Fifty Contemporary One-Act Plays
Chapter 296 : PROSt.i.tUTE. And do you really think it an honor for one to remain with you? That man

PROSt.i.tUTE. And do you really think it an honor for one to remain with you? That man is decent at least.

DRUNKARD. Ah, you grow pious as you grow old.

PROSt.i.tUTE. I have always wanted to be in decent company.

[_As the Beggar disappears, strange figures begin to show themselves in the darkness. Most of them are half-naked. The Fool also comes back. A dog comes wandering into the crowd._]

PROSt.i.tUTE [_looking around in terror_]. It's awful to be with so many sick people. Not one amongst them who is of sound mind. Not one who has a clean conscience. The Beggar has gone away.

DRUNKARD [_with fear_]. The dogs have also come to the fire.

PROSt.i.tUTE. Even they are drawn to people.

[_There is a short pause. The b.a.s.t.a.r.d begins to wail._]

DRUNKARD. What's the trouble with him? Take him away.

PROSt.i.tUTE. That's the Devil in him crying--see him gazing at something.

[_The day begins to grow gray in the east. Strange, awful light falls over all. Now one, now another corner of the street appears and disappears. All is covered with shadows as in twilight._]

DRUNKARD. Praised be G.o.d. The dawn.

PROSt.i.tUTE. How different the light is to-day.

[_The dogs begin to howl._]

DRUNKARD. What are the dogs howling about? Chase them away from the fire.

PROSt.i.tUTE. They are looking somewheres. They sniff at the air. They must see something now.

[_In the distance is heard the sound of beating against tin plates. The dogs howl with fright._]

PROSt.i.tUTE. Something is coming near to us.

[_The Fool laughs._]

DRUNKARD. What is the Fool laughing at? What is he gazing at? Chase him away from the fire.

PROSt.i.tUTE. They all see more clearly than we.

[_The dogs howl again, and gather in one group. Footsteps approach._]

DRUNKARD [_frightened_]. Something is coming near to us.

[_A minute's pause. All waiting in fear. The Thief appears. He carries a woman on his shoulders. The woman has a child in her arms. They are followed by small, poorly clad boys who hold trumpets and kettles in their hands, and make as much noise as they can._]

THIEF [_thunders_]. Fall on your knees. Draw off your hats! Do you see who is coming? The queen! The queen! [_All grow pale, and move aside.

The Thief walks into their midst._] Who is there? Ah, the Fool. Well, how are your armies getting along? Hold them in readiness. Hold them in readiness. The Drunkard! Ah, the right man for the game. [_He bows._]

With awe do I kiss the little hand of Madame Prost.i.tute. [_To the b.a.s.t.a.r.d_]: And your little heir is here also? [_To the woman_]: Take them with you, oh, Queen. They too are dogs like us, thrown into the street. Let them come with us, We have room for many, many.

WOMAN. Take them with us, my man. We will all go together.

THIEF [_letting the Woman down_]. Our company is growing big. Come with us.

DRUNKARD [_awaking from his torpor and looking at the Thief_]. So you are the thief they let out of prison not long ago. And I was afraid of you a little while ago. [_He spits._] That's a fine joke. Always at your play. Who's the woman, and the children? Where did you get them?

THIEF. Brother, this is not play. [_He points to the Woman._] She is a queen. [_He points to the children._] And they are princes. Every one a prince. At your knees before her! Take off your hat.

DRUNKARD. I know this gentleman quite well. He likes to joke.

[_The Thief comes close to him._]

THIEF. To-night is the night when the dogs are delivered. Look at her.

[_He points at the Woman._] Look at us. We were locked in, and we have come out. We are all one family--dogs. We wander on the street. Men have shut their doors in our faces. Come, dogs. We will unite to-day. Throw off your chains, and shake yourself as if you were shaking dust from your shoulders. You are men after all. I have known you from childhood.

I knew your mother.

DRUNKARD [_wondering_]. I don't know what you mean.

THIEF. Look at yourself. What have they made of you? You walk the street all night like an outcast. Your children are afraid of you. They hide when they see you drunk on the street, and weep for you. Are you to blame for it? You were made one with a ma.s.s of flesh you hate. You sit bent over your boots the whole day long, and curses and blows are hurled at your head. And when night comes you crawl in the gutter, and you will crawl there till you will be freed from shame.

DRUNKARD. What are you telling me this for?

THIEF. And are you to blame for this? Have you had one minute of happiness in your whole life? Who took care of you? You were raised by your stepfather's cane. Show me the scars on your body. They beat you from childhood on; first your stepfather, then your "step-wife." No one ever spoke to you as to a friend. No one ever comforted you in your grief.

[_The Drunkard falls to the ground and weeps._]

THIEF [_to the Woman_]. And he is an honest man. I know him. We went to the same school. He had an honest mother. She loved him only as a mother can. [_Whispering to the Woman._] She brought him bread behind his stepfather's back.

DRUNKARD. I will never drink again. I give my word of honor.

[_He weeps._]

THIEF. Don't cry, brother. We are all dogs of the street. But we unite to-day. Come with us, come. We will care for you. We will all be together. Take the Prost.i.tute, and come with us.

[_The old Prost.i.tute rises and looks amazed._]

PROSt.i.tUTE. Me?

THIEF [_taking her hand_]. We will not turn you, nor avoid you. We know what you are. You are not to blame. Who brought you up? Who was your mother? You were born in the street like a goat. Every stone, every hole in the earth caresses you like a mother. You were thrown into the street at birth, and men ran from you as from a leper. Any wonder that this is what became of you? You lay in the street like an old, dirty rag.

PROSt.i.tUTE [_half-crying_]. I am not worthy of such comforting words by a gentleman.

THIEF. You are worthy. You are like all of us. Your skin is dirty, but your soul is clean. Wash your sins away, throw the curse from off your shoulders, and you will become a human being like all of us. You too long for people. I know you. You are good, you love humanity. It is they who have cursed you so. You were always a clean child. Wait. Wait. [_He takes water from the well, and pours it on her._] I wash your head, and you are a human being like the rest of us. The curse is removed from you. Look around yourself. Spring is here. Its fragrance is everywhere.

You are a girl yet, a mere child. You know no wickedness. You are in your father's garden. Your mother sits near the window and looks at you. You are walking with your beloved.

[_He takes the Drunkard, puts him side by side with the Prost.i.tute, joins their hands, and leads them back and forth._]