THE MYSTERIOUS STRANGER A Play in One Act by JB Saavedra (c) 1992 John J Baca-Saavedra 3212 SE Morrison St #9 Portland, OR 97214 Phone/Fax: 503-736-9928 Theodor is the narrator. He also acts as the leader of a three- person Chorus made up of Theodor, Marget & Nikolaus. The VILLAGER'S CHORUS can be a minimum of three to a maximum of seven people. Villager One is the leader. The size of the Chorus can shrink and grow depending on need and available bodies. I wrote the scenes assuming a minimum of three members for the Chorus. Even though there are fifteen characters including two to six puppeteers, many of the characters can be double or triple cast. The largest scenes are Marget's party and the Trial. The puppeteers will work in Bunraku style with hand & hand-rod puppets. There will also be a Shadow Screen upstage center for use of shadow puppets. Most of the shadow scenes can be handled by two puppeteers although some may require from four to six. Puppeteers and actors can exchange roles. The puppets should be considered characters in the play not special effects. There are nine Masked characters in the play, including the Chorus. The Satan Mask should be golden & beautiful. The Chorus Masks should all be of the same design. The leader is distinguished by costume, and is the initiator of movement and speech for the other members. The persona and costumes of the Masked characters should be based on medieval Tarot card designs. The Mask is the character. The stage can be bare and of a simple multilevel design. For the curtain call I would prefer a tableau with actors in character so as not to disturb the mood of the final scene. I would prefer that sound effects be handled by cast and crew and not be prerecorded. THE MYSTERIOUS STRANGER PROLOGUE Lights fade up on Theodor center stage. THEODOR FISHER It was 1590. I was only a boy. Austria was far away from the world, and asleep; and promised to remain so forever. Some said that by the mental and spiritual clock it was still the Age of Belief in Austria. They meant it as a compliment and so it was taken. Austria was far from the world, and asleep, and our village, Eseldorf, was in the middle of that sleep. News from the world hardly ever came to disturb its dreams. At its front flowed a tranquil river; behind it rose woody steeps to the base of a lofty precipice; from the top of the precipice frowned a vast castle; beyond the river, a league to the left, was a tumbled expanse of forest-clothed hills cloven by winding gorges where the sun never penetrated; and to the right a precipice overlooking the river, and between it and the hills lay a far-reaching plain dotted with little homesteads nested among orchard and shade trees. The whole region for leagues around was the hereditary property of our prince, whose servants kept his castle always in perfect condition for occupancy, but neither he nor his family came there oftener than once in five years. Eseldorf was a paradise for my friends and me. We were not overmuch pestered with schooling. Mainly we were trained to be good Christians; to revere the Virgin, the Church, and the saints above everything. Beyond these matters we were not required to know much; and, in fact, not allowed to. We had two priests. One of them, Father Adolf, was a very zealous and strenuous priest, much considered. Enter Fr. Adolph & VILLAGER'S CHORUS. FATHER ADOLPH I have met the Devil face to face more than once! And defied him. You all know the proof of this; the splotch on my study wall from the bottle I threw at him as we struggled. I have no fear of the Beast! Instigator of heresy, plague & death! If he wasn't such a coward I would have throttled the venomous monster from hell! Chorus crosses themselves fearfully. THEODOR But it was Father Peter that we all loved best and were sorriest for. I was sweet on his niece, Marget. Father Peter and Marget enter. FATHER PETER God in perfect virtue will find a way to free all his impoverished children. Astrologer enters. He wears a tall pointed hat & a flowing robe covered with stars. He joins the Chorus and Fr. Adolph. As for that Astrologer you stand in awe of, he is nothing but a charlatan, a fraud, with no valuable knowledge of any kind, or powers beyond those of an ordinary and rather inferior human being. VILLAGER ONE Everyone knows you can predict wars and famines ... THEODOR Which wasn't hard, for there was always a war and generally a famine somewhere. VILLAGER TWO ... and read anyone's life through the stars from your book ... VILLAGER THREE ... and find lost property. CHORUS Why, even Father Adolph, who has spit on the Devil, respects you. ASTROLOGER Did you hear Father Peter claim there is no hell or sinners. All will be saved. FATHER ADOLPH What! No hell. No sinners. All saved. Heresy! ASTROLOGER What would the bishop say of such talk -- from a priest? Bishop enters & confronts Father Peter. BISHOP Shocking! Shocking remark! From a priest. It has been reported that you made this statement to your niece, Marget. MARGET Never! He never said such a thing! BISHOP "God in perfect virtue will find a way to free all his impoverished children."