An excerpt from Jack
NearyÕs adaptation of FRANKENSTEIN. The complete script may be found HERE. :
This is the PRELUDE to
the show.
AT RISE, an orchestral
chord begins to play in the background.
The lights dim and the chord ends with an ominous blast.
Immediately after the
final chord, we hear a hideous SCREAM from the rear of the house. Then, GILDA, fiery, striking peasant girl in her twenties, runs through
the house towards the stage. She
continues to scream but she is also laughing. She stops halfway to the stage, turns, and looks back to the
rear of the house, where we see CLAUS, a young, sturdy peasant boy about
GildaÕs age. He is holding a large
sack, waving it at Gilda. As the
scene continues, Claus moves closer to Gilda, threatening her playfully with
the contents of the sack.
GILDA: No, Claus! No! I told you! I
donÕt want to see it!
CLAUS: (moving towards
her) Why not? YouÕve seen one of these things every
day of your life.
GILDA: But IÕve seen Ôem
attached. ThatÕs a big difference!
(Claus playfully moves towards her with the sack) No! I
said no! Get that thing away from
me! The doctor donÕt need it
anymore anyway. HeÕs gone home to
get married. SheÕll never let him
out of that manor again.
CLAUS: Oh, the doctor will
be back. You can take my word on
that. IÕve seen the look in his
eyes, Gilda. Them are eyes that
belong in an asylum, IÕm tellinÕ ya.
Your Doctor Frankenstein set his mind on a job and heÕs going to finish
it! (reaches for her hand) Now
come, girl! The faster I get this
into the laboratory, the faster I get you into the loft!
He yanks her away, she laughs gleefully, and they disappear into the woods.