Lunar Shadows (Play)

LUNAR SHADOWS Act I 1

Scene I2

CAST OF CHARACTERS:3

MOTHER, an unnamed woman who first discovers the presence in the woods4

WILLIAM, a noncompliant boy who pays the consequence for his actions5

MARCUS LYON, deranged adolescent who vanished and then came back6

ALANYA OGDEN, knew Marcus when he was younger, before he disappeared7

BENJI (BENJAMIN) DEBECK, lawman, nemesis of Marcus and Alanya’s betrothed8

DEBORAH, hates Marcus Lyon for a reason that is unknown to all others9

SETTING:10

Lunar Shadows takes place in 1832 in Annapolis Valley, Canada. In a small town called Kentville, where nothing exciting ever happens… until now.11

(Overhead lights are dim as a spotlight centers on a lone figure who wanders toward center stage.)12

NARRATOR 13

Strange things occur deep in the forest 14

when nary a soul is watching.15

(Lights fade and a hazy vapor spreads slowly across the entire stage)16

(A boy lurches frantically about from side to side, he twists, stumbles, and continues his frenzied movements. He groans and growls aloud, and then vanishes to stage left.)17

(As soon as he is gone, a small boy and his mother enter stage right as they hurry home. Mother carries a basket and boy trails along behind her.)18

MOTHER19

That was a nice visit with your Auntie, wasn’t it William? 20

Though we stayed a little longer than I intended.21

WILLIAM22

Mum, what do you think happened to 23

those travelers Auntie told us about?24

MOTHER25

(shudders) Oh, don’t remind me of that! Now, 26

come on, we must be quick and move toward 27

home, it’s getting late and your sister will worry.28

(William shrugs and continues plodding reluctantly along the road. Soon, he looks29

crossly back at his mother, as if there is no need to be so irritable and upset.)30

WILLIAM31

(annoyed) Why mum, what’s the rush? We‘ll be 32

perfectly fine! You worry too much.33

(Mother pulls her thin cloak around herself and shivers. She puts a hand to her 34

heart and starts uneasily as she looks from side to side.)35

MOTHER36

William, come on now… I just have this feeling, 37

like something dreadful is going to happen. 38

Come along, we must make it to the village.39

(William rolls his eyes and strolls behind his mother in a leisurely fashion. He starts 40

whistling a tune as he trudges along. The whistling stops short as suddenly, they 41

both hear a loud rustling and a low growl comes from the bushes. Mother, spins 42

around, her eyes widen in horror.)43

MOTHER44

(Screaming) Oh my… William, RUN! Go!45

(William is frozen In place, his eyes on the bushes. Mother rushes over to him and grips his hand, pulling him along after her. The growling is much louder and the bushes shake with a strong force.)46

WILLIAM47

(whimpers) Mum, mum…48

(Suddenly, a dark figure bursts from the trees and seizes the boy. The mother tries desperately to defend her son, but she is flung to the ground like a rag doll. Her head strikes a rock, then everything begins to go black. Light fades)49

WILLIAM50

(barely heard) noooooooo…51

Scene II52

(Two hours later, mother staggers into town, bleeding profusely. She stumbles and falls, then begins crawling like an animal into the village. Two townspeople rush to her aid, but it is too late to save her and they are the only ones to hear her final words.)53

MOTHER54

(mumbling) My baby… not my baby 55

(groans and thrashes about)56

TOWNSMAN ONE57

This lady’s completely out of her mind!58

TOWNSMAN TWO59

(stunned) No wonder! Her head is bleeding 60

from a large cut and her chest is nearly sliced61

in half. She must have been through hell!62

TOWNSMAN ONE63

Can we get her to a doctor or something?64

TOWNSMAN TWO65

No, it’s too late for that! Nothing can save her now.66

(spotlight centers on the mother as she lies on the ground)67

(Both men bend down to hear the mother’s last words as she motions weakly 68

for them to come closer and struggles to get the words out.)69

MOTHER70

(struggling for breath) The monster…. In the woods… must… be… stopped. T-tell… Deborah… my… daught… er… help… my… b-b a..by…71

