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HORROR ADDICTS 113

BLOOD NOIR PODCAST, AUDIO DRAMA

Friday, July 6, 2012

DOLLFACE copyright 2012 m.s.


DOLLFACE
A PLAY
BY MARK SLADE











CHARACTERS

TONY ROBERTS: BUSINESSMAN
HARDY JEEVES: OWNER OF
SWEETLAND POTATO CHIP COMPANY
MARNIE JEEVES: HARDY'S WIFE
DELANY JEEVES: HARDY'S DAUGHTER
GIRL IN THE ATTIC


PLACE: TONY ROBERTS HOTEL ROOM,
THE JEEVES HOUSE,
AND THEIR ATTIC
TIME: PRESENT









DOLLFACE

ACT ONE

In the hotel room of Tony Roberts is a single bed, a dresser, a TV.
He is lying on his bed, laptop beside him. Suitcase is open and on the
floor,clothes litter the room. His shirt is open, he is sweating
from head to toe. The flicker from the TV is bright, the only lighting is from a lamp
on a table beside the bed. His cellphone is by the lamp.
He seems bored, remote in his hands, changing
stations on the TV.
His cellphone rings. The ring tone is theme to The Sting.
He let's it play out before answering it.

TONY
HELLO.
(Pause.)
WHAT'S UP FRANK?
(Pause.)
NO. JEEVES WONT SEE ME.
(Pause.)


MARK SLADE

HE DOESN'T SEE ANYONE. HE'S A RECLUSE.
(Pause.)
WHY ARE YOU LAUGHING?
(Pause.)
I'M NOT JOKING.
I'VE BEEN IN THIS STINKING HOTEL ROOM
FOR TWO WEEKS AND THE JERK WONT SEE ME.
(Pause.)
I'M NOT KIDDING.
WHY AM I HERE AGAIN?
(Long pause.)
AH.
WE REALLY DON'T NEED TO NEGOTIATE THAT.
(Pause.)
OLD MAN WILLIFRED CAN KISS MY ASS. BETTER
YET, HE CAN COME DOWN HERE IN THE SWEALTERING HEAT
AND GET THE BUSINESS FROM THIS NUTJOB.
(Pause.)
FRANK, THE AIR CONDITIONING IS BROKEN IN
THIS HOTEL ROOM.
(Pause.)



DOLLFACE

I CAN'T GO ANYWHERE ELSE BECAUSE OLD MAN WILLIFRED
OWNS THIS SLEAZY HOTEL AND IT'S FREE. YOU SHOULD KNOW
THIS, YOU'RE HIS NUMBER TWO IN WINGROUP LLC.
(Pause.)
VERY FUNNY, FRANK. THAT DIDN'T WORK OUT. HIS DAUGHTER
IS SUEING ME FOR DIVORCE.
(Pause.)
PLEASE. DON'T JUDGE. YOU'VE HAD EVERY SECRETARY
YOU'VE HIRED ON THAT DESK AS WELL AS I HAVE.
(Pause.)
OLD MAN WILLIFRED HASN'T GOTTEN IT
UP SINCE EISENHOWER WAS IN OFFICE. BACK THEN SEX
WASN'T INVENTED YET.
(Pause.)
I'M DOING MY BEST. WHY IS THIS CLAUSE SO IMPORTANT
TO EITHER OF THEM?
(Long pause.)
WELL, JEEVES DID BUILD THAT CHIP COMPANY FROM
THE GROUND UP. I THINK HE'S ENTITLED TO WHATEVER HE WANTS AS
LONG AS YOU GET SWEETWATER.
(Pause.)


MARK SLADE

I KNOW WILLIFRED WANTS THE BOTTLED WATER COMPANY
SWEETWATER IS THE PARENT COMPANY OF.
(Pause.)
WELL, OLD MAN WILLIFRED DID TRY TO USE THE HOSTILE
TAKEOVER METHOD. LEGAL TROUBLES ASIDE, IT WAS NOT A GOOD MOVE.
(Pause.)
FRANK....
AM I NOT GOOD AT MY JOB?
(Pause.)
STOP LAUGHING, WILL YOU? I'VE BEEN WITH THIS COMPANY
FOR SIX YEARS. THREE OF WHICH WAS MARRIED TO
THAT DEMON WOMAN OF A DAUGHTER OF WILLIFRED'S.
PURE HELL, FRANK. I'VE ROSE UP THROUGH THE RANKS
LIKE A SHOT, AND REGRETTED EVERY MINUTE OF
THIS LOUSY JOB. SHOULD'VE STAYED IN THE
TRENCHES.
I'LL GET THE NUTJOB TO INCLUDE THE BOTTLED WATER
COMPANY. I'LL BREAK HIM.
(Pause.)




