Spirochete, a play

8/13/2019 Spirochete, a play

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NATIONAL S3RVI CE S W A UFXD33AL T EUT R2 PROJECT

W O R K S PROGBSS ADMINISTRATIONI r w i n A. Rubinstein, Manager

A H i s t o r y

Fi r s t produced at the 3lackstone TheatreChicago , I l l i n o i s , on Apr i l 29th 1938

Produced by Rarry ;dinturnDi rec t ion o f Addi son P i t t Set t i ngs by Cl iv e Sick abaqh

Music by David Sheinfe ld

L i g n t i n g by Duncan 7Nhi teside and N a t Crawford

Costumes by John Pra t t

Mu si cal Program Vnder the Di r ecti on o f EdwardW u r tzebach

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ALLGHTS ARE KESmmD

TO 33DERA.L TKEATRE PROJECTS

Possaf is ion o f t h i s s c r i p t d o e s n o tg i v e yon t h e r i g h t t o p e r f o r m t h eplay. Permission must b e o b t a i n e dth rough the XATIONAL SIDIVICE BURXAU,

Make n o f u r t h e r c o p i e s o f t h i t .s c r i p t v i t h o u t t h e w r i t t e n pe rm is -s i o n o f t h e NATIONAL SFBVICEBUREAU,

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CFAXACTERS

PROLOGUE

Scene--The Mar r i aqe Li cen se Bureau, Ch icago, 111.(The Year o f Our Lord 193s)

LENNY THOMPSON A Radio Announcer)FRIEDA SCHMIDTPETER MATZENAURTHE CLERK

ACT ONE

Scene One--The Waterfront--Pales, Wa i n(The Year o f Our Lord, 1493)

THE PHYSICIJ J ?CAPTAIN CERISTOPHER COLUMBUS

Scene Two--The TAP-Room o f Tavern Inn, Naples(The Year o f Our Lord, 1496)

GAS ONPIERREEMILEFRITZMARGUERITEROSELOYALINXKEEPERLUCIANINA

L O L AFIRST OFFICERSECOND OFFICERLIEUTENANTTHE IT ALIANTHE FRENCHMANTHE ENGLISHMANTKE G E WTHE TURKTHE CHINAMANDANCING GIRL

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Scene Three-The Pn t i en t l s Room(The Year o f Our Lord, 1510)

The PAT I E N TTHE CHEMISTTHE SORCERERFIRST PHYSICIANSECOND PHYSICIANTHIRD PHYSICIANFOURTH PHYSICIANDR. GIROLAMO FRACASTORO

(The Year o f Our Lord, 1600)

T E E PATIENTAN ELIZABETW MAN

(The Year o f Our Lord, 1665)

THE PATIGNTA RESTORATION Fop

(The Yoar o f Our Lord, 1760)

THE PAT I E N TTHE SPIRI T O F GIROLAMO FUCASTORO

(The Year o f Our Lord , 1767)THE PATIENTDR, JOHN HUNTERJOHXSON--his as s i s t an t

(The Yoar o f Our L o r d , 1837)

THE FATITCNTDR. PH I LLI PE RICORDE

Scene Four--The Of f i ce o f Dr, Fournier a.t th e R o p i t dSt . L ou i s i n P a r i s

(The Year of Our L o r d , 1863)

JEAN LOUIS d.'HOUBLFaDR. ALBREZ FOTJRNIER

The Bride's Dressing Room(Two weeks l a t e r )

COLLETTE--the b r i d eMANE --the bridefimaidD r. Alf red Fourn ie r

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J ean L o u i s Room( I m m e d i a t e l y f o l l o w i n g )

JEAN LOUIS d*HOUBLERCOLLETTEDR. ALFRED m W I F 3

Scene Five-Doctor 's Co n su l tP t i o n Room--Ber l in(T h e Ye ar o f O u r L o r d , 1905)

DR. HOFFMANFI H ST DOCTORSECOND DOCTORTHIHD DOCTORFOURTH DOCTOR

DR. F R I T Z SCHAUDINWAN INTEHNEAN INTERNE

ACT TWO

Scene One--Laboratory o f D r. M e t c h n i k o f f an d D r, R o u xat t h e Pasteur I n s t i t u t e i n P p r i s

(T h e Y e ar o f O u r L o r d, 1906)

DR, ELIE METCHNIKOFFTHE PATIENTPAUL M A I S O N E W EDR, ROUXTHE REFORMERDR. J ULES BORDET

(The Ye a r o f O u r L o r d , 1907)

THE PATIENTDR. WASSERMANNDR. JULIES BORDFT

Scene T%o(The Year o f O u r L o r d, 1909)

FIHST TAUNTERSECOXD TAUNTERTHIRD TAUNT3RDR. PAUL EHRLICHDR, S. U T A

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Scene Three--A St r ee t(The Year of Our Lord, 1933)

FIRST TONLPNSECOND WOMANTHIRD KOMANFOURTH WOMANF I F T H WOMANS XTH WOMAN

Lower House Sta t e L egi sl atu r e o f I l l i n o i s(The Year o f Our Lord, 1933)

FI RST LEGISLATORSECOND LEGI SUT ORT H I R D LEGI SLATORFOURTH LEGISLATORFIFTH LEGISLATORSPEAKER

Scene Four--Executive Office i n a L ar ge I n d u s tr i a l P h n t(The Year o f Our Lord, 1936)

MR. THOMASM I S S JOSLYNJ O H N ELSON

Scene Four-A---John El so n 's Rome(Sevcrr l hours la ter )

MRS, ELSON -- John's wifeTONY -- h i s sonJOHN ELSON

Scene Four-B---Executive Of f i ce i n I n d u st r i al Pl an t(A month l at er )

M K THOMAS

A DOCTOR

Scene Five---Corridor t o th e Leg i sl atu r e(The Yegr o f Our Lord., 1937)

POLIT C ANH I S CLERK

Lower House St at e L egi sl atu r e o f I l l i n o i s

( Immediately folloming)

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I

P R O L O G U E I

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C H A R A C T E R S

LOUDS? ?&2

THZ mTOUNC33 -- Lenny Thompsonr n E GI% -- Frieda S c h i i d tTEE BOY -- Pete r Mntzenaurr n E CLERK

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P-1

"PROLOGUE"

LouDsPzNcmThrough t h e year s the b at t l e has been much too f ur i ou s betweenthe eager f or ces of l i f e and th e quick f or ces of death. I nh i s n ot unr easonable search f o r th e peace ,and quiet which heb l i n d l y b e l i e v e s will be h i s wi thout st r uggl e, man has beenconstantl y oppressed by the unseen t yr ant s with i n h i s own flesh.Unknown, even t o hi mself , h i s body, from th e morning o f b i r t hto th e evenin g o f death, i s the scene o f a vigorous b at t l e be-tween the something that wants him t o l i v e and the somethingel s e th at wants him t o di e. I n most cases and at most timesthe something th at w.znts him t o l i v e i s stronger than the armyo f microbes and bac t er i a who would p r ef er h i m out of t he w a yBut ther e have been ti mes when a v io l en t p l ague o f a s u b t l ef eve r w i l l surround him unawares ,md l eav e him begging f o r tr uce.Faced with the danger o f f resh attacks, m;2n has befriendedstr'mge medicines and. new sciences t o p r o t ect him. He has workedunceasingly to guard himself from death. :pd so i n t h e face ofth is s t rong record of xhievement i t seems i n cr ed i bl e, indeed,that he i i n s never s er ious ly chal l enged the r i gh t o f syp h i l i s t od es tr o y h i s b o k v .cated i n favor of t h i s vandal d isease. He has accepted i t sterms without question. But today we a r e asking: must t h i scon ti nue? Today we ar e wondering . . .

Because o f a confused moral code he has abdi-

SXTTIBG: The curtain i s r i s ing and thel i g h t s o n stage pick out the desk

o f Q marr i age l i ce n s e bureau. Theorchestral sounds dim to a hwn aswe hem and then sez one o f tho seub i qu i to us man-on-the-street r ad i opitchmen interviewing a young coupleabout to apply f or permiss ion tomarry. They ar e not cer tai n th ey' l ll i k e t h i s q ui z z i n g, w h i l e t hey k n o wt he c l e rk waits impatiently at thodesk.

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P-2

mIE A?tOUNCrn...and so donl t forge t t o get them f r esh at your neighborhood grocer andhave them on the br eakf ast t ab l e tomorrow morning. Get your ord er i n t h i svery af ternoon befor e h i s s q p l g i s exhausted. And now n ext on y o u rAnchors Aweigh broadcast i s a sm i l i ng young cou pl e, who may very w el l bethat boy and g i r l up the st r eet you've seen hol di ng hands th ese p ast fewmonths. You r name,p l e a s e ?

They're both very young and they're both very happy.

TEE: GIHLF r i eda Schmidt.

TEE ADT?OUNCXRAnd th e boy f r i end here?

TEE BOY

P et er Matzenaur.

THE A N N O U N C E RWel l , Fr i ed a, my-I-wish-you-could-see-her-folks, how does i t f e e l t o beapplying f o r a marriage l icense?

TEE GIRLGreat1 M%vbe more g i r l s should do i t .

TE:E ANNOUNCERHow about you, Pet er ?

TEE BOYI al r ead y made down pqyments on f u r n i tu r e.fee l .

That o w h t t o show how I

TEE A N N O U N C E RYes , I guess i t does, St ep-a-li t l e-c l o ser- to- the-mi crophone-pl ease,how l on g have you t w o k n o m each other?

THE BOYSin ce we were ki ds. We l i v ed i n the same bl ock a l l our l ives .

TEE A E N O U N C E RT el l me, was i t love at f i r s t s i g h t ?hat ' s qui te a record these days.

I - i sh-you-coul d- see- th em-blush- f o lk( They hes i t at e about r epl yi ng)

Don't you remember i f i t was lo ve at f i r s t s i gh t o r not?

TEE GIRLI t couldn't have been.I c o u l d n 't r i d e h i s b i k e.

E e p u l l e d my h a i r , t o r e my new dress, and sai d

H E BOYShe sai d I had a funny nose tne f i r s t t ime she saw me,

W E NNOUNCERWould you c al l i t l ove at second sight, then?


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P-3

TXE BOY?/ e u s t s o r t o f grew up together.aybe i t w a s and maybe i t wasn't,

We stop ped f i g h t i n g and f e l l i n l o v e t h e l a s t y ear o f hign school.

TEE ANNOUNCERI don t know about t h i s next question.w i l l have any fau l ts ?

I t's--do you th ink your husband

THE GIRLI should hope so. It d hate t o marry a p e r f e c t m a n .

TEE ANNOUNCERRea l ly?

THE BOYI ' d h at e t o marry a perfect wife.

THE ANNouNcmI n that case you two ought to get along a l l r i g h t .

mE BOYWe w i l l . Come on, Fr i eda, l e t ' s get the l i cense

T Z AIWOUXCE3T nank you, Y r i eda Schmidt and Pe t er Matzenaur, and the best o f luck t oYOU. There-they-go-folks-I-wi sh-you-could-see-them. Wel l , I see myti me's about up and w e' l l retu rn you t o o u r stu di os where Don K l i n e has

an announcement f o r you.th e marri age l i cen s e bureau and we hope y o u 'l l be bsck w it h us tomorrowafternoon at t i t i s same time. So long, al l .

T hi s i s Lenny Thompson sayi ng good-bye from

A s he f i n i shes h i s sp i e l the BOY and theGIRL have gone up t o t,he desk and ar e nowspe'aking t o tite C L ~ )

m:E C L r n%?nerol s your medica.1 C er t i f i c at e, p l ease?

