L'Evasion (Old Version)

L’Evasion

Characters:

Jacques DeMont (Brown Hair w/ beard; Slightly broad in size; tallish (about 5’11”- 6’1”); Medium of pale and tan (average); mood- loves family ideal dad caring (almost spoiling); in his early 30s late 20s; casual 19ths century French baker (most brown; Broad build.)

Captain Gavrielle (The Man)- (young, blonde, dress in French soldiers uniform; Medium skin (tan); Tall at 6’0”; Broad built;
early 30s; Gotee.)
Maria DeMont

Damien DeMont

Adele DeMont

Cardinal, Claude DeFauch

Soldiers

(DN=Director Notes) from yours truly shadow
The night is cold and stormy and it is past midnight. Trees are rustling in the wind. There is an air of creepiness in the air and the sounds suggest that something is about to happen. The year is 1862, France

At Curtain: A man wrapped in soaked rags in struggling against the heavy winds to a dark house in the distance. He approaches the house and knocks at the door…

Scene I
(DN- Large flash to small flashes; rain and thunder noises; dark scene; opens w/ the man at the door and knocking sound)
DEMONT

Who’s there?

MAN

I bring an important message to you and to your family.

DEMONT

My family and I are asleep, would you begin by telling us who you are sir?

MAN

You must forgive me, but for my own sake you must never know my name, if I am caught here…well, your head will not be the only one on the line.

DEMONT

(With shock)

What are you talking about?

MAN

Please, let me in and I’ll explain everything to you.

DEMONT

Of course, please come in.

(DN- Stage: Dilemma on set changing. (Turning house or Slide away?)
(They both settle down into the comfortable house of the DeMont family and Monsieur DeMont brings the man at this door a warm drink)
(DN- Stage: Very warm scenery to give of wanted affect.)

This is difficult for me to explain so you will have to trust me and everything I say tonight without question.

(Pause)

Your family is not safe here anymore Monsieur, all of your lives are in grave danger and your survival and that of your families, depends solely on how well you follow my instructions.

DEMONT

That sounds a lot like a threat, who sent you?

MAN

I SAID NO QUESTIONS!

(Clears his throat)

I am not a threat to you. I am friend.

Governor Claude DeFauch has sent an order for your arrest…and execution

DEMONT

What? Why? My family has done nothing wrong, we are honest people, I run the town bakery, honestly and justly, my wife spends her time cooking and cleaning and taking care of my two children, we are righteous and loyal people…we

MAN

I don’t know why DeFauch wants you dead but he seems obsessed, it seems he has gone mad. You’re arrest is all he thinks about lately.

DEMONT

I don’t care why this De-what’s his name wants my family and I dead but we are leaving now! We will go north, my sister has a house only a few days from here we can be…

MAN

We can’t risk it, by now DeFauch as the entire armed forces looking for you, there only way is to get out of France…. my way.

DEMONT

What exactly is your way?

MAN

Not “what” but “how” I have a plan

Scene II

DeMont and the man and DeMont’s wife and two children, Maria, Damien and Adele are running through the woods shrouded by cloaks and darkness.

SOLDIER

Captain Gavrielle! Have you found the DeMonts yet?

GAVRIELLE (formally known as MAN)

Yes I have, they’re in the house, sleeping. I need support.

SOLDIER

Yes Capitan.

(They walk into the darkened house without lighting any candles and they both take their guns out and walk to the bed. They pull back the covers suddenly and they see that no one is there)

Capitan?

(Instead of answering, he shoots the soldier, drops his gun and leaves.)

(Gavrielle runs behind the barrel of hay that the DeMont family is hiding behind, they are all hiding now as more soldiers come to the house and set fire to it, only Jacques knows what is happening, Maria, Damien and Adele, the youngest are ignorant and scared)

MARIA

(Desperately, through tears) Jacques What are they doing?

JACQUES

Hush, I’ll explain later, but we can’t let them here us now.

MARIA

What? Why

JACQUES

I can’t explain it right now; you just have to trust me

MARIA

Trust you? Why should I trust you when you won’t even tell me what’s going on

JACQUES MARIA (overlapping
What about everything I You are going to tell me what
do for this family. Isn’t is going on right now, and why
that reason enough to trust House it being burnt down and
me? I’m the head of this family Our family is hiding behind a barrel
Right now all I know is that my of hay You tell me what’s going on
family is in danger and I can’t right now
tell you what’s going on right
now

ADELE

What is going to happen to our house?

MARIA

Everything is okay honey. (Strokes her hair) We are going to find somewhere new to live and it’s going to be pretty and we’re going to love it there okay darling?