DOLLFACE

YES. APPARENTLY SO. MR. JEEVES HAS NOT
STEPPED FOOT OUTSIDE HIS MODEST HOME IN YEARS.
NEITHER HAS HIS FAMILY.
NUTJOBS.
THAT'S WHAT THEY ARE, FRANK. HE'S NEVER BEEN
INSIDE THE OFFICE BUILDING HE BUILT TEN YEARS AGO.
(Pause.)

OH NO.
I'M NOT DOING THAT.
I ONLY MEET IN PROPER PLACES.
(Pause.)
YES. THAT'S RIGHT, STRIP JOINTS OR
COFFEHOUSES. HARDY JEEVES DOES NOT CONDUCT
PROPER BUSINESS RELATIONS, IN MY OPINION.
(Pause.)
YOU'RE LAUGHING AGAIN.
(Pause.)
IS THAT WHAT WILLIFRED SAID?




MARK SLADE

MMMM.
THEN I WILL GO TO HARDY JEEVES HOUSE, GET HIM
TO SIGHN THE CLAUSE.
WHATEVER MASTER WILLIFRED WISHES, IS MY COMMAND.
(Pause.)
THAT'S NOT FUNNY, FRANK.
(Pause.)
I KNOW HE HAS A DAUGHTER.
SO WHAT?

NO MORE YOUNG GIRLS. I'VE SWORN
THEM OFF.
LOOK, I THINK I SHOULD GET OFF HERE.
GET SOME SLEEP. GOT AN EARLY DAY.
(Pause.)
FRANK...YEAH. WHATEVER.
(Closes lid on his cellphone. Sighs.)







DOLLFACE

EVERYTHING IS DAMN JOKE
TO YOU, FRANK.
(Reaches under the bed, pulls out a
bottle of whiskey. Pops the top off.
THE JOKE'S ON YOU, ASSHOLE.
(Takes a large swig. Makes a face.)
OLD MAN WILLIFRED HATES YOUR GUTS.
ALWAYS HAS.
(Drinks more from the bottle. Grits his teeth.)
LIFE IS A JOKE.
(Lays on his right side, hugging the bottle to
his chest. He closes his, begins to
drift off.)
LIFE.
IS.
A.
JOKE.....
(Curtain.)




MARK SLADE

ACT TWO

The Jeeves living room is small, modest. There is a small couch
and two easy chairs on either side of the couch. There is a coffee table
in front of the couch.
An old china set sits on the coffee table as does a box of cookies.
Hardy Jeeves is sitting in his chair reading a book of Edgar Allan Poe.
His wife Marnie is peaking through the curtains. His daughter Delany
is sitting on the couch perfectly still.

HARDY
(Reading.)
STOP LOOKING OUT, WILL
YOU?!

MARNIE
( Nervously fixes the curtain back.)
I DON'T THINK YOU SHOULD'VE
INVITED HIM HERE.




DOLLFACE

HARDY
(Eyes still on the book.)
I KNOW WHAT I'M DOING.
(To Delany.)
SHE ALWAYS UNDERMINDS ME.
I HAVE RUN A MULTI-MILLION DOLLAR
COMPANY BEFORE. SHE HAS NEVER
GIVEN ME ANY CREDIT.

MARNIE
(Peaking out the window.)
YOU ARE A GOOD BREAD WINNER. I HAVE
ALWAYS SAID THAT.

HARDY
(Still reading.)
GET AWAY FROM THE WINDOW, PLEASE!







MARK SLADE

MARNIE
(Closes curtains.)
DON'T SHOUT!
YOU'LL DISTURB DELANY.

HARDY
(Looks at Delany briefly. Then back to his book.)
WHAT IN BLAZES IS SHE DOING?

MARNIE
(Rubbing her hands nervously.)
MEDITATING IN SILENCE.
SHE SAYS ONLY HER GODS APPRECIATE
SILENT PRAYER.

