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diff --git a/12220-0.txt b/12220-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a41b8c0 --- /dev/null +++ b/12220-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,736 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 12220 *** + +RADA + +_A DRAMA OF WAR IN ONE ACT_ + + +BY +ALFRED NOYES + +Author of "The Wine Press," "Tales of the Mermaid Tavern," Etc. + + + +1913 + + + +PERSONS OF THE PLAY + +RADA, _wife of the village doctor_. +SUBKA, _her daughter, aged twelve_. +ARRAM } _two hostile soldiers quartered_ +MICHAEL } _in her house, in time of war_. +NANKO, _a half-witted schoolmaster_. + +Several soldiers. + +THE SCENE is in the Balkans, in a village which has just been taken by the +enemy, on Christmas Eve. + + + + +RADA + + +SCENE--_A guest-chamber, the typical living-room of a prosperous village +doctor in the Balkans. On the left, a small window and an entrance door. +On the right, a door leading into a bedroom. At the back, an open fire of +logs is burning brightly. Over the fireplace is the eikonostasis, with +three richly coloured and gilded eikons, the central one of the Madonna. +The light, which is never allowed to go out, is burning before it. The +room is lit at present only by this, the fire-light, and two candles in +brass candlesticks on a black wooden table under the window. Rows of +porcelain plates round the walls gleam fitfully. On either side of the +eikonostasis is a large chibouk, with inlaid bowl and amber mouth-piece. +There is a divan with scarlet rugs flung across it to the right of the +fire; and there are several skins and rugs on the floor. + +Two Roumanian soldiers_, ARRAM_ and _MICHAEL, are seated at the table, +drinking_. + +RADA, _a dark handsome woman, sits weeping with her head bowed in her +hands, on the divan_. + +NANKO, _the idiot, sits on the floor, rubbing his hands, snapping his +fingers, chuckling to himself, and staring into the fire_. + + + + +ARRAM +Look here, my girl, where's the use of snivelling? You ought to think +yourself damned lucky to be alive. + +RADA +O my God! My God! + +MICHAEL +This is war, this is! And you can't expect war to be all cakes and cream. + +[_They laugh and drink_.] + +ARRAM +You ought to think yourself damned lucky to be alive, and have two men +quartered on you instead of one. If your husband and the rest of the +villagers hadn't made such a disturbance, _they_ might have been alive, +too. + +NANKO +Exactly! Exactly! I used to be a schoolmaster, you know, in the old days; +and, if you knew what I know, you'd understand, my dear, it's entirely a +question of the survival of the fittest! The survival of the fittest! +That's what it is. + +ARRAM +Wouldn't they have done the same to us, if they'd had the chance? We've +got women and children at home snivelling and saying, "O my God, O my +God," just like you. Don't you trouble about God. What can _He_ do when +both sides go down on their marrow-bones? He can't make both sides win, +can He? + +RADA +O God! God! God! + +MICHAEL +[_Getting up and standing in front of her_.] +Look here. We've had enough of this music. We've been cutting throats all +day, and now we want to unbuckle a bit. There'll be hell to pay when the +other boys come back. A pretty wild-goose chase you've sent them on, too, +with your tale about the old Jew's money-bags. What was the game? You +seemed mighty anxious to wheedle us all out of the house; and you'd never +get out of the village alive to-night. Listen to that! + +[_There is an uproar outside, a shot, and a woman's scream, followed by +the terrified cry of a child_: "Ah! Ah! Father!"] + +ARRAM +The men are mad with zaki and blood and--other things. There's no holding +them in, even from the children. What chance would there be for a +fine-looking wench like yourself? + +MICHAEL +Don't tell me you were going out into that? +[_He points in the direction of the uproar_.] +Something to hide on the spot, eh? Well, now you've got the others out of +the way, we're going to have a look. What's in there? +[_He points to the little door on the left_.] + +RADA +[_Rising to her feet slowly, steadying herself with one hand against