ACT III
Scene 1 – Alex’s temporary office, two hours later
(ALEX and MELANIE are still sitting working. OFFICER BOB enters.)
OFFICER BOB: Well, I’m back… Ugh, can’t I just fake it next time?
ALEX: Let’s settle for there not being a next time, Officer.
MELANIE: Andy’s fiancé came in earlier.
OFFICER BOB: Did he have anything to report?
ALEX: Actually, he did. Do you know anyone in this town named Ivan?
OFFICER BOB: Ivan? Ivan what?
MELANIE: Edward – excuse me, Mr. LeValle – hadn’t heard his last name. Evidently, Andy knows him on a first name basis.
OFFICER BOB: Or that’s the only name she knows.
MELANIE: What?
OFFICER BOB: Well, he might be a Russian spy…
ALEX: And why would a Russian spy want to murder the head of a pharmaceutical company, or be talking to Andy? Officer, please keep this realistic.
MELANIE: I’m going to ask Miss Goldstone when the effects of that antifreeze will wear off. (Exit)
OFFICER BOB: I’m sorry about that. But no, I don’t know an Ivan.
ALEX: I’ve been trying to compile a list of Andy’s coworkers and friends, but there’s no one with that name on there.
OFFICER BOB: Do you plan to ask Andy?
ALEX: You know why we can’t do that.
OFFICER BOB: Mr. Waters, I understand your feelings about compromising your cousin. But you have to think about it this way: if the murderer isn’t caught, what will happen to her?
ALEX: I know, I know. But I want to involve her as little as possible.
OFFICER BOB: We just went over this…
ALEX: Edward quoted something from Ivan… Here, Melanie wrote it all down… Ivan told Andy, “Whatever happens to me happens to you.” It’s an unusual sort of threat, and I’m worried about what it might mean.
OFFICER BOB: It means he’s a twisted lunatic who will attack her if she tells us anything.
(MELANIE enters, out of breath and frightened. In her hand, she waves a note with singed edges, written in red ink.)
MELANIE: Mr. Waters! Officer!
ALEX: What’s wrong, Mel? What’s that note?
MELANIE: (reading) “To Mr. Alex Waters and Company: Since the surprise in your coffee was not a sufficiently strong hint, please take this as your last warning. Stop poking into my business, if you value your lives, and the life of Miss Silver’s fiancé. I guarantee that you will meet a far worse fate than the Steptons if you refuse. Choose wisely, Ivan.”
ALEX: Well, at least we’re making him nervous. I suppose that’s a good thing.
MELANIE: It’s not, Alex! He killed Janet Goldstone – the girl from the lab who helped us analyze the coffee! This note is written in her blood!
OFFICER BOB: What? How?
MELANIE: He gave her a highly concentrated injection of morphine, and then wrote this with the needle.
ALEX: That’s revolting. And it proves beyond a doubt that we are dealing with a madman.
OFFICER BOB: He sounds like some comic book villain. Let’s go down and see if there’s anything more we can find out.
Scene 2 – Andy’s house
(EDWARD enters, ANDROMEDA walks in opposite in knee length formal dress, carrying a medical file behind her back.)
EDWARD: That dress looks lovely on you. Is everything all right?
ANDROMEDA: I – yes. I mean… Why do you ask?
EDWARD: You seem tense. Is something wrong?
ANDROMEDA: Not really. Edward?
EDWARD: Yes?
ANDROMED: You do love me?
EDWARD: What’s all this nonsense? Of course I do. You know that. (moves to kiss her)
ANDROMEDA: (stops him) Wait… Edward, there’s something I have to tell you.
EDWARD: What do you have to tell me that makes this a formal occasion?
ANDROMEDA: (sets file down on table) You might want to sit down, Edward. This will probably be a shock.
EDWARD: What’s that file about? Andy, are you all right?
ANDROMEDA: No. Not really. (sits beside him) Edward… I suppose Alex told you I know who killed Irene?
EDWARD: … Yes. He did. How do you know he said that?
ANDROMEDA: I was hooked to a lie detector when he asked if I did. And I guessed that I probably can’t hide from that thing.
