The Medium

Responsief blok lib/tran/syn

The Medium Libretto

SYSTEMACT I

(The action takes places in Madame Flora's parlor in

our time. A squalid room in a flat on the outskirts of

a great city. A narrow descending stairwell, stage left

(leading down to the street). Stage right at the rear,

a tall primitive puppet theatre, with a white curtain to

hide the standing puppeteer. Next to it a small trunk.

On the back wall a large astrological chart which

will become transparent when light is placed behind

it. Downstage right, a door. Upstage left, above the

stairwell, a curtained doorway. Downstage left, near

the center, and old-fashioned three-legged table.

Suspended above it a circular lamp of the Victorian

period, which is lighted by means of a string. In a

corner a tiny statue of the Virgin, with a rosary

hanging from it, and a small votive candle in front of

it burning in a red glass jar. Four chairs and a couch.

On the wall, near the top of the stairwell, a small

buzzer which unlocks the door downstairs. The doorbell

which announces the visitors below must be very loud

and strident, so as to be clearly heard above the

orchestra. No windows. The time of the day will

be ambiguous throughout the play.

(A s the curtain rises, Toby is seen kneeling near the

open trunk from which he draws out brightly colored

pieces of silk and bead necklaces, bangles, etc. With

some of these he improvises for himself a fantastic

costume. Monica stands near the couch, which is

covered by a long white dress and a white veil. She

holds a mirror in one hand, combing her loosened

hair with the other)

MONICA"Where, oh, where

MONICAIs my new golden spindle and thread?

MONICAIf I don't bring them home

MONICAThe King will strike me dead!"

Thus spoke the weeping queen to the gnome.

MONICA"Where, oh, where is my spindle and thread?"

(She suddenly sees Toby in her lifted mirror

and turns around)

MONICAOh! Toby, you foolish boy'

MONICABaba will soon be home and nothing, nothing is ready!

MONICABesides, you know she'll beat you

MONICAIf you touch her things.

She continues combing her hair

MONICA"Queen, fair queen,

MONICAIf you give me the crown on your head,

MONICAI'll tell you where I have seen

MONICAYour golden spindle and thread."

MONICAThus spoke the wicked gnome.

suddenly struck by Toby's fantastic attire

MONICAOh! Toby, how handsome you are!

playfully

MONICABehold the King of Babylon

MONICAOn his purple throne!

MONICAI shall be your servant,

MONICAI shall be your princess,

MONICAI shall be your foreign bride

MONICACome from distant northern seas.

bowing to each other

MONICAHow d'you do, my master,

MONICAHow d'you do, my King,

MONICAHow d'you do, my love?

putting her arms around him; with great feeling

MONICAAh! Toby, if you only could speak'

A door slams below

MONICABe careful, Baba's coming!

(Frightened, Toby helped by Monica, tries

unsuccessfully to free himself from the tangled

silks and necklaces, but as soon as Baba appears

they both stand frozen. Baba, who has been mounting

the steps slowly, on seeing Toby, stops suddenly before

reaching the stage level, so that only the upper part

of her body will be seen at first)

SYSTEMBABA

(after a very long silence, freely, very quietly,

with sinister calm)

MONICAHow many times I've told you not to touch my things!

scornfully after another long silence

MONICALook at you!

MONICADressed with silk and bangles like a woman!

MONICAFancying yourself a King or something?

with sudden anger

MONICAStop dreaming, you feeble-minded gypsy!

MONICAI told you not to touch my things'

She mounts another step; quietly again

MONICAIs anything ready? Of course not'

MONICAAnd the people will be here at any minute.

She mounts another step

MONICAIf anything goes wrong tonight I'll make you pay for it!

She reaches the stage level, with mounting anger

MONICAWhat do you think I'm feeding you for?

MONICAYou good-far-nothing, you dirty bastard!

restraining her

MONICANo! Baba, don't'

Baba takes off her coat and hat

MONICAWhere have you been all night?

SYSTEMBABA

MONICAWhere have I been?

throwing a roll of bills on the table

MONICAAh! ah! money, my dear, money.

MONICALook, don't worry, my sweet,

MONICAyou have a very clever mother'

MONICAWhere did you get it?

SYSTEMBABA

MONICAWhere?

MONICAI sat on Mrs. Campi's steps all night;

MONICAShe got so scared of seeing me there she paid

MONICAEv'ry cent she still owed me.

She breaks into raucous laugher

MONICAYou shouldn't have done it.

SYSTEMBABA

MONICAWhy?

MONICAMrs. Campi's so poor.

SYSTEMBABA

MONICAPf! She owed me the money, didn't she?

MONICAGet ready' Hurry!

(Baba helps Monica into the white dress, and then

covers her head with the white veil. In the meantime,

Toby, after manipulating the lamp and the table runs to

the puppet theatre, opens the curtain, revealing various

levers and cables hidden behind it. He tests some of

them, one of which levitates the table, another of which

lowers the lamp. The doorbell rings. At a signal from

Baba, Monica runs out from stage right. Toby hides in

the puppet theatre, drawing the white curtain in front of

himself Baba presses the buzzer which opens the latch-

door downstairs, then gets a pack of cards and sits in

front of the table, pretending to be absorbed in a game

of solitaire Mr. and Mrs. Gobineau, followed by Mrs.