ADELE:

But I don’t want to live somewhere new, I want to live here, with you and Papa I want...I want

MARIA

Hush.... hush, it’s okay

ADELE

I want I want I WANT

(This loud cry is heard by all the soldiers who are immediately alerted to the DeMont’s presence and start running towards the hay bale to catch them. They run away as quickly as they can by Captain Gavrielle is shot in the leg by a bullet and then shot once again in the chest. The family looks back for a moment to see Gavrielle fall but Jacques urges them all to keep running, Maria is paralyzed and is also shot)
ALL

No

ADELE

Momma

(Damien and Adele just cry and Jacques tries to get them to move again. Jacques snaps out of it but Jacques grabs Adele and picks her up and runs with her in his arms.)

Scene III

(They are still running)

DAMIEN

Papa, where are we going?

DEMONT

(They pause momentarily now that they are away from the soldiers, and still under the cover of darkness, DeMont sighs)

I don’t know princess, everything is uncertain now but we have to keep running.

ADELE

But why Papa?

DEMONT

Because there are some bad people who want to hurt us.

ADELE

The people that hurt Mama?

DEMONT

Yes Adele

DAMIEN

(Crying now again)

You won’t let them get us, will you Papa?

DEMONT

No, of course not.

ADELE

Will we ever see Mommy again?

DEMONT

(Is silent for a moment)

Yes, we will see her again, God willing.
(Damien and Adele are still too young to fully grasp their mother’s death and Jacques is holding back his sadness. He begins to hum to his children and they are soon fast asleep. Jacques cries himself self to sleep.)

Scene IV

(Jacques has a nightmare, in it, their escape and the death of his wife replays, however it is horribly distorted and demonic. The soldiers look monstrous and hideous and all the around him he hears screams of terror and suffering. One soldier in the dream fires the bullet that kills his wife, but when he turns to look at his wife’s murderer, he sees himself holding the gun. Soon, all the soldiers look like him and they capture his children and himself and drag them away. He wakes up screaming)

ADELE

Papa!

DEMONT
(Still breathing heavily and fast)

I’m all right. I’m all right.

ADELE

You’re scared too, aren’t you?

DEMONT

Yes, I am

ADELE
(Looks away and says sadly and quietly)

Momma isn’t coming back is she/

DEMONT
(Ashamed)

No (long pause) She isn’t.

ADELE

Don’t be scared Papa, you’re brave and very strong, you’re not afraid of anything.


DEMONT
I’m afraid that’s not true.

ADELE

What?

DEMONT

I’m scared for you and Damien. I have to be.

ADELE

You don’t have to be afraid anymore, I’ll protect you.

DEMONT
(Laughs sadly)

Thank you princess.

(Jacques and Adele both go back to sleep, both feeling much more at ease, despite their sadness.)


Scene V

(The sun rises a few days later Jacques is sitting by the fire in the woods while his children still sleep peacefully close by. Adele wakes up first and goes to go hug her father.)

ADELE

Papa!

DEMONT

Princess!

(She jumps into his arms.)

ADELE

Do we have anything for breakfast this morning papa?

DAMIEN
(Still half asleep)

Yeah! I’m hungry! We haven’t eaten in two days!

DEMONT

I know children; there hasn’t been any food. I’m sorry

DAMIEN

Well when are we gonna eat?

DEMONT

Soon, very soon.

(He thinks)

We should go find a place to eat now. It will be a long walk.

DAMIEN

But I’m too tired for a long walk! Can’t it be a short walk?

DEMONT

I’m afraid not, if we wait any longer the journey will be more difficult and we will be too weak to find anything, it has to be now.

ADELE

But we’re lost, how are we going to get out of here? We don’t even know where food is?

DEMONT

There is an inn north of here, I know the innkeeper. He is a good friend of mine from my youth.

DAMIEN

But how do we know which way is north anyway? We’re just going to get more lost!

DEMONT

No Damien, look. (He bends down and touches some fuzzy green moss on a tree) The moss always grows on the north side of the tree?

DAMIEN

Why?

ADELE

So we can find our way of course silly!

SCENE VI

(DeMont and company come to the inn. Adele is asleep, presumably from lack of energy from food. Damien drags himself along with his head down to the ground. DeMont is also exhausted but determined to survive. Their clothes are dirty and torn. DeMont knocks on the door weakly. The innkeeper, Bernard, opens the shutter near the door to see his visitors. He can't see who is at the door because DeMont is hanging his head down from exhaustion)

BERNARD

Whose there? A guest?

DEMONT

My children and I...we need food...a place to stay

BERNARD

Well, do you have money? This isn't a charity I'm running here! Have to make a living, I do. Got a wife and kids to feed and...(DeMont lifts his head and Bernard recognizes him.) Jacques! Jacques! My old friend! It's been a long time! What can I do for you Monsieur?

