In literature a drama genre deserves your attention. Dramas are usually called plays. Every person is made up of two parts: good and evil. Due to life circumstances, the human reveals one or another side of his nature. In drama we can see the full range of emotions : it can be love, jealousy, hatred, fear, etc. The best drama books are full of dialogue. This type of drama is one of the oldest forms of storytelling and has existed almost since the beginning of humanity. Drama genre - these are events that involve a lot of people. People most often suffer in this genre, because they are selfish. People always think to themselves first, they want have a benefit.The Return of Peter Grimm by David Belasco (types of ebook readers TXT) 📖
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/> PETER. [_Knowing that_ JAMES, _is demanding a kiss._] Aha! [_Rubs his hands in satisfaction--then listens--and after a second pause exclaims, with an upraised finger, as though he were hearing the kiss._] Ah! Now I can go.... [_He walks to the peg on which his hat hangs, and takes it down. His work is done._ CATHERINE _re-enters, darting into the hall in girlish confusion._
JAMES' HAPPY VOICE. [_Outside._] Good-night!
CATHERINE. [_Calling to him through the crack in the door._] Good-night! [_She closes the door, turns the key and draws the heavy bolt--then leans against the door, candle-stick in hand--the wind has blown out the candle._] Oh, I'm so happy! I'm so happy!
PETER. Then good-night to you, my darling: love cannot say good-bye. [_She goes to_ PETER'S _chair, and, sitting, thinks it all over--her hands clasped in her lap--her face radiant with happiness._] Here in your childhood's home I leave you. Here in the years to come, the way lies clear before you. [_His arm upraised._] "_Lust in Rust_"--Pleasure and Peace go with you. [CATHERINE _looks towards the door--remembering_ JAMES' _kiss--half smiling._] [_Humorously._] Y--es; I saw you. I heard ... I know.... Here on some sunny, blossoming day when, as a wife, you look out upon my gardens--every flower and tree and shrub shall bloom enchanted to your eyes.... All that happens--happens again. And if, at first, a little knock of poverty taps at the door, and James finds the road hard and steep--what is money?--a thing,--a good thing to have,--but still a thing ... and happiness will come without it. And when, as a mother, you shall see my plantings with new eyes, my Catherine,--when you explain each leaf and bud to your little people--you will remember the time when _we_ walked together through the leafy lanes and I taught you--even as you teach them--you little thing!... So, I shall linger in your heart. And some day, should your children wander far away and my gardens blossom for a stranger who may take my name from off the gates,--what _is_ my name? Already it grows faint to my ears. [_Lightly._] Yes, yes, yes, let others take my work.... Why should _we_ care? All that happens, happens again. [_She rests her elbow on the chair, half hides her face in her hand._] And never forget this: I shall be waiting for you--I shall know all your life. I shall adore your children and be their grandfather just as though I were here; I shall find it hard not to laugh at them when they are bad, and I shall worship them when they are good--and I don't want them too good.... Frederik was good.... I shall be everywhere about you ... in the stockings at Christmas, in a big, busy, teeming world of shadows just outside your threshold, or whispering in the still noises of the night.... And oh! as the years pass, [_Standing over her chair._] you cannot imagine what pride I shall take in your comfortable middle life--the very _best_ age, I think--when you two shall look out on your possessions arm in arm--and take your well-earned comfort and ease. How I shall love to see you look fondly at each other as you say: "Be happy, Jim--you've worked hard for this;" or James says: "Take your comfort, little mother, let them all wait upon _you--you_ waited upon _them_. Lean back in your carriage--you've earned it!" And towards the end--[_Sitting on a chair by her side and looking into her face._] after all the luxuries and vanities and possessions cease to be so important--people return to very simple things, dear. The evening of life comes bearing its own lamp. Then, perhaps, as a little old grandmother, a little old child whose bed-time is drawing near, I shall see you happy to sit out in the sunlight of another day; asking nothing more of life than the few hours to be spent with those you love,... telling your grandchildren, at your knees, how much brighter the flowers blossomed when _you_ were young. Ha! Ha! Ha! All that happens, happens again.... And when, one glad day, glorified, radiant, young once more, the mother and I shall take you in our arms,--oh! what a reunion! [_Inspired._] The flight of love--to love.... And now ... [_He bends over her and caresses her hand._] good-night. [CATHERINE _rises and, going to the desk, buries her face in the bunch of flowers placed there in memory of_ PETER.