Nolan, enter from the stairwell)

SYSTEMMRS. GOBINEAU

MONICAGood evening, Madame Flora.

SYSTEMMR. GOBINEAU

MONICAGood evening.

SYSTEMBABA

hardly looking up from her game

MONICACome in, come in.

(Mr. and Mrs. Gobineau come into the room After

a brief pause, Mrs. Nolan appears at the top of the

stairwell. She hesitates there, looking timidly about

the room)

SYSTEMMRS. NOLAN

timidly

MONICAGood evening.

SYSTEMBABA

with more interest, but without getting up

MONICAGood evening. Are you Mrs. Nolan?

SYSTEMMRS. NOLAN

MONICAYes.

Baba motions her into the room

SYSTEMBABA

MONICAThis is Mister and Mrs. Gobineau.

SYSTEMMR. AND MRS. GOBINEAU

MONICAHow d'you do?

SYSTEMMRS. NOLAN

MONICAHow d'you do?

SYSTEMBABA

MONICALet us wait a few minutes for late comers.

Sit down.

(Mrs Nolan and Mrs Gobineau sit down Baba goes on

with the game. Mr. Gobineau hangs up his coat and

hat, then sits near his wife)

SYSTEMMRS. GOBINEAU

to Mrs. Nolan, after a long pause

MONICAIs this the first time that you come to Madame Flora?

SYSTEMMRS. NOLAN

MONICAYes.

SYSTEMMR. GOBINEAU

MONICAYou'll see she's quite wonderful'

SYSTEMMRS. GOBINEAU

after a pause

MONICAIs there some dear departed you want to speak to?

SYSTEMMRS. NOLAN

MONICAYes, my daughter Doodly.

SYSTEMMRS. GOBINEAU

MONICAOh, when did she die?

SYSTEMMRS. NOLAN

MONICALast year, she was only sixteen.

with sudden excitement

MONICADo you really think I shall hear her voice?

SYSTEMMRS. GOBINEAU

MONICAOh, yes, you may even see her.

SYSTEMMRS. NOLAN

MONICAOh, I couldn't bear that!

SYSTEMMR. GOBINEAU

MONICADon't be so nervous. It is all very simple.

(A long pause, during which Baba gets up abruptly

and exits. When Mrs. Nolan is quite sure that Baba

has closed the door behind her she leans confidentially

toward Mr. Gobineau)

SYSTEMMRS. NOLAN

MONICAHave you known her a long time?

SYSTEMMR. GOBINEAU

MONICAOh, yes' We have been coming here

MONICAEv'ry week for almost two years.

SYSTEMMRS. GOBINEAU

MONICAWe come to communicate with our little son.

SYSTEMMRS. NOLAN

frightened

MONICAAnd does he speak to you?

SYSTEMMRS. GOBINEAU

smiling

MONICAOh, no, he couldn't speak!

MONICAHe was only a baby when he died.

SYSTEMMR. GOBINEAU

But we hear him laugh. He sounds so happy.

SYSTEMMRS. NOLAN

MONICAWhen did he die?

SYSTEMMRS. GOBINEAU

with simplicity

MONICAIt happened long ago.

MONICAWe were still young, very young.

MONICAWe had a house in France.

MONICAWith a garden full of lilacs and mimosa.

MONICAThe garden had a fountain,

MONICAA silly little fountain,

MONICANo more deep than that.

sorrowfully

MONICAIt was just his birthday two years old.

MONICAWe had given him a little boat,

MONICAa lovely little sailboat.

MONICAI still don't know how it happened.

MONICAHe was playing by the fountain.

MONICAI was not far away, cutting some lilacs for the house.

MONICAI never heard a sound

fighting against tears

MONICAAnd when I looked.

MONICAAnd when 1 looked.

(Her voice breaks; she is convulsed in silent

sobbing. Mr. Gobineau comforts her)

SYSTEMMR. GOBINEAU

MONICAThere, there, don't cry.

MONICAYou know that he is happier now than if he had lived.

(Baba reappears from the left, wearing a bright

colored shawl)

SYSTEMBABA

It's time to begin. Close the door.

(Mrs. Nolan, almost hysterical, springs up from her

chair, dropping her pocketbook Mrs Gobineau picks it

up for her, then helps her to take off her coat and leads

her to the table. Meanwhile, Mr. Gobineau locks all the

doors and helps Baba to place the chairs around the

table. They all sit down, Baba facing the audience.

Mrs. Gobineau shows Mrs. Nolan how to join hands

around the table. With a last look about her to see that

everything is In order, Baba slowly and deliberately

pulls the chain of the overhead lamp. The lights go out

except the little candle in front of the Madonna. There

is a long pause. Noticing Mrs Nolan's nervousness, Mr.

Gobineau leans towards her and speaks sotto voce)

SYSTEMMR. GOBINEAU

freely

MONICAYou must be very silent. The hands must touch.

(After a very long silence Baba moans louder

and louder, then suddenly breaks into a long,

anguished scream. Behind the chart hanging

on the wall, Monica slowly appears in a faint

blue light. As Monica's voice is heard, Baba's

moan dies away)

MONICAMother, mother, are you there?

