Blurb:
Dauhnet Manor – the home of many memories for
young Dale and Brennan, the brothers destined to embrace the horrors that await
them within their new home. A new home calls for a house party, but some
unexpected guests may appear and bring to life the true nature of Dauhnet
Manor.
Opening 1:
(Crack of thunder and a droning low tone note
that persists throughout the opening)
Midnight Murders, by Ryan Gault
We begin our story with a young man,
Dale and his brother, Brennan. Dale has recently gotten enough money from his
job as the managing partner of a law firm to buy the house him and his brother
have had their eyes on since they were just children – Dauhnet Manor.
Opening 2:
(Slow sorrowful piano tune playing softly
throughout the entire opening)
Midnight Murders, by Ryan Gault
I invite you to a world where there is
no such peace to find, and every move you make, is bound to move another mind.
Dale and Brennan loved each other since their dawn in time, a brother’s bond so
strong it’s bound to move all space with rhyme. There’s Dauhnet Manor so still,
old ghouls and ghosts to hurt you, so come and play.
Opening 3:
(Crickets chirping, wind howling, rustling of
leaves)
Rosie
loved parties; she thought having a wild party with everyone she knew was to
die for. 100 years after her monolithic accident, Dale and Brennan are
interested in also having a party, in Rosie’s old house – Dauhnet Manor. Rosie
doesn’t like intruders, then again, ghosts don’t like much, do they?
Scene 1
(noises of rushing around an office – fax
machines, conversations, footsteps, etc.)
(Dale sighs)
(Rosie giggling briefly)
Dale: Why are you so happy?
Rosie: I didn’t realise it was wear your shirt inside-out day
Dale: Oh, dammit I was in a rush this morning and didn’t realise
Rosie: Something on your mind?
Dale: Just Brennan, it’s hard enough having to help him find a job let alone
help him deal with his depression
Rosie: I didn’t realise, sorry; everything alright?
Dale: Yeah I’m fine, Brennan’s fine, in fact we’re doing great lately.
There’s this house we’ve been looking at for years, since we were kids and I
nearly have enough to get it
Rosie: That’s really nice
Dale: Yeah, Brennan’s always dreamt of living there. It’s just been abandoned
for years and up for sale, but nobody’s bought it
Rosie: So are you really going to go through with it?
Dale: Honestly, I’ve nearly got enough, Brennan’s going to be so happy
Rosie: You’re quite the caring brother, aren’t you?
Dale: He’s my little brother, we’ve always stuck together. We deserve something
like this to cheer us up
Rosie: Well I think it’s great. Hey here’s an idea, why don’t you throw a
housewarming party when you finally get the place?
Dale: That’s not a bad idea, it would be nice to relax with everyone for
once.
Rosie: Then it’s sorted! Now how about a coffee, cutie?
Dale: (Laughs briefly) Sure why
not
(Clanking of mugs)
Scene 2:
(Sounds of a video game being played, followed
by a door opening and shutting)
Dale: I’m back!
(Pause)
Dale: Brennan, you there? … Brennan?
Brennan: Oh yeah, sorry about that, I was busy
(Footsteps coming closer as Dale enters the
room)
Dale: Jesus Christ, Brennan. Why haven’t you cleaned up the apartment?
Brennan: Sorry man, I just-
Dale: Look at the state of it! Come on, this is ridiculous
(Clashing of plates being moved, cans being
picked up and cushions being put into place)
Brennan: Dale stop it, I can do it all. Look,
let me just do this and you can go do your paperwork, I’ll come help in a bit
if you want
Dale: No, sit down
Brennan: But the mess, I really-
Dale: Brennan sit down, I’ve got some news
(Sound of Brennan sitting down on the couch)
Brennan: Alright so what is it that’s got you so hasty?
Dale: Do you remember that old house we used to daydream about living in when
we were kids, just over by the fields next to our old care home?
Brennan: Of course I remember, we leant over the fence and looked at it every
Sunday night
Dale: Yeah, exactly. Well I’ve been down to the estate agents today, trying
to see if anything was available; because we’ve been in this apartment for so
long in this city, I feel like we could do with a change up, or more to make us
feel more at home.
Brennan: Dale where are you going with this?
(Pause briefly)
Dale: I’m buying the house, Brennan. We’re going to live in Dauhnet Manor
just like we used to dream of
Brennan: Seriously?! That’s amazing!
Dale: It is, now get this place cleaned up while I finish off some work.
Scene 3:
(Typing on a keyboard)
Dale: (Sighs) And that’s that, and
now I am done; thank god, stupidly long report.
(Dale gets up and moves to his door where he
suddenly collapses)
(Harp sound plays as if entering a dream,
noises of many voices at once trying to talk to Dale occurs, a distinctive screaming
woman then slowing down the voices and silence for a pause)
Brennan: Dale, Dale wake up. Dale! Get your fat butt off of the floor man
(Dale grunts and gets up)
Brennan: Are you alright? You seem a bit odd
Dale: Yeah I’m fine, must’ve fallen over last night
Brennan: You’re late for work, I’ve already phoned up the office for you and
told them you’re stuck in heavy traffic
(Dale sighs)
Dale: Alright, thanks for helping me. Can you run down to the post office and
send off this parcel for Rosie? I need to go by the estate agents first before
work, call the movers while I’m out, get everything packed. We’re moving to Dauhnet
tomorrow
Brennan: Wow, all this change already? Shouldn’t we take things a bit slo-
Dale: (Sounding agitated) Brennan
I want things to move on, we’ve been stuck here for far too long.
(Pause)
Dale: I’m sorry
Brennan: It’s fine, I’ll get everything done, you go to work. Have a good day
bro
Scene 4:
(Loud noises of traffic and crowds, slowly
followed by the rushing of the previous voices coming back gaining tempo faster
and faster then stops as soon as Rosie speaks a third time)
Rosie: Dale… Dale? Dale!
Dale: What? Oh, Rosie! Hey there
Rosie: (Giggles briefly) Are you
okay? You’re as pale as death
Dale: (Pauses) Yeah, I’m perfectly
fine
Rosie: Why aren’t you at the office?
Dale: I um, I was held up in traffic and I have to be somewhere first and I...
(Pause)
Rosie: Dale?
Dale: Yeah?
Rosie: You’re not feeling right today, are you?
Dale: I don’t know, I think I fainted last night and now I just feel really
different, I remember hearing a woman scream but, I don’t know.
Rosie: Odd… How about I spend the day with you, you know, make sure you’re
okay.
Dale: (Sounding slightly more cheerful) I’d like that, I need to go to the estate agents now then we can head
to work
