By the Sea

By
Omar Mack

Based on:
“Annabel Lee” and other works
by Edgar Allan Poe

2010
 Cast of Characters
Allan: mid 20s; a writer; In love
with Annabel; HIV positive
from a blood transfusion but
he doesn’t know it yet

Annabel: early 20s; In love with

Allan; Daughter of Jonah;
Victim of Common Variable
Immunodeficiency; eventually
dies in childbirth of HIV and
CVI complications.
Juliah: mid 50s; Allan’s mother;
knows about Allan’s HIV but
doesn’t tell him until after
Annabel and Eulalie die.

Jonah: late 50s; Annabel’s father;

a Naval Flight Officer
stationed at NAS Sigonella.
Dr. Frances: M; early 40s/mid 60s

Scene

Catania, Sicily, Italy

Time

1987-1988
 ACT I
Scene 1
Lights up on a beach on the Ionian Sea. Enter a
small group of children, maybe 2-3, of about 8
years. They frolic about the sand
freely. Eventually, they find their own area to
sit and play in the sand. The audience’s
attention is then directed to a young man of about
mid 20’s sitting on the dunes, Allan. He has a
small notebook with him in which he writes. He
wonders aloud as he writes...
ALLAN
“Romance, who loves to nod and sing, with drowsy head
and folded wing. Among the green leaves as they shake
far down within some shadowy lake...”
The nearby congregation of youth laugh heartily as
they begin to build sandcastles amongst
them. Enter Annabel who smiles watching
them. She sees Allan but doesn’t approach him
yet, seeing he’s in mid thought. She listens as
he speaks aloud but looks at the children instead
of him. He notices her and is somehow filled with
inspiration.
ALLAN

Inspired; Writing quickly

“To me a painted paroquet has been a most familiar
bird. Taught me my alphabet to say, to lisp my very
earliest word...”

ANNABEL
Finally approaching
That’s very beautiful.

ALLAN
Coolly. Attractive.
Thank you. It’s very dear to me. I’ve been meaning to
find the significance behind these words for some
time...and I think I just did.

Smiles
ANNABEL
Smiles brightly
Well then. My name’s Annabel.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 2.

Sits next to him. Playfully

And do I have the honor of knowing who I’m such an
inspiration to all of a sudden?
ALLAN

Extending his hand. She shakes it.

Allan. I’m a writer. I live here on the island. I
came because I thought I could find some sort of
influence or muse but up until now nothing...and
because my mother wanted me close.

Chuckles
ANNABEL
Chuckles
Well what about this?
She reaches out for the notebook which he gives
her. She flips through it, skimming.
ALLAN
That’s just something that I’ve had on my mind for a
while but haven’t really formed into words yet.
Looks at her
But it seems like we were meant to meet because now I’m
full of words, of feelings.

ANNABEL
And that’s because of me?
ALLAN
Well, not to be frank or anything, but you’re
absolutely beautiful.
ANNABEL
Blushing, laughs softly
Well thank you. That’s nice to hear.
ALLAN
May I?...
He puts his hand out for the notebook and she
gives it to him with a smile. He opens back to
the page he was on before, looks at her
thoughtfully, as if her were about to draw her,
and writes:
“While in the wild wood I did lie...a child with a most
knowing eye.”

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 3.

He admires his work...and her

ANNABEL
...Wow. That’s amazing. I wish I could create
something like that.

ALLAN
Well we’re all good with something. What do you do
here in Catania?
ANNABEL
Well my dad’s stationed at Sigonella a little up the
way and I’m just here enjoying Europe. I work at a day
care on the base but that’s about it.
ALLAN
Well then you have an enhanced maternal instinct.

Smiles
ANNABEL
Laughs
Sure
They both laugh as the sound of the children
return with a loud shout and playful laughter.
ANNABEL

Sighs
Oh how I envy little children. They don’t have a care
in the world and all they ever do is play and enjoy
life.

She looks at Allan

But we the adults have to work and pay bills and find
our place in the world...
ALLAN

Looking at the children.

Or we can be children at the same time and enjoy it
all. Live life and take it all in, you know? Those
kids know of all the same principles we know, but they
handle them differently.

He points
For example, those children know about the idea of
architecture and conceptual imagination; in short,
creation.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 4.

