House of the Duchess
by Martin Horvat
Wake up. Your rent is due.
What rent?! I own this house!!
You don't own anything.
I bought this house today.
It's 3AM! Who the hell is this?!
I am The Duchess.
Go back to your castle, duchess. I paid good money for this house.
I don't want your money.
What DO you want?!
Your life.
Who the fuck is this?! THIS SHIT IS NOT FUNNY!!
I am The Duchess.
My girlfriend is calling the police right now, so back off!
Watch your language, Paully.
We both know there's no girlfriend. You left her heartbroken and disappeared.
Michelle? Is this you ??
Don't worry about Michelle. She is asleep in the bed you fled from.
I bet NOW you'd rather be there tucked under a warm blanket with her.
Tell me, Paul. Do you miss her?
I don't care about her.
BTW, I just reported your number to the police, creep.
Oh?
What did the police find out?
Your number doesn't exist, asshole!
Then maybe you're just imagining it, Paul.
Where are you texting from?!
From under your bed.
FUCK YOU!!
Go on, take a look.
There's nothing under my bed.
You didn't look, Paul. I would have seen your pretty little face, if you did.
You are sick! I'm done talking to you.
Paul?
Paully??
OK, I'm SORRY, Paul. I admit. I lied.
I am not under your bed. I am not in your room.
But lighting those candles won't help you either. You won't find me in the light.
Where the hell are you???
Come find me.
Billy Ragnar, if this is you … it's is NOT FUNNY!!
I am coming over to talk to your dad right now. This is no way to welcome your only neighbor to their new home.
Billy ???
My name is not Billy. I am The Duchess.
But go ahead. Look out the window at Billy's house.
What the hell did you do?!
I didn't do anything. Just look.
You set their house on fire?!!
I did no such thing.
I tried to warn them. I told Billy's father to blow out the candles.
WTF??
Go ahead, Paul. Blow out my candles. They do not belong to you.
NO!!
You're playing with fire.
Where are you running? Are you afraid of me?
LEAVE ME ALONE, YOU SICK MONSTER!!
Now, why would you hide in the bathroom, Paully? There's no one there to help you. Only mirrors.
What are you running away from Paul? Or should I say Who?
There's no help in the kitchen either. Stop looking.
Where the hell are you watching me from??
I am in every corner of this house. But I am not here to hurt you.
WHAT DO YOU WANT?!
Put that knife down. I only want my rent.
I told you I paid for this house.
But there are souls that bled with pain and sorrow so that you could to buy this house.
I'll give you money. Just leave me alone!!
Hurt and broken souls cannot be repaid with money, Paully. Don't you get it?
The rent you owe is not for the house. It's for your life on this planet.
But it's up to you to figure out how to pay for it.
Please! I'll give you everything I own.
It's all worthless, Paul. We have no use for it.
WE??!! There's more of you?!
We only want what we were robbed of.
How many of you are there?!!
Only you can answer that.
What the hell are you talking about??
I'm talking about everyone that you have used
Betrayed.
Fucked over.
Cheated on.
Lied to.
Stolen from.
Should I go on?
What do you want me to do??!!
I'm sorry, OK!
What are you sorry for, Paul?
For everything! All of the above!
All of the above?! This is not a multiple choice exam, Paul!
You don't get just an F, if you fail this one. So think, Paul. What are you sorry for?
I don't know. Everything?
Wrong answer!! Think!! Stop crying like a baby and THINK!!
I DON'T KNOW!! Please!! Just show yourself and kill me if that's what you want.
You don't want to die, Paul.
I can't take this anymore either!!
One last chance, Paul.
I can't … Please, leave me alone.
OK, Paul. I will go away.
If you take that kitchen knife …
… and ram it straight into your heart.
WHAT?!
And feel that pain …
Of betrayal.
Of lies.
Of being let down.
OK.
Are you really going to do it? Are you going to let yourself down just like you did everyone else?
Just like you did Michelle?
Leave her out of this!!
What are you doing, Paul? Why are you getting up?
Answer me, Paul!! Who are you calling on your phone?!
MICHELLE!! I'm calling Michelle!!
Don't worry about Michelle. I'll take care of her.
Fuck you! Stay away from her!
I thought you don't care about Michelle.
Maybe I do!
Why the sad face, Paul? Is she not answering?
FUCK YOU!! Take your candles and burn!
What are you doing?? Where are you going? Get out of the car, Paul.
Come back here. I will not go down in flames alone.
You can't go, before you answer my question!!! What are you sorry for ??
I'm sorry for buying this house!
For cheating on Michelle.
For disappearing in the middle of the night.
For almost robbing myself of her love.
Now fuck off and burn!!
There you go, Paul. As it goes down in flames, the house finally isn't worthless. Now go home and tell Michelle how much you love her.
Don't tell me what to do. I said FUCK OFF!
I was never even here, Paul. Good night.
App