The Great Carbuncle

By Justin Blasdel

Adapted from the short story from Nathaniel Hawthorne, a group of unlikely companions in the 60's have come together to hike the mountains of the Ozarks. Of course they all have dreams of finding the Great Carbuncle, a giant gem in local Native American folklore, but they mostly want to just experience nature. When in the middle of their hiking vacation, the weather turns sour and covers the land in ice and snow. That's when they can see the red glow of the legendary gem. They decide to help each other to find it...at first. But backstabbing and treachery ensue, and the strangers must decide if the gem is worth killing each other over.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Justin Blasdel
• Release date: Jul 7, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310250101

Justin Blasdel

This is an attempt to make my works public. If you like them and want to produce them, please contact me first. Thank you.

Book preview

The Great Carbuncle

By Justin Blasdel

Adapted from the short story by Nathaniel Hawthorne

Justin Blasdel

12/12/09

Version 4

[e-mail]

Smashwords Edition Copyright by Justin Blasdel, 2009

Characters

Matthew Robin; 20's, fervid military man

Hannah Robin; 20's, needy little homemaker

Bill Seeker; 50's, the self-centered hillbilly

Dr. Antigonus Cacaphodel; Late 40's, pre-geriatric coward

Icabod Piggnsnorto; 30's, hot-headed family man

Roger Chillingworth; 50's, a dream-shattering cynic

John Winthrop; 20's, naive poet

Lord Edward de Vere; 30's, grounded aristocracy

Time

Early Fall, 1968

Location

Ozark Mountains, Arkansas

Prologue

From the peak of a mountain, a red glow slowly becomes brighter and brighter. The sun dims as if in an eclipse and thunder can be heard in the distance. As the glow increases, so do these other natural phenomena until a large, inexplicable crackle of power reverberates throughout the mountains. Then, the glow fades away and all returns to normal.

ACT I, SCENE I

The Beaten Path Camping station. It's early morning, and the yellow sun hasn't yet crawled over every mountain top. The flora is still green and lustrous, but the air has chilled and foretells another wet and freezing Winter on its way.

MATTHEW and HANNAH ROBIN enter, holding bags over their shoulders.

MATTHEW is an army man on leave, and anyone can see HE's not yet comfortable in civilian clothing. HE still has a good, generous smile, but it can disappear in a moment's notice.

HANNAH is the high school sweetheart all grown up. SHE's the perfect little housewife; obedient, loving, and knows how to get what SHE wants from the well-trained significant other.

MATTHEW and HANNAH put down their bags.

MATTHEW

If I've said this once about a Ford, I'll say it again: it'll get you where you need to go, but never on time. Well...here we are. Happy Honeymoon, Hannah.

HANNAH

Thanks, Matthew. It's just what I wanted.

MATTHEW

No it ain't, but thanks for lying.

HANNAH

It's...fine. It's perfect.

MATTHEW

It's cheap.

HANNAH

And that's just what I wanted. A good ole' fashioned camping trip with my new husband.

MATTHEW

A camping trip with a bunch of strangers, but...anything to make you happy.

HANNAH

I am happy. I have my husband, and he’s safe and alive and back home with me where he should be. And who knows? We might get lucky and find the Great Carbuncle.

MATTHEW

Make a good story to tell the folks back home.

HANNAH

Honey, if we found the Great Carbuncle, everyone would hear about us.

MATTHEW

Guess we could make a new wedding ring out of it. Replace the little thing I gave you.

HANNAH

It'd be too big for a ring. My wrist would break off.

MATTHEW

How do you know how big it is? You seen it before?

HANNAH

No...but if we're lucky, we'll be the first ones to find it.

MATTHEW

Then I guess it's a good thing I brought my good luck charm with me.

HANNAH kisses MATTHEW.

HANNAH

Be weird if you didn't take me to our honeymoon.

ROGER CHILLINGWORTH enters as HE surveys the area.

CHILLINGWORTH is an extreme realist who thinks anything considered to be magic should be relabeled illusionary. Only Darwinists survive evolution, and HE intends to spread the good word, even if no one wants to believe HIM.

CHILLINGWORTH

Hello. Am I to assume that you are the newlyweds?

MATTHEW

Sure are, sir. Name's Matthew Robin.

MATTHEW holds out HIS hand to be shook. CHILLINGWORTH assesses MATTHEW's appearance and then shakes HIS hand.

CHILLINGWORTH

Professor Chillingworth.

MATTHEW

Professor? A teacher out here? That's kind of funny.

CHILLINGWORTH

Possibly. I'm probably the only qualified educator in the county. And your wife?

HANNAH

Hannah Robin. Glad to meet you.

CHILLINGWORTH

Likewise. If you don't mind me asking, aren't honeymoons usually spent secluded from the public eye?

MATTHEW

Yes, but--

HANNAH

We just bought a new house. There's still a few payments left.

MATTHEW

Army don't pay like it use to.

CHILLINGWORTH

You're a military officer? Have you ever experienced hand-to-hand combat or survived any other threats to your life?

MATTHEW

Sure. I was a sniper in Khe Sanh, and a damn good one too. Killed me a lot of VC 'till some shrapnel cut up my trigger finger. See?

MATTHEW holds up HIS trigger finger and CHILLINGWORTH makes