Man of La Mancha
Page 2
CERVANTES One moment! These things are my livelihood.
THE GOVERNOR (Puzzled) I thought you said you were a poet.
CERVANTES Of the theater!
THE GOVERNOR (Crossing to the trunk, digs out a sword and pulls it from its scabbard) False!
CERVANTES Costumes and properties. You see, actually I am a playwright and an actor. So of course these poor things could not possibly be of any use to … to …
(He comes to a halt, reading the inimical faces. He makes a sudden grab for the sword, but THE GOVERNOR tosses it over his head to another PRISONER. A cruel game ensues, the PRISONERS plundering the contents of the trunk, tossing them about as CERVANTES and the MANSERVANT stumble about, trying vainly to retrieve them)
CERVANTES (Panting, realizing the futility) Very well—take them.
MANSERVANT Oh, no, Master!
CERVANTES Take them, take them I say. Only leave me—(Clutching the package to him)—this.
(THE DUKE adroitly snatches the package from him, tosses it to THE GOVERNOR, who catches it and weighs it in his hands)
THE GOVERNOR Heavy! (Shrewdly) Valuable?
CERVANTES To me!
THE GOVERNOR We might let you ransom it.
CERVANTES I have no money.
THE GOVERNOR How unfortunate. (Tears it open; angrily) Paper!
CERVANTES Manuscript!
THE GOVERNOR Still worthless.
(He strides toward the fire with the intention of throwing the package in)
CERVANTES (Desperately) Wait! You spoke of a trial. By your own word, I must be given a trial!
THE GOVERNOR (Hesitating; then peevishly) Oh, very well. I hereby declare this court in session! (CERVANTES and the MANSERVANT are shoved into an improvised dock, and the “court” arranges itself) Now, then. What are you here for?
CERVANTES I am to appear before the Inquisition.
(There is a stir among the PRISONERS, one or two of whom cross themselves)
THE GOVERNOR Heresy?
CERVANTES Not exactly. You see, I had been employed by the government as a tax-collector …
THE GOVERNOR Poet, actor, tax-collector?
CERVANTES A temporary thing to keep us from starvation.
THE GOVERNOR How does a tax-collector get in trouble with the Inquisition?
CERVANTES I made an assessment against the monastery of La Merced. When they wouldn’t pay, I issued a lien on the property.
THE GOVERNOR You did what?
MANSERVANT He foreclosed on a church.
THE GOVERNOR But why are you here?
MANSERVANT (Dolefully) Someone had to serve the papers.
(With his thumb he indicates himself)
THE GOVERNOR These two have empty rooms in their heads!
CERVANTES The law says treat everyone equally. We only obeyed the law!
THE DUKE Governor, if you don’t mind, I should like to prosecute this case.
THE GOVERNOR Why?
THE DUKE Let us say I dislike stupidity. Especially when it masquerades as virtue. Miguel de Cervantes! I charge you with being an idealist, a bad poet, and an honest man. How plead you?
CERVANTES (Considering a moment) Guilty.
THE GOVERNOR Bravo!
(He rises, crossing toward the fire once more)
CERVANTES Your Excellency! What about my defense?
THE GOVERNOR (Pausing; puzzled) But you just pleaded guilty.
CERVANTES (With charm) Had I said “innocent” you surely would have found me guilty. Since I have admitted guilt, the court is required to hear me out.
THE GOVERNOR For what purpose?
CERVANTES The jury may choose to be lenient.
THE GOVERNOR (Thinks, then chuckles appreciatively) Clever!
THE DUKE He is trying to gain time!
CERVANTES Do you have a scarcity of that?
THE GOVERNOR (To the PRISONERS) Any urgent appointments?
(A groan for answer. He waves CERVANTES to continue)
CERVANTES It is true I am guilty of these charges. An idealist? Well, I have never had the courage to believe in nothing. A bad poet? This comes more painfully … still …
(He makes a wry gesture of acquiescence)
THE GOVERNOR (Skeptically) Have you finished your defense?
CERVANTES Ah, no, scarce begun! If you’ve no objection I should like to continue in the manner I know best … in the form of a charade—
THE DUKE Charade?
