Euretta

<img src="https://www.dropbox.com/s/3e9nfz709a1vuw2/eurettaimage1.jpg?dl=1"> <script> audio.opening.play(); </script> A dense forest along the mountainside under the overcast sky, filled with tall, still trees. Overlooking the forest is a ridge, upon which appears The Stranger (47) on his loaded horse, a face cracked like parched earth underneath his hat. The horse's footsteps and rustling equipment are the only sound for miles, echoing through the empty as The Stranger wastes not a moment acknowledging the vista. He descends down the switchback trail into the forest. The Stranger pushes ahead, light barely peeking into the impenetrable forest -- a gloomy thicket of branches, trunks, and treacherous gnarled roots on the floor. A breeze subtly whispers behind The Stranger. He brings his horse to a halt. [[He turns to look for the noise.-> Page 1 A]] [[He keeps walking.-> First Act]]

He wheels around and stares. The forest stares back, the inhales a deep, foreboding breath. [[He turns back around and keeps walking, slightly faster.-> First Act]]

<img src="https://www.dropbox.com/s/3e9nfz709a1vuw2/eurettaimage1.jpg?dl=1"> Onward, a stream lightly trickles, almost empty among the rocks. The Stranger is knelt next to it, dipping a perforated steel apparatus into the water, not dissimilar to a strainer. Out of habit, he looks around as the container is filled, more resigned than wary. He takes the container out, sets it on the river bank. He puts on a lid with a pump of some sort, pushes it down. Out the perforated sides, a strained viscous black fluid leaks out, streaming with each pump. With the last pump, only water comes out. Satisfied, The Stranger gets up, walks to his horse, and tilts the water into his canteen. The fluid wriggles in the dirt as The Stranger stows his gear and rides away. --- The Stranger rides until he hears a faint noise in the distance, a brief respite of dying sunlight finally streaking through the clouds. The faint sounds of chopping wood, children playing can be heard. The Stranger walks out of the forest into a clearing. He sees a lone cabin on the hill, mine shafts in the distance -- children chase each other around at the edge of the buildings as John (35), energetic and virile, chops wood on a stump. Seeing this draped figure emerge from the forest, John stops chopping, looks up. **John**: Who goes there? At the Stranger's arrival, everyone stops. The children watch. He gets off his horse, speaks in a labored breath. **The Stranger**: Just a wandering traveler, is all. John's eyes wander down to the revolver-laden holsters on The Stranger's hips. **John**: Big guns for a traveler. **The Stranger**: Necessary guns for a traveler, in these parts. John nods approvingly. Sensing a lowering tension, the Stranger approaches, shakes John's hand. **The Stranger**: Didn't think there were prospectors this far west. **John**: The gold's plenty. **The Stranger**: The blight, too. Had to pump my canteen several times to get the creek-water drinkable. John shrugs. **John**: We get by. In a lull in the conversation, Pindar (6), a golden retriever, bounds up to The Stranger and puts his front two paws on his chest. Licks his face repeatedly. The Stranger's stoicism breaks, flinching and laughing a bit as Pindar assaults him with licks and jumping. He starts petting him. **John**: Pindar's a good boy. Pindar pants. **John**: Where you headed? **The Stranger**: West. John looks at The Stranger as at a madman. **John**: Nothing out there. **The Stranger**: There's the ocean. John shakes his head, looks at the clouds in the distance. The wind picks up. **John**: Gonna need a place to stay the night. Storm's coming. **The Stranger**: Suppose I'll stay with you. **John**: Suppose so. Come on inside. [[The Stranger gets up, walks his horse along with John and his children towards the inn, Pindar bounding behind.-> First Act Rain Start]]

