The Adaptation

Here is the script of Maurice Maeterlinck's The Blind as adapted by Rebecca Schneider for the Brown University Theatre Production, April 12-22, 2007. For this adaptation, Rebecca Schneider is indebted to the production dramaturg, José Enrique Macián. To compare this adaptation to the original (in translation), see Laurence Tadema Alma's 1895 translation of Maeterlinck's script in the blog entry from February (click on the link in the Blog Archive).


The Blind

Persons.

THE PRIEST

FIRST BLIND MAN
SECOND BLIND MAN
THIRD BLIND MAN
FOURTH BLIND MAN
FIFTH BLIND MAN
SIXTH BLIND MAN (The Oldest Man)

A BLIND WOMAN
B BLIND WOMAN
C BLIND WOMAN
D BLIND WOMAN
E BLIND WOMAN
F BLIND WOMAN (The Mad Woman, with a removable pregnant belly)

D.O.G. (played by 3 or more actors)

The Blind Men wear F.B.I. or bodyguard type black trench coats and dark glasses. Throughout they take defensive “we are watching you” type poses, or, conversely, try to look as if they are not watching. One or more may have binoculars.

The Blind Women wear medical personnel garments, as if in forensics or surgery or as if prepared to perform autopsies. They have goggles or other protective eye wear. One or more may have stethoscopes.

D.O.G. wear orange prison jumpsuits with D.O.G. stenciled on the back.


AS THE AUDIENCE ENTERS, THE SCENE IS AS FOLLOWS:


The six blind men sit along a line at the front of the stage. They sit on blocks or benches covered in loose sheets of paper. Paper is everywhere all over the stage. Paper falls through a large projection cube hung above the stage. The back wall of the theatre also serves for two other projection surfaces. Small monitors may display disasters and/or live feed of CNN. The text of the play may also be displayed throughout the show where determined. Other images: sea, ash, snow, static. A surveillance camera is visible above audience downstage just off center. Another surveillance camera hangs upstage left. The six blind women sit dispersed in the audience. D.O.G. stand in the gallery. In a plexiglass box, either suspended or on wheels, The Priest goes about a quiet life. He watches a TV monitor with the show The Blind running live. He is in an armchair, reading loose sheets of paper while watching TV. Hi is eating popcorn. He is miked. The popcorn is loud… his chewing almost sounds like footsteps…

All of this is going on as the audience enters.


On 2 large screens at back of stage :
_________________________________
Les Aveugles

Une très ancienne forêt septentrionale, d’aspect éternel sous un ciel profondément étoilé ….

The Blind, written by Maeterlinck as Les Augeules in 1890 and translated into English as The Sightless by Tadema Alma in 1985, opens like this:

THE BLIND

“A very ancient northern forest, eternal of aspect, beneath a sky profoundly starred. – In the midst, and towards the depths of night, a very old priest is seated wrapped in a wide black cloak. His head and the upper part of his body, slightly thrown back and mortally still, are leaning against the bole of an oak tree, huge and cavernous. His face is fearfully pale and of an inalterable waxen lividity; his violet lips are parted. His eyes, dumb and fixed, no longer gaze at the visible side of eternity, and seem bleeding beneath a multitude of immemorial sorrows and of tears. His hair, of a most solemn white, falls in stiff and scanty locks upon a face more illumined and more weary than all else that surrounds it in the intent silence of the gloomy forest. His hands, extremely lean, are rigidly clasped on his lap. – To the right, six old blind men are seated upon stones, the stumps of trees, and dead leaves. – To the left, separated from them by an uprooted tree and fragments of rock, six women, blind also, are seated facing the old men. Three of them are praying and wailing in hollow voice and without pause. Another is extremely old. The fifth, in an attitude of mute insanity, holds on her knees a little child asleep. The sixth is strangely young, and her hair inundates her whole being. The women, as well as the old men, are clothed in ample garments, somber and uniform. Most of them sit waiting with their elbows on their knees and their faces between their hands; and all seem to have lost the habit of useless gesture, and no longer turn their heads at the stifled and restless noises of the island. Great funereal trees, yews, weeping willows, cypresses, enwrap them in their faithful shadows. Not far from the priest, a cluster of long and sickly daffodils blossoms in the night. It is extraordinarily dark in spite of the moonlight that here and there strives to dispel for a while the gloom of the foliage.”
_________________________

The blind Men continue to sit, asleep on stage. The women sit staring forward, dispersed in the audience.

[Paper Falls]


SOUND: Bach’s Magnificat: “Wachet auf"
D.O.G. clang iron pipes on cat walk, Magnificat cuts off

SCENE 1: The Blind Men 1

THIRD MAN.
Is he not coming yet?

FIRST MAN.
You woke me!

THIRD MAN.
I was asleep too.

SECOND MAN.
I was asleep too.

THIRD MAN.
Is he not coming yet?

SECOND MAN.
I hear nothing coming.

THIRD MAN.
I don’t hear anything coming.

SECOND MAN.
I hear nothing coming.

THIRD MAN.
I don’t hear anything coming.

FIRST MAN.
Is he not coming yet?

*********************************************** Bell

SCENE 2: Where We Are

THIRD MAN.
It must be about time to go back to the Big House.

FIRST MAN.
We want to know where we are!

SECOND MAN.
It’s grown cold since he left.

FIRST MAN.
We want to know where we are!

FOURTH MAN.
Does any one know where we are?

*********************************************** Bell

[Paper Falls]

Interlude 1

In which the Blind Men Fall back to Sleep.

“The sleep Dance.”


*********************************************** Bell

REPRISE SCENE 1

SCENE 1: The Blind Men 1

THIRD MAN.
Is he not coming yet?

FIRST MAN.
You woke me!

THIRD MAN.
I was asleep too.

SECOND MAN.
I was asleep too.

THIRD MAN.
Is he not coming yet?

SECOND MAN.
I hear nothing coming.

THIRD MAN.
I don’t hear anything coming.

SECOND MAN.
I hear nothing coming.

THIRD MAN.
I don’t hear anything coming.

FIRST MAN.
Is he not coming yet?

*********************************************** Bell

REPRISE SCENE 2

SCENE 2: Where We Are

THIRD MAN.
It must be about time to go back to the Big House.

FIRST MAN.
We want to know where we are!

SECOND MAN.
It’s grown cold since he left.

FIRST MAN.
We want to know where we are!

FOURTH MAN.
Does any one know where we are?



***********************************************


SCENE 3: Separated

A WOMAN.
We walked for such a long time; we must be very far from the Big House.

FIRST MAN.
Ah! The women.

A WOMAN.
We’re sitting opposite you.

FIRST MAN.
Wait, I will come next to you. [He rises and gropes about.] Where are you? Say something! I want to hear where you are!

A WOMAN.
Here. We are sitting over here.

FIRST MAN.
[He steps forward, stumbling….]
There’s something between us . . .

THIRD MAN.
It is better to stay where you are!

FOURTH MAN.
Where are you sitting? Do you want to come over to us?

FIRST MAN.
Say something! We want to hear where you are!

D WOMAN.
I’m too afraid to stand up!

B WOMAN.
Here! We are sitting over here.

FIRST MAN.
Say something! We want to hear where you are!

E WOMAN.
Here! We are sitting over here.

SECOND MAN.
Why did he separate us?

FOURTH MAN.
Why did he separate us?

THIRD MAN.
Why did he separate us?

C WOMAN.
Why did he separate us?

[Paper falls from the sky]

*********************************************** Bell

SCENE 4: Prayer

Women quietly praying:
Father Father Father
Figure Figure Figure Figure
Father Father Father
Figure Figure Figure Figure
Figure Figure Figure
Farther Farther Farther Farther
Figure Figure Figure
Farther Farther Farther Farther
Fighter Fighter Fighter
Fodder Fodder Fodder Fodder
Fighter Fighter Fighter
Fodder Fodder Fodder Fodder
Feudal Feudal Feudal
Fatal Fatal Fatal Fatal …

FIRST MAN.
I hear praying…. on the women’s side.

SECOND MAN.
Yes … The women are praying.

[FIRST, SECOND, THIRD MAN do the Cane Dance.
The women continue their prayers.]

FIRST MAN.
This is not the time to pray!

THIRD MAN.
Pray later!

FIRST, SECOND, THIRD MAN.
Pray later!

[Prayer ends.]

FOURTH MAN. [Wakes.]
I should like to know next to whom I am sitting?

FIFTH MAN.
I think I am next you.

[They grope about them with their hands. They grope each other.]

FOURTH MAN.
We can’t touch each other.

FIFTH MAN.
But we’re not far apart. [During the groping Sixth Man Wakes up and gives a dull moan.]

[Paper Falls]


************************************************* Bell

SCENE 5: Dead Leaves

[Paper continues to fall.]

SIXTH MAN. [Finds paper]
I am beginning to make things out. Let us question the women too; it is necessary that we should know how matters stand. I still hear some women praying; are you sitting together?

ALL WOMAN.
We are sitting here.

FOURTH MAN.
I am sitting on dead leaves! [Dead leaves are sheets of paper]

FIFTH MAN.
I am sitting on dead leaves! [Dead leaves are sheets of paper]

FOURTH AND FIFTH MAN.
We are sitting on dead leaves!


*********************************************** Bell

SCENE 6: Beauty

Script projected on Cube screen.

SIXTH MAN.
I am beginning to make things out. Let us question the women too; it is necessary that we should know how matters stand. I still hear some women praying; are you sitting together?

ALL WOMEN.
We are sitting here.

SIXTH MAN.
I want to know where the beauty is. The beauty, where is she?

ALL WOMEN.
The beauty, where is she?

SIXTH MAN. looking at paper that is the script:
Yes, and where are: “The mad woman and her child”?

ALL WOMEN.
Where are the mad woman and her child?

ALL MEN.
Where are the mad woman and her child?

E WOMAN.
SHHHHHHH!
She carries her child in a sling. It’s asleep; don’t wake it!

ALL MEN.
What?

E WOMAN.
A Sling.

ALL MEN.
What?

E WOMAN.
A sling.

ALL MEN.
What?

ALL WOMEN.
SHHHHHHHH!
It’s asleep! Don’t wake it.



*********************************************** Bell

SCENE 7: Church

E WOMAN.
He told us to wait for him in silence.

THIRD MAN.
We are not in a church.

E WOMAN.
You don’t know where we are.

ALL MEN.
We are not in a church.

ALL WOMEN.
You don’t know where we are.

E WOMAN.
He told us to await him in silence.

[pause]

THIRD MAN.
OK, but can I just say that I feel frightened when I am not talking?

LOUD BUZZER SOUNDS
[Paper falls.]

REPRISE SCENE 7.

E WOMAN.
He told us to wait for him in silence.

THIRD MAN.
We are not in a church.

E WOMAN.
You don’t know where we are.

ALL MEN.
We are not in a church.

ALL WOMEN.
You don’t know where we are.

E WOMAN.
He told us to await him in silence.

[pause]

THIRD MAN.
I still feel frightened when I am not talking.

ALL WOMEN.
SHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
*********************************************


INTERLUDE

THE QUIET DANCE
All Blind Men perform this dance on cubes or bench.

Visuals

The Blind Men fall back to sleep.


*********************************************** Bell

SCENE 8: Complaint

THIRD MAN.
Is he not coming yet?

SECOND MAN.
I hear nothing coming.

THIRD MAN.
I don’t hear anything coming.

FIRST MAN.
Is he not coming yet?

SIXTH MAN.
We know, more or less, all that we need to know. Let’s talk a little till the he returns. [pause] Do you know where he has gone?

FIRST MAN.
He is leaving us alone too long.

SIXTH MAN.
He’s growing too old.

FIRST MAN.
He’s barely been able to see for some time himself. He won’t admit it but I suspect it.

SIXTH MAN.
Do you know where he has gone?

FIRST MAN.
We ought to have another guide; he never listens to us now, and now we’re becoming too many for him. I’m sure that he’s gotten us lost, and he’s trying to find the way again. Where can he have gone?

SIXTH MAN.
He has no right to leave us here. Where can he have gone?

FOURTH MAN.
He’s gone. He’s gone very far; I think he said so to the women.

FIFTH MAN.
I think he told the women that he’s gone very far.

FIRST MAN.
Then he only speaks to the women now? – Do we not exist any more? – We’ll have to complain in the end!

E WOMAN.
To whom will you carry your complaint?

FIRST MAN.
I don’t yet know; we’ll have to see.

SIXTH MAN.
But where can he have gone?

