Vec Makropulos
Janácek, Leos
SYSTEMACT ONE
The clerk's room at Dr Kolenaty's.
Backstage, door leading out; left, door into the office.
On rear wall, shelves of files, pair of steps.
On other walls lists of charges, official notices, calendars, phone.
Masses of papers, files.
SYSTEMPrelude
putting files back on shelves
VITEKOh dear, dear me! One o'clock.
VITEKThe old man won't be coming now.
VITEKCase of Gregor
versus
VITEKPrus.
VITEKG, G, R - Here we are.
climbs up the steps
VITEKCase of Gregor -
VITEKLook at that one - it's had it now.
VITEKOh dear, oh dear.
leafing through a folder
VITEKEighteen twenty-seven,
VITEKthirty-two,
VITEKforty, forty-seven -
VITEKin a few years we might have had a centenary:
He replaces the folder.
VITEKCausa Gregor Prus.
VITEKAh well. Nothing lasts for ever!
VITEKVanity … dust and ashes!
He settles down reflectively on the top step.
VITEKWhat do you expect? Old titled family.
VITEKWhat else? Baron Prus! Fighting the case for a hundred years, swine.
VITEKCitoyens Citizens!
VITEK"Will you continue to tolerate -
Gregor stands in the doorway, unobserved, listening for a moment.
VITEK- this class
VITEKwho owe their privilege to tyranny alone …"
GREGORCitizen Marat?
VITEKGoodness no. Not Marat.
climbing down
VITEKThat was Danton,
VITEKspeech of October 23, 1792.
VITEKI do apologize, a thousand times.
GREGORDr Kolenaty not here?
VITEKHasn't come back yet.
GREGORWhat'll the verdict be? Looks bad? Am I done for?
VITEKI can't help you there.
VITEKNo idea. Old man's been at court all day.
flinging himself into an armchair
GREGORRing them up.
VITEKRight you are.
at the phone
VITEKHalo? Dr Kolenaty?
VITEKAlready left? Thanks.
hangs up
VITEKAlready left.
GREGORAnd the verdict?
VITEKI can't help you there.
VITEKWhen I think
VITEKthat for thirty years, thirty years,
VITEKwe'd been arguing this case -
VITEKand you had to rush to the High Court with it.
VITEKJust like that - ruin a hundred years old monument.
GREGORDon't talk nonsense, Vitek.
GREGORI want to win this case finally.
VITEKOr lose.
GREGORAnd if we lose, then -
VITEK- then you can shoot yourself.
VITEKJust what your father used to say.
GREGORWell, he did shoot himself.
VITEKBecause of the debts he ran up over the inheritance.
GREGORShut up, will you?
enters
KRISTADad, that Marty woman's stupendous!
KRISTADad, that Marty's stupendous!
GREGORWho is, who is?
VITEKWho is, who is?
KRISTAWhy Marty, of course!
GREGORWho's that?
KRISTAEmilia Marty! Emilia Marty!
VITEKMy daughter's going in for opera.
KRISTAOh Daddy, Daddy,
KRISTAI'm going to drop this opera idea.
KRISTAShe's the greatest singer in the world!
KRISTAI'm going to drop the stage,
KRISTAI can't carry on...
KRISTAbecause I'm just no good!
KRISTADad, that Marty!
KRISTAGod, she's - God, she's beautiful!
GREGORAnd how old is she?
KRISTANobody knows, nobody can tell!
VITEKWell now, about thirty say?
KRISTAAt least. And she's beautiful!
GREGORI'll be coming to the opera tonight.
GREGORNot to hear Marty, to hear you!
KRISTAYou'd be an ass to do that! And blind with it!
VITEKCome off it!
KRISTANot want to see Marty?
VITEKCome off it, now!
VITEKCheeky thing, this girl!
to Gregor
KRISTAHe shouldn't talk about Marty if he hasn't seen her!
enters
KOLENATYThis way, do come in.
Marty appears in the doorway
KRISTAOh my God!
KRISTAIt's Marty. Come away, Dad!
Vitek tiptoes off, followed by Krista
KOLENATYWhat can I do for you?
MARTYDoctor Kolenaty?
MARTYI've seen that girl somewhere -
MARTYMy name is Marty; I'd like to see you about -
KOLENATYYes indeed, please, please.
MARTYI've come to you about the Gregor case.
GREGORHow's that? Madame … ?
MARTYI am not married.
doing the honours
KOLENATYMiss Marty …
KOLENATYMy client Mr Gregor …
MARTYIs this him?
MARTYThis? He may as well stay and listen.
Gregor sits down opposite her.
MARTYSo you are the lawyer who's been representing this Gregor
MARTYin the Joseph Prus inheritance case?
KOLENATYThe deceased baron Ferdinand Joseph Prus, that is.
MARTYHe's dead, then?
KOLENATYPooh! Centuries ago, in fact.
MARTYPoor mite! I never knew that.
KOLENATYCome, come.
KOLENATYIs there anything else I can do for you?
rising
MARTYNo, I don't want to hold you up.
rising
KOLENATYForgive me, mademoiselle!
KOLENATYI'm sure you had a reason for coming.
sits down and opens a newspaper
MARTYIndeed. I read hear:
MARTY"Final day of court case Gregor v. Prus."
MARTYA coincidence, isn't it
KOLENATYWell, it was in all the papers.
MARTYTo come to the point,
MARTYcan you tell me anything about the case?
KOLENATYAsk away!
settling in an easy-chair
MARTYTell me the story.
KOLENATYAround 1820, then, the Prus estate was owned
KOLENATYby the feeble-minded baron Ferdinand Prus.
MARTYJoe?
MARTYWas he feeble-minded?
KOLENATYEccentric, then.
MARTYNo. Unhappy.
KOLENATYHow could you be sure?
MARTYHow could
you
MARTY?
KOLENATYLet the Lord decide.
KOLENATYSo Joseph Ferdinand Prus,
KOLENATYwho died childless and intestate in 1827 -
MARTYWhat did he die of?
KOLENATYMeningitis or something.
KOLENATYHis cousin took charge of the estate, Emerich Prus-Zabrzezinski.
KOLENATYThis was contested by baron Szepházy,
KOLENATYnephew of the deceased's mother,
KOLENATYclaiming the entire inheritance,
KOLENATYand in respect of the Loukov estate
KOLENATYby a certain Ferdinand Karel Gregor,
KOLENATYin the same year - 1827.
MARTYWait, though -
MARTYFerdinand must have been a little boy then.
KOLENATYQuite right, he was being brought up
KOLENATYat the Theresianum.
KOLENATYHis claim to the Loukov estate
KOLENATYrested on the following facts:
KOLENATYfirst, the deceased had personally approached
KOLENATYthe director of the Theresianum, in persona,
KOLENATYand declared that he was bequeathing the estate in question
KOLENATY"dem genannten Minderjährigen", [ = "the said minor"]
KOLENATYthe said Gregor, who,
KOLENATYas soon as he came of age,
KOLENATYwould become its owner.
Item pro secundo
KOLENATY: the said minor,
KOLENATYat the behest, and during the life, of the deceased,
KOLENATYwas to hold the usufruct of the said estate
KOLENATYwith the title of "Besitzer and Eigentümer". [= "occupier and owner"]
MARTYSo that was all quite straightforward.
