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THE ITALIAN GIRL WRITTEN BYGARO BERBERIAN AND TATEVIK AYVAZYANBASED ON THE ITALIAN GIRLBY IRIS MURDOCHRebel Republic Films 27 Rusthall Avenue London W4 1BW+447801141338garo@rebelrepublicfilms.comDraft 4, 2025The Italian Girl screenplay is made available in confidence to selected persons. Any copying, reprinting, sale or other unauthorised distribution or use of The Italian Girl without the consent of the authors will be a direct infringement of the authors' exclusive rights and those involved liable in law accordingly.Copyright (c) 2021 Message

EXT. OVERGROWN FRONT GARDEN - NIGHT1SINGLE TRACKING SHOTA tall, slim, well-dressed MAN (34) is walking towards a severe gothic house. The building is a dark silhouette framed by the bright blue light of a full moon, her beautiful face temporarily occluded by the arrival of black foreboding clouds, rolling in from the North Sea. He walks across the damp grass, leaving grey mute prints in his trail. His thin shadow detaches itself from the bulk of his body and stealthily follows. An owl hoots, slowly, deliberately, casting out one inside the other her expanding rings of sound. Putting his suitcase down, the Man presses the front door and finds it locked. Irritated, he checks his WATCH - it’s almost midnight. He steps back to look up at the windows, the moonlight partially illuminating his face - there is not a light in the house showing.MAN (V.O.)I was stupid to come.I should have come earlier when she was ill, earlier when she wanted me and wrote all those letters which for anger and guilt I didn’t want to read. To have come then would have made sense in light of the last abstract consideration I had for her: after all she was my mother. But to come now, that she was dead, was a mere self-punishment......He pulls himself up onto the ledge of a bay window, looking into the hallway. A SHAFT OF MOONLIGHT has penetrated the dark interior, illuminating a framed PICTURE on the wall, a monochrome image of a rider on a horse in front of a black gothic house, an illustration of Walter de la Mare’s poem, The Listeners (’Tell them I came, and no one answered’). Suddenly, a swift sweeping SHADOW cuts across the beam of light, jolting him back. For a weird moment, he sees what looks like a reflection of himself in the glass, but it is not.

09/05/2025 2He turns round sharply and in a state of surprise and fear, standing in front of him is a figure - a YOUNG MAN (25), holding an axe. *****INT. LYDIA’S BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS 5The corpse of the woman from the portrait, LYDIA, lies on the bed, wearing the same green silk dress.Lydia’s face is uncovered, raised up rather high upon the pillows, eyes closed and hair undone. Her face is a yellowish white and narrowed, shrunk already away from life with a sort of soft crazed expression, a look of elated madness and suffering. Edmund closes the door behind him, leaning back against it with a violently beating heart. WE SEE SHOTS OF LYDIA’S FACE INTERCUT WITH DETAILS OF A PAINTING ON THE WALL, MATTHIAS GRÜNEWALD’S THE TEMPTATION OF SAINT ANTONY, DEPICTING ELATED MADNESS AND SUFFERING.Lydia’s hair seems to move a little.EDMUND (V.O.)My mother's name was Lydia and she had always insisted that we call her by this name. For Otto, my brother and I, she had had as it were, a series of love-affairs, transferring the centre of her affection to and fro between us: so that our childhood passed in an alternate frenzy of jealousy and of suffocation.I had never really left Lydia. Lydia had got inside me, into the depths of my being, there was no place and no darkness where she was not. She was my self-contempt. INT. HALLWAY - CONTINUOUS 6FEMALE VOICE(ghostlike)Edmund.Edmund, startled, takes a step back. The clock chimes. 09/05/2025 2

