Yesterday evening had been a strange evening. The late morning had seen AVAELLE EASTON, DOCTOR LENARD TRELAINE go out of doors to groom their horses. Soon after they went inside to prepare for lunch, THE DOCTOR cited a need for an afternoon nap and retreated to the guest room. AVAELLE spent the rest of the day by herself, spending some time in front of her Bible during a quiet time in the afternoon.

The sun begins to wane and AVAELLE sees MAURICE for a small supper. Her father is still abed. AVAELLE is about to retire to her bedroom for the evening when she encounters THE DOCTOR in the upstairs hallway. She has a candle in hand, intending to light the hallway.

AVAELLE

DID YOU ENJOY YOUR WALK?


AVAELLE’s tone is lightly caustic. She had found herself desirous of his company after he’d spent the afternoon in seclusion.

TRELAINE

DID YOU TRY TO COME FETCH ME FOR SUPPER?

I’M TERRIBLY SORRY, MISS. I MUST HAVE MISSED YOU.

YES, I WENT OUT FOR A WALK AROUND YOUR FIELDS.

AVAELLE

I’M SURE THERE WASN’T MUCH TO SEE.

TRELAINE

IT IS A LOVELY HOME.

AVAELLE

WE MISSED YOU AT SUPPER.

TRELAINE

DID MAURICE MAKE IT DOWN?

AVAELLE

YES, HE DID.

I’M GLAD TO SEE HE’S IMPROVING.

TRELAINE

YES, I AM TOO.


A pause hangs in the air for a moment. AVAELLE refuses eye contact with THE DOCTOR as she walks down the hallway sharing her flame with the candles.

TRELAINE

WOULD YOU LET ME SIT FOR MY PORTRAIT THIS EVENING?


AVAELLE turns toward him, catching his eye.

AVAELLE

IT’S A LITTLE LATE, DON’T YOU THINK?

TRELAINE

WERE YOU GOING TO RETIRE?

AVAELLE

I WAS GOING TO.

TRELAINE

I DON’T INTEND TO KEEP YOU LONG.

AVAELLE

THE LIGHTING IS POOR.

TRELAINE

PERHAPS THAT IS SOMETHING WE CAN USE TO OUR ADVANTAGE.

I DO SO LIKE THE DARKER PORTRAITS.

SOMETHING SET TO CANDLELIGHT.

I’M SOMETHING OF A NIGHT-OWL, MYSELF.

AVAELLE

MY FATHER, WHEN HE’S WELL, PREFERS TO WORK IN THE EARLY MORNING.

I SUPPOSE I BECAME ACCUSTOMED TO IT.


She abruptly blows out the candle in her hand.

AVAELLE

IF YOU INSIST.




AVAELLE, THE DOCTOR, continue downstairs and enter the sitting area. It is untidy with easels and sketch-paper. She lights some candles located on the mismatched tables around the room.

AVAELLE

I HOPE YOU’LL EXCUSE THE MESS.

WE HAVEN’T HAD TIME TO CLEAN.

PLEASE, FIND YOURSELF A PLACE TO RELAX. I’LL RETURN IN A MOMENT.


She leaves the room and enters the kitchen. MAURICE is nursing the fire.

AVAELLE is sure that THE DOCTOR can hear their words.

MAURICE

STAYING UP LATE, MISS?


A log falls upon the fire and hisses, steam rushing out as it ignites.

AVAELLE

YES, TONIGHT I’M SKETCHING THE BEGINNINGS OF THE DOCTOR’S PORTRAIT.


There’s nothing much to be shared in the twilight.

MAURICE

… IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN GET FOR YOU, MISS?

AVAELLE

JUST… TAKE A BIT OF PIE UP FOR MY FATHER.

IF YOU DON’T MIND.

ARE YOU GOING TO BED?

MAURICE

OH, YES. I’M STILL NOT FEELING WELL.

I’M GOING TO READ AND SLEEP SOON AFTER.

I CAN TAKE UP SOMETHING FOR YOUR FATHER.


AVAELLE bends down and warms her hands at the fire.

AVAELLE

THANK YOU, MAURICE.


When AVAELLE again re-emerges into the sitting room, she has a small cup of whisky in hand.

THE DOCTOR is tending the fire. He can smell the sweet stench of the alcohol from where he is standing.

AVAELLE

CAN I GET YOU SOMETHING?

