Scene 1:

Shows a white house with a black roof; a cherry tree blossoms outside and the lawn is perfectly green and manicured.

Abigail (o.s.): The last time you heard from me I was telling you the story of how my brothers wedding, well now I have a new story, one of lying and deceit as is unusual to be heard, and as usual, with the stories of my life, it deals with spite and wanting to hurt someone more than you want anything else in you life.  This is the next chapter of our story.

*End Scene*

Scene 2:

Set in the living room of the house.  Peter and Martha stand across the room yelling at each other.

Peter:

*In despair* Martha, I swear I didn’t, I don’t know who told you I did, but I did NOT!

Martha:

*In complete and total anger* Peter had you merely cheated on me, I perhaps could have found the ability to forgive you, but my G-d, this is far too extreme.

Peter:

Martha, please I didn’t-remember, for better or for worse, please!

Martha:

Yes, but not this terrible.  My g-d Peter, you went too far this time!

Peter:

*near tears* Martha, she just wants to hurt me.  You remember what Abby and I did; you know she just wants to hurt me!

Martha:

*falls on the couch in tears* Peter, I don’t know what to think anymore!

*End Scene 2*

Scene 3:

*Enter Abigail*

Abigail:

My goodness, what is going on here?  The entire neighbourhood can hear you two bicker, what is wrong? *notices Martha crying* Martha!  Martha, what happened?

Martha:

*gasping* I can’t…I can’t…

*Martha stands up and exits the room in a run, still crying*

Peter:

MARTHA!!!  Wait…

Abigail:

*gently* Just let her go for a bit, she’ll calm down.

Peter:

*sadly* No, she won’t, not this time.

Abigail:

*seriously* Tell me now, what happened?

Peter:

*barely able to breath* I didn’t do it, it’s a rumour maliciously circulated…I mean, well you will understand…

Abigail:

*frightened* Okay, I will try, sweetie, what happened?

Peter:

*trying to make breathes even* Do you remember Ecarlate?

Abigail:

*muffling a laugh* Someone want to tell me how I could forget a little twrip like that, or her boyfriend, James? *shudders* So…what’s up?

Peter:

*sadly* She accused me of something pretty darn awful.

Abigail:

Peter, tell me what?

Peter:

*shaking* She said I raped her. *begins to cry*

Abigail:

*in complete disgust* She said you did what?

Peter:

*slowly* She said I’d…

Abigail:

*angrily* Oh shut up, I know what she said.  *pausing and realizing what she just said* Peter, I’m not angry at you, I’m angry at her, please, tell me you will forgive me for that last comment.

Peter:

*indifferently* Yeah, sure, whatever…, she’s taken it to the police…

Abigail:

WHAT?!?!  HOW DARE SHE, I CANNOT…*completely at a loss for words due to her anger*

Peter:

*sadly* Believe it, she did.  John already heard from James, they were friends before he went out with Ecarlate and even when we kicked them out he didn’t end contact with them.

Abigail:

*confused* So? he still knows what Ecarlate is, and he must have realized by now what James is, to be going out with her, mustn’t he?

Peter:

No, he has not, and he has sided with them over me.

Abigail:

What?

Peter:

Abby, I said…

Abigail:

*angrily* Peter, I am not trying to loose my temper with you here, but I can comprehend what you said on a basic level of understanding, but I cannot, *whispers* John?  My John.  No!

Peter:

Abby, it’s true, if you want to stay with him, I understand, he’s not a bad guy…except for that.

Abigail:

*in disbelief* You have got to be kidding me!  Side with my boyfriend over my brother?  HA!  You do have twisted view of this world.

Peter:

Being accused of rape can do that to a person.

Abigail:

*fiercely* Pete, pull yourself out of this, we will fight for this and WIN!  We will prove you innocent!  You’ll see, I promise you, we will prove you innocent!

Peter:

*pathetically* Thanks Abby, but no one will ever believe me now, not after she…oh never mind.

Abigail:

*fiercely* I believe you!  I know I am just your sister, but, my g-d I do believe you!  Ruhe will too, you know she will!

Peter:

She would have once, but now, she’s married Abby, she can’t risk supporting an accused rapist!

Ruhe:

*indigently* INDEED!

*End Scene 3*

Scene 4:

Ruhe:

You really believe that I wouldn’t side with you?  HA!  Sure I’m married, but, so?  You really think David wouldn’t understand?  Well, I don’t care if he does or not!  Remember, Ecarlate and James hurt me too!

*sits down across from Peter, Abigail remains standing*

Abigail:

*catches Ruhe’s eye* Ruhe, make sure that’s not your only reason for making this alliance.

Ruhe:

*nodding* Of course not, but it certainly doesn’t hurt my case to David, and it doesn’t hurt yours either, Pete!  Remember Dave is a lawyer. *pauses* Wait, you’re probably using John, right?