KOLENATYI beg your pardon.
KOLENATYAgainst this baron Emerich Prus objected
KOLENATYthat the deceased had left no written will
KOLENATYbut that, on the contrary,
KOLENATYin his last hour
KOLENATYhe had made a verbal disposition
KOLENATYin favour of another person.
MARTYBut that's not true!
KOLENATYPrecisely the difficulty!
MARTYIt's just not possible!
KOLENATYPrecisely the difficulty.
He climbs up the steps, takes out the Gregor file and, sitting on the top, leafs through it.
KOLENATYI'll show you immediately why:
KOLENATY"As he lay dying in a high fever
KOLENATYhe declared several times
KOLENATYthat the Loukov estate
KOLENATYshould go to "Herr Mach Gregor …
He replaces the file.
KOLENATYOr in Czech "Rehor Mach".
MARTYBut that's a misunderstanding,
MARTYa misunderstanding!
MARTYJoe was talking about Gregor,
MARTYFerdie Gregor!
KOLENATYLitera scripta valet.
KOLENATYWhat is written, is written.
KOLENATYMeanwhile cousin Szepházy
KOLENATYdigs up some individual
KOLENATYwith the name of Rehor Mach.
MARTYWait a moment! Wait a moment!
MARTYIt was his own son though.
MARTYFerdie was his own son,
MARTYFerdie was Joe's son after all!
KOLENATYWho was? Whose son?
KOLENATYHis own son?
GREGORHis own son?
KOLENATYThen who was his mother?
MARTYHis mother?
MARTYShe was called Ellian MacGregor,
MARTYa singer at the imperial opera.
GREGORWhat was her name?
MARTYIt's a Scottish name, you know.
GREGORDo you hear that, Dr Kolenaty?
GREGORMac - Gregor!
GREGORNot "Mach" at all! Understand?
sitting down
KOLENATYBut why then did her son not call himself
KOLENATY"MacGregor"?
MARTYOh, out of consideration for his mother.
MARTYYou see, Ferdie never knew his mother.
KOLENATYI see.
KOLENATYHave you evidence of that?
MARTYI don't know if I have. Proceed.
KOLENATYTo proceed, then.
KOLENATYEver since that time litigation has gone on
KOLENATYbetween several generations
KOLENATYof Prus's, Szepházy's, Gregor's -
KOLENATYaided by successive Dr Kolenatys.
KOLENATYAnd thanks to this assistance
KOLENATYthe last Gregor will lose the suit,
KOLENATYand will do so, as it happens,
KOLENATYthis very day:
scribbling testily
KOLENATYSo, that's the whole story.
KOLENATYHave you any questions?
MARTYYes. What do you need to win?
KOLENATYA will in writing.
MARTYAnd do you know of any?
KOLENATYThere is none.
MARTYThat's annoying.
KOLENATYCertainly is.
rising
KOLENATYAny other questions?
MARTYWhom does the old Prus home belong to now?
KOLENATYMy opponent Jaroslav Prus, none other.
MARTYListen then.
MARTYThere used to be a sort of cupboard in the Pruses' house,
MARTYeach drawer labelled by the year.
GREGORAn archive.
KOLENATYA filing cabinet.
MARTYOne drawer was labelled
MARTYeighteen hundred and sixteen.
MARTYYou see, that was the year
MARTYJoe met Ellian MacGregor.
MARTYAnd this is where he kept the letters
MARTYthat he got from Ellian.
sits down
KOLENATYHow do you know that?
MARTYThere's no need to ask.
MARTYThere are letters from the estate-managers.
MARTYIn fact a huge mass of papers.
MARTYWould you go and have a look?
KOLENATYCertainly.
KOLENATYIf Prus allows me, of course.
MARTYAnd if he doesn't?
KOLENATYThen there's nothing to be done.
MARTYSo you must get at the drawer some other way.
KOLENATYAt midnight, for sure, with ladder, rope,
KOLENATYskeleton keys and so on and so forth!
KOLENATYYou have odd ideas about lawyers, mademoiselle!
MARTYBut you've got to get hold of it!
MARTYThere are letters in it
MARTYincluding a sort of yellow envelope,
MARTYwith Prus' handwritten will sealed up inside.
standing up
KOLENATYGoodness gracious, how can you know that?
KOLENATYJust tell me please -
leaping up
GREGORDo you know for sure?
KOLENATY- what's in it, what it says?.
MARTYIt says that Joe bequeaths the Loukov estate
MARTYto his illegitimate son.
KOLENATYIn so many words?
MARTYYes.
KOLENATYThis is in a sealed envelope?
MARTYQuite.
KOLENATYWith Joseph Prus' own seal?
MARTYYes.
sitting down
KOLENATYRight, thank you.
KOLENATYWhy are you trying to make fools of us?
MARTYDon't you believe me?
GREGORI believe you!
KOLENATYNot a word!
MARTYDon't you believe me?
GREGORI believe you!
KOLENATYNot a word!
GREGORHow dare you -
KOLENATYNot a word of it!
KOLENATYBe reasonable, old fellow!
KOLENATYIf an envelope is sealed up,
KOLENATYhow can anyone know what's inside it?
GREGORI believe her.
KOLENATYAnd in someone else's house!
KOLENATYMademoiselle, you have quite a flair
KOLENATYfor fairy-stories.
GREGORI believe her.
GREGORIf you want to know, Dr Kolenaty,
GREGORI believe what the lady says.
GREGORSo you go to Prus' house -
KOLENATYWhich I don't propose to do.
GREGOR- or I'll ask that favour of the first lawyer
GREGORI find in the telephone book.
He goes to the telephone and leafs through the address book. Kolenaty goes up to him.
KOLENATYDo as you please.
speaking into the telephone
GREGORDoctor Abeles?
KOLENATYOh, anyone but him!
GREGORGregor here.
snatches the receiver. To Gregor
KOLENATYLook here, we're friends, aren't we?
KOLENATYAll right, I'll go there.
GREGORTo Prus' house?
KOLENATYTo the devil's if you like.
rushes out
GREGORFinally!
MARTYWell done, Gregor!
GREGORFinally!
MARTYIs he really that stupid?
GREGORPractical-minded.
GREGORCan't allow for miracles!
GREGORBut I always counted on a miracle happening,
GREGORand then came you!
GREGORAllow me to thank you.
MARTYDon't mention it!
GREGORJust think, I can be sure now
GREGORthat the will will be found!
GREGORWhy do I have such immense faith in you?
GREGORPerhaps because
GREGORyou are so immensely beautiful, beautiful.
MARTYHow old are you?
GREGORThirty-four.
GREGOREver since I was little I've thought of nothing
GREGORbut getting hold of that fortune.
GREGORI've lived like a fool, I couldn't help it
GREGORand if you hadn't turned up
GREGORI would have shot myself.
MARTYDebts?
GREGORYes.
GREGORI am being quite frank with you -
GREGORmy position was hopeless.
GREGORAnd suddenly you arrived,
GREGORGod knows where from,
GREGORfamous, marvellous, mysterious -
GREGORWhy do you laugh?
MARTYOh nothing. Silly ideas.
GREGORI conjure you to speak!
GREGORExplain everything!
she shakes her head
GREGORCan't you explain?