HARDY
(Looks up. Bewildered.)
CAN A GOD HEAR A SILENT
PRAYER?




DOLLFACE

(Back to his book.)
SOUNDS LIKE RUBBISH
IF YOU ASK ME.

MARNIE
AT LEAST SHE'S WORRIED ABOUT
HER AFTERLIFE.

HARDY
RUBBISH.
(Pause.)
SHE HAS A NEW RELIGION
EVERY WEEK.
LOAD OF RUBBISH. IT'S
ALL THAT INFLUENCE FROM YOUR
MOTHER.






MARK SLADE

MARNIE
PLEASE..CAN WE NOT FIGHT
OVER MY MOTHER FOR ONE
NIGHT. IT'S NOT POLITE
TO SPEAK ILL OF THE DEAD.

(Pause.)
RUBBISH.

MARNIE
I JUST DON'T KNOW WHY
YOU HAD TO AGREE TO MEET
WITH THAT MAN.

HARDY
YOU DO KNOW WHY.
AFTER ALL IT'S ALL JUST
BUSINESS.





DOLLFACE

MARNIE
YOU SAY THAT ABOUT
EVERYTHING.
THE WORLD
IS FALLING APART AT THE SEAMS..
YOU SAY,
(Mocking Hardy's voice.)
“IT'S JUST BUSINESS.”
MY MOTHER DIED,
YOU SAY,
(Again, mocking his voice.)
”IT'S JUST BUSINESS.”

HARDY
WHAT DO YOU THINK THE WORLD
IS MADE UP OF?!
(Pause.)
WELL?!
(Pause.)




MARK SLADE

HARDY
BUSINESS!
YES! THAT'S EXACTLY
WHAT MAKES THE WORLD GO AROUND.
WILL YOU GET AWAY FROM THE WINDOW!
WHAT WILL THE NEIGHBORS THINK?

MARNIE
THEY'LL THINK MY
HUSBAND IS A MANIAC. SCREAMING ALL
THE TIME.

DELANY
(Sighs.)
MUST YOU TWO DO THIS
EVERY NIGHT?

HARDY
AH...SHE COMES BACK TO THE LIVING.




DOLLFACE

DALANY
IF THAT'S WHAT YOU
WANT TO CALL THIS HOUSEHOLD.
I THINK YOUR BOTH NUTS

MARNIE
SEE WHAT YOU DID? YOU
DISTURBED MY BABY.

HARDY
WILL YOU STOP REFERING
TO HER AS THAT?
SHE IS TWENTY-THREE YEARS
OLD.

MARNIE
(Looking up dramatically, hands to heaven,)
SHE WILL ALWAYS BE MY BABY.





MARK SLADE

DELANY
I TAKE THAT BACK.
THE TWO OF YOU AREN'T NUTS.
NO.
YOUR CERTIFIABLE CRAZIES!

HARDY
DON'T TALK TO YOUR MOTHER
THAT WAY.

MARNIE
(Pleading.)
DON'T SPEAK ABOUT YOUR FATHER
THAT WAY, BABY.

DELANY
STUFF IT, BOTH OF YOU!
I HAVEN'T BEEN OUT OF THIS HOUSE IN
TEN YEARS.
I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE.




DOLLFACE

MARNIE
(Looking through the curtains.)
A MAN IS COMING UP THE WALK!

HARDY
HE'S COMING?
(Back to his book.)
DIDN'T ACTUALLY BELIVE
HE WAS.

DELANY
IS HE HANDSOME, MOTHER?

MARNIE
(Bites her lower lip.)
NOT EXACTLY...
HE REMINDS ME OF A CHIMP.





MARK SLADE


(Delany sprints over to the window, overjoyed.)
MARNIE
(Thinking for a second.)
I'M NOT SURE WHY.
(Pause.)
HE'S GOING TO RING THE BELL!
(Marnie moves from the window,
laughing uncontrollably.)

Hardy
(Rises from his chair, dropping the book to
the floor.)
I'LL ANSWER IT.
(To Delany.)
GET HER AWAY FROM THERE!
(Delany leads a hysterical Marnie
to the couch, trying to calm her down.