? Then let him free you Father Peter, let him free you. MARGET Please spare my uncle from poverty and disgrace. BISHOP You are hereby suspended of all priestly duties for an indefinite period! Marget consoles her uncle. Thank God and the benevolence of the Church that I can't excommunicate you on the evidence of only one witness. The Astrologer exits with flourish. Fr. Adolph & Bishop exit. Marget plays a sorrowful melody on her harp while Fr. Peter listens. Chorus, mimes characters narrated in speech. THEODOR It has been a hard year for the old priest and Marget now under the shadow of the bishop's frown. Many of their friends fell away entirely, and the rest became cool and distant. Marget was a lovely girl of 18 when the trouble came, with the best head in the village and the most in it. She taught the harp, and earned all her clothes and pocket money by her own industry. Her students fell off one by one. She was forgotten when there were dances or parties among the youths. The young fellows stopped coming to the house except for Nikolaus and me. Enter Nikolaus, who stands next to Marget & Father Peter. THEODOR(continued) She and her uncle were forlorn in their neglect and disgrace, their clothes wore out, bread was hard to get. Marget finishes melody. Father Peter and Chorus exit. THEODOR We three were always together. Nikolaus & Marget join Theodor. Marget, who has been introduced; Nikolaus Bauman, son of the principal judge of the local court, and myself Theodor Fischer, son of the church organist, who was also leader of the village musicians, teacher of the violin, composer, tax-collector, sexton and in other ways a useful citizen, and respected by all. The three act as a Chorus with Theodor as leader. We know the hills and the woods as well as the birds. MARGET For we roam them always. NIKOLAUS When we're not swimming or boating or fishing. MARGET Or playing on the ice or sliding downhill. THEODOR We have the run of the castle park. NIKOLAUS And very few have that. THEODOR Because we are the pets of the oldest serving-man in the castle. MARGET Felix Brandt. Enter Felix. THEODOR'S CHORUS We went there, nights, to hear him talk about old times and strange things, and to smoke with him, [Aside] (he taught us that), and to drink coffee. He serves them coffee. FELIX I was at the siege of Vienna when the Turks were defeated and driven away. We captured bags of coffee and the Turkish prisoners explained the character of the brew and how to make a pleasant beverage from it. Sounds of storm. Lightning flash. I've seen horrors of every kind. Battles and murders and mutilations. I've seen many ghosts in my time. Witches and enchanters. Once. I was lost in a fierce storm at midnight -- Storm worsens; thunder. -- in the mountains. By the glare of the lightning I saw the Wild Huntsman rage on the blast -- Lightning flash - thunder - we see the Wild Huntsman. -- with his specter Dogs who chased after me. Sounds of howling. I have seen the great bat that sucks the blood from the necks of people while they sleep, fanning them softly with its wings, keeping them drowsy till they die. Sound of great wings fanning the air. Have no fear of the supernatural, especially ghosts. They are lonely and distressed. See! The ghost of the dungeons approaches ... it is near. The dungeon ghost appears, softly wailing. -- many nights it wakes me by passing its clammy hand over my face. FELIX(continued) The ghost does this and exits. But it does me no hurt only wanting sympathy and notice. Now, the strangest things I have ever seen are angels -- from heaven -- and talked to them. No wings. Wore clothes. Talked and looked and acted like any natural person; except for the wonders they perform that no mortal can. They disappear in an instant. Pleasant, cheerful creatures. Not melancholy, like ghosts. Sound of wailing and storm. SCENE ONE They lounge on a hilltop; morning; sounds of spring. NIKOLAUS Felix can certainly weave a tale to mystify mind and soul. MARGET Do you think he speaks true? THEODOR Of the battles and mutilations he speaks from experience. We all know he served in Vienna against the Turks. MARGET What of ghosts and vampires? NIKOLAUS I can swear I saw the dungeon ghost. Did you not Marget? MARGET I did. THEODOR And so did I. (Pause) Let's have a smoke. I brought the pipe and tobacco. NIKOLAUS But I've forgotten the flint and the steel. MARGET Pipe! Tobacco! But no fire? Satan enters silently. He wears a handsome, golden MASK. His clothes are new & stylish. He has a pleasant, friendly manner. SATAN Fire? Oh, that is easy; I will furnish it. Satan takes the pipe from Theodor, breathes on it - - it smokes. Startled, they jump and run. SATAN Please no. They stop. I promise to do you no harm. (Pause) I only want to be friends with you and have company. Here let us have a smoke? A few