Rebecca
(I was poor and naïve “paid companion”. In a hotel, I met Maxim de Winter, the owner of Manderley Estate, whose wife, Rebecca, died in a sea accident a year ago. They fell in love, and, very quickly, got married. With Maxim, I was now in the beautiful Manderley, whose name had been lingering upon people’s lips, was transformed into her new home. but the days at Manderley were full of dismay. I found the vestige of the dead Rebecca everywhere. Mrs. Danvers was still armored in her hospitality. To bring happiness and life back to Manderley, I planed to have a costume ball. I was sitting in the room, when Mrs. Danvers knocked at the door.)
I: Come in.
D: Robert found these sketches in the library, madam. Did you intend throwing them away?
I: Yes, Mrs. Danvers, I did. They were just some ideas I was sketching for my costume for the ball.
D: Hasn't Mr. de Winter suggested anything?
I: No, I want to surprise him. I don't want him to know anything about it.
D:I merely thought that you might find a costume among the family portraits that would suit you.
I: Oh, you mean those at the top of the stairs? I'll go and look at them.
D: This one, for instance. It might have been designed for you. I'm sure you could have it copied. I've heard Mr. de Winter say that this is his favorite of all the paintings. It's Lady Caroline de Winter, one of his ancestors.
I: Oh, well, well, that's a splendid idea, Mrs. Danvers. I'm…I'm very grateful
(At the ball, Mr. de Winter was talking with the guests. I approached Maxim from behind, intending to give him a big surprise.)
I: Good evening, Mr. de Winter.
M: What the devil do you think you're doing?
Guest: Rebecca! Oh.
I: But i-it's the picture, the one in the gallery. What is it? What have I done?
M: Go and take it off. It doesn't matter what you put on. Anything will do. What are you standing there for? Didn't you hear what I said?
Servant: Sir George and Lady Moore. Dudley Tennant. Admiral and Lady Burbank.
D: I watched you go down just as I watched her a year ago. Even in the same dress, you couldn't compare.
I: You knew it! You knew that she wore it, and yet you deliberately suggested I wear it! Why do you hate me? What have I done to you that you should ever hate me so?
D: You tried to take her place. You let him marry you. I've seen his face, his eyes. They're the same as those first weeks after she died. I used to listen to him walking up and down, up and down, all night long, night after night, thinking of her, suffering torture because he'd lost her.
I: I don't want to know. I don't want to know.
D: You thought you could be Mrs. de Winter, live in her house, walk in her steps, take the things that were hers. But she's too strong for you. You can't fight her. No one ever got the better of her, never, never. She was beaten in the end, but it wasn't a man, it wasn't a woman. It was the sea!
I: Oh, stop it, stop it. Oh, stop it.
D: You're overwrought, madam. I've opened a window for you. A little air will do you good. Why don't you go? Why don't you leave Manderley? He doesn't need you. He's got his memories. He doesn't love you. He wants to be alone again with her. You've nothing to stay for. You've nothing to live for, really, have you? Look down there.
It's easy, isn't it? Why don't you? Why don't you? Go on, go on. Don't be afraid.
Man: Shipwreck! Ship on the rocks! It's a ship aground, sending up rockets. Shipwreck! Come on, everybody, down to the bay! Notify the Coast Guard! Ship ashore! Come on, come on! Everybody!
I: Oh, Maxim! Maxim! Maxim! Maxim!
PAGE
1