WIFE. I am already here.
HARE. What is this?
WIFE. I am already here.
HARE. We will try again! Are you ready?
WIFE. I am ready.
HARE. One, two, three, go!
[The Hare runs swiftly. The Wife sits. The Hare reaches the other end of his furrow. Mr. Hedgehog puts up his head.]
HEDGEHOG. I am already here.
HARE. I cannot understand this.
HEDGEHOG. I am already here.
HARE. We will try again! Are you ready?
HEDGEHOG. I am ready.
HARE. One, two, three, go!
[The Hare runs swiftly. Mr. Hedgehog sits. The Hare reaches the other end of his furrow. Mrs. Hedgehog puts up her head.]
WIFE. I am already here.
HARE. I cannot believe it!
WIFE. I am already here.
HARE. We will try again! Do you hear? We will try again.
WIFE. I am ready.
HARE. One, two, three, go!
[The Hare runs swiftly. The Wife sits. The Hare reaches the other end of his furrow. Mr. Hedgehog puts up his head.]
HEDGEHOG. I am already here.
HARE. This is very, very strange!
HEDGEHOG. Shall we run again?
HARE. No, no! The race is yours, Neighbor Hedgehog. And will you please to call some day? I should be glad to see you.
HEDGEHOG. I shall be glad to come.
[The Hare goes off wondering.]
WIFE (running to meet Mr. Hedgehog). You may be short on legs, my dear, but you are very, very long on brains.
FISHING ON DRY LAND
TIME: long ago.
PLACE: before the King's palace.
KING.
PRINCE.
QUEEN.
LADIES.
FARMER NIX.
FARMER KNAVE.
MANY OTHER FARMERS.
[FARMER NIX, FARMER KNAVE, and the other FARMERS have come with their wagons, for it is market day. Some of the wagons are drawn by horses and some by oxen.]
NIX. Have you seen my colt, sir?
A FARMER. I saw a colt run by not long ago.
SECOND FARMER. There is a colt with Farmer Knave's oxen.
NIX. I do not see him.
THIRD FARMER. He is lying down between them.
NIX. Ah, I see him now.
(He goes to Farmer Knave.)
I have come for my colt, Farmer Knave.
KNAVE. Your colt?
NIX. Yes. There he is between your oxen.
KNAVE. He is my colt, sir.
NIX. How can he be your colt when he is mine?
KNAVE. I ask the same question, sir.
NIX. What do you mean?
KNAVE. How can the colt be yours when he is mine?
NIX. I'll have you before the judge, sir!
KNAVE. The judge shall speak to you, sir!
[The PRINCE comes from the castle.]
PRINCE. What is all this noise, sirs? What is all this noise, I say? The king sent me to ask.
NIX. Farmer Knave does claim my colt, Prince.
PRINCE. How is this, Farmer Knave?
KNAVE. I claim the colt because the colt is mine, Prince.
PRINCE. Now how is this, Farmer Nix?
NIX. The colt is mine, Prince.
KNAVE. The colt is mine I say!
NIX. I say the colt is mine!
PRINCE. Hush, Farmer Nix! Hush, Farmer Knave! I'll tell the king what both of you do claim. He will decide to whom the colt belongs.
[The Prince goes.]
KNAVE. See how the colt lies between my oxen! Is not that proof that he is mine?
NIX. But who can tell what a colt will do?
[The PRINCE comes.]
PRINCE. Farmers, the king has decided. He says the colt belongs where it is now lying.
KNAVE. And he lies between my oxen.
PRINCE. That is proof enough, The colt belongs to you, Farmer Knave.
NIX. But, Prince—
PRINCE. Not another word! Go, now, with your wagons and horses and oxen! The queen comes out to walk. Go, all of you!
[The Prince enters the castle. The farmers go, Nix last. The QUEEN and her LADIES come from the castle.]
QUEEN. Go bring Farmer Nix to me.
[A Lady runs to Nix.]
LADY. The queen wants to see you, sir.
[Nix goes to the Queen and bows.]
QUEEN. I heard all from the castle window. I know the colt is yours.
NIX. I thank you, my Queen, I thank you!
QUEEN. Now you must show the king that colts cannot belong to oxen, never have belonged to oxen, and never will belong to oxen.
NIX. I will go to him at once! I will tell him—
QUEEN. Not so fast! I said you must show the king. He would not let you tell him. No one ever dares to tell things to a king.
