the winds of thor[1]

8/3/2019 The Winds of Thor[1]

1/55

THE WINDS OF THOR

By

ALEX GROVER


2/55

ACT I

Scene 1

Darkness. Asleep. But then, crickets; and then,light. We are invited onto the porch of MRS. GRACE

YARDLEY by a show of chirping songs and the dimlight of an antediluvian lantern, hanging highabove the creaking rocking chair of the old woman.Her head, a drooping marionette out of play,lingers just above her chest; her hands are placedfirmly on the rockers antiquated rests. She bearsno say, as of yet. As we wonder the contents ofMRS. YARDLEYs mind, we hear a howl in thedistance of something. We dont know what it is.It is neither human nor animal. It is possiblyartifice; nevertheless, a howl. MRS. YARDLEYchuckles.

GRACEOld Thor...Old Thor...watchin us, everyone...

There is another howl. MRS. YARDLEYs grin becomesmore evident, almost overshadowed by the seams ofwrinkles that hang from her face.

Winds, flowin, cold. Crickets, listen: Thor awaits.

As far as we know, the rest of the world is inoblivion; rather, the dark womb dubbed Erebus solong ago. From the darkness, there is a figurethat slowly makes his way towards the porch. Thecrickets become silent.

Ezra?

We then see EZRA GORGE, a large man of color,wearing nothing but overalls. In his hand issomething furry. Bloody.

Ezra, is that you?

EZRAI heard it, Missus Yardley. I heard it well.

GRACEI heard it too. What did you catch?

EZRA(without sentiment of any kind)

Rabbit.

EZRA raises the bloody carcass, dangling, cut inmany places, torn apart, held together by thespine. Then he lowers it.

(CONTINUED)


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CONTINUED: 2.

GRACEBring it closer, Ezra.

He does so, compliantly.Why is it so ripped? Why so torn?

EZRAI found it in the trap. Just like that.

GRACETraps dont do that.

EZRANo they dont, Missus Yardley. Wolves do.

GRACEThats right, Ezra--

EZRA

Found a wolf like that, too, like the rabbit, not toofar away from the trap. All ripped. All torn.

Silence. The crickets are relics.

GRACEAnythin else?

EZRAFew deer, nother wolf, fox too. Some raccoons.

GRACECome inside for a bit, Ezra.

EZRAYou heard it, Missus--

GRACECome inside. You shouldnt be out there.

EZRAI shouldnt be out here.

GRACEPut the rabbit on the table. Well have it for supper.

EZRAIll put the rabbit on the table for supper.

Slowly, EZRA enters MRS. YARDLEYs realm, crossingthe creaking porch. The crickets begin to chirponce more.

(CONTINUED)


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CONTINUED: 3.

GRACEThor, Old Thor, out there. Animals. Theyre justanimals.

There isnt much for MRS. YARDLEY to say at this point. She looks into the distance, calmly

watching, brooding. Im not sure myself of whatshe is thinking at this point. Before we can evendecide, there is another howl, this time frominside the house.

Ezra? Are you alright?

We hear sounds of trampling, things breaking,ideals lost, madmen cursing and screaming.Howling. EZRA comes out, holding his right handwith his left, all a flood of oozing crimson.

EZRAMISSUS YARDLEY MISSUS YARDLEY THE KNIFE CUT MYSELF--

GRACEBring it closer, Ezra--

EZRATHE KNIFE CUT IT THE THUMB GONE CLEAVED GONE GONEBLOODY--

GRACELet me see.

MRS. YARDLEY pulls EZRAs right hand towards herlap, analyzing with ancient eyes.

EZRAITS GONE MISSUS YARDLEY MY THUMB GONE GONE GONE GONE--

GRACEYou nicked it, but it aint gone, Ezra. Plentya bloodto show for a thumb lost, though...

EZRABUT MISSUS YARDLEY IT HURTS THE PAIN THUMB GONE KNIFE--

GRACEGet in before he hears you--

EZRAWHO HEAR ME?

GRACEHim. Out there.

(CONTINUED)


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CONTINUED: 4.

EZRAWHO WHO WHO--

GRACEGo inside. Stop playin with the knives, please.

EZRAWAS CUTTIN RABBIT--

GRACEIll do that, Ezra. Just go in the basement and findsome of that bees wax ointment I made. Find thelavender, sprinkle some of that on it. Wrap it incloth.

EZRAMISSUS--

GRACE

Go, please.

In a painful storm, EZRA goes back into the house.The crickets chirp, chirp, chirp.

Thor, Id never thought youd go this far. Its beengettin cold out here, colder anyhow, and I know itsyou. Knew it was you from the start. You aint foolinanyone, Thor. Your winds keep blowin, but I aintmovin.

As if in response, the horrifying howl emanates,from the dark womb.

See that? I know!

Another howl.I know, Thor! You aint foolin me! You aint foolinme at all!

A third howl; longer this time. GRACE chuckles. Itis at this point that another figure emerges fromErebus, a panicked white man in torn jeans and ablack blazer. Underneath he wears no shirt, butbare skin, the pains of the forest visible on hischest and stomach.

RANDOLPHMiss, miss, miss, help me--

GRACEWhats the matter, son?

RANDOLPH(panting, bending over)

Its just--

(CONTINUED)


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CONTINUED: 5.

As he starts to speak, RANDOLPH dry-heaves, andfalls to his knees. The crickets have beeninterrupted for the last time, and are gone forgood. I would have left as well.

GRACE

Just what, son? Why were you runnin here? Thisdirection?

RANDOLPH(looking up, still out of breath)

Just--that thing out there...

GRACEOh.

Silence.You best get inside.

RANDOLPHCall the police, right?

GRACE(casual)

Just get inside. Thats all.

RANDOLPHBut we havent...we havent introduced...introducedourselves--

GRACEIm Mrs. Grace Yardley. Ive lived here for a while.

Longern youve existed, probably.

RANDOLPHYes...yes, I mean, Im Randolph.

GRACERandolph what?

RANDOLPH(at a loss)

What?

GRACEYour surname, Randolph.

RANDOLPHI...I--

(CONTINUED)


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CONTINUED: 6.

A howl from the darkness casts listeners intoshock and awe. RANDOLPH bolts inside, and GRACEchuckles once more, still rocking. There is afaint gust of wind, howling in its own right, amelody to the rhythm of the rocking chair. MRS.YARDLEY stands up, and takes one final look into

the oblivion.

GRACEYou aint fooled me. You aint fooled nobody.

Then, GRACE turns out the lantern, and were leftin DARKNESS.

Scene 2

Immediately we enter the old cottage, a littleabode crafted from worm-infested wood smelling ofcarrion. A fire burns STAGE RIGHT, the virgin

Hestia tending to those flames with reflectiveembers and bone-dusted logs, borne of trees fromthe forest. I feel my fingers warmed by the sightalone. At CENTER STAGE there is a rectangulartable, with a chair on either side of its shorterlengths. Other than Hestias fire and the barrentable, there is nothing in the cottage. The stairsto the basement can be accessed via STAGE RIGHT,while upstairs can be accessed via a little alcovenear STAGE LEFT. The kitchen can be accessedthrough another little alcove at STAGE RIGHT.Beyond all other details, the most important partof the room is the entrance, the gateway to the

outside world. Just as GRACE comes in after putting out the lantern, we see RANDOLPH curled ina fetal position on the floor, shivering despiteHestias warm, virginal flourishes.

GRACEWhyre you shiverin, Randolph?

RANDOLPHI...

RANDOLPH doesnt know how to respond. GRACE beginstowards the alcove.

GRACEIll grab you a blanket from upstairs.