MARTYI'm not going to.
GREGORHow do you know about those letters?
GREGORHow do you know about the will?
GREGORWhere did you get this knowledge? How long ago?
GREGORWho told you it all?
GREGORWho are you in touch with?
GREGORYou must realise, that -
GREGORthat I have to know what lies behind this!
MARTYA miracle.
GREGORYes, a miracle.
GREGORBut every miracle has its explanation.
GREGORIt would be unbearable otherwise.
GREGORWhy did you come?
GREGORWhy should you want to help me,
GREGORme of all people?
GREGORWhat do you stand to gain?
MARTYThat's my business.
GREGORBut mine too.
GREGORMiss Marty,
GREGORif I am to be indebted to you for everything,
GREGORfor my fortune,
GREGORfor my very life,
GREGORwhat can I offer you in return?
MARTYJust what do you mean?
GREGORWhat can I offer you?
MARTYOh come now,
MARTYthe scoundrel's offering me cash!
GREGORForgive me!
MARTYThe poor thing wants to hand money around!
GREGORWhy talk to me as if I were a little boy?
going to the window and gazing out
MARTYWell, aren't you?
GREGORIt's quite intolerable
GREGORhow small I feel beside you!
turning round from the window
MARTYWhat's your name, my friend?
GREGORWhat on earth -
MARTYYour name, my friend?
GREGORGregor.
MARTYAgain?
GREGORMacGregor.
MARTYYour Chrisitian name, idiot!
GREGORAlbert.
MARTYYour mother called you Bertie, eh?
GREGORYes. My mother's dead, though.
MARTYPooh! Everyone dies, what else?
GREGORWhat was Ellian MacGregor like?
MARTYAt last you think of asking!
GREGORDo you know anything about her? Who was she?
MARTYA great singer.
GREGORWas she beautiful?
MARTYYes.
GREGORWas she in love with my great-grandfather?
MARTYYes. I suppose so.
MARTYIn her own way, though.
GREGORWhen did she die?
MARTYI can't say. That's enough, Bertie. Another time.
coming close to Marty
GREGOREmilia!
MARTYI'm not Emilia to you.
GREGORThen what am I to you?
GREGORDon't taunt me, for God's sake,
GREGORdon't humiliate me!
GREGORTry and imagine
GREGORthat I owe you nothing
GREGORthat you are just a lovely woman
GREGORwho has dazzled a man.
GREGORListen a moment,
GREGORI am trying to tell you something.
GREGORI am seeing you now for the first time.
GREGORNo, no, don't laugh at me!
MARTYI am not laughing - don't be a fool.
GREGORA fool is what I am.
GREGORI have never been such a fool before.
GREGORYou thrill me
GREGORlike a call to battle!
GREGORHave you ever seen bloodshed?
GREGORThat excites a man to insanity.
GREGORAs for you, the first glance told me,
GREGORas for you, the first glance told me,
GREGORthere is something terrible inside you.
GREGORHave you been through a great deal?
GREGORListen to me.
MARTYOh don't start off again
GREGORI can't understand why no one ever killed you.
MARTYDon't start off again!
GREGORLet me finish!
GREGORYou were harsh to me.
GREGORThat puts a man off his balance.
GREGORIt scorched me like a furnace.
GREGORWhat is it about you?
GREGOROne senses something right away,
GREGORlike an animal on the trail.
GREGORYou arouse something frightening.
GREGORHas anyone told you that?
coming close to her
GREGOREmilia, surely you know how lovely you are?
MARTYJust look at me! Lovely!
she glows in the stagelight
GREGORHow wonderful!
GREGORYou look beautiful!
the light shines through her
MARTYLeave me alone! Go away, Bertie!
GREGORFabulously beautiful!
MARTYYou know, Bertie -
the light drops
MARTYwhat you could give me?
GREGORWhat do you mean?
MARTYYou made the offer yourself.
MARTYDo you know what I'd like?
GREGORAnything is yours.
MARTYListen, Bertie. Can you read Greek?
GREGORNo.
MARTYSo you see, it would mean nothing to you.
MARTYGet me the Greek documents.
GREGORWhat Greek documents?
MARTYThe ones Ferdie left you.
MARTYYou know, Gregor - your ancestor.
MARTYWill you get me them?
GREGORI don't know of any such documents.
MARTYNonsense, you must have them!
MARTYFor God's sake, Albert,
MARTYtell me you've got them!
GREGORI haven't. I haven't.
MARTYDon't lie!
MARTYYou've got them, haven't you?
MARTYDunce!
MARTYI have to get hold of them!
MARTYDo you hear me? Find them!
GREGORHow do I know where they are?
MARTYLook for them! Bring me them!
MARTYThat's what I've come for -
MARTYthat's what I've come here for!
GREGOREmilia!
MARTYHas Prus got them?
MARTYGet them off him!
MARTYCall for a car!
rushes in with Pros following
KOLENATYWe've found them! We've found them!
throwing himself on his knees before Marty
KOLENATYA thousand apologies.
KOLENATYI'm a stupid old brute!
MARTYWas it there?
KOLENATYYou know everything -
KOLENATYof course it was.
GREGORWhat, what?
KOLENATYThe will,
KOLENATYthe letters -
KOLENATYand something else too, dear fellow -
offering Gregor his hand
PRUSCongratulations -
KOLENATY- dear fellow!
PRUS- on the wonderful will!
to Kolenaty
PRUSWill you introduce me?
KOLENATYNow we can have the order quashed.
PRUSIntroduce me!
KOLENATYThe case goes to Gregor.
MARTYBut where are the papers?
MARTYThe papers?
KOLENATYWhich papers?
MARTYThe ones from Ellian.
PRUSStill at my place.
PRUSBut Herr Gregor needn't worry.
KOLENATYThis is Baron Prus, our bitter enemy!
MARTYBertie will get me them!
PRUSThere's just one thing missing, though.
MARTYWhat's still missing?
PRUSSome evidence, say,
PRUSthat Ferdinand, the son,
PRUSwas indisputably Ferdinand Gregor.
MARTYSome evidence?
PRUSTo say the least.
MARTYAll right, Dr Kolenaty.
MARTYI will send you something of the kind.
KOLENATYHow do you mean?
KOLENATYYou carry it around with you?
MARTYIt surprises you, doesn't it?
KOLENATYGregor,
KOLENATYyou might as well ring two-seven.
at the telephone
GREGORRing Dr Abeles? Why him?
KOLENATYSimply because - because - -
SYSTEMACT TWO
A large theatre stage, empty except for some post?performance litter:
stage furniture, rolled?up backcloths, light fixtures ...
At the front a stage throne on a platform.
CLEANING WOMANDid you see those bouquets?
STAGE TECHNICIANNo.
CLEANING WOMANI never saw such a show in my life.
CLEANING WOMANPeople were roaring ?
CLEANING WOMANI thought they'd pull the place down.
CLEANING WOMANClean off their heads they were!
CLEANING WOMANAnd there was no end to it.
CLEANING WOMANFifty times
CLEANING WOMANshe went to take a bow ?
STAGE TECHNICIANListen to me, listen ?
CLEANING WOMAN? that Marty woman did.
STAGE TECHNICIANA woman like that must have a fortune!
