Framing Delicate Clarities.

Play written by Shri and Nashie

stage directions included.

[] = Preferable directions

[(Malorie) Glitching neon coloured lighting represents strong emotions. Sequences of flashing changing colours resemble overburdenment. Garbled illusions of voices resemble uncertainty. Please use to your creativity! :) ]

Scene1: Fight

Buzzing interference hums as Malorie enters, enveloped by her hooded poncho. She walks until reaching the center of the parking lot. Faint whispers are heard in the background. Vibrant coloured splats of lights flicker occasionally.

Muscular Thugs enter, surrounding her, cackling and taunting.

Thug1: “Deranged waste!”

Thug2: “Any cash in that rag of yours?”

Thug3: “Why’s she standing around like a lunatic?”

Thug4: “You shyyy? Or ugly?”

Fog casts the frontstage, hissing grows. Thrilling music leviates.

Thug3 lights Thug4’s cigarette. Thug4 extinguishes his cigarette onto Malorie’s neck. During this she hears a faint, hoarse voice resembling Theresa. Her eyes widen as she slowly faces Thug4 enraged. ALL sound cuts, she mutters something the audience doesn't understand yet.

Malorie: “She lies in you..”

Malorie scratches Thug4’s face, recklessly hitting, causing Thug4 to stagger. This alerts everyone and Thug3 strikes a blow but underestimates Malorie’s physical insensitivity and agility. Remaining thugs try joining but are beaten up by an unseen, violent force. Malorie brawls Thug3 and Thug4. Rock music crescendos, fuming the stage’s chaos.

Lucian in formal attire walks by, frightened. Witnessing the action; he dials 911. Music intensifies. Malorie struggles audibly and flashing blue/red lights fade in until Blackout.

Scene2: Interrogation

Desk lamp illuminates an old rectangular table in the center. Lucian is sitting in a chair facing the audience squinting at two policemen in front of the table.

Lucian: “Can I go home?”

Detective1: grunts “..Not yet.”

Lucian: “You know I'm just a witness? I wasn’t apart of this. What more can I offer?”

Detective1 looks through their clipboard, muttering to themselves; Ignoring Lucian. They glance at Detective2 suspiciously

Detective2: “You’ve done no wrong sir! But uhm, the more you repeat things from their authentic source, the more it comes into focus? Which I believe relates to the attack this afternoon.”

Lucian: “... Elaborate.”

Detective1: “Your name Sir?”

Lucian: (Annoyed) “Once again, Lucian Spencer. How are you detectives if I need to remind the simplest facts even a-

Detective1 smacks his file down; Focusing his attention on Lucian

Detective1: “Right-- Mr. Spencer, I apologise for holding you so late. Likewise, tonight hasn’t treated us well either.

Detective2: “This case.. Uh, I mean it’s a typical street fight, not usual for Auravous Creek.”

beat

“But something isn’t right, take a look.”

Detective2 uses a remote to turn on the CCTV screen, they watch the audience as if they’re the footage and immerse themselves.

Detective1: “This footage just surfaced. As you said: around 4:30, Piltaun parking lot.. Before you arrived at the scene.”

Lucian leans to look

Lucian: “The one that escaped.. Why are they just standing there, who is that?”

Detective1: “We.. aren’t certain. What-- logic we’ve gathered is.. Obscure. Nevermind that, skip to– (Detective2 presses remote), these rascals. Looks like they’re trying to taunt this hooded fella. We’ve arrested them for other unrelated business. They seem to / be”

Lucian: “What business?”

Detective1: scoffs amusingly “Guess it wouldn’t hurt to disclose their illegal substance abuse.”

Lucian: “Oh..”

Detective2: “Wa-wai-wait, what if that’s the reason they all gave those statements? Their “hallucinated” woodlands and odd trance? Could’ve just been crack no?”

Detective1: “That sounds debunkable, You’re telling me their minds just-- interlinked together to envision an imaginary forest? Wouldn’t tell that to the county l-”

Lucian: “I must still be here for a crucial reason, right officer? However I cannot help-- unless you provide a clear explanation. Hallucinated woodlands? Linked together?”

Detective1: “Ah.. how to say this? After you called, those men, battered like dough, were escorted into ambulances, they were questioned individually. Mind you, they’d have had no chances to communicate amongst themselves beforehand. Yet all o’ them claimed that fight happened in a forest. A bizarre ruse, I thought. Even insisting they lost to that strange deviant because branches kept smacking them in the face.”

