The Drugged Damsel

1
The Drugged Damsel

• By Emily Metzger and Nelly Ruehl

2

• Youve probably never thought about whether or
  not you have any enemies. Marigold Williams
  thought she was her fathers golden child and
  that everyone loved her. But little did she know,
  those closest to her would be the ones to betray
  her

3

• Swish, swish, swish. Jane sighed as she swept the
  floor of her hut.
• If I hadnt been so clumsy, Id be sweeping a
  marble floor instead of a wooden one.
• Sweeping stopped abruptly as the unforgettable
  memory flooded the maids thoughts.
• That prissy princess had no right to kick me
  out, even if oi did spill tea onta er. She
  smirked. Though it was verah funny when she
  hopped up, screaming like a banshee. A frown
  replaced the smirk. Still, the world would be
  lot better without people like her.
• She stared out the window toward the castle,
  loathing it with her eyes. Little did she know
  that inside that very castle, someone else was
  having negative thoughts about Marigold.

4

• Stop worrying Edith, the count shall choose you,
  and then you will be the favored one, not
  Marigold. A mousy, plain, and bushy-haired girl
  said to herself, peering intensely into a looking
  glass. But Marigold is so pretty, with those
  golden curls, and clear blue eyes she sighed
  gloomily. Who am I fooling? She shall win the
  counts hand and not I. Silence. Perhaps there
  is a way to guarantee that she will not win.
  Outside her bedroom window, raised voices could
  be heard.

5

• That poor lad. Cant fathom why es allova
  sudden so unappy these last few days.
• I ear it as to do with Miss Marigold.
• Well Is heard it as to do with Miss Edith.
• There was a brief pause between the gossiping
  stable hands before they all burst out laughing.
• Miss Edith! Her! Thats a good un!
• Little did they know that Peter, the boy that
  they had been discussing, was around the corner.
  Marigoldthat name filled him with both remorse
  and anger. She was a goddess, in appearances at
  least. Just two days ago, he had confessed his
  boyish crush on her, and she threw it on the
  ground and stomped on it. Her exact words would
  never erase from her thoughtsWhat? You, a mere
  stable boy, fancy me, a beautiful lady? That is
  revolting! Remove yourself from my sight
  immediately! Blinding hate instantly replaced
  the remorse. Shed pay for breaking his heart
  like that. However, before Peter could think
  about the girl any more, a page rang a large bell
  to call attention to himself.

6

• Hear ye! Hear ye! Lord Williams has made a
  proclamation. Tomorrow at sundown, the Count of
  Normandy will choose his bride from Lord
  Williams two exquisite daughters, Marigold, and
  Edith. There will be a grand feast to celebrate
  the occasion and all nobles and people worthy of
  the occasion are welcome to come.
• The page turned and left the town square,
  leaving everyone talking excitedly about who the
  count would pick the next day.

7

• The next day

8

• It was an hour before the grand party, and the
  Williams castle was filled with panic and
  activity. Everyone was running about, hurrying to
  prepare for the vast amount of guests. Everyone
  that is, except Marigold and Edith.
• The two girls were in Ediths room, talking to
  one another (Well actually, Marigold was bragging
  to Edith.)
• Honestly Edith, I dont understand why youre
  even bothering to attend this party. The blonde
  glanced at herself in Ediths mirror, a confidant
  look on her elegant features. If you have to
  compete against me for the count, youll surely
  lose. Edith remained silent, but there were
  plenty of thought buzzing around in her head. Her
  sister continued to compliment herself
  mindlessly, as if to make Edith even more
  depressed. This continued until the two girls
  father, Lord Williams, entered the room.

9

• Good evening, Father. Both sisters said in
  unison.
• Where have you been all day? questioned
  Marigold.
• Ive been in the village, checking up on a few
  patients. Countess Winters has a nasty flu, so
  she wont be making the celebration tonight.
  Lord Williams sat gingerly upon Ediths feather
  bed.
• Oh, papa, thats a shame. Said Marigold in
  slightly whiney voice. Fewer guests meant less
  attention when the count announced he would marry
  her.
• Yes, yes, I know, but dont worry about the
  countess. You two have a party to attend. Im
  going to take a quick bath and change, and then
  Ill join you. Be quick, the guests are waiting.
  The exhausted father stood and left, leaving the
  sisters alone once more.