**The Stranger**: What brought a family like you to a place like this? **John**: A fresh start, a plot of land to call ours and ours alone. **The Stranger**: Same for a lot of folk. **John**: Indeed. It was exciting, at first, wasn't it? John looks down, an unsaid *until* on his face. Then out the window. Into the impenetrable dark border of trees. Staring, deeply saddened and troubled as if he sees something more within that abyss. --- <img src= "https://www.dropbox.com/s/fftt3cuy73hfoz1/eurettaimage2.png?dl=1" width= "500" height = "300"> The trees' branches and leaves whip around and billow in the wind, alive with malevolent energy. **John**: This land is haunted. Dark shapes and shadows leap through the darkness at the forest's edge, nearly invisible in the gloom. **John**: It is empty but it is not dead. A pair of eyes appear in the dark. --- John shakes himself as if out of a trance. **John**: We'd leave, but -- I'm not sure we'd survive the journey back. Can't take that chance with my children. [[He looks up.-> First Act Climax Lead-Up]]

John stares into The Stranger's eyes. **John**: Why would you come to a place like this? The Stranger strikes a match off the table, lights his cigarette. **The Stranger**: The ocean. **John**: You said as much. There's nothing there but death. **The Stranger**: Correct. The Stranger reaches inside his shirt, pulls out a leather pouch strung around his neck as an Albatross. He wordlessly drops it on the table. John cautiously pulls it to his side of the table, opens it. Sniffs it. **John**: Ash. **The Stranger**: Euretta. She always loved the Frontier. Wanted to see the other coast. Never did. John closes the pouch, delicately hands it back to The Stranger. **John**: You'll die. **The Stranger**: Not before I settle this ledger, I won't. Martha finally speaks up. **Martha**: If she were still here, she wouldn't want you throwing your life away. **The Stranger**: Maybe. Maybe not. I'll ask her myself. [[The implication sets in on John and Martha's faces.->First Act Climax]]

The Stranger draws his revolver. John looks at him, a pleading look in his eyes, his repeater lying loosely at his leg, forgotten. **John**: No, please. Pindar's head rips open, sprouting two other heads, snapping and filled with malice. Growling. The Stranger aims, expressionless. **John**: Don't! A bark, a pounce from Pindar -- The gunshot echoes through the night. Pindar crumples to the ground, keening. The Stranger shoots again. No sound but the rainfall. John silently sobs. **The Stranger**: Did what I had to. If you can't do the same, you ought to not be here. **John**: Get out. The Stranger turns to John, unsurprised but waiting for more certainty. **John**: Get out! The Stranger nods, starts untacking his horse. Slowly trudging away in the night. **The Stranger**: You'll burn that corpse, if you know what's good for you. [[John is left staring at Pindar's body.-> Second Act - 1]]

The Stranger raises his hands, placating. Pindar's head rips open, sprouting two other heads, snapping and filled with malice, growling, slowly advancing. **John**: Pindar, boy, it's John, remember? And this is our friend. Growling. **The Stranger**: John... John slowly raises his rifle with shaking hands, breathing heavily. **John**: Please don't make me do this, Pindar. Pindar starts loping faster. **The Stranger**: John! He pounces, leaping onto The Stranger's chest, knocking him down, rabidly snapping his jaw over and over, seeking flesh in a blind rage, held at bay only by The Stranger's weakening arms. The Stranger feels Pindar's teeth sink into his arm, a horrible soft noise. He screams, his other arm flailing -- until it finds the lantern lying by its side. He grabs the lantern and smashes it against one of Pindar's faces, the glass shattering, the flame catching and licking hungrily at Pindar's body. Pindar keens, leaps off, vainly rolls on the ground whimpering. The flames spread. Unable to take the noises anymore, John finally pulls the trigger. The gunshot echoes through the night, silent but for the smoldering flame and rain. The rain puts out the fire. Unsteadily, The Stranger pushes himself up, his right arm mangled beyond recognition, blood and black ooze dripping from his arm. He can't tell where he ends and Pindar's infection begins. **John**: Want to get that looked at? **The Stranger**: Wouldn't make a difference. He looks down at Pindar's body. **The Stranger**: I'm sorry. I did what I had to. **John**: I know. Silence. **John**: I'm going to have to ask you to leave. The Stranger nods. **The Stranger**: I understand. **John**: Can't risk it spreading. Not to my children. **The Stranger**: I said I understand. The Stranger starts untacking his horse. Slowly trudging away in the night. [[John is left staring at Pindar's body. -> Second Act B - 1]]