Lucian: “Sir-- surely your explanation can’t finish there?”

Detective1: “Bare with me.. Mr. Spencer, let’s show you the moment the confrontation starts.” (Detective2 presses remote)

Detective1: “Piltaun Parking Lot: the middle of town, nowhere near any green. We thought they were lying at first, but if you look closely...The aggressor is only attacking few at a time, frankly with a weak combat style.”

Lucian: “I see, as for the rest..”

Detective2: “Their heads are just jerking back like something forceful has hit them, it’s like they’re being pushed around by nothing.”

Detective2: “I don’t think I’d break my arm and blame it on violent trees.”

Lucian: “Broken /arm..?”

Detective2: “So they have to be telling the truth? Or at least seeing something? Because why’d they purposefully lose-- over a forest that's not real? ”

Detective1: “Mr. Spencer, these cameras are too fuzzy to understand what exactly happened. you witnessed it, was there anything strange? Something that put you off?”

Lucian: “... other than the fight itself?...No, sorry I can't help. Is it really an issue if they saw imaginary trees?”

Detective2: “Er, I suppose not”

Detective1: “It is, it’s dangerous. I’m not a big spiritualist but what they saw couldn’t’ve been a good sign.”

Lucian: “It helped them escape.”

Detective1: “She’s surely our next lead too. Lucian, if I may, I've been chief of this town for a tough 20 years of my life. I might be overreacting about this case but that’s helped me keep this town from mayhem so far. This hooded fella doesn't seem nice to me. Not nice at all. If you do run into anything disturbing again be sure to contact this station immediately. You know who to call.”

Lucian: “Thank you sir.”

Lucian centers the stage as interrogation room extents.

“Ridiculous.. This case’ll die down anyways..”

Leaves fall

Scene3: Booze

Next day/s: Lucian enters a convenience store. A bell rings subtly noting his presence. He passes the liquor section and hears a hidden ruckus supposedly keeping quiet.

Lucian: “...hm?”

Upon investigating, a familiar poncho hovers over clattered bottles of booze. Glass clinking as they rummage. Lucian repels and stiffens.

(semi-whisper) “..Y-YOU?”

Malorie flinches, slowly turns her head, revealing her strawberry-blonde hair. Then returns to searching.

“Wha-?”

Malorie: (Almost to herself) “Don’t be tempted.”

Lucian looks around, the store’s empty.

Lucian: “.. Don't suppose you recognise me, I called the cops that day. I.. helped you escape”

…

Lucian: “What’s the matter?”

Malorie: (Dazed) “Talking does nothing. It leaves echoes behind. Taunting echoes.”

Malorie, mildly-aggravated, searches through bottles. Launching and shattering one recklessly, unsettling Lucian

Lucian observes

Lucian: “What are you looking f-”

Malorie: (referring to thugs) “How mundane of them, looking me in the eye, blabbering their mismatched words they deem charming.”

Lucian: “You’re.. Stealing? Really..?“

Malorie: “SO- self-centered, burning my neck even, until..”

Malorie shatters another bottle

“Boom. Diced by Nature's mascot of wisdom.”

Lucian: “You mean trees? Why do you talk like that?”

Malorie: (voice strains, struggling to search) “That took a toll on those goons, don't you reckon?”

Lucian: “So those delinquents weren't lying.. Raging trees, how’d you pull that stunt?”

Malorie: “It wasn't a stunt, you don’t think I’m capable?”

Lucian: “Your ‘capability’ put 5 people in emergency care, why?”

Malorie shatters another bottle, making Lucian instinctively pull his phone out to call the station.

Malorie: “What a chatter.. (absorbed in rummaging) Where is it..”

Lucian shifts to an intimidating demeanor (White lighting indicates)

Lucian: “Miss you’re subjected to a warrant, imprisoned for danger I clearly see in you. You shouldn’t speak so fondly about that fight. Nonetheless breaking or stealing won’t solve the crimes you’ve committed.”

beat

Malorie stands up holding a unique drink, shorter than Lucian (Lights change to pink)

Malorie: “Committed? I’m committing to something more precious, no.. not just a thing, (she curls into a ball; within a pool of shattered bottles) I’m so sorry, but how can the word everything feel so vague, she’s so much— she bubbles inside me, yet I’ve lost her, I’m nothing without her.”

