Alright…I won't keep you up…go on and continue reading…
Victor walks out of the school building with his satchel and crumpled, stained sketchbook, exhausted and fed up, turns in an alley, crosses the town square and sees Mayhew in front of the house. He is holding his handkerchief to his nose, but blood is dripping out the bottom and his tie, coat and shirt are dotted with blood too.
Mayhew: (takes pipe out of his mouth, astonished) Victor! What an earth has happened to you! You're bleeding!
Victor: (approaching) I'd- I'd rather not talk about it...is Mother in?
Mayhew: No, they all went to visit your Aunt Mildred in the city; they say they'll be home before dark. Are you sure you don't want to tell me?
Victor: No, Mayhew, I don't...I... (Tears are forming) I need to be alone... (Walks in, up the stairs, into his room, looks at all his butterfly drawings, then lets himself fall on his bed, crying in his hands. Then he looks up, sees Scrap's picture, wipes away the tears and cleans his nose. He smiles)
I miss you, Scraps... (Gets up and finds a bandage in his drawer, goes to the mirror and looks at his black eye, sees to his nose.)
A carriage drives up and Nell and William Van Dort, both in their best clothes step out and into the house.
Nell: Wonderful to get out once in a while, isn't it Will?
William: Indeed dear, let's go in, I wonder if Victor is home.
Nell: Yes, he should be though… the journey has made me famished, we'll have dinner. (10 minutes later, the Van Dorts are seated at the dining table; a house maid is ladling out dinner)
Nell: Where is Victor?
Maid: Oh, he's coming, Madame, he's just smartening himself up…
Victor: (enters the dining hall, smiles weakly) Good Evening, Mother… Fath-...
Nell: (looks up…her fork falls on the plate with a clatter) Good gracious Victor! What's happened to your face!
Victor: I...I ran into… a tree...in school...it's…
William: My Lord...it looks like you've been beaten up to me…!
Victor: No…no…I-I…it's alright…I just ran straight into it…
Nell: Why can't you be more careful, Victor? Now everyone will be thinking you go around fighting like all the other hooligans you see around the town these days…terrible behaviour…I don't know what the youth is coming to! Just take a glance at the boy's eye, William…it's practically black! Are you sure you're alright, are you in pain?
Victor: No…I'm ok, really, it's fine... (Sits down gingerly, tries to smile but winces and grimaces at the pain)
William: (frowns) Well, I hope you're right, Victor, you'd better get to bed early tonight, you look ill...
Nell: Oh, and regards from Aunt Mildred, dear, she's really got a fantastic mansion over in Manchester, lovely tapestry, and the walls...you should have seen... (Drones on, Victor only picks at his food, excuses himself early and secretly sneaks out to Mayhew)
Victor: Mayhew...I wondered if we could talk...?
Mayhew: (from up on the carriage) I had hoped you'd come...I knew there was more to that black eye...come up, we'll go for a ride and then we'll pay a visit to your doctor, alright?
Victor (sighs and smiles as he climbs up) Oh, Mayhew...what would I do without you...you'll never leave me, will you?
Mayhew: Oh, no, Master Victor, I'm not going anywhere...but tell me, what really happened to you? (Carriage starts moving)
Victor: (sighs) Vincent…
Mayhew: (frowns) Vincent?
Victor: Vincent Merusimer….
Mayhew: …I know him…he's in your class, am I right?
Victor: (tracing circles in his seat) Yes…
Mayhew: And…? What about him…? Is he the one who beat you up like this?
Victor: (sighs shakily, and nods faintly)
Mayhew: But why…? Victor… (Looks at him, Victor looks away) Tell me…
Victor: (looks ahead) It's all my fault anyway…
Mayhew: Your fault…? Why should it be your fault? Victor..! You…didn't pick a fight with him, did you?
Victor: (starts up) No! No….not exactly… (Looks down)…well….I…I slapped him…
Mayhew: What?
Victor: (nervous) B-but not on purpose…I…I…I…just couldn't control myself…it…it just happened...I…
Mayhew: Victor…I know you…something must have happened before that…did he say something to you…?
Victor: I…I…well…he… (Sighs)…my butterflies… (Looks away, embarrassed)
Mayhew: I see…
Victor: He said I was a ninny…and that I was… (Sighs)…he thinks butterflies are—(sighs) … I wish he wouldn't drag them through the dirt so much…
Mayhew: (sighs) Victor…I know…its difficult…but you have to ignore it, it's not worth it …always remember that…and others who do that to you are just trying to hurt you…like Vincent… (Gently touches Victor's shoulder, Victor looks over to him)…Don't let it get to you…you have an interest in life…something that inspires you …and that's what makes your life worthwhile…don't let anyone take that away from you…
Victor: (smiles, Mayhew does the same)
Mayhew: (gets a serious touch) Victor…you know you have to tell this to your parents, don't you?
Victor: Mayhew! I can't do that! I already told them I ran into a tree!
Mayhew: And you seriously think they believe you? (Victor looks away) They'd like to know…tell them…what are you afraid of…?
Victor: (sighs) Alright…but…what if they don't understand..?
Mayhew: They will…Victor…you're their son…you have to tell them… (Victor sighs and nods, Mayhew smiles)