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- Story Listed as: True Life For Adults
- Theme: Drama / Human Interest
- Subject: Art / Music / Theater / Dance
- Published: 06/28/2018
GHOST TALE
Cast of Characters
ANNIE KIRBY, fifty five year old divorcee
KEVIN SMITH, boyfriend
CINDY KIRBY, Annie’s step daughter, 22 years old
Takes place over one night
Synopsis: This is a true story of a ghost, his wife’s ex-husband, which haunted
Gordon’s house and the ensuing drama to send him on to the afterlife.
SCENE 1
MUSIC: “Witchcraft” by Frank Sinatra
AT RISE: (A living room. Annie and Kevin enter carrying bags from shopping at mall. Kevin has big box with a stereo.)
ANNIE: We had such fun today. The sales at the mall were wonderful. I’m so glad you went with me.
KEVIN: I think you just wanted me along to carry boxes. (Teasing) I can’t wait to do it again.
ANNIE: I found these two-for-one shoes at Macys, one pair for me and one for Cindy. My little girl’s all grown up and wears the same style as me.
KEVIN: Daughters do that you know.
(Annie takes packages to bedroom and unpacks. Kevin unwraps stereo and installs it near a TV.)
ANNIE: I hope this stereo works better than the last one did. Can you believe it didn’t work and we had to take it back?
KEVIN: (Laughs) No, it sure was strange. The salesman wasn’t happy when we went back there again today. But all you had to do was flutter your eyes and he melted.
ANNIE: Oh stop that. He was okay the first time I returned it. I told him all of a sudden the music started playing loud and wouldn’t stop. It was probably a bad wire. It was still under warranty so he gave me a new one. But today he didn’t believe me when I told him the same thing happened again and its because my dead ex-husband Bill Kirby is haunting me.
KEVIN: (Laugh) When you told him the stereo was haunted he figured you were loony.
(Kevin finishes installing stereo and turns it on. Music plays softly. They sit on couch.)
KEVIN: See, this one works fine. There’s no ghost around here, there was just a bad batch of stereos from China.
ANNIE: But it’s true. What else could it be?
KEVIN: Annie, you know I don’t believe in ghosts. I’m an engineer and there’s a scientific reason for everything.
ANNIE: Too bad you didn’t know Sybil.
KEVIN: Sybil who?
ANNIE: Sybil Leek. She was a very famous English witch who practiced the Wicca religion.
KEVIN: What’s that?
ANNIE: Don’t you know anything? Wicca is a pre-Christian religion meaning “Craft of the Wise.” Its basic tenants are tolerance and understanding. Sybil was the high priestess of White Witchcraft. I interviewed her for my radio show and we became best friends and roommates. She wrote dozens of books and did radio and TV interviews around the world. I gave her eulogy a few years ago when she passed away.
(Annie pours herself a glass of wine)
KEVIN: (Gives her a strange look) You’re kidding me.
ANNIE: You could feel her aura. Once we had a séance to find her pet snake, Sashima, that was hiding in our house. Thirteen members of her coven gathered in a circle under a full moon where we chanted and said prayers. She used a small, black, double-edged knife called an athame as her wand that magically led her to the snake hiding in my console stereo.
KEVIN: I think you were drinking too much wine.
(Cindy enters room)
CINDY: How was the mall?
ANNIE: You wouldn’t believe the sale. Look what I found for you. (Annie shows her the shoes. Cindy puts them on.)
CINDY: Oh thank you thank you, they’re gorgeous. I’ll wear them tonight. Did you get a new stereo?
ANNIE: Yes. I don’t think the salesman believed my story about your father haunting it. He said this was the last time he would replace it. Kevin doesn’t believe me either.
KEVIN: Of course not. These’s no such thing as ghosts.
ANNIE: (Looks toward Kevin, eyes down) Well, I didn’t tell you everything.
KEVIN: About what?
ANNIE: I went to see Bill five weeks ago before he died.
KEVIN: You didn’t tell me that.
ANNIE: He called to tell me he was dying and wanted to see me one more time. His new wife hated me, so he had to sneak out of the house and meet me in a park.
