up with!

George: What about you Percy?

Percy: Yes I think I have something. (Silence.) Yes, yes there was a wise man, a scholar no less who had the ear of the Queen.

John: Which Queen?

Fade to a Queens Court the main character is having an audience with her. No words are spoken, just spoken over.

Percy: That does not matter, that doesn�t matter shall we just say that the Queen is the fellow�s country of origin. (Silence.) He the fellow that is became her, her been the Queen he became her trusted advisor on matters astrological and scientific.

Fade to him on a ship at sea.

Ten seconds.

The fellow then undertook voyages of discovery, providing technical assistance in navigation and ideological backing in the creation of an empire for his Queen.

Seventeen minutes in total to this point.

Fade to him in a round room, a study. The walls of the study are filled with books. He is sat at a table in the centre of the study, his nose in a book.

Percy: After his voyages to the new worlds the fellow turned his mind to study. The fellow published a book on navigation at sea, a work that set out his vision of a maritime empire for his Queen and asserted his country territorial claims on the New World that he discovered. He the fellow then published a book on Mathematical Preface, arguing the central importance of mathematics and outlining mathematics' influence on the other arts and sciences.

Twenty seconds.

The fellow growing dissatisfied with his progress in learning the secrets of nature and with his own lack of influence and recognition. He then began to turn towards the well dare I say, the supernatural. Yes the supernatural as a means to acquire his knowledge op on the subject.

The study goes dark, only lighted by the moon shining through an arched window behind him. He is looking into a crystal ball which is on the desk which he is sat at.

Specifically, he sought to contact of that of angels through the use of a scryer which is a type of crystal gazer, or crystal ball. This would act as an intermediary between the fellow and the angels.

Fade out then back in there is anther man in the room.

Percy: The fellow�s first attempts were not satisfactory at all, then he was became acquainted with another fellow, the other fellow impressed him greatly with his abilities. He took the fellow into his service and began to devote all his total energies to his supernatural pursuits. These spiritual conferences or actions if you wish were conducted with an air of intense Christian piety, always after periods of purification, prayer and fasting. The fellow was convinced of the benefits they could bring to mankind.

Twenty seconds.

To here two minutes ten total.

(Silence.) Now some may say that the fellow then somewhat stupidly let it be known in very clear terms others and did maintain that the angels had laboriously dictated several books to him, some in a special angelic or the ancient Enochian language.

(Silence.) When the people of the land got to hear about this they did not like what they heard. Cut to the Queens Court. So the Queen brought the fellow to her Court and there she advised the fellow to go and visit another country. Further the Queen told the fellow to stay in this country until were less frantic in the country of the fellow�s origin.

The fellow without question did as his Queen had suggested. Albeit with some prompting by the angels, the fellow was persuaded to go, taking the other fellow with him and with them their families left for the other country. Cut to a strange land. They were introduced to a nobleman, whom as it turned out proved to be bankrupt and out of favour in his own country. So the two fellows and their families began a nomadic life, but they continued their spiritual conferences. The fellow had audiences with two Kings from two neighbouring countries and so outraged were these two Kings from neighbouring countries that they chided the two fellows for their ungodliness and attempted to convince them of the importance of his angelic communications. Indeed dare I say they were not taken up by either monarch.

After one of these spiritual conferences the first fellow told the second fellow that the angel Uriel, (Beat.) Yes Uriel was the angels� name. Yes he said that the angel had told him that Uriel had ordered that the two men should share their wives. George: (Silence.) (Half laughing.) And what indeed did the two fellows have to gain by this deed?

Percy: Ah yes sorry, I did forget to add sorry yes, yes well when the fellow first undertook his supernatural pursuits he was rapidly becoming a prominent alchemist and was much more sought-after. But by this time the second fellow was more prominent than the first fellow.

George: Now just hold on here what�s this alchemist malarkey?

Percy: (Beat.) Alchemy! Why alchemy is the making of gold!

George: (Beat.) The making of gold! (Laughter.) So by sleeping ones friend�s wife one can make gold! Why we must sleep more often together Mary!

Mary: But you and Clare aren�t married as yet George.

George: Does not been married Percy?

Percy: I don�t know, but please do let me continue please! So the second fellow, now wished to use these spiritual conferences to his own ends. Know on end knows. Needles to say this caused the first fellow great anguish, but he did not doubt his genuineness and allowed it to go forward, but broke off the conferences immediately afterwards and did not see the fellow again. He then the first fellow returned to his own country. George: So did they make gold?

Percy: That�s just it, know body knows.

John: I think they did make gold. Well certainly the second fellow, that�s with him taking off like that and was never seen again. But it is still not a ghost story. Let me tell you about the vampyre!

George: No, no not yet, I have something that I have been working on.

Claire: We have been working on George!

George: Yes, yes very well we have been working on!

Percy: It is unlike you George to let an incomplete piece of work be heard. What�s it about? What is it entitled?

George: It is a sonnet, a sonnet entitled Chillion, I did say earlier they were imprisoned not far from here.

Percy: The place at the other end of the lake?

George: Yes indeed, as I say it isn�t yet complete so please do bare with me.

IN BLUE COULD MAYBE ADD MORE, IT�S SOMEWHAY SIMPLE. MAYBE SIMPLE IS GOOD DUE TO WHAT IS COMING! George stands to recite Chillion, taps his glass, puts his hands behind his back, looks to the ceiling then looks individually in turn at other four who are seated.

George: Sonnet on Chillon

Eternal Spirit of the chainless Mind!

Brightest in dungeons, Liberty! thou art,

For there in thy habitation is the heart -

The heart which love of thee alone can bind;

And when thy sons to fetters are consign'd -

To fetters, and the damp vault's dayless gloom,

Their country conquers with their martyrdom,

And Freedom's fame finds wings on every wind.

Chillon! thy prison is a holy place,

And thy sad floor an altar - for t'was trod,

Until his very steps have left a trace

Worn, as if thy cold pavement were a sod,

By Bonnivard! May none those marks efface!

For they appeal from tyrrany to God.

My hair is grey, but not with years,

Nor grew it black

In a single night,

As men's have grown from sudden fears:

My limbs are bow'd, though not with toil,

But rusted with a vile repose,

For they have been a dungeon's spoil,

And mine has been the fate of those

To whom the goodly earth and air

Are bann'd, and barr'd-forbidden fare;

But this was for my father's faith

I suffer'd chains and courted death;

That father perish'd at the stake

For tenets he would not forsake;

And for the same his lineal race

In darkness found a dwelling place;

We were seven-who now are one,

Six in youth, and one in age,

Finish'd as they had begun,

Proud of Persecution's rage;

One in fire, and two in field,

Their belief with blood have seal'd,

Dying as their father died,

For the God their foes denied;-

Three were in a dungeon cast,

Of whom this wreck is left the last.

There are seven pillars of Gothic mould,

In Chillon's dungeons deep and old,

There are seven columns, massy and grey,

Dim with a dull imprison'd ray,

A sunbeam which hath lost its way,

And through the crevice and the cleft

Of the thick wall is fallen and left;

Creeping o'er the floor so damp,

Like a marsh's meteor lamp:

And in each pillar there is a ring,

And in each ring there is a chain;

That iron is a cankering thing,

For in these limbs its teeth remain,

With marks that will not wear away,

Till I have done with this new day,

Which now is painful to these eyes,

Which have not seen the sun so rise

For years-I cannot count them o'er,

I lost their long and heavy score

When my last brother droop'd and died,

And I lay living by his side.

They chain'd us each to a column stone,

And we were three-yet, each alone;

We could not move a single pace,

We could not see each other's face,

But with that pale and livid light

That made us strangers in our sight:

And thus together-yet apart,

Fetter'd in hand, but join'd in heart,

'Twas still some solace in the dearth Of the pure elements of earth,

To hearken to each other's speech,

And each turn comforter to each

With some new hope, or legend old,

Or song heroically bold;

But even these at length grew cold.

Our voices took a dreary tone,

An echo of the dungeon stone,

A grating sound, not full and free,

As they of yore were wont to be:

It might be fancy-but to me

They never sounded like our own.

More could be added if need be, but more can be inserted as the play develops.

Up to here twenty six minutes.

Percy: Well I must say George that its not one of your longest Sonnets. They usually go on for ever and a day!

Claire: George said that it is as yet complete.

George: No it is far from complete, far from it.

Percy: Very descriptive I must say, I almost thought that I was there!

George: Interesting that you should say that, I have read up on Fran�ois de Bonnivard, in fact I felt that I knew hi inside out. (Beat.) But it wasn�t that what inspired me! No where my inspiration, my inner feeling came from was when I visited Waterloo. (Beat.) Yes the field of the dead. So many died there and for why! For why! For why did so many needlessly die!

Claire: It was rather moving I must admit. Well haunting!

George: There was no noise, just a dead silence. Even the birds did not sing. That is what well gave me the feel of been no more of what one was use too, suddenly everything stops, one is dead and there is nothing more than silence!

