love me, fuseli: a play about mary wollstonecraft and her circle of friends

8/18/2019 Love Me, Fuseli: A Play about Mary Wollstonecraft and her Circle of Friends

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Love me, Fuseli – 1 – Freed


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Love me, FUSELI: A Play about Mary Wollstonecraft

and her C rcle of Fr ends

by !ohn Freed

Play"r #ht$s "ebs te:

( http://freed98.wix.com/johnfreedplaywright )

E%ma l: ( [email protected] )

Copyright (2012) by John Freed


http://freed98.wix.com/johnfreedplaywrightmailto:[email protected]://freed98.wix.com/johnfreedplaywrightmailto:[email protected]


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ded cated to my " fe,

Stacy Ale&ander



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Syno's s

"Nearly all re olution! egin on a !tage#" i! a linefrom $%o e me# &' %*#+ and thi! play demon!trate!how that i! e!pecially !o with regard to se&ualones .

*t! other main o jecti e i! to humani,e the 'roto%fem n st -ary oll!tonecraft to let her !pea0 forher!elf without any "i!m" attachment! anddramati,e how her undaunted pa!!ion in pur!uit ofhappine!! and ju!tice tran!formed her into ourpathfinder a! well.

et in 1291 the play i! fact a!ed and explore! theinter influencing of -ary with illiam 3la0e# andhi! wife 4ate# 5enry &u!eli# and hi! wife ophia#6homa! 7aine and o!eph ohn!on# their lea!t 0nownthough mo!t important mutual enefactor pu li!her.

*t more fundamentally explore! the gender expandingtheme! of the competing lo e triangle! etween

oll!tonecraft# &u!eli and hi! current wife# ophia#and oll!tonecraft# &u!eli and hi! once and futurelo er companion# o!eph. &u!eli ! mo!t famou!painting# $6he Nightmare#+ had een hanging on

ohn!on ! apartment wall for more than ten year!.

6here are interlude! drawn from actual trialtran!cript! from the ld 3ailey circa 129; ! whichcontextuali,e the political nature of thi! !ecretmeeting of pro repu lican! conferring with 6homa!7aine efore hi! departure to join the re olution in&rance.

pie! a ound# people are arre!ted and li erated#ac0 find! hi! ac0 again and ill i! launched to

help create the world that we now inha it.



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!ohn Adams wrote in the margin! of hi! copy of

oll!tonecraft ! account of the &rench :

“This is a lady of a masculine, masterly understanding. Herstyle is nervous and clear, often elegant: though sometimestoo verbose.

The improvement, the exaltation of the human character, the perfectibility of man, the perfection of the human faculties

are the divine object which her enthusiasm beholds in beatificvision. Alas, how airy and baseless a fabric . . . !iss

"ollstonecraft #however$is a deep reasoner.%

# NOTE : The rest of his marginalia runs &' pages.$

( r# n a Woolf wrote:

“(ne form of immortality is hers undoubtedly: MaryWollstonecra t is alive and active) she argues andexperiments) we hear her voice and trace her influence evennow among the living.%

W ll am )la*e !aid:

“*or every thing that lives is holy.%

and

“The only man + ever met who didn t ma-e me pu-e was !enryF"seli .%

Mar#aret Mead wrote:

“ ever doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committedciti/ens can change the world. +ndeed, it is the only thingthat ever has.%



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Cast o Characters

Willia# $la%e& (W' ) the engraver, poet, artist,mystic in his mid &01s, already tending to

portliness. 2Also the $aili and Corneli"s *i t inthe courtroom scenes.3

Catherine $la%e& (C+TE) his wife, soul mate andbusiness partner, slightly younger than "illiam.

2Also the screa#ing *o#an in the courtroom scene.3

Fanny Fl"te& (F+NN,) the 4la-es1 elderly and hardof hearing house servant, a comic character a la!oliere. 2Also the *o#an in the gallery *ho thro*s-egetables at the judge in the courtroom scene.3

Mary Wollstonecra t& (M+.,) the feminist writer ofthe “5indication of the 6ights of "oman,% spiritualmistress of *useli, and chief assistant for the

printer7publisher 8oseph 8ohnson approximately inher early thirties.

Joseph Johnson , (JO E/!) the progressive publisherand benefactor extraordinaire of practicallyeveryone in the room in his mid fifties. The onceand future lover of *useli. His manner should be*ather 9hristmas or the benevolent uncle out of a8ane Austen novel. 2Also J"dge J"stice in thecourtroom scenes.3

!enry F"seli& (!EN.,) the gnomish wiss born artistin his early fifties but trying desperately to passfor much younger) has a slight ;erman accent)everyone is oddly obsessed with his charisma. 2Also,

Moses Fort"ne and Constable ingleton in thecourtroom scenes.3



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ophia F"seli& ( O/!'+) *useli s stri-inglybeautiful wife and studio model) her Titania costume

ma-es the most of her breasts as was the style.2Also +nn $roo%s in the courtroom scene.3 Tho#as /aine (/+'NE) the global revolutionary andbridge designer) a-a the mystery guest and vagrant.2Also i#on "therland , Willia# .eid and the #an inthe gallery in the courtroom scenes.3

py ( /,) 2Also deli-ery #an& la#plighter and eorgeWetton , Tho#as Mon%ho"se and Tho#as Co in thecourtroom scenes.3

$ENJ+M'N $.OWN ($ENJ+M'N) A smallish ten yearold boy on trial.



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+CT '

cene 1

ETT'N

*all < in ?ambeth, awor-ing craftsman section of?ondon.

A combination parlor, wor- roomand dining room of "illiam and9atherine 4la-e. Two doors @

one the front door and theother leading to an off stagesecond interior room. (newindow opposite the front dooris large enough for a person toexit nd revels the outline of atree with just a few leavesleft on it.

The set should be dividedapproximately two7thirds forinterior and one7third forexterior street action near thefront7door.

9ate is water7coloring a sheetof 4la-e1s “!arriage of Heavenand Hell% at one end of thedining room table with a number of other sheets from the same

page hung by wire draped acrossthe room to dry. At the otherend of the table is a stac- ofcopper plates. +n front of thetable are unopened pac-ages ofsavory pies and bottles sentearlier by 8ohnson.



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"ill sits by the fireplace overwhich hangs a large portrait of

!ary in 8erusalem in a shabbychair composing in his noteboo-.He wears a tattered dressinggown over his bailiff s costumeand the red wool cap of the*rench 6evolution.

+n the stage left corner is thejudge s bench from the (ld4ailey sitting on high

ostensibly overseeing the set infront of it with the judgealready seated in his robes and

nglish court wig but unlituntil we hear the gavel

pounding. The other courtroomcharacters start assembling onthe stage beneath him.

A spotlight shines on "ill ashe reads aloud from his

oteboo-:

WILLhen my mother died * wa! ery young#

=nd my father !old me while yet my tongue4ould !carcely cry weep? weep? weep? weep?

o your chimney! * !weep# and in !oot * !leep.

6here ! little 6om arcy# who cried when hi! head#6hat curled li0e a lam ! ac0# wa! !ha ed: !o * !aid#"5u!h# 6om? ne er mind it# for when your head ! are#Aou 0now that the !oot cannot !poil your white hair."

=nd !o he wa! BuietC and that ery night#=! 6om wa! a !leeping# he had !uch a !ight# 6hat thou!and! of !weeper!# ic0# oe# Ned# and ac0#

ere all of them loc0ed up in coffin! of lac0.



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=nd y came an angel who had a right 0ey#

=nd he opened the coffin! and !et them all freeC6hen down a green plain leaping# laughing# they run#=nd wa!h in a ri er# and !hine in the !un.

6hen na0ed and white# all their ag! left ehind#6hey ri!e upon cloud! and !port in the windC=nd the angel told 6om# if he d e a good oy#5e d ha e Dod for hi! father# and ne er want joy.

=nd !o 6om awo0eC and we ro!e in the dar0#=nd got with our ag! and our ru!he! to wor0.

6hough the morning wa! cold# 6om wa! happy and warmCo if all do their duty they need not fear harm.

Blay the trio “ oave il vento%from !o/art s “9osi *an Tuti% @https:CCvimeo.comCuser'D''=D>CreviewC


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Deorge the 6hird. 6he 5onora le udge u!ticepre!iding.