KEVIN: What did he say?
ANNIE: He said after he died he would talk with Sybil about my destiny and if I didn’t hear from him in six weeks I was going to die soon.
KEVIN: And you believed him?
ANNIE: Yes.
KEVIN: Did he say anything about me?
ANNIE: He hoped you would treat me good.
(Kevin shakes his head.)
CINDY: Dad and Sybil were friends and often talked about the afterlife. Remember the time we had an exorcism for your friend Marie?
ANNIE: It wasn’t an exorcism; it was a cleansing. And she wasn’t possessed; she just couldn’t recover from her husband, Paul, dying in a terrible car wreck. Anyway, I don’t want to talk about it.
CINDY: Well, I was there and I’ll never forget that night. It was in the backyard of Marie’s house on the beach. Dad told me to stay away, but I watched from the house. Sybil thought Paul was still around wanting to say goodbye. We waited until June 23, the date of traditional Midsummer Night celebrations, when Sybil’s power was strongest. Following ancient customs from Norway, Marie was laid next to a bonfire with a cross. Sybil and three witches walked around the fire and then sprinkled consecrated water in a circle around Marie. Sybil’s crystal pendant turned bright green as she chanted a spell to drive Paul away. Ye Lords of the Watchtowers, ye lords of fire: I do summon, stir and call you up, to witness our rights and guard the circle. (Laugh) And then y’all dug a hole in the ground and buried a refrigerator. That was the craziest thing I ever saw. But Marie was okay after that. Right mom?
ANNIE: (Sheepishly) Yes, it did work.
KEVIN: What kind of women have I gotten mixed up with?
CINDY: (Laughs and hugs Annie) I’ll see y’all later.
KEVIN: Where are you going?
CINDY: Out with my friends.
ANNIE: Have a good time.
KEVIN: Good night.
(Cindy goes out the door.)
KEVIN: (Shakes his head with disbelief) Was she serious?
ANNIE: I knew you wouldn’t believe it. That’s why I didn’t tell you.
KEVIN: You have all kinds of secrets. Lets call it a day, I’ve had enough of these ridiculous ghost stories.
(Kevin walks toward bedroom. A book flies off a bookshelf, almost hitting him)
KEVIN: (incredulous) What the heck? Did you see that?
(Kevin picks up book, examines it, and returns it to bookshelf.)
ANNIE: (pensive) Not again. (She shivers) Do you feel cold air? That’s the sign of a ghost. What’s your explanation for that, Mr. Engineer?
KEVIN: (Looks doubtful) I don’t know.
ANNIE: First the stereo and now this. I just want Bill to leave. I need more wine.
(Annie pours herself a drink.)
KEVIN: How long has it been since Bill died?
ANNIE: Four weeks. I’m glad he showed up because that means I’m not going to die soon, but I just wish he would leave me alone.
KEVIN: I don’t know if this craziness is Bill, but I sure wish it would stop. Let’s go to bed.
(They go to bed and read books.)
KEVIN: You divorced him long ago. Do you think he’s still mad at you?
ANNIE: I don’t know. We never really talked about it after that day in court.
KEVIN: (Seriously) I don’t think he ever forgave you for throwing his clothes into the front yard and giving his snakeskin boots to Goodwill.
ANNIE: I thought he was over that.
KEVIN: Some guys have long memories, especially about their boots.
ANNIE: (Mischievously) I hated them. He looked like a cowboy all over Europe. Let’s go to sleep. I’m tired of worrying about ghosts.
(Kevin turns out the lights. Pause. All the lights in the house come on. Cat runs under bed and yowls. The alarm clock blares and the stereo plays loud.)
ANNIE: (Screams) Make it stop, Kevin!
(Kevin pushes the alarm button but it will not turn off. He pulls the plug and rushes to other room, mumbling. The stereo won’t stop so he pulls the plug and comes back to bedroom. Annie is upset.)
KEVIN: Okay, okay, maybe it is Bill. Some people do believe in ghosts. If it’s him, I wonder what he wants?
ANNIE: (Really upset) I don’t know. This is really driving me crazy. I can’t listen to the stereo. I can’t sleep. The cat is terrified. What are we going to do?