NIX. How can I show him?
QUEEN. You must think out the way. I cannot help you more.
NIX. I thank you, my Queen, I thank you.
QUEEN. The king comes out to walk soon.
NIX. I will return to show him.
[Nix bows to the Queen and goes. The KING and PRINCE come from the castle.]
QUEEN. 'Tis a pleasant day to walk, dear King.
KING. Oh, 'tis very, very pleasant.
[Enter Nix with a fishing-net. He throws out the net and draws it in.]
QUEEN. Why, look you what that foolish man is doing!
KING. He throws out his net and draws it in! He acts just as if he were fishing.
QUEEN. Let's ask what he is doing.
KING. Come here, you foolish fellow! Come here, I say!
(NIX comes to the King, but goes on with his fishing.)
Now what are you doing, sir?
NIX. I am fishing, fishing, fishing.
KING. How can you fish where is no water?
NIX. Fish can be found on land if colts belong to oxen.
KING. What is that, sir?
NIX. If colts belong to oxen, then fish should swim in dust.
KING. Well, well, that may be true! What do you think, dear Queen?
QUEEN. I think with you—it may be true.
NIX (fishing). If colts belong to oxen, then I will always fish in dust.
KING. Well, well, I think you may be right, sir!
(Pause. The King thinks deeply.)
Yes, I am now sure that you are right, sir. Go get your colt from Farmer Knave. Go with him, Prince, and see to it. Now come, dear Queen, we'll walk about together, for 'tis a very pleasant day, 'tis very, very pleasant.
THE WISE MEN OF GOTHAM
SCENE I
TIME: one morning.
PLACE: the highroad to Gotham.
| HODGE. | SCRODGE. | |
| PODGE. | KING. | |
| NODGE. | SOLDIERS. |
[Enter HODGE, PODGE, NODGE, and SCRODGE; each carries an ax and each chuckles to himself.]
HODGE. Well, the last tree is down!
PODGE. Down and across the road!
NODGE. Not a horse can get through them!
SCRODGE. How angry it will make the king! Ha, ha!
HODGE. He sent us word he would visit Gotham! Ha, ha!
PODGE. Ha, ha!
NODGE. Ha, ha!
SCRODGE. He would hang us if he knew we cut the trees!
HODGE. And let them fall across the road.
PODGE. He will not know. Not a Gotham man would tell him!
NODGE. Nor a Gotham woman!
SCRODGE. Nor a Gotham child!
HODGE. They have not forgotten what his last visit brought upon them.
PODGE. Everything he saw and liked, he took.
NODGE. And would not pay for it!
SCRODGE. His servants and his soldiers ate the town up.
HODGE. And would not pay for it!
PODGE (looking off). He is coming now! He is on the hill!
SCRODGE. He has his soldiers with him!
NODGE. He must not see us! Come!
[They run off. Enter the KING and SOLDIERS.]
KING. To think that I—a king—should have to walk!
FIRST SOLDIER. Shall I bring the horses up, your Majesty?
KING. Of what use? Look how the road from here is filled with trees!
SECOND SOLDIER. Just as it was back there!
KING. I know! It was done to keep me out of Gotham! I know!
(To Third Soldier.)
Here, you!
THIRD SOLDIER (saluting). Yes, your Majesty.
KING. Get to Gotham, if you have to crawl.
THIRD SOLDIER. Yes, your Majesty.
KING. Tell these men of Gotham I shall come again.
THIRD SOLDIER. Yes, your Majesty.
KING. And when I do—and when I do—[He stops.]
THIRD SOLDIER. Yes, your Majesty?
KING. And when I do, I'll have their noses!
THIRD SOLDIER. Yes, your Majesty.
KING. I'll have the Gotham nose of every Gotham man cut off his Gotham face!
THIRD SOLDIER. Yes, your Majesty.
KING. Go, now, and tell them that!
THIRD SOLDIER (saluting). Yes, your Majesty.
[He goes.]
KING. We will now return the way we came. (He shakes his finger toward Gotham,)
I'll have your noses, that I will!
[He goes with his soldiers.]
SCENE II
TIME: one month later.
