Work Text:
CAST:
BORMETHIUS – the greatest detective this side of Emberton. Believes in Justice.
MIRROR – voice, foil, shadow; call it what you will. Believes in doing good.
IVORY – haunting, silent. Murderer?
SETTING: An interrogation room containing only a table and three chairs. The back half of the stage is divided by a translucent gray curtain, where silhouettes can be seen behind it.
TIME: Far too late.
[note: it is recommended but not necessary
for ivory’s voice to be slightly muffled
throughout the entire play.]
[Lights up. BORMETHIUS is sitting on the chair closest to stage right, his coat slung over its back. He holds a cigarette between his fingers. There is a lighter and a stack of papers on the table.]
BORMETHIUS: It’s not like she didn't deserve it. (Pause.) I mean, she’s a murderer. She deserves to know what it feels like with the roles reversed. (Pause.) It’s for the greater good.
[He reaches for the lighter. It brushes the tip of his fingers, but is too far away.]
BORMETHIUS: Goddamnit.
[He gets up, grabs the lighter, and sits back down. He lights his cigarette with a click and takes a long drag.]
BORMETHIUS: (softer) She deserved it. (with more resolve) She deserved what she got! For all the harm she'd caused to the Hemlockes, to Mysticat herself – it's deserved.
[He slumps in the chair, exhausted.]
BORMETHIUS: It is. It is.
[He takes another drag.]
BORMETHIUS: It's justice, what it is. Just– plain old justice. She got what's coming. It was my god's will. To punish the sinful, and I did. There’s no doubt about that.
[He stands up, starts pacing back and forth.]
BORMETHIUS: She was wrong. Everything about her was wrong. Her tone was flat, and she expressed no emotion. And, she refused to answer my questions straight-on. Is that not clear, undeniable proof that she is guilty?
[Bormethius stops moving. He stares out at the audience. Pleading, almost. As if he’s expecting to see his god in the empty seats.]
BORMETHIUS: Look. Think of it this way: if I am wrong – which! I know I am not, because the evidence is clear enough – then I would simply have rid Emberton, rid the Hemlockes, of an unnecessary burden. One less mouth to feed. And, really, it’s one person. One… servant.
[He clenches his fists, then unclenches them. There is a manic sort of gleam in his eyes.]
BORMETHIUS: Ivory is, quite simply, a mistake.
MIRROR: Who are you trying to convince?
[Bormethius turns. Behind him, a silhouette can be seen behind the curtain, mirroring his movements. MIRROR. He scowls.]
BORMETHIUS: Oh, it’s you.
MIRROR: (unperturbed) Do you really believe Ivory killed Mysticat?
[Bormethius scoffs.]
BORMETHIUS: Of course I do. It’s the only logical conclusion.
MIRROR: Is it?
BORMETHIUS: Are you going to be useful or just stand there questioning me?
MIRROR: Hmm?
[The room is plunged into darkness. Bormethius visibly startles.]
[Silence, except for Bormethius' heavy breathing.]
[Lights up on the back half of the stage. Two silhouettes are visible behind the curtain. Mirror, perhaps, and IVORY. He grabs her by the collar and shoves her backward. She stumbles, catches herself.]
[He advances. She backs away, hands raised. He grabs her arm and jerks her forward, strikes her across the face.]
[There should be a crack, a noise of impact. There is not.]
[Her head snaps to the side. She falls, he follows her down. His fist rises and falls. Rises and falls. The silhouettes blur together.]
[His arm raises one more time-]
[Lights down on the back half. Lights up on the front. Bormethius is standing exactly where he was, frozen. His hand is shaking.]
[Long pause. He takes a slow drag of the cigarette.]
BORMETHIUS: (quietly, to himself) She's guilty.
[His gaze drifts towards the left. He jumps.]
BORMETHIUS: Oh my god-
[Ivory stands in the corner, just barely visible; bruised and bloody. She does not move.]
BORMETHIUS: What? No, no, this can’t be right – you’re not dead! You can’t be haunting me if you're not even dead!
[Ivory tilts her head, just slightly. Bormethius reaches for his bare neck, fingers splayed open. He glances down, his eyes widen a little, and he looks back up at Ivory.]
BORMETHIUS: (harshly) Demon.
MIRROR: Who are you talking to?
BORMETHIUS: …What?