As GRACE leaves the room, we are left in theunsettling solitude of RANDOLPH, who stillshivers. The floor creaks from time to time,giving realistic account of the cottages

(CONTINUED)


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CONTINUED: 7.

existence on Earth. There is silence at first, thecracklings of the fire uniting into a hum ofbroken leaves; but then there is scratching at thedoor. RANDOLPH turns from his fetal position, andimmediately snaps his neck towards the door. Wecan only see a plain, wooden door, but the

scratches fill our heads with images of wildanimals, lingering in the chaos outside. Imagineopening that door. Just imagine it. Lettingyourself open to the forces beyond. The scratches persist, and RANDOLPH gets up from the floor.Slowly, he surreptitiously steps towards the chairclosest to STAGE RIGHT, and sits, watching,listening. The scratches grow louder, almost pounding against the door with intense ferocity.Then we hear footsteps proceed down the stairs.GRACE enters from the alcove, with a large, redblanket.

RANDOLPH(startled, edgy)

You got me a blanket.

GRACEYou were cold. Still are?

RANDOLPH(a little better)

Yes.

RANDOLPH graciously accepts the blanket, as thescratches have already ceased.

Thank you.

GRACEThankin me seems base at this time. Thank someoneelse. Just think: at least Old Thor aint got you.

RANDOLPHOld Thor...

GRACEBut Ill have a nice rabbit for us tonight. Ezra got itfrom outside.

RANDOLPHRabbit? That sounds good. Really good.

GRACEYoure hungry, right?

(CONTINUED)


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CONTINUED: 8.

RANDOLPH(cutting her off)

Yes, yes, of course, hungry...

GRACEEzra found it. All mangled up.

RANDOLPHHowd it get mangled? A trap?

GRACEThats how you catch rabbits. But traps dont mangle.

RANDOLPHSo who was it?

GRACEOld Thor, probably. Hes been around for a while.

RANDOLPHOld Thor...Whos Ezra?

GRACEHell be back in a minute. Just cleanin himself up.

RANDOLPHRight.

GRACEWant somethin warm to drink? You got the blanket.

RANDOLPH

I got the blanket. Its fine.

GRACEYoure thirsty.

RANDOLPHI am thirsty, arent I...

GRACEIll get you somethin warm to drink. Ezra usuallylikes when I put the honey in the tea. He likes tea.

RANDOLPHSo whos Ezra?

GRACECame from the forest. Never knew nobody. I never tookhim in, ficially. Kinda lives out there. But I havehim once in a while. Let him sleep on the floor.

(CONTINUED)


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CONTINUED: 9.

RANDOLPHOh--

GRACEWith that blanket, of course. He loves the red blanket.

RANDOLPH ponders the blanket, smells it.Why you smellin it? Stinks?

RANDOLPHNo offense, please, maam. Sometimes I just trust mysenses more than my instinct. Happens that way.

GRACEHows it smell?

RANDOLPHLike dried blood.

GRACEHe is the hunter-type, I sppose.

RANDOLPHYes. Hes comin up?

GRACEYou wanted tea?

RANDOLPHYes. With honey.

GRACE

Ill give you tea with honey.

GRACE exits towards the kitchen, through the otheralcove. Once more, RANDOLPH is left alone, sittingat the table, wrapped in the black blanket. Nolonger shivering, RANDOLPH takes everything hesees into account: the dusty features of the reliccottage; the sounds of the floor when pressedupon; and the door. When RANDOLPH sees the door,he imagines things that we, as the audience,cannot understand just yet. We see him through hisfacial expressions, but his mind is esoteric forthe moment. Suddenly, the scratches start again.This time, before RANDOLPH can shy away from theaberration that lingers beyond the door, GRACEcomes in with tea, ignorant to the sounds. She places RANDOLPHs cup right next to him, while shesets herself at the opposite end of the table, herback facing the door. The scratches continue.RANDOLPH tries to save face. We know its almostimpossible for that to happen.

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)


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CONTINUED: 10.

GRACE (contd)You look misplaced.

RANDOLPHSome things are always--misplaced, I suppose.

GRACEWhy are you wearing that suit jacket? But you aint gota shirt ndneath...

RANDOLPH(flinching at the scratches)

Must be--business-like--Im a business man.

GRACEWhat business you got in the woods?

RANDOLPHNo business in the woods...just--I--I got a business in

the city, I think. Selling prescriptions. Birthcontrol. Things of that sort.

GRACEYou think its natural?

RANDOLPHAny--anything is natural. Man-made things are made fromnature. The artificial must have some--some kind ofbasis from the organic.

GRACEWhats the matter?

RANDOLPHNothing, nothing--nothing.

GRACEIs it somethin outside--

RANDOLPHNo! I mean, I mean--

GRACEIts somethin outside, I know.

RANDOLPHI mean, its, maybe? Its...

GRACEIll look outside. Take a sip of your tea.

(CONTINUED)


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CONTINUED: 11.

But RANDOLPH cant. Instead he watches, stillhearing the horrific scratches, louder thanbefore, as GRACE approaches the gateway. Let inthe demons?

RANDOLPH

No!

GRACE opens the door to pitch-black emptiness.

GRACENo what?

RANDOLPHNothing out there. Business as usual.

GRACE(closing the door)

Yes, business as usual. Youre a city boy?

RANDOLPHBorn and raised on the outskirts.

GRACEKnow your grandparents?

RANDOLPHYeah, I knew them for a bit. Nice people. Very nice.Very old, I guess.

GRACEVery old. How about your parents?

RANDOLPHWhat?

GRACEYour parents, Randolph.

RANDOLPHMy parents? Nice people. Very nice. Very--Im not quitesure. They knew things--and--earned money and lived ina nice house, near the city. Very nice. I liked thehouse--

GRACEWell thats sweet and all, but I aint gotten to knowyour last name yet.

Pause.

(CONTINUED)


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CONTINUED: 12.

RANDOLPHMy last name--its...its...

RANDOLPH takes a sip of the tea.You know, I can just leave, you know, its fine.

GRACEYou sure?

RANDOLPHYou know, Ill just let you get to your business, and Ito mine, you know, you know...

GRACECant let you do that.

RANDOLPH(almost paranoid)

W-why not? I c-cant? B-b-but--

GRACEYoud freeze. Shiverin when theres a fire like that.Youd freeze out there. Its lucky you came here.

RANDOLPHYes, yes, Mrs. Yardley--

GRACELucky Old Thor didnt get to you. Heard it from Ezrahimself. Raccoons, deer, wolves: all torn up. Spinesintact, but the flesh was gone or maimed inloose--chunks.

RANDOLPHI--Old Thor?

GRACEDrink your tea, Randolph.

RANDOLPH complies.Id like to know your last name once you figure it out.

RANDOLPHI cant think of it right now, sorry Mrs. Yardley--

GRACEGrace. Mrs. Yardley, too profuse. Grace, simple,powerful.

RANDOLPHGrace is everywhere, I guess. Outside, maybe...

(CONTINUED)


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CONTINUED: 13.

GRACEAint no grace outside. Thats for Old Thor. Theoutside is his, Id bargain.

RANDOLPHHes a friend? Heh, Rival?

GRACEDont know exactly what he is.

There is a disturbing howl in the distance, fromthe dark wilderness.

Thats him right now. Gettin closer, I sppose.

RANDOLPHC-closer? Was that a bear?

GRACEYoure gettin closer.

RANDOLPHCloser...wheres Ezra?

GRACEHell be up in a minute.

RANDOLPHYou said that before--

GRACEDrink your tea. Itll get cold.

RANDOLPHCold doesnt bother me.

GRACEYes it does. Obviously, city boy.

RANDOLPHDo you mind if I stay the night? Till the dawn?

GRACEStay till then. Till the dawn.

RANDOLPHAlright.

There is a shriek from downstairs. RANDOLPH,startled, jumps up onto his feet, still wrapped inthe red blanket. GRACE chuckles.

(CONTINUED)


15/55

CONTINUED: 14.

GRACEThats Ezra. Hes in a little pain right now.

RANDOLPH(worried)

Yes. Sounds it. Hell be alright?