10

• You may go first, Edith. I want to make a grand
  entrance. With an unnoticed roll of her eyes,
  Edith quietly obeyed.
• Ladies and gentleman, may I have your attention
  please. Announcing, Miss Edith Williams, daughter
  of Lord Williams, the wealthy practitioner.
  Polite clapping was the only noticeable reaction
  from the guests, as Edith descended down the
  stairs. And now, announcing the lovely and
  charming Miss Marigold, also the daughter of Lord
  Williams, the wealthy practitioner. This time,
  when Marigold stepped royally down the red
  carpeted stairs, applause the large castle.
• Thank you, thank you my people. She waved her
  gloved hands gently, smiling sweetly.
• While all of this recognition was going on,
  Edith was huddled into a corner, arms crossed.
  She was emotionless. This kind of thing was
  normal, ever since they were old enough to walk.
  Yes, Marigold always got the attention, and she
  was shunned. Edith didnt know any different.
  Finally, Marigold was left alone, and the guests
  were allowed to enter the grand hall.

11

• The aroma of roasted duck and venison filled the
  air and drew the people toward the dining hall.
  The guests sat down to a long wooden table with
  vegetables of every kind, and an assortment of
  tender meats. The meal was so rich that nobody
  would be able to eat even half of it. Everyone
  was laughing and talking, and up till this point
  it seemed like nothing would go wrong.
• Marigold dear, Lady Williams asked, Could you
  please pass the potatoes? Pause.
• Marigold! Get your head off your plate at once!
  Youre getting your clothes filthy! Marigold?
  Marigold! She reached over the table and poked
  her, thinking perhaps, just perhaps, she was
  asleep. Suddenly, she let out a shrill scream as
  if someone had just cut off her arm. Marigold had
  her head down on her plate, and her eyes were
  staring motionless ahead. A silence crept over
  everyone, as if God has gradually turned down the
  Earths volume knob.

12

• Shes dead! Someone screamed. Everyone started
  running frantically about yelling, A murderer is
  loose! A murderer is loose! Lord Williams
  eventually stood up, in front of the panicking
  frenzy, and cleared his voice, though it remained
  shaky.
• Ladies.. and gentlemen. It seems my beloved
  daughter Marigold is dead- He was cut off by the
  loud sobbing coming from his wife.
• -But do not fear. The constable and his men are
  already on their way. Still, the guests moved
  stiffly around, eying each other as if they were
  the killer. A few moments later, the constable
  and his men did arrive, comforting the people
  immensely.
• Ahem. The constable cleared his throat.
• My name is Constable Jones. It is quite
  unfortunate that Miss Williams has left this
  world, but Im sure shes in a better place. Now,
  all that attended this so called celebration
  you may leave, but only after giving your names
  and addresses to my men at the door. There was a
  rush of people heading out of the room.

13

• But it was too late. The room was, for the
  most part empty, save Lord and Lady Williams,
  and the Count of Normandy. The Count slowly
  approached the grieving parents with a bowed
  head.
• I am very sorry for your loss. If there is
  anything I can do.. The Lord Williams shook his
  head, before taking the young mans hand.
• Thank you Count. Go home. I suppose the upcoming
  wedding if off, since thr bride is dead. The
  Count was about to say something, but the father
  cut him off.
• No, dont say anything. Its not your fault. Now
  go home, your grace, and get some sleep. We could
  all use some. Sighing, the Count of Normandy
  pivoted on his heels and strode out of the Great
  Hall.
• Poor man, Lord Williams murmured, before
  turning to the constable.
• Have you examined my daughter yet, sir? The man
  remained silent, staring behind the Lord at the
  so called scene of the crime. Finally, after a
  few moments, he spoke.

