// THE MARSCAPONE SCHOOL OF MAGIC //


The sound of the silver bell still rings in Myrtle’s mind. It all seemed like it could be something simple. They’ve had their ‘Eureka!’ moment already.

Magic was feeling increasingly limited and Myrtle felt very small, very helpless.

MYRTLE

WELL, CAN’T YOU JUST GO THERE?


She had only the faintest impression of what schemes of magic were open to the Count.

STRAUD

WOMAN, DON’T YOU KNOW A LICK ABOUT PLANESMAGICK?


Straud was surprisingly caustic, seeming quickly irritable.

MYRTLE

I DO KNOW A FAIR AMOUNT.

STRAUD

WELL EVEN IF I KNOW THE CAUSE, THAT DOESN’T MEAN I’M SIMPLY ABLE TO STEP FOOT ON HIS PLANE WILLY-NILLY.

THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME SORT OF KEY TO OPEN THE WAY.

AND IF IT’S NOT THE DOCTOR TRELAINE…

MYRTLE

THEN WHAT?


He pauses dramatically, trying to allow her space to answer her own question.

STRAUD

THEN I’VE OPENED WAR ON HIM BY SETTING FOOT UPON HIS HOME PLANE.

EVEN ASSUMING THAT’S WHERE HE WENT.

IT’S NOT AS SIMPLE AS A SCRY, AND EVEN IF IT WERE, I POSSESS NO PHYSICAL OBJECTS FROM WHICH TO DRAW A SOURCE.

MYRTLE

BUT SURELY THERE MUST BE SOMETHING YOU CAN DO.

STRAUD

I DON’T KNOW, MADAM.

MYRTLE

HOW WERE THEY ABLE TO TAKE KEVIN, THEN?

STRAUD

HE OPENED THE DOOR FOR THEM.

MYRTLE

BUT I DIDN’T THINK HE’D BE ABLE TO LEAVE.

STRAUD

WHY WOULD YOU THINK THAT?


She stutters, unsure of what she wants to say.

MYRTLE

I DON’T KNOW, I JUST THOUGHT…


Vincent, silent to this point, rejoins the conversation.

VINCENT

SHE THOUGHT HE WAS BOUND TO OUR PLANE.

STRAUD

WELL APPARENTLY NOT.

I ASSUME YOU’VE SEARCHED THE HOUSE.

MYRTLE

YES, EVERY NOOK AND CRANNY.

STRAUD

THEN HE IS CERTAINLY NOT BOUND TO YOUR HOME.


Myrtle seems caught, preoccupied.

STRAUD

WHERE IS THE DOOR?

MYRTLE

WHICH DOOR?

STRAUD

THE DOOR FROM WHICH HE LEFT THE HOUSE.

MYRTLE

DOWN ON THE FIRST FLOOR. THE MAIN ENTRANCE OF THE SCHOOL.


They track downstairs. They open the door and stare out on a quiet street.

Vincent stops still, caught in a moment of concentration.

He smells something.

VINCENT

A FOUL ODOR.


Straud looks at him. His serene expression seems to encourage Vincent.

VINCENT

IT’S A CHEMICAL.

A STRONG ACID?

A PEPPER?

STRAUD

FOCUS.

MYRTLE

DO YOU THINK THEY ATTACKED HIM?


The three observe a moment of silent reflection.

STRAUD

IT IS ENTIRELY POSSIBLE.

MYRTLE

BUT THEY USED NON-MAGICAL MEANS.

STRAUD

THEY MAY HAVE FELT THEY NEEDED NOTHING STRONGER IF YOUR BOY WAS INCAPABLE OF FIGHTING BACK.

BESIDES WHICH.

THAT WHICH ORIGINATES FROM THE PRIME MATERIAL PLANE MAY TRAVEL FREELY WITHIN IT.

VINCENT

TEARGAS.

AEROSOL.

STRAUD

IT’S A PARTICULARLY STRONG WEAPON MORTALS USE AGAINST ONE ANOTHER.

A SPRAY.

OFTEN IN THE EYES AS THAT OFFERS THE MOST IMMOBILIZING POTENTIAL.

MYRTLE

SOMEONE USED A CHEMICAL WEAPON AGAINST KEVIN?

STRAUD

IF YOUR HUSBAND’S SENSE OF SMELL IS TO BE TRUSTED.


Vincent turns his attention back to Straud and Myrtle.

VINCENT

YES, I’M SURE OF IT.

STRAUD

THEN HE MAY NOT HAVE GONE OF HIS OWN FREE WILL.

HE MAY HAVE BEEN SUBDUED.

MYRTLE

NO, HE COULDN’T HAVE RUN AWAY.

WE’VE TAKEN CARE TO PROVIDE FOR HIS EVERY WANT.


Straud looks between the two worried faces.

STRAUD

I SUSPECT, IF IT IS MY OLD ASSOCIATE, THEN HE MAY WANT TO SEQUENCE HIS GENETIC MATERIAL.

MYRTLE

‘SEQUENCE HIS GENETIC MATERIAL’?

WHAT DO YOU MEAN?


But the remaining man seems distracted.

VINCENT

WHAT IF IT’S NOT LENARD.

WHAT IF IT’S SOMETHING GREATER?

STRAUD

THEN WE MAY BE POWERLESS TO STOP THEM.


Myrtle buries her head in her hands, her voice now muffled by the retraction.

MYRTLE

OH, MY BOY.

MY DEAR, DEAR BOY.


Straud allows Myrtle a moment of grief before speaking again.

STRAUD

I’LL COME BACK TOMORROW AND GIVE A LECTURE TO THE ORPHANS.

MYRTLE

YOU’LL COME BACK TOMORROW?

BUT I INSIST…

STRAUD

IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT I SEE HOW KEVIN LIVED.

IF I’M TO HAVE ANY HOPE OF SEEING WHAT WE’RE UP AGAINST.

IT WILL BE NOTHING EXTRAORDINARY, PERHAPS ON THE NATURE OF DRAWING ARTIFICIAL LIGHT.

MYRTLE

BUT COUNT…

STRAUD

PLEASE ALLOW ME THIS.


She steps back her protestations, wondering them sensible or out of a misplaced sense of propriety.

MYRTLE

OF COURSE.

STRAUD

CAN YOU DRIVE ME HOME, VINCENT?

I’LL WANT TO PREPARE.

VINCENT

OF COURSE.