// STRAUD MANSION //

When SVETLANA arrives at my home, I’m just about to take the dog on a walk.

STRAUD

HERE, MANDARC. YOU DO THE HONORS.

I’VE GOT TO TAKE THIS.

MANDARC

ME, SIR?

STRAUD

YES, YOU.

WHO ELSE?

MANDARC

IT’S JUST THAT… IT’S STILL SO BRIGHT OUT.

THE SUN REFLECTS SO VIOLENTLY OFF THE SNOW THIS TIME OF DAY.

STRAUD

MANDARC.

IT’S SPRING.

THERE WILL BE NO SNOW ON THE GROUND.

MANDARC

[unsure] UH… RIGHT. OF COURSE.

I FORGOT.

MANDARC leaves with the dog. I hope he remembered his sun creme.

I go downstairs to answer the door. It is, indeed, SVETLANA, matron of the OBOROVSKY household. She’s wearing her dress of mourning.

SVETLANA

VLADISLAUS. GOOD EVENING.

HOW FARES IT?

STRAUD

DARKLY.

SVETLANA

THAT’S GOOD TO HEAR, MY FRIEND.

MAY I COME IN?

STRAUD

YES, OF COURSE, MY LADY. MY HOME IS YOURS.

SVETLANA

I AM GRATEFUL.

I NEED SHELTER.

SVETLANA enters the home. She immediately walks toward the fireplace to warm herself. Her outstretched arms are slender, fair.

IT IS GOOD TO BE IN THE HOME OF THE MASTER.

STRAUD

OH, SVETLANA. DON’T SAY THAT.

SVETLANA

I’LL SAY WHATEVER I WANT TO, OLD FRIEND.

I try to change the topic of conversation.

STRAUD

HOW ARE THE CHILDREN.

She smiles, tenderly.

SVETLANA

OH, THEY ARE WELL. YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAY, THEY GROW UP SO FAST.

SOMETIMES I WEEP AFTER I’VE PUT THEM ON THE SCHOOL BUS EACH DAY.

MY MOTHER TOLD ME WEEPING IS BAD FOR THE COMPLEXION, SO I TRY NOT TO, BUT SOMETIMES THE TEARS OVERWHELM ME.

STRAUD

YES… I CAN UNDERSTAND WHY YOU MIGHT FEEL THAT WAY.

SVETLANA

IT’S SO BITTERSWEET – I’M HAPPY THEY’RE LEARNING MORE AND GROWING STRONGER EACH DAY BUT IT COMES WITH THE UNFORTUNATE REALIZATION THAT MY DAYS, TOO, WILL SOON DRAW TO A CLOSE.

STRAUD

MADAM?

I ask with generosity.

I’M SURE YOU HAVE MANY MORE A MOONRISE.

PLEASE DON’T BE SO MELANCHOLY.

SVETLANA

OH, STRAUD. YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND.

MY KIND ARE NOT LIKE YOURS.

YOU GIVE TO YOUR OFFSPRING FREELY AND THEY ARE BATHED IN YOUR LIGHT.

BUT WE ARE NOT LIKE YOU.

WHEN I LAID MY EGGS, I GAVE PART OF MY SOUL-STUFF.

AND LIKE A BEE WHO LOSES HER STINGER, I AM NOW DOOMED TO WASTE AWAY.

STRAUD

OH, I’M SURE IT’S NOT ALL… THAT BAD…

But SVETLANA refutes my effort at consolation and begins to rage in her voice I cannot stand.

SVETLANA

DON’T TELL ME WHAT I DO AND DON’T KNOW ABOUT MY FAMILY!

But she shrinks, ashamed of having invoked the Voice.

OH, STRAUD. I’M SO SORRY. I SHOULDN’T GET IN SUCH A FIT, NOT AT MY AGE. MY HEART JUST CAN’T TAKE IT.

STRAUD

HEARTS ARE A FUNNY THING.

SVETLANA

THEY ARE, AREN’T THEY?