!U+ E - 75 .i!pen!e with the formalitie!# ailiff. Det on with

it.

)AILIFF ( *%%)4= Num er F1> =NN 3< G aged 12 profe!!ionun0nown ha! een indicted for !tealing# on the > th day of eptem er # a watch# alue E pound!.# the

good! of Deorge etton # from hi! per!on .

!U+ E - 75 .Do on -r. etton tell u! your !tory.

E/0 E WE11/2 ( 7A)* am a a0er# and li e with my father in e on!hire!treet# -ile end. * am nineteen year! of age. * metthe pri!oner# who wa! alone# a out half pa!t !ixo cloc0 on the e ening of the third of eptem er# in

hitechapel. * wa! Buite !o er. he a!0ed me to godown entworth !treet with her.

* went to a hou!e in oodgate court# into a room onthe left hand# up one pair of !tair!. e were therealone. * had !ixpence in my poc0et# and that * ga eher# and a few halfpence to get a candle.

* too0 my reeche! off# and folded them upcarefully# and put them on a chair. * am certain mywatch wa! then in the fo # ecau!e * tuc0ed theri on of it down. * wa! not in the room a o e fi eminute! when another girl came in# and held me whilethe pri!oner too0 my reeche! out of the room. *got down a! !oon a! * could# and got hold of thetail of my reeche!. 6he pri!oner !wore at me li0e a



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trooper# and hit me o er the head. * got thereeche!# ut the watch wa! gone.

* am Buite certain of her per!on. he wa! ta0en intocu!tody two day! afterward!# y my de!cri ing herper!on to a officer.

!U+ E - 75 .*! the officer in the courtH

M/SES F/01U2E (5 N


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MA2 I2 the ALLE04 (7=*N )2supported by catcalls3

6hey ! trying to ma0e lac0 !la e! outta u! all.

!U+ E - 75 . 2pounding of the gavel3

rder in the court. (a!ide) 5urry up with the nextca!e.

)AILIFF ( *%%)4a!e Num er F12 i! called to the doc0et. ne

3 N =-*N 3< N aged 1;# profe!!ion chimney !weep#ha! een indicted for feloniou!ly !tealing# on theIth of =ugu!t# one !il0 hand0erchief# alue 1;!hilling! the property of 6homa! -on0hou!e#gentleman.

!U+ E - 75 .*! the defendant in the courtH * don t !ee him inthe doc0. h# there he i!. 3ailiff# would you gethim a ox or !omething to !tand onH . . . 4all thefir!t witne!!.

)AILIFF ( *%%)4alling 6homa! -on0hou!e. 7lea!e approach the enchand rai!e your right hand. o you !olemnly !wear totell the truth# the whole truth and nothing ut thetruth# !o help you DodH

15/MAS M/235/USE ( 7A)* !o !wear.

!U+ E ( 75)-r. -on0hou!e# would you tell the court what thedefendant did to youH



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15/MAS M/235/USE ( 7A)

4oming along 'pper -ary le 3one treet hill# thepri!oner at the ar o er there too0 a hand0erchiefout of my poc0et. *t wa! !o dexterou!ly done * didnot immediately mi!! it# till -r. utherland calledme ac0# and he had the oy y the !cruff of thenec0. * turned round# and !aw my hand0erchief in hi!hand. 6he oy# * thin0# wa! ta0en to Duildhall7ri!on. 6he con!ta le too0 po!!e!!ion of thehand0erchief which i! on the ta le o er there.

!U+ E ( 75)3ailiff would you hold up the hand0erchief !o thatwe all can !ee itH

2The 4ailiff holds up a hand-erchiefwith a large flower on it.3

*! thi! -r. utherland in the courtH

SIM/2 SU15E0LA2+ (7=*N )* am your honor.

!U+ E ( 75)4an you !u !tantiate -r. -on0hou!e ! account of thee ent!H

SIM/2 SU15E0LA2+ (7=*N )* can. * m a grocer what re!ide! on &i!h !treethill. -y !hop face! 'pper -ary le 3one. Not eing

ery u!y# * wa! loo0ing out# and o !er ed -r.-on0hou!e go y# and the pri!oner following himrather !u!piciou! li0e. o * watched em !martly and!aw the oy ta0e the hand0erchief ery deli eratelyout of hi! poc0et in a ery compleat way and put itunder hi! own !otty !hirt. * too0 ahold of the oyand called -r. -on0hou!e ac0# although * didn t



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0now hi! name then# and a!0ed him# if he had lo!t ahand0erchief. 5e felt in hi! poc0et! and !aid#

$Ae!# for * had a hand0erchief a out a minute or twoago and now * ha e none.+

!U+ E ( 75)=nd i! that the !elf !ame hand0erchief hereproducedH

SIM/2 SU15E0LA2+ (7=*N )*t i!# my lord.

!U+ E ( 75)=nd to the pri!oner in the doc0# what !ay you tothe!e charge!H

)AILIFF (3%=G )2aside to the judge3

ir# oughten * !wear him inH

!U+ E ( 75)f cour!e.

)AILIFF ( *%%)o you# 3enjamin 3rown# !wear to tell the truth !o

help you DodH

)E2!AMI2 (3 A)


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)E2!AMI2 (3 A)


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!U+ E ( 75)2pounding the gavel3

6hat ! Buite enough. *t ! o iou! the oy i! lyingand the !entence of thi! court i! D'*%6A a! charged.

)AILIFF ( *%%)2in an aside3

Aour honor# now that the oy ha! een con icted# itwould e proper to inform you# that thi! oy hereha! a rother who i! ound o er for tran!port to thepri!on farm! in =u!tralia. * heard the con!ta le!are al!o watching an older !i!ter who they !u!pect

aided him in ro ing that Newport alley hou!e of twohundred pound!.

!U+ E ( 75)2continuing the aside3

*t !eem! we need to !end the family a !ternerwarning. 2stri-ing the gavel and placing a blac-cloth over his wig3 3enjamin 3rown# your puni!hmentfor the feloniou! crime that you are found guilty ofi! to within the fortnight hang y your nec0 untildead.

)E2!AMI2 (3 A)weet a!u!.

2He faints and hits the floor.3

ALLE04 PE/PLE2uproar of boo s and cat calls3

4hild 0iller? . . . 3loody a!tard!. 6hey want to0ill u! all?

!U+ E ( 75)3ailiff# get that oy out of here and Buiet thegallery.



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2The judge bangs his gavel loudly.3

Juiet * !ay or ac0 on the !treet! with the lot ofyou.

?ights fade out on gavel pounding.



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+CT '

cene 2 E terior

As the pounding of the gavelfades to silence, the 5agrantma-es his stage entrancedressed in rags. He curlsaround the lamppost coveringhimself with what s left of ablan-et and pretends to sleep.

The py ma-es his entrance,leans against the lamppost andlights his pipe. "hen hereali/es that the vagrant islying at his feet, he starts-ic-ing him to rouse him andmove him on.

!ary "ollstonecraft enters asif sleep7wal-ing and divertsthe spy s attention away fromthe 5agrant. Although it islate eptember, she is wearinga diaphanous ;ree- goddessgown. he is dramatically overmade up and carrying anenvelope. As !ary approaches4la-e s door, she is stopped by the py.

SP4iy# olly. iy# * m tal0ing at you. hat doe! you

want for itH

MA042 ilent. tands still as a statue.3



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SP47laying dum are yaH -ay e * m in the wrong and

you re really a fine lady what lo!t her way to theprince ! grand all. * need to !niff out what youi!.

He starts smelling her from head to toe. "hile he s doing thisthe 5agrant ta-es out his -nife

pretends to stab him in the bac-but instead cuts the strings ofhis money pouch and begins toslip away with it.

SP4Nope# you !mell! li0e a tart and loo0! li0e a tartC!o a tart you mu!t e. 5ow much for the old ac0 andforthH

MA042 till silent.3

SP4-ay e the !i,e of me pur!e will unloc0 your lip!.3loody hell.

The py reaches for his moneybag and finds it missing. The5agrant stands within view andtaunts the py with the purse.The 5agrant plays “-eep away%with the py in a comic chaseuntil he runs off with the pyfollowing him.