As he says this, the kids continue to build

sandcastles, adding details and ensuring their
creation is strong.
And at the same time, they know about destruction and
devastation
A kid walks up to one of the sandcastles and kicks
it. The other kid starts crying and pushes him,
running away. The bully gets up and runs after
him and the rest of the group follows quickly.
They know about everything but for them, it’s not a
matter of life and death. It’s about the moment and
for them, what happens tomorrow doesn’t matter until it
comes and with that they can enjoy what’s put before
them. But for us on the other hand, we think that life
is shaped by the actions of the past and everything
today is one big consequence of them, and that there’s
no changing that. That’s because we’re too stupid to
stop and look at our lives in the present and take the
time to just live it out, not care about the problems
of the past, create new history, know the consequences
when they arise and handle them as they come, all the
while enjoying every minute.
ANNABEL
Looks at Allan thoughtfully
Wow. I must be one hell of a muse if you can come up
with that.
She thinks
But what about when me meet the final consequence? The
one that ends up killing us. What happens then?
ALLAN
Well then, our quest is done and we enter a state of
eternal peace, and our souls float on carelessly like
waves on the ocean.

ANNABEL
(Repeats)
“...Waves on the ocean.” Hm. I never thought of it
that way.

(Looks at her watch. Standing up)

Oh! I should probably head back to the base. It was
really nice meeting you--
ALLAN

Rising
Should we meet again sometime?

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 5.

ANNABEL
Yeah, sure, I’d love that. Do you have a piece of--
ALLAN
He hands here a piece of paper from his notebook.
Don’t worry about it. Here’s my number. Call anytime.
He smiles and leaves. Annabel smiles. She laughs
softly.

ANNABEL
Admiring the paper. Sighs
Allan...
She pockets the paper and exits.

BLACKOUT
Scene 2
The stage is split and shows to two homes of the
lovers’ parents. SL is Juliah’s, Allan’s
mother’s, house. It’s quaint and comfortable, not
too big. SR is the home of Jonah and Annabel. It
is standard Naval housing, nice and organized,
perfectly sized for the two of them. All action
outside of just the two talking can be pantomimed
or actually performed depending on stage
size. The following action happens
simultaneously.
Jonah is sitting on a recliner, reading a book.
Enter Annabel SR

ANNABEL ALLAN
Hi, Daddy! (Enters SL
(She kisses him behind Juliah
on the cheek who is in
and crosses to the kitchen
the kitchen.) preparing
dinner.)
Hey, Mom.
(He kisses her
on the cheek.)
Smells good.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 6.

JONAH JULIAH
(Surprised.) (Smiles. Still
You’re awfully chipper preparing the
tonight. I take it food.)
you had fun at the I’m making roast
beach today?... chicken. What’d you
do today?

ANNABEL ALLAN
(As she gets (Sitting at a
something to small dinner
drink from the table.)
kitchen.) Oh, I just went to the
Yeah. You know, I beach to write, get
just walked around and some thoughts down. I
took in the salty air was gonna see if the
and I met someone- beautiful Ionian could
inspire me.
(They both
chuckle.)

JONAH JULIAH
(Looking up Well did it?
from his book)
A boy?

ANNABEL ALLAN
(Like it’s Not exactly. I was
nothing. Still inspired by beauty
tending to her but it wasn’t from the
business to sea. It was a girl.
try and act
cool about the
situation.)
Yeah. A boy. His
name’s Allan. He’s a
writer. A really good
one too.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 7.

JONAH JULIAH
(Starting to (She
rise. A little immediately
stern) stops. She
Now, Annabel- looks at him
quickly. The
tone of her
voice isn’t
panic, but
a pleasant
shock that is
confusing to
Allan.)
A GIRL?!

ANNABEL ALLAN
(Crossing to (Looking at her
Jonah before almost as if
he approaches she’s crazy.)
her.) ...Yes. Her name’s
Oh, come on, Dad. I’m Annabel. Are you all
22 now. I know how right?
to handle and protect
myself when it comes
to boys. And besides,
Allan isn’t like every
other boy.
(Crossing,
she sits on
a chair. Jonah
remains
standing.)
He’s sweet and
charming. He wonders
about life and has
a beautiful view of
it. His writing is
so beautiful, and of
course so is he.
(Looking up
at Jonah, who
is smiling
softly.)
I think I may love
him, Daddy.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 8.

