Scene from Screenplay "The House on Black Lake" offers Shades of "Fifty Shades of Grey"
A scene from the Screenplay adaptation of Anastasia Blackwell's erotic thriller, "The House on Black Lake" was presented in a staged reading at Beyond Baroque in Venice California. The scene was written before "Fifty Shades of Grey" became a pop culture phenom. Some say author, E. L. James borrowed the name "Anastasia" in her research for the erotic novel. It is also coincidental that Anastasia Blackwell grew up in the Pacific Northwest and has intimate knowledge of the area, while E.L. James lives outside London.
The controversial power play scene brought requests from audience members, who compared its content with the popular BDSM novel and movie, "Fifty Shades of Grey", to publish the scene from the screenplay, adapted from the book.
INT. SANDELEY'S SUMMER HOUSE - FOYER - NIGHT
Alexandra treads quietly through the dark entryway past the
mounted animal heads. Ramey appears from out of the shadows
and swings her around to face him.
ALEXANDRA
(angry)
Take your hands off me.
He is bleary-eyed, his good looks tarnished by alcohol,
jealousy, and something darkly troubling.
ALEXANDRA (CONT'D)
I don't welcome the sexual advances
of my friend's husband, or anyone
else's for that matter.
RAMEY
Is that so?
ALEXANDRA
Meaning what?
RAMEY
You nearly got off with me in the
hallway last night.
ALEXANDRA
Bullshit!
RAMEY
Not very lady-like -
ALEXANDRA
I have no respect for men who seek
the safety of the cage and the thrill
of the wild - but don't have the
guts to commit to either.
RAMEY
Don't lecture me, dear.
He roughly guides her down the darkened hallway leading to
the bedroom corridor.
ALEXANDRA
Where's Ruth?
RAMEY
She stayed the night in Montreal.
ALEXANDRA
You're clearly drunk.
RAMEY
Quiet. You'll wake the children.
RUTH AND RAMEY'S BEDROOM - MOMENTS LATER
Ramey sits in a hanging chair in a bedroom softly lit by
chandeliers. There is a fire in the fireplace, as the night
has turned cold. A massive four poster dressed in crimson
silk commands the space. Alexandra is stationed by the door.
ALEXANDRA
I've seen your warlock's den. What
are you, some kind of wizard?
RAMEY
I have a fascination with science
and magick. Does that frighten you?
ALEXANDRA
You don't frighten me.
He rides his hands up the chains.
ALEXANDRA (CONT'D)
Why did you row me out to stay in
the house on the island?
RAMEY
It was like tying you up without
tethers. Knowing I could set you
free - or not.
ALEXANDRA
Cruel games are played by those with
no control over their victims.
RAMEY
True freedom can only be experienced
through absolute containment. When
your body is imprisoned, the soul is
released. And once it happens,
there's turning back.
Ramey observes her intently, and stands.
RAMEY (CONT'D)
You've had a taste of it, haven't
you? It started in the Victorian,
and you went there with me in the
hallway.
ALEXANDRA
Is this the warlock talking, or do
you worship a darker deity?
RAMEY
That's why you fell for the pathetic
charms of Andre Labat.
(he tracks her surprise)
But giving yourself to that little
worm is like a sailor dipping his
cup in the sea when he's dying of
thirst. He'll never quench what I
see in you.
ALEXANDRA
I found the young man quite charming.
He approaches with an ominous gleam.
RAMEY
The night we left you on the island
I made love to Ruth and pretended
she was you.
ALEXANDRA
Save your confessions for your satanic
priest.
RAMEY
(hovering over her)
Does your dark side frighten you?
ALEXANDRA
It must be a lonely world you live
in, where nothing matters other than
fulfilling your perverted needs.
RAMEY
You stay in my house, eat my food,
drive my car, and expect me to babysit
your son so you can go out and
fulfill your perverted needs?
ALEXANDRA
I am your guest, and with whom I
choose to sleep is not your concern.
I'm a single woman - free to do
whatever I desire. I had the guts
to release myself. You, on the other
hand, have no claim on freedom. You
wear the gold band of ownership.
You're no different than your pierced
and branded livestock.
Potent Pause: his eyes darken, flit side to side, and a wry
smile plays at the edge of his lips.
RAMEY
As the master of the household, I
have certain expectations, and rules
that must be obeyed. I would like
you to consent to a punishment for
being such an ungrateful house-guest.
Five lashes would be fair, wouldn't
you agree?
ALEXANDRA
This has gone far enough!
RAMEY
Have you ever taken corporal
punishment from a lover?
ALEXANDRA
Good-night, Ramey.
RAMEY
Walk out that door and I'm taking
you and your son to the airport
tonight.
ALEXANDRA
(turning away)
I refuse to continue with this sick -
Ramey roughly whisks her into his arms, carries her across
the room, and throws her onto the bed.
RAMEY
Turn around and bend over, hands
against the bed.
He unbuckles his belt.
ALEXANDRA
No.
RAMEY
Hide on skin is painful, but it's
the only way to transcend.
ALEXANDRA
The word "no" may sound foreign -
since you've never heard it.
RAMEY
I could tie you up and torture you
with love first - but you don't
deserve it.
ALEXANDRA
You've tortured me long enough.
RAMEY
Then, let's get to it.
Ramey draws his belt from his jeans and Alexandra draws a
breath of anticipation. The tension between the two is
exquisite.
RAMEY (CONT'D)
We're the same, you know. We're the
same breed. I've known it since our
eyes met in the desert.
ALEXANDRA
I'm nothing like your kind.
He slides his opposing hand down the length of the stiff
leather, and pulls it taut.
RAMEY
Do what I say - there's no way out.
ALEXANDRA
You may be a sorcerer, but you are
neither my master, nor my priest.
RAMEY
There's no choice, dear.
ALEXANDRA
My body and soul are not for your
taking.
RAMEY
(overlaps)
We've been conjoined by fate -
ALEXANDRA
That privilege is earned through
commitment and trust.
RAMEY
(overlaps)
And there is nothing -
ALEXANDRA
I will only supplicate myself to a
man who worships me as much as I
worship him.
RAMEY
(overlaps)
We can do to stop it!
He WHIPS the belt up and powerfully STRIKES. Alexandra
releases an involuntary cry, as it barely misses her, and
cracks against the bedpost.
ALEXANDRA
I now realize I made a terrible
mistake.
RAMEY
And, so have I.
ALEXANDRA
Yet, I gave up everything and your
life remains intact.
RAMEY
Look at me. Look into the pupils of
my eyes. They're the place where
you can see inside the mind, and
read what its thinking.
She gazes up into his tortured eyes.
RAMEY (CONT'D)
You're moving away from me, Baby.
It's like you've fallen into the
bottom of a well. You're crouched
down there, but I can't get to you.
I can't save you.
Alexandra solemnly stands and moves to the door.
ALEXANDRA
I didn't ask you to save me.
She turns and walks to the door.
ALEXANDRA
I believe it's you who is looking to be saved. You
need to save yourself, before
it's too late.
She exits.