As they run off, !ary awa-ensfrom her trance and approaches4la-e s door but instead of-noc-ing she hides in theshrubbery occasionally pee-ingin the window.



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'nterior

2?ights come up in the apartment.3

WILL2in a singing voice3

hen oice! of children are heard on the green#

CA1E

2similarly singing36he !ow came in with a !addle.

WILL=nd laughing i! heard on the hill#

CA1E6he little pig roc0ed the cradle.

WILL-y heart i! at re!t within my rea!t#=nd e erything el!e i! !till.6he little one! leaped# and !houted# and lau ghed#

2ma-ing it two syllables3

=nd . . . all . . . the hill! . . . . e cho ed.2ma-ing“echoed% three syllables3

CA1E6he di!h jumped o er the ta le

he illustrates this line byma-ing an arc with her brush inthe air in a child7li-e mannersplattering the water on the



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table itself carefully awayfrom the sheet that she is

wor-ing on. he wets her brushfrom colored water in a bea-erthat is identical to the onethat will soon arrive from theapothecary containing theetching acid. NOTE !ary willmista-enly drin- from thecolored water one at the end of this act.

CA1E6o !ee . . to !ee what# ill# how doe! it goH

WILL . . . !ee the ra!! pot# !wallow the ladle.

CA1E6 6 6 !wallow the ladle.6he old pot ehind the door4alled the 0ettle a lac0 a moor.

ill# are you weepingH

WILL6he angel! ha e all left the tree!. %oo0 out of thewindow# on t you !ee# 4ateH 4ate# do you pity meH

CA1EAe!# * do.

WILL6hen * lo e you.

9ate returns to her water7coloring. *anny enters tiptoeing



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through the front door tryingnot to be seen with a bas-et

full of vegetables.

CA1E2loo-ing up3

&anny# * really needed you# today of all day!# toget ready for -r. ohn!on ! tea. u!t loo0 ate erything that he ha! !ent o er. here were youH

FA2242heavy astender accent3 * wa! to the ar erK! on the 4ircu! to get me toothpulled the ro0en off one in ac0 here. ee. 6hen* wal0! to the mar0et then all the way to the 3aileyto 0eep me thin0ing off of the pain. Nothing helped!o * went up to the court gallery. 6here wa! thi!one dirty little lad may e nine or ten year! old whocould arely !ee o er the doc0 got the hanging!entence# he did# ju!t for nic0ing a hand0erchief.*t wa! a eauty# it wa!# with a ig yellow floweron t. . . . ut the e!t part. . .

2distracted while placing thevegetables on the side7board.3

CA1E&anny# what i! the re!t of the !toryH

FA224


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CA1E&anny# would you mind !eeing who that i!H

FA224* can t !ee no one# mum.

CA1E6hat ! ecau!e you ha e to open it fir!t. Ne ermind.

29ate opens the door.3

5ow may we help youH

+ELI(E04 MA26hi! i! for -r. illiam 3la0e hi!!elf.

CA1E* m hi! wife. * ll ma0e !ure he get! it.

+ELI(E04 MA24an t. 6he chemi!t !ay! * need to gi e it only tohim. 5e !ay! if any of it !pill! it ll eat you !0inand one!.

CA1E-r. 3la0e i! !itting right o er there. 4ome in ifyou want and hand it to him your!elf.

+ELI(E04 MA26hat ! good enough for me. 5ere ma m. * ll put itdown right on thi! here ta le for you. -aKm# onemore thing. 6he chemi!t !ay! * wa! to ring him ac0a !hilling# ten without fail.



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29ate carefully unwraps the pac-age.3

CA1Eill# ill# would you pay the manH

24la-e rips a page out of his oteboo-.3

WILL*! that anythingH *t ! my e!t drawing of the manclim ing a ladder to reach the moon.

+ELI(E04 MA2&raid not. NothinK to me.

29ate goes to the cupboard.3

CA1E5ere ! a half crown. Geep the difference for yourtrou le.

+ELI(E04 MA2

-uch appreciated mKam.

2The delivery man exits.3

CA1E6he money i! a goinK# -r. 3la0e. =re you only goingto e happy when we donKt ha e a !ingle penny in thehou!eH



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+CT '

cene 3

E&ter or

The night watchman lights thegas street lamp. 8oseph 8ohnsonapproaches "illiam 4la-e sfront door dragging a bag li-e*ather 9hristmas. 4ecause ofthe lit street lamp he spots!ary "ollstonecraft spying

through the window.

!/SEP5-ary# * wa! !o worried a out you. * m glad yourecei ed my me!!age.

MA04ohn!on# you a!tard. * d rather e a common !lut

than the wife of any man * did not lo e and re!pect.6he ery effrontery of the man to pre!ume !uch anintimacy with my per!on. hat could ha e po!!i lygi en him !uch an notion# you may a!0. 3ut youalready 0now the an!wer.

5ow could you# my only friend# the only per!on that* tru!t in thi! world# do !omething !o . . !oda!tardlyH

-ay e * m the ungrateful one. * am em arra!!ed tothin0 of all my childi!h complaint! when you pro ideme with !uch important employment.

-y life i! !uch a jo0e. * !pent la!t night !witchingetween laughing and crying.

hen * recei ed your in itation# * decided to waylay you. id you ring that Derman grammarH



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!/SEP5

hat grammarH Ne er mind that. -y deare!t -ary#plea!e accept my !incere apologie!. -y o jecti eonly wa! to in!ure your well eing long after * mgone.

MA04=fter three year! of wor0ing e ery day !ide y !ide#you don t 0now me at all# do youH * 0new * would etoo agitated to explain my!elf clearly when we metC!o * wrote it all out thi! morning in a letteraddre!!ed to %owry. 4an * read it to you now without

any interruption!H

!/SEP5f cour!e# -ary.

2!ary opens the envelope.3

MA04$-r. %owry# *t i! inexpre!!i ly di!agreea le to meto e o liged to enter again on a !u ject# that ha!already rai!ed a tumult of indignant emotion! in my

o!om# which * wa! la oring to !uppre!! when *recei ed your letter.

* !hall now conde!cend to an!wer your epi!tleC utlet me fir!t tell you# that# in my unprotected!ituation# * ma0e a point of ne er forgi ing adeli erate in!ult L and in that light * con!ideryour late officiou! conduct.

!/SEP55ow can you con!ider a propo!al of honora lemarriage $officiou!+ conductH

MA04* need no interrogator.



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!/SEP5-y apologie!.

MA04* !hall read on . . .

$*t i! not according to my nature to mince matter! L* will tell you in plain term! what * thin0. * ha ee er con!idered you merely a ci il acBuaintance.5ow could you e !o rude a! to pre!ume an intimacy

more than thatH

*f my $friend#+ -r. ohn!on# had made !uch apropo!al# * !hould ha e een !e erely hurt L ha ethought him un0ind and unfeeling# ut not

impertinent.

*n a! few word! a! po!!i le# what * can not toleratei! the are !uppo!ition that * could for a momentthin0 of pro!tituting my per!on for a maintenanceCfor in that point of iew doe! !uch a marriageappear to me.

=n apology i! not nece!!ary L if you were inclinedto ma0e one L nor any further expo!tulation!. *again repeat# * cannot o erloo0 an affront. &ewindeed ha e !ufficient delicacy to re!pect po erty#e en when it gi e! lu!ter to a character.

=nd * can tell you Buite openly# !ir# * am 7 < utcan li e infinitely etter without your ene olentexertion!. igned -ary .+

!/SEP5* ne er imagined that my good intention! would cau!eyou !uch di!tre!!.



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MA04

ell they ha e. *ndependence i! the grande!tle!!ing of life. *t i! the la!t thing that * !hall

e er !acrifice though * had to li e on a arrenheath to pre!er e it.

!/SEP5* !hall e your guarantor that that will ne er enece!!ary.

MA04h and one more thing. * need for you to deli erthi! letter per!onally to %owery and tell him to hi!face that if e er he and * !hould meet that * !halleither lea e the room in!tantly or el!e pull him out

y the no!e.

!/SEP5* !hall do it.

MA04Now that our !torm ha! pa!!ed# let there alway! ehone!ty and harmony etween u!.