Peter:

*quietly and sadly* No, we can’t.

Abigail:

*swallowing, but speaking with a steady voice* John sided with James and Ecarlate, if this, g-d forbid, goes to court, he will be defending them, not Pete.

*sits down and puts her arm around Peter*

Ruhe:

Oh my g-d!  I’m so sorry, *looks at Abigail, and says quietly* for you both.

*End Scene 4*

Scene 5:

*Ruhe and Abigail are standing, Peter is sitting*

Ruhe:

‘Kay, so John is out of the question, so, David?

Abigail:

Yes, we’ll use him; he has handled how many cases and never lost one?

Ruhe:

More than I can ever count!  We should start doing some research do you have…*Peter cuts her off*

Peter:

*loudly* GUYS! *meekly* Sorry, I know you’re just trying to help, but let’s see if her plea even is acknowledged first, I just don’t want to think about what might happen if it is!

Abigail:

*to Ruhe* Half a minute?

*Ruhe nods and exits*

Abigail:

*gently* Peter, I know you don’t want to think about what could happen, g-d only knows how little I want to think of it, but listen, sweetie *kneels* even though this is a hoax, you saw how Martha reacted when she heard, the police take every accusation of this incredibly seriously!  Especially because this is a hoax, Ecarlate, James, and…*awkward silence*, well, they will have a great story cooked up, they will be working on it non-stop, we have to do the same.

Peter:

Abby, I know you’re trying to protect me…I, thanks, but,*pleadingly* please, let me handle it.

Abigail:

*softly* Peter we just don’t want you to get hurt.

Peter:

*angrily* ABBY!  LOOK AT ME NOW; I’VE BEEN REDUCED TO CRYING ON THE COUCH!  *more quietly* How much more hurt do you think I can get?

Abigail:

*sadly* If you don’t protect yourself…I’d rather not think.

Peter:

*determinedly* Then let me defend myself!  Please?  If I need help I swear I’ll ask, but I don’t want…I just want you safe and neutral as long as possible, please.

Abigail:

Peter, I can’t be neutral, and I won’t be, the second John walks in this house, you will see fury like non-other you have ever seen!

Peter:

*lightly* I’ve seen you angry before Abby.

Abigail:

*in growing frustration* Not like this you haven’t.

*Door opens*

*End Scene 5*

Scene 6

*Enter John*

John:

Hello all!

Peter:

*in a whisper* Abby, please don’t, Abby…

*Abigail walks over to the window standing proudly, refusing to look at John*

John:

What’s up with her?

Peter:

*shakily* She’s just tense.

John:

*laughingly* Well, we’ll fix that.

*Walks over and puts hands on shoulders Abigail quickly throws him off*

Abigail:

*angrily, eyes flaring* Get off me!

John:

*startled* Abby…?

Abigail:

Just leave me alone, you…you *looks at Peter* ahhhhh!

*storms off stage*

John:

Um…’Kay, what did I miss Pete?

*sits on couch*

Peter:

*rolling eyes* Nothing, my sister is just having problems controlling herself.

John:

*laughing* What else is new?

Peter:

*angrily* That was out of line John, very out of line!

John:

*standing* What?  She’s my girl, how is that out of line?

Peter:

She’s my sister!  You ask how it’s out of line to say she can’t control herself?  John, I thought I knew you…I guess I was wrong!

John:

Whoa…Pete, relax, okay, I’m sorry?  I was out of line?  Um…it was one comment!

Peter:

Right…just one comment…

John:

Peter, what is up with you?

Peter:

*turning away* Just leave me alone John.

John:

Okay…Pete?

Peter:

*angrily* OUT!!!!!!!

*End Scene 6*

Scene 7

*Abigail is in her room facing a new window thinking*

*Knock on Door*

John:

Abby?

Abigail:

*irritated* What?

John:

*entering room* Baby, *puts arms around her* what’s up here today?

Abigail:

*angrily* Get off John!  I told you NOT to touch me!!

John:

*releasing her quickly* Sorry, now will you answer my question?

Abigail:

*curtly* Nothing!

John:

HA!  Abby, not possible, you won’t let me within two feet of you, Pete is screaming at me to leave him alone, and things that would have been acceptable to say two days ago, I now get yelled at for!

Abigail:

*snappishly* Well, maybe you should take that as a message!

John:

*desperately* Abby, come on…!

Abigail:

*frustrated* John, I can’t tell you, believe me, if I could…well, you’re happier not knowing!

John:

*scared* Abby, what?

Abigail:

*looking at him and starting to cry* John…I can’t deal with this right now, leave me alone…please.

John:

*pleadingly* Abby I’m always here for you…let me help…

Abigail:

*tears starting to flow freely* You’ve helped enough, now just LEAVE!