Mary: (Silence.) Yes indeed moving. But if something stops something else must start. That�s the law of nature! (Beat.) Well isn�t it! Like this ghastly weather, because of a volcano erupting go knows where, we under this! (Beat.) It is beautiful in its own way but yet evil in another! (Beat.) Just, just imagine if one could capture the power of a clap of thunder! Or, or capture the power, the force of a bolt of lightening!

George: (Sarcastically) Yes Mary! Yes Mary!

Mary gets up from her seat and walks to one of the large windows and looked out across the lake. As she does there is a clap of thunder then a bolt of lightening illuminating the mountains.

Mary: It is up there one would need to be! Up there on one of the mountains high a loft! It is there and only there that one could capture and harness the power of the lightening! (Beat.) Imagine capturing the power of mother nature herself! Ceasing it from her hand! Just imagine!

Claire: (Pause.) And exactly do what with this power once one has harnessed this power?

Mary: (Beat.) Well I don�t know! But I�m sure one could do something! Something good I am sure! Something beautiful perhaps!

John: (Beat.) But most people are scared of a thunder storm! Scared I say! How can one call something beautiful, if one is scared of the exact same thing!

Percy: (Half Laughing.) My dear John, my dear you haven�t grasped the concept in the slightest have you! You haven�t have you John honestly! (Beat.) There�s the beauty, one can not deny the beauty of a thunder storm can one!

John: Well no, well no I suppose not, no.

Percy: The fear, the fear comes from what one doesn�t know. The how do clouds make such a noise! How do bolts of lightening come from the skies! That is the fear my friend, that is the fear!

George: (Half Laughing.) Some buffoons would say that it be the wrath of the gods, or wrath of god sorry! Having just one god is the vogue of the day isn�t it!

Percy: What I think what Mary�s point is simply that if one could bring together the beauty and the fear together into one being goes on the lines of the theory is that good always conquers evil, therefore only something good could possible come from harnessing such a force! Is that what you are trying to get at Mary?

Mary: Well I suppose so yes. Well kind of.

John: That�s very much like the vampire bats!

George: Gosh you�re not still going on about these infernal blood sucking bats are you!

Claire: Let him tell his story!

George: Well I suppose. Well if its going to shut him up once and for all! Go on then!

John: (Beat.) Are you sure?

George: Yes, yes just get on with it will you!

John: Are you sure you want to hear my story Percy!

Percy: Yes! Just get on with it won�t you man!

John: Yes, yes of course.

HERE VAMPIRE

Fade back to the room.

John: (Silence.) So what do you think?

Percy: Interesting. Certainly outside the box! If you�d excuse the pun.

George: There is something there, yes definitely. (Beat.) Tell me is all your own idea?

John: And what do you mean by that!

George: Nothing, nothing it just comes across to me, as well, as well to advanced for�.

John stands up out of his seat.

John: (Interruption. Raised voices) For some one like me! Is that what you were going to say! Was it! Well was it!

Percy: No George didn�t mean that John. Did you George! Did you?

Claire: No he didn�t John

George: Keep out of this you two! Tell me George, tell me then who�s this main character central based on? Is it an amalgamation of several people or based on an individual? (Silence.) Well can you not answer me? (Beat.) Well can you?

John: It�s complicated.

George: Complicated! There�s nothing complicated about it, the character is either an amalgamation of several people or a single individual!

John: A single person if you must know.

George: Do I know the fellow? He appears to have a something about him, even though he represents evil. Smartly dressed, a bit of a dandy in fact. There�s a charisma about him. But alas he is a cad, well more than a cad as it goes. Yes his objective is purely himself, there is no consideration for others. Yes and further more he will go to any means to get what he wants!

John: (Pause, Lowered Voice.) Yes that�s a very accurate account.

Percy: Account , count, I like that! Do you get it, count, account!

Claire & Percy laugh.

George: Very drawl but its not that funny! So come on do tell which fellow did you base this character upon. Do I know him? He does sound somewhat familiar!

John: Oh yes indeed you know him George!

George: Then who is the fellow?

John: That I can�t say. I�m sure that you�ll understand George.

Percy: Of course you understand, don�t you George!

George: (Pause.) Yes, yes of course, of course I understand yes. (Beat.) What would you say if I had a look at your manuscript? There are a few things that I�d like to take a closer look at. You know a second opinion and all that

Percy: Thought you didn�t reckon much to this blood sucking bat thing George!

George: There is something there, yes there is definitely something�s that need a tweak here there indeed. But I�m still intrigued whom you based this character upon!

Percy: Why don�t you have a think as Mary tell�s her story!

George: Yes I�m intrigued. So what�s your story Mary?

Mary: Story, story, I�m telling no story! No

Percy: Why you must Mary! We all have! It is you�re turn! We did all agree!

Mary: No you four agreed I didn�t! (Beat.) Look, look I�ll write something over the next few days.

Percy: Now that�s not playing the game is it Mary!

Mary: (Loud.) Game! Game! This is know game your just a set of wolves waiting to pull your next victim apart!

Percy: (Sarcastically.) Actually it�s a pack of wolves Mary!

Mary stands up, as she does she knocks over her glass of wine!

George: You�ve spilt your wine Mary!

Mary starts to make her way quickly out of the room.

Mary: I�m going to bed!

Claire: Wait I�ll come with you Mary!

Percy: No don�t she will be alright!

Claire: No I best go with her

Claire gets up from her seat and walks across the room, as she reaches the doors George shouts.

George: Don�t forget your both in my room this evening!

Fade to Bedroom scene. Mary is sat at her dressing table brushing her hair. Claire enters the room.

Claire: Are you alright?

Mary: Yes why shouldn�t I be!

Claire: That was somewhat of a dramatic exit.

Mary: (Beat.) Was it?

Claire: Well yes. Really you shouldn�t let them get to you like that.

Mary: Like that!

Claire: George and Percy do it on purpose you know. You shouldn�t really let them get to you so!

Mary: I just couldn�t think of a stupid ghost story!

Claire: You should have come out with any old dribble like I did.

Mary: (Sarcastically.) Yes little red riding hood!

Claire: (Beat.) Well at least I tried.

Mary: (Pause.) You did yes, but I believe in giving ones best. (Beat.) Anyway I have something in mind.

Claire starts to undress. They speak as she undresses.

Claire: Percy will be here shortly.

Mary: (Beat.) Yes I suppose he will.

Claire: So what do you have in mind for your story?

Mary: Oh I�m still working on it, but I shall keep you informed

Claire: Indeed I�m sure that you will Mary. (Beat.) I was thinking.

Mary: Yes.

Claire: I was thinking, I was thinking that it would be nice toy have a picnic tomorrow. You know on the lawns aside the lake.

Mary: Yes, yes that would be nice. What about George and Percy have you discussed the matter with them?

Claire: No but I believe they wish to go sailing together down the lake.

Mary: Doesn�t Edward arrive tomorrow?

Claire: Indeed he does yes.

Mary: Oh don�t you thing George and Percy should be here to greet him .

Claire: No, George doesn�t really going in for that sort of thing. Besides it�s only Edward!

Fifteen Seconds

Claire is now down to her underwear, which she takes off as they continue to speak.

Mary: Will he! (Beat.) Percy I mean he will be here soon I mean.

Claire: Yes.

Mary: (Beat.) Who�s George with this evening? (Pause.) I wasn�t present when you discussed the plans for this evening.

Claire: Why maid of course!

Mary: Oh yes. (Beat.) Does she know?

Claire: Indeed, yes.

Mary: It�s a regular thing George and the maid?

Claire: Indeed yes. Such a sweet thing don�t you think?

Mary: (Pause.) Yes, I suppose!

Ten Seconds.

Claire now naked, gets into bed.

Claire: You�re not getting undressed yet?

Mary: No, I will shortly.

Percy enters the room and starts to undress.

Percy: It�s good to see that you�re ready Claire!

Claire: (Seductively.) Oh I�m always ready!

Percy: Oh yes and don�t I know it. (Beat.) Don�t you think that it�s warm in here? (Beat.) I�ll open the window and let in some air.

Percy opens doors which lead to a balcony. Percy is now naked Claire throws back the bed sheets Percy finishes undressing and then eagerly jumps into bed with Claire and lays on his back.

Fifteen Seconds.

Think something about the timing here on the above.

Claire: I�m thinking of have a picnic by the lake tomorrow.

Percy: Really!

Claire: Yes, it will give George and yourself time to go sailing.

Percy: Get on top of me.

Claire mount�s Percy

Fifteen Seconds.

Percy: Yes, yes it will! (Silence.) What about Edward? Isn�t he arriving tomorrow?

Claire: Oh that�s nice! Yes! (Pause.) Yes he is, but we�ll take care of him wont we Mary?

Percy and Claire indulge in sex.

Fifteen Seconds.

Mary: I�m not sure about this at all.

Percy: Sure 0f what!

Mary: Of this. (Beat.) This. Its wrong. It just doesn�t feel right. Should we be doing this, it�s improper.