DOLLFACE


(Hardy stands by the door at an attention.
The doorbell rings. No movement.
Rings again. He still stands there.
After the third ring, in robot motion
Hardy answers the door. He walks
offstage to the right.)
HARDY
(Offstage.)
YES?

TONY
(Offstage.)
HELLO. I'M TONY ROBERTS.
I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT
SWEETWATER?







MARK SLADE

HARDY
YES.
(Pause.)
I SUPPOSE YOU BETTER
COME IN.
(Tony enters with Hardy behind him.)

TONY
YOU HAVE A VERY NICE HOUSE
HERE. BUT I HAVE TO ASK, WHY SO SMALL?
OBVIOUSLY YOU HAVE ENOUGH MONEY
FOR A MANSION----

HARDY
(Gruff.)
MONEY IS NOT THE PROBLEM,
MR. ROBERTS.
OTHER COMMITMENTS KEEPS US HERE.






DOLLFACE

TONY
(Slight apologetic smile.)
OF COURSE.
(Pause.)

HARDY
(Going to his chair.)
SIT DOWN, MR. ROBERTS.
(Clumsily sits.)
THIS IS MY WIFE, MARNIE.
MY DAUGHTER, DELANY.

TONY
(Sits on the small couch in the middle of them.)
PLEASED TO MEET YOU BOTH.
(Pause.)







MARK SLADE

(Marnie keeps a hand over her mouth
stifling a laugh.
Delany is practically undressing Tony with her
eyes.)

TONY
(Uneasy.)
MMM...
I THOUGH YOU WOULD
NEVER SEE ME.

HARDY
I HAD NO INTENTION
OF SEEING YOU.
SOMETHING INSIDE ME
TOLD ME OTHERWISE.







DOLLFACE

TONY
I GUESS WE SHOULD GET
DOWN TO BUSINESS, THEN.

MARNIE
(Giggling.)
DO YOU LIKE
GOAT HEAD CHEESE,
MR. ROBERTS?

TONY
I DON'T KNOW--


HARDY
YOU THINK THE MAN
LIKES THAT SORT OF THING?







MARK SLADE

DELANY
I'M NOT ON
MY PERIOD.

TONY
(Shocked.)
THAT'S JUST
GREAT....

HARDY
CAN WE TALK ABOUT
BUSINESS?

MARNIE
THAT'S ALL YOU
THINK OF!







DOLLFACE

HARDY
MY DEAR WE'VE ALREADY
HAD THIS ARGUMENT.

DELANY
(Touching Tony on the elbow.)
I LIKE IT DOGGY STYLE...
I CAN FEEL SENSATIONS IN
MY STOMACH.

TONY
(Smiling huge.)
IS THAT SO...

MARNIE
IF ONLY YOU
WOULD THINK OF
SOMETHING ELSE!







HARDY
(To Tony.)
MY WIFE IS AN EMBECILE.
SHE DOESN'T UNDERSTAND
THE WORLD.
TELL HER.
THAT'S THE ONLY THING
THAT MATTERS.

TONY
WELL...REALLY...I GUESS..


DELANY
YOU CAN FUCK ME IN MY BED IF YOU WANT.








MARK SLADE

HARDY
LIFE IS NOTHING MORE THAN
A BUSINESS MEETING.
GOD IS THE ULTIMATE
BUSINESSMAN.

MARNIE
CAN'T WE TALK OF NICE THINGS? LIKE THE
SUN COMING UP ON A SPRING DAY...

HARDY
MY WIFE IS A BIT OF A ROMANTIC.
(Pause.)
SHE'S ALSO A VERY STUPID WOMAN.







DOLLFACE

MARNIE
(Taking offense. She stands.)
I HAVE A DOCTRINE IN LITERATURE!

HARDY
(Laughing.)
AS YOU SEE, MY DEAR,
THAT IS NOTHING IN COMPARISON TO
AN MBA IN BUSINES.

MARNIE
OH! YOU INFURIATE ME!


HARDY
GOOD.
GET SOME SENSE
OUT OF YOU YET.





MARK SLADE

DELANY
I HAVEN'T HAD SEX IN A LONG TIME.
FATHER WONT LET ME DATE.

TONY
REALLY I JUST CAME HERE TO
TALK OVER THE CONTRACTS
OF THE SALE OF SWEETWATER.

HARDY
(Rises slowly, enraged.)
WHAT DID YOU SAY?