THE BOYOur what 7

THE CLmXYour medica l cer t i f ica te .been examined.

We c a n f t i s s ue a l i c e n s e un t i l you've both

TEX BOYWe want t o ge t married-not insu red.

TEE CLERK

You Ought t o r ead th e marri age law then.

TIE BOYBut wh at's th e purpose o f such a l a w ?

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P 4

TE3 CLTRKYou don t know?

THE BOYBO.

TEE C L mTo put i t b lun t ly, i t ' s t o check f o r venereal di seases.

TE3 BOYMiss Schmidt and I have known eachay, be car ef u l th e way you ta l k .

other al l o u r l i v e s .her by having anybody think otherwise.

She's a decent g i r l and I ' m not going to humiliate

TH CLERKRq should I think otherwise? I ' m only quoting a l a w.

there are people 1l;no don 't even suspect they ar e u n f i t f o r marriage.S ta t e p r o tec t s t hose vho are. I t ' s f o r y o u r own good.

Sad as i t seems,The

TEE BOYI t ought t o t ak e i n t o c o ns i d er at i o n t h a t t h er e a r e s t i l l a few decentp eo pl e l e f t i n the world.

TEE CLERKT h i s w i l l help en large tha t s e l ec t c i r c l e .l i f e insur ance. You'd be examined f o r that, e m u l d n t t you?

Yo u s ai d something about

TE3 BOYYes.

r n E C L r nWel l i sn ' t marriage j us t as important?

TEE BOYYes, bu t t he id ea o f t he th ing i s d i sgus ting.though w f i hadn't been decent.

I t makes i t seem as

TEE C L r nDecency has nothing to do with i t ,

m5 JOYGosh, when two p eop l e know each o th er l i k e Fr i ed a and me--gee, sno' sjus t about perfect.

(LENNY, he announcer, has been l i s t en i n gto t h i s argument and now comes to th edesk)

TZIE CLXSKI t ' s one smal l w a y o f check ing up on a disease that s been around f o ra l o n g time.th ose we can.that r ight , Lenny?

?Ye can't ex3mine everybody just h i t o r m iss so we examineAnd sooner o r l a t e r most everybody gets married. I s n ' t

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P-5

THE ANNouNcmSay, a minute ago you two ki ds sounded p r ett y s ensi bl e t o me. How comeyou1 e so prud ish a.bout th i s?

FIE GIRLWet r e no t prud ish, Weld rat h er not th in k about i t .

TEE ANNOUNCERAw, come on now, i t i s n l t a s bad as a l l that.

THE C L r nLenny can t e l l you. He studi ed th e subj ect f o r broadcast.

THE A?D?OUNC?~And some o f i t was k i n d of exci t ing . N oth in g l i k e I thought i t ' d be.

TEE BOYI f e l t th e same way about measles.

TEE AlDI0UNCE.RI mean i t . The way i t s tar ted and how i t sp read and what men have doneabout i t . Do you mean t o t e l l me you don' t know that?

TE:E BOYNo, and I don' t care to .

THE TNOuNC3R

Aw, don l t be l i k e tha t . Le t me t e l l you about i t .TEE BOY

What about Fr i ed a? You d on 't suppose she wm ts t o hear.

TE3 A3?NOUNCXRWhy n o t? How about i t Zrieda?

TEE GIRLI f P e t e r w i l l , I w i l l .

(PETZR. seems angr y wi th her )

rnE AW0rnTCE.RDon't g r i t your teeth so. W i l l you, Peter?

TEE BOYTo t e l l you the t ru th , tnere are a few th ings I ' d r ea l l y l i k e to know,....

ma ANXouNcmEow i . t a l l begc-, f o r instance? Eow i t spread? Well, l i k e everythin ge l s e there ' s a d i ff e rence of opinion about i t , but th ere ar e a few th i n gs

th at seem p r ett y c ert ain ,than our country, I n f ac t i t w a s way back i n Pn l os , Spain. . .t ' s not as o l d as you think. N o t any older

(The l i gh t s have alr eady faded on TEEANNOUNC3R a s t h e o t h e r l i g n t s s e t t l eon t he scene o f th e opening. Therei s music at the . . )

END Or' T PBOLOGUE

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" S P I X O C E E T 3 "

is T ONE


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C H B R A C T X R S

A VOICE

rnE PHYSICIAN

CERI STOPE23 COLUMSUS

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1-1-1

ACT ONE

Scene One

SETT IN G :

The waterfront at Palos, Spain, 1493.The sound o f sea waves washing agai n s tthe p i l i n gs o f the wharf can be heardi n the dark. d few mournful b el l s ar er i ng in g i n t he d i s t ance and the re i nthe dark l o o m s the darker hulk o f thePi n t a, made f as t to th e pier-head.Feebl e, u ncertain l i g h t s glimmer fromthe porth oles.

A V O ICEThe year of our Lord, fourteen ninety tnree

(The sound o f a man walki ng th e plank wharfcan be heard and a moment l a t e r th e PXYSICIANenters carrying a candle lantern.t he l an t e rn a l o f t and calls:)

Ee ho lds

TEE PEYSI CIANCapt ain Ch r i s topher Columbusaptain Columbus

( A cr eaki ng hatch opens Nnd th e f i gu r e ofCOLUUBUS appear s on deck,throws an eer i e amber l i gh t across h i s face)

The opened hatch

COLUMBUSgvho c al l s Chri stopher Columbus?

TEE PEY SI CI ANI , the Phys ic i anI

COLUMBUSA t l a s t .

TEE PHYSI C I A NThe peop l e f l ed when th ey saw y o u r s i ck l y men m d sent f or me.

COLUMBUSYes, we a r e s i ck here. S ick as no mrm has ever been si ck befor e.

TEE PHY S I C I A EScurvy most l i k el y .

w a y of sayi ng s tav home

That always comes from l ong voy,ages. I t ' s God's

COLTJMBUSScu rvy i s c?. mock af f l i c t i o n compwed to t h i s foul pox.scal ed 'and gr eat sor es l i k e lepro sy wound t h ei r bodies.

Tnei r sk ins are

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1-1-2

mx PEYSICIANMaybe i t i s l ep o s y ,

coLuMsusNo, i t isn. ' t leprosy.T hi s i s l i k e a11 pl agues i n one.

I ' v e seen thnt disease, t o o , and i t ' s u n l i k e t h i s .

mx PHYSICIANYou've met d evi l s i n your t r avel s.

COLw3USI agr ee we met m,my th ings. T his was th e worst.

TEE PEYSICIANE o w think you i t c,me?

COLUMBUSOn wnrm ni gh ts t her e were moons ,and music my men had never seen norheard before.women wi th f u l l wnrm bodi es ,md gr aci ou s i n tne extreme.us*

I n Espsnol,z the dark has a nngic t o warm the f lesh . Nat iveThey welcomed

TEE PEYSICIAlTSo t h a t ' s how you spent th e Q neen l s money?

COLUI'mJSBu t th ey l e f t a mark beyond qui ck f or get ti n g.

TEE PEYSI CIANA jus t pennl ty f o r sin.

COLUMBUS

most cr u el ungodly penalty .

mix PHYSICIANThe Queen f e l t so r r y f o r you and said I should s e e what I could do.Row do lrou get nboard your p es t i l en t i al tub?

COLUMBUS

Yo u ' l l f i n d a gangp1,Ul k t o the l e f t there.drop i n t o the harbor.

7alk c a r e f u l l y o r y o u l l l

Tli PEYSI c1mI111 be r ight i t p .

(The PEYSICIAX goes o f f -ud c m b e heardtraorping up the squeaky gangplank.

COLTNBVS stands at the r a i l lo oki ng backacross the sea.

Thi. music grow wi th the heaving wnvesbe 1ow)

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COLUMBUS

I n d i a maybe and yet not l i k e In di a.We sought a passage to the east by s ai l i n g west We f e l l on lands we'dnever mapped before.strange new seas with f r i ghtened men and t h i s i s o u r reward---frightfulsores slch a s man has never k n o w n before, Re f i n d th ere 's more to dis-covery than a few new t r ees , a cheaper spice, a snorter route. For every

t r ee t he re ' s a p o t e n t i a l r o t : f o r ev er y f r u i t p o t en t i al worm.

We fought

(T he PHYSICIAN h as come up oppos i te him)

TEE PHYSI CIPLNI saw one of the s i c k men on my w a y u p .say tha t for i t .

I t ' s not a pretty disease, 1'11

COLUMBUSW l l i t l a s t l o ng?

E E PEYSI C I A NThe di sease o r the m a n ?

COLUMSUSEi ther one.

TEE PHYSICIANOh, th os e thi ngs come and g o you know. I t may be like the Locusts thatcome ever y seven year s. They go and t h i s may g o too.

COLUMBUSSeven years i s a long time.

E23 PEYSICIANI t may onl y be th e dampness o f the sea a i r.body, you know.

T h at's not good f o r the

COLUMBUSI ' v e s ai l e d al l m y l i f e and never w or ri ed %bout damp befo re.

ma PEYSICIANThere ar e t hose who s y d i sease nnd pl agues ar e caused by t h e p o s i t i o nof t h e stars . N o t t ha t I hol d much f o r t ha t be l i e f .

COL~MBUSMore than astro lo gers have f ai t h i n stars .t r u s t ed them.

Tie s i i l e d by them and

ma P E Y S I C I USome say i t ' s the sign of the devil

COLrndBUS

All vague guessing f o r thi ngs the mind c an 't account for.

ma PEYSICIANF o r my own p a r t I don't worry about those things. I take each plagueas i t comes, c o l l ec t my f ee, nnd treat them 211 ,d ike . A p l agu e i s apl ague and what's good f o r one i s amply g o o d f o r another.

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COLUMBUSI have ni neteen men below,theor ies?

Can you save them o r w i l l you gi ve them

THE PHYSICIANAnd that 's a l l any m a n cCzn do.' l l do my best.

(The PHYSICIAN goes down th e hatch)

COLrndBUSBef or e we s ai l ed they sai d the ocean dropped o f f sharp l y to h e l l ,anddi-agons waited t o claw our shi ps. T hi s good phy si ci an must have be-l i ev ed them.

There ar eHe looks down t he hatch,g r o m below)

'#hat do y o u think o f them?

TEE PElYSICIAN(below)They're sick

COLUdBUSThat s no discovery. I knev that.

PHYSI C I SBut such a s ic kn es s. T h er e's l i t t l e I can do f o r them beyond o f f er i n ga few herbs, l et t i n g sone blood, washing th ei r s o r e s . . .

coLnI3usI can do th nt much mvsel f . . . .ma PHYSICIAN

(coming o n deck)I can prescribe one other thing.

COLUimJSAnd that is? . . .

Wlil PHYSICIAN

Don' t keep them cooped up on t h i s s h i p any l onger .

COLUMBUSYes , I suppose that's best because they're o f ver y l i t t l e use as s a i l o r s .

TEE PHYSI C I UAre most o f them f r o m Spain?

COLrnSUSSome l i v e her e, some from Nap les, some c a l l F l o r en ce home.

THE PEYSI C I A 3T h at 's where they shoul d be then, at home.passage send them th er e at once.w i l l f eel bet ter when t hey 've seen t h ei r wives again

Even i f ,vou m u s t p a y t h e i rPoor fel lows, 1 11 wager most o f them

(The music surges higher a s t h e l i g h t s . . * )BLACKOUT

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Scene Two

CEARACTERS

LENNY

VOICE

GASTON

PIERRE

EMILE

FRITZ

MARGUERITE

RO SE

LOYAL

INNKSPER

LUCIA

NINA

FIRST OFFI CER

SECOND OFFI CER

L I U T X N A N T

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ACT ON3

Scene Two

At once the music breaks through withsharp in t en si t y and then as qui ckl ydrops to pianissimo as L m Y speaks.

