The Consul
Menotti, Gian Carlo
Responsief blok lib/tran/syn
The Consul Libretto
SYSTEMACT I
SYSTEMScene 1
(The scene is the home of John Sorel, a small, shabby
apartment in a large European city. The apartment is
above the street level and is entered by a door at the
extreme left. A centre window overlooks the street
and an alcove at the extreme right leads the rest of the
apartment. In the recess leading to the window are the
kitchen sink and the gas stove. There is a telephone on
the stool below the cupboard, and a cradle near the
entrance of the alcove.
When the curtain rises, the room is empty and dark. It
is early morning, the windows are open, and the music
of a record played in a café on the street can be heard.
A dim light in the alcove throws across the wall the
shadows of the moving figures within the alcove.)
VOICE ON RECORDTu reviendras et voudras
VOICE ON RECORDM'enfermer dans tes bras.
VOICE ON RECORDMoi il faudra que je songe
VOICE ON RECORDA te cacher les sombres
VOICE ON RECORDmensonges
VOICE ON RECORDde ma Vie, parce-que tu
VOICE ON RECORDreviendras...
VOICE ON RECORDAh, pauvre toi,
VOICE ON RECORDLa verité tu ne sauras
VOICE ON RECORDjamais...
(The outer door is flung open and John stumbles into
the room. He clutches at the workbench for support and
upsets it. It falls with a great crash of tools, throwing
John to the floor, Painfully, he drags himself to a chair
and lies across it, gasping for breath, as the record
begins to play again.)
VOICE ON RECORDTu reviendras...
JOHNMagda! Magda!
(Magda rushes in from the alcove, followed by the
MAGDAMother. Magda goes immediately to John and helps
him sit in the chair. She kneels, rips open the trouser
MAGDAleg and examines the wound.)
MAGDAJohn! Oh, God! What's happened?
JOHNI'm, hurt.
MAGDAMother, get something quick. John is hurt!
MOTHERIs it bad?
MAGDAI don't know. Where is it, John?
MOTHER(The Mother goes into the alcove, returning
MOTHERimmediately with a basin of water and bandages.
MOTHERShe takes them to Magda)
MOTHERFool! fool!
JOHNHere, it's my leg. It isn't serious, but it hurts.
JOHNI had to run on it all the way home.
Mother, close the window.
(The Mother closes the window, shutting out the sound
MAGDAof the record. As she bathes and cleans the wound)
MAGDAIs this the only place?
MAGDAThank God, it isn't too bad.
MAGDABut how did it happen? Answer me!
MOTHERWhat else for us but sorrow.
MOTHERYou may as well tell us the truth.
MAGDAWas it the Police? Answer me!
MAGDAIt was the police, wasn't it?
JOHNYes, of course.
MAGDAAnd they shot at you.
MAGDAI knew this would happen, I knew it.
MOTHEROh, John what have you done?
MOTHEROh, John, think of your child!
MOTHERHaven't we had enough troubles already?
MOTHEROh! All this hating will never bring home
MOTHERbut long sleepless, nights.
MAGDAOh, John, what have you done?
MAGDAOh, John, must all my life be this waiting,
MAGDAfearing, countingthe hours, dreading theknock at my door?
JOHNI was given orders to go to Nana's place
JOHNfor a secret meeting.
JOHNShortly after midnight,
JOHNthe leader called our names, and we were all there.
JOHNI still don't know who could have betrayed us.
JOHNNot one among us of that I'm sure.
JOHNSudden in the night
JOHNwe heard the noise of cars and the screech of brakes.
JOHNOut the garret window and down the slanting roofs,
we made our escape.
JOHNThey shot at us from the street.
JOHNMarcus was hit, he fell, rolled down the shingles.
JOHNEven from up there we heard the thump
JOHNas he hit the pavement.
JOHN(Magda helps John remove his raincoat
JOHNand hangs it on the wall rack)
MOTHEROh, when will all this sorrow end?
MOTHERDamn you, you and all your friends!
MOTHERWhy don't you men bring homesome bread
MOTHERand not only fear and blood?
MOTHERA million dead cannot feed your child.
MAGDAOh, Mother, be quiet!
MAGDAWhat is the use of wailing like that, what is the use?
MOTHER(Despairingly, the Mother goes to the window
MOTHERto keep watch.)
MOTHERYes, yes, I shan't say any more.
To Mother
JOHNDo you see anything?
MAGDAWhy, John? Did anyone follow you?
JOHNI don't know.
MAGDADid anyone recognize you?
JOHNI don't know,
JOHNbut we must be ready for anything.
in angry despair
MAGDAOh, bitter love, this love of freedom,
MAGDAthat locks the very air we breathe,
MAGDAthis love that keeps its champions burrowing
MAGDAin the darkness like moles.
JOHNMagda, Magda, do not fail me.
JOHNThe seed needs darkness to spread its bitter roots.
JOHNThis we must do so that one day
JOHNour son may see with innocent eyes
JOHNthe flower we nourish in bitter darkness.
From the windows
MOTHERQuick, John! The Police!
MOTHER(For an instant all three are frozen with panic. Magda
MOTHERinstinctively puts her arms protectively around John.
MOTHERThen he indicates that they must help him to the agreed
hiding place. The two women half carry him into the
alcove, and while the Mother holds the curtain aside,
MOTHERMagda helps John climb onto the roof The Mother
MOTHERhurries to right the overturned workbench. Magda
draws the curtains of the alcove and runs to gather up
MOTHERthe basin, the cloths, and the medicine bottle. Carrying
MOTHERthese, Magda goes at help the Mother set the table in
MOTHERplace. The Mother hurries to the bureau, finds some
papers there that must be concealed, finally hides them
MOTHERunder the blankets of the cradle and drags the cradle
MOTHERover to her chair, into which she sinks heavily. Magda
MOTHERcarries the basin and other things into the alcove and
MOTHERreturns with her sewing basket, seating herself at the
MOTHERdining table. With feigned calm, the two women await
MOTHERthe entrance of the police. The Mother suddenly sees
MOTHERthe bloodstains on the floor. She signals to Magda, who
MOTHERtries frantically to wipe them away with her skirt. The
MOTHERMother hands Magda the shawl from the cradle. Magda
MOTHERcleans away the stains, hands back the shawl, for a
MOTHERmoment is too exhausted to move, then forces herself
MOTHERto sit calmly at the table. The door is flung open and the
Secret Police Agent rushes in, followed immediately by
MOTHERtwo plain-clothes men. The Secret Police Agent directs
MOTHERthe two men to search the apartment. They search the
MOTHERalcove, check the window, emptying out the drawers of
MOTHERthe workbench and the bureau, scattering clothes and
MOTHERpaper all over the floor.)
MOTHERShall me ever see the end of all this?
MOTHERI'm not thinking of us old people,
MOTHERbut of all our children and their sons.
MOTHERShall they ever see the end of all this...
MAGDASsh! Mother, please, be quiet!
MOTHERYes, I know.
MOTHERPatience has become the virtue of the young.
MOTHERBut we old people have seen too many tears,
MOTHERwe have seen too much blood,
MOTHERwe have seen too much betrayal.
MOTHER(One of the men is directed to search Magda, then both
MOTHERare sent to wait outside.)
MOTHERWe can no longer keep our silence!
MOTHEREven death seems too slow
MOTHERin granting us our rest.
To Magda, from the door
POLICE AGENTWhat is your name?
POLICE AGENTAnd the old woman?
MAGDAMy mother.
POLICE AGENT(The Police Agent questions them with unctuous
POLICE AGENTcourtesy, pacing nervously about the room, kicking
POLICE AGENTthe clothes that have been dumped from the bureau
POLICE AGENTdrawers.)
POLICE AGENTWhen did you see your husband last?
MAGDATwo weeks ago.
POLICE AGENTTwo weeks ago? Do you expect me to believe that?
MOTHERYou heard her!
POLICE AGENTYes, indeed,
POLICE AGENTbut we like to give people a second chance.
POLICE AGENTWhere is your husband?
MAGDAI don't know.
POLICE AGENTWhen do you expect him back?
MAGDAI don't know.
POLICE AGENTIs this your child?
MAGDAYes.
MAGDA(The Police Agent peers into the cradle, then goes to
MAGDAexamine the wall rack and examines John's raincoat.)
POLICE AGENTWhat a sickly looking, baby... and his father away!
POLICE AGENTIs this his jacket?
MAGDAYes.
spotting some blood in it
POLICE AGENTVery interesting... very...
POLICE AGENTAnd why don't you expect him back?
MAGDAI never said that.
MAGDAI only said that I don't know where he is.
To Police
MOTHERJohn is a good boy.
MOTHERWhat do you want from him, anyway?
MOTHERWhy don' t you leave us alone?
ironically
POLICE AGENTI wasn't speaking to you, Madame.
MAGDAYes, Mother, please...
MOTHERAll right, all right...
resuming his unctuous tone
POLICE AGENTMrs. Sorel, your husband has many friends.
POLICE AGENTWe're interested in his friends,
POLICE AGENTwe would like to learn their names.
Yes, we could leave you alone,
POLICE AGENTif you would prove to be of help.
POLICE AGENTYes, you can help us
POLICE AGENTcrush the enemies of the State.
POLICE AGENTWell, then?
alter a long silence, with sudden violence
POLICE AGENTAnswer me!
MAGDAI don't know.
MAGDAI don't know anything...
POLICE AGENTMrs Sorel, to be courageous is often a very selfish thing.
POLICE AGENTYou have a mother, and a husband, and a sweet little child.
POLICE AGENTYou love them very much, don't you?
She don't speaks
POLICE AGENTCourage is often a lack of imagination.
POLICE AGENTWe have strange ways to make people talk.
POLICE AGENTOh, no at all the way you may think.
POLICE AGENTAll we have to do is
POLICE AGENTto quicken the beat of your heart.
POLICE AGENTThe heart is a very frail thing.
POLICE AGENTPeople like you can disregard pain.
POLICE AGENTPeople like you can defy strength.
POLICE AGENTBut not the beat of your own heart...
POLICE AGENTThink it over, Mrs. Sorel
POLICE AGENT(He stands over her threateningly, then suddenly
relaxes, takes his hat and goes to the door.)
POLICE AGENTWe shall see each other again.
(The Police Agent exits very quietly and The Mother
POLICE AGENTmoves swiftly at the window.)
To John
MAGDADon't move yet. Wait.
MAGDAHave they gone, Mother?
MOTHERNot yet. Don't move.
MAGDAJohn, are you all right?
train his hiding place
JOHNYes, but haven't they gone yet?
MAGDADon't move John, don't move!
She goes to the door to see if they have gone.
MOTHERHere they come!
MOTHER(From across the way the loud, desperate
MOTHERwailing of a woman is heard)
MOTHERThey're taking Michael the shoemaker away!
MAGDAThe poor devil! What could he have done?