CLEANING WOMANOh Lord, Kudrna.
CLEANING WOMANI'm sure she does.
STAGE TECHNICIANBut you know, it makes you shiver all over
STAGE TECHNICIANwhen she sings.
CLEANING WOMANI don't mind telling you, Kudrna,
CLEANING WOMANI was in tears, honest!
enters
PRUSIs Miss Marty not here?
CLEANING WOMANShe's with the manager.
CLEANING WOMANBut she's bound to come back here,
CLEANING WOMANshe's left something in the cloakroom.
PRUSVery well, I'll wait.
stands to one side
CLEANING WOMANThis is the fifth visitor.
CLEANING WOMANIt's like a hospital queue.
STAGE TECHNICIANI just can't picture it.
STAGE TECHNICIANDoes a woman like that
STAGE TECHNICIANhave men?friends?
CLEANING WOMANOh yes, oh yes.
CLEANING WOMANYou can be sure of that, Kudrna.
STAGE TECHNICIANGosh! Just can't picture it!
CLEANING WOMANWhy get so worked up about it?
CLEANING WOMANShe's not your type, you know.
CLEANING WOMANShe's not your type, you know,
exit on the other side
enters
KRISTACome along, Janek.
KRISTAThere's nobody here.
following her
JANEKWon't anyone throw me out?
KRISTAMy God, Janek,
KRISTAI do feel wretched!
trying to kiss her
JANEKWhy?
KRISTANo ? no kissing!
KRISTAThat's finished with.
KRISTAI've got other worries now.
JANEKBut Krista!
KRISTAIsn't Marty terrific?
KRISTADo you think I ought to go on with this singing?
KRISTAIf I do, everything else must stop ?? do you see?
KRISTAI'll have to concentrate on the stage.
KRISTAYou know, Janek,
sitting on the throne
KRISTAthis is dreadful.
KRISTAI keep thinking of you all day long,
KRISTAall day long.
Janek tries to kiss her
KRISTAGoodness, you are a wicked one!
JANEKOh, if you only knew, Krista ?
JANEKI can't think about anything but you!
KRISTAAll right for you, you're not singing,
KRISTAand anyway you must be sensible, my child!
KRISTAMy voice is only just forming,
KRISTAI'm not supposed to talk too much.
KRISTANo ? hang on.
KRISTAI've come to a decision.
KRISTAJanek, it's all over between us,
KRISTAfinished for good.
KRISTAWe'll only see each other once a day.
JANEKBut ?
KRISTAAnd meanwhile
KRISTAwe've got to behave like strangers,
KRISTAall day. Come along, silly
KRISTAthere's room for you too up here.
KRISTADo you think she could ever love a man?
JANEKWho?
KRISTAMarty, naturally.
KRISTAEveryone's crazy about Marty,
KRISTAeveryone she sets eyes on.
JANEKThat's not true!
KRISTAHonestly! Honestly!
KRISTAI feel so scared in front of her ?
JANEKKrista darling.
He steals a kiss.
KRISTANow Janek!
edging forward
PRUSI'm not looking!
with a start
JANEKFather!
runs off into the wings with Krista
PRUSYou don't have to run away.
offstage
MARTYAnd another?
enters
MARTYAnd another?
facing the wings
MARTYLet me alone, gentlemen!
seeing Prus
MARTYWhat, still another?
PRUSOh no, Miss Marty.
PRUSMy business is quite different.
sits on the throne, eyeing Janek
MARTYIs this your son?
PRUSYes. Come a bit nearer, Janek.
MARTYCome closer, Janek,
MARTYso that I can see you.
MARTYWere you at the performance?
JANEKYes.
MARTYDid you think I was good?
JANEKYes.
MARTYIs there anything else you can say but "yes"?
JANEKOh yes.
MARTYYour son's a fool.
PRUSI'm ashamed of him.
Enter Gregor with bouquet; Vitek follows
MARTYOh Bertie!
GREGORThank you for this evening!
MARTYGive me them!
she takes the bouquet
MARTYAnd what's this?
taking a jewel?box out of the bouquet
MARTYYou can take this back.
MARTYWhat idiocy, buying things in jewel?cases!
She hands him the box, sniffs at the flowers and throws them on the ground.
MARTYWhat did you have to pay, stupid ass?
MARTYHad to do the rounds of the moneylenders,
MARTYborrow it, didn't you?
feeling in her purse and pulling out a handful of money
MARTYThere you are ?
MARTYotherwise I'll pull your ears!
GREGORMoney!
PRUSFor goodness' sake stop this!
GREGORYou do have strange manners.
snatching the money and giving it to Vitek
GREGORHand this in at the office.
to Vitek
MARTYCredit it to him.
VITEKYes, certainly.
to Vitek
MARTYWere you at the performance?
MARTYDid you think I was good?
VITEKMy God, I'll say you were!
VITEKYou sang like Strada!
MARTYDid you ever hear Strada?
MARTYStrada used to squeak!
MARTYCorrona ? she had a plum in her mouth!
MARTYAgujari ? she was just a silly goose!
VITEKThat's as may be ?
VITEKbut she died a hundred years ago!
MARTYThe worse for her.
MARTYDo you think I don't know?
KRISTAJanek, let's get out of here!
GREGORShall I bring in a few more people
GREGORfor you to be rude to?
MARTYNo need.
KRISTACome, let's get away!
MARTYThey'll come anyway.
She watches Janek and Krista petting
MARTYHa?ha, they make a lovely pair those two!
MARTYHave they been in paradise yet?
VITEKI beg your pardon?
MARTYHave they enjoyed each other?
VITEKFor God's sake Krista,
VITEKyou haven't, surely... ?
KRISTADad, how could you...
MARTYShut up, silly girl.
MARTYWhat hasn't happened is still to come.
MARTYIn any case, it's not worth the candle.
PRUSWhat is worth the candle, then?
MARTYNothing is. Absolutely nothing.
enters with bouquet
HAUKAllow me,
HAUKallow me, please.
dropping to his knees and sobbing
HAUKOh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh,
HAUKallow me to...
kneeling in front of the throne
HAUKOh if only you knew...
HAUKoh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh ?
HAUKyou're so, so like her!
HAUKEven your voice, your eyes, your brow -
HAUKOh, you're the very image of her!
HAUKThe very image!
HAUKOh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh!
MARTYWho is this little old fellow ?
rising to his feet
HAUKWell, you see, I'm the madman.
PRUSFeeble?minded.
HAUKThat's it, that's it.
HAUKHauk the madman.
MARTYOh dear ?
HAUKI was in love, you see,
HAUKfifty years ago,
HAUKin eighteen seventy.
MARTYThat's right.
HAUKShe was a gypsy:
HAUK"Chula negro" [= "That dusky beauty"] they used to call her,
HAUKdown south, that is, in Andalusia.
HAUKEveryone was crazy about her.
HAUKVaya, Gitana! [= "Hey, gypsy!"]
HAUKEveryone was crazy about her.
HAUKVaya, Gitana!
HAUKEveryone was crazy about her.
HAUKI left everything behind,
HAUKeverything with her.
HAUKEver since then I've been half?witted ?
HAUKyou know what I mean, I hope?
HAUKI haven't really been alive since then ?
