The door slams

DIANA: Aah! (walks pass the chair to the book shelves, starts to examine an old book)

DR. MORTIMER: (from the chair, not turning to the audience) Didn’t they teach you, that it is rude to take things without asking first, little one?

(Book falls out of Diana’s hands)

DIANA: (scared) Ah! Sorry, I… I didn’t mean to… I… I am sorry…

DR. MORTIMER: There is nothing to be afraid of, little one. I am here to help you with all your problems.

DIANA: How do you know that I have problems?

DR. MORTIMER (turning to the audience): Otherwise you wouldn’t have come to me, Dr. Mortimer Imminent, the voodoo witch doctor. (Stands up and approaches Diana) So, little one, what is your problem? (Starts to go around her in circles, while she stands on one place) No, don’t tell me. I will see it myself. Issues with family? No, I don’t see anything like that. Illness? I can’t see that either. So I guess it’s love?

DIANA: Yes! Will you help me?

DR. MORTIMER (stops walking): Of course, little one. That is what I do. I help poor unfortunate souls like you, I make their dreams come true. So, tell me about him. (approaches shelves and starts taking things).

DIANA: Well, he is kind and cute and nice and, and… He is perfect. And he has a job, and... And he is so good I don’t even know the words to describe how good he is!

DR. MORTIMER (still working): His name is Henry, isn’t it?

DIANA: Yes! How did you know?

DR. MORTIMER: Little one, it is my job to know everything about you. Now, tell me your story.

DIANA: Well, I saw him in the port about two weeks ago and the moment our eyes met I knew it was love! From that day I have been coming to the port just to see him working, enjoying his every move, his every breath, his every word. I didn’t talk to him, though. He takes my breath away every time he accidentally looks at me. Can you help me?

DR. MORTIMER: I can, but first I would like you to be a bit more specific about your wishes, little one.

DIANA: I want to be with him, forever and ever, so that even death won’t be able to set us apart.

DR. MORTIMER (stops working, turns to Diana): That I can easily do. Just give me some time. I will send for you when it’s time.

DIANA: But, how will I know that?

DR. MORTIMER: Oh, you will, little one. Now go, I need to get to work. You want your dream come true, don’t you?

(Diana nods and exits the shop)

DR. MORTIMER (sarcastically and coldly): Oh, another foolish child fell for this Henry boy. Of course, I knew it was him, he is a true playboy in New Orleans, and every girl wants him. But this one, she is different. She is pure and innocent; she is a little child in a woman’s body. Yet, she has sins of her own. This one sin, occupying her mind and body, this passionate desire to be with this damned soul. “Not even death will do us apart.” Well, I shall proceed with collecting the ingredients necessary for the ritual.

(He continues to work)

DR. MORTIMER: I’ve never understood them. Willing to spend eternity with one single person? Pathetic. After all the years I have been walking this land, after seeing so many souls, spreading the plague of sins, I have stopped having interactions with people. Well, any intentional interactions. I still have a contract to fulfill, a deal I have made a long time ago. Since then I’ve lost my friends, my family and even myself, but I have gained something more…useful. Something you can’t buy from any merchant in the world, something that can’t be studied by any great scientist. They call it a myth, a foolish belief, a fairytale for abandoned slaves. But it is more real than you can imagine. They are real. And they are my friends on the other side…

Дата добавления: 2015-10-31