To right the unrightable wrong,
To love, pure and chaste, from afar,
To try, when your arms are too weary,
To reach the unreachable star!
This is my Quest, to follow that star,
No matter how hopeless, no matter how far,
To fight for the right without question or pause,
To be willing to march into hell for a heavenly cause!
And I know, if I’ll only be true to this glorious quest,
That my heart will lie peaceful and calm when I’m laid to my rest.
And the world will be better for this,
That one man, scorned and covered with scars,
Still strove, with his last ounce of courage,
To reach the unreachable stars!
ALDONZA (Is quite still after the song. Then pleading suddenly) Once—just once—would you look at me as I really am?
DON QUIXOTE (Lowering his eyes to gaze into hers) I see beauty. Purity. I see the woman each man holds secret within him. Dulcinea.
(ALDONZA moans in inexpressible despair. She backs away from the steady eyes, shaking her head. She turns to run—and gasps as she collides with PEDRO, who has approached unseen. He grips her in fury)
PEDRO Keep me waiting, will you?
ALDONZA I wasn’t—I didn’t—
PEDRO (Mocking ferociously) My lady. My princess!
(And he slaps her so that she goes spinning to the ground)
DON QUIXOTE (A roar of outrage) Monster!
PEDRO Stay clear!
DON QUIXOTE (Advancing) Thou wouldst strike a woman?!
PEDRO Stand back or I’ll break your empty head!
DON QUIXOTE Oh, thou heart of flint and bowels of cork! Now shall I chastise thee!
PEDRO I warn you—ai-e-ee! (DON QUIXOTE, clubbing his lance, catches PEDRO alongside the head, sending him sprawling. Music begins under. PEDRO groans) Oh-h-h, I am killed. (In a yell, staying on the ground) Jose! Tenorio! Muleteers!
(The MULETEERS approach on the run. ALDONZA is back on her feet, and has sheltered herself behind the watering-trough. SANCHO comes running from the inn)
DON QUIXOTE (Facing the reinforcements) Come one, come all! Don Quixote will vanquish armies!
PEDRO Beware the lance!
ALDONZA (Stepping out) Let him be!
PEDRO Back, whore!
ALDONZA I said let him be! He’s worth a thousand of you!
PEDRO (Diverted from DON QUIXOTE) You want the same, eh?
(He lurches toward her. ALDONZA snatches DON QUIXOTE’s sword from the watering-trough, swings it in a mighty arc, and the flat of the blade sends PEDRO bowling butt over elbow.
Music comes up full, as QUIXOTE charges back into the fray. A comic-choreographic treatment of the conflict. QUIXOTE wields the lance. ALDONZA swings hugely with the flat of the sword, and SANCHO makes himself useful to both. The battle rages, and finally the MULETEERS, with cries, groans, and howls of pain, fall hors de combat. The music fades out)
DON QUIXOTE (Gasping but joyful) Victory!
SANCHO Victory!
ALDONZA (Brandishing the sword) Victory!
(The INNKEEPER roused from sleep, comes rushing on, wearing nightgown and bedcap)
INNKEEPER What is this? All the noise—! (He sees the MULETEERS where they lie groaning in an untidy heap and is aghast) Oh! Oh! What dreadful thing …?
ALDONZA What glorious thing!
DON QUIXOTE (Gasping) Sir Castellano—I would inform you—that the right has triumphed.
(He sags to the ground)
SANCHO (Hurrying to him) Your Grace! Are you hurt?
DON QUIXOTE Nay … a little weakness …
ALDONZA Oh, he is hurt!
(She drops the sword and hurries to help. MARIA, frightened and in nightclothes, comes running out)
MARIA What is it? (Sees QUIXOTE) The madman! I knew it!
INNKEEPER Fetch bandages! Hurry!
ALDONZA (Tearing bandages from her petticoat) Poor warrior …
MARIA (Bitterly) Poor lunatic!
INNKEEPER Go back to bed, Maria.
MARIA I warned you what would happen!
INNKEEPER Go to bed.
(MARIA exits haughtily, as the INNKEEPER hauls one of the MULETEERS out of the well. DON QUIXOTE stirs and moans)
SANCHO He’s coming around!
DON QUIXOTE (Opens his eyes and is looking at ALDONZA, weakly but with pleasure) Ah … might I always wake to such a vision!
ALDONZA Don’t move.
SANCHO I must say, Your Grace, we certainly did a job out here.