JONAH JULIAH
(Crosses to (Beaming. She
her) seems really
Well, Annabel. You’re happy about
right. You’re not something but
my little Bella Bear at the same
anymore. You’re a time extremely
smart woman, just like worried.)
your mother was, and I ...Uh, yes. Yes. I’m
trust your judgment, fine. You said her
especially if you feel name is Annabel,
this strongly about right?
him. (She returns to
cooking)

ANNABEL ALLAN
(Rising) (Shaking off
Thanks, Daddy. the awkward
(They hug and feeling that
Jonah kissing was just
her on the present from
forehead.) his mother’s
actions.)
Yeah. She’s real
pretty and her
father’s stationed
at Sigonella, like Dad
was.

JONAH JULIAH
Well, I better turn (Pauses.
in for the night. I Searching for
have to be back at some sort of
the base by 0700 explanation
tomorrow. Good night. for her odd
(He exits.) behavior.)
He’s in the Navy?

ANNABEL
’Night, Daddy.
(She sits,
smiling, and
continues
to think of
Allan.)

FADE TO BLACK SR

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 9.

ALLAN
Yes. And I think I
love her.

JULIAH

*Note: This is a lie. This must be told as if this was the

real reason why he must be careful, but there is a graphic
other reason that she’s hiding so she uses the advantage
that Annabel’s a Navy brat instead.
She pauses, formulating her thought. Finally, she
crosses to him.
Well honey, you have to be careful. You know that when
your father was in the Navy, we moved frequently. You
never know when she may leave. You shouldn’t fall in
love so quickly with a girl like that.
ALLAN

Rising
Mom. Seriously? That’s not gonna happen. I mean sure
it happens to military families but really, what are
the odds? Let’s just see how things play out, ok?
He hugs her.

JULIAH
Oh, alright. Well, I’m glad you found a girl...
Quickly
...Because you seemed like you were all alone in that
apartment of yours. Are you sure you don’t want to
live here with me?
ALLAN
Well, right now, I’m pretty damn sure, Mom,
considering.
They laugh.
JULIAH
Alright. But do be safe though, ok.

ALLAN
Quizzical but ignoring the feeling.
Alright, Mom. I will be.

He kisses her on the cheek and exits SR. Juliah,

distraught, cries and exits hurriedly SL.
BLACKOUT
 10.

Interlude
The sounds of two telephones ringing can be heard
followed by overlapping conversation and laughter,
which goes on for a while. Finally, it dies out

ALLAN V.O.
So how does this Saturday sound? Same spot on the
beach?
ANNABEL V.O.
Sounds good.
Scene 3
Lights up on the same beach scene. Allan is
seated on the sand with a bag, two pails and
shovels next to him. The group of kids is there
as well, except for the bully, but they’re in the
background and aren’t as loud. If anything they
can whisper and the noise will carry fine, but
they can just mouth their conversation
(*Director’s discretion*). Allan is looking out
at the water, admiring it, when Annabel enters.
ANNABEL
Playfully. Smiling.
Hey, stranger.

ALLAN
Quickly rising to greet her. Smiling brightly.
Hi.

ANNABEL
Noticing he’s empty handed
Not writing today?
ALLAN

Sitting. Annabel follows suit.

Actually I thought we’d do something else. Something
creative but without any real thought process.
Something where we can just...be kids again.

ANNABEL
Unsure but still smiling in a sort of romantic
excitement.
What?

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 11.

ALLAN
Reaches behind him and shows her the pails and
shovels.
We’re gonna build sandcastles.

ANNABEL
Laughing.
Sandcastles?

ALLAN
Laughing.
Yes, sandcastles. We’re going to build our own little
kingdom by the sea. And maybe, for just this moment,
we can remember what it was like to be a kid again.
Remember the freedom and the fun.
ANNABEL
She pauses, looking at him admiringly. She laughs
softly, and with a smile:
Sure.
The children exit as the beach slowly fades,
however the scene between the lovers still plays
out silently. The following action shows the
passage of time from the day at the beach to the
announcement of Annabel’s pregnancy. However, the
action takes place on each side of the stage at
the parents’ homes while each of the lovers tell
their parents while the other continues to build
the sandcastle kingdom.

