The Man of Glass

The Man of Glass

Setting: 12th century Britain, specifically after the Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland was completed. Sometime between 1169-1175

Stage: Center-Stage: A wooden dining table, two wooden chairs sitting opposite of each other. Right-Center: A counter with a plate of meat on it. Left-Center: A usable door. Upstage-Center: A large full body frame that will be henceforth referred to by characters as a “mirror.” Visible in the confines of the faux-mirror is a duplicate dining table and duplicate of the chair closest to the door. The mirror is embedded in the set design.

At Rise: A man named EDGAR is at the table eating dinner. A woman named GWENDOLYN is in a chair close to the counter knitting. A knock at the door summons EDGAR over.

GLASS:

Over the sound of the storm.

Evening, sir. Care to give a foreigner to these parts some refuge?

EDGAR:

You’re of the Norman folk?

GLASS:

Aye. One currently caught in a thunderstorm.

EDGAR:

Then by all means, come inside. My home is yours for as long as you’d like.

GLASS:

Walking inside.

Much thanks for offering me refuge, my good man. It’s so good to see a friendly face amongst all the angered ones after the war.

EDGAR:

Aye, I hope my house offers respite from all the bitter folk.

GLASS:

Already you’ve been kinder than I expected, so you’re doing well.

EDGAR:

What’s your name good sir?

GLASS:

Glass, on account of my glass eye. While most people would mourn losing an eye, I am proud to share a likeness to the Wise One.

EDGAR:

The Wise One?

GLASS:

One of the many names of Odin, King of our gods and ruler of Asgard. Traded his eye to see the future. I lost mine to a wolf.

GLASS notices the mirror.

Speaking of glass, who’d you kill for that magnificent piece of art!

EDGAR:

No one, I was gifted it.

EDGAR passes in front of the mirror and sits down in the chair farthest from the door. EDGAR’s REFLECTION does not appear upon the original pass, but does mimic EDGAR sitting down in the chair..

GLASS:

Really, what for?

GLASS passes in front of the mirror to sit in the chair opposite EDGAR. GLASS’s REFLECTION does not appear.

EDGAR:

A trader was trying to get his product across England before spring to beat out his competitors. A snowstorm hit and we offered him refuge. Me and my wife, Gwendolyn.

GLASS:

You all alone in these parts, then?

EDGAR looks away from the mirror to address GLASS. GLASS’s REFLECTION (not ODIN) enters the scene, sits in the chair, and begins to mimic GLASS’s actions.

EDGAR:

Not quite, there’s a hunting lodge with a bar I visit sometimes due northwest. Also, a flock of highwaymen that harass the southern road.

EDGAR looks back at the mirror, then back at GLASS.

GLASS:

Highwaymen? Were those the bandits that robbed me of all I had earlier?

EDGAR:

Aye, I suppose.

GLASS:

A lovely bunch of rogues they are. Left me with enough food to make it all the way to the northern settlement. Something about appeasing a monster.

EDGAR:

Like a vampire?

GLASS:

Could be, or a werewolf.

GWENDOLYN pokes her head up from her book and begins listening to the conversation.

EDGAR:

I’m glad my mirror is silver backed then.

GLASS:

I’ve always doubted the validity of that.

EDGAR:

Have you now?

GLASS:

Oh yes. See those that are experts in monsters say a vampire cannot see itself in the mirror but never explain why. However you’ve just given a reasonable explanation.

EDGAR:

I suppose.

GLASS:

No, really. If a mirror is silver backed, it stands to reason a vampire will not appear in the mirror.

EDGAR:

Alright, then what’s the issue?

GLASS:

Experts about monsters do, however, say that a werewolf’s biggest weakness is silver. Yet no expert about monsters will tell you that a werewolf won’t appear in one.

EDGAR:

Are we sure about that? How many monster experts do you know?

GLASS:

More than you. But the point stands. If a werewolf can appear in a mirror, why not a vampire?

EDGAR:

Well what if werewolves don’t appear in mirrors?

GLASS:

Then I suppose there’s nothing to worry about. You often get visitors like me?

EDGAR:

That talk about vampires and werewolves? Sometimes.

GLASS:

No, from the southern settlement, I ran across those highwaymen remember?

EDGAR:

Now that you mention it, no I don’t.

GLASS:

That’s not surprising. A lot of folk down there talk about people going missing in these parts. Doubt it’s the bandits though.

EDGAR:

Probably the wolves then. They’ve been an issue for the hunters.

GLASS:

Have they?

EDGAR:

Oh yes. They have the taste for men.

GLASS:

Have any of them been bitten?

EDGAR:

I’m sure plenty have, wolves are ravenous here.

GLASS:

Wolves are ravenous everywhere.