MOTHERWho knows!
MOTHERHis wife is crying,
MOTHERclinging on to his coat sleeve...
MOTHERThey cannot get her away from him.
MOTHEROh, I cannot look any longer.
(She closes the window, shutting off the cries. The
MOTHERMother moves away from the window towards the
MOTHERmiddle of the room. Magda goes at help John out
of his hiding place.)
MOTHEROh God,
MOTHERhow long must women cry over man's destiny
MOTHERHave pity on man,
MOTHERthis bit of clay wet with women's tears.
MAGDAHave they gone, Mother?
MOTHERNot yet... Wait. Don't move. Yes, they have gone.
(Magda helps John into the room, then turns to him
MAGDAsuddenly to touch him, frantically and almost fiercely
they embrace.)
MAGDAAnd now... What is to be done now?
JOHNYou must be strong.
MAGDAYou're going to leave us, is that it?
JOHNYes.
MAGDAWhere will you go, my love?
JOHNI must try to cross the frontier.
MAGDACross the frontier?
MAGDABut when?
JOHNTonight!
MAGDATonight? Oh, John, no!
MAGDANot tonight, John, please!
MAGDAWhere can you go tonight, bleeding and lame?
JOHNTomorrow may be too late.
JOHNI must not lose this chance.
JOHNTo wait is to betray my cause...
Look at your feverish eyes.
MAGDAThey'll burn in the darkness and signal to your enemy.
JOHNThis is my only chance:
JOHNto go before the hunter's net is laid,
to hide my path and keep the goal unknown
JOHNuntil the work is done.
MAGDAOh, no John! Wait!
MAGDA(As John goes into the alcove, Magda tries to le
MAGDArestrain him.)
MAGDANot tonight! No, John. I won't let you go.
MAGDAMother, please don't let him go!
The Mother embraces Magda.
MOTHERYes, Magda!
MOTHERJohn is right... He must go now.
MOTHERBut God will join us again.
John re-enters with more clothes and papers.
JOHNGo to the Consulate tomorrow.
JOHNTell them our story.
JOHNAsk them for help.
JOHNTell them what I've done.
JOHNThey will not bolt their doors
JOHNto my wife and my mother and my little son.
MAGDA(Magda moves about dazedly, attempting at help John,
but scarcely able at believe that he is leaving her.)
MAGDATo whom shall I call for help if all should fail?
JOHNNo one.
JOHNYou must not ever call on my friends.
JOHNYour every move may be watched.
JOHNTheir work and their lives may be endangered.
JOHNForget their faces, forget their names.
MAGDABut how shall I know here you are?
MAGDAWho'll bring me news of you?
John beckons the two women to him.
Listen carefully when a child on the street throws a stone
JOHNand breaks this window,
JOHNthat will be a signal.
JOHNCall Assan the glasscutter,
JOHNand ask for a new pane.
JOHNHe will bring you news of me.
(John goes to the cradle and kneels next to it. The
JOHNMother stands next to him)
JOHNLet me kiss my son.
JOHN(Magda goes to fetch John's jacket, and, still holding it
JOHNtenderly, slowly walks towards the front of the stage)
JOHNNow, oh lips, say goodbye.
JOHNThe word must be said,
JOHNbut the heart must not heed.
JOHNSo, my lips, say goodbye.
JOHNThe rose holds the summer in her winter sleep.
JOHNThe sea gathers moonlight
JOHNwhere ships cannot plough
JOHNand so will the heart retain endless hope
JOHNwhere time does not count,
JOHNwhere words cannot reach. Now, oh lips... ecc.
MOTHERLet no tears, no love laden tears,
MOTHERdim the light that charts out way.
Leave the tears to the starless one
MOTHERwho wanders without a compass in the night.
MOTHERSo, within the heart,
MOTHERlet hope be the haven that words cannot reach.
MOTHERHeart, do not listen, lest you surrender.
Parting turns time into tears,
turns hearts into clocks.
MOTHERBe like the sleeper
MOTHERwho knowsthat his dream is a dream.
(John embraces Magda, breaks away from her,
embraces his Mother, and leaves as the curtain falls.)
SYSTEMScene 2
MOTHER(Later the same day. The scene is the waiting room of
MOTHERConsulate, a cheerless, coldly-lit room, furnished with
MOTHERusual benches and wall desks. Downstage, from the
MOTHERfront of the desk extending to the back wall is a heavy
MOTHERwooden railing with a swinging gate which separates
MOTHERthe space used by the Secretary from the rest of the
MOTHERwaiting room. Upstage, between the side wall and the
MOTHERrailing is the door to the Consul's office. The door
MOTHERshould massive with the upper half of semi-opaque
MOTHERglass. The cornice could be surmounted by an
MOTHERindistinguishable coat-of-arms or other official symbols.
The curtain rises. The Secretary is busily typing at
MOTHERher desk. Mr Kofner, an elderly gentleman with a
MOTHERslight professional air, and the Foreign Woman, an
MOTHERold peasant, sit on the benches, waiting to be summoned
MOTHERby the Secretary)
(The Secretary rarely looks at the applicants
SECRETARYas she speaks to them.)
SECRETARYNext!
Mr Kofner gets up quickly and comes at the railing.
SECRETARYYes... What can I do for you?
SECRETARYMr KOFNER
SECRETARYMy name is Mister Kofner...
SECRETARYI believe we've seen you before.
SECRETARYMr KOFNER
SECRETARYOh yes, yesterday and the day before yesterday,
SECRETARYand the day before, and every day for oh, so long...
SECRETARYIt isn't our fault if you never bring
SECRETARYthe necessary documents.
SECRETARYMr KOFNER
SECRETARYI know, I know. It isn't your fault.
SECRETARY(He places the documents on the desk as she checks
SECRETARYthem off her list.)
SECRETARYDid you bring your birth certificate?
SECRETARYMr KOFNER
SECRETARYYes.
SECRETARYDid you bring your health certificate?
SECRETARYMr KOFNER
SECRETARYYes.
SECRETARY... and your vaccination?...
SECRETARYMr KOFNER
SECRETARYYes.
SECRETARY... and your affidavit?...
SECRETARYMr KOFNER
SECRETARYYes.
SECRETARY... and the statement from the bank?...
Magda enters and takes a place on the bench.
SECRETARYMr KOFNER
SECRETARYYes.
SECRETARY... your passport?...
SECRETARYMr KOFNER
SECRETARYYes.
SECRETARY... three photographs?
SECRETARYMr KOFNER
SECRETARYYes.
SECRETARYBut, Mr. Kofner!
SECRETARYThese are not the right size,
SECRETARYI told you... they must be three by three.
SECRETARYBesides, this paper must be notarized.
SECRETARYMr KOFNER
SECRETARYFor God's sake!...
SECRETARYWhen will it be right?
SECRETARYWell, well, Mr. Kofner.
SECRETARYAfter all, it isn't our fault...
SECRETARYMr KOFNER
SECRETARYI know, I know, it isn't your fault...
handing back the documents to him one by one
SECRETARYThere is a notary around the corner.
SECRETARYHe can do it for you right away.
SECRETARYThe photos you can bring tomorrow.
SECRETARYMr KOFNER
returning slowly to his seat
SECRETARYOh, yes, tomorrow... and the day after tomorrow...
SECRETARYand the day after and every day for, oh, so long!
(Anna Gomez enters. She is young, thin, frantically
SECRETARYnervous. Slashed through her dark hair is a bizarre
SECRETARYstreak of pure white. From time to time, her arm is
SECRETARYgrotesquely pulled by a sudden tic. She attempts to
SECRETARYdisguise the movement by pushing her hand through
SECRETARYthe streak in her hair. After a moment's hesitation,
she takes her place on the waiting bench.)
SECRETARYNext!
impatiently
SECRETARYNext!
To the Foreign Woman
MAGDAGo ahead...
She goes to the roiling.
FOREIGN WOMANOh, sì, sì... Buon giorno.
SECRETARYYes... What can I do for you?
The Foreign Woman shrugs her shoulders helplessly
SECRETARYWell, then...
FOREIGN WOMANScusi, Signorina, ma io non capisco...
SECRETARYOh dear! You... you «non capisco», eh?
FOREIGN WOMANNo.
SECRETARYIs there anyone in this room who can understand her?
SECRETARYMr KOFNER
SECRETARY(He gets up and comes the Foreign Woman
SECRETARYto translate for her)
SECRETARYI do. I believe I can help her.
SECRETARYParlate pure. buona donna.
FOREIGN WOMANGrazie!
FOREIGN WOMANMio Signor, io vengo per mia figlia, l'unica mia creatura...
FOREIGN WOMANMr KOFNER
FOREIGN WOMANIt's something about her daughter...
FOREIGN WOMANFuggí da casa con un dei vostri soldati
FOREIGN WOMANquando era ancora una bambina...
FOREIGN WOMANMr KOFNER
FOREIGN WOMANIt seems that she ran away with one of your soldiers.
FOREIGN WOMANPer tre anni non ebbi sue notizie; la cercai dappertutto
FOREIGN WOMANMr KOFNER
FOREIGN WOMANFor almost three year she had no news of her
FOREIGN WOMANand couldn't find out where she was.
FOREIGN WOMANAvevo ormai perduta ogni speranza
FOREIGN WOMANdi rivedere la mia Giulia,
FOREIGN WOMANma stamani la lettera é arrivata...
She produces precious letter from her bosom.
FOREIGN WOMAN... e così mi scrive la mia povera bambina.
FOREIGN WOMANMr KOFNER
FOREIGN WOMANThis morning, at last,
FOREIGN WOMANshe received a letter from her daughter.
reading from the letter
FOREIGN WOMAN"Mamina, mi sono ammalata, e temo di morire.
FOREIGN WOMANMr KOFNER
FOREIGN WOMANIt seems she's very ill...
FOREIGN WOMANAnd afraid to die...
FOREIGN WOMANMio marito m'abbandonata..
FOREIGN WOMANcon un piccino di tre mesi in questo paese straniero"
FOREIGN WOMANMr KOFNER
FOREIGN WOMANHer husband left her with a little boy.
FOREIGN WOMAN"Mamma, vieni! Ho tanto bisogno del tuo aiuto."
FOREIGN WOMANMr KOFNER
FOREIGN WOMANShe asks her mother to go there
FOREIGN WOMANand help her out of trouble.
FOREIGN WOMANÈ proprio così che mi scrive la mia povera bambina.
FOREIGN WOMANImmagini la mia pena.
SECRETARYWell... and what can we do for her?
SECRETARYMr KOFNER
To the Foreign Woman
SECRETARYLa signorina domanda che cosa desidera.
FOREIGN WOMAN"Che cosa desidero?"
FOREIGN WOMANIo voglio andar vicino a la mia Giulia
FOREIGN WOMANe prendere cura del piccino!
