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breakinglight11Today's piece is a hastily-slapped-together scene in a project I was noodling on in the strange before-time when I actually felt like I had need of one more project. It's an idea for a Victorian ghost story audio drama that I do not really know where I want to take it-- as I mentioned, I don't even know what the ghost wants yet. But it's tentatively titled Dead Tongues, and I've written the first two scenes already with a vague notion of what the next thing to happen would be. So I banged this together.
I feel like it's kind of empty as it is. I know that the valet has a secret agenda, but I don't know what it is-- I might even need to do a ton more research if I'm going to pursue it that way. And the ghost is doing something, but... hell if I know to what end.
Still. It's something. Here's the first two scenes if you want:
Scene 1 - "Alea Iacta Est"
Scene 2 - "Left Her in Marble"
Day #6 - "Shears His Flock"
From Dead Tongues
By Phoebe Roberts
~~~
Coldhunt House, Exmoor, England, 1891
MARIEL STARLING, a classical scholar, early twenties
HELEN DARE, her older sister, now Baroness Strathmore, mid twenties
FREDERICK DARE, Helen’s new husband, now Baron Strathmore, mid twenties
CASSIUS CHAN, the valet at Coldhunt House, mid twenties
The WHISPER, just beyond hearing
~~~
SOUND: Heavy door creaking open
SOUND: Footsteps
FREDERICK: And here we have it! What do you think?
HELEN: My goodness.
FREDERICK: Isn’t it grand?
MARIEL: Very! Though it’s… more worn than I would have expected. If you don’t mind my saying.
FREDERICK: No, you’re quite right. It surprised me too. I don’t know why Uncle allowed it to fall into such disrepair.
HELEN: (Shivers) I swear there’s a draft even in here.
FREDERICK: It isn’t as if the old fellow hadn’t the money. Far from it.
WHISPER: Found her in brick.
FREDERICK: But not to worry. We’ll have the old place ship shape in Bristol fashion in no time at all. For my new bride!
SOUND: Kissing her
WHISPER: Left her in marble.
HELEN: Thank you, Freddy. It would be nice to cheer the place up.
CHAN: Excuse me, sir, if I may intrude?
FREDERICK: Oh, hello? I beg your pardon?
CHAN: Forgive me, I thought I ought to introduce myself. I am Mr. Cassius Chan— his late lordship’s valet.
FREDERICK: Oh, indeed? Goodness, you’re— younger than I would have thought. And I wasn’t expecting a colonial. But no matter, very pleased to make your acquaintance. I was wondering where the staff had got to.
CHAN: Most handed in their notice upon his late lordship’s passing. I am now the only one remaining here at Coldhunt.
WHISPER: A good shepherd shears his flock.
MARIEL: All of them? Why ever did they leave?
HELEN: And how are we to replace them all out here?
WHISPER: He does not flay them.
FREDERICK: Not to worry, I’m sure our man Chan here can be of some assistance with that. For now, let’s get to know the place a bit. Dear fellow, I don’t suppose you could lead the way?
CHAN: Of course, my lord. If you’ll follow me.
FREDERICK: Oh, dear. I suppose I shall have to get used to that, then— “my lord” this and “his lordship” that.
SOUND EFFECT: Wind whistles
WHISPER: Let them hate me.
FREDERICK: Of course, that makes you my lady, doesn’t it?
WHISPER: So long as they abide by me.
HELEN: (Gasps)
MARIEL: Helen? Are you all right?
HELEN: Did you… hear something?
FREDERICK: No, darling, there’s nothing.
HELEN: I suppose.
MARIEL: Here, take my shawl. You’re shivering.
HELEN: There can’t be a draft all the way in here.
CHAN: As you’ve seen, the house has its peculiarities.
WHISPER: In vicem eum odero.
CHAN: I imagine you shall grow accustomed to it before long.
WHISPER: I shall repay his hate in kind.