The Stranger sits in his saddle, lantern clanking on the side of the horse as it walks through the dark forest, rain and rustling leaves. He scans the trees, peering vainly into the receding light. Looks down, pulls out the pouch around his neck. Pulls out Euretta. His horse abruptly stops, whinnies. The Stranger looks up. Into the maw of a dilapidated, abandoned mineshaft, overgrown weeds and tendrils of vines clutching the sides. The wind whips around him, beckoning him inside. He understands. Dismounts from his horse, picks up what he needs. Rucksack. Lantern. Puts his hand on his horse's neck, stares into his deep eyes. **The Stranger**: This is as far as you go. The horse neighs. **The Stranger**: I'll be alright. Go now. He pulls away, steps between The Stranger and the mine, snorts. The Stranger tries to step past him. He rears up, kicking his front legs and neighing, knocking down The Stranger. Lying on the ground, he raises his arms in surrender. The horse comes back down on all fours, looming above The Stranger. He then kneels down, lowers his head and brushes it against The Stranger's chest, staring at him. *Please*, its eyes say. The Stranger, softening, starts to reach up -- A snarling shadow pounces on the horse above The Stranger, the two wheeling around, a flurry of movement and gashing noises. The Stranger gets up. **The Stranger**: Run! With pained noises, the horse makes a staggered-galloping escape, crashing through the woods as the four-legged shadow lopes in pursuit. The Stranger is left alone in the rain. The wind becomes increasingly violent. [[The Stranger gathers his things, steps across the threshold of earth and death.-> Second Act - 2]]

The Stranger sits in his saddle, lantern clanking on the side of the horse as it walks through the dark forest, rain and rustling leaves. He scans the trees, peering vainly into the receding light. Looks down, pulls out the pouch around his neck. Pulls out Euretta. His horse abruptly stops, whinnies. The Stranger looks up. Into the maw of a dilapidated, abandoned mineshaft, overgrown weeds and tendrils of vines clutching the sides. The wind whips around him, beckoning him inside. He understands. Dismounts from his horse, picks up what he needs. Rucksack. Lantern. Puts his hand on his horse's neck, stares into his deep eyes. **The Stranger**: This is as far as you go. The horse neighs. **The Stranger**: I'll be alright. Go now. He pulls away, steps between The Stranger and the mine, snorts. The Stranger tries to step past him. He rears up, kicking his front legs and neighing, knocking down The Stranger. Lying on the ground, he raises his wounded arms in surrender. The horse comes back down on all fours, looming above The Stranger. He then kneels down, lowers his head and brushes it against The Stranger's chest, staring at him. *Please*, its eyes say. The Stranger, softening, starts to reach up -- A snarling shadow pounces on the horse above The Stranger, the two wheeling around, a flurry of movement and gashing noises. The Stranger gets up. **The Stranger**: Run! With pained noises, the horse makes a staggered-galloping escape, crashing through the woods as the four-legged shadow lopes in pursuit. The Stranger is left alone in the rain. The wind becomes increasingly violent. [[The Stranger gathers his things, steps across the threshold of earth and death.-> Second Act - B2]]

In a dark, craggy tunnel, the musky lantern light comes around the corner, illuminating the dusty carts and signs. Oppressively silent but for The Stranger's steps, shadows dance along the walls. He sees a table with rusted tools, gathering cobwebs and thick layers of dust. Long abandoned. He keeps moving. He hears the faint, unearthly sounds of pickaxes striking rock, metal scraping metal. Louder. Louder. Coming out into an open space, he sees across a chasm, down into open veins of iron and metal. Far below, lit by a distant torch, hunched men pick away at the rock, throwing their fatigued frame into every swing. Some put their iron into a nearby wheelbarrow. Others push their carts to the edge of the chasm, tipping their spoils into the abyss. The rest slowly march back to do it all again. A grotesque shape watches their progress, a metallic rasp with each breath. Without warning, it turns to look at The Stranger, its horrific form -- a mis-happen mass of flesh, rusted iron jutting out at unnatural angles, writhing black tendrils, a deformed human face -- in plain view. Its hunched form rises, falls. Rasping. Unnerved, The Stranger starts walking forward. Its eyes -- or where eyes should be -- follow. Turning. Rasping. He walks on a bridge across the chasm, increasingly disturbed but unable to look away. Finally, on the other side, it is no longer visible. The metalic rasp still making The Stranger's hair stand on the back of his neck as he walks into another tunnel. He gets a few steps in when he hears the metal scraping metal again, the opening of the tunnel behind him. Scrape. Scrape. A single pickaxe strikes the top of the ledge. Rises, strikes further forward, stretching, exposed tendon and sinew and black tendrils holding it. Scrape. The stretch of flesh expands and contracts again as another pickaxe reaches over the ledge. With one last screech, it hoists itself up. In closer view, The Stranger can see its jaw drooping, a single hand reaching out for him from its chest. Its fingers slowly close, open. Blindly, hungrily. RASPING. [[The Stranger draws his revolver.-> Second Act - 2A]] [[The Stranger turns back, starts walking away, refusing to look back.-> Second Act - 3]]