PLACE: a field near Gotham.
| HODGE. | KING. | |
| PODGE. | SOLDIERS. | |
| NODGE. | OLD MEN OF GOTHAM | |
| SCRODGE. | YOUNG MEN OF GOTHAM | |
| PETER AND OTHER GOTHAM BOYS. | ||
| POLLIE AND OTHER GOTHAM GIRLS. |
[The OLD MEN, the YOUNG MEN, and the CHILDREN are in the field.]
AN OLD MAN. Well, the king's men have taken all the trees away.
A YOUNG MAN. A good month's work it made them, too!
ANOTHER OLD MAN. And now the king will come again!
PETER. And we shall lose our noses!
POLLIE. I do not wish to lose my nose!
[Enter SCRODGE, running.]
SCRODGE. The king is coming!
[Enter HODGE, running.]
"quick, now—before the king comes"
HODGE. The king is coming!
[Enter PODGE and NODGE, running.]
PODGE and NODGE. The king is coming!
PETER. And we shall lose our noses!
POLLIE. Oh dear! Oh dear! I'll lose my nose!
CHILDREN. Oh dear! We'll lose our noses!
HODGE. Now get you back to Gotham, children! You will not lose your noses.
PODGE. Quick, now—before the king comes!
[The children go, holding their noses.]
NODGE. Now, Gotham men, do you all know what to do?
OLD MEN. Aye! Aye!
YOUNG MEN. Aye! Aye!
[All the men begin to work.]
PODGE. I think this will save our noses.
[Enter the KING and the SOLDIERS.]
KING. Is there a tree left on the road?
FIRST SOLDIER. We took them all away, Sire.
KING (to a soldier.) Then go and get our horses. We will ride into this Gotham town. (The soldier salutes and goes.)
Where do you roll these stones, old men?
AN OLD MAN. Uphill to help the sun rise.
KING. What! To help the sun rise?
OLD MAN. Yes, your Majesty.
KING. Don't you know that the sun will rise without help?
OLD MAN. Will it? Well, well! Who would have thought of that!
KING. You foolish fellows! Well, go on and roll your stones. Now tell me why you grunt, young men?
A YOUNG MAN. Oh, we do the grunting while our fathers do the work.
KING. Ha, ha! Well, go on and grunt. Now what are you men doing?
HODGE. There is a cuckoo here, your Majesty.
KING. What if there is a cuckoo there?
PODGE. We are building a wall around it, Sire?
KING. Why build a wall around it?
NODGE. To keep it from flying away.
KING. Ha, ha! Don't you know that the bird can fly over the wall?
HODGE. Well, well! Who would have thought of that!
NODGE. How very wise you are, Sire!
KING. You foolish fellows! Well, go on and build your wall.
(Enter SCRODGE, carrying a door on his back.)
Where are you going with that door?
SCRODGE. I am going on a journey, Sire.
KING. Why do you carry a door?
SCRODGE. I left my money at home, Sire.
KING. Why didn't you leave the door at home?
SCRODGE. I was afraid of thieves.
KING. Afraid of thieves! And you have taken down your door!
SCRODGE. If I have the door with me, they can't break it open to get in.
KING. You foolish fellow! Why didn't you leave your door at home and carry your money?
SCRODGE. Well, well! Who would have thought of that! How very wise you are, Sire!
KING. Ha, ha, ha! Well, go on and carry your door.
(To Soldiers.)
These Gotham men are foolish. Does it not seem so to you?
SOLDIERS. Aye, Sire!
KING. I'll let them keep their noses. They knew no better than to cut down the trees. Come, we will go away and leave them.
[King and Soldiers go.]
GOTHAM MEN. Ha, ha, ha!
THE TWO QUESTIONS
SCENE I
TIME: when John was King of England.
PLACE: King John's palace.
KING JOHN.
ABBOT.
KNIGHT.
JESTER.
LORDS AND LADIES.
[KING JOHN sits on his throne. A KNIGHT stands before him. Back of him are the LORDS, the LADIES, and the JESTER.]
KING. Now, what is this you say?
KNIGHT. I saw it all, your Majesty.
KING. You say one hundred men sit down to dine with him?
KNIGHT. Yes, your Majesty, every day.
KING. And fifty knights in velvet coats do wait on him?
KNIGHT. They bring him food on golden plates.
JESTER. Your Majesty does not eat on golden plates!
KING. I cannot afford it.
JESTER. Ha, ha! The king's Abbot lives better than the king!
KING. Be silent, Jester! Sir Knight, go bring this Abbot to me.
