Editing The Missing Arm (section)

=== Scene 3 ===


Time: The day after the events of Scene 1 Place: the castle of Lord Ellingham. Enter MILDRED, twisting her hands.


MILDRED. Ervyne is honest. I know he wouldn’t lie to me about something like this, but...then again...no. I must trust Ervyne. But I will ask him about Richmond, just to prove to myself, because it isn’t possible that Old William is totally wrong...but Ervyne can’t have lied.					

(Enter ERVYNE, in his aristocratic clothes, wearing the ornamental sword.)					

Oh, good! Ervyne, dear, I needed to ask you something. ERVYNE. (Starts.) Oh?

MILDRED. I was in the village these past few days. ERVYNE. How was the visit?					

MILDRED. Very nice. I have a question, however. ERVYNE. What is it, my dear?

Ugochuku 19 MILDRED. But, Ervyne, promise me that you won’t...doubt how much I trust and love you.


ERVYNE. (Suspiciously.) Why would I do that?					

MILDRED. Because it’s a strange question.					

ERVYNE. Ask it.					

MILDRED. All right, then...who is Richmond?					

ERVYNE. (Pales.) Who told you to ask that?					

MILDRED. Someone in the village. But who is he, dear? I don’t really remember him, but I think he lived by the forest near the village, and left around the same time you got injured.


ERVYNE. I don’t remember him either.

MILDRED. But weren’t you both woodcutters?

ERVYNE. Yes...I...

MILDRED. (Looks concerned.) Then why won’t you tell me who he is?

ERVYNE. Mildred, leave me alone! (He races out of the room in terror.)

MILDRED. I hope I haven’t worried him! Ervyne! Ervyne!

(Enter a SERVANT.)

SERVANT. Lady Ellingham, is anything wrong?

MILDRED. No...no...Ervyne got upset when I mentioned a person named Richmond. SERVANT. Oh, that man? He tried to attack Lord Ellingham.

MILDRED. Attack Ervyne?


SERVANT. He had an audience with Lord Ellingham, and I believe he became violent. When he summoned me, the man was dead. We buried him yesterday. I believe that’s why Lord Ellingham would not like to discuss that man with you.					

MILDRED. (Looks horrified.) You may go, now. Could you call Ervyne as you go? (Exit SERVANT. A few minutes later, enter ERVYNE.)

ERVYNE. Mildred...I don’t want to talk about Richmond.

MILDRED. You don’t need to.					

ERVYNE. Then why did you call me?					

MILDRED. Let’s stand away from the door, where servants can’t hear us speak.					

ERVYNE. My dear, have you—					

MILDRED. Please, Ervyne. Let me speak. I have been speaking to Old William.					

ERVYNE. Stay away from that man.					

MILDRED. We spoke for a while, and he encouraged me to learn about a man named Richmond. That’s why I asked you about him.					

ERVYNE. And I told you I didn’t want to talk about him. MILDRED. You don’t need to. He’s dead, isn’t he? ERVYNE. (Starts.) Did the servants tell you anything? MILDRED. That’s not the point.


ERVYNE. (Trembles.) Then what is?

MILDRED. I see it now, Ervyne! How could you deceive me? How could you lie to me?					

ERVYNE. Mildred, my dear, don’t accuse me!					

MILDRED. It’s obvious, Ervyne! You murdered Richmond, didn’t you? You killed him before he could expose you! Expose that you never fought a thief in your life! Expose that you lost your arm in a woodcutting accident!					

ERVYNE (Snatches his sword and holds it over her head.) That’s right. I slew him; and I will slay the next person who tries to ruin me!					

(MILDRED crumples to the ground in a faint. ERVYNE, terrified, drops his sword, and falls on his knees.)					

Mildred, my dear! Mildred, forgive me! Oh, my wife, what have I become? MILDRED. (Stands up shakily.) Ervyne—Ervyne!

ERVYNE. (Crying.) What have I become?

MILDRED. Oh, Ervyne, oh Ervyne! It was all a lie.					

ERVYNE. It was, Mildred! I hated deceiving you. I hated deceiving everyone. But I was greedy, and ambitious, and you see what’s happened now. I imprisoned Old William. I slew Richmond. I almost slew you.					

(The two embrace, MILDRED hugging the weeping ERVYNE.)					

MILDRED. What will you do next?					

ERVYNE. I shall need to confess—oh the disgrace of telling the whole village! They will strip 				

MILDRED. But you will still confess? ERVYNE. Yes.					

MILDRED. (Smiles.) Then I have married a brave man. You are still my hero, Ervyne, even if you are not Lord Ellingham.					

ERVYNE. Then you won’t mind if I change my name? MILDRED. To what?

ERVYNE. Young Ervyne, the woodcutter.

MILDRED. Not at all.					

(Curtain.)
[[Category:Plays]]