act 3

ELOISE. (Definitively) Shes staying. (Harley nods and exits)

EVIE. She wanted to kill me. Not- not Casey. Not Casey, but...but-

ELOISE. Well, first things first, I think id better send June to grab you some sensible clothes, hmm? (Evie and Eloise laugh, helping Evie stand) Alright, hop on up. Cant get anything done when were crying on the floor, now can we?

EVIE. Thank you. Thank you for protecting me.

HARELY. Three cheers for the kiss!

EVIE. The kiss? (alarmed, looks at Johnathan) What kiss?!

ELOISE. Its okay Evelyn. We are going to keep you safe here.

EVIE. The others don't want me here, do they?

ELOISE. Don't you listen to them. You're going to stay here until this all gets sorted out. Ill explain everything to them soon. They're just scared of Katherine, you know.

EVIE. They should be. You should be.

ELOISE. (Smiles at her, tilts her head toward offstage) Go on. Why don't you ask Leah to make some soup for our guest? (Maisie nods, runs offstage, Harley stands with her arms crossed) Really? You're staying? Like that? (Harely nods, Eloise sighs, to Evie) Hey, Princess. Glad to see you're awake. Mind if I sit? (Evie shakes her head) Thanks.

EVIE. What happened?

ELOISE. Well, I don't know yet. But were going to help you figure it out.

EVIE. What now?

ROBERT. We have to go see him! Tell him you're okay!

EVIE. What?

ELOISE. Before I get a better head on my shoulders. (to Evie) We'll be back soon, alright? Don't worry.

EVIE. Where are you going?

ELOISE. Evelyn, he didn't know.

EVIE. You believe that?

LEAH. You aren't making it any easier for yourself.

EVIE. You're the one who wanted to dance with him in the first place.

ELOISE. No.

EVIE. No? What do you mean, no? Why not?

ELOISE. (looks over her book) Prince Mitchell? (keeps reading) Please, that child of a man never ever-

EVIE. Not him, that's gross! My brother, obviously.

ELOISE. I know. I know, its really scary being out there. Especially all by yourself.

EVIE. She really wants me to die, Eloise. I knew she did... I told you she did.

ROBERT. I wont say anything, I swear it. And I only knew about any of this as of this morning. (vomiting the words out) Johnathan thought you were avoiding him after the dance and we met with everyone and you were killed by bears and there's a new anti-bear initiative now and-

EVIE. She tried to kill me. She told Casey to take me and kill me. And-and I almost let her.

MAISIE. Awesome! Im starving! (The Seven all dig in, Evie finally gets to the fruit)

EIVE. Ooh, an apple. Thanks guys, my favorite.

ANNA. (Chuckles) To you, maybe. Looks wrinkled and gross to me.

EVIE. (Becoming more trance-like) Well, its mine, so... its mine, I- I have to... I have to take it... I can... (takes a bite)

ELOISE. Robert I-

EVIE. (Entering wearing a cloak, taking the hood off) Just got back from town. No one recognized me. I'm sure of it!

LEAH. How about some soup? No! A full buffet! A celebration of your return to us!

EVIE. (Groans) Do I have to wear a dress to that too? (Everyone laughs, blackout)

ELOISE. Ive known him for years, hes better than that.

EVIE. (Scoffs) Of course you'd say that.

ROBERT. But you didn't I'm glad you're here. I have been so scared for you, you know. Johnathan too.

EVIE. (Smiling) Johnathan. How is he?

ELOISE. Evelyn?

EVIE. (Starting to sit herself up, sarcastically) Well, don't all jump at once.

ELOISE. (Takes his hand, stands next to him) Always. (leans her head on his shoulder)

EVIE. (Stirring, sleepily and struggling to talk) Ugh, get a room, you too.

ROBERT. You're awake, you're here, you're-

EVIE. (Straining) You're crushing me! (everyone stands up) Well... Gangs all here.

ELOISE. Who told you to disappear?

EVIE. (like its obvious, almost as afterthought) Casey. Then I found this tunnel and there was- (gaps) Casey! Casey, we went outside for air. We walked toward town, but then we were so far, and we were going to cut back through the woods... (voice wavering, scared) She pulled out a knife... She said that-

ELOISE. Alright. Why don't we go back to what i remember first? I remember you being at the ball. I remember seeing an old friend of mine after that, and you came over and met him too, right?

EVIE. (nodding) The prince. I had been dancing with Johnathan. (smiles, laughing softly) I remember that wonderfully.

ROBERT. Come on. Hell be so relieved that your alive. Hes been freaking out, seriously.

EVIE. Can I see him?

ROBERT. Well, what would my mother do about it anyways, try again? She couldn't touch Evie without the high council being on her case.

EVIE. Casey... Shed blame the idea on Casey. (to herself, starting to pace) Shed have HER killed for trying to kill me! What am I going to do?

ELOISE. Just to see Johnny. Well be right back. (Evie hugs her) Oh!

EVIE. Don't get caught. Just... don't get caught.

ROBERT. Evelyn?! Evelyn, you're alive! (Runs and hugs her, she freezes) Evelyn its me.

EVIE. Don't... You- you should go upstairs.

ELOISE. Shes not going to set a finger on you, princess

EVIE. Evelyn. Call me Evelyn, please...

ROBERT. Hes good. Hes okay. Got himself in jail.

EVIE. He what?!

ROBERT. Im sorry.

EVIE. I almost died, Robert... I almost... (hugs him)

GRETA. And it worked! She's back!

EVIE. I am so confused right now. And I have a killed headache.

ELOISE. You must have hit your head worse than we thought. You look exhausted.

EVIE. I am... I had to rush so far after she told to disappear. So far before i found the path here.

ELOISE. Evelyn's my favorite.

EVIE. I am?

ELOISE. I am. I'm just not going to let them control me. I'm glad Casey didn't let it either.

EVIE. I don't know where I'm going to go. What am I going to do?

ELOISE. Yeah, that's right. What did you do after you came over to me and Robert?

EVIE. I told Johnathan something... That I was leaving. I was... I was getting air with someone.

ELOISE. Evelyn...

EVIE. I was terrified! (voice breaking) It was dark and I was scared and I was alone!

ELOISE. Well, unfortunately, I was hoping youd be able to tell me that, if you dont mind.

EVIE. I... I dont know.

ROBERT. I dont know what?

EVIE. Katherine... Shes the one who wanted me dead.

JOHNNY. Evelyn, you're alive!

EVIE. Last thing I remember, I was just eating fruit. Did I get food poisoning or something?

ELOISE. (Heavily enunciated) Give us a minute. (the handmaidens look between each other, sternly) Now. (they all exit hurriedly) Evenly-

EVIE. No, but what if he knew? How do you know hes not wrapped up in it? And now hes seen me and hes going to tell them I'm alive and Katherine will have you all killed over me! Even Maisie!

KIERA. Yeah, it looks kinda funny.

EVIE. No, it looks delicious.

ELOISE. Someone in the military, maybe? Was it an ambassador? Did they have-

EVIE. No... I- I'm sorry, I cant think like i want to right now.