Lucian returns phone to his pocket; eager at the mention of someone

Lucian: “She. Who is she?”

Malorie: “My questions now. Who the hell are you? Don't you think it's dangerous getting involved in my business too?”

Lucian: “I’m Lucian, apologies for taking up your time, miss..?”

Malorie: (Skeptical) “Malorie..”

Lucian: (Violet lighting) “Malorie.. I can’t put my head around this but, a sickening nausea haunts me from watching you fight-- on that day. I’m... supposed to turn you in, yet I wonder why you make me feel so strange.”

Malorie steps closer, holding a special bottle (A wave of blue light engulfs the stage)

“What did you lose...”

Malorie: “My friend, i lost a friend

Lucian: “I'm sorry to hear that.”

Malorie: “Stop it. She's not dead-- or anything, those thugs took her.”

Lucian: “They kidnapped her? No wonder you were mad.”

Malorie: “Uh-yes but, she left without a trace, I don't know if she's kidnapped, lost, fighting bears.? I've been trying so-- hard.. these months and she might not even have.. Faith in me.”

She focuses her attention on the bottle. Lights fade into a viridescent glow, switching colours until the stage is filled with a brown pigment from all the colours conjoining. Faint distorted mumbles play as Malorie speaks. Lucian is frozen.

“I was looking for this, surprisingly I found what's usually taken away from me. It smells just like her, fragrant.. Jasmine... I remember watching her drink it, from afar, it was the only thing that made her smile so effortlessly.”

Lucian listens intently

(facing the drink, dazed) “You kept me safe from.. This static, reigning my mind time and again. You spoke so morphically yet I understood every bit, you really cared.. Didn't you?”

Static whispers

“THAT'S NOT WHAT SHE SOUNDED LIKE.”

Neon lights flash, booming emits, anguishing and nauseating Lucian, as if he can feel her struggles transfer to him.

Lucian: (catching his breath) “Listen, hey, this is messing you up. We need a clear head in order to find your friend.”

Lucian attempts to snatch the bottle but fails

Malorie: “That's mine! Wait.. You're really helping me?”

Lucian: “.. Y-Yes deal, to join the dots.”

Malorie: “... I suppose trying alone hasn’t gotten me far, not a moment to spare!”

She pulls Lucian out of the store and into the woods.

Scene4: Adventure

A blooming woodland setting; Tranquil melodies play; evil monsters enter, roaming until Lucian and Malorie slash them with swords.

Lucian: “Didn’t you just say she was kidnapped?”

Malorie: “There’s no time to lose!”

They continuously run on and off stage, switching weapons (swords to sticks to show it’s a hallucination). They playfight, oblivious to the illusion of monsters. They roll around like kids (the lights occasionally flicker)

“We must save her!!! Before it’s too late!”

Lucian: “Fix your technique Malorie, you swing like a child.”

A plant wraps around Lucians leg, making him trip, Malorie snickers

“How’d you..?”

Malorie: “The woods are humorous, it’s comforting.. if the wind moves just right, you can hear whispers about how much they like you back.”

Malorie sits with Lucian

“I’ve lost my job-- and home, because I have to search for her! Even if it means the most treacherous travels! I can't stop thinking about where she’s gone.. So I spend my days here mostly, at least the earthy smells of spring helps me forget- I mean remember who I'm searching for.”

…

Lucian: “I’ve moved around all my life, my father served in the military but he recently retired. I never got to make close friends, like that sacred bond you have with-- her.. I feel your heart flutter. I’ll never know if-- it could have come to me, in any one of those neighborhoods. But I sense that she really meant something to you. You two had something special.”

…

Malorie: “Her name was Theresa.”

Scene5: Investigate

Paintings on the walls, Lucian is pacing back and forth in his study, occasionally itching his neck

Lucian: “What was it…? We were.. fighting someone? The thugs that Chief arrested? But that’s impossible, they’ve been hospitalised… Put your head together Lucian, Unorganised? Me? Never. Malorie, if that’s even her name.. She’s looking for this woman named Theresa who went missing a few months ago, she says I've been helping her, but I haven't even started my investigation. I’ve only been told she’s a friend. A friend...”

He sits at his desk, logs into his computer and

searches: “Auravous Creek newsletters..”

“Maybe Theresa was involved in the community, or her missing case was uploaded? It’s the best I can do now..”

Lucian clicks and scrolls agitatedly, itching parts of his body.

(looking at articles) “Not this..”