puffs will ease your minds and hearts. They turn slowly, ready to run. A few puffs to ease the heart. Come, come friends no falseness awaits you here. None. Come; ease your hearts. They move back, ritualistically, to take their seats around Satan. They pass the pipe. A fine tobacco? THEODOR A fine tobacco, yes. Most excellent. MARGET Fine and excellent. NIKOLAUS Excellent, most excellent. (Pause) How did you learn such a strange thing? SATAN The fire? I did not learn it, it comes natural to me -- like other things -- curious things. MARGET What ones? SATAN Oh, a number; I do not know how many. THEODOR Will you let us see you do them? MARGET & NIKOLAUS Doooo ----Pleeeeze! SATAN You will not run away again? THEODOR'S CHORUS No, indeed we won't. Please do? SATAN Yes. With pleasure; but you must not forget your promise, you know. THEODOR'S CHORUS We promise! SATAN What kind of fruit would you like? They speak over each other. THEODOR MARGET NIKOLAUS Orange! Apple! Grapes! SATAN They are in your pockets. They find the fruits and eat. You need not name the thing you wish. As long as I am with you, you have only to wish and find. They continue to find pastries, cakes & other foods. So many curious things -- curious to you -- but in my nature, you see ... He creates a squirrel that runs up a tree, chirps and runs off: [This is a hand-puppet that he hands to another puppeteer, dressed Bunraku style who runs the squirrel up the tree, etc.] SATAN(continued) Nothing to it, really -- what I do. I do not think about it. It is sort of like breathing for you. You would not think about breathing, would you? No, of course not. That would be stupid. MARGET & NIKOLAUS You don't breathe? SATAN I did not mean that. Of course I breathe, now, in this body. THEODOR What are you? SATAN An angel. He has created a white bird [Bunraku]. He puts it down. He claps. The bird flies around stage and off through audience. The three are transfixed. Satan busies himself molding earth. You need not be troubled -- Satan gestures magically, as if throwing the molded earth on to the Shadow Screen that has appeared upstage center. There we see a crowd of tiny men & women building a castle. Appropriate sounds. -- there is no occasion for you to be afraid of an angel. Besides I like you. No need for fear, not from an angel, not from me, certainly. I like you. THEODOR'S CHORUS Might we make some people too?!! SATAN Yes. Marget make some cannon for the walls; Nikolaus make some halberdiers, with breastplates and greaves and helmets; Theodor you make some cavalry with horses. They begin work molding earth. MARGET What is your name? SATAN Satan. Laughing. What is the matter? THEODOR Nothing .... only ... it seems a strange name for an angel. SATAN Why? THEODOR Because it's ... it's well ... it's his name .... you know. SATAN Yes. That Spirit is my relative. Do you not remember? It was an angel. Once. MARGET Yes, that's true. SATAN Before the Fall, my namesake was blameless. NIKOLAUS Yes, he was without sin. SATAN A good family name; there is not a better. Satan, the Elder, is the only member that has ever sinned. Creating an ox on the Screen, he looks at Theodor. SATAN(continued) It would not be a rudeness to ask, Theodor, and I should forgive you if it was. Have I seen the Elder?, or him, as you like to say; for spirits have no gender. Yes, millions of times. From the time I was little, a thousand years old or so, I was the Elder's second favorite among the nursery angels of our blood, to use a human phrase, from that time until the Fall, eight thousand years, measured in your time. THEODOR'S CHORUS Eight ---- Thousand!! SATAN To each in turn. Yes, Marget, naturally I look young, for I am. With us what you call time is a spacious thing; it takes a long stretch of it to grow an angel to fullness. I am sixteen thousand years old. No, Nikolaus, the Fall did not affect me. It was the Elder who used the Fruit of the Tree, beguiling the woman and the man. Two of the tiny workmen begin fighting. Angry voices & scuffling grows. We others are still ignorant of sin; we are unable to commit it; we are without blemish, and shall abide in that estate always ... He gestures: the two tiny men are crushed. ... we cannot do wrong; neither have we any disposition to do it, for we do not know what it is. Did you know that Mars your planetary neighbor is covered in a desert of red dust? That is why it shines as a bright red star in your evening sky. A waterless desert. Do not believe that hogwash about canals and such. It is completely waterless and lifeless, without atmosphere. A crowd has gathered around the two bodies -- wives, priest. Sounds of mourning grow. And Venus another neighbor is covered with tremendously hot, unbreatheable clouds of noxious gases and is frozen on its surface. Humans could not survive either the temperatures or the atmosphere of Venus. It too is lifeless. Again Satan gestures: the mourners, too, are crushed. THEODOR An angel and kill a priest!! SATAN