Alfred: (Desperately screams.) Clarissa! Why have you forgotten me? (Clarissa, Alfreds sister, appears from stage left and hurries to his cell window.)

Clarissa: Dear brother, I came as soon as I could.

Alfred: I dont belong here, Clarissa. You know that, right?

Clarissa: Of course, Alfred. How could you be accused of anything? Why have they put you here?

Alfred: The Duke has accused me of caring on affairs with his daughter, and has fathomed a story by which I raped her in order to have me thrown in this cell without food or water.

Clarissa: Dearest brother, here. (Produces a piece of bread.) It is not much, but it was all that I could scrounge up on my way here. (A Pause.) You didnt do it, did you?

Alfred: (Pauses in his hungry eating.) Do what?

Clarissa: Have you carried on an affair with the Dukes daughter? You have said many fine words on her behalf.

Alfred: She has meerly been an interest of mine, not a lover. (Returns to his bread.) Do you recall the summer before last?

Clarissa: How could I forget, Alfred? You know I nearly died.

Alfred: I know. I was there.

Clarissa: And if you hadnt been, I would have surely parished.

Alfred: I stayed by you, even as our parents died of the same virus.

Clarissa: Dont be too hard on yourself, Alfred. They were too infected for even you too help.

Alfred: But I helped you.

Clarissa: And I thank you for it, my brother. (A Pause.) Why have you brought up this subject?

Alfred: I saved you, dear sister, and now I fear that you are the only one who can save me.

Clarissa: How do you mean? I have no strength to break down these walls. I have no say in the ways of our legal system. What power do I have over this matter?

Alfred: You are becoming a rather appealing young lady, Clarissa.

Clarissa: I hardly see how that has anything to do with the matter.

Alfred: The Duchess no longer resides with the Duke?

Clarissa: Do you mean to say she has dissappeared?

Alfred: I mean to say she has been murdered.

Clarissa: The Duke must be furious! Why has the public not been informed?

Alfred: The Duke hired a man to kill his wife. If I were he, I would not want my actions broadcast.

Clarissa: What does this have to do with me? Surely you dont mean for me to go against the Duke and expose his crime.

Alfred: You would sooner be murdered yourself. No, I must beg of you a different favour.

Clarissa: Anything. What do you need, brother Alfred?

Alfred: I need you to sleep with the Duke.

Clarissa: What?!

Alfred: The Duke, although he hated his wife, misses her presense in his bed.

Clarissa: I cant even believe what you are asking of me.

Alfred: I saved your life once, and I now wish for you to return the favour. Didnt you say that you would do anything to help me?

Clarissa: What you are asking is beyond what any person should be expected to do.

Alfred: I stayed by your bed side even when neighbours and doctors told me it was useless. I stayed on even though I was at risk myself. I made sure that you lived, no matter what harm came to me.

Clarissa: You expect the Duke to release you if I do his deed?

Alfred: Yes, I believe he will be more than happy to do whatever you ask of him.

Clarissa: I will go to your Duke. You will be a free man when the morning comes.

Alfred: Dont forget to set down the stipulations to this proposal before you proceed.

Clarissa: I shall I ask him to free my only brother and to slit my throat so I might never live with the guilt of what I have done. You have granted me life just to kill me years later.

Alfred: You must not! How could you take your life?

Clarissa: It has not been in my hands since the summer before last. Good night, brother Alfred. May you live on for the both of us. (Exits.)