Wherever did you get your bravery from?

A dramatic scene from the one-act play In the Face of the Beast wherein Father Lewis tests Willa’s bravery.

Featured Scene – In the Face of the Beast

WILLA: Tea?

FATHER LEWIS: None for me.

Father Lewis sits and stares at Willa. Willa evades his stare nervously and sets the kettle on the stove.

Long pause.

Father Lewis does not take his eyes off of Willa.

Willa turns to Father Lewis and smiles faintly. She picks up a towel and begins wiping down the table.

Father Lewis takes hold of Willa’s wrist.

Sit down, won’t you?Willa regretfully nods. She sits, staring 

down. Father Lewis’s eyes narrow.

What else can you tell me about the beast?

WILLA: The beast?

FATHER LEWIS: The beast.

WILLA: The beast…is – it’s that I’ve come to understand that this creature-um-animal is something of a rarity?

FATHER LEWIS: Are you asking me or telling me?

WILLA: No, no, I am asking you, based on what I’ve heard.

FATHER LEWIS: Mm. And what exactly did you hear and from whom?

WILLA: Oh no, it, in town, casual walking, I heard rumors in the street of a significantly large..animal..like a wolf.

FATHER LEWIS: A wolf. Ahh. That could very well be. (beat) …And do you think it was a wolf that murdered Mister Henry Landon?

WILLA: I…

FATHER LEWIS: What’s wrong, Willa? … Tell me.

WILLA (keeping her guard up): I imagine so.

FATHER LEWIS: Henry Landon’s throat was entirely dug out from him. All that was left was the tip of his spine and his head not two feet from where his body had come to rest. A wolf… (tapping the point of a fang on the table) Could be…most likely, I would assume, a rather large wolf..beast..animal…creature. (He smiles.)

The kettle sounds a piercing pitch, making Willa jump up from her seat to make her tea.

I was off to the dentist early this morning.

WILLA: Is that so?

FATHER LEWIS: A tooth of mine had gone missing.

WILLA: Really?

FATHER LEWIS: A canine tooth that is…

WILLA: Why?

FATHER LEWIS: That’s a good question. I had a dream of being struck by something. It was an odd dream, full of all kinds of violence. When I woke up, I was bloodied; streams of blood covered my face and chest, and I was missing a canine tooth. I looked all over for it, but then I found this (holding up a fang)… Somehow this fang ended up in my bedroom. I accidentally stepped on it while reaching for my shoes. It’s obviously not from my own mouth, and yet I am missing one of my own. It was the strangest dream, really…you were in my dream, Willa. I remember your face…unafraid, stoic…fearless. Remarkable. I did learn of your presence the day of the incident. You were present, weren’t you, the day Mister Henry Landon was killed by the beast? (beat) Don’t be frightened. I am only wondering why you did not wish to tell me that on your own volition.

WILLA: …I don’t like discussing such things…violence is –

FATHER LEWIS: You were traumatized?

WILLA: Well –

FATHER LEWIS: Which is why I’ve come to visit you, Willa. To make you feel safe. I don’t blame you for not volunteering information to me, quite frankly. But, I’ll have you know you did right. Although you could not rescue Mr. Landon from demise, you made the valiant attempt. That is commendable, quite. Many others – in fact, most people – would have fled or collapsed under the pressure of being faced with the beast. Wherever did you get your bravery from?

WILLA: I wouldn’t call myself brave.

FATHER LEWIS: You are the talk of the town.

WILLA: Are the authorities any closer to finding the creature?

FATHER LEWIS (smiling): No.

Willa sips her tea. Her eyes dart over to a shotgun hanging up on her wall.

(without moving, eyes completely locked in on Willa) That is a good weapon. Are you thinking of using it?

WILLA: It’s just a family emblem.

FATHER LEWIS: Mm.

WILLA: William will be coming home soon, and I have to start on dinner.

FATHER LEWIS: And how is William doing these days?

WILLA: Fine. He’s a good man.

FATHER LEWIS: That he is. (beat) I have not seen him in church as of late.

WILLA: Overtime.

FATHER LEWIS: Pardon?

WILLA: The mines have him working longer hours, and we can use the money, so…

FATHER LEWIS: Yes, but we should never be remiss when it comes to the Lord.

WILLA: We aren’t being remiss, Father.

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Scene Summary

In the drama play script In the Face of the Beast, Father Lewis makes an unusual appearance at Willa’s cabin home in order to test her bravery.

• Genre: Drama
• Length: ~5 minute scene
• Characters: 1 woman, 1 man
• Themes: supernatural
• Best For: drama scenes

FAQ

Related Drama Scenes

• Where are you now? – from Cuts 2
• I’m with you soldier. – from Facing The Sun
• I did something that I wish I hadn’t done.  – from The Floating Room
• Will you always hold my arm like this when we walk? – from Carried Away
• Aren’t we all running away from something, Mrs, Maureen? – from The Attic

Scene Source: In the Face of the Beast

In the Face of the Beast is a dramatic play script by Joseph Arnone, 2026.