The Infernal Machine and Other Plays

by Jean Cocteau

  Gawain puts the box on the table facing the last chair on the left. Trumpets.

  Take your places now, my friends.

  Tableau. The chair in the center is empty. On the right, Arthur, on the left, Launcelot. Next to the King, Gawain, next to Launcelot, Segramor. Standing behind the King, Merlin. Except for Gawain, who has, however, put on a helmet, all are wearing armor and magnificent helmets. Merlin places documents in front of the King. Besides the Siege Perilous, there are seven empty chairs. A blast of trumpets, followed by a triumphal march. The door at the back opens on two hinges and Galahad appears, wearing white armor. He advances to the middle of the hall, facing the Round Table, bows and waits.

  ARTHUR. Sir Knight, a miracle has landed you on our shores. A stone trough .carried you over the waters. If this place is yours, peace be with you. Unfortunately, our table is rather empty, for the knights who used to sit in these chairs are galloping along far-off roads, seeking adventure. Shall I give you their names?

  GALAHAD. What knight, seeking adventure, has not heard of Bohort, Perceval, Clamadien, Florent d’lloac, King Bagdemagus, Seneschal Kay, Gamuret of Anjou, and Patrick of the Golden Ring?

  Murmurs.

  ARTHUR. What you say surprises and delights us. Allow me to present those who are sitting at this table. Launcelot of the Lake, son of the elves and brought up by them, the best knight in the world; Gawain, our nephew, who has a foolish head but a heart of gold; our son, Segramor, the poet, who since his birth has possessed the strange privilege of understanding the language of the birds. And this is Merlin, our steward and astrologer. And now, my friends, I have a nice big surprise for you all. King Bagdemagus, who is too old to leave his kingdom from which no man can return, has sent us in his place a talking flower.

  The King rises, lifts the lid of the box, and shows a plant. It is a kind of cactus with a thick stem and yellow petals.

  This unique flower has the property of retaining any words which are spoken to it. To make it repeat them later, one has only to press the stem. If one tears off one of the leaves, the words are effaced and the flower is ready to take a new message.

  There is intense curiosity among all.

  FALSE GAWAIN. A plant like this, Uncle, should teach one to keep his mouth shut.

  ARTHUR. Quiet! First the flower will speak to the knight. Then he will approach it and reply. After that it will record our meeting for its master.

  He pinches stem.

  THE FLOWER, Bagdemagus’ voice: Sir Knight, I send you my greetings and my regrets that my infirmities prevent me from attending the Round Table and meeting you in person.

  The King tears off a leaf. Galahad advances and speaks to the flower.

  GALAHAD. Your Majesty, I pay you my homage. If I am victorious, I will cross your kingdom as the salamander passes through the fire and bring you my thanks.

  The King turns to Merlin.

  ARTHUR. Well, Merlin, what do you think of my surprise?

  MERLIN, icily. That I was right in finding this box suspicious.

  ARTHUR. And what do you think, Sir Knight?

  GALAHAD. As I said, Your Majesty, if I am the person I claim to be, no sorcerers can harm me, and tomorrow I shall personally return the talking flower to King Bagdemagus.

  ARTHUR. I accept your offer. And now, sir, that you know the names of your hosts, it is your turn to introduce yourself to us.

  He takes off the cover which he had put back when he turned to Merlin, and lays it beside the box.

  GALAHAD. Galahad of the White Armor. My birth is shrouded in mystery. One evening, in a forest, I saw your knights passing and took them for angels. I wanted to follow them. For a long time I wandered seeking your kingdom. At last a stone trough landed me on your shores. Now I wish to submit to the ordeal of the Siege Perilous and to undertake the quest for Carbonek, the undiscoverable, the Castle of the Grail.

  MERLIN. Sir Knight, before submitting to the ordeal, the King will instruct you in the ritual.

  ARTHUR, stands up and reads. Visible to some, invisible to others, the cup of the Holy Supper in which Joseph of Arimathea preserved the Divine Blood, waits in Carbonek, a castle the location of which is unknown, for the coming of the Pure Knight.

  Galahad kneels.