DEMONT

....Food. (He passes out and Bernard catches him.

BERNARD

Oh dear.... Esmeralda! Fetch, your mother, tell her we need our finest room ready!

(Esmeralda, Bernard’s oldest daughter drops the broom she's holding and goes up the stairs to find her mother.

(A few hours later, DeMont regains consciousness, surrounded by his concerned children, Bernard and Bernard’s wife)

BERNARD

Oy! Thank god you're awake, I thought I was going to have to open up a bottle of our best brandy, 'ey?

(DeMont groans)

Here, eat this; it will make you feel better. (He gives DeMont a tray with a hot bowl of soup on it.

DEMONT

Thank you.

BERNARD

So where is the beautiful Madame? You know I always fancied her. (His wife smacks his arm and he rubs it)

(There is a tense silence in the air for a moment)

MADAME (Rouchele’)

Come children, it's late and you'd best be getting off to bed. (She ushers them out of the room, to their own rooms)

BERNARD

You're not going to tell me something happened to Maria are you?

DEMONT

Dead, Bernard

BERNARD

But how? I...(clears his throat) I'm sorry

DEMONT

(DeMont decides it's probably best not to let Bernard know that they are fugitives)

She was.... sick.

BERNARD

So what brings you into my small piece of the world anyhow? And in such a state! (Quietly) You're not in any kind of trouble are you?

(There is a long silence and before DeMont can answer Madame Rouchele’ opens the door)

MADAME

Bernard, dear, there is someone at the front door, says they need to talk to you.

BERNARD
(To DeMont)

If you’ll excuse me...

DEMONT

Of course

(Bernard walks out of the room to answer the door, he opens it and sees three policemen, one of them an inspector)

BERNARD

Is there a problem inspector?

INSPECTOR

I'm afraid that there is. Are you Monsieur Rouchele’?

BERNARD

Yes, I’m him, what is it?

INSPECTOR

I'm looking for this man, have you seen him? (He pulls out a portrait of DeMont and shows it to Bernard)

BERNARD

(Quietly) Jacques....

INSPECTOR

Ah, so you know this man?

BERNARD

Of course I know him! He comes here often, a regular guest here!

INSPECTOR

(Excited) Really? Have you seen him lately?

BERNARD

Hmmmm, haven't seen him for six months!

INSPECTOR

Really? I talked to some of the town’s people and they seem to believe they saw him walk this way. Do you have any idea why that might be?

BERNARD

Well Inspector (chuckles) There a quite a lot of people who look like that, it could have been anyone!

INSPECTOR

The people I talked to seemed very sure that it was him. He was carrying his two children with him, wasn’t he?

BERNARD

Ah, that’s right, I almost forgot about the little ones. Got a beautiful wife too you know. Good man, good family.

INSPECTOR

They are dangerous fugitives from the law. They are wanted for treason and murder and I believe that they are hiding in your inn.

BERNARD

I’ve already told you I haven’t seen them in sixth months.

INSPECTOR

I want to see for myself, let me in

BERNARD

I’m afraid I can’t let you do that. Guests are sleeping; You’d be causing a disturbance.

INSPECTOR (angrily)

You will let me in or you will be arrested for obstruction of justice!

BERNARD

I don’t have to let you in until you show me some papers. These are dangerous times, with a family of murders running about, can’t be too careful now can we?

INSPECTOR

(Raises fist as it to hit Bernard)

Why you little!

(Lowers fist and takes a deep breath and calms down)

Very well, I shall return with the proper papers and then you will let me into your inn.

(He turns to walk away and the two soldiers follow him.)

No, you two guard the doors, make sure no one enters or leaves. Do you understand?

SOLDIERS

Yes Inspector

BERNARD
(Walks up to DeMont’s room and flings the door open and marches in, clearly angry)

DEMONT

What is it? Bernard?

BERNARD

I need you out of here! Now!

DEMONT

Why? What’s going on?

BERNARD

If you don’t mind, I’d like to be the one asking the questions here! How ‘bout we start with “Why did you kill your wife”? (Silence) Jacques, Why did you kill Maria?

DEMONT

Bernard, you know I didn’t

BERNARD

The inspector at the door seems to think differently! So tell me Jacques, who should I believe, the Inspector of the Police, or you?

DEMONT

Please, just let me explain.

BERNARD

Just make it quick.

DEMONT

My family and I, we’re being chased by the police.

BERNARD

For what crime?

DEMONT

I don’t know

BERNARD

You don’t know? You mean to tell me that you have no idea why the Inspector just showed up at my door demanding I let him in to search for you, claiming you were being hunted for murder?
DEMONT

I didn’t kill anybody!