09/05/2025 3A hand reaches out to his shoulder, making him jump. Edmund looks behind him and sees a FACE he partly recognises in the darkness. A WOMAN, dressed in black, coldly gestures her finger to her lips and walks down the corridor. *****INT. GOTHIC CATHEDRAL - DAY8The SANCTUS BELL peals the news of the arrival of the dead, the arrival of Lydia, with continual rhythmical dark chimes. NOTE: FOR EACH BELL TOLL WE CUT TO A DIFFERENT RELIGIOUS PAINTING OR CARVING, SHOWING VIOLENCE, CRUELTY, DEATH AND BLOOD, CULMINATING WITH CARAVAGGIO’S PAINTING, JUDITH BEHEADING HOLOFERNES. Edmund sits alone in the left pew at the front of the church, his gaze is fixed ahead. He is wearing a black 3-piece suit. The pallbearers supporting Lydia’s coffin stand unsteadily, waiting for their cue to enter. FLORA (16 years old) sits in the opposite aisle looking anxious, continually rising from her seat and looking beyond the open door. Next to her is an immaculately dressed woman in her 30s (ISABEL) who is motionless. Maggie sits at the back of the church, wearing a black dress and lace mantilla, obscuring her distress and bloodshot tearful eyes. David, in a sharp suit hastily enters the room, and sits opposite Maggie......The Priest crosses himself and starts the sermon in Latin.PRIESTIn Nomine Patris, et Filii, et Spiritus Sancti.Amen Dominus vob...After a moment, there is a sound of movement, a heavy tread followed by a large BANG as the church door is slammed shut. Edmund and Flora look round, Isabel still remains motionless with an expectant expression. The priest looks up momentarily from his text, resting his bejewelled stubby fingers on the bible, before looking back down. The LARGE FIGURE OF A MAN (OTTO, 32) appears out of the shadow into the dappled coloured prisms of light falling from the windows above. 09/05/2025 3

(MORE)09/05/2025 4Holding a bottle of whiskey in one hand and his cap in the other, Otto raises his arms and then starts groaning. He sways down the aisle, bending forward, dropping his cap, he puts his hand to his mouth, ill or overcome by tears: laughing, monstrous giggles shiver his great frame from head to foot, turning into wet spluttering gurgles as he tries to stifle them......PRIESTAmen.The communion with Lydia is at an end. The line of coffinbearers is in disarray whilst the priest, ruddy-faced and sweating profusely closes the bible with a finality. Lydia’s last chapter is over.*****INT. GOTHIC CATHEDRAL OF ST CUTHBERT’S IN DURHAM - CONTINUOUS10As Edmund enters the cremation hall, the coffin is slowly rolling into the furnace. The flames ignite, rapturously engulfing the coffin, caressing the wooden sarcophagus, singeing its grain, burning and erasing its rings.The steel doors close slowly, concealing the hungry fire in its final act.CUT FROM CREMATION FIRE TO THE FIRE IN THE FIREPLACE IN ISABEL’S ROOM. *****INT. ISABEL'S ROOM - DAY11Isabel’s room, a luscious and eclectic boudoir, is crammed with furniture and the furniture - encrusted with objects. Edmund’s heavy tread has set a myriad of trinkets tinkling like little bells. EDMUNDWhat’s happening between you and Otto?ISABELOtto’s Gothic, you know.He is the North.He’s primitive, gross.Otto’s the sort of man who’ll peeinto a sink even if there’s a(MORE)09/05/2025 4

ISABEL (CONT’D)(MORE)09/05/2025 5toilet next to him.I never see him now, he sleeps inthe workshop.Isabel laughs an awkward little laugh. She walks to the drinks table and places her glass down, suddenly changing her tone.ISABELI wish I could leave.I’ve been so lonely.EDMUNDWhy don’t you?ISABELDon’t be stupid.Isabel pours some more whisky, pausing to look into the dark oaky liquid.ISABELWe all are in some way or otherimprisoned, aren't we?Even Lydia was afraid to leave thisplace......EDMUNDI have to leave and if I can get hold of Otto now, I’ll catch the five o’clock train.ISABELWhat?!Already half-way to the door, Edmund turns to her, Isabel’s plump hands are crossed at her throat. She stretches out an arm in Edmund’s direction. She seems, in her golden fiery shrine, like a prophetess. ISABELYou can’t go!EDMUNDWell, really I –ISABEL(Interrupting)You must stay, I need you. Otto needs you. We all need you. ISABEL (CONT’D)(MORE)09/05/2025 5