GRACEJust nicked his thumb. Thats all.

RANDOLPHMaybe call the hospital? Just in case...

GRACEYou city people always call. Call, call, call. Call thepolice, call the hospital. Why not wait and see?

RANDOLPHBut hes in pain, you know--

GRACEDont let your tea get cold--

RANDOLPHI wont, but Mrs. Yardley--

GRACEGrace, Ill take Grace from now on--

RANDOLPHI will, Grace, but hes in pain--

GRACEThats your instinct, right, Randolph? To call thosepeople?

RANDOLPHYeah, I guess.

GRACEWhat do your senses say?

RANDOLPH(lying)

Nothin right now.

GRACEWhen they come back, tell me how they feel. Id like toknow. My senses tell me to let Ezra be. Hes ahunter-type, a good man, knows what hes doin.

(CONTINUED)


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CONTINUED: 15.

RANDOLPHI know hes a good man--from what youve told me.

GRACEAnd the senses, if you dont mind me sayin, are justas much guests here as you. If youre not hospitable to

them, they bite you.

RANDOLPHI--okay.

RANDOLPH finishes the tea, gulping it down withextended emphasis to a certain gargle, upon whichhe almost spews out the entire smattering ofliquid upon the table.

GRACEWas it that good?

RANDOLPH(coughing)

I--yes.

GRACEId make you more in a bit. Just gotta put the rabbiton the stove.

RANDOLPHNeed help cleaning it?

GRACENot from a city boy, no.

GRACE gets up, smiling, and exits through thealcove at STAGE RIGHT. RANDOLPH sits, waiting, anda young girl in a night-gown walks swiftly acrossthe living space.

RANDOLPHHave I met you?

The young girl, who could only be seventeen yearsold, is oblivious to RANDOLPH, and proceeds toopen the door--

Hey! Dont do--

The young girl opens the door, the shadowy veilseen as the eternal void. The winds of Thor blowright through the veil, slamming RANDOLPH to theground. Before he can ask her anything, the younggirl smiles as she exits through the gateway.Startled, RANDOLPH flings the blanket to theground, the fire flickering, and lays on the

(CONTINUED)


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CONTINUED: 16.

table, hands threshing through his hair. He beginsto shiver. We hear tapping, like rain, on theroof. Slow at first. Stays slow for now. GRACEenters, her hands and an apron bloody. RANDOLPHjumps back up from the table, panicked, stilldisoriented from his episode with the young girl.

He clambers to pick the blanket back up.

GRACEWhats the matter?

RANDOLPHJust a temporary--you know--

GRACEStartled? It happens. Specially in a house like this.

RANDOLPHHow old is it?

GRACEOldernme. Oldernme my mother, I sppose. Aint tooworried. Its still here.

RANDOLPHI wouldnt mind seein my mother right now.

GRACEMothers have that effect on their children, dont they?A nurturin magnet. Drawin the negative towards theirpositive.

RANDOLPHThats--thats a nice way to think of it.

GRACEI had a daughter. I have a daughter, anyhow--

RANDOLPHSo you must have grandchildren.

Pause.

GRACEI have a grandchild, yes.

RANDOLPHDoes she have a name?

GRACE(surprised)

She?

(CONTINUED)


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CONTINUED: 17.

RANDOLPHSorry, I just--imposed. I assumed, you know--

GRACEIts alright. The rabbit should be done in an hour.Its gonna be good. I flavored it with honey and

lavender. The perfect combination of sweet and spice.Its perfect.

RANDOLPHSounds delicious.

GRACEYes.

RANDOLPHWhens Ezra comin up?

GRACE

When he can. Takes him time, Id say.

RANDOLPHHes come up before?

GRACEWhat?

RANDOLPHYou made it sound like this happened before.

GRACEId only say that were true if itd happened before.

RANDOLPHSo this never happened before?

GRACEId say it mightve.

Pause.

RANDOLPH(lost)

You have a grandchild?

GRACEYes.

RANDOLPHIs she--I mean, does he or she live with you?

(CONTINUED)


19/55

CONTINUED: 18.

GRACENo. Been gone for a while. Takes a while to return--

RANDOLPHSo he or shes been back before--

GRACE

No, but--

RANDOLPHWhere is--oh, well who was that young girl I saw? Aboutseventeen years old?

GRACE(shocked)

Who?

RANDOLPHShe went outside. Is that who it is? Do you have agranddaughter? Might be outside, if youre looking for

her, though you never mentioned her--

GRACE(almost sickly)

I dont have a granddaughter.

Silence.Just a grandson.

RANDOLPHThen who was--

GRACE

Who was who? Did you see someone here?

RANDOLPHYes, it was--

GRACEMaybe it was Ezra.

RANDOLPHWhats Ezra look like--

GRACEBig man of color. Blue overalls. Barefoot.

RANDOLPHThat wasnt Ezra then--

GRACEYou mighta missed him. You city people tend to missthings.

(CONTINUED)


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CONTINUED: 19.

RANDOLPHGrace...

GRACEYou were cold, too. Rethink it. Whod you see?

RANDOLPHI thought I saw a little girl--

GRACE(dodgy)

It was Ezra.

Pause.

RANDOLPHMaybe I should leave.

The rain begins to pick up.

GRACELeave? Its rainin outside.

RANDOLPHI have a jacket, I suppose.

GRACEYoure cold enough. Youd need a shirt or somethin.Youd be missin my honey-lavender rabbit.

RANDOLPHIm awfully sorry about that--

The rain is even louder now.--but I oughta go, too.

GRACEWhere do you live?

RANDOLPHIn...the city. Somewhere there.

GRACEHowd you get here?

RANDOLPHI...I...I ran. I ran here. From the city.

Rain is picking up.

GRACEWhy?

(CONTINUED)


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CONTINUED: 20.

RANDOLPHYou know...I...

GRACEYou dont know your last name, and you dont know whyyou came here. You should stay.

RANDOLPHNo, I--

GRACEYou should stay, Randolph. Its stormin outside.

RANDOLPHGrace--

GRACEAnd when it storms--

RANDOLPH

Yes?

GRACEOld Thor comes out, and watches the world, hungry.

The rain is incessant.

RANDOLPHMaybe I should stay.

GRACEThat sounds good. The rabbit should be done inforty-five minutes. Are you hungry?

RANDOLPHI should be.

GRACEThats good. Do you feel any warmer?

RANDOLPHEverything does. Everything feels warmer.

GRACEThats good. Very good. Im goin to retire for a

little while. Wont you tell me when the rabbits done?

RANDOLPHIm not good at things like that.

GRACE(laughing)

Cookin? You dont know cookin? I thought a city boywould know cookin at least...

(CONTINUED)


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CONTINUED: 21.

RANDOLPHNo. No I dont. Wherever I was in the city, I nevercooked. They cooked for me. The producers and theconsumers, all in a tight-knit ecosystem. Thats why Icant check on that rabbit.

GRACE

Ezra would know.

RANDOLPHI bet he would.

GRACELet me know if you smell somethin--somber. Thats whathappens when you mix honey and lavender. Goldensunshine, purple death. The spiritual pleasure of theafterlife.

RANDOLPHWhat--

GRACELet me know. Goodbye, Randolph.

RANDOLPHGoodbye.

GRACE retires, and the storm increases invivacious tempo and fluctuated sound. A quake ofthunder rattles the cottage. Suddenly, by someunnatural gust of wind, the fire goes out.RANDOLPH is left alone, in the dark. All we canhear is the persistence of the storm, and the

panicked shiverings of RANDOLPH. He pants, gasps,scrambling. Hestias fire begins to brighten, butthere is only a modicum of light, for the fire hasbeen reduced to mere embers. RANDOLPH clamberstowards the fire, on his knees, shivering still.Someone walks down the stairs, from the alcove atSTAGE LEFT. We can only see a silhouette. nearCENTER STAGE.

