by F. Anstey
Close up of the dog in a state of fury, straining at his chain, & barking madly. Evelyn has started back, & stands at a safe distance, looking both frightened & angry.
[131]
The Coachman tries to soothe the dog, & warns Evelyn & Stella to keep at a distance. Stella drags Evelyn away.
Fade into
Leader
“The dog knows!” I told her. “What is the use of my being silent. You will never silence him!”
“When you see him next,’ she said, ‘he will be quiet enough.”
Fade into
(47)
Scene The stable yard.
Action Evelyn returns alone. The dog becomes furious as before. Keeping well away from him, she gives the coachman instructions. Reynolds He receives them sorrowfully. Evelyn affects pity for the dog. He goes into harness-room.
Fade into
(48)
Close up of interior of Harness-room. On a shelf is a bottle labelled ‘Prussic Acid.’ He is seen taking down the bottle.
(49)
Scene The Shrubbery.
Action The Coachman is digging a grave. By the side of the half-dug grave lies the dog’s dead body. Stella comes by, stops in sudden horror as she sees it, asks for explanations from the Coachman, who gives them reluctantly. She passes on. He brushes his eyes with his hand, & then goes on digging the grave.
Fade into
(50)
{n.b. This will be effective if it can be carried out, but if this is not practicable it can be omitted.}
Scene Outside the front gate, or on the drive before the house.
Action Hugh is waiting on horseback. Evelyn & Stella come out dressed for riding. He dismounts & talks to them. Evelyn’s manner is very gay & animated. The Coachman & a groom appear, leading two horses saddled for riding outside. Evelyn is about to mount, when her horse plunges & rears & becomes almost uncontrollable. [132] Evelyn, though evidently disconcerted, seems determined to ride. Hugh takes it on himself to dissuade her. Her mare is vicious, he insists that Evelyn shall not risk her life on such a brute. Evelyn consents, with a charming smile in acknowledgment of his care for her safety. The three horses are led away. Evelyn & Hugh go indoors together, she leaning slightly on his arm. Stella stands for a moment; then, with a look of pity for Hugh’s infatuation & her own powerlessness, she follows them.
Fade into
(51)
Leader
“It must have been the next day, that Evelyn told me Hugh had asked her to be his wife—& she had consented.”
Scene The Library.
Stella is in a chair, absorbed in a volume.
Vignette to show title of volume. ’Letters on Demonology & Witchcraft. Scott.’
Open to full screen
Action Evelyn steals in; as soon as Stella is aware of her, she hastily conceals the volume. Evelyn affects not to notice this. She leans over Stella with a pretty shyness & tells her of her engagement. Stella recoils in horror & indignation. Evelyn looks plaintive & bewildered. Stella rises, & seems to be threatening to denounce her if she does not break this engagement. Evelyn throws off the mask & cynically defies her.
Fade into
Leader
“’Tell him what you please,’ she said. ‘Hugh will not believe you. He will only think you have gone mad—for love of him! So, in your own interests, I should advise you to say nothing!’”
Action (continued) Stella realises once more that she is powerless & indicates that she submits. Evelyn laughs, gives her a little butterfly kiss5 on the forehead, & goes out. Stella takes up the book, looks at it for a moment, then puts it aside with a shudder, & prays fervently.
Fade out & into
[133]
(52)
Scene In the Garden.
Action Stella is sitting alone under the Cedar. Hugh Dallas comes towards her, carrying a Pekinese spaniel under one arm. He greets Stella cordially, seems to be asking where Evelyn is, explains that he has brought the dog as a gift for her. Stella loses all command of herself, & speaks with a violence that evidently surprises & shocks him. At this moment Evelyn appears behind.
Fade into
Leader
“’Mr. Dallas,’ I said, ‘I warn you. Don’t give that dog to her. If you do, it will not live long!’”