FIRST MAN.
Yes… Yes. Where can he have gone?

FIFTH MAN.
He’s gone very far.

FOURTH MAN.
I think he said so to the women.

FIRST MAN.
I am asking the women!



*********************************************** Bell

SCENE 9: Excuse Me. Pardon Me.

[ALL WOMEN COME ON STAGE THROUGH THE AUDIENCE. As the Women make commotion, D.O.G. silently leaves the Gallery and stands at the top of two staircases upstage left and right.]

ALL WOMEN.
Excuse me. Pardon me.
Excuse me. Pardon me.
Excuse me. Pardon me.
Excuse me. Pardon me.
Excuse me. Pardon me.
Excuse me. Pardon me.
Excuse me. Pardon me.
Excuse me. Pardon me.
Excuse me. Pardon me.
Excuse me. Pardon me.
Excuse me. Pardon me.
Excuse me. Pardon me.

E WOMAN. (microphone)
SO!

All Women (except E Woman) stand on cube/bench.

A WOMAN.
He was tired, having walked so long.

B WOMAN.
He sat down a moment in our midst.

C WOMAN.
He has been very sad and very weak for some days.

D WOMAN.
He has been uneasy since easiness ended.

A WOMAN.
He is lonely.

B WOMAN.
He hardly ever speaks.

One by one, with each speech, the Women come down stage and use the Microphone.

A WOMAN (microphone).
I don’t know what can have happened. He insisted on going out to-day. He said he wanted to see the Island one last time, in the sun, before winter came. It appears that the winter will be very cold and very long, and that ice is already coming down from the north.

OTHERS.
Ice is already coming down from the north?

C WOMAN. (microphone)
He was anxious, too; they say that the Great Big Storms of these last days have swelled the stream, and that all the dykes are giving way.

OTHERS.
The dykes are giving way?

OTHERS.
The dykes are giving way?

E WOMAN. (microphone)
He said too that the sea frightened him; it appears to be agitated for no reason, and the cliffs of the Island are not high enough. He wanted to see for himself; but he did not tell us what he saw.

D WOMAN. (microphone)
I think he has gone now to fetch some bread and water for the crazy woman who hardly speaks anymore and her whelp who’s probably mute too. He said that maybe he would have to go very far. We’ll have to wait. We’ll have to wait. We’ll have to wait.

THIRD MAN. (D woman holds mic for him)
I still feel frightened when I am not talking.

[pause]

B WOMAN. (microphone)
He took my hands on leaving…
He took my hands on leaving; and his hands trembled as if he were afraid. Then he kissed me . . .

FIRST MAN.
Uh!Oh!

SECOND MAN.
Uh!Oh!

THIRD MAN.
Uh!Oh!

FOURTH MAN.
Uh!Oh!

FIRST MAN.
Uh!Oh!

SECOND MAN.
Uh!Oh!

THIRD MAN.
Uh!Oh!

FOURTH MAN.
Uh!Oh!

B WOMAN.
I asked him what had happened. He told me that he didn’t know what was going to happen. He told me that the old men’s reign might be coming to an end --

FIRST MAN.
What did he mean by that!?

B WOMAN.
I didn’t understand him. He told me… He told me… He told me…

All lean in…

He told me that he was going towards the Big Lighthouse.

THE OTHERS.
Is there a lighthouse here?

[SEARCHLIGHTS and helicopter sound. Blind are frightened and collect in pod upstage right. D.O.G. run down the stairs, strike the bench/cubes and take places backstage – backstage is always visible.]

[Paper falls.]



***********************************************

INTERLUDE

The Scramble Dance. The “Look Like We Don’t Know We’re Being Watched” Dance.

Surveillance Images.


***********************************************

SCENE 10: Eh!

Scene in which F Woman Tries to Communicate with a Surveillance Camera.

A WOMAN.
Have pity! Have pity on those that cannot see!

D WOMAN.
Who said that? Who spoke in that senseless nonsense way?

THIRD MAN.
It must be someone who can’t see.

D WOMAN.
Be quiet! – this is not the time!

THIRD MAN.
I’m only saying –

D WOMAN.
Eh!

THIRD MAN.
I’m just saying –

D WOMAN.
Eh Eh! --

THIRD MAN.
I’m only wanting to –

D Woman.
Ah Ah!

THIRD MAN.
--

D WOMAN.
--

THIRD MAN.
--

D WOMAN.
--

THIRD MAN.
--

D WOMAN.
Eh!



******************************** Loud Buzzer Sounds

SCENE 11: The Sea

With Buzzer sound, The Blind have scrambled to separate spots around the stage and engaged in “impossible missions.” These missions are carried out in high energy mode (as opposed to “dropped”).


SIXTH MAN.
Where was he going? Where was he going when he left?

C WOMAN.
He went toward the sea.

E WOMAN.
The sea!

FIRST MAN.
One does not walk toward the sea like that at his age!

SECOND MAN.
Are we near the sea?

D WOMAN.
Yes; be quiet a minute; you’ll hear it.

Projected Maeterlinck cue:
[A murmur of the sea near at hand and very calm against the cliffs.]

THIRD MAN.
I only hear the prayer still in my ears.

D WOMAN.
Well be quiet and listen! [On “listen” all but Second Man freeze missions and exaggerate listening]
You’ll hear it if you’re quiet a minute.

A WOMAN.
Yes; I hear something not far from us.

FIFTH MAN.
It was asleep; it seems / as if it were waking.

FOURTH MAN.
It was asleep; it seems / as if it were waking.

FIFTH MAN.
It was asleep; it seems / as if it were waking.

FOURTH MAN.
It was asleep; it seems / as if it were waking.

FIFTH MAN.
It was asleep; it seems / as if it were waking.

FOURTH MAN.
It was asleep; it seems / as if it were waking.

FIRST MAN.
It was …wrong of him to lead us here! I don’t like hearing that noise. [On “noise” all resume impossible missions]

C WOMAN.
You know very well that –

FIRST MAN.
-- I don’t like hearing that noise.

C WOMAN.
-- You know very well that this Island is not large, and that you can hear the sea as soon as you leave the walls of the Big House.

E WOMAN.
Yes, but the sea is rising. Closer now. Louder now. ! [On “Louder” all but Second Man freeze missions and exaggerate listening]

SECOND MAN.
I never listen to it.

E WOMAN.
Yes, but it’s rising. Closer now. Louder now.

SECOND MAN.
I just… don’t listen to it.

FOURTH AND FIFTH MAN.
It seems to me that it’s next us today—

E WOMAN.
Yes, READ MY LIPS! The sea is rising.
Closer now.
Louder now.

SECOND MAN.
I never listen to it. [On “it” all resume impossible missions]

THIRD MAN.
I don’t like hearing it so close.

FIRST MAN.
I don’t either; besides… besides! BESIDES! BESIDES! ! BESIDES!!! We never asked to leave the Big House!

On hearing First Man, Others drop their impossible missions and begin to gather around First Man upstage center.

OTHERS.
We never asked?

FIRST MAN.
We never asked to leave the Big House!

OTHERS.
We never asked! We never asked! We never asked! We never asked to leave the Big House!

ALL BUT SECOND MAN MAKE HEROIC STATUE UPSTAGE CENTER.

SECOND MAN.
Second Man slowly “drops” his impossible mission.

We never asked to leave the Big House??

[pause]

STATUE MELTS. ACTORS (all but 6th Man) “drop,” some into very subtle impossible missions.

[LONG PAUSE]

SIXTH MAN.
I am beginning to make things out!

[All groan and many disperse.]

SIXTH MAN. [continues]
It is necessary that we should know how matters stand.

D WOMAN.
We have never been as far as this; it was useless to bring us so far.

A WOMAN.
It was very fine this morning; maybe he wanted us to enjoy the last days of sunshine, before shutting us up for the whole winter in the Big House . . .

FIRST MAN.
But I prefer staying in the Big House!

A WOMAN.
He said too that we ought to know something of the Island we live on. We ought to know it.

C WOMAN.
He himself has never been all over it; there is a mountain that has not been surveyed, valleys no one has fully scanned, and caves that are still only partially monitored. He said, in short, that it was time to pay attention to the Island.

B WOMAN.
He wanted to bring us to the beach.

C WOMAN.
He wanted to bring us to the cave.

THIRD MAN.
Wherever he’s gone, though, it seems clear… he’s gone there alone.

FOURTH MAN.
He’s right though; we have to get out more.

FIFTH MAN.
We have to get out more. He’s right.

THIRD MAN.
But there is nothing to see outdoors!

*********************************************** Bell

SCENE 12: Time

Priest’s Box is slowly rolled in semicircle across stage. It will not be fully across until the end of Scene 14. The Dramaturg will control the reprising of this scene with use of Bell.

FOURTH MAN.
Are we in the sun, now?

SECOND MAN.
Is the sun still shining?

FOURTH MAN.
I think not.

FIFTH MAN.
I think not.

THIRD MAN.
It seems to me to be very late.

SECOND MAN.
What time is it?

FIFTH AND FOURTH MAN.
I don’t know. – Nobody knows.

D WOMAN.
What time is it?

THE OTHERS.
I don’t know. – Nobody knows.

REPRISE

FOURTH MAN.
Are we in the sun, now?

SECOND MAN.
Is the sun still shining?

FOURTH MAN.
I think not.

FIFTH MAN.
I think not.

THIRD MAN.
It seems to me to be very late.

SECOND MAN.
What time is it?

FIFTH AND FOURTH MAN.
I don’t know. – Nobody knows.

D WOMAN.
What time is it?

THE OTHERS.
I don’t know. – Nobody knows.

REPRISE

FOURTH MAN.
Are we in the sun, now?

SECOND MAN.
Is the sun still shining?

FOURTH MAN.
I think not.

FIFTH MAN.
I think not.

THIRD MAN.
It seems to me to be very late.

SECOND MAN.
What time is it?

FIFTH AND FOURTH MAN.
I don’t know. – Nobody knows.

D WOMAN.
What time is it?

THE OTHERS.
I don’t know. – Nobody knows.

***********************************************

SCENE 13: Echo

C WOMAN.
Is it still light? [C WOMAN crosses upstage right to surveillance camera. Calling to 6th Blind Man:] Where are you? Where is the one who thinks he can see a little.– Come here –if you can see a little, come here!

SIXTH MAN. Crosses to C Woman.
I think it’s very dark; when the sun shines, I see a blue line under my eyelids; I saw one a long while ago; but now I can see nothing at all.

FIRST MAN.
As for me, I know that it’s late when I am hungry, and I am hungry.

C WOMAN.
But look up at the sky; you will see something … maybe!

[They all lift their heads towards the sky]

SIXTH MAN.
I don’t know that we are under the sky.

C WOMAN.
Our voices sound as if they were in a cave.

OTHERS.
Our voices sound as if they were in a cave.

FIFTH MAN.
Maybe they echo because it’s evening.

FOURTH MAN.
Maybe they echo because it’s evening.

OTHERS (all but 4th and 5th)
Maybe they echo because it’s morning.

***********************************************

INTERLUDE 5 -- Blind Do Wop


Are the Stars out Tonight – Song sung into microphone by the Priest, who sings absentmindedly in his plexiglass cube. About 3/4 of the way through, some of The Blind, without knowing the tune or words, try to sing along as if hearing a distant song.


****************************************************

SCENE 14: Moonlight and Stars

A WOMAN.
I think I feel the moonlight on my hands.

E WOMAN.
I think there are stars; I hear them.

C WOMAN.
Me too.

THIRD MAN.
I don’t hear anything.

FIRST MAN.
I can only hear the sound of our breathing!

FIFTH MAN.
No. I think the women are right.

FOURTH MAN.
Yes. I think the women are right.

FIRST MAN.
I never hear the stars.

SIXTH AND THIRD BLIND MEN.
Neither do I.

REPRISE

A WOMAN.
I think I feel the moonlight on my hands.

E WOMAN.
I think there are stars; I hear them.

C WOMAN.
Me too.

THIRD MAN.
I don’t hear anything.

FIRST MAN.
I can only hear the sound of our breathing!

FIFTH MAN.
No. I think the women are right.

FOURTH MAN.
Yes. I think the women are right.

FIRST MAN.
I never hear the stars.

SIXTH AND THIRD BLIND MEN.
Neither do I.


***********************************************

SCENE 15: Birds I

Maeterlink text projected: [A flight of birds flies suddenly overhead – loud noise of wings.]

[D.O.G. perform the “Helicopter Dance.” Helicopter Sounds, mixed with migrating geese.]