FOREIGN WOMANMr KOFNER
FOREIGN WOMANShe wants to go to see her daughter Giulia,
FOREIGN WOMANand to take care of her new grandson.
SECRETARYTell her that first of all,
SECRETARYshe must fill out this application.
SECRETARYMr KOFNER
To the Foreign Woman
SECRETARYDeve fare la domanda.
FOREIGN WOMANSì... e poi?
SECRETARY... and then if it is accepted,
SECRETARYshe must apply for a visa.
FOREIGN WOMANMa quando potró partire?
FOREIGN WOMANMr KOFNER
FOREIGN WOMANWhen will she be able to leave?
SECRETARYIt may be a couple of months...
SECRETARY(The Foreign Woman tries desperately at
SECRETARYfollow the words she does not understand.)
SECRETARY... it may be three... four...
SECRETARYIt all depends if and when she's granted a visa.
SECRETARYMr KOFNER
To the Foreign Woman
SECRETARYForse in un paio di mesi.
FOREIGN WOMAN(stunned by this information)«Un paio di mesi?
FOREIGN WOMAN» Ma, signorina, mia figlia è molto ammalata.
FOREIGN WOMANBisogna ch'io vada di lei subito!
FOREIGN WOMANMr KOFNER
FOREIGN WOMANHer daughter is very, very sick. She needs her right away.
shaking her head to make her meaning clear
SECRETARYNothing I can do!
FOREIGN WOMANPer piacere, signorina,
FOREIGN WOMANabbia compassione d'una povera mamma
FOREIGN WOMAN(The Secretary hands the Foreign Woman the
FOREIGN WOMANapplication as Mr Kofner leads her away to the writing
FOREIGN WOMANdesk to help her with it. After a while he regains his
FOREIGN WOMANseat, but the Foreign Woman will remain at the desk
FOREIGN WOMANpainfully filling out the form until the end of the act.)
FOREIGN WOMANMr KOFNER
To the Foreign Woman
FOREIGN WOMANBisogna aver pazienza.
SECRETARYNext!
(Magda crosses to the railing. The Magician enters,
SECRETARYfollowed by Vera Boronel. They take their places on
SECRETARYthe benches The telephone rings. The telephone rings
SECRETARYagain.)
SECRETARYHello?
SECRETARY(The call is obviously not business. She immediately
SECRETARYadopts a babyish voice.)
SECRETARYOh! It's you...
She laughs coquettishly
SECRETARYYes, but not now... Bye-bye! Yesss...
(She puts down the phone and turns to Magda
SECRETARYagain with a cold, efficient voice)
SECRETARYYes?
MAGDAMay I speak to the Consul?
SECRETARYNo one is allowed to speak to the Consul,
SECRETARYthe Consul is busy.
MAGDATell him my name.
SECRETARYYour name is a number...
MAGDABut my name is Sorel. Magda Sorel.
MAGDAThe wife of Sorel, the lover of freedom.
SECRETARYSorel is a name and a name is a number.
MAGDAMay I speak to the Consul?
SECRETARYNo one is allowed... to speak to the Consul,
SECRETARYthe Consul is busy.
MAGDATell him my story.
SECRETARYAnd what is your story?
MAGDAMy life is in danger.
MAGDAThey hover like hawks the Secret Police
MAGDAand the spies over my house.
They leave me no peace.
MAGDAOur house has been turned into a trap for my husband.
MAGDAThe child and I are the bait,
MAGDAand the hidden hunter waits
MAGDAfor the heartsick panther to return.
SECRETARYI don't see how we can help you.
SECRETARYYou're not even one of our citizens.
MAGDAMay I speak...
SECRETARYNo one is allowed...
MAGDABut yes, yes, only he can help me.
SECRETARYAnd how can he help you?
MAGDAMy husband secretly fled to your country.
SECRETARYHe has entered our country illegally?
Yes, he did to escape the Police.
SECRETARYThen he is a criminal case.
MAGDANo, no... listen... you don't understand.
MAGDAJohn is a hero, a lover of freedom.
SECRETARYAn irregular case.
MAGDAMay I speak to the Consul?
She gets up, facing Magda with increasing hostility.
SECRETARYThe Consul is busy.
MAGDAWill you tell him my need?
SECRETARYAnd what is your need?
Help me to escape, escape with my child.
SECRETARYYou're not one of our people.
SECRETARYYou're not our concern.
MAGDABut you are our friends,
MAGDAthe friends of the oppressed.
SECRETARY(She goes to the filing cabinet and takes out
SECRETARYthe necessary forms.)
SECRETARYWe are at peace with your country.
SECRETARYTheir laws are our laws.
MAGDAI must see my John,
MAGDAand you, only you, can help me.
MAGDAMay I speak to the Consul?
SECRETARY(She returns to her desk with the papers and
SECRETARYhands them to Magda.)
SECRETARYI give you these papers.
SECRETARYThis is how to begin:
SECRETARYYour name is a number.
SECRETARYYour story's a case.
SECRETARYYour need a request.
SECRETARYYour hopes will be filed.
SECRETARYCome back next week...
MAGDAAnd you will explain to the Consul?
SECRETARYBut what is there to explain?
MAGDAExplain that John is a hero,
MAGDAthat flowers bloom in the blood that was shed.
But the deed will be lost if the hand falls unkissed.
MAGDAExplain to the Consul, explain!
SECRETARYBut what is there to explain?
MAGDAExplain that the web
MAGDAof my life has worn down to one single thread,
MAGDAand the hands of the clock...
MAGDAglitter like knives.
MAGDAExplain to the Consul, explain!
SECRETARYBut what is there to explain?
MAGDAExplain that the heart of one man
MAGDAcannot be multiplied nor his life be divided,
that fate can be fixed to its diamond point
MAGDAby a click of the tongue.
MAGDAExplain to the Consul, explain!
SECRETARYBut what is there to explain?
MAGDAExplain that John is a hero, e
MAGDAxplain that he's my John!
MAGDAExplain to the Consul, explain!
MAGDATell him my name.
MAGDATell him my story.
MAGDATell him my need.
SECRETARY(as though she were explaining to a rather
SECRETARYslow wilted child)
SECRETARYFill in these papers.
SECRETARYThis is how to begin.
SECRETARYYour name is a number...
Dazed, Magda returns to her seat.
To Vera Boronel
MAGICIANI beg your pardon, Madam.
MAGICIANMy name is Nicholas Magadoff,
MAGICIANthe world-famous magician.
VERA BORONELI'm sorry.
VERA BORONELI never go to the theatre.
MAGICIANObviously!
MAGICIANNevertheless, would you mind
MAGICIANif I practised one of my tricks on you?
MAGICIANIt will help us both pass the time.
VERA BORONELOh, no, Please!
VERA BORONELI'm afraid of tricks.
MAGICIANOh, but there is nothing to it!
MAGICIANDo you see this little ball?
MAGICIANNow you see it... now you don't. Now you see it...
MAGICIAN(During the quintet, the sunlight slowly fades, obscuring
MAGICIANthe details of the room. At last only the faces of the
figures are visible, caught by the rays of light falling
MAGICIANthrough a narrow window, high out of sight on the wall
MAGICIANabove the Secretary's desk.)
FOREIGN WOMANMr KOFNER, VERA BORONEL, MAGDA
FOREIGN WOMANIn endless waiting rooms, the hour stands still.
FOREIGN WOMANThe light goes pale and thin.
FOREIGN WOMANThe heart is dead.
FOREIGN WOMANWe wait in wide-eyed sleep.
FOREIGN WOMANWhat are we waiting for? Perhaps the creaking
FOREIGN WOMANof a door or the light play on the wall.
FOREIGN WOMANWe wait forever, wait.
FOREIGN WOMANThe answer comes too late or death too soon.
FOREIGN WOMANOh, give us back the earth and make us free.
FOREIGN WOMAN(One by one, except for Mr Kofner,
the people rise in place)
FOREIGN WOMANIt is God's gift to me, this ever flowering earth.
FOREIGN WOMANOh, let all flags be burned and guilt be shared.
FOREIGN WOMANMy brother's shame be mine and his my fare.
FOREIGN WOMANWhy must we wait in crowded rooms
FOREIGN WOMANwhile aimlessly are spun the wasted suns
FOREIGN WOMANand the forgotten moons?
Oh, leave the doors unlocked and light the lamps within.
FOREIGN WOMANThe silent looms will sing,
FOREIGN WOMANthe plough will split the rock...
FOREIGN WOMANOh give us back the earth and make us free...
FOREIGN WOMAN(Slowly, puzzling over the form she has been given,
the Foreign Woman leaves the writing desk and
goes out through the main door. The curtain falls.)
SYSTEMACT II
SYSTEMScene 1
FOREIGN WOMAN(A month later at the Sorel home. It is late afternoon.
As the curtain rises, the Mother is sitting at the table
with her sewing. Magda is just entering through the
FOREIGN WOMANdoor way. Through the open windows the song from
FOREIGN WOMANthe café can be heard.)
VOICE ON RECORDTu reviendras...
MOTHERAny news?
MAGDANothing. Oh, that song!... again and again!
MAGDAThey drive me crazy.
MAGDA(Magda crosses to the window and closes it, then
MAGDAremoves her coat and sinks heavily into a chair.)
MAGDAI'm so tired... so tired.
MAGDADay after day, waiting in that office.
MAGDAThe Consul will not see me,
MAGDAthey ask for papers,
MAGDAand then more papers,
MAGDAand then all you get is another questionnaire.
(Magda rises angrily and goes to put her purse in the
MAGDAbureau drawer)
MAGDAWhat is your name? Magda Sorel.
MAGDAAge? Thirty-three.
MAGDAPlace of birth? Oh God, oh God!
MOTHERHave you told them
MOTHERthat your child is sick and that you must get...
MAGDAIt's no use, Mother, it's no use.
MAGDAIf I only had news of John...
MAGDABut not a word from him,
MAGDAnot a word since he left.
MOTHEROh no, no, Magda, one must not lose heart.
She goes to the cradle and kneels beside it
Come here. Look at him, poor little monkey.
MAGDAOnly his eyes are alive. He doesn't even cry anymore.
MOTHERHe will get better, Magda, I'm sure
(Bitterly, she rises and goes into the alcove,
hiding her tears.)
MAGDAIt would be still better if he had never been born.
MOTHEROh don't say that, don't say that!
bending over the cradle
MOTHERWhat is the matter, little lamb?
MOTHERWhy are you so still?
(She kneels beside the cradle and tries desperate
MOTHERby to amuse the child)
MOTHERI've never seen a baby so little and sad.
MOTHERSmile for Granny, little lamb. Come on.
MOTHERKoo-roo koo koo koo! Say:
MOTHER"Moo-moo," say "Da-da.
MOTHER" Koo-roo koo koo koo, Look who's stealing your shoe!
MOTHERHe's my baby boy, Granny's little baby boy.