EDWARD: No. No, it found you out. Andy, if you know who he is, why don’t you tell us? He killed your best friend!
ANDROMEDA: I know he did. That’s… That’s why I’m going to tell you tonight. Only… Only please don’t be too angry with me when you know!
EDWARD: Why would I be angry with you?
ANDROMEDA: You heard me talking to him this morning, didn’t you?
EDWARD: I want to know what’s going on between the two of you, yes.
ANDROMEDA: Edward…. It’s not what you think, believe me.
EDWARD: Why do I find that so hard to believe?
ANDROMEDA: I understand, Edward. But listen to me! Ivan is my – (phone rings) Oh, no… I have to get that, Edward. It’s probably my doctor or Alex. While I’m gone…. Just read the file that’s sitting there. It will explain everything.
EDWARD: Andy, wait! (She exits. EDWARD walks over to the table and pick up the file. He opens it nervously, and starts reading.) A psychiatrist? What the – Oh, God… What? Why? Why her, why us? Andy! Andy, come down, I’m sorry I yelled at you!
(Lights go out, except at the rear of the stage, so that EDWARD is completely backlit, and only his silhouette is visible. IVAN enters.)
IVAN: Interested in Andromeda’s medical files, Mr. LeValle?
EDWARD: You! What have you done to her?
IVAN: Oh, your fiancée is quite safe… I’m afraid I can’t say the same for you, though. (draws gun out and aims at EDWARD.)
EDWARD: You can’t do that, Ivan. You know what it would do to Andy!
IVAN: And you should know, Mr. LeValle…. I don’t care what Andromeda thinks! She cannot do anything about me… As your death will possibly remind her.
EDWARD: But why kill me?
IVAN: It’s simple really… You know the truth. I can’t let you live now. I was planning to do this anyway. Blame your precious Andy for this. If she hadn’t gotten so confounded close to you, I would never have felt the need to do this.
EDWARD: Can’t you just leave her alone?
IVAN: You truly don’t understand, do you? (IVAN laughs) Andromeda and I can never truly be free of each other. But I will be free of you!
EDWARD: Andromeda! Andy! Come back!
IVAN: It will do no good, Edward. Andromeda can’t come to help you. (Fires at Edward and exits. EDWARD falls, dead.)
Scene 3 – Andy’s house, an hour later
(ALEX, MELANIE, and OFFICER BOB enter to find ANDROMEDA crying over Edward’s body.)
ALEX: Oh, Andy…. I’m so sorry.
ANDROMEDA: He’s dead, Alex! Dead! Oh, why did I have to be such a fool?
ALEX: Andy, this isn’t your fault!
ANDROMEDA: Yes, it is! If I hadn’t told Edward, the killer would never have gone after him!
MELANIE: What did you tell Edward?
ANDROMEDA: No. No, I’m not going to tell you.
ALEX: What? Andy, if you know something about this killer, you need to tell us!
ANDROMEDA: I can’t. I’m not going to let any of you die as well.
ALEX: Andy, none of us are going to be killed.
ANDROMEDA: Because I’m not going to tell you anything. Alex, I’m not doing this to be uncooperative. But I won’t have your blood on my hands. Hector and Irene died because they knew. Edward died because he knew.
OFFICER BOB: We’ll make sure none of us die.
ANDROMEDA: There’s nothing you can do to prevent it. There’s nothing to be done – by anybody. (She exits, sobbing)
MELANIE: Andromeda –
ALEX: Let her go, Mel. She just lost the man she loved.
OFFICER BOB: Hey, Alex… The murder weapon’s on the table.
(ALEX walks over and examines the gun.)
ALEX: It’s the right size and type.
MELANIE: What are these ashes all over the floor?
ALEX: It looks like some sort of file was burned with a lighter. Here, there’s a scrap here that’s intact.
OFFICER BOB: Anything interesting?
ALEX: “Dr. Llywelyn Beltaine…” Get me a phonebook, this might be a lead.
Scene 4 – Alex’s temporary office
(MELANIE and OFFICER BOB are sitting, waiting expectantly. ALEX enters with a tall, dignified man in an immaculate business suit.)
