The Magic Tower and Other One-Act Plays by Tennessee Williams Read Free Book Online

darts about the room with an almost frantic rapidity
.]
    JIM : My God, what a racket you’re making! What are you doing?
    LINDA : Nothing much. Just straightening things up a little. I’m nearly through now.
    JIM : And that light’s in my eyes. I can’t sleep.
    LINDA : Just a moment, darling. I’ll turn it out. [
Goes over to window with traveling bag in her hand. Looks out, shading her eyes with one hand
.] It’s clearing up, Jim. The rain has stopped. It’s going to be a wonderful night. Oh, my! There’s a funny little slice of a moon coming out. Right over the Fixit Garage. It looks like a yellow dancing slipper— Jim, tomorrow’s going to be an awfully swell day! Almost like spring, I imagine. Those awful wet spots on the floor will dry up—when the sun comes out—it will be very nice in here then—I’m sure it must be much healthier to live in a dry, bright attic—than a magic tower with a leaking roof!
    JIM [
furiously
]: For God’s sake, Linda, I’m trying to sleep!
    LINDA : I’m sorry—poor Jim! [
Pulls a ring from her finger and lays it on the bureau
.] I’ll turn the light out now! Jim, are you asleep? [
She looks toward the screen. There is no answer
.
She switches off the light and goes quietly out the door and closes it behind her
.]
    CURTAIN

ME, VASHYA
     

Me, Vashya
was first performed by the Performing Arts Department of Washington University in St. Louis on February 6, 2004. The production was directed by Henry I. Schvey; the set design was by Christopher Pickart; the costume design was by Bonnie Kruger; the lighting design was by David Vogel; and the sound design was by Matt Kitces and Tim Albert. The cast, in order of appearance, was as follows:
VASHYA SHONTINE
Dan Hirsh
PHILLIP , a servant
Tommy Honton
DR. FRELICH
Rob McLemore
LADY SHONTINE
Tara Neuhoff
LADY HUNTINGTON
Laura Harrison *
    * performing in the role written as LORD HUNTINGTON

The scene is the study or library in the home of Sir Vashya Shontine, representative and leader of a huge munitions manufacturing corporation whose secret operations virtually control the affairs of all nations participating in the next world war
.
    The room is one of consummate luxury and refinement, conceived along modern lines. Shontine’s desk faces the audience and is situated near the center of the stage. On one side of it is a large globe of the world, which, throughout most of the play, he unconsciously, but with obvious satisfaction, twirls or strokes with his fingers. In the back wall are velvet-draped windows, two of them, and between them a pedestal supporting a bust of Julius Caesar, Napoleon, or Mussolini. It is evening and the lighting of the room is indirect and not glaring
.
    Sir Vashya Shontine is seated at his desk, meditatively twirling the globe as the play opens. A servant, Phillip, enters, moving in a rigid, militaristic manner, hardly glancing at Shontine
.
    PHILLIP : The Doctor has come.
    SHONTINE : Show him in. [
Pause
.] Good evening, Doctor.
    DR. FRELICH : Good evening.
    SHONTINE : Phillip! [
Phillip frisks the doctor
.]
    DR. FRELICH [
in surprise
]: I beg your pardon?
    VASHYA : I beg yours! This is a little formality that all of our visitors have to submit themselves to. We’ve had some unpleasant incidents lately. Not that I’m nervous, but . . .
    DR. FRELICH : Oh, I see.
    VASHYA : What’s that in the left-hand pocket? No, the
vest
pocket!
    PHILLIP : A fountain pen.
    VASHYA [
with an icy smile
]: A fountain pen? I suppose you think that’s nothing to pay any attention to! I once saw one, Doctor, that—you pressed a little trigger on the side of it, and—Presto ! It became a very efficient little miniature revolver! Quite capable of blasting even such an obdurate soul as mine into the upper or nether regions, as thecase may be! [
Laughs
.] Excuse me. Your hand, Phillip. [
The servant extends his hand. Vashya squirts ink on it, emptying pen
.] Thank you. You may go. This one happens to be harmless.
    DR. FRELICH :