Belle Moral: A Natural History by Ann-marie MacDonald

rain
. P EARL
exits
. F LORA
follows her
. W EE F ARLEIGH
awaits instructions
.
    D R R EID . Send for the Justice of the Peace.

ACT III
Scene 1 The Attic
    That night. Rain throughout the the following scenes. Candle light. A single cot. A wash basin. A small crucifix on the wall
. T HE C REATURE
huddles in the worn tartan shawl that obscures its face
. D R R EID .
is formally dressed
.
    D R R EID . Come. There’s a good girl.
    T HE C REATURE
is motionless
. D R R EID
takes something from his pocket, crouches, gently holds out his hand
.
    Have a sweet. Go ahead.
[drawing closer, friendly]
I’m not going to hurt you.
    T HE C REATURE
lunges, taking a ferocious swipe at him with its bare hands, and swiftly retreats to a crouch
. D R R EID
falls back, clutching his neck
.
    Damn you!
    He is bleeding. He backs away cautiously, reaching for his medical bag
.
Scene 2 Pearl’s Bedroom
    P EARL ,
in travelling tweeds, brushes her hair back into a severe bun
. F LORA
enters with a wedding gown
. P EARL
stares
.
    F LORA . You’ll only be wed once. Please, pet.
    P EARL . Has Victor come home yet?
    F LORA
shakes her head, no. Hides her face in the gown
.
Scene 3 The Painting
    Thunder. Lightening plays upon the canvas. The colours have begun to run at the centre, revealing a shadowy figure
.
Scene 4 The Drawing Room
    D R R EID
waits in his finery. His neck is bandaged. He stares at the painting. Approaches, about to touch it, when
P EARL
enters, wearing the wedding gown and veil. She lifts the veil
. D R R EID
is overwhelmed at the sight: she is beautiful
.
    P EARL [all
but paralyzed with grief]
. My brother is dead, Seamus.
    D R R EID . No, my dear, we’ll find him, I promise you.
    P EARL . The sea has him. She’s rocking him gently now.
    D R R EID . Hush.
    P EARL
[wiping tears]
. She loves him. She loves us all.
    D R R EID . You are beautiful, Pearl. More beautiful, even, than your mother.
[Holding out his hand.]
Come. There’s a good girl.
    He is about to take her hand when
W EE F ARLEIGH
enters
.
    W EE F ARLEIGH . The Justice of the Peace has arrived.
    P EARL . What are you doing here? Why aren’t you out looking for my brother?
    W EE F ARLEIGH . Your brother –?
    D R R EID [to W EE F ARLEIGH] . That will be all –
    F LORA
[from off]
. Help!!
    P EARL . Victor!
    F LORA
[entering]
. She’s dead! Lord help us, Seamus, she’s –!
    D R R EID . Hush, Flora –!
    F LORA . I canna wake her!
    P EARL . Who? Who is dead?
    F LORA . Och, I told ee, Seamus, I warned ee, the banshee niver lies –!
    D R R EID . She’s alive, I tell you!
    P EARL . What is going on in this house?!
    D R R EID . Pearl –
    P EARL . Tell me!
    D R R EID . Wait until we are wed, I beseech you.
    P EARL . Why?
    D R R EID . Because …
    P EARL . Because it is a horror.
    D R R EID . Because it is a gift. My gift to you.
    F LORA . Seamus –!
    P EARL . Show me this instant. Or leave my sight.
    He holds out his hand. She takes it. Thunder. They exit
. F LORA
goes to follow but turns back
.
    F LORA . Why have you given up the search?
    W EE F ARLEIGH . What search, Miss?
    F LORA . Did Dr Reid not ask you to find young Master MacIsaac?
    W EE F ARLEIGH . No, Miss. Miss, the Justice of Peace is waiting in the conservatory. Shall I offer him some refreshment?
Scene 5 The Attic
    P EARL , D R R EID
at her side, gazes at
T HE C REATURE
who lies, immobile on the cot, dressed in a white
nightgown
. T HE C REATURE’S
long hair is spread out around her, the tartan shawl lies discarded on the floor
. P EARL
goes to approach, but hesitates
.
    D R R EID . Go ahead. It is quite safe.
    P EARL . Who is she?
    D R R EID . Pearl, approach the subject. Closer examination may prompt you to revise your question.
    P EARL
goes closer. She sees something on one side of
T HE C REATURE
’s head and is startled, then drawn in
.
    Ay. “What” is she? That is the question you and I shall dedicate our lives to answering. Oh, Pearl; I worship you.
    F LORA
enters
. T HE C