ISABEL (CONT’D)09/05/2025 6Who else could I have talked to like this? You are the only person who can heal us.EDMUND (Mumbling)Perhaps no one can.ISABEL(not hearing Edmund)You are a sort of doctor. You are the assessor, the judge, the inspector, the liberator.EDMUND(firmly)I am not a Doctor, Judge, Liberator or Inspector. I’m sorry, I don’t exactly have to go, but I intend to go. I can’t do anything for you or anyone else here. The tense prophetic little figure droops and shambles back to the fire, knocking over a small table. One of her fluffy slippers has come off. She pours out some more whisky.ISABEL(without looking at Edmund)Perhaps you’re right. I shouldn’t have bothered you.It’s just that I’m caged, bored. I want emotion and pistol shots.EDMUND (V.O.)Emotion and pistol shots: Lydia had wanted these things too. They were just what I feared and hated. Edmund leaves the room.*****INT. HALLWAY - NIGHT - DREAM SEQUENCE12There is a huge TIGRESS reclining at the base of the staircase, under the shadow of Lydia’s portrait. She is scouring the hallway, guarding her mistress’ domain. A young tubby GINGER BOY creeps up quietly to the banister, squeezing his round freckled face between the hewed rails to peer down at the animal. ISABEL (CONT’D)09/05/2025 6

(MORE)09/05/2025 7In a state of panic, the Boy runs into a bedroom, desperately attempting to squeeze his large frame under a wire-sprung bed, getting stuck with his legs protruding. A lingering SHADOW under the door is accompanied by the sound of HEAVY SNIFFING. The door is slowly pushed open, the tigress’ pink nose and large whiskers protrude through. GINGER BOY(sobbing)Please don’t eat me...Please don’t eat me...The Boy dashes towards the bedside table, picking up the TELEPHONE, dialling 999 to call for help. The dial, made of marzipan, begins to melt. Looking mesmerised and unable to resist, he hungrily licks his sticky fingers. The door bursts open and Lydia is standing there... *****INT. WORKSHOP - DAY13EDMUND Did Lydia leave a will?Otto stares at Edmund, his mouth gaping, his eyes round and blood-shot. OTTO(speaking softly)Lydia is just dead and you are looking at your watch and speaking of wills. And we thought you came back for...Edmund stands silently.Otto looks like he’s going to erupt, Edmund takes a step back. However, tears well out of Otto’s eyes and he bows his big head into his hands. A red flush spreads down his neck. Edmund reluctantly sits on a block of Portland stone.EDMUND (V.O.)In a strange way I missed her too. But I felt an iron intention to postpone my grief until I get back to my own house. Here it would be, somehow, too dangerous. (MORE)09/05/2025 7

EDMUND (V.O.) (CONT'D)09/05/2025 8I did not want to catch some last infection from the shade of Lydia.Otto wipes his face with one of the rags he uses to clean his chisels, leaving black marks across his cheeks. OTTO(coldly)I haven’t found the will yet. At least, Isabel hasn’t found it, and she started looking as soon as Lydia had the first stroke. There may not be one. *****EXT. BEACH - CONTINUOUS15FLORA(nervously and softly)Edmund…I am pregnant.Flora rubs her face all over with both hands as if moulding it.FLORAYou must help me.You’ve just got to.You’re the only person.Edmund stares at her in shock.EDMUNDHow, who did this?FLORAHe doesn’t matter, it was a one-off thing. I haven’t told him. You’re the only person I’ve spoken to. You know father - he would want to murder somebody. And mother is useless.Flora is standing wearily.FLORASo I need help. There are ways, aren’t there?EDMUND (V.O.) (CONT'D)09/05/2025 8