MOTHER(She bends of the child, tickling him with her finger and
MOTHERmaking one of those absurd noises meant to enchant
MOTHERchildren)
MOTHERI shall tickle you, tickle you.
MOTHERTickle... Glu glu glu!
MOTHERI've never seen a baby so little and sad.
MOTHERGive me a little smile.
Suddenly she hides behind the side of the cradle.
MOTHERWhere is Granny? Whoopee!
She springs up quickly and repeating the hiding game
MOTHERWon't you smile?
Come on, give a little smile to your Granny.
MOTHERI've never seen a baby so little and sad;
MOTHERlike an old man, so wrinkled and white.
She picks up the child's ragged toy rabbit
MOTHERWon't you ever smile again for your Granny?
MOTHERHoo hoo!
MOTHER(Suddenly alarmed by the stillness of the child, she
MOTHERbends and touches him. Seeing that he sleeps, she
MOTHERsits wearily and rocks the cradle)
MOTHERI shall find for you shells and stars.
MOTHERI shall swim for you river and sea.
MOTHERSleep my love, sleepfor me.
MOTHERMy sleep is old. I shall feed for you lamb and dove.
MOTHERI shall buy for you sugar and bread.
MOTHERSleep my love, sleep for me.
MOTHERMy sleep is dead..
Rain will fall but Baby won't know.
He laughs alone in orchards of gold.
Tears will fall but Baby won't know.
MOTHERHis laughter is blind. Sleep,
MOTHERmy love, forsleep is kind.
MOTHER(Magda returns to the room, stands for a moment
MOTHERwatching the Mother, then sits at the table and slowly
MOTHERlets her head sink on her arms. She sleeps)
MOTHERSleep is kind when sleep is young.
MOTHERSleep for me, sleep for me.
MOTHERI shall build for you planes and boats.
MOTHERI shall catch for you cricket and bee.
MOTHERLet the old ones watch your sleep.
MOTHEROnly death will watch the old. Sleep, sleep...
MOTHER(Spreading her shawl over the child, the Mother slowly
MOTHERbacks out into the alcove. Magda stirs in her sleep as
MOTHERher nightmare begins. A sudden change in the lights
MOTHERcasts an unreal, eerie glow over the entire room. The
door flies open and John enters He is bloodstained
MOTHERand bandaged, and across his rigid arms he carries
MOTHERbranches and stones. Hovering behind him is the
MOTHERfigure of the Secretary. Her face is subtly changeds.
MOTHERvoluptuous and disturbing, despite her deathly pallor.
MOTHERThere is about her a strange aura of oppressive evil.
The two figures advance into the room. Magda rises
MOTHERstiffly, her eyes again staring and sightless, goes to
MOTHERthem for a moment, and then, as though compelled,
MOTHERgoes to the cupboard and brings out the cloth for the
table. As she spreads the cloth, John approaches her.
MOTHERThe Secretary remains behind him like a shadow)
MAGDAJohn, John, why did you bring me
MAGDAall these branches and stones?
MAGDA(The Secretary lifts the branches and stones from
John's outstretched hands and gives them to Magda.)
JOHN'S VOICEThey are to build us a cross and a grave.
MAGDAJohn, John,
MAGDAwhat are those bandages and what are those stains?
JOHN'S VOICEBlood on my skin and blood on my clothes.
(Magda takes the branches and stones to the cupboard,
JOHN'S VOICEand returns with the plates and bread.)
JOHN'S VOICEAn through the night like a wolf on a plain,
JOHN'S VOICEI've been hunted with bullets and knives.
JOHN'S VOICEBright was the moon and far was my home.
MAGDAJohn, John,
MAGDAwho is that woman that you brought back with you?
JOHN'S VOICEShe is my sister, my dear little sister.
JOHN'S VOICEYou must love her for she's my own blood.
You must give her the keys to our house.
MAGDAJohn, John,
MAGDAyou never told me that you had any sisters.
holding the Secretary protectively
JOHN'S VOICEShe's my sister, my own little sister.
MAGDAJohn, John,
MAGDAwhy am I afraid of that horrible woman?
JOHN'S VOICEHeavy's her hand and cold is her mouth...
MAGDA(She recoils in horror and dazedly brings the wine
MAGDAand the glasses to the table)
MAGDASend her away...
JOHN'S VOICEShe's my sister, my own little sister.
JOHN'S VOICEShe must eat with us
JOHN'S VOICEand share our bed, salt
JOHN'S VOICEour bread, and dig our grave.
JOHN'S VOICEWelcome us, Magda welcome us home.
(For one moment Magda draws John apart from the
Secretary, but he turns at once and draws the Secretary
JOHN'S VOICEto the table. The Secretary breaks the bread, feeding it
JOHN'S VOICEto John, and pours the wine, spilling it across his mouth.)
JOHN'S VOICECome, come your supper is cold.
JOHN'S VOICEThe bread must be broken. The wine must be spilled.
MAGDALook... look. The wine has turned black
MAGDAlike blood that is shed.
MAGDALook John, look, John! The bread is white
MAGDAlike the flesh of the dead. John, John!
MAGDAI'm afraid... Her eyes are so hollow,
MAGDAher laughter is soundless and white!
MAGDAOh, John, send her away.
MAGDAYour sister is death.
MAGDAShe covets my child for a grave.
MAGDA(John suddenly shrinks from the Secretary and goes
MAGDAto Magda. For an instant they cling together, then he
MAGDAbreaks away. In the meantime, the Secretary silently
MAGDAfolds the table cloth with all its contents and
MAGDAdisappears)
JOHN'S VOICECome, come.
Let us hide from the moon.
JOHN'S VOICEI hear the horns calling.
JOHN'S VOICEThe hunt is still on.
John turns sharply to her.
JOHN'S VOICEWhere is my child? I want to see my child...
MAGDAHe is asleep. Give me your hand.
MAGDAWalk softly, John, he is asleep.
MAGDAWalk softly, John.
(As Magda kneels by the cradle, she extends her hand,
and the Secret Police Agent grabs it. Magda turns her
MAGDAhead, and on seeing him, screams with horror. She
MAGDAtears herself away and collapses on the chair near the
MAGDAtable. Meanwhile the Police Agent disappears. The light
MAGDAchanges so that aspect the room looks exactly as it did
MAGDAbefore. As she awakes, Magda is again seated at the
MAGDAtable.)
screaming
MAGDAMother! Mother!
The Mother enters from the alcove.
MOTHERWhat is it, Magda? What is it?
MAGDAA dream... an awful dream.
trying to calm her
MOTHERNo, my darling, not like this.
trying to recall the nightmare
MAGDAJohn... I saw John. He was wounded.
MAGDAHe seemed so strange and so far away.
MAGDAHe asked to see the baby, and... Oh, how awful!
Magda clings to the Mother in terror.
MOTHERDreams are never true, silly girl...
MOTHERThis is not like you, not like you.
She goes to the cradle and kneels beside it
MAGDAMother, tell me. Will my baby die?
MOTHERWhy should Baby die?
MOTHERWhy should he?
MOTHERWhy should death claim such a little seed?
MAGDAMother, I'm afraid!
MAGDASomething has happened to John.
MAGDAI shall never see him again.
MAGDA(A rock thrown from the street strikes the window,
MAGDAshattering the glass. For a few moments neither woman
MAGDAmoves. When they speak, it is with almost hysterical
MAGDArelief)
MAGDAIt is the signal!
MOTHERThe signal!
MAGDAIt is from John. They must have news from John.
Magda goes at once to the phone and dials a number
MOTHEROh God be praised! At last! at last!
MAGDAOh Mother, what shall we do when he comes?
MAGDAPlease tell me... We cannot tell him the truth, can we?
MAGDAHe cannot help us. How could he?
MOTHERDon't worry!
MOTHERHe surely knows how to help us.
MOTHERHe'll bring us good news.
MAGDAHello. Is this Assan the glasscutter?
MAGDAThis is Mrs. Sorel.
MAGDAWill you please come to my house
MAGDAto replace a broken pane in my window?
MAGDAYes. Yes. Please hurry. It is bitter cold.
She hangs up
MAGDAHe'll be right over.
MAGDAMother, come... here... feel my heart.
MOTHERMagda, oh Magda my darling,
MOTHERWhat is it you fear?
MAGDAWhat shall we tell him?
MAGDAHow much shall we hide?
MOTHERMagda, my darling, don't...
MOTHER(A knock at the door interrupts them. The knock is
MOTHERrepeated several times)
MOTHERWho can it be?
MAGDAI don't know.
in a whisper
MOTHERHe can't be here yet.
MAGDADon't answer.
(The Secret Police Agent enters. He is making every
MAGDAeffort to be charming and friendly.)
POLICE AGENTMay I come in?
MOTHERShall we pretend that we could keep you out?
POLICE AGENTThe door was open...
MAGDAMy door seems to be open to my enemies
MAGDAand closed to my friends.
noticing the broken pane
POLICE AGENTIs that why you keep your room so cold?
MAGDAWhat do you want? Out with it.
POLICE AGENTNow, now, Madam Sorel!
POLICE AGENTDon't get so excited.
He removes his hat and seats himself comfortably
POLICE AGENTWe're not in a hurry, are we?
MOTHEROh God!
POLICE AGENTMadame Sorel, I like you very much.
POLICE AGENTWe could be good friends.
MAGDAWhat is it you want? More money?
POLICE AGENTMadame Sorel, you're underestimating me.
POLICE AGENTI like you so much that I watch you very carefully.
POLICE AGENTWe know that you frequent a certain consulate
POLICE AGENTand hope to get a visa...
MAGDAYou cannot stop me..
POLICE AGENTOh, but we'll never stop you.
POLICE AGENTOn the contrary... we would like to help you.
MAGDAWhat is it? More money?
POLICE AGENTWhat an indelicate thing to say!
He stands up, ironically
POLICE AGENTMy dear lady,
POLICE AGENTthe money you can give me hardly pass
POLICE AGENTfor such a thing as silence.
POLICE AGENTAfter all, I'm a family man.
POLICE AGENTI must earn a living.
POLICE AGENTAnd I know a way that we could both be happy.
POLICE AGENTYour husband has many friends.
POLICE AGENTThey don't come to visit you anymore.
POLICE AGENTSo, we would like to visit them.
POLICE AGENTAnd we can make it possible
POLICE AGENTfor you to join your husband...
MAGDA(With sudden violence, she threatens the Police
Agent, who draws back in fear)
MAGDAGet out! Get out! You scoundrel! Murderer!
POLICE AGENTYou will regret this.
POLICE AGENTHow dare you, Mrs. Sorel? Mrs. Sorel!
MAGDAIf you come near my house again,
MAGDAin the name of God, I'll kill you!
MAGDA(Again there is a knock at the door. Magda, taken
MAGDAaback, after a moment's hesitation, goes to the door and
opens it. Assan enters, carrying the long narrow box
MAGDAwhich holds the new pane of glass.)