the +wall, and fixing her eyes on his face_.] +This is war, isn't it? If I choose to revenge myself on those I hate-- +listen to me. I suppose you--want money. And I can tell you where to find +it. + +ARRAM +Another wild-goose chase to the other end of the valley? + +RADA +No. In the old mill-house. Not a hundred yards away. Money, money enough +to make us all rich. But [_a cunning expression comes into her face_] if I +tell you where to find it, you must come back and give me my share. + +MICHAEL +[_Staring at her._] +Another pack of lies! What are you up to, eh? + +ARRAM +It's been too much for her nerves. Don't worry her, or she'll go out of +her mind, and then there'll be nobody to get us our supper. + +NANKO +That _would_ be selfish, Rada. You know it's Christmas Eve. Nobody ought +to think of unpleasant things on Christmas Eve. I don't think it's right +to spoil people's pleasure on Christmas Eve. What have you done with the +Christmas tree, Rada? + +ARRAM +And who's to blame? That's what I want to know. You don't blame _us_, do +you? Why, as likely as not, we shall be fighting on _your_ side against +somebody else before next Christmas. + +MICHAEL +What have you got in there? +[_He points to the door on the left again and advances toward it._] + +RADA +[_Hurriedly and as if misunderstanding him, opens a cupboard between him +and the door._] +Food! Food! Food for hungry men! Food enough for a wolf-pack. Come on, +help yourselves! + +MICHAEL +Holy St. Peter, what a larder! Look at this, Arram. Here's a dinner for +forty men. + +RADA +[_Laughing wildly._] +Better take your pick before the others come. It's our Christmas dinner. + +[_She thrusts dishes into _MICHAEL'S_ hands and begins loading the table +with food._] + +NANKO +If you happen to have any crystallized plums there, Rada, you might give +me one. + +ARRAM +Lord, what a sight for hungry soldiers! We're in luck's way. Here, fetch +me a bowl of water! I'm hungry; but there are times when you can't enjoy +food without washing your hands. + +[RADA _hesitates, then goes out of the room._ ARRAM _holds out a ring to_ +MICHAEL.] + +Her husband's ring. I got it off his finger +When he went down. He lay there on his back +Howling like a wolf, with his belly blown out. +I put him out of his misery. Look at my hands. +Ugh! I want to wash. + +[NANKO _rises and peers at them._] + +NANKO +Ah, but they're red. +Red, aren't they? And there's red on your coat, too. + +[_He fingers it curiously._] + +I suppose that's blood, eh? People are such cowards. +Many of them never seem to understand +That man's a fighting animal. They're afraid, +Dreadfully afraid of the sight of blood. +I think it's a beautiful colour, beautiful! +You know, in the Old Testament, they used +To splash it on the door-posts. + +ARRAM +[_Pushing him off._] +Go and sit down, +You crazy old devil! + +[RADA _enters with a bowl of water, sets it on a bench and returns to her +place_. ARRAM _washes his hands._] + +MICHAEL +My hands want washing, too. +O Lord, you've turned the water into wine! +Fetch me some fresh. + +[RADA _approaches, stares at the bowl and moves back, swaying a little, as +if faint._] + +ARRAM +[Roughly] +I'll empty it. Give it to me. +[_He goes out_] + +NANKO +The Old Testament, you know, is full of it. +_Who is this_, it says, _that cometh from Edom +In dyed garments from Bozrah_? It was blood +That dyed their garments. And in _Revelations_ +Blood came out of the wine-press, till it splashed +The bridles of the horses; and the seas +Were all turned into blood. Doesn't that show +That man's a fighting animal? + +MICHAEL +[_Goes to the door on the right and tries to open it._] +What's in here? + +RADA +[_Thrusting herself between him and the door._] +No! No! Don't go in there! Don't go in there! + +MICHAEL +So that's the treasury, is it? Loot? More loot? +What is it? The family stocking? + +[ARRAM _enters with the bowl and sets it down. +Then goes to the table and begins eating._] + +NANKO +O, no! no! +The stocking is in the chimney-corner, see! +[_He shakes the empty stocking that hangs in the fireplace._] +All ready for Santa Claus. It's a new custom. +They do it in Germany. The children, there, +Believe