STRAUD

I APOLOGIZE IN ADVANCE FOR BEING SO FORWARD, MADAM, BUT –

WHY HAVE YOU COME?

MY HOUSE IS ALWAYS OPEN TO YOU BUT I KNOW THE JOURNEY IS TRYING AND YOU WOULD NOT RISK THE TRIP LEST IT BE… ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY.

I pause, calm. She looks into the fire.

SVETLANA

THE END OF MY DAYS APPROACHES AND I DO NOT WANT IT TO HAPPEN IN THE HOME WHERE MY CHILDREN COHABITATE.

THEY ARE SUCH SWEET GIRLS, I AM AFRAID THE VERITY, OF… WHAT I AM…

WILL RUIN THEM.

I WANT TO SPARE THE GIRLS THAT FATE.

THEY ARE LIKE THEIR FATHER.

STRAUD

OH, MISTRESS. I AM SURE THE YOUNG GIRLS WILL BE FINE.

SVETLANA

I’M SURE THEY WILL BE FINE, BUT WHAT ABOUT ME?

STRAUD

MADAM. I DON’T FEEL COMFORTABLE HAVING THIS CONVERSATION WITHOUT YOUR CONSORT PRESENT.

SVETLANA

CEDRIC? OH, HE’S A CONSIDERATION, TOO.

I WANT TO SPARE HIM MY FILTHY SECRET.

STRAUD

IT IS ALWAYS GOOD TO BE TRUTHFUL, EVEN IF IT IS PAINFUL AT THE BEGINNING.

SVETLANA

BUT THAT’S JUST IT, I WANT TO SPARE HIM THE PAIN.

STRAUD

SOMETIMES ONE MUST ENDURE THE PAIN TO SEE A BETTER TOMORROW.

SVETLANA

OH, STRAUD. YOU ARE EVER THE OPTIMIST.

STRAUD

YES, I’VE BEEN ACCUSED OF SUCH ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION.

SVETLANA

NO, I’D PREFER YOU DIDN’T SUMMON THE YOUNG MAN.

I DON’T WANT TO SOIL HIM WITH FOUL MEMORIES.

STRAUD

SPOIL? I THINK YOU UNDERESTIMATE HIM.

SVETLANA

YOU DON’T KNOW HIM LIKE I DO!

STRAUD

CERTAINLY NOT. I WASN’T TRYING TO IMPLY THAT I DID.

I WOULD NEVER ATTEMPT TO USURP YOUR AUTHORITY, MY LADY.

SVETLANA

AS IS PROPER.

STRAUD

AS IS PROPER.

SVETLANA

CEDRIC IS YOUNG.

HE WILL FIND ANOTHER LOVER.

IT WAS PROBABLY A MISTAKE TO GET INVOLVED WITH HIM.

STRAUD

THE HEART WANTS WHAT THE HEART WANTS.

SVETLANA

ISN’T IT TRUE.

HAVE YOU EVER FALLEN IN LOVE, VLAD?

STRAUD

MA’AM?

SVETLANA

HAVE YOU EVER WISHED UPON A STAR?

STRAUD

ISN’T THAT THE STUFF OF FAIRY TALES?

SVETLANA

OH. I SUPPOSE SO.

STRAUD

I DO UNDERSTAND, HOWEVER, THE LOVE ONE MAY HAVE FOR ONE’S OWN OFFSPRING. WE WANT TO NURTURE THEM, SEE THEM PROSPER, SEE THEM BECOME MORE THAN WHAT WE OURSELVES ARE.

SVETLANA

YES, THAT IS WHAT I FEEL FOR ESTHER AND OPHELIA.

THEY ARE SUCH DARLINGS.

STRAUD

YES, YOUR GIRLS ARE INDEED SOMETHING ELSE.

SVETLANA

THEY ARE, AREN’T THEY?

STRAUD

YOU AND ERIKSSON DID SUCH A METICULOUS JOB RAISING THEM.

SVETLANA

OH, SEBASTIAN.

