A1S3

ACT 1

Lights go up on the office again. AIDEN QUARTERMASS and VICTOR, the Prime Minister, sit where they were. The old man is smiling still. As we watch, he transforms before our very eyes from the doddering old fool, to a tall, proud leader. He adjusts his tie and smirks. At first, Aiden doesn’t realize what is happening, but then he stands up.

AIDEN QUARTERMASS
Sir, are you all right?

The Prime Minister chuckles.

VICTOR
Aiden, I’ve never been better...

AIDEN QUARTERMASS
You’re... You’re sure? You seem uncomfortable.

VICTOR
Aiden... Aiden, you don’t have humor me like a fool. They're all gone.

AIDEN QUARTERMASS
Sir, I don’t know what you mean.

The Prime Minister shakes his head.

VICTOR
Aiden... For the last year, you’ve run this country. This was because everyone believed me too old and feeble for the job. You all treated me like an idiot...

Aiden looks embarrassed.

Don’t... No, no, that was what I wanted of you, to think I was a simpleton. You’ve run this country, Aiden, and that’s how I wanted it. It’s all been a charade to put you in the seat of power, and see what you could do.

AIDEN QUARTERMASS
But... But... Why?

VICTOR
Because you were the right man for the job, unlike myself.

He looks around cautiously.

Did you know that Fischer Port was sent here to kill you?

AIDEN QUARTERMASS
I'm calling your physician.

VICTOR
Tarnikesh paid her a king's ransom to get you out of the way before you become Prime Minister. Tonight, in fact, but that’s later on.

Aiden stares at him in shock.

Don’t ask any questions. It’s one advantage of being a senile old man. People say things you aren’t supposed to hear. (Beat) You’re a good man, Aiden. You should lead our nation. You could be the one to make amends for the evil we’ve done... The evil I’ve done.

AIDEN QUARTERMASS
No sir, you don’t...

VICTOR
The LPDM, Aiden, the LPDM.

This cuts Aiden off. He crosses his arms and looks away.

I was so eager to use it. Even after I knew what it did, I didn’t care. Everything Fischer just said to you, I thought those things too. It was for the greater good. For nearly five years, I really honestly believed it was for the greater good. No one can give me an accurate count of how many people I killed, but I can hear each one distinctly screaming. (Beat) I used to think I was a very strong man, Aiden. I know differently now.

AIDEN QUARTERMASS
No, sir...

VICTOR
Aiden... Aiden, don’t . We’re having this conversation because I’ve watched you. I’ve watched you since you were a child, and I picked you. I picked you, because I know you’re everything that I’m not. I thought I was a strong man, Aiden, but now I know I’m not... I know I’m not, because I know that you are.

AIDEN QUARTERMASS
Sir... I, sir, really...

VICTOR
Aiden, stop. Stop, please, I’m going to die soon, and you’re going to be the one to replace me. You need to hear what I have to say.

AIDEN QUARTERMASS
Sir, you’re not going...

VICTOR
What did I say, Aiden? Senile old men hear things they aren’t supposed to. I’ll be dead by dawn, and you will be in my chair.

Aiden stands up and walks to the window, back to the audience.

You see, this whole thing is planned. Tarnikesh has plotted to destroy our entire empire. It’s a good plan, too. It probably would have worked if they didn’t have the wrong phone conversations while I was in the room. I can’t fault them for that, can I?

AIDEN QUARTERMASS
What... What is going to happen.

VICTOR
Tarnikesh discovered a monster, a child who survived the LPDM. He's a twisted, horrible creature. More beast than man. This thing hates us, and I'd say with good reason. This creature is going to kill me.

AIDEN QUARTERMASS
No one is going to...

VICTOR
He was horrifically mutated in the womb, and when his tearful mother brought the child to me, I turned him away. (Beat) His mother cursed my name, swore revenge for her child's Hell.

AIDEN QUARTERMASS
I've never heard of a survivor.

VICTOR
From what I’ve been able to gather, the two assassins are aware of each other, but not working together. One is there for me, the other is there for you. (Beat) They think we’re evil people, Aiden. Evil. You want to know something?

He smiles wickedly.

They are right.

AIDEN QUARTERMASS
No, sir.

VICTOR
We’re evil people, and you, Aiden, you’re the one that can change all that. You'll recreate our national values.. By dawn, Aiden, you will be Prime Minister, and a new age will start for our nation... (Beat) All you have to do is avoid being murdered by Fischer Port. The rest, I’ve worked out for you.

AIDEN QUARTERMASS
Sir... Sir, what are you talking about?

The Prime Minister laughs sadly.

