The Tragedy of Mister Morn (8 page)

I … don’t understand?

ELLA
[
quietly
]:

Where is the joy in a reunion when one

is tired?

GANUS
[
quietly
]:

No, I will stay …

[
Moves off into semi-darkness by the round table. Meanwhile the
GUESTS
have been saying goodbye
.]

FOREIGNER
[to
MIDIA
]:

I won’t

forget my stay in your bewitching city:

the closer a fairy tale is to reality,

the more magical it is. But I fear something …

Trouble is ripening here unseen … In

the splendour, in the mirrors, I sense it …

KLIAN:

Don’t listen to him, Midia! He is only

here by chance. Quite the magician! I happen

to know he’s just a merchant’s errand boy …

he carries specimens of foreign goods around …

Is that not so? He’s slipped away!

MIDIA:

How funny

he is …

ELLA:

Farewell, Midia …

MIDIA:

Why so cold?

ELLA:

Not at all … I’m a little tired …

EDMIN:

I too

shall go … Goodnight.

MIDIA:

Foolish man!

[
She laughs
.]

SECOND GUEST:

Farewell.

If a guest really is like a breath of air,

then I leave here like a short, sad sigh …

[
Everyone leaves except
MORN
and
GANUS.
]

MIDIA
[
stands in the doorway
]:

Till next week.

[
returns to the centre of the drawing room
]

Ah, finally!

MORN:

Shh …

We’re not alone.

[
Points to
GANUS
sitting inconspicuously
.]

MIDIA
[to
GANUS
]:

I say, you are far kinder

than my other guests, you’ve stayed …

[
Sits down beside him
.]

Tell me,

where have you acted? Your terrifying make-up

is excellent … Have you known Ella long?

A child … like wind … like a glimmer of water …

Klian is in love with her, the one with

the Adam’s apple and the horse’s mane—

a bad poet … No, really, it is frightening,

you are truly, truly an Arab … Morn, stop

whistling through your teeth …

MORN
[
at the other end of the room
]:

You have

a nice clock here …

MIDIA:

Yes, it is very old …

In its depths there plays a crystal brook …

MORN:

It’s good … It’s a little slow, don’t you think? …

MIDIA:

Yes, I do …

[
to
GANUS
]

And you … Is your home

far from here?

GANUS:

It’s close. Nearby.

MORN
[
by the window, yawning
]:

What stars …

MIDIA
[
nervously
]:

It must be slippery out in the street …

The snow has been spiralling since morning …

I was at the ice-rink today … Morn flutters

like a bird on ice … why is the chandelier

lit for no reason …

[
quietly to
MORN
as she passes by
]

Look—he’s drunk …

MORN
[
softly
]:

Yes, he was plied by Ella …

[
approaches
GANUS
]

It’s very late!

Time to go home. It’s time, Othello!

Do you hear?

GANUS
[
heavily
]:

Well, what can I say …

I dare not keep you … go …

MIDIA:

Morn … I’m scared …

His voice is thick, as though he’s strangling someone! …

GANUS
[
gets up and approaches
]:

Enough … I will reveal my voice … enough!

I do not have the strength to wait any longer.

Off with my glove!

[
to
MIDIA
]

Are you familiar

with these fingers?

MIDIA:

Oh! Morn, you must leave.

GANUS
[
passionately
]:

Greetings! Are you not pleased? For it is I—

your husband! Risen from the dead!

MORN
[
utterly calmly
]:

Risen indeed.

GANUS:

You are still here?

MIDIA:

Don’t!

I beg you both! …

GANUS:

Damned fop! …

MORN:

The hot whistle

of your black glove pleases me. I

answer it with mine …

MIDIA:

Ah! …

[
She runs to the back of the stage, towards the niche, and opens the window in jerks
.
MORN
and
GANUS
fight with their fists
.]

MORN:

The table,

you’ll knock over the table! … What a windmill! …

Don’t swing your arms around so much! The table …

the vase! … I knew that would happen! … Ha-ha!

Stop tickling! Ha-ha! …

MIDIA
[
shouts out of the window
]:

Edmin! Edmin! Edmin! …

MORN:

Ha-ha! The make-up’s running! … There, tear up

the carpet! … Go on! Don’t wheeze, don’t yelp! …

Fight more cleanly! Here comes a comma

and a full stop!

[
GANUS
collapses in a corner
.]

MORN:

Blockhead … He’s undone my tie.

EDMIN
[
rushes in, pistol in hand
]:

What happened?

MORN:

A mere two blows: the first

is called “a hook,” the second “a left jab.”

And, by the way, this gentleman here is—

Midia’s husband …

EDMIN:

Is he dead?

MORN:

Not likely …

Watch, he’ll come to now. Ah, welcome

back! This is my second at your service …

[
He notices that
MIDIA
is lying unconscious at the back of the stage, near the window
.]

O, God! My poor love! … Edmin … wait …

Yes, call someone … Oh, my poor love …

You shouldn’t have, you shouldn’t have … really …

We were just playing …

[
Two
MAIDS
rush in
:
they and
MORN
attend to
MIDIA
at the back of the stage
.]

GANUS
[
gets up heavily
]:

I … accept … the challenge.

Horrible … give me a handkerchief … or something …

How horrible …

[
wipes his face
]

Ten paces apart and the first

shot is mine … by right: I am the wronged party …

EDMIN
[
looks around frantically
]:

Listen … wait … you may find this strange …

But I must … ask you … to decline the duel …

GANUS:

I don’t understand? …

EDMIN:

If you wish, I will take

his place … face your bullet … I am ready …

Right now, if you like …

GANUS:

Evidently I am

losing my mind.

EDMIN
[
quietly and briskly
]:

Well then, I’ll break my vow! …

I will reveal it to you … duty requires me …

But you must swear to me, on love, disdain,

or on your hatred, on what you will, that you

will never speak of this terrible secret …

GANUS:

… I’m sorry, but what is all this about?

EDMIN:

Here, I’ll reveal it to you, he—this man—

he is … oh, I can’t!

GANUS:

Hurry up!

EDMIN:

Oh, come what may! He is …

[
Whispers in his ear
.]

GANUS:

That’s a lie!

[
EDMIN
whispers
.]

No, no … It cannot be! O, God …

what should I do? …

EDMIN:

You must decline!

There is no other way … Decline! …

MIDIA
[
to
MORN
at the back of the stage
]:

My joy,

don’t leave …

MORN:

Wait … let me just …

GANUS
[
firmly
]:

No!

EDMIN:

Why did I break my …

MORN
[
approaching
]:

So, have you decided?

GANUS:

Yes, we have decided. But I’m not much

of a murderer: we shall fight
à la courte paille
.

MORN:

Excellent … A solution has been found. We

shall agree the details tomorrow. Goodnight.

May I add that duels are not to be

discussed with ladies. Midia could not bear it.

Keep silent to the end. Let’s go, Edmin.

[
to
MIDIA
]

I’m leaving, Midia … Be calm …

MIDIA:

Wait … I’m frightened …

What was the outcome?

MORN:

Nothing. We made up.

MIDIA:

Listen, take me away from here! …

MORN:

Your eyes

are like swallows in autumn, when they cry out:

“Southwards …” Let me go …

MIDIA:

Wait, wait …

You’re laughing through tears! …

MORN:

Through rainbows, Midia!

I am so happy that my happiness,

as it glimmers, overflows the brim.

Adieu—Edmin, let’s go. Adieu. All’s well …

[
MORN
and
EDMIN
leave. Pause
.]