Full text published in Playing with Canons.
Excerpted from Scene 4 of The Man Who Laughs
Copyright ©2005, Kiran H. Rikhye. All rights reserved.
1. Intertitle
Nineteen years later…
2. Lights up on Ursus, Gwynplaine, and Dea asleep--Dea sleeps on the bed (head stage left, feet stage right). Gwynplaine sleeps on the floor (head right, feet left) beneath her. Ursus still on the chair.
Ursus has a handkerchief on his face. Inhales it slightly with each breath.
Inhales too much and wakes himself up.
Sits straight up in his chair. Shakes his head.
Stands.
Stretches.
Looks upstage. Is shocked to see that Gwynplaine and Dea are still there.
Ursus is disgusted by them.
3. Intertitle
“If only I had found a way to get rid of them…”
4. Ursus urges his children to get up.
They don’t hear him.
Ursus crosses to Dea and Gwynplaine.
5. Ursus: “Up and at ‘em.”
6. Gwynplaine and Dea keep sleeping.
Ursus yells louder.
They keep sleeping.
Ursus screams.
7. Ursus: “GET UP!”
8. Gwynplaine and Dea keep sleeping.
Ursus shakes them.
Gwynplaine and Dea wake up. Yawn. Stretch laterally.
Gwynplaine props himself up on his left arm and yawns.
9. Ursus: “Good morning!”
10. Ursus takes Dea’s face in his hands.
11. Ursus: “How’s my little princess?”
12. Intertitle
“Good morning, Dea! How’s my little princess?”
13. Ursus coos at Dea. Stop. Looks at her.
15. Intertitle
“Your hair is a mess.”
16. Ursus hands Dea a comb.
Ursus kicks Gwynplaine’s arm.
Gwynplaine falls.
17. Intertitle
“Gwynplaine! Get up and practice your juggling.”
18. Ursus urges them to get up.
19. Ursus: “We’ve got a big day.”
20. Intertitle
“Idiots! Have you forgotten that today is the Southwark Fair?”
21. Ursus: “Hurry up and let’s go!”
22. Ursus pats Dea roughly on the shoulder.
Exits upstage.
Gwynplaine picks up his juggling balls. Begins practicing his juggling.
Dea picks up her hair brush. Crosses left, sits in the chair.
She begins to brush her hair.
Gwynplaine accidentally drops his juggling balls. Notices Dea.
Crosses to her. Stands behind her, slightly right.
Takes her brush in his hand.
Gwynplaine brushes Dea’s hair.
Dea’s shirt slips off her shoulder.
Gwynplaine stops brushing her hair.
Dea slides her shirt back up.
Gwynplaine returns to brushing her hair.
Dea’s shirt slips off her shoulder.
Gwynplaine stops brushing her hair. Reaches for her shirt.
Dea reaches for her shirt. Their hands meet.
Gwynplaine retracts his hand.
Dea slides her shirt back up.
Gwynplaine returns to brushing her hair.
Dea’s shirt slips off her shoulder.
Gwynplaine stops brushing her hair.
Gwynplaine reaches for her shirt.
Gwynplaine slides her shirt back up.
Kissses her clothed shoulder.
Dea turns her head right, placing her face close to Gwynplaine’s.
Gwynplaine slowly stands.
He returns to brushing her hair.
Dea pulls her dress/nightgown off her shoulder.
Gwynplaine looks at her exposed shoulder.
Dea waits.
Gwynplaine reaches for her naked shoulder. Pulls away. Put her brush back in her hands. Turns to exit. Crosses back to the bed to get his scarf. Wraps his face. Exits upstage.
Dea brushes her hair.
23. Intertitle
Thus they began every morning…
24. Back to Dea brushing.
Smiles.
Keeps brushing her hair.
Blackout.