Annabel crosses SR to Jonah who is seated at a

desk reviewing paperwork.
ANNABEL
Thanks again Daddy for being Allan’s best man at the
wedding. It meant a lot to both of us.
JONAH
Not looking up from his work.
Well it was a big moment for you and I wanted to make
sure everything was perfect.
ANNABEL
Well it was and I loved it
She kisses him on the cheek.
And I really wanted to thank you for helping us with
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 12.

ANNABEL (cont’d)
the money for the new apartment too. It’s really going
to help...
JONAH

He stops working and looks up.

Help with what?
Taking off his glasses, he looks at her.

ANNABEL
With our new family. Daddy...I’m pregnant.
Jonah drops his glasses. He slowly rises, looking
from Annabel’s stomach to her face, a face full of
surprise and slight worry.

JONAH
Oh, Annabel.
ANNABEL
Dr. Frances said I’m about 6 weeks along.

Jonah slowly moves toward her putting one hand on

her stomach.
JONAH
But, Annabel, what about your CVI? You know you have
those drugs you have to take. Won’t that affect the
baby?
ANNABEL

Smiling soothingly.
Daddy, it’s ok. He said that it’s good that we know
early on so that the proper steps can be taken to
ensure I still receive treatment without hurting the
baby. And transmission is rare so the baby should be
perfectly healthy.

JONAH
Tears in his eyes, he hugs her tightly.
Oh, Annabel. I’m so happy for you.

He lets go. Looking at her stomach once again.

Smiling brightly.
I’m going to be a grandfather! Oh, this is just
amazing!
Almost as if announcing it to the world.
My baby’s having a baby!

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 13.

They laugh together as SR fades to black. At the

same time, lights up SL on Juliah sitting, reading
a book. Allan crosses to the scene while Annabel
returns to the "beach" to continue building and
Jonah exits SR.

ALLAN
Hey, Mom.
JULIAH

Looking up from her book. Happily

Well hello there, Mr. Marriage! How’s life now that
you’re farther away from me than before?
ALLAN

Chuckles
It’s great actually. The new apartment is really
great.
JULIAH

Back to reading.
I just don’t understand why you decided on two
bedrooms.
Half-joking, half-stern. Looking over her
glasses.
I thought you loved Annabel.
ALLAN
Sarcastically
Ha ha, Mom.
Crossing and sitting next to her.
Actually, Mom, it’s a little something we’ve been
working on, and we just found out that we were
apparently doing something right...

Juliah slowly looks up. She closes her book and

starts to rise slowly. She looks more worried
than excited.
JULIAH
Allan...what are you telling me?
ALLAN
Rising.
Mom, we’re going to have a baby...

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 14.

Juliah stops dead, eyes wide.

JULIAH
Oh my God...
ALLAN
You’re going to be a grandmother, Mom. Isn’t that
great? It’s what you’ve always wanted.
JULIAH

Quietly, almost to herself.

Not every dream is supposed to come true...
ALLAN
...What?

JULIAH
Snapping back to "reality," but still in a daze
I’m said I’m really happy for you. Yes, it’s great.
It’s wonderful.

Allan hugs her tightly. She doesn’t return the

embrace.
ALLAN
Oh, Mom, I knew you’d be happy.

JULIAH
How far along is she?
ALLAN
Letting go to look her in the face.
The doctor said about 6 weeks.
Checking his watch.
Well, I’d better go. We’re going to look for some
colors for the baby’s room. I’ll keep you updated,
alright?
JULIAH
Okay. Yes, please do.
ALLAN
Alright. Bye, Mom.
Allan exits the "house" and returns to the
"beach." The couple is still building their
sandcastles while talking and laughing (silently
however.)

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 15.

JULIAH
Oh my God. What have I done? I was trying to protect
my son but instead I’ve now put another life at risk-
She stops and looks toward where Allan left.
Two more lives. Goddammit! How could I have thought
that what I was doing was right? He’s bound to find
out sooner or later once the symptoms start...but that
may be too late for the baby. So what do I do now?...
The lights fade SL and come back up on the beach
scene, where Allan and Annabel are putting the
final touches on their creation.
ALLAN
See? You’re good at creating things.

ANNABEL
Smiling.
Yeah, I guess so.
ALLAN

Handing her a camera from a bag.

Here, why don’t you take a picture.
ANNABEL

Looking at him oddly but still smiling.

Okay.
She puts the camera up to her eye as he sits next
to the sandcastle smiling.