MIRROR: You know you sound stupid, right? Talking to yourself?
BORMETHIUS: What– no, there’s– Ivory, she’s right there! What are you–
MIRROR: Are you serious?
BORMETHIUS: (to Ivory) Why are you here? How– no, that doesn’t matter. Talk to me; come on! Say something–
[Ivory takes a step closer. Bormethius flinches violently, then scowls.]
BORMETHIUS: Oh, fuck off.
[A beat. Bormethius snuffs out his cigarette, tosses it on the table. He procures another from his pocket, but doesn’t light it just yet.]
BORMETHIUS: Come on. Just– say something. Anything. Prove you’re real.
[Silence.]
BORMETHIUS: Come on.
MIRROR: If she is truly there, what do you even want her to say? Do you want a confession? A statement? Do you want her to justify your actions? To go “Ah, yes, I did kill her; I am a murderer” just so you know you did the right thing by–
BORMETHIUS: It was the right thing! It was– justice.
MIRROR: Then why are you so insistent on this?
BORMETHIUS: I–
[He cuts himself off with a growl.]
BORMETHIUS: Because she needs to– she has to–
[He fumbles with the lighter, lights the cigarette with shaking hands. Takes a long drag.]
BORMETHIUS: (quieter) She has to say it. She has to admit what she did.
MIRROR: Why?
BORMETHIUS: Because if she doesn't, then–
[He stops, takes another drag.]
MIRROR: Then what?
BORMETHIUS: Then– then nothing! It doesn't change a damn thing! She's still guilty!
MIRROR: Is she?
BORMETHIUS: Yes! I– (turning to Ivory) You are. You know you are. Just say it. Just–
[Ivory does not react.]
BORMETHIUS: SAY IT!
[He stubs out the cigarette violently. Moves toward her.]
BORMETHIUS: I did everything right. I followed the evidence. I protected Emberton. I did what my god wanted me to do. And you– you just stand there, silent, judging me–
[He's close to her now. His hands are shaking.]
[He raises his fist.]
BORMETHIUS: Say something. SAY something–
[Lights down.]
[Lights up on the back half. The same positioning as before: two silhouettes, one with a fist raised. This time, there is noise.]
[Ivory breathes heavily. The punches are heard very clearly through the silence. Thud. Thud. Thud. As repetitive as a heartbeat.]
[Lights down on the back half, up on the front. Bormethius is stock-still.]
BORMETHIUS: I–
[Slowly, he lowers his hand. Swallows. He backs away and sinks into his chair.]
[A beat.]
MIRROR: Maybe it’s all that damn smoke; you ever think about that?
BORMETHIUS: (startled) What?
MIRROR: You know? Your smoking?
[Bormethius casts a pointed glance at Ivory. She has moved marginally closer.]
BORMETHIUS: …I don’t think that’s what’s going on here.
MIRROR: And? Why not?
BORMETHIUS: What’s smoking got to do with anything?
MIRROR: Can you even see clearly through all that?
BORMETHIUS: I see perfectly fine–
[Bormethius reaches for another cigarette, then thinks better of it.]
BORMETHIUS: (cont.) and, besides, my god–
MIRROR: (dry) Your god?
BORMETHIUS: Yes, my god, what of it?
MIRROR: What does your god think of all this? Of what you did?
BORMETHIUS: Well, I can’t speak for my god–
[Mirror scoffs.]
BORMETHIUS: (cont.) –but this is what my god would have wanted. Wants. This is what my god wants.
MIRROR: Is it?
BORMETHIUS: Yes.
[He finally grabs a cigarette and lights it.]
BORMETHIUS: Justice. Righteousness. Protecting the innocent–
MIRROR: Then where is your god?
BORMETHIUS: What?
[Bormethius casts a wide-eyed glance back at Ivory.]
MIRROR: Where is your god, Bormethius?
[Bormethius’ hand moves to his neck again, hesitant.]
BORMETHIUS: My god is with me. Always.
MIRROR: When's the last time you felt that warmth? Of your god?
[A beat.]
MIRROR: Not at all?
BORMETHIUS: ...Not since her.
[He gestures in Ivory’s general direction.]
MIRROR: Since Ivory?
BORMETHIUS: Yes. Since she showed up, everything's been– wrong. Cold. My god was with me before she came to Emberton. Before she walked into that manor and–
[Ash falls from his lit cigarette.]
