The only official stage play of V.C. Andrews’s enduring classic of forbidden love—adapted by Andrew Neiderman ( The Devil’s Advocate). Experience in this new format the original story that captured the world’s imagination and earned V.C. Andrews a fiercely devoted readership. At the top of the stairs there are four secrets hidden. Blond, beautiful, innocent, and struggling to stay alive . . . They were a perfect family, golden and carefree—until a heartbreaking tragedy shattered their happiness. Now, for the sake of an inheritance that will ensure their future, the children must be hidden away out of sight, as if they never existed. Kept on the top floor of their grandmotherds vast mansion, their loving mother assures them it will be just for a little while. But as brutal days swell into agonizing months and years, Cathy, Chris, and twins Cory and Carrie, realize their survival is at the mercy of their cruel and superstitious grandmother . . . and this cramped and helpless world may be the only one they ever know. Book One of the Dollanganger series, the sequels include Petals in the Wind, If There Be Thorns, Seeds of Yesterday, and Garden of Shadows. Then experience the attic from Christopher’s point of view in Christopher’s Diary: Secrets of Foxworth and Christopher’s Diary: Echoes of Dollanganger.
Release date:
October 28, 2014
Publisher:
Pocket Star
Print pages:
80
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Sconces at the back entrance of Foxworth Hall snap on dimly.
Olivia Foxworth (sixties) hovers against the door, staring stage right.
The moon slipping out from under a cloud brightens the stage eerily. Peepers chirp, an owl hoots. Suddenly, it and the peepers stop.
Corrine Dollanganger (thirty-eight, attractive), wearing a stylish ruby jacket and skirt, emerges from the darkness carrying a suitcase in each hand. She puts them down and takes out a handkerchief to wipe her face. She looks back.
Olivia, in a plain gray dress, her hair in a tight chignon, doesn’t move, remaining in the shadows, studying her.
Corrine picks up her suitcases and steps forward. When Olivia steps out, Corrine gasps and drops her suitcases.
CORRINE
Mother?
(nervous laugh)
You scared me. I thought you were the ghost of one of Daddy’s crazy cousins. Remember how we used to imagine them, hear those footsteps above?
Olivia is silent.
Why did I have to come in the rear entrance, anyway?
(accusingly)
You’re still considering whether or not to let me return, aren’t you? I knew it.
Olivia is silent.
You want me to beg, don’t you? So I’ll beg. I’m desperate, Mother. I explained it on the phone.
OLIVIA
(starting to relent)
Frankly, I’m surprised you waited this long. Why didn’t you leave him before you fell into such debt?
CORRINE
Why didn’t you leave my father?
OLIVIA
This isn’t about me right now, is it?
(shaking her head)
How he would rant about you and Christopher. He’ll never see you as the prodigal daughter. You’re wasting your time. Go back to wherever you were. I’m sure you’ll find another Christopher quickly enough.
She turns to go back in.
CORRINE
(almost a shriek)
I have no place else to go, no one else to turn to.
Corrine steps closer.
(quick, desperately reaching)
It was in the church you and Daddy built that I heard the minister say Jesus did NOT come to condemn the world.
(quoting)
I come not to judge the world but to save the world.
OLIVIA
It’s a cardinal sin to use scripture to pursue selfish ends.
(smiles, ridiculing)
You’re still so obvious when you try to manipulate someone, Corrine. Time and tragedy have not changed you.
Corrine lowers her head.
CORRINE
Please let me return and ask my father for his forgiveness.
OLIVIA
His forgiveness? What about mine?
CORRINE
Yes, yes, both.
Corrine brings her hands to her face.
We hear a child’s plea.
CORY
(offstage)
Mama! I don’t want to walk anymore.
CARRIE
(offstage)
Me neither, Mama.
Olivia spins back.
OLIVIA
Who is that?
CORRINE
My children. I rushed ahead to prepare you for them.
OLIVIA
(shocked)
Children?
The children appear. Cory (5) is barely awake and leaning against Christopher Jr. (15), as is Carrie (5) against Cathy (13). Christopher Jr. and Cathy carry suitcases.
Four of them?
Corrine moves closer to Olivia so that the children cannot hear them.
CORRINE
(lowering her voice)
All I want is a chance to win his forgiveness. For them.
OLIVIA
You fool. He’ll blame us both.
(thinking)
Wait here. Keep them quiet. I’ll be back with a check. Well?
CORRINE
All right, Mother, all right. We’ll take your money. I’ll stay in the village tonight. There are no more trains until tomorrow.
(realizing)
It’ll be Sunday! I’ll take them to your church so they can see what you’ve built, your community. Bring Daddy. I’ll confess about what I’ve done. Maybe then, if I ask for his forgiveness…
OLIVIA
NO! Are you mad? It’s taken me years to bring back the respect in this religious community, my community.
(realizing what she is doing, nodding at the children)
This is… blackmail.
CORRINE
No. These are your grandchildren, who have sinned against no one and don’t deserve to be cast out like Cain. They don’t know it yet, but they’re Foxworths.
OLIVIA
(starting to slip)
How much do they know?
CORRINE
They know only about love, not of any of my sins.
OLIVIA
They can’t remain ignorant of that.
CORRINE
They won’t. I promise. In time. You’ll help me now, won’t you, Mother? Why should they suffer? They’re innocent. In your heart of hearts, you believe that.
OLIVIA
(shaking her head)
Don’t tell me what I believe and don’t believe, Corrine.
CORRINE
If you’ll only…
Olivia puts up her hand.
OLIVIA
You’re a vengeful child, Corrine. You are your father’s daughter.
CORRINE
I’m your daughter, too, Mother.
OLIVIA
(relenting)
Bring them in. Very quietly. And do exactly what I say.
She turns and goes through the doorway.
CORRINE
(smiling, successful)
Come, children.
CATHY
Was that our grandmother, Mama? Why did we have to wait in the dark? Why did we have to walk all this way? I thought…
CORRINE
(exhausted, seeking help)
Christopher.
CHRISTOPHER JR.
Stuff your questions and just do what Mama asks you to do, Cathy. We’re here, aren’t we?
Corrine picks up her suitcases. The children follow her in. The sound of footsteps on a stairway as the sconces go out and the flat is moved offstage.
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