Alone in the Light

 

 

 

List of Characters:

 

Elanon An Arch incubus who wants to change his ways

Lucifer            The one we call Satan

Ferael  Another Arch incubus

Gabriel            The Archangel

Uriel    The Archangel

God     The Christian/Hebrew/Islamic God

Woman 1         A woman searching for companionship in the wrong places

Sarah   An innocent and loving young lady

Woman 2         A lusty woman with insatiable desires

Girl      A confused youngster who strays from the flock

Incva   The High Priest of the Black Mass

Incubus           A low ranking incubus

Lucia   A succubus

Joseph The man Sarah is betrothed to

A Drummer and the Congregation of the Black Mass

 

PROLOGUE

 

[FERAEL, another INCUBUS and a SUCCUBUS walk grandly up center aisle towards the curtained stage.  FERAEL is in full grand attire, sword at his side.  The SUCCUBUS is in sexy attire, but not “sluttish”; in fact, she projects quite a commanding presence, much like a sexy female commanding officer in the military.  The INCUBUS is in similar dress as FERAEL but not as decorated or grand, and without a sword.]

 

FERAEL: Though, far be it from me to praise myself for an extraordinary performance, I must say that this triad has performed impeccably under my leadership this evening.

SUCCUBUS:  And far be it from me to point out how well you do laud yourself while managing to be so far from doing it.

INCUBUS:  Ooh, pierced by her tongue once again, Lord Ferael.  Maybe the words should be changed to read:  Hell hath no fury like a Succubus that speaks.  (The two underlings laugh)

FERAEL:   Not so, Incubus, not so.  Lucia has merely shown us once more that she truly is living up to the standards of her namesake.  Indeed, quickness of tongue is not solely a skill of benefit to the Succubae in their work but one that all of us must develop.  I believe my statement here already serves as an adequate example of how I have put this to use.  (They all laugh)

SUCCUBUS:  I am touched.

INCUBUS:  I say, sister, do you always speak in double meanings?

[FERAEL and SUCCUBUS together]:  yes and no  (All have a good laugh at this; they reach the curtained stage at this point)

SUCCUBUS:  Lord Elanon should be arriving soon…pity he had a previous engagement, a foursome would have been most stimulating…(she notices FERAEL’s sharp look)--and educational as well.  After all, he is the Lord Master’s personal favorite…

INCUBUS:  Ah, Master Elanon, as evil as they come.  I’m sure one lesson from him would equal ten lessons fr…(trails off, realizing what he was about to say)

SUCCUBUS:  You see, this is one instance where you should have remained slow of tongue.

FERAEL:  (To INCUBUS)  Feel free to enter Elanon’s tutelage; although, I suspect you would miss working with Lucia…

INCUBUS:  How you dangle her in front of me…

FERAEL:  To the victor the spoils-- here, to the aged comes beauty…[FERAEL and SUCCUBUS kiss deeply]

INCUBUS:  (sighing)  All right…I remain your loyal student; my apologies, Ferael.

FERAEL:  (pauses as if to consider)  Apology accepted…forgiveness not mine to give, of course.

[Enter ELANON]

                     Speak of the devil!

SUCCUBUS: (walking towards ELANON) Indeed, and let the devil speak…(acting like a housewife welcoming her husband from work)  How was your day, dear?  (Fawns over him)

ELANON:  Quite terrible really…yes, what do you want this time?

SUCCUBUS:  Do tell me about work, darling; you know how interested I am in your work…(continues to act beguiling)

ELANON:  Really, I was thinking of actually showing to you what work was like today.

SUCCUBUS:  Mmm…now that’s what I call homework.

ELANON:  (pulling away)  But maybe later; I need to speak to Ferael now.  Leave us!

[Exit INCUBUS and SUCCUBUS]

FERAEL:  You read my mind; they do get tiresome after a while, don’t they?  What is it about those evil little imps…?

ELANON:  You don’t like kids?

FERAEL:  Hmm, should I thank him for the compliment or curse him for using such unflattering metaphor?

ELANON:   If news of your most recent conquest is true, you are in no need of flattery anyway.

FERAEL:  Unless that news is eclipsed by someone else’s most recent conquest.