BERNARD

Then give me some explanation

DEMONT

I.... I don’t have one.

BERNARD
(Turns around to think)

I can’t hide you here Jacques; I have a family, a wife to take care of. If I try to protect you, well, they’ll take all of that away from me. I have to cooperate. I just hope that I’m not making a mistake. I want to believe you didn’t kill anyone Jacques, I really do, but I don’t know if I can.

DEMONT

Bernard, please.

BERNARD

NO!

DEMONT

We’ll leave; we can find somewhere else to go, we won’t mention your name at all.

BERNARD

But they’ll still know I hid you here. You were seen coming here. They won’t let me go. No, I can’t let you leave here. The Inspector will be back here any moment; I’ll turn you over to him.

DEMONT

No, please!

BERNARD

Maybe if you cooperate, they’ll let you off easy.

(They hear a rattling noise and Madame Rouchele’ bursts into the room)

MADAME

Bernard!

(Bernard looks away and DeMont grabs a chair and hits Bernard in the back of the head with it, Bernard collapses, Madame Rouchele’ screams and Jacques ushers Adele and Damien to the window, he helps them climb out the window first, into a nearby tree, but he is about to jump to the branch but slips on the window ledge and ends up trying to hold on to the ledge with his finger tips.)

INSPECTOR
(Bursts into the room)

Where is he? Where did he go? (Grabs Madame Rouchele’) Where is DeMont? (Looks down at the unconscious Bernard) What happened to him?

MADAME

He escaped, he hit my husband and left.

INSEPCTOR

When did he leave?

MADAME
Just now.

INSPECTOR
(To soldiers)

He couldn’t have gotten very far, find him!

(The soldiers and the inspector leave and run to go find them, they exit on horseback, the inspector however, goes to the side of the inn and goes up against the wall, clearly watiting for something. Jacques is still hanging from the window sill)

DAMIEN

Papa, jump!

(Jacques jumps from the window to the tree, now holding onto the lower branch and climbs down.)

JACQUES

Are they gone?

INPECTOR

I'm afraid not. You are under arrest.

(Jacques gets into a fighting stance, ready to confront the Inspector.)

INSPECTOR

Careful, one false move...

(He pulls out a gun and points it at Damien.)

JACQUES

Damien!

DAMIEN

Dad!

INSPECTOR

Will you come quitely or will should I make another overly large hole in your son's head?

(Jacques lowers his stance, lowers his head and puts his hand out. The Inspector puts handcuffs on Jacques and his children. Guard enters)

INSPECTOR

I will take these three to the prison, arrest Monsieur and Madame Rouchele' for obstruction of justice.

(All exit)

END ACT I

(GAVRIELLE, previously assumed dead is shackled to a wall in a prison cell; instruments of torture are all around him. The lighting is a red color here)

DEFAUCH

Well, what have we here? The ex-Captain Gavrielle. It seems you’re position has gone from bad, to worse.

GAVRIELLE

Make your point DeFauch! I don’t plan on hanging around all day listening to you rave!

DEFAUCH

(Laughs)
It doesn’t seem like you have much choice now does it? But since you are so eager to accelerate this little meeting I shall be concise.
(Casually picks up a whip and starts pacing in front of GAVRIELLE)
Where were you the other night at around midnight?

GAVRIELLE

I was at an inn, drinking myself half-blind of course.
DEFAUCH

(Laughs again and then cracks his whip against GAVRIELLE’s chest.)
Liar! Where were you?

GAVRIELLE

(With venom)
You know where I was.)

DEFAUCH

Of course, but I want to hear it from your lips.
(Whips him again on the word “lips” He goes to whip him again)

GAVRIELLE

Alright!
(DEFAUCH pauses)
I was at the town bakery in Avignon!

DEFAUCH

Yes, of course you were. You assisted in their escape, did you not?
(Silence)
You got there shortly before I did, you warned them and helped them escape? Didn’t you? Isn’t that how you received that wound on your leg? It’s a pity it wasn’t a fatal shot, don’t you think? It might have made things a bit easier for you. If I may put things into prospective for you now: You have assisted in the escape of a dangerous man and his family. The punishment of which, as you already know, is death.

GAVRIELLE

I can bring them to you. I can find and arrest them if you give me the chance.

DEFAUCH

That’s exactly the kind of cowardly worm you are Gavrielle. Willing to sell out an entire family to save your own neck. So willing to repeat the same mistake that lost you your status as Captain, You always were weak Gavrielle. Besides, it doesn’t matter now. I took care of their arrest last night. They are now sitting in a prison as we speak.