CERVANTES An entertainment, if you will—
THE GOVERNOR (Intrigued) Entertainment!
CERVANTES At worst it may beguile your time. And since my cast of characters is large, I call upon all here to enter in, to play whatever roles—
THE DUKE (Hotly) Governor! I should like to protest!
THE GOVERNOR No, no, let’s hear him out!
CERVANTES Then … with your kind permission … may I set the stage? (THE GOVERNOR waves assent. The PRISONERS shift position to become audience as CERVANTES gestures to his MANSERVANT, who scurries, like a well-trained stage-manager, to assist. Music begins, softly, as CERVANTES, seated center, begins a makeup transformation as he speaks) I shall impersonate a man … enter into my imagination and see him! His name is Alonso Quijana … a country squire, no longer young. Bony and hollow-faced … eyes that burn with the fire of inner vision. Being retired, he has much time for books. He studies them from morn to night, and often through the night as well. And all he reads oppresses him … fills him with indignation at man’s murderous ways toward man. He broods … and broods … and broods—and finally from so much brooding his brains dry up! He lays down the melancholy burden of sanity and conceives the strangest project ever imagined … to become a knight-errant and sally forth into the world to right all wrongs. No longer shall he be plain Alonso Quijana … but a dauntless knight known as—Don Quixote de La Mancha!!!
(The PRISONERS giggle appreciatively as the transformation of CERVANTES into DON QUIXOTE takes place before their eyes. The MANSERVANT, who will become SANCHO PANZA, assists with costume elements, props, and so forth)
DON QUIXOTE (Singing, a little tongue-in-cheek; an actor aware that he’s performing)
Hear me now, oh thou bleak and unbearable world!
Thou art base and debauched as can be;
And a knight with his banners all bravely unfurled
Now hurls down his gauntlet to thee!
I am I, Don Quixote,
The Lord of La Mancha,
My destiny calls and I go;
And the wild winds of fortune will carry me onward,
Oh whithersoever they blow.
Whithersoever they blow,
Onward to glory I go!
SANCHO
I’m Sancho! Yes, I’m Sancho!
I’ll follow my master till the end.
I’ll tell all the world proudly
I’m his squire! I’m his friend!
DON QUIXOTE
Hear me, heathens and wizards and serpents of sin!
All your dastardly doings are past;
For a holy endeavor is now to begin,
And virtue shall triumph at last!
(They mount the “horses”—two dancers with wooden frames attached—and ride away. As they ride, the horses dance a spirited flamenco and DON QUIXOTE points out to SANCHO the sights along the way. They sing together)
DON QUIXOTE SANCHO
I am I, Don Quixote,
The Lord of La Mancha, I’m Sancho! Yes, I’m
Sancho!
My destiny calls and I go;
And the wild winds of fortune will carry me onward,
the end.
I’ll follow my master till the end
I’ll tell all the world proudly
Oh whithersoever they blow! I’m his squire!
I’m his friend!
DON QUIXOTE AND SANCHO
Whithersoever they blow,
Onward to glory we go!
(At the conclusion of the song, they dismount and SANCHO lead
s the “horses” to the well to drink)
DON QUIXOTE Well, Sancho—how dost thou like adventuring?
SANCHO Oh, marvelous, Your Grace. But it’s peculiar—to me this great highway to glory looks exactly like the road to El Toboso where you can buy chickens cheap.
DON QUIXOTE Like beauty, my friend, ’tis all in the eyes of the beholder. Only wait and thou shalt see amazing sights.
SANCHO What kind?
DON QUIXOTE There will be knights and nations, warlocks, wizards … a cavalcade of vast, unending armies!
SANCHO They sound dangerous!
DON QUIXOTE They are dangerous. But one there’ll be who leads them … and he will be most dangerous of all!
SANCHO Well, who is he? Who?
DON QUIXOTE The Great Enchanter. Beware him, Sancho … for his thoughts are cold and his spirit shriveled. He has eyes like little machines, and where he walks the earth is blighted. But one day I shall meet him face to face … and on that day—!
(He shakes his lance ferociously)
SANCHO (Sensibly) Well, I wouldn’t get upset, Your Grace. As I always say, have patience and shuffle the cards.