ASSANWhere is it?
MAGDARight there.
MAGDA(He hesitates for an instant, then goes immediately to
MAGDAthe window, ignoring the Secret Police Agent.)
POLICE AGENTA pane of glass... a very fragile thing.
POLICE AGENTIt is amazing how much
POLICE AGENTone can see through a pane of glass. A pane of glass...
POLICE AGENT(very deliberately, he goes out the door, Magda closes
POLICE AGENTit behind him. During the ensuing dialogue, the Mother
POLICE AGENTsuddenly discovers that the child is dead. Her action
POLICE AGENTof discovery is very restrained, however, and passes
POLICE AGENTalmost unnoticed by the audience.)
ASSANWho is he? What does he want from you?
MAGDAAn agent.
MAGDAYour names...
MAGDA(Assan works at the window, replacing the broken
MAGDAglass as he talks. Magda keeps her eye on the door
MAGDAduring their conversation.)
ASSANWhy did you call me now?
ASSANA foolish thing to do...
MAGDAI didn't know he was coming.
MAGDAI had no way to warn you.
ASSANI must not stay long.
MAGDAHow is John?
Still hiding in the mountains.
MAGDAHasn't he crossed the frontier yet?
ASSANHe will not cross it unless he knows
ASSANyou can join him there.
MAGDATell him he must not come back.
MAGDATell him the house is watched.
MAGDATell he must cross the frontier as soon as he can.
ASSANBut you must hurry, hurry!
MAGDATell him everything is ready.
MAGDATell him we'll join him soon.
He hesitates before asking her.
ASSANIs it the truth?
after a short silence, with a choking voice
MAGDAOh no. He mustn't know the truth.
ASSANIs there anything you want to send him?
MAGDAYes, just a second.
MAGDA(Magda goes into the alcove as Assan begins to collect
MAGDAhis tools)
MOTHERAssan!
MOTHER(Assan goes to her. The Mother uncovers the face of the
MOTHERchild. Assan stares unbelievingly at the dead child and
then looks at the Mother.)
MOTHERDon't tell John...
MOTHER(Assan once more stares quickly at the child, crosses
MOTHERhimself and then goes back to the window to gath tools
as Magda re-enters the room.)
ASSANWell, now I must go
Magda hands him a small packet for John.
MAGDAOh, don't go yet! Please wait.
MAGDAWhen shall we see you again?
MAGDATell John I send him my love.
ASSANI must not stay too long.
ASSANI shall come back when I have more news for you.
ASSANGoodbye.
MAGDAGoodbye.
MAGDA(Assan hurries from the room. Magda goes for her
coat, crosses to the door, and turns to speak. Only then
MAGDAdoes she realize that the Mother has been completely
MAGDAstill and silent during the previous scene. After a long
MAGDApause, she finds the courage to speak.)
MAGDAMother, why are so still, Mother?
MAGDAWhy don't you rock the cradle?
MAGDAWhy don't you sing?
MAGDAMother, why are so still, Mother?
MAGDAIs my baby dead?
MAGDAShall I call the carpenter and the priest?
MAGDAShall I unfold the white silk coverlet?
MAGDAShall I go to market to buy white roses?
I cannot look at him, Mother,
MAGDAbut tell me that he smiles...
The Mother weeps.
MAGDAOh, no! Not that!...
MAGDAIt is too soon to cry.
MAGDAHe may still hear us... Ssh, Mother... Ssh...
(Slowly, dazedly, Magda turns away. Scarcely
MAGDAconscious of her actions, she removes her coat
MAGDAand hangs it carefully in place.)
MOTHERI'm not crying for him,
MOTHERnot for us but for John,
MOTHERwho will never see his baby again;
MOTHERbut for John, my son,
MOTHERwhom I shall never see again.
For John, my son, whom I must leave.
MOTHERI'm too tired to wait or to help.
(Magda takes a green branch from above one of the
MOTHERpictures on the wall and lays it across the cradle.)
MOTHERWhen a heart is as old and worn
MOTHERand patched as mine,
MOTHERlesser things can break it
than the death sigh of a child.
MOTHEROld people live for simple things:
MOTHERto see a birth, to bury the dead.
MOTHERBut they themselves are dead.
MOTHERThey live on borrowed breath,
MOTHERand once the thing is done,
MOTHERthey quickly crumble into dust.
MOTHER(Magda lights a candle and places it at the head of the
MOTHERcradle, then she sinks to the floor beside it)
MOTHERNow let me fold my things and lock my doors.
I leave behind me nothing but sorrow,
MOTHERbut I believe that God receives with kindness
MOTHERthe empty handed traveller.
MOTHER(The daylight has slowly faded from the room. The
MOTHERlast bit of light still catches the walls of the house on
MOTHERthe street seen through the window But within the room
MOTHERnothing remains but a circle of light from the candle at
MOTHERthe head of the cradle. Now Magda, too, breaks down
and weeps. The curtain falls very slowly)
SYSTEMScene 2
(A few days later at the Consulate. As the curtain rises,
the secretary is standing at the file cabinet, searching
MOTHERfor a particular folder. At the railing stands Anna
MOTHERGómez. She is exhausted and frantic, and though she
MOTHERtries at control herself, from time to time the tic pulls
MOTHERat her arm and her thin hand crosses the garish white
MOTHERstreak in her hair. On one of the waiting benches sit the
MOTHERMagician and Vera Baronet On the other sit Mr Kofner
MOTHERand the Foreign Woman)
SECRETARYWhat did you say your name was?
ANNAAnna Gómez.
SECRETARYOh, yes, here it is.
ANNAIs there any hope?
SECRETARYThree years in concentration camp.
SECRETARYHusband... prisoner.
SECRETARYWhereabouts... unknown. No documents!
SECRETARYI don't see what we can do for you.
ANNABut something must be done!
I have to leave the country at the end of the month.
SECRETARYWhy?
ANNAMy permit has expired. Where am I to go?
SECRETARYTry another consulate.
ANNAI've been to every consulate in town.
ANNAEverywhere the answer is the same.
ANNAThey don't know what to do with me,
ANNAand nobody cares...
ANNAStill, there must be a place for me
ANNAsomewhere in this large world.
SECRETARYPerhaps you should go back to your country.
hardly believing what she has just heard
ANNADo you realize what that would mean for me?
a little embarrassed
SECRETARYWell... I'll see what I can do.
SECRETARYFill in this paper and come back tomorrow.
The Secretary mechanically hands her a printed form
KOFNEROh, yes, tomorrow,
KOFNERand the day after tomorrow and every day.
Wearily, Anna Gómez sits down beside Vera Boronel
SECRETARYNext...
(The Magician rises and starts to take his place at the
railing. At that moment, Magda rushes in and bumps
SECRETARYinto him, trying to reach the desk. With his arm he
SECRETARYattempts to hold her back.)
MAGDA(Magda brushes past the Magician and goes to the
MAGDArailing. To the Secretary)
MAGDAPlease... Can I speak to you?
MAGDACan I speak to the Consul?
MAGDAI must get to see him right away!
SECRETARYI'm sorry, Madame. You must wait in line.
MAGDABut please, just, let me explain.
turning to the Magician
MAGDAI'm sure the gentleman wouldn't mind.
MAGICIANBut I do mind.
MAGICIANThis is the seventh time I've come here, Madame.
MAGICIANI'm always at the end of the line.
MAGICIANI wait patiently for hours and hours.
When my turn finally comes,
MAGICIANit's time for the Consulate to close.
MAGDAOh, please, if you only knew...
The Magician stores into her eyes and takes pity on her.
MAGICIANWell, if you're not too long...
as Magda turns back to the desk
SECRETARYI'm sorry, but I cannot make an exception.
SECRETARYThere are other people waiting in line.
SECRETARYIt would upset our system!
(Magda gives up and marches angrily to the exit but
SECRETARYis restrained by the Magician and Vera Boronel.)
SECRETARYNext, next!
SECRETARY(The Magician comes to the railing and presents the
SECRETARYSecretary with a bouquet which he produces out of thin
SECRETARYair.)
SECRETARYOh, thank you!
MAGICIANMy charming Ma'moiselle, you have the honour of speaking
MAGICIANwith no other than Nika Magadoff.
SECRETARYWho?
MAGICIANYes, remember, Nika Magadoff!
MAGICIANIllusionist, telepathist, and prestidigitator,
MAGICIANhypnotist, ventriloquist, electro-levitator,
MAGICIANin short, the great magician! A vase? Water?
MAGICIAN(Having snatched from Mr. Kofner the newspaper he's
MAGICIANreading, the Magician produces water from it and
MAGICIANpours it into the vase.)
SECRETARYHow did you do it?
MAGICIANHow did I do it?
MAGICIANAfter all, I'm Nika Magadoff!
MAGICIANThe one and only Nika Magadoff! Do you mean to say
MAGICIANthat you never heard of Nika Magadoff?
MAGICIANHow can it be true
MAGICIANthat you never heard of Nika Magadoff?
MAGICIANI'm known throughout the world,
MAGICIANI have often performed for
MAGICIANthe Prince and the Princess Yusoupoff,
MAGICIANand the Duke of Alba,
MAGICIANand the Queen of Belgium, all the finest,
MAGICIANall the richest, all the noblest, all the brightest,
MAGICIANall the greatest people in the world!
MAGICIANYou must have heard of me.
He hands her his visiting card.
SECRETARYAnd what can I do for you?
MAGICIANMy charming Ma'moiselle,
MAGICIANI need a visa, a simple little visa.
SECRETARYA visa, my dear sir, is not a simple thing.
MAGICIANAnd why should it be difficult?
MAGICIANYour country should be glad
MAGICIANto receive a great artist like me!
SECRETARYDo you have a labour permit?
MAGICIANA labour permit!
MAGICIANWhy should I have a labour permit?
MAGICIANAfter all, I'm Nika Magadoff,
MAGICIANthe one and only Nika Magadoff.
MAGICIANOh, how could it be that you haven't heard of me?
MAGICIANIsn't my art a document?
MAGICIANAfter all, I've performed...
SECRETARYMay I see your documents?
MAGICIANWhat! You need to see my documents?
SECRETARYHow many times must I say it! But really!
MAGICIANOh, my charming Ma'moiselle,
MAGICIANwhy care about such things?
MAGICIANDon't you know?
MAGICIANArt is the artist's only passport.
MAGICIANNevertheless,
MAGICIANif you're not convinced that I am Nika Magadoff,
MAGICIANI shall prove it to you!
MAGICIANPrestidigitation!
To Mr Kofner
MAGICIANMay I please borrow your watch?
(He takes the watch from Mr Kofner and quickly wraps
MAGICIANin it a handkerchief, then bangs it on a table and makes
MAGICIANit à disappear, to the amazement of everyone in the
MAGICIANroom.)