KEVIN: (Frustrated, moves Annie to the bed and they sit down.) Beats the heck out of me. I don’t know how to get rid of ghosts.
(The phone rings. Annie looks at it suspiciously.)
ANNIE: You answer it.
(Kevin picks up the phone.)
KEVIN: Hello. (Pause) Who’s this? (Pause) Just a minute. (Covers phone.)
KEVIN TO ANNIE: Who is Hans Holzer?
ANNIE: He’s a friend of mine, a famous parapsychologist known as the Ghost Hunter. He used Sybil as his medium to exorcise ghosts.
KEVIN: I don’t believe it. (Puts phone to his ear) Are you really a parapsychologist? (Pause) Prove it. (Pause. Incredulous look comes over his face.) He says y’all buried a refrigerator at Marie’s one night. (He hands phone to Annie.)
ANNIE: Hans, why are you calling? (Pause) No you didn’t wake me. (Pause) No, everything is not alright. Bad things are happening here at the house. (Pause) How did you know? (Pause) I think we’re having a problem with Bill Kirby. (Pause) Yes, he did die four weeks ago. He promised me he would talk to Sybil and bring back a message. If I didn’t hear from him in six weeks, then I would die too. But if I heard from him, I was going to be okay. (Pause) Our lights go on and off, the stereo blares loud, and the cat is scared. (Pause) No, we haven’t seen him. (Pause) Yes. (Pause) I think he was still jealous of Kevin. And you know he always worried about Cindy. (Pause) Yes, I know he’s trying to get our attention, but he’s really bothering us and I don’t know how to make him leave. Even Kevin is starting to believe. (Pause) No, I didn’t have Sybil put a curse on Bill. (Pause. Relief comes to her face.) Okay. Thanks a lot, Hans. I’ll let you know what happens.
(Annie hangs up the phone and turns to Kevin.)
KEVIN: You have weird friends. Why did he call in the middle of the night?
ANNIE: Hans woke up with a premonition that he should call me. He says there’s nothing to worry about. Nothing bad has happened, so Bill’s not dangerous. He’s just giving me a message from Sybil that I will have a long life; but he’s still mad at me. Hans said I should have a heart-to-heart with Bill and then maybe he’ll leave us alone.
KEVIN: I can’t believe this. What have I got myself into?
ANNIE: I’m glad to know I’m not going to die. I’ll talk to Bill tomorrow; I’m too exhausted to worry about ghosts any more tonight.
(They hear the front door open and close.)
KEVIN: Good, Cindy’s home.
(They hear the sounds of: doors close, the toilet flushes, the door to Cindy’s room closes.)
ANNIE: I can’t stay awake any longer, I have to sleep.
(Pause. The phone rings.)
KEVIN: Not again. (Picks up phone) Hans, what do you want now?
CINDY’S VOICE: This is Cindy, not Hans.
KEVIN: Why are you calling us?
CINDY: I wanted to tell you I’m staying out late tonight.
(Kevin sits up worried.)
KEVIN: Why are you calling from your room? We heard you come in.
CINDY: No Kevin, I haven’t been home tonight. I’m out with friends and met a cute guy, so I’ll be home later. Don’t wait up for me. Goodbye.
KEVIN: (Hangs up the phone and quivers) I heard her come in.
ANNIE: (Worried) I did too. Somebody’s in the house!
(Kevin gets up and grabs a pistol.)
KEVIN: I’ll go find him.
ANNIE: I’m staying right here. I can’t stand it anymore.
(Kevin, very nervous, both hands on pistol. Searches whole house, cupboards, under bed. Doesn’t find anyone.)
KEVIN: I know I heard someone, but I can’t find anybody.
ANNIE: Kevin, you know its Bill.
KEVIN: Stay where you are. I’ll look again.
ANNIE: I’m not going anywhere.
(Kevin searches house again, finds nothing. He sits on bed with Annie.)
ANNIE: You know its Bill don’t you?
KEVIN: (Reluctantly acknowledges) Yes, I believe it now. He must still be mad at you because you never did apologize. You gotta talk to him and bring this to an end.