In a dark, craggy tunnel, the musky lantern light comes around the corner, illuminating the dusty carts and signs. Oppressively silent but for The Stranger's steps, shadows dance along the walls. He sees a table with rusted tools, gathering cobwebs and thick layers of dust. Long abandoned. He keeps moving. He hears the faint, unearthly sounds of pickaxes striking rock, metal scraping metal. Louder. Louder. Coming out into an open space, he sees across a chasm, down into open veins of iron and metal. Far below, lit by a distant torch, hunched men pick away at the rock, throwing their fatigued frame into every swing. Some put their iron into a nearby wheelbarrow. Others push their carts to the edge of the chasm, tipping their spoils into the abyss. The rest slowly march back to do it all again. A grotesque shape watches their progress, a metallic rasp with each breath. Without warning, it turns to look at The Stranger, its horrific form -- a mis-happen mass of flesh, rusted iron jutting out at unnatural angles, writhing black tendrils, a deformed human face -- in plain view. Its hunched form rises, falls. Rasping. Unnerved, The Stranger starts walking forward. Its eyes -- or where eyes should be -- follow. Turning. Rasping. He walks on a bridge across the chasm, increasingly disturbed but unable to look away. Finally, on the other side, it is no longer visible. The metalic rasp still making The Stranger's hair stand on the back of his neck as he walks into another tunnel. He gets a few steps in when he hears the metal scraping metal again, the opening of the tunnel behind him. Scrape. Scrape. A single pickaxe strikes the top of the ledge. Rises, strikes further forward, stretching, exposed tendon and sinew and black tendrils holding it. Scrape. The stretch of flesh expands and contracts again as another pickaxe reaches over the ledge. With one last screech, it hoists itself up. In closer view, The Stranger can see its jaw drooping, a single hand reaching out for him from its chest. Its fingers slowly close, open. Blindly, hungrily. RASPING. [[The Stranger draws his revolver.-> Second Act - 2AB]] [[The Stranger turns back, starts walking away, refusing to look back.-> Second Act - B3]]

The Stranger desperately pulls out his revolver, fans the hammer as he buries six lead bullets into the monster. Most bounce off the mangled, rusted metal of the creature's bones -- two find their mark in its flesh. [[It follows, unaffected, rasping, scraping.-> Second Act - 3]]

It follows. Rasping. Scraping. He walks. Walks. The scraping and rasping and clanking come closer and closer, overwhelming his senses. He clutches Euretta, starts jogging, sees open air in the distance. A guttural metallic screech as the scraping gets more desperate. --- The Stranger bursts out, gasping for breath, hears rushing water. Looks around, only to see a precipice. No trail, no path. A sheer rockface next to a waterfall. Turbulent, violent waters underneath. Rasping. The Stranger turns. It stares at him. Slowly advances. The Stranger looks around, for something, anything... He can see the dirt underneath the hand's fingernails, cracked, dead skin, so much like his own, reaching toward his face... The rasping breath heavier, inhaling as if gasping for air, drowning... The Stranger, otherwise paralyzed, takes an involuntary step back, stumbles, falls backward off the cliff's edge. Plummets, his senses fading. Crashes into the water. [[The whitewater carries his body away. -> Third Act 1]]