ANNAThe man is truly an artist!
ANNAHe makes life seem so easy!
ANNABut I would never trust him!
ANNAMr KOFNER
ANNAOh, my watch! What did you do with my watch?
ANNAGive me back my watch!
MAGICIANJust a moment. Don't worry.
KOFNERWhat is he up to now? We must not let him fool us.
KOFNER(He performs another trick. Crossing quickly to the
KOFNERForeign Woman, he produces the watch from her
KOFNERbosom)
KOFNEROh, what a great magician! He truly is an artist!
MAGICIAN(to the Foreign Woman, who is astonished
MAGICIANand outraged)
MAGICIANDon't tell me you're offended!
MAGICIANAfter all, I've performed this for the Prince...
SECRETARYI've had enough of this! Where do you think you are?
MAGICIANYou're not convinced yet? Hypnotism!
He goes first to Mr Kofner
MAGICIANLook into my eyes, look into my eyes,
MAGICIANyou feel tired, you want to sleep, breathe deeply!
MAGICIANBreathe deeply!
(As Mr Kofner fails asleep, the Magician turns to Anna
MAGICIANGómez and Veto Boronel and puts them to sleep. Magda
MAGICIANis the next at be hypnotized.)
MAGICIANLook into my eyes...
Finally, he hypnotizes the Foreign Woman.
MAGICIANGuardami negli occhi, tu sei stanca e vuoi dormir!
to the Secretary
MAGICIANThey are gone.
MAGICIANWhat shall we make them do?
SECRETARYOh, I don't know. This is most irregular!
MAGICIANWatch me:
MAGICIANOh, what a lovely ballroom this is!
MAGICIANLook how the floor shines with precious marble.
They all stir, lift their heads, and begin to smile.
Look how the light falls bright
MAGICIANand clear from twenty crystal chandeliers!
Look at the crimson walls hung with golden mirrors...
MAGICIANAh, listen! the music has begun!
MAGICIANAh! How you'd love to dance with your loved one...
MAGICIANBut where is he?
MAGICIANBut where is he she?
MAGICIANThere, there he is, he's bowing to you!
MAGICIANLook! there she is!
MAGICIANBow to her!
MAGICIANWhat are you waiting for?
MAGICIANThe floor is empty, the music sweet.
MAGICIANThe dance is on!
MAGICIAN(In a mechanical, tick-tock fashion, they begin to dance.
MAGICIANVela Boronel and Anna Gómez dance together. Magda
MAGICIANdances alone. Mr Kofner dances with the Foreign
MAGICIANWoman.)
MAGDAOh, what a lovely dance!
MAGDAOh, the light so bright and the music sweet!
MAGDAOh, my love keep dancing,
MAGDAdon't ever wake me, do let me sleep!
MAGDAWhen the heart is taken away, taken away!
MAGDAWhen feet learn to follow lightly your way,
MAGDAwhen music uncoils the day...
KOFNERBalla, balla e non pensare, sonno e morte son con noi...
SECRETARYI've had enough of this!
SECRETARYWhere do you think you are? In a circus?
SECRETARYIf you don't hurry and show me your documents,
SECRETARYI'll have you thrown out!
MAGICIANOh, please, don't he angry, just a moment...
SECRETARYOh dear me!
SECRETARY(The Magician begins to search his pockets and
SECRETARYdesperately, producing a complete confusion of scarfs,
cards, folding flowers and other tricks, which fall
SECRETARYto the floor, making a hopeless litter at his feet.)
SECRETARYWait! I'll find them. I know they must be here.
SECRETARYJust a moment!
SECRETARYI've never seen such confusion.
SECRETARYI want to see your documents.
He suddenly hands her a rabbit from his pocket
MAGICIANAll right! Hold this!
SECRETARYAnd what am I supposed to do with it?
MAGICIANHold it.
SECRETARYLook what you have done now!
MAGICIANJust a moment... just a moment...
SECRETARYCan't you stop those people?
(The Secretary picks up his wand, which he has placed
SECRETARYon the desk, and it explodes, shooting a racket into the
SECRETARYair.)
SECRETARYOh! Good heavens! Stop it!
(The Magician is still searching for his papers,
MAGICIANscattering all the paraphernalia from his pockets
MAGICIANover the floor)
MAGICIANWait! I'll find them.
MAGICIANI know they must be here. Be patient, please...
SECRETARYHow long am I supposed to hold this?
MAGICIANJust a minute! Just a minute!
SECRETARYStop those people!
SECRETARYThey drive me crazy!
SECRETARYStop them! Help! Help!
MAGICIANPlease don't get excited!
He rushes from one dancer to the other, awakening them
MAGICIANWake up! Thank you very much!
to the Foreign Woman
MAGICIANSvegliati!
MAGICIAN(In complete bewilderment, the awakened people slowly
MAGICIANresume their seats.)
SECRETARYHurry, hurry and gather up those things!
SECRETARYWhat if the Consul should come in! Oh, what confusion!
SECRETARYYou should be ashamed of yourself.
SECRETARYDon't you know how to behave in a consulate?
MAGICIAN(gathering up his tricks from the floor, he
MAGICIANtrails out pathetically)
MAGICIANEven a great,
MAGICIANgreat artist must find a way to make a living.
desperately
SECRETARYNext!
MAGDAAny news for me?
SECRETARYWhat is your name?
MAGDADon't you remember me?
SECRETARYAnd why should I remember you?
MAGDABut my name is Sorel.
MAGDAMagda Sorel!
The Secretary crosses to the filing cabinet.
SECRETARYSarenson... Seligman... Sokoloff...
SECRETARYOh, yes, here it is... Sorel... I remember now.
She comes back to the desk.
SECRETARYDid you bring the missing documents?
MAGDABut I've already told you.
MAGDAI cannot possibly get all those documents you want.
They won't give them to me.
SECRETARYWhat do you expect us to do, then?
She grows more frantic as the scene progresses.
MAGDABut surely there must be a way you can help me.
MAGDADocuments or no documents!
MAGDAI must get away.
MAGDAThe Secret Police are after me.
MAGDADay after day they come to my house,
MAGDAquestioning, threatening.
MAGDAI am too alone to fight any longer.
MAGDACan't you see, you've got to help me!
SECRETARYWe're very interested in your case, believe me.
SECRETARYBut first you must get all of your papers.
MAGDABut surely the Consul could make an exception.
MAGDAPlease, please, just let me speak to him...
SECRETARYIt would be useless, Mrs. Sorel.
MAGDABut I must speak to him!
SECRETARYIt would be useless, Mrs. Sorel, believe me.
MAGDALet me explain to him. He'll understand.
SECRETARYYou're not the only one, Mrs.
SECRETARYSorel, there are thousands of cases like yours.
MAGDAMust we all die, then,
MAGDAbecause there are too many of us?
SECRETARYAll I can promise is that we'll do our best.
SECRETARYWe'd like to help you, but we need time.
MAGDAIf you can help me, it must be now, today!
SECRETARYThat is impossible. We must have time to think.
SECRETARYYour case is difficult, and most irregular!
MAGDA(with sudden violence, almost startled by her own
MAGDAoutburst)
MAGDALiar! Liar!
SECRETARYMrs. Sorel! Mrs. Sorel!
SECRETARYIf you behave like this
SECRETARYI must ask you to leave!
MAGDATo this we've come:
MAGDAthat men withhold the world from men.
MAGDANo ship nor shore for him who drowns at sea.
MAGDANo home nor grave for him who dies on land.
MAGDATo this we've come:
MAGDAthat man be born a stranger upon God's earth,
MAGDAthat he be chosen without a chance for choice,
MAGDAthat he be hunted without the hope of refuge.
MAGDATo this we've come.
To the Secretary
MAGDAAnd you, you too shall weep!
MAGDAIf to men, not to God, we now must pray,
MAGDAtell me, Secretary, tell me,
MAGDAwho are these men?
MAGDAIf to them, not to God, we now must pray...
MAGDAWho are these dark archangels?
MAGDAWill they be conquered? Will they be doomed?
MAGDAIs there one, anyone behind those doors
MAGDAto whom the heart can still be explained?
MAGDAIs there one, anyone, who still may care?
MAGDATell me, Secretary, tell me!
MAGDA(She questions the Secretary in desperate earnestness,
MAGDAwith almost a touch of madness in her voice.)
MAGDAHave you ever seen the Consul?
MAGDADoes he speak, does he breathe? Have you spoken to him?
She breaks down and turns away to control herself.
KOFNEROh, do we hope and wait in vain?
KOFNERSecretary speak! Is there no one in that room?
SECRETARYI don't know what you're talking about!
SECRETARYOf course you can see the Consul.
SECRETARYBut he's a very busy man.
SECRETARYThe appointment must be made in advance.
SECRETARYYou can begin by filling out this form,
SECRETARYand then I'll see what I can do for you.
SECRETARYSign here. I said, sign here!
Magda snatches the paper from her hand.
MAGDAPapers! Papers! Papers!
MAGDABut don't you understand?
MAGDAWhat shall I tell you to make you understand?
MAGDAMy child is dead. John's mother is dying...
MAGDAMy own life is in danger.
MAGDAI ask you for help, and all you give me is... papers!
MAGDAWhat is your name: Magda Sorel,
MAGDAAge: Thirty-three.
MAGDAColour of eyes?
MAGDAColour of hair?
MAGDASingle or married?
MAGDAReligion and race?
MAGDAPlace of birth? Father's name?
MAGDAMother's name?
MAGDAPapers! Papers
(Tearing the paper she holds in her hand, Magda rushes
MAGDAto the desk, takes up a great stack of papers from there,
MAGDAand begins to hurl them about the room.)
MAGDAPapers! Papers! Papers!
after a very long pause, to the Secretary
Look at my eyes. They are afraid to sleep.
Look at my hands, at these old woman's hands.
MAGDAWhy don't you say something?
MAGDAAren't you secretaries human beings like us?
with mounting anguish
MAGDAWhat is your name: Magda Sorel.
MAGDAAge: Thirty-three.
MAGDAWhat will your papers do?
MAGDAThey cannot stop the clock!
MAGDAThey are too thin an armour against a bullet!
MAGDAWhat is your name...
MAGDAWhat does that matter?
MAGDAAll that matters is that the time is late,
MAGDAthat I'm afraid and I need your help.
MAGDAWhat is your name?...
MAGDAThis is my answer:
MAGDAMy name is woman.
MAGDAAge: still young.
MAGDAColour of hair: grey.
MAGDAColour of eyes: the colour of tears.
MAGDAOccupation: Waiting! Waiting, waiting, waiting!
MAGDAOh, the day will come I know,
MAGDAwhen our hearts aflame will burn your paper chains!
MAGDAWarn the Consul, Secretary, warn him!
MAGDAThat day neither ink nor seal
MAGDAshall cage our souls. That day will come...
