Writing The Great Painter (working title)

[Brasil]

[font=Century Gothic][size=2]We open...on two lovers. They are joyous, reveling in their own sanctity. Nothing in the world can harm them, nothing in the world can tear them apart. They are as one. A light and cheery string ensemble beings to play, sounding like birds chirping in the trees, A flute. It sounds. The lovers awaken from their night's embrace, eager to enjoy the new day. They rise, holding hands, frolicking about. They seem too peaceful, too serene, for this to be true.[/size][/font]

[font=Century Gothic][size=2]The woman turns, seemingly hearing some strange noise from off-stage. She runs behind the man.[/size][/font]

[font=Century Gothic][size=2]He turns to her with a sheepish grin. "Tis nothing, I am sure," he says, and goes off to search.[/size][/font]

[font=Century Gothic][size=2]The woman lays down in their forest's bed again, flowers growing round.[/size][/font]

[font=Century Gothic][size=2]Then a mysterious figure draped in green appears, in the background, so that the woman is unaware of his presence. He steps closer and closer, treading silently upon the green. He nears her, but he stops and turns in the direction of the man. He is coming back. The green figure retreats into the woods.[/size][/font]

[font=Century Gothic][size=2]The man enters and the woman is overjoyed to see her lover once again.[/size][/font]

[font=Century Gothic][size=2]"I found only this," the man says, holding up a silken blouse. They embrace one another, their eyes darting about in a perplexed glance. The man places the blouse down next to their bed, and goes to rest.[/size][/font]

[font=Century Gothic][size=2]The woman stays sitting, her eyes unmoving from the blouse laying on the grass. She reaches to it, hesitantly. Her fingers touch it, her eyes go wide with joy at the feel of the soft fabric.[/size][/font]

[font=Century Gothic][size=2]But then a noise from within the woods. She whimpers, and rouses her man awake. He sits up upon her touch and she motions to the woods. He smiles again, stroking her hair, then stands and exits. The woman is fearful now, looking back and forth like a frightened child.[/size][/font]

[font=Century Gothic][size=2]The green figure slinks out of the woods again, behind her. He approaches closer. She turns to the left, looking into the woods. The figure comes to the bed, he touches her shoulder with a cloaked hand. She turns quickly, thinking her man has returned. [/size][/font][font=Century Gothic][size=2]She is unable to scream, her mouth only agape from the fear. Not a sound comes from her.[/size][/font]

[font=Century Gothic][size=2]"Now, now, my dear, surely you are not so surprised to see me," the green figure asks in a melodious hiss, "after all, it has not been so long that we last spoke. And why have you not been forthcoming in your end of the bargain," he asks.[/size][/font]

[font=Century Gothic][size=2]The woman is unable to speak other than, "You...why..."[/size][/font]

[font=Century Gothic][size=2]The green figure replies, "Ah, and why is a very good question, my dear. You should know why, after all, we both know of the circumstances that brought us together, and the true circumstances that brought us apart."[/size][/font]

[font=Century Gothic][size=2]The woman begins to speak, only in fragmented whispers, "You said you would let me be."[/size][/font]

[font=Century Gothic][size=2]"My dear, I said nothing of the sort. You wanted that, you wanted what happened to merely be forgotten, but you know as well as I do, that it cannot be that way. What happened between us, in the past, is not to be forgotten."[/size][/font]

[font=Century Gothic][size=2]"No, I forget it not, but I do not wish to speak of it any more," the woman says. She continues, "it is behind me, and my indiscretions, while I am tainted by them, and surely my womanhood is not of purest nature, you will not poison me any more."[/size][/font]

[font=Century Gothic][size=2]"You still treat me as the poisoner? Never thinking that perhaps you were never so pure before us? My dear, that is the thought of a child, especially given our circumstances."[/size][/font]

[font=Century Gothic][size=2]The woman replies, "You must go now. My husband is coming back very soon, and he is a strong man. He will kill you if you stay here."[/size][/font]

[font=Century Gothic][size=2]The green figure chuckles, "Pishposh. The physical strength of a man is by no means a measure of the constitution of his character. Take my figure, for example," the figure stands, removing his green cloak, revealing a skeletal frame, "surely you do not think me weak, based on my appearance?"[/size][/font]

[font=Century Gothic][size=2]She gasps at the sight of his form.[/size][/font]

[font=Century Gothic][size=2]"Yes, you know that there are far greater strengths in this world than phsyical prowess alone."[/size][/font]

[font=Century Gothic][size=2]"My husband--"[/size][/font]

[font=Century Gothic][size=2]"Nay, your husband will not be arriving momentarily. I think he might be quite delayed, as the sun is about to set. Day passes quickly in these times, does it not? These ages go by faster and faster as the years go on. You can only sit back and allow yourself to be taken. That is your downfall, my dear. You are unable to control that which controls you. Look at me, now, this wretched form that you used to worship, that you now so despise. You have ordered me to leave, to escape back into the wilderness. You think of me as a savage, but you are unable to have your wishes fulfilled. Why is that?"[/size][/font]

[font=Century Gothic][size=2]The woman is white, terrified at the specter that stands before her. She can only sit there, silent.[/size][/font]

[font=Century Gothic][size=2]"Still unwilling to talk, I see. No matter. I shall speak with you again when you are able to speak. Till we meet again, woman, you may see your husband returning soon."[/size][/font]

[font=Century Gothic][size=2]The green figure disappears into the forest again. The woman curls up and rocks back and forth. She whimpers, on the edge of tears.[/size][/font]

[font=Century Gothic][size=2]Her husband enters, seeing her writhing, he rushes over.[/size][/font]

