Isle of the Dead Page #20

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OLIVER:

Well, tell, him.

THEA:

I can't.

OLIVER:

Why in the world can't you?

THEA:

He hates all my race.

OLIVER:

I knew that feuds still went on,

but I didn't think people like you

and the General would be involved.

THEA:

It is more than a feud between two

families. He stole my mother away

from her people.

Oliver looks at her, holding her out at arm's length.

OLIVER:

Thea, what is this? What are you

trying to tell me? "He stole your

mother" —-

THEA:

(nodding)

It is for that he hates me.

Oliver shakes his head.

OLIVER:

(earnestly)

I don't think so, Thea. He has

spoken of your mother. I don't

believe he knows you are his

daughter.

THEA:

Then why does he persecute me? My

family told me what kind of man he

is, how he stole my mother and then

abandoned her --

Oliver takes her hand.

OLIVER:

(gently)

They didn't tell you the whole

truth. Why do you think your mother

went back to him after you were

born?

Thea looks at him, uncertain, unconvinced.

OLIVER (CONT'D)

Because she loved him.

(pauses)

I know him, Thea. Believe me, he is

not a cruel man.

THEA:

(slowly)

For a moment, when he looked at me

so sadly, I felt that I had wronged

him. But then --

She shudders, remembering her last sight of the General.'

OLIVER:

Let me tell him. When he knows you

are his child, he'll forget these

insane notions -—

THEA:

(alarmed)

No -- you musn't. He thinks I've

bewitched you. He won't believe it

—- he'll hate me even more! My only

chance is to stay away from him.

Oliver puts his arm around her in a protective gesture.

OLIVER:

Perhaps you are right. He's not

himself now. We'll wait —— and in

the meantime, don't be afraid I'll

take care of you..

Thea gives him a faint, grateful smile and rests her head

against his shoulder trustingly.

THE NARROW LEDGE IN FRONT OF THE CRYPTS - DAY

The General turns onto the ledge and begins walking. From the

crypt comes the sound of someone moving about. He stops.

INT. THE CRYPT - DAY

A crude wooden coffin stands on two trestles in the center of

the crypt. Beside it stands Miss Wollsten. Suddenly the body

of the General blocking the doorway shuts off the light

falling into the crypt. Miss Wollsten looks up startled.

TWO SHOT - The General and Miss Wollsten.

GENERAL:

Woman, what are you doing here?

MISS WOLLSTEN:

(rising to her feet and

attempting to look more

normal and a little

strange and guilty)

I wanted to be sure of something,

General -- something that has

always preyed on my mind. I have a

horror of being buried alive and

awakening to find myself shut in —-

entombed —— imprisoned..

GENERAL:

(pointing to the coffin)

He sleeps quietly. He died with a

wine glass in his hand -- he died

laughing -- a brave man, Drossos,

like his father before him.

MISS WOLLSTEN:

Because he was a brave man -

because I liked him -- I came here

to be sure.

GENERAL:

He's dead enough. God rest his

soul.

He starts to turn away.

MISS WOLLSTEN:

General -—

He turns back to her.

MISS WOLLSTEN:

I'm a woman -- a lonely woman. I

have few friends.

GENERAL:

(impatiently)

Yes?

MISS WOLLSTEN:

I have not had a happy life --but

that one thing - - that terror

which brings me awake out of deep

sleep —- I want to avoid it.

GENERAL:

I don't understand you.

MISS WOLLSTEN:

I don't want to be buried alive. If

I die I want to be sure —- quite

sure.

GENERAL:

If you should fall sick we'll be

careful. You need not worry.

MISS WOLLSTEN:

No, I want more than that. I beg

you General, make sure --drive a

knife through my heart -- anything.

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