cast of characters
1. mr. desmond hamilton, relative of the Blank family, who heads a school in london.
2. mr. edgar blank, an overweight, vague man
3. Mrs. camillia blank, a large, fussy woman, wife of edgar blank
4. florian blank, elder son of the blanks. he is a big, very overweight boy of 15
5. gloria blank, daughter of the blanks. she is a tall, beautiful girl of 18
6. frank blank, youngest son. a thin, small-made boy of 13, with a seemingly vague expression
7. servant
THE VISION
(A well kept living room, with a large comfortable settee and a stool. There are flowers by the chairs and pictures on the walls. The front door is to the left. Another door on the right leads to the rest of the house. A large window opens onto the gardens, lawn and woods.
Enter Mr. and Mrs. Blank. She is wearing a formal dress and is fussing with her clothes and hair. He is in a suit and is twirling his moustache.)
Mrs B: Oh Edgar, do settle down and try to look important. You look as though you don’t know what to do with yourself.
Mr B: Well… yes, important. Right. (clears throat). It’s about time, I think, isn’t it?
Mrs B: He should be here any minute now. Where are the children? Florian! Frank! Get yourselves here!!
Mr B: We need to make a good impression, as you so aptly said yourself, my dear. (Chuckles. She glares at him. He stops and clears his throat again.)
(Florian, a lad of about 15 enters. His hair is slicked and he is well-dressed)
Mrs B: Ah, there you are. You look the part Florian. That’s my boy!
Florian: I’ll be sure to act very educated. Is uncle a very rich man, mama?
Mrs B: Oh yes. He owns a school in the heart of London and he makes his millions. (Throws a glare at her husband. He is sitting pompously.) We should have gone long ago, but you can thank your father for that. Once you and Frank get into his school, then… well it’s all so easy from there.
Mr B: Now, now, my dear! We have a good place here. What’s the point in our going to London?
Florian: I wonder he never visited before.
Mrs B: Well, thank God he is now. It’s our chance. He’s a pompous old man and they’re easy to get the better of.
(Gloria enters dressed in a 17th century costume. Mrs. B is shocked and screeches)
Gloria!
Gloria: (with an annoyed look at her mother) Mama, I’ll meet Uncle Hamilton after the dance. It starts in an hour and I really can’t take this off just to meet him. Besides, he means nothing to me.
Mrs B: Gloria! I specifically told you to get dressed to meet uncle.
(Enter Frank, a 13 year old boy with a vacant expression)
Frank: Oh, Gloria! You look positively fearsome.
Gloria: (glares at Frank) Who asked for your opinion, you addlehead?
(A loud knock is heard)
Mrs. B: (utters a small scream) It’s him! Gloria begone! Florian, Frank…. Be calm…. At your best manners now…. First impressions matter….. Dear me! (Fixes hair and smoothes dress. She sails to the door and opens it. She ushers Mr. Burly in with excessive delight. Enter Desmond Hamilton, a large man, with enormous moustaches, carrying a briefcase and wearing a stiff suit.) Oh Desmond! How you have changed! What a transformation! It’s been nearly 10 years I think! Dear me! You do look handsome!
Mr. H: Ah! Thank you, my dear Madam! Thank you…. Yes, I have so often been told those very words. One must not overlook one’s God-given gifts, even if it is looking handsome (laughs loudly)… although I must say, I have been blest with many gifs… Ah! Edgar!! Ten years have certainly taken you over the hill!! Ha ha! My dear man, you must take more care of yourself! Why I always say, exercise is the way to be….
Florian: Hello uncle. I’m Florian. (extends his hand)
Mr. H: (impressed as he shakes his hand) Ah! Nice young man! Shows character. You’d do nicely in my school!
Mrs. B: Dear me! I had a dream of that very thought. And here is Frank, my youngest.
Mr. H: Hello Frank! Vacant expression. Need to fill this little vessel, Edgar. Yes indeed, he certainly needs filling.
Frank: (loudly and to no one in particular) Oh, an advocate of Mr. Gradgrind’s theories.
Burly: Grad who? Little fellow. Being smart, eh? Ha ha! Tough drilling. That’s what I always say.
Frank: Oh! I thought so.
Mrs B: Do sit down, Desmond. You must be very tired. Oh, I’m so pleased to see you. How are dear Elena and Milla? I just knew we would get in contact again. Of late I’d been dreaming of your family.
Mr. H: (seriously) Ah, I always set stock by dreams. Some may call me superstitious, but I have built my fortune on such things.
Mr. B: (nodding his head seriously) Oh yes. My wife is quite a Joseph, aren’t you Camillia. A dab hand at interpreting dreams.
Mrs. B: (smiling complacently) Oh true. I certainly agree with you Desmond. And see, here we all are again. Let me call for tea. (leaves room)
Florin: Uncle, I would love to study in your school.
Mr. H: Ah young man. What a school I have built. It is the school of schools! (aside) Mustn’t let them know it’s run down. Must keep up pretenses until they enroll. (to Florian) Yes, you will do nicely in it.
(Enter servant, with tea and a big cake)
Ah what a lovely sight!
Mrs. B: (following servant) Please serve yourself. Have enough. Here you go!
Florian: May I have a piece mother!
Mrs. B: Yes dear child. Don’t ask, just eat.