MONICAMother, mother. are you there?

SYSTEMMR. GOBINEAU

excitedly

MONICAMrs. Nolan, it must be your daughter.

SYSTEMMRS. NOLAN

MONICAOh! Oh!

SYSTEMMR. GOBINEAU

MONICASpeak to her! Speak to her'

MONICACan't you see' She's looking for you'

MONICADon't be afraid, don't be afraid!

SYSTEMMRS. NOLAN

sobbing

MONICAI... I can't!

SYSTEMMRS. GOBINEAU

kindly

MONICACome, come! You must not behave like that.

SYSTEMMR. GOBINEAU

MONICAAsk her something.

SYSTEMMRS. NOLAN

timidly

MONICADoodly ... is it you?

after a pause

MONICAYes.

SYSTEMMR. GOBINEAU

MONICAGoon!

SYSTEMMRS. NOLAN

MONICADoodly, is it evil what I'm doing?

after a pause

MONICANo.

SYSTEMMR. GOBINEAU

MONICAYou must not be so afraid! Ask her something else.

SYSTEMMRS. NOLAN

lovingly

MONICADoodly, Doodly, are you happy?

MONICAYes, mother, I am happy.

SYSTEMMRS. NOLAN

MONICADoodly, Doodly, are you near your father?

MONICAYes, mother, I can see him.

SYSTEMMRS. NOLAN

desperately

MONICADoodly, Doodly, why did you leave me?

MONICAMother! Mother! Are you so unhappy?

SYSTEMMRS. NOLAN

with shaking voice

MONICAI ... I'm very much alone.

She bursts into tears

with great tenderness

MONICAMummy, Mummy dear, you must not cry for me.

MONICAI'm still with you.

MONICAWhat is death but a sweeter change,

MONICAThere's no parting, there's no end.

MONICAMummy, Mummy dear,

MONICAYour sorrow's like a wound that keeps me awake.

MONICAThe earth is light, the roots are sweet;

MONICABut the tears of those we love are heavy and bitter rain.

MONICAMummy, my darling, when you go home,

MONICAGo to my room and bum my old gloves.

MONICABum all my schoolbooks,

MONICAGive away my dresses,

MONICAGive away my necklace.

MONICABum, bum, give away, give away,

MONICAAnd promise me never to cry again.

MONICAMummy, Mummy dear, oh, let me sleep in peace,

MONICAMy night is long.

MONICAForget, forget my grave,

MONICALet the silent grass clothe my bones.

MONICABum all my shoes,

MONICAGive away my bracelets.

MONICABurn, bum, give away, give away.

MONICAKeep for yourself only the little gold locket.

SYSTEMMRS. NOLAN

bewildered

MONICAThe gold locket? Which locket?

MONICAI have no locket.

begins to disappear little by little

MONICAMother, mother, are you there?

dying away

SYSTEMMRS. NOLAN

MONICAI don't understand.

MONICADoodly, Doodly, don't go away.

MONICAOh, please stop her!

almost screaming

MONICADoodly' Doodly!

(Monica completely disappears. Mrs. Nolan rushes

toward the vanishing figure, but Mrs. Gobineau

restrains her and leads her back to her chair)

SYSTEMMRS. GOBINEAU

spoken

MONICANo! No! You mustn't... Sit down!

SYSTEMMR. GOBINEAU

spoken

MONICASilence, please!

SYSTEMMRS. GOBINEAU

MONICAYes, dear, yes.

MONICAI know, I know.

MONICABut you must keep calm.

Come, come, sit down. there'

SYSTEMMRS. NOLAN

MONICABut I must speak to her...

MONICAI must ask her to explain. Please let me...

SYSTEMMR. GOBINEAU

MONICASilence!

MONICAYou will wake her. Hold on to yourself, Mrs. Nolan.

MONICASilence, silence, please!

MONICAWill you please be silent!

(Mrs. Nolan continues sobbing for a little while.

Baba sighs deeply, making a little moan)

SYSTEMMR. GOBINEAU

very simply, almost mechanically

MONICASend my son to me.

MONICAPlease send my son to me.

(Monica is heard simulating a peal of childish laughter.

Their faces suddenly animated with joyful anticipation,

the Gobineaus look about them, as if trying to discover

the direction of the laughter Mrs. Nolan seems startled

and frightened by the sound)

SYSTEMMR. GOBINEAU

spoken

MONICAIs that you, Mickey? Hello, Mickey'

SYSTEMMRS. GOBINEAU

after a long pause, spoken

MONICAHello, darling! My darling!

MONICAYou sound so near to-night!

SYSTEMMR. GOBINEAU

MONICAYes, so near.

SYSTEMMRS. GOBINEAU

MONICAI can almost feel him.

SYSTEMMR. GOBINEAU

MONICAOh, he is going away now.

The laughter dies away little by little

SYSTEMMRS. GOBINEAU

MONICAGood by, my sweet, kiss me.

(Smiling, her eyes closed, Mrs. Gobineau lifts her face

as if to receive the kisses of her ghostly child)

SYSTEMMR. GOBINEAU

MONICAWe'll be back soon.

(Complete silence. There is a long pause. Suddenly,

with a loud gasp, Baba clutches at her throat with

both hands)

SYSTEMBABA

MONICAWhat is it? Who is it?

