A Requiem and Waltz

The Players -
The Masked Elfen as Brennan Stormcrow
The Shrouded Beauty as Rowena Nightshade
The Lady in Black as Mother Night
Ugly Feathers as He who was once Raven
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Introduction: An ominous looking bird alights upon the branch of the Master
Ravenwood Tree. The bird chuckles in a throaty warbling manner and begins to
speak. At first it seems as if it is conversing with itself. Closer examination
reveals it to be addressing a female figure sitting at the base of the Tree.
Clothed entirely in black, the woman's garb is so deep in shadow that she
blends in with the surrounding night time sky.

Ugly Feathers: Shall we work our wonder my fated companion?

The Lady in Black: Yes, I think we shall.

Ugly Feathers: It is cruel of us is it not? To do what we do? To remind them of
what they have lost?

The Lady in Black: Of what they have gained you mean?

Ugly Feathers: Perhaps.

The Lady in Black (Casting a glance at the little bird.): It matters not. Let
them dance. It amuses me.

Ugly Feathers (Laughing.): Yes! Let them dance!
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Scene One: The Shrouded Beauty sits in a glade below the Master Ravenwood Tree.
She is cold, not in temperature, but in demeanor. All warmth of emotion has left
her, only the memory of vanity remains. A Masked Elfen emerges silently from a
secreted trail. He walks with a shambling gait; the memory of grace has left
him completely.

The Shrouded Beauty: Your crown is broken away from me.

The Masked Elfen: I cannot, He commands me.

The Shrouded Beauty (Laughing.): Ha!

The Masked Elfen casts his eyes downwards.

The Shrouded Beauty (Resigned to her fate.): Come then. Let us provide this
morbid entertainment. I would enjoy it more were I the one watching and not the
one performing.

--From the Master Ravenwood Tree--

The Lady in Black: The little ones do not resist as they once did.

Ugly Feathers: Still they will dance.

The Lady in Black: Will they entertain?

Ugly Feathers: It does not matter. We command, they act. Such is Power and
Power is all the entertainment I require.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Scene Two: The Shrouded Beauty rises and presents herself to the Masked Elfen.
He takes the dominant position grasping her right hand with his left.
Displeasure emanates from her but she accepts as it is his role to lead.
Looking over her right shoulder, he places his right hand on her side, just
above her waste. Their bodies and shoulders are parallel and rigid.

--From the Master Ravenwood Tree--

The Lady in Black: Do we make music for them to keep rhythm?

Ugly Feathers: No. The sounds of the forest are enough. Joy is lost to them.
Music is lost.

The Lady in Black (Nodding): As you say.

Ugly Feathers: As their resistance lessens our cruelty increases. We must
compensate to ensure our satisfaction.

The Lady in Black (Still nodding.): Again, as you say.
____________________________________________________________________________________
--The Dance Begins--

Left Box Turn - Man's foot Position. Man's progression is left foot forward,
right foot diagonal forward, and left foot slide to meet right foot, right foot
back, left foot diagonal back, and right foot slide to meet left foot.

Start Position - Closed (Facing Line of dance.)
Rhythm - One, two, three. One, two, three.

The Masked Elfen (Moving his head to face the direction of the steps.): Forgive
me for this.

The Shrouded Beauty: I have no memory of forgiveness.

Left Box Turn -Woman's Foot Position. Woman's progression is right foot back,
left foot diagonal back, right foot slide to meet left foot, left foot forward,
and right foot diagonal forward, left foot slide to meet right foot.

Start Position - Closed (Facing Line of dance.)
Rhythm -One, Two, Three. One, Two, Three.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
--The Dance Continues--

Change - Man's Foot Position. Man's progression is left foot forward, right
foot slide, and left foot back to meet right foot. Then reverse, right foot
forward, left foot slide, right foot back to meet left foot.

Start Position - Closed. (Facing Line of Dance.)
Rhythm - One, two. One.

The Masked Elfen (Moving his head to face the direction of the couple's
movement.): I was once your Summer King.

The Shrouded Beauty (Consciously avoiding eye contact.): I reign alone. All
others must serve.

Change - Woman's Foot Position. Woman's progression is right foot back, left
foot slide, and right foot slide to meet left foot. Then reverse left foot
back, right foot slide, and left foot slide to meet right foot.

Start Position (Facing Line of dance.)
Rhythm - One, two. One.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
--The Dance Continues--

Hesitations. Man's Foot Position. Man's progression is left foot forward, right
foot forward to meet left foot. Next progression is right foot back, left foot
back to meet right foot. . Final progression is left foot slide, right foot
slide.

Start Position - Closed.
Rhythm - One. Two.

Hesitations continued. (See Diagram.)

Start Position - Closed.
Rhythm - One. Two.

The Masked Elfen (Looking over the Shrouded Beauty's right shoulder.): What
remains of us?

The Shrouded Beauty: Nothing remains but Power. We are greater now then what we
were before.

Hesitations. Woman's Foot Position. Woman's initial progression is right foot
back, left foot back to meet right foot. Next progression is left foot forward,
right foot forward to meet left foot. Final progression is right foot slide,
left foot slide.

Start Position - Closed.
Rhythm - One. Two.

Hesitations continued. (See Diagram.)

Start Position - Closed.
Rhythm - One. Two.

--From the Master Ravenwood Tree--

The Lady in Black: Do their answers satisfy you?

Ugly Feathers (Ruffling his lusterless black avian coat.) I heed them not.
Loyalty is not an option. They can do naught other then serve.

The Lady in Black (Offering a small grin.): Are you confidant in this?