Grace?

The silhouette lurks closer. It isnt GRACE.Ezra?

It isnt EZRA. The scratches on the door begin.Who are you?

The thunder trumpets from the heavens, as thesilhouette touches RANDOLPH with its soft andbloody hands. Then the fire dies completely. Thesilhouette disappears.

(CONTINUED)


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CONTINUED: 22.

GRACERandolph? Randolph, whats that smell?

GRACE ambles down the stairs as fast as she can.Were still in darkness. Its a wonder she hasnttripped already.

Randolph, I told you to check on the rabbit for me! Iget so tired, I have to rest. Thats why I have youcheck on the rabbit for me when I put it in the stove.You act like you havent done this before.

RANDOLPHTHE LIGHT MY FACE SHE TOUCHED IT TOUCH BLOOD SHE--

GRACEIll get the fire. Randolph, please sit. The rabbitsmells like its burnin.

RANDOLPH

RABBIT? RABBIT BUT SHE GIRL TOUCHED ME TOUCHED--

GRACE reaches the fireplace, and with a strike ofa match, the flames manifest. There is no bloodiedgirl. There is nothing. The scratches have ceased.The rain has slowed. Trickles.

GRACESometimes a storm like that puts out the fire. Yes?

RANDOLPH(slowing down)

YES...yes...yes...

GRACEWont you sit at the table, Randolph? The rabbitsprobably burnt to ashes.

RANDOLPHGrace...Grace...Grace...

GRACEYes?

Pause.Randolph?

RANDOLPHI remember now...

Pause.

(CONTINUED)


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CONTINUED: 23.

GRACEWhat do you remember?

RANDOLPHMy last name. Carter?

GRACERandolph Carter?

RANDOLPHY...Yes...

GRACEWell...Randolph Carter...

Pause.Ill get the rabbit out. Ezra will be back in a littlewhile. Though we aint have to wait for him.

RANDOLPHWhat about...Old Thor?

GRACEJudgin from the puddles of rain on the floor--hesbeen here already. Ill get the rabbit.

RANDOLPHOh.

As GRACE exits towards the alcove at STAGE RIGHT,RANDOLPH sits, wrapped in his blanket, alone. Asthe fire fades away, and as RANDOLPH stares into

oblivion, we hear nothing but the rain, soft rain.Trickles.

Scene 3

Hestias fire flickers to its zenith, a blaze likethe illumination of a spectral demon. RANDOLPH andGRACE are sitting at the table, each with a platefull of dark, blackish meat. There is a chair forEZRA, along with another platter full of burntrabbit, but EZRA is still missing. RANDOLPH nowwears a brown robe, some archaic piece GRACE foundin her room upstairs. There is still a trickle ofrain, along with the din of silverware gracing theglass plates. Chewing, too. Chewing sounds. Almostdisgusting.

GRACEIts burnt, you know.

(CONTINUED)


25/55

CONTINUED: 24.

RANDOLPHIm sorry, Mrs. Yardley--

GRACEGrace--

RANDOLPH

Grace--

GRACEIts burnt, you know. The rabbit.

RANDOLPHI should have known to look.

GRACEI told you to look.

RANDOLPHYou told me to look.

GRACEAnd now its burnt.

Silence. Trickles.But now you have a last name.

RANDOLPHYes. It seems my identity is coming into full view now.

GRACESo it seems, huh?

RANDOLPHYes.

GRACEDo you remember the city? Thats where youre from.

RANDOLPHThe city is a blur...but a blur of images. Its full ofgargantuan trees called skyscrapers. There arestampeding buffalo called buses, pouncing cougarscalled cars, anacondas called trains, condors calledplanes. They live in total mutualism.

GRACEWhere do you stand mongst the animals, RandolphCarter?

RANDOLPHI--I dont know, Grace. Guess where any guy stands inthe city.

(CONTINUED)


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CONTINUED: 25.

GRACEWhere would that be?

RANDOLPH(dodging GRACE)

I dont know, but your grandson, how old is he?

GRACEWell, hes just about your age. Same flare in his hair,same dreams in his eyes, I sppose. Lotta the same.

RANDOLPHYou said hes here? I havent seen him.

GRACEWe dont really speak. Havent for a while.

RANDOLPHWhy?

GRACEReasons. Are you eatin the rabbit?

RANDOLPHYes, Im eatin the rabbit. How come youre notstraight forward with me?

GRACEHuh? What was that?

RANDOLPHWhy wont you tell me what things mean, why things

happen? Who is that girl I see in this house? Who isOld Thor? Who...well...where...are we?

GRACEWere in the forest. Not too far from the city.

RANDOLPHJust tell me where we are! Cause I cant even begin totell you. I remember the city! But Jesus...what city?Why cant we remember the city? Is it that far away inour memories that we cant even remember it?

GRACEI...I wish I could tell you.

RANDOLPH(angry)

Why cant you tell me?

(CONTINUED)


27/55

CONTINUED: 26.

GRACEBecause I dont know.

RANDOLPHOf course you dont know! I dont know either! Letsfigure this out!

GRACERandolph, please eat your rabbit, and then wellretire--

RANDOLPHHow can I go to bed? How? Do you think I can just restwith these things around me? Who is that girl? Tell meabout the girl.

GRACEBut...

RANDOLPHTell me!

GRACEI cant!

RANDOLPHYou dont know about her either?

GRACEWell--

RANDOLPH

Forget it! You think Im crazy, dont you?

GRACE(about to reveal, but doesnt)

Its just...you saw Ezra walk out the door. Hell beback in a while. For his supper.

RANDOLPHThats what you told me I saw! You told me I saw that,all of that. Like you knew what I saw!

GRACEYoure gettin awful rude, Randolph.

RANDOLPHGrace, who is that girl?

GRACEWell...

(CONTINUED)


28/55

CONTINUED: 27.

RANDOLPHYou know about her?

GRACEPlease dont get angry, Randolph. Lets be civil. Satalright?

RANDOLPH(calming down)

Alright. Tell me. I wont get upset.

GRACEYou wont get upset.

RANDOLPHI wont get upset.

GRACEI had a daughter, who lives somewhere. Probably in the

city, somewhere. She liked it here for the most part, Isppose. But then she grew tired of things. Of thisplace. So she went out there, beyond the forest,towards them. The ones who make you meals.

RANDOLPHAnd Old Thor--

GRACE(cuts him off)

And she met a man. Dont remember his name now, but Imet him once, when I caught him here, with her.

RANDOLPHWhy didnt they just stay in the city if they were soashamed? Were you ashamed?

GRACEI raised her better, but no, I wasnt ashamed. Foundem just sittin there, smilin at each other. Istarted screamin in a fury.

RANDOLPHWho was this guy?

GRACEJust someone from the city. A real slimy lizard. Thatswhat he was. And he had his tail between my daughterslegs.

RANDOLPHWho is that girl? The one I keep seeing?

(CONTINUED)


29/55

CONTINUED: 28.

GRACEAnd when I got mad she ran off towards the city and gotpregnant.

RANDOLPHPregnant with your grandson.

GRACEPregnant with my...granddaughter.

RANDOLPHI knew she was your granddaughter! You make it soundlike she doesnt exist, that you only have a grandson!

GRACEThats exactly it, Randolph. I--I only have a grandson.My granddaughter doesnt exist. Shes...

RANDOLPH

Dead? But--

GRACE(startled)

Shh! Dont say it too loud, please. Hell hear.

RANDOLPHWho?

GRACE(trying to dodge the inevitable)

Ezra will be here soon, from out in the cold. Itsrainin, you know--

RANDOLPHHow is it possible, Grace?

GRACEEat the rabbit, eat rabbit, you know--

RANDOLPHGrace!

GRACEThe baby was conceived, never got past the firsttrimester. The baby was misplaced...in life, really.The baby was misplaced. That slimy lizard couldnt havefooled us, he didnt! He didnt...

