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More Portmanteau Plays
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Год написания книги
2018
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If this theatre goes, I go, too. I'm not—
[John walks over to the theatre and sweeps the whole structure onto the floor.
JOHN
Now.
JONATHAN
You dirty coward, you—
[John turns upon the boy and strikes him across the face.
In mingled rage and humiliation Jonathan sobs wildly once or twice, then controls himself and glares violently at his uncle.
JOHN
I'll let you think about it. I'll leave you here with your toys like a girl-baby.
[He goes out the door, closing it and turning the key in the lock.
Jonathan runs to the door.
JONATHAN
You let me out of here! You let me out of here!
[He pounds the door with his fists.
Then he turns in despair and humiliation.
He paces the floor a moment, not knowing what to do. Suddenly Hank's whistle is heard. The boy listens as though fascinated and goes to the window and watches Hank. Jonathan goes to his wrecked theatre and, taking it up, piles his manuscripts, the pink and the blue, on it. He hesitates to include one in the pile, offering once or twice to put it in his pocket, but he finally places it in grim determination with the others. Then he takes it off and stuffs it in his pocket. He stuffs the pile in the stove and sets a match to it, watches it a moment, then writes on a piece of paper, fastens it to the door. Then he finds a piece of rope on a packing case, moves the ladder under the gable window, fastens the rope to a peg in the wall, climbs the ladder, considers a moment, returns to the stove with the beloved manuscript, stuffs it in the fire, remounts the ladder and lets his weight onto the rope. As he disappears from view, the rope breaks and a cry and sound of falling are heard.
The flames from the burning theatre and manuscripts flicker against the wall for a silent moment.
The key is heard to turn in the lock and John and Nathaniel enter.
JOHN
Jonathan!
NATHANIEL
He's hiding.
JOHN
Jonathan!
NATHANIEL (Sees paper on door)
What's this?
JOHN
What does it say?
NATHANIEL
"Good-bye!… Jonathan."
JOHN (Looks suspiciously at Nathaniel)
Did you tell the silly boy about your running away?
NATHANIEL
I told Jonathan nothing about myself. You are the head of the Clay family and out of custom I respected your position; but, by God, John, you're a failure with this boy.
JOHN
He—
[Hank enters carrying Jonathan in his arms. Jonathan is limp and pitiful. His clothes are torn. He is moaning pitifully.
HANK
He fell on the rocks out there.
NATHANIEL
Put him over here.
[Hank places Jonathan on the bench near the piano. Nathaniel places the costume, which Susan left there, under his head for a pillow.
JOHN
What was he doing?
HANK
He was—
NATHANIEL
This is no time for questions, John. Call a doctor.
[Jonathan moans and rolls his head, looking vacantly at Hank now and then.
[John walks over to the theatre and sweeps the whole structure onto the floor.
JOHN
Now.
JONATHAN
You dirty coward, you—
[John turns upon the boy and strikes him across the face.
In mingled rage and humiliation Jonathan sobs wildly once or twice, then controls himself and glares violently at his uncle.
JOHN
I'll let you think about it. I'll leave you here with your toys like a girl-baby.
[He goes out the door, closing it and turning the key in the lock.
Jonathan runs to the door.
JONATHAN
You let me out of here! You let me out of here!
[He pounds the door with his fists.
Then he turns in despair and humiliation.
He paces the floor a moment, not knowing what to do. Suddenly Hank's whistle is heard. The boy listens as though fascinated and goes to the window and watches Hank. Jonathan goes to his wrecked theatre and, taking it up, piles his manuscripts, the pink and the blue, on it. He hesitates to include one in the pile, offering once or twice to put it in his pocket, but he finally places it in grim determination with the others. Then he takes it off and stuffs it in his pocket. He stuffs the pile in the stove and sets a match to it, watches it a moment, then writes on a piece of paper, fastens it to the door. Then he finds a piece of rope on a packing case, moves the ladder under the gable window, fastens the rope to a peg in the wall, climbs the ladder, considers a moment, returns to the stove with the beloved manuscript, stuffs it in the fire, remounts the ladder and lets his weight onto the rope. As he disappears from view, the rope breaks and a cry and sound of falling are heard.
The flames from the burning theatre and manuscripts flicker against the wall for a silent moment.
The key is heard to turn in the lock and John and Nathaniel enter.
JOHN
Jonathan!
NATHANIEL
He's hiding.
JOHN
Jonathan!
NATHANIEL (Sees paper on door)
What's this?
JOHN
What does it say?
NATHANIEL
"Good-bye!… Jonathan."
JOHN (Looks suspiciously at Nathaniel)
Did you tell the silly boy about your running away?
NATHANIEL
I told Jonathan nothing about myself. You are the head of the Clay family and out of custom I respected your position; but, by God, John, you're a failure with this boy.
JOHN
He—
[Hank enters carrying Jonathan in his arms. Jonathan is limp and pitiful. His clothes are torn. He is moaning pitifully.
HANK
He fell on the rocks out there.
NATHANIEL
Put him over here.
[Hank places Jonathan on the bench near the piano. Nathaniel places the costume, which Susan left there, under his head for a pillow.
JOHN
What was he doing?
HANK
He was—
NATHANIEL
This is no time for questions, John. Call a doctor.
[Jonathan moans and rolls his head, looking vacantly at Hank now and then.
Другие электронные книги автора Stuart Walker
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