09/05/2025 9EDMUNDAre you insane?!What, an abortion? It’s illegal and dangerous. FLORAThen find me a proper doctor away from here or I will do it.*****EXT. BEACH – EDMUND’S DREAM SEQUENCE 116NOTE: WE SEE THE SEQUENCE THROUGH EDMUND'S POVA YOUNG WOMAN, resembling Isabel, is with Edmund on the beach; her hair is partially obscuring her face.YOUNG ISABELYou must help me... CUT TO:There is a SCREAM, Edmund turns round sharply and the sound of an angry mob echoes across the field, it’s now night and the house is silhouetted by the moon. The mob is dragging 6 women to be tied onto stakes placed onto a mound of firewood. A tall lank man with large brimmed hat is reading from a parchment of paper. CUT TO:WITCH HUNTER GENERALYou have been accused of conjurations, enchantments, Witchcraft, Sorcery and having a pact with Satan. Under the law of our Crown Elizabeth I in the year of our lord of 1562... CUT TO:It’s 1947, a judge is addressing Edmund, who is sitting in the dock in the courtroom. JUDGE... 1885, Under Section 11 of the criminal law, you have been accused of act of gross indecency with another male. If found guilty, you shall be liable at the discretion of the court to be imprisoned with or without hard labour.09/05/2025 9

09/05/2025 10The judge slams down the mallet. CUT TO:Edmund and the young Isabel are on the beach.ISABELI don’t want to be made to marry Otto because I am pregnant. I want to be rid of this thing inside me and leave this place.CUT TO:Edmund is being strapped to a chair in a clean, sterile, white hospital room and having electrodes attached to his head and genitalia by the psychiatrist’s assistants. The psychiatrist is leaning over Edmund, holding a white electronic device in his hand. PSYCHIATRIST... better. We will make a man out of you, yet.He presses a red button on the device. Edmund SCREAMS. Witches SCREAM. Flora SCREAMS. Edmund SCREAMS. Witches SCREAM. Flora SCREAMS.*****EXT. NIGHT FOREST - ELSA’S FLASHBACK 19She looks round again and starts to run franticly, the shouts become louder and now it is clear the language is Russian, that of soldiers accompanied by dogs. RUSSIAN SOLDIERSOstnovis’ o to budem strelyat’(Stop, otherwise we will shoot) UNKNOWN WOMANPapa, papa! Gde ti? (Father, father, where are you?)RUSSIAN SOLDIERSOstonovis’! (Stop!)SOUND OF GUNFIRE, The soldiers chase after her, they head towards the darkness of the forest. 09/05/2025 10

09/05/2025 11*****EXT. GARDEN - NIGHT - PRESENTBarefoot, she splashes through a boggy marsh, she slides and slips over in the mud. Looking around in a terrified state, she sees a soldier rapidly approaching. She enters the summerhouse in panic.She tries to slam the door shut. A heavy boot blocks her thrust, followed by the nose of a snarling, barking dog, ferociously pushing through the gap.Their force is too great and as she falls backwards, the door is flung wide open, revealing Edmund standing there, panting, rubbing his bruised foot.INT. SUMMERHOUSEElsa picks pack of TAROT CARDS from the table, she spins around and sits cross-legged on the floor, shuffling the cards.ELSAThe Page of Swords, both Boy and Girl. The diplomat, to facilitate sensitive negotiations but also sometimes a double agent, playing one side against the other.The watcher who needs to be watched......ELSAWait, I must show you something. After all you are the brother.Elsa moves towards the closed door and opens it. INT. SUMMERHOUSE BEDROOM - CONTINUOUS22Sprawled upon a low bed and lying half naked in deep sleep, is Otto.Elsa senses Edmund’s unease and smiles.ELSAHe won’t wake up, he’s drunk. He’s my big pig. 09/05/2025 11

