Pride Cometh: A Short Horror Play
- Alexander Adams
- Nov 2
- 5 min read
Written as part of Flash Fiction Horror, a series of tales to tell before Halloween
PRIDE COMETH: A Short Horror Play
Cast of Characters:
Brother Albert: A younger, more energetic monk.
Brother Edmund: An elder, more serious monk.
The Leucrota: An animal that can mimic the sound of human speech. It is the same size as an ass, but with a horse’s head, chest and legs like a lion, hind quarters like a stag, and cloven hoofs. It has an extremely wide mouth, that stretches from one ear to the other, which looks like a grin.
ACT 1: SCENE 1
The exterior of a medieval monastery. It is dusk, and two monks are sitting on a bench in the garden, finishing a friendly contest to see who can define more mythical creatures.
BROTHER ALBERT:
Catoblepas.
BROTHER EDMUND:
A beast with a head so heavy it can only look down.
ALBERT:
Quite right.
EDMUND:
(Pauses to think)
Falena.
ALBERT:
A beast that hates human pride, come now Edmund give me something challenging.
EDMUND:
How am I supposed to know what you consider to be challenging? And anyway, it’s your turn not mine.
ALBERT:
(Laughs)
Alright, alright. Here’s a hard one for you...Leucrota.
Edmund thinks for a long time. Albert begins to mock him.
You can’t remember it can you? I knew I’d get you eventually, ha ha! All that time in the scriptoria drawings animals and you don’t even know what animals you’re meant to be drawing!
EDMUND:
(Noticeably annoyed)
I thought this was meant as some fun revision, not a way to stroke your ego. You should watch the Falena doesn’t come for you, Albert, with such pride on display.
ALBERT:
(Dismissively)
Oh dear, it seems he’s become upset because he couldn’t describe more animals. It was just a game Edmund. No need to be angry.
EDMUND:
I’m not angry! But your lack of humility is a serious cause for concern. You won, I couldn’t say what a Leucrota was -
ALBERT interrupts
ALBERT:
A composite beast with a mouth that stretches from ear to ear, that can also make sounds that resemble human speech.
EDMUND
(continued):
The point is that you’re behaving entirely inappropriately about it for a supposed monk.
ALBERT:
ALBERT raises his hands in mock surrender
Alright! Alright! No need to remind me of my sins. It was just a bit of teasing between friends, no harm meant by it. You know, patience is a virtue.
EDMUND Gets up from the garden bench and begins to leave
EDMUND:
(Sternly)
And so is humility. And if you read more of the manuscripts we copy down, perhaps you would understand why pride is so perfidious a vice to have. I’m going to bed.
EDMUND exits. ALBERT is left alone on the bench.
ALBERT:
EDMUND! Come back, I’m sorry! Oh, what a spoilsport. He could have been proud of me for memorising so many creatures. Then again, they are fascinating to read about. Perhaps I should have been an explorer instead, travelling to India to find a Peridexion tree. Or maybe I could have been the one to fully describe the Zifius fish. Or even Africa to see an elephant. An elephant! That would be something worth writing about in the scriptoria.
From offstage, the rustle of leaves can be heard. ALBERT looks startled.
ALBERT:
What’s that?
The rustling persists for a little longer, before it stops. The sound of an owl can be heard
(Relieved) Oh, just an owl. Such a sinful bird to hide from the light of God. Although their flesh can help cure paralysis. I wonder who was the first to discover that.
The stage begins to darken. ALBERT relaxes, looking up and breathing deeply.
Such a beautiful night is coming. A shame Edmund decided to leave before seeing the full design of the cosmos. Although it is getting a little chilly now.
ALBERT stands up, ready to leave, when he hears another sound from the other side of the stage. He freezes again.
What was that? That was no owl, to my ears. A fox, maybe?
The sound of a fox is heard, and ALBERT looks around to see if he can spot it.
(playfully) Where are you, little devil? I can hear you, you know, sneaking up on me.
Suddenly, the noises of the fox are cut off after a whimper. It sounds like it has been injured.
(Cautiously) Oh?
A few moments later, the sound is replaced by the crunching of bones. It is noticeably louder.
Umm...
ALBERT begins to back towards the opposite side of the stage.
(frightened) EDMUND was right to leave when he did. I should have gone with him.
The noises stop. ALBERT stops moving. The light of a lantern approaches.
EDMUND (OFFSTAGE):
Albert? Are you still here?
ALBERT:
Edmund? Is that you?
EDMUND enters from the same side as the noises, holding a lantern.
Edmund! Be careful!
EDMUND:
(confused)
What are you talking about? Careful of what?
ALBERT:
Something’s just killed a fox; I could hear it just before you came, it’s right next to you. Quick, get away from the bushes!
ALBERT gestures EDMUND to join him. EDMUND takes several steps forward onto the stage, but still near the wing.
EDMUND:
Albert, enough. I don’t want to play anymore, I’m here to encourage you to come inside before you get too cold.
ALBERT:
I’m not playing either! Come over here before it attacks you too.
EDMUND:
(dismissively)
That’s enough, Albert. If you want to stay out here and get spooked by hedgehogs, that’s your decision, but if you’re late to morning service, the Abbot will have your head!
EDMUND exits the stage. Once he does, there is a scream. Again, there is a crunching sound. The lantern light goes out. The stage is almost completely dark now.
ALBERT:
(terrified)
Edmund, no! Oh Edmund, I’m sorry, I’m sorry.
ALBERT begins to cry but stops when he hears hoof-beats approaching. LEUCROTA enters the stage, hidden by the darkness. It mimics the sounds of the words but does not understand what they mean.
LEUCROTA:
(poorly mimicking EDMUND)
I don’t want to play anymore...
The Leucrota moves further onto the stage.
LEUCROTA:
(poorly mimicking ALBERT)
Come over here...
ALBERT whimpers, frozen in place.
ALBERT:
(With false bravado)
St-stay back! Stay back demon, the lord commands you!
LEUCROTA moves fully into the centre of the stage. A beam of moonlight illuminates enough to show its outline. It is the same size as an ass, but with a horse's head, chest and legs like a lion, hind quarters like a stag, and cloven hoofs. It has an extremely wide mouth, that stretches from one ear to the other, which looks like a grin.
ALBERT:
(in awe)
A Leucrota...
LEUCROTA moves towards ALBERT, and the lights go out. There is a short scream, and then a final crunching of bone.
LEUCROTA:
(poorly mimicking Albert)
Lord commands...
END
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