ALLAN
Wait a second.
He reaches into his bag and pulls out a small box.
He opens it and puts it on top of the sandcastle.
Okay. Go ahead.
Annabel takes the picture. She slowly lowers the
camera, looking at the box, inside of which is a
ring.

ANNABEL
Smiling
What is that?

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 16.

ALLAN
Let’s call it a crown for my princess.
He pick up the box and takes the ring out. He
kneels in front of Annabel.
Annabel, will you marry me?

BLACKOUT
Interlude
Sirens sound loudly and the sound of Annabel
coughing violently can be heard offstage.
ALLAN OFFSTAGE:
Annabel? Annabel?! Annabel! Oh my god!

Scene 4
Lights up on a hospital waiting room. Allan is
sitting in a chair, his head down, sobbing.
Juliah hurriedly enters and runs to Allan.

JULIAH
Oh, Allan!
She hugs him and sits next to him
ALLAN
Mom!
He hugs her tightly and weeps harder into her
shoulder.
JULIAH
What happened?
ALLAN
Composing himself enough to tell her.
She said she was cold so I made sure to give her some
extra blankets and she said she’d be fine. And then in
the middle of the night, she woke up coughing really
hard and throwing up. I took her temperature and it
was 106 so I drove her here.

JULIAH
Scared.
...Oh God.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 17.

ALLAN
Mom. The doctor said something else-
Jonah rushes in.
JONAH
How is she?
Dr. Frances enters looking deeply saddened.
JONAH
Dr. Frances, how is she. Is Annabel alright?
DR. FRANCES
I’m sorry to say she’s not, actually.
JONAH

Approaching him.
What do you mean?
They converse quitely off to the side.

JULIAH
What else happened?
ALLAN
During this, Dr. Frances silently tells Jonah all
of the information about Annabel. Slowly but
surely, the worry on Jonah’s face turns to rage.
Well, Annabel has this thing called Common Variable
Immunodeficiency. She’s had it for a long time now.
But somehow, they said she aquired HIV and the mix of
the two in her body caused a horrible reaction and now
she’s dying.
Dr. Frances exits, leaving Jonah standing, a
volcano about to erupt.
It was weird because she never told me that she was HIV
positive. But it got really weird when they checked my
blood-
Jonah turns and rushes toward Allan. He punches
him across the face, knocking Allan to the floor.
Juliah screams in terror.

JONAH
YOU SON OF A BITCH! HOW COULD YOU DO THIS TO MY
DAUGHTER? YOU KNEW! YOU KNEW AND YOU DIDN’T TELL HER!

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 18.

JULIAH
Stop! Please, stop!

JONAH
No! He knew he was sick and he went and gave it to
Annabel.
To Allan
I trusted you! I trusted her judgment! She said you
weren’t just another guy that would use her, but you
were and still are.
He kicks him and prepares to punch again but
Juliah blocks the blow and throws him to the
ground.

JULIAH
HE DIDN’T KNOW ANYTHIHNG BECAUSE I DIDN’T TELL HIM THAT
HE HAD HIV!
The waiting room falls silent. Jonah is frozen
with shock. Allan looks at his mother with
surprise and confusion.
ALLAN
...Mom?

JULIAH
Turning to face her son.
Yes, Allan, you have HIV. You’ve had it for five years
now.

Telling Jonah more than Allan

After Allan graduated high school, his father took him
on a trip to Nicolosi to visit Mt. Etna and take in the
sights. On the way up, there was a terrible car
accident. A truck going in the opposite direction lost
control and careened into the car with Allan and his
father. David died instantly but Allan survied.
Barely. He lost a lot of blood by the time the
ambulance arrived and needed a transfusion. It wasn’t
until after the procedure did we find out and by then
it was too late.

She turns slowly to face her son, who has a look

of anger and sadness on his face.
I didn’t tell you because I heard what they were saying
about it. Everyone was saying that it was a
"homosexual disease," that it was God’s punishment for
being gay. I thought that, now that the blood of a gay
man was in you, that you’d be gay and suffer in Hell
for all eternity. I know now that I was wrong to not
tell you but I didn’t know what else to do.

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 19.

She breaks down crying and eventually falls to the

ground in emotion.