It follows. Rasping. Scraping. He walks. Walks. The scraping and rasping and clanking come closer and closer, overwhelming his senses. He clutches Euretta, starts jogging, sees open air in the distance. A guttural metallic screech as the scraping gets more desperate, The Stranger's veins throbbing. --- The Stranger bursts out, gasping for breath, hears rushing water. Looks around, only to see a precipice. No trail, no path. A sheer rockface next to a waterfall. Turbulent, violent waters underneath. Rasping. The Stranger turns. It stares at him. Slowly advances. The Stranger looks around, for something, anything... He can see the dirt underneath the hand's fingernails, cracked, dead skin, so much like his own, reaching toward his face... feels drawn to it, feels his arms involuntarily reaching out as well, his veins pulsing black, gripping his arm against his will... The rasping breath heavier, inhaling as if gasping for air, drowning... The Stranger, caught in a trance, takes an involuntary step back, stumbles, falls backward off the cliff's edge. Plummets, his senses fading. Crashes into the water. [[The whitewater carries his body away. -> Third Act B1]]

<img src="https://i.pinimg.com/originals/41/52/00/415200d315c7cf9fcd0aa6112fb7ebab.jpg" width="500" height="300"> Silence. He tips his hand, letting the breeze and the ocean take the ash. **The Stranger**: Forgive me. Come back. He stays still, watches the ash fall. Stands vigil for a minute. In front of him, the water starts to swirl, mixing in with the ash, becoming a sentient clay and rising. The clay takes a human shape, crawling along the sand, struggling to maintain its form, its arms collapsing and reforming, falling over and getting back up. Out of the clay falls a woman. Euretta (43), weathered and sharp, wearing the same white dress from the night she died, gasping. The Stranger, voice quavering, kneels down, lightly puts his hand on Euretta's shoulder. **The Stranger**: Euretta...? She immediately flinches backward, falls over, looks up. Sees the last face she ever saw. Euretta screams, pushes The Stranger off, and starts running away. **The Stranger**: Euretta!? He lopes after her with a limp. She climbs up a cascade of rocks by the shore. He tries to follow, stumbles, falls down, twists his leg even more. He cries out in pain. From the top of the slope on solid land, she turns around. **Euretta**: Stay away from me, Oren! She runs out of sight as The Stranger scrambles up the rocks with his arms as support. The footsteps go further and further away as he climbs up. Once at the top on solid ground, he gasps, lies down. He catches his breath, get back up. The Stranger starts painfully limping after Euretta. She runs in the distance, coming closer and closer to the forest. --- Euretta can see the trees a few feet away. Gasping for breath, she's nearly there -- The tree trunk next to her head explodes as a gunshot cracks the air. **The Stranger**: Stop! She turns, sees Oren grimacing with every step, holding out his revolver with white knuckles, hanging on despite the pain. **Euretta**: Let me go, Oren. **The Stranger**: No. **Euretta**: I'm not asking. She steps forward. He SHOOTS the dirt by her feet. She stumbles back. Oren cocks his gun again, a wild, sad look in his eyes. **The Stranger**: Why do you have to make this so damn hard!? Euretta screams back. **Euretta**: Because you killed me! You! **The Stranger**: I did what I had to. **Euretta**: You did what was convenient. **The Stranger**: You think I wanted to? I didn't. If I could have done anything else, if I could have saved you, I would. He suddenly falls over from the effort of keeping himself up. He quickly re-trains his gun on Euretta from the ground. **The Stranger**: Please... please forgive me. **Euretta**: Unbelievable. Do I look in the forgivin' mood? **The Stranger**: Do you have any idea what I went through to get here? **Euretta**: Nothing that could have been avoided by just leaving me be. **The Stranger**: I did it for you. **Euretta**: No. You did it for *you.* Euretta starts to step away. Oren begins to sob. **The Stranger**: Please, please, don't go. I had to do it, you hear? You had the blight. If I hadn't done that, you would've ended up just like that poor dog, or worse... He shudders. **The Stranger**: But we have a fresh start now. Just like before. Please. He lowers his gun. Gets on his knees, shaking. Holds out his other hand. Euretta looks down. **Euretta**: I still have the blight. Oren looks up, despairing. **Euretta**: Look. She pulls up the sleeve of her dress. Small black tendrils pulsate along her arm, slowly taking hold. **Euretta**: There are no fresh starts. Just the demons we bring with us. Euretta pulls down her sleeve. Leans over, puts a hand on Oren's head. **Euretta**: Let me go. Oren starts to sob harder. [[The Stranger: But I love you, Euretta. ->Ending 1]] [[The Stranger: I can't. ->Ending 2]]

