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Aural Step by Wicked Step
Aural Step by Wicked Step
The driver swings the minibus into the looming hole between the wrought-iron gates.
: Old Harwick Hall. : Absolutely private. : No hawkers. No circulars. : Friendly! Dont even want you coming up their garden path to give them free Paper!
Ralph
Pixie
: After the terrible journey, I might have said Im glad were here, but Im not sure I am.
Ralph
: I would have actually have had fewer misgivings if we actually got to travel with everyone else.
: But its just the five of us, picked out by Miss Odell for who knows why. : She just took a quick glance at her list. : Packed us off into the bus like leftovers shoved in the fridge.
: Is that it? : No, thatt the old chapel. : Its forbidden ground. : I heard Bob was sent home even though it was a school week for climbing on those slopes.
Robbo
*Suddenly*
Driver
: CRIPES!!
*Sound of brakes*
Colin Robbo
They could make out a towering mansion with dunce-hatted turrets, standing black against storm clouds. Moonlight flickered eeriely against its dark windows.
Ralph Claudia
Driver
*Bus door opens* *Everyone gets out* *Driver leaves scene* Scene : Huge oak and iron door.
: Ring the bell, Mr. Plumley. : What bell? : Try knocking, then.
*Plumley knocks softly* *Robbo shoves his hands forward and bangs on the door*
Pixie
*Plumley opens the door* *someone tries to turn on the lights* *doesnt work*
: The lights arent working. : Storm damage. I expect. : *Horrified* You dont suppose they ll be off all night? Its not going to be easy settling you all in one of the dormitories in the pitch dark.
The five of them followed Mr. Plumley up a few staircases before they came upon a little tower with beds pointing neatly towards the centre from five of the six walls.
Claudia
Pixie
: *Hushes* Listen!! I know you dont want to break the rules, each bedroom for either girls or boys. But on a night like this, with just us, I prefer safety in numbers.
: What is it, Claudia? : Nothing, Mr Plumley. : Alright then, you settle down. Ill go and see if I can find what the housekeeper has left for supper.
*Scene change: Chairs in a semi-circle. Claudias back facing the white board.
Robbo Ralph
: Should we unpack?? : Whats the point? We all have plans to share with other people. Well only have to pack up and move when Miss Odell and the others come.
Colin Claudia
*Lights flicker*
: Nine forty-five. : Lights out by ten-thirty. : Thats all right. They probably still will be.
*Lights flicker*
Colin
There is a clamour.
: What? : I cant see anything. : Whats the matter? : Look! : Theres nothing there, Colin. : Oh yes, there is. I saw it. : I cant see anything.
*Lights flicker*
*everyone approaches the hidden door* *Robbo moves Claudias chair away. A button is revealed* *Robbo opens the door by pressing the button*
*The children creep into the room* *Claudia pokes the nose of the wooden cow* *Robbo spins the globe*
Pixie Claudia
Ralph
: Whose room was this, I wonder. Whoever it was must come from money.
Claudia Colin
Claudia Robbo
: Is that the bus? : *rushes to window* Theyre getting their stuff out. : QUICK!! Everyone try to looks fast asleep! *snutches the book up* : Why? If Miss Odell thinks were asleep. Shell leave us here and I wont get to share with my mates.
Pixie
: Hes right. It was bad enough being taken off the bus. But this way I wont get to share with Shreela.
Ralph
: Listen. Tonights the only time to read this without everyone else finding out or Miss Odell taking the album away. You know that. But we could pretend to be asleep and read it tonight. By tomorrow, well be back with out friends.
Robbo Ralph
: Why? : Why? Robbo, how often do you get a chance like this? Richard Clayton Harwick. Read and Weep. Robbo, how many chances do you get to peep into someone elses life?
*everyone leaves the scene* Scene change: Children are sleeping. Ms ODell and Mr. Plumley arrive. Plumley ODell : Fancey!! Id no idea they were as tired as that. Shouldnt we wake them ? : Havent we had enough problems? There might be a bit of fuss tomorrow. But after that frightful journey. Im not waking anyone. Anyway, there 5 must have something in common. Thats why I picked them. I just looked at my list and picked out the first 5 names with a tick in one of the columns. Plumley : Which column?
*Ms. ODell ignores him and makes her way to the exit*
Plumley O Dell
: What column? : How should I know? Maybe theyre all vegetarians. Or allergic to wasp stings. Or non-swimmers. I didnt bother to look. But, believe me, even if they dont know it yet, these 5 have something in common.
THE END.