DON QUIXOTE We routed them, did we?
ALDONZA Ha! That bunch’ll be walking bowlegged for a week!
DON QUIXOTE (Distressed) My lady! It is not seemly to gloat over the fallen.
ALDONZA Let ’em rot in hell!
(By now the last of the MULETEERS have been helped from the courtyard)
INNKEEPER (Agitated, to DON QUIXOTE) Sir, I am a tame and peaceful man. Please, Sir Knight—I don’t like to be inhospitable—but I must ask you to leave as soon as you are able.
DON QUIXOTE (With dignity) I am sorry to have offended the dignity of thy castle and I shall depart with daylight. But first, my lord, I must remind thee of thy promise.
INNKEEPER Promise?
DON QUIXOTE True, it is not yet dawn, but I have kept vigil and proven myself in combat. Therefore I beg thou dub me knight.
INNKEEPER (Remembering) Oh-h. Certainly. Let’s get it over with.
DON QUIXOTE (To SANCHO) Wilt be good enough to fetch my sword? (Warmly, as ALDONZA assists) Lady, I cannot tell thee how joyful I am that this ceremony should take place in thy presence.
ALDONZA (As he sways) Be careful, now!
DON QUIXOTE It is a solemn moment which seals my vocation …
(SANCHO hands QUIXOTE’s sword to the INNKEEPER)
INNKEEPER (Handling the sword gingerly) Are you ready?
DON QUIXOTE I am.
INNKEEPER Very well, then. Kneel! (Music begins as DON QUIXOTE, with ALDONZA and SANCHO assisting on either side, gets down to his knees. He intones)
Don Quixote de La Mancha!
I hereby dub thee knight.
(He touches him with the sword on each shoulder, then hands the sword back to SANCHO and starts to exit)
DON QUIXOTE (As music continues) Your Lordship.
INNKEEPER Didn’t I do it right?
DON QUIXOTE (Humbly) If Your Lordship would make some mention of the deeds I performed to earn this honor …?
INNKEEPER Oh … of course. (He gets the sword back from SANCHO. He intones)
Don Quixote de La Mancha,
Having proven yourself this day
In glorious and terrible combat
And by my authority as lord of this castle—
I hereby dub thee knight!
(He gives the sword back to SANCHO, again starts to leave)
DON QUIXOTE Your Lordship …
INNKEEPER (Stopping again) Something else?
(This time SANCHO hands the sword back to him)
DON QUIXOTE It is customary to grant the new knight an added name. If Your Lordship could devise such a name for me … ?
INNKEEPER Hmmm. (He reflects a moment, looking at the battered face. He gets an inspiration and sings)
Hail, Knight of the Woeful Countenance,
Knight of the Woeful Countenance!
Wherever you go
People will know
Of the glorious deeds of the Knight of the Woe—
Ful Countenance!
Farewell and good cheer, oh my brave cavalier,
Ride onward to glorious strife.
I swear when you’re gone I’ll remember you well
For all of the rest of my life!
Hail, Knight of the Woeful Countenance,
Knight of the Woeful Countenance!
Wherever you go,
Face to the foe,
They will quail at the sight of the Knight o
f the Woe—
Ful Countenance!
Oh valorous knight, go and fight for the right,
And battle all villains that be.
But oh, when you do, what will happen to you
Thank God I won’t be there to see!
INNKEEPER, ALDONZA and SANCHO
Hail, Knight of the Woeful Countenance!
Knight of the Woeful Countenance!
Wherever you go
People will know
Of the glorious deeds of the Knight of the Woe—
Ful count—te—nance!
DON QUIXOTE (Ecstatically) I thank thee.
INNKEEPER (Handing the sword to QUIXOTE) Now, Sir Knight, I am going to bed. And I advise you to do the same!
(He exits)
DON QUIXOTE (Still on his knees; raptly) Knight of the Woeful Countenance …
ALDONZA (In tears) It’s a beautiful name.
SANCHO Come, Your Grace. (Helping him to his feet) Let’s get you to bed.
DON QUIXOTE Not yet. I owe something to my enemies.
ALDONZA That account’s been paid!
DON QUIXOTE No, my lady. I must raise them up and minister to their wounds.
ALDONZA (Aghast) What?
DON QUIXOTE Nobility demands.
ALDONZA It does?