[The Knight bows and goes.]
JESTER. The Abbot is the real king! Now who is John, ladies? Who is John, lords? Truly, who are you, John?
[All laugh. Enter the KNIGHT and ABBOT.]
KING. Abbot, I hear strange things about you.
ABBOT. Your Majesty! How can that be?
KING. 'Tis said that every day you have one hundred men to dine with you.
ABBOT. Oh, your Majesty, they are only friends.
KING. No matter who they are!
JESTER. 'Tis not their names! 'Tis what they eat!
LORDS. Ha, ha!
LADIES. Ha, ha!
KING. 'Tis said that fifty knights in velvet coats do wait on you!
ABBOT. Well, your Majesty, I—
KING (interrupting). Do I have fifty knights to wait on me?
ABBOT. Well, your Majesty, I—
[He stops in confusion.]
JESTER. Are eggs brought to us on golden plates? Not so! Not an egg!
KING. You spend more money, sir, than I do! How do you dare to do so?
ABBOT. 'Tis my own money, Sire—
KING. 'Tis not your money! Everything in this land belongs to me! You shall go to prison, sir!
ABBOT (falling on his knees). Oh, say not so, dear King! Oh, say not so!
KING. Well, I will let you off if you will answer me two questions.
ABBOT. Ask as many as you like, dear King.
KING. First, you must tell me how long I shall live.
[The Abbot is silent.]
JESTER. Go on, John! Ask as many as you like!
KING. Then, Abbot, you must tell me what I think.
ABBOT. Your questions, Sire, are deep and hard.
KING. Answer them, or go to prison.
ABBOT. I pray you for some time to think!
KING. I will give you just two weeks. If you cannot answer then, I'll have your head cut off. And then I'll take your lands and palaces.
JESTER. And your knights and golden plates!
ABBOT (in a trembling voice). In two weeks I will return, Sire.
KING. Two weeks and not a day longer! Go!
SCENE II
TIME: two weeks later; morning.
PLACE: the Abbot's palace.
ABBOT.
FIRST PROFESSOR.
SECOND PROFESSOR.
SHEPHERD.
[The PROFESSORS look through very large books.]
ABBOT. Look well for the answers, friends. Look long, look deep, look well.
FIRST PROFESSOR (closing book). I cannot find the answers here.
SECOND PROFESSOR (closing book). I cannot find them in my book.
ABBOT. Have you looked in other books?
FIRST PROFESSOR. We have looked in every book.
SECOND PROFESSOR. In every book, in every house, in every town.
ABBOT. Alas! Alas! What shall I do? What shall I do?
FIRST PROFESSOR. Go to the king and tell him all.
ABBOT. And then I'll lose my head!
SECOND PROFESSOR. Yes, I fear you'll lose your head.
FIRST PROFESSOR. I am sorry, Abbot, I wish that I might help you.
SECOND PROFESSOR. I am sorry too, friend Abbot. And I do wish the same.
ABBOT. You both have tried your best. Farewell.
(The Professors bow and go.)
Alas! Alas! Alas! Alas!
[Enter the SHEPHERD.]
SHEPHERD. Good-day to you, good Abbot!
ABBOT. Ah, Shepherd, I am glad to see you. How goes it in your village?
SHEPHERD. We do nothing there but laugh since your visit to us, sir. We laugh all day and half the night.
ABBOT. Now why do you do that?
SHEPHERD. Because, sir, I look so much like you. At least, they think so in our village.
ABBOT. Why, that is true, you do. Well, what can I do for you?
SHEPHERD. I have heard about the two questions, sir. I have come to help you.
ABBOT. How can you help me? Speak!
SHEPHERD. I will go to the king in your place. He will think that I am you.
ABBOT. Can you answer the two questions?
SHEPHERD. Only the king himself can say. Now give me your gown and cap and golden staff, dear Abbot.
ABBOT. Well, I will let you try.
(Gives his gown and cap to the Shepherd, who puts them on and then takes the staff.)
You truly seem to be myself, good Shepherd!
SHEPHERD. I hope the king will think so.
ABBOT. Suppose he will not take your answers?
SHEPHERD. Then he will take my head.
ABBOT. No, good Shepherd, I'll take my own head up to him for that. Now go, and bear my blessing with you.
[He lifts his hand. The Shepherd bows his head.]
SCENE III
TIME: the same day; afternoon.