(Gasps) “The police station’s page!.. Missing people... Randal Ivory... Rachel Ember… Theresa Opal.”

He stares down the screen immensely before getting up

“29 years, Hazel eyes, last seen within Westwood psychiatric institute…

Westwood is near my university.. Why’d she be in a psychiatric centre?”

Lucian flinches, finding a spider on his arm, he itches the bite mark

(sigh) “I need to shower..”

Scene6: Leisure

Malorie is surrounded by woodland, crickets croak in unison. Squirrels coo above trees. Malorie sits upon a chaise-longue in the center next to a coffee table and office chair. She's disassociating until Theresa walks in carrying a floral notebook. She sits in the office chair, crosses her legs and opens her notebook.

Theresa has long brunette hair held by a clawclip. She wears a maroon blouse and a pencil skirt, wrapped in a turquoise silk scarf. She has the antlers of a deer. The entirety of her face is covered by layers of surgical masks.

Theresa says nothing. ONLY Malorie talks but waits for Theresa’s response

Malorie: “I'm the same as I was last week.”

“My condition has calmed down.. Thanks to you.”

“Okay”

Creepy music lingers

“Yeah, I mean that's what you’d always start off with, like ‘what's going on in your life’ stuff like that. It’s not my best department so I don't know what to tell you. I– it's– I've thought about it and uh..”

“I feel so trapped..”

“Because I do want to do things, I have plans but.. I'm always fighting these endless creatures, hiding, hurting, running. I always end up stuck in that same crevice where roots cling to my ankles and keep me beneath everyone's sanity. And I fold in on myself.”

“It's been, well, forever since I've felt ordinary, it’s no worth trying.”

beat

“Yes, exactly”

“It just lingers.”

“Gosh, that's..”

“You’ve such a way with words, do you come up with them on the spot?”

“All these years, and you're the only one who's ever described how I truly feel.”

“Can you tell me why I can't live neatly like you, and everyone else?”

“Can you tell me why sparks and flints appear out the corner of my eyes”

“Can you tell me if you saw me on the nights you went out drinking jasmine with those boys and girls”

“Can you tell me if I could act like them”

“Can you tell me it wasn't my fault”

“Tell me where you are”

“Can you say my name”

“I just need to hear your voice, and it'll spark something useful in me.”

“You really did have a way with words, you were smart, gracious, beautiful. Unlike me you'd have better things to say about yourself than… stupid adjectives.”

“And then you.. changed. I couldn't tell what it was. You just.. Paused more, stopped looking at me. There was something on your mind and only you could describe what it was”

“Did I do something? Was it me?”

“You wouldn't have let me help you, even if I tried. But you were the one good thing in my life, you should‘ve felt the same way about me too.”

Theresa takes a single mask off her mouth, only to reveal more masks. She tries to speak while maintaining her elegant composure but can only mumble unintelligibly. Malorie creeps over to her, she caresses her cheek.

“Don't worry, my love. I'll find you, the pain’ll be soon over.”

Theresa relaxes then walks offstage as Malorie watches

Scene7: Fun

Lucian sprints onstage holding snacks and a paper. Noticing Malorie, he halts.

Lucian: “Malorie..? Malorie!”

Malorie: “Who's there? Oh greetings Lucy!”

Lucian: “Again. It's Lucian.”

Lucian passes the snack to Malorie

Malorie: “Woah?! I'm starving, thanks!”

Lucian: “Thank me later because I’ve good news for you.”

Malorie: (muffles over food) “She’s found!?”

Lucian: “Close, I got a lead. This missing persons poster says she was last seen at Westwood psychiatric institute.”

Malorie pauses eating, abruptly swallows. Then snatches the missing persons poster

Malorie: “Oh, I’ve not laid eyes on her in ages. Can I keep this?”

Lucian: “Sure, although I.. hm.. She seems charming.. I mean I had a question. Is there a reason that she was within Westwood walls, do you know?”

beat

Malorie: “... Does it matter?”

Lucian: “Why yes, all intel brings us closer to your friend and the truth.”

Malorie: (picking her nails) “... Well, she.. was...um... A patient at Westwood.. We actually grew close there, because.. I was a patient too.”

Lights fade turquoise

Lucian grunts at the nauseous daze of guilt and fear.

Lucian: “It’s.. Hard to talk about?”

Malorie holds the paper firmly

Lucian: “At least I know now, I've confirmed I'll be breaking into Westwood facilities!”