LENNY. and that' s the way i t worked. The s ai l o r s brought i t home t o a fewc i t i e s i n Spain and I t a l y where i t qu ick ly i n fec t ed a l a r g e p a r t of thepopulation.was nothingconquer theentered the

Tho year of

A s long as i t was i s o l at ed i n a few c i t i es , however, theret o f ear u n t i l Charles VI11 of France took i t i n t o h i s head t oc i t y o f N ap l es. A f t e r a short siege the mercenary soldiersc i t y and there they found qu i te a su r pr i se await i ng them .

A VOICEo u r Lord, 1496.

(Tn e music continues f o r a moment and theni s wiped away by th e crash o f wine-temperedlaughter. A fragmentary song, a happy pas-sage o f st r i n g music, a banging of tablesand other signals o f di scordant gayety are

heard a s tho l i gh t s r i se. These show thec e l l a r of an i n n at Naples.INM(E3PER and h i s r eti n u e o f SZZVING WOMB?c a t e r i n g t o appe t i t e s o f t he f l e sh andpalate--are bein g j o s t l ed and hugged andteased by th e victory-drunk en CELEBRANTS.A few exaggerated l i gh t s p i ck out th ep r i vat e K3FtCmmIES o f the army who a r enow augmented by the gayer LADIES o f t h e

The f r a n t i c

town)

Victory

A toast to Naples

' mILEWhat a siege i t was.

FRI TBut V h a t a t riumph, too. Thi s i s war and the spo i l s o f war. Music{Vomen O h , God, t h i s i s what I dreamed o f when we stormed th e c i t y .

GASTONGod keep Charles o f Prance

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PIERR2

(He throws h i s arm around a GIRL andGod keep the good women o f Naples. Come here, my buxom duck

drags h e r i n t o h i s l a p )

MARGUERITEHow rough you are. Carefu l,

P I Zm.3

(Fie ki ss es her and i s so occupied f o rC ar ef u l , i s i t ? Ah, the war has j u s t begun, my sweet,

most o f the scene)

GASTONT hat's what I want. War Give me more war.

DdILEIQui et , you dog. They may tak e you up on i t .

GASTONBut I do want more war I conauered the damn c i t y l i k e anybody else.

ROSE3vny do you w a n t more war, s t u p i d t u r t l e ? Don' t you l i k e me7

GASTONDid I say war? I mean wine. I want wine.

ROSEWny didn't you say s o ? Eerel

(She takes a p i t c h e r o f wine t o GASTON.He opens h i s mouth l i k e a f i s h i n th enoonday s u n while she pours i t downh i s eager th roat)

There you are, pig;

PRI T ZAh, such a re the f r u i t s o f v ic to ry. She i s a good gi r l .

ROSEFool

(The wine s p i l l s down GASTON'S neck and

ROSE laughs and fallshe blows i t out o f h i s mouth l i k e asp i r i ted whale.i n t o h i s l a p)

LOYAL

(He springs forward to address them)

Quiet, a l l o f you

Look who's talking.

I snl t he beaut i fu l?

BdILE

MARGUXRI TE

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GASTONSsshhh, I l i k e s pe ec he s.

LOYALMy f r i e n d s . .

ROSELook, h e can t a l k .

LOYALQ , u i e t , I say.f e e t , d o e s i t n o t ?

M y f r i e n d s , t he hour i s l a t e and l o v e b r i n g s w ings t o our

M RGm TEWhat a question.

LOYALThe hour i s l a t e , I s a y , and we wer e pr om is ed women when we won th e w a r .

B U L EWhat o f i t ?

LOYALW e l l , w h ere i s m in e? S he 's l e f t me.

INNKEEPER(push ing a g i r l toward LOYAL)

Luc ia , why a re y o n l o a f i n g ?

LOYALAh, ma ch er ie , th i s i s what I h o p e d f o r.dark and f l a sh in g? Such eyes

I s n ' t she l o v e l y ? I s n ' t she

(LOYAL sweeps LUCIA up i n t o h i s arms andr us he s o u t s i d e w i t h h e r )

V ic to r y Vhat a swect war.

GASTONVi v e l a Fran ce

RI TWny i s n ' t t h i s a ss s i n g i n g f o r us?

(He f o r c e s t h e I i W K E Z P B t o t h e f r o n t )

ImbxE--PER8 0 o , I am out o f v o i c e t o n i g h t . Xy t h r o a t , i t i s h oa rs e.

E\AILESin g , you f o o l , we want a song f o r t i r e d men.

FRITZMake i t l o u d and m,&e i t good.

GASTONVi v e 1 a l i a .

(The accompaniment f o r the song s t a r t s )

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INTSKEEPERNina1 See th at everyone i s served

WINASi , s ignor

I T N K E P r nLo-ve rode out on th e wind l a s t ni ght ,But not i n the saddl e was I .Gone i s the b l i ss tha t I 'mew l as t ni ghtAnd t h i s i s the reason why:For gi ve me an anguished si gh . . . .Uhinh, my l ove sings onl y tra l a , t ra la,My lo v e sin gs onl y tra lay.My l o v e sings only tra l a , t r a l a ,N O matter what song I play.Ee r vo ice i s sweet a s the mountain dew,Her smi le i s f r es h as the ocean breeze,3ut vhen she sings os I ask her to,Ee r onl y words ar e such as these, t ra l aTra l a , tra I s t ra l a , tra l a, tra l a , tra lae

( A s the INKKDPER sings h i s song the l i gh t sbegin t o lower i n th i s area. The REVELERSj o i n i n a chorus o f the song as i t formsan undertone f o r the following brief scene)

(LOYAL has gone t o another room with LUCIA.The l i g h t s r i s e on t h i s room, and LOYALi s seen backing away f r o m t h e g i r l )

LUCIAYe s , i t i s so. For your own srke, go1

LOYALNo

LUCIAI t e l l you, you111 die Wet11 all d i e l

LOYALNo I wont t be l i eve i t .

LUCIAT hat 's why I didnt t go near you. None o f them should go n ear you.

LOYALYou look so b e a u t i f u l , ma cnerie.

LUG1 ABut I ' m not. I ' m ug ly in s ide . I ' m all ugly. Go now. P l e a s e go.

(LOYAL shrinks away f r o m her a n d then rushesoutside.fade.come up agai n on the tap room)

LUCIA s i t s weeping as t h e l i g h t sThe song i nc reases and the l i g h t s

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INN-KXEPER. . . my lo ve s ings only t ra laGASTON

Bravo1

Come her e, you

Wnat a f i n e song. I sha l l s i ng i t t o my chi ldren .(He turns t o k i s s ROSE)

(The others laugh and a s GASTON i s k i s s i n gROSE, LOYAL hur r i es i n very f r ign tened)

LOYALNo, no. Gaston

(Ee pulls GASTON o ff )

GASTONWhy, you f o o l , can1 you see I ' m busy?

LOYALNo, you cN11 t.

GASTONWnnt s wrong?

(LOYAL whi spers i n t o GASTON'S ear and then

(They star t t o go but the others stop them)

GASTON draws f ea r f u l l y away f r o m ROSE)I t cant t be. Monstrous Come, my f r i en ds .

PI-Wnat i s i t ? mat di d he say?

FRITZT e l l US.

GASTONThe pox The d i s eas e i s b ur ni ng i n t he c i t y. Look

(With a hor r i f i ed l ook he po in t s t o al l thewomen and then goes t o ROSE and r i p s awayher bodice, rev eal i ng secondary l esi on s

on her breasts.i n wi l d confus ion) All SOLDIERS begin ex i t

IIQTKEPELSGentlemen, good s o l d i er s , what i s wrong? Eave I offended you?

(Two O F F I C B S enter t o see t he men l eav e)

FIRST OFFICER( t o the INNKEEPER)

Vnere ar e they going i n such a, hurry?

INNKEEPERGood so l d i er s , come back. There shall be music. .

SECOND OFF1 C E RDontt s tend there gaping l i k e a s i ck cow. Give us some wine.

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INNKrnPEil(recover i ng f rom h i s d i s t r ess)

(J us t as he i s about t o serve them, aYe s , s i r , o f course, o f course.

LIEUTENANT enters hurriedly)

L I EUTENATJTS i r s , I have bad news f o r you.

(The G I R L S s t a r t t o d r i f t out now)

FIRST OFFIC3RWel l , out with i t .

L I EUTEXANTThe men you saw l e ave a r e f l eei ng the c i t y.bro the l , f r o m every hidden room they flee.

From every inn, from every

FIRST OFFI C E RYout r e mad. Haven' t they been uromised furloughs, al l o f them?

L I EUTENAITTThey f i n d th e women si ck .hey cr y the pox i s here.

SECOND OFFI CER( t h i n k i n g o f himself)

No L

LIEUTENANTTne Spani sh d i sease, they say.

FI RST OT3'ICXRCommand them t o stay.

L I E)UTENA.NTYo u cocnmnd then, s i r , I ' m f leeing myself .

(Ee salu tes cu r t l y and i s gone)

SECOND OFFI CER

They must be mad.some ar e a l l th e way f rom Poland

T h ey 'l l never g et home t i l l t hey ' r e pa id off . Why

(A t t h i s p o i n t two thi ngs happen. F i r s ta l ar ge ou tl i n e map o f Xurope drops in-to place upstage.on the map i s a f i g u r e o f a WOIAN dancinga s l o w sensual dance. As th e l i gh t s l o w e r ,t h i s s i l houe t t e f ades and sc ar l et neontubes spread l i k e a feverish artery throughth e map o f Europe)

Then thrown as a shadow

FIRST OFFICERSome f r o m Zngland.

A few from EungarylSECOND OFFI CER

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FIRST OID'ICEROthers from Russia

SECOND OFF1 C 3 RFrom the ends o f Europe they have come.

FIRST OFFICERAnd now they desert l i k e un gr atef ul dogs.

SECOND OFFICEROutrageous

FIRST OFFICERHere, more wine

(Ee o f f er s th e SECOXD OFFIC3R wine, buti s t r an sf i x ed by something he sees i nthe other m a n ' s face)

SECOXD OFFI C E RIVhat s wrong?

FIRST OFFICZRYOU 0 a

SECOND OFFI C6RWhy do you s t ar e at me?

FIRST OPl'ICERYou've got i t yourself1

( A clash o f music and a shudder runs throughth e f adi ng shadow o f th e woman. The FI RSTOFFICER rushes out while the other s l u m p si n a chair and stares stupidly ahead. Thef igwres o f the SOLDIERS as they march pastar e seen on the glowi ng scr een.an IT ALIAN ent ers and p oi nt s t o the OFFICER)

A s o r e on your l i p .

And then

TEE I TA L I A NThat m a n has the Spanish disease.

( A FAWlCE7VAEenters and points to theITALIAW)

TEE FRENCBMAI?Oh, t e r r i b l e , ze m a n h as z e I t d i a n di s eas e

An 3%GLISPIMAN en ter s and p o i n t s t o the

FRENCEiMAEa)THE EIJ GLISIIMAN

Keep your distance. I cnn see you have th e French di sease.

( A G & W enters and p o i n t s t o the E N G L I W )

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Scene Three

C U C T F 3 1 S

A VOICE

THE PATIENT

TEE CEEMIST

TEE SOBC3-WR

TEE PIBST PHYSICIAN

m: ECONDPHYSICfAW

TEE TEIRD PHYSICIAN

GI ROLAMO FRACASTORO

ELIZABETEANMAN

TEE FOP

JOEN UNTm

JOHXSON

P E I L L I P E R I CORDE

W E OURE PIIYSICIAN

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ACT ONE

Scene Three

Knen t i e l i gh t s come 1.93 ag,ain thePAT I D T i s seen standing st stagecenter. On ei t h er si de o f him aCHEMIST and a SOXCERER ar e wai t i ngto be paid.