[font=Century Gothic][size=2]She turns to him and screams, "Oh, he came! He came! I saw him...I saw him."[/size][/font]

[font=Century Gothic][size=2]He asks who.[/size][/font]

[font=Century Gothic][size=2]She takes a deep breath to collect herself. She speaks:[/size][/font]

[font=Century Gothic][size=2][aside] If I do tell him, I will be ruined. If I do not tell him, surely bad will come. But I cannot tell him now. It would not suit well.[/size][/font]

[font=Century Gothic][size=2][back to him] Oh, twas just a fretful dream I had. I must have imagined some nightmare from my childhood's dreams. It seemed so real, that I could almost reach out and touch him, as if he were standing right there, 'neath that old elm."[/size][/font]

[font=Century Gothic][size=2]The husband chuckles, "Oh, my lady, tis a simple dream you had, nothing more? Come, come sleep, lay with me and I will ease your troubles."[/size][/font]

[font=Century Gothic][size=2]He lays down, nodding off, slowly snoring.[/size][/font]

[font=Century Gothic][size=2]She looks to the forest, "Oh, I fear something awful." She lays and sleeps.[/size][/font]

[font=Century Gothic][size=2]****[/size][/font]

[font=Century Gothic][size=2]This was an improv in an IM I had tonight. I've done some editing to enhance the readibility of it, of course, just moving lines together and whatnot. What you see here is a play, obviously, and only the first scene. I've got a feeling that this is the final copy of Scene 1. The dialogue stayed intact from how I improvised it, the narration is fully intact albeit organized into paragraphs.[/size][/font]

[font=Century Gothic][size=2]Honestly, I really love this piece. I think it's some of the best character-driven stuff I've ever written, and the tone of the green figure is just...delicious.[/size][/font]

[Shinmaru]

Yep, still awesome. It's kind of weird to see a play written in regular prose, but it gives it a unique feel, I guess you could say. Also, it's totally easy to imagine the green figure speaking with a whispery hiss right into the ear of the woman...gives you goosebumps just thinking about it, heh.

I'd like to see more. *nods*

[Brasil]

[font=Century Gothic][size=2]A twig snaps in the woods.[/size][/font]

[font=Century Gothic][size=2]The woman wakes in fear, a look of terror on her face. She shakes her husband, but he does not waken. She shakes him harder, but he still does not waken. The wind blows stronger, the branches on the trees clap into each other.[/size][/font]

[font=Century Gothic][size=2]A low moan comes from the forest, getting closer. The brush rustles. The moans turn into wails. A high-pitched banshee's scream pierces the night air and out from the brush, ghostly cloaks burst out. They dance around the woman, approaching her and backing away.[/size][/font]

[font=Century Gothic][size=2]She opens her mouth to scream. The cloaks continue to flutter about, in a nocturne ballet. The moon is now gone, dark clouds blocking its light. The forest is cast into blackness, the cloaks becoming a demonic white, the only brightness that the woman sees. They begin closing their circle around her, moving closer and closer, chanting and hissing, as if they are snakes from another land.[/size][/font]

[font=Century Gothic][size=2]"You are in danger if you stay. Leave this forest," they snap, "you are doomed if you stay, cursed. This forest will be your bane. Leave...there is no hope for us, we are trapped here, but you still have a chance."[/size][/font]

[font=Century Gothic][size=2]The woman pleads with these creatures of the night, "Oh, spirits, what do you mean by trapped? Who has imprisoned you in this forest? Please, tell me! Am I in danger?"[/size][/font]

[font=Century Gothic][size=2]"Do you not listen?!" they reply, "you will be slain, doomed if you do not leave by nightfall tomorrow! He will be coming back and will not be so pleasant! He will take your soul and keep it in his bag!"[/size][/font]

[font=Century Gothic][size=2]"No, please, spirits!" she cries, "do not torture me so with these cruel words. I have heard enough! Speak no more! I shall follow thy words, spirits of the forest!"[/size][/font]

[font=Century Gothic][size=2]"Do not cast our warning aside, woman! Believe us, take our word to be true, for it is all that supports you! We say to you that you must leave this forest, else ye shall be turned into us, forever wand'ring these woods with no help for godly salvation! Curses! Dawn will be breaking within the hour. Woman, leave to-day and you and your husband will both be spared."[/size][/font]

[font=Century Gothic][size=2]"Oh, spirits, please! Why do you say such things? It causes only heaviness in my heart and grief upon my head. Tis a burden 'on my soul to hear such harsh words."[/size][/font]

[font=Century Gothic][size=2]"Fool, you do not deserve to be saved if you do not see truth in what we say. You are without hope and no longer deserve our pity," the spirits reply. "Stay in this forest, you will not escape now. He will see to it. Farewell, woman, we will see you soon enough. Enjoy what you have seen, because you are well on your way to damnation. Farewell, woman, we spite you."[/size][/font]

[font=Century Gothic][size=2]The spirits disappear back into the forest, and the dark clouds drift away from the moon, filling the forest with light again.[/size][/font]

[font=Century Gothic][size=2]The woman screams a banshee's scream but her husband does not wake.[/size][/font]

[font=Century Gothic][size=2]An evil and thund?rous laughter echoes from deep within the darkened woods.[/size][/font]

[font=Century Gothic][size=2]"Fool...woman...you had your chance to escape, true? Now you will never leave this forest, I will be sure of that."[/size][/font]

[Mimmsicle]

[size=1][color=darkred]I would very much like to know where this story goes.

Would you be so kind as to reveal the fate of the young woman to us ?[/color][/size]