FIRST MAN.
Listen! listen! – What is that above us? – Do you hear?

All drop and trench walk or otherwise to center.

A WOMAN.
Something passed between the sky and us.

D WOMAN.
There is something moving above our heads; but we can’t reach it!

FIRST MAN.
I don’t know the nature of that sound. This is not the time for that sound! – I want to go back to the Big House.

FOURTH AND FIFTH MAN.
We want to know where we are!
We want to know where we are!

We want to know where we are!
We want to know where we are!
We want to know where we are!
We want to know where we are!
We want to know where we are!
We want to know where we are! […]

ALL JOIN IN THE CHANT. THE FORCE TAKES THE BLIND UP AND THEY FAN OUT TO ULTIMATELY SIT AT THE FEET OF THE AUDIENCE. FOURTH AND FIFTH MAN STAY STANDING BEFORE AUDIENCE, CENTER.

DURING THE CHANT.
D.O.G. brings a platform center and a theatre curtain – so that a small stage stands on stage.


*********************************************** Bell

SCENE 16: The Blind Men Try Putting on a Play

[Paper falls as the BLIND see the stage.]
[The Blind Women sit excitedly in front of the stage, ready to be an audience. The Blind Men, in careful bodyguard mode, go behind the curtain. When they enter through the Curtain they are putting on a play.]

FIRST MAN.
I tried to stand up and do something about it all – I gave it the Old College Try. But I tell you the landscape had grown uncivil. The insects were monstrous and there were Big Thorns –- Big Thorns as Big as …Thorns THIS Big --nothing but Big Thorns about me…
I don’t dare spread my hands out any more like a normal Blind Man.

SECOND MAN.
It’s only natural: We want to know where we are!

THIRD MAN.
We can’t know it!

FIRST MAN.
One thing is certain. For a long time now, I’ve smelt the smell of dead leaves.

SIXTH MAN.
Another thing is certain. We must be very far from the Big House; I can’t make out a single noise.

SECOND MAN.
Did any of us see the Island in the past, and if so can he tell us where we are?


FIRST MAN.
We were all blind when we came here.

SECOND MAN.
We have never been able to see???!

FIRST MAN.
Look let’s not get unnecessarily anxious. He will soon return; let’s wait a little longer; but in future, one thing is certain: we will not go out with him again.

FOURTH AND FIFTH MEN.
But we can’t go out alone!

FIRST MAN.
We won’t go out at all! I prefer not going out.

THIRD MAN.
We never wanted to go out. Nobody had asked to go out.


[Blind Women Clap.]



*********************************************** Bell

SCENE 17: The Blind Women Try Putting on a Play

[The Men and Women switch places.]

D WOMAN.
We had no wish to go out, nobody had asked to go out.

E WOMAN.
It was a Holiday on the Island; we always go out on Big Holidays.

A WOMAN.
He came and hit me on the shoulder when I was still asleep, saying: Get up, get up, it’s time, the sun is shining! –- Was there any sun? I don’t know. I have never seen the sun.

D WOMAN.
I saw the sun when I was very young.


E WOMAN.
Me too; it was a long time ago; when I was little; but I hardly remember it now.

B WOMAN.
Why does he want us to go out every time the sun shines? Which of us is any the wiser? I never know whether I am walking at noon or at midnight.

E WOMAN.
I prefer going out at noon; I suspect great brightness then, and so my eyes really try to open.

C WOMAN.
I’d rather say in the Big Parlor by the fire; there was a big fire there this morning . . .

B WOMAN.
He could bring us out into the sun in the Big Yard; there we have the shelter of the walls; we can’t get out, there is nothing to fear when the door is shut. – I always shut it. – Why did you touch my left elbow?!

[B WOMAN breaks from the performance.]

D WOMAN.
I didn’t touch you; I can’t touch you.

B WOMAN.
I tell you that somebody touched my elbow.
Somebody touched my elbow!
Somebody touched my elbow!

A WOMAN.
It was none of us.

******************************** Loud Buzzer Sounds

INTERLUDE -- Alarm Clock Dance ( Reprise of Cane Dance)

Set is cleared. All Blind take places filling stage. All have their canes. Reprise of Cane Dance performed by all the blind. D.O.G. perform Helicopter Dance backstage.


***********************************************
Reprise of Cane Dance

SCENE 18: Clock

FIRST MAN.
It’s midnight!

FOURTH AND FIFTH MEN.
It’s noon!

SIXTH MAN.
I don’t know. But I think we are in the shade.

FIRST MAN.
I can’t tell.

SECOND MAN.
I’m hungry.

ALL.
We are hungry and thirsty!

[pause]

C WOMAN.
How long have we been here?

ALL.
Centuries!


ALL.
Millenia!

ALL.
Since Midnight!

ALL.
Since Noon!

REPRISE until helicopter/geese sound {upon dramaturg’s cue}



***********************************************

SCENE 19: Birds II

Maeterlinck text projected: [All the birds exult suddenly in the gloom.]

FIRST MAN.
Do you hear? – Do you hear?

D WOMAN.
We’re not alone!

THIRD MAN.
I’ve had my suspicions for a long time; we are being overheard. – Has he come back?

FIRST MAN.
I don’t know what it is; it’s above us.

D WOMAN.
Do the rest of you still hear anything? – You’re all such cowards!

FOURTH AND FIFTH MEN.
We are still listening.

E WOMAN.
I still hear wings around me!

FIRST MAN.
It’s not the time for this …
It’s not the time for this …

[Paper falls again]

*********************************************** Bell


SCENE 20: Maps

[Paper falls]

SIXTH MAN. [Again with paper]
I’m beginning to make out where we are . . .

C WOMAN.
Here’s what I think: The BIG HOUSE is on the other side of the Big River; we’ve crossed the Big Bridge. The BIG HOUSE is on the other side of the Big River; we’ve crossed the Big Bridge. He led us to the far side of the Island. So we’re not far from the river, and maybe we’d hear it if we listened a moment . . . If he doesn’t come back, we should to go down to the edge of the water. . . Big ships pass there, and we might be seen standing on the banks. But … we might be in the Big Forest around the Big Lighthouse; and I don’t know the way out of it . . . Is anyone willing to follow me?

FIRST MAN.
Keep seated! – Let’s wait, let’s wait; –

SIXTH MAN.
We need more information. We don’t know the direction of the Big River, and there are Big Bogs all round the Big House –

FIRST MAN.
Let’s wait, just wait . . . He will come back again; he is bound to come back!

C WOMAN gives in and goes back to sit down.

A WOMAN.
Does anyone know which way we came here? He explained it to us as we walked.

FIRST MAN.
I didn’t pay attention.

D WOMAN.
Did anyone listen to him?


THIRD MAN.
We’ll have to listen to him in future.

******************************** Loud Buzzer Sounds

INTERLUDE: Crossing Cane Dance.

At the start of this dance, F woman’s pregnant belly falls off. All the Blind, aghast, take cell phones out of their pockets and photograph it. F Woman reattaches the belly and gets ready for the dance. The Dance consists of chorus lines of the Blind, crossing downstage with canes and taking cell phone images of the audience while D.O.G. beats time with iron bars backstage.

***********************************************

SCENE 21: Origins

SIXTH MAN.
I’m beginning to make out where we are . . .

Again, all groan and “drop.”

Was any one of us born on the Island?

A WOMAN.
You know very well that we come from elsewhere.

SECOND MAN.
Elsewhere?

A WOMAN.
Yes, we came a long time ago but from the other side of the sea.

FOURTH AND FIFTH MAN.
I thought I was going to die during the crossing.

E WOMAN.
Me too. – Did we come over together?

FOURTH AND FIFTH MAN.
We landed by chance.

D WOMAN. Crossing Center Stage.
I come from another direction . . .

SECOND MAN.
From where?

D WOMAN.
I don’t like to think about it any more . . . I can barely remember anything when I speak of it . . . It was too long ago . . . Maybe the weather was different. It was colder there. . . ?

B WOMAN. Crossing Center Stage.
I come from very far . . .

SECOND MAN.
Where do you come from then?

B WOMAN.
I can’t tell you.

SECOND MAN.
Try.

B WOMAN.
How should I try to describe it? –
C Woman and E Woman begin to cross in center.
It’s too far from here. It’s beyond the seas. I come from the Big Country . . . I could only explain it to you by signs, and we can’t see.

ALL MEN.
Try!

[The platform, without theatre curtain, is moved downstage by Blind Women.B WOMAN begins to take on a Tableau from Vsevlod Meyerhold’s production of a Maeterlinck play. A WOMAN and F WOMAN cross in. ALL WOMEN build pose. B Woman speaks into microphone.]

I’ve been on the road a long time . . . But I’ve seen the sun and water and fire, and mountains, and faces and strange flowers . . . But there’s nothing like those flowers on this Island; it’s too dark here and too wet. . . I’ve never smelled those flowers again, since I lost my sight . . . But I could see my parents and my sisters . . . I was too young then to know where I was . . . We used to go to the beach . . . I remember being able to see then! . . . One day, I looked at the snow from the top of a mountain . . . saw it coming down ... I was just beginning to be able to tell which people would end up unhappy . . .

SECOND MAN.
What do you mean?

B WOMAN.
One day, I looked at the snow from the top of a mountain . . . saw it coming down ... I was just beginning to be able to tell which people would end up unhappy . . .

ALL MEN.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

B WOMAN.
One day, I looked at the snow from the top of a mountain . . . saw it coming down ... I was just beginning to be able to tell which people would end up unhappy . . .
I can still distinguish them by the sound of their voice at times . . .
[pause]
I have memories that are clearer when I’m not trying to remember. . .

SECOND MAN.
I have no memories, I . . .

Maeterlnck’s text projected: [A flight of big birds of passage passes clamoring above the foliage.]

[Helicopter sounds. The birds scare the blind women out of the first Tableau and into the second Tableau, and scares the Blind Men (all but Second Man) into taking surveillance poses using binoculars and other equipment along sides of audience during First Man’s line]

FIRST MAN.
There is something passing again beneath the sky! It’s not the time for passing! Where are they going – it’s not the time to pass!

SECOND MAN. [To B Woman as he enters women’s second Tableau]
Why did you come here?

FOURTH AND FIFTH MAN.
To whom are you speaking?

SECOND MAN.
Not to you! [To B Woman] Why did you come here?

B WOMAN.
They had told me that he could cure me. They told me that he said that I would be able to see again some day. . .Then I’d be able to leave the Island.

SECOND MAN.
He’s too old. He’s too old; I’m afraid --

THIRD MAN and 4th/5th MAN cut off SECOND MAN:

THIRD MAN. [Spoken in tandem with 4th/5th Mans line below] We all want off the Island.

FOURTH AND FIFTH MAN. [Spoken in tandem with Third Man’s line above] We’ll be staying here forever.

B WOMAN.
He’s too old… do you really think so?

SECOND MAN.
He’s too old. He’s too old; I’m afraid --

THIRD MAN and 4th/5th MAN cut off SECOND MAN:

THIRD MAN. [Spoken in tandem with 4th/5th Man’s line below] We all want off the Island.

FOURTH AND FIFTH MAN. [Spoken in tandem with Third Man’s line above] We’ll be staying here forever.

B WOMAN.
He’s too old… do you really think so?

SECOND MAN.
He’s too old. He’s too old; I’m afraid --

THIRD MAN and FOURTH AND FIFTH MAN cut off SECOND MAN:

THIRD MAN. [Spoken in tandem with 4th/5th Man’s line below] We all want off the Island.

FOURTH AND FIFTH MAN. [Spoken in tandem with Third Man’s line above] We’ll be staying here forever.

B WOMAN.
He’s too old… do you really think so?

SECOND MAN.
I’m afraid. I’m afraid he’ll never have time to cure us.

[pause]

B WOMAN.
My eyelids are closed, but I feel that my eyes are alive . . .

SECOND MAN.
Mine are open . . .

B WOMAN.
I sleep with my eyes open.

A WOMAN.
Don’t talk about eyes!

[pause]

SECOND MAN. [dropped. Exits tableaux and comes to B woman’s feet.]
One evening, during prayers, I heard a voice on the women’s side -- a voice I didn’t know; and I could tell by your voice that you were . . . I wanted to see you, having heard your voice . . .

B WOMAN.
One evening, during prayers, I heard a voice -- a voice I didn’t know; and I could tell by the voice that . . . I could tell… having heard the voice . . .

FIRST MAN: He never lets us know anything!