She stumbles bock at her place on the bench.
for the first time moved and disturbed
SECRETARYYou're being very unreasonable,
SECRETARYMrs. Sorel... Now... .now...
SECRETARYit is possible that the Consul
SECRETARYmay be able to see you for just a minute.
SECRETARYI'll go and ask him. Wait here.
The Secretary goes into the office of the Consul.
KOFNEROh, do we hope and wait in vain?
KOFNERSecretary speak Is there no one in that room?...
KOFNER(Magda, hardly able to believe what she has heard,
KOFNERmoves to the desk to retrieve her handbag)
KOFNEROh, if the Consul be of flesh, Secretary, warn him:
KOFNER(She stands there stolidly or a moment, then returns
KOFNERnervously to sit again.)
KOFNEROne day neither ink nor seal
KOFNERwill cage our hearts.
re-entering from the Consul's office
SECRETARYMrs. Sorel,
SECRETARYthe Consul has a very important visitor with him.
SECRETARYA very important visitor.
re-entering from the Consul's office
As soon as he leaves, you may go in.
SECRETARYYou won't have to wait very long.
I believe he's just about to leave.
SECRETARY(Magda returns to her place, hastily trying to straighten
SECRETARYher hair and clothes. Suddenly a light shows through
SECRETARYthe glass panel of the door leading to the Consul's
SECRETARYoffice. Upon the glass appear the sinister shadows
SECRETARYof two men, bowing ceremoniously to each other. An
SECRETARYoppressive tension fills the room as all eyes focus on
the door. Magda rises and forgets her handbag. The
SECRETARYdoor opens. The departing visitor backs through the
SECRETARYdoor, still bowing to the unseen Consul. Magda starts
SECRETARYforward but goes back to get her handbag. Just as she
reaches the gate of the railing, the figure turns)
spoken, in a very loud voice
SECRETARYMrs. Sorel, you're next!
SECRETARY(The departing visitor is the Secret Police Agent. Magda
SECRETARYstares for an instant in complete terror and disbelief.
SECRETARYTheir eyes meet... he stumbles back... and faints. As the
Secret police Agent exits, the others rush to Magda to
help her, the curtain falls.)
SYSTEMACT III
SYSTEMScene 1
SECRETARY(Several days later at the Consulate. The curtain
rises. The Secretary is at the filing cabinet. Magda
SECRETARYsits woodenly on one of the benches in the otherwise
SECRETARYdeserted room. She holds her handbag and some papers
SECRETARYin her lop.)
after a long silence
SECRETARYHow often must I tell you, Mrs. Sorel...
SECRETARYthe Consul will not be here today...
SECRETARYThere is a reception at the Turkish Embassy, you know...
No point in your waiting...
SECRETARYBesides, in ten minutes we close...
SECRETARYWhy don't you go home?
SECRETARY(Magda remains motionless, staring straight ahead,
SECRETARYevidently oblivious to the words of the Secretary who
sits and goes on with her work. Vera Boronel enters
SECRETARYand crosses to the railing.)
VERA BORONELGood evening.
SECRETARYWhat is your name?
VERA BORONELVera Boronel.
quite cheerful, for the first time
SECRETARYOh, yes, Vera Boronel.
SECRETARYI have good news for you...
VERA BORONELHave my papers gone through?
SECRETARYThey're practically ready.
She goes to the filing cabinet to get the folders
VERA BORONELOh, I can't believe it!
VERA BORONELIf you only knew how happy I am. Thank you.
(Vera Boronel turns to Magda to share her jay but is
VERA BORONELimmediately frozen by Magda's despairing and accusing
VERA BORONELstare. She is jolted back by the Secretary's voice.)
SECRETARY(The Secretary takes from a folder an
SECRETARYimpressive stack of documents.)
SECRETARYHere we are.
SECRETARYSign your name at the bottom of this page.
VERA BORONELAt the bottom of this page...
SECRETARYSign it again at the bottom of this page.
VERA BORONELAt the bottom of this page...
SECRETARYSign the original and all the duplicates.
(Crisply and efficiently, the Secretary turns the pages,
SECRETARYstamping each one with the necessary seal. Vera
Boronel falls into the rhythm as she signs the pages.)
SECRETARYAll the documents must be signed.
SECRETARYSeas go dry and suns grow cold,
SECRETARYbut all the documents must be signed.
SECRETARYAnd don't forget that questionnaires must be answered.
SECRETARYLove may die and truth grow old,
SECRETARYbut every questionnaire must be answered.
SECRETARYOne must have one's papers, one must have...
Assan hurries in, not seeing Magda in his haste.
to the Secretary
ASSANHave you seen Mrs. Sorel by any chance?
Magda gets up and comes to him.
MAGDAAssan... is it about John?
ASSANOh, I didn't see you.
MAGDAWhat is it, what is it?
ASSANWe must be careful. Wait...
ASSAN(The secretary and Vera Baronet watch them with
ASSANcuriosity. Assan forces Magda to return to her seat.
He sits down beside her.)
MAGDAIt is about John, isn't it?
ASSANYes, it is about John.
MAGDAWhy, what has happened?
ASSANWe're very worried.
MAGDABut why, why?
ASSANWe heard that he wants to come back.
ASSANThat he's about to cross the frontier.
MAGDABut he can't, he mustn't'!
ASSANI know.
MAGDAThey'll get him.
ASSANHe heard about the baby.
MAGDABut who told him?
ASSANI don't know. He heard about his mother.
MAGDAOh, poor John.
ASSANHe's desperate. He wants to see you.
She cries out, and Assan again quietens her.
MAGDAOh, no, no, we must stop him!
SECRETARYHere's some more.
SECRETARYSign your name at the bottom of this page...
VERA BORONELAt the bottom of this page...
MAGDAWhat can we do?
ASSANI don't know.
MAGDADoesn't he know that the house is watched?
ASSANWe told him, but he won't listen.
ASSANAll he says is that he must come back to see you again.
MAGDAHave you told him that every move I make is noted?
ASSANWe told him everything. There is no reasoning with him.
MAGDABut we must try to stop him.
MAGDAHelp me, Assan! Help me!
MAGDA(Magda breaks down. Assan watches
MAGDAthe desk nervously, quieting her.)
ASSANIf he's arrested, it is the end of us all.
ASSANIt is the end of everything.
ASSANYou must do something, Mrs. Sorel.
ASSANYou must find a way to stop him.
MAGDAYes, yes, I have an idea.
MAGDAI've had it for some time. Wait.
MAGDA(Laying her handbag on the bench and giving her
MAGDApapers to Assan, Magda goes to the writing desk,
MAGDAtakes paper and pen, and after a moment begins to
MAGDAwrite. Assan goes into the hallway, looks nervously
MAGDAboth ways, then comes and sits again.)
still busy with Vera Boronel's documents
SECRETARYDon't forget to sign...
SECRETARYFirst your name, then the date, on the dotted line...
SECRETARY(As though heeding the instructions, Magda signs the
SECRETARYnote, folds it carefully, and returns to her place on
SECRETARYthe bench.)
handing the note to Assan
MAGDAHere it is.
ASSANWhat will this do?
MAGDAI assure you, Assan,
MAGDAthat this note will convince John
MAGDAthat there is no more reason for him to come back...
ASSANBut why, what does it say
MAGDADon't ask, Assan, don't ask me.
MAGDAHurry on. We have no time to lose.
ASSANOh, Mrs. Sorel,
ASSANif this works, we'll all be saved.
MAGDAIt will work. You shall all be saved.
He hands her back her papers and goes out quickly.
ASSANGoodbye.
MAGDAGoodbye.
handing the papers to Vera Boronel
SECRETARYThis is the end.
VERA BORONELIs it all over?
SECRETARYIt is all over.
VERA BORONELGod be praised. It is all over.
(Magda rises stiffly and goes out. Papers spill from
VERA BORONELher lap onto the floor.)
SECRETARYNow let me give you all your papers.
VERA BORONELIt is all over. All of my papers!
SECRETARYThere you are.
VERA BORONELThank you. It is all over.
I imagine you'll be leaving the country very soon.
VERA BORONELYes, of course, very soon.
SECRETARYI wish you a happy journey. Goodbye.
VERA BORONELThank you. Goodbye.
VERA BORONEL(Vera Boronel starts out, then discovers the handbag
VERA BORONELMagda lek on the bench.)
VERA BORONELOh, that woman forgot her handbag!
SECRETARYCall her. Mrs. Sorel!
VERA BORONELMrs. Sorel!
A very long pause.
SECRETARYMrs. Sorel...
VERA BORONELShe's gone...
(Vera Boronel comes back into the room and takes the
VERA BORONELhandbag to the Secretary's desk, then hurries out.)
SECRETARYOh, well, she'll be back tomorrow. Goodbye.
SECRETARY(The Secretary puts out the lights in the waiting room,
leaving only the small light on her desk shining, and
prepares to leave. Suddenly she starts, as though she
SECRETARYstillsaw the applicants seated on the benches.)
SECRETARYOh, those faces! All those faces!
SECRETARYThey hang from the ceiling and the walls.
SECRETARYThey wait for me all day long.
SECRETARYThey still will be here in the morning,
SECRETARYboneless, pale in the dusty sun.
SECRETARYOne must try not to remember, one must not think.
SECRETARYOtherwise how can one do any work?
SECRETARY(She stumbles back to her desk, only to be confronted
SECRETARYby the lists of names.)
SECRETARYOh, those names! All those names!
SECRETARYWhy must there be so many names?
SECRETARYTheir cases are all alike.
SECRETARY(Dropping the lists into the drawer, she closes it,
SECRETARYand crosses to put on her coat.)
SECRETARYIt's getting late.
SECRETARYI must hurry or I'll miss the pictures. Ah, those faces!
SECRETARYAll those faces! It's cold in here.
SECRETARYI must complain to the janitor.
SECRETARY(The Secretary goes to the mirror on the side wall. At
SECRETARYthat moment John Sorel appears in the hall. John looks
SECRETARYbehind him to be sure he is not followed, then steps
SECRETARYsuddenly into the room. The Secretary sees John in the
mirror and turns quickly to face him. For an instant
SECRETARYneither person moves.)
SECRETARYWho are you?
SECRETARYHow did you get in?
JOHNHave you seen my wife?
SECRETARYYour wife? Who are you?
JOHNJohn Sorel! Haven't you ever heard of me? John Sorel.
SECRETARYMr. Sorel! Oh, my God!
JOHNWhere is she?
SECRETARYShe left here a few minutes ago.
JOHNOh, no, no!
SECRETARYIf you hurry, you may catch up with her.
JOHNBut I can't, don't you understand?
SECRETARYBut why, why can't you?
JOHNWhy? Because it is too late!
JOHNThey've tracked me down.
JOHNThey're outside the building waiting for me.
JOHNHere I am safe.