  The knight who, thanks to his chivalry and wisdom manages to discover the Grail, to break through the obstacles which isolate it, to overcome mirages and phantoms and instead of asking many stupid questions, asks only one, will hear this answer:

  “Welcome! We have waited for so long!”

  And then what is heavy will become light, what is light will become heavy, what was dark will become clear, the Grail will cease to be an enigma, the Spirit shall rule over Matter. The Dragons of the Desert will die and reality will emerge from the enchantments in which it was swaddled.

  Galahad of the White Armor, are you that knight?

  GALAHAD. I am.

  ARTHUR. Will you prove it?

  GALAHAD. I will.

  He walks around the Table, sits in the Siege Perilous. Trumpets. He opens his tunic and shows his chest.

  LAUNCELOT. Look! He is unharmed! There’s not a mark on him?

  ARTHUR, kneeling before Galahad who has arisen. Allow me to embrace you. You are the one we have been waiting for.

  At this moment the stage darkens, a phosphorescent light floats above the heads of the knights, moving from the rear door toward the window.

  VOICE OF THE FALSE GRAIL. The Grail is leaving you. The Grail is. forsaking you. Beware! If you do not wish to lose it, follow the Grail.

  FALSE GAWAIN. Uncle and all of you, my lords. Are we going to let the Grail go? Are we going to sit here like stuffed owls instead of following it and clearing up the mystery? I, for one, am determined to follow and confront it face to face. Gentlemen, I propose that we set out on a quest. I propose the Quest of the Grail.

  LAUNCELOT. Bravo! Gawain. I agree with you. Segramor, are you on our side? On with the Quest of the Grail.

  SEGRAMOR. I shall follow the Grail and it will heal me. Victory. On with the Quest of the Grail.

  MERLIN, patting the False Gawain on the back. Sir Gawain, I congratulate you.

  To the King.

  Your Majesty should be proud of his nephew.

  ARTHUR. Just a moment, please. Everyone is so excited that no one will let me get a word in edgewise. We were expecting the Knight of the Grail, and the Knight of the Grail has arrived. None of us has the right to infringe on his perogatives. I am against this idea.

  FALSE GAWAIN. Really, Uncle, would you preach disloyalty to us?

  ARTHUR. Now, listen.

  FALSE GAWAIN. The Knight will think us contemptible if we waste time palavering. Till this moment the Grail has been silent and in hiding; now everything’s changed; it has spoken. I shan’t rest till the Quest is arranged.

  LAUNCELOT. There spoke the old Gawain.

  SEGRAMOR. Gawain, my brother, my friend. Forgive me for having misjudged you.

  ARTHUR. They’ve all lost their heads. Steady. Steady. You can’t decide a matter like this in a second.

  LAUNCELOT. Why not?

  FALSE GAWAIN. All important matters are decided in a second, Uncle. In trying to prevent us from doing our duty, you are being disloyal to the Round Table.

  ARTHUR. They’ve gone mad.

  SEGRAMOR. I shall be healed, Father; Gawain will become himself again and Launcelot will set us his example.

  FALSE GAWAIN. On with the Quest of Grail.

  ALL. On with the Quest of the Grail. On with Quest of the Grail.

  ARTHUR, taking Galahad aside. Galahad, you’re the only sensible man here. What do you think?

  GALAHAD, in a rapid whisper. Arthur, all this is very odd and most instructive. I hardly expected it myself, I must confess. But this dramatic development may well throw light on many things. Let them go and don’t try to interfere.

  ARTHUR. But…

  GALAHAD. Let them go, I tell you. The sooner the better.

 
; ARTHUR, turning to the Table. My friends, Sir Galahad is on your side; since he approves of the quest I can only give way and let you set off on your adventure.

  FALSE GAWAIN. Long live Sir Galahad!

  ARTHUR. Long live the Quest of the Grail!

  FALSE GAWAIN. Long live Uncle Arthur! Long live the Quest of the Grail! Long live Uncle Arthy-warthy!

  He skips about.

  Ow.

  MERLIN, pinching him. You idiot. You’re overdoing it.

  GALAHAD. I shall take the flower back to King Bagdemagus and then rejoin you all on the road.