ALL MEN (except Second Man).
He never lets us know anything! [They drop and sit.]

ALL WOMEN.
He never lets us know anything! [They drop and sit.]

ALL.
He never lets us know anything!

[pause]

B WOMAN.
Are you beautiful?

SECOND MAN.
I’ve never seen myself.

[…]

SECOND MAN.
I see your shadows sometimes when you are in the sun . . .

[pause/downtime. Second Man’s head on B woman’s lap]

B WOMAN.
I sometimes dream that I can see . . .

SECOND MAN.
I only see when I am dreaming . . .

FIRST MAN.
I only dream, as a rule, at twelve o’clock.

D WOMAN.
I only dream at noon.

*********************************************** Bell

SCENE 22: Hands

SECOND MAN. [dropped]
Can you dream if you’re unable to move your hands?

SECOND MAN. [return to stylized]
Can you dream if you’re unable to move your hands?

Maeterlinck projected: [A squall shakes the forest, and the leaves fall in dismal showers.]

ROPES AND LADDERS ALL FALL SUDDENLY.

REPRISE OF END OF SCENE 21

B WOMAN.
I sometimes dream that I can see . . .

SECOND MAN.
I only see when I am dreaming . . .


FIRST MAN.
I only dream, as a rule, at twelve o’clock.

D WOMAN.
I only dream at noon.

FOURTH MAN.
Sometimes I dream that I can see . . .

FIFTH MAN.
I only see when I am dreaming . . .

THIRD MAN.
I only dream, as a rule, at twelve o’clock.

E WOMAN.
I only dream at noon.

A, B, E WOMAN.
I sometimes dream that I can see . . .

SECOND, FIFTH, FOURTH MAN.
I only see when I am dreaming . . .

FIRST, THIRD, SIXTH MAN.
I only dream, as a rule, at twelve o’clock.

D, C WOMAN.
I only dream at noon.

SECOND MAN.
Can you dream if you’re unable to move your hands?

[Paper falls.]

F WOMAN.
Who touched my hands?

[pause]

F WOMAN.
Who touched my hands?

FIRST MAN.
There is something falling round us.

A WOMAN.
It comes from above; I don’t know what it is . . .

F WOMAN.
Who touched my hands? – Who touched my hands!

D WOMAN.
Nobody touched your hands.

F WOMAN.
Who took my hands? Answer loud, I’m deaf!

D WOMAN
[shouting] No one knows.

F WOMAN.
Is this some kind of warning?

[louder] Is this some kind of warning?

C WOMAN.
[shouting louder] No one knows.

A WOMAN.
It’s of no use answering; she can’t hear anything.

THIRD MAN.
You’ve got to admit --

BLACKOUT

-- the deaf are very unfortunate!





***********************************************



INTERLUDE

BLACKOUT as THE BLIND
lip synchs ‘ARE THE STARS OUT TONIGHT” with flashlights

The priest hums along

LOUD STATIC

One by one, flashlights go out. D.O.G. hold flashlights to their faces for 2 seconds back stage then flashlights out again.




*************************************************

SCENE 23: Cold

Played in complete darkness.

THIRD MAN.
It’s getting cold. We’re so far from each other . . . Can we … Could we perhaps… Might we draw a little closer together; – it’s beginning to be cold . . .

[…]

THIRD MAN.
I can hear that you are leaning towards me.



[pause.]

*********************************************** Bell

SCENE 24: Fear

Played in almost total darkness.

Lights up on Priest’s booth. Priest can see surveillance image of Blind Woman Rubbing her Eyes. Same Image dimply plays on big screen.

[F Woman rubs here eyes violently into a surveillance camera. Dim image on screen.]

FIRST MAN.
I hear another noise . . .


D WOMAN.
I think it’s that crazy one who’s always rubbing her eyes. [D WOMAN TURNS FLASHLIGHT F WOMAN]

E WOMAN.
She never does anything else; I hear her every night. She thinks we’ve got to cure ourselves.

A WOMAN.
She is mad; she never says anything. Hardly ever.

E WOMAN.
She got tired of talking after she had her baby and she took to gesticulating – I think.

D WOMAN.
She always seems to be afraid . . . A coward.

A WOMAN.
Are you NOT afraid then?

D WOMAN. [turns flashlight on A woman]
What? […] What did you say!?

A WOMAN.
Are you… NOT afraid?

FOURTH AND FIFTH MAN. [Their flashlights come on]
Who? Who? Who is not afraid?


A WOMAN.
All the rest of us! Are we not afraid?

E WOMAN.
Yes, yes, we are afraid!

FIRST MAN.
Of course we’re afraid. Of course we’re afraid. Of course we are. Fear is healthy. Fear is right. This is not the time to question fear.

THIRD MAN.
We have been afraid -- a long time!

FIRST MAN.
[Turns flashlight on A Woma. All flashlights, except D.O.G. are on again.] Why did you ask that?

A WOMAN.
What?

FIRST MAN.
About fear. Why did you ask about fear?

A WOMAN.
I don’t know why I asked it! . . . Wait. There’s something I can’t make out . . . like… the sound of crying. . . or something…

FIRST MAN.
Don’t change the subject. The subject is fear. It does not do to be too afraid, of course. But everyone should be afraid in good measure. Everyone should be afraid some of the time. These are fearful times. Now is the time for Big Fear.

A WOMAN.
I’m just saying…there is something else besides . . . I am sure there is something else besides . . . It’s not .. It’s only that … It’s not only that … which…. that . . .

***********************************************

SCENE 25: Flowers

LIGHTS UP VERY SUDDENLY.

B WOMAN.
I smell flowers. . .

ALL.
What?

B WOMAN.
Flowers!

ALL.
What?

B WOMAN.
Flowers!

ALL.
What?

B WOMAN.
Flowers! There are flowers, There are flowers near us!

SECOND MAN.
I only smell the smell of earth.

B WOMAN.
I have just smelt flowers. . .
I have just smelt flowers…
[B WOMAN begins to climb rope]

THIRD MAN.
I only smell the smell of earth!

C WOMAN.
Where are they? – I’ll go and pick them.

B WOMAN.
Up here. Up here. Climb up. They’re above us.

A WOMAN.
I can hear that you are snapping green stems! Stop! Stop!

FIRST MAN.
Never mind about flowers! Get Down. Think about getting back!

B WOMAN.
No. No! Don’t go back! – Wait. – [They are up high on rope ladder] – Oh! how cold the earth is! I feel it! It’s going to freeze. The flowers are here, but they’ll freeze! – I can’t reach them all; they’re on your side--

C WOMAN.
Yes! I think I am picking them.

[He picks flowers and holds them out to her.]

[The sound of birds flying again.] Helicopters.


FIRST MAN.
This is not the time for migrating birds! This is not the time for passing!

B WOMAN [into microphone].
It seems to me that I once saw these flowers . . . I have forgotten their name . . . But how ill they are, and how limp their stalks are! I hardly know them again . . . I think they are the flowers of the dead . . . I want to plait them in my hair.

THIRD MAN.
I hear the sound of your hair.

[pause]

I do! I hear the sound of her hair!

D WOMAN.
Those are the flowers . . .

[ Sound of THUNDER! from D.O.G. clanging on prison grate backstage].

***********************************************

SCENE 26: The Sea II

Maeterlinck direction projected: [At this moment, the wind rises in the forest and the sea roars suddenly and with violence against the neighboring cliffs.]

FIRST MAN.
Thunder!

SECOND MAN.
I think it’s a storm rising.

E WOMAN.
I think it’s the sea.

A WOMAN.
The sea? – Is it the sea? – But it’s two steps from us! – It’s beside us! I hear it all round me! – It must be something else!

D WOMAN.
I hear the sound of waves at my feet.

FIRST MAN.
I think it’s the wind in the dead leaves.

FOURTH AND FIFTH MAN.
It will be coming here!

SIXTH MAN.
Where does the wind come from?

E WOMAN.
It comes from the sea.

C WOMAN.
It always comes from the sea; the sea hems us in on all sides. It can’t come from anywhere else . . .

[D.O.G. forms German Expressionist pose.]

FIRST MAN.
This is not the time!

C WOMAN.
It always comes from the sea

THIRD MAN
Let’s not talk about the sea anymore!

E WOMAN.
But we have to talk about it, because it’s going to reach us!

THIRD MAN.
YOU DON’T KNOW THAT IT’S THE SEA!

[D.O.G. begins to march.]

SECOND MAN.
I hear its waves. I do. I hear it now. I hear its waves as if they were on top of us! We can not stay here! They’ll be all around us!

E WOMAN.
Where should we go?

SECOND MAN.
It doesn’t matter where! It doesn’t matter where! I will not hear the sound of that water any more! Let’s go! Let’s go! Let’s go!

C WOMAN. [into mic]
Let’s go! Let’s go! Let’s go! Let’s go! . . .

[THEY ALL SCRAMBLE UP ROPES if they are not already up]

THIRD MAN.
Wait! I think I hear something else besides. – Listen!

THE OTHERS.
LISTEN!

Maeterlinck text projected: [A sound of footsteps, swift and distant, is heard among the dead leaves.]

A WOMAN.
There is something coming towards us!

FIRST MAN.
He is coming! He is coming! He is coming back!

B WOMAN.
But… he’s taking little steps, like a little child . . .

A WOMAN.
What are those steps? What steps are those? What steps?

[D.O.G. has marched onstage and is in position to roll for the next scene.]





*********************************************** Bell

SCENE 27: DOG

Maeterlinck text projected: [A Big Dog enters the forest and passes before them. – Silence.]

[D.O.G. rolls in to create a “Dog-pile” reminiscent of torture images perpetrated by American personnel during the “War on Terror.”]


FIRST MAN.
Who is there? – Who are you? – Have pity on us, we have been waiting so long! . . .

[Dog rolls into final position]

FIRST MAN.
Ah! What is happening?
What is it? . . . Is it an animal?
I think it’s a DOG? . . .

THE OTHERS.
What?

FIRST MAN.
I think it’s a DOG? . ..

THE OTHERS.
What?

[On First Man’s line “DOG,” D.O.G. creates a pyramid, composed in memory of the fact that Charles Granier of Abu Ghraib prison said in his defense that the guards posed their prisoners in positions inspired by football cheerleaders.]

FIRST MAN.
DOG. The Dog. Oh! oh! It is! It’s the Dog! It’s the Dog from the Big House! It’s the Big Dog! Come here! come here! Come. Come Big Dog! He has come to deliver us! Come! Come! Come! Come! Come!

ALL.
Dog! Oh Dog! Come! Come! Come! Come! Come!

FIRST MAN.
He has come to deliver us! He has! He has followed our traces! He is licking my hands as if he had found me after hundreds of years! [the DOG is not licking the First Man’s Hand] He is howling for joy! He will die of joy! Listen! Listen!

[THE DOG MAKES NO SOUND. D.O.G. raises their head to the audience. All in the Blind Ensemble take digital pictures with their cell phones – sound of clicking cameras.]

D WOMAN.
He has perhaps run on in front of somebody? . . .

FIRST MAN.
No, no. He is alone.– I hear nothing coming. – We need no other guide; there is none better. He will lead us wherever we want to go. DOG will obey us . . . DOG will lead us . . . DOG will obey us.

[D.O.G. gets back into a pile.]

A WOMAN.
Not me. I don’t dare follow him.

C WOMAN.
Me neither.

FIRST MAN.
Why not!? He sees better than we do.

[THEY ARE NOW ALL DOWN OFF ROPES NOW EXCEPT FOURTH AND FIFTH MAN who are still high up, C WOMAN is also still on rope.]




*********************************************** Bell

SCENE 28: Face

[The Priest’s face is projected from the surveillance camera in his booth onto the large cube screen. 4th and 5th can touch the screen from their position on the ropes. They are touching the screenal face in the following scene. D.O.G. still in pile below.]

FOURTH AND FIFTH MEN.
Wait! wait! Don’t follow it yet; Something is wrong – What is it? – Ah! ah! I have touched something very cold!

FIRST MAN.
What are you saying? I can hardly understand your voice any more.

FOURTH AND FIFTH MEN.
I have touched . . . I think I am touching a face!

FIRST MAN.
What are you saying? – I can hardly understand you any more. What is the matter with you? – Where are you? –

FOURTH AND FIFTH MEN.
Oh! oh! oh! I don’t yet know what it . . . There is a dead . . . There is a dead . . . there’s a corpse here.

THE OTHERS.
A corpse here? Where are you? where are you?

