Isle of the Dead Page #6

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OLIVER:

(coming into the scene)

He is exhausted.

ALBRECHT:

Why don't you stay here tonight?

Get a good sleep. You can return

to your command in the morning.

The General is about to shake his head in a negative answer

when he suddenly thinks better of it and still looking at

Thea, speaks.

GENERAL:

Perhaps I had better stay.

I am tired.

ALBRECHT:

I'll get Ida to make up your

bed.

He starts upstairs. Oliver and the General turn back into the

room.

TWO SHOT— Cathy and Thea. They arc seated on the settee. The

CAMERA is set up TO SHOOT PAST their profilesso that Oliver

and the General can be seen coming down the room from the

stairway in the background.

CATHY:

(to Thea)

The young man, Mr. Davis, seems to

be some kind of an unofficial

observer —— a correspondent of

some sort ——

THEA:

And the soldier -- He looked at

me so strangely -- who is he?

Before Cathy can answer Oliver has come close to stand beside

them. In the background General Pherides has crossed to the

brazier where Mr. St. Aubyn stands.

ST. AUBYN

I don't really know where Thea

comes from. The Vice—Consul at

Adrianople brought her to me..

GENERAL:

Her name is Thea?

ST. AUBYN

Theodosia.

GENERAL:

Her family name?

ST. AUBYN

Damn me, if I know. She's become so

much a member of our household I

never think of her by any name but

Thea -- she has a last name --

He wrinkles his forehead.

ST. AUBYN

I seem to have forgotten.

The General looks at him suspiciously.

GENERAL:

You do not know her last name --

you do not know from where she

came?

ST. AUBYN

(looks off at his

secretary)

Miss Wollsten -— my secretary,

she'd know.

MED. FULL SHOT - Miss Wollsten. She gets up, places one of

the long needles she uses in her embroidery work through the

collar of her dress and starts toward the stairway.

FULL SHOT - The General and St. Aubyn as they watch Miss

Wollsten pass. She nods "good night." The General turns back

to St. Aubyn.

GENERAL:

(with a gesture toward

Cathy)

Your daughter is ill.

ST. AUBYN

(brushing off the

question)

She's not too well.

GENERAL:

(persistently)

What is her illness?

ST. AUBYN

Nothing, really. She's been under a

great strain -- the journey -- the

battle --

GENERAL:

Was she ill before that girl came

into your household?

ST. AUBYN

(embarrassed at

this interrogation)

Why -- no not before Thea came ——

The General looks at him and then at Thea.

GENERAL:

Your daughter is weak -- she feels

as if the blood had been drained

from her -- and all this since that

girl came to work in your house.

St. Aubyn looks at him in annoyance. This volunteered

diagnosis offends him. He turns toward the stairs. The

General turns with him, taking hold of his arm to stop him.

GENERAL:

This girl --

ST. AUBYN

(interrupting)

This girl -- Thea —- is not a

servant in my household, sir.

She is my daughter's companion.

Now, sir, if you'll excuse me,

I'll go have a look at Mr. Jacks.

GENERAL:

I will go with you.

Mr. St. Aubyn starts for the stairs and the General stalks

after him. The two men reach the foot of the stairs

MED. CLOSE SHOT - Oliver with Thea and Cathy. He smiles in a

friendly fashion at Thea, as he says:

OLIVER:

I hope Mr. Jacks gets to bed in one

piece.

CATHY:

M~ father will take care of it.

(gushing to impress Oliver)

Pappa is wonderful! No matter what

happens, he makes me feel perfectly

safe.

(with flirtatious

emphasis)

I could never leave him. I should

be utterly helpless by myself.

THEA:

(gravely)

You are fortunate in your father.

CATHY:

Thea is an orphan.

OLIVER:

(to Thea)

That was a lovely song you sang

before we came. Sing it again, will

you?

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