Part five of six installments of the Tennessee Williams One-Act Festival-Winning play WEÏRD.
By B.T. (Brett) Ryback (Actor-Writer)
(Read Parts One, Two, Three and Four!)
LINN
What?
DOUGLAS
Together we can find these women and I will take you back to Scotland with me.
LINN
I don’t know if that’s a good idea.
DOUGLAS
Or wherever you are from, or wherever you would like to go. I seek more than just a throne. I seek something that makes me legitimate. Any man can be a king in his own, rightful home.
LINN
The thought is very tempting, but…
DOUGLAS
Don’t even think. I can give you the freedom you wish for.
LINN
Douglas…
DOUGLAS
And I can bring you home.
LINN
(A beat.) Okay.
DOUGLAS
Okay?
LINN
Aye! We shall leave together. But at once.
DOUGLAS
At once?
LINN
If it were done, when ‘tis done, then ‘twere well it were done quickly.
DOUGLAS
But we cannot leave in this storm.
LINN
We must face the night.
DOUGLAS
Have you any ties to sever? Any family to tell?
LINN
None. I have nothing holding me back.
(At this point there is quite a racket at the offstage edge of the upstairs platform. TORRENCE and HARPER emerge disguised in various cloaks and hats. They talk and move without glancing at LINN or DOUGLAS, making a streamline for the door.)
HARPER
I dare say, good auntie, that I had a romping good stay at this inn.
TORRENCE
Indeed, good niece, I haven’t slept so divinely in years.
HARPER
We must be good enough to thank that sweet innkeeper the next time we return from our villa, which is very, very, very far away from here!
TORRENCE
Huzzah!
(They EXIT out the door. There is a crash of thunder and lightning. They emerge a beat later from outside, very wet. They make the same streamline back the way they came.)
HARPER
My, good auntie, the weather has picked up considerably since we arrived.
TORRENCE
Indeed, good niece, it shall be good to return to our villa far, far away, where it is always sunny.
HARPER
I’m sure that sweet innkeeper will allow us to remain one more night undisturbed by any visitors!
TORRENCE
Huzzah!
(They EXIT.)
LINN
Except them.