FOURTH AND FIFTH MEN.
I’m here. There is a dead one among us, I tell you! Oh! oh! I have touched a dead face! – You are sitting next to a dead body! One of us must have died suddenly! But speak then, that I may know which are alive! – Answer! Answer all together!

ALL
Father Father Father
Figiure Figure Figure Figure
Father Father Father
Figure Figure Figure Figure
Figure Figure Figure
Farther Farther Farther Farther
Figure Figure Figure
Farther Farther Farther Farther
Fighter Fighter Fighter
Fodder Fodder Fodder Fodder
Fighter Fighter Fighter
Fodder Fodder Fodder Fodder
Feudal Feudal Feudal
Fatal Fatal Fatal Fatal


FOURTH AND FIFTH MEN.
I can’t tell anymore. I can’t tell you apart anymore! . . . You are all speaking alike! . . .

***********************************************

SCENE 29: Death

C WOMAN.
It’s the first time I ever touched his face . . .

A WOMAN.
He is taller than we are!

D WOMAN.
His eyes are wide open. . .

REPRISE SCENE.

C WOMAN.
It’s the first time I ever touched his face . . .

A WOMAN.
He is taller than we are!

D WOMAN.
His eyes are wide open. . .

C WOMAN.
It’s the first time I ever touched his face . . .

A WOMAN.
He is taller than we are!

D WOMAN.
His eyes are wide open. . .

*********************************************** Bell

SCENE 30: What now?

SIXTH MAN.
What do we do now?

A WOMAN.
What do we do now?

D WOMAN.
Where is DOG?

FIRST MAN.
Here.

D WOMAN.
Drag him away! Drive him off! drive him off!

[All try to drive D.O.G. away.]

FIRST MAN.
He won’t leave!

A WOMAN.
We can’t just go on with a dead man here! . . . We can’t stop like this!

D WOMAN.
Let’s keep together; let’s not move away from each another; let’s …. Let’s just stand here ... Where are the others? Come here! come! come! Come here!
***********************************************

SCENE 31: Cold II

THIRD MAN.
It’s cold!

D WOMAN.
Listen to the dead leaves; Listen to the dead leaves; I think it is freezing.

B WOMAN.
Oh! how hard the earth is!

D WOMAN.
Listen to the dead leaves --

THIRD MAN.
I hear to my right a noise … what is it? . . .

E WOMAN.
It’s the sea moaning against the rocks.

THIRD MAN.
I thought maybe it was a woman.

ALL WOMEN.
No.

A WOMAN.
I hear the ice breaking under the waves . . .

THIRD MAN.
I thought maybe it was a woman.

ALL WOMEN.
No.

SECOND MAN.
I can no longer open my hands.

SIXTH MAN.
I hear another noise that I can’t make out . . .

FIRST MAN.
Who is it that is shivering so much? You’re shaking the stage!

THIRD MAN.
I think maybe it’s a woman.

ALL WOMEN BUT D WOMAN.
No.

D WOMAN.
Yes! The mad woman is shivering most.

THIRD MAN.
I can’t hear her child.

FOURTH AND FIFTH MAN.
That’s right. I can’t hear her child.

[All stop to listen for child. Is it dead?F woman has been sitting downstage right for some time]

A WOMAN.
I think the child is … What if the child is… I don’t know.

[pause]

A WOMAN. [matter-of-factly]
He is the only one that can see.

[pause]

[F Woman begins to take “The baby” out of the belly she has been wearing. The belly has been stuffed with a significant length of fabric. It is orange and should match the orange of the prison jumpsuits. She pulls the fabric from the belly until she sits in a large pile of orange fabric]

FIRST MAN.
I hear the north wind.

D WOMAN.
I think there are no more stars.

E WOMAN.
It’s going to snow.

SECOND MAN.
Then we are lost!

C WOMAN.
If any of us falls asleep we must be waked!

THIRD MAN.
I am sleepy though.

ALL.
SHHHHH!

[pause]

REPRISE

FIRST MAN.
I hear the north wind.

D WOMAN.
I think there are no more stars.

E WOMAN.
It’s going to snow.

SECOND MAN.
Then we are lost!

C WOMAN.
If any of us falls asleep we must be waked!

THIRD MAN.
I am sleepy though.

ALL.
SHHHHH!

***********************************************

SCENE 32: Cry

Maeterlinck text projected: [A squall makes the dead leaves whirl.]

Storm sound, perhaps mixed with helicopter. It fades away again.


D WOMAN.
Do you hear the dead leaves? I think some one is coming towards us!

SECOND MAN.
It’s the wind; listen!

A WOMAN.
No one will come now!

SIXTH MAN.
The great cold is coming . . .

[It begins to snow in great flakes.]

E WOMAN.
I hear some one walking in the distance!

D MAN.
I only hear the dead leaves!

E WOMAN.
I hear some one walking very far from us!

FIRST MAN.
I only hear the north wind.

E WOMAN.
No -- someone is coming towards us!

C WOMAN.
It sounds like very slow footsteps . . .

SECOND MAN.
It’s freezing!

FIFTH AND FOURTH MAN.
Let us draw up close to one another!

E WOMAN.
But listen to the sound of the footsteps!

D WOMAN.
For God’s sake! . . . Be still a minute!

E WOMAN.
They’re coming closer now, louder now! They’re getting nearer! listen then!

Maeterlinck text: [Here the mad woman’s child begins to wail suddenly in the dark.]

[Pause.]

*********************************************** Bell

SCENE 33: You

[F Woman tears the baby/cloth – or some other way of making a baby crying sound is devised.]

E WOMAN.
What is that noise? . . . Is it crying? . . .Is it the baby crying? … It sees! it sees! It must see something because it’s crying!
Maeterlinck text: [She seizes the child in her arms and moves forward in the direction whence the sound of footsteps seems to come; the other women follow her anxiously and surround her.] E woman gently picks up the baby and tells the others:

I am going to meet the sound of footsteps!

A WOMAN.
Be careful!

E WOMAN.
Oh! how he is crying! – What is it? – Don’t cry. – Don’t be afraid; there is nothing to be afraid of; we are here all about you. – What do you see? – Fear nothing! – Don’t cry! Don’t cry – What is it that you see? – Tell us, what is it that you see?

THIRD MAN.
What is it that you see? Is it the sound of footsteps?

FIRST MAN.
Maybe it’s the sea on the dead leaves.

E WOMAN.
No, no! they’re footsteps! They’re footsteps! They’re footsteps!

D WOMAN.
We’ll know soon; listen to the dead leaves.

E WOMAN.
I hear them, I hear them, almost beside us! listen! listen! – What is it you see? What do you see?

SECOND MAN.
Which way is he looking?

E WOMAN.
He always follows the sound of the footsteps! – Look! Look! When I turn him away he turns back to look . . . He sees! he sees! he sees! – He must see something! . . .

A WOMAN.
Lift it. It might see!

E WOMAN.
Wait Wait! [She lifts the child.] The footsteps have stopped right among us! . . .

FIRST MAN.
They are here! They are here – with us!

[Here, D.O.G. may stand up. All of the Blind face the audience as if the “they” who are here are, in fact, the audience.]

E WOMAN.
Are they … Can they… Can they…

Oh say…

Oh say…

Oh say…

Oh say can you

Oh say can you

Oh say can you

Oh say can you

O-oh say can you…?

[Silence.]


THE END.

Maeterlinck's Script, translated from the French by Laurence Alma Tadema

Maurice Maeterlinck’s The Blind, 1890 (translated from the French by Laurence Alma Tadema as The Sightless in 1895)

Persons.

THE PRIEST.
THREE THAT WERE BORN BLIND.
THE OLDEST BLIND MAN.
THE FIFTH BLIND MAN.
THE SIXTH BLIND MAN.
THREE OLD BLIND WOMEN PRAYING.
THE OLDEST BLIND WOMAN.
A YOUNG BLIND WOMAN.
A MAD BLIND WOMAN.

THE SIGHTLESS

A very ancient northern forest, eternal of aspect, beneath a sky profoundly starred. – In the midst, and towards the depths of night, a very old priest is seated wrapped in a wide black cloak. His head and the upper part of his body, slightly thrown back and mortally still, are leaning against the bole of an oak tree, huge and cavernous. His face is fearfully pale and of an inalterable waxen lividity; his violet lips are parted. His eyes, dumb and fixed, no longer gaze at the visible side of eternity, and seem bleeding beneath a multitude of immemorial sorrows and of tears. His hair, of a most solemn white, falls in stiff and scanty locks upon a face more illumined and more weary than all else that surrounds it in the intent silence of the gloomy forest. His hands, extremely lean, are rigidly clasped on his lap. – To the right, six old blind men are seated upon stones, the stumps of trees, and dead leaves. – To the left, separated from them by an uprooted tree and fragments of rock, six women, blind also, are seated facing the old men. Three of them are praying and wailing in hollow voice and without pause. Another is extremely old. The fifth, in an attitude of mute insanity, holds on her knees a little child asleep. The sixth is strangely young, and her hair inundates her whole being. The women, as well as the old men, are clothed in ample garments, somber and uniform. Most of them sit waiting with their elbows on their knees and their faces between their hands; and all seem to have lost the habit of useless gesture, and no longer turn their heads at the stifled and restless noises of the island. Great funereal trees, yews, weeping willows, cypresses, enwrap them in their faithful shadows. Not far from the priest, a cluster of long and sickly daffodils blossoms in the night. It is extraordinarily dark in spite of the moonlight that here and there strives to dispel for a while the gloom of the foliage.


FIRST BLIND MAN.
Is he not coming yet?

SECOND BLIND MAN.
You have waked me!

FIRST BLIND MAN.
I was asleep too.

THIRD BLIND MAN.
I was asleep too.

FIRST BLIND MAN.
Is he not coming yet?

SECOND BLIND MAN.
I hear nothing coming.

THIRD BLIND MAN.
It must be about time to go back to the asylum.

FIRST BLIND MAN.
We want to know where we are!

SECOND BLIND MAN.
It has grown cold since he left.

FIRST BLIND MAN.
We want to know where we are!

THE OLDEST BLIND MAN.
Does any one know where we are?

THE OLDEST BLIND WOMAN.
We were walking a very long time; we must be very far from the asylum.

FIRST BLIND MAN.
Ah! the women are opposite us?

THE OLDEST BLIND WOMAN.
We are sitting opposite you.

FIRST BLIND MAN.
Wait, I will come next to you. [He rises and gropes about.] Where are you? Speak! that I may hear where you are!

THE OLDEST BLIND WOMAN.
Here; we are sitting on stones.

FIRST BLIND MAN.
[He steps forward, stumbling against the fallen tree and the rocks.]
There is something between us . . .

SECOND BLIND MAN.
It is better to stay where one is!

THIRD BLIND MAN.
Where are you sitting? Do you want to come over to us?

THE OLDEST BLIND WOMAN.
We dare not stand up!

THIRD BLIND MAN.
Why did he separate us?

FIRST BLIND MAN.
I hear praying on the women’s side.

SECOND BLIND MAN.
Yes; the three old women are praying.

FIRST BLIND MAN.
This is not the time to pray!

SECOND BLIND MAN.
You can pray by-and-by in the dormitory!

[The three old women continue their prayers.]

THIRD BLIND MAN.
I should like to know next to whom I am sitting?

SECOND BLIND MAN.
I think I am next you.

[They grope about them with their hands.]

THIRD BLIND MAN.
We cannot touch each other.

FIRST BLIND MAN.
And yet we are not far apart. [He gropes about him, and with his stick hits the fifth blind man, who gives a dull moan.] The one who cannot hear is sitting next us.

SECOND BLIND MAN.
I don’t hear everybody; we were six just now.

FIRST BLIND MAN.
I am beginning to make things out. Let us question the women too; it is necessary that we should know how matters stand. I still hear the three old women praying; are they sitting together?

THE OLDEST BLIND WOMAN.
They are sitting beside me, on a rock.

FIRST BLIND MAN.
I am sitting on dead leaves!

THIRD BLIND MAN.
And the beauty, where is she?

THE OLDEST BLIND WOMAN.
She is near those that are praying.

SECOND BLIND MAN.
Where are the mad woman and her child?

THE YOUNG BLIND WOMAN.
He is asleep; don’t wake him!

FIRST BLIND MAN.
Oh! how far from us you are! I thought you were just opposite me!

THIRD BLIND MAN.
We know, more or less, all that we need know; let us talk a little, till the priest comes back.

THE OLDEST BLIND WOMAN.
He told us to await him in silence.

