SYBIL
Chapter 22: ROMANCE

Characters

BENJAMIN: a man in his 40’s, and reads Framton Nuttel’s lines in the short story.

GIRL: a younger female who runs a lodge, and reads the niece’s lines in the short story.

NARRATOR: a middle-aged woman wearing all black.

MOTHER: the young female’s mother.

Note: NARRATOR and MOTHER are played by the same person. As the NARRATOR, she has her hair up and as MOTHER, her hair is down.

Setting

An old hunting and fishing lodge somewhere in Canada.

Referencing the short story, The Open Window, by H.H. Munro (aka, Saki)

Scene 1

(NARRATOR to the audience)

NARRATOR

Hector Hugh Munro (H.H. Munro) was a British journalist around the turn of the nineteenth century. In addition to his covering stories for his job at the newspaper, he wrote plays and short stories. For those, he used the pen name, “Saki.” His short story, “The Open Window,” was published in 1914 with a collection titled, BEASTS AND SUPER-BEASTS. The story was about Framton Nuttel who is seeking a retreat for a nerve malady. He encounters a young girl at the home of a potential place to stay.

(GIRL reads from the book.)

GIRL

“My aunt will be down presently, Mr. Nuttel,”

(NARRATOR reads from the book.)

NARRATOR

said a very self-possessed young lady of fifteen;

(GIRL reads from the book.)

GIRL

“in the meantime you must try and put up with me.”

(NARRATOR to the audience)

NARRATOR

Further down, the niece continues…

(GIRL reads from the book.)

GIRL

“Do you know many of the people round here?”

(NARRATOR reads from the book.)

NARRATOR

asked the niece, when she judged that they had had sufficient silent communion.

(BEN reads from the book.)

BEN

“Hardly a soul,”

(NARRATOR reads from the book.)

NARRATOR

said Framton.

(BEN reads from the book.)

BEN

“My sister was staying here, at the rectory, you know, some four years ago, and she gave me letters of introduction to some of the people here.”

(GIRL reads from the book.)

GIRL

“Then you know practically nothing about my aunt?”

(NARRATOR reads from the book.)

NARRATOR

pursued the self-possessed young lady.

(NARRATOR to the audience)

NARRATOR

In our story, a middle-aged man has come to a lodge in a remote part of Canada where he encounters a young girl who is the proprietor.

(NARRATOR turns towards BEN and the GIRL.)

GIRL

You didn’t indicate any references.

BEN

I have been moving around a lot lately. So, I haven’t been in contact with many people.

GIRL

May I ask why?

BEN

It has to do with my research.

GIRL

What are you working on?

BEN

I’m a writer. I have been gathering material for a novel.

GIRL

Is that why you are here?

BEN

Yes.

GIRL

You didn’t indicate your last employer?

BEN

I am an English professor. I’m sort of on leave from the university.

GIRL

Were you asked to leave?

BEN

No. (beat) No. I just needed this time to work on my book. I finally got put on a tenure track and my only hope is to be published.

GIRL

Have you had any success?

BEN

A few short stories, but I doubt that you would have heard of them.

GIRL

So, why did you come here? You’re American, correct?

BEN

Yes, I am. I needed a remote place to work where I won’t be interrupted. This seemed about as far from anywhere that I could think of.

GIRL

This is that for sure. So, you don’t know anyone here?

BEN

No.

GIRL

And, does anyone know you are here?

BEN

Not exactly. I thought it was best if no one would try to contact me.

GIRL

And, you don’t know much about this place?

BEN

No. Only that it used to be a lodge for hunting and fishing, and now it is primarily for extended stay residents. I actually found you quite by accident.

GIRL

True. This isn’t exactly a hotel, but more of an Airbnb. Normally, we do all of the applications online. I run it myself, so I have to be careful.

BEN

I understand.

BEN

How long would you like to stay?

BEN

I’m not sure. I guess, until my writing makes sense. I’m looking for a place of solitude.

GIRL

You have come to the right place for that. What’s your name?

GIRL

Ben.

GIRL

Well, Ben. I will need you to sign the registry.

(The lights fade out and back in.)

Scene 2

(NARRATOR to the audience)

NARRATOR

In “The Open Window” story, the girl explains to Framton about her aunt.

(GIRL reads from the book.)

GIRL

“Her great tragedy happened just three years ago,”

NARRATOR

And further down…

(BEN reads from the book.)

BEN

“Her tragedy?”

(NARRATOR reads from the book.)

NARRATOR

asked Framton; somehow in this restful country spot tragedies seemed out of place.

(GIRL reads from the book.)

GIRL

“You may wonder why we keep that window wide open on an October afternoon,”

(NARRATOR reads from the book.)