It is of no consequence. MARGET & NIKOLAUS No consequence! THEODOR None of them has yet heard a Mass or seen a church! Except for the priest none were prepared for death, and we are witnesses! It is our duty to tell, and let the law take its course! SATAN Stage lights fade imperceptibly to darkness; spotlight comes up on Satan center stage. During the monologue we hear a Gregorian "Alleluia" chanted by off-stage cast members. I have seen everything, been everywhere, know everything and forget nothing. I learn at a glance; there are no difficulties for me. It is my nature. I was present at the Conception of the World, the Seven Days. I saw the invention of Adam and Eve; the Garden; Temptation; Original Sin. I have seen the Damned writhing in the red waves of Hell, shrieking, supplicating in anguish -- imitation rats in imitation flames -- poor babes, women, girls, lads and men. While in the Celestial realm, abide the Spirits of Heaven, overflowing with Innocence and Splendor; enveloping the intensity of existence. THEODOR'S CHORUS Entranced. We see ..... we see ... Stage lights fade back up. Chanting ends. SATAN Men and women are quite interesting, honestly; notwithstanding they are so dull, ignorant, trivial, conceited, and so diseased and rickety, and such a shabby, poor, worthless lot all around. Humanity is a home of impurities, here today, gone tomorrow, beginning as dirt, departing as stench. You are shamed? You think my manners not good? Why? It is merely the truth, and truth is good manners. Manners are a fiction to placate the powerful and pompous. The castle is done. Do you like it? THEODOR How could we not? SATAN Are your creations ready? THEODOR'S CHORUS They are of no great art. Simple and deformed. Satan brings them to life: We see them struggle to move as they cause havoc on Screen. SATAN I will create a storm and an earthquake for them now, but you must move back a little. The Screen flickers as the storm and quake gather volume: wailing & rumbling earth. THEODOR Can we call the people away, too, please? SATAN Never mind them. The castle & people are swallowed into a chasm. Do not cry. They were of no value. THEODOR'S CHORUS But they are gone to Hell!!! SATAN Oh, it is no matter; we can make plenty more. Let me play for you, I brought this from heaven, It is most sweet to the ear. On a recorder he plays a beautiful melody to its end. Father Peter enters. All are invisible to him. FATHER PETER I can't think what brought me here; it seems as if I were in my study a minute ago -- but I suppose I have been dreaming along for an hour and have come all this stretch without noticing; for I am not myself in these troubled days. He exits. THEODOR He looked at us, but he didn't seem to see us. SATAN No, none of us was visible to him, for I wished it so. Presently I must go away on an errand. THEODOR'S CHORUS Please, not yet! THEODOR We have seen such wonders today. MARGET I want to tell everyone I see! NIKOLAUS As do I! SATAN No, all these matters are a secret among us four. I do not mind your trying to tell them, if you like, but I will protect your tongues, and nothing of the secret will escape from them. When I return I shall introduce myself as Philip Traum, the dreamer. NIKOLAUS You have seen so much! It is a wonder, just to look at you. MARGET How must it be to have such experience behind you? SATAN It is my nature; I do not suffer from your human obliviousness. THEODOR Why do you make such a difference between us and yourself?? SATAN The difference between a mortal and an immortal? Between a cloud and a Spirit? Humanity is a museum of diseases; I am of the aristocracy of the Imperishable. And humanity has the Moral Sense. You understand? The Moral Sense. (Pause) That would seem to be difference enough between us, all by itself. (Pause) I am going on my errand now. THEODOR'S CHORUS Don't!! Don't go! Stay with us! You won't come back! SATAN Yes, I will. I give you my word. THEODOR'S CHORUS When? Tonight? Say when! SATAN It will not be long. Now, I will show you something fine to see. Usually when I go I merely vanish; instead I will dissolve myself. Satan stands center stage bathed in light that slowly dims as he disappears. MARGET I suppose none of it has happened. Father Peter enters. FATHER PETER How long have you been here? MARGET A little while, uncle. FATHER PETER Then it is since I came by. Maybe you can help me? Did you come up by the path? THEODOR Yes, Father. FATHER PETER That is good. I came the same way. I have lost my wallet. There wasn't much in it, but a very little is much to me, for it was all I had. I suppose you haven't seen anything of it? THEODOR No, Father, but we will help you hunt. FATHER PETER It is what I was going to ask you. Why, here it is! The wallet lays where Satan disappeared. It is mine, but the contents are not. This is fat; mine was flat. This is weighty; mine was airy. He opens it. Did you do this? They all laugh at this. Who has been here? They open their mouths -- nothing -- finally. THEODOR Not a human being. MARGET & NIKOLAUS That is so. Their mouths shut. FATHER PETER It is not so. I came by here a while ago. There was no one here. But that is nothing. Someone has been here since. I don't mean to say that the person didn't pass here before you came, and I don't mean to say you saw him. But someone did pass. That I know. On your honor -- you saw no one? THEODOR'S CHORUS Not a human being. FATHER PETER That is sufficient. I know you are telling the truth. He counts. It's eleven hundred ducats!! THEODOR'S CHORUS It is yours, sir! Every one! FATHER PETER No. It isn't mine. Only seven ducats are mine. The rest ... No. It isn't mine. I can't account for it. I think some enemy... ... it must be a trap. NIKOLAUS Father Peter, with the exception of the Astrologer you haven't a real enemy in the village -- nor Marget, either. And not even a half-enemy that's rich enough to chance eleven hundred ducats to do you a mean turn. I'll ask you if that's not so? FATHER PETER But it isn't mine, you see -- it isn't mine, in any case. THEODOR It is yours, Father Peter, and we are witness to it. Aren't we? NIKOLAUS Yes, we are -- and we'll stand by it, too. FATHER PETER Bless your hearts, you do almost persuade me. You do, indeed. If only I had a hundred-odd ducats of it. The house is mortgaged for it. We've no home for our heads if we don't pay tomorrow. And those seven ducats are all we've got ... MARGET It's yours uncle! Every bit of it! And you've got to take it! We've got to take it! Please, uncle? Nikolaus stuffs the money back into the purse & makes Fr. Peter take it. FATHER PETER All right! All right! I will use two hundred. The house is security enough for that much. I'll put the rest at interest till the rightful owner comes. You three must sign a paper showing how I got the money -- to show everyone as proof that I did not come by it dishonestly. Lights fade as they count the money once more. SCENE TWO The Astrologer, Theodor, Marget & Nikolaus on stage. ASTROLOGER How many ducats did you say? You can speak to me, trust me. Father Peter's fortunes have changed so dramatically since his sudden wealth, and Marget has students again. Such a pleasant turn of events for the reverend Father. How many did you say? THEODOR Eleven hundred and seven, sir. ASTROLOGER It is a very singular sum. Yes ... very strange. A curious coincidence. Eleven hundred and six, you say ... a large sum. MARGET Seven. ASTROLOGER Oh, seven, was it? Of course a ducat more or less isn't of consequence, but you said eleven hundred and six before. NIKOLAUS We ask pardon for the mistake, but we meant to say seven. ASTROLOGER Oh, it is no matter, lad; it was merely that I noticed the discrepancy. It is several days, and you cannot be expected to remember precisely. One is apt to be inexact when there is no particular circumstance to impress the count upon the memory. MARGET But there was one, sir. ASTROLOGER What was it, my daughter? MARGET Well, when first my uncle counted the coins he exclaimed that there were eleven hundred ducats plus the seven already in his purse. ASTROLOGER It really is of no consequence to me girl! The matter is settled in my mind. The money is stolen and I know the thief. THEODOR From whom, sir? By whom? ASTROLOGER Why from me, of course, and by Father Peter you stupid, lying youths. THEODOR But ... sir ... ASTROLOGER Quiet!! That man is a known heretic and fool. He was to be evicted when suddenly, miraculously he "finds" a sum equal to the amount I have recently discovered to be missing. Quite a coincidence, don't you think, or don't you? (Pause) Do not obstruct my course. Astrologer exits. Father Peter enters, in chains, led by VILLAGER'S CHORUS to a jail cell upstage. SCENE THREE Theodor, Marget, Nikolaus & Satan appear as if by magic. Ursala enters with a black cat: it is a hand puppet. MARGET Ursala! (To Satan) Our housekeeper, she's been wandering the town looking for work now that I've lost my students again. Oh, Ursala, it's so good to see you and what a beautiful cat. SATAN Have you given it a name? URSALA Not yet, young sir. I don't believe I know you. SATAN Philip Traum. URSALA A pleasure Mr. Traum. SATAN The cat looks like an Agnes to me. URSALA Agnes? ... really? ... you think? ... Hmm ... as good as any. I suppose I must let it go; another mouth, you know, but such a pretty one and it would be such company, (To Marget) Miss Marget so mournful now and the master shut up in jail. SATAN It seems a pity not to keep it; this breed brings good luck. URSALA How does it bring luck? SATAN This kind is called the Lucky Cat. Its owner finds four silver groschen in her pocket every morning, as well a foods to eat, all types, all kinds of food. She need only wish for it. URSALA She searches her pockets. Its's true -- it's true -- and I thought you were making fun of me young master -- I'm ashamed and beg forgiveness, O dear master and benefactor! She kisses Satan's hand over & over. Young Theodor