THIRD BLIND MAN.
We are not in a church.

THE OLDEST BLIND WOMAN.
You don’t know where we are.

THIRD BLIND MAN.
I feel frightened when I am not talking.

SECOND BLIND MAN.
Do you know where the priest has gone?

THIRD BLIND MAN.
It seems to me that he is leaving us alone too long.

FIRST BLIND MAN.
He is growing too old. It appears that he has hardly been able to see for some time himself. He will not own it, for fear that another should come and take his place among us; but I suspect that he can hardly see any more. We ought to have another guide; he never listens to us now, and we are becoming too many for him. The three nuns and he are the only ones in the house that can see; and they are all older than we are! – I am sure that he has led us astray, and is trying to find the way again. Where can he have gone? – He has no right to leave us here . . .

THE OLDEST BLIND MAN.
He has gone very far; I think he said so to the women.

FIRST BLIND MAN.
Then he only speaks to the women now? – Do we not exist any more? – We shall have to complain in the end!

THE OLDEST BLIND MAN.
To whom will you carry your complaint?

FIRST BLIND MAN.
I don’t yet know; we shall see, we shall see. – But where can he have gone? – I am asking it of the women.

THE OLDEST BLIND WOMAN.
He was tired, having walked so long. I think he sat down a moment in our midst. He has been very sad and very weak for some days. He has been uneasy since the doctor died. He is lonely. He hardly ever speaks. I don’t know what can have happened. He insisted on going out to-day. He said he wanted to see the Island one last time, in the sun, before winter came. It appears that the winter will be very cold and very long, and that ice is already coming down from the north. He was anxious too; they say that the great storms of these last days have swelled the stream, and that all the dykes are giving way. He said too that the sea frightened him; it appears to be agitated for no reason, and the cliffs of the Island are not high enough. He wanted to see for himself; but he did not tell us what he saw. – I think he has gone now to fetch some bread and water for the mad woman. He said that he would perhaps have to go very far. We shall have to wait.

THE YOUNG BLIND WOMAN.
He took my hands on leaving; and his hands trembled as if he were afraid. Then he kissed me . . .

FIRST BLIND MAN.
Oh! oh!

THE YOUNG BLIND WOMAN.
I asked him what had happened. He told me that he did not know what was going to happen. He told me that the old men’s reign was coming to an end, perhaps . . .

FIRST BLIND MAN.
What did he mean by that?

THE YOUNG BLIND WOMAN.
I did not understand him. He told me that he was going towards the great lighthouse.

FIRST BLIND MAN.
Is there a lighthouse here?

THE YOUNG BLIND WOMAN
Yes, north of the Island. I think we are not far from it. He told me that he could see the light of the beacon falling here, upon the leaves. He never seemed to me sadder than to-day, and I think that for some days he had seen crying. I don’t know why, but I cried too, without seeing him. I did not hear him go. I did not question him further. I could hear that he was smiling too solemnly; I could hear that he was closing his eyes and wished for silence . . .

FIRST BLIND MAN.
He said nothing to us of all this!

THE YOUNG BLIND WOMAN.
You never listen to him when he speaks!

THE OLDEST BLIND WOMAN.
You all murmur when he speaks!

SECOND BLIND MAN.
He merely said “Good-night” on leaving.

THIRD BLIND MAN.
It must be very late.

FIRST BLIND MAN.
He said “Good-night” two or three times on leaving, as if he were going to sleep. I could hear that he was looking at me when he said, “Good-night; good-night.” – The voice changes when one looks at some one fixedly.

FIFTH BLIND MAN.
Have pity on those that cannot see!

FIRST BLIND MAN.
Who is talking in that senseless way?

SECOND BLIND MAN.
I think it is the one who cannot hear.

FIRST BLIND MAN.
Be quiet! – this is not the time to beg!

THIRD BLIND MAN.
Where was he going for the bread and water?

THE OLDEST BLIND WOMAN.
He went towards the sea.

THIRD BLIND MAN.
One does not walk towards the sea in that way at his age!

SECOND BLIND MAN.
Are we near the sea?

THE OLDEST BLIND WOMAN.
Yes; be quiet an instant; you will hear it.

[A murmur of the sea near at hand and very calm against the cliffs.]

SECOND BLIND MAN.
I only hear the three old women praying.

THE OLDEST BLIND WOMAN.
Listen well, you will hear it through their prayers.

SECOND BLIND MAN.
Yes; I hear something that is not far from us.

THE OLDEST BLIND WOMAN.
It was asleep; it seems as if it were waking.

FIRST BLIND MAN.
It was wrong of him to lead us here; I don’t like hearing that noise.

THE OLDEST BLIND MAN.
You know very well that the Island is not large, and that one can hear it as soon as ever one leaves the walls of the asylum.

SECOND BLIND MAN.
I never listened to it.

THIRD BLIND MAN.
It seems to me that it is next us to-today; I don’t like hearing it so close.

SECOND BLIND MAN.
Nor I; besides, we never asked to leave the asylum.

THIRD BLIND MAN.
We have never been as far as this; it was useless to bring us so far.

THE OLDEST BLIND WOMAN.
It was very fine this morning; he wanted us to enjoy the last days of sunshine, before shutting us up for the whole winter in the asylum . . .

FIRST BLIND MAN.
But I prefer staying in the asylum!

THE OLDEST BLIND WOMAN.
He said too that we ought to know something of the little Island we live in. He himself has never been all over it; there is a mountain that no one has climbed, valleys which no one likes to go down to, and caves that have not been entered to this day. He said, in short, that one must not always sit waiting for the sun under the dormitory roof; he wanted to bring us to the sea-shore. He has gone there alone.

THE OLDEST BLIND MAN.
He is right; one must think of living.

FIRST BLIND MAN.
But there is nothing to see out of doors!

SECOND BLIND MAN.
Are we in the sun, now?

THIRD BLIND MAN.
Is the sun still shining?

SIXTH BLIND MAN.
I think not; it seems to me to be very late.

SECOND BLIND MAN.
What o’clock is it?

THE OTHERS.
I don’t know. – Nobody know.

SECOND BLIND MAN.
Is it still light? [To the sixth blind man.] Where are you? – Come, you who can see a little, come!

SIXTH BLIND MAN.
I think it is very dark; when the sun shines, I see a blue line under my eyelids; I saw one a long while ago; but now I can see nothing at all.

FIRST BLIND MAN.
As for me, I know that it is late when I am hungry, and I am hungry.

THIRD BLIND MAN.
But look up at the sky; you will see some thing, perhaps!

[They all lift their heads towards the sky, save the three that were born blind, who continue to look on the ground.]

SIXTH BLIND MAN.
I don’t know that we are under the sky.

FIRST BLIND MAN.
Our voices resound as if they were in a cave.

THE OLDEST BLIND MAN.
I rather think they resound so because it is evening.

THE YOUNG BLIND WOMAN.
It seems to me that I feel the moonlight on my hands.

THE OLDEST BLIND MAN.
I think there are stars; I hear them.

THE YOUNG BLIND WOMAN.
I too.

FIRST BLIND MAN.
I can hear no sound.

SECOND BLIND MAN.
I can only hear the sound of our breathing!

THE OLDEST BLIND MAN.
I think the women are right.

FIRST BLIND MAN.
I never hear the stars.

SECOND AND THIRD BLIND MEN.
Neither did I.

[A flight of night-birds alights suddenly amidst the foliage.]

SECOND BLIND MAN.
Listen! listen! – What is that above us? – Do you hear?

THE OLDEST BLIND MAN.
Something passed between the sky and us.

SIXTH BLIND MAN.
There is something moving above our heads; but we cannot reach it!

FIRST BLIND MAN.
I don’t know the nature of that sound. – I want to go back to the asylum.

SECOND BLIND MAN.
We want to know where we are!

SIXTH BLIND MAN.
I have tried to stand up; there are thorns, nothing but thorns about me; I dare not spread my hands out any more.

THIRD BLIND MAN.
We want to know where we are!

THE OLDEST BLIND MAN.
We cannot know it!

SIXTH BLIND MAN.
We must be very far from the house; I can no longer make out a single noise.

THIRD BLIND MAN.
For a long while, I have smelt the smell of dead leaves.

SIXTH BLIND MAN.
Did any one of us see the Island in past days, and could he tell us where we are?

THE OLDEST BLIND WOMAN.
We were all blind when we came here.

FIRST BLIND MAN.
We have never been able to see.

SECOND BLIND MAN.
Let us not be unnecessarily anxious; he will soon return; let us wait a little longer; but in future, we will not go out with him again.

THE OLDEST BLIND MAN.
We cannot go out alone!

FIRST BLIND MAN.
We will not go out at all, I prefer not going out.

SECOND BLIND MAN.
We had no wish to go out, nobody had asked to do so.

THE OLDEST BLIND WOMAN.
It was a holiday on the Island; we always go out on great holidays.

THIRD BLIND WOMAN.
He came and hit me on the shoulder when I was still asleep, saying: Get up, get up, it is time, the sun is shining! – Was there any sun? I was not aware of it. I have never seen the sun.

THE OLDEST BLIND MAN.
I saw the sun when I was very young.

THE OLDEST BLIND WOMAN.
I too; it was long ago; when I was a child; but I hardly remember it now.

THIRD BLIND MAN.
Why does he want us to go out every time the sun shines? Which of us is any the wiser? I never know whether I am walking out at midday or at midnight.

SECOND BLIND MAN.
I prefer going out at midday; I suspect great brightness then, and my eyes make great efforts to open.

THIRD BLIND MAN.
I prefer staying in the refectory by the coal-fire; there was a big fire there this morning . . .

SECOND BLIND MAN.
He could bring us out into the sun in the yard; there one has the shelter of the walls; one cannot get out, there is nothing to fear when the door is shut. – I always shut it. – Why did you touch my left elbow?

FIRST BLIND MAN.
I did not touch you; I cannot reach you.

SECOND BLIND MAN.
I tell you that somebody touched my elbow.

FIRST BLIND MAN.
It was none of us.

SECOND BLIND MAN.
I want to go away!

THE OLDEST BLIND WOMAN.
O God! O God! tell us where we are!

FIRST BLIND MAN.
We cannot wait here for ever!

[A very distant clock strikes twelve very slowly.]

THE OLDEST BLIND WOMAN.
Oh! how far we are from the asylum!

THE OLDEST BLIND MAN.
It is midnight!

SECOND BLIND MAN.
It is midday! – Does any one know? – Speak!

SIXTH BLIND MAN.
I don’t know. But I think we are in the shade.

FIRST BLIND MAN.
I can make nothing out; we slept too long.

SECOND BLIND MAN.
I am hungry.

THE OTHERS.
We are hungry and thirsty!

SECOND BLIND MAN.
Have we been here long?

THE OLDEST BLIND WOMAN.
It seems to me that I have been here centuries!

SIXTH BLIND MAN.
I am beginning to make out where we are . . .

THIRD BLIND MAN.
We ought to go towards where midnight struck.

[All the night-birds exult suddenly in the gloom.]

FIRST BLIND MAN.
Do you hear? – Do you hear?

SECOND BLIND MAN.
We are not alone!

THIRD BLIND MAN.
I have had my suspicions for a long time; we are being overheard. – Has he come back?

FIRST BLIND MAN.
I don’t know what it is; it is above us.

SECOND BLIND MAN.
Did the others hear nothing? – You are always silent!

THE OLDEST BLIND MAN.
We are still listening.

THE YOUNG BLIND WOMAN.
I hear wings about me!

THE OLDEST BLIND WOMAN.
O God! O God! tell us where we are!

THE SIXTH BLIND MAN.
I am beginning to make out where we are . . . The asylum is on the other side of the big river; we have crossed the old bridge. He has brought us to the north side of the Island. We are not far from the river, and perhaps we should hear it if we were to listen a moment . . . We shall have to go down to the edge of the water, if he does not come back . . . Night and day great ships pass there, and the sailors will see us standing on the banks. It may be that we are in the forest that surrounds the lighthouse; but I don’t know the way out of it . . . Is somebody willing to follow me?

FIRST BLIND MAN.
Let us keep seated! – Let us wait, let us wait; – we don’t know the direction of the big river, and there are bogs all round the asylum; let us wait, let us wait . . . He will come back; he is bound to come back!

SIXTH BLIND MAN.
Does any one know which way we came here? He explained it to us as we walked.

FIRST BLIND MAN.
I paid no attention.

SIXTH BLIND MAN.
Did any one listen to him?