!/SEP5xcept for thi! &u!eli affair and what it i! doing

to you.

*useli and ophia are heard froma distance approaching the doorlaughing raucously.

Juic0 hide. 5ere they come.



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+CT '

cene 4

Henry *useli and wife ma-etheir grand entrance. He islayered in colorful gentleman slacy finery li-e a sFuatfrosted ca-e and is carrying astage 4ottom s ass head.*useli and ophia both have on

powdered wigs. Hers as tall as

a rifle. *useli opens the doorwithout -noc-ing and pounds hiscane on the stage three times.

5E204=ll ri!e and ma0e way for the fairy Bueen# 6itania#and her fairyland paramour# the


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WILL

6he Mirgin -ary her!elf told me it wa! ery fine.hat !ay you to thatH

5E204hy nothing L other than her di ine lady!hip

o iou!ly doe! not po!!e!! immaculate perception.

E&ter or

MA04&u!eli i! my only pa!!ion and hope for joy in thi!life. * ha e ne er 0nown another man who po!!e!!edmore grandeur of !oul# a Buic0er comprehen!ion or ali elier !ympathy than he. * alway! catch !omethingfrom the rich torrent of hi! con er!ation worthtrea!uring.

!/SEP5-ary# your rea!on ha! ecome en!la ed y yourpa!!ion for that pompou!# little man. =nd there i!that other !mall impediment L he i! married.

MA04*f * thought my pa!!ion criminal# * would conBuer itor die in the attempt.


32/93

!/SEP5

Ae!. =ndH

MA04$=nd#+ while correcting them * came acro!! thi!#"6he apt and cheerful con er!ation of man with womani! the chief and no le!t purpo!e of marriage. . . .

here lo ing con er!ation cannot e# there can eleft of wedloc0 nothing ut the empty hu!0.+ =ftermuch thought# * truly elie e that Dod meant for meto read that pa!!age exactly when * did.

!/SEP56hat would only e logical if * my!elf were Dod.6hen in thi! fairy tale of your contri ing you

ecome the grain# and ophia i! the hu!0. *certainly concur with the !econd part of yourpremi!e. 3ut do you elie e that Dod ! de!tiny foryou i! to fatten 5enry ! already di!tended anityH

MA045e ! a great man.

!/SEP5Aou could e the greater woman. 3ut he i! no longerany concern of mine. Aou * !hall alway! care a out.5ow doe! he treat youH

MA046he la!t time we were together he !imply left theroom without a word a! if * were a chair. 3ut thatwa! really my fault. 5i! pre!ence !ometime! !tri0e!me dum li0e in the poem#

*f * meet you !uddenly#* cannot !pea0



33/93

my tongue i! ro0enCa thin flame run! under

my !0inC !eeing nothing#

hearing only my own ear!drumming# * drip with !weatCtrem ling !ha0e! my odyand * turn paler thandry gra!!. =t !uch time!death i!nKt far from me.

6hat i! me. * am appho.

!/SEP52in a stage whisper3* feel a dagger in my !tomach too whene er * !eehim. 2aloud to !ary3 3ut what ! the re!olutionH

appho doe!n t gi e any.

MA043ut * thought * told you. -ilton doe!.

!/SEP5Aou re tal0ing li0e the !phinx now. &u!eli ! drun0!o much of ophia ! lood that !he ll ne er lea ehim.

MA04xtend -ilton ! argument and it ma0e! irrefraga le

!en!e. he copulate! with hi! a!er in!tinct!# and *will couple with hi! mind. rgo li0e the trinity *!hall complete him y marrying them oth.

'nterior

5E204. . . !o ir o!hua cut! my can a! with hi! 0nifeand !cream!# $6he!e are mere toy!# where i!generali,ed truthH+



34/93

WILL

6hat ! what idiot! 0now.

5E204hich i! a! much to !ay that the great ir o!hua


35/93

originated a! royal commi!!ion!. . . 4an you !mellwhat i! in 3ottom ! a!! headH

*useli holds the opening of theass head under 4la-e s nose.

WILL=ll too well.

5E2046hat ! the perfume that the u0e of 4larence wa!wearing tonight. =fter ophia and * arri ed# he wa!

!o ta0en with our co!tume! that he in!i!ted that heand hi! companion ta0e o er our part! in the ta leaui ant. *n compen!ation


36/93

WILL

-ore don0ey# rather.

S/P5IA =re you !ure you re up to itH

ophia climbs on his bac-holding her wig precariously onthe top of her head.

5E204'&&&

*useli collapses and doesn tmove. ophia s wig falls offand she is sprawled disheveled on the floor. !ary and 8ohnsonrush in. 8oseph removes theass head from *useli which hehands to !ary who passes it onbac- to 9ate.

!/SEP55enry# can you hear meH =re you deadH

5E2042waiting then laughing3

hat a !tupid Bue!tion. =lthough * did thin0 that* d ha e to e dead efore *Kd !ee you again# my old

ugger# . . . in hell.

!/SEP5Aou are an oafi!h toad.



37/93

5E204

* !ee my 5elena ha! finally arri ed way too late forher cue * might add. -ary# will you !ee that -adam&u!eli i! all rightH

CA1EAou can put your!elf ac0 together in our edroom#lu . 4ome on now it might ta0e all of u!.

2All of the women exit.3

WILL= elated welcome to our hum le home# o!eph# Aoumu!t excu!e me# gentlemen# * mu!t a note to ma0e.

24la-e returns to his chair by the fire.3

5E2042whispering3

o!eph# * m !imply dying to 0now the identity of ourmy!tery gue!t.

!/SEP5*n the fullne!! of time. * ha e a more importantmatter to !ettle with you. hy do you treat -ary !o

adlyH 5a e you no !hameH

5E204Aou are a genuinely !weet man# o!eph. =nd !ooo

ngli!h. e un!entimental wi!! an!wer you# chamist fGr inder. %et me a!0 you thi!# i! the cat e era!hamed when it toy! with the mou!e that it willeatH * thin0 not.



38/93

!/SEP55enry# are we tal0ing a out mice or our elo ed

-aryH

5E204*! that -ary you !pea0 of your a!!i!tant# yourgo erne!! or your childH

!/SEP5u!t !top what you are doing.

5E204top ignoring her do you meanH 6here i! right now a

!mall !tac0 of her letter! on the !tand near thedoor untouched except y ophie. he had !o muchtrou le with the handwriting on one that * had toread it to her. hat a cyclone it !tirred. * !till

ear the !cratche! here on my nec0.

!/SEP52touching the scars3

5a e you !een a !urgeonH 6hey loo0 inflamed.

5E204-ary !tal0! my e ery !tep. Aou !hould pity me nother.

8ohnson pulls bac- somewhatembarrassed when !ary and theothers return without ophia swig.

5E204Dather around e eryone. ince -ary did not appear atthe all tonight# ir o!hua cut our -id!ummerNight ! ream !cene. 6he u0e !tole our 3ottom and



39/93

6itania !pot! in the ta leau a! * wa! telling theother!# and !ome !illy oy gar led 7uc0 ! line! !o

adly that no one 0new what wa! going on. * wouldha e made an ama,ing 7uc0.

!/SEP5* can well imagine you flitting a out the hall li0ea rolling pump0in.

5E2046hat hurt. a! that a po0e at my corpulenceH

!/SEP5No# thi! i! a po0e at your corpulence.

28ohnson po-es *useli rather hard inthe stomach.3

5E204'&& 6hat really did hurt.

!/SEP5top !tuffing your!elf.

5E204*t !eem! that fate decreed that * would e run toground at the 3la0e! y my dear little hyena . . .pardone, moi . . . * meant to !ay 5elena. %et ! ta0efull ad antage of -ary ! pre!ence# now# and play outour !cene while we wait for ohn!on ! my!tery gue!tto appear.

%adie! and gentlemen# ta0e your !eat!. 6he 3ardawait! our idding. ho con er!e! with ha0e!pearei! not an actor# he i! a $god+ in my eye!.



40/93

!/SEP5

-ary# 5e ! !tealing from your friend appho thi!time.

5E204ur !cene i! etween -ary a! 5elena and * a!emetriu!# her lo er ut not he# her!. r her# hi!.

* !till ha e difficulty with your prepo!ition! andpronoun!. =nyway youKll !ee what * mean.

