Today marks not only the start of the New Year but the beginning of something else for Andy Vail, the beginning of something dangerous. For those of you who've been faithfully following, this is the start of what you've been waiting for, for those of you just tuning in, have fun.
I hope you all had a wonderful past ten years and I hope your journey to 2020 is just as amazing and hopefully doesn't involve the end of the world. Especially an end of the world with John Cusack.
Without further ado, it's time for things to change on "The Vail".
The Vail
by Joey Pettine
Episode Seven: Ten Years Gone
(A dining room, table center stage. Sitting at the table is ANDY VAIL, calm and lost within a book. NANCY VAIL enters carrying a bottle of wine and three glasses. She places the glasses and tries to open the wine.)
NANCY
What are you reading, Andrew?
ANDY
Prayers For Rain by Dennis Lehane, best mystery writer of the twentieth century. It's not as good as his last book.
(Andrew looks up from his book, marking a page with a bookmark. Nancy pulls on the cork to no avail.)
NANCY
So does that mean you need to start casing for the best mystery writer of the twenty first century?
ANDY
Casing? I'm quite sure that's not the correct word. Let's try to ring in the new millennium with good grammar. If Stanley Kubrick and Ray Bradbury are right we'll be living in space stations and taking trips to Mars in a few months. Do we really need to bring incorrect gerunds to the universe.
NANCY
Don't you mean well grammar?
ANDY
Now you're just messing with me. Do you need help with that?
NANCY
Yes, please, Mr. Spade, I'm just an old fashioned gal in a new fangled world.
(Andy opens the bottle and pours the wine.)
ANDY
So you aren't a stranger to the genre.
NANCY
Just the names. Agatha Christie, James Patterson, Conan Doyle..
ANDY
...Dashiel Hammett, Raymond Chandler, Stuart Kaminsky, Ellery Queen.
NANCY
I have no idea who those men are. You're really a fan.
ANDY
One of them is two men, actually, and at one point I wanted to be a detective.
NANCY
Really, when?
ANDY
When I was eight. Mike would be in the basement playing Frankenstein and I would be trying to figure out who stole the body parts for him.
NANCY
How did I miss that?
ANDY
Because you were a Guilford, heir to the big house on the hill o' money. Just because you played with the poor kids didn't mean you knew us.
NANCY
Well I'm not a Guilford anymore. And the amateur detective grew to be an accountant. How do you go from solving crimes to counting numbers?
ANDY
Numbers calm me, there are unbreakable rules to numbers, and I like to think of what I do as a form of detection. Instead of finding criminals, I find where everyone's money is going. You, on the other hand, are the truest mystery. Throwing away a life of material wealth for my workaholic brother.
NANCY
Money isn't everything, Andrew.
ANDY
You're just much too fun to be with Mike.
NANCY
Who should I have married?
ANDY
So are we gonna eat any time soon?
NANCY
I told Michael dinner in ten and that was ten minutes ago.
ANDY
So we've still got five minutes to kill.
NANCY
You know your brother too well. Must be the detective within you.
ANDY
You're too sweet, Nan Guilford, always have been. That's why I had a crush on you for so long.
NANCY
Did you, Andrew? I never knew.
(She smiles and sweetly brushes Andy's cheek with her fingers. MIKE VAIL enters.)
MIKE
I thought you said the food was done.
NANCY
We weren't sure when you'd be done working. I'll set the table now.
ANDY
Can I help?
MIKE
She's got it. Pour me a drink, Dandy.
(Nancy exits. Mike takes his seat. Andy pours Mike's wine, tops off his own as well.)
ANDY
Happy New Year, Mikey.
MIKE
I hate that.
ANDY
Right, cause I love being called Dandy.
MIKE
Only because you are one.
(Nancy enters with plates and silverware.)
NANCY
It looks like it'll be a couple more minutes.
MIKE
Nancy, you told me dinner was ready. I could be working still.
NANCY
It won't kill you to visit with your brother. He's starting his own accounting firm, you know.
MIKE
I didn't know and I don't believe it. Dandy doesn't do something like that.
ANDY
It's not a firm, it's just a private business. More a way to keep me from working at a firm.
MIKE
So instead of being a part of something big you're going to hide behind some numbers in that little apartment of yours.
NANCY
Michael, be nice.
MIKE
It's the facts. He did the same thing when we were kids. If you'd been a stronger, Dandy, you wouldn't have taken so many beatings.
ANDY
Considering most of them were from you. Just because I didn't fight every asshole who wanted to doesn't mean I was weak. A fight means nothing if there's nothing to fight for. When something matters, that's when you fight.
MIKE
Like getting you're bike stolen, Dandy. Did I ever tell you this one, Nancy? When we were in seventh grade Dandy's bike was taken from our backyard, his own damn fault for not putting it away.
ANDY
Thanks, Dad.
MIKE
He figured out who it was in about an hour.
NANCY
Those keen detection skills, huh, Andrew?