P VOICEThe year o f OUT Lord, 1510,

TEE PATIBJTI ' m weary. Eeczdaches. I ' v e been t o tlnat m m and taken th i s. I ' v e beent o t h i s m m and taken th at. I ' v e been steamed and scald ed and bathed i nmud.

TXE CXEMISTM y f e e , please.

TEE PATIENT(Ee pays him)

( CEXXI ST ex i t s )Ee re you are.

TEE SORC3RE.RXy fee, please.

PATIENT(He p a y s him)

(The SORCTTBR ex i t s )There you are.

A l o t o f g o o d they've done.a f ever and so res on m y body,

I pay and pay and s t i l l I ' m aching, I ' v e

(The FIRST PEIYSICIAN enters)

TEE FIRST PEYSI C I A NNo wonder yo ul r e i l lou've been l i s t en i ng t o quacks .

TB2 PATIENTC a n you do any bet ter f o r me?

THE FIRST PHYSICIANI make no pretenses.neuralgia.

I only observe. I n you I observe the beginning o f

Avery racking sor t

ofpain.

TE:E PATIENTI can f eel i t alr eady . Shoot in g through m y body,

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r n ~asT PHYSICIANI t o l d you so.

THE PATIENTDo something.

THE FIRST PHYSICIANI t o l d you I could only observe. I wont t f o o l you. I 'm helpless.

(T he FIRST PHYSICIAN st cu d s o f f to oneside looking very important.

PHYsI CIA?? nters)The SECOND

TEE SECOND PHYSI CIAN(speaking to the f i r s t one)

Have you seen the p at i en t?

TEE FIRST PHYSICIANI to l d him he'd get neu ral gi c pains.

THE PATIENTAnd I did.

THE SXCONDPEYSICIANThere l l l be swe l l ings o f y o u r th r oat ,and your h a i r w i l l begin to f a l lout. A new observation.

THE PATIENTWhclttll I do?

TEE SEXOWDPHY SI CIAI?L i e down, that m a y help.

TE:E PATIXNT

(He s i t s on th e edge o f the bed whil eOh, my throat1

t h e SECOND PHYSICIAN st,ulds next t oh i s col l eague. The THIRD PEYSICI AN

enters)

THE THIRD PHYSICIAEsI've some good adv i ce f o r you.

THE PBTIDTI need advice, l o t s o f i t .

TEE THIRD PEYSICIBNDon't l e t anybody el s e dr in k out of tne same cup with you.anybody o r l e t your ch i l d r en use t he same bed.

Don't k i s s

THE PATIEHTI thought you s ai d you 'd hel p me.

THE TEIRD PHYSICIANNo, I ' m j u s t t ry ing to p ro tec t your f ami ly and f r i ends .

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THE PATIXNTI wish somebody would p r o t ec t me

(The T N R D PEYSICIAII j o i n s th e others. TheFOURTH PEYSI C I A N enters)

THE FOURTE PHYSICIANI ve j u st observed a new fact about the disease.

TEE OTHERSWhat i s i t ?

TEE FOURTE PEYSI CIANI t can' t i n f e c t a normal skin.maybe so s m a l l you can' t see i t ,

There must be a br eak o f some kind---

TI33 TEIXD PEYSICIANWe must put these f act s together i n a gr eat body o f knowledge.

TEE PATIENTDoes t h at hel p me?

TEE FOUXTHPHYSICIANI n time i t may. I ' d j u s t go t o sleep a whi l e i f I were you.

THE PATImTOh, won't somebody do someth ing f o r me?I w a n t t o know where i t comes f r o m ,

I ' m t i r ed o f being observed.I w a n t r e l i e f .

(And then FBACASTORO en ter s. GIROLAMOFRACASTORO was a g r eat p h y si c i an o f h i stime, r,ulking, i n h i s day, along wi thot her men o f th e period---Fernel, Pa r e,M a s sa, Parace1 sus)

F,UCASTOROI t h i n k I can help you , my boy.

TEE PATIENTI think God w i l l bless you i f you do, Vho are you?

FRACASTOROI ' m Girolamo Fracas toro and I 'v e s tudied th e d i sease fo r th e pas t f i f teenyears. Andnow i n the year of o u r Lord, 1530, I th i nk I ' v e found something to assuageyour pain.

I ' v e studi ed the thi ngs these oth er men have sai d about YOU.

TI32 FIRST PEYSICIMI n t e r e s t i n g , i f true.

TEE SECOND PEYSICIANWe'd l i k e to see y o u do i t .

TEE III:IRD PHYSICIANWhat do you prescribe?

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FRACAS TOR0I t ' s mercixy, gentlemen, I t s d en si ty i s great and i t w i l l penetrate thef l es h and d r i ve out the disease.body.

(The PATIENT

Here, m y good man, rub t h i s i n t o your

ru'os i t on iiis chest)

THE PATIENTMy, now soothing.

FRACASTORODoes i t help?

Yes, but w i l l i t cur e me?

FRACASTORO

I t w i l l g i ve you r e l i e f , I said,

TEE PATIXSTI want more than r el i ef . I ' m ashamed o f my body.

FRACASTOROYou need not be. A f t er a l l i t f s an i l l n e s s l i k e any oth er.

TEE PATIZNTWi th any o th er i l l n e s s I ' d ei t h e r d i e o r g et w e l l ,tu r i n g me f r o m day t o day.

This l ingers on , t o r -I t doesn't even have a name.

FRACASTOROwhy, I ' v e been cal l i n g i t the disease o f s y p h i l i s .

THE FOURTI3 PHYSICIANS y p h i l i s ? Whereld you get that one?

FRACASTOROI n m y poem, and I do wri te poet ry

Apol lo took vengeance and gave him t h i sS y p h i l i s w a s a swineherd, you remember?occasi on all y, he offended Apollo.pox. Syp hi l i s means l ov er o f swine.

T E PATIENTI don f t care f o r the name, I want t o get w e l l .

FRACASTOROBe patient then.re turn in to the c louds o f nothingness.

No one doubts but at a given time this disease w i l l

THE PATIENTAnd i n the meantime i t s t r i k es my h ear t, removes my hair, and l eav es medying a s l o w b i t t e r death.

FRACASTOROI say no. L i s t en t o me,surp r i se the d isease at i t s i n cep ti o n , t o s t r an g l e i t before i t has hadtime t o invade t h e viscera.

That which i s most essen ti al t o a Cure i s t o

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V O I C EThe year o f our Lord, 1760.

TEE PATIENTAnd nothing happens. Oh, Girol amo Fracasto ro

FMCPSTORO( entering)

Yes, my boy.

TU3 PATImTI thought you sai d something would happen.

FASACASTOR0I didn' t t h ink i t w o u l d take so long myself.see John Eunter coming down the highways o f time.one o f the greatest o f a l l time and h i s name will be revered i n a l l theworld o f medicine.

J ut be o f good cheer. IEe i s a grea t phys i c im ,

Maybe he w i l l have sornething t o say.

(Li gh ts dim and r i s e again)

TO1 CEThe year of our Lord, 1767.

(JOHIJ BUNTER enters . He i s a violent fumingl i t t l e man)

TEE PATImTJohn Eunter at l a s t

E'JNTZRAnd I 'v e p len ty t o say about you.

TE:E PilTImTI ' v e keen here f o r over two hundred years.

EUXTERA l l t h o s m m have been t el l i n g youes, and you ' re not r ea l l y s i ck .

things.enough.They're stu pi d o l d medieval quacks and have f oo l ed you l on gL e t ' s see what's r eal l y wrong with you.

TE3 PATIYJJTBu t t h i s s y p h i l i s i s no j o ke.

EUNTERS y p h i l i s , bah I t ' s j u s t another form o f gonorrh ea nnd everyone knowsthat s no great shakes as a disease.

TEE PATIIXT

I t never made me ver y happy.

EUNTERI know what I ' m ta l ki ng about.But I say most o f t h e i r t a l k i s tommyrot.get i t , didn' t they?

They've even n,med a chmcre fo r me.They sai d your c hi l dr en might

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TH3 PATIENTYes, they advi sed me t o be chi ld less f o r the time being.

EUNTERBosh, t h at 's what i t is--sheer bosh.from cups and k i s s i n g games?

And th ey s ai d you coul d get i t

TEE PATIENTThey warned me about F l ay i n g games, yes.

ELWTLIThat's bosh, t o o .I t ' s a l l a p a r t o f gonor rh ea which we can cure.

There's t o o much f al s e knowl edge about th e ail ment.

TES PAT I E H IVny have you bean neglecting me then?

HUNTZR1 11 show you how harml ess i t i s .of wrong l earn i ng.ing. Scat

3u t f i r s t l e t ' s c l ear t he atmosphereYo u men get out o f here. T hi s i s Jo'm Eunter speak-

(Ee goes up Pnd chases th e f i v ePHYSICIANS o f f stage)

Out with your timeworn ideas.

Wow vinere was I 7

Out with you al l , I say.(BU"TT3R r et u r n s)

W E ATIEIYTYou s ai d you'd pr ove something.

Hi-iiJTEROh, yes . Ye l l , I w i l l .you how i t functions.

1 11 nfect myself with y o u r d i sease and showOh, Johnson

( JOBIjTSON, 4n as si s t m t , enters)

JOHN SONYes, Dr. Eunter,

ETUTTERBr i ng me the v i r u s o f -7. gonorrhea infection.

JOHNSONYes, s i r .

( JOFNSON ex i t s )

EUNTERXow y o u ' l l S P ~ h at t h i s v i r u s i s no th i n e t o f ea r.cause I know I ' m r i g h t .

I ' m no t a f r a id be-

(JOENSON r etu r ns wi th a dish, needle,sevr3rd sponges and swabs, et c . )

JOHNSONEere you are, s i r .

T hi s vi r u s i s from mnn wit h th e s m e complaint as y o u r s bu t i n canErnJTrn

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EU2JTEiR (Contf d)e a r l i e r ,and more vicious stzge. Scar i f y my n r m , J ohnson, and rub i t in .

(He hol ds out h i s arm)

JOE3 SOiTArc you su re , s i r ?

HUNTERSo ahead, fool Do n s I bid.

JOEINSONY es, s i r .

(Re g o e s through the motions o f scrstchingEUNTXEI'S arm and rubbing i n some o f thegerms with the neadle)

ETJNT3RVt-ry g o o d , Johnson.s e e i t ' s no thing but p no r rh es , no th ing but t hat .

Nor w e l l witch t n i s d isease d e v e l o p and you ' l l

(Th e l i g h t s f ade on JOKNSON and EVLJTXRbut remain very br i ght on the PA T I ST )

TEE PATIaTTThink of th at And I thought I was sick

Ooooooh I am si ck. Are ynu sur e you vere r i gh t , John Hi mter?(Es st art s to get up but pni ns seiz e n i s body

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BI CORDEI a m ' l h i l l i p e Ri co rd e from t he Hop i tn l du Mid i i n Pa r i s . I ' v e beenr eadi ng what o l d John Eun ter sai d about you seventy years ago.q u i t e ,z man, J o h n Eun ter was, m d he d i d many no bl e th i ngs f o r medicinebut when he t al ked about you he was woefully wrong.

sin but being believed f o r a wrong i s sad, indeed.at you l a t e ly?