*useli ta-es out a little boo-from his vest and displays it

for the guests.

Note the fine printing y -oun!ieur ($mon L !ewer+). ohn!on and 4ompany which !hall !er e a! my

prompt copy. nter emetriu!C 5elena following him.

+EME10IUS 7 (5 N


41/93

'!e me ut a! your !paniel# !purn me# !tri0e me#Neglect me# lo!e meC only gi e me lea e#

'nworthy a! * am# to follow you.hat wor!er place can * eg in your lo e#

=nd yet a place of high re!pect with me#6han to e u!ed a! you u!e your dogH

+EME10IUS 7 (5 N


42/93

!/SEP5* thin0 you !hould e much 0inder to -ary. 4anKt

you !ee how tortured !he i!H

5E204heH 5a en t * ju!t told you how !he aggra ate! meH

*tK! the !ame with all women. 6hey !uc0 me dry.Notice how thin and gho!tly pale * ha e ecome. *Kmli0e rpheu! hunted y the 3acchae.

!/SEP5

hy do you lead her onH.

5E204hen * fir!t met her at your !hop !he wa! in the

coar!e ha it of a hermit# lac0 wor!ted !toc0ing!#wearing a ea er hat with her hair lan0 on top ofher !houlder!. hen ophie and * fir!t i!ited herlittle room# !he !er ed !uch a horri le wine inunmatched tea cup!.

!/SEP56hen why i! !he alway! following you aroundH

5E204Aou heard ha0e!peare. *! it the magnet ! fault thatiron flie! to itH 3ut did you !ee# tonight# howmagnificent !he ha! ecomeH

!/SEP5he i! unrecogni,a le. he i! u!ele!! at the !hop

!taring lan0ly# !pilling in0. he ! gone for day!at a time. * had to goad her e ery day ju!t tofini!h the $Mindication+ which ha! now made her !ofamou!.



43/93

5E204

=nd * want her to recant it entirely. * ta0e it a! aper!onal affront for her to attac0 my patron!. 5owridiculou! !he ma0e! me and her!elf. 6he coBuettingof a !trident# female philo!opher can ne er pro eagreea le.

S/P5IA2interrupting3

hen i! it my turnH

2!ary enters.3

!/SEP5-ary# you loo0 much re!tored.

MA045enry and ophia# plea!e forgi e me for ha ingdi!tur ed the Buiet tenor of your li e!.

5E204u!t a modicum of peace and Buiet i! all * de!ire

and reBuire.

MA04* ha e pondered and elie e * ha e arri ed at are!olution that will accompli!h much more than that.

ince -r!. &u!eli ha! the right to the phy!icalper!on of her hu! and# * claim only a unificationwith that terra incognito of hi! mind. *t i! onlyrea!ona le# then# that * ecome your in matere!iding with you a! a family.

=nd a! * want to e a o e reproach or deceit#ophia# thi! marriage propo!al ari!e! from the

!incere affection which * ha e for your hu! and# for* find that * cannot li e without the !ati!factionof !eeing and con er!ing with him daily. Aou may do



44/93

with me a! you wi!h L treat me a! your !cullery!er ant or employ me a! the go erne!! of any

children that you might ha e.

S/P5IA otH ot a leedin nightmare. Aou don t i!it my

hou!eC you haunt it. omeone i! alway! umping intoyou. = a!e get! ro0en. 6here are whole handful! of!alt in the !oup. 6he curtain! . . . the curtain! .. . 5enry# * can t reathe . .. * can t reathe.

ophia melodramatically

staggers out the front door.

MA045enry# plea!e let me lo e you..

5E204* can no longer !tay.

*useli pauses for a moment thengoes out of the door without abac-ward glance.

MA046hy will e done.

!ary drin-s from the bea-ercontaining the coloured waterthat 9ate was using rather thanthe one containing the acid.

!/SEP5-ary# don t drin0 that? . . . h# my Dod?

)LAC3/U1



45/93

F5 M6 'C /lay East 'ndian #"sic ro# this point thro"gh

the inter#ission to the starto +ct ''7 8htt's:77v meo6com7user9 99;


46/93

+CT ''

cene 1

+n the dim light !ary is seenlying on an old settee with 9ate

putting compresses on herforehead. *anny is sitting on athree legged stool facing themchatting away. 4la-e is acrossthe room loo-ing up occasionally writing and s-etching in his

oteboo-.

As in the opening scene themusic is interrupted by the loud

pounding of the judge s gavel asthe spotlight hits him again and the rest of the set is dar-ened.

!U+ E ( 75)rder in the court. =nd you in the gallery# if there

i! another out ur!t li0e the la!t one * ll put youall in jail.

MA2 F0/M 15E ALLE04 (7=*N )6he ell you will.

2general laughter36here ! too many of u!.

!U+ E ( 75)fficer!# remo e that man.

2;allery crowd boos.3Now# 3ailiff# will you call the next ca!e.

)AILIFF ( *%%)4a!e Num er F18 i! called to the doc0et: ne illiam


47/93

feloniou!ly !tealing# on the 19th of uly thi! year#!ix pound! weight of white pewter# alue 1; pound!

!terling# the good! of hi! ma!ter 4orneliu! wift.6he fir!t witne!! i! 6homa! 4ox. o you# 6homa! 4ox#!wear to tell the truth# !o help you DodH

C/@ ( 7A)* do !o !wear.

!U+ E ( 75)


48/93

C/@ ( 7A)6ending the fire! in the room elow.

!U+ E ( 75)3ailiff# call the next witne!!.

)AILIFF ( *%%)4alling 4on!ta le ingleton. o you !wear to tellthe truth a! Dod i! your witne!!H

SI2 LE1/2 (5 N


49/93

SWIF1 ( *%%)* am your honor.

!U+ E ( 75)-a!ter wift# i! that your property lying on theta le.

SWIF1 ( *%%)6here i! my mar0 on the ottom of each piece. 3ut *

can t elie e that -r.


50/93

!U+ E ( 75)

6hi! i! much more !eriou! than a $tric0#+ -r.


51/93

!U+ E ( 75)

6hen -r. illiam


52/93

+CT ''

cene 2

FA224. . . and the man ! wife !cream! li0e a an!hee#$*t ! a death !entence for u! all.+ =nd all theirlittle one! call out# $ e ll e dead . e ll edead. e ll e dead.+ u!t li0e that. * couldn tunder!tand why they wa! !o up!et. here i! thi!3otany 3ayH omeone told me it wa! ju!t we!t of3righton where !he !aid they re uilding a fancy

palace to ri al Mer!aille! ($Mer !ail!.+ ) .

MA04Aour !ource wa! partially correct# &anny# 3otany 3ayi! indeed we!t of 3righton L a out ten thou!andmile! we!t in our =u!tralian colony.

FA2246hat explain! why the fol0! in the gallery !tart!throwing whate er we rought at the judge. * threw a

unch of carrot! me!elf. 6hen the other ailiff!ru!h in. * try to gra whate er egeta le! * can toput ac0 in my !ac0# ut the crowd carrie! me outthe door. hen we re out!ide# one of the men dig! upthi! co le !tone from the road and hurl! it at the3ailey. *t ju!t ounced off the ric0 wall. 5e then!hinnie! up a lamp po!t and !tart! yelling at thecrowd !omething li0e# $6hey re going to hang e eryone of u! or !end u! off li0e lac0 !la e! to wor0for nothing on their farm!. %et ! 0ill a! many ofthem a! we can efore they get u!.+ 6hat frightenedme a it.

MA046hat ! horri le.



53/93

FA224

*t did do one good thing# though.

MA04hat ! thatH

FA224* had forgot my tooth wa! hurting.

CA1E

* thin0 you re up!etting -ary too much with your!tory. &anny# why don t you fini!h !etting place!for our tea. =nd# -ary# try to !it up. o!eph !aidhe ll return a! !oon a! he tell! 5enry that you areall right.

MA04* m !ure that new! will di!appoint him.

FA224on t !uffer your!elf !o# lu . -en ju!t want! a won0

and a wan0. 6he de il made em and the de il canha e em.

MA046hat ! certainly not true of -r. ohn!on or -r.3la0e. pea0 up# ill# defend your !ex. 3ut# &anny#plea!e go on with your !tory.