RANDOLPHDid they? Did they--

(CONTINUED)


30/55

CONTINUED: 29.

GRACEYes.

Silence.

RANDOLPH

Then who is this girl?

There is a snickering in the background. Light.Childish. Chills run through our spines.

GRACE(more worried than before)

Please stop mentionin her. Hell hear you.

RANDOLPHWho is he? Ezra? Old Thor--

GRACE

Thor...Thor...

RANDOLPHWhat--

GRACEI really loved my daughter. I love her, anyhow. Iwanted the best for her.

The scratches on the door begin. From the darknessof the alcove, a silhouette appears.

But then she went and--something natural, maybe...unnatural? The baby was gone, meant to be a girl,

always a girl--"howd you know?" youre thinkin--dontknow, but the girl--uhhuhhh uhhhhhhh uhhhhhhhhhuhhhhhhhhuhh

The girl appears from the alcove, covered in bloodand scratches. She bears a great grin, full ofwhite, her face doused in streaks of crimson, hereyes black.

RANDOLPHGrace!

GRACEDont--dont look at her...dont...shell keep comin,keepacomin keepacomin, oh, oh...

RANDOLPHGrace! Who is that?

(CONTINUED)


31/55

CONTINUED: 30.

GRACEThe granddaughter that never existed!

The scratches turn into poundings on the door. Ihear the splinters shattering from the frame, thebody. It hurts to listen. My bones are breaking.

RANDOLPHIf she never existed, how--how can she even appear?

GRACEOld Thor! Old Thor! Old Thor! Old Thor!

The howl roars, the loudest its ever been. Ahorrid phantasm, a monster more terrifying than agiant bear, a rabid lion, a dragon, a creatureborne of terrestrial ways. The door opens with ahuge gust, and the fire flickers in a cacophony ofshrill flames. The rain picks up. The girl walks

backwards towards the door, the gateway intoErebus, and she is pulled by some unknown forceinto its darkness. Then the door slams shut, andthe gusts of wind cease. The rain ceases. We hearthe chirping of crickets once more.

RANDOLPHOld Thor?

GRACEHe can take a form from beyond his own body. He chosehers. He knew it would bother me, linger in mymind...He chose her form! Thats what we think--I

think...that he chooses forms to roam the planes. Heroams the planes, Randolph--

RANDOLPHPlanes?

GRACEDimensions of existence, Randolph. Dimensions ofexistence. One day, he wont need that kind ofthought--the notion of my nonexistent granddaughter.One day, hell come. On his own.

RANDOLPHThe howls? Thats him?

GRACEYes. He must have followed you here.

Silence.

(CONTINUED)


32/55

CONTINUED: 31.

RANDOLPHWe cant leave now. Hes out there.

GRACEI know.

RANDOLPHHes getting closer. The scratches at the door--

GRACEThe scratches...

RANDOLPH and GRACE quietly eat their suppers.There is no more discussion for the time being.Everything is silent, save the bug-songs of thecrickets.

RANDOLPHYour daughter...did she find anyone else?

GRACEAfter the lizard left, she found a man--another fromthe city--and he was the perfect substitute, replacinthe slime she had before.

RANDOLPHYou liked him?

GRACE(almost sarcastic)

Of course I liked him. I thought that my daughter wasgoing to stay, to see me, here, live here with me for

the rest of my years. Of course I liked him.

Pause.But then he proposed to her. And then they got married.

RANDOLPHOh.

GRACEThey were so lovestricken, they just up and left.Sometimes they paid me visit--thats how I knew aboutmy grandson, since the father was much nicer--buteventually they stopped comin here.

RANDOLPHI see. All lost--to the city, I suppose. Is there agrudge there?

GRACEI bear no grudge against the city, Randolph. But itappears that the city bears a grudge against me. The

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)


33/55

CONTINUED: 32.

GRACE (contd)forest is my home. My own husband died here, in theforest, alone, cuttin down a tree. Mustve been heartattack. That was so long ago. But he died here. In theforest. You talk about natural things. Sellin them.Pills. My natural things grow as tall as skyscrapers.

RANDOLPHBut you say you have a grandson--

There is a crash upstairs. Something like glass.The sounds of the wind are growing strong. A coldbreeze enters the cottage, and both GRACE andRANDOLPH start to shiver.

GRACEThe window upstairs! Thats what it was...Ill go upthere, to see what happened--

RANDOLPHBut you cant! Let me! No, lets go together! Lets notsplit!

GRACERandolph, Ill be right back.

GRACE leaves, startled, disturbed. RANDOLPH isalone once more. In a quiet frustration, he crawlson the floor, in his fetal position, once more.The creaking of the floor becomes unsettling. Thechirping stops. The showers begin again. Trickles,like before. Another gust of wind takes out the

fire, and RANDOLPH is left in the darkness.Something starts coming from STAGE RIGHT, up a setof stairs from the basement. To us, the audience,the footsteps are inhuman. They are very slow,very distinct, very chaotic footsteps. More likethuds. Monstrous thuds. RANDOLPH, from what we cansee, stands up and cowers behind the table,hearing the figure rise from the basement. Thesilhouette of this beast is huge. It is Old Thor,moaning, holding his hand in pain. The beast hasfinally come from his hellish dimension. In a fitof panic, RANDOLPH grabs one of the chairs, andsmashes it over the figure, who stumbles in atumbling heap to the floor, moaning even more.These moans are starting to sound more and morehuman every second. Then they stop. RANDOLPHscurries to the fire, finds the matches GRACE hadleft, and initiates the flames with a little sparkfrom the minute construct of a single match. Asthe room becomes illuminated, we see that Old Thoris EZRA.

(MORE)

(CONTINUED)


34/55

CONTINUED: 33.

GRACE (contd)

Randolph? It was fine. Just a rogue branch gointhrough the window.

RANDOLPH realizes that GRACE will be comingdownstairs once more. He takes EZRAs limp body,

and drags it OFFSTAGE RIGHT, down towards thebasement. Shutting the door, RANDOLPH reassumeshis position at the table, forgetting that GRACEschair is now shattered into pieces.

You okay, Randolph?

RANDOLPHJust a fall, thats all--

GRACE comes down, and enters from the alcove.Hestias fire is flickering again, though thegoddess is long gone by now.

GRACEA fall--

(sees the broken chair)Oh my. I see. Damn chairs. Bein old and all.

RANDOLPHYes, just old and all.

GRACEYou seem peculiar.

RANDOLPH(trying to chuckle)

And I havent seemed peculiar already, Grace?

GRACEHow hardd you fall?

RANDOLPHJust--just fell on my ass, thats all. Hurt for a fewseconds. Now its gone.

GRACENow its gone...I see...

RANDOLPHWhy? Do I seem more peculiar?

GRACEWell, I sppose. But its natural, Ill give you that.

(CONTINUED)


35/55

CONTINUED: 34.

RANDOLPH(lying)

I wonder where Ezra is...

GRACEHell be here soon. From outside. Hes a tough soul.

Good heart. Mysterious as hell, though.

RANDOLPHHe sounds it.

GRACEIll clean the dishes. You oughta try restin now.

RANDOLPHRestin? Oh. Oh okay.

GRACESomethin the matter?

RANDOLPHNo...no...

GRACEIf you have faith, nothinll happen to you.

RANDOLPHI know...

GRACEEzra has faith.

RANDOLPH(looking away)

Yes...I wish to meet him...

GRACEIf youre so inclined to, just wait. Hell be here. Whoknows what hes been doin all night.

RANDOLPHI wouldnt know.

GRACEYou havent heard anything?

RANDOLPHNothin really. Just the rain.

GRACEThats good. Sometimes we hear animals.

(CONTINUED)


36/55

CONTINUED: 35.

RANDOLPHI havent heard Old Thor in a while.

Pause.