DON QUIXOTE Yes, my lady. Therefore I shall take these—
ALDONZA (Firmly, snatching up the bandages) No, you won’t. I’ll take them. I’ll minister.
DON QUIXOTE But—
ALDONZA (Simply) They were my enemies, too.
DON QUIXOTE (With emotion) Oh, blessed one …!
SANCHO (Helping QUIXOTE) Come, Your Grace.
DON QUIXOTE (As they exit) Blessed one! Ah, blessed one …!
(The lighting changes as ALDONZA enters the interior of the Inn. The MULETEERS lie about the room, moaning, licking their wounds. PEDRO lifts his head as he sees her)
PEDRO (In a growl) What do you think you’re doing?
ALDONZA (Matter-of-factly) I’m going to minister to your wounds.
PEDRO You’re … what?
ALDONZA Nobility demands. (Kneeling beside JOSE) Turn over, you poxy goat.
(JOSE’s eyes light up with cat-and-mouse savagery as ALDONZA bends over him. With a shout he seizes her, and the other MULETEERS pounce upon her, also.
Music: a sardonic version of “Little Bird” as with methodical, ritualistic brutality, in choreographic staging the MULETEERS bind, gag, beat and ravage ALDONZA. She fights back as best she can but the fight is hopeless and she must submit. FERMINA enters and watches, sadistically gleeful over the humiliation of ALDONZA.
Finally PEDRO, realizing that ALDONZA is unconscious, signals the others to stop. JOSE slings the brutalized ALDONZA over his back and the MULETEERS exit, carrying her off. As they do so, the lights pick up QUIXOTE and SANCHO at another area of the stage)
DON QUIXOTE (Raptly) Ah, Sancho, how I do envy my enemies.
SANCHO Envy?
DON QUIXOTE To think they know the healing touch of my lady Dulcinea! (An ecstatic sigh) Let this be proof to thee, Sancho. Nobility triumphs. Virtue always prevails. (Uplifted) Now in the moment of victory do I confirm my knighthood and my oath. For all my life, this I do swear—(Singing)
To dream the impossible dream,
To fight the unbeatable foe,
To bear with unbearable sorrow,
To run where the brave dare not go!
(Off, faintly at first, then growing, is heard the “Inquisition Theme.” QUIXOTE falters and falls silent. CERVANTES, losing the character of QUIXOTE, comes forward as the volume of the theme grows and the setting alters back to the prison. The PRISONERS are immobile, cocking their heads to listen)
CERVANTES (Uncertainly) That sound …?
THE GOVERNOR The Men of the Inquisition.
CERVANTES What does it mean?
PRISONER They’re coming to fetch someone.
PRISONER They’ll haul him off—put the question to him.
PRISONER Next thing he knows—he’s burning!
CERVANTES Are they coming for me?
THE DUKE Very possibly. What, Cervantes? Not afraid? (CERVANTES shakes his head dumbly. Mockingly) Where’s your courage? Is that in your imagination, too? (CERVANTES is retreating, THE DUKE following inexorably) No escape, Cervantes. This is happening. Not to your brave man of La Mancha, but to you. Quick, Cervantes—call upon him. Let him shield you. Let him save you, if he can, from that!
(On the stairway the MEN OF THE INQUISITION appear. They are robed, hooded, frightening in aspect. CERVANTES is paralyzed with fear, only his eyes moving, following them as they descend into the vault. As they approach CERVANTES, the GUARDS open the floor-trap and drag up a prisoner. They haul him up the stairs. CERVANTES sinks to a bench, faintly.
The “Inquisition Theme” recedes, fading as the stairway is withdrawn. THE GOVERNOR SNAPS HIS FINGERS AT A PRISONER, who brings a goatskin of wine, hands it to CERVANTES, who takes it with trembling hands and drinks deeply)
THE GOVERNOR Better?
CERVANTES (Faintly) Thank you …
THE GOVERNOR Good, let’s get on with your defense!
CERVANTES If I might rest a moment …
THE DUKE (With tolerant contempt) This La Mancha—what is it like?
THE GOVERNOR An empty place. Great wide plains.
PRISONER A desert.
THE GOVERNOR A wasteland.
THE DUKE Which apparently grows lunatics.
CERVANTES I would say, rather … men of illusion.
THE DUKE Much the same. Why are you poets so fascinated with madmen?
CERVANTES I suppose … we have much in common.
THE DUKE You both turn your backs on life.
CERVANTES We both select from life what pleases us.