09/05/2025 12*****EXT. GARDEN - MORNING23The sun is streaking the birch trunks with a pure and scarcely spotted white. David follows Edmund out.DAVIDHow long were you watching them? EDMUNDGo away.Edmund keeps walking on, still not looking at David. DAVIDDid you put something in your pocket?Edmund angrily turns to face David, he opens his mouth to speak but takes a breath to calm down.EDMUND(Controlled)What are you after, Levkin?DAVIDMy name is pronounced Lyevkin. It means “little lion”. As he speaks, David slowly walks into Edmund’s space.DAVID(seductively)Do you think I am like a lion, Mr Edmund? Edmund angrily turns and walks away, David follows him.DAVID(goading)Did my sister tell you her stories...? The story of escaping the Russians...? And our father’s hand hit by machine-gun bullets...? He died of a broken heart...? (pauses)All made up, I’m afraid!*****09/05/2025 12

09/05/2025 13INT. ISABEL'S ROOM - LATE EVENING27.....Edmund looks up. Isabel, having undone the linen dress all the way down to the waist, displays to Edmund two pink round bare breasts. Edmund looks up at her breasts, at that moment it is also clear that there is someone else in the room.Edmund immediately drops the SCISSORS, clattering them onto the floor and the box of pins scatter widely. In an attempt to stand up quickly, Edmund causes Isabel to lose her balance, toppling the stool over as she falls onto him, enveloping him under her hem. Edmund, blindly trying to prevent the catastrophe, reaches out his hands from under the skirt. He grabs her hand with one and her breast with the other. They freeze in position.Edmund feels her little hand fluttering inside his.Maggie places the tray on the side table before exiting the door.The door closes.*****INT. WORKSHOP - DAY28Otto walks into the room with a large trunk.ELSALet’s see what the cards will say today.OTTOThat Lydia is coming back.ELSA(seriously, with conviction)She is actually still here. OTTOBlimey, think it’s time to catch your train, Ed.ELSAAfter death, the spirit exists on earth for 40 days...Elsa cuts her sentence short and continues turning the cards. 09/05/2025 13

09/05/2025 14.....OTTO(Speaking quietly)I couldn't find Lydia’s mother of pearl jewellery box, you know the one - that father made for her, with all the rings. EDMUNDIsabel?OTTOProbably, she has already nabbed a couple of father’s paintings from his room.Otto picks up a small book, it is very old, leather-bound, with tarnished gold embossed text, ‘The Burning of The Seeress 6: 1564 - The Great Northland Witch Hunt’. On the first page a black and white wood block illustration depicts their rectory, showing the castle and the beach, with 6 women burning on stakes where the lawn is now. They are surrounded by a crowd of men with flaming torches, and at the top of the picture is the moon.OTTOAs the 6th day became night, the last Witche Hexton was tried to die.As flames engulfed her evil brow, the moon fell dark, the sky went down.She spoke in tongues, she cursed and sang, she jinxed God's people across this land......ELSA(Angrily)Men burn women for the sins of Men. Otto then picks out a small wooden box containing erotic photographs, dramatic and theatrical. He then playfully thrusts one of the pictures of a naked man in Edmund’s face. Edmund reels back. 09/05/2025 14

09/05/2025 15Otto, oblivious to his faux-pas, paws through the pack finding photos of Lydia in semi-nude and intimate positions with other women and a very intimate one with Maggie. He slowly places them back in the box, fixing the catch carefully.*****INT. FLORA’S ROOM - CONTINUOUS31Flora has thrown off her coat, her hair is tied up in a mass behind her head. She looks older, more mature, standing very self-consciously straight and upright, defiantly. She wears no make-up and is pale. FLORALet me tell you what happened. First, they gave me a large mug of some disgusting liquid, which made me feel sick, while I waiting for my turn in the corridor. I could hear the other girl inside. I wanted to leave, but I didn’t. Then it was my turn, they told me to undress and then they replaced the bloody newspapers on the mattress. Flora now picks up a metal coat hanger from several laid on the bed, slowly bending the hook so it’s straight and with both hands pointing the sharp point towards Edmund’s face. FLORAAnd they stick this inside you like this...Flora thrusts it forward.FLORA....and they keep doing it....EDMUNDIt’s enough, Flora!EDMUNDPlease stop.FLORA... until you bleed and it’s dead ...EDMUND(Forcefully) Stop!09/05/2025 15