Frank: (quietly to Florian) Yes Florian, you’re underweight as it is.
Florian: (hissing in a whisper as he helps himself to a huge piece of cake) Speak for yourself, you twit!
Mr. H: You have a lovely place here!
Mr. B: Oh yes, very olde worlde. (animatedly) It’s at least a hundred years old. Between you and me, I got this house for half the value.
Mr. H: Oh! And how did that come about?
Mr. B: Well, the land came cheap. Nobody wanted it before me. They say it’s been built over a graveyard!
Mr. H: (turning pale and stuttering) A..a..a.. graveyard??
Mr. B: Yes, that’s what they say. Some have even claimed to have seen ghosts on this land. But in my opinion it’s all a load of codswallop.
Mrs. B: Edgar, no need to go into details. Those are merely rumours as you well know. People have had their eye on this house too and you know the kind of things jealous tongues can spread. A mean trick.
Mr. H: (still looking shocked) Oh…yes…er…a graveyard!
Mrs. B: So, Desmond, our Florian here has just got through his end of year exams and we’re looking into a new school for him. And it occurred to us that we already have the very best choice in your school.
Mr. H: Oh yes. My school is one of the best….
Florian: (suddenly dropping his cake) Ah….mother! I think I’m dying!
Mrs. B: Florian! My pet! What is it, sweet love?
Florian: It’s my stomach! It hurts! I think I’m going to die! Aaah!
Mrs. B: Oh Edgar! Do something!
Mr. B: Call in the servant! I’ll call for the doctor!
(The servant and Mrs. B help Florian out. He is clutching onto his stomach and wailing. Mr. B follows them out looking nonplussed.)
Mr. H: I hope the poor chap isn’t too bad off. I wonder what could have come over him all of a sudden!
Frank: It’s probably just indigestion.
Mr. H: So, er… young man, how have you been spending your time?
Frank: I’ve been studying the history of our house.
Mr. H: Oh! An interesting pastime. And what have you learnt?
Frank: (thoughtfully, with a fixed look on Mr. Hamilton) Well, it seems to me that those rumours that father was talking about earlier actually have some substance.
Mr. H: Really? Er…. If I recall correctly he mentioned ghosts.
Frank: Yes.
Mr. H: (feigning joviality) So… how does the story go?
Frank: Well, there’s supposed to be just one… A ghost I mean. A young lady. She’s supposed to be dressed in an ancient costume and to be walking the grounds as if she’s waiting for something. They say she was murdered on these grounds, as she waited for her husband to return from the war.
Mr. H: (laughing awkwardly) Oh….ha ha! What a tale. And er… what is the significance of this vision?
Frank: (in a hushed whisper and looking over his shoulder) It’s a terrible sign of bad luck to see her.
Mr. H: Oh! What kind of bad luck?
Frank: If you see her you will suffer bad luck from the person you were with when you saw her.
Mr. H: Oh, so two people are supposed to see it?
Frank: Oh I don’t know. That’s what they say. But my dad says it’s all hogwash. I suppose it must be though, because I haven’t heard of anyone having seen her. But then again, if anyone did, they wouldn’t talk about it, now would they? I mean, who would believe them?
Mr. H: (suddenly turning very pale, and with a horribly frightened look, points out towards the big windows that open onto the back garden) L...l…..l….look!! Look there!!
Frank: Where?
Mr. H: There there!! Over there! (Gloria is walking in the garden waiting for her friend. She is still dressed in her costume)
Frank: (looking straight at his sister) What? I don’t see anything. Oh, you mean the apple tree?
Mr. H: No no no! (pointing more vigorously) That! That! Just by the tree. What do you see there??
Frank: (puzzled) I don’t know what you’re talking about. Grass?
Mr. H: (distractedly) He can’t see it! (wipes his brow) Er… the vision… my boy, what…er… and what happens to the one who sees it….?
Frank: Well, they say that the one who sees the vision will suffer from the one who doesn’t see it when the one who sees it sees it. But I don’t really think any of it is true. Oh, you were pointing at that blue jay over there. I see it now!
(Gloria walks away into the distance and is hidden behind the trees)
Mr. H: (muttering to himself) Bad luck! Obviously there is truth in the matter… and if true, then the consequences..! The vision! Portends bad fortune… has been seen… no need to risk. Not worth it….
Frank: (concernedly) Are you ok, uncle Hamilton?
Mr. H: Er… yes my boy. Er… look… I’ve suddenly remembered a most important appointment. I must leave immediately. Er… my apologies to your family….I really must be leaving now. It just occurred to me. Please… I’ll get in touch… (grabs his hat, coat and briefcase and rushes out the front door)
(Enter Edgar and Camillia. They are arguing about Florian)
Mrs. B: What kind of an impression will it give when he goes and sickens himself on cake?! You really should take the children by hand, Edgar, without leaving me to do all the hard work of raising them up by myself. (looks around) Frank, where is your uncle?
Frank: He said he suddenly remembered an important appointment and left. It was really very strange. He acted like a crazy person.
Mrs. B: Left? Just like that? How rude! After all our hospitality and not to say a single word about enrolling the boys in his school, which was the real reason we had him over for.
Frank: Yes it was really very strange. (helps himself to a piece of cake while Mr. and Mrs. B look on bemusedly at each other).
