The Love Talker
Kelsey Painter Voice for Mina
Accent: Appalachian / Southern US
Background:
Mina was born in a tiny mountain community. She has a heart defect and has not expected to have lived as long as she has. Because of this, she has volunteered to meet a dangerous person in the place of other young women in her community.
Mina tries to find out the truth about the dangerous man she’s met. She’s afraid of him, but she can’t risk him abandoning her and going after someone else. Do not record the Man’s lines, they are here for reference.
MINA
My name is Mina. What's yours?
[He ignores her question.]
MAN
You are not afraid of me.
MINA
(laughs)
I am. I just ain't got the strength to show it. (pause) Should I be afraid of you? There's all sorts of stories we tell about you and have been told for years. That... you bewitch girls. Make them fall in love with you. You get your hooks in their hearts. Carry them off. (pause) Do you kill them?
[Pause.]
MAN
Not always.
MINA
But they die.
[Pause.]
MAN
Yes.
[Pause.]
MINA
Are you going to kill me? Because... because if... if you are... I ... I won't fight it. If it means you'll... you'll leave the other girls alone.
The man has brought Mina to an abandoned house. Night has fallen and the man leaves her alone in the dark. She struggles to control her fear. Eostre=”Easter”
MINA
Hello? (pause) This must have been a pretty garden, once. Some lovely things can grow in even these long shadows. The ground looks all turned over though. (pause) Hello? Mister are you still there?
[Pause. She rises, begins to walk a little.]
MINA
Mister?
[Clink of bones as she treads on them.]
MINA
What's... Are these... bones?
MAN
Yes.
[She drops them. Clatter.]
MINA
Oh. (pause) Mister I can't see you anymore. Won't you talk to me?
[He leaves unseen.]
MINA
Mister? (pause) Mister, are you there? Are you just going to leave me here? It's getting cold. Please... (pause) ... are you there? I thought we had an agreement?
[Only the quiet of the woods answers. She sits down again.]
MINA
(a prayer)
Mothers, keep us, wi' the de’il come.
Mother Mary, o let us in.
Mother Brigid, bring fire to our skins.
Mother Eostre, raise us from the soil again.
Mothers, keep us wi' the de’il come.