TONY
UM...
THE SALE OF SWEETWATER?

HARDY
NEVER!





DOLLFACE

HARDY
(Pause. He points a finger
in Tony 's face.)
I BUILT THAT COMPANY
WITH MY BARE HANDS.
MY SWEAT, BLOOD, AND TEARS.
MONEY I CONNED AN OLD SPINSTER
AUNT OF MINE.
I WOULD NEVER SELL SWEETWATER, MY
BOY!

TONY
(Confused.)
YOU ALREADY ARE IN
TALKS WITH MY BOSSES
ABOUT---

HARDY
DID YOU HEAR ME!?




MARK SLADE

(Pause.)

TONY
THIS IS FARCE.
YOU PEOPLE ARE PUTTING ME
ON.

(Pause.)

MARNIE
OH!
I ALMOST FORGOT.
I MADE SOME NICE GAUCOMOLE
DIP AND CHIPS.COME HELP ME BRING IT
IN, DELANY.
(Marnie and Delany exit.)







DOLLFACE


(Tony and Hardy are not enjoying
an uncomfortable silence.)
HARDY
(Wipes his chin.)
I DON'T KNOW
ABOUT THINGS ANYMORE.
(Pause.)
THERE WAS ONCE A MAN I KNEW.
HE...UH...DID SOMETHING AWFUL.
IN THE NAME OF...BUSINESS...
PROSPERITY.
(Pause.)
HE THOUGHT HE WAS
DOING THE RIGHT THING
FOR EVERYONE.
HE TOOK PROPERTY FROM
FOLKS.....





MARK SLADE

HARDY
THIS MAN...ISN'T EVIL,
EXACTLY.
WELL. HE BROUGHT BAD THINGS ON
HE BRAUGHT IT ON HIS FAMILY.

TONY
(Curious.)
WHAT DID HE BRING ON HIS FAMILY?

(Pause.)

HARDY
OH....
A CURSE OF SORTS.








DOLLFACE

TONY
(Nervous laughter.)
THERE IS NO SUCH THING.

(Hardy stares at him.)
HARDY
OH YES THERE IS, SON.
THIS LAND..PROPERTY...
BELONGED TO A FAMILY FROM
HATI.
THIS...THIS...MAN...
FRIEND OF MINE...
WAS NEVER THE SAME.
HE PUT SOMETHING UP
ON THAT PROPRTY.
HE SHOULDN'T HAVE.
(Lost in thought.)
HE SHOULDN'T HAVE.





MARK SLADE

TONY
YOU'RE STORY HAS HOLES IN IT.

HARDY
WHAT?

TONY
I DON'T KNOW WHY YOU TOLD ME
THIS STORY. I DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND ANY OF YOUR BEHAVIOUR OR YOUR WIFE AND DAUGHTERS... I ASSUME YOU WANT TO
SCARE ME AWAY. IT'S AN ACT, HUH?

HARDY
I ASSURE THIS STORY IS TRUE.

TONY
I UNDERSTAND.
(Pause.)





DOLLFACE

TONY
I REALLY DO. JUST ADMIT IT'S AN ACT.
OKAY?
I'M FINE WITH IT.
I'VE USED SIMILAR TACTICS IN BUSINESS
DEALS. I'VE SEEN A LOT OF TACTICS OVER THE YEARS--

HARDY
THIS STORY IS TRUE.

TONY
YEAH.
OKAY. FINE. YOU DON'T WANT TO
GIVE UP YOUR COMPANY.
I'LL TELL MY BOSSES. JUST DON'T GO
THE WHOLE NINE YARDS. YOU DON'T HAVE TO.
I'LL GO NOW SO YOU DON'T HAVE TO
KEEP UP THE ACT.





MARK SLADE

HARDY
THAT POOR FAMILY
WENT THROUGH SO MUCH.
THEY WERE...MOVED OUT
OF THEIR RESIDENCE. THE MOTHER
DIED, ONE MONTH AFTERWARDS. THE FATHER WAS
RUN OVER BY A VEHICLE IN THE STREET.
THE CHILDREN WERE SPLIT UP....OLDER ONES
HAD TO FIND OTHER PLACES...DRUG INFESTED AREAS...
ONE THOUGH...ONE TOOK TO THE
STREETS..SHE WORKED, FOUND HER NICHE...
BUT VOWED VENGENCE. SHE WAS...
VERY APT IN CERTAIN....SUPERNATURAL ABILITIES.
YOU UNDERSTAND?