TRELAINE

WHISKY? OH NO, THAT’S QUITE ALRIGHT.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

IT MAKES ME A LITTLE SLEEPY AND I’D PREFER NOT TO FALL ASLEEP THIS EVENING.

AVAELLE

I UNDERSTAND.

I JUST NEED A LITTLE.



The pair settle in and get used to the quiet of the evening shadow. THE DOCTOR sits in a chair and AVAELLE sits across from him, taking a large sketchpad and charcoals in hand. The squeaking of the house’s frame has subsided and only the two of them remain awake as the evening continues to lengthen.

AVAELLE scratches against the paper in wide, careful strokes, trying to capture THE DOCTOR’s serious, contemplative expression. She spends a good deal of time on his hair, combed straight over his skull, and his eyes, inset, and yet, with an alert brightness against the candlelight.

AVAELLE

YOU WANT TO SEND THIS TO YOUR MOTHER?

TRELAINE

PERHAPS. SHE WAS ALWAYS ONE FOR GIFTS.

AVAELLE

WHAT IS SHE LIKE?

TRELAINE

MY MOTHER?

SHE KEEPS BUSY TENDING AFTER MY YOUNGER SISTERS.

SHE’S STRONG, STOUT.

AVAELLE

THEN YOU MUST BE LIKE YOUR FATHER.


THE DOCTOR chuckles.

AVAELLE

OH, NO – I DIDN’T MEAN IT LIKE THAT!

JUST…

TRELAINE

AH, WELL. IT’S TRUE THAT I’VE SEEN BETTER DAYS.

I OFTEN SUFFER FROM BOUTS OF INDIGESTION.

I’M SORRY I HAVE NOT BE ABLE TO PARTAKE OF YOUR FINE COOKING.


AVAELLE tries to hide her disappointment.

AVAELLE

I’M NOT THAT GIFTED.

MAURICE IS BETTER THAN I.

I AM OFTEN TASKED WITH MINCING.

TRELAINE

I HAVE SAMPLED YOUR OFFERINGS BY SCENT.

YOU DO NOT GIVE YOURSELF ENOUGH CREDIT.

AVAELLE

I…

I APPRECIATE THAT.

TRELAINE

MY MOTHER RARELY APPLIES HERSELF TO THE KITCHEN.

IT IS BECOMING LESS AND LESS ESSENTIAL.


AVAELLE continues to sketch, the sound filling the silent space.

AVAELLE

WHEN DO YOU PLAN ON LEAVING?

TRELAINE

I HAVE SENT FOR ANOTHER DOCTOR TO COME TO THE TOWN.

I DO NOT KNOW WHEN HE WILL ARRIVE, BUT AFTERWARD, I INTEND TO GO TRAVELLING.

I AM NOT WELL-SUITED TO STAY IN ONE PLACE.

AVAELLE

YOU’RE LEAVING THE VILLAGE?

TRELAINE

NOT FOR SOME TIME, YET.

AVAELLE

YOU’LL NEED TO COME BACK TO SIT FOR YOUR PORTRAIT.

TRELAINE

I’M SURE THAT MY REPLACEMENT WILL NOT BE HERE THIS WEEK OR THE NEXT.

OR PERHAPS EVEN THE NEXT, AS THINGS GO.

NO, I’M SURE WE’LL HAVE PLENTY OF TIME TO FINISH OUR WORK.


AVAELLE blushes at the use of the inclusive word.

AVAELLE

I SHOULD HAVE KEPT THE ROOM CLEAN.


She thinks on the ruined paintbrushes.

AVAELLE

FATHER WOULD BE DISAPPOINTED.

TRELAINE

YOU’VE BEEN BUSY KEEPING THE HOUSE INTACT.

IT’S NOT SOMETHING ONE SHOULD EVER HAVE TO DO FOR ONESELF.

AVAELLE

MAURICE SHOULD BE WELL TOMORROW.

TRELAINE

AND YOUR FATHER, TOO.

I SPOKE TO HIM THIS AFTERNOON. HE IS CERTAINLY ON THE MEND.

YOU’LL HAVE YOUR COMPANY SOON.

AVAELLE

I’M GLAD FOR IT.

WHERE WILL YOU GO?

TRELAINE

I WILL GO WEST.

I AM SURE THERE IS ROOM FOR A STRANGE MAN SUCH AS MYSELF.