(With that, the mother tries to regain her strength to say more, but it is 72

too late and she shudders one last time and is still. The townsmen shake 73

their heads sadly at the heartrending sight, as the lights fade until the 74

stage goes black. Curtain Closes)75

LUNAR SHADOWS Act II 76

Scene I77

(Six months later)78

(Curtain opens. Light centers on Deborah, who is exercising in an 79

obsessive fashion. She grits her teeth as she does pushups and mutters 80

to herself. Abruptly, she stops and wipes the sweat from her forehead.81

She goes over to a cabinet and grabs two guns and ammunition. Then, 82

there is a knock on the door.)83

DEBORAH84

(opens door and looks out)  Oh, good afternoon Benji! What 85

brings you over here?86

BENJI87

Deborah, I have some information about what happened to88

Your family. It seems we have finally been able to pinpoint89

A suspect.90

DEBORAH91

Well, it’s about time! It’s been six months. So, what is this92

new breakthrough?93

BENJI94

Well, last night three more victims were found. This is the thirteenth95

Case we’ve had since your family’s awful slaughter. I’m sorry to96

Be the bearer of this news Deborah, but we’ve found a clue!97

DEBORAH98

What, quick… tell me! Please!99

BENJI100

The clue has left the authorities puzzled, for you see the owner of101

This particular item has been missing for seven years. (begins to pace)102

But, we found a book, and it had a name engraved on the back.103

DEBORAH104

(Excited) What is it? WHAT IS THE NAME?105

BENJI106

(sighs) There is no proof, but we believe that the murders were 107

committed by Marcus Lyon!108

DEBORAH109

(gasps) Marcus? Marcus did this?110

BENJI111

Now wait Deborah! There isn’t any real proof! Marcus might have been112

One of the earlier victims of the murderer, we just don’t know. I hate 113

To bring back painful memories, but you must remember that the victims114

Of this monster all have characteristic wounds. They’d all been ripped115

apart, and if I remember correctly, only someone extremely powerful116

could cause that much damage. The killer has never left a clue before,117

So we have to consider every possibility!118

DEBORAH119

(furiously) I still want revenge, whoever did this will pay!120

BENJI121

It’ll be ok Deb, we’ll find the evil brute that did this, and he will122

Get what’s coming to him. I promise you this! I must be going now,123

Because I still have three more families to inform. Farewell!124

DEBORAH125

Goodbye Benji!126

(exit Benji, lights glare up in red)127

DEBORAH128

(Aside) I swear upon the graves of my mother and brother that I will129

Not rest until this fiend is dead at my feet, and I have had vengeance!130

(Lights get softer until they fade completely)131

Scene II132

(A few hours later, Benji arrives at Alanya’s house to tell her the133

news, and to warn her to be careful, lights illuminate entire scene)134

BENJI135

Alanya, I have some incredible news! We’ve had a clue to the 136

Identity of the beast, who’s been viciously slaughtering the honest 137

folks in this town!138

ALANYA139

Oh, Benji, have you found out who’s been doing it, are you going to140

Catch him?141

BENJI142

Well, we think we know who’s behind it, Marcus Lyon!143

ALANYA144

(shocked) Oh Benji, Marcus could never do something as terrible 145

as this. He was my best friend when we were younger, and he 146

Has been missing for seven years. How could you possibly believe147

It was him.148

BENJI149

The boys and I found a book near the scene of the last massacre,150

It had Marcus’s name inscribed on the front cover. It has to be him!151

ALANYA152

There’s no proof I say. You can’t convict someone based on a book,153

Besides, no one has seen Marcus in years.154

BENJI155

I think the coward is hiding out somewhere, waiting to get back at the156

town that rejected him. (laughs scornfully) I wouldn’t doubt if I am on his list 157

of victims. He must be totally insane now, he was a lunatic even as a child!158

ALANYA159

(irritated) He wasn’t a lunatic, he was just misunderstood, and bullies160

like you were didn’t help him any! Now that I think about it, 161

you were always picking on him!162

BENJI163

Nonsense! Besides, none of that matters now if he is a cold-blooded killer, and164

I intend to catch him! (sternly) And if you know what’s good for you, you’ll stay 165

away from the road that leads to Wolfville. All the victims have been killed 166

along that path. Alanya, please don’t try to find him. If this really is Marcus, 167

he’s not the same  boy you knew seven years ago. You have to remember that!168

(Benji tries to grab hold of Alanya, but she shies away from him in annoyance,169