VICTOR
It isn’t going to take long for Manassah Kupp to find the order to use LPDM, signed by my hand. (Beat) That’s right, I’m a very active man when my handlers think I’m asleep. That could be why I’m tired all the time. By dawn in Tarnikesh City, every man, woman, and child will be dead, and so will I.

AIDEN QUARTERMASS
(aghast)You can’t be serious.

VICTOR
Oh, but I am... One last evil deed for the people to remember me.

AIDEN QUARTERMASS
Sir, no...

VICTOR
Aiden, stop! Some people would consider me the most evil man in the world. I agree with them, but I’ve found a way to make up for it. (Beat) Unfortunately, it won’t happen until after I’m dead. I guess that’s the price.

AIDEN QUARTERMASS
Sir...

VICTOR
Do you know what evil is?

AIDEN QUARTERMASS
Sir?

VICTOR
It’s weakness. Being weak to the desires of people who want you to do what you believe is wrong. I never wanted to use LPDM, but these hands still signed the paper ordering its use. That is evil, Aiden... Pure evil. The inability to refuse what you think is wrong.

AIDEN QUARTERMASS
Sir, please don’t tell me...

VICTOR
Oh, yes, I’m an evil man, Aiden, and I had one more evil act in store for the world before I die. I may be evil, Aiden, but I’m not stupid.

Aiden deflates.

AIDEN QUARTERMASS
You planned it.

VICTOR
I planned it. (Beat) That’s the most beautiful part, Aiden, all of those little conspiracies, they’re all so intricate, but the most intricate one, that’s the one that brought them all together.

AIDEN QUARTERMASS
No, no, sir, you’re just making this up.

VICTOR
Why would I do that, Aiden? Why? War Minister Kupp is most likely finding the order to deploy LPDM right about now. Hmph. Three million people, Aiden. Three million people are going to be dead in about four hours, and it’s too late to do anything about it. How does that make you feel? Do you hate me? (Beat) Of course you do, I can see it in your face. That’s good, because you’ ll need to. To undo all the evil I’ve unleashed, you are going to have to hate me with every fiber of your being.

Aiden stands.

AIDEN QUARTERMASS
It’s not too late. I can still get to Kupp in time.

VICTOR
With two armed assassins on the loose? Didn’t you call up a security detail?

Aiden stops in his tracks.

AIDEN QUARTERMASS
Where are they?

He picks up the telephone and presses the intercom button.

Terry. Terry, where is that security detail I ordered. (Beat) Terry? Terry, are you there?

A deep voice growls over the intercom.

CREATURE (OS)
She never made the call.

Aiden whirls around and stares at the Prime Minister, who is smiling broadly.

VICTOR
Here is where the fun begins.

Aiden slowly puts down the phone. A heavy object slams against the door. Aiden jumps, but the Prime Minister is laughing.

What are you going to do, Aiden? If you stick around to help me, War Minister Kupp will have deployed the LPDM.

The door is smashed again.

Better think fast, Aiden, that door isn’t very strong.

Aiden stares at him for several seconds without speaking.

AIDEN QUARTERMASS
God damn you.

VICTOR
Oh, yes. Yes he will, but believe me, he’s gonna hold you up so high that the people won’t see you’re just a man.

He throws back his head.

Oh, Aiden, they are going to remember me for a couple hundred years, but you... You’re going to be bigger than Khufu.

He points to a door behind the desk.

Go on, Aiden, take the back hall. Lock it behind you. It comes out right by Kupp’s office. See if you can get there in time. Hmph. Won’t matter much to me in a few minutes if you do or not. (Beat) Don’t forget though.

AIDEN QUARTERMASS
What?

VICTOR
Works out better for you if he drops it. You can still be a good man and have your conscience step behind your career for a few minutes.

AIDEN QUARTERMASS
Suffer.

Aiden exits. The Prime Minister stands. He takes several hesitant steps toward the door, propping himself up on the desk. He is smiling. The thing smashes the door. There is an audible cracking.

VICTOR
No, Aiden, I will not. Even as its claws tear into me, I will not feel any pain.

The thing throws itself against the door again, and it splits open, spraying slivers about the room. A manlike creature tears open the door. It's dressed in burlap clothes, and a long hood hides its features. He wears black gloves, and none of the creature’s skin can be seen. It's limbs bend in directions that look painful and unnatural. It looks around the room for several seconds before settling on the Prime Minister.

VICTOR
I’ve been expecting you, old friend. Would you like some coffee, or tea? If you hadn’t murdered my secretary, I’d be able to get some for you.

CREATURE
No guards? No security? You’re here alone in your final moments?