that Santa Claus comes down the chimney. +The doctor studied in Germany, you know. + +MICHAEL +O, ho! So that's the trouble! A little girl, +Rada, a little girl? Well, Santa Claus +Must wash his hands. We mustn't frighten her. + +RADA +It _is_ my little girl. She's twelve years old. +Don't wake her. She has slept all through this night. +Help me to save her. I'll do anything for you, +Anything! Only help me to get her away +Safely. I'll pray for you every night of my life. +I'll----- + +[_The door opens behind her, and_ SUBKA, _in her night-dress, steals into +the room._] + +SUBKA +Ah, I knew it couldn't be Santa Claus. + +ARRAM +What? Don't you know me? I came down the chimney. + +SUBKA +I don't see any soot upon your face. +[_She goes nearer._] +Nor on your clothes. That's red paint, isn't it? + +ARRAM +Can't help it. Santa Claus--that is my name. +What's yours? + +SUBKA +Mine? Subka! + +ARRAM + I've a little girl +At home called Subka! Just about your age. + +SUBKA +You didn't come down the chimney. +[_To_ MICHAEL.] +He didn't, did he? +[_She runs to the stocking and examines it._] +There's nothing in the stocking. + +ARRAM +Ah, Subka, +That remains to be seen; that remains to be seen. + +SUBKA +[_Pointing to_ MICHAEL.] +Well, who is that? + +ARRAM +The man that carries my bag. + +SUBKA +[_With a sudden note of fear in her voice._] +Mother, where's Father? + +RADA +[_Putting her arm round her._] +He will soon be here. +It's all right, darling. + +SUBKA +Has the gramophone come? + +RADA +Yes, darling, long ago. + +SUBKA +You never told me. + +NANKO +That was a secret, Subka, a great secret. + +SUBKA +I thought, perhaps, you were getting the Christmas tree ready. +Can't we? Father won't mind. + +NANKO +[_Putting the Christmas tree out from the corner._] +Ah, here it is. +Now that's a good idea. It's Christmas Eve. +We'll get it ready. + +ARRAM +Here, put it on the table. + +NANKO +What shall we hang on it? + +MICHAEL +What do you think +Of that, now? +[_He hangs a revolver on the tree._] + +SUBKA +[_Clapping her hands._] +O! O! What a great big pistol! +That'll be Father's present! And now what else? +What else? + +ARRAM +Well, Subka, what do you say to a ring? +How prettily it hangs upon the bough! +See, Subka! + +SUBKA +Why, it's just like Father's ring! + +ARRAM +[_Striking a light._] +And now we'll light the candles. + +NANKO +[_Clapping his hands and dancing._] +Yes that's right! +Light all the little candles on the tree! +O, doesn't the pistol shine, doesn't the ring Glitter! + +SUBKA +But O, it _is_ like Father's ring. +He had a little piece of Mother's hair +Plaited inside it, just like that. It _is_ +My father's ring! + +RADA +No. There are many others +Just like it, Subka,--hundreds, hundreds of others. + +MICHAEL +And now, what's in that package over there? + +SUBKA +The gramophone! O, that's the gramophone! +That's Father's Christmas present to us all. + +NANKO +O, what a wonderful man the doctor was. +Nobody else, in these parts, would have thought +Of buying a gramophone. Let's open it! + +SUBKA +Yes! Yes! And we'll give Father a surprise. +It shall be playing a tune when he comes in. + +[ARRAM _opens the package_. NANKO _capers round, rubbing his hands._] + +NANKO +O, this will be a merry Christmas Eve. +There now--just see how this kind gentleman +Has opened the package for us. Doesn't it show +The value of training, military training? +That's what we want. It benefits the health. +Sets a man up. Look at old Peter's legs, +He's a disgrace to the nation, a disgrace! +Nobody shoots him, either. So he spoils +Everything; for you know, you must admit, +Subka, that war means natural selection, +Survival of the fittest, don't you see? +For instance, _I_ survive, and _you_ survive; +Don't we? So Peter shouldn't spoil it all. +They say that all the tall young men in France +Were killed in the Napoleonic wars, +So that most Frenchmen at the present day +Are short and fat. Isn't that funny, Subka? +[_She laughs._] +Which shows us that tall men are not required +To-day. So nobody knows. Perhaps thin legs +Like Peter's may be useful after all +In aeroplanes or something. Every ounce +Makes a great difference there. Nobody