Claire: You�ve never complained before Mary! Oh just undress Mary!

Percy: No you haven�t complained before at that you are correct! (George & Claire continue to have sex.)

Ten seconds.

Come on Claire I�m nearly there! Oh yes.

Mary: Well I suppose. If I must! (Pause.) But it�s not English.

Claire: (Beat.) But we are not in England are we! And it is after all only sex Claire.

Mary: No, no were not in England and yes it is well, only sex.

George & Claire continue to have sex.

Ten seconds.

Claire: Yes it�s only sex Mary!

Mary starts to undress.

Mary: Yes it is only, sex.

As Mary undresses as Claire & Percy continue to have sex.

Twenty seconds

Fade to George�s bedroom. George and the maid (Maria) are having sex.

George: That�s it! That�s it! That�s it! That�s it!

Maid: No! No! No that�s not it! No! Keep on! Keep on!

George tries to get from Maria.

Maid: You not going anywhere George! You finish this! You finish this you hear!

George: No!

Maid: Yes!

George: No! Claire understands these things!

Maid: Claire understands these things! And where�s your precious Claire now! Maid attempts to hold George where he is.

George: Get off me! Get off me! I insist that you get me immediately! You mad, mad girl!

Maid: You insist! You insist! How do you people live like this! Its

George: (Interruption.) It�s what! It�s what! Just, just get off me get off me!

George gets from the bed and dashes still naked to a writing desk. The maid lays naked upon the bed.

One Minute.

George: Eternal Spirit of the chainless Mind! (Beat.) Brightest in dungeons, Liberty! thou art, For there in thy habitation is the heart, you aren�t the heart, your aren�t the heart. That�s it. The heart which love of thee alone can bind; To fetters, and the damp vault's dayless gloom, Their country conquers with their martyrdom,

Maid: Come back! Come back to bed George. Come back to me. This is not fair! You can�t do this to me George!

George: That is where you are wrong, I can do just as I like!

Maid: You can not! You can not! You can not! You can not!

George: And pray do tell what exactly are you intending to do about, about well your predicament?

Maid: Predicament please?

George: Position.

Maid: (Beat.) Position please!

George: (Beat.) You cannot even speak the Kings English Maria! (Beat.) You are a maid, you�re in service. Service, been the operative word!

George: And Freedom's fame finds wings on every wind. Chillon! thy prison is a holy place, And thy sad floor an altar - for t'was trod.

Maid: Chillion! Why are you going on about Chillon?

George: Until his very steps have left a trace (Beat.) Worn, as if thy cold pavement were a sod, By Bonnivard! May none those marks efface! For they appeal from tyrrany to God. (Beat.) Do you know about Chillion? Do you know of Bonnivard? Maid: Yes of course why?

George: You do!

Maid: Yes George of course. He�s, He�s, how do you call it. Local history. (Beat.) He�s, He�s, local hero! (Beat.) Local legend! Yes, yes local legend that�s it, that�s him local legend!

George: (Pause.) Dress! Go fetch Claire!

George continues to write and Maid remains laid upon the bed.

Ten Seconds.

George: I asked for you to dress and bring Claire.

Maid: Yes.

George: Then make haste!

George continues to write as Maria reluctantly gets from the bed, dresses then leaves the room.

One Minute.

Cut to Percy & Mary�s bedroom, Claire is laid naked on the bed, smoking as she watching Percy & Mary having sex. The door bursts open, Maid rushes in wearing a dressing gown.

Maid: Come quickly! Come quickly! Come quickly Miss Claire! Come quickly!

Claire: What is it Maria! What is it!

Maid: Come quickly its Lord Byron!

Mary: Is he alright!

Percy: Never mind that you, just keep on what you are doing!

Maid: Nothings wrong with him! Well not really. He�s asking for you Miss Claire.

Mary: This all sounds somewhat strange

Percy: Just keep on you! Keep on!

Claire gets from the bed and puts on her dressing gown

Percy: What are you doing Claire!

Mary: I�m going to see what George wants of course!

Percy: No stay here! Its not as though George�s ill or anything is it! Is he!

Maid: No, no he�s not ill, just acting well strange.

Claire: How do you mean strange?

Maid: (Beat.) Well he started to ask me questions whilst we were, well you know!

Claire: What questions?

Maid: Chillion.

Claire: And you know about Chillion!

Maid: Why yes of course.

Mary: I must go to him!

Fade to George and Claire�s room. George is sat at his desk as Claire enters the room.

Claire: What is it! What is it George?

George: It suddenly came to me! I was just. Well anyway and it came to me.

George stands up from his desk.

Claire: What came to you?

George: Well Chillion of curse.

Claire: (Beat.) Oh yes right. Yes.

George: Come sit Claire, sit dictate as I speak.

Claire: But it is late George

George: Come sit Claire, sit dictate as I speak. There�s no time like the present! (Beat.) Come sit write. Claire sit�s at the desk.

George: I was the eldest of the three. And to uphold and cheer the rest

Claire: Where�s the pen?

George: Pardon.

Claire: Where�s the pen?

George: Second drawer down on the left.

Ten Seconds

George: Ready?

Claire: Yes George

George starts to pace the room as he recites and Claire writes.

George: I was the eldest of the three And to uphold and cheer the rest

I ought to do-and did my best-

And each did well in his degree.

The youngest, whom my father loved,

Because our mother's brow was given

To him, with eyes as blue as heaven-

For him my soul was sorely moved:

And truly might it be distress'd

To see such bird in such a nest;

For he was beautiful as day-

(When day was beautiful to me As to young eagles, being free)-

A polar day, which will not see

A sunset till its summer's gone,

Its sleepless summer of long light,

The snow-clad offspring of the sun:

And thus he was as pure and bright,

And in his natural spirit gay,

With tears for nought but others' ills,

And then they flow'd like mountain rills,

Unless he could assuage the woe

Which he abhorr'd to view below.

The other was as pure of mind,

But form'd to combat with his kind;

Strong in his frame, and of a mood

Which 'gainst the world in war had stood,

And perish'd in the foremost rank

With joy:-but not in chains to pine:

His spirit wither'd with their clank,

I saw it silently decline-

And so perchance in sooth did mine:

But yet I forced it on to cheer

Those relics of a home so dear.

He was a hunter of the hills,

Had followed there the deer and wolf;

To him this dungeon was a gulf,

And fetter'd feet the worst of ills.

Lake Leman lies by Chillon's walls:

A thousand feet in depth below

Its massy waters meet and flow;

Thus much the fathom-line was sent

From Chillon's snow-black battlement,

Which round about the wave inthralls:

A double dungeon wall and wave

Have made-and like a living grave

Below the surface of the lake

The dark vault lies wherein we lay:

We heard it ripple night and day;

Sounding o'er our heads it knock'd;

And I have felt the winter's spray

Wash through the bars when winds were high

And wanton in the happy sky;

And then the very rock hath rock'd,

And I have felt it shake, unshock'd,

Because I could have smiled to see

The death that would have set me free.

Fade to Percy & Mary in bed asleep, Mary is restless, camera closes in on Maryand fades into dream of Frankenstein.

Three minutes

Mary wakes up and sits up screaming

Fade to the next day picnic on the lawn.

It is sunny the skies are blue Claire, Mary and John are sat in a circle on a lawn aside the lake, Maid waits on them. Mary is writing. To the right is a jetty, to which two boats are moored. To the left George and Percy can be seen walking from the villa, as they walk they talk together.

Claire: The weather is an improvement from the past few days, don�t you agree?

John: (Beat.) Most certainly, most certainly. What do you say Mary?

Mary: (Pause.) Pardon.

John: The weather, it is an improvement don�t you think?

Mary: Well, yes, yes I suppose that it is yes.

Maid: Tea or chocolate Ms Claire?

Claire: Tea, please Maria.

Maid: (Silence.) Ms. Mary.

Mary: (Pause.) Oh chocolate please Maria.

John: (Silence.) What is that you are writing Mary?

Mary: (Beat.) Oh it�s nothing. Nothing at all!

John: Well what ever it is you do rather seem engrossed with it!

Maid: Tea or chocolate Doctor?

John: Oh chocolate please. I do think that the chocolate out here is so much better than back at home. Don�t you?

George & Percy�s voices can be heard.

Claire: Indeed yes, I have no idea why.

John: So Mary what is that your writing!

Mary: (Beat.) A type of ghost story, well not a ghost story exactly, it�s a scary story but with a well human side of sorts.

John: I thought you had given up on the ghost story thing, or should I say rather not even starting on it!

Mary: You could say that I had second thoughts.

John: And what made you have second thoughts may I ask?

Mary: (Sarcastically.) I had a dream!

George & Percy join the group.

Percy: A perfect day to go sailing.

George: Yes perfect. Just perfect!

Percy: Somewhat different to the last time we sailed together on Hawes water.

Maid: Tea. Chocolate. Mr Shelley, Lord Byron?

George: No. No thank you Maria, I�m sure things about the villa that you can be doing Maria.

Maid: Yes very good Lord Byron.