*Exit John*

Abigail:

*whisper* Oh my g-d! *throws self onto bed and buries her face in a pillow and weeps openly*

*End Scene 7*

Scene 8:

*Enter Peter walks over to bed and places a hand on Abigail’s back*

Peter:

*concerned* Abby, what’s wrong?

Abigail:

*sitting up and drying her eyes* Nothing Peter, what did you want?

Peter:

To figure out what’s wrong with you!

Abigail:

*sniffling* I already told you, nothing.

Peter:

*standing and walking to her window* Ri-ight…!

Abigail:

*pleadingly* Honestly Peter, nothing, I’m fine!

Peter:

*begins to leave room* Alright, I’ll talk to you later.

*Peter is halfway out the door*

Abigail:

No!  Peter, wait!

Peter:

*closing the door and coming back into the room* Yes?

Abigail:

*tearing up again* I’m just…confused, so confused…

Peter:

*sitting on her bed* About what?

Abigail:

*whisper* John

Peter:

*pensively* Oh, alright

Abigail:

Peter, it’s not that I’m betraying you, honestly!

Peter:

I know Abby, I do know.  What are you confused about?

Abigail:

I just…you’re my family, you’re my brother!  I’m on your side, you know that!  It’s just John and I…

Peter:

*knowingly* It’s so sudden?

Abigail:

*softly* Yes.

Peter:

It’s alright; you don’t have to stop seeing him on my account, I promise, it’s alright.

Abigail:

He betrayed you, my flesh and blood, how can I trust him?

Peter:

I can’t answer that for you, you have to make this decision.

Abigail:

I know.

*Peter stands to leave*

Peter!

Peter:

Abby?

Abigail:

Can I tell him?  Maybe then we have a shot…

Peter:

Let me.

*Exit Peter*

*End Scene 8*

Scene 9:

*Peter and John are standing in the living room*

Peter:

*seriously* John, we need to talk, you and I.

John:

Alright Pete, about what?

Peter:

*awkwardly* Loyalty…

John:

*shocked* What?

Peter:

John, I wouldn’t have said anything, but this is tearing Abby apart and I can’t stand it!  I know where you stand on what Ecarlate accused me of.

John:

You mean the rape case?

Peter:

*sadly* Yes.

John:

What do you mean where I stand?

Peter:

Oh admit it; you stand with them, not with me!

John:

Pete, I don’t stand with anyone on it yet, I’m just trying to get all the facts.

Peter:

Than why all the phone calls to them, why going over to their place at night to see them?

John:

To try and get them to withdraw charges!  James knows nothing happened!

Peter:

I heard you say you believed them.

John:

That’s because you never contradicted it to me.

Peter:

I shouldn’t have to!

John:

Probably not, but if I hear your testimony and theirs, it makes me impartial in court and unable to defend either party.

Peter:

You aren’t defending them?

John:

No, but I’m not defending you either!  They’re both mad at both you and your…Abby…

Peter:

*thoroughly confused* What?!?

John:

*just realizing something* That was the problem earlier, why she wouldn’t let me touch her!

Peter:

Yes, unfortunately, that was my fault.  I told her you were on their side.

John:

I should have told you both what I was doing sooner, I’m sorry.

Peter:

It’s alright, it’s forgiven.

John:

It is on your side, Abby will never trust me again.

Peter:

She may…

*End Scene 9*

Scene 10

*In Abigail’s room, Abigail is crying on her bed…still*

*Enter John*

John:

*softly* Abigail…

Abigail:

*blinks away tears and looks up* John!

John:

Yes, I mean, well…

Abigail:

*feeling anger* I thought I asked you to leave.

John:

*quietly* You did, but Peter gave me permission to come in here.

Abigail:

*curtly* Why?

John:

*gaining courage and anger* Because there’s something you need to hear, and you need to listen.

*Abigail rolls eyes*

John:

Abby, I’m not asking you to believe me, just to listen…for what we used to have, before you found out about the rape case…

Abigail:

*choking on tears* You found out that I knew?

John:

*looking at her cockeyed* Peter told me.

Abigail:

Oh, right, I forgot I asked him to…

John:

*smiling* Please, listen?

Abigail:

Yes?

John:

*breathing heavily* I found out when James called and asked me if I would be Ecarlate’s lawyer in the pending case.  I couldn’t say yes, but how could I believe that it was untrue?

Abigail:

*fiercely* If you had any sense of decency or loyalty *John cuts her off*

John:

Decency or loyalty?  You don’t think I feel that?  Your brother is my best friend and you’re my girl *puts arm around shoulder*, how could I not feel loyalty?

Abigail:

*pulling away* You could have said you didn’t believe them!

John:

*laughing* and caused them to press charges further?  What good would that have done?

