Act 1, Scene I

~dramatis personae~
WISTFUL, the lover
the ROGUE
MR VIOLET, the thief of hills
JONQUIL, the lady
WEIG MUM, the old lady
LAD and
DAMYSEL, the couple on Billy Street
PIDGIN-BROW, the trap-pony1

Setting: Ville Noir, a dark but colorful place resembling Halloween Town.2

Act I scene 1
It is night. Wistful and Rogue stand at opposite sides of the stage; their alternating monologues are not directed to each other. Rogue is seated at a table to use a telegraph machine. Wistful is a boyish man around thirty; he is quiet-looking, forlorn, in grungy jeans, having risen from bed in the middle of the night. The Rogue is short with black pants, tall boots, and a long coat with a hood hides his face except for one eye and half of his painted smile.3

WISTFUL
(Speaking to the audience.)
I, Wistful, have a secret. There - there is a lady I have never mentioned before. 4

ROGUE
(Keying.)
Indeed, Mister, the lady Jonquil is here in Ville Noir, living in the estate Lanternon. She is the one you have described to me. 5

WISTFUL
(Continuing.)
My lady is deathly high above me. She could churn me into the road like a nightmarish carriage wheel. But once... she would take my arm when she walked.6

ROGUE
She lives alone with a nurse. She leaves Lanternon only to visit a young fellow who courted her once.7

WISTFUL
My lady and I met one day, like two children bumping heads. We played a little while, then I went away to sail toy boats in my bath, and Jonquil pirouetted stiffly back to Lanternon, where she brings perpetual light.8

ROGUE
Ah, Mister Violet, you have stationed me in a very nice place! This part of Ville Noir never lacks for darkness.9

WISTFUL
Lately I stay awake on nights such as these, to write my poor memories of her. But now my fingers are dead on this pen. Loneliness closes all the shutters. How can I stand this?10

ROGUE
I am ready, sir, in the 10th flat at Billy Street. When shall we sink this ladyship? For three days I've been watching over her as you instructed.
(Ends message.)11

WISTFUL
Here is Wistful made sad! Jonquil could take my heart and do what she wished - but she runs away from me like a poor mare who carries a Rogue and his flogging heels.
(He walks off-stage.)12

ROGUE
(He stands.)
Ah, I am back to work! All these days have been long and far too innocent!13