ANNIE: (Sighs with resolve.) You’re right, I can’t put it off any longer.
(She reaches into a drawer, pulls out pendant on a necklace, and places it around her neck.)
KEVIN: Is that Sybil’s?
ANNIE: Yes.
ANNIE: Kevin, can I have some time alone with Bill?
(Kevin leaves the room. Spotlight on Annie. She fingers the pendant and looks up.)
ANNIE: Bill, I get your message. You must have talked to Sybil and now I know I’m not going to die anytime soon. Tell her hello for me. I’m sorry we had such a bad fight that night. We both said things we didn’t mean. I’m really sorry I gave your boots away, I shouldn’t have done that. But it was time we moved on, and things did work out for the best. I wish I could have been with you at the end, but your new wife wouldn’t let me come around. You would like Kevin. He takes good care of Cindy and me. (She smiles). We did have some great times roaming across Europe and Canada. Remember when we lived in that haunted castle in Spain?
(Light changes color and door slams.)
ANNIE: You taught me how to play blackjack in Monte Carlo.
(Light changes color and door slams.)
ANNIE: And the romantic beach in the Virgin Islands?
(Light changes color and door slams.)
ANNIE: Bill, I know you’re still worried about Cindy and me, but we’re going to be fine. You don’t need to come back anymore. You can go on now. Goodbye, Bill.
MUSIC: “Witchcraft” by Frank Sinatra
(Kevin returns to room and hugs Annie.)
ANNIE: He won’t bother us any more.
KEVIN: You made a believer out of me.
(Light flashes off and on. Book flies off shelf.)
KEVIN: Goodbye Bill.
Ghost Story(Gordon England)
GHOST TALE
Cast of Characters
ANNIE KIRBY, fifty five year old divorcee
KEVIN SMITH, boyfriend
CINDY KIRBY, Annie’s step daughter, 22 years old
Takes place over one night
Synopsis: This is a true story of a ghost, his wife’s ex-husband, which haunted
Gordon’s house and the ensuing drama to send him on to the afterlife.
SCENE 1
MUSIC: “Witchcraft” by Frank Sinatra
AT RISE: (A living room. Annie and Kevin enter carrying bags from shopping at mall. Kevin has big box with a stereo.)
ANNIE: We had such fun today. The sales at the mall were wonderful. I’m so glad you went with me.
KEVIN: I think you just wanted me along to carry boxes. (Teasing) I can’t wait to do it again.
ANNIE: I found these two-for-one shoes at Macys, one pair for me and one for Cindy. My little girl’s all grown up and wears the same style as me.
KEVIN: Daughters do that you know.
(Annie takes packages to bedroom and unpacks. Kevin unwraps stereo and installs it near a TV.)
ANNIE: I hope this stereo works better than the last one did. Can you believe it didn’t work and we had to take it back?
KEVIN: (Laughs) No, it sure was strange. The salesman wasn’t happy when we went back there again today. But all you had to do was flutter your eyes and he melted.
ANNIE: Oh stop that. He was okay the first time I returned it. I told him all of a sudden the music started playing loud and wouldn’t stop. It was probably a bad wire. It was still under warranty so he gave me a new one. But today he didn’t believe me when I told him the same thing happened again and its because my dead ex-husband Bill Kirby is haunting me.
KEVIN: (Laugh) When you told him the stereo was haunted he figured you were loony.
(Kevin finishes installing stereo and turns it on. Music plays softly. They sit on couch.)
KEVIN: See, this one works fine. There’s no ghost around here, there was just a bad batch of stereos from China.
ANNIE: But it’s true. What else could it be?
KEVIN: Annie, you know I don’t believe in ghosts. I’m an engineer and there’s a scientific reason for everything.
ANNIE: Too bad you didn’t know Sybil.
KEVIN: Sybil who?
ANNIE: Sybil Leek. She was a very famous English witch who practiced the Wicca religion.
KEVIN: What’s that?