He was

Sein g wrong i s no

E-as anybody looked

RI CORD3O f course you 're si ck. Yo u're very, very si ck.T h o s e f i r s t p h ys i ci an s who came t o see you were right.observed i n you were correct,Runter, because he wcs a great mm., could have twisted the whole thing

upside down.

aut be o f good cheer.

And i s n ' t i t strange that one m a n l i k eThe things they

( During t h i s speech RICORDE cn l l s backFRACXSTORO ,and the oth er PHYSICIANS)

We must not f o r get these men.

TEE PATIENTYou know, I W R S beginning t o get discouraged.

RI CORDE

The tili ng we'd l i k e t o f i nd out i s what causes the disease.B e l l , we1 r e beginning anew today.takes.

i n Pa r i s we're working on that angl e.

Lett s hope w don' t make t o o many m i s -Eere

TE:3 PAT I Z N TYou mean y o u don't know yet?

RI CORDEItin a f r a id not.

TLE PATImTMy, think o f that. O h , there must b o a cause.

RICORDEVe do know th 3t syp h i l i s .md gonorrheaut we haven' t f o u n d i t yet.

a r e not the same th i n g, though. ThDtts somrthing.

TEE PATIBJTYes, i t ' s be t t er thnn no th ing, but Lord, what I wouldn't give to knowwhat k e e p s m e i n t h i s condi t ion.

3LACICOUT

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ACT ONE

cone lour

JEAN LOUIS

DR. FOURNIXXI

COLLET TE

hilARI E

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ACT ONE

Scene F o u r

The spotl ight rests on L B W Y f o r amomen t .

LENNY. . and so one hundred and one yea,rs ago the sear ch began all over again.hien l i k e Ph i l l i p e R icorde and 'n i s f avo r i t e pup i l , Dr. Alfred Fournier.Dr. Fournier worked at thet o see the ef f ect o f sy ph i l i s on marriage.on degeneratio n o f th e body, too.m a n who came to h i m . . . .

Eopitnl St. Lo ui s i n P ar i s 'and was the f i r s tEa saw how the disease brought

One d(xv i n P a r i s h e t e l l s about a young

(The l i gh t s f ade on LXNNY and come up ontne next scene)

VOIeThe year o f our Lor d, 1863.

(T he o f f i c e o f DR, ALFXiGD FOURNIER nt theTho t ime i so p i t a l S t . L o u i s i n PD r i s.

an af ternoon i n Mw. 1863, and the ef f ecto f the scene should be a suegesti on ofth at period. Seated befor e DR. FOURNI3.Ri s J W L O U I S , n young m a n about town.JEAN LOUIS i s wearin g dark gl asses i n apath e t i c at tempt to conceal h i s id ent i ty )

J W OUIS. . . and so you s e e , Dr. T'ourniar, tnst br ings m e to the pr esent situa-t ion. Not o n l y have I been, sh al l I s-ay i n d i s c r e et i n my af f ec t i o n s ,but unfortunate a s well .

F O LW IERA very frequent misfortune, I 'm af ra id .

J W L O U I SBut I a s s u r e you I . . .

FOURXI mYes, yes, I understand.none th e l e s s t r a g i c f o r a l l that.

A very fr equent misf ortun e but, I might add,

JEAN LOUIS

I suppose I thought i t could never happen to me.Ey uRNIER

I s n ' t i t strnnge how w e i ns t i n ct i vel y f eel immune to cer tai n things.Death, f o r instance, w e can always irnclgine f or the other f el l o w butnever f o r ourself . On the otn er hand, a k i s s , a physical contact witha woman, we can imagine f o r ou rs elf but can never q u i te p i ct u r e f o r theother fel low.

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JEAN LOUISMy death was i n a k i s s .

V I XYou make i t sound much too t r ag i c . You a r e young.

JEAN LOUISNot too young t o be i n sens i t i ve t o my predicamentof medicine to cope wi th m y a f f l i c t i o n .

t he p r es en t i n a b i l i t y

l?OURNIrnWon't you Flelz se take those r i d i cu l ou s g l a s s e s o f f .t reat you I f 11 nave t o know who y o u are.

I f you w a n t me t o

JEOT LOUISSomeone nay enter the of f i ce nnd recogniz e me

FOURIIImWe have m a n y prominent c i t i z e n s come here.Besides, no one w i l l enter the off ice .

Nothing i s ever s ai d about i t .

J W LOUISI f y o u i n s i s t . . . .

( E e takes o f f d2rk glasses)

FOrnI rnThctt s better. And now your nme?

JVA? LOTJISJ ean Lo u i s dt Houbler.

FOURNIXt&, y e s .been q u i te a so ci al event.

I ' v e seen the announcements o f y o u r wedding. I t was t o have

JEAN LOUISUnf or tun ately, the bi ggest wedding o f th e season.f o r two weeks f r o m tomorrow.

The date has been set

FOUF;NI ERThat wedding, I f m a f r Ti d , w i l l have to be i n d ef i ni tel y postponed.

JEJT LOUISToo l a t e f o r t h at , d oct or. T h e b a n s have been read, the trou sseauf i t t e d , th e i n v i t a ti o n s a r e out and, yes, e v e n th e reservati ons made f ort h e b r i d al s u i t e e t Ostend.

FOmvIYaI wish you had bean a s thoroughgoing i n the other phases o f your so ci all i f e .

J3ii.B LOUISThat sounds f a i n t l y l i k e a l a c t u r e o n sin.

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FOURNIERFar f r o m i t .Yo u r s i s making a rath er b i t t er one.

L a x i t y o f any ki nd makes i t s own eloquent lectures.

JEAN LOUISI r i sked and l os t . I don't apologize f o r losing.

FOURNIERBut l i k e most l o se r s you 'd l i k e t o squeeze out as eas i l y as you can.

JEAN LOUISI ' n w i l l i ng t o employ you t o do that f o r me. I ' m at your mercy.

F O W I EX( thundering)

Then I must i n s i s t th at the marri age be ca l l ed o f f .

JEAN LOTJISI t o l d you i t ' s t oo l a t e f o r that.

F0URT;IIERAnd y et you swear you l ov e the gi r l .

Dr. Fourni er, insane as i t sounds and coming at th i s t ime I know youwon t bel i ev e me, but I worship her with a l l my heart. To me she i sa l l tha t i s beaut i fu l and des i rab le,

and w a n t t o be,

J W LOUIS

She's everything that I ' m not

FO'rnI TLRI thought f or a moment i t was merely a wedding o f two prominent families.Te French a r e barbarous thn t way.

Yes, I know, but i n t h i s case i t Pias l ove, too. O u r f ami l i es wanted usand we wanted each other.hunger dlxing that l ong engngemznt year I sought l e s s p l ea sa l t ou t l e t s .I ' d r ather di e, however, than l o s e 'ner respsct.

Zut rathgr than ask her t o feed my phys ica l

FOURNImI bel i ev e you, my boy.burden her with your calamity?

?That I can 't understand is--urhy do you want t o

JXAN LOUISWhat reason can I g ive fo r dc se r t i ng h e r now?and th e shock would d r i v e her mad.

She t r u s t s me i m p l i c i t l y

YOURUI3RWhich shock?

l ear ni ng you're not a god?

The shock of b ei n g l e f t a t t h e a l ta r o r the s h o c k o f

JEAN LOUISYou don 't even t r y t o help me.

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FoumImI ' m th inking o f the one you love . . .

JEAN LOUISBut you ask for t o l er ance i n a world that knows only intolerance.

going out t o that world now.

I mAnd y o u ' l l not stop me.

FOURNI ERI t ' s f oo l s l i k e you who breed i ntolerance

JEAN LOUISI n t h i s c as e, i t will have t o breed, that 's al l . I f I had the measleso r mumps you might stop me but I ve got something you daren' t name andyou' r e helpl ess,

F O W I E R

Yes, I admit th at, But p l ease be reasonable f o r har sdse.

JEAN LOUISI t' s t o o l a t e f o r reason, doctor.simple a s a l l that

I t ' s much t o o l a t e f o r anything a s

BLACKOUT

I n the dark a grotesque version o fth e r Vedding March" i s pl ayed by theorchestra. This b r e a k s off ab rup t lyas the l i gh t s r i s e on t he bedroom o fth e br i d e, COLLETTE. She i s seatedbefore a vani ty dresser t r y i ng bravelynot t o show h er anxi ety. She jumpsup eagerl y when there i s a knock onthe door.

COLL ZTTECome i n,

Oh, i t ' s you, M s r i e.(MARIE, a bridesmaid, enters)

has he not come yet?

MAR1 EN O , Collet te , not yet .

COLLETTEt i e must have bean hur t. E w e they looked i n t he ho sp i tal s?

IIIIARIEServ ants have been sent t o look.

COLL3T TEO h , Marie, what w i l l I do?

TVAR EYou mustn't worry.and water.

Jean Louis will come i f he has t o go th rough f i r e

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COLLET TEYes, he would go througn f i r e and water f o r me.But Marie . . . Ee always s ai d so.

KARI EDon't be so f r ightened, Col le t te .

COLLETTEWould he l eave me at the a l ta r l i k e t hi s ? No, M ar i e, i t ' s n ot p o s s i bl ehe d. do that.

MAR1 ES i t down and r est , Co l l ette.guests to see.

You don't want red eyes f o r a l l those

COLLETTENo, no, I mustnl t l e t mysel f c ry.best f o r him. R e mustn't know I ' m worried.

I must be calm. I must l ook my

ivlARIEYou look s o beau t i fu l .v e i l . I t should be a beautiful wedding.

Your mother 's wedding gown and t h at lovely

COLLETTE?yhy doesn 't he come? Vhat cCm be keeping him?

M A R 1EI s ai d you mustn't cry. 3verythi ng w i l l be all r i ght . Look, l e t meput some powder on your cheek where you've rubbed i t o f f . S i t s t i l l .

(Sh e dabs some powder on COLLZTT F S cheek)

COLLETTEI f J ean Lo u i s should deser t me now I ' d want t o die, Marie.face % m a again.

I couldn' t',lmat would she t e l l the guests?

MLYI ECol le t te , you ' re going t o cry again i f you're not careful.

COLLETTE

I don't care. Go away, w i l l you? Please l e t me alone. I don't wantt o see anybody. T el l everybody t o keep out.

Oh, Marie, quick, see who i t i s(T h er e i s a knock at the door)

(ldARI3 opens the door, admitting DR. FOURXIER.Both ar e astounded t o see him)

W I

Oh, y o u ca n 't come i n here. T n i s i s the b r i d e's . .FOURNIER

I ' v e come t o see the bride.

M.A?J ENo, please go. She doesn' t wmt company now.

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COLLETTENo, l e t him i n , Mar i e. Ma,ybe he knows . . .

FOUIIT\TIXRThank you, my c h i l d .

(MABIE clo ses the door af t er n i m )

MAR1 EShall I sthv now?

COLLET TZYes, o f course. That i s , maybe .

FOURNI ERI f you'd be so kind a s t o watch outside the d o o r .

That ' s al l r i g h t , c h i l d ,news o f Jean Louis.

L e t n o one enter.

T nerefs notning t o f e a r ; I ' v e o n l y come wi th(MARIE o o k s fr ightened)

COLLETTEYes, Jean L o u i s H e . . .

Fy uRI\TIER.

(FOU2NIER wai ts u n t i l MARIE has gone). . . s al l r i g h t , don t fear.

COLLXTTET e l l me who you are. I saw Mar i e tnought . .

FOTJXU ER. . . I was a guest? I am a gxost , Collet te , but an uninvi ted one.COLLETTE

You f r ighten me.

FOTmNIER

No need t o be. I ' v e c om e to t a l k o f Jean Louis.

COLLXPTEYo u say he ' s a l l r i g h t .