ALEX: I’m glad to see you’re both here. Melanie, get ready to take notes. Allow me to introduce Dr. Beltaine – Andromeda’s psychiatrist.
OFFICER BOB: Her psychiatrist? I knew the girl was a bit odd, but she didn’t strike me as –
ALEX: This isn’t a laughing matter, Officer. The good doctor told me that this has utmost relevancy to the murder case, and that he would tell me when our entire team was gathered, so that he wouldn’t have to repeat himself. Dr. Beltaine, you have the floor. Why has Andy been coming to see you?
DR. BELTAINE: Oh, it’s quite simple, really. I’ve been her psychiatrist since she was seven years old. You see, Andromeda Silver has multiple personality disorder.
ALEX: What? Multiple personalities?
MELANIE: You didn’t know? I thought you said she was your favorite cousin!
DR. BELTAINE: Mr. and Mrs. Silver felt that it would be better for Andy if the problem were kept as secret as possible. You see, she has an unusually acute case.
ALEX: How so?
DR. BELTAINE: Well, in most cases, MPD is not all that dangerous. Rather confusing and disorienting, but your average patient can learn to work around it.
ALEX: Doctor, does Andromeda Silver have a dangerous case?
DR. BELTAINE: Of course she does. Her parents first brought her to see me after she choked her new puppy to death, then came back a minute later and panicked, crying over him. You see, Andromeda’s alternate personality is an absurdly violent man called Ivan.
OFFICER BOB: Wait, wait! Go back there for a minute. Andromeda is most definitely a female. How can her alternate personality be male?
DR. BELTAINE: It’s quite awkward for her, but not uncommon. Having an alternate personality of the opposite gender is one of the primary difficulties of her condition.
MELANIE: Hold on. Ivan is the name of the man that Edward heard arguing with her! How can that be possible?
DR. BELTAINE: That’s a bit more complicated, and has to do with how the two personalities operate. Most of the time, Ivan can read Andy’s thoughts as she thinks them. We’re not sure why, but we think that it’s because he’s so much more cunning and aggressive. Andy does not normally know what Ivan has been doing until two days after he does it. Occasionally, when he makes an appointment for her, he might leave her a note. At times of unusual anxiety, however, both personalities can be expressed at once. That is what happened when Andy argued with Ivan up in her room. And that is what the unfortunate Mr. LeValle actually heard.
MELANIE: (turns to ALEX) Are you all right?
ALEX: Yes. I… I just can’t believe it. All this time, she’s lied to me. She was the murderer.
DR. BELTAINE: Have you not been listening to me, Mr. Waters? Your cousin is a sweet, compassionate young lady who couldn’t bring herself to put her cat down when it had cancer. She did not murder anyone. Ivan did. I know it’s hard to believe, but Andromeda is in no way responsible for his actions, unless she helps him. He may inhabit the same body she does, but they do not share the same conscience.
ALEX: But she did help him! She could have told us back at the beginning who the killer was!
DR. BELTAINE: Could she have? Maybe. But she had an excellent reason not to.
ALEX: What? What could possibly excuse letting that murderer run wild when she could have helped us stop him?
DR. BELTAINE: She didn’t say anything because she loved you. Ivan, from very early on, showed a twisted tendency to kill what was dear to Andy’s heart. If she had told you, Ivan would have known instantly and you would have died.
MELANIE: So…. The way that she was always at the crime scene… How disoriented she was…
DR. BELTAINE: She had probably just gotten control back from Ivan. I’ve watched it go back and forth, and it’s quite disturbing to watch. And unspeakably sad when she comes back and sees what he’s done.
OFFICER BOB: So, Ivan did everything? The poison coffee? All the murders?
DR. BELTAINE: Yes.
OFFICER BOB: That son of a… Well, now we know who he is, we can hunt him down and get rid of him!
DR. BELTAINE: Not exactly. You see, nothing is as simple as it sounds. Yes, you could kill Ivan. But to do so, you would have to kill Miss Silver as well.