GRACE

Old Thor?

RANDOLPHYes, well, maybe its a good sign...

GRACEI dont understand.

RANDOLPHGrace?

The gateway to Erebus opens, and the winds of Thorbring in EZRA, who looks fresh and confident as he

enters of the cottage.

EZRAIve come home now.

GRACESee, I told you hed be back! Now you finally meet.Ezra, this is Randolph.

EZRANice to meet you.

GRACE

Ezra, hows your finger?

EZRA(smoothly)

Finger? Oh, oh yes. Finger, good. Its good.

RANDOLPHWha--

RANDOLPH looks to the basement. Can you feel thecrawling tendrils of his madness yet? If not, waita little. You may soon understand the gravity ofHell and all of its children.

GRACERandolph, you said you didnt see Ezra leave.

RANDOLPHI didnt! I...I...

(CONTINUED)


37/55

CONTINUED: 36.

GRACEWhat? Whats wrong?

EZRAYes, wrong.

RANDOLPHTheres, theres--a draft. Must be a draft. The storm.Obviously. I must have slept, right on through, maybewhen Ezra left. Fallen asleep, you know? Thats why Imissed the--rabbit. Obviously, city people. Obviously.

EZRACity people, obviously.

RANDOLPHForty five minutes, more than, I fell asleep. I neversaw that girl, I suppose.

GRACEWhat girl?

Pause.

RANDOLPHWhat do you mean what girl? Dont you remember? OldThor? Dimensions? Beings from other planes?

GRACEI surely dont know what you mean. The window upstairsshattered cause a branch from one of them skyscrapersfell through. I heard some of them buffalo you were

talkin about too.

EZRAYes. Buffalo.

GRACE(laughing)

Honkin like city people. Honk and honk!

RANDOLPHOld Thor...

GRACEWell, now thats all done, and Ezras here, we canfinally rest. Aint that right, Ezra?

EZRARest. We must rest.

(CONTINUED)


38/55

CONTINUED: 37.

RANDOLPHEzra, you know Old Thor! You heard him out there!Screaming! Screaming!

EZRAAint heard no Old Thor. Aint heard none of im.

RANDOLPHBut--the rabbit, the animals--cut up! Mangled!Rendered! Flayed! All of them, in the forest!

GRACECity boys dont understand theses creatures. You onlyunderstand the city. Its your own jungle.

RANDOLPHIts not my fault that I came from that godforsakencity, nameless, nameless--I dont even know where itis! I dont remember it! Maybe Im the city! Ever thinkof that?

GRACEA city? Sounds too much like a poem to me.

EZRAI was never much for poetry. Didnt like it.

GRACEEzra, theres some of that rabbit you brought in thestove. Its burnt but it tastes awful good.

EZRAI like the taste of meat.

RANDOLPHGrace! Grace, look, somethings wrong here. Dont youremember? Old Thor?

GRACEOld Thor...sounds familiar.

RANDOLPHYou? You dont remember.

GRACEYou soundin crazy, Randolph. Just take a rest for thenight, and then youll head out by dawn.

RANDOLPHI--I cant! Old Thor is out there...Hes out there!Waiting...You said he comes during storms, and itsstorming, and I ran from the forest, somehow got here,somehow, I dont even remember...

(CONTINUED)


39/55

CONTINUED: 38.

GRACEYou know what, Ezra? Ill fix some of it up for you.The rabbit, I mean.

EZRASounds good, Missus Yardley.

GRACEYou boys talk nice, now. No need to feel that way abouta broken window, Randolph.

RANDOLPH is quiet as GRACE leaves the room towardsthe kitchen. He stands with his hands on thetable, his legs spread, and he lowers his head torest upon his heaving chest of frustration. EZRAtakes a seat opposite of RANDOLPH, and gives agrin. He starts to laugh. I guess we all would.

RANDOLPH

Whats so funny Ezra? You dont know me.

EZRAWhatsat?

RANDOLPHYou dont know me. Dont laugh.

EZRARandolph. I know you.

RANDOLPHNo you dont. This is trivial. Dont even argue.

EZRARandolph, I can travel this plane.

Silence. RANDOLPH looks up. We can see therevulsion spewing from his nape, the realizationfrom his eyes. But there is doubt; RANDOLPH needsaffirmation of his newest, most otherworldlythought.

RANDOLPHEzra?

EZRAI know you, Randolph. I know why you came here.

RANDOLPHYou do?

(CONTINUED)


40/55

CONTINUED: 39.

EZRACourse I do. I know everythin. I am an all-bein,Randolph. I can travel--this plane, any plane I want.

RANDOLPH(lying)

Goddammit what are you talking about?

EZRAI can travel into your soul, Randolph. I can seewhatever makes you tick, why you ran from the city, whyyou forget. I can travel into the abyss of your memory.Wont take me long before I can come here for good. Inmy real body.

RANDOLPHNo, no youre talking like Grace, like you were crazy,like you were--

EZRA(chuckling)

You have a name for me. Sounded nice. Very reverent toan old--thing--like me.

RANDOLPHNo!

EZRAHeres the kicker, Mistah Randolph Cartah: when doesthe dream begin?

GRACE enters with a platter of the rabbit for

EZRA. RANDOLPH is a wall. Frozen. Something iscold about the fire.

GRACEHere you go, Ezra. Hope you enjoy it.

EZRA(synthetically)

Mmm Mmm Mmm. Thanks Missus Yardley. Lord knows thatstorm took out the life of me.

He takes a bite.Oh, it is burnt, aint it?

GRACEOh--yes, I sppose. Burnt, yes. But its still good.The golden purple rule still applies.

EZRAGolden purple?

(CONTINUED)


41/55

CONTINUED: 40.

GRACEThats what I told you to do for your finger, Ezra.Honey and lavender. The marriage of life and death?

EZRAOh, oh, oh yes. Of course. Of course, I remember. Hard

to get into this state of bein--once youre in fromthe storm.

GRACECourse it is, Ezra. Now enjoy. Randolph, Ill fix yousome pillows when I get the chance. Will that bealright?

RANDOLPHYes.

GRACEIf you sleep on the floor?

RANDOLPHYes.

GRACEDown here?

Of course, RANDOLPH faces that horrid choice onlyones current level of apprehension can decide.But what is this desperate madman to do?

RANDOLPH(with great reservation)

Yes...

GRACEGood. Ezra, you enjoy that rabbit. Are you goin tostay?

EZRA begins to stare at RANDOLPH.

EZRANah, Missus Yardley, I have other business in thewoods.

GRACEWhys that? Its so late and all--

He continues to stare.

EZRADont worry, Missus Yardley, Im just collectin somemo animals from my traps. Then Ill come back.

(CONTINUED)


42/55

CONTINUED: 41.

Longer.

GRACEOh, thats good to hear, Ezra. I hope you enjoy therabbit.

Longer.

EZRAI enjoy it mighty, Missus Yardley. Looks like Randolphhere enjoyed it too.

And longer.

GRACEHe mightve. Did you, Randolph?

EZRA breaks out of the stare.

RANDOLPHDid I what?

GRACEOh, oh well. Im goin to retire. Ill see you boys inthe mornin. Night.

EZRANight, Missus Yardley.

GRACE exits through the alcove. RANDOLPH and EZRAare alone. The rabbit is almost finished.

Mighty good rabbit, Randolph. Shame it was burnt.

RANDOLPHI--I know.

EZRAIm leavin now. It was fun and all.

RANDOLPHYes--

EZRAYou think Im just here for the crone? For MissusYardley? Grace? Whatevah the hell you call her? Imnot. We have our own mysteries, but our mysteries,Mistah Randolph Cartah, between you and I--theyre thereason Im here. Its why I followed you from theforest. Im leavin now.

EZRA smiles as he stands up.But Ill be back.

(CONTINUED)


43/55

CONTINUED: 42.