She stubbornly shakes her head.)170

ALANYA171

Don’t boss me around like a little kid Benji, I’m not going to go out and172

Do anything foolish!173

BENJI174

I know Alanya, just be careful okay, I have to go now. There are still others to warn…175

(he walks out the door, and Alanya steps outside and calls out to him)176

ALANYA177

Wait, you aren’t spreading around false rumors are you… Benji… BENJI?178

(but it Is too late and Benji is too far away to hear her, or he is ignoring 179

her completely. Alanya shakes her head sadly, quickly walks back inside, 180

and shuts the door. A few minutes later a knock is heard again and 181

Alanya opens the door expecting Benji again, but a black cloaked figure182

Stands outside the door)183

ALANYA184

Benji I… (gasps) who are you?185

MARCUS186

Alanya, don’t you remember me?187

ALANYA188

(stares for a moment) Oh my gosh, Marcus is that you?189

(she touches his face, and then draws back as if she’d been burned)190

MARCUS191

What’s wrong, aren’t you glad to see me?192

ALANYA193

Marcus… there have been many murders committed in this 194

town… did you… kill all those people?195

MARCUS196

No, Alanya I promise you that I did not, but I know who did, and 197

I’m going to find him!198

ALANYA199

(relieved) I knew you didn’t do it Marcus, I believe you, but how do 200

you explain the book that was found at the murder scene with 201

your name engraved on it?202

MARCUS203

I was there.204

ALANYA205

(backing away) I thought you didn’t kill them!206

MARCUS207

I didn’t, I was trying to save the victims and catch the swine who committed208

those crimes. But I was too late to save them!209

ALAYNA210

Do you know who did it? Why don’t you tell someone?  Marcus, we 211

could clear your name!212

MARCUS213

That’s just it! It would be my word against his, and I have no proof, while214

the authorities have my book. No, Alanya… I have to catch him myself215

ALANYA216

Well then, tell me who it is, I can help you Marcus, but you have to let me!217

MARCUS218

I can’t tell anyone, not even you Alanya, I just can’t!219

ALANYA220

Marcus, you have to tell someone, your very life depends on it! 221

Please, it’s for your own safety!222

MARCUS223

All right Alanya, but I have a bad feeling about this. Come to the 224

path that leads to Wolfville  tomorrow night at midnight, and I will show you.225

ALANYA226

But Benji told me not to…227

MARCUS228

(interrupting) Don’t worry about Benji! I’ll protect you, you need not fear! Just 229

make sure to wear a dark cloak and no perfume.230

ALANYA231

Okay Marcus, I trust you, but this had better explain everything!232

MARCUS233

Don’t worry, it will. But don’t tell anyone about this. Especially not Benji. 234

Now, I must go.235

(he prepares to leave and looks intently in Alanya’s eyes, and walks out the door)236

ALANYA237

(softly to herself) Goodbye Marcus Lyon, and welcome home…238

(lights fade and curtain closes)239

LUNAR SHADOWS Act III 240

Scene I241

(Curtain opens, spotlight centers on MARCUS, who is waiting for 242

ALANYA, The lighting is eerie and it is hard to see. Marcus seems 243

Impatient, and he keeps glancing at the moon. Suddenly, Alanya appears, 244

looking frightened and worried)245

ALANYA246

Ok, Marcus… I’m here, now tell me what this is all about!247

MARCUS248

Quiet! Just come this way, and don’t make a sound. You have to trust me!249

(he grabs he arm, and takes her to a small clearing and they both look to see Benji250

Laying in the dust rolling back and forth as if he is in pain, Alanya starts toward him)251

ALANYA252

(scared) What is this? He’s hurt, I have to…253

MARCUS254

(holding her back) NO! Alanya, just watch, and please stay quiet!255

(As they watch, Benji begins to scream and rip at his flesh in a frenzy. 256

soon he stands before them… a fully transformed werewolf)257

ALANYA258

(whispering) Lord have mercy…259

MARCUS260

Come on… we have to get out of here!261

(Alanya is frozen in shock and doesn’t move, Marcus finally picks 262

her up and hurries away as fast as he can)263

(Later in Alanya’s house)264

ALANYA265

(shaking) Oh Marcus, Benji did it didn’t he? He killed all those people. 266

How? Why? I am so confused!267

MARCUS268

Before I can tell you this, I have to make a confession… 269

I am a werewolf too, just like Benji270

ALANYA271

No…272

MARCUS273

But I’m not exactly like Benji, I have learned to control my transformations, 274