(Pause.)







DOLLFACE

TONY
YEAH.
(Rises from the couch, pointing to the door.)
I'M GONNA GO.
(Marnie and Delany enter carrying trays.)

MARNIE
YOU AREN'T LEAVING ARE YOU,
MR. ROBBINS?
(They set the trays on the coffee table.)
DELANY
I WAS STARTING TO TAKE
A SHINE TO YOU...EXPLICITLY. HOPEFULLY
GRAPGHIC---

TONY
OKAY.
I HAVE TO LEAVE.
NICE MEETING YOU ALL---




MARK SLADE

HARDY
SIT DOWN.
(Pause.)

TONY
I REALLY HAVE SOMEWHERE---

HARDY
SIT DOWN!
(Tony is shocked. He sits without thinking. Marnie and
Delany sit with him.)
I'M NOT DONE WITH MY STORY.
( Pause. flashing a smile.)
MY FRIEND....HIS FAMILY...WIFE,
TWO DAUGHTERS....HARDLY SAW ANYONE..
THE OCCASIONAL SALESMAN THAT CAME
TO THE DOOR...JEHOVA 'S WITNESS, MORMAN.






DOLLFACE

HARDY
THE CURSE CAUSED A PAINFUL THIRST
NEVER QUINCHED. THEY WERE BOUND TO
THE HOUSE FOREVER. NEVER SEEING THE OUTSIDE
WORLD.
(Pause.)
THE YOUNG HAITIAN WOMAN THAT USED THE CURSE,
GAVE HER LIFE TO CARRY OUT THAT VENGENCE.

(Pause.)

MARNIE
(Exuberant smile.)
WOULD YOU LIKE SOME QUACOMOLE,
MR. ROBBINS?
(She offers the bowl.
Tony recoils in disgust.)






MARK SLADE

TONY
NO, I DON'T BELIEVE I WILL.
THANK YOU.
(He turns, faces Delany, who is gently stroking his
arm.
Tony smiles uneasy at her.)

HARDY
MR. ROBBINS. THOSE PAPERS
IF YOU WILL.

TONY
WHAT?

HARDY
THE PAPERS!
(Pause.)
THE CONTRACTS. GIVE THEM TO ME.





DOLLFACE


TONY
(Takes them from a briefcase.)
YOU'RE GOING TO SIGHN?
JUST LIKE THAT?
(He hands them to Hardy.)

HARDY
(Snarling.)
JUST LIKE THAT.
(He scribbles a signature, hands them back.)

TONY
(Places papers in briefcase.)
THIS...HAS BEEN QUITE AN EVENING.
(Pause.
All three are smiling at him.
Tony coughs.)





MARK SLADE

DELANY
IT'S NOT EVENING ANYMORE.
(She giggles.)
IT'S PAST MIDNIGHT.

TONY
(Looking at his watch.)
WHAT HAS HAPPENED?
IT WAS JUST SEVEN-THIRTY...

MARNIE
TIME FLIES WHEN YOUR HAVING FUN,
MR. ROBBINS

TONY
(Rising.)
I HAVE TO LEAVE.






DOLLFACE

HARDY
NONSENSE.
YOU CAN'T GET A CAB THIS LATE.

TONY
WHY NOT?

HARDY
YOUR NOT IN THE CITY ANYMORE,
MR. ROBBINS.
(Pause.)
YOU CAN STAY THE NIGHT.
WE HAVE AN EXTRA ROOM.

TONY
(Nervous.)
NO. I DON'T WANT TO BOTHER..






MARK SLADE

MARNIE
NO BOTHER.

DELANY
NO BOTHER.

HARDY
NO BOTHER AT ALL.
(Pause.)
YOU LEAVE WITH THE PAPERS
SIGHNED IN THE MORNING. YOUR BOSSES
WILL BE VERY HAPPY WITH YOU.

TONY
(Giving in.)
YEAH.
IT IS AWFUL HOT IN
THAT CHEAP HOTEL ROOM.





DOLLFACE

MARNIE
GOOD.
IT'S SETTLED.

DELANY
I CAN'T BELIEVE MY LUCK..
HE'LL STAY IN MY ROOM WITH
ME.

