Act II Scene 4

Later the same night; a clearing on Wistful's property. The Lad, the Damysel, Wistful, and Jonquil sit around a wine bottle and blustery fire far to right-stage. Middle- and right-stage are scattered with trees, one of which hides Mr Violet, who is not visible. There is a path to up-stage through the trees, at the end of which the Rogue can be seen waiting.1

DAMYSEL
Oh, this is so comfortable. I could go to sleep right here!2

LAD
I couldn't! I'm as awake as I've ever been.3

DAMYSEL
Are you looking for something to do?4

LAD
That's just it!5

DAMYSEL
Well, we've done just about everything! Dinner; dessert; we sat in Wistful's music room.6

LAD
A very good time, thus far! But what next? - what would we do after a supper at the Ville Noir Estate?7

DAMYSEL
I don't know. Oh, how much this night reminds me of suppers at the Estate!8

WISTFUL
-----(With the saddest smile.)
Is it exactly the same? As though nothing were missing?9

LAD
No, not exactly. I do feel like something is missing.10

WISTFUL
Of course something is. Just... it was so many years ago. We won't replicate it. Of course we can't. If we could, we'd never be sad. And that just can't be.11

JONQUIL
Let's pretend, though. Pass your glass, Wistful, this is fine stuff.
-----(She pours him some from the wine bottle.)12

DAMYSEL
Ville Noir Estate ... suit jackets and powdered faces. 13

WISTFUL
That was Ville Noir at its best. 14

DAMYSEL
And its biggest. The great house Lanternon was... greater than any other, when the lovely guests came...15

WISTFUL
The house and its staircases were built by a towering ancestry of great persons. They lived in cries of light from its banisters, and the darkness of Ville Noir found itself so strikingly black, that the people and the darkness contrasted loudly in a wonderful opera.16

LAD
That's how it was! - very poetic, Wistful, sir - that's exactly how it was!17

DAMYSEL
Do you remember the lights of that house?! Late at night - still burning, still so bright!18

JONQUIL
-----(Quietly.)
No. I don't remember that. I remember the gloomy walls crumbling, and how I sat alone at the head of that long, long table when there was no one else in the house to sit... at the head.19

WISTFUL
Jonquil, the house only needs someone to bring light into it. You are the lady of Lanternon now.20

JONQUIL
It seems no one can. Lanternon is so dark now.21

DAMYSEL
-----(Passionately.)
Jonquil, there were very happy times in Lanternon - once.22

JONQUIL
Do you remember them? I can't!
-----(Her head droops. Wistful raises an tentative hand to her nearest ------shoulder.)23

WISTFUL
Yes, you were just a little girl then. 24

JONQUIL
I wish I could remember what you can... Oh I'm sorry to cry. Why don't we go for a walk?
-----(The Rogue leaves his tree and boldly walks to one closer to the friends. -----Jonquil embraces Wistful briefly. He takes her hand, stands, and sits across -----from her; their arms stretch and hands remain clasped for a second.)25

DAMYSEL
Let's walk, then! Stretch our legs!26

WISTFUL
-----(Standing up.)
I'd like a jacket.
-----(He gives a meaningful look toward Jonquil, who stands up to walk -----off-stage beside him.)27

DAMYSEL
-----(Watching Jonquil. As though discovering something that makes sense.)
... Oh. 28

LAD
He tortures himself with her.
-----(They listen as a conversational murmur comes from off-stage and then -----ceases.)29

WISTFUL (OFF-STAGE)
Jonquil, I must say someth - 30

JONQUIL (OFF-STAGE)
Oh, no. Ah! Not now, Wist - ...Sir. Please...31

WISTFUL
You look so sad!32

JONQUIL
I'm not too sad. 33

WISTFUL
You aren't? -the shape of your mouth says you are!34

JONQUIL
No... I'll just be outs - 35

WISTFUL
We will talk later, then...? Jonquil, look at me!36

JONQUIL
-----(In a girlish explosion.)
Oh! - haven't I told you how tired I am?! 37

WISTFUL
No... you haven't.38

JONQUIL
But I am! You should have noticed! Oh, my, I'm falling apart. I must go back and sit down.
-----(The Damysel and Lad turn to watch her come on-stage. She approaches -----and addresses them in low tones.)
How quickly the weather changes! A warm evening becomes so cold when the sky disappears into the moon. It's been a pleasant meeting, dear Lad and Damysel. I must go home before I freeze.
-----(She walks quickly down the path toward the Rogue. Wistful hurries on----stage, pulling his jacket on. Jonquil looks back at him with fear and quickly -----ducks behind a tree, very near Mr Violet.)39

LAD
How quickly the weather changes! She looks like a warm day in this half-winter town, but she becomes chilly and brittle and brown.40

WISTFUL
I'm so sorry. I'll be back.
-----(He runs down the path, then searches the woods.)41

DAMYSEL
-----(Calling.)
You can't abandon your own party, darling!42

LAD
-----(Holding up the wine bottle.)
Come back and sit down!
-----(There is silence. The Rogue starts toward Jonquil. Mr Violet grabs her arm; -----she sucks in air but he covers her mouth before she screams. He pulls her -----into the open down-stage. The Rogue sinks back to hide.)43

MR VIOLET
-----(Whispering.)
Shhh, shh, dear...
-----(Wistful continues to search for her at the up-stage end of the path. Violet -----smiles at Jonquil, who begins to scream under his hand.)
That's all right... come here, just follow close...
-----(He half-lifts the struggling Jonquil toward left-stage, keeping her silent and -----restrained.)
Jonquil! I wanted you...
-----(Louder.)
So LONG!
-----(Shouting.)
So much, for so long!
-----(Wistful hears and runs in to stop Violet, pulling Jonquil from him. She cries -----hysterically.)44

JONQUIL
Take me home! Take me...45

WISTFUL
What are you doing?! Jonquil, what did he do - 46

JONQUIL
-----(Sobbing.)
I saw - I saw - 47

WISTFUL
What did you see?48

JONQUIL
Run! Run - I saw HIM, he's the Violet man!
-----(She screams and faints into Wistful's arms.)49

WISTFUL
Y-you stay awa-... away...
-----(He looks down at Jonquil's face, turns a horrified face to Violet, and runs -----across and off the stage, with Jonquil in his arms.)