knows. +It's natural selection, after all. +Survival of the fittest! Don't you see? +Ah, now the gramophone's ready. Make it play +"Proud Nikephor Determined!" + + +MICHAEL +[_Taking out a record._] +Why, look here! +Here is the tune for Christmas Eve. + +ARRAM +[_While he speaks he looks to outer door, and draws a curtain over the +window._] +Don't do it! +Don't start it playing if you want to keep +This Christmas party to ourselves, my boy. +The men are mad with drink and--other things. +Look here, Michael, what are we going to do +About this youngster, eh? + +MICHAEL +Better keep quiet +Till morning. When the men have slept it off +They'll stand a better chance of slipping away. + +NANKO +O, what a pity, Subka! I did think +That we should have some music. Well--I know! +Tell us the Christmas piece you learned in school. +That's right! Stand there! No! Stand up on the bench. +Your mother tells me that you won the prize +For learning it so beautifully, Subka. +That's right. These good kind gentlemen shall hear +Your Christmas piece. + +SUBKA +It's about the first Christmas. +[_Her hands behind her as if in school, she obeys him._] +She laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. +And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping +watch over their flock by night. + +And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord +shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. + +And the angel said unto them, "Fear not: for behold, I bring you good +tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. + +For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is +Christ the Lord. + +And this shall be a sign unto you: ye shall find the babe wrapped in +swaddling clothes, lying in a manger." + +And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host +praising God and saying, + +"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." + +[_There is silence for a moment, then the sound of a pistol shot, a +scream, and a roar of drunken laughter without, followed by a furious +pounding on the outer door._] + +ARRAM +Here, Michael, what the devil are we to do +About this child? +[_He calls through the door._] +Clear out of this! The house +Is full! We want to sleep. +[_There is a louder shout outside, and the pounding is resumed._] +Bundle the child +Into that room, woman, at once! + +[RADA _snatches the revolver from the Christmas tree and hurries_ SUBKA +_into the room on the right, just as the outer door bursts open and a +troop of drunken soldiers appear on the threshold, shouting and furious +with drink._] + +FIRST SOLDIER +Come on! +They're in that room. I saw them! The only skirts +Left in the village. Come, it's Christmas Eve, +Comrades. You've had your fun. + +ARRAM +Clear out of this, +We want to sleep. + +SECOND SOLDIER +Well, hand the women over. + +MICHAEL +There are no women here. + +FIRST SOLDIER +You bloody wolf, +I saw them! + +NANKO +Come! Come! Come! It's Christmas Eve. + +SECOND SOLDIER +Well--if there are no women--where's the harm +In letting us poor soldiers take a squint +Thro' yonder door. My God, we'll do it, too. +Come on, my boys! +[_They make a rush towards the room._] + +NANKO +Be careful! Or you'll smash +The Christmas tree! You'll smash the gramophone! + +[_A soldier tries the door on the right. Suddenly it is opened from +within_ and RADA _appears on the threshold with the revolver in her +hand._] + +FIRST SOLDIER +Liars! Liars! + +RADA +There is one woman here, +One woman and a child---- +And war they tell me is a noble thing; +It is the mother of heroic deeds, +The nurse of honour, manhood. + +SECOND SOLDIER +Christ, a speech! + +RADA +Yes, and your training benefits your health. + +NANKO +[_Who is crouching over the fire again._] +Certainly, Rada! Military training! +Life is a battle. + +RADA +You hear, drunk as you are, +Up to your necks in blood, you hear this fool, +This poor old fool, piping his dreary cry; +And through his lips, and through his softening brain, +You and the men that buy you, statesmen, kings, +Teach the poor sheep of the world that war is good. +Go! Take your manhood out of this. Or else---- +[_She threatens to shoot._] +I have one bullet