One Act Play
-Based on the unseen scene from “The Landlady”
Setting: Outside the Landlady’s house on the street in Bath, England, Around 11pm and dark out. Inside the Landlady’s house (Living room and bedroom). During winter months (Cold outside)
Characters:
-Christopher Mulholland: The Eton Schoolboy from the landlady’s check in list that Billy weaver suspected went missing. In this scene, he has just been lured into the Landlady’s house where he eventually is poisoned and murdered.
-The Landlady: The lonely 50 year old woman that lures people into her mysterious home so that she can poison them and preserve their bodies. In this scene, she lures in an Eton schoolboy named Christopher Mulholland.
Prop list:
-Bed with sheet and pillows
-Black night stand with small lamp
-Tall lamps
-Wooden door
-Black couch with small pillows
-Dining table
-Fake parrot
-Large brown carpet
-Curtains
-Paintings of various animals
-Coat rack
-Tea cup with tea
Rough Draft Script
Almost midnight on a dark street only lit by the dim streetlights. Bath, England 1958. In the outskirts of the downtown city with nearly identical houses on each sides of the road.
Christopher Mulholland trots confidently with his chin up and a sly smile down the eerily quiet street
He looks at his watch frustrated
Christopher: To the lone 2 people on the street “Sir, ma’am, do you know of a place to spend the night? A hotel? A bed and breakfast?”
Couple walks by and ignores Christopher. He throws his hands up in despair
As he continues to walk, a sign that says “BED AND BREAKFAST” suddenly appears on the bottom level window of a house. Christopher does a double and walk over to the house
Christopher: Sighs “Ah, it’s worth a try”
Christopher knocks on the door twice and on third knock, the door swings open with the landlady standing there with a pleasant grin
Christopher: Jumps back startled “Oh my, sorr-”
Landlady: Interrupts Christopher “Hello my dear, sorry if I frightened you! I was just about to head out for a nighttime stroll you see and, well there you were!”
Christopher: “Of course, sure no worries, I’ll just be on my wa-” Starts walking down the stairs
Landlady: Interrupts Christopher “Nonsense boy! Are here here for the bed and breakfast?
Christopher: Halfway down the stairs half facing the Landlady. Uneasily says “Um, Yes well you see, I-”
Landlady: “Five and sixpence a night with breakfast, cheap! Save yourself some of your hard earned money! Your bed is already made for you to crash right asleep in!”
Christopher pauses for a few seconds with an anxious and unsure facial expression
Christopher: “Well I am quite tired, I’m on my way home for the break from Eton College and I there aren’t many other places near… Five and sixpence a night you said?”
Landlady: “Yes! Yes that’s right, you will be walking till sunrise until you find some other place to spend the night.”
Christopher: Fakes a smile “You make it seem pretty tough to pass up. Sure, I’ll stay!”
Landlady: Ecstatic with over excitement “Wonderful, splendid my dear boy! Let me help grab your things for you”
Christopher: “Oh I think I am fine thanks”
Landlady: “Oh of course, a big strong boy like yourself! Here come in”
Christopher walks in the house after the landlady
Christopher: “Wow, quite a nice house you have I see, what’s th-”
Landlady: Interrupted “Tea? Tea and biscuits did you say? I’m sure you must be starving after that long train trip. Here let me go fetch you some”
Christopher: “Oh no thank you ma’a-”
Landlady: Interrupts “Brilliant I’ll be right back”
Runs out the room and disappears. Christopher scratches head in confusion
Christopher examines the room and curiously walk over to perch with the bird. He touches it and it falls over. He jumps back in shock
Christopher: Argh! What the-”
Landlady: Walks in room and interrupts Christopher “I see you’ve met Lenny! Don’t worry, I preserved him years ago”
Christopher: Looks uneasy “yeah… I can see that”
Landlady: “So, tea? It’s black tea if that’s alright”
Christopher: “Actually I’m ok I think I’m just gonna-”
Landlady: Interrupts “Ah I should have known, herbal tea it is” Disappears into kitchen room
Christopher: As the landlady walks away “I think I’m just going to go to bed! Hello?”
Christopher opens door to upstairs and the landlady is standing in the doorway
Landlady: “I don’t have herbal… How does this green tea sound?”
Christopher: “NO!.. I mean, sorry I really am fine thank you, now if you don’t mind I am going to bed”
Christopher walks past the landlady
Landlady” As Christopher walks past her “It will help with that! With your sleep!”
Christopher walks into bedroom, sees cookies and tea on the bed and throws it off the bed
Christopher: “Argh! What is it with this crazy woman”
Sits on bed and barry’s hands in face and talks to himself
“Look at the bright side Chris, as soon as morning comes you will be out the door and on your way home”
Christopher jumps in shock as he hears footsteps coming from outside his room. He quickly lays on the bed with his face down on the pillow and takes a deep breath. He shoot up coughing holding his throat while on his knees on the ground
Christopher: “What the… Coughs.. Need, to get out”
Pushes the door open and the landlady is standing there with a knife. Chris looks up in fear
Christopher: “Please, I… My parents…”
Landlady: grins a devilish smile “Oh, Mr, Mulholland, you do know the deal we made don’t you? Five and sixpence a night, you won’t be able to leave and see your family till the morning”
Christopher gasps and passes out
Landlady: “On second thought, I don’t think you will be seeing your family for quite a while, Mr. Mulholland!”
Laughs hysterically as stage slowly goes black
The end
