The Gentleman Beast

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(Inside the stone castle entrance hall. Elaborate velvet banners hang on the walls with the family crest, a serpent curled around a dagger, emblazoned on it. The hall is lit with torches lined across the wall, which are the source of light for this scene. There is also a door SR that should remain in place between scene transitions. Enter FERGUS SL, a stout and imposing man, followed by his loyal companions EDWIN and NEWTON. The two companions are dragging another man with them, the BEAST. FERGUS, EDWIN and NEWTON laugh uproariously as they enter.)

Fergus: Excellent work, good gentlemen! A successful hunt for certain.

(Enter CORDELIA SR. As the scene continues, she approaches the door and listens to the conversation on the other side.)

Edwin: My thanks, my lord. 'Tis a pity all we caught was this miserable wretch.

Newton: Hush, Edwin. There's sure to be some use for it.

Fergus: But of course, dear Newton. After all, justice must be done against the vile creature

              terrorizing sweet young maidens in my forest.

(FERGUS, EDWIN and NEWTON laugh and the BEAST snarls.)

Edwin: Oh ho, it knows not its place.

Newton: Perhaps you should remind it, my lord.

(FERGUS strikes the BEAST in the stomach.)

Fergus: You may have grown accustomed to your wild ways, but the forest and this castle belong

              to the civil and noble, not savage beasts like you. (pause) Get it out of my sight.

(At this moment, CORDELIA opens the door and enters. EDWIN and NEWTON exit with the BEAST SR through the door. As the BEAST passes CORDELIA, the two stare at each other and CORDELIA's gaze lingers on the BEAST after his exit.)

Fergus: Ah, Cordelia. I should think you ought to be asleep at this hour.

Cordelia: I heard laughter and wondered what was so amusing. (pause) Who was that man?

Fergus: What man?

Cordelia: The man that Sir Edwin and Sir Newton carried away. Who was he?

Fergus: Put aside your worries, dear angel. That was no man, merely some beast found prowling

             the forest.

Cordelia: He looked like a man.

Fergus: I have told you before, Cordelia. Some monsters disguise themselves as men, preying on

             the naïvety and compassion of the foolish. I would have hoped you had been taught better

             than a fool.

Cordelia: If I am a fool, it would only be because I was raised by them.

Fergus: Excuse me?

Cordelia: You might distract Mother from your wandering eyes with feasts and jewels and

                pleasantries, but I am not so easily preoccupied.

Fergus: That is no way for a lady to-(pause, calmer)-I work hard to give a good life to you and your

             mother. It wounds me that you would think it was merely a diversion.

Cordelia: The serving maids don't think so. (pause) I've seen them shy away from your presence.

                They may not speak of it, but they can barely look at you.

(FERGUS closes the gap between him and CORDELIA, quietly furious)

Fergus: Whatever it is you think you've seen, forget it. There is nothing that you need concern

             yourself about, Cordelia.

Cordelia: If there's no concern, tell me who that man was.

Fergus: I had hoped to shelter you from the brutality of the outside world, but if your curiousity

             really must be sated...

Cordelia: It must, father.

Fergus: I was out hunting when that monster attacked. We found him with a pretty young lady in his

             arms, a young lady much like yourself, blood smeared across his sallow face as he tore at

              her throat. Even as we approached, his unrelenting hunger was all he cared for. (pulls up his

             sleeve to reveal a wound on his arm) The creature fought to keep its prey, wild and frenzied

             until we finally subdued him.

Cordelia: Why didn't you kill him?

Fergus: Monsters aren't so easily slain as men. I shall call an expert in such matters in the morning

             and he will put this foul beast to rest.

Cordelia: I still don't understand. How did-

Fergus: That is enough!

(Enter CATHERINE SR through the door)

Catherine: Cordelia? You should be sleeping.

Cordelia: But-

Catherine: No excuses. You mustn't vex your father like this. He bears enough distress from the

                  common folk, he has no need of it from his own kin as well.

(CORDELIA pauses as if to argue then exits SR)

Catherine: The night grows late for us as well. Will you join me?

Fergus: In a moment, my darling Catherine. I've still some business to attend to with Edwin and

             Newton.

(FERGUS and CATHERINE exit SR. Lights fade.)