Maid starts to walk back to the villa.

George: Different to Hawes water! No not really no. Yes the mountains are higher, the lakes wider, but they share the same beauty.

Percy: (Pause.) Are you sure you don�t want to come along with us John?

George: No John is no boatman! Are you John?

John: (Beat.) No, no I�m not, no. No.

Claire: But Edward is, he will be arriving within a few hours.

George: Yes but we can�t afford to wait a few hours. Can we Percy?

Percy: No we can�t no.

John: So what do we do for the rest of the day! Just sit here eat sandwiches and drink tea all day!

Percy: Well.

George: Why don�t you have a game of croquet!

Mary: Yes that�s a marvellous idea! What do you say Claire?

Claire: Why yes that�s a splendid idea yes!

Mary: Girls verses boys!

John: Well that�s hardly fair! There�s two of you!

Percy: Nothing you can�t handle I am sure John!

George: Besides Edward will be here shortly. I�m sure he will gladly give you a helping hand!

John: (Pause.) Yes, yes of course.

Percy and George are sailing on Lake Leman (Lake Geneva) they sail around a head land and in front of them is the Chateau de Chillon. George is working, facing down the lake so he can see what is ahead. Percy is sat right at the front, so he has to physically turn his body to see what is ahead. (Don�t forget Trelawny was a sailor.)

One minute as they sail.

George brings the boat of the wind, stands up and brings in the sail. The boat is motionless on the lake, then George sits back down. There is a silence as the boat bobs up and down on the lake.

One minute

Percy: What are we doing?

George: (Beat.) Quiet!

Percy: (Beat.) Sorry. (Silence.) What are we doing exactly?

George: Quiet! (Silence.) Listen!

Percy: (Silence.) Listen to what exactly? (Silence.) There�s nothing to hear!

George: (Silence.) That�s it exactly Percy, there�s nothing to hear. (Beat.) There�s no birds singing, no birds flying nothing.

Percy: (Beat.) Just the sound of lapping water.

George: Yes, lapping water.

Percy: (Silence.) How much further is it?

George: Not far now.

Percy: Are you sure this is a lake?

George: Lake Leman yes.

Percy: (Beat.) It�s more like a sea. No an ocean even. Are you sure that we haven�t passed this, chateau?

George: No, no we haven�t

George lets loose the sail again and the pair continue to sail further up the lake.

Sailing thirty seconds

George: There it is look! There it is the Chateau, the Chateau de Chillon. I have told about it.

Percy: Is it the original Chateau?

George: Why yes but of course. Is there any reason why it should be not?

Percy: No, no I just thought.

George: Then you thought wrong my dear George!

Percy: (Pause.) Tell me why do they call it a Chateau?

George: Because it is a Chateau, why else?

Percy: I thought the Romans, Italians what ever had villas!

George: That�s as maybe but we are not in Italy my dear George!

Percy: (Beat.) No of course we aren�t! Of course we aren�t!

George: (Pause.) It�s the mountains you know.

Percy: (Beat.) What�s the mountains?

George: It�s the mountains that make the lakes.

Percy: (Beat.) Yes.

George: Are you sure that is the Chateau that you have been telling me about?

Percy: Yes, yes that in most definitely the Chateau de Chillon

George: Yes, yes indeed you have, repeatedly!

George: (Beat.) Chateau de Chillon! Splendid! Just splendid! What do you say Percy? Isn�t it?

Percy: (Pause.) Somehow it does appear somewhat familiar.

George: Familiar! Have you been here before?

Percy: No. (Beat.) Do you think we could take a look inside? Do you know the owner?

George: No, I have only ever seen it from the lake. In fact I have no idea who lives there indeed if anyone does live there.

Percy: (Beat.) Someone does live there. Look there�s smoke coming from that chimney

George: Which chimney?

Percy: The one there, on the right! See!

Cut to: The boat beached on the shore, Percy & George walking to the Chateau de Chillon.

One minute

Fade to Percy & George at the main door of the Chateau de Chillon.

Percy: And you don�t know who lives here?

George: No haven�t got clue!

Claire, Mary & John are playing crocket on the lawn.

Mary: Nice shot Claire!

Claire: Yes I thought so too!

John: Look! Pure look!

Mary: You only say that because you are loosing John.

John: Well it�s hardly fair now is it two onto one!

Mary: (Pause.) You�re shot John.

Carefully John takes is shot and misses.

Ten Seconds.

John: Dam and blast!

Claire: (Half Laughing.) Bad luck John, bad luck!

Mary: (Half Laughing.) Yes bad luck John, bad luck!

John: The ball hit that clump of grass!

Mary: Which clump of grass?

John: That clump of grass there! Right there! See it?

Claire: I don�t see no clump of grass! Do you Mary?

Mary: Why no! No I don�t!

John starts stamping down the ground about where he says the clump is/was.

Ten Seconds

There is the sound of horse hoofs, the three look towards the entrance to the villas grounds, then a horse and carriage drives in.

Ten Seconds.

Mary: This must be Edward. (Beat.) Come let�s go and greet him!

John: Thought we were playing crocket!

Claire: We were, you lost!

Mary: Come Claire lets go and greet him yes lets!

Claire & Mary go hitching up there dresses as they run to the doors of the villa where the carriage is just coming to a halt.

Maybe give a scene giving Edward more of a welcome.

Fade to: Percy knocking on the door of the chateau.

Percy: They may tell us to go away.

George: They may yes. But there again they may not. They may invite us in so we may enjoy their generous hospitality. Percy knocks on the door again, they wait, the door opens and there a monk stands.

George: Hello there you may have heard of us, this is my very good friend Percy Shelley and I am Lord Byron.

Monk: You�re English!

George: Yes indeed, we are English.

Monk: Have you come to see the dungeon?

George: Have we come to view the dungeon Percy?

Percy: The dungeon. Yes.

Monk: The library perhaps?

George: The library, now that sounds more us.

Percy: Ah yes the library! Yes the library, don�t really fancy any damp smelly dungeon!

George: No! No smelly, dark, cold dungeons for us I�ll tell you!

Cut to: The library.

Monk: Francois de Bonnivard, of Lunes. was one of six brothers, all of whom suffered as how do you say, tomatoes no sorry, martyrs. (Beat.) The father and two sons died on the battle-field, one was burnt at the stake. Three were incarcerated in the dungeon here at Chillon.

George: Why was this chap imprisoned for dare I ask?

Monk: He was put in prison for republican principles.

Percy: Republican principles hey!

George: Who by?

Monk: The Duke-Bishop of Savoy, he imprisoned Francois de Bonnivard from the year fifteen nineteen to the year fifteen twenty one.

Percy: Just look at this library! He must have been an educated chappie.

George: Yes, most impressive, most impressive indeed.

Percy: (Beat.) Some date back to the fourteen hundreds.

George: Yes I know. His chappie was learned.

Monk: (Silence.) Oh yes sirs you are correct Bonnivard was learned. His manuscripts, which are in this library, prove that he diligent student of the Latin classics, and that he had penetrated the depths of theology and history. He loved the sciences also. It was in some years later that he gave his library to the chateau, it was his gift that was the commencement of our library what you see today sirs.

Percy: (Beat.) Interesting! Yes.

George: Yes interesting. Can we see this dungeon where he was incarcerated

Percy: Are you that bothered about seeing dungeon? When one has seen one dungeon one has seen every dungeon.

George: I�d like to see this, this dungeon.

Fade: Percy describing the dungeon. Camera followers the three as they make their way down into the dungeon. Percy talks over

Percy: I followed on behind George as the monk led the way down the narrow winding stairway. As we walked the monk would stop bringing our procession to a halt as he carefully lit another candle. The further we went the colder it became, the air became damp and the odour musk.

I questioned myself to why we were going to take a look at a dungeon. It was not as thought neither of us had not seen a dungeon than before, far from it. Besides which one has seen one dungeon you have seen every dungeon! Then our procession came to its final halt, my feet felt a flat stone floor. I look upwards behind me from where the light given by the last candle he lit still flickered. My eyes turned to the room we were now in as the monk stood back from the brass holder that held the candle high on the stone wall.

There were two identical wooden doors, one to our left the other to our right. I looked at George, he looked back at me as the monk unlocked the door to our right and then he opened the door.

Plus Two Minutes.

Monk: This was Francois de Bonnivard cell, he was in here for two years. He never left in that two years during his stay.

Percy: It�s a little on the small side isn�t it!

George: What did you expect! A suite at the Ritz!

Percy: There�s no candle!

Monk: Yes that�s correct, the only light is from the opening.

The monk points to small barred opening high up in the wall facing them. Then cut to a bearded Francois Bonnivard gripping onto the bars and looking out across over the lake.

One Minute.

Monk: If you notice there are indents what Monsieur Bonnivard carved out so that he could climb up, hold on to the bars and look out on the outside world.

Fade to the three in the cell.

George: Two years in here! Two years! That�s enough to drive anyone insane!

Percy: Was there anyone in the other cell?