MONICAWho is there?

(Baba gets up suddenly, throwing her chair back and

turns on the light. She looks terror- stricken at her

clients, then runs wildly to the top of the stairwell

and looks down, then runs back. The clients look at

each other in great amazement and whisper among

themselves)

SYSTEMBABA

terror-stricken

MONICAWho touched me?

SYSTEMMR. GOBINEAU

bewildered

MONICAWhat do you mean?

SYSTEMBABA

MONICAI said, who touched me?

SYSTEMTHE CLIENTS

MONICAI don't know,

MONICABut why be afraid?

MONICAThere is nothing strange about that.

MONICAIt often happened before.

SYSTEMMRS. NOLAN

MONICAI just don't see what's strange about that!

SYSTEMBABA

trembling with fear

MONICANo, no, you don't understand.

MONICAA hand touched me in the dark.

SYSTEMMR. GOBINEAU

MONICAOh, yes, that has often happened to me.

SYSTEMMRS. GOBINEAU

tenderly

MONICAMe too,

MONICAI always feel Mickey's hand on my hair.

SYSTEMBABA

MONICAIt couldn't be. I can't understand.

SYSTEMMR. GOBINEAU

MONICAYou're not afraid, are you?

SYSTEMBABA

Go home, leave me alone.

MONICACan't you see? I'm not feeling well.

Go home, leave me alone.

stamping on the floor with sudden fury

MONICAGet out!

(Mr. and Mrs. Gobineau and Mrs. Nolan get their

coats hurriedly and then begin slowly to file out)

SYSTEMTHE CLIENTS

MONICABut why be afraid, afraid of our dead?

(They all disappear down the stairwell. At the

slamming of the door downstairs, Monica runs

out from stage right, still wrapped in veils)

MONICABaba, what has happened?

SYSTEMBABA

whispered

MONICAGive me something to drink.

(Monica goes to the cupboard and pours out a

drink. Baba is shaking all over)

MONICAYes...

SYSTEMBABA

MONICAWe must never do this again.

Baba drinks

MONICABut what has happened?

SYSTEMBABA

MONICAYes.

SYSTEMBABA

We must give them their money back.

surprised

MONICABut why?

SYSTEMBABA

MONICAWhy? Didn't you see?

MONICAWhile I was still pretending to be in a trance,

MONICAAll of a sudden in the dark

MONICAI felt on my throat a hand

MONICAA cold, cold hand.

MONICAIt wasn't the hand of a man.

MONICAMonica, I'm afraid!

MONICABaba, Baba, you're imagining things'

MONICAYou've been drinking again.

MONICAWhat else could it be?

SYSTEMBABA

MONICANo, no... no, it was there.

MONICAI felt on my skin... ev'ry finger... see. like this!

MONICAMonica, Monica, I'm afraid!

MONICAYes, I'm afraid!

MONICAWhere is Toby?

(She draws the curtains of the puppet theatre,

revealing Toby, motionless, as If in a trance)

MONICAHe! He's the one!

Toby starts

MONICAI know now'

MONICAHe did it!

MONICAYes, yes... he did it!

MONICAAh, Baba, Baba, leave him alone!

MONICAYou’ re drunk again!

SYSTEMBABA

MONICAI can read it in his eyes.

MONICALook at him!

MONICAThe way he grins at me. He knows, he knows.

Baba drags him out of the puppet theatre

MONICAHe did it to frighten me.

to Toby

MONICAIsn't it true?

MONICANonsense'

(She tries to tear Baba away from Toby, who

is crouched on the floor trembling with fear)

SYSTEMBABA

MONICAIt was you who touched me'

MONICAOh!

SYSTEMBABA

MONICAIt was you' It was you!

MONICAHe knows... he knows...

MONICAAh! A helpless thing!

MONICAO, Baba, stop tormenting him!

MONICAYou know he is such a helpless thing.

SYSTEMBABA

MONICAJust because he cannot speak

MONICAWe take him for a half-wit,

MONICABut he knows a great deal.

MONICAHe knows much more than we think.

MONICAThere is something uncanny about him.

MONICAHe sees things we don't see.

MONICAGet up' Get up!

MONICACome, Baba'

MONICACome, Baba!

SYSTEMBABA

MONICAI tell you, don't trust him!

MONICAI warn you - keep away from him'

MONICABeware of him! Beware'

(Monica draws her away from Toby. She sits down,

and Baba lies at her feet, her head on Monica's lap)

MONICACome, Baba. Come, Baba.

Monica begins gently to rock Baba

MONICAThe sun has fallen and it lies in blood.

(Toby, already obvious of what has happened, takes

an old tambourine from under the couch, and lying

on the floor, accompanies the tune with soft taps on

the instrument)

MONICAThe moon is weaving bandages of gold.

MONICAO black swan, where, oh, where is my lover gone?

MONICATorn and tattered is my bridal gown,

MONICAAnd my lamp is lost, and my lamp is lost.

MONICAWith silver needles and with silver thread,

MONICAThe stars stitch a shroud for the dying sun.

MONICAO black swan, where, oh, where has my lover gone?

MONICAI had given him a kiss of fire,

MONICAAnd a golden ring,

MONICADon't you hear your lover moan?