FA224Now# where wa! *H

MA044o le !tone!.



54/93

FA224


55/93

MA04

6hey can li e with me. e can t !it idly y lettingthe court! exterminate u! one y one. Dod created u!a! human a! they. -ay e more !o.

FA2247lea!e -r!.# don t get rid of the court! and thegallow!. here would we poor fol0! go for a lar0and a !par0H

MA04on t fret# &anny# that ll ne er happen.

FA224*t ! not the court ! fault for what happened to thatwoman. 3lame marriage. Det rid of that and it! dirtylittle con!eBuence! and you ll fix nearly all ofwomen ! trou le!. =! a young !la ey * owed ne er toma0e that mi!ta0e and ha e een a le to ta0e care ofmy!elf and many other! li0e the 3la0e! ery nicelye er !ince.

MA043ut !urely you will agree that ill and 4ate !marriage i! a !hining re uttal to what you are!aying.

FA224hat doe! my !hining utt hole ha e to do with itH

WILL-ary# 4are to hear a !onnet * ju!t compo!ed for youH

MA04* d e honored.



56/93


57/93

MA04* lo e it. illiam# you and * are truly a different

genu!. e !hould only reed with our own 0ind.

CA1En my dead ody. %ea e my hu! and e.

MA04ear 4ate# * wa! !pea0ing metaphorically.

CA1E6hen youKll ha e to meta fornicate on my dead ody.

WILL-ary# 4atherineK! a little !en!iti e a out thi!!u ject.

CA1Een!iti e my ar!e. %a!t year ill came to hi! arren

wife with an in!pired !olution. *t ! onlyreBuirement wa! the di ine inter ention of the human

ody of our !er ant girl -olly.

WILL=! Dod i! my witne!!. . .

CA1EonKt you dare u!e Dod for your pimp# -r. 3la0e.

MA04hat happenedH

CA1E-y perfect hu! and o er there tried to con ince me



58/93

that our path lay in the prophecy of the 3i le. 5ealmo!t had me con inced y that = raham# arah and

5agar !tory. 3ut ill made the mi!ta0e of teachingme how to read. * read the re!t of the !tory that

ill forgot to mention. arah# although tric0ed atfir!t# ecome! furiou! and throw! her !er ant 5agarand her little a!tard out into the de!ert. = rahamthen get! hi! rightful heir and the ewi!h tri e!get egot. 3ut the !tory doe!nKt end there# thi!*!hmael father! the =ra tri e! and the two are!till at war to thi! day. =ll ecau!e = rahamthought he wa! !marter than Dod.

MA04hat did you doH

CA1E%i0e arah# threw -olly out on her ear. o!eph !ent&anny o er when he !aw we needed the help. 2raising her voice a bit3 Aou ha en t a!0ed &anny to ear anychildren yet# ha e you# illH

MA044ate# Aou do 0now that wa! not what * wa! propo!ingto 5enry and ophia. u!t the re er!e really. *will ma0e no !exual demand! on him. 3eing near himi! all the plea!ure in thi! life that * reBuire. * d

e their amanuen!i!.

CA1E= man u what ! itH

MA04* m !orry. *t ! %atin meaning !omeone $within ahand ! reach+ to pro ide per!onal !er ice! for hi!ma!ter. *n


59/93

!la e!. -any more


60/93

+CT ''

cene 3

CA1E&anny# will you go to the door and open it thi!time.

*anny goes to the door andopens it.

PAI2Epare a ha penny for a !tar ing manH

FA224hoo# !hoo you !melly old thing.

*anny immediately pic-s up abroom and starts beating him.

PAI2E* mean no harm. *t ! a hard rain. *f * wa! a !traydog# you d ta0e me in.

CA1Etop it# &anny. 7ut the room down and in ite him

in. e e got plenty.

9ate ta-es an apple and ripping off the end of a loaf of breadon the sideboard she gives themto Baine.

4ome dry your!elf y the fire a it.



61/93

4la-e loo-s up from hisnoteboo- and intently studies

Baine s face. The actor playing Baine should wear a prostheticnose similar to Baine s

portrait at this time.

WILLAou e a ery intere!ting face. -ind if * !0etchyouH

PAI2EAou an arti!tH

WILL* apprenticed a! an engra er# ut * di!co ered earlyon that only * could draw what * imagined.

PAI2E7o!ing i! the lea!t * can do to repay yourho!pitality.

WILLo you 0now who you loo0 li0eH

PAI2ENo# whoH

WILLNo offen!e# ut your face loo0! exactly li0e acaricature of 6om 7aine.

PAI2EAou re not the fir!t one to tell me that# ut * dota0e offen!e.



62/93

WILLhy i! thatH

PAI2E* ta0e offen!e ecau!e it i! the face of 6om 7aine.* m honored to meet you# -r. 3la0e.

WILL4ate and -ary# * elie e our gue!t ha! arri ed. * d

li0e to introduce you to -r. 6homa! 7aine.

FA224=re you the one that !ong ! a outH

PAI2Ehat !ong i! thatH

FA2242to the tune of “;od ave the ing%i.e. “!y country tis of thee%3

Dod !a e great 6homa! 7aine5i!


63/93

PAI2Etop# !top you ll get $ me hanged.

CA1E&anny# get the wa!h up owl and !ome !oap. =nd oltthat door.

PAI2E=nd -ary. =re you $the+ -aryH

MA04hich -ary i! thatH

PAI2E6he fir!t indicator of the right! of man in ngland-ary.

MA04Duilty a! charged..

PAI2EAou re the chief rea!on why * came ac0 to %ondontonight.

MA04-eH * m no ody.

Through this scene *anny bringsa wash bowl and 9ate brings achange of clothes, and Baineis cleaned up and changescostumes right on the stagestripping down all the way tohis underwear while he istal-ing.



64/93

PAI2E=! you can !ee# * m no ody too.

MA04idn t you hear# you re the people ! 0ing.

PAI2E*Km the peopleK! ferret. * learned long ago how toma0e !uch a rac0et in ca!tle wall! that none of themcould get any !leep.

MA04hen * wa! a little girl my rother and * !pent mo!t

of a day with gla!!e! !tuc0 to our ear! followingthe !cratching! within our wall!. hen the !ound!!topped# my rother too0 an ax and a!hed in thepla!ter# lathe and all. =nd there wa! thi! hugehi!!ing rat. =nd eneath her ody were the!e tinypin0 face! L calm and !ecure. &or !ome !trangerea!on * had a ru!h of feeling that * wanted tochange place! with them. hen my rother !wung hi!ax again# * !creamed !o hard * thin0 * pa!!ed out.*K e ne er felt !afe !ince.

Baine pic-s up the ass1 headand studies "ollstonecraft1stheatrically made up face nowstrea-ed.

PAI2Ehat amu!ement did * mi!!H

MA04-e# ma0ing a complete fool of my!elf.

PAI2E* try to do that e ery day of my life. =nd myfriend! inform me that * often !ucceed.



65/93

MA043ut you !till ha en t explained why you wanted tomeet me.

PAI2E*t ! a little con oluted# ut let me try. nce theprotection of indi idual right! wa! !own on to the=merican con!titution# * thought my wor0 onre olution! wa! o er. * then returned to my ngli!hhomeland for one purpo!e and one purpo!e only and

that wa! to gain a royal patent for my ca!t ironridge de!ign and egin uilding them where er *could.

MA04= ridgeH

PAI2E= ridge. hat alue i! a mar0et place on the other!ide of a wide ri er# if you can t ta0e your cartfull of potatoe! to itH 4hanging law! doe!n tmaterially change people ! li e! one iota# ut

ridge! certainly can.

MA046he


66/93

MA044ould it e that !impleH

PAI2Ehen the chief end of go ernment i! to uild ridge!

rather than defending the wealth of the wealthie!t#thi! i! more than po!!i le. *t i! ine ita le.

MA04

* ll play your $!imple+ game. %et me ma0e a !implepropo!al. -ay e all that we need to do to ringa out the eBuality of lac0 !la e! with theirma!ter!# the poor with the rich# the young with theold and women with their hu! and! i! !imply toeducate them eBually.

PAI2E6hat i! exactly what they re trying to do in 7ari!e en a! we !pea0.

