ACT III.
THE GAKI
There is love!--Now what shall I do for misery? Old Obaa-San remembers happiness. She has taught O-Katsu and O-Sode to remember happiness. The lovers are reunited;--now they understand.--And I--I, ah, I must die in this dread shape and stay in this hell through all the eternities unless I bring new misery to them. What can I do? (_He turns to see the tree_) Ah--I shall kill the tree--slowly--slowly--and I'll feed upon them all. Aoyagi is bound to the tree as one is bound to his body in a dream.--I'll kill the tree.
[_He draws his short sword and smites the tree. There is a cry from the house and Aoyagi enters quickly, followed by Riki, Obaa-San, O-Katsu-San, and O-Sode-San. Aoyagi holds her heart._
RIKI
Aoyagi! (_She droops in his arms. Obaa-San lays her hand upon her dear child's head. O-Katsu-San understands. The Gaki in triumph smiles again. Aoyagi cries out and shudders as she clings to Riki_) Oh, whatever power gave strength to me and led me to my love, give me the chance to save my love.
AOYAGI
The tree!--The tree!
[_The Gaki smites again._
RIKI
The Gaki of Kokoru! Ay, I know! I know! I fight a fear, Obaa-San. Hold Aoyagi fast--with all your love.--I shall find the Gaki of Kokoru! (_The Gaki smites the tree again and again, and at each stroke Aoyagi fails more and more until she finally crumples in a heap among the three old women_) All strength! All faith to me! Into my hands give the power to break the bitterest hell asunder! Into my eyes put light that I may see the cowardly fears that infest our way.--Gaki! Gaki! where are you?--I pass about you and in my heart I carry fearlessness and faith.--Upon your wickedness I hurl belief.--Ah, now, I see you.
THE GAKI
Let me go! Let me go!
RIKI
You shall bring misery into no more hearts!
THE GAKI
Ah, pity me! Let me go! I must feed or I shall die!
RIKI
You shall feed no more!
THE GAKI
Do not let me die in this sixth hell! Do not let me die! Once I was human--like you and you. I came into this hell because I was bitter in life.--I made misery for others.--I put mischief in their minds.--
RIKI (_leaping upon him_)
You shall make no more misery.
THE GAKI
Let me feed! Let me live! I can not die thus.
RIKI (_throttling him_)
Dread demon, the end has come!
THE GAKI
Please--please--hear me.
RIKI
Nay, you have made your last horror in our lives.
OBAA-SAN
Riki! Hear him--hear him.--We know not what we do, perhaps.
RIKI
Then speak.
THE GAKI
Let me go! Do you think it did not punish me to see your misery, to bring misery upon you? That is what these hells are. In life we can not always see what wretchedness we make; in the hells we see and know and understand, but we can not escape our evil until we've sucked the bitterness, the horror to the blackest end. Oh--five hells lie between me and human life. In each I may perchance forget the lesson learned before. Let me live! Let me live!--I can not fight your faith!--Let me live!
RIKI
What further harm will you do?
THE GAKI
I cannot help myself. I must live on you.--You are young--
[_He tears himself from Riki and once more rushes to the tree. Aoyagi writhes a moment in agony. Riki leaps upon The Gaki, throttling him once more. The struggle is terrific._
RIKI
Die!
THE GAKI
Let me go! Let me live!--I promise anything--I--
RIKI
Too late!--You shall harm no more!
[_With one supreme effort, The Gaki draws himself to his full height and seems about to crush Riki. He leaps upon the prostrate Aoyagi and flings her body high above his head. Riki starts for him._
THE GAKI
I shall live! I shall live!
RIKI
Aoyagi!
THE GAKI
Come not near me, Riki, or I shall crush her at your feet. I _shall_ live!
[_He laughs the hideous laugh of triumph which rang out on the mountain side yesterday._
OBAA-SAN
Give her back to us! Feed on me!
THE GAKI
In your heart there is only hope and beautiful memory. Old fool, I can not feed on you.--But now in my arms I hold the precious gift by which I shall pass from hell to hell.
O-KATSU-SAN
Take me!
THE GAKI
Silly old woman, you, too, like Obaa-San, can not feed me. Age learns to grasp at bubbles and pretend that they are stars.
O-KATSU-SAN
But I shall dream of my little girl.
THE GAKI
Ay, dream of her and have tender memories that are not pain.
O-SODE-SAN
I shall think of him and long for him, my lover.
THE GAKI
Ay, and in the memory of the firefly fête you'll make a poem that will leave you all melting-like and holy--then where shall I feed?
RIKI
Obaa-San, are you content? I'll let her die at my own hand before I'll let him live.
[_He draws his dagger and leaps toward The Gaki; but old Obaa-San is too swift for him. She catches his hand._
OBAA-SAN
Riki! Would you kill the evil by killing the joy of us all?