CATHERINE. Dear Uncle Peter....
MARTA _enters--pausing to hear if all is quiet in_ WILLIAM'S _room_. CATHERINE, _lifting her face, sees_ MARTA _and rapturously hugs her, to_ MARTA'S _amazement--then goes up the stairs_.
PETER. [_Whose eyes never leave_ CATHERINE.] "_Lust in Rust_!" Pleasure and Peace! Amen! [CATHERINE _passes into her room, the music dying away as her door closes_. MARTA, _still wondering, goes to the clock and winds it_.] Poor Marta! Every time she thinks of me, she winds my clock. We're not quite forgotten.
DR. MACPHERSON. [_Re-appears, carrying_ WILLIAM, _now wrapped up in an old-fashioned Dutch patchwork quilt. The_ DOCTOR _has a lamp in his free hand_.] So you want to go downstairs, eh? Very good! How do you feel, laddie?
WILLIAM. New all over.
DR. MACPHERSON. [_Placing the lamp on the little table right, and laying_ WILLIAM _on the couch_.] Now I'll get you the glass of cold water. [_Goes into the dining-room, leaving the door open_.
PETER. [_Calling after the_ DOCTOR.] Good-night, Andrew. I'm afraid the world will have to wait a little longer for the _big_ guesser. Drop in often. I shall be glad to see you here.
WILLIAM. [_Quickly rising on the couch, looks towards the peg on which_ PETER GRIMM'S _hat hung. Calling_.] Mr. Grimm! Where are you? I knew that you were down here. [_Seeing_ PETER.] Oh, [_Raising himself to his knees on the sofa_.] I see you _now_!
PETER. Yes? [_There is an impressive pause and silence as they face each other_.
WILLIAM. Oh, you've got your hat;... it's off the peg.... You're going. Need you go right away--Mr. Grimm? Can't you wait a little while?
PETER. I'll wait for you, William.
WILLIAM. May I go with you? Thank you. I couldn't find the way without you.
PETER. Yes, you could. It's the surest way in this world. But I'll wait,-- don't worry.
WILLIAM. I sha'n't. [_Coaxingly_.] Don't be in a hurry ... I want--[_Lies down happily_.] to take a nap first.... I'm sleepy. [_He pulls the covering up and sleeps_.
PETER. I wish you the pleasantest dream a little boy can have in _this_ world.
_Instantly, as though the room were peopled with faint images of_ WILLIAM'S _dream, the phantom circus music is heard, with its elfin horns; and, through the music, voices call "Hai! Hai!" The sound of the cracking of a whip is heard, and the blare of a clown's ten-cent tin horn. The phantom voice of the_ CLOWN _(very faint) calls:_
CLOWN'S VOICE. Billy Miller's big show and monster circus is in town this afternoon! Don't forget the date! Only one ring--no confusion. Circus day comes but once a year, little sir. Come early and see the wild animals and hear the lion roar-r-r! Mind, I shall expect _you!_ Wonderful troupe of trained mice in the side-show.
_During the above, the deeper voice of a_ "HAWKER"--_muffled and far off-- cries:_
HAWKER'S VOICE. Peanuts, pop-corn, lemonade--ice cold lemo--lemo-- lemonade! Circus day comes but once a year.
_Breaking in through the music, and the voices of the_ CLOWN _and_ HAWKER, _the gruff voice of a_ "BARKER" _is heard calling._
BARKER'S VOICE. Walk in and see the midgets and the giant! Only ten cents--one dime!