MONICAEyes of glass and feet of stone,

MONICAShells for teeth and weeds for tongue,

MONICADeep, deep, down in the river's bed

MONICAHe's looking for the ring.

MONICAEyes wide open, never asleep,

MONICAHe's looking for the ring, looking for the ring.

MONICAThe spools unravel and the needles break.

SYSTEMMONICA,

SYSTEMBABA

The sun is buried and the stars weep.

MONICAO black wave, take me away with you.

MONICAI will share with you my golden hair,

MONICAAnd my bridal crown, and my bridal crown.

MONICAOh, take me down with you.

MONICATake me down to my wand'ring lover

MONICAWith my child unborn,

MONICAWith my child unborn.

off-stage

VOICEMother, mother, are you there?

SYSTEMBABA

VOICESh!

VOICEListen, listen.

MONICAWhat?

laughter is heard

SYSTEMBABA

MONICACan't you hear?

Monica shakes her head

MONICAAgain you're imagining things.

SYSTEMBABA

MONICANo, no, I'm sure I heard a voice like yours.

Someone must be hiding back there.

MONICAToby, go back and see who it is.

MONICABaba, don't be foolish, Nobody's there!

SYSTEMBABA

to Toby

MONICAGo on, go on.

Toby runs out

MONICAWhat has come over you, Baba?

MONICAI've never seen you like this.

SYSTEMBABA

MONICAWe are not alone! We are not alone!

MONICAHe's coming' He's running back.

(Toby reappears in the doorway After staring at

him in silence Baba says)

MONICADid you see anything?

Toby shakes his head

MONICAI told you, I told you there is nobody there.

SYSTEMBABA

to Toby

MONICAYou're lying! You don't want to tell me.

MONICALiar! liar!

MONICABaba, stop it!

SYSTEMBABA

MONICAOh, God, what is happening to me?

MONICAWhat is this darkness?

forcing Toby to h is knees

Kneel down, kneel down,

MONICAand pray God to save our souls.

(Toby kneels down; Baba fetches the rosary

and sits as before, mumbling at Monica's feet)

SYSTEMBABA

mechanically, in a deep voice

MONICAAve Maria, gratia plena,

MONICADominus tecum etc.

MONICASancta Maria, Mater Dei etc.

MONICAAh, The moon is weaving bandages of gold.

MONICAA black wave,

MONICATake me down with you,

MONICATake me down with you.

(Baba suddenly stops praying. Child's laughter is

heard as Baba hides her head in Monica’ s lap)

SYSTEMACT II

(Same setting as Act I. Evening, a few days later.

Monica is sitting in front of the puppet theatre

watching a performance. The puppets have

fallen in a heap. Toby comes out to acknowledge

Monica's applause)

MONICABravo'

MONICAAnd after the theatre, supper and dance.

MONICAMusic!

MONICAUm-pa-pa, um-pa-pa,

(During this song, Toby, barefooted. dances

about the stage)

MONICAUp in the sky

MONICASome-one is playing a trombone and a guitar.

MONICARed is your tie.

And in your velvetine coat you hide a star.

MONICAMonica, Monica, dance the waltz.

MONICAFollow me, moon and sun,

MONICAKeep time with me, one two three one.

MONICAIf you're not shy,

MONICAPin up my hair with your star, and buckle my shoe.

MONICAAnd when you fly,

MONICAPlease hold on tight to my waist,

MONICAI'm flying with you.

MONICAO, Monica, Monica, dance the waltz.

MONICAMonica, Monica, dance the waltz.

MONICAFollow me, moon and sun,

MONICAFollow me.

(Toby seizes Monica abruptly by the arm She turns

and looks at him in complete astonishment)

MONICAWhat is the matter, Toby?

MONICAWhat is it you want to tell me?

(He looks at her in desperation, and gently touches

her face. Monica begins to understand)

Kneel down before me,

Toby kneels

MONICAAnd now, tell me...

(She kneels behind Toby, as if the words were coming

from him, and makes Toby look up as if she were still

standing in front of him. With slightly exaggerated

pathos she says:)

MONICAMonica, Monica, can't you see,

MONICAThat my heart is bleeding, bleeding for you?

MONICAI loved you, Monica, all my life,

MONICAWith all my breath, with all my blood.

MONICAYou haunt the mirror of my sleep, You are my night.

MONICAYou are my light and the jailer of my day.

Quickly she gets up and stands before him

MONICAHow dare you, scoundrel, talk to me like that!

MONICADon't you know who I am?

MONICAI'm the Queen of Aroundel!

MONICAI shall have you put in chains!

(She kneels behind him again. Toby, falling in

with the game, mimics her words with gestures)

MONICAYou are my princess, you are my queen,

MONICAAnd I'm only Toby, one of your slaves,

MONICAAnd still I love you and always loved you

MONICAWith all my breath, with all my blood.

MONICAI love your laughter, I love your hair,

MONICAI love your deep and nocturnal eyes.

MONICAI love your soft hands, so white and winged,

MONICAI love the slender branch of your throat.

She stands up before him

MONICAToby, don't speak to me like that'

MONICAYou make my head swim.

She runs behind Toby

MONICAMonica, Monica, fold me in your satin gown.

