The Statement of Stella Maberly, and An Evil Spirit
Page 18
Fade into
Leader
“I knew I had betrayed my secret. Some day she would tell him, & he would despise & pity me!”
Fade into
(27)
Scene Evelyn’s Bedroom.
Action Evelyn, looking ill & exhausted, is at her writing-table, writing a letter which seems to be a difficult one to write. Mrs. Maitland enters & is alarmed by Evelyn’s looks, urges her to put off writing & go to bed. Evelyn replies that she must finish her letter, & indicates that something has happened which will prevent her from sleeping that night. Mrs. Maitland looks at her anxiously & goes out.
Fade into
(28)
Scene as in (26).
Action Stella is now lying on a couch absorbed in her thoughts, but half rises as Mrs. Maitland comes in. Mrs. M. tells her something & apparently asks a question, which Stella answers. Mrs. M. thanks her again & goes out.
Fade into
Leader
“Mrs. Maitland came down to tell me that Evelyn was very upset & excited. She was trying to write a letter—to Mr. Dallas, Mrs. Maitland believed—& she would get no sleep unless she took a sedative. Could I tell her where she could find that harmless sleeping draught I had? So I told her.”
Fade out
[121]
(29)
Scene Stella’s bedroom.
Action Mrs. Maitland enters, turns on electric light, goes to dressing-table, opens drawer & takes out the bottle. As she looks at the directions, the word ‘Poison’ catches her eye. She looks alarmed & rather doubtful, then turns off light & goes out with the phial.
Fade into
(30)
Scene Evelyn’s bedroom.
Action She finishes her letter, rises & goes out with the letter.
Fade into
(31)
Scene Stella’s bedroom-door.
Action Evelyn knocks timidly, waits, receives no answer, tries handle, finds door unlocked & goes in.
Fade into
(32)
Scene Stella’s bedroom.
Action Evelyn enters, finds room unoccupied, turns on light, goes to dressing-table, & puts the letter in a conspicuous place on the table.
Insert close-up of envelope addressed
To my dearest Stella
Action (continued) Evelyn looks sadly at the letter, as if she fears that Stella may refuse even to read it, then she turns off the light & goes out.
Fade into
(33)
Scene Evelyn’s bedroom.
Action Her maid has just seen her into bed, & is apparently asking if there is anything she can do. Evelyn, evidently worn out, smiles, indicates that the maid can go, says goodnight, then closes her eyes. The maid watches her for a moment, & then, satisfied that she is fast asleep, turns off the light & goes.
Fade into
(34)
Leader
“I myself was worn out. I fell asleep in the Drawing-room. It was early morning when I awoke, & remembered.”
[122]
Scene The Drawing-room. Stella is on the couch. A lighted lamp & a small clock are on a table near her, but the sky is light outside the French window.
Action She wakes, sits up on couch, shivers in the chill morning air, looks at clock, the hands of which are at 3.30. As her thoughts become clearer, her expression shows past shame, & remorse at her treatment of Evelyn, then sudden terror.
Leader
“Evelyn had a weak heart—& I had allowed Mrs. Maitland to give her chloral!”
Action (continued) Stella rushes from Drawing-room.
Fade into
(35)
Scene Evelyn’s Bedroom.
Action Stella enters & tends anxiously over Evelyn, who is lying peacefully asleep.
Fade into
Leader
“What a fool I had been to be frightened! I thought. The chloral had done her good & no harm. I went to my own room, & there I found——”
Fade into
(36)
Scene Stella’s Bedroom.
Action Stella enters & goes to her dressing-table, sees the envelope, takes it up & reads the address. At first her face hardens, she seems on the point of tossing the letter away unread, but eventually she opens it, though with a slightly contemptuous smile. As she reads, her expression changes to surprise, relief, & overwhelming joy.