you'll convince Miss Marget that this is no unholy cat won't you; she might send for a priest and have its gifts all purified out of it and then there wouldn't be any more dividends. SATAN You need not worry about your young mistress, Ursala. I am sure she understands both your needs. To Marget. He hands her a legal document. Give this document to your uncle's jailer and you will be admitted to see him, but only in the evening, and not a word to anyone. MARGET How can I repay you? SATAN It is nothing. URSALA Nothing! How can you say that? You are our savior, sir, benevolent and kind. She kisses his hand and exits with cat. SCENE FOUR Theodor, Marget, & Nikolaus, still on stage & with stage lights on, set a sumptuous table. Satan also on stage. When finished they are joined by the Villager's Chorus. Ursala enters with tray of food and the cat. She prances about in a new dress and makeup. She puts tray on table. URSALA Supper's ready, mistress. MARGET Thank you, Ursala. So, Mr. Traum you say you are a lawyer? SATAN No, not really, but I have studied law. MARGET And you would help my poor uncle? SATAN Certainly. I would be honored to represent him at his trial. I see much hope for his release. MARGET Mr. Traum, you are an angel. SATAN It is nothing. MARGET Well, I think it is something! Everyone, my friends, I would like to propose a toast to Mr. Traum. SATAN Please call me Philip. Ursala lays the cat down. It cleans itself. MARGET To Philip, then! For all the gifts and blessings he has brought on this house! EVERYONE Here! Here! Ursala pours wine for all. Fr. Adolph & Astrologer burst in. VILLAGER'S CHORUS stand and position themselves behind the two intruders. The cat runs out with howl. FATHER ADOLPH Give me that bottle! Now, woman! And get a bowl -- quickly! Fr. Adolph pours & pours wine into bowl yet the bottle remains full. Witchcraft!! ASTROLOGER Witchcraft! VILLAGER'S CHORUS WITCHCRAFT!!! FATHER ADOLPH Seize Her! Villagers grab Ursala. For an entire week we've been watching this house. VILLAGER'S CHORUS We have! FATHER ADOLPH Yet not one delivery of supplies was made for this gathering. Not one!! How can this be explained? And where did she get the money for her new clothes and shoes and that frightful face paint? ASTROLOGER Let's not forget the black cat, her familiar ...??? VILLAGER'S CHORUS WITCHCRAFT! MARGET No, please ... don't .. it is .. the grace of Providence smiling on a poor household ... FATHER ADOLPH There are many poor households that Providence does not smile on, or do you think this household somehow more deserving of God's grace? Ursala struggles, moans; she is too terrified to speak. MARGET No, of course not ... I just ... FATHER ADOLPH More likely the curse of Satan falls on this household! Ursala tries to speak but nothing comes. Satan has struck her dumb! Take her to the stake! We don't need a confession for we all witnessed her foul magic ... unless someone wishes to speak up for her. MARGET You mustn't ... ASTROLOGER Careful, girl, you have been observed leaving every night for an unknown destination. It is very suspicious behavior for the niece of a heretic and a thief. FATHER ADOLPH It is best you hold your tongue, lass, is it not? All exit except for Theodor's Chorus & Satan, who gestures magically. On the Shadow Screen Ursala is tied to a stake, the fire burns -- hideous screams. The three are horrified. MARGET Couldn't you do something?!!! SATAN I thought I had. MARGET I mean to save her! I can't bear the screams!!!! SATAN Why didn't you save her? You wanted to. I only prevented you from speaking my name. It was your fear of your fellows that really struck you dumb. What's funny is that no one thought she was a witch or wanted to burn her. THEODOR You have a strange sense of humor, Satan. SATAN And you have none. I know your race. It is made up of sheep. It is governed by minorities. It suppresses its feelings and its beliefs and follows the handful that makes the most noise. Sometimes the noisy handful is right, sometimes wrong but no matter, the crowd follows it. The vast majority of the race, are secretly kindhearted and shrink from inflicting pain, but in the presence of the aggressive and pitiless minority they do not dare assert themselves. Will a day come when your race will detect the funniness of these juvenilities and laugh at them -- and by laughing destroy them? Against the assault of laughter nothing can stand. You are always fussing and fighting with your other weapons. Do you ever use that one? No. You lack sense and courage. Let me show you something. Shadow scene vanishes. Suddenly they are in a factory peopled by sad, shuffling workers (the Villager's Chorus). This is more of your Moral Sense. The proprietors are rich and very holy, but the wage they pay these poor brothers and sisters of theirs is only enough to keep them from dropping dead with hunger. THEODOR Father Peter said that the Moral Sense was the one thing that lifts us above the beasts that perish