The House Fae

Excerpt:

Induction

[The stage is dark. The curtain is down. Wendy, very slowly, walks to the middle of the stage from the right. The spotlight follows her. However, Wendy is wearing a long cloak and has a large hood on, much like a medieval enchantress. Her face is hidden in the shadows of the cloak. The only clue the audience has to her being Wendy is her voice. If anything else has been given away, you have failed. I hate to be blunt, but that is the truth. On a lighter note, I suppose, once Wendy has reached the middle of the stage, she stops and faces the audience. It begins.]

Wendy: Good eve upon thee whom wait in this darkened chamber. This false night we must bear, to forget our sins and mercies which hide awake in light of day. Even if for but a while.

But, I am no knavish maid. I know that secrets have no eyes to see truth and thus do not fear the light. They crave the night. Yet, after all night, all must become day. Then night, then day again.

Yet sins can be slain and peace again may reign. The only price is silence.

Aye, a secret sin, forgotten by all those who live and breath, is as white as virtue as air. Not known. Not cursed. Not grave. Not fair.

But be now warned! Blackbirds, beauties, ladies, and heartstrings sing. Let not the breath of secret run thy lips. For one never knows what fated blade might slip.

Good night. So day may come again. Good night.

[Wendy pulls a small gong from her robes and hits it once. The lights go out. She leaves the stage.]

Act 1

Scene 1

[The curtain rises. A gong sounds. The room is mostly dark. The only light is coming from the fireplace on the right side of the room and a few lamps. The room is a library, there are shelves of books and a few chairs scattered around the room. There are three floor-to-ceiling windows at the back of the room. Angela is curled up on the sofa. Wendy is sitting next to her. They are talking.]

Angela: Miss Wendy, you are such an adventurer! You're absolutely fearless!

Wendy: [smiles politely] I would not say I'm quite fearless. Nor would I call myself an adventurer.

Angela: Nonsense. You have traveled the world, seen so much. Even if the walls could speak, you would have more stories to tell. I wish I could travel as you do.

Wendy: Well, what's stopping you? You are almost a grown woman now, the world is in your hands.

Angela: [laughs] The world may be in my hands, but the world is what mother tells me it can be. Besides, I could never afford to travel. How would I know what to do? Who would I go with?

Wendy: Maybe you are too young yet to travel. Someday, perhaps, you'll learn that you can see the world on your own.

Angela: That sounds fair enough for me.

[Wendy glances at her watch.]

Wendy: My, look at the time. You should be getting to bed. [She stands to go, but Angela reaches over and grabs her sleeve.]

Angela: [pleading] Please. Not yet. Just. Just, one more story. Please?

Wendy: Alright then. [she sits back down] I'll tell you the story of the man at the crab market.

Angela: Not that one again.

Wendy: Very well. Once, I was going by train from Venice to

Angela: You told that one two nights ago. A new story. Please?

Wendy: Let's see then. A new story. I've got it. I'll tell you the story of the house fae.

Angela: What is a "house fae"?

Wendy: [Her impatience is beginning to show] If you let me tell you, you will know. [She catches herself and begins her story. Her smile is forced.] Once, many years ago, I was going to my new employers. Along my way, I stopped at an inn called the 'Lucky Moth'. The inn was run by a very nice old couple. Unfortunately, some of the local girls in the town had decided to host a party at the inn that very night.

Angela: [she perks up at the mention of a party] Did you join the party?

Wendy: Certainly not. I was not invited and I had to go to bed early so that I could get to my new job the next day.

Angela: [disappointed] Oh. When does the house fae come in?

Wendy: I'm getting to that. Where was I? Yes. The girls threw their party. The party was rowdy and crowded. They made an absolute mess of the place. I was worried that the elderly couple wouldn't be able to clean up the mess they made. I wasn't sure, but once, it sounded like a window broke. The next morning, worried to see the aftermath of the party, I went downstairs. To my absolute shock, the inn was spotless. There was not a speck of dust nor book nor chair out of place. I thought to myself, well maybe the party wasn't as rowdy as I had assumed. Yet, when I passed the front window, there was a crack in it. The window had been glued back together. There was not a possible way that the room could have been fixed in the few hours before dawn. I think the couple must have heard my thoughts, they approached me and asked, 'You look like a bright girl. Want to know the secret?' 'Of course' I answered them. 'Our secret' They told me, was that they had a deal with the house fae. I asked them, just as you asked me now, what a house fae was. They explained that the fae were an ancient people who lived among us, making deals, helping, and sometimes, hurting people like us.

They told me that when they had first opened the inn, they had made a deal with the fae. The fae would protect and keep the inn intact as long as the innkeepers fed them and gave them coin.

Angela: So, the fae fixed things after the party?

Wendy: Precisely.

Angela: Well, what happened next?

Wendy: I thanked the innkeepers for their knowledge and for letting me stay the night. After that, I left and continued on my path to my new employer.

That is the story of the house fae.

Angela: That is ridiculous. Fae doesn't exist! That is just a children's story. You said it yourself, I'm almost a grown woman now!

Wendy: Fine. You asked for one more story. Whether you liked it or not, that was one story. Now, off to bed.

Angela: But I don't want to! [Angela crosses her arms and pouts.]

[Donna appears in the doorway by the fireplace.]

Wendy: Now you really are acting like a child! Be a lady and do as I say. Go to bed.

Donna: [Takes a few steps into the room.] Do as you tutor says, dear.

Angela: [Subdued] Yes, mother. [She stands and walks out of the room, slamming the door as she leaves.]

Donna: Angela! [To Wendy, calmly now.] I'm sorry about her. You don't know how thankful I am for you. I can never get anyone to put up with her temper for more than a few weeks. You've managed to stay with us for… What is it now?

Wendy: Three months ma'am.

Donna: Yes, that is it. You really are a miracle. You don't mind that we brought you with us to my cousin's for the holiday?

Wendy: It is my duty to do as you command me. Ma'am. I like to travel.

Donna: Well. That is good then. You are dismissed for the night then.

Wendy: Thank you, ma'am. [She leaves the room. A clock struck ten.]

Donna: [Takes a seat on the sofa.] Only ten on the clock? O, what has become of me? There was a time, long ago now, that I would not return until the dawn was the day. What has happened to me? I know Lonan wants me to find someone, but where? Where? The city seems to be flooded with Widows, old maids, and young flowers hunting for love, or someone to keep them warm. Even the house has the fire to keep it warm. But I? I have none but pictures to remind me of the ghosts of the dead. [She pulls a pendant from around her neck and opens it to look at the picture inside.] And ghosts are colder than ice itself.

Is this the curse of our house? To end with Angela? My sweet, sweet, Angel baby? Should the name and blood of Greensword die with her? [She stifles a sob.]

[She sits up.] No! We will not be the last of us! The fire keeps the house warm and I am in the house, therefore, I too shall be warm!

[She stands from the sofa and faces the fireplace.]

O, spirit of fire! Give us a miracle to save us from our curse and doom!

[Nothing happens. Obviously. Donna falls to her knees and begins crying again. Quiet, painful sobs.]