ELANON:  Jealousy doesn’t suit you, Ferael.

FERAEL:  Neither does being second best!

ELANON:  Should I thank him for the compliment…or curse myself?

FERAEL:  You’ve lost me.

ELANON:  Have no fear, for I fear I never will lose any of you.

[Behind the curtains the summoning ritual starts; SUCCUBUS walks onstage in “working attire”]

                    …Ferael?

FERAEL:  (looking at SUCCUBUS)  huh?

ELANON:  Have you ever…I mean…

FERAEL:  (to SUCCUBUS)  Looking good!

SUCCUBUS:  I’m on the clock.

ELANON:  Don’t you ever get tired of what we do?  Did you ever consider that…maybe we never should have—

FERAEL:  (To SUCCUBUS)  Knock him dead!

SUCCUBUS:  This one’s a she.

FERAEL:  Sorry, what was that you were saying?

ELANON:  Never mind, it’s nothing…I’m just tired…

FERAEL:  No rest for the wicked!  (turns to SUCCUBUS)  Lucia!

[Lucia turns around]

   

                   Hold on.  (to ELANON)  You don’t sound well; should I be concerned?

ELANON:  No, I’m fine.

FERAEL:  Ah, dammit, I was hoping there was something wrong. (walks over to Lucia)  Were you summoned?

SUCCUBUS:  No, just felt like playing cat and mouse.

FERAEL:  Good, I’ll come along; I’ll even let you be the mouse.  (Lucia hisses at him)

 

 

 

ACT ONE

Scene One

[The curtains open on a WOMAN in the midst of a summoning ritual.  She kneels before a small altar upon which are placed several items used in dark rituals, such as a chalice, carved idols, bowls, etc.; there is also a bed on the stage.  The WOMAN is scantly dressed, her hair falling over her shoulders and down her back.]

WOMAN: 

Idefme atupres, tudefme ame ples

Defme, defme, defme atu ples

Tudefme, tudefme, amepres atu ples

Idefme atupres, tudefme ame ples

Defme, defme, defme atu ples

Tudefme, tudefme, amepres atu ples

[The WOMAN picks up an ornate and sinister looking dagger from the altar and begins a prayer; during the prayer, she raises the dagger, along with a carved figure from the altar, into the air.]

WOMAN: 

Dominus antisantus,

Creator luminus et defiledes grandor archangelus

Hautor luciferus

I encantor lividessa encompasis

A un demonae incubus me penatritae

Amen

Deus antichristus, me penatrisite

I encantor, amen

[The WOMAN now cuts into her wrist with the dagger while beginning another chant; she lets her blood flow, first, over the idol she holds, then, into the chalice cup.]

WOMAN: 

Idefme atupres, tudefme ame ples

Defme, defme, defme atu ples

Tudefme, tudefme, amepres atu ples

Idefme atupres, tudefme ame ples

Defme, defme, defme atu ples

Tudefme, tudefme, amepres atu ples

[At the end of the chant she begins another prayer punctuated drinking her own blood and ritualistic gestures of the various instruments on the altar, after which she sets everything down and stands up.

WOMAN: 

Dominus antisantus,

Creator luminus et defiledes grandor archangelus

Hautor luciferus

I encantor lividessa encompasis

A un demonae incubus me penatritae

Amen

Deus antichristus, me penatrisite

I encantor, amen

Me sentinellis, amen

A nominae fili unus discarde!

Hexaguinis Amen!

(In a loud, commanding voice)  Incubus, come now!

[After a pause, enter ELANON from the shadows cloaked in a long, hooded, dark burgundy-colored robe.]

ELANON:  You chose, you asked, you paid, you called, you will suffer; I have come.

WOMAN:  (slowly, with amazement) Jesus Christ…

ELANON:  Far from it, woman.

WOMAN:  (laughs nervously, with a hint of disbelief) I…I didn’t really expect…my God I can’t believe I’m actually talking to a…did that stuff really work?

ELANON:  Apparently it did

WOMAN:  Apparently.  But…

ELANON:  But what?  Are you not satisfied with what you see?

