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ACT ONE |
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A Fortress in Ardudwy. GWYDION and LLEW LLAW GYFFES. |
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(Llew) {Clapping his hands} |
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(Gwydion) Here's Blodeuwedd |
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BLODEUWEDD approaches slowly. |
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(Llew) Why does a heart of ice |
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(Blodeuwedd) Be my protector in his absence. |
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A SERVANT at the door. |
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(Servant) Lord, your retinue waits, |
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(Blodeuwedd) My heart is heavy. Farewell. |
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GWYDION goes. |
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(Blodeuwedd) My Llew |
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(Llew) Farewell, farewell. |
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Exit LLEW. |
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BLODEUWEDD throws herself on the ground, crying. |
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Enter RHAGNELL, her maidservant, who finds her thus. |
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(Rhagnell) Blodeuwedd, my lady, why this despair? |
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(Rhagnell) Of this storm that surges through you. |
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The horn is heard nearer. |
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(Blodeuwedd) Listen. |
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(Rhagnell) Yes. The hunt is closer. |
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BLODEUWEDD draws RHAGNELL to her and places her hand over her heart. |
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(Blodeuwedd) Rhagnell, where is your heart? Oh – as hidden |
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(Blodeuwedd) As the oak's stout heart in wettest weather. |
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The horn is now much nearer. |
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(Blodeuwedd) Listen woman. The hunting horn. They're in full cry. |
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(Blodeuwedd) I could love a hunter – |
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The horn passes. |
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(Blodeuwedd) Go, go woman, |
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(Blodeuwedd) Ask who that horseman is who hunts there. |
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RHAGNELL goes out then returns to the door. |
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(Rhagnell) Lady, the hunt is over, and the huntsman |
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(Rhagnell) And all who look upon you will love you. |
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Exit RHAGNELL. |
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(Blodeuwedd) Be silent now my beating breast, your hour has now come... |
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(Blodeuwedd) Give me your arm – let's go to welcome him. |
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Exeunt. |
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Fade down the lights to signify the passing of three hours banqueting. |
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Bring up the lights. |
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The scene is set as before, except for the wine goblets and flowers on a table. BLODEUWEDD and GRONW PEBR enter. |
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(Blodeuwedd) Have you had enough? |
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(Blodeuwedd) Rhagnell. Rhagnell... |
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RHAGNELL comes. |
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(Blodeuwedd) Prepare my bed tonight |
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(Blodeuwedd) When I slept that first night of all. |
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RHAGNELL goes. |
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(Blodeuwedd) Friend – what did you see to make you like me? |
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(Blodeuwedd) We lay claim to life – and to make love is to be free. |
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CURTAIN |
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ACT TWO |
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A fortress in ARDUDWY. |
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RHAGNELL is there with GRONW's PENTEULU. |
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(Penteulu) Rhagnell, where's my master? |
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(Rhagnell) Shut up fool. |
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GRONW and BLODEUWEDD approach. |
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(Penteulu) Sir, if you're ready, the horses are saddled. |
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(Gronw) Go to them. I'll join you presently. |
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Exeunt RHAGNELL and PENTEULU. |
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(Blodeuwedd) Must you go? |
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(Gronw) Will take its revenge upon his corpse. |
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RHAGNELL enters. |
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(Rhagnell) Sir, your men wait. The sun low over the hill |
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(Gronw) My love, farewell. |
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Exit. Silence. Then the sound of horses riding off. |
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BLODEUWEDD sits on a couch. |
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(Rhagnell) I saw dust clouds on the horizon. |
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(Rhagnell) A different chain ties me. |
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BLODEUWEDD looks at RHAGNELL and takes the tresses of her hair, drawing them into circles around the maid's throat and nape) |
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(Blodeuwedd) Yes, you have your chains. Woman, you |
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(Blodeuwedd) The perpetual guardian of my secret. |
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RHAGNELL stays still and speaks quietly. |
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(Rhagnell) You're hurting me. Do you want to kill me? |
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(Rhagnell) You're hurting me. Do you want to kill me? |
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BLODEUWEDD gazes into her face. |
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(Blodeuwedd) I want to tie up this fragile neck |
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(Rhagnell) Here's the Master. |
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LLEW enters. The two women stand to greet him. |
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(Llew) I've arrived sooner than expected? |
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(Llew) Allowed to come to know you before. |
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Exit RHAGNELL. |
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(Blodeuwedd) Put aside past doubts. Let this reunion |
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(Llew) Was it true what Rhagnell said about you weeping? |
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She is silent. |
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(Llew) Blodeuwedd, look at me. Answer me. |
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(Llew) Because of this hour's bold new bond. |
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RHAGNELL comes to him. |