and makes us heir to immortality. SATAN You should not insult the brutes. A beast does no wickedness. It kills only to survive, yet, the human with its Moral Sense to discern righteousness from evil, usually chooses iniquity. These people are blameless, yet, they suffer more than those who are burned. Factory scene vanishes. Sound of burning. Marget exits screaming. Nikolaus follows. Burning stops. SATAN There. It is done. THEODOR What is done?!! SATAN You believe I wish you happiness. THEODOR I wonder. Yet I feel charmed by some strange, mysterious .... affection .... for you. SATAN I have changed their lives. THEODOR Whose lives have you changed?!! SATAN Marget's and Nikolaus's. THEODOR How? How have you changed them? For the better? SATAN It is my intention. You see, human life is made up of actions and a child's first act causes each preceding act to follow inexorably. Satan gestures magically. On the Shadow Screen we see someone jump into a river & another follow. Theodor is unaware of the Screen. THEODOR God foreordains our lives? SATAN No. The person's circumstances and environment order it. The first act determines the second and all that follow thereafter. I have changed a link for Marget and Nikolaus, a trifle, but enough to change their fates and put them on a different course. THEODOR What will happen? SATAN Nikolaus is now twenty seconds late in saving Marget from drowning. Instead they both drift into deeper waters and are overpowered by the current. THEODOR What!! No!! You can't let them die! SATAN But they are already gone. Had I not done this, Nikolaus would save Marget. Then he would catch cold from his drenching. Scarlet fever would wrack him and for forty-six years he would lie in his bed a paralytic log. Marget would have spent ten years in pain and slow recovery from the accident. After another nineteen years of pollution, shame, depravity and crime, her life would end at the hands of the executioner. Your race never knows good fortune from ill. During the speech the covered bodies of Nikolaus & Marget are carried across the stage by mourners (Villager's Chorus), who chant a funeral dirge. Theodor follows. Satan remains. From upstage we hear a grief stricken howl & see Father Peter on his knees, moaning; to & fro. Blackout. SCENE FIVE Satan & Theodor are seated at the defense table; Astrologer is on the witness stand; Judge, Prosecutor, and Villager's Chorus are also present. The coin purse is on stage, prominantly, as evidence. PROSECUTOR You claim that this money is yours? ASTROLOGER I do. PROSECUTOR How did you come by it? ASTROLOGER I found the money on a road more than two years ago. PROSECUTOR What did you do with it? ASTROLOGER I Brought it home and hid it in a secret place in my observatory, intending to find the owner if I could. I made diligent inquiry during several months, but nothing came of it. PROSECUTOR And then? ASTROLOGER I thought it not worth while to look further, and was minded to use the money in finishing the wing of the foundling asylum connected with the priory and nunnery. So, last December thirty-first, I took it out of its hiding place and counted it to see if any of it was missing. Just as I finished and was restoring the bag to its place, I looked up and there stood Father Peter behind me. Loud murmur in courtroom. PROSECUTOR That made you uneasy? ASTROLOGER No. I thought nothing of it at the time, for Father Peter often came to me unannounced to ask for a little help in his need. In the end I was afraid to contribute the money to the foundling asylum, but elected to wait yet another year and continue my inquiries. When I heard of Father Peter's find I was glad, and no suspicions entered my mind; when I came home a day or two later and discovered that my own money was gone I still did not suspect until three circumstances connected with Father Peter's good fortune struck me as being singular coincidences. PROSECUTOR Pray name them. ASTROLOGER Father Peter had found his money on a path -- I had found mine on a road. Father Peter's find consisted exclusively of gold ducats -- mine also. Father Peter found eleven hundred and seven ducats -- I exactly the same. PROSECUTOR No more questions. Your witness Mr. Traum. SATAN A most interesting tale filled with coincidence hard to explain. There are several points, though, that do baffle me, hardly worth mentioning, but nonetheless baffling. I wonder why there has been no corroborating witness to testify of your possession of this coin after two years of "diligent" inquiry; but, let it pass. I wonder that you claim ownership of eleven hundred and seven ducats when we have sworn affidavits by three youths; two taken from us in most tragic circumstances; that seven of those ducats were the sole and rightful possession of Father Peter; he claiming only to find eleven hundred; but, let it pass. No there is but one point I would like to ask about. I gather that the accuser found this money in a road more than two years ago, is