EDGAR:

But here especially.

GLASS:

Have you ever been bitten by a wolf?

EDGAR:

Once. Got a hold of my arm but I stabbed it in the ear.

GLASS:

How’d you care for the wound?

EDGAR:

Set fire to it. That seemed to do the trick.

GLASS:

You sure fire did the trick?

EDGAR:

As sure as I’ve ever been.

GLASS:

You’re lucky, don’t want to get infected in the middle of nowhere do you?

The two share a chuckle.

EDGAR:

So have you plenty of food then?

GLASS:

No, actually. I had to surrender it all to a wolf to spare my life lest it swallow me whole. Like ol’ Fenrir swallowing Odin during Ragnarok.

EDGAR:

It must have been a fearsome sight.

GLASS:

Quite the opposite, ‘twas a pitiful wretch. Not but skin and bone. It was so starved, I found it feasting off its mate.

EDGAR:

Yet still you gave him your food?

GLASS:

Aye, that I did.

EDGAR:

For what reason?

GLASS:

I’m Norse, it is tradition for us to be kind to the dead. And the soon to be dead.

A long silence. ODIN replaces GLASS’s REFLECTION behind the mirror.

EDGAR:

So you’re hungry?

GLASS:

I am.

EDGAR:

Would you like some salted boar leg?

GLASS:

Is that what you’re eating? Looks a little off.

EDGAR:

It’s high quality boar. I get them through trade with the hunter’s lodge.

GLASS:

Does it have a name?

GWENDOLYN:

Thomas Rivers.

EDGAR:

Thomas.

GLASS:

Who names a pig Thomas? Anything on it?

EDGAR:

Your usual spices.

GLASS:

Any garlic? I abhor the smell of it.

EDGAR:

I’ll ensure it goes without. What do you say to an old elderberry sauce my wife taught me?

GLASS:

Elderberries, ey? Quite a risky dish. They’re quite poisonous if one neglects to prepare them properly.

EDGAR:

Aye, I know that quite well. My wife was cooking dinner while I was hunting and a wolf caught scent of it. She had to mouth a fistfull of them to spare herself the pain of being torn to shreds.

GLASS:

I bet that was a horrid sight to look upon when you arrived.

EDGAR:

He has trouble speaking.

It was.

GLASS:

How’d a wolf bust down a door anyways? To break down something must imply it was locked, but no wolf could do that.

EDGAR:

The wolves are rather strong around here.

FENRIR replaces EDGAR’s REFLECTION.

Let me go make you that plate.

EDGAR gets up from the table and goes to the counter. FENRIR does not mimic him and instead speaks EDGAR’s thoughts while EDGAR prepares the meal.

FENRIR:

I’ll sneak a clove of garlic onto the meat. Elderberries too. If he were a vampire, he'd choke on the garlic. I’ll cut his head off with the knife under the table while he’s gagging. If he’s not a monster, the elderberries will surely do him in.

GWENDOLYN:

Thomas says the cellar needs cleaning again.

GWENDOLYN exits Stage Left.

GLASS:

Thank you once again for your hospitality.

EDGAR:

Of course, I’m happy to be a friend to a stranger.

GLASS:

Before I dig into this delightful meal, may I ask a question?

EDGAR:

Of course.

GLASS:

What is that awful smell coming from beneath the floor?

Glass begins to eat his food.

EDGAR:

I don’t smell anything.

GLASS:

Are you sure? It smells of rotten meat.

EDGAR:

The cellar needs cleaning.

GLASS:

Isn’t the cellar where one stores food?

EDGAR:

Yes?

GLASS:

Well I’m sure everything’s fine. Thomas can clean it if it becomes a problem.

EDGAR grabs the knife from under the table and stabs GLASS in the chest. He goes to cut his throat but GLASS grabs his hand, EDGAR tries to pull away but can’t.

GLASS:

Ah, I see! It’s the smell of the many dead by your hand, were-mutt!

GLASS forces EDGAR to his knees.

GLASS:

GLASS’s voice booms, the storm from the beginning reignites, the lights darken, a blood red light illuminates the stage.

Edgar Woods, your time has come..

GLASS throws him backwards. ODIN tosses FENRIR behind the set and follows him, raising his spear before disappearing. GLASS places his hands behind his back.

… to face your god and justify the air you’ve wasted.

EDGAR:

What are you?! What in God’s name are you?!

GLASS:

I am the god of fate. The Norse call me Odin. The Romans called me Fatum. The Greeks called me Moros. Tonight, you may call me Executioner.

EDGAR

Wait, please! Have mercy! Have mercy!

Blackout. Lights rise. EDGAR is sitting in his chair, head slumped on the table, the elderberry syrup is running off the side of the table. He does not have a reflection.

End of play.