ANNIE: Don’t you know anything? Wicca is a pre-Christian religion meaning “Craft of the Wise.” Its basic tenants are tolerance and understanding. Sybil was the high priestess of White Witchcraft. I interviewed her for my radio show and we became best friends and roommates. She wrote dozens of books and did radio and TV interviews around the world. I gave her eulogy a few years ago when she passed away.
(Annie pours herself a glass of wine)
KEVIN: (Gives her a strange look) You’re kidding me.
ANNIE: You could feel her aura. Once we had a séance to find her pet snake, Sashima, that was hiding in our house. Thirteen members of her coven gathered in a circle under a full moon where we chanted and said prayers. She used a small, black, double-edged knife called an athame as her wand that magically led her to the snake hiding in my console stereo.
KEVIN: I think you were drinking too much wine.
(Cindy enters room)
CINDY: How was the mall?
ANNIE: You wouldn’t believe the sale. Look what I found for you. (Annie shows her the shoes. Cindy puts them on.)
CINDY: Oh thank you thank you, they’re gorgeous. I’ll wear them tonight. Did you get a new stereo?
ANNIE: Yes. I don’t think the salesman believed my story about your father haunting it. He said this was the last time he would replace it. Kevin doesn’t believe me either.
KEVIN: Of course not. These’s no such thing as ghosts.
ANNIE: (Looks toward Kevin, eyes down) Well, I didn’t tell you everything.
KEVIN: About what?
ANNIE: I went to see Bill five weeks ago before he died.
KEVIN: You didn’t tell me that.
ANNIE: He called to tell me he was dying and wanted to see me one more time. His new wife hated me, so he had to sneak out of the house and meet me in a park.
KEVIN: What did he say?
ANNIE: He said after he died he would talk with Sybil about my destiny and if I didn’t hear from him in six weeks I was going to die soon.
KEVIN: And you believed him?
ANNIE: Yes.
KEVIN: Did he say anything about me?
ANNIE: He hoped you would treat me good.
(Kevin shakes his head.)
CINDY: Dad and Sybil were friends and often talked about the afterlife. Remember the time we had an exorcism for your friend Marie?
ANNIE: It wasn’t an exorcism; it was a cleansing. And she wasn’t possessed; she just couldn’t recover from her husband, Paul, dying in a terrible car wreck. Anyway, I don’t want to talk about it.
CINDY: Well, I was there and I’ll never forget that night. It was in the backyard of Marie’s house on the beach. Dad told me to stay away, but I watched from the house. Sybil thought Paul was still around wanting to say goodbye. We waited until June 23, the date of traditional Midsummer Night celebrations, when Sybil’s power was strongest. Following ancient customs from Norway, Marie was laid next to a bonfire with a cross. Sybil and three witches walked around the fire and then sprinkled consecrated water in a circle around Marie. Sybil’s crystal pendant turned bright green as she chanted a spell to drive Paul away. Ye Lords of the Watchtowers, ye lords of fire: I do summon, stir and call you up, to witness our rights and guard the circle. (Laugh) And then y’all dug a hole in the ground and buried a refrigerator. That was the craziest thing I ever saw. But Marie was okay after that. Right mom?
ANNIE: (Sheepishly) Yes, it did work.
KEVIN: What kind of women have I gotten mixed up with?
CINDY: (Laughs and hugs Annie) I’ll see y’all later.
KEVIN: Where are you going?
CINDY: Out with my friends.
ANNIE: Have a good time.
KEVIN: Good night.
(Cindy goes out the door.)
KEVIN: (Shakes his head with disbelief) Was she serious?
ANNIE: I knew you wouldn’t believe it. That’s why I didn’t tell you.
KEVIN: You have all kinds of secrets. Lets call it a day, I’ve had enough of these ridiculous ghost stories.
(Kevin walks toward bedroom. A book flies off a bookshelf, almost hitting him)
KEVIN: (incredulous) What the heck? Did you see that?
(Kevin picks up book, examines it, and returns it to bookshelf.)
ANNIE: (pensive) Not again. (She shivers) Do you feel cold air? That’s the sign of a ghost. What’s your explanation for that, Mr. Engineer?
KEVIN: (Looks doubtful) I don’t know.