PLACE: King John's palace.
KING JOHN.
ABBOT (REALLY THE SHEPHERD).
KNIGHT.
JESTER.
LORDS AND LADIES.
[The KING sits on his throne. The LORDS, LADIES, and JESTER stand near. Enter a KNIGHT.]
KNIGHT. The Abbot begs to see you, Sire.
KING. Ah, he has come, has he?
KNIGHT. Yes, your Majesty, he waits without.
KING. Bid him enter.
[The Knight goes.]
JESTER. Will the Abbot take his head back with him? I'll give you two guesses, ladies! I'll give you two guesses, lords!
[Enter the KNIGHT and the SHEPHERD dressed as the ABBOT.]
ABBOT. Your Majesty, I am here.
KING. Well, then, tell me how long I shall live.
ABBOT. Sire, you shall live till the day that you die, and not one day longer.
KING. Ha, ha! You are witty, Abbot. Now tell me what I think.
ABBOT. You think I am the Abbot, Sire. I am only his poor Shepherd. Behold!
[He throws off his gown and cap.]
KING. Ha, ha, ha! Truly you are a witty fellow! I like you for it, that I do!
SHEPHERD. Then will you pardon the good Abbot, Sire?
KING. I will pardon the Abbot and let him keep his lands and knights, if you will stay and live here in my court.
JESTER. Yes, stay. Stay and help me jest!
SHEPHERD. I'll stay, and I'll jest whene'er I can. I thank you, King John, I thank you.
POCAHONTAS AND CAPTAIN SMITH
SCENE I
TIME: a spring morning; three hundred years ago.
PLACE : forest near Jamestown.
POCAHONTAS.
INDIAN WOMAN.
INDIAN GIRLS.
INDIAN BOYS.
[POCAHONTAS and the INDIAN GIRLS are playing in the forest. An INDIAN WOMAN comes with bows and arrows.]
WOMAN. The deer go to the river! You must shoot them while they drink. Here are your bows and arrows.
A GIRL. I'll shoot a doe!
SECOND GIRL. I'll shoot a stag with horns!
THIRD GIRL. And I, a fawn!
WOMAN. Come, Pocahontas, and get your bow and arrows.
POCAHONTAS. I will not shoot at deer!
WOMAN. Ah, but you must. The braves have gone to watch the white men. So we must do the hunting. Come!
POCAHONTAS. I will not shoot at deer!
THIRD GIRL. She never shoots at them.
WOMAN. Why, what is this?
FOURTH GIRL. She only shoots at trees and sedges peeping from the water.
WOMAN. Now why do you not shoot at deer?
POCAHONTAS. They look at me so gently. I cannot bear to kill them.
FIRST GIRL. She will not kill anything.
SECOND GIRL. She will not even shoot a bird.
WOMAN. Can this be true?
POCAHONTAS. I will not kill the pretty things. This forest is their home, the same as it is ours.
WOMAN. Such talk I never heard before! The braves must know of this.
POCAHONTAS. No, no! They will tell my father!
WOMAN. Aye! Chief Powhatan must know.
POCAHONTAS. I beg you not to tell him!
THIRD GIRL. He will send her from his wigwam! Do not tell him!
"i will not shoot at deer"
FOURTH GIRL. He will send her alone into the forest! Do not tell him!
POCAHONTAS. Do not tell him!
WOMAN. Then take your bow and kill a deer.
POCAHONTAS. I will not! I have told you that! I cannot!
WOMAN. Powhatan shall know. Before the sun sets, Powhatan shall know.
[INDIAN BOYS enter.]
FIRST BOY. The braves have brought a prisoner!
SECOND BOY. It is the white chief from the village!
THIRD BOY. They have taken him to Powhatan!
FOURTH BOY. Come, if you would see him!
WOMAN. I come! I come!
GIRLS. And I! And I! And I!
[They go.]
SCENE II
TIME: a little later.
PLACE: Indian camp.
| CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH. | MEDICINE MAN. | |
| CHIEF POWHATAN. | POCAHONTAS. | |
| BRAVES, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN. |
[CAPTAIN SMITH stands before POWHATAN. He holds a small compass in his hand.]
SMITH. Let me live, great chief! Let me live and you shall have my talking needle!
POWHATAN. Talking needle! What is that?
SMITH. It is this needle in this box. It talks whenever I wish it.