Cut in portion of letter
Are you blind, Stella, that you cannot see that Hugh loves you, & only you? To me he has never been, can never be, more than a friend. He is in despair at your coldness, but I made him promise to come over tomorrow. Now I know your real feelings, I can encourage him to try once more. Now good night, dearest, love me always, & never, never have bad thoughts about me again!
Evelyn
[123]
Action (continued) Stella bursts into tears, kisses the letter repeatedly, reads it again & again with rapture. Then she rises impulsively, puts the letter down on table, & goes towards the door.
Fade into
Leader
“I felt I must go to her at once. If she was still sleeping, I would sit by her till she awoke.”
Fade into
(37)
Scene Evelyn’s Bedroom.
Action Stella smiles softly. Evelyn is lying in the same attitude as before. Stella takes a chair by the bedside, & sits, watching her lovingly. Suddenly she becomes alarmed; she listens for Evelyn’s breathing, can hear nothing. Then she touches Evelyn’s hand & starts. She goes to the window & pulls up the blind. The room is flooded with light. She returns to the bed, bends over Evelyn, raises her gently, finds the body passive & lifeless, lets it sink back on the pillows, & turns away in an agony of grief.
Fade into
Leader
“Nothing would wake her any more, no words of love or gratitude would ever reach her now. Evelyn was dead.”
Fade out
End of Part I
[124]
PART II
Close up of first scene
Action Stella in bed; the doctor expressing sympathy, & evidently moved by her story. She indicates that there is more to be told, & continues.
Fade into
Leader
“My first thought was to rouse the house & send for doctors—but what could they do now? Only Heaven could give me back my dead,—& Heaven might answer my prayer. And then I prayed, prayed that a miracle might happen, as of old.”
Fade into
(38)
Scene Evelyn’s Bedroom.
Action Stella kneeling by the bed in passionate prayer. Presently she rises, bends over Evelyn once more, & turns away, facing spectators, in wild revolt & despair.
Fade into
(39)
Leader
“Since Heaven had no mercy on me, I besought any Power that would hear me,—good or evil, angel or devil,—to aid me now and make that which was dead alive!”
Action (continued) As Stella stands in foreground, in an attitude of wild invocation, her lips moving in passionate prayer, & her arms extended, a dark shadowy form appears behind her, the form of a very beautiful woman with an evil sensuous face, whose features do not resemble Evelyn’s in any way. Unseen by Stella, the form approaches the bed & looks at Evelyn critically. Then it appears to be satisfied, sinks down on the bed & gradually disappears, seeming to merge into the body of the dead girl. At the moment this happens, Stella’s manner shows a sudden reaction, as though she were overcome with horror at such a prayer. She makes a gesture of repentance & submission, & kneels by the bed, her face hidden in her hands.
[125]
Leader
“Humbly I implored pardon for my impious prayer, & resigned myself to the will of heaven.”
Fade into
(40)
Scene Evelyn’s Bedroom.
Action Stella still kneeling. Evelyn’s eyes slowly open; she raises herself slightly & looks at Stella with a cold curiosity, as though she were wondering who Stella is & how
she comes to be there. Then she stretches out her right hand & touches Stella’s shoulder. Stella raises her head, is paralysed for a moment, then folds the supposed Evelyn in her arms, laughing & sobbing hysterically as she covers her with kisses. Evelyn submits passively, &, as Stella grows calmer, seems to be asking for an explanation.
Fade into
Leader
“At first Evelyn seemed to have no recollection of the night before. I told her of the chloral. I accused myself of being her murderess in all but deed. And gradually she understood.”
Action (continued) Evelyn listens attentively; then she covers her eyes with both hands for a moment, as though to think more clearly. Then she removes her hands, which Stella seizes & caresses, while Evelyn lies back, looking at her with a faintly ironical smile. Finally she says something which evidently wounds Stella, who lets go her hands & looks at her in pained hurt surprise.
Fade into
Leader
“As you say, Stella,” she replied, “Heaven has let me come back. To save you from a situation that might have been rather unpleasant. How considerate of—Heaven,—& how much more careful you will be of me in future!”