NARRATOR

said the niece, indicating a large French window that opened on to a lawn.

(BEN reads from the book.)

BEN

“It is quite warm for the time of the year,”

(NARRATOR reads from the book.)

NARRATOR

said Framton;

(BEN reads from the book.)

BEN

“but has that window got anything to do with the tragedy?”

(GIRL reads from the book.)

GIRL

“Out through that window, three years ago to a day, her husband and her two young brothers went off for their day’s shooting. They never came back. In crossing the moor to their favourite snipe-shooting ground they were all three engulfed in a treacherous piece of bog. It had been that dreadful wet summer, you know, and places that were safe in other years gave way suddenly without warning. Their bodies were never recovered. That was the dreadful part of it.”

(NARRATOR reads from the book.)

NARRATOR

Here the child’s voice lost its self-possessed note and became falteringly human.

(GIRL reads from the book.)

GIRL

“Poor aunt always thinks that they will come back someday, they and the little brown spaniel that was lost with them, and walk in at that window just as they used to do. That is why the window is kept open every evening till it is quite dusk.

NARRATOR

And further down…

(GIRL reads from the book.)

GIRL

Do you know, sometimes on still, quiet evenings like this, I almost get a creepy feeling that they will all walk in through that window. ”

(NARRATOR to the audience)

NARRATOR

Back at our story, this was happening.

(NARRATOR turns towards BEN and the GIRL)

BEN

So, this place was a lodge for hunters and fisherman?

GIRL

Yes.

BEN

Did it close because of the economy?

GIRL

No, not exactly.

BEN

What was it?

GIRL

There are claims that the lodge was haunted. More than one hunter reported that they had seen a woman at night walking the hallways. Strangely, their stories all seemed to relate. They all saw a woman with long hair who was walking barefoot and carrying a rope. The story about the ghost must have spread. Eventually, the sportsmen stopped coming and we decided to call it a hotel. Now, we only have a few visitors.

BEN

I see.

GIRL

So, I hope that you aren’t afraid of ghosts?

BEN

No. I don’t think so. Maybe, it will help me to write?

GIRL

She seems quite harmless. And besides, I will be here to protect you.

(BEN looks at her with a concerned expression.)

(The lights fade out and back in.)

Scene 3

(NARRATOR to the audience)

NARRATOR

In the story about the open window, the girl’s aunt has arrived. The aunt addresses Mr. Nuttel.

(NARRATOR reads from the book.)

“I hope you don’t mind the open window,” said Mrs. Sappleton briskly; “my husband and brothers will be home directly from shooting, and they always come in this way. They’ve been out for snipe in the marshes today, so they’ll make a fine mess over my poor carpets. So like you menfolk, isn’t it?”

(NARRATOR to the audience)

NARRATOR

Mr. Nuttel has a confused and concerned look on his face.

(NARRATOR turns towards BEN and the GIRL.)

GIRL

You didn’t say which university you teach?

BEN

It’s small. You probably wouldn’t have heard of it. It’s in upstate New York, not far from the border.

GIRL

My mother went to a school near the border.

BEN

Really? The one that I’m at is Wilson College.

GIRL

That was it. How long have you been there?

BEN

It’s over 20 years now. What did your mother study?

GIRL

I don’t know. (beat) I don’t know much about her time there.

BEN

What was her name?

GIRL

I don’t know that either. (beat) I mean, I don’t know the name she used then. When she came to Canada, she changed it. She never would tell me. There were things about her past she never shared with me. She was pregnant with me when she came here.

BEN

Was she in school at the time?

GIRL

Yes. I believe so.

BEN

Why did she come here?

GIRL

I don’t know exactly, but I suspect it had something to do with getting far away. Why else would anyone come here?

BEN

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GIRL

She’s been at the lodge ever since. At least, until she died.

BEN

I’m sorry. What happened?

GIRL

It was quite tragic actually. Remember the ghost of the woman? Some people think that it’s her they see.

BEN

Really?

GIRL

Yes.

BEN

How did she die?

GIRL

She was at the dock getting the boats ready for the fishermen. As she was tying up one of them she slipped catching her foot in the rope and fell into the water. The boat shifted pinning her underneath and the rope around her ankle kept her from surfacing. She drowned.

BEN

How awful. I’m so sorry.

(GIRL looks out the window in that direction of the dock.)

(The lights fade out and back in.)

Scene 4

(NARRATOR to the audience)

NARRATOR

In the short story, the aunt has noticed three figures and a dog walking towards the open window.

(NARRATOR reads from the book.)

“Here they are at last!” she cried. “Just in time for tea, and don’t they look as if they were muddy up to the eyes!”