Action (continued) Evelyn comes forward, looking alarmed, gently lays her hand on Stella’s arm & tries to restrain her. Stella shakes her off, &, with another gesture of passionate warning to Hugh & horror of Evelyn, leaves them. Evelyn sweetly makes excuses for Stella, explains that she has been strange & excited of late, affects to be anxious & sorry about her, & sheds a few tears. He is touched by her sorrow, seems to be suggesting that she should send Stella away. Evelyn refuses, indicates that she could not be so unkind—she must bear with her. He embraces her, full of admiration for her goodness. Hugh has put the dog down on the lawn, but he now picks it up & offers it to Evelyn, who expresses the greatest gratitude & delight. {If it can be contrived that the dog should struggle & eventually make its escape from her, it would be an effective detail. If not, Evelyn must put it down on the seat as soon as possible & take no further notice of it. The dog should then scamper off in the direction Stella has taken.}
Fade out & into
[134]
(53)
Scene The Hall, with panelled walls, & the foot of a wide staircase.
Action Stella is coming downstairs, when the little Pekinese dog approaches. It comes up to her as if appealing for protection. Struck with pity, she takes it up in her arms, & carries it up the stairs.
Fade into
Leader “Late that night I was sitting in my room, when——”
(54)
Scene Stella’s bedroom.
Action Stella is in an armchair, thinking, with her chin resting on one hand. The dog is lying on her lap, asleep. The door behind her opens, & Evelyn enters. Stella looks around & forbids her with a gesture to come nearer. Evelyn, seeming pained by her distrust, advances pleadingly. Stella remains on her guard for a time, but gradually, overcome by Evelyn’s soft words, is won over to some extent. She shudders under Evelyn’s caresses, but she submits to them. Evelyn strokes the dog, & Stella allows her to take it from her. Evelyn clasps the dog to her breast, & turns away, with her back to Stella. Presently she turns again, & with a cruel & triumphant laugh flings the body of the dog, which she has just strangled, into Stella’s lap. Stella rises, her expression conveying that Evelyn has over-reached herself, & goes towards the bell-rope. As she is putting out her hand to ring & denounce Evelyn, Evelyn stops her, & says something maliciously at which Stella cowers back in terror.
Fade into
(55)
Leader
“’Ring by all means,’ she said. ‘I shall have to say that I came in just too late to save the poor creature. Who will take your word against mine? Remember your warning to Hugh! He will think, like everyone else, that you are mad with love & jealousy. But if you choose to say tomorrow that the dog had a fit & died during the night, I promise to be guileless enough to believe you!’”
[135]
Action (continued) Evelyn smiles again, gives Stella a careless little nod, & goes out. Stella crouches over the dog’s body in an agony of despair.
Fade into
Leader The Next Morning.
(56)
Scene The Entrance Hall.
Action Hugh has ridden over as usual. Evelyn is welcoming him affectionately as Mrs. Maitland & Stella come down the stairs. Hugh asks Evelyn a question. She refers him to Stella. She answers his question in evident confusion & distress. Evelyn & Mrs. Maitland express surprise & concern. Hugh looks at Stella coldly & keenly for a moment or two, & she hides her face in her hands. Then in stern disgust he turns away from her, & draws Evelyn with him towards the garden. Mrs. Maitland regards Stella wonderingly, as she goes slowly upstairs, supporting herself by the handrail.
Fade out
End of Part III
[136]
PART IV
Leader
“She would not have let me go, even if I had wished to—& I did not. I felt sure that Hugh would discover the truth before long, & return to me. She had given up attending Church, so neither of them was present on the Sunday when their banns were published for the third time.”
Fade into
(57)
Scene The Chancel of a Village Church.
Close-up of a dignified elderly clergyman in a surplice, reading from a paper in his hand. Suddenly his expression changes to consternation & severe disapproval.
Fade into
(58)
Scene Section of Nave. Mrs. Maitland & Stella are the only occupants of a large pew. Other members of the congregation in pews at the back. All are sitting down. Suddenly Stella rises; she is perfectly calm & intensely earnest as she speaks. The others start in surprise & dismay.
Fade into
Leader
“’I forbid the banns,’ I said. ‘I know of a reason why this marriage would be unholy in the sight of Heaven—& I am ready to declare it.’”
Fade into
(58)6
Scene Close-up as in (57).
