25 June 2008

The Tragical History of Otto Proudfoot: Act IV

Scene: The Proudfoot home, for the most part furnished as in Act I. A body is lying on the central table, covered in a linen sheet. The workbenches and shelves are in disarray, their items thrown to the floor as someone searched.

Otto sits at his father’s table, examining the tools one by one. Some are discarded, others restored carefully to their place. Constable Henry enters, carrying a metal strongbox.

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The Tragical History of Otto Proudfoot: Act III

Scene: The bower of Mistress Romana, owner of the bordello known as Turtle House. The left wall is occupied by an enormous bed, covered in silken fripperies. The back wall has a single door and a crowded vanity. The right wall is decorated with masks and sundries, and holds a high window open to the night sky. Otto is lying down on the bed, reading a book. Mistress Romana enters in an outlandish dancing costume, with high boots and corset.

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The Tragical History of Otto Proudfoot: Act II

Scene: An elegant sitting room. A bookshelf covers one wall; the opposite wall holds a marble hearth inlaid with astrological symbols in semi-precious stones. Two comfortable leather chairs face the fire. The rear wall opens onto a hallway, as in the Proudfoot home. An odd skeleton hangs from the ceiling—some kind of animal, but nothing easily recognizable. As the curtain opens we see Ebard (Applejack) in a silk dressing-gown, pacing back and forth with an open book. His lips move, but we hear no sound. Suddenly, the fire in the hearth turns green and a puff of foul vapour rises up. There is a knock at the door.

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