MA04* e een a little di!tracted lately. hat i!happe ningI

PAI2E6hi! month the =!!em ly ha! emancipated all of theNegro !la e! in &rench territorie! around the worldand granted them the full right! of citi,en!hip.

MA046o oth men and womenH

PAI2E*! that a !eriou! Bue!tionH 5ow could they



67/93

enfranchi!e !la e women when not e en the Bueen of&rance ha! the right to oteH =nd on the !econd

matter 6allyrand ha! propo!ed uni er!al educationfor all children regardle!! of mean!.

MA043oy! and girl! ali0e.

PAI2ENot exactly. 6allyrand ! argument i! that no girlneed! to e educated eyond the eighth grade and

only in tho!e !0ill! which plea!e men# are u!eful tomen# and ma0e men ! li e! $ea!y and agreea le.+ *elie e tho!e are hi! word!.

MA046hi! i! no more $enlightened+ than


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MA04* !ee. =nd now that you re in their gun!ight! a!well# you wanted to than0 me in per!onH

PAI2E&or !etting me on fire again# ye!# * than0 you.%afayette in ited me to come to 7ari! and accept a!eat on the new National =!!em ly. -y imminentdeparture compelled me to ha e ohn!on arrange ourmeeting tonight.

MA04* don t 0now what to !ay.

PAI2Eay that you ll come to &rance with me to. . .

to .. to help li erate all the women and girl!there. =nd !ay that we ll fir!t wa!h that rouge offof your face.

Baine bec-ons to *anny to bringbac- the wash bowl and he gently washes the strea-ed ma-e7up offof !ary s face.

=nd !ay that you ll get out of that a !urd Dree0godde!! co!tume. 4ate# will you help herH

9ate and !ary exit. Baine wal-sover to examine the pageshanging to dry from the wire.

PAI2E6he!e page! are eautiful. 2reading3 $6he -arriage of5ea en and 5ell.+ 6hat ! a little di!tur ing. hatare the!eH



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WILL

ur contri ution to the re olution. 6hi! oo0 willredeem the world.

PAI2E* e ne er !een anything li0e thi!. hat i! yourmethodH

WILL* cho!e corro!i e acid! which a o e on earth carry

!e ere warning! ut in hell are !alutary andmedicinal. 6hey melt apparent !urface! away anddi!play the infinite hid eneath them.

PAI2Eh# * !ee. * don t want to !ound li0e an old

printer# ut y engra ing the ody copy rather thanu!ing type you ma0e it rather difficult to read.

WILL%ea e out that !ingle line there and you lea e outlife it!elf. 4hao! ju!t !pill! ac0 in.

PAI2E* !ee. 4hao! you !ay. =nd y hand colouring eachpage you mu!t !e erely limit the num er of copie!.5ow many can you produce li0e thi!H

WILLer a hundred a year depending on our health and

all.

PAI2E* donKt want to dampen your !pirit# ill# ut weprinted a 1;;#;;; copie! of $4ommon en!e+ in the



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fir!t three month! alone and !till reached only halfof the northern colonie! efore the war ! end. 3y my

calculation! it will ta0e you a thou!and year! toreach that num er. =nd if your am ition i! . . .

WILL%et me a!0 you a Bue!tion.

PAI2E=!0 me anything.

WILL5ow many people were there in the


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WILL

6hat our one hundred illuminated copie! ha e ahundred time! etter chance of !ucce!! than 4hri!t !word! lown a out y the wind.

PAI2EAou al!o ha e another pro lem.

WILLhat ! thatH

PAI2E*n all of human hi!tory# there ha! een ju!t onereal 4hri!tian and the religion! 0illed him.

WILL* gue!! now# it ! my turn.

PAI2E6o e 0illed or e himH

WILL* al!o 0now one more thing than you do.

PAI2E2a little exasperated3

=nd what i! thatH

WILL


72/93

!ary enters dressed very similarly

to Baine in men s clothing. he hasher hair tied bac- with a ribbonsimilar to his.

PAI2Ehat ha e we hereH

MA042spea-ing ha-espeare3

* ha e lately !hipwrec0ed on your !hore!# my lord.-y name ! 4e!ario. * m at your !er ice.

PAI2Ehat a mar elou! tran!formation.

2whispering33y the way# 4ate# whoK!


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+CT ''

cene 4

WILL5ere come! your fir!t te!t.

*useli tries the door. +t isbolted.

5E204%et u! in for 4hri!t!a0e efore we drown?

CA1E&anny# %et them in.

5E204hat too0 you !o longH e re drenched. h# * !ee

you were entertaining company. o!eph# * thoughtyou !aid there d e one my!tery gue!t not two.

!/SEP52slightly irritated3

=pparently my $gue!t+ decided to ring a friend.5enry# * d li0e to introduce you to 4iti,en 6homa!7aine.

5E204hi!te# o!eph# ha e you lo!t your mindH -y life

will e ruined in a matter of minute!. 6hey ll hangu! all? * m . . .* mmm 6

!/SEP5tay calm# my old utterfly. e re !afe enough here

in %am eth.



74/93

5E2046he du0e oa!ted that hi! !pie! 0now 7aine i! coming

ac0 to %ondon. 6he =ttorney Deneral ha! alreadyi!!ued the arre!t warrant. on t you !ee my life i!in extreme dangerH 6hey ll hang u! all.

PAI2EAou $mu!t+ e that famou! painter L 5enry &u!eli.

o!eph ha! told me how much he admire! your wor0.

5E2042won over instantly3

5e didH

!/SEP5* . . * . . . Ae!# * did.

5E204-y apologie!# -on!ieur 7aine# for any di!courte!y. *rather lo!t my earing! thi! e ening ouncing

etween world!. * do en y your factional encla e!.

!/SEP5-a 4here. Aou can alway! come ac0 to u!.

5E204Aou are !uch a fire rand# 7aine# that * expectedyou d e much younger. -ore li0e your companion.

PAI2Ear exact! it! toll!.



75/93

5E2042referring to !ary3

=nd why i! no one introducing me to thi! gorgeou!fellowH

PAI2E5i! name i! 4e!ario.

5E2044e L !a L ri L o. h# we wi!! lo e the *talian.6heir !altine!! pair! !o well with our chocolate.

WILL=nd * elie e you ha e met him efore.

5E204* cannot elie e that i! !o. * would ha e ne erforgotten !uch a hand!ome face and figure. * mu!tpaint you.

MA04ignore# you ma0a me lu!h.

5E204Aou are lu!hing. 5a e we indeed met eforeH

MA04*na the temple# ina the town# ina the field! youha e done me mi!chief.

5E204* lo e riddle!. $*n the temple+H =re you ewi!hthenH 6hat * would remem er. $*n the field!+H



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Henry bends !ary s head down tosee if the top of her head

loo-s familiar.

6hat ! it. e met in the par0 unday la!t.

!/SEP55enry# do you really not recogni,e the hyena inpetticoat! who plagued you !o the!e many month! andnot e en an hour agoH

!ary undoes the ribbon that held

her hair bac- to sha-e it out in*useli s face and laughs.

MA04Moila# he i! !he?

5E204-ary? id you all con!pire to concoct thi! rudetric0 on meH

!/SEP5h ye!# 5enry# e erything that ha! happened thi!

e ening wa! a out ma0ing a fool out of you. 7ainecame all the way from -anche!ter ri!0ingimpri!onment for the performance.

5E2042musing3

6onight ma0e! me thin0 that it wa! ery !imilar Lut not a! em arra!!ing L to what -r!. ordan did

when !he fir!t met the u0e.



77/93

!/SEP5it down e ery ody. * elie e 5enry ha! gotten hi!

!econd wind and there ll e no !topping him. -ary#did you !ee where they put that ag that * roughtwith meH

MA044ate put it y the fireplace.

5E204hen the u0e and hi! ma!0ed 5ippolyta were

announced earlier in thi! e ening# %ady &acilepractically ripped the !lee e from my lou!edragging me into a corner. 5er face wa! inflatingand reddening !o li0e a alloon * thought her headwould ur!t.

!/SEP55enry# m ore matter# with le!! art.

