The Tragedy of Mister Morn by Vladimir Nabokov, Thomas Karshan, Anastasia Tolstoy Read Free Book Online Page A

stars …
    MIDIA [ nervously ]:
    It must be slippery out in the street …
    The snow has been spiralling since morning …
    I was at the ice-rink today … Morn flutters
    like a bird on ice … why is the chandelier
    lit for no reason …
[ quietly to MORN as she passes by ]
Look—he’s drunk …
    MORN [ softly ]:
    Yes, he was plied by Ella …
[ approaches GANUS ]
It’s very late!
    Time to go home. It’s time, Othello!
    Do you hear?
    GANUS [ heavily ]:
Well, what can I say …
    I dare not keep you … go …
    MIDIA:
Morn … I’m scared …
    His voice is thick, as though he’s strangling someone! …
    GANUS [ gets up and approaches ]:
    Enough … I will reveal my voice … enough!
    I do not have the strength to wait any longer.
    Off with my glove!
[ to MIDIA ]
Are you familiar
    with these fingers?
    MIDIA:
Oh! Morn, you must leave.
GANUS [ passionately ]:
    Greetings! Are you not pleased? For it is I—
    your husband! Risen from the dead!
    MORN [ utterly calmly ]:
    Risen indeed.
    GANUS:
You are still here?
    MIDIA:
Don’t!
    I beg you both! …
    GANUS:
Damned fop! …
    MORN:
The hot whistle
    of your black glove pleases me. I
    answer it with mine …
    MIDIA:
Ah! …
    [ She runs to the back of the stage, towards the niche, and opens the window in jerks . MORN and GANUS fight with their fists .]
    MORN:
The table,
    you’ll knock over the table! … What a windmill! …
    Don’t swing your arms around so much! The table …
    the vase! … I knew that would happen! … Ha-ha!
    Stop tickling! Ha-ha! …
    MIDIA [ shouts out of the window ]:
Edmin! Edmin! Edmin! …
    MORN:
    Ha-ha! The make-up’s running! … There, tear up
    the carpet! … Go on! Don’t wheeze, don’t yelp! …
    Fight more cleanly! Here comes a comma
    and a full stop!
[ GANUS collapses in a corner .]
    MORN:
Blockhead … He’s undone my tie.
    EDMIN [ rushes in, pistol in hand ]:
    What happened?
    MORN:
A mere two blows: the first
    is called “a hook,” the second “a left jab.”
    And, by the way, this gentleman here is—
    Midia’s husband …
    EDMIN:
Is he dead?
    MORN:
Not likely …
    Watch, he’ll come to now. Ah, welcome
    back! This is my second at your service …
    [ He notices that MIDIA is lying unconscious at the back of the stage, near the window .]
    O, God! My poor love! … Edmin … wait …
    Yes, call someone … Oh, my poor love …
    You shouldn’t have, you shouldn’t have … really …
    We were just playing …
[ Two MAIDS rush in : they and MORN attend to MIDIA at the back of the stage .]
    GANUS [ gets up heavily ]:
I … accept … the challenge.
    Horrible … give me a handkerchief … or something …
    How horrible …
[ wipes his face ]
    Ten paces apart and the first
    shot is mine … by right: I am the wronged party …
    EDMIN [ looks around frantically ]:
    Listen … wait … you may find this strange …
    But I must … ask you … to decline the duel …
    GANUS:
    I don’t understand? …
    EDMIN:
If you wish, I will take
    his place … face your bullet … I am ready …
    Right now, if you like …
    GANUS:
Evidently I am
    losing my mind.
    EDMIN [ quietly and briskly ]:
Well then, I’ll break my vow! …
    I will reveal it to you … duty requires me …
    But you must swear to me, on love, disdain,
    or on your hatred, on what you will, that you
    will never speak of this terrible secret …
    GANUS:
    … I’m sorry, but what is all this about?
    EDMIN:
    Here, I’ll reveal it to you, he—this man—
    he is … oh, I can’t!
    GANUS:
Hurry up!
    EDMIN:
    Oh, come what may! He is …
[ Whispers in his ear .]
    GANUS:
That’s a lie!
[ EDMIN whispers .]
    No, no … It cannot be! O, God …
    what should I do? …
    EDMIN:
You must decline!
    There is no other way … Decline! …
    MIDIA [ to MORN at the back of the stage ]:
My joy,
    don’t leave …
    MORN:
Wait … let me just …
    GANUS [ firmly ]:
No!
    EDMIN:
    Why did I break my …
    MORN [