ALEX: What? That’s…. That’s what he meant! “Whatever happens to me, happens to you!” He said that to Andy. He knows.
DR. BELTAINE: And he’s played off it since the beginning. You see, whatever may be said of Ivan as a person, he is a genius. He uses Andy’s appearance to cover up any shopping he needs to do. Her fingerprints and DNA are always found, yet they turn to nothing because the lie detector says she’s not guilty. Nothing can be traced back to Ivan himself because nothing he uses is in his own name. He is completely invisible to the eyes of the law.
ALEX: That b*****d!
DR. BELTAINE: And, on top of that, he is given default protection from all punishment for moral reasons. You can do nothing to him without doing the exact same to the innocent Miss Silver.
MELANIE: So… What do we do? We can’t just let him run loose! After all the people he’s killed…
DR. BELTAINE: That is the precise dilemma Andromeda wanted to speak about at her appointment this afternoon – which she cancelled due to poor Edward’s death. She planned to tell you after all, and take the consequences as they came. It’s been terribly hard for her to deal with what Ivan does, and to understand that she isn’t a monster just because he is.
OFFICER BOB: Just accessory to a monster.
DR. BELTAINE: I’m afraid that isn’t funny. He’s haunted her all her life. She almost turned down Edward’s proposal because of Ivan. She was afraid that his life would be in danger if they married.
ALEX: Why?
DR. BELTAINE: Ivan primarily takes control when Andy is alone – particularly while she’s asleep, since she’s got less resistance then. If, however, Edward lived in the same house, and were with her when she was sleeping, Ivan would never get the opportunity to take over and do as he pleased.
ALEX: Is that why he was killed last night?
DR. BELTAINE: No. If that were true, it would have been more private, made to look accidental. Do you remember that pile of ashes you told me you saw?
ALEX: Yes.
DR. BELTAINE: That was her file at my office. She picked it up from me so that she could give Edward proof he would believe. Last night was the night she told him about Ivan. It came as a shock, and so….
ALEX: And so he wrests control, gets the gun, and kills Edward. Then he recedes and leaves Andy to cry over her dead fiancé.
MELANIE: Why would she tell him if she knew it was a danger?
DR. BELTAINE: She had planned to tell him since they became engaged. She felt that he had a right to know before the wedding, and she said that she would understand if he didn’t want to go through with it. But moving the date three weeks earlier to last night? She was frightened, Miss Johnson. She knew what was happening and she knew that you were all getting closer.
ALEX: But why go to Edward? Why not directly to us?
DR. BELTAINE: As I said, fear. Andy was sure that the decision would come down to killing Ivan, and so killing her, or risking who knows how many other lives. Andy couldn’t make the gamble of telling you herself. So she put her fate in the hands of the one person left who loved her and could be trusted with such a thing – her future husband.
MELANIE: All right, so we know why he killed Edward. He killed Janet as a warning, and killed Irene to shut her up. But why would he kill Hector to begin with?
DR. BELTAINE: Mr. Stepton? That, you see, was paranoia. Hector’s current research project when he died was –
(IVAN appears from behind the desk and fires handgun at DR. BELTAINE. The doctor slumps forward, dead.)
IVAN: Idiot. I’ve wanted to do that for a long time…
ALEX: Ivan!
IVAN: Oh, I see you can tell the difference between us now. Tell me, is it the voice that gives things away?
ALEX: You’re sick! Where’s my cousin?
IVAN: In here with me, of course. Screaming and terrified, but unharmed. She’s been very quiet since I killed her precious lover.
(OFFICER BOB slips up behind IVAN, hits him in the side of the neck, and takes the gun)
OFFICER BOB: There, I’ve got him, Alex! Where do you want me to put him? Ow, hurry up, he’s in heels and he knows how to kick with them.
ALEX: Just hold him for a minute, Officer! All right, Ivan. Let me talk to Andy.
IVAN: Talk all you please, I’m not stopping you!
ALEX: You know what I mean. Give Andy control again.
(IVAN sneers, but he complies)
ALEX: Andy? Andy, are you all right?
ANDROMEDA: What the… Alex? What’s going on?
