THE REFLECTION OF RECKONING

 TITLE: THE REFLECTION OF RECKONING

SERIES: TALES FROM THE IRON GATE

CHARACTERS:

THE KEEPER: Our host. Deep, gravelly voice. A hint of a sinister chuckle.

ARTHUR VANCE: A wealthy, arrogant collector of antiques.

ELIAS: An elderly, terrified shopkeeper.

THE ECHO: A distorted, whispering version of Arthur.

SOUND DESIGN: Heavy wind, creaking wood, a ticking grandfather clock, scraping metal, and a low, atmospheric cello score.

[SCENE 1]

[SFX: THE LOUD, RUSTY SCREECH OF A HEAVY IRON GATE SWINGING OPEN. THE WIND HOWLS.]

[SFX: FOOTSTEPS ON GRAVEL, APPROACHING SLOWLY.]

THE KEEPER: (Quietly, close to the mic) Good evening, traveler. Come in, out of the mist. You’ve found your way to the Iron Gate. Shhh… ignore the hounds in the distance. They only bark at the souls who try to leave. Tonight, we have a story of vanity. They say a man’s home is his castle… but sometimes, the things we bring into our castles have a mind of their own. We call tonight’s tale… "The Reflection of Reckoning."

[SFX: A DRAMATIC MUSICAL STING – SHARP VIOLINS THAT FADE INTO THE SOUND OF A BELL OVER A SHOP DOOR.]

[SCENE 2]

[SFX: THE BELL CLANGS. INTERIOR OF A CRAMPED ANTIQUE SHOP. THE TICKING OF DOZENS OF CLOCKS.]

ARTHUR: (Impatiently) Is anyone working in this mausoleum? I haven't got all day.

ELIAS: (Trembling) In the back, sir. I’m in the back. Please… be careful with the Ming vases.

ARTHUR: (Scofing) Vases? Trash. I’m looking for the highlight of your catalog. The "Veridian Glass." Where is it?

ELIAS: Mr. Vance, I... I urge you to reconsider. I’ve had it covered in black velvet since it arrived from Budapest. No one has looked into it. Not for fifty years.

ARTHUR: Nonsense. It’s a masterpiece of 17th-century craftsmanship. Remove the cloth, old man.

ELIAS: They say it doesn't show you who you are, sir. It shows you what you will become.

ARTHUR: Then it shall show me a man even wealthier than I am now! Open it!

[SFX: THE SOUND OF A HEAVY FABRIC BEING RIPPED AWAY. A SUDDEN, LOW-FREQUENCY HUMMING SOUND BEGINS.]

ARTHUR: (Breathless) My word… the silvering is… liquid. Like a pool of mercury.

ELIAS: (Whimpering) Don't look too long, sir. Please.

ARTHUR: (Mesmerized) Wait. My reflection… it isn't moving with me. I’m standing still, but the "me" in the glass… he’s smiling. And he’s pointing… behind me?

[SFX: THE HUMMING GROWS LOUDER, HIGHER PITCHED.]

[SCENE 3]

[SFX: TRANSITION MUSIC – A LOW, OMINOUS THUMPING LIKE A HEARTBEAT.]

[SFX: THE SOUND OF A LUXURY CAR DOOR SLAMMING. RAIN BEGINS TO PELT AGAINST A WINDOW.]

ARTHUR: (Narrow-minded, talking to himself) Idiotic shopkeeper. Scaring me with ghost stories just to drive up the price. It looks magnificent over the fireplace.

[SFX: THE CLINK OF ICE IN A GLASS. POURING OF LIQUID.]

ARTHUR: To me. The finest collector in the city.

[SFX: A SOFT, SLITHERING SOUND. LIKE WET LEATHER ON FLOORS.]

ARTHUR: Hello? Who’s there? Mrs. Higgins? I told you I wouldn't need tea tonight.

[SFX: THE HUMMING NOISE FROM THE SHOP RETURNS, VIBRATING THE ROOM.]

ARTHUR: That noise again. Is it the pipes? (Moving closer) It’s coming from the mirror.

[SFX: FOOTSTEPS ON HARDWOOD.]

ARTHUR: (Gasping) What in God’s name? My reflection… it’s gone. The glass is empty. Just the room. Just the… empty chair…

THE ECHO: (A raspy, distorted version of Arthur's voice, seemingly coming from inside his own head) Not empty, Arthur. Just… waiting for more room.

ARTHUR: Who said that?!

[SFX: THE SOUND OF GLASS SHARPENING OR CRACKING SLOWLY.]

ARTHUR: My hands! My hands are… turning grey! The color is being sucked out of my skin!

THE ECHO: (Laughing wetly) You wanted to see the future, Arthur. The future is a cold, grey place. And I’m so tired of the dark.

ARTHUR: (Panting/Panicked) The reflection! It’s climbing! It’s climbing out of the frame! Its hands are on the mantle! They’re real! They’re solid!

[SFX: A SQUELCHING SOUND. ARTHUR SCREAMS.]

ARTHUR: Get back! Get back into the glass! NO! NOOOOO!

[SFX: A VIOLENT CRASH OF GLASS SHATTERING. THEN, TOTAL SILENCE. ONLY THE RAIN REMAINS.]

[SCENE 4]

[SFX: THE RAIN FADES OUT. THE TICKING CLOCK RETURNS.]

ARTHUR (NEW): (Voice is now cold, precise, slightly echoed) Mrs. Higgins? You can come in now. And bring a broom. I’ve had a small accident with the mirror.

MRS. HIGGINS: (Distant, muffled) Yes, Mr. Vance. Right away, sir.

ARTHUR (NEW): (To himself, with a dark chuckle) And bring me a suit. A bright, colorful suit. I’ve been silver and grey for far too long.

[SFX: A SINGLE, LOUD CHIME OF A GONG.]

[SCENE 5]

[SFX: THE IRON GATE CREAKS ONCE MORE. THE WIND HOWLS.]

THE KEEPER: Poor Mr. Vance. He always did have a vanity that was… larger than life. Now, he’s a man of many facets, though they’re all scattered across his rug. If you’re ever in an antique shop, friends, and you see a mirror covered in black velvet… do yourself a favor. Leave it be. Or you might find yourself on the wrong side of the glass, looking out at a world that has already forgotten you.

[SFX: THE KEEPER RAISES A LOUD, MANIACAL LAUGH THAT FADES INTO A HAUNTING CELLO OUTRO.]

THE KEEPER: Until next time… Sleep well. If you can.

[SFX: THE GATE SLAMS SHUT. BOLT CLICKS.]

[FADE TO SILENCE]