THIRD BLIND MAN.
We must listen to him in future.

SIXTH BLIND MAN.
Was any one of us born on the Island?

THE OLDEST BLIND MAN.
You know quite well that we come from elsewhere.

THE OLDEST BLIND WOMAN.
We come from the other side of the sea.

FIRST BLIND MAN.
I thought I should have died crossing.

SECOND BLIND MAN.
I too; – we came together.

THIRD BLIND MAN.
We are all three of the same parish.

FIRST BLIND MAN.
They say that one can see it from here in clear weather; – towards the north. – It has no steeple.

THIRD BLIND MAN.
We landed by chance.

THE OLDEST BLIND WOMAN.
I come from another direction . . .

SECOND BLIND MAN.
From where do you come?

THE OLDEST BLIND WOMAN.
I no longer dare think of it . . . I can hardly call it to mind when I speak of it . . . It was too long ago . . . It was colder there than here . . .

THE YOUNG BLIND WOMAN.
And I, I come from very far . . .

FIRST BLIND MAN.
Where do you come from then?

THE YOUNG BLIND WOMAN.
I could not tell you. How should I be able to describe it? – It is too far from here; it is beyond the seas. I come from a big country . . . I could only explain it to you by signs, and we cannot see . . . I have wandered too long . . . But I have seen the sun and water and fire, and mountains, and faces and strange flowers . . . There are none like them on this Island; it is too dismal here and too cold . . . I have never know the scent again, since I lost my sight . . . But I saw my parents and my sisters . . . I was too young then to know where I was . . . I still played about on the sea-shore . . . Yet how well I remember having seen! . . . One day, I looked at the snow from the top of a mountain . . . I was just beginning to distinguish those that are to be unhappy . . .

FIRST BLIND MAN.
What do you mean?

THE YOUNG BLIND WOMAN.
I can still distinguish them by the sound of their voice at times . . . I have memories that are clearer when I am not thinking of them . . .

FIRST BLIND MAN.
I have no memories, I . . .

[A flight of big birds of passage passes clamoring above the foliage.]

THE OLDEST BLIND MAN.
There is something passing again beneath the sky!

SECOND BLIND MAN.
Why did you come here?

THE OLDEST BLIND MAN.
To whom are you speaking?

SECOND BLIND MAN.
To our young sister.

THE YOUNG BLIND WOMAN.
They had told me that he could cure me. He says that I shall see again some day; then I shall be able to leave the Island . . .

FIRST BLIND MAN.
We should all like to leave the Island!

SECOND BLIND MAN.
We shall stay here for ever!

THIRD BLIND MAN.
He is too old; he will never have time to cure us!

THE YOUNG BLIND WOMAN.
My eyelids are closed, but I feel that my eyes are alive . . .

FIRST BLIND MAN.
Mine are open . . .

SECOND BLIND MAN.
I sleep with my eyes open.

THIRD BLIND MAN.
Let us not speak of our eyes!

SECOND BLIND MAN.
You have not been here long?

THE OLDEST BLIND MAN.
One evening, during prayers, I heard on the women’s side a voice I did not know; and I could tell by your voice that you were young . . . I wanted to see you, having heard your voice . . .

FIRST BLIND MAN.
I never noticed it.

SECOND BLIND MAN.
He never lets us know anything!

SIXTH BLIND MAN.
They say that you are beautiful, like some woman come from afar?

THE YOUNG BLIND WOMAN.
I have never seen myself.

THE OLDEST BLIND MAN.
We have never seen each other. We question each other, and we answer each other; we live together, we are always together, but we know not what we are! . . . It is all very well to touch each other with both hands; eyes know more than hands . . .

SIXTH BLIND MAN.
I see your shadows sometimes when you are in the sun . . .

THE OLDEST BLIND MAN.
We have never seen the house in which we live; it is all very well to touch the walls and the windows; we know nothing of where we live . . .

THE OLDEST BLIND WOMAN.
They say it is an old castle, very gloomy and very wretched, one never sees a light there, save in the tower where the priest’s room is.

FIRST BLIND MAN.
Those who cannot see need no light.

SIXTH BLIND MAN.
When I am keeping the flocks, round about the asylum, the sheep go home of themselves when, at evening, they see that light in the tower . . . They have never led me astray.

THE OLDEST BLIND MAN.
For years and years we have lived together and we have never beheld each other! One would say we were always alone! . . . One must see to love . . .

THE OLDEST BLIND WOMAN.
I sometimes dream that I can see . . .

THE OLDEST BLIND MAN.
I only see when I am dreaming . . .

FIFTH BLIND MAN.
I only dream, as a rule, at midnight.

SECOND BLIND MAN.
Of what can one dream when one’s hands are motionless?

[A squall shakes the forest, and the leaves fall in dismal showers.]

FIFTH BLIND MAN.
Who was it touched my hands?

FIRST BLIND MAN.
There is something falling round us.

THE OLDEST BLIND MAN.
It comes from above; I don’t know what it is . . .

FIFTH BLIND MAN.
Who was it touched my hands? – I was asleep; let me sleep!

THE OLDEST BLIND MAN.
Nobody touched your hands.

FIFTH BLIND MAN.
Who was it took my hands? Answer loud, I am rather hard of hearing . . .

THE OLDEST BLIND MAN.
We don’t ourselves know.

FIFTH BLIND MAN.
Have they come to warn us?

FIRST BLIND MAN.
It is of no use answering; he can hear nothing.

THIRD BLIND MAN.
It must be admitted that the deaf are very unfortunate!

THE OLDEST BLIND MAN.
I am tired of sitting down!

SIXTH BLIND MAN.
I am tired of being here!

SECOND BLIND MAN.
We seem to me so far from one another . . . Let us try to draw a little closer together; – it is beginning to be cold . . .

THIRD BLIND MAN.
I dare not stand up! It is better to stay where one is.

THE OLDEST BLIND MAN.
There is no knowing what there may be between us.

SIXTH BLIND MAN.
I think both my hands are bleeding; I wanted to stand up.

THIRD BLIND MAN.
I can hear that you are leaning towards me.

[The blind mad woman rubs her eyes violently, moaning, and persistently turning towards the motionless priest.]

FIRST BLIND MAN.
I hear another noise . . .

THE OLDEST BLIND WOMAN.
I think it is our poor sister rubbing her eyes.

SECOND BLIND MAN.
She never does anything else; I hear her every night.

THIRD BLIND MAN.
She is mad; she never says anything.

THE OLDEST BLIND WOMAN.
She has never spoken since she had her child. She seems always to be afraid . . .

THE OLDEST BLIND MAN.
Are you not afraid here then?

FIFTH BLIND MAN.
Who?

THE OLDEST BLIND MAN.
All the rest of us!

THE OLDEST BLIND WOMAN.
Yes, yes, we are afraid!

THE YOUNG BLIND WOMAN.
We have been afraid a long time!

FIRST BLIND MAN.
Why do you ask that?

THE OLDEST BLIND MAN.
I don’t know why I ask it! . . . There is something I cannot make out . . . It seems as if I heard a sudden sound of crying in our midst! . . .

FIRST BLIND MAN.
It does not do to be afraid; I think it is the mad woman . . .

THE OLDEST BLIND MAN.
There is something else besides . . . I am sure there is something else besides . . . It is not only that which frightens me . . .

THE OLDEST BLIND WOMAN.
She always cries when she is about to suckle her child.

FIRST BLIND MAN.
She is the only one that cries so!

THE OLDEST BLIND WOMAN.
They say that she can still see at times . . .

FIRST BLIND MAN.
One never hears the others cry . . .

THE OLDEST BLIND MAN.
One must see to weep . . .

THE YOUNG BLIND WOMAN.
I smell a scent of flowers round about us . . .

FIRST BLIND MAN.
I only smell the smell of the earth!

THE YOUNG BLIND WOMAN.
There are flowers, there are flowers near us!

SECOND BLIND MAN.
I only smell the smell of the earth!

THE OLDEST BLIND WOMAN.
I have just smelt flowers on the wind . . .

THIRD BLIND MAN.
I only smell the smell of earth!

THE OLDEST BLIND MAN.
I think the women are right.

SIXTH BLIND MAN.
Where are they? – I will go and pick them.

THE YOUNG BLIND WOMAN.
To your right, stand up.

[The sixth blind man rises slowly, and, knocking himself against trees and bushes, gropes his way towards the daffodils, which he treads down and crushes as he goes.]

THE YOUNG BLIND WOMAN.
I can hear that you are snapping green stems! Stop! Stop!

FIRST BLIND MAN.
Never mind about flowers, but think about getting back!

SIXTH BLIND MAN.
I dare not retrace my steps!

THE YOUNG BLIND WOMAN.
You must not come back! – Wait. – [She rises.] – Oh! how cold the earth is! It is going to freeze. – [She moves without hesitation towards the strange pale daffodils, but she is stopped by the fallen tree and the rocks, in the neighbourhood of the flowers.] – They are here! – I cannot reach them; they are on your side.

SIXTH BLIND MAN.
I think I am picking them.

[Groping about him, he picks what flowers are left, and offers them to her; the night-birds fly away.]

THE YOUNG BLIND WOMAN.
It seems to me that I once saw these flowers . . . I have forgotten their name . . . But how ill they are, and how limp their stalks are! I hardly know them again . . . I think they are the flowers of the dead . . .

[She plaits the daffodils in her hair.]

THE OLDEST BLIND MAN.
I hear the sound of your hair.

THE YOUNG BLIND WOMAN.
Those are the flowers . . .

THE OLDEST BLIND MAN.
We shall not see you . . .

THE YOUNG BLIND WOMAN.
I shall not see myself . . . I am cold.

[At this moment, the wind rises in the forest and the sea roars suddenly and with violence against the neighbouring cliffs.]

FIRST BLIND MAN.
It is thundering!

SECOND BLIND MAN.
I think it is a storm rising.

THE OLDEST BLIND WOMAN.
I think it is the sea.

THIRD BLIND MAN.
The sea? – Is it the sea? – But it is at two steps from us! – It is beside us! I hear it all round me! – It must be something else!

THE YOUNG BLIND WOMAN.
I hear the sound of waves at my feet.

FIRST BLIND MAN.
I think it is the wind in the dead leaves.

THE OLDEST BLIND MAN.
I think the women are right.

THIRD BLIND MAN.
It will be coming here!

FIRST BLIND MAN.
Where does the wind come from?

SECOND BLIND MAN.
It comes from the sea.

THE OLDEST BLIND MAN.
It always comes from the sea; the sea hems up in on all sides. It cannot come from elsewhere . . .

FIRST BLIND MAN.
Let us not think of the sea any more!

SECOND BLIND MAN.
But we must think of it, as it is going to reach us!

FIRST BLIND MAN.
You don’t know that it is the sea.

SECOND BLIND MAN.
I hear its waves as if I were going to dip both hands in! We cannot stay here! They may be all around us!

THE OLDEST BLIND MAN.
Where do you want to go?

SECOND BLIND MAN.
No matter where! No matter where! I will not hear the sound of that water any more! Let us go! Let us go!

THIRD BLIND MAN.
It seems to me that I hear something else besides. – Listen!

[A sound of footsteps, swift and distant, is heard among the dead leaves.]

FIRST BLIND MAN.
There is something coming towards us!

SECOND BLIND MAN.
He is coming! He is coming! He is coming back!

THIRD BLIND MAN.
He is taking little steps, like a little child . . .

SECOND BLIND MAN.
Let us reproach him nothing to-day!

THE OLDEST BLIND WOMAN.
I think it is not the step of a man!

[A big dog enters the forest and passes before them. – Silence.]

FIRST BLIND MAN.
Who is there? – Who are you? – Have pity on us, we have been waiting so long! . . . [The dog stops , and returning, lays his front paws on the blind man’s knees.] Ah! ah! what have you put on my knees? What is it? . . . Is it an animal? I think it is a dog? . . . Oh! oh! it is the dog! it is the dog from the asylum! Come here! come here! He has come to deliver us! Come here! come here!

THE OTHERS.
Come here! come here!

FIRST BLIND MAN..
He has come to deliver us! He has followed our traces! He is licking my hands as if he had found me after hundreds of years! He is howling for joy! He will die of joy! Listen! listen!

THE OTHERS.
Come here! come here!

THE OLDEST BLIND MAN.
He has perhaps run on in front of somebody? . . .

FIRST BLIND MAN.
No, no, he is alone. – I hear nothing coming. – We need no other guide; there is none better. He will lead us wherever we want to go; he will obey us . . .

