// THE MARSCAPONE SCHOOL OF MAGIC //

MYRTLE

ARE YOU REALLY GOING THROUGH WITH IT?


Myrtle sits with her husband on the back stoop of their house. Just about fifteen minutes earlier, the Count Vladislaus Straud IV had left, taking his associate Quarq with him.

MYRTLE

HE WAS…


She struggles to conjure an appropriate observation.

MYRTLE

…NICE ENOUGH.

HOW WILL YOU BE SURE THAT YOU ARE NOT INJURED BY THE BLAST?


The trio had discussed at length the types of weapons Quarq had access to but had stayed suspiciously away from safety precautions.

MYRTLE

I WANT BOTH OF YOU TO RETURN HOME TO ME.

VINCENT

IT’S GOING TO BE OKAY.

MYRTLE

HOW CAN YOU KNOW?

HOW CAN YOU BE CERTAIN?

VINCENT

I CAN’T BE CERTAIN, YOU KNOW THAT.

YOU KNOW I’LL TAKE EVERY PRECAUTION.

WHEN I BEGIN A MISSION I’LL DO EVERYTHING I CAN TO ENSURE IT COMES TRUE.


He watches in silence, through the side of his vision as Myrtle draws a pack of cigarettes from a pocket of her dressing gown.

VINCENT

YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT SMOKERS.


She removes a cigarette from the packet and brings it up to her mouth. In a single flick of her fingers, a sizzle emits and it is lit.

MYRTLE

NOW WHICH OF US IS SPOUTING OFF THE WISDOM OF THE MORTALS?


Vincent chuckles.

MYRTLE

I JUST…


She seizes as if holding back a tear.

MYRTLE

WHAT DO I DO IF YOU LEAVE ME A WIDOW?


She wipes at her face with the side of her sleeve.

VINCENT

WHY DOES EVERYTHING HAVE TO BE ABOUT YOU?


She draws on the cigarette, then winces.

MYRTLE

IT’S LIKE GETTING PUNCHED IN THE FACE.

VINCENT

DOES THIS MEAN I HAVE TO REVOKE YOUR COIN?

MYRTLE

DON’T YOU DARE.

VINCENT

TRY NOT TO WORRY.

MYRTLE

EASY FOR YOU TO SAY.

YOU’RE NOT THE ONE HAVING TO SIT ON HER HANDS BECAUSE SHE’S POWERLESS TO ENACT ANY REAL CHANGE.

VINCENT

I COULD BRING YOU WITH ME.

MYRTLE

WHO WOULD WATCH THE CHILDREN?

VINCENT

YOU RAISE A COMPELLING PROBLEM.

YOU HAVE FRIENDS.

MYRTLE

A FEW, BUT…YOU KNOW I DON’T WANT ANYONE TO KNOW.

VINCENT

THE MARSCAPONES, WITH MORE THAN A HANDFUL OF CHILDREN IN TOW, CAN’T KEEP TRACK OF THEIR ONLY SON.

MYRTLE

WE’D BE WORSE THAN SIMPLY AN OBJECT OF RIDICULE.

VINCENT

I ONLY JEST.

MYRTLE

I KNOW…


She sniffles, trying to maintain her composure.

MYRTLE

I ALSO KNOW YOU’LL BE FINE, AND I NEED ONLY HAVE FAITH.

VINCENT

DIFFICULT FOR SOMEONE LIKE YOU.


She sends him a sideways reproachful glance.

VINCENT

OH YOU KNOW I DIDN’T MEAN IT LIKE THAT.

MYRTLE

I’M JUST SCARED.

VINCENT

I KNOW YOU ARE.

MYRTLE

YOU’RE DOING EVERYTHING IN YOUR POWER…BEYOND, EVEN…

VINCENT

IS IT THE EXPLOSIVES?

MYRTLE

MAYBE IT IS, MAYBE IT ISN’T.

IT’S CERTAINLY FAR FROM MY USUAL BAG OF TRICKS.

BUT MAYBE IT’S NECESSARY…

MAYBE IT’S IMPORTANT TO TEACH A LESSON TO THOSE THAT WOULD STEAL FROM US.

VINCENT

DAMN RIGHT IT IS.

I DON’T PLAN ON LETTING THIS ASSHOLE GET AWAY WITH WHAT HE’S DONE.

MYRTLE

AND THAT’S WHY I TRUST YOU.

IT’S JUST NOT MY USUAL.

VINCENT

REVENGE?

MYRTLE

REVENGE.

VINCENT

SOMETIMES YOU MUST SHOW OTHERS THAT YOU ARE WORTHY OF RESPECT.

IT BECOMES A MATTER OF SELF-PRESERVATION.

DO YOU WANT A FATHER WHO ISN’T WILLING TO GO THE EXTRA MILE FOR YOU?

MYRTLE

I…SUPPOSE NOT.

NO.

VINCENT

YOUR GOD TEACHES AN EYE FOR AN EYE, DOES HE NOT?

MYRTLE

HE ALSO TEACHES ONE TO TURN THE OTHER CHEEK.