Ugly Feathers: Of course, even we have no freedom of choice; only illusion and
fevered dreams.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
--The Dance Continues--

Side Whisks. Man's Foot Position. Man's progression is left foot slide, right
foot sweep behind left foot. Then reverse, right foot slide, left foot sweep
behind right foot.

Start Position - Closed.
Rhythm - One. Two.

The Masked Elfen (He knows his questions have no purpose; they are part of the
show.): Can what was once be again? Where we served in love, we now obey in
shackles.

The Shrouded Beauty (She is aware the questions come not from him but from
those who watch.): They are not shackles but mutual bonds. Realization brings
responsibility.

Side Whisks. Woman's Foot Position. Initial progress is right foot slide, left
foot crosses behind right foot. Then reverse. Left foot slide, right foot
crosses behind left foot.

Start Position - Closed.
Rhythm - One. Two.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
--The Dance Continues--

Progressive Movement - Man's Foot Position. Man's progression is right foot
forward, left foot slide, right foot diagonal back to meet left foot, left foot
back, right foot slide, left foot diagonal forward to meet right foot.

Start Position - Closed (Facing Diagonal to Wall.)
Rhythm - One, two, three. One, two, three.

The Masked Elfen: For Power I have given up my Crown. Chill replaces warmth and
Winter replaces Summer. Let us not meet again under the yellow sun.

The Shrouded Beauty (Remembering mirth and bitterness.): A Winter King you
would be? Ruling over a domain of frost and ice?

The Masked Elfen: I feel nothing but numbness. Such is the cold, such am I.

The Shrouded Beauty (Affecting an inquiring tone.): Shall we spread our
numbness?

The Masked Elfen (Nodding.): Yes, under darkness of night, blanketed by snow.

Progressive Movement -Woman's Foot Position. Woman's initial progression is
left foot back, right foot slide, left foot diagonal forward to meet right
foot, right foot forward, left foot slide, and right foot diagonal back to meet
left foot.

Start Position - Closed (Facing Diagonal to Wall.)
Rhythm - One, two, three. One, two, three.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
--The Dance Ends--

--From the Master Ravenwood Tree--

The Lady in Black: Are you satisfied with the performance.

Ugly Feathers: No. Nor shall I ever be until . . .

The Lady in Black: Until . . .

Ugly Feathers (Chuckling.): Until it is always winter and until it is ever
night.

Prologue: The partners separate. The Masked Elfen remains in the glade beneath
the Master Ravenwood Tree. He casts his gaze far, he sees nothing. The Shrouded
Beauty moves to the hidden path and disappears.
_____________________________________________________________________________________

Diagrams of Dance Steps

R = Right foot.
L = Left foot.

Numbers represent progression of steps from first to last.
Example: 1= first step, 2 = second step, 3 = third step, etc.

Left Box Turn - Man's steps.

L.2_ _ _ L.3 R.2
| / / |
| / / |
| / / | Left Foot Starts.
| / / |
| / / |
L.1+4 R.1+4 _ _ R.2

Left Box turn - Woman's steps.

L.3_ _ _L.1+4 R.1+4
| / / |
| / / |
| / / | Right Foot Starts.
| / / |
| / / |
L.2 R.3_ _ _ R.2

Change -Man's Steps.

L.2

| \\

| \\ Left Foot Starts

| \\

| \\

| \\

L.1 L.3 R.1_ _ _R.2

R.4
/ |
/ |
/ | Right Foot Starts
/ |
/ |
L.5_ _ _L.4 R.5 R.3

Changes - Woman's steps.
R.1
|
|
| Right Foot Starts

|
|
L.2_ _ _L.1 R.3 _ _ _ R.2

L.3
|
|
| Left Foot Starts
|
|
L.4 _ _ _ L.5 R.4_ _ _R.5

Hesitations - Man's steps.

L.2 R.2 L.1 R.1
| | | |
| | | |
| | Left Foot Starts. | | Right Foot Starts.
| | | |
| | | |
L.1 R.1 Pause. L.2 R.2 Pause.

Hesitations continued. - Man's steps.

Left Foot Starts. Right Foot Starts.

L.1_ _ _L.2 R.1_ _ _R.2 Pause. L.2_ _ _L.1 R.2 _ _ _ R.1 Pause.

Hesitations - Woman's steps.

L.1 R.1 L.4 R.4
| | | |
| | | |
| | Right Foot Starts. | | Left Foot Starts.
| | | |
| | | |
L.2 R.2 Pause. L.3 R.3 Pause.

Hesitations continued. - Woman's steps.

Right Foot Starts. Left Foot Starts.

L.1_ _ _L.2 R.1_ _ _R.2 Pause. L.2_ _ _L.1 R.2 _ _ _ R.1 Pause.

Side Whisks - Man's steps.

L.2 _ _ _ L.1 R.1 L.3 R.3_ _ _ R.4
/ Left Foot Starts \\ Right Foot Starts

R.2_ _ _ _ / \\ _ _ _ _ L.4

Side Whisks - Woman's steps.

R.2 _ _ _ R.1 L.1 R.3 L.3_ _ _ L.4
/ Right Foot Starts \\ Left Foot Starts
L.2_ _ _ _ / \\ _ _ _ _ R.4

Progressive Movement - Man's steps.

R.2
/ |
/ |
/ | Right Foot Starts.
/ |
/ |
L.2_ _L.1+4 R.3_ _ _ R.1+4
| /
| /
| /
| /
| /
L.3

Progressive Movement - Woman's steps.

R.3
/ |
/ |
/ |
/ |
/ |
L.1+4_ _L.3 R.1+4 _ _R.2
| /
| /
| / Left Foot Starts.
| /
| /
L.2