Scene 5
In one, from stage
left comes a very exhausted, disheveled MARIANNE, carrying VASILY on her
back. Their clothes are in shreds. There is a large clump of bushes stage
right.
MARIANNE
This is a helluva thing for
a Princess to do!
VASILY
I didn't know my knee would
give out. And you said you wanted me to come with you to Kielbasa.
MARIANNE
I meant by coach, not by
piggyback.
VASILY
I told you from the start
I had a bad knee. From years of groveling before royalty.
MARIANNE
Oh, please! Spare me the
politically correct bullshit.
(When THEY reach
the clump of bushes, MARIANNE releases VASILY.)
MARIANNE
I can't go another step.
And how can I appear in Kielbasa looking like this? But it was fun, wasn't
it?
VASILY
It's against all my pacifist
principles. I hated myself every moment. And I hate myself even more when
I face you, you silly slut, and say from the depths of my being: I had
one fucking blast.
(HE seizes her breast;
she grabs his ass. THEY fall into each other's arms and disappear behind
the bushes.)
MARIANNE'S VOICE
Have you ever tried it with
hoods?
(Backdrop rises and
we are again in the gypsy camp. ANGELU sits forlornly downstage right.
STEFANA sits on the ground a bit upstage reading a very heavy tome.)
ANGELU
God, I feel awful!
STEFANA
You already told me. Twelve
or thirteen times.
ANGELU
I felt fine two days
ago
And all right yesterday---
Or what I really should
say
Is I felt fine until
one or two in the afternoon.
But soon
I was suddenly down---
Then at five I felt up
again,
And around eight I was
down again.
But nothing to compare
with the way
I am feeling today.
I am so wretched,
So utterly miserable,
I don't know what to
do.
STEFANA
Take a tranquilizer.
ANGELU
I've already taken two.
Why me, God?
When I continue to pray?
Why me, God?
Why give me life
Then snatch it away?
(At the beginning
of the chorus, STEFANA throws up her hands and exits left. MARITZA enters
from the right. At the sound of Angelu's voice, SHE stops, enveloped in
love and compassion. ANGELU sees MARITZA and hesitates.)
MARITZA
Don't stop.
ANGELU
Who are you? You're not a
gypsy. Ooh! I mean a Son of Freedom.
MARITZA
No, but at times like this
I wish I were. You have the most exquisite voice. It touches the soul…under
the supposition you believe in a soul.
ANGELU
I do. I think. But I'm not
sure. I'm not sure of anything. Except that I am going to die.
MARITZA
We're all going to die.
ANGELU
In a few weeks?
MARITZA
(delighted)
Ah, a one-dawn stand!
Blame it on the dawn,
This strange and queasy
feeling…
ANGELU
What was that?
MARITZA
Just a little tune of my
own. Nothing to compare with yours, though.
(NIKKO enters from
the right.)
NIKKO
There you are, you gorgeous
stud!
MARITZA
Shit. It's the clothes-sniffer.
NIKKO
Get your ass over here.
MARITZA
Fuck off!
NIKKO
I said get your ass over
here!
MARITZA
And I said: FUCK OFF!
(back to Angelu)
Now where were we?
NIKKO
If that's what you want,
you just wait!
(HE disappears into
the wagon slamming the door hard.)
ANGELU
Where do you come from?
MARITZA
Oh…not too far away.
ANGELU
What do you do for a living?
MARITZA
This and that.
ANGELU
I see. A man of mystery.
MARITZA
Not really. But I can tell
you I am completely financially solvent. I have a beautiful home, a brand
new coach and several servants. For a few weeks, who could ask for anything
more?
(ANGELU gazes at
Maritza with adoration, then begins a dance of seduction. NIKKO appears
at the door of the wagon, dressed in clothes almost identical to Angelu's.)
NIKKO
For a girl who'll be dead
in a few weeks, what energy!
(HE begins his own
gypsy dance of seduction around Maritza. ANGELU stops a moment, observes
this with jealousy and resentment. SHE returns to her dance. Now THEY are
both dancing wildly and sensuously to capture Maritza's heart.)
BLACKOUT