SECRETARYBut we are closing now. I cannot keep you here.
JOHNYou're not going to send me outside.
SECRETARYI have no authority to keep you here.
SECRETARYI'll get into trouble.
JOHNBut where can I go now?
SECRETARYBack there, there is a door leading to an alley.
SECRETARYNo one will see you go out from there.
JOHNBut tell me, where is my wife? What did she say?
SECRETARYNothing. She was here... forgot her handbag.
JOHNHer handbag? Where is it? Give it to me!
(John opens the handbag to find only a crushed
JOHNhandkerchief. He closes it again and clasps it tenderly.)
SECRETARYYou must go now. Please, Mr. Sorel.
SECRETARY(Out of sight in the hall, voices are heard barking
SECRETARYsharp, urgent orders. John drops the handbag, digs
SECRETARYfrantically for his gun, and starts toward the hall. The
Secret Police Agent rushes in and knocks the gun from
SECRETARYJohn's hand. The two Plain-clothes men block the hall.
SECRETARYJohn runs into them and is kicked in the groin and
SECRETARYdragged back into the room.)
SECRETARYYou cannot arrest him here.
SECRETARYIt is against all international rules!
POLICE AGENT(At a signal from the Secret Police Agent, the men
release John. He falls to his knees.)
POLICE AGENTWe're not arresting him.
POLICE AGENTMr. Sorel will come with us of his own free will.
POLICE AGENTIsn't it true, Mr. Sorel?
after looking at the guns pointed at him
JOHNYes. Of my own free will.
(The Secret Police Agent picks up the handbag and
JOHNoffers it to the Secretary. She indicates that it belongs
JOHNto John. John moves to take it, but the Secret Police
JOHNAgent holds on to it.)
JOHNAt least allow me to call up my wife.
POLICE AGENTYou can do it at headquarters.
(After signalling to the plain-clothes men, he exits. The
POLICE AGENTplain-clothes men prod John with their guns, and he
slowly gets up and heads for the exit. The Police follow
POLICE AGENThim ignoring the protests of the Secretary.)
SECRETARYDon't be afraid, Mr. Sorel.
SECRETARYSomething will be done about this.
SECRETARYI'll speak to the Consul first thing tomorrow morning.
SECRETARY(The Secretary goes to the phone and frantically
SECRETARYsignals the operator.)
SECRETARYDon't lose heart, Mr. Sorel.
SECRETARYI'll call your wife myself.
SYSTEMScene 2
SECRETARY(The Sorel home, immediately following the previous
SYSTEMscene. The cradle has been removed, as has most of
the other furniture. The curtain rises on the deserted,
SECRETARYdarkening room. The phone rings four times. Magda
SECRETARYwalks automatically into the room, and as she picks
SECRETARYup the phone, it goes dead. She seems dazed, moving
SECRETARYlike a sleepwalker, but there is a terrible sureness and
SECRETARYdetermination about her movements)
MAGDAI never meant to do this...
(She takes a coat of John's from the wall rack and
uses it to close the crack at the base of the window.)
MAGDAForgive me, John, I never meant to do this.
MAGDAOh, God, forgive me.
MAGDA(Taking off her own coat, she uses it to close
MAGDAthe crack below the door.)
MAGDAI never meant to do this...
MAGDAOh God... forgive me...
MAGDA(She carries a chair over to the stove and fetches a
MAGDAblack shawl from the chest of drawers. She returns to
MAGDAsit in front of the stove. After a moment of hesitation
she opens the gas jets. Unfolding the black shawl, she
draws it over her head and bends over the open jets of
the stove. Slowly the light fades from the room, leaving
MAGDAonly a strange, murky glow around the stove. The
MAGDASecretary starts calling, 'Next.' With each repetition
MAGDAof 'Next', one by one, the ghostly characters of Vera
MAGDABoronel, Anna Gómez, the Foreign Woman and Mr
MAGDAKofner appear, followed by John and the mother
MAGDAdressed as bride and groom.)
MOTHERHold!
MOTHERDeath's frontiers are open.
MOTHERAll aboard! Burn your papers, lock your bags.
MOTHERBid farewell to benches and inkwells.
MOTHERDeath's frontiers are open.
MOTHERThere's no bar nor chain to cross.
MOTHERThere's no flag nor flight,
MOTHERThere's no clock nor numbered nights.
MOTHERHorizons, horizons!
MOTHERThere's no guard to bribe or beg,
MOTHERDeath's frontiers are free!
MOTHERThere's no guard to kiss or kill.
(Magda rises from the stove, dropping the shawl from
MAGDAher head. She is aware of the voices but sees nothing.)
MAGDAJohn, John, where are you... is it you?
POLICE AGENT'S VOICEWhat is your name...
MAGDAMagda Sorel!
MAGDA(Magda stiffens and shrieks her replies to
MAGDAthe unseen inquisitor.)
POLICE AGENT'S VOICEAge?
MAGDAThirty-three.
MAGDAJohn... John... I can hear you...Where are you?...
POLICE AGENT'S VOICEWhat is your name...
POLICE AGENT'S VOICEAge?
MAGDAThirty-three.
MAGDAJohn? Or is it you, Mother...
MAGDAMother?
POLICE AGENT'S VOICEWhat is your name...
(She turns suddenly and for the first time sees the
MAGDAfigures. She moves toward them. They advance into
MAGDAthe room, moving stiffly, their eyes fixed and sightless.
Magda, frightened, retreats before them. The Magician
MAGDAsuddenly appears before the Chorus. Magda breaks
MAGDAaway against the wall in terror.)
MAGICIANChoose your partners! The dance is on!
MAGICIAN(The figures begin a solemn macabre waltz. Vera
MAGICIANBoronel dances with the Secretary, Anna Gómez with
MAGICIANthe Magician, Mr Kofner with the Foreign Woman,
MAGICIANand the Mother with John. Suddenly the dance breaks
and the dancers rush toward Magda. She turns her
MAGICIANface to the wall. As she hears the Mother's voice,
Magda turns, hands outstretched, and the figures,
all except the Mother and John retreat before her,
MAGICIANdisappearing through the wall.)
MOTHER'S VOICEMagda, my dear, don't stand alone.
MOTHER'S VOICEWhy don't you come here and join our dance?
MAGDAMother, I thought that you were dead.
MAGDAYou look so young, I feel so old and sad.
MOTHER'S VOICEWhite is my gown, and white my gloves.
MOTHER'S VOICEThis is the dawn of my wedding day.
MAGDAMother, oh, Mother whom will you wed?
MOTHER'S VOICEI'll wed your John. He's pledged himself to me.
MOTHER'S VOICE(The Mother and John slowly fade through the wall, as
MOTHER'S VOICEthe Secretary and Vera Boronel appear from the other
MOTHER'S VOICEde side. Magda recoils from them.)
SECRETARYIt is the end. It is all over.
SECRETARYNow I must give you all your papers.
MAGDAWhy do their words
MAGDAweigh like stones on my heart?
MAGDAIt's only a dream, it's only a dream!
MAGDAGod, let me dream it through quickly and wake!
MAGDAOh, if only I could wake, wake!
John enters silently and accusingly behind Magda.
JOHN'S VOICEWhere is our child?
MAGDAOur child is dead.
JOHN'S VOICEOh, Magda, why did you let him die?
MAGDAHe died of hunger, he died of cold.
MAGDAI thought you knew, I thought you had been told.
He advances and Magda retreats before him.
JOHN'S VOICEOh, Magda, Magda, your dead are home.
JOHN'S VOICENo one to hide from now, no one to wait for!
(Magda falls weeping to her knees as John slowly vanishes.
JOHN'S VOICEThe Secretary and Vera Boronel appear again, and Magda
JOHN'S VOICEflees before them.)
SECRETARYIt is the end...
MAGDAWhy do their words weigh like stones on my heart...
MAGDA(The Mother and John suddenly appear in the space of
MAGDAthe alcove.)
JOHN'S AND MOTHER'S VOICESAre you prepared?
MAGDAWhy must I be?
JOHN'S AND MOTHER'S VOICESHeavy are the flowers you're soon to wear.
MAGDAI'm uninvited, no one will call for me.
JOHN'S AND MOTHER'S VOICESAre you prepared?
come forward, forcing Magda back.
MAGDAWhy must I be?
JOHN'S AND MOTHER'S VOICESWhere is your purse and where are your gloves?
JOHN'S AND MOTHER'S VOICESI hear the carriage outside your door,
JOHN'S AND MOTHER'S VOICESI hear them cry for you.
JOHN'S AND MOTHER'S VOICESThe time has come when we must say goodbye...
JOHN'S AND MOTHER'S VOICES(Then very slowly the Mother and John begin to move
JOHN'S AND MOTHER'S VOICESback toward the open wall. The movement is hardly
JOHN'S AND MOTHER'S VOICESperceptible. We are only conscious of the ever
JOHN'S AND MOTHER'S VOICESwidening space between the two figures and Magda)
MAGDAMother, John, wait... please don't go yet...
MAGDAWait for me... I won't be long.
MAGDAPlease give me time to get ready...
MAGDAI'm coming with you...
JOHN'S AND MOTHER'S VOICESThe time has come when we must say goodbye...
(Magda rushes to the bureau, takes up an old bag, and
JOHN'S AND MOTHER'S VOICESbegins to pack it with masses of papers from the bureau
JOHN'S AND MOTHER'S VOICESdrawers. She mumbles and cries without ceasing as she
JOHN'S AND MOTHER'S VOICEStries to hurry. As she hears their voices, Magda is
JOHN'S AND MOTHER'S VOICESfrozen in place.)
JOHN'S AND MOTHER'S VOICESThe time has come...
JOHN'S AND MOTHER'S VOICESThe time has...
JOHN'S AND MOTHER'S VOICES(he comes in. At the sight of him, Magda is stopped.
JOHN'S AND MOTHER'S VOICESHolding her gaze, he slowly removes the bag from her
JOHN'S AND MOTHER'S VOICEShand. He raises his hand and begins to guide her slowly
JOHN'S AND MOTHER'S VOICESback towards the stove.)
He comes in
MAGICIANLook into my eyes...
MAGICIANYou feel tired, you want to sleep.
MAGICIANBreathe deeply, breathe deeply.
KOFNERHorizons, horizons!
MAGICIANLook into my eyes, look into...
(The Magician steps behind her, draws the shawl
MAGICIANonce again over her head, and taking the bag of
MAGICIANpapers, disappears)
MAGDAHorizons, horizons!
MAGDA(The gasps of Magda's heavy breathing are the
MAGDAonly sound in the room. As the telephone begins
MAGDAto ring, the room is restored to reality. Magda
MAGDAhears the phone and stretches out one hand
MAGDAin a last desperate attempt to reach it. The shawl
falls train her head. Suddenly the body fails slack
MAGDAacross the chair. The telephone rings. The curtain fails.)