Monk: No.

George: So the only person that he ever spoke to was his jailer!

Monk: The records show that Moniseur Bonnivard�s jailer was a death mute. The son of the chateaus gardeners.

George: Can a climb up and take a look?

Percy: Are you quite sure! Don�t fall and injure yourself George!

George: Don�t worry I won�t!

George takes off his jacket and climbs carefully up the foot holes, then grips on to the bars and looks out.

George: You should see this! You should see this!

Percy: What is it? What can you see? The mountains! The lake! The sky!

George: (Beat.) Nothing!

Percy: Nothing!

George: Just the back of a boulder! If one twists one�s neck one can just see the sky.

Percy: How do you know it�s the back of a boulder?

George: Quite!

Percy: What is it?

George: Quiet Listen!

Percy: (Silence.) I can�t hear anything. Just the water lapping upon the lake shore and the water dripping in this, in this cell!

George: (Beat.) Exactly! (Pause.) Come you must take a look Mary, you must!

Percy: Oh really! No I�m not sure!

George: You must!

George climbs back down from the window stumbling as he does.

Percy: Are you alright George! Are you?

George: Yes, yes I�m fine, just fine thank you. There is a rut in the floor! There! Look!

Monk: (Beat.) The rut was made by Monsieur Bonnivard. His constant pacing the cell!

George: Imagine! (Beat.) Go on Mary you take a look.

Percy: Well, alright.

George looks at the rut in the floor as Percy climbs up to the window. Then voice over of Percy reaching the window.

Percy: I don�t know what happened, I must have lost my grip. I did see the boulder then I remember falling (Show him falling back first swirling into a black hole.) and falling and falling and falling and falling and falling and falling and falling into an eternal abyss.

Fade to: George sailing the boat back with Percy laid on the deck unconscious. He then starts to regain consciousness

Thirty Seconds.

Percy: Where am I? (Beat.) What�s happened?

George: Where in the boat, you had a fall. We are nearly back now. I can see the villa.

Silence as they continue to sail.

Thirty Seconds.

Fade back to the picnic on the lawn, Claire, Mary, John & Edward are sat talking on the lawn, as George & Percy�s boat approaches the villas jetty

Claire: Isn�t that George�s boat?

Mary: (Beat.) Why yes it is!

John: I can only see one person in the boat.

Edward: Are you sure?

John: (Beat.) Well yes.

John and Edward both stand up and look towards the approaching boat.

Twenty Seconds

Edward: By god your right!

Claire: Who is it! Who is it you can see? Is it George?

Edward: I don�t know I can�t tell.

Claire & Mary stand up.

Mary: Is it Percy?

John: Hold I think I can see someone else in the boat.

Edward: (Beat.) Its definitely George sailing it! Lets go to the jetty they may need help.

Claire: Yes.

Mary: Yes.

John: Yes lets!

Claire, Mary, John & Edward hurry to the jetty. They stand in silence as the boat approaches

Twenty Seconds.

Edward jumps into the lake and swims out to the boat and climbs board it.

Twenty Seconds

Fade to the boat landing at the jetty.

Claire: Is he alright! What�s happened?

George: He�s had a fall. He�s alright. Could you help me get him out of the boat.

John & Edward help George get Percy from the boat

Ten Seconds.

Fade to George, Percy, Claire, Mary, John & Edward are sat on the lawn. Percy is now ninety percent recovered recovered.

Claire: It is somewhat different to Windsor Great Park don�t you think?

George: Yes indeed.

Claire: They say the climate here is good for ones health. Some even say that it has the ability to cure all know aliments.

Percy: Surely not.

Claire: So some do say.

Percy: (Beat.) More tea please Maria.

Maid: Certainly Sir.

As Maria pours Percy & Claire more tea, Percy & Claire continue to talk as though the Maria isn�t there.

Percy: I can think of something far nearer to home for curing all aliments!

Claire: What�s that?

Percy holds up a small clay pipe that she is smoking.

Claire: Ah. Ah yes.

George: I take it you had a good journey here Edward.

Edward: Yes most pleasant thank you George.

Percy: Not to, adventurous I trust.

Edward: No pleasant. (Beat.) I wrote to George every single day. Didn�t I George!

George: You did yes.

Claire: Maria

Maria: Yes Madame.

Claire: You may leave us now John.

Maria: Very good Madame.

Maria leaves.

Percy: It is certainly the warmer here than Windsor.

Claire: Yes. There is something that I would like to say.

Percy: About what?

Claire: Well about this evening and the, well arrangements.

Percy: I�m trying to decide in my own mind if the English Lake District is pretty.

Claire: About this evening.

Percy: Obviously the mountains are much the higher here.

Claire: Yes but

Mary: Yes but size isn�t everything is it Claire.

Claire: (Beat.) No, no I suppose its not.

George: I have decided that this evening for you entertainment and delight, I shall recite Christabel, by Coleridge.

Fade to the evening in the dinning room all are sat around the table. George taps his wine glass.

George: Ladies and Gentlemen pray your attention please. (Pause.) I trust that you have enjoyed your fayre. Now please charge your glasses, sit back and enjoy as I give you Coleridge�s Christabel!

George stands and composes himself.

Ten Seconds

Edward: Must you stand George?

George: (Beat.) Why yes Coleridge demands respect.

Edward: It�s a poem!

George: No it�s a sonnet!

Edward: Poem. Sonnet, what�s the difference!

Percy: There�s a world of difference!

George: That�s the kind of comment that I would expect from a person such as you!

Edward: A person such as me! And what�s that suppose to mean?

Edward stands.

Percy: Sit down Edward, let George proceed!

Edward: I demand that he tells me what he means by a person like me!

Percy: I�m sure George meant nothing by it. You didn�t did you George!

George: On the contrary I meant what I said. If Edward chooses to take the attitude of the masses then so be it! That is his problem and his alone!

Edward: (Half Laughing.) So you are saying that the majority are in the wrong for not agreeing with your beliefs and disbeliefs?

George: Yes.

Percy: Sit down Edward let George continue.

John: Yes sit down.

Mary: (Beat.) Yes please sit Edward.

Reluctantly Edward sits.

Ten Seconds.

George: I shall begin. (Silence.) Tis the middle of night by the castle clock, (Beat.) And the owls have awakened he crowing cock; (Beat.) Tu whit ! Tu whoo ! (Beat.) And hark, again ! The crowing cock. How drowsily it crew. Sir Leoline, the Baron rich, Hath a toothless mastiff bitch; From her kennel beneath the rock (Beat.) She maketh answer to the clock, Four for the quarters, and twelve for the hour; Ever and aye, by shine and shower, sixteen short howls, not over loud;

Some say, she sees my lady's shroud. Is the night chilly and dark? (Beat.) The night is chilly, but not dark. The thin gray cloud is spread on high, it covers but not hides the sky. The moon is behind, and at the full; And yet she looks both small and dull. The night is chill, the cloud is gray:

Tis a month before the month of May, And the Spring comes slowly up this way. The lovely lady, Christabel, Whom her father loves so well, what makes her in the wood so late, a furlong from the castle gate? She had dreams all yesternight. Of her own betroth�d knight; and she in the midnight wood will pray. For the weal of her lover that's far away.

She stole along, she nothing spoke, the sighs she heaved were soft and low, and naught was green upon the oak, but moss and rarest misletoe: She kneels beneath the huge oak tree, And in silence prayeth she. The lady sprang up suddenly, the lovely lady, Christabel! It moaned as near, as near can be, but what it is she cannot tell. (Beat.) On the other side it seems to be, of the huge, broad-breasted, old oak tree. The night is chill; the forest bare; Is it the wind that moaneth bleak? Here is not wind enough in the air. To move away the ringlet curl from the lovely lady's cheek (Beat.) There is not wind enough to twirl. The one red leaf, the last of its clan, that dances as often as dance it can, hanging so light, and hanging so high, on the topmost twig that looks up at the sky.

Hush, beating heart of Christabel! Jesu, Maria, shield her well! She folded her arms beneath her cloak, and stole to the other side of the oak. What sees she there? There she sees a damsel bright, dressed in a silken robe of black, that shadowy in the moonlight shone: The neck that made that black robe wan, Her stately neck, and arms were bare; Her blue-veined feet unsandal'd were; And wildly glittered here and there. The gems entangled in her hair. I guess, 'twas frightful there to see, a lady so richly clad as she (Beat.) Beautiful exceedingly!

Claire: Yes, yes George all very nice all very good but where is this going George? Where!

George: (Beat.) Patience! Patience is a virtue Claire

Mary: Yes be patient Claire

Percy: Ignore her George do continue, do.

(Percy leans across the table and takes a light for his over large hand rolled cigarette from the candlestick holder.)

Percy: Please do go on.

George: Mary mother, save me now! (Said Christabel,) And who art thou? The lady strange made answer meet and her voice was faint and sweet: (Beat.) Have pity on my sore distress, I scarce can speak for weariness: Stretch forth thy hand, and have no fear!