MIKE
Except a great detective would have gotten his bike back. Dandy followed the kid for a week, watching him ride his bike, telling everybody his elaborate plans. One whole week. Then he just stopped talking about it. He never did anything and that kid rode Dandy's bike all over town for the remainder of junior high school. Dad never bought him another bike either. No balls, Dandy. That's why I got Nancy.
ANDY
Well we can't all change the world, Mikey.
MIKE
Don't mock me, Andrew! You have no idea the kind of work I do.
ANDY
That's because you don't tell anyone.
MIKE
Did Einstein go spouting off the theory of relativity?
ANDY
Maybe to his relatives.
MIKE
Enough! Always with the jokes, nothing serious. I take pride in my work, Andrew. The things I do are paving the way for the next millennium. You're a number cruncher hoping to be a real boy. Grow up, Andrew, have some self respect, and find your own wife. Then I'll stop calling you a dandy.
ANDY
You are such an asshole, Mikey.
MIKE
I don't need this disrespect, there are important things to do. You two were fine without me anyway.
NANCY
Michael, please.
(Mike exits. Nancy chases after him. Andy downs a glass of wine, starts on another. Offstage we hear a slap. Andy moves from his seat and heads across the room, anger on his face. Nancy reenters.)
ANDY
What did he just do?
NANCY
Nothing. Let's just eat, Andrew.
(Andy is fuming, his fist twitching, then, in an inspired moment, he grabs Nancy and kisses her.)
NANCY
Andrew!
ANDY
I love you, Nan.
(Mike enters, angry. He violently pushes Nancy out of the way.)
MIKE
Get out you fucking skank!
ANDY
Leave her alone!
(Nancy watches as Andy shoves Mike and they disappear offstage. Harsh, hurtful sounds follow. Nancy, wide eyed, sits at the table, drinking her wine. The lights go down, the sounds fade, leaving Nancy lit from above. Her eyes look weary, her hair down in a way that makes her look both stronger and weaker. After finishing the wine she pours another glass and drinks. The lights come up, Andy enters, looking older and wearier.)
ANDY
Not much longer on the pork. I like what you did with the kitchen, by the way. Everything's so different around here.
NANCY
A lot changes in ten years.
ANDY
Happy New Year?
NANCY
Happy New Year, Andrew.
(They down their glasses, pour another. They drink a solemn silence.)
ANDY
Why are you still living here?
NANCY
Because this is where I lived with my husband for over a decade.
ANDY
A decade that I couldn't see you and that ended with his death. This house can't hold many good memories, Nan. I loved Mikey too, despite what happened, but it's been over a month now, you can't keep doing this.
NANCY
Someone has to do it, Andrew. The police won't. Staying here helps me remember what I deserve.
ANDY
You're killing yourself.
(Nancy drinks quickly then refills her glass.)
ANDY
The police still won't recognize Mike was murdered?
NANCY
I tried. They don't believe me. A couple times they brought in a doctor, told me I was in shock, that Mikey died in an accident. Whenever I remind them of what I did they get this confused look. I stopped when Detective Williams yelled at me for wasting their time. It's as if it physically hurts them to admit Michael was murdered. They never even came back to finish cleaning the crime scene. I had to do it myself.
ANDY
Oh no.
NANCY
What happened to them, Andrew?
ANDY
Henry did.
NANCY
Who is he?
ANDY
I don't know. I can't figure anything about him.
NANCY
But you've been running around with him for the past five weeks.
ANDY
Nancy, it feels like I'm going crazy. Honestly. Every night I sit there and go over all that's happened and every time I come to the same conclusion: Henry killed Mike. I know it in my gut, my heart, and my mind. But it doesn't make sense. My brain's been split in two: one side trying to keep hold of my sanity, growing ever more confused, and the other just knows things.
NANCY
Knows things?
ANDY
I don't know, I can't explain it well enough. I just... I've been following Henry around for weeks now. I've seen the man hypnotize people with his voice and hack into computers without touching the keyboard and it's as if it were the most normal thing in the world. Meanwhile, the rational side of my brain screams insanity every moment Henry speaks to me. His words literally weigh on my brain. Sometimes I can't see his face.
NANCY
You're not making sense, Andrew.
ANDY
I know but I mean it. Sometimes I literally cannot see Henry's face, it gets all blurry like how people look when they move too fast in a camera. Like every now and then his Henry mask slips off and his real face winks at me.
NANCY
A blurry face?
ANDY
A blurry photo image of reality. I think if I really did know what Henry was, I'd lose it. Even now I feel myself being twisted in two. I know Henry killed Mike, sometimes I dream about it, and I know Henry's lying to me but at the same time I want to trust him. I really do. I just don't know. I wish I could get away from him, from everything that happened, start the year with a new life. I wish we both could, Nancy.
(Nancy reaches and, in that sweet way, brushes Andy's cheek.)
NANCY
That's not how it works, Andrew.
(She goes to pull her hand back, Andy clasps it tight.)
ANDY
Nan. Please.
(She pulls her hand from him. Sorrow on his face.)
ANDY
I think I'm going to kill him, Nancy.
NANCY
What?!