The door opens with a gust, and EZRA leaves,chuckling. RANDOLPH, alone, shuts the door asquickly as he can, and falls to the ground,crying. GRACE comes back down with some pillows.How comforting.

GRACE

Randolph? Randolph? I brought you some pillows.

RANDOLPH(behind tears)

Th-thanks.

GRACERandolph? Youre upset.

RANDOLPHIm up-upset!

GRACE

And youre tired--

RANDOLPHIm tired, goddammit!

GRACESo take these pillows, and the blanket--

RANDOLPHSmells like blood!

GRACEWell hell, dont take the blanket if you dont want to.Just know that things resolve themselves by morning.The sun is a cheery fellow.

RANDOLPHI suppose.

GRACEWell goodnight, Randolph Carter. You know--

RANDOLPHWhat? What is it?

GRACEI--no. Its not important.

RANDOLPHNo, please! Im sorry--Tell me! Whats happening?

GRACE pauses before she can speak. Something islingering still in her mind. But she cant expressit.

(CONTINUED)


44/55

CONTINUED: 43.

GRACEIts--somethin. Maybe its ironic. I dont know. Icant say. Im just glad youre here.

RANDOLPHOh.

GRACE(wanting to be teary-eyed)

Goodnight.

GRACE exits through the alcove once more, and goesupstairs, to warmer dreams where the sun lives.RANDOLPH hasnt had these dreams. The sun doesntdwell in sleep. His sleep.

RANDOLPHTrees called skyscrapers. Buffalo called buses. Cougarscalled cars. Lemmings called people. Monsters called

people. Cities, forests--honey lavender. Lavenderhoney. Golden purple, purple golden. The marriage oflife and death.

RANDOLPH goes to the fire, and ponders it.Fire? Fire. Warmth. Coldness. Dichotomy. Why now? Whyburn? The sun never sleeps in your eyes. But it does inmine. It refuses to wake from the gorge. So out.

In a quick and emotionless movement, RANDOLPHtakes the red blanket, and smothers the fire. Weare left in DARKNESS.

Scene 4

Immediately from Scene 3, RANDOLPH crawls upon thebarren floor, and rests, his silhouette barelyvisible, yet stirring. For moments, we are finallyin solace, reflecting, catching up. I finally havetime to breathe. But "finally" doesnt last long:the fire bursts forth on its own, and its patronisnt Hestia. Something else. While RANDOLPH lay,oblivious to the sudden appearance of theseembers, a YOUNG GIRL saunters from the alcove, tojust above RANDOLPHs head. She kneels, and beginsto whisper.

GIRLRandolph...

RANDOLPH doesnt rise from his slumber. He laystill.

Randolph...I am here to take you home.

(CONTINUED)


45/55

CONTINUED: 44.

RANDOLPH hears, and moves his head up. He looksdirectly at the YOUNG GIRL, but has awoken enoughfor his mind to comprehend what he is seeing.

Randolph...come with me.

Suddenly, RANDOLPH jerks up in a fully-fledged

position, and backs away as quickly as he can. TheYOUNG GIRL scurrying after him on all fours. The primal motives of the actions are evident.RANDOLPH, shuddering, knows that his senses hatethis moment, hate it all. He is frightened.

Why are you so scared, Randolph?

RANDOLPHI--I--I--I--I--

GIRLCalm yourself. No one is here to harm you.

RANDOLPHI--I--I--I--

GIRLYou can relax. I promise.

RANDOLPHI--I--Are--are you--sure?

GIRLYes. Lower your shoulders. Take a bow. Let me speak.

It takes a great deal for RANDOLPH to return to

any kind of solace. He is deeply disturbed, buteventually he reaches a point of quiet passiveness. He submits to the YOUNG GIRL.

Ive seen you here all night. Ive heard your story. Ifeel you, your emotions, running. Youre alwaysrunning. And it hurts. I know it hurts. Youreconfused. Youre an animal in a trap. And it hurts.Youre just misplaced. Thats all.

RANDOLPHYes.

GIRLWant me to go on?

RANDOLPHYes.

GIRLIve been watching you all night. Youve seen me.

(CONTINUED)


46/55

CONTINUED: 45.

RANDOLPHYes. You disappear, often. They tell me--

GIRLWho tells you?

RANDOLPHGrace tells me--

GIRLGrace? Grace tells you things.

RANDOLPHYes. About what she believes you are.

GIRL(snickering)

Oh, that crone doesnt know what shes talking about.Ive stayed out of the scene on purpose. Just for you

to see. Its a gem, to have someone alone. You know?

RANDOLPHYes.

GIRLI hope youre not scared. It wasnt meant to be scary.Are you scared?

RANDOLPHN-no. Maybe.

GIRL

Its alright. Dont be scared. Let your shoulders down.Its okay. Im real, you know. Not some ghost in theforest. Not some Old Thor.

RANDOLPH is silent. He has stopped shuddering. TheGIRL gets closer to him.

Yes, Im her granddaughter. And no, I dont live here.I live in the city--

RANDOLPHThe city? Tell me about the city!

GIRLBut dont you live near the city?

RANDOLPHI dont remember it at all...by morning Ill return tothe city. To remember it all.

(CONTINUED)


47/55

CONTINUED: 46.

GIRLYeah?

RANDOLPHIt all seems like a dream. A dream city. One you cannotsee but within fog. And then the fog drips along the

words, the lights, the name, the memories. A dreamcity.

GIRLThe city is nice. The shops are quite excellent. Thelights are beautiful. There isnt a night where a cloudpasses over the nightscape of the starry sky. Itswonderful.

RANDOLPHYeah.

GIRL

You work in pharmaceuticals?

RANDOLPHYeah.

GIRLYou mentioned birth control--

RANDOLPHYou know an awful lot about me--

GIRLI listened, remember?

RANDOLPHSo youre from the city. Why does Grace think youwere--

GIRLDead? Unborn? I dont know. Well, I do know.

RANDOLPHYeah?

GIRLShe hated my father. Always did. My mother lived inthis cottage for her childhood. Then one day she wentexploring. Went to the city. Met my father. He was aprominent man who owned a pet store. Lots of lizards--

RANDOLPHLizards.

(CONTINUED)


48/55

CONTINUED: 47.

GIRLYeah. My mother had only known the animals of theforest. When she saw the menagerie of pets in thestore, she started to cry. Crying for whatever reason,happiness, dust in her eyes from the lounging lizards.

RANDOLPHLizards.

GIRLYeah. And so my father walked over to her, took herhand, and sat her down. They started talking. And thatled to their first date.

RANDOLPHBut--didnt your mother meet anyone else?

GIRLWhy?

RANDOLPHYour grandmother--

GIRLIve been stopping by this old place for quite sometime now. Its very rustic. Very natural. The treesgrow like skyscrapers. Its nice once in a while. Butmy grandmother doesnt know what shes talking about.What did she tell you?

RANDOLPHThat your mother ran away with one man--and then

another.

GIRLTheyre two in the same.

RANDOLPHShe had an abortion.

GIRL(snickering)

Well, that abortion is me, I guess. The old cronedoesnt know any better but to hate my father. You hatesomeone worse when you turn them into two people.

RANDOLPHYeah.

GIRLImagine, two different people, and they were bothdespicable. Both the same. And you hated them both.

(CONTINUED)


49/55

CONTINUED: 48.

RANDOLPHShe hates the city.

GIRL(sarcasticaly)

Oh, but humbly she says that the city hates her. Its a

shame. Grandmothers are usually nurturing. This onespast the brim. Out to lunch.

RANDOLPHDo you know Ezra?

GIRLEzra? The big black guy?

RANDOLPHYeah.

GIRL

Yeah, Ive seen him around. He seems very nice. Alwayshunting. Really helps my grandmother out. What a shameif he were gone.

RANDOLPHSo hes out now, right?