Framton shivered slightly and turned towards the niece with a look intended to convey sympathetic comprehension. The child was staring out through the open window with a dazed horror in her eyes. In a chill shock of nameless fear Framton swung round in his seat and looked in the same direction.

In the deepening twilight three figures were walking across the lawn towards the window, they all carried guns under their arms, and one of them was additionally burdened with a white coat hung over his shoulders.

And, further down…

(NARRATOR continues to read.)

Framton grabbed wildly at his stick and hat; the hall door, the gravel drive, and the front gate were dimly noted stages in his headlong retreat. A cyclist coming along the road had to run into the hedge to avoid imminent collision.

“Here we are, my dear,” said the bearer of the white mackintosh, coming in through the window, “fairly muddy, but most of it’s dry. Who was that who bolted out as we came up?”

“A most extraordinary man, a Mr. Nuttel,” said Mrs. Sappleton; “could only talk about his illnesses, and dashed off without a word of goodby or apology when you arrived. One would think he had seen a ghost.”

(GIRL reads from the book.)

GIRL

“I expect it was the spaniel,”

(NARRATOR reads from the book.)

NARRATOR

said the niece calmly;

(GIRL reads from the book.)

GIRL

“he told me he had a horror of dogs. He was once hunted into a cemetery somewhere on the banks of the Ganges by a pack of pariah dogs, and had to spend the night in a newly dug grave with the creatures snarling and grinning and foaming just above him. Enough to make anyone lose their nerve.”

(NARRATOR looks up at the audience)

NARATOR

The last line of the story reads…

Romance at short notice was her speciality.

(NARRATOR closes the book turns towards BEN and the GIRL.)

NARATOR

Let’s see what is happening back at the lodge.

BEN

And, you decided to stay?

GIRL

Yes. I have been running the lodge since her death. I didn’t know anything about my past and had no other place to go. I don’t even know if I have relatives.

BEN

I understand.

GIRL

For a long time, I have been hoping that someone has been looking for me and will one day arrive to rescue me. But for now, I at least have this place to tend to.

BEN

And, the idea of a ghost doesn’t scare you?

GIRL

No, not really. I’ve never actually seen her. And besides, if it is my mother, I don’t think I would be frightened.

BEN

Of course. Maybe one night I will also see her.

GIRL

It’s entirely possible. If she frightens you, just call. I’m just down the hall.

BEN

O.K. (beat) Thank you. (beat) I think I will be fine.

But for now, I think I will turn in. It’s been a long day of travel.

GIRL

I’ll see you in the morning Ben, if not before.

(BEN looks puzzled.)

(The lights fade out and back in.)

Scene 5

(NARRATOR to the audience)

NARRATOR

The next morning…

(NARRATOR turns towards BEN and the GIRL.)

GIRL

Good morning, Ben. You slept in. Did you sleep well?

(BEN hesitates.)

BEN

For a moment, I thought you were the ghost. You surprised me last night.

GIRL

I’m sorry. I’ve been here alone a long time and I just needed to be close to someone. I hope that was all right? I was afraid to ask you.

BEN

I haven’t had a young girl climb into bed with me for a long time, for any reason.

(NARRATOR takes down her hair and becomes MOTHER. She walks in from off-stage.)

MOTHER

Hi Dear. I didn’t know that we had a guest?

GIRL

Mother! I wasn’t expecting you for another week.

(BEN looks at MOTHER in horror.)

MOTHER

My plans changed.

(GIRL gestures to BEN.)

GIRL

This is Ben. He arrived last night.

(MOTHER turns to BEN.)

MOTHER

Well, Ben. Welcome to the lodge. It’s been a long time.

(The lights fade out and back in.)

Scene 6

(There are awkward moments of silence before Ben speaks.)

BEN

Sibyl, you look good, despite the drowning incident.

(MOTHER to the GIRL)

MOTHER

So that’s the story you went with this time. It’s a good one. Tried and true. One of my favorites.

(MOTHER to BEN)

MOTHER

Oh no, you’re not the first guest to hear about a tragedy at the lodge. Sometimes, it’s a murder and other times, a suicide. Like the other guests, you must have been shocked and would want to comfort a young girl in distress. My daughter is quite good at fantasy. She used to tell her teachers stories about her father. Of course, none of them were true. She is a desperate romantic.

BEN

She was quite convincing.

MOTHER

It’s her specialty.

BEN

“Romance at short notice was her speciality.” Do you remember that story from class?

MOTHER

Of course.

(GIRL looks at MOTHER in disbelief.)

GIRL

Dad?

(The lights fade out.)

BLACKOUT

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