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(Rhagnell) Master, the water and towels are ready |
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(Llew) I've found at last the meaning of a wife's loyalty. |
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Exit LLEW. |
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(Blodeuwedd) Rhagnell, I tried to kill you. |
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(Blodeuwedd) Go, and don't delay. |
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CURTAIN |
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ACT THREE |
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In the background is a hill. |
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In the middle a long water trough on the edge of a river. |
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GRONW and his PENTEULU enter to join BLODEUWEDD and RHAGNELL. |
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(Gronw) I've come, Blodeuwedd. |
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(Blodeuwedd) I shall share some news with him. |
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Exeunt RHAGNELL and the PENTEULU. |
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(Gronw) Will he come? |
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(Blodeuwedd) And afterwards we'll laugh, and live as we like. |
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BLODEUWEDD sits on the rim of the trough after GRONW has concealed himself. |
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LLEW comes to her. |
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(Llew) You're up early, lady. |
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(Blodeuwedd) Here? Show me how it stood. |
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LLEW jumps up on the front of the trough and looks outwards. |
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(Llew) Look, like this... |
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(Llew) Look, like this... |
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BLODEUWEDD goes to the left to face LLEW. |
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To the right behind him GRONW emerges and stands with his spear poised |
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(Llew) There stand Gwydion and my mother |
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(Gronw) Like this. |
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GRONW hurls the spear into LLEW's back. |
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LLEW falls with a scream to the ground. |
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They look at him. |
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(Gronw) Is he dead? |
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(Blodeuwedd) Come, the new heir... |
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They embrace. BLODEUWEDD laughs wildly. |
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(Blodeuwedd) He is a lad, I swear it. |
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(Gronw) Our new estate. We must move, come. |
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Exeunt. |
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A minute's pause. |
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Then TWO SOLDIERS enter quietly, followed by GWYDION, who is also watchful. |
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They find LLEW. |
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(Soldier) This is worse than you feared, Lord Gwydion. |
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(Gwydion) Now, slowly, gently.... Quietly. |
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CURTAIN |
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ACT FOUR |
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A year later, in the fort's great hall, the PENTEULU and RHAGNELL |
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(Penteulu) On your own again Rhagnell? |
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(Penteulu) He brings his uncle, Gwydion. And three hundred armed guards. |
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BLODEUWEDD enters. |
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(Rhagnell) There's news, mistress. |
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(Rhagnell) Gronw Pebr's here now lady. |
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GRONW comes in. |
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(Blodeuwedd) Did you hear Gronw? |
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(Gronw) To collect your mistress's things for the journey. |
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RHAGNELL exits. |
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(Blodeuwedd) You'll come too Gronw? |
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(Gronw) Will enjoy respect in Penllyn under your protection. |
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A bugle sounds. A SOLDIER rushes in. |
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(Soldier) Sirs, the enemy's out-runners are at the valley's pass. |
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(Penteulu) I'll leave two horses for you in the courtyard. |
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The PENTEULU and the SOLDIER exit. |
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The sounds of horses |
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moving out of the yard. |
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Then silence. |
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(Blodeuwedd) They've gone Gronw. |
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(Gronw) His sword than your kisses. |
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TWO SOLDIERS rush in and pounce on GRONW. |
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With them are LLEW and GWYDION and TWO OTHER SOLDIERS carrying a bier draped with a sheet. |
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(Soldier) Here they are, both of them... |
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(Soldier) Get him... He's caught. |
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They tie GRONW's hands behind his back. |
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(Gwydion) Walking through an open door as if to a banquet |
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(Llew) Is this a trick? Search every corner of this fort. |
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Two of the SOLDIERS go. |
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(Gwydion) And here's the handsome heir, a son of Gronw Hir, |
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(Gwydion) We must respect the wishes of a man condemned to die. |
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Two SOLDIERS untie GRONW. |
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(Llew) A cord of flax binds his arms; |
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(Llew) Take him. Hold him until this afternoon. |
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Exeunt GRONW and the SOLDIERS. |
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Silence. |
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(Blodeuwedd) My man of magic, you've travelled far today, |
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(Gwydion) Rhagnell is back already. There she is. |
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BLODEUWEDD lifts the drape from the bier. |
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(Blodeuwedd) Is this your work? Did you drown her? |
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(Blodeuwedd) I'll receive a rare welcome for a daughter in law. |
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BLODEUWEDD goes out still laughing. |
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Then the laughing stops and the long shriek of an owl is heard. |
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~ |
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THE END |