FOURNIERI ' m sure he is .

COLLXTTEThen why i s n l t he here?the wedding . . . hy has he done t n i s to me? The time for

~URNIER. . i s long pas t . Yes. I know. The guests a r e l eavi ng.COLLETTE

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FOU3NI mThe wed,ding w i l l n o t t,&e p l ace today.

My name i s Dr. Fournier.

I w,mt t o t e l l you tha t qu ick ly.(He wai ts f o r a moment bef or e con ti nu ing)

COLLETTEThen he has been hurt. I knew i t . I knew no th ing el s e would keep him.

FQURNIERYes, he has been hurt.more by not understanding,

But nothing so serious that you can't hurt him

COLLETTE

Vhere i s he? I must go t o him.

FOLTRNI 3R?*ai .

COLLETTEH e ' l l need me. There was th e acci d ent ?

FOU3.NIERI ' m a f r a i d I don' t know that. I know on l y why he i s n ' t here.

COLLETTEWhy don 't you t e l l me? I nust know.

FOLWI 33C o l l et te , you l ov e him ver y deeply, don't you?

COLLETTE

What a f o ol i sh question when I stand here trembling f o r him.

FOTrnI RAnything you might l earn about him now can 't p os si bl y make any dif-ference t o th at lov e, c


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FOURNIERTwo weeks ago J ean L o u i s came t o my o f f i c e .i n t roub le. I t seems h el d met a cer t ai n woman . . . .e t o l d me he had gotten

COLLETTEYes . . . .

30uRNIERA cer tai n woman who all owed him l i b er t i es t h at . . . wel l , young menar e impulsive.

COLLETTEEe loved her?

F0URT:I ER

No he loved you, o f course. I t was one o f those things that have beenhappening since the beginning of t ime but hurt just a s much when theyhappen t o you.

COLLXTTEBut i f they did not l o ve each other. Men do have mi st r ess es, I know.

FOumIERThis one l e f t a r at h er ugl y mark on him.t o you.

A nark he might have carried

(T h i s blow leaves COLLETTE speechl ess.

She sinks into the chair a s though struck)R e w a s a f r a i d t o t e l l you.f ami l i e s . Ee couldnl t come t o you.

He was a f r a i d o f your friends and y o u r

COLLETTEH e couldn't come t o me . . . he couldn' t . . . why co u l d n 't he comet o me?

FOURNIERHe d i d n 't want t o f ace you, being l es s than so ci ety expected him t o be.

COLLETTEI suppose sooner o r l a t e r everx worncan must l ear n th at h er man i s n o tinvulnerable. I .had not bargained o n l e a r n i n g so soon.

FOURNIERI forbade him t o go through wi th t h i s marriage.do, giv i ng wi l d and fo ol i sh reasons.t o you, although my heart cr i ed out f o r you

This he refused toSt h i cs fo rbade me from coming

COLLETTEWho stopp ed him then?

FOURNIERRe must have stopped himself.him what he was doing.possessed th e cour


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FOURhSIERI don't know the f u l l extent yet.

Bu t h e ' l l need p l en ty of understanding during the days t o come.be al l alone, I suppose.

(and then wisely)H e ' l l

COLLETTEAl on e? ?Vhy should ne be alon e?

OURNIm

H i s f r i e n d s w i l l a l l desert him. E i s f amily . .COLLXTTE

E i s f r i en d s? ' &hat about me?

FOURNIEIRYou? I hadn't thought . . .

COLLET T EI ' m going t o him.

FOURNI3.RYou?

COLLETTEI t ' s not a s i f he were dead.

FOURIT13 3But your family?

COLLETTEWe Panted t o be married a year ago buthey were p ar t l y t he cause.

they made us wait.ot her t h i s might never have happened,

They wanted a b i g wedding. 3ut i f we had had each

FOLWTI ERYo u do understand.

COLLZTTEYes, d octor, wet11 f i n d h i m together. Yo u 7,vith your sc i ence and Iwi th my love w i l l s a e nim through.

FOURNIERBrave g i r l

COLLETTEMarie

(MARIE enters)Marie, order a carr iage at once. A t the back door.J ean Lo ui s. 3ut th e honeymoon i s o f f unt i l , . . I ' m going to

(She looks at FOURNIER)

FOUIiiJI ERI t may b a long t ime yet , Collet te.

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The music con t inues f o r a moment i nthe darkness and then the l i g h t s comeup on th e room o f JEAN LOUIS.i n a sm oking j a c k e t i d l y r e a d i n g anewspaper. He g e t s up, walks aboutn e r v o u s l y, s i t s down again . The doorslowly opens and COLLETTE, i n h erwedding gown, and i l R, FOURNI3R enter.They s tand a t the door unobserved andwatch JEAN L O U I S q u i e t l y r e a d i n g t h epaper.

He i s

COLLETTEOh, Jean Louis

(Ee tu rns and l o o k s a t h er c u r i o u s l y,n e i t h e r s u r p r i s e d n o r g l a d t o s ee h e r )

J W LOUISC o l l e t t e So g l a d yo u mame.

COLLXTTXITny, Jean Lo u is , what a re you doing ?

J W LOUISNothing impor tant . D i d you have something planned?

COLLXTTP,Eow ccan you say tha t? I t hough t you 'd be g r i e f - s t r i ck en .

J W OUISOn sucn a dray as t h i s ? N o , n o t a t all. I ' v e been n i d i n g h e re awayf ro m t h e f ' m i l y, r e a d i n g . I s e e t h e y h av e f r e e d t he N e gr o slaves i nAmerica a t l a s t . That Li nc ol n rnust be a g r e a t m a .

COLLETTE

You .,

. you were ren .d ing the papers?J U T LOU IS

&d why shouldn't I r e a d t h e p a p e r s ?

COLLETTENo r e a s o n a t all, but today . . .

JEA3 LOUIS( s e e i n g DR. FOITREJIlZR f o r th e f i r s t tim e)

Wny do y o u l e t h im s t a nd t h e r e ?se e you 've somebokv w i t h you.

COLLEll TEDon't yo u remember 3r. Fourn ie r?

JEAN LOUISI d o n ' t b e l i e v e I do. Eow do you d o , d o c to r. G la d t o m eet m y f r i e n d so f C o ll e t te ts . What do you th ink of t h e s l a ve p rob lem i n America?

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FOURNIERCome her e, my boy, we want t o t a l k w i th y o u .

J W OUIS

O f cour se we must t al k . P l e a s e s i t down. O r ar e you goi ng some p l ace?

COLLETTEV&at makes y o u ask that?

JEAN LOUIS

C o l l e t t e ' s a very pr e t ty g i r l , don1 tThat dress you're wearing?par ty.you think, doctor?

I t looks a s though you were going t o aI t looks lovely on you.

COLLETTE

( shrinking back)Jean Louis

J W OUIS

They seemed vcry gay about something.I t ' s a perfect day f o r a garden party,poplars across the way.

I ' v e noticed some bi rd s i n the

FOUXNIERCol l e t t e , my dear, shall we s i t down?

(She s i t s and YOURNIER tur ns t o J W LOUIS)

J W OUISSu r e, l e t ' s al l s i t .

(They al l s i t down)

FOlTRNIERDo you remember what day i t i s ?

JEAN LOUISAro you ask i ng me?

FOTJRITIZRYes.

J W OUISDon't y o v r e a l l y know?

FOrnTI mI'm asking you.

JEAN LOUISI ' d say Thursday.

FOURNIXRAnd wnat date o f the month?

JEAN LOUISWhy do you ask such funny questions?white gown, doctor?

Doesn't she l o ok l o v e l y i n t h at

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FOURNI3RAnswer me, what date i s i t ?

JEAN LOUIS

(E i s eyes f a l l on the newspaper which heI don't know.

grabs quickly.The eighth o f June

Ee looks at the date)There you are.

F O W IAnd wna,t were you goi ng t o do on the ei gh th o f J une?

JEAN LOUISRead the paper s ,and . .

. . . AND . . . the eighth o f June.(Ee s t a r e s i n t en t l y at COLLETTE)

Co l l ett e T his i s our wedding day

COLLIDTERad you forgotten?

J U LOUISFo r go tten? My God, yes . Wnere have I been? This l o s s o f sleepYour gown. Now I know, For gi ve me. Wnat ti me i s i t ? I t 1 not t o ol at e. We can hurr y.

COLLETTE

But the doctor sai d you coul dn't.

JEdg LOUISCouldn't?O f co ms e 1 '1 1 marry you.

Sa id I coul dn' t marry my sweet C ol l et te? The man's cr azy.

COLL ETT EEe said not yet. L at er maybe . . .

JEAN LOUISNothing w i l l stop us

FOURXI 3 3S i t down, J ean Lou i s.

(The BOY s i t s down)

J ? E LOTIIS(Ee looks up at F O W I D and seeins t o

r ecogni z e him,chai r )

tie si nk s back i nt o t he

Oh, now I know who you ar e.f or get. You hypnoti z ed me.

me.

Yes, you said I couldnlt .I was going to and then ... you hypnotizedYou m2de me

FOURNIERJ e a n L o u i s , l i s t e n t o me.

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JEAN LOUISCharl atan, t h at 's what you are. Meddl ing i n other people's business.I was going t o l i v e my own l i f e my own way and then ycu came al ong.out o f here, w i l l you, get out. I f you d o n ' t l eave th i s r o o m 1111 k i l lyou.

Get

You've done enough t o r ui n my l i f e .

(He reaches into a drawer and takes outa small revo l ver which He po in ts a tth e DOCTOR)

COLLETTEHe's on ly t ry ing t o hel p you, J ean L ou is . He wants you t o get w e l l

JEAN LOUISThen he has t o l d you o f my condi t ion.

COLLETTE

Yes, he has to l d me. Eut I don't care, 1111 wait. 1'11 wait f o r you.

FOURN1E;RYou 're being very f oo l i sh , my boy.i t over.

L et ' s put th at gun away and t al k

(JEAN LOUIS stands trembling with therevolver and then breaks down and be-gins t o cry)

JEAN LOUISOh, my God, what's become o f me.

(The DOCTOR i s going t o take the revolverwhen JEAN LOUIS jumps up agai n )

No, you do n't Y o u 'l l take me away. How could I fo rge t . Co l l e t t eI can' t get i t out o f my mind. I t seeps i n t o your brain. I read thati t does. I couldn't stand that, I couldn' t , . . . . . . .

(And then bef or e they r eal i z e he turnsth e gun on himself and shoots.s t and ho r r i f i ed as he slumps t o thef l o o r behind the table)

They

COLLETTEJean Louis

My God, doctor , he' s . . .She r u s h e s t o him and kneels beside him)(She i s sobbing)

BLACKOUT

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ACT ON3

Scene F i v e

CHARACTERS

DR. ~ I C R OFIMAN

FIRST DOCTOR

SICOND COCTOR

DR. SCEAUDINN

LABORATORYA S S I S T N T S

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ACT ONE

Scone F i v e

VOICEThe y e a r o f our Lo rd, 1905.

The l i gh t s r i s e on a row o f cha i r splaced at d i f f e ren t l eve l s . ThreeCOCTORS i n wh i te lab o r st o r y gownsa re seat ed there l i s t en i ng to af ou rt h d octor who i s ERICE EOFFlfLAN.

I i O F WGentlemen, i t should be increasingly apparent that the virus isolated byDr. Siege1 i n 1 8 9 8 i s not the cause o f s y p h i l i s .o f our Lo rd , 1905, we must seek elsewhere f o r the cause.