09/05/2025 16Flora stops suddenly but not because of Edmund’s words but her gaze is beyond him, towards the door. David is standing behind them, it is not clear how long he has been observing them. He looks concerned. Flora throws the hanger to the floor and pushes past David, muttering. FLORAFuck off, David!David tries to follow her out of the room, but she slams the door shut. EDMUNDSo it was YOU!David stops for a second and composes himself before slowly turning to face Edmund. DAVIDIt is none of your business!EDMUNDI think it is, for all of us. DAVID(Interrupting)Well, Lord Otto is deaf and blind. He has other fish to fry. As for you, why should I submit to you? Why should I not draw your blood a little too? Speak daggers, daggers, Edmund I deserve it!David laughs and with a dramatic gesture throws his arms wide revealing his torso under his unbuttoned shirt. EDMUNDYou don’t seem to care what you’ve done – EDMUND (V.O.)I choked over the words. I wanted to cover him with leeches and scorpions, I wanted to make him cringe and whimper.*****09/05/2025 16

09/05/2025 17INT. KITCHEN - EVENING34The door opens and Flora enters the kitchen.She looks flushed and untidy, walking towards the table, she places notes and coins carefully in the middle. She addresses Edmund. FLORASo now you know. Maggie gave me the money. And here is the change. Well actually David gave it to her to give me, because he was too cowardly to give it to me himself. Isn’t that right, Maggie? MAGGIEIf you must know, Isabel gave it to David to give to me. He is not the only coward around here.Flora goes red with anger. FLORASo she can have a clear run with David now? You all make me sick, just wait till Otto finds out. MAGGIEHe’s too busy, like everyone else in this family. Flora looks puzzled. Maggie responds sarcastically, while picking the money from the table and as she heads for the door. MAGGIEYour father with the sister, mother and daughter with the brother... You’re all just like animals... Flora flies into a rage, grabbing Maggie’s arm. When Maggie resists, she seizes her hair and jerks her backwards. The money scatters all over the kitchen. Edmund attempts to intervene but before he can stop her, Flora picks up the SCISSORS and with one swift movement, shears Maggie’s braid at the nape of the neck. With an exclamation, Flora drops the oblong KNOB OF HAIR on to the table, where it unravels into a black snake. There is silence.Otto comes in from the garden.09/05/2025 17

09/05/2025 18Flora picks up and lifts the severed hair with an almost ritual gesture to Otto. Maggie is metamorphosed into some quite other being. Otto at once takes in the essence of what had happened. He enters like a master, moving straight into action. In two strides he reaches Flora, taking the scissors from her. David walks in from the hallway, closing the door behind him and leaning gently against the frame, tapping it rhythmically with the palms of his hands. His face has an extraordinary peaceful radiance.OTTOIs this true, David, about you and – Isabel – and Flora – ?DAVIDYes, my lord!*****EXT. BEACH - EDMUND’S DREAM 3 (CONTINUOUS)37LYDIAI have been waiting for you. (sarcastic)Still suffering from the weight of that cross upon your back?Lydia approaches Edmund, who is standing paralysed. She runs her fingers across his temple.LYDIAHead bleeding with your crown of thorns?Nailed to the cross like Jesus?There is a moment of silence. *****INT. ISABEL'S ROOM - DAY39Maggie and MR CRISPIN HOGG (61) enter the room. Maggie is completely transformed: she’s wearing the red dress she had been sewing, her hair is in a stylish pixie cut, she is donning a gold pendant and a diamond ring on her wedding finger and her nails are freshly manicured and painted red. 09/05/2025 18