14

• It seems your daughter died of poison, Milord.
• What?! Exclaimed the grieving father.
• How do you know?
• Well, Marigold doesnt have any health problems,
  correct? Lord Williams nodded.
• Since there is no weapon wound, it is obvious
  that she must have done something to trigger her
  death. Also, there is an empty glass in her hand.
  So, because of the missing liquid and no physical
  wound, it has been concluded that her drink or
  food was poisoned. Now, you are a practitioner,
  right? Again, the dumbfounded father nodded.
• Smell her cup, if you will. Hesitantly, Lord
  Williams did as he was told. A puzzling look
  formed on his face.
• Yes? Tell me what you smell, Doctor. The
  constable said calmly.
• I smell.. a high concentrate of opium and
  ether.
• Correct. Marigold is plenty old to drink wine,
  which she did. This particular brand of wine is
  quite strong, so it easily overcame the taste of
  the two drugs. Also, since opium and ether are
  highly addictive, even if the wine tasted strange
  to Marigold, she wouldnt have been able to stop
  drinking. Tears welled up in the Lords eyes.
• My poor darling. She didnt know what she was
  drinking. The constable put a hand comfortingly
  on the sorrowful fathers shoulder.

15

• Sir, if youre quite alright, I will continue.
  Sniffing, Lord William nodded yet again.
• Now. Since you yourself have these drugs in your
  stock, it can be assumed that someone in the
  castle that knows their way around killed your
  daughter. Perhaps an envious servant? Do any
  servants dislike your Marigold?
• Hm. Not that I know of. But the servants
  wouldnt know that a large concentration of opium
  and ether combined is lethal." The constable
  rubbed his rough chin thoughtfully. "You are
  right. Also, why would a servant choose now to
  kill her? With all these people? Now, it was
  someone with a reason. Let us see" He glared
  searchingly down at Marigold's corpse. "Who were
  the candidates for the count's hand?"

16

• "Well" The father thought for a bit. " At first,
  it was Marigold, Edith, and the Lady Isabella,
  but Isabella fell in love with a rogue and ran
  away, so that leaves Edith. Why?"
• "I think your other daughter is a murderer."
  This left Lord Williams shocked and furious.
• "Now see here Constable! How dare you just
  assume it was my Edith! She's harmless, plus she
  loves her sister dearly!" thundered the lord.
• Constable Jones remained calm, even as the angry
  father yelled in his face. "Sir, if you'll just
  listen, I will prove this to you." Despite his
  overwhelming anger, the lord listened. "Alright,
  since Marigold died right before the count's
  announcement, this means that someone didn't want
  her to win. Who else but the other candidate?
  Also, you are her father, so she would have been
  with you long enough to know where you keep your
  chemicals and what is or isn't lethal. Tell me
  sir, can you think of another who would have
  access to this information?" Silence then a loud
  outburst.

17

• "I still do not believe Edith would kill her own
  sister. Now, take your men and leave my property
  so I can put your foolish logic behind me. Lord
  Williams stuck his nose into the air, and
  ascended the stairs, in a hurried motion to get
  to Edith, who had retired shortly after the
  murder. He was about to knock on the door, when
  he heard a raised voice.
• "Good day, Countess Edith." A giggle. "Countess,
  I will never tire of that title. The plan worked
  perfectly. Not only will I be rid of that
  annoying brat, but I shall be a countess!"
• "I'm afraid darling, that won't be happening."
  The father and daughter gasped in unison. The
  constable had used the door connecting Edith's
  room, and the lady-in-waiting's room to overhear
  her bragging.
• "You'll be spending your time in the jail,
  rather than a rich palace. Slowly, he stepped
  into Ediths room, followed by numerous amounts
  of his men. Both Edith and her father couldnt
  speak, even as she was being driven away in the
  jail carriage. Instead, Lord Williams fainted,
  and was carried off to bed soon after.

18

• Its a shame, the Count told the constable
  later. I was going to choose Edith in the first
  place.

19

• And that is the end of our beautiful story.
  Didnt you just love it? Were so happy you
  enjoyed it.

20
Making of the Thing Outtakes
21
(No Transcript)
22
(No Transcript)
23
(No Transcript)
24
(No Transcript)
25

• The End (AT LAST)