_As these voices die away, the_ CLOWN, _whose voice indicates that he is now perched on the head of the couch, sings:_
CLOWN'S VOICE. "Uncle Rat has gone to town, Ha! H'm! Uncle Rat has gone to town To buy his niece"--
_His voice ends abruptly--the music stops. Everything is over. There is silence. Then three clear knocks sound on the door._
PETER. Come in.... [_The door opens. No one is there--but a faint path of phosphorous light is seen._] Oh, friends! Troops of you! [_As though he recognizes the unseen guests._] I've been gone so long that you came for me, eh? I'm quite ready to go back. I'm just waiting for a happy little fellow who's going back with us.... We'll follow. Do you all go ahead-- lead the way. [_He looks at_ WILLIAM, _holds out his arms, and_ WILLIAM _jumps up and runs into them._] Well, William! You _know better_ now. Come! [_Picking up_ WILLIAM.] Happy, eh? [WILLIAM _nods, his face beaming._
WILLIAM. Oh, yes!
PETER. Let's be off, then. [_As they turn towards the door._
DR. MACPHERSON. [_Re-entering, goes to the couch with the water, and suddenly, setting down the glass, exclaims in a hushed voice:_] My God! He's dead! [_He half raises up a boy that appears to be_ WILLIAM. _The light from the lamp on the table falls on the dead face of the child. Then the_ DOCTOR _gently lays the boy down again on the couch, and sits pondering over the mystery of death._
PETER. [_To the_ DOCTOR.] Oh, no! There never was so fair a prospect for _life_!
WILLIAM. [_In_ PETER'S _arms._] I _am_ happy!
_Outside a hazy moonlight shimmers. A few stars twinkle in the far-away sky; and the low moon is seen back of the old windmill._
PETER. [_To_ WILLIAM.] If the rest of them only knew what they're missing, eh?
WILLIAM. [_Begins to sing, joyously._] "Uncle Rat has gone to town."
PETER _dances up a few steps towards the door, singing with_ WILLIAM.
PETER _and_ WILLIAM.
"Ha! H'm!
Uncle Rat has gone to town
To buy his niece a wedding gown.
Ha! H'm!"
PETER. [_Gives one last fond look towards_ CATHERINE'S _room. To_ WILLIAM.] We're off! [_Putting the boy over his shoulder, they sing together, as they go up, the phantom circus music accompanying them._] "What shall the wedding breakfast be? Ha! H'm!"
PETER. [_Alone._] "What shall the wedding breakfast be? Hard boiled eggs and a cup of tea."
WILLIAM _and_ PETER. "Ha! H'm!"
PETER GRIMM _has danced off with the child through the faint path of light. As he goes, the wind or an unseen hand closes the door after them. There is a moment's pause until their voices are no longer heard--then the curtain slowly descends. The air of the song is taken up by an unseen orchestra and continues as the audience passes out._
CURTAIN.
Imprint
JAMES' HAPPY VOICE. [_Outside._] Good-night!
CATHERINE. [_Calling to him through the crack in the door._] Good-night! [_She closes the door, turns the key and draws the heavy bolt--then leans against the door, candle-stick in hand--the wind has blown out the candle._] Oh, I'm so happy! I'm so happy!
PETER. Then good-night to you, my darling: love cannot say good-bye. [_She goes to_ PETER'S _chair, and, sitting, thinks it all over--her hands clasped in her lap--her face radiant with happiness._] Here in your childhood's home I leave you. Here in the years to come, the way lies clear before you. [_His arm upraised._] "_Lust in Rust_"--Pleasure and Peace go with you. [CATHERINE _looks towards the door--remembering_ JAMES' _kiss--half smiling._] [_Humorously._] Y--es; I saw you. I heard ... I know.... Here on some sunny, blossoming day when, as a wife, you look out upon my gardens--every flower and tree and shrub shall bloom enchanted to your eyes.... All that happens--happens again. And if, at first, a little knock of poverty taps at the door, and James finds the road hard and steep--what is money?