<img src="https://i.pinimg.com/originals/41/52/00/415200d315c7cf9fcd0aa6112fb7ebab.jpg" width="500" height="300"> Silence. He tips his hand, letting the breeze and the ocean take the ash. **The Stranger**: Forgive me. Come back. He stays still, watches the ash fall. Stands vigil for a minute. In front of him, the water starts to swirl, mixing in with the ash, becoming a sentient clay and rising. The clay takes a human shape, crawling along the sand, struggling to maintain its form, its arms collapsing and reforming, falling over and getting back up. Out of the clay falls a woman. Euretta (43), weathered and sharp, wearing the same white dress from the night she died, gasping. The Stranger, voice quavering, kneels down, lightly puts his hand on Euretta's shoulder. **The Stranger**: Euretta...? She immediately flinches backward, falls over, looks up. Sees the last face she ever saw. Euretta screams, pushes The Stranger off, and starts running away. **The Stranger**: Euretta!? He lopes after her with a limp. She climbs up a cascade of rocks by the shore. He tries to follow, stumbles, falls down, twists his leg even more. He cries out in pain. From the top of the slope on solid land, she turns around. **Euretta**: Stay away from me, Oren! She runs out of sight as The Stranger scrambles up the rocks with his arms as support. The footsteps go further and further away as he climbs up. Once at the top on solid ground, he gasps, lies down. He catches his breath, get back up. The Stranger starts painfully limping after Euretta. She runs in the distance, coming closer and closer to the forest. --- Euretta can see the trees a few feet away. Gasping for breath, she's nearly there -- The tree trunk next to her head explodes as a gunshot cracks the air. **The Stranger**: Stop! She turns, sees Oren grimacing with every step, holding out his revolver with white knuckles, hanging on despite the pain. **Euretta**: Let me go, Oren. **The Stranger**: No. **Euretta**: I'm not asking. She steps forward. He SHOOTS the dirt by her feet. She stumbles back. Oren cocks his gun again, a wild, sad look in his eyes. **The Stranger**: Why do you have to make this so damn hard!? Euretta screams back. **Euretta**: Because you killed me! You! **The Stranger**: I did what I had to. **Euretta**: You did what was convenient. **The Stranger**: You think I wanted to? I didn't. If I could have done anything else, if I could have saved you, I would. He suddenly falls over from the effort of keeping himself up. He quickly re-trains his gun on Euretta from the ground. **The Stranger**: Please... please forgive me. **Euretta**: Unbelievable. Do I look in the forgivin' mood? **The Stranger**: Do you have any idea what I went through to get here? **Euretta**: Nothing that could have been avoided by just leaving me be. **The Stranger**: I did it for you. **Euretta**: No. You did it for *you.* Euretta starts to step away. Oren begins to sob. **The Stranger**: Please, please, don't go. I had to do it, you hear? You had the blight. If I hadn't done that, you would've ended up just like that poor dog, or worse... He shudders. **The Stranger**: But we have a fresh start now. Just like before. Please. He lowers his gun. Gets on his knees, shaking. Holds out his other hand. Euretta looks down. **Euretta**: I still have the blight. Oren looks up, despairing. **Euretta**: Look. She pulls up the sleeve of her dress. Small black tendrils pulsate along her arm, slowly taking hold. **Euretta**: There are no fresh starts. Just the demons we bring with us. Euretta pulls down her sleeve. Leans over, puts a hand on Oren's head. **Euretta**: Let me go. Oren starts to sob harder. [[The Stranger: I caught the blight. ->Ending 3]] [[The Stranger: You're right. Leave me. ->Ending 4]]