for the child, and five +To share between you and myself! + +FIRST SOLDIER +O, Christ, +A speech! +[_They fall back before the revolver as she raises it._] + +RADA +If you have children of your own, +Listen to me ... The child is twelve years old. +She has never had one hard word spoken to her +In all her life. + +FIRST SOLDIER +Nor shall she now, by God! +Where is she? Bring her out! + +SECOND SOLDIER +Twelve years of age! +That's ripe enough for marriage to a soldier. +[_They laugh._] + +FIRST SOLDIER +She can't shoot! Look at the way she's holding it! +Duck down and make a rush for it! Come on! +[_Several of them make a rush_, RADA _steps back and shuts the door in +their faces._] + +SECOND SOLDIER +Locked out, by God! We'll have to break it down. + +MICHAEL +She'll keep her word. You'll never get 'em alive. + +ARRAM +Never. I know that kind. You'd better clear out! + +FIRST SOLDIER +Come on! We'll burst the door. +[_They put their shoulders to the door and it begins to give_. ARRAM +_makes a sign to_ MICHAEL, _urging him to interfere. A revolver shot is +heard within. The men pause, and there is another shot._] + +ARRAM +By God, she's done it! +[_There is a booming of distant artillery._] + +MICHAEL +Hear that! The enemy! +Making a night attack! +[_There is a loud bugle call without._] + +ARRAM +There goes the bugle! +[_They all rush out, except_ NANKO, _who looks out into the night after +them, then closes the outer door, takes a crystallized plum from the +table, crosses the room and stares at the floor, near the door on the +right._] + +NANKO +[_Calls aloud.]_ +Rada, these plums are excellent. Don't you see +Life is a battle! Survival of the fittest! +Something red again. Trickling under the door? +Blood, I suppose. Well, I don't think it's right +To spoil a person's pleasure on Christmas Eve. +I wonder how the gramophone does work? +He said the tune that he was putting in +Was just the thing for Christmas Eve. I wonder, +I wonder what it was. + +[_He picks up the box from which the record was taken and reads the +title._] + +"_A Christmas Carol +Sung by the monks of St. Peter's monastery +At midnight mass, on Christmas Eve_--ADESTE, FIDELES!" + +Fancy that! How wonderful! +A Christmas carol on the gramophone! +So all the future ages will be sure +To know exactly what religion was. +To think we cannot hear it! Well, no matter, +These plums _are_ excellent. Everybody's gone. +To think _I_ was the fittest, after all! +Come, Rada, you're pretending! +[_He accidentally starts the gramophone working and jumps back, a little +alarmed. He runs to the door and knocks._] +Rada! Rada! +I've started it! Subka! Subka! Do you hear? +The gramophone's working! +[_He stoops down and looks at the floor again. The artillery booms like a +thunder peal in the distance. Then the gramophone drowns it with the deep +voices of the monks, a great chorus, singing_ ADESTE, FIDELES! NANKO _dips +his finger in something on the floor and stares at it. A look of horror +comes into his face. He stands with his mouth open, listening._] +It's true! + + + + +CAST +of the first performance at the Christmas (1913) +Festival of THE MACDOWELL CLUB +OF NEW YORK CITY + +RADA + +_A Drama in One Act by Alfred Noyes_ + +(A Christmas Tragedy of the Balkans, being a +plea for "Peace on earth, good will toward men.") + + * * * * * + +PERSONS OF THE PLAY + +RADA, _wife of the vilage doctor_, Miss Mirzah Cheslir + +SUBKA, _her daughter, aged twelve_, Miss Lenore Phelps + +ARRAM, } _two hostile soldiers quartered_ Mr. Henry Hull +MICHAEL,} _on her house in time of war_ Mr. Wright Kramer + +NANKO, _a half-witted schoolmaster_, Mr. Charles White Whittlesey + +FIRST SOLDIER ....... Mr. Charles Douville Coburn + +SECOND SOLDIER ...... Mr. Harold Herts + + {..... Mr. Charles F. Peters +OTHER SOLDIERS {..... Mr. Harold Butterfield + {..... Mr. W. G. Belew + + * * * * * + +SCENE: The living-room of a country doctor in the Balkans, in a village +which has just been taken by the enemy. + +TIME: Christmas Eve. + +Stage Director, Miss Mary Shaw + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Rada, by Alfred Noyes + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 12220 *** |