Malorie: “.. Exsqueeze me?”

Lucian: “A more stealthy mission than action! They must have an archive of patient files somewhere, if we dig deep we can find Theresa's file. It can tell us more about her case. It’s worth the risk.”

Malorie: “Actually, there is an archives office. On the fourth floor, Furthest door from hitching the elevator. But, her file may not be there..”

Lucian: “I don't see why it shouldn't be, but that is really useful information. Let's meet at night outside the-”

Malorie: “Sorry, I- I can’t go. It's.. for the best”

Lucian: “Oh.. That's okay. I'll come back tomorrow then.”

Malorie dashes

Lucian: “Strange..”

Scene8: Break

Dead of night, Lucian lockpicks the door to the office. Successfully he enters. Breathing heavily, he rushes to a drawer and flicks through files with his flashlight.

Lucian: “Shouldn't take long...”

He searches through every unlocked drawer, but no luck..

(frustrated) “Malorie’s right...Breaking in was such a reckless idea.. Why’d I think of this? Getting caught could mean suspension.”

He continues searching until he comes across a tab labelled session files. He finds Malorie’s file and nervously glances.

“Patient name: Malorie Aletta

Date of evaluation: September? This was months ago..

Medical records: Terminated?”

“Clinical report: Patient was referred directly by her parents. Ran away from home years prior.. What? However after being found they claimed to leave her alone so as to not-- aggravate her.? Alternatively providing for therapy... She’s been hiding this from me? She can find help, she has worried parents and she chooses to rot in some dying forest..”

Continues reading

“I’ve noted ongoing mood instability, identity dysphoria-- plus clear emergence of psychotic symptoms... including auditory hallucinations.. and paranoia. Patient reports emotional fatigue from being unable to tell what is and isn’t reality, thus feeding her delusions...I’m blind. I’ve seen her do all this as it describes. How could I’ve not taken this so seriously?..”

“Does.. this mean...Theresa doesn’t...exist?”

He turns the page

“.. Patient’s dysphoria has begun to deteriorate and has taken an interest in my personal background. Suggests attachment based on her soft mannerisms etc... The rest is [REDACTED]..”

“Apologies, the majority of this file has been terminated for legal concerns..”

Lucian sets the file down in disappointment, he glares at it until something catches his eye.

beat

“Signed, Theresa Opal.. Malorie. A’s psychotherapist.”

He stares in shock for a while, then an idea sparks in him as he rushes to the staff files drawer.

“.. Therapists..”

He finds Theresa's file

“Theresa Opal; Missing since 5th September.”

“Unfortunately, the investigation for Ms. Opal has closed... She's left no contact with co-workers or family and despite the measures we've taken, I'm afraid there is little hope for her return.. (Frustrated) There's that..”

A paper suddenly slips out of the file; Lucian picks it up.

“October, lead suspect--... Malorie Aletta.. has-- overgone interrogation.. Surveillance last shows her walking towards victim's office. It's likely she’d entered the office. The camera's had been freezing, bugging frequently that night, however we've ruled this out as a coincidence. Her mental wellbeing-- affects the reliability of the interrogation.. Currently no strong evidence has resulted meaning we cannot inspect the confidentiality of her therapy sessions.. But she shows signs.. Oh god..”

Lucian drops the paper and steps back

(horrified) “No.. She can't have...she's been looking for her all this time..”

He suddenly gets a migraine, anguishing in pain and showing disorientation. Lights faintly turn red.

“Murder? Lies? All this time I thought you were the lamb.. Yet you held the knife.”

Scene9: Truth

In the forest, Lucian and Malorie walk slowly towards each other. Lucian’s face is grim, Malorie’s uncertain.

Malorie: “So.. What happened last night...Oh no! Did you get caught?.. C’mon are you mad because I wouldn't go with you- You’ve been helping so much and I'm sorry. But I just can’t–”

Lucian: “show your face?”

Malorie: “What..? I promise I tried, I even considered changing my mind- Ohhhhh”

Malorie giggles and points at him

“Pfft- Lucian isn’t here yet, I knew ‘you’ seemed off.”

Malorie turns around scanning the area for ‘real’ Lucian.

Lucian: “I’m very much here, you could say I'm the realest version of me there is.”

Malorie turns back concerned

Malorie: “.. Oh, then why weren’t you talking to me just now?”