ANNIE: First the stereo and now this. I just want Bill to leave. I need more wine.
(Annie pours herself a drink.)
KEVIN: How long has it been since Bill died?
ANNIE: Four weeks. I’m glad he showed up because that means I’m not going to die soon, but I just wish he would leave me alone.
KEVIN: I don’t know if this craziness is Bill, but I sure wish it would stop. Let’s go to bed.
(They go to bed and read books.)
KEVIN: You divorced him long ago. Do you think he’s still mad at you?
ANNIE: I don’t know. We never really talked about it after that day in court.
KEVIN: (Seriously) I don’t think he ever forgave you for throwing his clothes into the front yard and giving his snakeskin boots to Goodwill.
ANNIE: I thought he was over that.
KEVIN: Some guys have long memories, especially about their boots.
ANNIE: (Mischievously) I hated them. He looked like a cowboy all over Europe. Let’s go to sleep. I’m tired of worrying about ghosts.
(Kevin turns out the lights. Pause. All the lights in the house come on. Cat runs under bed and yowls. The alarm clock blares and the stereo plays loud.)
ANNIE: (Screams) Make it stop, Kevin!
(Kevin pushes the alarm button but it will not turn off. He pulls the plug and rushes to other room, mumbling. The stereo won’t stop so he pulls the plug and comes back to bedroom. Annie is upset.)
KEVIN: Okay, okay, maybe it is Bill. Some people do believe in ghosts. If it’s him, I wonder what he wants?
ANNIE: (Really upset) I don’t know. This is really driving me crazy. I can’t listen to the stereo. I can’t sleep. The cat is terrified. What are we going to do?
KEVIN: (Frustrated, moves Annie to the bed and they sit down.) Beats the heck out of me. I don’t know how to get rid of ghosts.
(The phone rings. Annie looks at it suspiciously.)
ANNIE: You answer it.
(Kevin picks up the phone.)
KEVIN: Hello. (Pause) Who’s this? (Pause) Just a minute. (Covers phone.)
KEVIN TO ANNIE: Who is Hans Holzer?
ANNIE: He’s a friend of mine, a famous parapsychologist known as the Ghost Hunter. He used Sybil as his medium to exorcise ghosts.
KEVIN: I don’t believe it. (Puts phone to his ear) Are you really a parapsychologist? (Pause) Prove it. (Pause. Incredulous look comes over his face.) He says y’all buried a refrigerator at Marie’s one night. (He hands phone to Annie.)
ANNIE: Hans, why are you calling? (Pause) No you didn’t wake me. (Pause) No, everything is not alright. Bad things are happening here at the house. (Pause) How did you know? (Pause) I think we’re having a problem with Bill Kirby. (Pause) Yes, he did die four weeks ago. He promised me he would talk to Sybil and bring back a message. If I didn’t hear from him in six weeks, then I would die too. But if I heard from him, I was going to be okay. (Pause) Our lights go on and off, the stereo blares loud, and the cat is scared. (Pause) No, we haven’t seen him. (Pause) Yes. (Pause) I think he was still jealous of Kevin. And you know he always worried about Cindy. (Pause) Yes, I know he’s trying to get our attention, but he’s really bothering us and I don’t know how to make him leave. Even Kevin is starting to believe. (Pause) No, I didn’t have Sybil put a curse on Bill. (Pause. Relief comes to her face.) Okay. Thanks a lot, Hans. I’ll let you know what happens.
(Annie hangs up the phone and turns to Kevin.)
KEVIN: You have weird friends. Why did he call in the middle of the night?
ANNIE: Hans woke up with a premonition that he should call me. He says there’s nothing to worry about. Nothing bad has happened, so Bill’s not dangerous. He’s just giving me a message from Sybil that I will have a long life; but he’s still mad at me. Hans said I should have a heart-to-heart with Bill and then maybe he’ll leave us alone.
KEVIN: I can’t believe this. What have I got myself into?
ANNIE: I’m glad to know I’m not going to die. I’ll talk to Bill tomorrow; I’m too exhausted to worry about ghosts any more tonight.
(They hear the front door open and close.)
