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The Usurper
From a Collection of Crowley's Plays and Scenarios
Professor Waldstein, 51, is prematurely aged by vice; physiologist and doctor, addicted to strange vices.
Doctor Hertz, 40, his rival; scoffs at Waldstein's theories, and has damaged his reputation at some points. A coarse voluptuary, in love with Gerda. Has discovered a drug which leaves a man permanently with distorted features and partial paralysis.
Gerda Ringler, 22, hysterical patient of Hertz. A strongly sensual type, but of noble character which represses her desires. She needs Hertz physically, but loathes and despises him. She rejects his advances proudly. Waldstein tries to hypnotize her to kill Hertz; but she will only obey innocent orders.
Waldstein, feeling his age, devises a plan by which he may take possession of Gerda's body, driving out her soul permanently. He begins by post-hypnotic suggestions, etc. At last he succeeds. His body falls dead. In order to make Gerda's change of character a mystery, the death scene not to be shown till near the end of picture, as a throw-back in a scene where the girl defies Hertz, after poisoning him. (Her pure soul, expelled, disdains to light upon the carrion Waldstein: this is why he dies).
The girl awakes, and mechanically relights the professor's pipe and smokes it thoughtfully. But her body resents this: the pipe makes her sick. Interruption: Hertz comes in. Sees Waldstein dead, but doesn't guess how or why. Various incidents illustrate the struggle between Waldstein's mind and Gerda's body. Next time she sees Hertz her lust, no longer held in by her ‘soul,’ makes her yield, despite Waldstein's aversion to being caressed by his dead enemy. Hertz notices this hatred; it makes him brutal; he rapes the girl.
Waldstein has left her all his money, etc.
She manages to drop in on a party where Hertz is drinking heavily. She announces herself as a woman doctor; he, though aware, is too helplessly drunk to protest effectively. She persuades the company that he is critically ill, sends for and administers the drug which Hertz knows will leave him with distorted face and partial paralysis. But as Waldstein's spirit gloats over his complete triumph and revenge, Gerda's body asserts itself in disgust with the ruin of the man it loves; and it compels its owner to suicide.
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