Read The Great Carbuncle Page 9

PIGGSNORTO

  John, we've killed one man today. You think my family won't find a way of getting even if you snitch?

  CACAPHODEL

  (to JOHN) Let's be wise. Nothing can be gained by turning ourselves in. If you insist on being noble, then Mr. Piggsnorto will dispose of you, and I'll be forced to tell the authorities that you were lost as well.

  DE VERE

  As will I.

  Beat.

  JOHN

  Fine. Let's go back. What do we tell the Robins?

  PIGGSNORTO

  He got lost in the woods. Didn't you hear us?

  JOHN

  About the Great Carbuncle.

  CACAPHODEL

  Since we don't have it on us, we obviously didn't find it. We must have been mistaken.

  JOHN

  Matthew's going to be mad.

  PIGGSNORTO

  To hell with him! He gives us more trouble than he's worth, then he'll get lost too. Him and Hannah. I'm through with this. We're outta here.

  PIGGSNORTO, CACAPHODEL, and JOHN begin to leave. DE VERE walks to the edge and motions a cross over HIS chest and head.

  DE VERE

  God speed, Seeker. At least you found that which you always sought.

  DE VERE nods to the rest, and all exit.

  END ACT II, SCENE II

  ACT II, SCENE III

  It's evening in the same weather as before. If sunset is near, you'd never be able to tell, because it looks like nightfall already. The river is nearby, but it's frozen over.

  MATTHEW and HANNAH enter, carrying backpacks. MATTHEW is holding up HANNAH in HIS arms as they walk. HANNAH is falling victim to the freezing climate.

  MATTHEW

  It's times like these that make you a praying man. Last time I remember praying, Charlie's bullets were flying by my head, giving me a new haircut.

  HANNAH

  Do...do you see them? Is there...any...red light?

  MATTHEW

  I don't see anything, sweetie.

  HANNAH

  Do you...see it? Is it here?

  MATTHEW

  You need another rest.

  HANNAH

  No, I--

  MATTHEW

  Sit.

  MATTHEW slowly sits HANNAH down on the ground, and HE sits down beside HER.

  HANNAH

  We have-ve-ve....have to find it.

  MATTHEW

  We're not finding it.

  HANNAH

  Matthew...

  MATTHEW

  What?

  HANNAH

  We... need it.

  MATTHEW

  No. No we don't. I don't care how much that rock is worth, we don't need it this bad.

  HANNAH

  But what ab...bout our home?

  MATTHEW

  It'll still be ours after a hundred years' worth of payments.

  HANNAH stares into MATTHEW's eyes, pleading to HIM.

  MATTHEW

  Hannah, you're frozen stiff. We need to get you to a fire.

  HANNAH

  I'm...I'm...okay.

  MATTHEW

  You are? Then say, "Big Bobby Bear" without stuttering.

  HANNAH

  Big...B-b-b--

  MATTHEW

  That's it. We're leaving.

  HANNAH

  No!

  MATTHEW

  Hannah, I love you, and I let you make most of the decisions for us. I'm not good at the little things like cooking, bills, and what-not, but when it comes to the big stuff, I know what's right. If those bastards found the Great Carbuncle, then lots of luck to them. I'm not going to lose you. Now, get up and start walking with me. We're going home.

  MATTHEW stands, waiting for HANNAH to stand up.