She is not a professional actress but chosen from among the local population. The role is performed by a different girl each night. These days the girls are neither innocent nor virgins but all are exquisitely beautiful. As tonight’s victim is finally dragged on to the stage, a gasp arises from the audience followed by a round of applause.

The girl’s wrists are bound behind her back, her blonde hair cascades over her shoulders. She wears a coarse linen smock, barely long enough to cover her bottom.

The plot is very simple. The Countess tells her maid to untie the victim’s wrists to strip her. A thorough examination of poor girl’s naked body is then carried out by the maid. The audience watches closely as the perfectly formed buttocks are parted, the pink nipples twisted. The girl struggles and cries pitifully as every part of her naked body is probed and stretched. The Countess issues another command and the maid drags the girl to the iron frame, where her wrists and ankles are fastened and the naked girl is held with arms legs spread wide.

The evil Countess gives a blood-chilling laugh as she promenades before the excited onlookers as the audience drinks in this vision. The girl struggles helplessly, her perspiring skin glowing in the candle light.

Now the maid pulls the whip from her waistband and prepares to lash the victim. What follows is shockingly erotic. It would be easy to mistake the girl’s anguished screams as genuine, but this is merely her acting skill. As too are the scarlet welts, the traces of blood and sweat, all merely theatrical art but horribly convincing.

The vicious chastisement wrings utterly convincing screams from the victim, as the maid applies the whip to both her back and her stomach and breasts.  But now the Countess advances on the girl and begins to gently fondle and stroke the poor girl’s naked body while her maid continues the vicious chastisement.  Elegantly gloved hands linger on breasts and buttocks before settling between the outstretched legs.

What follows is no longer the pretence of actors but genuine. The girl feigns reluctance and distaste at being abused in this way, but she is obviously becoming genuinely aroused. He face reddens and patches of red appear on her chest and neck. This is the moment that always galvanises the audience, this seamless transition from pretence to reality for the roles have changed.

The maid’s whip is discarded and the girl becomes lost amongst searching fingers and tongues as her body is turned this way and that. The maid released her from the frame and stands behind her, supporting her, cradling her and stroking her hair.

The Countess kneels in front of the girl and caresses the slim nude body, her fingers manipulating the clitoris. Panting can be heard throughout the auditorium and as she is brought closer and closer to her climax. And then it happens, a cry of ecstasy erupts from her lips and the beautiful victim falls quivering and shuddering to her knees.

The audience is on its feet, applauding the performers. The two actresses gently guide the trembling girl from the stage as the curtain falls and the Dommes turn their attention to the subs beside them.

Act two will follow but there will be a long enough interval to allow many more cries to be heard in the darkness.

To be continued…