GIRLYeah, as far as I could see. Hes a night owlsometimes. Just a creeping ghost that flies bytwilight.

RANDOLPH

That sounds so poetic.

GIRLIt always sounds so poetic. I didnt just think of thatnow. I thought of it before. "Creeping ghost that fliesby twilight." Lot of nights spent here. And to think,my grandmother thinks Im this horrible ghost myself.Here to haunt her for her "mistakes" or whatever.

RANDOLPHWhat mistakes?

GIRLNone. No mistakes. Just grandmotherly instinct andsenses. Shes misplaced too, in this world. Too old forit or something.

RANDOLPHI see. So Old Thor--

(CONTINUED)


50/55

CONTINUED: 49.

GIRLThat old rag? Just a story.

RANDOLPHA story? Ive heard it, though! Roaring! Roaringstrong, in the forest--

GIRLWhat you heard was a megaphone. I hide it by one of thestumps, about thirty meters from the cottage. Ezrahasnt found it, and I know my grandmother wont findit. Im Old Thor, I suppose.

RANDOLPHOh. Oh. Thats kinda funny, actually.

GIRL(laughing)

I suppose it is. So you believed it?

RANDOLPHWell of course I did. Of course I did. It washorrifying. With the scratches.

GIRLThey were horrifying, werent they?

RANDOLPHYes. Yes, of course. You had me though.

GIRLYou know, Im glad we had this talk. Ive always wantedto meet you.

RANDOLPHWhat do you mean?

GIRLMother misses you.

RANDOLPHWait. Wait--

GIRLShe wants you to come back home. Why did you ever leave

in the first place?

RANDOLPHBut the animals in the forest--

RANDOLPH gets up. He stands CENTER STAGE, still asilhouette in the darkness of the room. The YOUNGGIRL is on the floor still, craning her headtowards RANDOLPH.

(CONTINUED)


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CONTINUED: 50.

GIRLYou shouldnt have left, you know. Thats how yourmemories leave you. When you leave things away. Deepstorage. Deep storage--

RANDOLPH

How did the animals--get--mangled?

GIRLDeep storage. Thats how it is. Randolph, Randolph,Randy Randolph. Thats your name! Randolph Carter.

RANDOLPHHow did the animals in the forest get torn apart?

GIRLOh, my long lost brother. Im going to take you backhome.

RANDOLPH(scared)

How did the animals in the forest get torn apart?

GIRLBrother, embrace! Embrace!

RANDOLPHWhat--

The fire rises in a vehement rage. Suddenly, EZRAstorms out from the basement, screaming bloodymurder at the top of his lungs. In the vivid

light, as the YOUNG GIRL creeps away like a python, EZRA, covered in deep gashes and bruises,ripped overalls and bloody, shouts anuninteligible curse at RANDOLPH, who falls to thefloor.

EZRAYOU, YOU, YOU, YOU WHO COME HERE NOW WHY NOW COMEHERE--

RANDOLPHEzra, Im sorry--

EZRAYOU SHOVE ME DOWN THERE I WAS BLEEDING I WAS CUT MYTHUMB CUT OFF YOU SON OF A BITCH YOU WHORE YOU SLAMMEDME DOWN STAIRS AND NOW CUT IM CUT HURT AND BLOODY ANDIM TAKING YOU OUT YOU SON OF A BITCH SON OF A BITCH--

(CONTINUED)


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CONTINUED: 51.

RANDOLPHWhat? Im sorry! Im sorry!

EZRARAND--

RANDOLPHIm sorry!

EZRANOW YOU GO AND DIE--

RANDOLPHI thought you were Old Thor! Im sorry! Im sorry!Please dont send me out!

EZRA, in what strength he can muster, dragsRANDOLPH as far as he can, until EZRA himself isin front of the gateway to Erebus. The darkness

whispers.

EZRAOUT OUT OUT OUT OUT--

RANDOLPH(pleading)

Dont! Please!

EZRA(opening the door)

GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT GET OUT--

RANDOLPHEzra!

EZRAOUT!

An invisible force suddenly snatches EZRA into thedarkness, and we hear a blood-curdling scream, andthe rending of flesh, and the flooding of bloodupon the ground. The roar emits in the fiercestthat it has ever rung. The door slams shut.RANDOLPH, in his maddening shock, grovels back toCENTER STAGE, whimpering, whimpering...and then ahuge gust of wind blows the door open once more.Rolling in towards RANDOLPH is the decapitatedhead of EZRA. Picking up the head, RANDOLPH tossesit in revulsion. The fire goes out with the adventof the wind, and there is silence. A red strobelight begins to flicker, and OLD THOR entersthrough the gateway, finally taking on hisoriginal form. It is an aberration beyond human

(CONTINUED)


53/55

CONTINUED: 52.

imagination. It takes on no absolute form. It iscovered in hair and spikes. It is big. It lurchestowards RANDOLPH, with sporadic bursts of windflowing from outside. RANDOLPH can do nothing butscream and drag himself away from the crawlingchaos that grovels towards him. It makes sounds.

Crunching sounds. Low snarls. It advances andadvances, until RANDOLPH has reached the point ofno return. Then, DARKNESS.

Scene 5

It is daytime. Sounds of birds chirping can beheard. We are finally at peace. It seems so. The porch remains unscathed by the storm that came inthe night. The rocking chair and the lamp arestill resting in their same spots. Nothing haschanged except for the hue of time. Burstingthrough the front door is RANDOLPH, screaming and

screaming, finally leaving the cottage which hehas forsaken. He finds himself on all fours, panting, taking in heavy gusts of breath as oftenas he can. EZRA walks onto the porch, smiling. Heis fully intact, without even a sign of a cut or asmudge of blood. When RANDOLPH finally sees thebig black man, he jumps and struggles away, notgetting very far at all.

EZRAHave a scare, Mistah Cartah?

RANDOLPH

N-n-n-n-no. No. No.

EZRAThen why you pounce away like that? Had a nightmare,Mistah Cartah?

RANDOLPHI--didnt dream. Didnt sleep.

EZRAYes you did. You were tossin on the floor. And youtossed my favorite blanket into the fire!

RANDOLPHIm--Im--sorry?

EZRAIts alright, that thing mighty stunk. Smelled likeblood. Always did, even before Missus Yardley let meuse it to sleep.

(CONTINUED)


54/55

CONTINUED: 53.

RANDOLPHOh.

EZRAYou okay, Mistah Cartah?

RANDOLPHI--yes. Im fine.

EZRAThe blankets fine, you know. Just a little singed.

RANDOLPHOh. Oh.

GRACE YARDLEY walks onto the porch as well as shecan. Huffing and puffing, she holds onto EZRAsshoulder, and smiles.

GRACEThose stairs are just a pain in the ass! How are you,Randolph? Takin in the nice weather?

EZRAHe got scared, Missus Yardley--

GRACEScared? Scared of what?

RANDOLPHI--nothing! I should go, Mrs. Yardley--Grace--Grace--

GRACESo its the dawn, and you gotta go? You wont stay forbreakfast? Were makin pancakes!

EZRAShe makes the best. Missus Yardley makes the best damnpancakes you evah had.

RANDOLPHI believe you. But I have to go.

GRACEOh. Well alright. You headin home? To the city?

There is a pause. The decision.

RANDOLPHNo.

(CONTINUED)


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CONTINUED: 54.

GRACEOh! Well then are you stayin in the forest for awhile?

RANDOLPHNo. Im done with the city. And Im done with the

forest.

GRACEWell for Christs sake, Randolph Carter, where are yougoin?

RANDOLPHIve always been misplaced, Mrs. Yardley. Ive alwaysbeen misplaced. Its time to follow my instincts foronce in my damned life. Im going--

GRACEWhere, Randolph? Where?

RANDOLPH(sighing)

Who knows?

RANDOLPH slowly gets up, and exits. Nothing morefor me to say. DARKNESS.

the winds of thor[1]

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