VINCENT

THIS IS NOT A MATTER OF SLAPPING SOMEONE WHO MAKES A RUDE COMMENT AT COURT.

THIS IS OUR SON!

OUR FAMILY DESERVES BETTER.


Water has gathered in the corners of Myrtle’s eyes and she can’t grant him eye contact.

MYRTLE

I KNOW IT.

BUT IT STILL HURTS.

THERE ARE LIKELY INNOCENTS THAT WILL BE CAUGHT IN THE CROSSFIRE.

VINCENT

AND WHAT IF THERE AREN’T?

WHAT IF EVERYONE THERE IS THERE OF THEIR OWN FREE WILL?


She stays silent a moment. Smoke fills the air.

MYRTLE

THEN…I SUPPOSE THERE ARE RISKS FOR EVERY ACTION WE TAKE.

VINCENT

I DON’T LIKE IT ANY MORE THAN YOU DO.

BUT THIS MAN IS A MANIAC.

A CRUEL MOCKERY.

MYRTLE

I DON’T REALLY KNOW MUCH ABOUT HIM.

VINCENT

HE WEARS A DOCTOR’S COAT AND TITLE BUT HE’S LONG AGO FORSAKEN ANY TRUE LOVE FOR CARING FOR THE MORTALS.

MYRTLE

IT CERTAINLY SEEMS TO BE THE CASE.

VINCENT

IT’S IMPORTANT TO SHOW PEOPLE LIKE HIM THAT THEY WON’T SIMPLY GET AWAY WITH THEIR CRIMES.

MYRTLE

THAT I CAN AGREE WITH.

I JUST HOPE WE AREN’T MOVING OUR SUFFERING TO SOMEONE ELSE.

VINCENT

AND THAT IS JUST ONE REASON I LOVE YOU, DEAR WIFE.

YOU’RE ALWAYS THINKING OF SOMEONE ELSE.

VINCENT

WHY DOES EVERYTHING HAVE TO BE ABOUT YOU?

VINCENT

YOU’VE TAKEN ON A HOUSE OF CHILDREN AND YOU STILL FIND CONSIDERATION FOR THE MORTALS.

MYRTLE

THEY KNOW NOT WHAT THEY DO.

VINCENT

ONE DOES NOT FIND ONESELF IN THE EMPLOY OF A MAN LIKE TRELAINE WITHOUT INTENT.

I’M SURE EACH OF THEM HAS BEEN PROMISED THE MOON.

BUT FOLLOWING TRELAINE MEANS A FAILURE OF JUDGING CHARACTER, SOMETHING EACH MAN DEAD OR ALIVE SHOULD KNOW HOW TO DO.

MYRTLE

WE DON’T ALWAYS HAVE FULL CONTROL OVER OUR CHOICES.

VINCENT

THERE IS ALWAYS THE CHOICE OF REBELLION.

MYRTLE

AND WHAT ABOUT THE THREAT OF VIOLENCE?

WHAT MEANS DO THE MORTALS HAVE TO FIGHT AGAINST A BLOOD MAGE?

VINCENT

NOT MUCH, I ADMIT.

MYRTLE

HE COULD HAVE THREATENED THEIR LIVELIHOOD.

THREATENED THEIR FAMILIES.

VINCENT

AND YET WOULDN’T GOD STILL SEE THEIR COWARDICE?

A MORTAL WHO CHOOSES TEMPORARY SAFETY AT THE HANDS OF A TYRANT…

MYRTLE

WE ALL HAVE OUR SINS TO ATONE FOR.

I JUST TRY NOT TO GET IN THE WAY OF THE HIGHER JUDGEMENT.

WORSE YET WE APPEAR TO BE TAKING JUSTICE INTO OUR OWN HANDS.

VINCENT

THERE IS A KEY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOUR PHILOSOPHY AND MINE.

I DON’T BELIEVE TAKING ACTION IS A BAD THING.

WE CANNOT SIMPLY WAIT FOR OUR GODS TO FIX OUR PROBLEMS.

OUR TIME ON EARTH WAS GIVEN TO US NOT TO WAIT, BUT TO ACT, TO LOVE, TO FIGHT.

WE WILL BE JUDGED BY OUR ACTIONS AND OF THOSE ACTIONS, CHOOSING NOT TO ACT IS STILL A CHOICE.

MYRTLE

AND I CAN SEE THE MERIT IN YOUR APPROACH.

VINCENT

YOU LIVE YOUR LIFE BY IT, NOT CONTENTED TO LEAVE THE ORPHANS TO THEIR FATES.

MYRTLE

IT’S JUST…THE VIOLENCE.

VINCENT

I KNOW IT’S A LOT.

BUT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THE DECK IS STACKED IN OUR FAVOR.

I’LL SLAY THE OPPOSITION ONE-BY-ONE IF THAT’S WHAT IT TAKES TO GET KEVIN BACK.

MYRTLE

AND THAT’S WHY YOU’RE A GOOD FATHER.

VINCENT

I’M A LOUSY FATHER.

BUT AT LEAST I CAN DO THIS FOR HIM.