I THINK OF HIM FROM TIME TO TIME.

HE WAS SUCH A DOTING FATHER. FAR BETTER THAN MYSELF.

STRAUD

YOU WERE A WONDERFUL MOTHER. YOUR GIRLS ADORE YOU.

SVETLANA

BUT IS THAT ADORATION DESERVED?

STRAUD

DARE I SAY, IF IT’S WORTH IT TO NAVEL-GAZE –

THAT WE WILL NEVER FEEL ANY ADOLATION IS DESERVÈD.

SVETLANA

I SUPPOSE YOU ARE RIGHT.

BUT ALLOW ME TO CHANGE THE SUBJECT TO SOMETHING A BIT MORBID.

I BELIEVE THIS MAY BE MY FINAL CYCLE AND I’D LIKE YOU TO PERFORM THE RITUAL.

STRAUD

SVETLANA.

I TRULY DOUBT THIS IS YOUR FINAL CYCLE.

THE ELDER MARSCAPONE HAS RECENTLY MOVED ON SO YOU MAY HAVE MORE TIME THAN YOU THINK.

SVETLANA

OH, REALLY?

MARSCAPONE IS FINALLY GONE FROM THIS PLANE?

STRAUD

YES. SHE’S DISAPPERATED.

SVETLANA

THAT IS UNFORTUNATE.

STRAUD

SHE WAS SUCH A VALUABLE MENTOR FOR MY SONS.

SVETLANA

I KNOW CEDRIC HAD NOTHING BUT POSITIVE THINGS TO SAY OF THE OLD CRONE.

STRAUD

IT’S GOOD TO HEAR HE’S BEEN BEING POLITE.

SVETLANA

OH, YES. ALWAYS.

STRAUD

UNFORTUNATELY THE YOUNG WOMAN WAS WORKING HIM TO THE BONE.

SVETLANA

WAS SHE?

STRAUD

SHE WAS.

SVETLANA

HE NEVER COMPLAINED.

STRAUD

HE WOULDN’T.

SVETLANA

I SUPPOSE NOT.

I move over to the bar and prepare a refreshment for the woman.

STRAUD

CAN I OFFER YOU SOMETHING TO DRINK?

SVETLANA

OH, VLAD. YOU ARE EVER THE GENTLEMAN BUT YOU KNOW I DON’T PREFER UNCARBONATED.

STRAUD

YES, MA’AM. I JUST WANTED TO OFFER YOU SOMETHING TO NUMB THE PAIN.

SVETLANA

THE PAIN OF KNOWING I WILL BEAR NO SONS OF SEBASTIAN?

NOTHING DULLS THAT ENNUI.

STRAUD

I… EMPATHIZE.

SVETLANA

HE WOULD HAVE BEEN SUCH A GOOD FATHER, TOO.

YOU WERE HIS SIRE, WERE YOU NOT?

STRAUD

I WAS.

SVETLANA

I WONDER WHAT HE WAS LIKE, BEFORE HE SUCCUMBED.

STRAUD

IT HAS BEEN TOO LONG AN EON FOR ME TO RECOUNT.

SVETLANA

OH, BUT YOU WILL, WON’T YOU; FOR AN OLD WOMAN ON HER DEATH BED?

STRAUD

HE FELL UNDER THE SIGN OF THE BEAR.

SVETLANA

THE BEAR? REALLY. I NEVER KNEW.

I MYSELF WAS A FELID.

STRAUD

YES, MADAM. I AM WELL-AWARE.

SVETLANA

BEAR. YES. I SUPPOSE THAT EXPLAINS A FEW THINGS.

STRAUD

I’M SORRY I DIDN’T LET YOU KNOW SOONER, IT JUST…

SVETLANA

NEVER CAME UP. YES. I AM AWARE.

SVETLANA takes a healthy drink of the offering I’ve prepared.

SVETLANA

YOU AND I, WE’RE ALIKE, ARE WE NOT, VLAD?