Said Christabel, How camest thou here? And the lady, whose voice was faint and sweet, did thus pursue her answer meet: (Beat.) My sire is of a noble line, and my name is Geraldine: Five warriors seized me yestermorn, me, even me, a maid forlorn: They choked my cries with force and fright, and tied me on a palfrey black. The palfrey was as fleet as wind, and they rode furiously behind. They spurred amain, their steeds were black: And once we crossed the shade of night. As sure as Heaven shall rescue me, I have no thought what men they be; Nor do I know how long it is (For I have lain entranced, I wis) Since one, the tallest of the five, took me from the palfrey's back, a weary woman, scarce alive. Some muttered words his comrades spoke: He placed me underneath this oak; He swore they would return with haste; Whither they went I cannot tell (Beat.) I thought I heard, some minutes past, sounds as of a castle bell. Stretch forth thy hand (thus ended she), and help a wretched maid to flee.

Fade to a dreamy forest scene depicting what is happening George�s voice narrating. Then Christabel stretched forth her hand, and comforted fair Geraldine: O well, bright dame! May you command. The service of Sir Leoline; And gladly our stout chivalry. Will he send forth and friends withal. To guide and guard you safe and free Home to your noble father's hall.

She rose: and forth with steps they passed. That strove to be, and were not, fast. Her gracious stars the lady blest, And thus spake on sweet Christabel: All our household are at rest, the hall is silent as the cell; Sir Leoline is weak in health, And may not well awakened be, but we will move as if in stealth, and I beseech your courtesy, this night, to share your couch with me.

They crossed the moat, and Christabel. Took the key that fitted well; A little door she opened straight, All in the middle of the gate; The gate that was ironed within and without, where an army in battle array had marched out. The lady sank, belike through pain. And Christabel with might and main, lifted her up, a weary weight, over the threshold of the gate: Then the lady rose again, and moved, as she were not in pain. So free from danger, free from fear, they crossed the court: right glad they were. And Christabel devoutly cried, to the Lady by her side, praise we the Virgin all divine who hath rescued thee from thy distress! Alas, alas! Said Geraldine, I cannot speak for weariness. So free from danger, free from fear, they crossed the court: right glad they were. Outside her kennel, the mastiff old. Lay fast asleep, in moonshine cold. The mastiff old did not awake, yet she an angry moan did make! And what can ail the mastiff bitch? Never till now she uttered yell.

Beneath the eye of Christabel. Perhaps it is the owlet's scritch: For what can aid the mastiff bitch? They passed the hall, that echoes still, Pass as lightly as you will! The brands were flat, the brands were dying, amid their own black ashes lying; But when the lady passed, there came A tongue of light, a fit of flame; And Christabel saw the lady's eye, And nothing else saw she thereby, Save the boss of the shield of Sir Leoline tall, which hung in a murky old niche in the wall. O softly tread, said Christabel, My father seldom sleepeth well. Sweet Christabel her feet doth bare, and jealous of the listening air. They steal their way from stair to stair, Now in glimmer, and now in gloom, and now they pass the Baron's room, as still as death, with stifled breath! And now have reached her chamber door; and now doth Geraldine press down. The rushes of the chamber floor.

The moon shines dim in the open air, and not a moonbeam enters here. But they without its light can see. The chamber carved so curiously, carved with figures strange and sweet, all made out of the carver's brain, for a lady's chamber meet: The lamp with twofold silver chain. Is fastened to an angel's feet.

The silver lamp burns dead and dim; But Christabel the lamp will trim. She trimmed the lamp, and made it bright, and left it swinging to and fro, while Geraldine, in retched plight, sank down upon the floor below. O weary lady, Geraldine, I pray you, drink this cordial wine! It is a wine of virtuous powers; My mother made it of wild flowers. And will your mother pity me, who am a maiden most forlorn? Christabel answered (Beat.) Woe is me! She died the hour that I was born. I have heard the gray-haired friar tell. How on her death-bed she did say, that she should hear the castle-bell. Strike twelve upon my wedding-day.

O mother dear! that thou wert here! I would, said Geraldine, she were! But soon with altered voice, said she (Beat.) `Off, wandering mother! Peak and pine! I have power to bid thee flee.' Alas ! what ails poor Geraldine? Why stares she with unsettled eye? Can she the bodiless dead espy? And why with hollow voice cries she, `Off, woman, off! This hour is mine (Beat.) Though thou her guardian spirit be, Off, woman. off! 'tis given to me.'

Then Christabel knelt by the lady's side, and raised to heaven her eyes so blue (Beat.) Alas! Said she, this ghastly ride (Beat.) Dear lady! It hath wildered you! The lady wiped her moist cold brow, and faintly said, `'Tis over now!' Again the wild-flower wine she drank: Her fair large eyes 'gan glitter bright, and from the floor whereon she sank, the lofty lady stood upright: She was most beautiful to see, like a lady of a far countr�e. And thus the lofty lady spake (Beat.) `All they who live in the upper sky, do love you, holy Christabel! And you love them, and for their sake. And for the good which me befel, even I in my degree will try, fair maiden, to requite you well. But now unrobe yourself; for I Must pray, ere yet in bed I lie.'

Quoth Christabel, So let it be! And as the lady bade, did she. Her gentle limbs did she undress and lay down in her loveliness. But through her brain of weal and woe. So many thoughts moved to and fro, that vain it were her lids to close; So half-way from the bed she rose, and on her elbow did recline. To look at the lady Geraldine. Beneath the lamp the lady bowed, and slowly rolled her eyes around; Then drawing in her breath aloud, like one that shuddered, she unbound. The cincture from beneath her breast: Her silken robe, and inner vest, dropt to her feet, and full in view, behold! her bosom, and half her side (Pause.) A sight to dream of, not to tell! O shield her! shield sweet Christabel!

Yet Geraldine nor speaks nor stirs; Ah! What a stricken look was hers! Deep from within she seems half-way. To lift some weight with sick assay, and eyes the maid and seeks delay; Then suddenly as one defied. Collects herself in scorn and pride, and lay down by the Maiden's side! (Beat.) And in her arms the maid she took, Ah wel-a-day! And with low voice and doleful look, these words did say: `In the touch of this bosom there worketh a spell, which is lord of thy utterance, Christabel! Thou knowest to-night, and wilt know to-morrow. This mark of my shame, this seal of my sorrow; But vainly thou warrest, For this is alone in. Thy power to declare, that in the dim forest. Thou heard'st a low moaning, and found'st a bright lady, surpassingly fair; And didst bring her home with thee in love and in charity, to shield her and shelter her from the damp air.'

Fade back to the study. (THE CONCLUSION TO PART I)

It was a lovely sight to see. The lady Christabel, when she, was praying at the old oak tree. Amid the jagg�d shadows, of mossy leafless boughs, kneeling in the moonlight, To make her gentle vows; Her slender palms together prest, heaving sometimes on her breast; Her face resigned to bliss or bale (Beat.) Her face, oh call it fair not pale, And both blue eyes more bright than clear.

Each about to have a tear. With open eyes (ah, woe is me!) Asleep, and dreaming fearfully, fearfully dreaming, yet, I wis, Dreaming that alone, which is (Beat.) O sorrow and shame! Can this be she, the lady, who knelt at the old oak tree? And lo! the worker of these harms, that holds the maiden in her arms, seems to slumber still and mild, as a mother with her child. A star hath set, a star hath risen, O Geraldine! Since arms of thine. Have been the lovely lady's prison. O Geraldine ! one hour was thine (Beat.) Thou'st had thy will! By tairn and rill, the night-birds all that hour were still. But now they are jubilant anew, from cliff and tower, tu, whoo! tu, whoo! Tu, whoo! tu, whoo! from wood and fell! And see! the lady Christabel Gathers herself from out her trance; Her limbs relax, her countenance. Grows sad and soft; the smooth thin lids. Close o'er her eyes; and tears she sheds (Beat.) Large tears that leave the lashes bright! And oft the while she seems to smile. As infants at a sudden light !

Yea, she doth smile, and she doth weep, like a youthful hermitess, Beauteous in a wilderness, Who, praying always, prays in sleep. And, if she move unquietly, Perchance, 'tis but the blood so free. Comes back and tingles in her feet. No doubt, she hath a vision sweet. What if her guardian spirit 'twere, what if she knew her mother near ? But this she knows, in joys and woes, that saints will aid if men will call: For the blue sky bends over all!

George: (Silence.) That is the end of part one.

Claire: There is more! Coleridge does go on some!

Mary: No he�s descriptive! I almost as if I was there.

Percy: There.

Mary: Yes there.

Percy: Can I ask George, have you altered the poem.

George: Why no, although the listener may have a different interpretation to which Coleridge indeed did intend. Surely you of all people must be aware of this Percy!

Percy: One must agree that it is pleasing to the ear.

Claire: Please! How can one call Coleridge pleasing to the ear! Those words are nothing but an insult to a genius! A genius I say

Fade to film with dialogue speak over.