POWHATAN. What does it say?
SMITH. It tells me where to find the north. I turn the box this way,—I turn the box that way. But the needle always shows the north to me.
POWHATAN. Why, so it does! It is very strange and wonderful!
A BRAVE. Will it tell the north at night?
SMITH. In the darkest night it tells you.
ANOTHER BRAVE. Will it tell the north on water?
SMITH. On river or on lake it tells you.
POWHATAN. Come, show me how to make it talk.
SMITH. Will you let me go in peace?
POWHATAN. You shall live and go in peace.
MEDICINE MAN. Great chief, is it wise to let so wise a man go from us?
POWHATAN. Is it your wish to keep him here?
MEDICINE MAN. There is no place for such a wise man.
POWHATAN. What do you mean?
MEDICINE MAN. Let him go, or let him stay, he will only make more wise things.
POWHATAN. That is true.
MEDICINE MAN. Things too wise for Powhatan's braves. Things too wise for Powhatan.
POWHATAN. What is that? Things too wise for Powhatan!
MEDICINE MAN. The white man makes talking needles. This needle shows the north to him. Another needle may show him how to be chief in your place, Powhatan.
A BRAVE. Yes, yes! That is true!
ALL BRAVES. Yes, yes!
MEDICINE MAN. He is too wise to live, great chief!
BRAVES. Yes, yes, yes!
(Pause.)
POWHATAN. Bind him to the ground, braves! Put his head on that stone there!
SMITH. Powhatan! I beg you—
POWHATAN. Take him, braves! Be ready with your war clubs!
[The braves throw Captain Smith on the ground, and stand over him with uplifted clubs. Enter POCAHONTAS. She runs to Captain Smith and kneels beside him, shielding his head with her arms. Enter WOMEN and CHILDREN.]
POCAHONTAS. You shall not kill him!
POWHATAN. My daughter! Come away!
POCAHONTAS. You shall not kill him! You shall not kill him!
A WOMAN. Pocahontas!
A GIRL. Pocahontas! They will kill you!
SECOND GIRL. Pocahontas! Come away! Come away!
POCAHONTAS. I will not move!
MEDICINE MAN. Drag her away, braves! Drag her away, I say!
POWHATAN. Do not dare to touch her! Do you hear? Do not dare to touch her! The Great Spirit lives in the child! The Great Spirit has breathed His courage into her! Captain Smith, you shall live and go in peace. I, Powhatan, do say these words!
POCAHONTAS SAVES JAMESTOWN
SCENE I
TIME: One evening; three hundred years ago.
PLACE: Indian camp near Jamestown, Virginia.
| CHIEF POWHATAN. | BRAVES. | |
| MEDICINE MAN. | WOMEN AND CHILDREN | |
| POCAHONTAS. |
[POWHATAN, MEDICINE MAN, and BRAVES sit around the fire in council. The WOMEN and CHILDREN, POCAHONTAS among them, are near.]
POWHATAN. I speak, my children.
BRAVES. We hear, great chief.
POWHATAN. Who among you loves the white man?
(There is silence.)
Again I ask, who among you loves the white man?
(There is silence.)
MEDICINE MAN. The white men are not our friends, Chief Powhatan.
A BRAVE. They take our land from us.
SECOND BRAVE. They take our corn from us.
THIRD BRAVE. They will not let us fish in our own rivers.
MEDICINE MAN. They are too wise for Powhatan's children.
POWHATAN. They are too wise for Powhatan.
MEDICINE MAN. Not one should live in our great forests!
A BRAVE. We should not leave one white man in their village!
SECOND BRAVE. Nor a white woman!
THIRD BRAVE. Nor a white child!
POWHATAN. I think with you, my children. Your words are my words.
MEDICINE MAN. This night we should creep upon them!
BRAVES. Yes! Yes! Yes!
POWHATAN. This night it shall be done! Lie here and sleep, my braves, till midnight. Then we will rise and creep upon them. Women, take the children to the wigwams. Pocahontas, fill my quiver full of arrows. You may do this while I sleep. And now, silence.
SCENE II
TIME: Midnight of same day.
PLACE: Jamestown.
| POCAHONTAS. | POWHATAN. | |
| CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH. | MEDICINE MAN. | |
| JOHN ROLFE. | BRAVES. | |
| SETTLERS. |
[POCAHONTAS enters, running. She knocks at the door of Captain Smith's cabin.]