STRAUD

YES, MY LADY. WE ARE ALIKE.

The conversation has slowed; SVETLANA moving about the house, VLADISLAUS STRAUD hanging about the sitting room.

MANDARC has yet to return.

STRAUD

[thinking] Finally. Taking the pup on the walk he deserves.

SVETLANA approaches STRAUD.

SVETLANA

WILL YOU MAKE MY BED AND LIE IN IT?

STRAUD

NO, MY LADY. I AM UNABLE.

WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO SUMMON YOUR CONSORT?

SVETLANA

CEDRIC? NO. I WOULD NOT SUBJECT HIM TO SUCH SLAVERY.

STRAUD

SEBASTIAN, THEN.

SVETLANA

NO. HE HAS ALREADY DONE TOO MUCH FOR ME.

STRAUD

PERHAPS ONE OF YOUR GIRLS. ESTHER, OPHEL –

SVETLANA raises her voice.

SVETLANA

NO, VLAD! I WANT YOU TO DO IT!

STRAUD

MADAM. IT IS NOT PROPER…

SVETLANA

I DON’T GIVE A DAMN ABOUT WHAT’S PROPER! I REFUSE TO INVOLVE THE YOUNG MEN IN MY FEMININE PROBLEMS.

STRAUD

IF THAT IS TRULY YOUR FINAL WISH, THEN I AM LOATHE TO REFUSE A LADY’S REQUEST.

SVETLANA

THAT IS THE LADY’S REQUEST.

STRAUD

THEN. THERE IS NO TIME LIKE THE PRESENT.

WHAT WILL YOU TAKE AS YOUR FINAL WILL AND TESTAMENT?

SVETLANA

WHEN MY DAUGHTER WAS BUT A CHILD, MY FATHER TOOK HER TO THE PLAYGROUND. IT WAS A BRIGHT, BEAUTIFUL, PERFECT DAY OF WEATHER. I KNOW BECAUSE MY FATHER TOOK AN EXCEPTIONAL PHOTOGRAPH OF HER – HE LATER DRAFTED IT IN PENCIL AND GAVE IT TO ME AS A GIFT.

I NO LONGER HAVE A COPY; IT WAS STOLEN FROM MY RECORDS…

I’D LIKE YOU TO SHOW ME MY MISSING RECOLLECTION.

STRAUD

SVETLANA… YOUR DAUGHTERS ARE OF AGE. TO RELIVE THIS SEGMENT OF THE PAST MEANS…

SVETLANA

YES. EVEN SOMEONE LIKE ME UNDERSTANDS THE PRICE OF JOY.

PIDGE-ADMIN//

open chat @09:32 PM

VLAD//

Cedric. I thought you should be the first to know that the Vampress Svetlana Oborovsky no longer wanders the Mortal plane.

CEDRIC//

Excuse me?

VLAD//

She came seeking my hospice.

CEDRIC//

And you obliged? She was mine.

VLAD//

I told her that, multiple times, Cedric.

She thought you... too young.

CEDRIC//

Too young? Too fucking young?!

VLAD//

Cedric.

I tried.

CEDRIC//

Are you sorry? Are you fucking sorry?

VLAD//

I am, Cedric. I am.

CEDRIC//

She really thought I was too young?

VLAD//

She wasn't herself, Cedric. Not at all. Just...

Dazed and confused.

CEDRIC//

You know what this means, don't you?

VLAD//

Unfortunately.

CEDRIC//

Who's going to contain the twins? She was the only thing holding them back.

VLAD//

I know.

CEDRIC//

And, what, I guess you expect me to tell Sebastian?

Guy's shell-shocked enough as it is.

VLAD//

I know.

CEDRIC//

She was my fucking girlfriend, Vlad.

You took that right from me.

VLAD//

I told her that but she wouldn't listen.

CEDRIC//

Because her memory was mired in the half-dream and you knew it.

Or maybe because your dumbass never studied Russian.

Lord knows you've had enough time.