HAUKjust dozing.
HAUKBut what do you care about a woman
HAUKlong since dead?
MARTYDead? Don't be silly.
MARTYMaxi!
She bends down to him
HAUKEugenia!
MARTYGive me a kiss!
HAUKWhat are you saying?
MARTYBesa me, bobo, bobazo!
MARTY="Kiss me you fool, you great big fool!"
HAUKJesús mil veces. [= "Jesus, Jesus!"]
MARTYOne little kiss, you dunce!
kisses her
HAUKEugenia,
HAUKmoza negra querida carisima!
HAUK= "Darling beloved dusky lass"
MARTYChito, tonto! Quira! Fuera!
MARTY= "Hush, fool! Away! Out with you!"
HAUKEs ella, es ella,
HAUKGitana endiablada!
HAUKElla es ella,
HAUKGitana endiablada!
HAUK= "It's her, it's her, that deuce of a gipsygirl!''
exit after bowing to Prus and the rest
HAUKI shall be back again!
HAUKOh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh ?
MARTYNext please.
MARTYWho wants what?
VITEKIf you please,
VITEKwould you be so good as to sign
VITEKthis photo of you for Krista?
MARTYWhat nonsense!
KRISTAJanek, come along!
MARTYWhat are they quarreling about?
signs
KRISTACome here, Janek!
JANEKIt's just to …
MARTYOh, I'll do it for Krista.
with a bow
VITEKThanks a thousand times.
exits with Krista
MARTYAdieu, then!
MARTYOh, go away everybody! Go away!
MARTYLeave me in peace finally!
bowing
PRUSI'm exceedingly sorry.
MARTYNo, not you!
MARTYBut what's Janek looking so dazed for?
MARTYWhy doesn't he go?
Exit Janek
To Gregor
MARTYAnd what do you want here?
GREGORI have to talk to you!
MARTYI haven't got time for you now.
GREGORI have to talk to you!
MARTYBertie, I beg you, leave me!
MARTYGo away now, dear - go away now!
MARTYCome back in a moment if you like!
GREGORI shall come back.
Bows coldly to Prus and exits.
MARTYAt last!
PRUSAllow me to ask you, first:
they both sit down
PRUShave you any special interest
PRUSin Mr Gregor, personally?
MARTYNo.
PRUSAre you particularly interested
PRUSin his winning the case?
MARTYNo.
PRUSThank you.
PRUSI don't wish to probe into
PRUShow you come to know everything
PRUSthat's in the locked cabinets in my house.
PRUSThat is evidently your secret.
MARTYQuite.
PRUSYou knew
PRUSthat certain letters were there,
PRUSyou knew Prus' will was there,
PRUSeven under seal.
PRUSDid you know there was something else there?
rising excitedly
MARTYWhat pray?
MARTYDid you find something?
MARTYLook here, what was it?
PRUSNo idea.
PRUSIt's just a sealed envelope.
PRUSWhat do you know about the lady
PRUSyou call Ellian MacGregor?
MARTYYou have her letters?
PRUSPerhaps you can tell me more
PRUSabout that vagabond?
MARTYI beg your pardon?
MARTYHow dare you!
MARTYHow dare you speak like that!
PRUSBut my dear lady,
PRUSwhat's troubling you?
PRUSWhy bother about a woman of dubious repute
PRUSwho lived a hundred years ago?
MARTYPrecisely.
MARTYNo concern of mine at all!
sitting down
MARTYSo she was a vagabond?
PRUSWell you know, I've read her letters.
PRUSAn amazingly passionate type,
PRUSthat woman.
MARTYOh, you shouldn't have read them.
PRUSThere are references
PRUSto the strangest intimacies.
PRUSI'm no youngster, mademoiselle,
PRUSbut believe me,
PRUSthe most abandoned roué
PRUSwould have less experience of certain matters
PRUSthan that girl.
MARTYYou mean "that whore"?
PRUSWhat was Ellian's real name?
MARTYEllian MacGregor.
MARTYYou've got it in those letters.
PRUSNo, pardon me!
PRUSAll it says there is E.M.
PRUSNothing more.
MARTYThat of course means Ellian MacGregor.
PRUSIt could equally well stand for Emilia Marty,
PRUSElina Makropulos,
PRUSor a thousand other names.
MARTY,But it stands for
MARTY,Ellian MacGregor.
PRUSOr more likely, for Elina Makropulos,
PRUSa Greek woman from Crete.
MARTYConfound it!
PRUSYou knew this?
MARTYHow the devil do you know it?
PRUSElementary.
PRUSThe will speaks of a certain Ferdinand,
PRUSborn at Loukov on November 20th, 1816,
PRUSand the birth register says the following:
taking out a notepad and reading aloud
PRUSNomen infantis: Ferdinand Makropulos;
PRUSstatus: illegitimate;
PRUSfather ? omitted;
PRUSmother ? Elina Makropulos.
MARTYIs that all?
PRUSIit's quite enough, quite enough!
MARTYPoor little Gregor!
MARTYSo Loukov stays with you, does it?
PRUSAt least until we have word
PRUSfrom some Mr Makropulos.
MARTYAnd if no Makropulos turns up?
PRUSThen the envelope remains closed
PRUSand no one can lay hands on it.
MARTYThen he will turn up,
MARTYjust you see!
PRUSWhere have you got him?
PRUSHidden in a trunk?
PRUSWhat a pity it's all untrue.
MARTYDo you think I'm lying?
Prus starts to leave
MARTYWait a moment.
MARTYHow much would you sell me the envelope for?
Prus turns round
PRUSI beg your pardon?
exitsl with a bow
Enter Gregor
MARTYSo it's you, Bertie?
GREGORWhy do you have your eyes closed?
GREGORYou look as if you were in pain.
GREGORWhat's up with you?
MARTYTired.
MARTYSpeak softly.
coming close to her
GREGORSoftly
GREGORI must warn you.
GREGORForbid me rather to speak softly
GREGORDo you hear, Emilia ?
GREGORTell me not to speak softly!
GREGORI love you.
GREGORYou smile?
GREGORAnd still I love you!
MARTYIt's cold, Bertie.
GREGORAre you asleep, then?
MARTYChilly.
GREGORTake care, Emilia. You snub me,
GREGORbut even that,
GREGOReven that gives me pleasure.
GREGORYou terrify me,
GREGORbut even that delights me.
GREGORI feel like strangling you
GREGORwhen you humiliate me,
GREGORI feel like ?
GREGOREmilia, I shall probably kill you.
GREGORThere is something repugnant in you,
GREGORyou are evil, base, appalling.
GREGORA brute with no feeling.
MARTYNot really, Bertie ?
GREGORYou are.
MARTYI'm not.
GREGORNothing means anything to you.
GREGORCold as a knife.
GREGORAs if you had just risen from the grave.
GREGORTo love you is perversion.
GREGORYet I love you so much,
GREGORI could tear the flesh from my bones.
MARTYDo you like the name Makropulos?
GREGORDon't taunt me!
GREGORI love you like a lost soul,
GREGOREmilla!
MARTYThen run along
MARTYto that lawyer of yours,
MARTYand get him to return you the document
MARTYI gave him.
GREGORIs it a forgery?
MARTYOn my soul it isn't,
MARTYAlbert, certainly not.