SMITH (within.) Who knocks?
POCAHONTAS. Pocahontas!
[CAPTAIN JOHN SMITH comes from the cabin.]
POCAHONTAS. Powhatan is coming! He is coming with his braves! They come creeping while you sleep!
SMITH. What is this?
POCAHONTAS. They come to kill you and the women and the children!
SMITH. Rolfe, Rolfe, do you hear that?
[ROLFE comes from the cabin.]
ROLFE. I heard! I'll go and warn the people!
SMITH. Tell them to run quickly to the fort!
ROLFE. I'll tell them!
[He goes, running.]
SMITH. It is brave of you to warn us, Pocahontas.
POCAHONTAS. I could not bear to have the little children killed.
SMITH. You have saved them and their mothers and their fathers. Me, you have saved twice.
[Pocahontas starts to go.]
POCAHONTAS. Good-by, white chief. I go now to my wigwam.
SMITH. Girl! Girl! You must not go! The braves will know you warned us!
POCAHONTAS. They will not know, white chief. At midnight they were to leave the camp. I will get back by that time.
SMITH. It is midnight now. They have missed you by this time, Pocahontas.
POCAHONTAS. What shall I do? What shall I do?
SMITH. You must stay with us.
POCAHONTAS. I cannot leave my father, white chief.
[She starts to go.]
SMITH. You must not go! The braves will not let you live! I fear your father could not save you from them!
[Enter ROLFE, running.]
ROLFE. To the fort! To the fort! The Indians are upon us! To the fort!
SMITH. Come, Pocahontas! There is our fort across the road. You will be safe in there.
POCAHONTAS. How can I leave my father!
[Enter MEN, WOMEN, and CHILDREN, running. They enter the fort.]
SMITH. Come, Pocahontas! Come!
[He leads her into the fort just as the INDIANS creep in from the forest. They see Pocahontas and rush at her, but Rolfe shuts the gates.]
BRAVES. Pocahontas! Pocahontas!
MEDICINE MAN. 'Tis Pocahontas who has warned them!
BRAVES. Yes, yes! 'Tis Pocahontas!
MEDICINE MAN. Do you hear that, Chief Powhatan?
POWHATAN. I hear.
A BRAVE. She has betrayed her own people!
SECOND BRAVE. We should never take her back to us!
THIRD BRAVE. We should not let her live!
MEDICINE MAN. Aye, braves, aye! We should not let her live! We will demand her from the white men!
BRAVES. Yes, yes!
MEDICINE MAN. Shall we offer them peace in return for Pocahontas?
BRAVES. Yes, yes, yes!
MEDICINE MAN. Do you hear that, Chief Powhatan?
[There is a long pause.]
POWHATAN. Go, take the peace flag to them, and ask for Pocahontas.
[The MEDICINE MAN raises a white flag and goes to the fort. Captain Smith and many men come out.]
SMITH. Do you come to offer peace?
MEDICINE MAN. We offer peace, great chief, if you will give up Pocahontas.
SMITH. And what if we will not give her up?
MEDICINE MAN. We will make war upon you.
SMITH. We will not give her up.
MEDICINE MAN. Then not a man of you shall live! Nor a woman! Nor a child!
SMITH. Pocahontas is our friend. We will not give her up to you.
MEDICINE MAN. Shoot them, braves! Shoot them, as they stand there!
POWHATAN. Do not dare to shoot one arrow! I, Powhatan, speak.
(To Smith.)
I see you are my daughter's friend, white chief.
SMITH. I am, and would be yours, if you would let me.
POWHATAN. Your white braves take our land from us.
SMITH. They shall pay you. As I am chief here, they shall pay you.
POWHATAN. Your white braves take our corn from us. They will not let us fish in our own rivers.
SMITH. I did not know such wrongs were done you. My braves shall pay for everything in full.
POWHATAN. Then there shall be peace between us. Bring the peace pipe, braves. We will smoke in friendship with our brothers.
SMITH. And Pocahontas will be pardoned? You will take her back as your own daughter?
POWHATAN. Pocahontas will be pardoned, white chief. She shall come and go, as she may please, between our wigwams and yours, my brother.
[A brave comes with the peace pipe, which he gives to Powhatan, who hands it to Captain Smith.]
SMITH (taking pipe). 'Tis for eternal peace between us!