WOMAN:  Satisfied?  (“Appraising” him)  With appearances, definitely, what woman in her right mind wouldn’t be?

ELANON:  thank you, how kind…

WOMAN:  (vocalizing her approval) Mmmmmm…have you got a god’s body, or what? Mmmmmmmmmm

ELANON:  …how blind.

WOMAN:  On the other hand, a friend of mine tried these summoning rituals and nothing happened, so––

ELANON:  So, you asked her if you could have her demonology paraphernalia––since she wouldn’t need it anyway––and thought you could at least give it a try; after all, it doesn’t hurt to try…just once.  Of course, what harm could come from summoning a demon?  You are only just exploring new things, the unknown…

WOMAN:  Well, yes, I mean, I did do that––good guess, by the way; anyway, in case of emergency there’s always Father O’Clensy just across the street. 

ELANON:  Just run over to the church, confess, and be gone with it, eh?

WOMAN:  Uh-huh––However, what I really meant to say was––

ELANON:  ––that I am an ordinary man but that I just happened to be at the right place at the right time to hear your prayers and somehow found a way into your house, quietly, as a skilled thief would; then, make my appearance at the appropriate moment.  Although, what kind of thief not yet behind bars would walk around dressed like this? 

WOMAN:  (coming closer to him; chuckles) you do have a point.

ELANON:  Yes, a point, and here is another: What about considering a more plausible scenario?  (Here, as he talks, Elanon wanders off into his own world a bit; the WOMAN isn’t really interested in his, albeit very intuitive, ramblings, although she does seem as if under a spell and she keeps examining his physical features and giving him the sexual up and down)  Is your friend the playful type?  For all you know, for all your chanting and praying, cutting and bleeding––for all your blood you spilled, maybe (chuckles) maybe your friend, after all, remove the “r” in friend and what word do you have?…could it be possible that (lets out a short laugh) your friend and I have played on you the practical joke of all time?!

WOMAN:  (pauses) If so, then I agree that this is one damn good practical joke; though I don’t buy it.  My friend is not the joking type.

ELANON:  Then you believe that I am indeed the demon you summoned?

WOMAN:  Yes.

ELANON:  What faith you must have in things not of this world.

WOMAN:  Perhaps; but I’d rather think of it as knowing what I want––and knowing when I have it.

ELANON:  And if it so happens that what you want isn’t really what you thought you wanted there’s always The Father Across the Street.

WOMAN:  simple as that

ELANON: Ah, I wonder what old Father O’Cleare would have to say about me stepping into his confessional.  Forgive me, father for I have sinned; it has been six thousand years since my last confession…how many hail Mary’s and Our Father’s do you usually give for confession of being a demon?

WOMAN:  (she just laughs)

ELANON:  All this…is…to you, how easily you cage it with that phrase:  “simple as that”…for you, perhaps; to me it most definitely is not. (his tone and demeanor becoming less conversational––more businesslike) The clock is ticking…what did you need so urgently that you had to pawn your soul for it?

WOMAN: I want you.

ELANON: Simple as that?

WOMAN: You got it.

ELANON: Hm-m, now you’re gonna get it [he pushes her onto the bed roughly, strips off the front of his trousers and they proceed to have quite vigorous sex. But it is over almost as soon as she climaxes.]

WOMAN: You can’t just leave me now. That was about 30 seconds!

ELANON: Now that’s sick…you were counting the time?

WOMAN: Oh, shut up! [softer] I mean, shouldn’t it have been longer?

ELANON: [looking down at his crotch and laughing] I’ve never had a complaint before…

WOMAN: [frustrated] You bastard!

ELANON: I’ve been called worse…

WOMAN: This is not fair, I want more.

ELANON: Don’t complain to me about not fair. You did your little performance and I came, then I performed and you came. We’re even, [looks at her]…simple as that…

WOMAN: Fine, but this is the last time I call one of you!

ELANON: Now there’s an idea…

WOMAN: [Leaving] A choirboy would have been better than you! {Exit WOMAN]

ELANON: I wonder if she knows I may just take that as a compliment…(adjusting his uniform, he has the following monologue)

                       I find myself between two proverbs,

                       neither of which I hold much stock in.