RIKI
But the joy--my little Aoyagi--can not live so. See--
OBAA-SAN
O Gaki of Kokoru--I stand before you, no longer a suppliant. I am old and in my years I have known all the wanting, all the hopelessness one can know in life. But in your evil way, you brought to me a moment of happiness yesterday and in that moment I saw the beauty that I had always believed must be and yet that I had never known. In your evil arms you hold the treasure of my life--you hold the songs that filled the heart of Riki. But you do not feed, oh, Gaki of Kokoru. You can not feed. Oh, Gaki, what is this sixth hell of yours?--Who made it? Some man who was afraid of the joy of life;--it was too beautiful for his belief. Misery makes itself: so happiness makes itself. You stand before us, holding the darling of our dreams, but there is no misery so great as yours. See! I stand before you--unafraid--and in my heart lies happiness.--Aoyagi rested in my arms and my breast is warm and there is a glory where her dear head lay. In my life--if you take her from me--there will be an emptiness.--There will be long silences in the days to come; but my breast will still be warm with her touch and my ears will still hear the sweet words you cannot unsay--the lullaby I sang.--Oh, Gaki--it has been sung to her.--The climbing to the mountain gleaming in the sun--the glade where love found the perfect mystery--that cannot be undone whether we live or die.--Love that has been can never be undone.
[_The Gaki looks from one to the other, but finds only that splendid happiness that is almost pain. He loosens his hold upon Aoyagi and turns to Riki with her._
THE GAKI
She is yours!--I have met perfect faith.--Five hells lie before me--but I have met a perfect faith.--You cannot know what wonder I am knowing. From the sixth hell I have seen a perfect faith.--I am content to die in this shape. Strike, Riki!
RIKI
I have my love.
THE GAKI
But a peace has come upon me, a peace that I have never known.--I seem to be on wings--afloat in the sky.--Stars and suns swing gently by--and cool clouds brush my brow.--Five hells lie before me.--Can it be, in each I shall find peace like this?--(_He falls on his knees_) Now a fire rages deep in me--a pain--I'm torn.--Oh, Obaa-San, I die--I die.--Come to me--touch me--let me feel your gentle hands.--So! So!--I have never known such gentleness.--Oh, I am cold--cold! Hold me--
[_He rises--sways--and falls. It is full day. The Gaki rises wonderfully._
Obaa-San--I see--I see.--The hells were made by some man afraid of the joy of life.--It was too beautiful for his belief.--Riki--Aoyagi, there is the mountain gleaming in the morning light.--Go--see your footprints side by side.--A Gaki's feet trod upon them, but left no mark--and they are there side by side.--O-Sode-San, I look across the River of Heaven;--there stands your lover waiting for you--an empty boat is here to bear you to him.--O-Katsu-San,--the messenger of the other world bears your little one upon his broad, warm back.--They are smiling, O-Katsu-San--Obaa-San--
[_He points to Riki and Aoyagi. Obaa-San goes to them and lays her hands upon them._
OBAA-SAN
My little girl!--my little boy!--Today the sun is very bright.
_The Curtains Close._
THE VERY NAKED BOY
AN INTERLUDE BEFORE THE CURTAIN
CHARACTERS
SHE HE BROTHER
_The scene is half way to a proposal._
_A hallway with a heavily-curtained doorway in the centre. Right of this are two chairs with a tabouret between them. Right and Left are curtained arches._
_She enters quickly, crossing to the chairs._
HE (_following breathlessly and almost colliding with her as she stops_)
Genevieve!
SHE (_with a calmness strangely at variance with her entrance_)
Well?
HE
Why did you--
SHE
I didn't.
HE
I beg your pardon, you may not have known it, but you did.
SHE
I didn't.
HE
If you'll only say you didn't mean it.
SHE
I didn't _do_ it.
HE
Now, Genevieve, you know--
SHE
I didn't.
HE
Well, why did you--?
SHE
_I didn't do it!_
HE (_meltingly but without humor or subtlety_)
Well, if you didn't do it, _dear_--
[_She is adamant._
Why did you run away the moment I came up to you?
SHE
I didn't run away--
[_He looks at her quizzically._
I just _came_ out here.
HE (_hoping it isn't true_)
But you seemed to be trying to avoid me.
SHE (_with sphinx-like indifference_)
Why should I avoid you?
HE
Genevieve! You make it impossible for me to talk to you.... I'll apologise if it will help.
SHE
Why should you apologise?
HE
Perhaps I've misconstrued your meaning.
SHE
I didn't mean _anything_--
[_He smiles pleasantly with more hope than discretion._
--because I didn't do it.
HE
Now, Genevieve, I saw you do it.
SHE
You'll have to excuse me, Mr. Gordon, from further discussion.