Action The Clergyman orders her to be silent, & intimates that he will see her after the service.
Fade into
(59)
Scene A Vestry. Churchman’s Almanack on Wall. Surplices &c. hanging up—the Rector has taken off his surplice & is seated at a table. Mrs. Maitland, looking very nervous & flurried, enters with Stella, who is still composed. At a sign from the Rector Mrs. Maitland withdraws, & he intimates to Stella that, although she has acted wrongly in disturbing the service, he is ready to hear her. He warns her first against making any charges she cannot [137] prove. {n.b. This of course cannot be expressed in dumb-show; it is enough that he should seem to be reproving & warning her.} She then tries to tell him the facts, growing more & more vehement as she goes on. He listens, shielding his eyes with one hand, till she has finished. Then he looks at her with pity, rises, goes to door & summons Mrs. Maitland. She enters, & he gives Stella into her charge.
Fade into
(60)
Scene At the Lych-gate of the Church.
Action The Rector, bareheaded, has come down the path with Mrs. Maitland & Stella, & opens the gate for them. Stella turns & makes a parting speech, in reply to which he shakes his head compassionately.
Fade into
Leader
“’I am indeed, as you say, to be pitied,’ I told him, ‘when you, who claim to represent Heaven here, will do nothing to deliver me from the power of Hell!”
Fade into
(61)
Scene The Lawn.
Action Hugh is seated by Evelyn, looking at her admiringly as she talks. Mrs. Maitland comes towards them, evidently agitated & flurried, & describes the scene in Church. Evelyn is distressed, Hugh indignant. Stella now joins them. She is excited & defiant, denounces Evelyn, who shrinks back, & tries to calm her. Stella is reckless. She again warns Hugh, who has stepped forward to protect Evelyn from one whom he supposes to be a madwoman. Mrs. Maitland puts her arms round Stella & leads her away. After she has gone, Hugh urges Evelyn once more to have Stella sent home or put under restraint. Evelyn refuses, with an air of angelic patience. Stella is more likely to recover here than anywhere else, she urges. It would be cruel to send her away.
[138]
In his admiration for her goodness he lifts both her hands & kisses them reverently. As he bends his head she smiles down on him with a coldly amused contempt.
Fade out
(62)
Leader
The Night before the Wedding.
Scene Stella’s Bedroom.
Action Stella is lying in bed, staring into space with hopeless eyes.
The door is gently opened & Evelyn enters. She is wearing her bridal dress & puts back her veil as she approaches, looking radiantly lovely. Stella turns & looks at her as though fascinated. Evelyn sits on the bed, pinions Stella’s shoulders so that she cannot raise her hands to her ears, &, crouching over her, whispers malignantly, while Stella writhes in helpless terror & agony of mind.
Fade into
Leader
“She told me that she hated Hugh for having once loved me. She gloried in the misery she would make him endure. She taunted me with the madhouse, where I should soon be a prisoner. There were many other things she said, so horrible that I dare not repeat them.”
Fade into
Leader
On the Wedding Day.
“As I sat at a window, dreading to hear the bells ring out, & still no sound reached me, I felt a sudden hope. Might not the evil spirit that had taken the place of my beloved Evelyn have betrayed itself at the final moment? If so, Hugh was saved! And presently, as I looked out, I saw——”
(63)
Scene A view of the front garden & gate, as seen from an upper window.
Action A carriage & pair of white horses has stopped before the gate. The coachman’s whip is adorned with a white favour, & he & the footman wear white flowers in their coats. [139] Hugh goes out, looking proud & happy, helps Evelyn, who is radiant & smiling, to descend, & they go up the path together, as the carriage moves on & another comes up.
Fade into
(64)
Vignette Stella at the window, laughing wildly & hysterically, violently thrown off her mental balance.
Fade into
Leader
Two Hours Later.
(65)
Scene The Entrance Hall.
Action Evelyn, in her going-away costume, & Hugh, in a travelling suit, are saying goodbye to a few intimate friends, all laughing & talking, expressing good wishes, &c.