MONICAMonica, Monica, give me your mouth,

Monica, Monica, fall in my arms.

(Toby suddenly hides his face m his arms.

Monica stares at him, completely bewildered)

MONICAWhy, Toby!

MONICAYou're not crying, are you?

(She caresses his head. Then lifting his tearstained

face, looks into his eyes. With great tenderness she

says:)

MONICAToby, I want you to know that you have

MONICAthe most beautiful voice in the world'

(A door slams. Baba is heard dragging herself up the

stairs. Monica runs out, Into her room. Toby crouches

In the corner. Baba appears, dark, dishevelled, a bottle

in her hand)

SYSTEMBABA

MONICAWhere is Monica'

(Toby points to the door at the right Baba takes off

her large shawl and sits meditatively at the table.

With strained affection she says)

MONICAToby, what are you doing'

MONICACome here, Toby.

MONICAI want to talk to you.

(Toby begins to crawl toward her, but very

hesitatingly, with apparent misgivings)

MONICACome, come near me.

MONICAWhat are you afraid of?

MONICACome, come nearer, this way.

She takes his head in her lap

with calculated tenderness

MONICAToby, you know that I love you

MONICAAs if you were my own son.

MONICAI'm often harsh with you, that's true.

MONICAStill, still, if it hadn't been for me,

MONICAWhere would you be now?

MONICAI found you, a little starving gypsy,

MONICARoaming the streets of Budapest

MONICAWithout a tongue to speak your hunger.

MONICAIf I hadn't taken you with me,

MONICAWho would have cared for you, poor little half-wit?

MONICAAnd now, listen, now we must be good friends.

MONICAI'll never punish you, never, never again,

MONICAAnd I will buy you a new shirt

MONICAOf bright red silk and a golden scarf.

freely

MONICABut first you must tell me.

MONICAWere you the one who touched my throat?

MONICAYou know, at the seance a few days ago...

MONICADon't be afraid of telling me.

MONICAI won't punish you.

MONICAI just want to know, that is all.

very winningly

MONICAJust tell me, yes, or no.

after a long pause

MONICACome, don't be afraid, yes, or no

making great efforts to contain herself

MONICAI know it anyway, but show me how you did it.

MONICACome on, wake up, wake up, I say, damn you'

(She suddenly springs up with rage. Then she sinks

back into her chair, regretting her outburst)

MONICAYou see, you make me angry,

MONICAAnd I want to be your friend.

MONICANow tell me, my sweet, my own little Toby,

MONICADid you touch me that night?

MONICAYou like that bolt of red silk, don't you?

MONICAWould you like to have it?

MONICAAll you have to make is one little sign,

MONICAAnd they will be yours.

gently

MONICAIt was you who touched me, wasn't it?

MONICAPerhaps it was not you after all.

MONICAPerhaps it was something else.

MONICASomething I couldn't see'

MONICABut you know, you saw it'

MONICAI can read it in your eyes!

MONICACome on, say yes, or no'

MONICAStop staring at me!

(Toby tries to run away, she grabs him by

his shirt and tears it off his back)

MONICADon't go away!

MONICAYou see, you're making me angry again!

with mounting excitement

MONICAYou love Monica, don't you?

MONICAHow would you like to marry her?

MONICAYes, you could, you could.

MONICABut first you must tell me, did you have anything to do

MONICAWith what happened that night?

MONICADid you see anything?

MONICAA light? A shape?

MONICAWake up!

MONICADid you?

MONICAStop staring at me!

MONICADid you?

With uncontrolled fury

MONICAAh, so!

MONICAYou don't want to answer.

MONICAYou're trying to frighten me.

MONICAI'll show you, damn little gypsy,

(She goes to cupboard and brings out a long

whip. Toby runs away from her in terror)

MONICAI’ ll make you talk!

MONICAI'll make you talk!

MONICAYou cannot get away from me!

She chases him around the table

MONICAI’ ll make you spit out blood, I will.

Toby trips and falls near the couch

MONICAI'll make you spit out blood'

MONICASo you won't answer, eh!

She whips him

MONICASo you won't answer, eh!

(The doorbell rings repeatedly and very loudly. Baba

suddenly realises that the doorbell is ringing. She

stands still for a moment, panting hoarsely, then

walks haltingly to stage left and rings the buzzer.

Monica runs in from stage right)

MONICAAh, Baba, what did you do to him?

(She comforts Toby. Mr. and Mrs. Gobineau and Mrs.

Nolan come up the stairs. They stop rather surprised

on the landing)

SYSTEMMRS. GOBINEAU,

SYSTEMMRS. NOLAN

MONICAGood evening, Madame Flora.

SYSTEMMR. GOBINEAU

MONICAGood evening.

SYSTEMBABA

MONICAWhat do you want?

SYSTEMMR. AND MRS. GOBINEAU

MONICAIsn't this the night of the seance?

SYSTEMBABA

MONICAThe seance?

MONICAYes, yes, I'm glad you came.

MONICAI've something to tell you, come in.

The three clients advance into the room

MONICAThere will be no more seances.

MONICAThere is your money.

She brusquely throws a wad of money on the table

SYSTEMMRS. NOLAN

MONICANo more seances?