Each matin bell, the Baron saith, knells us back to a world of death. These words Sir Leoline first said, when he rose and found his lady dead: These words Sir Leoline will say. Many a morn to his dying day! And hence the custom and law began That still at dawn the sacristan, who duly pulls the heavy bell, five and forty beads must tell.

Between each stroke--a warning knell, which not a soul can choose but hear. From Bratha Head to Wyndermere. Saith Bracy the bard, so let it knell! And let the drowsy sacristan, still count as slowly as he can! There is no lack of such, I ween, As well fill up the space between. In Langdale Pike and Witch's Lair, and Dungeon-ghyll so foully rent, with ropes of rock and bells of air. Three sinful sextons' ghosts are pent, who all give back, one after tother, the death-note to their living brother;

And oft too, by the knell offended, just as their one! two! three! Is ended. The devil mocks the doleful tale.

With a merry peal from Borrowdale. The air is still! through mist and cloud. That merry peal comes ringing loud; And Geraldine shakes off her dread, and rises lightly from the bed; Puts on her silken vestments black, and tricks her hair in lovely plight, and nothing doubting of her spell. Awakens the lady Christabel. `Sleep you, sweet lady Christabel? I trust that you have rested well.' And Christabel awoke and spied The same who lay down by her side (Beat.) O rather say, the same whom she, raised up beneath the old oak tree! Nay, fairer yet! and yet more fair! For she belike hath drunken deep. Of all the blessedness of sleep! And while she spake, her looks, her air. Such gentle thankfulness declare, that (so it seemed) her girded vests. Grew tight beneath her heaving breasts. `Sure I have sinn'd !' said Christabel, `Now heaven be praised if all be well !'

And in low faltering tones, yet sweet, did she the lofty lady greet. With such perplexity of mind. As dreams too lively leave behind. So quickly she rose, and quickly arrayed. Her maiden limbs, and having prayed. That He, who on the cross did groan, might wash away her sins unknown, she forthwith led fair Geraldine. To meet her sire, Sir Leoline. The lovely maid and the lady tall. Are pacing both into the hall, and pacing on through page and groom, enter the Baron's presence-room.

The Baron rose, and while he prest. His gentle daughter to his breast, with cheerful wonder in his eyes. The lady Geraldine espies, and gave such welcome to the same, As might beseem so bright a dame! But when he heard the lady's tale, and when she told her father's name, why waxed Sir Leoline so pale. Murmuring o'er the name again, Lord Roland de Vaux of Tryermaine? Alas! they had been friends in youth; But whispering tongues can poison truth; And constancy lives in realms above; And life is thorny; and youth is vain; And to be wroth with one we love, doth work like madness in the brain. And thus it chanced, as I divine, with Roland and Sir Leoline.

Each spake words of high disdain. And insult to his heart's best brother: They parted--ne'er to meet again! But never either found another. To free the hollow heart from paining (Beat.) They stood aloof, the scars remaining, like cliffs which had been rent asunder; A dreary sea now flows between; (Beat.) But neither heat, nor frost, nor thunder, shall wholly do away, I ween, the marks of that which once hath been.

Sir Leoline, a moment's space, stood gazing on the damsel's face: And the youthful Lord of Tryermaine, came back upon his heart again. O then the Baron forgot his age, his noble heart swelled high with rage; He swore by the wounds in Jesu's side, He would proclaim it far and wide. With trump and solemn heraldry, that they, who thus had wronged the dame, were base as spotted infamy! `And if they dare deny the same, my herald shall appoint a week, and let the recreant traitors seek. My tourney court--that there and then I may dislodge their reptile souls, from the bodies and forms of men!' He spake: his eye in lightning rolls! For the lady was ruthlessly seized; and he kenned. In the beautiful lady the child of his friend! And now the tears were on his face, and fondly in his arms he took, fair Geraldine, who met the embrace, prolonging it with joyous look. Which when she viewed, a vision fell. Upon the soul of Christabel, the vision of fear, the touch and pain! She shrunk and shuddered, and saw again (Beat.) (Ah, woe is me! Was it for thee, Thou gentle maid! Such sights to see?)

Again she saw that bosom old, again she felt that bosom cold, and drew in her breath with a hissing sound: Whereat the Knight turned wildly round, and nothing saw, but his own sweet maid. With eyes upraised, as one that prayed. The touch, the sight, had passed away, and in its stead that vision blest, which comforted her after-rest. While in the lady's arms she lay, had put a rapture in her breast, and on her lips and o'er her eyes. Spread smiles like light! With new surprise, `What ails then my belov�d child?' The Baron said--His daughter mild, made answer, `All will yet be well!' I ween, she had no power to tell Aught else: so mighty was the spell.

Yet he, who saw this Geraldine, had deemed her sure a thing divine: Such sorrow with such grace she blended, As if she feared she had offended. Sweet Christabel, that gentle maid! And with such lowly tones she prayed, she might be sent without delay, home to her father's mansion.

`Nay Nay, by my soul!' said Leoline. `Ho! Bracy the bard, the charge be thine! Go thou, with music sweet and loud, and take two steeds with trappings proud, and take the youth whom thou lov'st best. To bear thy harp, and learn thy song, and clothe you both in solemn vest, and over the mountains haste along, lest wandering folk, that are abroad, detain you on the valley road.

`And when he has crossed the Irthing flood, my merry bard! he hastes, he hastes Up Knorren Moor, through Halegarth Wood. And reaches soon that castle good Which stands and threatens Scotland's wastes. `Bard Bracy! bard Bracy! your horses are fleet, Ye must ride up the hall, your music so sweet, More loud than your horses' echoing feet! And loud and loud to Lord Roland call, Thy daughter is safe in Langdale hall! Thy beautiful daughter is safe and free (Beat.) Sir Leoline greets thee thus through me! He bids thee come without delay. With all thy numerous array. And take thy lovely daughter home: And he will meet thee on the way, with all his numerous array, black with their panting palfreys' foam: And, by mine honour! I will say, that I repent me of the day. When I spake words of fierce disdain, to Roland de Vaux of Tryermaine! (Silence.) For since that evil hour hath flown, many a summer's sun hath shone; Yet ne'er found I a friend again. Like Roland de Vaux of Tryermaine.'

The lady fell, and clasped his knees, her face upraised, her eyes o'erflowing; And Bracy replied, with faltering voice, his gracious hail on all bestowing! (Beat.) `Thy words, thou sire of Christabel, are sweeter than my harp can tell; Yet might I gain a boon of thee, this day my journey should not be, so strange a dream hath come to me. That I had vowed with music loud. To clear yon wood from thing unblest, warned by a vision in my rest!

For in my sleep I saw that dove, that gentle bird, whom thou dost love, and call'st by thy own daughter's name (Beat.) Sir Leoline! I saw the same. Fluttering, and uttering fearful moan, among the green herbs in the forest alone. Which when I saw and when I heard, I wonder'd what might ail the bird; For nothing near it could I see, Save the grass and herbs underneath the old tree.

`And in my dream methought I went. To search out what might there be found; And what the sweet bird's trouble meant, that thus lay fluttering on the ground. I went and peered, and could descry. No cause for her distressful cry; But yet for her dear lady's sake. I stooped, methought, the dove to take, when lo! I saw a bright green snake. Coiled around its wings and neck. Green as the herbs on which it couched, close by the dove's its head it crouched; And with the dove it heaves and stirs, swelling its neck as she swelled hers! I woke; it was the midnight hour, The clock was echoing in the tower; but though my slumber was gone by, this dream it would not pass away (Beat.) It seems to live upon my eye! And thence I vowed this self-same day, with music strong and saintly song. To wander through the forest bare, Lest aught unholy loiter there.'

Thus Bracy said : the Baron, the while, half-listening heard him with a smile; Then turned to Lady Geraldine, his eyes made up of wonder and love; And said in courtly accents fine, `Sweet maid, Lord Roland's beauteous dove, with arms more strong than harp or song, thy sire and I will crush the snake !' He kissed her forehead as he spake, and Geraldine in maiden wise, casting down her large bright eyes, with blushing cheek and courtesy fine, she turned her from Sir Leoline; Softly gathering up her train, that o'er her right arm fell again; And folded her arms across her chest, And couched her head upon her breast, and looked askance at Christabel (Silence.) Jesu, Maria, shield her well!

A snake's small eye blinks dull and shy; And the lady's eyes they shrunk in her head, Each shrunk up to a serpent's eye, and with somewhat of malice, and more of dread, at Christabel she looked askance! (Beat.) One moment--and the sight was fled ! But Christabel in dizzy trance. Stumbling on the unsteady ground. Shuddered aloud, with a hissing sound; And Geraldine again turned round, and like a thing, that sought relief, full of wonder and full of grief, she rolled her large bright eyes divine. Wildly on Sir Leoline.