Abigail:

*sharply* At least it would have kept people who you claim to care about from despising you!

John:

*angrily* ABBY!  I do care about you and your brother, but do you know how long I have known James?

Abigail:

Longer than I’ve known Ruhe…

John:

Precisely, do you realize how hard it would be for me to let that friendship go without another thought?

Abigail:

*softly* Yes.

John:

It would be as if you and Ruhe had*Abigail cuts him off*

Abigail:

*harshly* I understand!

John:

Are you scared that you and Ruhe will have a parting of the ways?

Abigail:

*sadly* I don’t know what I think any more!

John:

Its okay, if it makes you feel any better, I am as confused as you are right now.

Abigail:

*smiling* It doesn’t, but thanks for trying.

John:

*smiling* Anytime.

*End Scene 10*

Scene 11

*Peter knocks on the door of Martha and his bedroom*

Peter:

Martha?

Martha:

Go away!

Peter:

Martha this is my house too, you can’t lock me out of my own room!

*door opens, Peter enters*

Thank you

Martha:

*viciously* Get what you need and GET OUT!

Peter:

*laughing* What I need to get might take a while.

Martha:

See that it doesn’t!

Peter:

*gesturing to a chair* Martha, sit!

Martha:

You can’t tell me what to do you disloyal, cheating, slimy *Peter cuts her off*

Peter:

Will you please give me a chance to defend myself?

Martha:

*as she sits down* No.

Peter:

That’s what I thought.  Now will you listen?

Martha:

*pouting* No.

Peter:

This means yes, so therefore you will.

*Martha glares at him*

Thank you my dear! *kisses her cheek* Very well, first of all, you know perfectly well that I could not have slept with the lady in question because you and I were out that evening, together.

Martha:

What?  When?

Peter:

The night of the sixteenth, you and I went out for a quiet dinner…and fell in a river.

Martha:

*laughs* I remember that!

Peter:

*smiles* I thought you might.

Martha:

*skeptically* You are really innocent?

Peter:

*strictly* Martha, have I ever lied to you?

Martha:

No.

Peter:

Why would I start now?

Martha:

I don’t know, it seemed like an appropriate time.

Peter:

*smiling* Why?

Martha:

*seriously* because, well…Peter?

Peter:

Yes?

Martha:

*in a whisper* I’m pregnant.

Peter:

*obviously elated and with a voice an octave above where it should be* ARE YOU SERIOUS?

Martha:

*laughing* Yes, which is why I was so mad.

Peter:

*laughing* Oh Martha, come on!  We have to go tell Abby and Ruhe that they will be aunts!

Martha:

*nervously* Are you sure Peter?

Peter:

*taking her hand* Yes, I’m sure.

*Martha nods*

Now come on!

*End Scene 11*

Scene 12

*everyone is in the living room*

Peter:

*holding Martha’s hand* We have some exciting news to top off the messy events of

late!

Martha:

*shyly* First can we talk to Abby and Ruhe alone.

*Ruhe and Abigail look at each other confused*

Ruhe and Abigail:

Sure!

Peter:

*ushering the women out of the room* No offense guys, we’ll just let them tell you!

*End Scene 12*

Scene 13

*In the kitchen*

Martha:

*breathlessly* Abby, Ruhe, Peter and I just wanted to tell you both that well…

Peter:

*simply giddy with joy* We wanted to tell you that very soon you are both going to be…

Peter and Martha:

Aunts.

Ruhe and Abigail:

*scream at the top of their lungs and smile like no other*

Abigail:

I’m so happy for you!

Ruhe:

An aunt? But…

Peter:

Blood or no, you might as well be!

Abigail:

This just makes today all worth it!

Ruhe:

Definitely, though David is slightly mad that he may not get a big court case after all!

*Enter John and David*

Both:

Hey all.

*Abigail runs to John*

Abigail:

You will NEVER guess what happened!

David:

Something that requires much screaming I gather.

Ruhe:

*simply bursting with joy* Martha is pregnant!

John:

*in joyful shock* You’re kidding?  Seriously?

*Peter nods*

Congratulations!

David:

Unbelievable, this is wonderful!

*Much happy conversation in the background between the three couples*

*John has his arm around Abigail, David has his around Ruhe, and Peter has his around Martha*

*End Scene 13*

Scene 14

Abigail (o.s.): This is where this story ends, where the next begins we shall never know, until it gets there, of course.  John and I did reconcile eventually, though we still have our problems, and still cannot trust him completely.  However, my little niece currently makes up for all the problems in my life.  Martha and Peter are very happy, and Ruhe and David are quite happy themselves.  David recovered from the lack of a court case…eventually.  What comes next we can never tell until it comes.  And until that time I bid you all the best of wishes!

Sincerely Yours,

Abigail Hawthorne