that correct? ASTROLOGER Your understanding is correct. SATAN The money was never out of your hands thenceforth up to a certain definite date -- the last day of last year. Correct me, sir, if I am wrong. ASTROLOGER Correct. SATAN If I prove that this money here was not that money; then it is not his? JUDGE Certainly not; but this is irregular. If you had such a witness it was your duty to give proper notice of it and have him here. SATAN But this is not a new witness. It has already been partly examined. I speak of the coin. Satan gestures, magically, towards the coin purse. JUDGE The coin? What can the coin say? SATAN It can say it is not the coin that the Astrologer says he once possessed! It can say it was not in existence last December! By its date it can say this! The Judge & the Prosecutor reach for coins; general excitement in court. JUDGE All the coins but seven are of the date of the present year. The court tenders its sincere sympathy to the accused, and its deep regret that he, an innocent man, through an unfortunate mistake, has suffered the undeserved humiliation of imprisonment and trial. The case is dismissed. The court explodes in rejoicing. Satan appears in Father Peter's cell, now lit, upstage. They speak. Father Peter collapses. The revelers approach the cell. Father Peter stands, slowly. Satan leads Theodor downstage. FATHER PETER Transformed, he begins pompously strutting about. Why are you not bowing to your Emperor??!! The upstage scene is mimed in silhouette, behind a Screen: the actors as Shadow Puppets. Father Peter struts happily about issuing orders to all. THEODOR What on earth did you tell him? SATAN I told him the trial was over, and he stood forever disgraced as a thief by verdict of the court. That, coupled with the shock of Marget's recent death, unhinged his mind. THEODOR I thought you liked Father Peter. SATAN I do and he will be happy. He will always think he is the Emperor, and his pride in it and his joy in it will endure to the end. He is now, and will remain the one utterly happy person in this empire. THEODOR But the method of it! The method! You don't seem to know any way to do a person a favor except by killing him or making a lunatic out of him !! Satan claps his hands angrily. Blackout. Lights up ten seconds later. SCENE SIX Theodor & Satan center stage. SATAN What an ass you are! Are you so unobservant as not to have found out that sanity and happiness are an impossible combination? Only the mad can be happy, and not many of those. The few that imagine themselves kings or gods are happy, the rest are no happier than the sane. Of course, no one is entirely in their right mind at any time. Anyway, I must say goodbye. THEODOR Never to return? SATAN We will not see each other again. THEODOR We shall meet in another life, surely? SATAN There is no other. THEODOR No other? How can this be? SATAN Have you never suspected this, Theodor? THEODOR How could I? SATAN It is true. There is nothing after death. In point of fact there is no death. THEODOR But ... but ... you've shown me the future life ... I've seen its actuality ... SATAN It had no existence. A dream. THEODOR A dream ... SATAN Nothing exists; all is a dream. God, humanity, the world, the sun, the moon, the stars; a dream; they have no existence. Nothing exists save empty space -- and you! THEODOR I!!! SATAN And you are not you -- you have no body, no blood, no bones, you are but a thought. I myself have no existence; your dream; creature of your imagination. In a moment you will have realized this then you will banish me from your visions and I shall dissolve into the nothingness. Strange! that you should not have suspected years ago -- centuries, aeons ago! Strange because your dream is so frankly and hysterically insane -- like all dreams. A God who could make good children as easily as bad, yet preferred to make bad ones; who could have made every one of them happy, yet never made a single happy one; who made them prize their bitter life, yet stingily cut it short; who gave his angels eternal happiness unearned, yet required his human children to earn it; who gave his angels painless lives, yet cursed his human children with biting miseries and maladies of mind and body; who mouths justice and created Hell; who frowns upon crimes, yet commits them all; who created humanity without invitation, then tries to shuffle the responsibility for humanity's acts on the race itself; and finally, with altogether divine obtuseness, invites this poor, abused slave to worship him! I am perishing already. In a little while you will be alone in shoreless space, to wander its limitless solitudes without friend or comrade forever. You will remain a thought, the only existent thought, and by your nature inextinguishable, indestructible. But, I, your poor servant, have revealed you to yourself and set you free. Dream other dreams! And better! Satan vanishes. Theodor is left alone. Lights begin imperceptible fade throughout speech until