Lucian: “I'm trying to-- succumb myself to the truth, I really..” he pinches his nose bridge in frustration

Malorie: “Lucian, what’s going on?”

Lucian: (chuckles) “Gah- it’s nothing-- nevermind.... no.. not nevermind.”

Malorie: “Why are you looking at me like that..”

Lucian grips his stomach, pained with that nauseous feeling he can’t explain anymore.

Lucian: (grunts) “Theresa isn’t your playmate at the ward. She was your psychotherapist, right? I couldn’t understand why you’d even lie to me about that?! I was helping you find her! Therapist, friend, whatever-- I needed all the traces. That is-- until..”

Malorie: “Oh please... Lucian what did you do?”

Lucian: “What did you do?”

Lucian feels Malorie’s anxiety corroding his stomach

…

Lucian: “Oh my god Malorie, do I need to admit you murdered her?”

Malorie: “What..? W-What do you--what do you mean- what a-are you saying?!”

Lucian: “Tell me it’s not true. Malorie-- Please help me understand.”

Malorie: “I DIDN’T I-I’M NOT LIKE THAT-- OUT OF ALL PEOPLE I WOULDN’T..OFF THERESA, NOT HER. HOW DARE YOU!”

Lucian: “Malorie, you were the lead suspect. You know that, right? Or did you just forget? You don’t care about anything when it wears off.”

The shadows flicker, slowly saturating into darker colours looming over Malorie.

Malorie: “Wears off? Theresa wouldn’t wear off at all, I gave 6 months of my life to illuminate one sign. That sh-she was still out there. No.. she can’t be... You’re conning me!”

Lucian screeches at the agony within him. Using his fingernails, he gnaws at his scalp, staggering towards Malorie, his agape mouth towering over and enunciating every word.

Lucian: “WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO ME? WHENEVER I'M AROUND YOU MY MIND... --COLLAPSES IN ON ITSELF. A-AND I CAN’T REMEMBER THINGS, STRANGE SHIT HAPPENS. THE PERSON I BECOME WITH YOU ISN’T FUCKING ME! Theresa said you’re unstable but I didn’t think it was CONTAGIOUS.”

Malorie holds his shoulders, trying to calm him

Malorie: “Oh Lucian, she spoke to you too? Then we’re saved! You’re misunderstood! I’ve seen her trying to reach me, she’s struggling, she’s been sending us encoded messages during our missions this whole time! I’m going to help her!”

Lucian: (detached) “I’m so slow, there’d been something wrong with you. I felt the dysphoria creeping. Cramping. Cramping my insides. I still couldn’t see this coming.

Malorie: “You don’t see it because it was never supposed to be real. I didn’t hurt her, Lucian. I wouldn’t. You know I wouldn’t. T-Trust me. She’s alive.”

Lucian: “You’re so capable Malorie, remember the men that ended up with broken limbs. You’re capable of that. Now listen, I’m going to help you. I’ll turn you in at the station and they’ll send you to proper, specialised.. Care.”

She steps back, betrayed by his idea

Malorie: “No no no no NO! STOP, YOU’RE MAKING IT WORSE. IT SHOULDN’T H-HAVE TO BE.. WHY?”

Lucian: “Malorie, you are— sick. Theresa isn’t communicating with us, it’s only in your head and you need to get it out. It’s auditory hallucinations, identity disturbance, paranoia-”

Malorie starts hyperventilating

“MALOR/IE!”

Malorie: “DON’T SAY MY NAME LIKE THAT. Y-YOU DON'T GET TO. JUST HER. EVEN IF IT SOUNDED CONDESCENDING. I COULDN’T, WOULDN’T, DIDN’T HURT THERESA..”

Lights strobe wildly, neon chaos matching her unraveling mind.

Lucian: “Malorie, calm do/wn..”

Malorie: “W-WE WERE MAGNIFICENT, TIME LAID OUR ENCOUNTER AND BLOSSOMED INTO THE MOST-- PERFECT MOMENTS OF MY LIFE.. DON’T TAKE IT AWAY FROM ME-- PLEASE... I-I COULD STARE AT HER BACK ALL DAY. HER PRESCENSE LIVES MORE IN ME THAN MYSELF.”

Lucian clutches his chest

Lucian: “MALORIE PLEASE IT’S EXCRUCIATING. STOP.”