And now i n the year

FIRST COCTORDr. S i e g el l s v i r u s i s as good as any other, There ar e a s many causesfound f o r s m h i l i s as there ar e sci ent i st s to l ook f o r them.time a man p eers i n to h i s microscope these days he comes up shou ti ng,

'Ah, at l a s t I have found i t ' I t l s r i di cu lo us.

Xvery

EOFIYMANWould you deny th er e i s a cause?

FIRST EOCTORI dontt deny anything.i t s e l f wi th al l these wild guesses.

I merely say medicine i s making n spectacle of

H O F F MThat would end i f th e r ea l cause were found.

SECOND DOCTORThey a l l say theytve the r ea l cause,

E O F M( tu rn ing t o the T H I F D D3CTOR)

Dr. Schaudinn . .SCEAUDINN

Yes, Dr. Hoffman.

HOFFMLN

For sever al years youl ve conducted pr ot oz aol ogi cal r esearches whichhave been the very model o f scholar l iness .

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SCEAUDINNThrmk you, Dr. Hoffman. I appr ecia te your t r i bu te but i f you are think-i ng o f me i n connection with your problem I nust decline.happy at my own work.

I ' m much too

H O F F M A NBut f o r th e sake o f humanity . , ,

SCEiXUDI NNRwnan ity i s an express ion used much too l o o s e l y these past years. Iam i nt eres ted i n humanity, yes, but not at t h e expense o f iny own re-searches which, p l eas e renember, I c on si d er v al u ab l e i n t h e i r own srnallway.

HOFLWANS y p h i l i s i s becoming an i n cr easi ng menace. One ou t o f seven , . ,

S C E ~ U D I ~ T NSt i t i s t i c s won't move ne. P l e m e .

HOFFi iLVI l v e al r ead y spoken t o th e Gern'm Acadamy o f Science.s m e mind.

They aro o f the

s CHAUDI1mNo, no, you ' re j es t i ng snrcly.

FIRST M3CTORIt1 s a great honor, Dr. Schandinn.

SCEAUDIY NA great honor to be ordered about l i k e a j a n i t o r ?

3OFTMANUnfortunately, Dr. Scnaudinn, we both a r e ezlployed by th e govcrnnsntmedical service. As i n t he arny, t ransfers can be made. I have yourshere for t r ansf er to th e d i v i s i on of venereal d i seases .

(He p r esen ts SCFJUDINN wi th a paper)

SrnATJDIMNI d o n f t b el i e v e i t .

ROFEiilANI t ' s a l l there. Y ou may. as wel l r e s ign your se l f t o t he fact,

CEiATYrDINNWas t h i s your idea, Dr, Roffnan?

EOFIWQ?1'11 be honored to work with you.

S HAUDI NAnd I thought you were my f r i end.

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1-5- 3

HOFFMANI t n sur e you won't r egret i t .

S CHAUDINNWell, you cer ta in ly are a smart one, Hoffman.

way.

Bossing me around th i s

HOFFMANI ' v e al l your materials ready,of assistance.

A labora tory o f your own and pl enty

SCHAUDINNI t t s a l l as cut and dried as th at. Wel l , damn i t , I never thoughtI ' d see the day when Fr i t z Schmdinn would be ki cked around l i k e th i s.

HOFFMAN

You forget the purpose o f t h i s , We need you.

SCIiAVDINNWell, i f I must I won't waste any time,

HOFFMANScience has sought t h i s f or fo ur hundred years .

SCIiArnINN1'11 f i n d i t i n f our 3onths.

HOFTMANYou can begin next month.

S CFIUDI NXNext month? 3ah It11 begi n now. Gi ve me a microscope.

HOFFMANWe have one wai ting

(Upstage o n a ra i sed p lat form there i s nowdiscovered an o l d t a b l e w i t b a brass nic-roscope on i t )

SCHAUDI XNHoffman, you ol d r ascal . I should hate you f o r thi s . What a demonyou are.

(SCHAUDIIJN now walks up to the microscopeas the r es t of the s tage falls into dark-ness. Al l l i gh t i s concen t r at ed onSCIiAUDINN and t h at gleaming b rass micros-cope)

T h i s i s a good i n s t rmen t .

HOFFMANThe very best.

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SCHAIIDINI~You o l d rascal, Eoffman. Veil, what ar e you waiti ng f or ?

HOlPMANmat do you wish?

(The music begins here and increases i ni n t e n s i t y a s the search begins)

SCEAUDINNSlides F r o m f r esh chcmcres. New i nf ect i ons Old infec t ions A l li n f ec ti o n s 3 r i n g me s y p h i l i sl

( A ser ies of busy LAB ASSISTANTS enternow wi th sl i d es, They go up to themicroscope on one s i d e and down the other)

EOFFMANYou are f o o l i s h f o r b ei n g so impatient1

SCIAUDIEJNI d i s l i k e t h i s work. I w,mt to get i t ove r with.

EiOFFKANEer e they come. Call your needs

SCXAUDINN

New i n f e c t i o n s , o l d i n f ec t ions

What do you see?

What do I see, wnat do I see?

Anything new?

Anything old,

Anything old.

Eoffmanl

Yes?

EOFFXM

SCfiAUDINN

HOFYMAN

SCEAUDIITN

E O F W ?

SCEAUDINN

Ii,OFAW

CFAUDI NWhat 's that sp i r al wr iggl in g there?

E O F WWhat s p i r a l ?

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CHAUD N NL i k e a corkscrew without a handle.

HOFFIWSpi r al ? Corkscrew?

S C H A ~ I N NYou heard me Look

(HOFFMAN comes and looks)

HOFFMANI can't see anything.

SCHAUDINNLook

HOFFWWhere?

SCHAUDINNSee the red corp uscle i n the middle o f t h e f i e l d ?

XOFFIIILblNYes.

SCILAUDINNNow toward the eight o 'clock posit ion.

H O W iYes.

SCHAUDINNA s p i r a l A corkscrew

HOFFiANYe s . Fr i t z , you've found i t

S C H A U D I N NN o t so soon, One l i t t l e sp i r a l i s noth ing. Br i ng me more.

(The LAB. ASSISTANTS p r ac t i c al l y dance .i n wi th more samples)

HOFFMANT hi s i s f rom a. young man. Recent infection.

scHAmINNAh, t her e i s a s p i r a l -- a p a l e s p i r a l . I t l ooks l i k e nothing --twis t ing .

H0FFiP-NFrom a woman. Recent i n f ec t i on .

S CU U D NNAgain the spiral .

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HOFFMANFrom an old man. Recent i n f ect i o n .

SCHAUDI N NAnd again t he l i t t l e pa l e s ? i r a l . Here on the dark f i e l d i t i s smal land pale, The soi ro chete p al l i d a

(The l i gh ts begin t o fade)

HOFFMANFrom an o l d lady. Recent i nf ect io n,

S C U U D I N NS t i l l t h e sp i r o ch et e p a l l i d a

(The l ights a re dom now and on the screenat the back a sl i d e has been p ro j ectedshowing the sp i ra l - l i ke v i ru s on a dark

f i e l d )You see i t t her e, Hof fman? See t he l i t t l e s p i r a l l i k e a corkscrewwithout a handle?

H0FEIIdi.NFrom a young woman. I n f ec t i o n one day

sc :urn N

( T h e l i g h t s r i s e e x a c t l y a s i n the be-We've found i t There i t i s , Hoffman. I hope you ' re sa t i s f ied .

g inning o f th e scene, on l y i t i s

SCHAUDINV now who i s add ress ing t hemen)

, . . and s o , gentlemen, we have co ncl usi ve pr oo f o f the spirochetewhich i s pr esent i n every infec t ion o f this disease and i n no other,I might add that I ' m glad i t t s been found at l as t because I can now getback t o my own work wh i l e you, gentlemen, con ti nu e th e search f o r thecure.

CURTAIN

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4 t S P I R O C H E T E "

ACT TWO

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A C T TWO

Scene One

CHARACTERS

METCHNIKOFF

THE PATIENT

PAUL MAISONEUVE

DR, ROUX

THE REFOINER

DR. BORDET

A VOICE

DR, VASSlZUviA8N

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ACT TW

Scene One

LOUDSPXAKERWith the discovery of the spi ro chete the search f o r curePgoes for ward i n th e twent i eth century-the age o f sudden,surpr ip i ng progress, The extent of the sy p hi l i s re ign o ft er r o r becomes f u l l y apparent.by g reat ba r r i e rp o f s i l ence and so c i a l p res su re.p r o f i t ee r on a p op u h ti on 's f r i gh t end ignorance, clear-mindeds ci en ti s ts are gagged by prudery and scorn. I n sp i te of th iF,new qu est i on s ar e asked. Nem answer9 ar e found. Almost i m -Per ceD ti bl y the b at t l e becomes more in t ens ive, t he f i e ld of

f i gh t i n g more widesnread. MRTCHNIKOFF, BORDFT, WASSERXANN,EKHLICH, LEVADITI, ECAHN, HINTON, WENGER--the gr eat names ar elegion. Each of these death-fighters bri ngs i n to Rction a newweapon to f i gh t th e di sease. And v i t h ench paasing year thesc i en t i s t begins t o f ee l tha t he i s wanted , th a t he ifi needed:and the cr i es o f th e peonl e become l ou der . . . louder andc l e a r e r . . .

But open fightinq i s hinderedm i l e quncks

But f i r s t Re must pause at the h b o r at o r y o f METCHNIKOFF findROUX a t t h e Pas teu r I n s t i t u t e i n Paris.

SETTING: At the r i s e o f t he cu r tn in thewild-bearded METCHNIKOFF isworking a t a l a b bench, h i s backt o the md i ence. He i s hummingsome mad tune when ther e i s R knockon th e door. He doesn't tu r n t olook.

VOICE(above the knocking)

The year o f our Lord, 1906.

METCHNIKOFFCome i n.

(The knock i s repeated)Come i n , I spy Muet I keep y el l i n g ten times, come in

(The d o o r opens and that ubiquitous

f ell ow , the PATTEXT, ent ers timi dl y.METCHNIKOFF i s too bupy to tu r naround)

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METCHNIKOFF (cont d )

S i t d o m , pleape. 1'11 be w i t h you i n A minute,

METCHNIKOFF f i n i s h es h i s song)(The PAT I E N T wai t s nervously while

What d i d you say your name was?

THE PATIENT( d o l e f u l l y )

I d ra ther not g ive my nme,rather not tR l k about,

I 'v e got something wrong ai t h me Itrl

METCHNIKOFF( s t i l l n ot l oo ki n g)

TRhatfs your age, then?

THX PATIENT

About f ou r hundred years i n round numbers.

METCHNIKOFFAnswer my question. How o l d ar e you?

TK PATIENTI told you four hundred years.

METCHNIKOFFFour hundred That?

(Thinking the m a n cr az y METCHNIKOFF

tu rns around f o r t he f i r s t t ime)Oh, 80 i t ' s you, i s i t ?

THE PATIENTYes, Dr. Metchnikoff .

MYZETCHNIKOFFDid you say there was something wrong ni t h you?

TH?I PATIENTA l l depends how you l o o k at i t .

METCEJIKOFFYou must b e the one tnith syphilis.

T F PATIENTShhhhhbh, pl ease We do n't di scus9 tho se th i n gs so loudly nowadays.

METCKEJI KOFFDon't we? Vhy not?

THE PATIETQPeop le don 't l i k e to th i nk about i t , I guess.t o discuse i t wi th me, a t l e as t ,

I cnntt get anybody

METCKNIKOFFow sad. I ' m very sorry.


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THE PAT I E N TEven i n death cer t i f i c at es th ey won't mention i t . If a m m d i e sof--you-how-That--they c a l l i t heart t ro ubl e or hardening o f thea r t e r i e s or brain softening,i t t h ey ' l l never c a l l it--well, you-know-what.