DON QUIXOTE Do you never run out of proverbs?
SANCHO No, Your Grace. I was born with a bellyful of them. I always say—
DON QUIXOTE (Looking off as the projected shadows of a great windmill’s sails cross the stage) Aah-hah!
SANCHO What is it?
DON QUIXOTE How long since we sallied forth?
SANCHO About two minutes?
DON QUIXOTE So soon shall I engage in brave, unequal combat!
SANCHO Combat? Where?
DON QUIXOTE Can’st not see? (Pointing) A monstrous giant of infamous repute!
SANCHO (Looking vainly; the “horses” are interested, too) What giant?
DON QUIXOTE
It is that dark and dreaded ogre
By the name of Matagoger!
You can tell him by the four great arms awhirling on his back!
SANCHO It’s a windmill.
DON QUIXOTE (Shouting)
Ho! Feckless giant standing there!
Avast! Avaunt! On guard! Beware!
(He charges off)
SANCHO No, no, Your Grace, I swear by my wife’s little black mustache, that’s not a giant, it’s only a—(Offstage a crash; the horses run for cover. To musical accompaniment the combat continues as SANCHO dances about, dodging first QUIXOTE’S helmet which comes flying back onstage, then the butt of his lance, splayed and splintered. The final crash; and QUIXOTE crawls back into view, his sword a corkscrew. A doleful picture, he comes rotting downstage as SANCHO hurries to plump himself down and stop him) Didn’t I tell you? Didn’t I say, “Your Grace, that’s a windmill”?
DON QUIXOTE (Hollowly) The work of my enemy.
SANCHO The Enchanter?
DON QUIXOTE He changed that giant into a windmill at the last moment. He will take any advantage in order to—(A pause; an illumination) Sancho, it comes to me!
SANCHO What, Your Grace?
DON QUIXOTE How he was able to upset me. It is because I have never properly been dubbed a knight.
SANCHO That’s no problem. Just tell me how it’s done and I’ll be glad to take care of this drubbing.
DON QUIXOTE Dubbing. Thank you, my friend, but it may only be done by another knight.
SANCHO (Dismayed) That’s a problem. I’ve never seen another knight.
DON QUIXOTE The lord of some castle would do. Or a king or a duke.
SANCHO (Helping QUIXOTE to his feet) Very well. I’ll keep an eye out for any kings or dukes as we go.
DON QUIXOTE (Looking off) Ahaaa!
SANCHO (Apprehensively) Now what?
DON QUIXOTE The very place!
SANCHO Where?
DON QUIXOTE There!
SANCHO If Your Grace would just give me a hint …?
DON QUIXOTE There in the distance. A castle!
SANCHO (Peering vainly) Castle.
DON QUIXOTE Rockbound amidst the crags!
SANCHO Crags.
DON QUIXOTE And the banners—ah, the brave banners flaunting in the wind!
SANCHO Anything on ’em?
DON QUIXOTE (Shielding his eyes) I see a cat crouching on a field tawny … and beneath it the inscription “Miau”!
SANCHO Oh, that’s fine, Your Grace. Maybe this is where you can get yourself drubbed.
DON QUIXOTE Dubbed. (Excitedly) Blow thy bugle that a dwarf may mount the battlements and announce our coming!
SANCHO (Under the spell, lifts his bugle then hesitates) But I don’t see a castle. I do see something … maybe it’s an inn.
DON QUIXOTE (Sadly) An inn.
SANCHO We’d better pass it by, Your Grace. Those roadside places are full of rough men and women.
DON QUIXOTE Come. We shall ride straight to the drawbridge of yon castle, and there thy vision may improve!
(The lights fade to transition lighting as QUIXOTE and SANCHO drop out of character.
CERVANTES beckons to the PRISONERS who will become MULETEERS in the next scene; they and the SERVANT proceed to set up the Great Room of an inn as he speaks)
CERVANTES Here is an example of how to the untrained eye one thing may seem to be another. To Sancho, an inn. To Quixote, a castle. To someone else, whatever his mind may make of it. But for the sake of argument, let us grant Sancho his vision. An inn … (He gestures to THE GOVERNOR—then to a lady prisoner) A kindly innkeeper … his less kindly wife … (He picks out some of the other PRISONERS) Rough men—muleteers—fifteen miles on the road today. Rough women—in most particular a woman called—Aldonza!