KEVIN: Good, Cindy’s home.
(They hear the sounds of: doors close, the toilet flushes, the door to Cindy’s room closes.)
ANNIE: I can’t stay awake any longer, I have to sleep.
(Pause. The phone rings.)
KEVIN: Not again. (Picks up phone) Hans, what do you want now?
CINDY’S VOICE: This is Cindy, not Hans.
KEVIN: Why are you calling us?
CINDY: I wanted to tell you I’m staying out late tonight.
(Kevin sits up worried.)
KEVIN: Why are you calling from your room? We heard you come in.
CINDY: No Kevin, I haven’t been home tonight. I’m out with friends and met a cute guy, so I’ll be home later. Don’t wait up for me. Goodbye.
KEVIN: (Hangs up the phone and quivers) I heard her come in.
ANNIE: (Worried) I did too. Somebody’s in the house!
(Kevin gets up and grabs a pistol.)
KEVIN: I’ll go find him.
ANNIE: I’m staying right here. I can’t stand it anymore.
(Kevin, very nervous, both hands on pistol. Searches whole house, cupboards, under bed. Doesn’t find anyone.)
KEVIN: I know I heard someone, but I can’t find anybody.
ANNIE: Kevin, you know its Bill.
KEVIN: Stay where you are. I’ll look again.
ANNIE: I’m not going anywhere.
(Kevin searches house again, finds nothing. He sits on bed with Annie.)
ANNIE: You know its Bill don’t you?
KEVIN: (Reluctantly acknowledges) Yes, I believe it now. He must still be mad at you because you never did apologize. You gotta talk to him and bring this to an end.
ANNIE: (Sighs with resolve.) You’re right, I can’t put it off any longer.
(She reaches into a drawer, pulls out pendant on a necklace, and places it around her neck.)
KEVIN: Is that Sybil’s?
ANNIE: Yes.
ANNIE: Kevin, can I have some time alone with Bill?
(Kevin leaves the room. Spotlight on Annie. She fingers the pendant and looks up.)
ANNIE: Bill, I get your message. You must have talked to Sybil and now I know I’m not going to die anytime soon. Tell her hello for me. I’m sorry we had such a bad fight that night. We both said things we didn’t mean. I’m really sorry I gave your boots away, I shouldn’t have done that. But it was time we moved on, and things did work out for the best. I wish I could have been with you at the end, but your new wife wouldn’t let me come around. You would like Kevin. He takes good care of Cindy and me. (She smiles). We did have some great times roaming across Europe and Canada. Remember when we lived in that haunted castle in Spain?
(Light changes color and door slams.)
ANNIE: You taught me how to play blackjack in Monte Carlo.
(Light changes color and door slams.)
ANNIE: And the romantic beach in the Virgin Islands?
(Light changes color and door slams.)
ANNIE: Bill, I know you’re still worried about Cindy and me, but we’re going to be fine. You don’t need to come back anymore. You can go on now. Goodbye, Bill.
MUSIC: “Witchcraft” by Frank Sinatra
(Kevin returns to room and hugs Annie.)
ANNIE: He won’t bother us any more.
KEVIN: You made a believer out of me.
(Light flashes off and on. Book flies off shelf.)
KEVIN: Goodbye Bill.
JD
10/16/2018Hi Gordon, Congratulations on yet another front page feature as one of the Short Story STARS of the Week! THANK YOU for all the great short stories you've shared on Storystar! I especially love the true stories, and really enjoy reading about all the adventures and experiences you've had in your life! : )
ReplyHelp Us Understand What's Happening
Kevin Hughes
10/15/2018Gordon,
Wonderful tale, and on stage it would be even easier to grasp. I am not so sure any "Ghost Story" is True, but on the other hand I don't know that they aren't- at least to the folks experiencing them. So no "boo" for this story.
Smiles, Kevin
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JD
06/28/2018That's a pretty spooky story, Gordon! Hard to believe it is TRUE, but thinking that it is makes it even spookier! I assume that since it ended with 'Goodbye Bill' the ghost never returned and all was well thereafter, so that's good to know! Thanks for sharing your ghostly tale with us! : )
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