Malorie: “IT’S YOUR FAULT. YOU GOT IN MY HEAD. WE COULD’VE BEEN HAPPY. IF YOU HADN’T GOTTEN MAD AT ME... NO ONE WAS WATCHING US, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN FOREVER, I WAS RELIEVED OF THE SHROUDING STATIC. TALKING AND TAUNTING ME. WE COULD’VE RAN AWAY TOGETHER. I’M SUCH A FOOL. YOU WERE TIRED OF ME. TRULY. I WAS JUST A MONSTROSITY TO YOU, AND I STILL AM–I... I.”

The flashing, garbled voices reach its crescendo yet Malorie falters her expression. Lights turn red

Lucian: “FOR ONE GODDAM SECOND PLEASE BE CLEAR. WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?!”

Malorie looks behind Lucian. She’s paralysed. Her eyes are static as she pierces the gaze of Theresa entering with her eerie antlers. As she speaks, Lucian is inaudibly trying to get Malorie to snap out.

Theresa:

“It’s strange, isn’t it?

How even the things that try to soothe us can feel like they’re watching.

The trees don’t comfort -- they listen.

And sometimes, when the wind moves just right, I think they whisper back.

You’re right not to waste time.

Time is a distant shore you can never reach.

The night has a way of folding in on itself --

like it remembers something you don’t,

and it's just waiting for you to catch up.

Let them cradle you if you must.

But don’t close your eyes too long.

Roots have a habit of lurching further

when no one is looking.”

Theresa disappears causing Malorie’s collapse as Lucian holds her by the shoulders. Malorie copies his gestures frantically to secure herself but it doesn’t last when she suddenly runs off panicked.

Lucian: “HEY, WHERE ARE YOU-”

Lucian chases her

Scene10: Mistake

Malorie runs [Heard from backstage]. Sweat smearing. Sick to the stomach. Chanting doubts beneath her ghastly breath. She enters opposite from the previous exit. Staggers to slow down but freezes upon the familiar displaced lump of soil before her.

Immediately, she digs the ground with bare hands. Heavy breaths. Squirming. Sniffing.

She pulls a string off the ground

beat

Malorie:(disbelieved) “Hair..”

She clawed, desperately, with all her strength, her cracked voice haunting the woods--. Then ominously, she falls silent.

Under the flawed dirt lay Theresa's corpse [Trapdoor], 6 months decayed, trapped forever.

Malorie breaks down on her knees. Caressing dirt and hair. She tries to form words but her throat scratches. She screams and cries not because of the horror, but the mistake. She musters:

“IT WAS AN--ACCIDENT… I-I’M SO-”

hiccups

"YOU-- KNEW WHAT I WAS.. W-WHY DID YOU LET ME... DO THIS.. TO YOU..."

“I WASTED SO MUCH TIME. ALL THIS TIME ALL THIS TIME ALL THIS TIME-”

She buries her head in the grave and repeats said three words

Lucian arrives too late. He retches at the smell, and becomes rigid at the site of Theresa. His repulsive gags alert Malorie. They look at each other for too long, before Lucian stumbles back and flees. Malorie cries alone onstage.

Scene11: Time

Lucian centers the stage

Lucian: “Malorie,”

Speech is pre-recorded.

Lucian begins to cry

I've tried to write this so. many. times. The words come and go, like smoke, maybe because the truth has always been hard to hold. But I owe you this. I owe you everything I didn't say. Everything I didn't do.

That night, Theresa's body in the soil, your hands trembling, crimson, and your eyes not quite looking at me, I felt your turmoil split ways. I want to say I ran because I was scared of what you did. But that wouldn't be true, would it?

I think I was.. afraid of what it meant... of what you'd carried all this time. What I-- let you carry alone, I always knew it was there, though not to the extent that... even then, I’d already been running. Even then, I couldn't face the why of it all.

There was always something surrounding you, Malorie. Something dark, but not evil. Not entirely. Something older. I don't pretend to understand it, never did, but I felt it. And I left you alone with it.

I saw your pain. I saw how it shaped you, twisted in your shadow like a second spine. And I still ran.

I don't expect forgiveness. I'm not even sure I should ask for it. But if this letter finds you, know this:

I never stopped wondering what happened to you. I never stopped hearing the cries you were left in. If I could go back and make things right.

Yet I know now, I was never meant to save you.

Only to stay.

I'm sorry I didn't.

— Lucian.

P.S - I’m sorry for your loss. Theresa’s soul lies in you.”

Blackout