SYSTEMMR. GOBINEAU

MONICAWhat do you mean?

SYSTEMBABA

MONICAListen to me!

MONICAThere never was a seance!

MONICAI cheated you'

MONICADo you understand?

MONICACheated you, cheated you'

SYSTEMTHE CLIENTS

MONICAHow could it be?

MONICAIt isn't true, you must not say so!

SYSTEMMRS. NOLAN

MONICAI clearly saw my daughter,

MONICAI saw her, with my own eyes!

SYSTEMMR. AND MRS. GOBINEAU

MONICAAnd little Mickey, laughing, touching my hair!

SYSTEMBABA

MONICANothing but a fraud,

MONICAI can prove it to you.

(She goes to the puppet theatre and pulls the cables

which levitate the table and control the lamp)

MONICALook here, the lights, the wires to make the table move.

MONICAThe hidden microphone.

SYSTEMMRS. NOLAN

intensely

MONICAOh, no! I saw my daughter, I saw her!

SYSTEMBABA

MONICAYour daughter, here she is!

MONICACheap white gauze, nothing else.

SYSTEMMRS. NOLAN

MONICABut I spoke to her.

SYSTEMBABA

MONICAMonica, Monica, let her hear your voice, show her.

reluctantly

MONICA"Mother, mother, are you there'

MONICAMother, mother, are you there?"

SYSTEMMRS. NOLAN

MONICAOh, no, no, no, that isn't the same voice!

SYSTEMBABA

And do the little boy laughing.

(Monica imitates the peals of childish laughter

as in the first Act)

SYSTEMMRS. GOBINEAU

with desperate determination

MONICAOh, no' You know that isn't the same!

SYSTEMBABA

MONICAYou fools!

MONICAWhat more proofs do you want?

SYSTEMMRS. NOLAN

MONICANot to know my own daughter's voice!

MONICACould that be' Could that be'

SYSTEMMR. AND MRS. GOBINEAU

MONICANot to know little Mickey's touch'

MONICACould that be? Could that be?

SYSTEMTHE CLIENTS

MONICAO, no, no, it wasn't a fraud!

MONICAWhat you said is not the truth!

SYSTEMBABA

MONICAWhat? You don't believe me'

SYSTEMMRS. NOLAN

MONICAI even found the little locket she talked about.

SYSTEMMR. AND MRS. GOBINEAU

MONICADid you?

SYSTEMBABA

MONICAThe locket?

MONICAEv'rybody has some old locket.

MONICAIt's an old trick; we use it on ev'ry mother!

SYSTEMMR. GOBINEAU

almost fiercely

MONICAIt might well be you thought

MONICAYou were cheating all the while,

MONICABut you were not, you were not.

SYSTEMTHE CLIENTS

MONICASurely now, you won't let us down'

MONICAWhat would we do without your guidance?

(The three clients suddenly stand expressionless

like automatons)

MONICAPlease let us have our seance,

MONICAMadame Flora'

MONICAJust let us hear it once more,

MONICAMadame Flora'

MONICAThis is the only joy we have in our lives,

MONICAMadame Flora'

MONICAOur little dead are waiting for us,

MONICAMadame Flora!

MONICAYou wouldn't keep us away from them would you,

MONICAMadame Flora?

MONICAPlease let us have our seance,

MONICAMadame Flora'

MONICAJust let us have it once more, just once more,

MONICAMadame Flora'

SYSTEMBABA

MONICAYou must believe me!

declaimed at a high pitch, as before

MONICAIt is foolish of you'

MONICAYou must believe me!

MONICAYou must!

trying in vain to force the money into their hands

MONICAHere is your money.

MONICATake it! Please'

MONICATake it'

MONICAGo to someone else!

MONICAPlease! Please!

with sudden fury

MONICAGet out of here, get out, get out' Get out of here.

MONICAYou fools' You fools!

(The Gobineaus and Mrs. Nolan greatly frightened,

disappear down the stairwell)

MONICAFools!

MONICAFools'

The door slams

to Toby

MONICAAnd you, you too get out and never come back!

MONICADon't say that! Toby, so helpless!

SYSTEMBABA

MONICAYes, he must go!

MONICANo, Baba, you cannot send him away.

MONICAYou know he can't take care of himself.

SYSTEMBABA

MONICAI don't care.

MONICAHe is hardly more than a child.

SYSTEMBABA

MONICAThat may be, but still he must go away.

MONICAI cannot bear to see those hunted eyes.

MONICAThen let me go and take care of him!

SYSTEMBABA

You'll do nothing of the sort'

MONICAYes, Baba, if he must go, I will too.

SYSTEMBABA

MONICAYou'll do nothing of the sort!

MONICABaba!

SYSTEMBABA

MONICAHe must go!

MONICABaba!

SYSTEMBABA

MONICAHe must go, go away!

MONICAHow can you be so cruel?

MONICAPoor boy'

SYSTEMBABA

MONICADon't worry, he will take care of himself,

MONICAHe'll surely find a place where he can stay.

MONICAOh, please don't let him go!

SYSTEMBABA

I cannot bear to look at him'

MONICAI tell you he must go'

MONICAOh, please don't let him go!

to Toby

MONICADon't go!