BORMETHIUS: (cont.) –poisoned everything.
MIRROR: So she drove your god away?
BORMETHIUS: Yes! She must have. Demons do that, don't they? They– they corrupt. They taint.
MIRROR: And what did you do to stop her?
[Bormethius freezes.]
[Lights down.]
[Lights up on back half. Mirror stands over Ivory.]
MIRROR: Listen to me, Ivory. If you don’t start giving me a confession, terrible things are going to happen.
[Ivory replies, muffled.]
MIRROR: GIVE ME A CONFESSION.
[Ivory’s reply is more hurried, desperate.]
MIRROR: YES YOU DID!
[Mirror raises a fist.]
[Thud. Thud. Thud.]
[Mirror steps back, breathing heavily. He stares down at Ivory’s slumped form.]
[Silence.]
[Lights down back, lights up front.]
BORMETHIUS: (through gritted teeth) It. Was. Deserved.
MIRROR: Was it really?
BORMETHIUS: It was justice.
MIRROR: For whom? Yourself?
BORMETHIUS: For everyone. For the world.
MIRROR: And for Ivory?
[Bormthius turns. Ivory is now two steps away from the table. Her gaze is fixed on the curtain, though her body faces him.]
BORMETHIUS: …yes.
MIRROR: Wow, you really believe that, don’t you?
BORMETHIUS: Just– why do you feel the need to question my every action? I did it, it’s done, I can’t change a damn thing. Why does it matter?
MIRROR: (slowly) Why does it matter?
BORMETHIUS: Yes, why does it–
MIRROR: Who brought this up in the first place?
[Bormethius falls silent.]
MIRROR: Who tried to justify every single action of his to an empty room?
BORMETHIUS: I– empty?
[Lights flash off, on. Mirror and Ivory are both gone. Bormethius blinks, turning around in a slow circle.]
BORMETHIUS: …What?
[He stares at the audience.]
[Lights flash off, on. Mirror is back. Ivory is sitting in the chair opposite Bormethius.]
[Bormethius yelps and shoves himself away, standing up.]
BORMETHIUS: (quietly) My god.
[He moves his hand to his mouth, and abruptly realises that he’s dropped his cigarette somewhere. He eyes the lighter on the table, but does not move towards it.]
BORMETHIUS: (to Ivory) What do you want from me? Just– leave me alone. Why aren’t you leaving?
MIRROR: Why would she?
BORMETHIUS: Just leave me alone–
[Lights down.]
[Lights up on back half: this time, they start off further apart. Mirror is facing away from Ivory, pulling on gloves.]
MIRROR: Y’know, I’ve been awfully nice to you so far, but you haven’t been, Ivory. You haven’t been the least bit nice.
[Mirror turns to Ivory, who shrinks back.]
MIRROR: Do you remember how you killed Mysticat?
[Mirror sighs and steps closer.]
MIRROR: I think you deserve some of the same treatment.
IVORY: I didn’t kill Mysticat, sir.
MIRROR: You did. You. Killed. Mysticat. Now you’re gonna tell me exactly how and why you did it.
[A high-pitched ringing sound starts to play in the background, soft.]
MIRROR: Listen to me, Ivory. If you don’t start giving me a confession, terrible things are going to happen.
IVORY: I didn’t do it, sir.
[The ringing grows slightly louder.]
MIRROR: GIVE ME A CONFESSION.
IVORY: I’m– I didn’t kill her!
[The ringing grows louder.]
MIRROR: YES YOU DID!
[Mirror raises a fist and brings it down. Thud. The ringing grows louder.]
[And again. Thud. Louder.]
[Again. Thud. Louder.]
[Thud. Louder.]
[Thud.]
[Thud.]
[Once more. Mirror raises a fist–]
[Crack.]
[The ringing stops abruptly. Mirror stumbles back, letting Ivory’s limp form crash to the ground. Pulls off the gloves slowly, carefully.]
[Bormethius steps through the curtain.]
[Lights down.]
[Lights up. Bormethius is still there, shaking slightly. There is no one else on stage. The chair Ivory was in is empty, as is the curtain behind him. He stares out at the audience, bloody gloves clenched in one hand.]
[We linger for a while. Nothing but Bormethius’ shaky breaths.]
[End.]