ALEX: Set her down, Officer. (He embraces ANDROMEDA as she falls forward.) Andy, why didn’t you tell us?
ANDROMEDA: (sighs) You talked to Dr. Beltaine, didn’t you?
ALEX: Ivan burned your file last night. I found the doctor’s name in the pile of ashes.
ANDROMEDA: So… I’m guessing he told you about Ivan?
ALEX: Yes. He did.
ANDROMEDA: How much did he tell you?
ALEX: Everything I needed to know. Except why Hector Stepton was killed.
ANDROMEDA: Why didn’t he tell you that?
(ALEX points to MELANIE, who is covering up a body with a sheet.)
ALEX: He never got the chance to. Ivan killed him. Andy, I know it’s hard for you, but I need to know.
ANDROMEDA: I know you do. I’d hoped you would figure it out on your own, but…
ALEX: What happened?
ANDROMEDA: It all started when I came into work late one day. It had been a bad night with Ivan, and I was still fighting with him. Hector came into my office to ask what was wrong with me… and came face to face with Ivan. As soon as I could regain control, Hector was there, waiting to talk to me. I still remember waking up tied to my desk chair… Ivan had been trying to strangle him. Well, Hector finally pried the whole story out of me.
MELANIE: The doctor mentioned an experiment before he died. What was that about?
ANDROMEDA: I suppose you figured out in all your searching that Hector ran a pharmaceutical company?
ALEX: Yes, I saw that.
ANDROMEDA: After I told him about Ivan, and everything Ivan had done, Hector decided that he would have to start working on a drug to suppress him. I actually managed to hide that fact from Ivan, partly because I declined Hector’s offer to assign me to that project. The closest I could come to involvement was letting them draw some of my blood to examine and test. Anyway, Ivan found out when I was talking to Irene during one of my fitting sessions.
OFFICER BOB: Fitting sessions?
ANDROMEDA: For my… my wedding gown. (She swallows hard.) Anyway, he bought what he needed to kill Hector, and carried the whole thing out when I went to their place for dinner. (She gasps suddenly and collapses to her knees. IVAN returns)
IVAN: As you can see, I had to kill Hector Stepton before his foolish plot could be carried out.
MELANIE: Mr. Stepton would never have been trying to suppress you if you weren’t a murderer!
IVAN: Shut up, you wretched little insect! (IVAN grabs for his handgun, but is once again disarmed and restrained by OFFICER BOB) Let go, you fat idiot!
OFFICER BOB: If I did that, I really would be an idiot.
ALEX: Andy! I know you’re in there, come back out!
(There is a struggle for control, but ANDROMEDA comes back.)
ANDROMEDA: Whatever you need to say, Alex, you’d better hurry. Ivan’s going crazy in there.
OFFICER BOB: He’s crazy enough as it is, I’d say.
ALEX: Andy, I want you to know, I don’t hold you responsible for any of this. And I’m sorry.
ANDROMEDA: What are you going to do?
ALEX: I’m not sending you to prison, and I’m certainly not going to let you be executed. But… We have to send you somewhere Ivan can’t cause trouble. I think I can find a place somewhere in Dr. Beltaine’s records… Just a quiet spot out in the middle of nowhere, run by professional doctors who can handle Ivan.
ANDROMEDA: (Chokes on her words) So… a permanent vacation?
ALEX: No, Andy. Not permanent. (Takes her face in his hands) Listen to me, Andy. Hector’s experiment was already underway. We’ll ask the company to resume work on it. And as soon as they have the medication working, you can come home. I promise, Andy. You will be free of him one day soon. (Hugs Andy quietly for a moment.) Melanie… Mel, I need you to go report Dr. Beltaine’s death. Officer, see if you can find a stretcher or something to bring him down to the forensics unit. Andy… Come on, I’d better take you home.
ANDROMEDA: Go get the car ready, Alex. I… I need to say goodbye to the doctor. He’s taken care of me since I was a little girl, and…
(ALEX nods in understanding and rests his hand briefly on her shoulder. EXEUNT, except for ANDROMEDA. She kneels, head bowed, by DR. BELTAINE’S body for a moment, then gasps as IVAN begins to resume control.)
