The Beast Folk Taste Blood

Pages 38 - 45

 

Moreau: Who is he?

Ape Man: [Overlap] Who? Who? Who?

Swine Woman: [Overlap] No! No!

Dog Woman: [Overlap] Not I, Master!

Hyaena–Swine Man: [Overlap] The Want is strong…

Vixen–Bear Woman: [Overlap; to the SLOTH CHILD] None escape!

 

Moreau cracks the whip (circus crack)

 

 

Moreau: [In a voice like thunder] Who is he?

 

Sayer of the Law: Evil is he who breaks the Law.

Moreau: He who breaks the Law…

 

Sayer of the Law: Goes back to the House of Pain, Master!

 

Beast Folk: Back to the House of Pain!

 

Moreau: [To the LEOPARD MAN] Do you hear?

LEOPARD stands warily and moves to C, against the vom steps, pacing a bit back and forth. MOREAU moves to C, his heels against the US platform.

 

 

 

Moreau (cont'd): Do you hear?

 

Swine Woman: None escape!

 

Moreau: [To the LEOPARD MAN] Do you hear me?

 

Dog Woman: None escape!

 

Moreau: [To the LEOPARD MAN] You have broken the Law!

 

MOREAU lashes (diagonal circus crack) LEOPARD. LEOPARD drops to the ground at once, spinning partly SR. He is in great agony.

 

 

Sayer of the Law: Punishment is sharp and sure!

 

Ape Man: Back to the House of Pain!

With great effort, LEOPARD stands again to face MOREAU.

 

 

Leopard Man: [To the BEAST FOLK] We are many!

 

Moreau: [To the LEOPARD MAN] Bow down!

MOREAU lashes him (vertical circus crack) and LEOPARD goes down again, turning to SL onto hands and knees. MOREAU lashes him (diagonal circus crack) across the back and LEOPARD flattens to prone with the blow. MOREAU lashes him (diagonal circus crack) and LEOPARD reacts again.

 

 

Beast Folk: Back to the House of Pain!

LEOPARD manages to lift his torso only off the ground.

 

 

Leopard Man: They are few!

 

MOREAU lashes him (diagonal circus crack) again, and LEOPARD is driven back down to prone, seemingly defeated.

 

 

Beast Folk: Back to the House of Pain!

 

 

SWINE WOMAN approaches LEOPARD gingerly, offering a touch and unspoken comfort. LEOPARD looks up at her.

 

 

Leopard Man: They fear us!

 

Swine Woman: No!

 

Leopard Man: We can fight!

 

Swine Woman: No!

SWINE WOMAN backs away against the SL wall. After a moment, HYAENA-SWINE MAN moves a bit towards LEOPARD.

 

 

Hyaena–Swine Man: Yes! Fight!

LEOPARD's head lifts in a glimmer of hope.

 

 

Moreau: [To the LEOPARD MAN] Bow down before me!

HYAENA-SWINE MAN backs away, cowed before MOREAU. LEOPARD also bows his head. MOREAU turns to regard PRENDICK with disgust. Suddenly LEOPARD leaps toward MOREAU in a dive roll, knocking the hated whip from the Master's hand. PRENDICK avoids the beast by moving DSR, while MONTGOMERY and M'LING move USR.

 

 

Leopard Man: They are weak. We are strong!

LEOPARD leaps at Moreau, batting with claws and trying to bite. MOREAU catches LEOPARD under the arms and forces him out to arm's length. PRENDICK moves forward, raising the gun to bear at LEOPARD.

 

 

Prendick: Moreau…

 

Moreau: Prendick, stay back.

LEOPARD tries to bite MOREAU's neck, but MOREAU grabs (right hand) LEOPARD by the scruff of the neck, wrenching his head back. MOREAU throws LEOPARD to the ground SL.

 

 

Leopard Man: Fight! Fight back!

 

Moreau: Don't kill it!

LEOPARD leaps at MOREAU again and PRENDICK fires, hitting LEOPARD at the forehead and instantly dropping him dead.

 

 

Moreau (cont'd): Confound you, Prendick!