SceneBy.com
presents:
Thieves at Heart
(Bedroom Scene)
Adapted from a novel by Alina Adams
This free duet
acting scene has been adapted from Thieves
at Heart, a novel by
Alina Adams, and is to be used for educational purposes only. All
rights reserved, which includes the right to reproduce this scene or
portions thereof in any form whatsoever except as provided by the U.S.
Copyright Law.
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SCENE TYPE: Drama
CHARACTERS:
Damian –
male, 20 or older
Lark –
female, 16 or older
SETTING: London, 1818, Autumn.
SETUP:
Con artiste Lark Talbot has infiltrated the Raynes household with
designs on England’s largest diamond. She wakes to find dashing
Damian Moxley (the suitor of the Raynes’ daughter) in her bedroom.
********************
INT.
SERVANT’S QUARTERS. LARK’S BEDROOM. NIGHT.
Lark wakes to the sensation of being shaken, but there is no arm on her
shoulder. The WIND SMACKS AN OPEN WINDOW PANE AGAINST THE WALL,
making Lark jump and wonder how she hadn’t noticed the open window
before she fell asleep.
Outside,
LIGHTNING CRACKS, illuminating the clearly masculine figure sitting at
the foot of Lark’s bed, hands in his lap, fingers linked,
waiting. The LIGHT FROM OUTSIDE makes his eyes glow in the
darkness of her room.
DAMIAN
Please, Miss
Talbot. There’s no
need to get
up.
She inhales sharply, pulling the blankets tighter around herself and
rolling over on her knees, ready to lunge like a cornered cat if
necessary.
DAMIAN (CONT'D)
I’d be careful,
Miss Talbot. You’ve
done so much
gasping tonight, I
wonder how
you escaped asphyxiating.
LARK
What do you
want?
As she poses the question, Lark is recalling the details of the Raynes
house, guessing how far her scream might carry.
DAMIAN
To say hello.
His voice remains steady, neutral, as if discussing a subject of no
particular interest.
DAMIAN (CONT’D)
The party
grew rather dull after you
departed.
You do know how to make
an entrance,
Miss Talbot.
LARK
I know a lot
of things, Mr. …
DAMIAN
Moxley.
Damian Moxley.
LARK
I shan’t ask
you again. What do you
want?
DAMIAN
To warn you,
Miss Talbot.
LARK
Warn
me? Whatever about?
DAMIAN
The Raynes
diamond is mine. I have
spent too
much time and much too
much effort
maneuvering my proximity
to the piece
to allow some nothing
wench from
Bath –
Lark could almost see his accent dropping social class by social class.
DAMIAN (CONT'D)
’who is
flaunting a ruse transparent
enough to
fool only the very dense
or the very
rich, to swoop in like a
bloody
vulture and take it from me.
I intend for
this to be your only
warning, Miss
Talbot. Leave my
territory
now, or pay the
consequences.
********************
There's an added appeal in this scene for the actor playing Damian.
Take a look at the stage direction about his last monologue: “Lark
could almost see his accent dropping social class by social
class.” What a wonderful challenge for an actor.
© 2004-05
Dansby & Associates & its licensors. All rights
reserved.