MARTYBut we must have another one,
MARTYmade out in the name of Makropulos.
GREGORWill you make love to me?
MARTYNever,
MARTYdo you understand? Never!
sitting down
GREGORThen I shall kill you, Emilia!
MARTYNonsense.
MARTYCan you see this scar on my neck?
MARTYThat was when someone else tried to kill me.
MARTYI don't propose to strip
MARTYand show you all the momentos
MARTYyou men have left me.
MARTYIs killing all I'm good for?
GREGORI love you.
MARTYKill me, then.
MARTYIf only you knew ?
GREGORI love you!
MARTY? how little it all means to me!
MARTYIf only you knew!
GREGORWhat's up with you?
wringing her hands
MARTYWretched,
MARTYwretched Elina!
GREGORCome, Emilia,
GREGORlet's leave this place.
GREGORNobody has ever loved you as I do.
GREGORDo you hear ire, Emilia?
Marty snores
GREGORWhat's this now?
GREGORSleeping like a drunkard.
GREGORAre you playing a joke on me?
GREGOREmilia, this is me ?
bending down over her
GREGORthere's no one around ?
coughs, standing at a distance
CLEANING WOMANHm, hm, hm, hm hm.
stiffening
GREGORWhat's going on?
GREGORAh, it's you.
GREGORThe young lady's fallen asleep.
GREGORDon't wake her.
He kisses Emilia's hand and runs off.
The Cleaning Woman comes up to her.
CLEANING WOMANSomehow I'm sorry for her.
exits
Janek steps out of the wings and stands looking at Emilia, dazed, from ten yards off.
stirring
MARTYIs that you, Bertie?
retreating
JANEKNo, sorry,
JANEKjust Janek.
sitting up
MARTYJanek?
MARTYome here, Janek.
MARTYWould you like to do something for me?
JANEKOh yes, yes!
MARTYSomething big ?
JANEKOh yes!
MARTY? a deed of heroism?
MARTYAnd will you
MARTYexpect something in return?
JANEKNothing, I assure you
MARTYCome closer!
MARTYThis is very nice of you, you know?
MARTYListen, your father has a sealed envelope at home.
MARTYIt says on it:
MARTY"To be handed to my son Ferdinand."
MARTYHe's got it in his desk, his safe or somewhere.
MARTYCompris?
JANEKYes, yes indeed.
MARTYBring it to me.
JANEKWill Papa let me have it?
MARTYNo. You've got to get it from him.
JANEKThat wouldn't do!
MARTYLittle boy's afraid of his dad.
JANEKI'm not afraid,
JANEKbut ? but ?
MARTYJanek, I give you my word,
MARTYIt's just a worthless keepsake.
MARTYI would so love to have it!
JANEKI'll have a try.
emerging from the shadow
PRUSDon't try too hard, Janek.
JANEKOh dad, you again?
PRUSGet off! Get off!
Janek goes off abjectly
PRUSWell well, Miss Marty,
PRUSI thought he'd be hanging around the theatre,
PRUSand all the time ?
MARTYAnd what brings you hanging round here?
PRUSI was waiting for you.
going right up to him
MARTYGive me the envelope, then.
PRUSIt doesn't belong to me.
MARTYFetch it for me.
PRUSWhen, then?
PRUSWhen?
MARTYTonight.
PRUSIt's a deal.
exits quickly
SYSTEMACT THREE
A hotel room.
Left, the window; right, door onto corridor.
Centre, entrance to Marty's bedroom,
with a translucent curtain across it
on which movements of someone dressing are silhouetted.
Marty emerges from the bedroom in a nightgown,
followed by Prus in dinner-jacket, but collarless;
he sits down on the right.
Marty goes to the window and lets up the blind.
Faint glow of dawn.
turning round from the window
MARTYWell?
MARTYDo you hear?
MARTYGive me the envelope!
Prus takes a wallet from his pocket and removes a sealed envelope,
which he throws down on the table.
Marty takes it and goes to the dressing-table, where she sits down,
switches the light on and after inspecting the seal opens the envelope
with a hairpin and takes a handwritten document out. She stands up again.
MARTYGood!
folds the paper and slips it into her décolleté
PRUSYou cheated me.
MARTYYou had what you wanted.
PRUSYou cheated me.
PRUSCold as ice.
PRUSLike holding a corpse.
PRUSAnd that's what I get for purloining papers.
PRUSMuch obliged!
MARTYA sealed envelope meant such a loss to you ?
PRUSI shouldn't have given it you.
PRUSMade me feel like a thief.
PRUSUgh! Disgusting!
MARTYDo you want to spit in my face?
PRUSNo ?? my own.
MARTYFeel free!
knocking, enter chamber maid
in bedjacket and slip, breathlessly
MARTYWho is that?
CHAMBER MAIDExcuse me, miss,
CHAMBER MAIDis Mr Prus here?
PRUSWhat is it?
CHAMBER MAIDThere's a servant of Mr Prus' here.
CHAMBER MAIDSays he's got to speak to him.
CHAMBER MAIDSays he's brought him something.
PRUSDamn it, how did he find out?
PRUSLet him wait.
PRUSNo,
PRUSStay here.
goes off into the bedroom
CHAMBER MAIDGood lord,
Mary sits down at the dressing?table and the chamber maid lets her hair down for her
CHAMBER MAIDdid I get a fright!
CHAMBER MAIDAnd there's that servant quite beside himself,
CHAMBER MAIDand can't even talk.
CHAMBER MAIDSomething must have happened, miss.
MARTYCareful, you're pulling my hair out!
CHAMBER MAIDAnd white as a sheet,
CHAMBER MAIDthat servant was.
hurrying out again with collar and tie on
PRUSDo excuse me.
exits right
brushing Marty's hair
CHAMBER MAIDHe's an important gentleman. eh?
CHAMBER MAIDIf you'd seen, miss,
CHAMBER MAIDhow that servant was all a?tremble.
MARTYI'll have some scrambled eggs later.
yawns
MARTYWhat time is it?
CHAMBER MAIDAnd he had some writing or other in his hand.
MARTYWhat time is it?
CHAMBER MAIDGone seven.
MARTYTurn the light off and shut up.
CHAMBER MAIDAnd he was all blue in the lips,
CHAMBER MAIDthat servant was. I thought he was going to pass out.
CHAMBER MAIDAnd great big -
CHAMBER MAIDgreat big tears in his eyes ?
MARTYYou're a fool,
MARTYyou'll pull all my hair out.
MARTYShow me the comb.
CHAMBER MAIDWell, my hands are all shaking!
MARTYJust look -
MARTYall the hair you've torn out
CHAMBER MAIDSomething must have happened.
enters from the corridor with an open letter in his hand which he strokes mechanically. Feels for a chair and sits down.
PRUSSend this girl away
MARTYLeave us then.
Exit chamber maid
PRUSOh ? so that's why he did it, that's why!
PRUSPoor Janek!
Marty takes the comb and uses if herself
PRUSMy only son!
PRUS- "Father, be happy ?
PRUSbut as for me ?"
standing up
PRUSWhat are you doing here?
with hairpins in her mouth
MARTYCombing my hair.
PRUSPerhaps you didn't understand.
PRUSJanek was in love with you!