Then there is a general embarrassment as Stella descends the stairs. Evelyn looks alarmed, but forces herself to speak pleasantly to her. Hugh offers her his hand. Stella looks at them with piteous eyes & a vacant smile, as though she were trying to remember who they were. Then, as if the effort was hopeless, she shakes her head, turns & goes away. Mrs. Maitland, after a hurried talk with Evelyn & Hugh, who seems to be entrusting Stella to her care, follows Stella. Evelyn sighs, then smiles brightly, as Hugh looks at his watch & tells her they have no time to lose. They go out, in a shower of rose-leaves, confetti, &c.
Fade out & into
Leader
“I remember nothing of the weeks that followed—till one day, when I was recovering, good Mrs. Maitland tried to prove to me that I had nothing whatever to reproach myself with, as she had not given Evelyn the chloral after all.”
Scene Stella’s room.
Action Stella, as an invalid, is in an armchair, with a shawl or wrap round her shoulders. Mrs. Maitland is showing her the phial, & pointing out that the cover is still round the cork. Stella listens & seems to be convinced & relieved.
Fade into
[140]
Leader
“I let her think that she had convinced me. But nothing could alter the fact that Evelyn had died, & another had taken her form, in answer to my wicked prayer.”
Fade into
(66)
Scene The Garden. Stella & Mrs. Maitland are sitting under a tree. It is Autumn. From time to time, a leaf flutters down on the grass at their feet. The lawn & path are strewn thickly with dead leaves. A maid comes out with a letter, which she gives Stella, who opens it quietly & reads.
Cut in portion of letter in female hand
Now you are quite well again, dearest, you must come over to Laleham for a few days. Hugh has been very unhappy about me lately. I believe he has taken it into his head that he sees a change in me. Of course he is wrong, & you must help me to reassure him.
Ever your loving
Evelyn Dallas.
Action (continued) Stella calmly shows the letter to Mrs. Maitland. Mrs. Maitland seems to be doubtful about the wisdom of accepting, but Stella declares that she is quite recovered, & that she intends to go.
Fade into
Leader
“When I arrived at Laleham Court, Hugh was there to receive me, & I could see in his eyes that he was, if possible, suffering even worse torment than mine.”
Fade into
(67)
Scene A panelled Library.
Action Hugh, looking grave & anxious, like a man oppressed by a hidden dread, is facing Stella with an air of inquiry, as though asking whether she can trust herself to meet his wife. She looks at him with intense pity, & signifies that she is ready. He leads the way out, & she follows with [141] the air of one who has already decided what she must do.
Fade into
(68)
Scene A pleasant Jacobean or Tudor room with panelled walls, & a big Oriel window. Flowers in vases & bowls. Evelyn is lying on a sofa, as Hugh brings Stella in to see her. Evelyn half rises, & holds out her arms. Stella hesitates for a moment, then goes to her & allows herself to be kissed. Evelyn laughs & talks, seeming to be rallying Hugh on his gloomy looks. Hugh makes an effort to respond. Evelyn then dismisses him, explaining that she wishes to be alone with Stella. He seems reluctant to leave Stella, but Evelyn insists. As he is going, she calls him back & offers her cheek to be kissed. He kisses her on the forehead, closing his eyes as he does so. Then, with a haggard broken glance at Stella, as if he was still apprehensive about her safety, he goes out of the room. Stella’s eyes follow him pityingly. After he has gone Evelyn rises from the sofa, & seems to be exulting in the ruin she has made of Hugh’s life, & taunting Stella with her hopeless love. Stella has retreated to the door, where she quickly turns the key in the lock, extracts the key & drops it behind a cabinet close by. Then she faces Evelyn & speaks. Evelyn cowers back in evident terror.
Fade into
Leader “’If I were unable to save him from you,’ I said, ‘you would not be so afraid of me. But you are—& I am going to save him, if it costs me my own life!’”
Action (continued) Evelyn, her face distorted by hate & abject terror, makes a wild rush for the bell-rope. Stella cuts her off, seizes her by the throat with both hands, & forces her slowly back to the sofa, while she tries in vain to free herself.