The maid, alas! her thoughts are gone, she nothing sees--no sight but one! The maid, devoid of guile and sin, I know not how, in fearful wise, so deeply had she drunken in That look, those shrunken serpent eyes, that all her features were resigned, to this sole image in her mind: And passively did imitate. That look of dull and treacherous hate! And thus she stood, in dizzy trance, still picturing that look askance. With forced unconscious sympathy, full before her father's view (Silence) As far as such a look could be In eyes so innocent and blue! And when the trance was o'er, the maid, paused awhile, and inly prayed: Then falling at the Baron's feet, `By my mother's soul do I entreat, that thou this woman send away!'

She said: and more she could not say: For what she knew she could not tell, O'er-mastered by the mighty spell. Why is thy cheek so wan and wild, Sir Leoline? Thy only child. Lies at thy feet, thy joy, thy pride, so fair, so innocent, so mild; The same, for whom thy lady died! O by the pangs of her dear mother, think thou no evil of thy child! For her, and thee, and for no other, she prayed the moment ere she died:

Prayed that the babe for whom she died, might prove her dear lord's joy and pride! That prayer her deadly pangs beguiled, Sir Leoline!

And wouldst thou wrong thy only child, her child and thine? Within the Baron's heart and brain. If thoughts, like these, had any share, they only swelled his rage and pain, and did but work confusion there. His heart was cleft with pain and rage, his cheeks they quivered, his eyes were wild, dishonoured thus in his old age; Dishonoured by his only child, and all his hospitality to the wronged daughter of his friend by more than woman's jealousy. Brought thus to a disgraceful end (Beat.) He rolled his eye with stern regard, upon the gentle ministrel bard, and said in tones abrupt, austere. (Beat.) `Why, Bracy! dost thou loiter here? I bade thee hence!' The bard obeyed ;

And turning from his own sweet maid, the ag�d knight, Sir Leoline, led forth the lady Geraldine!

A little child, a limber elf, singing, dancing to itself, a fairy thing with red round cheeks, that always finds, and never seeks, makes such a vision to the sight. As fills a father's eyes with light; And pleasures flow in so thick and fast upon his heart, that he at last, must needs express his love's excess with words of unmeant bitterness.

Perhaps 'tis pretty to force together, thoughts so all unlike each other; To mutter and mock a broken charm, to dally with wrong that does no harm. Perhaps 'tis tender too and pretty, at each wild word to feel within. A sweet recoil of love and pity. And what, if in a world of sin (O sorrow and shame should this be true!) Such giddiness of heart and brain, comes seldom save from rage and pain, so talks as it's most used to do.

There is a silence in the room, which is broken by Percy starting to applaud, followed by the rest around the table. That is all but Edward. Then as the applause begins to die down:

George: Wasn�t the sonnet to your taste Edward? (Silence.) (Shouting.) Well wasn�t it!

Edward: (Pause.) I very much doubt that it was a sonnet.

George: You very much doubt that it was a sonnet!

Edward: (Beat.) That is what I said!

George: And your reasons are what exactly?

Mary: Can�t you both just leave it!

George: Leave it! Leave it! No I wish to hear what the fellow has to say.

John: If it�s not to Edward�s taste its not to Edward�s taste that�s all there is to it!

George: I wish to hear the fellow�s reasons.

Edward: So let me just get this right, you wish to set yourself as judge and jury on my thoughts and opinions!

Percy: Now that�s somewhat a strong thing to say Edward. George is merely asking for your opinion!

Edward: Yes exactly that is just my point, my opinion is my opinion.

Mary: Has anyone thought of what we are doing tomorrow?

Claire: We could take a stroll along the lake shore.

Mary: Yes, yes that would be nice. (Pause.)

George: (Raised voice.) I�m not letting this go! I demand that you give me your reasons man!

Edward: (Half Laughing.) Oh you demand do you now! (Beat.) Alright, alright have it your way! Have it your way!

John: You don�t have to do this Edward.

Edward: I know that I don�t but I have a feeling that I�m rather going to enjoy this! (Beat.) Take a seat , sit down George, make yourself comfortable.

George: I�m fine standing thank you very much.

John: Relax sit, down George.

Percy: (Beat.) It might be for the best that you be seated George.

Reluctantly George takes his seat.

Ten Seconds.

George: Well are you going to make a start?

Edward: Yes. (Beat.) The way that I see it is this, now I�m saying this in a broad term, I�m not getting one at anyone in particular, you must understand that.

Percy: Yes, yes of course, oourse.

Edward: Thank you Percy. Now my point of view is that art and by the arts I mean painting, music, writing. And yes poetry are a fashion, very much similar to the clothes which we wear.

George: I�m not totally in agreement.

Edward: Did I ask for your opinion? Please let me continue!

George: But

John: (Interruption.) You continue Edward!

Edward: I will thank you. Coleridge! Who�s Coleridge I ask myself. Well I shall tell you! He is someone in a few hundred years when we are all dead and gone no one will remember! He will be just another dead poet! Another member of the dead poet�s society! (Beat.) Each and everyone of you ask yourself a question, just one question. (Pause.) Will you be remembered say three hundred years from now? (Silence.) John?

John: Well no, no I don�t suppose that I will be no.

Edward: And you Mary. Do you think that you will be remembered.

Mary: I very much doubt it.

Edward: And you Claire!

Claire: Me! Me no! Well not unless the book that I have just started to write becomes a best seller!

Mary: Is that what you have been writing all day?

Claire: Yes.

John: (Beat.) Have you decided upon a title Claire?

Claire: No not as yet, I have a few ideas.

Mary: Like what Claire?

Claire: I was thinking of Frankenstein.

Percy: A one word title it will never work! A stupid idea!

Claire: Well as I said its just an idea at the moment.

Edward: (Beat.) And you Percy?

Percy: Certainly an interesting question when one considers that there are more people dead than alive. So to be remembered three hundred years after one is dead must be the greatest accolade of all.

Edward: Yes indeed, indeed. And you George what do you say?

George: (Beat.) I don�t consider it a question that deserves an answer!

Edward: (Raised voice.) I just knew! I just knew that you would say something like that! That�s just isn�t it with you! It�s all about you! You have to be the centre of attention! It�s all about you! Its all about you isn�t it!

George gets up from his chair, pushing the chair to the floor and then he starts to walk to the doors making a grand exit.

George: (Shouting) I�m not staying here to be insulted! I�m Lord Byron who the hell do you think you are speaking to me in this manner!

Edward: Oh and where else are you going to go to get insulted!

George reaches the double doors, open them turns to face his guests.

George: You�re an up start and a cad sir! An upstart and a cad sir!

George dramatically exits the room.

Maybe put something in the above about electricity making limbs move. Although the power of lightening has been discussed earlier in the play.

Fade to Percy and Mary in bed. Mary is restless.

Narrator: Again that evening Mary had another dream, well nightmare if you wish but much, much more graphic than the nightmare the previous evening. Have a shot with camera looking down upon 2 & 4 laying in bed as 4 tosses and turns.

Oh this was much more graphic than that of the previous evening. (Beat.) For now all the ingredients for Mary Shelly�s Frankenstein had been placed in her mind over the previous few days. There was the first evening when the gathered fiends were telling each other ghost stories.

There was Claire with her well what was referred to as little red riding hood. Cut to the scene in the forest with Claire�s voice over.

Claire: It gets darker and darker as the girl walks further and further into the forest until eventually she came to the clearing where the path crossed the road which leads to the castle. The girl stopped dead in tracks and looked up at the castle at the top of the hill.

A shiver went down her spine, it was if somebody was looking at her from inside the castle. Standing there on the track motionless she just stared at the castle. (Beat.) Then, then there was a noise. Too wit too woo, too wit too woo. She looked about her, at first she could see nothing, the girl heard the sound again. Too wit too woo, too wit too woo, she looked above her, then she could see it, an owl perched high in a trees.

Plus Thirty Seconds.

Fade back to the bedroom as Percy still sleeps and Mary is still restless.

Narrator: One cold say that, that is where Mary�s foresaw the vision of Doctor Frankenstein�s castle sat on top of the hill. (Beat.) The dense surrounding forests, not forgetting of course the blind wood cutters cottage. Where Frankenstein�s monster took refuge having been pursued by the hoards from the local village.

With regards to Percy�s story personally I can�t see any direct link to Mary�s Frankenstein but may I suggest that hint of flavour maybe atmosphere was adopted. Together this combined with the effect of Percy�s literary prowess which much of influenced Mary greatly.

As for Lord Byron�s recitation of his Chillion which, which some may was indeed if not thee but one of his greatest works, which at the time he was in the process of writing could have subconsciously encouraged Mary.

I cannot help noticing a similarity between Vampire and Frankenstein. Although the ensemble treated John Poldori�s with Vampyre with some contempt nevertheless it was the forerunner to Dracula and indeed some years later John Poldori did in deed become a good friend of Bram Stoker. (Beat.) Anyway enough of that. Mary gets out of bed, walks to the writing table and picks up a pen and begins to write.

Twenty Seconds.

And thus Mary Shelley begins to write Frankenstein�s monster.

Fade to end.

Remember want to be looking at either two hours or maybe three hours. Need to work on Vampyre

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