--a thing,--a good thing to have,--but still a thing ... and happiness will come without it. And when, as a mother, you shall see my plantings with new eyes, my Catherine,--when you explain each leaf and bud to your little people--you will remember the time when _we_ walked together through the leafy lanes and I taught you--even as you teach them--you little thing!... So, I shall linger in your heart. And some day, should your children wander far away and my gardens blossom for a stranger who may take my name from off the gates,--what _is_ my name? Already it grows faint to my ears. [_Lightly._] Yes, yes, yes, let others take my work.... Why should _we_ care? All that happens, happens again. [_She rests her elbow on the chair, half hides her face in her hand._] And never forget this: I shall be waiting for you--I shall know all your life. I shall adore your children and be their grandfather just as though I were here; I shall find it hard not to laugh at them when they are bad, and I shall worship them when they are good--and I don't want them too good.... Frederik was good.... I shall be everywhere about you ... in the stockings at Christmas, in a big, busy, teeming world of shadows just outside your threshold, or whispering in the still noises of the night.... And oh! as the years pass, [_Standing over her chair._] you cannot imagine what pride I shall take in your comfortable middle life--the very _best_ age, I think--when you two shall look out on your possessions arm in arm--and take your well-earned comfort and ease. How I shall love to see you look fondly at each other as you say: "Be happy, Jim--you've worked hard for this;" or James says: "Take your comfort, little mother, let them all wait upon _you--you_ waited upon _them_. Lean back in your carriage--you've earned it!" And towards the end--[_Sitting on a chair by her side and looking into her face._] after all the luxuries and vanities and possessions cease to be so important--people return to very simple things, dear. The evening of life comes bearing its own lamp. Then, perhaps, as a little old grandmother, a little old child whose bed-time is drawing near, I shall see you happy to sit out in the sunlight of another day; asking nothing more of life than the few hours to be spent with those you love,... telling your grandchildren, at your knees, how much brighter the flowers blossomed when _you_ were young. Ha! Ha! Ha! All that happens, happens again.... And when, one glad day, glorified, radiant, young once more, the mother and I shall take you in our arms,--oh! what a reunion! [_Inspired._] The flight of love--to love.... And now ... [_He bends over her and caresses her hand._] good-night. [CATHERINE _rises and, going to the desk, buries her face in the bunch of flowers placed there in memory of_ PETER.
CATHERINE. Dear Uncle Peter....
MARTA _enters--pausing to hear if all is quiet in_ WILLIAM'S _room_. CATHERINE, _lifting her face, sees_ MARTA _and rapturously hugs her, to_ MARTA'S _amazement--then goes up the stairs_.
PETER. [_Whose eyes never leave_ CATHERINE.] "_Lust in Rust_!" Pleasure and Peace! Amen! [CATHERINE _passes into her room, the music dying away as her door closes_. MARTA, _still wondering, goes to the clock and winds it_.] Poor Marta! Every time she thinks of me, she winds my clock. We're not quite forgotten.
DR. MACPHERSON. [_Re-appears, carrying_ WILLIAM, _now wrapped up in an old-fashioned Dutch patchwork quilt. The_ DOCTOR _has a lamp in his free hand_.] So you want to go downstairs, eh? Very good! How do you feel, laddie?
WILLIAM. New all over.
DR. MACPHERSON. [_Placing the lamp on the little table right, and laying_ WILLIAM _on the couch_.] Now I'll get you the glass of cold water. [_Goes into the dining-room, leaving the door open_.
PETER. [_Calling after the_ DOCTOR.] Good-night, Andrew. I'm afraid the world will have to wait a little longer for the _big_ guesser. Drop in often. I shall be glad to see you here.
WILLIAM. [_Quickly rising on the couch, looks towards the peg on which_ PETER GRIMM'S _hat hung. Calling_.] Mr. Grimm! Where are you? I knew that you were down here. [_Seeing_ PETER.] Oh, [_Raising himself to his knees on the sofa_.] I see you _now_!
PETER. Yes? [_There is an impressive pause and silence as they face each other_.
WILLIAM. Oh, you've got your hat;... it's off the peg.... You're going. Need you go right away--Mr. Grimm? Can't you wait a little while?
PETER. I'll wait for you, William.
WILLIAM. May I go with you? Thank you. I couldn't find the way without you.
PETER. Yes, you could. It's the surest way in this world. But I'll wait,-- don't worry.
WILLIAM. I sha'n't. [_Coaxingly_.] Don't be in a hurry ... I want--[_Lies down happily_.] to take a nap first.... I'm sleepy. [_He pulls the covering up and sleeps_.