PRUSHe killed himself on your account!
MARTYPooh! The number of men who kill themselves!
PRUSAnd you can sit there combing your hair!
MARTYShould I run around with it all messed up?
PRUSIt was for you he killed himself!
MARTYCan I help that?
PRUSDid you hear what I said?
MARTYYou were to blame too.
MARTYAm I supposed to tear my hair?
PRUSStop talking or I'll ?
Knocking at the door. Prus exit, colliding with Hauk in the doorway.
PRUSLout!
Hauk tiptoes in and kisses Marty on the back of the neck.
MARTYBuenos dias, Maxi!
HAUKSh-sh!
MARTYWhat are you up to so early?
HAUKSh?sh! Get dressed, Eugenia!
HAUKWe're leaving!
MARTYWhere for?
HAUKHee?hee! For Spain!
MARTYAre you crazy?
HAUKMy wife has no idea
HAUKthat I'm not coming back to her.
HAUKDo you know what I've got with me?
HAUKMatilda's jewelry.
HAUKFor your information
HAUKMatilda's my wife. She's old.
HAUKIt's an ugly business, being old.
MARTYSi, si, señor.
HAUKBut you haven't grown old.
HAUKYou know, madmen live a long time.
HAUKOh, I have a long life before me!
HAUKAnd as long as you enjoy making love,
rattling castanets
HAUKhave your fill of it!
HAUKWell, gipsy, shall we be off?
MARTYLet's go!
She gathers luggage together.
knock at the door
pokes her head in
CHAMBER MAIDExcuse me, miss,
CHAMBER MAIDa lot of people here!
MARTYThis is a visit!
Enter Gregor, Kolenaty, Vitek, Krista, Prus and a doctor
MARTYI must warn you all
MARTYthat I'm about to leave,
MARTYabout to leave!
HAUKThey've got me!
KOLENATYPlease, mademoiselle,
KOLENATYdon't do that.
Doctor leads Hauk away on his arm
HAUKHee?hee?hee!
HAUKHee?hee?hee?hee?hee?hee!
KOLENATYStay put without any fuss,
KOLENATYthen I won't have to call ?
MARTY? the police?
Kolenaty offers her a chair
MARTYDo you propose to interrogate me?
KOLENATYMademoiselle,
KOLENATYthis is just a friendly chat!
KOLENATYDid you sign this photograph for Krista?
KOLENATYIs that your signature?
MARTYIt is.
KOLENATYExcellent. Allow me, then:
KOLENATYdid you send me last night this document,
KOLENATYdated 1836?
KOLENATYIs it genuine?
MARTYIt is.
SYSTEMKOLENATY.
MARTYBut it's written with alizarin ink.
MARTYDo you know what that implies? Eh?
MARTYHow should I know?
KOLENATYIt's a forgery!
MARTYI swear that Ellian MacGregor wrote it!
KOLENATYWhen'?
MARTYThat's irrelevant.
KOLENATYOh, very relevant, very relevant!
KOLENATYWhen did Ellian MacGregor die?
MARTYOh push off, push off!
MARTYI'm not going to say another word!
GREGORThen we'll look through her things ourselves.
MARTYLeave them alone!
MARTYDon't you dare!
she opens dressing?table drawer
jumps across and knocks a revolver from her hand
GREGORUse a gun, would you?
GREGORBefore you do,
GREGORjust look at that youngster's face.
GREGORDo you know what has happened?
MARTYYou mean Janek!
GREGORAnd you know why?
GREGORThat boy is on
GREGORyour conscience!
MARTYPah!
MARTYIs that what you've come about, Bertie?
MARTYI'll tell you everything
MARTYas soon as I've dressed,
MARTYas soon as I've eaten.
runs into bedroom
They all rush to Marty's travelling case; Gregor grabs a seal, Vitek a medallion and Kolenaty some letters.
GREGORA seal with the monogram
SYSTEME. M.
GREGORJust as on Ellian MacGregor's documents.
VITEKHauk?Sendorf's family crest.
KOLENATYWhere is he?
VITEKThey've taken him away.
KOLENATYEugenia Montez,
KOLENATYElsa Müller, 99,
KOLENATYEllian MacGregor,
KOLENATYEkaterina Myshkin ?
VITEKAll E ? M -
KOLENATYHere we are now!
KOLENATY"Meine liebste Ellian …"
KOLENATY= "My dearest Ellian"
PRUSSure it isn't Ellina?
KOLENATYNot a bit of it.
KOLENATY"Ellian MacGregor, Wien."
KOLENATYVitek, fetch my gown here.
VITEKYes, certainly.
he runs off
Krista starts crying
KOLENATYDon't cry now, Tina?weena!
PRUSShow me that letter.
PRUSIt's genuine -
PRUSwritten by a Greek woman, Elina Makropulos.
KOLENATYBut it's in the handwriting of ?
PRUS? none other than Elina Makropulos.
KOLENATYMy head's spinning.
PRUSIt's the same writing
PRUSas in my letters.
to Vitek, entering
KOLENATYVitek, call her in!
Vitek goes and brings Marty in, wearing evening dress with a bottle in one hand and drinking from a glass in the other.
VITEKShe's on to whisky.
leaning tipsily against the wall
MARTYLeave me alone!
MARTYThis is just to give me confidence!
donning his lawyer's gown
KOLENATYHysteria!
KOLENATYTlake the bottle away from her.
MARTYNo!
MARTYYou can't have it!
clutching bottle to her bosom
MARTYOtherwise I won't tell you anything!
to Kolenaty
MARTYYou look like an undertaker!
KOLENATYWhat is your name?
MARTYMine?
MARTYElina Makropulos.
KOLENATYBorn where?
MARTYIn Crete.
KOLENATYWhat is your age?
MARTYWhat would you say?
KRISTAOver forty.
sticking her tongue out at her
MARTYSchool?girl!
KOLENATYBorn in what year?
MARTY1575
KOLENATY'What's that? You're going too far!
MARTYThat makes me 337 years old.
KOLENATYWho was your father?
MARTYHieronymos Makropulos,
MARTYpersonal physician to the Emperor Rudolf II.
KOLENATYI shan't talk to you any more,
KOLENATYI shan't talk to you.
PRUSWhat's your real name?
MARTYElina Makropulos.
PRUSAre you related to Elina Makropulos,
PRUSthe mistress of Josef Prus?
MARTYBut that was me!
PRUSHow do you mean?
MARTYI was Joe Prus' mistress.
MARTYIt was his son I had,
MARTYthat Gregor.
GREGORAnd Ellian MacGregor?
MARTYThat was me!
GREGORAre you insane?
MARTYI'm your
MARTYgreat?great?great?great?great?great-grandmama.
MARTYAnd Ferdie, he was my boy.
GREGORWhich Ferdie?
MARTYFerdinand Gregor, of course.
MARTYBut on the certificate it must give the real name ?
KOLENATYMy God, my God!
MARTY? Ferdinand Makropulos.
KOLENATYAnd when were you born?
MARTYO Christos Soter, [= Christ my Saviour!]
MARTYlet's have done with it!
MARTYFifteen hundred and seventy?five.
MARTYI was also Ekaterina Myshkin
MARTYand Else Müller.
MARTYHow can one stand living 300 years
MARTYamongst people?