She stands up, looks around. Sees the waves crashing on the shore, the endless water. A ghost of a smile appears on her face as she looks at Oren one last time. **Euretta**: The ocean *is* beautiful. She walks into the forest. Disappears. The trees tower over The Stranger as he continues to cry in the dirt. Soft hoofsteps approach. The Stranger looks up, sees his horse come out of the trees, faded wounds on his flank. He stops in front of The Stranger. Stares down at him. Silence. The Stranger nods, gets up. He holds his horse, takes a deep breath. He pulls himself up into the saddle, takes the reins. *Let's leave.* --- The Stranger journeys back along the river... --- ...through the clearing by John's cabin... --- ...through the thicket of branches in the gloomy forest... --- ...and climbs to the top of the ridge where he began his journey. He pulls out the pouch from his neck one last time. Stares at it. And drops it on the ground. As he and his horse walk down the other side of the ridge, a pale hand picks up the pouch. Euretta holds the pouch as she watches The Stranger's back, walking away. She fades into the wind, leaving only the overcast sky. [[THE END.->End Credits]]

**The Stranger**: I caught the blight. I'm dying, Euretta. He pulls down his collar, reveals the black running along his arteries, pale, ashen skin. Faint sympathy flickers across Euretta's face, hardens. **Euretta**: Serves you right. **The Stranger**: I know, I know. He laughs bitterly. **The Stranger**: You know why I caught it? He looks down. **The Stranger**: There was this dog, sweet family pet. Got infected. And I couldn't do it. I couldn't shoot it. By all accounts, I should have, but I couldn't kill such an innocent thing. Not again. And I saw it in the rain, and I couldn't stop thinking of you, or the fact that I had been petting it just hours before, that I had been stroking your hair just minutes before -- Oren chokes up. Coughs, breathes heavily. **The Stranger**: It died. Burning. Euretta hesitantly puts her hand on Oren's shoulder. **The Stranger**: I won't be that lucky. **The Stranger**: What's waiting for me, Euretta? Being one of those monstrosities? Euretta sighs. **Euretta**: Don't know, Oren. You shot me before I got there. **The Stranger**: I am so sorry, Euretta. **Euretta**: As you damn well should be. Silence. [[**The Stranger**: You're right. You owe me nothing, but... will you wait with me? -> Ending 5]] [[The Stranger: You're right. Leave me. ->Ending 4]]

**The Stranger**: You're right. Leave me. Euretta nods. **Euretta**: Goodbye, Oren. She turns around without looking back. She walks into the forest. Disappears. The trees tower over The Stranger as he lies in the dirt. [[THE END.->End Credits]]

**The Stranger**: You're right. You owe me nothing, but... will you wait with me? Euretta momentarily recoils her hand. Looks surprised, indignant, angry. Oren sits silently, head hung as if awaiting an execution. Euretta's hand goes back on his shoulder. He looks up, sees an understanding, if unapologetic face. **Euretta**: Sure. Oren nods. The trees tower over The Stranger and Euretta as they sit by the forest together. Waiting. [[THE END.->End Credits]]

Euretta bows her head. Euretta: I'm still leaving. The Stranger: I know. Euretta turns away, walks into the forest. Disappears. The trees tower over The Stranger as he curls up in the dirt. [[THE END.->End Credits]]

<img src="https://www.dropbox.com/s/3e9nfz709a1vuw2/eurettaimage1.jpg?dl=1"> Euretta. Written by Ari Runanin-Telle. Music by Max Lescohier. [[Start.->Page 1]]

RAIN pelts the windows, a threatening rumble of thunder outside, cold and dark outside the warmth of the inn. The Stranger sits alone on his side of the table with his meal, John and his wife Martha (30) on the other side, lit by musty lantern light and flame. The children play with blocks by the crackling fire. The Stranger slowly eats, deliberately chewing his cornbread, sipping his stew in front of him, silent but for the clatter of utensils. [[**The Stranger**: What brought a family like you to a place like this?-> First Act A]] [[The Stranger chews silently. -> First Act Climax Lead-Up]]

Euretta. Written and coded by Ari Runanin-Telle. Music by Max Lescohier.

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Euretta.

Written by Ari Runanin-Telle.

Music by Max Lescohier.

Start.