and I can change at almost any time. Benji, however, has developed a 275

taste for blood, and he can’t control it any more. He changes every full276

moon, like many werewolves have for centuries. There are few who can277

control it. That’s why I left seven years ago… so I could learn to control278

the monster inside me. Benji, has been a werewolf for less than eight279

months, and he is progressed to far to save. I’m sorry Alanya…280

ALANYA281

I don’t know what to say… you’re telling me that Benji could kill anyone, 282

even me? And he can’t be helped? He can’t overcome it like you did?283

(she begins to cry)284

MARCUS285

I have to catch him Alanya, or he will continue killing… and it will never end.286

I must go, I am afraid that if I wait, someone else will become a victim. 287

Do not leave the house Alanya, he is very dangerous, even to you!288

ALANYA289

Promise me you won’t hurt him…290

MARCUS291

I’ll try not to, but there’s no guarantee. 292

ALANYA293

Come back to me Marcus… (Marcus Exits) … I love you…294

(the spotlight goes black)295

Scene II296

(the spotlight centers on Deborah, who is running through the297

woods, and is being pursued by someone… or something)298

DEBORAH (To Herself)299

Only a little farther, if I can just make it to the snare, then 300

the monster will be mine, almost there…301

BENJI (As a werewolf)302

(Snarling in an almost inhuman voice) Muhahahaha…. I’ve got you now!303

(SNAP! Suddenly, Deborah makes a flying leap, and Benji’s feet disappear from beneath him as he falls into a pit covered in leaves.)304

DEBORAH305

Ha! I have you now, you murdering parasite! You will pay for your crimes, Marcus Lyon!306

(She aims a gun at him, but suddenly, Benji makes a flying leap out 307

of the pit and lands beside her)308

BENJI309

(Sneering, and laughing insanely) Didn’t anyone ever tell you werewolves could jump?310

(he grabs Deborah by the throat, slicing a deep wound, and the gun tumbles311

from her limp hand. Then, he lets Deborah fall to the ground in a heap 312

choking and gasping as she falls unconscious)313

BENJI314

MUHAHAHAHAHAHA! Now who has who?315

(all of a sudden, Marcus, transformed into a werewolf, grabs Benji from behind, and they struggle and fight, snarling and growling)316

MARCUS317

(snarling) I think you’ve done… enough Benji! (he smashes his claw into the base of Benji’s skull, and Benji staggers, and drops to the ground) (to Deborah) are you ok?318

DEBORAH319

(weakly) Marcus? (she grips the knife In her belt)320

MARCUS321

Yeah, now don’t worry, I’ll get you some help…322

DEBORAH323

(thrusts the knife into Marcus’s chest with the last of her strength) Die you monster! (dies herself)324

MARCUS325

(gasps and stares at the knife protruding from his chest unbelievingly) 326

wha… (He collapses  from the pain and turns back into a human)327

(suddenly, running footsteps are heard and Alanya appears)328

ALANYA329

MARCUS! Marcus? Where are… Oh no, (she falls down next to him, and sees the knife sticking from his chest) No… no you can’t die, I need you! (sobs)330

MARCUS331

(wheezing) I’m sorry… Alanya, I didn’t see it, until it was… too late. I love… you332

(grasps her hand weakly) goodbye… Alanya…333

(Alanya puts her head on Marcus’s chest and moans, then she feels a hand on her shoulder… she turns and utters a cry)334

BENJI335

(scowling) What? No tears for me?336

ALANYA337

Stay away from me… you… you…338

(Benji comes closer and looks into her eyes, he begins to laugh 339

and the laugh turns into a howl of pain… then he snarls viciously 340

and sinks his teeth into Alanya’s arm)341

ALANYA342

(screams) You can’t kill me, I won’t let you!343

BENJI344

(fading fast) I don’t…. want to kill… you… (jeers) The bite of a….345

werewolf… will be your… final demise. I tried to… protect you… 346

from myself… but you didn’t listen (laughs) now it’s too… late.347

Goodbye… Alanya. (sighs and breathes his last)348

ALANYA349

(finally understands) No…. you can’t…. noooooooo….350

(her screams turn into howls as the moon comes from behind a cloud, the lights fade and the curtain closes)351

THE END352