HARDY
HE'LL STAY IN THE ATTIC.


(Lights fade to black.)









MARK SLADE

ACT THREE

The attic filled with junk. Most of it is old furniture covered in tarp and
on the stage to the left. There is an old canopy bed, covered in cobwebs.
A trunk with the lid open has clothing hanging off the side, is to the right of the stage
where darkness is backdrop. Tony is setting on the bed, clutching his briefcase to
him,bewildered. He is listening to inaudible voices belonging
to hardy and his family. It takes a few minutes for Tony to relax as the voices fade out.

TONY
(Placing briefcase on the floor.)
HOW DID I GET MYSELF INTO THIS.
(Looking at his cell phone.)
GOOD GRIEF...NO SIGNAL.
(Pause.)
ONE WEIRD NIGHT.







DOLLFACE

TONY
I HOPE OLD MAN WINFRIED
WILL BE GLAD I GOT HIS STINKING
CONTRACT SIGHNED.
I DON'T KNOW HOW I GET MYSELF
INTO THESE THINGS.
(Looking at cell phone again.)
YOU'D AT LEAST THINK THESE PEOPLE
WOULD HAVE MORE MODERN CONVIENCES.
THE RICH SURE CAN BE STRANGE.
I GUESS THEY CAN AFFORD IT.
(A noise is heard, like crumpling paper.
Tony turns to the right, a shadowy figure
stands.)
TONY
WHAT THE HELL!
(He rises quickly.
Pause.)





MARK SLADE

TONY
IS THAT YOU DELANY?
(Pause.)
AT LEAST YOU CAN ANSWER ME.
WHY SO MYSTERIOUS?
(Pause.)
LOOK..I'M NOT SURE I WANNA
DO ANYTHING....
(Shadowy figure steps into the light by the trunk.
A woman dressed in all white wearing a porcelain mask
with long curly hair.)
HEY NOW.
(Laughs)
A BIT DRAMATIC ISN'T IT? THE
GET UP?
OKAY...SILENT TREATMENT.







DOLLFACE

(Pause.)
TONY
YEAH...UM..I'M GONNA GO TO
BED, AND YOU CAN JUST
GO TO YOURS...
THIS IS REDICULOUS.
(Woman steps forward.)

GIRL
I'M NOT DELANY.

TONY
WHAT KIND OF BULLSHIT IS THIS?
WHO ARE YOU, THEN?
(Pause.
He smiles.)
OH.
I GET IT.





MARK SLADE

TONY
IT'S A GAME.
COME HERE.
SIT ON THE BED.
(The girl hesitates, slowly walks to the bed,
sits.)
IT'S OKAY.
I DON'T NEED TO KNOW
WHO YOU REALLY ARE.
(Pause. Tony touches the girl's
hair.)
YOU'VE BEEN COMING ON TO
ME ALL NIGHT.
(He moves his hand down her body slowly, stopping
at her leg, rubbing it.)

GIRL
THAT WASN'T ME.





DOLLFACE

TONY
IT'S OKAY.
I CAN PLAY THAT GAME TOO.
WHAT'S WITH THE MASK?

GIRL
I HAVE TO KEEP IT ON.

TONY
WELL I'D LIKE TO SEE
WHAT YOU LOOK LIKE.

GIRL
NO.
I DON'T WANT YOU
TO SEE ME.







MARK SLADE

TONY
WHAT I'M LOOKING AT RIGHT
NOW, I LIKE.
I DON'T THINK I WILL BE
DISAPPOINTED.

(Pause.)

GIRL
ARE YOU SURE?
(Tony places a hand on the
girl's breast.)

TONY
OH YES.
I'M SURE, DOLLFACE.







DOLLFACE

(Girl slowly removes her mask.
Tony 's smile turns to fear. He screams, withdraws
from her.
A light illuminates the girl's face.
Her cheekbones are puffy, larger than the rest
of her face. Her eyes are narrow, skin nearly covering
them. Her lips are a blue-purple fixed on a permanent
smile with fangs protruding. Girl reaches out, grabs Tony
by his shirt. She pulls him to her.
From the dark stage the family appear, their faces just as the Girl's.
The girl sinks her fangs into Tony 's neck as he screams again.)

LIGHTS DIM. FADE TO BLACK.



















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