This etext was produced by Dagny, dagnypg@yahoo.com and Frank J. Morlock, frankmorlock@msn.com
This Etext is for private use only. No republication for profit in print or other media may be made without the express consent of the Copyright Holder. The Copyright Holder is especially concerned about performance rights in any media on stage, cinema, or television, or audio or any other media, including readings for which an entrance fee or the like is charge. Permissions should be addressed to: Frank Morlock, 6006 Greenbelt Rd, #312, Greenbelt, MD 20770, USA or frankmorlock@msn.com. Other works by this author may be found at http://www.cadytech.com/dumas/personnage.asp?key=130
MADAME AUBIN
a play in one act and in prose
by Verlaine, 1895
Translated and adapted by Frank J. Morlock
Characters:
A Servant Aubin Madame Marie Aubin Peltier An Officer
The action takes place in the room of a hotel.
PELTIER (to a servant who is leaving) That's fine. We'll ring when we need you.
(to Marie) A day and a night of rest, my darling, right? After which we'll leave, crossing Switzerland for Brindisi without any stop and reach the Orient as it was agreed.
MARIE It was agreed?
PELTIER Eh! Yes.
MARIE It's true. Indeed, as you like.
PELTIER What do you mean? Since you approve, I'm going to peruse the train schedule. You'll allow me.
MARIE My God, yes.
(A short pause during which Marie looks at her ring and munches on a cake she has taken from a gold comfit box.)
PELTIER (after having written some notes in pencil) There. At noon tomorrow we'll take the Express and we'll stop wherever you like. Look. (offering Marie his notes)
MARIE My friend, you are perfect. I'm going to think it over. Would you listen to me for a moment to discuss something else?
PELTIER Speak my darling.
MARIE I want to call a halt to our adventure here.
PELTIER I don't understand.
MARIE Don't interrupt me. What we are doing is crazy. It's not ridiculous, it's crazy. We will be far less happy than we were there. And it truly required all the influence of your charming character and the persuasion of your frankness (offering him her hand which he holds and keeps) to make me take this enormous step. It's no longer time, I know or rather I suspect, to go back on such an impulse, but after all, what do you want? And I am in despair after all this bravura which decided me, sustained me, swept me off my feet during this long journey from Paris to this chancy place. Ah, I'm afraid.
PELTIER (overwhelmed by surprise rather than skeptical and resolved as he had appeared up until now.) Afraid of whom and what? (he lets Marie's hand fall and crosses his arms waiting to hear more)
MARIE Of the past, first of all. Fear! Remorse because of the past. And certainly my husband doesn't deserve all this outrage. He's a man with faults, surely, even vices, perhaps. But he's honorable and even righteous. And now I think of it these quarrels between him and me must rather proceed from me, spoiled child and over-free young girl that I was before my marriage with this honest, with this gallant man.
PELTIER Let's leave Aubin out of this. In the end what do you mean and what do you want me to do? Return to Paris and your abandoned household?
MARIE I don't know yet. But don't interrupt me every minute and you will be of my opinion. No. My husband ought not to have to endure these things on his honor and his name. And it's true I am afraid of the past. I'm afraid of the future, too. Or rather, no. It's the present which frightens me, sir! For the future, I'll answer for it. And it will conform to the vows of my finally reawakened conscience.