[_She seats herself, fully prepared for all the discussion she can force from him._
HE
But, Genevieve--
[_He seats himself._
SHE
I didn't do it--and besides if I _did_ what difference does it make? I'm free white and twenty-one.
HE (_with a frail attempt at humor_)
How old did you say?
SHE
I said I was free white.
HE
But, Genevieve, you must admit that--
SHE
Mr. Gordon!
HE
_Please_ call me Henry. (_In his emotion he pronounces it Hennery_)
SHE
I don't see why I should.
HE
You did last night.
SHE
That was different. You were Dr. Jekyll last night.
HE
Oh, Genevieve--
SHE
You're showing your true colors tonight.
HE (_appealingly_)
I'm--sorry--
SHE
You're a tyrant.
HE
I don't mean to be. I think you're wo--
SHE
Now don't be personal. I'm not interested in your thoughts.
HE
But, Genevieve, won't you tell me why you did it?
SHE
I did it because--I've told you often enough I _didn't_ do it.
HE (_bitterly_)
Joe--
SHE
Joe--what?
HE
Joe squeezed your hand.
SHE
Well, it's my hand, and besides I don't see why I should be cross-questioned by you.
HE
You know I'm--
[_He leans toward her and she moves away._
SHE
You're what?
HE
I'm crazy about you.
SHE
Please, Mr. Gordon!
HE
Call me Henry! Just once.
SHE
I don't see why I should.
HE
Please, Genevieve.
SHE
Now don't be silly!
HE
Oh, Genevieve, if you only knew how it hurt me when you did it!
SHE
_Did_ it hurt you?
HE
I could have killed Joe--gladly.
SHE
Honest!
HE
You know--you must know!
SHE
You certainly are calm about it.
HE (_in the most absurd position that hopeless love can twist a man into_)
What can I do? I can't be ridiculous.
SHE
Did you really see us?
HE
Yes, I saw you.
SHE
You seemed terribly tied up with Ethel.
HE
I had to sit by her.
SHE
I don't see why.
HE
I didn't have any place else to go.
SHE
I knew you were looking.
HE
Then why did you do it?
SHE
Don't ask me why. I loathe why.
HE
But oh, Genevieve, I love you so!
[_He grasps her hand, not too violently. She gasps slightly, smiles pleasantly and becomes stern._
SHE (_encouragingly_)
Please, let go of my hand.
[_He does so. She looks at him in mingled wonder and chagrin._
HE
Genevieve, isn't there any chance for me?
SHE
I've never thought of such a thing. What do you mean!
HE
I mean I love you.
SHE
... Yes?
HE (_taking her scarf in his hand_)
Aren't you interested?
SHE
Why, really, Mr. Gordon, you ask such strange questions.
HE
Oh, Genevieve--Genevieve--
[_He kisses the scarf gently._
SHE [_looking at him in wonder, disappointment and delight._
Don't be silly.
HE
When a man's in love he always does silly things.
SHE
Always?
HE
Oh, Genevieve--
[_He reaches for her hand reverently and this time she seems content to let matters rest._
SHE (_making conversation_)
I have the next dance with--
[_She racks her memory._
HE
Joe, I suppose.
[_He rises and crosses to the far side of the centre arch._
SHE (_drawing her scarf about her and brushing against him as she passes._)
Excuse me, please.
HE (_torrentially_)
You shall not go. You _shall_ listen to me. You have no right to treat me as a plaything when I love you so! I love you so! I love you so! I think of you all day long, I lie awake at night wondering what stars are looking upon you and I find myself envying them--every one of them.
[_She tries to speak, but he presses her head against his shoulder._
I won't listen. You must hear me out. I've waited days and days and days for this chance to speak to you, and you've trailed me about like--like--like a poodle. I'm tired of it because I love you so.
[_She tries to speak again; but succeeds only in mussing her hair._
HE
I want you to marry me, and marry me you shall if I have to carry you away with me. Oh, Genevieve, my darling Genevieve, just know that for this moment I am almost completely happy. You are close to me and I do not feel any struggle against me. Oh, if you will only listen to me, I do not mean to be brutal. I have torn your dress. I have mussed your precious hair. But I love you so! I love you so!
SHE
Oh, Henry--Henry--You are so wonderful!
[_They embrace one long moment when an arm comes out between the curtains and tugs at his coat._
_He lets go of her as though he had been shot, turns and sees the naked arm and the top of the Boy's head._
BOY (_whispering_)
Get her out of here!
SHE
Oh, Henry, Henry, have I been cruel to you?
HE (_constrained_)
We'd better go.
SHE (_looks questioningly at him_)
Please let's stay here.
