Scene V
Laura, and her father are seated in a luxurious room. There are candles lit around the room, and tea to drink.
Father: Would you like some tea while we wait? You know it’s the national beverage of England. I think it should always, of course, be offered whenever we have coffee and chocolate. Old patriotism in me, I suppose.
Laura: Why not? I think it will take my mind off waiting. (He pours Laura tea) When do you think they’ll be back?
Father: It’s only been a few minutes! I see you are very eager to meet our new guest.
Laura: Well, counting earlier, it has been a couple hours. (Perrodon and Lafontaine enter) What’s she like?
Perrodon: I think she’s delightful. I am almost certain that she is the most beautiful creature I’ve ever seen. She’s about your age and has a lovely personality. Gentle, soft-spoken...
LaFontaine: (Cutting off Perrodon) She is stunningly beautiful!
Perrodon: And her voice is so sweet!
Father: Oh, that’s enough. You’ll make Laura jealous.
Lafontaine: Did you notice a woman in the carriage earlier, who was looking out the window once it was set up again? I don’t recall her ever getting out of the carriage, and yet I swear I saw her face.
Perrodon: No, I don’t remember seeing anyone else.
LaFontaine: She looked as though she was a nightmare, perhaps she was from a dream. If I truly did see her, I know I’d never forget her face. She always gazed out the window, never blinking. Nodding and grinning towards us, with huge gleaming eyes, and teeth always grinding together as if she was either outraged or in terrible pain. It was a face of restraint. Still, she was smiling, if that’s the word. I don’t know how, but she grinned ear to ear, at Carmilla, at us.
Laura: Carmilla...is that the girl’s name?
Perrodon: (nods in response to Laura’s question) Did you also notice how odd the servants were? They had such long, sullen faces. I hope they don’t rob the woman as she makes her through the forest. The whole lot of them made me uneasy. We can ask her about it tomorrow, I think she’ll be willing to tell us more about her situation.
Father: I don’t think so. I really don’t think she will. (He smiles oddly and nods his head, gesturing LaFontaine and Perrodon out of the room. They leave)
Laura: Please tell me.
Father: Well, I suppose there’s no reason that I shouldn’t tell you. Her mother expressed quite a bit of reluctance to bother us with caring for her daughter, who I was told to be in delicate health and rather nervous. Her mother emphasized that she was, in fact, sane.
Laura: That’s an odd thing to say. It doesn’t seem at all important, yet she emphasized it, like you said.
Father: Ha, I’m just telling you what she told me. You asked what we discussed, and it is truly very little. Then she referenced her vital journey again, and mentioned that she’d be gone for three months, things we had already heard. However, she didn’t say a single word as to who they were, where they came from, or where they were going.
Laura: I just realized that she will be here until the General comes. I suppose we have many guests this year, don’t we? It’s refreshing, it gets lonely pacing the woods alone.
Servant: Sir, another one of the housekeepers wanted to have a word with you in the drawing room.
Father: Very well. Don’t worry yourself too much over it Laura. It’s getting late, and you best go to bed.
Laura: Say, you’re the servant who’s watching over Carmilla. Do you think I could come see her?
Servant: I will ask.
Laura, and her father are seated in a luxurious room. There are candles lit around the room, and tea to drink.
Father: Would you like some tea while we wait? You know it’s the national beverage of England. I think it should always, of course, be offered whenever we have coffee and chocolate. Old patriotism in me, I suppose.
Laura: Why not? I think it will take my mind off waiting. (He pours Laura tea) When do you think they’ll be back?
Father: It’s only been a few minutes! I see you are very eager to meet our new guest.
Laura: Well, counting earlier, it has been a couple hours. (Perrodon and Lafontaine enter) What’s she like?
Perrodon: I think she’s delightful. I am almost certain that she is the most beautiful creature I’ve ever seen. She’s about your age and has a lovely personality. Gentle, soft-spoken...
LaFontaine: (Cutting off Perrodon) She is stunningly beautiful!
Perrodon: And her voice is so sweet!
Father: Oh, that’s enough. You’ll make Laura jealous.
Lafontaine: Did you notice a woman in the carriage earlier, who was looking out the window once it was set up again? I don’t recall her ever getting out of the carriage, and yet I swear I saw her face.
Perrodon: No, I don’t remember seeing anyone else.
LaFontaine: She looked as though she was a nightmare, perhaps she was from a dream. If I truly did see her, I know I’d never forget her face. She always gazed out the window, never blinking. Nodding and grinning towards us, with huge gleaming eyes, and teeth always grinding together as if she was either outraged or in terrible pain. It was a face of restraint. Still, she was smiling, if that’s the word. I don’t know how, but she grinned ear to ear, at Carmilla, at us.
Laura: Carmilla...is that the girl’s name?
Perrodon: (nods in response to Laura’s question) Did you also notice how odd the servants were? They had such long, sullen faces. I hope they don’t rob the woman as she makes her through the forest. The whole lot of them made me uneasy. We can ask her about it tomorrow, I think she’ll be willing to tell us more about her situation.
Father: I don’t think so. I really don’t think she will. (He smiles oddly and nods his head, gesturing LaFontaine and Perrodon out of the room. They leave)
Laura: Please tell me.
Father: Well, I suppose there’s no reason that I shouldn’t tell you. Her mother expressed quite a bit of reluctance to bother us with caring for her daughter, who I was told to be in delicate health and rather nervous. Her mother emphasized that she was, in fact, sane.
Laura: That’s an odd thing to say. It doesn’t seem at all important, yet she emphasized it, like you said.
Father: Ha, I’m just telling you what she told me. You asked what we discussed, and it is truly very little. Then she referenced her vital journey again, and mentioned that she’d be gone for three months, things we had already heard. However, she didn’t say a single word as to who they were, where they came from, or where they were going.
Laura: I just realized that she will be here until the General comes. I suppose we have many guests this year, don’t we? It’s refreshing, it gets lonely pacing the woods alone.
Servant: Sir, another one of the housekeepers wanted to have a word with you in the drawing room.
Father: Very well. Don’t worry yourself too much over it Laura. It’s getting late, and you best go to bed.
Laura: Say, you’re the servant who’s watching over Carmilla. Do you think I could come see her?
Servant: I will ask.