IVAN: Well, well, well…. Does the poor, scared little girl miss her doctor? Nobody to run to anymore? Nobody to quiet the wicked, cruel man who lives in her head? (Laughs evilly)
ANDROMEDA: Shut up, Ivan! Why… Why do you kill everyone I ever care about?
IVAN: Why? Why? Because they annoy me. And they are foolish enough to interfere with my doings.
ANDROMEDA: Because they annoy you? What kind of reason is that to take someone’s life?
IVAN: What kind of reason is there to let them live? You see, my naïve little pest…
ANDROMEDA: See what? Ivan, you killed my best friend and her husband. You killed a chemist who was simply helping my cousin. You killed the doctor who’s helped me since I was seven. You killed the man I was supposed to marry. And now you want me to see from your point of view?
IVAN: No. I don’t care how you see, Andromeda. Because you have finally managed to overstep what I will put up with from you.
ANDROMEDA: What do you mean?
IVAN: (Picks up the handgun) What I mean, girl, is that I have tolerated your existence all these years simply because you and I are…inseparable. Unfortunately, we happen to share the same body.
ANDROMEDA: Ivan, what are you doing with that gun?
IVAN: (Puts gun to side of head) However, it seems that the status quo has changed. Now that you intend to impede my ability to function with whatever chemical remedy Hector’s old employees cook up, I see little point in continuing to keep you exempt from all punishment.
ANDROMEDA: Ivan! No! You know why you can’t do that! If you hurt me…
IVAN: I hurt myself. Yes, yes, I’ve noticed. I really should have kept that lover of yours alive, if only so that I’d have some extra leverage on you.
ANDROMEDA: I hate you, you b*****d!
IVAN: Ah, that one hit home, didn’t it? I’ve never heard you use that sort of language before. Well, in any case, your favorite cousin is still alive. I suppose I could go down to meet him now…
ANDROMEDA: No. You wouldn’t. Ivan, leave him alone!
IVAN: (Snarling) Why? So that we can be locked up for the next few years and then put on a drug to get rid of me? I don’t think so, Andromeda. There’s no more point in playing invisible. I think it’s high time I….
(ALEX’S voice is heard down the stairs)
ALEX: Andy? Andy, are you coming?
IVAN: Damn him… Well, if I can’t go anywhere… Neither will you. (Prepares to fire at head)
ANDROMEDA: Ivan, no! Remember! Whatever happens to me…
IVAN: So it does. But do you know, I think dying might be worth it – just to be rid of you. To never hear that whiny little voice again. To never again be impeded by your idiocy. In all… (Grins wickedly) Goodbye, Andromeda.
ANDROMEDA: Ivan, stop this! You’re crazy!
IVAN: And this should bother me, why? (Fires gun into head. ANDROMEDA/IVAN falls dead.)
(ALEX comes rushing in, MELANIE and OFFICER BOB on his heels)
OFFICER BOB: What’s going on in here? Who’s shooting – Oh no…
ALEX: Andy? Andromeda! (Kneels down to feel her pulse)
MELANIE: Is she…
ALEX: She’s dead. Dead, and Ivan killed her.
MELANIE: Why? He knew that he would be killing himself, too, didn’t he?
ALEX: Of course he knew, Mel.
OFFICER BOB: Then… Why?
ALEX: If you spend long enough dealing in criminal law, you’ll find that there are some people who don’t really have a concept of ‘why.’ Some people just love to destroy, and can’t be reasoned with. I’m afraid Ivan was one of these.
MELANIE: Come on, Officer. I guess… We ought to go report Andromeda’s death. We… We have a lot of notifications…to fill out today.
OFFICER BOB: Yeah. Maybe we ought to go. Alex… You know your cousin never meant for any of this to happen…right?
(ALEX nods. OFFICER BOB and MELANIE exit. ALEX leans down, lifts ANDROMEDA’S body into his arms, and holds her.)
ALEX: I love you, Andy. I’ll never forget. And… I’m sorry. For everything.
(BLACKOUT)
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