VICTOR
Yeah, I managed to get rid of everyone. Aiden was difficult. I ended up having to bend the truth a little to get him out of here. If I had told him I put a signed order to use LPDM in Manassah Kupp’s hand four hours ago, Aiden would probably still be here right now.

CREATURE
You’re using it again.

VICTOR
Oh, yes. One last nail in my coffin. If you wavered in your course at all, this would steady your hand.

CREATURE
I had a feeling you knew all along.

VICTOR
Oh, yes, practically from day one. Rumors have a way of even reaching supposedly feeble old men. I know about you, I know about Fischer and Tarnikesh, I know about the whole thing. I know about all your partners in crime.

CREATURE
And War Minister Kupp was involved with this as well?

VICTOR
Oh! Heaven’s no, I only told him because I needed to, and not until the last possible minute. I spent every minute of that last meeting afraid the loud mouth would blow my cover. Now, I need you to make me a promise.

CREATURE
What’s that?

VICTOR
I don’t want you to hurt Aiden. I’ve put a lot of work into that one, and I’ve worked him into something you would be proud of. He will make you a hero. Trust me, if you live until dawn, you won’t even be considered a criminal.

He taps his temple.

There’s a lot going on that you don’t know about either. Anyway, you and Aiden, you both think pretty much the same, so you should probably get to know each other. (Beat) After all, he'll have all the political clout you'll ever need or want by the end of this meeting.

CREATURE

Don’t you want to know why I’m here? What you’ve done wrong to me?

VICTOR
I knew why you were here before you did. (Beat) That must hurt. Aiden will be back soon, tell him. He’ll care. I know the stories about you, what the legends say you are supposed to be.

CREATURE
And what’s that?

VICTOR
The South Islanders called you 'Grochiko,' they said your father was a demon. You were so far inside a monastery, my spies couldn't find you for a year. Some librarian took pity on you. I never used the LPDM after the first time I saw you. Can't that be enough?

Victor waves his hands.

Don’t waste your plot exposition on me. Frankly, I don’t care.

The Creature pounces on the desk, standing over the Prime Minister, draws a knife, and plunges it down into Victor's neck. The Prime Minister grabs his bleeding wound, smiles, and falls dead. The creature stares down at the corpse for several seconds, unmoving, until the back door opens, and Aiden enters.

AIDEN QUARTERMASS
War Minister Kupp was not in his office.

He sees the creature and stops.

CREATURE
Aiden Quartermass.

AIDEN QUARTERMASS
You’re the assassin.

CREATURE
I am.

AIDEN QUARTERMASS
You’re going to kill me too?

CREATURE
I came with that intent.

AIDEN QUARTERMASS
You say that like you’ve had a change of heart.

CREATURE
The old man. In his last moments, he begged.

AIDEN QUARTERMASS
For his life?

CREATURE
No, no, the old man seemed to hunger for his own death. His last breaths were spent begging for you. (Beat) He insisted that you and I had the same agenda, and if killing him was right, that in its self, would make killing you wrong. (Beat) We were in agreement that killing him was right.

AIDEN QUARTERMASS
So you plan to leave me alive.

CREATURE
I don’t know. (Beat) You will hear my story, and you will decide if who lives or dies.

AIDEN QUARTERMASS
(nervously) Any other time, this would be just fine, but I need to find Manassah Kupp before he finds the order to use LPDM...

CREATURE
It’s too late.

AIDEN QUARTERMASS
What are you talking about?

CREATURE
Victor was several steps ahead of all of us. He was quite candid with me prior to his death. He gave Kupp the order himself, prior to all this. You couldn't prevent a thing.

AIDEN QUARTERMASS
You’re a liar.

CREATURE
Listen to my story, and you’ll understand just how wrong you are about that. (Beat) Hear me out, Aiden Quartermass. It’s up to you. The world is going to become a very different place in the next twenty-four hours.

Aiden walks around the desk and sees the corpse for the first time.

AIDEN QUARTERMASS
He’s... smiling.

He looks up at the creature.

I’ve never seen him smile like this.

CREATURE
He wanted you to undo his evil. Will you disappoint him? Listen to what I have to tell you, Aiden.

Aiden looks at the ground.

AIDEN QUARTERMASS
It ‘s... It’s all gone out of my control.

CREATURE
Don’t you get it? For the very first time, you’re in control. You never had any before this, it was all him. His masterpiece is in its final stages, and you, for the first time ever, are left in control of what happens. Before today, you were a puppet, nothing else. Are you going to miss this opportunity? Not many people get this opportunity to be free, and most fall flat on their face. What will you do?

There is a tense silence. Aiden looks away.

AIDEN QUARTERMASS
(bitterly) Tell me your story.

CREATURE
I thought you might see it my way.

Lights down. End ACT 1


Go to Act 2