THE DUKE A man must come to terms with life as it is!
CERVANTES I have lived nearly fifty years, and I have seen life as it is. Pain, misery, hunger … cruelty beyond belief. I have heard the singing from taverns and the moans from bundles of filth on the streets. I have been a soldier and seen my comrades fall in battle … or die more slowly under the lash in Africa. I have held them in my arms at the final moment. These were men who saw life as it is, yet they died despairing. No glory, no gallant last words … only their eyes filled with confusion, whimpering the question: “Why?” I do not think they asked why they were dying, but why they had lived. (He rises, and through the following speech moves into the character of DON QUIXOTE as a musical underscore and change of setting begin) When life itself seems lunatic, who knows where madness lies? Perhaps to be too practical is madness. To surrender dreams—this may be madness. To seek treasure where there is only trash. Too much sanity may be madness. And maddest of all, to see life as it is and not as it should be.
(The music has stated the “I Am I, Don Quixote” theme thinly during the preceding speech, and the prison and PRISONERS have disappeared. CERVANTES is isolated in limbo; the “horses” have appeared. The lights change)
DON QUIXOTE (Singing)
I am I, Don Quixote,
The Lord of La Mancha,
Destroyer of evil am I,
I will march to the sound of the trumpets of glory,
Forever to conquer or die!
SANCHO I don’t understand.
DON QUIXOTE What, my friend?
SANCHO Why you’re so cheerful. First you find your lady, then you lose her.
DON QUIXOTE Never lost!
SANCHO Well, she ran off with those mule drivers …?
DON QUIXOTE Ah, but undoubtedly with some high purpose.
SANCHO High purpose with those low characters?
DON QUIXOTE Sancho, Sancho, always thine eye sees evil in preference to good.
SANCHO (Stubbornly) There’s no use blaming my eye; it doesn’t make the world, it only sees it. (A band of MOORS appears) Anyway, there’s something my eye sees truly enough. Moors! Let’s make a wide track around them, for they’re a scurvy lot and Your Gr
ace can’t deny that.
DON QUIXOTE There, thou fallest into the trap of thy peasant mind again.
SANCHO They’re not thieves and murderers?
DON QUIXOTE Do not condemn before thou knowest! (The MOORISH GIRL undulates toward them) Sh-h-h—a young innocent approaches. (The girl dances lasciviously as her PIMP encourages her, whining a nasal obbligato) Charming!
SANCHO (In protest) But she’s a trollop, and he—why he’s nothing but a—!
DON QUIXOTE Have done with these foul suspicions! Dost not understand what they are saying? These two are brother and sister, offspring of the noble African lord, Sidi ben Mali. (The girl approaches QUIXOTE) Sweet maiden, what wilt thou?
SANCHO I think I know what she wilt!
(The GIRL seizes one of QUIXOTE’s hands and presses it to her right breast)
DON QUIXOTE She wishes me to feel the beating of her heart. And such is her innocence she does not even know where it is.
(The GIRL seizes QUIXOTE’s other hand and presses it to her other breast)
SANCHO (Cynically) Or even how many she has!
(The MOORS dance and wail; the PIMP caterwauls, beating his breast)
DON QUIXOTE (Listening gravely) Much as I surmised.
SANCHO What’s he saying?
DON QUIXOTE A most grievous tale. The noble Sidi ben Mali hath been taken captive and even now lies deep in a dungeon not five leagues from here. While these, his faithful family and retainers, travel the countryside in hope of raising a ransom. (The GIRL dances, putting a coin on her forehead) See, Sancho, how quaint the customs of these Africans! In this charming manner they ask that I make contribution to their cause.
SANCHO Don’t do it!
DON QUIXOTE (Incredulously) Thou would’st ignore a fellow knight in jeopardy? Here, sweet maiden—with all my heart. (He gives money to the GIRL, and the other MOORS take the opportunity to lift his money pouch and other belongings. Meanwhile, to SANCHO) Shame on thee for a reluctant Christian! Shame on thee for a parsimonious wretch! Shame on thee for a small-hearted peasant! Shame on thee, Sancho, multiple shame! (SANCHO, overcome by the rebuke, drops a coin in QUIXOTE’s golden helmet which the GIRL is holding) Ah, Sancho, I knew it, I knew thy heart was good! (The MOORS dance wildly) How inspiring is their gratitude. Let us celebrate in their fashion!
Man of La Mancha Page 5