VLAD//

It didn't feel right, violating her request.

CEDRIC//

Did you even use your real face?

Or was this another of your dastardly disguises?

VLAD//

I was honest with her.

CEDRIC//

As honest as one of your kind can be.

She was mine.

VLAD//

She belonged to the Earth before she belonged to you.

CEDRIC//

And, what?

You didn't think I would be understanding?

VLAD//

It wasn't that, Cedric.

She wanted to save you from witnessing her final form.

CEDRIC//

I was dictated her will long ago.

VLAD//

I understand that.

CEDRIC//

She wanted to protect her young daughters.

Why couldn't you have just helped her see out that request?

VLAD//

She was clearly suffering.

CEDRIC//

We're all suffering!

You just have a proclivity for old cunts.

VLAD//

I'd prefer you not speak to me in such a manner.

CEDRIC//

I'll speak to you any way I damn well please, old man.

VLAD//

That's your perogative.

CEDRIC//

Did you even attempt the rites?

VLAD//

I attempted, she refused.

CEDRIC//

Dammit Straud.

Damn you.

close chat @09:55 PM

Later, MANDARC approaches me in the Mansion.

MANDARC

SO. HOW’D HE TAKE THE NEWS.

STRAUD

POORLY, MANDARC. POORLY.

MANDARC

IT’S NOT YOUR FAULT.

STRAUD

IT DOESN’T MATTER. HE’S STILL PISSED. AS RIGHT HE SHOULD BE.

MANDARC

SHE CAME TO YOU; YOU DIDN’T SEEK HER OUT.

WHAT ELSE WERE YOU SUPPOSED TO DO?

STRAUD

I DON’T KNOW, MANDARC.

I THINK HE WAS JUST ANGRY AT BEING EXCLUDED.

MANDARC

I DIDN’T GET TO ATTEND EITHER.

I WOULD HAVE LOVED TO HAVE SEEN THE TIGRESS’ FINAL FORM.

STRAUD

PLEASE DON’T BE OBSCENE.

MANDARC

SORRY. MY APOLOGIES.

WHAT WERE HER LAST WORDS?

STRAUD

SHE WAS WORRIED ABOUT HER CHILDREN, WORRIED THAT SHE’D PLAYED FAVORITES AND THAT THE GIRLS WOULD HOLD A GRUDGE.

MANDARC

IT ALWAYS DID SEEM TO ME THAT ESTHER WAS HER FAVORITE.

ALTHOUGH, ISN’T OPHELIA THE MATH GENIUS?

STRAUD

I’VE NEVER READ OVER THEIR GRADE CARDS.

ANYWAY. I WOULD EXPECT THE GIRLS, NOW DIVORCED AND WITHOUT A MOTHER IN THE APARTMENT, TO BE THROWING A FAIR AMOUNT OF HOUSE PARTIES.

MANDARC

OH? WAS SVETLANA A WILD CHILD?

STRAUD

UNFORTUNATELY. SHE GOT CAUGHT UP IN THE SIXTIES DRUG RUSH.

SPENT A LOT OF TIME AT THE DISCO.

IT WAS PART OF WHAT DROVE HER AND ERIKSSON APART.

MANDARC

YEAH, HE SEEMS PRETTY STRAIGHT EDGE.

STRAUD

HAVE A LITTLE RESPECT FOR YOUR ELDERS.

MANDARC

SORRY, SIR. LOST MYSELF A BIT THERE.

STRAUD

SHE DID EDUCATE HER DAUGHTERS, THOUGH. ONE MIGHT ALMOST SAY, TOO WELL.

MAYBE THEY WERE TOO YOUNG TO HANDLE THE CROWN.

MANDARC

WELL IT SEEMS TO BE LESS AN ISSUE THAT THEY WERE – ARE – YOUNG

AND MORE THAT THEY ARE TWINS

IDENTICAL OR FRATERNAL?

STRAUD

FRATERNAL, BUT IT’S HARD TO TELL JUST BY APPEARANCE.