09/05/2025 19MAGGIEI would like to introduce you to Mr Crispin Hogg, he is the lawyer handling Lydia’s estate. .....CRISPIN HOGGSo now to the matter at hand and the reason why we have assembled here today.Mr Crispin Hogg holds the envelope up.CRISPIN HOGGThis is Lydia Margaret Narraway’s last Will and Testament. There is an protracted pause as Mr Hogg slowly removes his glasses case from his inside pocket, opening it and removing the glasses within before placing them on his nose. Then using his thumb he slowly and carefully breaks the seal of the envelope, removing the LETTER from within. A short paragraph of text has bled ugly spots of ink through the back of the page. CRISPIN HOGGI hereby will and bequeath all of which I die possessed... ...to my beloved, faithful and devoted friend and partner Miss Maria Magistretti.A sound of a GASP is followed a cascade of intelligible words. Edmund laughs. .....MAGGIEDoing things behind other people’s backs seems more your speciality, Isabel. Is there not something you should be telling the family, your daughter - about your lover boy?Maggie taps her fingers rhythmically on the wooden arm of the chair - coaxing, prompting, demanding a response from Isabel. FLORAWhat, about David?09/05/2025 19

09/05/2025 20ISABELI am sorry, Flora.FLORAWhat else have you done?ISABELI am...FLORASpit it out! ISABEL(whispering)Pregnant.Flora’s face contorts, clenching her hands into fists before she explodes with a roar of anger. As Isabel starts to cry, Flora grabs a PORCELAIN FIGURE and hurls it in Isabel’s direction, missing her and smashing the large casement window. The projectile’s impact causes a chain reaction in the room. Otto, trying to prevent Flora’s initial action, leans forward to grab her, inadvertently toppling a Roman column crowned by a Ming vase which explodes on the floor, sending hundreds of shards across the room. The column clatters into the fireplace. FLORAI hate you all so much, I’m going to drown myself! Flora runs out of the room as a multitude of BURNING LOGS are released from the fireplace onto the floor. The house is on fire. Paintings, carvings, furniture in the room are alight, Elsa’s Fire, Tower and Death Tarot cards are burning on the floor. INT. HOSPITAL - AFTERNOON41EDMUNDIs he still in there?OTTOYes.Her dress burned so fast, I grabbed her at once and tried to put it out. She can’t have suffered much, can she, Ed? 09/05/2025 20

09/05/2025 21EDMUNDShe wasn’t conscious, the doctor said. *****INT. HALLWAY - DAY46The RAVENOUS FIRE has swept out of Isabel’s room, its flames consuming the parched oak balustrade and staircase down to the panelled hallway. The advance was only halted by the arrival of the firefighters, alerted by Mr Crispin Hogg. Maggie carefully descends from the landing on what remains of the burnt staircase. In contrast to her surroundings, she looks immaculate - wearing Lydia’s green dress from the painting and high heels. Maggie stops halfway down the staircase, standing parallel to Lydia’s portrait.MAGGIEIs that poor girl dead?Edmund nodes with sadness. MAGGIE(harshly)You killed that girl!(Pointing at all of them)All of you!Maggie stares coldly and turns back to go up. After a few steps, her heel gets stuck. Irritated, she looks at the charred rail, her blackened hand, the burnt ceiling, the hole in the roof. She rips the shoe out of the step, breaking the heel in the process. Angrily, she throws the show down at them. MAGGIELook at this bloody mess, you destroy everything you touch. Lydia should have thrown you out years ago.Maggie turns around but again launches into monologue at them.09/05/2025 21

09/05/2025 22MAGGIE(angrily)You all think Lydia was a monster but in reality, the only people in this house that are monsters are you. I didn’t have a voice for 17 years, It’s my turn to speak. Now clear off! An incomprehensible deafening argument erupts between Otto, Maggie and Flora. Through a hole in the roof, the moon is visible. It’s a waxing crescent moon. Edmund zones out, looking at it.Whilst the argument continues, Edmund turns to leave. He sees a SILHOUETTE in a haze of the bright summer light at the open door. The figure stands there for a moment before taking a step forward. It is Lydia. THE END09/05/2025 22