MULETEERS (Making a chant of her name, hanging their tin dishes on the table) Aldonza, Aldonza, Aldonza!
(A pan comes sailing in; the men dodge it to prevent being hit. ALDONZA enters; a savage, dark alley-cat, survivor if not always victor of many back-fence tussles)
ALDONZA (With a pot of stew in her hands; roughly) You want it on the table or over your lousy heads?
(The MULETEERS laugh. She sets down the tureen with a crash, and spits into it)
ALDONZA There, swine. Feed!
(She starts to distribute goatskins of wine. The MULETEERS, of whom there are seven, are variously called JOSE, TENORIO, PACO, JUAN, ANSELMO and PEDRO. The seventh, nameless, is the prisoner with the guitar. JOSE is the runt of the gang; PEDRO, the biggest, is its leader)
JOSE (Amorously) I brought you something.
ALDONZA Keep it till it grows up. (PACO whispers in her ear) Little dogs have big ideas!
JUAN Tonight?
ALDONZA Payment in advance?
(He gets on his knees wanting her to pour the wine into his mouth; she pours it onto his head)
PEDRO (Laughing) Aldonza! Sweetheart. Come here.
ALDONZA Talk with your mouth, not your hands!
PEDRO (Pulling her close; confidentially) I’ve got a nice thick bed of hay in the stable.
ALDONZA (As confidentially) Good. Eat it.
PEDRO You would refuse Pedro?
ALDONZA Try me.
(She walks away from him)
PEDRO My mules are not as stubborn!
(He snaps his whip at her)
ALDONZA Fine! Make love to your mules!
(The MULETEERS laugh, then sing)
MULETEERS
I come for love,
I come for love,
I come to Aldonza for love!
ALDONZA (Contemptuously) Love! (She sings)
One pair of arms is like another,
I don’t know why or who’s to blame,
I’ll go with you or with your brother,
It’s all the same, it’s all the same!
This I have learned: that when the light’s out,
No man will burn with special flame,
You’ll prove to me, before the night’s out,
You’re all the same, you’re all the same!
So do not talk to me of love,
I’m not a fool with
starry eyes,
Just put your money in my hand,
And you will get what money buys!
One pair of arms is like another,
I don’t know why or who’s to blame,
I’ll go with you or with your brother,
It’s all the same, it’s all the same!
(The MULETEERS reach for her, roughly; she pushes them off)
Oh, I have seen too many beds,
But I have known too little rest,
And I have loved too many men
With hatred burning in my breast.
I do not like you or your brother,
I do not like the life I live,
But I am me, I am Aldonza,
And what I give I choose to give!
(PEDRO offers money to ALDONZA, throws it on the floor. She spits on it and backs away, luring him. He follows and presses the money into her hand)
One pair of arms … is like another
It’s all the same, it’s all the same!
(She exits)
ANSELMO (Laughing) Payment before delivery?
PACO She won’t deliver.
PEDRO She’ll deliver!
(The INNKEEPER enters with his wife, MARIA, and another serving-girl, FERMINA)
INNKEEPER Well gentlemen, everything in order?
(He surveys the interior of his inn which is somewhat the worse for wear after the violence of the preceding number. MARIA and FERMINA begin to clean up)
ANSELMO Did you feed the mules?
INNKEEPER They’re eating as well as you.
PEDRO God forbid!
INNKEEPER He jokes! It’s well known that I set the finest table between Madrid and Malaga. My patrons have always—
(From offstage there comes the blast of a bugle horribly blown)
PEDRO What in the name of—?
(The bugle sounds again)
INNKEEPER (His face lighting up) The pig-butcher! I didn’t expect him till tomorrow. (Hurrying to the door) Coming, Señor Butcher, coming!
(He stops short as DON QUIXOTE and SANCHO enter. QUIXOTE has replaced his lance with the limb of a tree)
DON QUIXOTE (Haughtily) Is the lord of the castle at hand? (No reply from the flabbergasted INNKEEPER) I say, is the Castellano here?