[_He presses her head against his breast and looks surreptitiously at the curtains._
_The Boy makes as though to get out._
_He starts violently--shoves the Boy back._
SHE
I saw you first--do you remember--at Poughkeepsie.
HE
Yes, yes--
SHE
I think--I liked you then.... But I never thought you'd be so wonderful.
HE
Let's go (_whispering_). Darling, let's go.
SHE
No, I want to stay here. I love this nook.
[_He laughs nervously as she crosses to the curtains._
I should love to fill it full of great tall lilies.
[_By this time she has become lyric and swept her arms against the curtains: with a cry, rushing to him for protection._
Henry, there's a man behind those curtains!
HE
I think we'd better go.
SHE
Oh, Henry, you're not going to leave him here.
HE
We'd better.
BOY [_poking his head and a naked arm through the curtains._
Yes, you'd better, because I'm going to get out of here.
SHE
_Bob!_ You get your clothes on!
BOY
I told Mr. Gordon to get my clothes.
SHE
Mr. Gordon--
BOY
Call him Henry--just once--please, Genevieve.
HE (_stiffly_)
I'll get your clothes. Where are they?
BOY
In my room.
HE
What do you want?
BOY
Everything.
SHE (_straightening up_)
Don't be common, Robert.
[_He starts for the door._
HE
No, I'm not going.
SHE
Hen--Mr. Gordon!... Very well. I'll go!
HE
No, you won't go either!
SHE
Please!
BOY
Well, I'll go.
[_Boy moves as though to part the curtains. She screams a stifled little scream and both he and she rush to the curtains to hold them together._
SHE
Oh, Bob, if you won't get out I'll do anything for you.
BOY
Well, I'm cold.
SHE
Mr. Gordon, please go.
HE
I won't go!
SHE
You are very strange, indeed.... I'll go!
[_She nears the door--Stops._
SHE
Never mind.
BOY
Oh, Henry, it's Ethel.
HE
Bob, won't you be a good sport? We'll turn our backs.
BOY
But will everybody else turn their back?
HE
Old man, can't you see how it is? We're--we're going to be engaged--and Ethel is out there--and--and--well--
BOY
Joe's out there, too.
HE
Well, yes.
SHE
Bob, I shall tell Father on you.
[_She starts._
BOY
All right, go ahead. I'll tell Ethel.
SHE
Just wait.
BOY
I'll get out of here!
[_Again the two rush precipitately to hold the Boy in place._
HE
Bob, be a man! You are childish and common. You are old enough to know better and I think it's an outrage for you to subject your sister to this fright. We can't go out of here just now--and you're making it very embarrassing for us.
SHE
Mr. Gordon--there's a cape in that closet. Will you get it for Bob.... He says he's cold.
[_He goes to the closet._
SHE
Bob, I'll get even with you. You ought to be ashamed. I'm humiliated.
BOY
Why--Sis?
SHE
Imagine my being with a gentleman and having a very naked boy pop into the conversation.
[_He returns with the cape._
HE
Here's the cape.
[_He tosses it over the Boy's head and suddenly leans over and kisses her._
BOY
Why don't you smother me!
[_Boy begins to emerge._
SHE
Bob, be careful.
[_He and She turn away._
_The Boy rises and as he does so the cloak falls about him until, when he steps out of the curtains, he discloses trousers and shoes._
BOY
I can't go through the hall looking like this.
SHE
You must.
HE (_turning_)
Go away, Bob. Your sister is very nervous.
[_He sees the boy fairly well clothed. He gasps._
HE
Why--
SHE
Bob--
[_Turning she sees the boy fairly well clothed._
I thought--How did you--Why didn't you--What were you doing in there?
BOY
Father was going to get strict and keep me off the water tonight and just as I came down here to get my sweater I heard him coming to the coat room so I jumped behind the curtains and let him pass and then Joe and Ethel came in and I couldn't let them see me this way. And then somebody else came and then you came in--well, I got cold.
HE (_looking out_)
Run on now, Bob, the hall is clear.
[_Boy starts._
BOY
What was it you did, Sis?
SHE
I didn't do it.
BOY
Why didn't you do it?
SHE
I didn't do anything.
BOY
He said Joe squeezed your hand.
SHE
Absurd!
BOY
Well, I hope not, because he and Ethel got engaged in here too!
[_He and She look fondly at each other and He murmurs_, "Genevieve" _as he reaches out for her_.
_The Boy begins to sing, "Oh, Genevieve, Sweet Genevieve," and they become aware of him, turning upon him and pursuing him with a warning cry of_ "Bob."
_The End_
JONATHAN MAKES A WISH
A PLAY IN THREE ACTS
CHARACTERS
AUNT LETITIA SUSAN SAMPLE UNCLE NATHANIEL UNCLE JOHN JONATHAN MLLE. PERRAULT HANK ALBERT PEET MARY JOHN III