THE OLDEST BLIND WOMAN.
I dare not follow him.

THE YOUNG BLIND WOMAN.
Nor I.

FIRST BLIND MAN.
Why not? He sees better than we do.

SECOND BLIND MAN.
Let us not listen to the women!

THIRD BLIND MAN.
I think that something has changed in the sky; I breathe freely; the air is pure now . . .

THE OLDEST BLIND WOMAN.
It is the sea-breeze that is blowing round us.

SIXTH BLIND MAN.
It seems to me that it is going to get light; I think the sun is rising . . .

THE OLDEST BLIND MAN.
I think it is going to be cold . . .

FIRST BLIND MAN.
We shall find the way. He is dragging me along. He is drunk with joy! – I can no longer hold him back! . . . Follow me! follow me! We are going home! . . .

[He rises, dragged along by the dog, who leads him towards the motionless priest, and there stops.]

THE OTHERS.
Where are you? Where are you? – Where are you going? Take care!

FIRST BLIND MAN.
Wait! wait! Don’t follow me yet; I will come back . . . He is standing still. – What is it? – Ah! ah! I have touched something very cold!

SECOND BLIND MAN.
What are you saying? I can hardly hear your voice any more.

FIRST BLIND MAN.
I have touched . . . I think I am touching a face!

THIRD BLIND MAN.
What are you saying? – One can hardly understand you any more. What is the matter with you? – Where are you? – Are you already so far away from us?

FIRST BLIND MAN.
Oh! oh! oh! I don’t yet know what it is . . . – There is a dead man in our midst!

THE OTHERS.
A dead man in our midst? Where are you? where are you?

FIRST BLIND MAN.
There is a dead man among us, I tell you! Oh! oh! I have touched a dead face! – You are sitting next to a dead body! One of us must have died suddenly! But speak then, that I may know which are alive! Where are you? – Answer! answer all together!

[They answer in succession save the mad woman and the deaf man; the three women have ceased praying.]

FIRST BLIND MAN.
I can no longer distinguish your voices! . . . You are all speaking alike! . . . They are all trembling!

THIRD BLIND MAN.
There are two who did not answer . . . Where are they?

[He touches with his stick the fifth blind man.]

FIFTH BLIND MAN.
Oh! oh! I was asleep; let me sleep!

SIXTH BLIND MAN.
It is not he. – Is it the mad woman?

THE OLDEST BLIND WOMAN.
She is sitting next me; I can hear her live . . .

FIRST BLIND MAN.
I think . . . I think it is the priest! – He is standing! Come! come! come!

SECOND BLIND MAN.
He is standing?

THIRD BLIND MAN.
Then he is not dead!

THE OLDEST BLIND MAN.
Where is he?

SIXTH BLIND MAN.
Come and see! . . .

[They all rise, save the mad woman and the fifth blind man, and grope their way towards the dead.]

SECOND BLIND MAN.
Is he here? – Is it he?

THIRD BLIND MAN.
Yes! yes! I recognise him!

FIRST BLIND MAN.
O God! O God! what is to become of us!

THE OLDEST BLIND WOMAN.
Father! father! – Is it you? Father, what has happened? – What is the matter with you? – Answer us! – We are all gathered round you . . . Oh! oh! oh!

THE OLDEST BLIND MAN.
Bring some water; he is perhaps still alive . . .

SECOND BLIND MAN.
Let us try . . . He will perhaps be able to lead us back to the asylum . . .

THIRD BLIND MAN.
It is useless; I cannot hear his heart. – He is cold . . .

FIRST BLIND MAN.
He died without a word.

THIRD BLIND MAN.
He ought to have warned us.

SECOND BLIND MAN.
Oh! how old he was! . . . It is the first time I ever touched his face . . .

THIRD BLIND MAN (feeling the corpse).
He is taller than we are!

SECOND BLIND MAN.
His eyes are wide open; he died with clasped hands . . .

FIRST BLIND MAN.
He died, so, for no reason . . .

SECOND BLIND MAN.
He is not standing, he is sitting on a stone . . .

THE OLDEST BLIND WOMAN.
O God! O God! I did not know all . . . all! . . . He had been ill so long . . . He must have suffered to-day! Oh! oh! oh! – He never complained! . . . He only complained in pressing our hands . . . One does not always understand . . . One never understands! . . . Let us pray around him. Kneel down . . .

[The women kneel, moaning.]

FIRST BLIND MAN.
I dare not kneel down . . .

SECOND BLIND MAN.
One does not know what one is kneeling on here . . .

THIRD BLIND MAN.
Was he ill? . . . He never told us . . .

SECOND BLIND MAN.
I heard him whisper something as he went . . . I think he was speaking to our young sister; what did he say?

FIRST BLIND MAN.
She will not answer.

SECOND BLIND MAN.
You will not answer us any more? – But where are you then? – Speak!

THE OLDEST BLIND WOMAN.
You made him suffer too much; you have killed him . . . You would go no further; you wanted to sit down on the stones by the roadside to eat; you grumbled all day . . . I heard him sigh . . . He lost courage . . .

FIRST BLIND MAN.
Was he ill? did you know it?

THE OLDEST BLIND MAN.
We knew nothing . . . We had never seen him . . . When have we ever known of anything that passed before our poor dead eyes? . . . He never complained . . . Now it is too late . . . I have seen three die . . . but never so . . . Now it is our turn . . .

FIRST BLIND MAN.
It is not I that made him suffer. – I never said anything . . .

SECOND BLIND MAN.
Nor I; we followed him without a word . . .

THIRD BLIND MAN.
He died going to fetch water for the mad woman . . .

FIRST BLIND MAN.
What are we to do now? Where shall we go?

THIRD BLIND MAN.
Where is the dog?

FIRST BLIND MAN.
Here; he will not leave the dead.

THIRD BLIND MAN.
Drag him away! Drive him off! drive him off!

FIRST BLIND MAN.
He will not leave the dead!

SECOND BLIND MAN.
We cannot wait beside a dead man! . . . We cannot die thus in the dark!

THIRD BLIND MAN.
Let us keep together; let us not move away from one another; let us hold hands; let us all sit down on this stone . . . Where are the others? Come here! come! come!

THE OLDEST BLIND MAN.
Where are you?

THIRD BLIND MAN.
Here; I am here. Are we all together? – Come nearer to me. Where are your hands? – It is very cold.

THE YOUNG BLIND WOMAN.
Oh! how cold your hands are!

THIRD BLIND MAN.
What are you doing?

THE YOUNG BLIND WOMAN.
I was putting my hands to my eyes. I thought I was going to see all at once . . .

FIRST BLIND MAN.
Who is that crying?

THE OLDEST BLIND WOMAN.
It is the mad woman sobbing.

FIRST BLIND MAN.
Yet she does not know the truth?

THE OLDEST BLIND MAN.
I think we shall die here . . .

THE OLDEST BLIND WOMAN.
Some one will come perhaps . . .

THE OLDEST BLIND MAN.
Who else would be likely to come? . . .

THE OLDEST BLIND WOMAN.
I don’t know.

FIRST BLIND MAN.
I think the nuns will come out of the asylum . . .

THE OLDEST BLIND WOMAN.
There never go out of an evening.

THE YOUNG BLIND WOMAN.
They never go out at all.

SECOND BLIND MAN.
I think that the men from the big lighthouse will see us . . .

THE OLDEST BLIND MAN.
They never come down from their tower.

THIRD BLIND MAN.
They might see us . . .

THE OLDEST BLIND WOMAN.
They are always looking toward the sea.

THIRD BLIND MAN.
It is cold!

THE OLDEST BLIND MAN.
Listen to the dead leaves; I think it is freezing.

THE YOUNG BLIND WOMAN.
Oh! how hard the earth is!

THIRD BLIND MAN.
I hear to my left a noise that I cannot make out . . .

THE OLDEST BLIND MAN.
It is the sea moaning against the rocks.

THIRD BLIND MAN.
I thought it was the women.

THE OLDEST BLIND WOMAN.
I hear the ice breaking under the waves . . .

FIRST BLIND MAN.
Who is it that is shivering so? he is making us all shake on the stone!

SECOND BLIND MAN.
I can no longer open my hands.

THE OLDEST BLIND MAN.
I hear another noise that I cannot make out . . .

FIRST BLIND MAN.
Which of us is it that is shivering so? He is shaking the stone!

THE OLDEST BLIND MAN.
I think it is a woman.

THE OLDEST BLIND WOMAN.
I think the mad woman is shivering most.

THIRD BLIND MAN.
I cannot hear her child.

THE OLDEST BLIND WOMAN.
I think he is still sucking.

THE OLDEST BLIND MAN.
He is the only one that can see where we are!

FIRST BLIND MAN.
I hear the north wind.

SIXTH BLIND MAN.
I think there are no more stars; it is going to snow.

SECOND BLIND MAN.
Then we are lost!

THIRD BLIND MAN.
If one of us falls asleep he must be waked.

THE OLDEST BLIND MAN.
I am sleepy though.

[A squall makes the dead leaves whirl.]

THE YOUNG BLIND WOMAN.
Do you hear the dead leaves? I think some one is coming towards us!

SECOND BLIND MAN.
It is the wind; listen!

THIRD BLIND MAN.
No one will come now!

THE OLDEST BLIND MAN.
The great cold is coming . . .

THE YOUNG BLIND WOMAN.
I hear some one walking in the distance!

FIRST BLIND MAN.
I only hear the dead leaves!

THE YOUNG BLIND WOMAN.
I hear some one walking very far from us!

SECOND BLIND MAN.
I only hear the north wind.

THE YOUNG BLIND WOMAN.
I tell you that some one is coming towards us!

THE OLDEST BLIND WOMAN.
I hear a sound of very slow footsteps . . .

THE OLDEST BLIND MAN.
I think the women are right.

[It begins to snow in great flakes.]

FIRST BLIND MAN.
Oh! oh! what is falling so cold on my hands?

SIXTH BLIND MAN.
It is snowing!

FIRST BLIND MAN.
Let us draw up close to one another!

THE YOUNG BLIND WOMAN.
But listen to the sound of the footsteps!

THE OLDEST BLIND WOMAN.
For God’s sake! be still an instant!

THE YOUNG BLIND WOMAN.
They are drawing nearer! they are drawing nearer! listen then!

[Here the mad woman’s child begins to wail suddenly in the dark.]

THE OLDEST BLIND MAN.
The child is crying!

THE YOUNG BLIND WOMAN.
It sees! it sees! It must see something as it is crying! [She seizes the child in her arms and moves forward in the direction whence the sound of footsteps seems to come; the other women follow her anxiously and surround her.] I am going to meet it!

THE OLDEST BLIND MAN.
Take care!

THE YOUNG BLIND WOMAN.
Oh! how he is crying! – What is it? – Don’t cry. – Don’t be afraid; there is nothing to be afraid of; we are here all about you. – What do you see? – Fear nothing! – Don’t cry so! – What is it that you see? – Tell us, what is it that you see?

THE OLDEST BLIND WOMAN.
The sound of footsteps is drawing nearer; listen! listen!

THE OLDEST BLIND MAN.
I hear the rustling of a dress among the dead leaves.

SIXTH BLIND MAN.
Is it a woman?

THE OLDEST BLIND MAN.
Is it the sound of footsteps?

FIRST BLIND MAN.
It is perhaps the sea on the dead leaves?

THE YOUNG BLIND WOMAN.
No, no! they are footsteps! they are footsteps! they are footsteps!

THE OLDEST BLIND WOMAN.
We shall soon know; listen to the dead leaves.

THE YOUNG BLIND WOMAN.
I hear them, I hear them, almost beside us! listen! listen! – What is it that you see? What is it that you see?

THE OLDEST BLIND WOMAN.
Which way is he looking?

THE YOUNG BLIND WOMAN.
He always follows the sound of the footsteps! – Look! Look! When I turn him away he turns back to look . . . He sees! he sees! he sees! – He must see something strange! . . .

THE OLDEST BLIND WOMAN. [coming forward].
Lift him above us, that he may see.

THE YOUNG BLIND WOMAN.
Step aside! step aside! [She lifts the child above the group of sightless.] The footsteps have stopped right among us! . . .

THE OLDEST BLIND MAN.
They are here! They are here in our midst!

THE YOUNG BLIND WOMAN.
Who are you?

[Silence.]

THE OLDEST BLIND WOMAN.
Have pity on us!

[Silence. The child cries more desperately.]


THE END.