SYSTEMBABA

MONICAYes, he must go before it is too late!

MONICAGet out, get out'

Toby starts quickly down the stairwell

shouted

MONICAToby'

(At the sound of Monica's voice, Toby stops and turns

hesitantly toward her Monica runs to him, they clasp

each other in a brief but desperate embrace. Then

Toby frees himself and disappears down the stairwell.

Monica sees the puppets lying on the floor She picks

them up)

SYSTEMBABA

MONICADon't stand there like a fool!

MONICAGo into your room!

Leave him alone.

MONICAHe'll take care of himself.

(Monica goes into her room, banging the door Baba

is left alone on stage)

VOICEMother, mother, are you there?

She stands stock-still and terror stricken

SYSTEMBABA

VOICEWho's there? Is it you, Monica?

(She abruptly moves toward the bedroom. After

listening at the door, she quickly locks it, then

leans against it with a sigh of relief She begins

to walk toward the table)

VOICEMother, mother, are you there?

(At the sound of the voice, she stands frozen

She interrupts the voice with a cry)

SYSTEMBABA

shouted

VOICEStop it!

(She goes to the cupboard and pours herself several

drinks then brings the bottle and glass to the table.

She sits down)

VOICEAfraid, am I afraid?

VOICEMadame Flora afraid!

VOICECan it be that I'm afraid?

VOICEIn my young days I have seen many terrible things!

VOICEWomen screaming as they were murdered,

VOICEAnd men's hands dripping with blood,

VOICEAnd men haunted by knives.

VOICEAnd little grotesque children drained

VOICEWhite by the voraciousness of filth,

VOICEAnd loathsome old men insane with vice,

VOICEAnd young men with cankers crawling

VOICEOn their flesh like hungry lizards.

VOICEThis I've seen, and more, and never been afraid.

VOICEO God'

VOICEForgive my sins, I'm sick and old.

VOICEForgive my sins and give me peace!

VOICEWhat ill wind shakes my hand?

VOICEWhat unseen ghost stands by my side?

VOICENo, no, it cannot be the dead!

VOICEThe dead... the dead.

VOICEThe dead never come back.

VOICEThey sink down in the dust

VOICEWith no eyes to dream and no silence to keep,

A secrets to hide'

VOICEGone, empty, nothing, nothing.

drowsily and a little drunkenly

VOICE"O black swan, where,

VOICEOh, where is my lover gone?"

(Wheeling about in her chair, she breaks

off the song with a startled cry)

VOICEWho is there?

(Her voice shaking, scarcely daring to breathe,

she stares fixedly into the darkness and listens)

VOICE"O black swan, O black swan. "

turning again with a cry

VOICEWhat?

After a long silence, with a sigh of relief

VOICENothing, but then if there is nothing

VOICETo be afraid of why am I afraid of this nothingness?

I must forget about it, laugh at it,

VOICEYes, laugh at it!

(She chuckles drunkenly. Little by little, her laugher

becomes wilder. Her laughter has now reached an

hysterical pitch. She suddenly stops laughing)

VOICEO God, forgive my sins,

VOICEI'm sick and old.

(She falls asleep. Toby comes up the stairwell.

Cautiously, he walks tiptoe to Monica's door. He

finds the door locked. He scratches softly on the

door. Baba stirs in her sleep, knocking the bottle

down Toby runs behind the couch, then very slowly

creeps out again Toby again tries the door. He

knocks at it, whimpering softly like an animal.

Receiving no answer, Toby runs to the trunk

and begins to rummage among the silks in search

of his tambourine. The trunk lid falls sharply.

Baba wakes up with a start. Toby hides behind

the curtain of the puppet theatre)

VOICEWho's there? Who's there?

VOICEAnswer me!

VOICEMonica, Monica, is it you?

VOICEWho is it then?

VOICEIf you are human, answer me!

VOICEWho is it? Who is it?

(She takes a revolver out of a drawer in the table.

She says hysterically:)

VOICESpeak out or I'll shoot!

VOICEI'll shoot! I'll shoot!

VOICEAnswer me' Answer me!

VOICEI'll shoot! I'll shoot!

(The curtain moves. Baba screams and fires at it

several times. Suddenly Toby's hand appears above

the curtain, as if to ward off the bullets. Then the

fingers slowly clench and the hand disappears The

curtain is now clutched tightly from inside. A spot

of blood gradually appears and runs the length of

the white cloth)

VOICEI've killed the ghost!

(Both of Toby's hands are now seen clutching at

the curtain. The rod breaks under his weight, and,

wrapped in the curtain, he falls headlong into the

room. Monica pounds at the door from within)

MONICABaba! Baba!

MONICALet me in! Let me in!

(Baba slowly unlocks the door Monica rushes in.

Seeing Toby's body she stops short and sways as

if suddenly ill)

MONICAOh!

(Calling in a faint, broken voice she slowly

moves toward the stairwell)

MONICAHelp! Help!

louder as she runs downstairs

MONICAHelp!

(The door slams. Baba slowly bends

over Toby)

SYSTEMBABA

in a hoarse whisper

MONICAWas it you? Was it you?

(She knells beside him, and like

a hunched spider, looks searchingly

into his unseen eyes. The curtains

fall very slowly)