MARTY300 years of this life!
PRUSAnd how could you know
PRUSwhat was inside a sealed envelope?
MARTYBecause Joe showed it me
MARTYbefore he put it inside,
MARTYso that I could tell
MARTYthat silly Ferdie.
PRUSAnd why did you not tell him?
MARTYWhat the devil do I care,
MARTYhee?hee?hee,
MARTYabout my youngsters?
KOLENATYWhat sort of talk is this?
MARTYListen, mates,
MARTYit's a long time now
MARTYsince I've been a lady.
MARTYWant a drink?
MARTYMother of Christ,
MARTYis my throat dry!
MARTYI shall go up in flames...
PRUSYou wrote these letters yourself?
MARTYThat I did.
MARTYI told Joe everything, you know
MARTYI was fond of Joe.
MARTYThat's a man I was fond of.
MARTYThat's why I lent him the Makropulos stuff.
PRUSAnd what is that?
KOLENATYWhat's that?
GREGORWhat did you lend him?
VITEKWhat is it?
MARTYThe Makropulos stuff.
MARTYHe wanted it so much, you see.
to Prus
MARTYThat sheet of paper you gave me back today.
MARTYThat sealed envelope ?
MARTYJoe wanted to try, it out.
MARTYHe promised to give it me back.
MARTYBut instead he attached it to his will.
MARTYHe thought I'd come to get it,
MARTYand - and -
MARTYI never came till now
MARTYI wanted to get hold of the stuff
MARTYso that I could live for three hundred years!
MARTYThree hundred years of being young!
GREGORIs that all you came for?
MARTYHa?ha?ha,
MARTYha?ha?ha!
MARTYI don't care a rap about your being my boy!
MARTYDo I know how many thousands of my brats
MARTYare scampering round the world,
MARTYbrats of mine scampering round the world?
pressing the envelope to her heart
MARTYNow you are mine, mine,
MARTYnow you are mine!
MARTYThis is what my father wrote out
MARTYfor the emperor Rudolf.
VITEKThe emperor Rudolf?
MARTYListen, good folk,
MARTYthere was a scamp for you!
MARTYAnd when he started to grow old
MARTYhe kept looking for the elixir of life
MARTYso that he could be young again.
MARTYThat was when my father came to him
MARTYand wrote him down this magic,
MARTYthis recipe -
MARTYso that he could survive 300 years,
MARTY300 years of youth.
MARTYBut the emperor Rudolf was scared,
MARTYand said:
MARTY"Try it on your daughter,
MARTYfirst try it on your daughter!"
MARTYAnd that was me!
MARTYI was sixteen at the time,
MARTYso he tried it out on me.
MARTYThen for a week or so
MARTYI was unconscious ?
MARTYand then got well again.
VITEKAnd the emperor?
MARTYNothing to tell.
MARTYHow could he know
MARTYthat I'd live for 300 years,
MARTYthat I'd live for 300 years?
MARTYSo he locked my father up in a tower
MARTYas a swindler.
MARTYAnd I escaped with the secret
MARTYto Hungary.
MARTYI don't know exactly where.
PRUSDid you show anyone the Makropulos thing?
MARTYI showed it to Joe,
MARTYwhen he begged me to.
MARTYBut I had to get hold of it again myself -
KOLENATYHow old are you?
MARTY? because I was ageing.
KOLENATYHow old are you?
MARTYDon't confuse things!
MARTYThree hundred and twenty?seven.
MARTYSo that's what it's all about ?
MARTYI've reached the end.
MARTYFeel me, Bertie, I'm turning to ice.
MARTYFeel my hands, all of you!
KOLENATYWhy did you forge
KOLENATYEllian MacGregor's handwriting?
MARTYPater hemon … ! [= Our Father … !]
KOLENATYDon't tell lies!
KOLENATYYou are Emilia Marty -
MARTYPater hemon!
KOLENATYYou stole Eugenia Montez' medallion!
MARTYPater hemon,
MARTYhos eis en uranois! [= which art in heaven!]
KOLENATYWe know everything, everything.
KOLENATYWe know everything, we know everything, everything!
KOLENATYWhat's your name?
collapsing
MARTYElina …
MARTYMakropulos.
letting her drop
KOLENATYDamn it, she's not lying after all!
PRUSShe's not!
GREGORShe's not!
VITEKShe's not!
tearing off his gown
KOLENATYGet the doctor!
They take Marty off to the bedroom: the doctor goes in to her
enters as if transfixed, a mere shadow supported by the doctor.
Others all rise to their feet. Greenish lighting on stage and audience
MARTYI could feel
MARTYdeath's hand on me.
MARTYIt was not so dreadful.
GREGOR, VITEK, PRUS, KOLENATYMiss Marty,
GREGOR, VITEK, PRUS, KOLENATYwe have been brutal to you!
KRISTAl am so awfully sorry for you!
MARTYHere you all are,
MARTYand it's just as if you weren't there.
MARTYYou are just objects and shadows!
CHORUSWe are just objects and shadows!
MARTYDying, departing ?
MARTYit's all one, all the same!
CHORUSAll one, all the same!
wringing her hands
MARTYOh, life should not last so long!
MARTYIf you only realised how easy life is for you!
MARTYYou are so close to everything!
MARTYFor you, everything makes sense!
MARTYFor you, everything has its value!
MARTYFools,
MARTYyou are so blissful ?
CHORUSWe are blissful!
CHORUSWe fools are so blissful!
MARTY? for the trivial chance reason
MARTYthat you are going to die so soon.
CHORUSWe are blissful!
CHORUSWe fools are so blissful!
MARTYYou believe in humanity,
MARTYin greatness, in love!
MARTYThere's nothing more you could wish for!
CHORUSThere's nothing more
CHORUSwe could wish for!
MARTYBut in me life has come to a halt,
MARTYChrist,
MARTYand can go no further!
MARTYWhat hideous solitude!
MARTYIt's all in vain, Krista,
MARTYwhether you sing or keep silent ?
MARTYno pleasure in being good,
MARTYno pleasure in being bad.
MARTYNo pleasure on earth,
MARTYno pleasure in heaven.
MARTYAnd one comes to learn
MARTYthat the soul has died inside one.
GREGORThen why did you come ?
VITEK, KOLENATY, PRUSThen why did you come ?
GREGOR? for the secret,
GREGORthe Makropulos secret?
VITEK, KOLENATY, PRUS- the Makropulos secret?
MARTYIt is written here:
MARTY"Ego, Hieronymos Makropulos,
MARTYiatros kaisaros Rudolphou."
MARTY= "I, Hieronymos Makropulos, physician to the emperor Rudolph."
MARTYI don't want the stuff any more!
MARTYHere, take the formula.
MARTYDoes no one want it?
MARTYYou're standing here, Krista.
MARTYI stole your man from you.
MARTYYou are beautiful.
MARTYTake it!
MARTYYou will be famous,
MARTYyou will have a voice like Ellian Marty!
MARTYTake it, girl! Take it, girl!
GREGOR, KOLENATYDon't take it!
VITEK, PRUSDon't take it!
Krista takes the document and holds it over a flame till it catches fire.
Stage-lighting changes to red.
MARTYPater hemon?
crumpling up
The document is consumed in the flames.