FREDERICK: By Jove, there’s no accustoming about it. We’ll see it’s put to rights. No sense in suffering silly little matters that are easily taken in hand.
CHAN: Of course. As you say, sir.
WHISPER: Some people are slow to do what they promise; you are slow to promise what you have already done.
I feel like it's kind of empty as it is. I know that the valet has a secret agenda, but I don't know what it is-- I might even need to do a ton more research if I'm going to pursue it that way. And the ghost is doing something, but... hell if I know to what end.
Still. It's something. Here's the first two scenes if you want:
Scene 1 - "Alea Iacta Est"
Scene 2 - "Left Her in Marble"
Day #6 - "Shears His Flock"
From Dead Tongues
By Phoebe Roberts
~~~
Coldhunt House, Exmoor, England, 1891
MARIEL STARLING, a classical scholar, early twenties
HELEN DARE, her older sister, now Baroness Strathmore, mid twenties
FREDERICK DARE, Helen’s new husband, now Baron Strathmore, mid twenties
CASSIUS CHAN, the valet at Coldhunt House, mid twenties
The WHISPER, just beyond hearing
~~~
SOUND: Heavy door creaking open
SOUND: Footsteps
FREDERICK: And here we have it! What do you think?
HELEN: My goodness.
FREDERICK: Isn’t it grand?
MARIEL: Very! Though it’s… more worn than I would have expected. If you don’t mind my saying.
FREDERICK: No, you’re quite right. It surprised me too. I don’t know why Uncle allowed it to fall into such disrepair.
HELEN: (Shivers) I swear there’s a draft even in here.
FREDERICK: It isn’t as if the old fellow hadn’t the money. Far from it.
WHISPER: Found her in brick.
FREDERICK: But not to worry. We’ll have the old place ship shape in Bristol fashion in no time at all. For my new bride!
SOUND: Kissing her
WHISPER: Left her in marble.
HELEN: Thank you, Freddy. It would be nice to cheer the place up.
CHAN: Excuse me, sir, if I may intrude?
FREDERICK: Oh, hello? I beg your pardon?
CHAN: Forgive me, I thought I ought to introduce myself. I am Mr. Cassius Chan— his late lordship’s valet.
FREDERICK: Oh, indeed? Goodness, you’re— younger than I would have thought. And I wasn’t expecting a colonial. But no matter, very pleased to make your acquaintance. I was wondering where the staff had got to.
CHAN: Most handed in their notice upon his late lordship’s passing. I am now the only one remaining here at Coldhunt.
WHISPER: A good shepherd shears his flock.
MARIEL: All of them? Why ever did they leave?
HELEN: And how are we to replace them all out here?
WHISPER: He does not flay them.
FREDERICK: Not to worry, I’m sure our man Chan here can be of some assistance with that. For now, let’s get to know the place a bit. Dear fellow, I don’t suppose you could lead the way?
CHAN: Of course, my lord. If you’ll follow me.
FREDERICK: Oh, dear. I suppose I shall have to get used to that, then— “my lord” this and “his lordship” that.
SOUND EFFECT: Wind whistles
WHISPER: Let them hate me.
FREDERICK: Of course, that makes you my lady, doesn’t it?
WHISPER: So long as they abide by me.
HELEN: (Gasps)
MARIEL: Helen? Are you all right?
HELEN: Did you… hear something?
FREDERICK: No, darling, there’s nothing.
HELEN: I suppose.
MARIEL: Here, take my shawl. You’re shivering.
HELEN: There can’t be a draft all the way in here.
CHAN: As you’ve seen, the house has its peculiarities.
WHISPER: In vicem eum odero.
CHAN: I imagine you shall grow accustomed to it before long.
WHISPER: I shall repay his hate in kind.
FREDERICK: By Jove, there’s no accustoming about it. We’ll see it’s put to rights. No sense in suffering silly little matters that are easily taken in hand.
CHAN: Of course. As you say, sir.
WHISPER: Some people are slow to do what they promise; you are slow to promise what you have already done.
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