Читать книгу Justine - Frank J. Morlock - Страница 7

ACT I

SCENE 2

A poor garret in Paris in the years preceding the Revolution. A staircase leading up to it. Juliette sits at a shabby mirror primping. Justine, her sister, enters from the stairs. Both are pretty aristocrats who have fallen on hard times.

Juliette

Well, did you find any work, Justine?

Justine

Leave me alone, Juliette.

Juliette

There just isn’t much a girl of sixteen can do—is there?

Justine

We’ll find something. Tomorrow, for sure.

Juliette

You’ve been saying that for a month.

Justine

We mustn’t give up hope. We aren’t starving yet.

Juliette

We will be if you don’t start to use your head.

Justine

What do you mean?

Juliette

It’s rather simple, isn’t it? We’re both well-born, educated, and pretty. We’re both virgins. Now, it’s true enough we are poor; but we weren’t always so. Until father was ruined we received an aristocratic education. As such, we are an asset to any man. There are dozens of men in the city of Paris who would be delighted to—

Justine

I suppose we should just walk up to them and say, ‘Marry me,’ and they will be delighted and say, ‘I should be delighted.’ You are so impractical, Juliette! Why don’t you be realistic? We’ll have to earn our bread. We can’t be proud.

Juliette

My dear girl, I am very realistic. We can hardly expect them to marry us.

Justine

Well, then—oh, you can’t mean that! My sister!

Juliette

Now, who’s being proud? After all, isn’t it better to be immoral than to be a scullion?

Justine

Juliette! It is far preferable to be a scrubwoman than to be a lady of leisure who is a prostitute.— From any moral point of view.

Juliette

But from an aesthetic one? Oh, darling Justine, when I see my own sister being so silly!

Justine

Father wouldn’t have approved this.

Juliette

So much the better that he is dead.

Justine

You don’t mean that.

Juliette

I certainly do! Father got us into this mess by his foolish investments. If he were here he would prevent us from taking the necessary measures to get ourselves out of it. Now, we are governed only by our inclinations, and mine, dear sister, are very carefree. Think of the happy opportunity our poverty gives us to indulge in vices that we should never dare to experience were we rich. Why, if father had lived and kept his fortune, we should have been bullied into respectability. But now, darling, we can let ourselves go.

Justine

I don’t want to hear any more of this.

Juliette

Please yourself. I’m going for a walk. (she flounces out)

Justine

This is just talk, I know, Julie, but it upsets me so—please— She’s gone. (Justine kneels before a crucifix) Dear God, I pray to you to aid us in our affliction, and bring us comfort in our sorrow. Lead us not into temptation. I swear and vow that I shall never take the path my sister has seen fit to jest about. Forgive her, the words she spoke in despair. Dear God, I pray to you for our salvation. I await your sign.

(The room is illuminated momentarily as with a holy light, then the landlady enters.)

Landlady

You got the rent?

Justine

You know I haven’t. Oh, if you’d just be patient.

Landlady

Why should I be patient?

Justine

Something will turn up soon. I’ve been praying. God will answer my prayers.

Landlady

Well, maybe he will at that. I don’t want yez to think I ain’t got no feelings. I told your story to a man who is a regular phil-anthropist. He said he’d like to see you.

Justine

Oh, this must be God’s answer.

Landlady

He’s waiting on the stairs. Shall I tell him to come in?

Justine

Oh, do.

Landlady

He’s easy to get around. Butter him up now. You can come in now, Mr. Hairpin.

(The Landlady exits and Hairpin enters. Hairpin is the same actor that plays the Marquis.)

Justine (falling at his feet)

Alas, I am a poor orphan. I am only sixteen and I am nearly starving. I beg you to have pity on me.

Hairpin

That’s a shame. That’s a shame. I’m an old man but I have a soft heart. A soft heart.

Justine

Oh, sir, I can see it.

Hairpin

Are you a good girl?

Justine

Oh, sir—would I be in such a state if I were not?

Hairpin

That answer pleases me. I have a weakness for virgins. Yes, I confess it. A weakness for virgins. It comes from being old and having a soft heart.

Justine

Oh, I know you will do something for me.

Hairpin

I have just one more question I should like to ask you. Are you resolved to remain a good girl?

Justine

Oh, yes, sir.

Hairpin

That answer is not pleasing to me. Perhaps, you misunderstand me and think me to be some sort of fool who meant to give you aid in mere charity.

Justine

Yes, sir. I thought you were so good.

Hairpin

Just because I am old and have a soft heart, do you think I have a soft head?

Justine (sobbing)

Oh, sir.

Hairpin

There, there. I do not wish to be unkind. Undoubtedly, you took me for a religious fool and gave the answer you thought would please me. I do not despise you for such hypocrisy. I simply wish to straighten things out. Now, I ask you again. Are you resolved to remain a good girl?

Justine

Yes, sir. More than ever.

Hairpin

You don’t think I am trying to test you, do you? You believe me, that I am serious.

Justine

Yes.

Hairpin

Then, by what right do you expect the rich to help you if you will not serve them?

Justine

I shall be happy to serve you in any proper way.

Hairpin

I am an old man, and I have a soft heart. But, I tell you truly, there is but one proper way you can serve me and that is with your body.

Justine

Dear God, is there no charity left among men?

Hairpin

I give that I may receive. Charity is nothing but the enjoyment of pride, and I hate pride.

Justine

Sir, with principles like these the poor must perish.

Hairpin

Let them. There are more people around than necessary as it is.

Justine

Do you believe children could respect their parents if they were treated like this?

Hairpin

What do children mean to a parent when they are troublesome?

Justine

They’d be better off smothered in the cradle.

Hairpin

Of course. Such has been the salutary custom in many countries. Soon we shall revive it here. Why let bastards and cripples burden the tax rolls? I look forward to the day when a perfectly rational economy will forbid charity and decree starvation for those who were so ignorant as to be born poor.

Justine (sobbing)

Oh, sir, it’s hard to be an orphan.

Hairpin

Why complain when it lies within your power to improve your situation?

Justine

At what price!

Hairpin

I shall not be stingy.

Justine

Beast! May heaven punish you as you deserve.

Hairpin (leaving)

I hate beggars.

(Enter Landlady.)

Landlady

You stupid little bitch. Think what you are doing.

Hairpin

I am an old man with a soft heart. She hasn’t treated me right. She made me so unhappy. (Hairpin wobbles toward the stairs)

Landlady

You fool! Do something!

Justine

What do you expect me to do?

Landlady

Go to him. Make it up with him. Whatever you do, behave like a lady.

Justine

Never.

(Hairpin wobbles downstairs and meets Juliette returning.)

Juliette

Have you seen my sister?

Hairpin

If that young slut is your sister, the answer is ‘yes.’

Juliette

What is wrong?

Hairpin

I am an old man, with a soft—how old are you?

Juliette

Just sixteen, sir.

Hairpin

And, you have been a good girl?

Juliette

Oh, yes sir. (winking at him)

Hairpin

I might do something for such a girl, if—

Juliette

If she were not determined to remain a good girl—?

Hairpin

Charming child. You read my mind. But, I should want proof that you have been a good girl till now.

Juliette

Sir, you can easily prove it yourself. I am prepared to submit to the most rigorous test.

Hairpin

Sweet angel. Will you be kind?

Juliette

No. I shall be very cruel. But, I am prepared to give every satisfaction.

Hairpin (exiting with Juliette)

Ah, I am so old—and my heart is so soft.

Landlady (to Justine)

As for you—since you’re so stubborn, you can go to jail for not paying the rent.

Blackout