Action (continued) Stella rises suddenly & looks as if she had just been struck. Evelyn laughs, heartlessly, but not with any actual ill-nature. Then, with a languid gesture, she dismisses Stella, who goes out with a dazed bewildered look.
Fade out & into
[126]
Leader “But I felt sure that Evelyn was not yet herself. I was told that she did not even recognise Mrs. Maitland when she first came in that morning.”
Fade into
(41)
Scene Evelyn’s bedroom.
Action Evelyn is still in bed, when Mrs. Maitland enters with a tray, on which are coffee, eggs, slices of toast in a rack, &c. Evelyn directs her, as she might a servant, to bring up a small table & put the tray on that. Mrs. M. obeys, a little surprised at her reception. Evelyn, without taking any further notice of her, begins to eat & drink, daintily enough, but with evident hunger & enjoyment. Then Mrs. M. says something which apparently enlightens Evelyn as to their relationship. She apologises with a charming smile, & offers her cheek to be kissed. After which she seems to be drawing out the unsuspicious lady & gathering useful information. Mrs. M. kisses her & goes out. Evelyn looks after her, & makes a slight grimace of amused contempt. {n.b. The change in her personality should be very subtly indicated. Her expression is no longer that of angelic goodness, but it is not openly malevolent or diabolical. The idea is that the spirit of a woman who, in her former life, was clever, unscrupulous & depraved has succeeded in animating Evelyn’s dead body. This evil spirit is glad to be in comfortable surroundings, &, at present, has no animosity to Stella. It merely desires to make the most of this new life & make the best possible use of its opportunities.}
Fade into
(42)
Scene A morning-room.
Action Stella is seated in a bow-window as Evelyn comes in, radiantly lovely & looking in the best of health & spirits. Stella rises & goes towards her, impelled by the old affection & admiration. Evelyn allows herself to be embraced, & soon kisses her in return, but a little perfunctorily. Stella is slightly chilled & repelled, but seems to be reminding her of something. Evelyn expresses blank ignorance [127] of the matter. Stella takes out the letter & gives it to her.
Insert portion of letter already shown
Evelyn reads the letter with raised eyebrows & a cynical smile. Then she goes to the mantelpiece, finds a matchbox, strikes a match & sets fire to the letter, which drops blazing on to the hearth, Stella being too taken by surprise to do anything. After having burnt the letter, Evelyn turns to Stella, smiling.
Fade into
Leader
“I wonder how I could ever have written anything so sickly and sentimental,” said Evelyn. “As it seems I did, I’ve clearly the right to destroy it. Still, I am quite willing to see Hugh Dallas & use what influence I may have over him.”
Action (continued) Stella thanks her effusively. Evelyn shrugs her shoulders, as if to intimate that so trifling a service did not deserve such excessive gratitude. Stella is again repelled by the difference in her manner, but accepts the change as a just punishment.
Fade into
Leader
“When Hugh came over that afternoon——”
Fade into
(43)
Scene The Garden.
Action Evelyn & Stella are in wicker chairs under the cedar. Hugh Dallas, in riding things as before, comes towards them from the house. Evelyn & Stella rise to receive him. Stella’s manner is a little conscious; she is anxious, without betraying herself, to let him see that she is no longer unfriendly. Evelyn receives him with a quiet cordiality. He scarcely seems to notice that Stella’s hostility has vanished. He has no eyes but for Evelyn, whose beauty & charm have evidently struck him for the first time. She invites him carelessly to stroll round the garden with her. He eagerly accepts. They go off together. Stella remains in suspense, but evidently hoping that Evelyn will fulfil her promise.
Fade out
[128]
Leader
“Evelyn came back, alone. Hugh had gone, she told me, but he was coming back to dine, & she had great hopes of persuading him to plead his cause with me that very evening.”