ANDY
I think that's why I've been following him around. To try and avenge Mikey.
NANCY
Andrew, I killed your brother. Why can't you accept that?
ANDY
Because I know it's not true. Part of me says it is but I know, really know, that it's not. And I'm going to kill Henry for it. I keep having these vivid nightmares, dreams where I've got a knife or an axe and I'm-I'm murdering people. Sometimes during the day, like if I'm making a sandwich or driving, I'll think about ways that I could kill him. I go over everything step by step, planning it out. Two days ago I found myself doing it in the car, stopped at a red light lost in the thought.
NANCY
Andrew, what are you saying?
ANDY
If this is how it feels to lose your mind, Nan, it's actually quite calming. In fact, the only time I don't feel confused is when I think about the killings. I know who killed Mike, I know what I have to do to make it better, and I know that I have the power. It's nice. I think that's why I bought this.
(Andy takes out a revolver and places it on the table.)
NANCY
Oh, my God, Andrew.
ANDY
It makes me feel better.
NANCY
Andrew, what is happening to you?
ANDY
A lot changes in a decade.
NANCY
Put that away before Savannah gets here.
(He does.)
ANDY
Who is this girl anyway? She finds you covered in blood, admitting to a murder, and decides to help you.
NANCY
She has an exceptional heart.
ANDY
She's a sicko and a liar. She told you she was raped and beat by her father when she wasn't.
NANCY
It was to try and calm me down. People are more likely to open up if they feel others have been through the same thing. It worked, didn't it?
ANDY
She reenacted a Lifetime movie to help you. That's weird. College students don't do that.
(There is the sound of a doorbell, Nancy exits and reenters with SAVANNAH and HENRY. Andy looks surprised and unhappy.)
NANCY
Andrew, this is my good friend Savannah.
SAVANNAH
Pleasure to meet you. You can call me Savvy.
ANDY
Henry, what are you doing here?
HENRY
You told me you would be here today. I recently returned from the Rhode Island family home of the Waitts. No one has lived there for years and I found an occult library in a secret room in the attic. I now have reason to believe your brother and these five other scientists may have experimented with dark magics.
NANCY
Excuse me?
SAVANNAH
Did I interrupt something?
NANCY
No.
(From offstage the sound of a bell dings.)
NANCY
Pork's done. Excuse me.
(As Nancy is exiting, the doorbell rings again.)
NANCY
Can someone get that?
ANDY
Dark magics? Henry, please, I can't take any more weird.
HENRY
It is the truth, Andrew. Two men are dead and the whereabouts of Dr. Waitts and his granddaughter are unknown. I believe something may have already murdered the remaining four scientists and their families.
(The doorbell rings again.)
SAVANNAH
I'll go get that.
(Savannah exits, the moment she does a low, humming noise, like an electrical generator, begins. As the scene progresses the humming gets louder.)
ANDY
Something murdered their families?
HENRY
That is merely an assumption of mine from the lack of information regarding the whereabouts of certain beings. However, if it is a correct assumption than something may be coming for your sister-in-law as well.
(The humming grows to a head then cuts dead as Savannah re enters with MR. SKINNER, Nancy's neighbor, a disheveled and course looking man. He moves strangely and almost offensively, as if he isn't in complete control of his body, and the way he looks at things is intriguingly inhuman. Although the humming has ceased, there is an infrequent buzzing noise like nosy flies. It would be almost hypnotic if it wasn't disturbing. Nancy enters with the pork.)
SAVANNAH
It's your neighbor, Mister...
NANCY
Mr. Skinner. Happy New Year.
(Mr. Skinner is staring directly at Henry, his eyes wide with fear and recognition. He points one twitching hand at him. When Mr. Skinner talks his voice hums like electricity yet buzzes with insects. )
MR. SKINNER
Yyyou!
(As soon as Mr. Skinner talks, Henry's eyes go wide with understanding.)
HENRY
Stop him.
NANCY
What?
SAVANNAH
Excuse me?
(Mr. Skinner grabs Savannah and as he clutches her the lights begin to flicker rapidly, sparks flying from every direction. Light bulbs explode and the dark blinks in and out of existence. Savannah's screams, blood curdling and desperate, pervade the steady hum of electricity coursing through her body. Nancy has dropped the pork and is screaming as well. In the confusion, Andy takes out his gun and fires three shots. One of them hits and Mr. Skinner lets out the scream of a hundred dieing children. Immediately, the lights stop flickering and the sound of electricity dissipates. In the dim that remains, smoke rises off the charred and twisted remains of Savannah, Nancy is hugging her knees and rocking as she stares at the body, humming to herself. Andy drops the gun, rushes to her, trying to get some kind of reaction. Henry stands there, emotionless.)
HENRY
He's gone and he recognized me.
ANDY
Ah jeez, Henry, she's not responding.
HENRY
She's catatonic and in a severe state of shock.
ANDY
FUCK YOU!
HENRY
This was too much for her to take, Andrew.
ANDY
What the fuck was that thing?!
ANDY
Our killer.
(Blackout.)
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