Scripts

Scene 1

Three men were sitting in a study on a winter night outside the widow. There was a snow storm blowing that rattled the windows of the big mansion. It was late at night. There was a fire merrily clicking in the hearth. The three men had come here after the party to discuss something important. The Old man named Christopher Martin was sitting in the front chair while the other two were sitting side by side facing him. On the right was his son Charles Martin, and on the left was his son-in-law Harold Will.

Christopher Martin: "My son and I have something important to discuss."

Charles Martin "We are aware of that; that’s why we are here in the first place."

Christopher Martin: "I wanted to discuss the future of this family business. It is needless to remind you of how terrible a state our business was in before Harry, my dear son-in-law came to our rescue."

Harold Will: "You are too kind in saying that I was only doing my job as a friend and business partner."

Charles Martin: "If you are done praising him, father, can you get to the point where there are other places I need to be?"

Christopher Martin: "What could be more important than our family's future?"

Charles Martin: Well, there are a number of young ladies waiting for me."

Christopher Martin: "You fool, you care more about merrymaking than about our family’s future; this is the very reason I prefer Harry over you."

Charles Martin: "If he is so dear to you, why not make him your heir?"

Christopher Martin: "You bet I will."

Charles Martin: "What do you mean?"

Christopher Martin: "I have named Harry as my heir; from now on, he will be the rightful owner of my business, property, and everything I own. As for you, you will be given my old mansion in Manhattan and a small portion of my wealth."

Charles Martin: "If you will give everything that is rightfully mine to this brat and leave me with nothing but a rotting house and a hand full of pennies, are you an insane old man?"

Christopher Martin: "Don’t speak of Harry in that manner in front of me. You should be grateful that I am leaving you with anything. Your misdeeds would have been the end of our family name if Harry here hadn’t come and saved us."

Harold Will: "Are you sure you are not being too harsh with him? He is your son, and I am an outsider. How could I possibly accept all this?"

Charles Martin: "Shut up, you. I don’t need your pity."

Christopher Martin: "Silence Don’t talk to him like that; I will not tolerate it, and Harry, you are being too modest. You are a part of this family now, and I trust you more than anyone. I am sure you will do great as my heir."

At this point, Charles lost his temper. He stood up, charged forward toward Harry, and tried to punch him in the face. Harry dodged it easily and punched him in the gut, causing him to fall down. The old man called the servants.

Christopher Martin: "Take him to his room; he is not in his right mind."

The servants took him outside and closed the door.

Scene 2

Christopher Martin: I am sorry about him; he will come to his senses when he is sober. Now, my son, should we drink to your success? I think we should drink the one Charles gave you as a wedding gift; he might be an idiot, but he has good taste in wine."

The old man was about to get up, but Harry stopped him by saying

Harold Will: "Allow me, father."

Harry will stand up, pick up the bottle of wine on the mantle piece, and open it. His back is turned toward the old man, and he cannot see Harry pouring powder from the hidden compartment in his ring into the bottle. He then pours two glasses of wine, hands one to the old man, and drinks the other.

Christopher Martin: "I don’t know what I will do without you; my son has done nothing but embarrass me my whole life."

Harold Will: "You are too kind, and I think there might still be hope for him. That reminds me, I wanted to tell you a story."

Christopher Martin: "A story you tell, where is this coming from?"

Harold Will: Well, it’s a story about my friend, and I would like you to know about him."

Christopher Martin: "Very well if you insist."

Harold Will: "My friend and his mother worked as servants for a rich family. His master had a son very much like your son and was into gambling. One day he lost a hefty sum, and to pay his debt, he stole his late mother’s jewels and framed the young boy for his crimes. When the Old man of the house found out about this, he kicked out his mother and his one-year-old sister.

He had forbidden any member of the town from helping them. The boy's mother went door to door begging for help, but none came to her aid. At last, the cold killed the little baby, and the woman, in despair of both her children’s fates, drowned herself in the lake.

Christopher Martin: "What happened to the boy, then? How did you come to know him? And I am shocked to hear you were associated with such a kind of man? A servant and a criminal.”

Harold Will: "I already told you he was not the one who stole the jewellery , and one does not choose to be poor."

Christopher Martin: Regardless, someone who went to prison is seen and treated just as guilty as any other criminal, whether or not he committed the crime."

Harold Will: That seems a bit unfair, don’t you think?

Christopher Martin: "The world is never fair, my dear boy, especially to those who don’t have power."

Harold Will: "I agree, any way, moving on to the story. After the boy went to prison, he was treated harshly by both the prisoners and the guards; they berated him and treated him like a dog. He had to become as cruel as them to survive in that hell and had to make deals with devils. After he got out of prison, he went to find his family and soon learned about their fate. He was heartbroken. The only thing that had kept him going in that hell and had helped him survive was the thought of seeing his family again. Now that they were gone, all that was left in his heart was anger and hate.

He made a vow to himself that he would not stop until he avenged his family. To accomplish his goals, he started working with criminals and soon gained wealth. In front of people, he represented himself as a respectable businessman who was kind and cultured, but in reality, he was involved in all sorts of scams and frauds. He then presented himself in front of his old master and became his friend and business partner. He became the one person his master trusted above all others, and from here he began his revenge."

Suddenly the old man stands up; his hands are shaking.

Christopher Martin: "I don’t feel so good; I need rest."

Harold Will: "You will not leave this room, especially not until I have finished telling my story."

Harry blocks his way.

Christopher Martin: "Why is this story so important? What do I have to do with any of this? Get out of my way, Harry. I am not feeling well."

Harold Will: "You fool, you still haven’t realized it, have you?"

Christopher Martin: "What have I not realized?"

Harold Will: That I am the boy in the story; I am the one who lost everything thanks to you and your son. I am here to avenge my family.

The old man falls to the ground. He is still shaking, and his breath becomes unsteady.

Christopher Martin: "What are you saying, please stop? I don’t understand what you are talking about. You are my son-in-law, you saved my family; and you love my daughter.”

Harold Will: "It is true that I love your daughter and I will do everything in my power to keep her happy, but I am not the one who saved our family; on the contrary, I caused all those problems and accidents so that you can trust and rely on me. I wanted you to trust me enough to give your everything to me, and I succeeded in doing so."

Christopher Martin: Please, I am begging you to stop; please help me; I will give you anything you want."

Harold Will: "You have already given everything you have to me; now all I want is for you to die so I can send your pathetic son to prison for your murder, and don’t worry about your daughter; I will take good care of her."

The old man stops shaking; he is lying motionless on the ground. His eyes are staring blankly at Harry, but there is no light or life in them; he is dead.