PETER. I wish you the pleasantest dream a little boy can have in _this_ world.
_Instantly, as though the room were peopled with faint images of_ WILLIAM'S _dream, the phantom circus music is heard, with its elfin horns; and, through the music, voices call "Hai! Hai!" The sound of the cracking of a whip is heard, and the blare of a clown's ten-cent tin horn. The phantom voice of the_ CLOWN _(very faint) calls:_
CLOWN'S VOICE. Billy Miller's big show and monster circus is in town this afternoon! Don't forget the date! Only one ring--no confusion. Circus day comes but once a year, little sir. Come early and see the wild animals and hear the lion roar-r-r! Mind, I shall expect _you!_ Wonderful troupe of trained mice in the side-show.
_During the above, the deeper voice of a_ "HAWKER"--_muffled and far off-- cries:_
HAWKER'S VOICE. Peanuts, pop-corn, lemonade--ice cold lemo--lemo-- lemonade! Circus day comes but once a year.
_Breaking in through the music, and the voices of the_ CLOWN _and_ HAWKER, _the gruff voice of a_ "BARKER" _is heard calling._
BARKER'S VOICE. Walk in and see the midgets and the giant! Only ten cents--one dime!
_As these voices die away, the_ CLOWN, _whose voice indicates that he is now perched on the head of the couch, sings:_
CLOWN'S VOICE. "Uncle Rat has gone to town, Ha! H'm! Uncle Rat has gone to town To buy his niece"--
_His voice ends abruptly--the music stops. Everything is over. There is silence. Then three clear knocks sound on the door._
PETER. Come in.... [_The door opens. No one is there--but a faint path of phosphorous light is seen._] Oh, friends! Troops of you! [_As though he recognizes the unseen guests._] I've been gone so long that you came for me, eh? I'm quite ready to go back. I'm just waiting for a happy little fellow who's going back with us.... We'll follow. Do you all go ahead-- lead the way. [_He looks at_ WILLIAM, _holds out his arms, and_ WILLIAM _jumps up and runs into them._] Well, William! You _know better_ now. Come! [_Picking up_ WILLIAM.] Happy, eh? [WILLIAM _nods, his face beaming._
WILLIAM. Oh, yes!
PETER. Let's be off, then. [_As they turn towards the door._
DR. MACPHERSON. [_Re-entering, goes to the couch with the water, and suddenly, setting down the glass, exclaims in a hushed voice:_] My God! He's dead! [_He half raises up a boy that appears to be_ WILLIAM. _The light from the lamp on the table falls on the dead face of the child. Then the_ DOCTOR _gently lays the boy down again on the couch, and sits pondering over the mystery of death._
PETER. [_To the_ DOCTOR.] Oh, no! There never was so fair a prospect for _life_!
WILLIAM. [_In_ PETER'S _arms._] I _am_ happy!
_Outside a hazy moonlight shimmers. A few stars twinkle in the far-away sky; and the low moon is seen back of the old windmill._
PETER. [_To_ WILLIAM.] If the rest of them only knew what they're missing, eh?
WILLIAM. [_Begins to sing, joyously._] "Uncle Rat has gone to town."
PETER _dances up a few steps towards the door, singing with_ WILLIAM.
PETER _and_ WILLIAM.
"Ha! H'm!
Uncle Rat has gone to town
To buy his niece a wedding gown.
Ha! H'm!"
PETER. [_Gives one last fond look towards_ CATHERINE'S _room. To_ WILLIAM.] We're off! [_Putting the boy over his shoulder, they sing together, as they go up, the phantom circus music accompanying them._] "What shall the wedding breakfast be? Ha! H'm!"
PETER. [_Alone._] "What shall the wedding breakfast be? Hard boiled eggs and a cup of tea."
WILLIAM _and_ PETER. "Ha! H'm!"
PETER GRIMM _has danced off with the child through the faint path of light. As he goes, the wind or an unseen hand closes the door after them. There is a moment's pause until their voices are no longer heard--then the curtain slowly descends. The air of the song is taken up by an unseen orchestra and continues as the audience passes out._
CURTAIN.
Imprint
Publication Date: 08-13-2010
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