5E204-adam# * !wear * u!e no art at all. =ll right. 6hegi!t wa! that %ady &acile told me that 5ippolytawa! none other than that piece of *ri!h aggage from4o ent Darden! L the notoriou! -r!. (and * u!e thatterm ery ca!ually)# ordan or -r!. &ord orwhate er name !he i! u!ing now.

%ady &acile al!o filled me in on the !trumpet tric0that -r!. ordan u!ed a few wee0! earlier to en!narethe u0e. he claim! !he wa! an eye witne!! to thee!capade. * 0now o!eph i!n t intere!ted# ut doe!anyone el!e want to hear the deliciou! detail!H

CA1E* do.


http://genius.com/1836919/William-shakespeare-hamlet-act-2-scene-2/More-matter-with-less-arthttp://genius.com/1836919/William-shakespeare-hamlet-act-2-scene-2/More-matter-with-less-art


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FA224

-e too.

MA04-r!. ordan fa!cinate! me.

5E204=nyone el!eH NoH Ae!H *t i! !ettled then.

4ourte!y doth truly demand6hat a lady ! wi!h i! a gentleman ! command.

!/SEP5-ary# what do you thin0H -oliereH

MA04efinitely -oliere.

5E2046he !tory from the mouth of the hor!e i! that %ady3umfrey approached -r!. ordan after a performanceof $ he ould and he ould Not+ with an in itationto one of her grand tea!. 6he inciting new!# that!he !hared with her# wa! that the u0e of 4larence#him!elf# had reBue!ted it. 6hi! wa!# of cour!e# derigeur and a familiar occupation for her lady!hip.

PAI2EAou mean to !ay !he ! the du0e ! panderer.

5E2044rudely put ut accurate. ell then * am ju!tgetting to the deliciou! part. 6hat wa! -r!.

ordan ! counter propo!al. =nd gue!! what that wa!H



79/93

!/SEP5

u!t get on with it.

5E204Aou really are !uch a 7uritan. Aou ne er appreciatedmy flouri!he!. ell then here it i!. -r!. ordanwanted to attend the tea in the li ery of an under

utler and while !er ing the u0e whi!per to himthat he L -r!. ordan that i! L had a !i!ter wor0ing

elow !tair! who wa! !o enamoured with the u0e !per!on# that !he longed to gi e her!elf to him right

there and then. *n rief the inflamed u0e wa! toldto !nea0 off in a half hour eBuipped with thelocation and a 0ey to the room.

h# and one more detail# the utler told the u0ethat hi! !i!ter wa! !hy# eing a irgin# andreBuired to wear a eil throughout their engagement.


80/93

5E204

5ow !oH

MA04


81/93

5E204

ther than the pox.

MA04o you really elie e that !omeone a! careful to

co!tume her!elf down to the la!t ra!! utton of%ady 3umfrey ! li ery and pa!! her!elf off a! a

irgin would e na0ed to that e entualityH 5enry#are you really !uch a childH

!/SEP5Aou e characteri,ed the man entirely.

5E2046hen !he reappear! a! %ittle 3o 7eep and ha! eenroyally rogering him e er !ince. o# -ary# thi!dre!!ing li0e a man tric0 wa! what you tried to playwith me.

MA04a! !he allowed to ring her children with herH

5E204hereH

MA046o li e with the u0e at 3u!hy 5ou!e.

5E204f cour!e not. 6hat indeed would ha e made it la

!candale intolera le.



82/93

MA04he and her fellow actre!!e! may e the only free

women in ngland. * e!pecially mar el at howcle erly !he ha! managed to retain thi! freedomwhile increa!ing her worth.

5E2042clearly irritated3

Aou ha e more to addH

MA04

4on!ider it more deeply. 3y maneu ering into !uch aninappropriate match# !he ha! completely in!ulatedher!elf from the !la ery of marriage. 6he prince canne er marry her and no man would dare ecome theprince ! ri al. hen her life with the prince

ecome! intolera le# and it !urely will# !he canpac0 her ali!e and !lam the door.

=nd y de!erting the prince !he will enhance othher alue and percei ed morality. 6hat i! the exactoppo!ite of a wife ! lea e ta0ing. -r!. ordan !almo!t thou!and pound! a year from the !tage alreadyexceeded that of mo!t landed !Buire!. *t ! certainlymany time! !uperior to your own# 5err &u!eli.

!/SEP5he certainly i! not !afe from the !a agery of the

ga,ette! and the lancing of Dilray ! cartoon!.

MA04=nd e ery time her name appear! on paper hundred!more playgoer! floc0 to ear witne!! to her di!graceand !nea0 a pee0 into the prince ! !eraglio.



83/93

!/SEP56he 4ritical


84/93

at 6renton. * read u a. *t did wonder! to rou!ethe men ! !pirit!. * thin0 it al!o helped put them

to !leep.

MA043efore we ore our!el e! to !leep. &ather 4hri!tma!#what did you ring u! in your !ac0H

8ohnson drags out the sac- fromnear the fireplace.

!/SEP5%et ! !ee here. &or ill * ha e fre!hly printed#with your new engra ing!# -ary ! $ riginal torie!from


85/93

WILL

-ay e it helped that you put -ary ! name on theco er thi! time.

PAI2E&or -ary ! next oo0# how doe! a $Mindication of the


86/93

PAI2E

hat ! thi! forH

!/SEP5*t i! a enefactor ! ad ance to encourage you towrite the !econd olume of your


87/93

5E204

2intercepting them3No need for that. 5e ll go peacea ly.

SP4=nd who# %ord 7antalone!# do you eH

5E204= clo!e friend.

SP4= fellow con!piratant you mean. e got room in thecell for the oth of you.

5E2044ome along now# -r. 7aine# all !hall e well. * willgo with thee.

!/SEP5( in a stage whisper3

u!t lo e me# &u!eli.

5E2042openly -issing him and spea-ing loudly3

=nd with a 0i!! we marchon together.

SP4o 7aine ! a poofter too.

2The three men exit.3

PAI2E6hat i! my cue to exit !tage left. ill and 4ate#than0 you for the 0ind ne!! and to my mo!t loyal!u ject# &anny# * du thee 4iti,en &lute# a peer ofthe realm.



88/93

FA224Aou !wept me o er the moon.

PAI2Eill# here ! the cheBue that &ather 4hri!tma! ga e

me to ail him out of jail. -ary# follow me to 7ari!a! !oon a! you can. *t ! out the window and o er thegarden wall for me.

2Baine exits through the window.3

MA04ill# * don t 0now what * !hould doH

WILL-ary# you e alway! 0nown what you need to 0now.

MA04* want . . . * want. *t really i! that !imple. *ju!t want to e a le to want. =nd that ! more li0elyto happen in &rance or 4anada# or =u!tralia e en#than ngland in my lifetime.

4la-e gets up off his chair and stops her. Buts his red wool*rench revolution cap on herhead and -isses her on bothchee-s in the *rench manner.

o it ! out the window * go# too.

!ary heads toward the windowhesitates for a few seconds andthen jumps out.

$ +C8O6T



89/93

F5 /lay Annie ?ennox and Aretha *ran-lin

9 isters are :oin it or The#sel-es;thro"gh the c"rtain calls7https:CCwww.youtube.comCwatchIvKdr;x=8-* pL .

E2+


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drGx7JkFSp4https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drGx7JkFSp4https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drGx7JkFSp4https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drGx7JkFSp4


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%etches o Tho#as /aine& $la%e?0


91/93

:ra t o The Chi#ney *eeper ro# $la%e?0


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APPENDIX Material

+ stage director #ight choose to pro@ect the serieso i#ages contained herehttp AA***7slideshare7netA@e reedAlo-e=#e=

"seliill"strated inal2 on a scri#7


http://www.slideshare.net/jefreed/love-me-fuseliillustratedfinal2http://www.slideshare.net/jefreed/love-me-fuseliillustratedfinal2http://www.slideshare.net/jefreed/love-me-fuseliillustratedfinal2http://www.slideshare.net/jefreed/love-me-fuseliillustratedfinal2


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For in or#ation abo"t a"thoriBing per or#ances&

contact John Freed7

'hoto courtesy: B ? =D Stacy Ale&ander

!ohn Freed

%

love me, fuseli: a play about mary wollstonecraft and her circle of friends

Documents