The Ghost Breaker: A Melodramatic Farce in Four Acts Part 16

JARVIS. (_Watching her off_) Highness.--Highness---- (_Starts to go._ ROBLEDO _c.o.c.ks revolver_. JARVIS _stops, listens, looks around, starts to fold coat, whistles "Dixie," moves downstairs until near lamp, throws coat at lamp--lights out. Pause. Two shots are fired in the dark._ JARVIS _crosses left_ C. ROBLEDO _crosses down_ R.C., _falls on second shot. Pause._ JARVIS _whistles "Dixie."_ _Exits door_ L.C.)

CURTAIN

ACT IV

SCENE: _The Hall of the Knights, in the haunted castle. On walls a few old weapons, thick dust everywhere. Moonlight streams through round window high in wall_ R., _striking picture. Curtain rises slowly while orchestra plays "I Dreamed I Dwelt in Marble Halls." Wind moans through grated windows, rats squeal and cross moonlight on floor; light flickers on tower wall._

(_Enter_ JARVIS _from door_ L. _with lantern unlit--turns and calls cautiously._)

JARVIS. Come on in, Rusty. (_Enter_ RUSTY _with lighted lantern_.) They've been in this room. Do you smell that, Rusty? (_Cross_ R.)

RUSTY. (L.C.) Ma.r.s.e Warren, I'm so scared I can't smell nothin'.

JARVIS. The room's full of it--somebody's been carrying a smoky lantern.

(_Dull thud off left._)

RUSTY. Good G.o.d Almighty, what's that? (JARVIS _crosses_ R.C. _over table, lights lantern and then stands looking around room._) I want to go home! (_Put lantern down_ C.)

JARVIS. (_Looking about_) We've been in this room before.

RUSTY. Is this where that poundin' came from? (_Cross_ C. _to Jarvis_.)

JARVIS. I reckon that pounding and the smoky lanterns went together.

(RUSTY _sees armor on stairs; backs into_ JARVIS _and sinks to knees; head on floor_.)

[Ill.u.s.tration: "THE GHOST BREAKER" _See Page 62_]

RUSTY. O---- oh!

JARVIS. (_Whirls with gun drawn_) What's the matter?

RUSTY. (_Pointing to armor on stairs_) Look--look--look at them big black things--see 'em standin' there?

JARVIS. (_Laughing; putting away gun_) These are the same black things that scared you before--don't you remember?

RUSTY. I'm so scared I can't remember anything!

JARVIS. They're nothing but suits of armor. Get up on your pins and don't you b.u.mp me again. (RUSTY _rises_.) The next one of those rear-end collisions and I'm liable to let some moonlight into you. You've been treading on my heels ever since we came in here, and when I stop you b.u.mp into me.

RUSTY. I'm powerful scared I might lose you!

JARVIS. A fine chance! (_Looking about._) Well, Rusty, we've been through this old castle pretty thoroughly now, from dungeon to tower, and not a sign of the Prince or the Duke or any one else, unless they pound or carry a smoky lantern. It's a clue, Rusty, it's a clue. We'll stick right here till we find out where it leads. I'll swear the Duke never went to Madrid, but came straight here from the inn. (JARVIS _crosses to fireplace_ R. RUSTY _follows_.) Get away from me. (_Strikes a match and holds in chimney._) There's a fine chance for a fire. Good, it draws. The chimney's clear. Now, then, bust up the table and start a fire.

RUSTY. How can I break it? Oh, it's rotten!

JARVIS. You won't feel half so scared with a good blaze behind you.

(RUSTY _picks up pieces of table_.) I'll scout around a bit.

RUSTY. (_Drops pieces of table_) Don't you do no scoutin' outside this room!

JARVIS. Well, come on, Rusty--get busy and build that fire.

RUSTY. (_Dropping to floor and begins fussing with foot_) Just as soon as I get this here shoe off.

JARVIS. (_Looking at him_) What's the matter with your shoes? (_Cross_ L.C.)

RUSTY. 'Tain't my shoe--it's my foot. You know I was holdin' them horses and waitin' and waitin' for you to come out. Dem guns went off and all dem horses jumped right on me.

JARVIS. There were only two horses, Rusty.

RUSTY. I was countin' their feet.

JARVIS. Well, tie up your shoe and get busy. (_Looking around._)

RUSTY. Yas, sir. (_Rises, picks up pieces of table, crosses to fireplace._)

JARVIS. This room was probably used as a banquet hall.

RUSTY. (_Gathering up few pieces of table and taking them to fireplace, puts them on fire; looks up_) Yeah--when we goin' to eat?

JARVIS. Not till we have finished this job.

RUSTY. (_Putting pieces of table on fire--still at fireplace, back to audience_) Tuesday--Wednesday--Thursday---- Ah can't wait no longer than Sat.u.r.day. (_Strikes match and lights fire. Glow from fire._)

JARVIS. (_Runs up steps at back, looking left_) That way leads through those two long rooms to the postern gate.

RUSTY. (_Looking up_) That's where that black thing followed me.

(_Crosses to_ JARVIS L.C. _slowly_.)

JARVIS. Well, a black thing followed me, treading on my heels every step I've taken.

RUSTY. Oh, I couldn't see where I was steppin'.

JARVIS. (_Looking about_) That goes to the Armory.

RUSTY. (L.C. JARVIS _on steps_) Ah seen eyes in there, and a cold, grimy, green, slimy smell in there. Ain't that where that broad-faced bird flew at me and I fell down them slippery stairs?

JARVIS. (_Laughing_) That broad-faced bird was an owl, Rusty--just a common, ordinary owl. You know what an owl is.

RUSTY. O--ooh--ooh!

JARVIS. (_Sees door_ R.C.) Where can that door lead to? That's it.

(JARVIS _goes to the door in_ R.C. _Steps on trap and falls suddenly._) Wow! That was a close one. (_Lantern goes out._)

RUSTY. (_Advancing_) Lord, Ma.r.s.e Warren, what is it? (_Starts up to Jarvis._)