ALLAN
Rising slowly. He crosses slowly to her, full of
rage. Jonah rises also, watching intently.
Are you serious right now? You’re telling me that I’ve
had HIV for five years and you didn’t tell me because
you thought I was GAY?! Are you fucking crazy? First
of all, I’m obviously not gay. I LOVED ANNABEL AND WE
WERE GOING TO HAVE A BABY GIRL!
This catches the attention of both parents.
Juliah looks up, gasping. Jonah is taken aback.
That’s right, Mom. You’re precious little secret is in
that room killing my wife and my daughter! Because of
you, none of us will ever get to see her, and my little
Eulalie will never know anything of this world.
JULIAH

Quietly, almost admiring the name, but still

distraught.
...Eulalie.
ALLAN
But maybe it’s for the better. Maybe it’s better that
she doesn’t live. It’s probably for the best that she
never has the opportunity to meet people like you.
She’s in a better place. Congratulations, Mom. You’re
plan worked out great.

He squats down next to her. She looks up at him.

I hope the rest of your life is a living hell. I hope
I never see your pathetic face again.
He stands and looks at Jonah.
I’m sorry about what happened to Annabel. She’s in a
better place too.
He exits. Juliah remains on the floor sobbing.
JULIAH

Quietly.
A daughter...I was going to have a granddaughter.
JONAH

Finally speaking. However, his voice is low and

grave.
And now you’ve killed her. I can’t believe any parent
would do this to their child. You are one sick
(MORE)
(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 20.

JONAH (cont’d)
woman. I hope you know that your hands can never be
washed of this. They will be stained forever with the
blood of Annabel and Eulalie. How will you be able to
live with yourself now?

He shakes his head.

You don’t deserve to live on this Earth. Why don’t you
just die. Just go to Hell and leave my family in peace
while they rest with God in Heaven.

From offstage, the flatline tone can be heard

softly. A tear runs down Jonah’s face as he
exits. Dr. Frances returns.
DR. FRANCES
I’m sorry for your loss.

Juliah sobs violently.

BLACKOUT
Scene 5

Lights up SR. Jonah, giving the eulogy at

Annabel’s funeral.
JONAH
Annabel told me about what she thought about the
afterlife. She told me that when we die, our quest in
life is done and we enter a state of eternal peace, and
our souls float on carelessly like waves on the ocean.
I believe that philosophy. I believe that our souls
will be guided though the elements of the world once we
pass on and that the peace within us will guide peace
on Earth.
He turns around and produces an urn.
And so now, just as she wished, I will release my
daughter Annabel Lee...and granddaughter Eulalie...to
the waters of the beautiful Ionian, that they may float
on throughout the rest of the seas, oceans and rivers,
and spread the peace and kindness that she once
believed in so faithfully.
He dumps the ashes out into the water as he slowly
begins to cry. The lights fade out SR and come up
on the beach scene once again. Allan is seated on
the sand. He pulls out his notebook and opens it.
Out falls the picture of him with the sandcastle.
He looks at it and begins to cry softly. He then
puts it back and turns the page. He begins to
read:

(CONTINUED)
CONTINUED: 21.

ALLAN
It was many and many a year ago,
In a kingdom by the sea,
That a maiden there lived whom you may know
By the name of Annabel Lee;
And this maiden she lived with no other thought
Than to love and be loved by me.
I was a child and she was a child,
In this kingdom by the sea;
But we loved with a love that was more than love-
I and my Annabel Lee;
With a love that the winged seraphs of heaven
Coveted her and me.
And this was the reason that, long ago,
In this kingdom by the sea,
A wind blew out of a cloud, chilling
My beautiful Annabel Lee;
So that her highborn kinsman came
And bore her away from me,
To shut her up in a sepulchre
In this kingdom by the sea.

The angels, not half so happy in heaven,

Went envying her and me-
Yes!- that was the reason as all men know,
In this kingdom by the sea
That the wind came out of the cloud by night,
Chilling and killing my Annabel Lee.
He begins to cry.
But our love it was stronger by far than the love
Of those who were older than we-
Of many far wiser than we-
And neither the angels in heaven above,
Nor the demons down under the sea,
Can ever dissever my soul from the soul
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee.

For the moon never beams without bringing me dreams

Of the beautiful Annabel Lee;
And the stars never rise but I feel the bright eyes
Of the beautiful Annabel Lee;
And so, all the night-tide, I lie down by the side
Of my darling- my darling- my life and my bride,
In the sepulchre there by the sea,
In her tomb by the sounding sea.
FADE TO BLACK