If they can th i n k o f another name f o r

METCHNIKOFF

You mean sy p h i l i s ?

THE PATIENT(qu i te pained by t h i s ind . i scret ion)

Please Af ter al l .Well, i s n r t i t s y p h i l i s ?

Yes, but

. .Then l e t ' s c ~ l l t by i t s r e a l

METCRJIKOFF

TI-IE PATIENT

METCHXIKOFFname. Now That d i d you mint t o know?

I aant to know what you've done f o r me.

METCHNIKOFFMe? W e l l , Dr, Roux a n d I have been so r k i ng on apes,

TPHE PATIENTApes? Do apes have, , . er. . ,

METCHNIKOFFSyp h i l i s i s t he word, No, man i s th e only one f o o l i sh enough t o havei t S O f ar , But we--Dr. Roux and I--have found a m y t o g i v e i t t oapes .

THE PATIENTYou mean you've a c t u al l y given a.n aue t h i s , , , t h i s , , ,

METCHNIKOFFWe gave them Pyphi li f i.

THE PATIENTOh, but i f you r ea l l y knev what i t f e l t l i k e you'd never do that ,

METCHNIKOFFBut ae couldnlt study the course o f th e d i aem e without them. Nowwe cAn watch th e co ur se o f th os e germft from th e time they s t a r t t othe very f i n ish . Ye know exactly whet hamens.

THE PAT I E N TI coul d have saved you some tr ou bl e. I k n o w that, too.

METCHNIKOFFCould you hnve to l d me th at i t takes R while for s y p h i l i s t o mrefidthrough the body? Could you have developed an ointment that F i l l

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METCXNIKOFF (cont *a)prevent the infec t ion o f s y p h i l i s i f you apply i t soon enough?

THE PATIENTHave you got an ointment l i k e t h at ?

METCHNIKOYFWe have f o r apes.

T H E PATIZETF o r apes? m a t makes you th i n k i t vo uldn' t work on me?

METCHNIKOFFI t won' t work on you. You're t o o old with th e di sease. But i t mightwork on Romebody mho's ge t t i n g i t f o r t he f i r s t ti me.

THE PATIEZaTI f a person h ew what vas hBgpening he vou ld n't get i t ,i t on purpose.

Nobody getsEven I didn't four hundred. years ago, I t was accidental.

METCHNIKOFFThnt ' s wha t they a l l MY.

THE PAT I E N TWell, i t was. I WRS innocent. But i t vas sp r i ng , One day . . .

(A knock at the doorr)

METC HNI KOFF

Excuse me. Come i n .

(The d.oor opens and P A a M A I S O N 3 ~enters , PAUL i s young, eager,i d e a l i R t c

PAULI f you're busy, D r. Metchnikoff, 1'11 g lad ly . , .

(He turns t o go)

METCHNI KOFFNo, p l ease come i n .

PAULThank you,

METCHNIKOFFWhat was your mme, p l ease?

PAULP au l Maisoneuve.

E4ETC HNI KOFF(introducing the PATIENT)

Well , I'd l i k e t o have you meet n o l d f r i e n d o f mine.

PAUL

How do you do?

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THE PATIEXJTNot very F el l , s i r , thank you.

METCHNIKOF??Well, young man, what 's on your mind?

PAULI r e a l i z e that t h i s i s en in t rus ion , but I m a medical student at theFacul ty of Pa r i s and I 'v e j ust heard of your work here. Thi s morningI decided t o come her e on a pilgrimage,

AlIETCHNIKOF'FI'm touched by your t r i b u t e i n coming but you pi cked .? vary p o o r shrine,I ' m e f r n i d ,

PAUL

No, no, not at a l l , Dr. Metchnikoff. I couldn't hRve nicked a moreworthy one,th r i l l ed beyond r emon ,hur r i ed t o you,

When I read o f your experim ental success wi th RpeR I WRSI knew R t once th i s WRF a gr eat moment Find I

METCKNIKOFFFor what purposemy f r i en d c a l l s i t , ar e you?

Y ou 're not R f f l i c t ed wi th t h i s "you-know-whpt'' as

PA-No, tha. t ts the point , I ' m not, But I ' m w i l l i n g t o be. I ' m p e r f e c t l yw i l l i n g t o be. I want you to t r y t h e d i sease on me.

M:ETC HNI KOFFOn you?

PAULYes, on me, You've done i t on apes, You m u P t do i t on man

METCHIGIKOFFI t was j u st an experiment, 1Pe co ul d n't r i s k i t on ahuman.

PAULThen who s going t o benefi t by your great work?Tho r o n 't have the di seas e ou ts i d e t h e ltxboratory anyway,

Surely not the apec?

MXTCHNIKOFFBut i t Is more t h n we dare ask a man t o do,

PAULOh, Dr, Metchnikoff, I had. R greater fAith in you.be d.one f o r man.

Sur ely t h i s mustI t f e t he nex t l og icp1 s teD, i e i t not?

METCHXIKOFFYes.

PAULThen do i t on me, please,

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2-1-6

METCHXIKOF'FI couldn' t .

PAULYou must, you must.

METCHNIKOFFNo, my boy, you do n't know what i t mems t o su ffe r t h i s d i sease .

PAULI don't care.

EETCHNI KOFJ?My f r i end can t e l l you That i t meane.

T H 3 PATIXNTYes, i t ' s F) loa thsome i l lness tha t seeps into your blood, then spoi ls

your body Y i t h ugly sores.your bra in , f i r s t here, then there , and soon you ar e gone, R cpa~ted ,r m i n g men.

In t ime i t w i l l s t r i k e at your henrt , then

METCHNIKOFFAnd that19 not a very rosy f u ture f o r a ,boy of your hopeful years .

PAULThat ' s all the more r e w o n v y you must p er si st i n your search f o r acure. Others are equ all y hopeful.

METCHNIKOmWe c m ' t r i s k a l i f e f o r them, though.

PAULBut i t ' s my l i f e .who might ben ef i t ?

And That i s my l i f e bal an ced ag ai n s t t he m i l l i o n s

METCHNIKOPFh boy, you have many yeer s bef o r e you, year s o f happiness and goodhealth.

may.

As an o l d man I advi se you to tr easu re your youth T h i l e youDon't put you r sel f i n the way o f death u n t i l you have t o .

PAULWhat o f you? I t l u r k s i nyour test tubes, i t hi des i n your smears, i t ' s ready t o sei z e you th emoment you s l i p wi th your scal pel , o r ar e car el es? with your ni pettes.

Each day you work with death 8.11 about you.

METCHNI OFFT i th me i t doesn't matter PO much, I ' m old anyway,

PAUL

But you've a knowledge th at mustn't d i e wi th you. Your worth has beenproved; mine i s yet untested.

METCHNIKOFFOh, God, I wi sh you hadn't come to me.

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2-1-7

PAULI had to.experiment.

You needed me to make t h i s more thpn just mothe r

METCHNIKOFF

Once ou t s ide you'll be thankfu l f o r your l i f e ,

No, I can ' t d o i t , I can tt . P l ea s e go and "oreathe some f r es h

a i r again.

PAULYOU t a l k a s though I ' d di e.

METCHNIKOFFDeath sometimes i s n 't so bad. But th i s d i sease i s more ru th less .

PAULI t e l l you i t doesn't matter.i s n ' t important.

because I 'v e come t o you i s of greRt, o f v i t al importance.

What happens to me her e and nowBut wha.t o th er t r agedi es might be pr evented

METCHI71KOFFYou're a spl endi d 1a.d; I v i s h I could use you,

PAULI f I knew your s ec r et I ' d do i t myself.

METCHNIKOFFYou ar e determined, ar en 't you?

PAULWith a l l my heart I am.

METCHNIKOFFWell, i f you must, I'll ask D r. Roux.

PAULOh, God., thank you.

METCHNIKOFFDon 't r a i se y o u r hopes.

Dr, Roux

Dr. Roux may th i n k oth erwi se.(METCHNIKOFF goes to the door and

c a l l s )

PAUL( to the PATIENT)

He'R go i ng t o do i t ,

THE PATIENTYou're a f o o l f o r doing t h i s .

(He exi t s)(DR. ROUX enters, He i s b r i s k ,

capable and s c i en t i f i c )

ROUXYes, Dr. Metchnikoff

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METCHNIXOFFI m a little troubled, Dr. ROW. A young man , , . but firstlet me prepent him. Dr. Roux, this is Paul Maisoneuve.

ROUXHow do you do?

PAUL( exub er an 1y

I'm glad to meet you, doctor.

ROUXYes, you seem very delighted. What's the trouble?

METCHNIKOFFWell, to make i t brief, Paul has such a grea.t admirption forour experiment he wants to try it on himself,

ROUXI don't understand. Are you diseased?

PAULNo, I ' m not. That's where the experiment comes in.

HOUXBut how c m wa help y o u ?

METCHNI OFF

Paul wants u s to give i t to him a s the next logical step.

ROUXI R he mad?

PAULNot at all, Why do you hesitate? f thought you cmere men.

BOUXWe are That18 why we know the v a l u e of a human life,

PAULY our apes didn't suffer.

ROUXYourre not an ape.

PAULOh, why must you be begged to do this to me?

METCHNI KOFFHe seems quite insistent, Dr. Roux.

XOUXYes, doctor, but ahat would the world say ifcall us samge quacks who sacrificed a m m l s

we failed.? They'dlife,

METCHNIKOFFI tried. to tell him that.

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ROUXDon't you agree v i t h me?

METCHNIKOFF(weakening sl i gh tl y )

Ye s , I suppose I do, And yet ,

ROUXY es.

METCHNIKOFF

And y e t t h i s step must b e taken sometime.

FAULThmk heavens f o r that,

ROUXThe blame w i l l f a l l on us i n C R R ~ f f a i l u r e ,

METCHNIKOFF1 11 r i s k i t i f you w i l l .

ROUXJust as you say, doctor,

METCHNIKOFF1 t h ink we ought to.

PAULThen i t s h al l be done. Make ready wi th your needl es, Dr.Metchnikoff

ROUXWe'l l be ri gh t with you.

(ROUX ex i t s )

METCHNIKOFFI guess you win, my boy.

PAUL

I was examined t h i s morning by tWo ph ys i ci an$, bot h members o f th eacademy.statements,

Both proclaimed me i n p e r f ec t heal t h . Here ar e th ei r sworn

(He g ives two c e r t i f i w t e s t o

They sai d I do not now have the disease, have never possossed i t i nthe past,

METCH wI KOFF)

METCHNIKOFFI n p e r f ec t h e d t h .ming i n th e s o r cl imbing a hi gh mountain

And yo u'r e do ing t h i s when you might 'be out swim-

PAULHow can y o u deny m o t h e r i g h t t o t h i s ?unceas ing i n our soarch f o r g r eat t r u th s. You t e l l us t o be unse l f i sh

You t e l l us younger men t o be

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2-1-10PAUL (contld)

i n our ef for ts , devoted i n o u r work; and. y et you h es i tn t e th e momentwe t r y t o demonstrate thr7t devotion.you expect our f ai t h t o have a meaning beyond your words, you would n'tstand there and deny u s the chance to share i n your d isco veri es.

I f your Words mean any th ing, i f

(DR. ROUX re turns wi th a suspenc?iono f the disense, a Vi d a l s c a r i f i e r ,

a few tovels)

ROUXHere you ar e, doctor .in the hospi ta l .

FreRh mater i al from two o f th e qaorst i n f ect i on s

METCHNIKOFF( to HOUX)

Do you s t i l l want t o go through v i th i t ?

ROTJXFrom the l o o k s of t h i s young man I see no way ou t

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