[BIG FLASH]

Me:  Hi Mr. Poe!  It is so great to meet you!  I’ve imagined this moment in my mind so many times, you would not believe!  I’m a huge admirer of your work! And I really don’t mean to bother you, but…uh…Mr. Poe? 

Poe:  [Remains sitting at desk, unmoving; Head lays on top of hands].

Me:  [Pats his shoulder lightly]  Mr. Poe?  [Again] Mr. Poe?  [Starts shaking him now; Yells]  Oh my God, Mr. Poe?!  Somedody - somebody get some—!!

Poe:  [Lifts head sharply]  Agch!  [Rubs face groggily]  What’s all the ruckus? 

Me:  [Yells] OH WOW!  YOU’RE OK! YOU’RE OK!

Poe:  [Winces; Groans].

Me:  [More quietly now]  You’re ok! 

Poe:  Yes, yes - [Hiccups] - and who - [Hiccups] - might you - [Hiccups] - be?  [Squints, looks around] And intruding in my - [Hiccups] - cottage, no less…

Me:  Oh never mind that.  [Leans down to him] Although, you might wanna drink something for that hiccup.

Poe:  Indeed - [Hiccups] - and I know just the thing [Rummages around papers on desk; Opens drawers; Finally pulls out a flask].

Me:  [Straightens]  Oh, well, I was thinking more like—

Poe:  [Takes long, deep gulps from flask].

Me:  —water. 

Poe:  [Lowers flask; Squints at me]  Oh yeah?

Me:  Well, I’ve heard it helps better.  [Points at flask] Well, better than that stuff, anyway.

Poe:  [Wipes mouth]  Oh it does, does it?  [Rises from desk] So you some sort of doctor?

Me:  [Backs away]  Well, I wouldn’t say that exactly…

Poe:  [Continues moving forward]  Oh?

Me:  [Backs into window; Stumbles into window sill; Sits; Looks up wide-eyed at Poe].

Poe:  [Stops just before me; Cocks head to the side; Smirks] You are quite the flighty one, aren’t you?

Me:  [Sputters].

Poe:  [Reaches hand toward my face].

Me:  [Flinches].

Poe:  [Hand continues past me to a rag hanging on nail by window; Laughs outright at my reaction; Then looks me up and down curiously]  How odd.  One would think that for a girl who walks in public wearing pants, that she’d at least pack some courage in her back pocket. 

Me:  [Stiffens]  Well maybe if your cottage weren’t so dark, I wouldn’t be so “flighty” as you call it.  [Stands up]  And how is a writer supposed to write with no light? [Gestures with arm; Knocks over pail of water onto stray papers on floor].

Poe:  NOOO!  [Drops to floor]  My new piece!!  [Lifts soggy papers; Tries unsuccessfully to shake water from them]  Look at what you’ve done!

Me:  [Crouches down beside him]  Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to!  [Helps gather papers; Angles head; Reads words on topmost sheet]  Oh, Annabelle Lee!  That’s my favorite!  I know it front and back!  I could help you rewrite it!

Poe:  [Freezes; Lowers papers; Directs full gaze at me]  What do you mean you know it “front and back?”  I’ve barely even completed it.

[Both slowly rise to feet]

Me:  Oh no…  [Frantically pats jeans pockets]  I seem to have misplaced my —

Poe:  [Points finger, and wet papers, at me]  Just what do you think you’re doing?  Have you got something else hidden in the pockets of those unseemly pants?

Me:  [Raises hands; Steps backwards]  N-n-no!  I only wanted — ah!!  [Loses footing; Stumbles; Falls to the floor].

Poe:  [Rushes down to my side; Gently sits me up right]  Oh, I’m sorry — I didn’t mean to frighten you so.  Are you alright?

Me:  [Rubs back of head]  Yeah, it’s my fault, I should’ve looked where I was going.  Oh look, there’s a floorboard come loose.

Poe:  No, no, never mind that!  [Hurriedly tries to get me to my feet]  Come along, just come along [Grabs my arms; Almost frantic now].  Up you go!

Me:  No wait, what is that?  [Angles head to look underneath floorboard; Squints] It — it looks like [Eyes catch a glint of red then look slowly up at Poe].

Poe:  [Stiffens; Glares back].

[Long Silence]

Me:  Ne-ne-never mind.  Can I have a sip from that flask?

[BIG FLASH]