Setting: A clean, bare room with chairs and a small table with a guest book. Flowers, perhaps orchids, stand in a vase. At the back of the room stand wooden doors that, if slid open, would reveal the funeral parlor, complete with a casket.
This is the lobby of the Morgenroth Mortuary.
Three teens (one female and two males) enter the room. They look like wayward souls - a bit grungy and travel weary. They dress in ways that reveal that they are strangers to each other - each personality very different from the other. They carry backpacks and duffle bags. At first glance, one might think they were running away from home.
They are escorted by Cunningham, an arrogant, androgynous vampire (who could be played by a male or a female). Cunningham is calm, yet intimidating - happiest when others are uncomfortable and obedient.
CUNNINGHAM: This way, new bloods. Drop your belongings in the center of the room. They will be attended to presently. (Calling into the next room.) Mangle! The sucklings have arrived! Mangle?! He must be in the cellar. (Stomps three times on the floor.) Mangle! There is luggage that needs lugging. (To the others.) When he does stagger upstairs, you may want to avert your eyes. Seriously. Avoid eye contact. Otherwise Mangle will think he's made a new friend, and that's the last thing you want. You see, Mangle is a half-zombie. Have you ever had a half-zombie as a servant? No, I don't suppose any of you have. It doesn't look as though your undead life has been one of luxury. A half-zombie's brain hasn't completely rotted away - so Mangle is capable of following commands. But keep it simple. He's a bit slow. One task at a time. And remember, he will only obey you when he is not in service of the Elders. (Looking at them for a moment.) Ah, I trust by the grimace on your face that you have noticed the stench. You never get used to it, unfortunately. It's a pungent combination of formaldehyde, well-dressed corpses, and worst of all - orchids. Agh! The orchids are the worst of it. You'll find that a vampire's existence is not pleasant in a funeral home. Most of the humans you will encounter are already dead, drained of their delicious fluids and we don't get a single drop. I can tell by the hungry look in your eyes, you're wondering when we feast. Wait until night, and all we be explained to you. But not by me. I am Cunningham the Minion, your solitary welcoming party. Welcome to the Morgenroth Mortuary, your new home, assuming you sucklings survive. Most new bloods don't.
Your benefactor, the Great Elder, will be arriving shortly to greet you and when he does, I suggest you bow. If you find yourself quivering in fear, all the better. He'll be flattered. You'll notice that I will grovel in his presence. But do not let my supposed cowardice deceive you. Of all the Apprentice Vampyres, I am the most powerful, therefore if you wish to flourish here, if you wish to be a good little suckling, you will learn your place sooner rather than later. Do we understand? Do we? I am not sure you do. The three of you all seem rather dim. (Paces back and forth in front of them, pointing out their flaws one at a time, first looking at the girl.) You - with your black lipstick, eyeliner, dark, drab clothes. You may be undead, but do you have to be so melancholy about it? (Looks at the first male.) And you. Lose sunglasses, poser. You're a vampire; when do you plan on being out in the sun? (Looks at the next male.) And where do I begin with you? A Hawaiian shirt? Why? Why?! Seriously. Why? And why do you reek of human? You must be the one they told me about. The one who tried to fit in. The one who wanted to be friends with humans. I heard you went from one foster home to the next. Classes in night school. A forged doctor's note claiming that you have a deathly allergy to direct sunlight. So, you actually shared the same dwelling with them? What was like? Cohabitating with walking bags of meat? There is a rumor swirling that you filed down your teeth, so desperate to fit in. Eager for human companionship. Is it true? What? Not going to show us? I wonder... While they were sleeping in the next room, and you lying wide awake, how could you resist? You couldn't, could you? You finally gave in, didn't you? you drank someone, someone who trusted you. Didn't you? Someone you cared about. Don't be sad, new blood. Those we love are the sweetest meal of all. (Mangle finally enters.) At long last, our zombified friend. Told you he was a bit slow.