Action (continued) Stella rises from her chair as Evelyn approaches, seems disappointed that Hugh is not with her, till Evelyn explains, & soothes & encourages her. Stella throws her arms round Evelyn in a fervour of love & gratitude. Evelyn gently frees herself & looks at Stella with a smile of amusement which has a trace of mockery. Stella feels that she is not yet entirely forgiven.
Fade into
Leader
“After dinner that evening——”
Fade into
(44)
Scene The Drawing-room.
Action Hugh is putting a light wrap round Evelyn’s shoulders. Evelyn invites Stella to come into the garden with them. Stella, knowing that the invitation is meant to be declined, intimates that she would rather stay indoors. Mrs. Maitland remains also, & takes up a book or embroidery. Hugh & Evelyn go out together. Stella sits in the window-recess, watching them as they pace up & down the lawn. From time to time Mrs. M. makes some remark & Stella answers it absently, but without turning her eyes from the garden. Mrs. M. gets up & goes out. Stella remains, expectant & hopeful that Evelyn will shortly send Hugh to her. Presently he comes in; she meets him with a shy smile. He seems relieved at the change in her manner to him, sits down by her side & begins to talk confidentially. As he goes on, her expression alters from hope to stony despair; she listens in silence, while her hands are twisting & untwisting her handkerchief.
Fade into
Leader
“Had Evelyn deceived me—or how was it that he talked only of her?”
[129]
Action (continued) Evelyn comes in. Hugh rises, & after a little conversation, says goodnight. He takes his leave of Stella with friendly cordiality, as a man might who is glad to find that a girl who had seemed antagonistic was really on his side after all, but his manner shows nothing more, & she sees this & is cut to the heart by it.
Evelyn intimates that she will see him to the front gate, & his face shows how highly he appreciates her graciousness. She goes out, laughing, with him. Stella stands with clenched hands, staring after them.
Fade out
Action (continued) Evelyn returns to the Drawing-room, smiling to herself, & moves about the room, restlessly fingering books & knick-knacks, with an occasional side-glance at Stella. Finally Stella can bear it no longer. She faces Evelyn, & seems to be demanding an explanation. Evelyn laughs & spreads her hands. “Is it her fault if Hugh prefers her to Stella?” Stella pleads with her. Evelyn replies mockingly. Stella sinks sobbing at her feet, & Evelyn seizes her wrists & draws her up, forcing her to look in her face. Stella looks, & falls in a dead faint.
Fade into
Lead
er
“’You fool!’ she said, ‘I am not the innocent trusting girl you allowed to be drugged to death! Look at me well—& you will understand!’
“And then—God help me—I understood at last!”
Fade out
End of Part II
[130]
PART III
Leader
The Next Morning.
(45)
Scene Stella’s Room.
Action Stella, already dressed for a journey, is putting some things into a handbag. A trunk is seen in the background.
Evelyn enters. Stella cowers back in horror. Evelyn uses all her wiles to reassure her. She is no longer cruel & taunting, but is evidently anxious to gain Stella’s confidence. She is so bewitchingly endearing that Stella finds it hard to resist her.
Fade into
Leader
“’I can’t do without you, Stella,’ she said. ‘Stay with me & I can make you love me better than you ever loved Evelyn. Tell me we are to be allies!’”
Action (continued) Stella gradually gives way, though against her better judgment. Evelyn kisses her triumphantly, makes her take off her hat & gloves, & then leaves her. Stella, in shame at having surrendered, sinks into chair, hiding her face in her hands.
Fade into
(46)
Scene Outside the Stables.
Action An elderly coachman is in his shirtsleeves, carrying a bucket of water. Evelyn’s collie is seen fastened to his kennel by a stout chain. Evelyn & Stella appear. The coachman’s face lights up with affectionate admiration as he touches his forehead to Evelyn. The collie comes forward wagging his tail. Evelyn evidently has to ask Stella the names both of the coachman & dog. Stella prompts her quietly. As Evelyn comes nearer the dog’s manner changes, he bristles, & retreats growling.