  ARTHUR. You have plenty of time, Galahad. My wife and daughter are looking forward to entertaining you. Put on the silver coat of mail which has been kept ready for the Pure Knight, we’ll have dinner and tomorrow —

  FALSE GAWAIN. Tomorrow! Tomorrow! And let the Grail escape? Uncle, you’re mad. Segramor and I will hurry to get things moving. Have the horses saddled immediately; let the knight go up to my room and change into the silver coat of mail, and then, forward. Quick march.

  ARTHUR. Listen, you wretched little monkey, listen —

  FALSE GAWAIN. I won’t listen. I won’t. I won’t. I won’t.

  He dashes out at the back followed by Launcelot, Segramor, and Galahad. Outside, is heard an ever growing noise — cries, hunting horns, oaths, neighing, barking, etc.

  ARTHUR. What dear children they are. They make me cross sometimes but I adore them. Yes, Merlin, what a gallant bunch of fellows I have.

  MERLIN. Their arms were getting rustier and their mood bluer day by day. Now the knight has arrived and saved everything.

  ARTHUR. Merlin, between you and me, this sudden intervention of the Grail astonishes me. To tell you the truth, I find it suspicious. Don’t you think it possible that the devil is behind it, trying to lay a false trail to put Galahad off the scent?

  The Queen enters right, without being seen. She is very pale. She listens.

  MERLIN. Galahad would never follow a false trail. If he approves of the Quest, you should. Our heroes have simply got to stretch their legs a bit. You heard what Launcelot and Segramor said. Gawain has covered himself with glory.

  ARTHUR. I’m so happy about that.

  GUINEVERE. Why not?

  Arthur and Merlin turn around. The Queen comes forward and stands between them.

  ARTHUR. Guinevere!

  GUINEVERE. Why not be happy at sending Gawain to his doom?

  ARTHUR. What do you mean?

  GUINEVERE. Are you so happy at allowing Gawain, Blandine’s fiance, and Segramor your son to run blindly into the most terrible trap that the powers of evil have ever set for young men?

  ARTHUR. But since Galahad —

  GUINEVERE. Galahad has been ordained by Providence to escape from all snares. He has given proof of his powers. Our knights have not. Where did that ghostly voice come from, I should like to know. What if it should be the cheese in the mousetrap?

  ARTHUR. Why do you only mention Gawain and Segramor? What about Launcelot? He’s old enough to know what he’s doing. You heard him, Merlin. Wasn’t he the most excited of the lot?

  The Queen seizes Merlin’s arm.

  GUINEVERE. Say something, Merlin. Don’t remain neutral. You know perfectly well, don’t you, that this Quest can only end in sorrow and disaster. If they leave this evening, we shall never see them again.

  MERLIN. What can I do, Madam? I should have thought that your influence could have restrained Launcelot. Now it’s too late. He would think it dishonorable to go back on his word.

  ARTHUR. Guinevere! Merlin! You’ve shown me things in a new and terrifying light. Yes, you are absolutely right. Their enthusiasm carried me away. The jolly bustle of their departure prevented me from hearing the deadly silence of the empty castle. It’s only now that I begin to see matters as they really are. Guinevere! Guinevere — you’ve made me feel miserable.

  GUINEVERE. It’s no use being sorry, we must do something.

  MERLIN, to Arthur. To begin with, Your Majesty, you could forbid your son to go on the Quest.

  GUINEVERE. He would disobey you, and then there’s Gawain …

  MERLIN. And Launcelot…

  GUINEVERE, quickly. And Launcelot.

  ARTHUR. Launcelot is a different case. He’s bored with staying at home.

  GUINEVERE. Are you crazy? Launcelot was made for honest tournaments and noble adventure. Can you picture him caught in this unwholesome labyrinth tempted by beautiful sorceresses and engaged in futile combats? No, it is quite impossible. You must stop the Quest at all costs.

  ARTHUR. My poor head is spinning. What do you suggest?

  GUINEVERE, to Merlin. You must know.

  MERLIN. I believe I do see a way.

  GUINEVERE. Thank God.

  ARTHUR. The problem is how to stop them without their realizing it.

  GUINEVERE. Save us, Merlin. Save him.

  She catches herself.

  Save us.

  MERLIN. We haven’t a second to lose and you must give me an absolutely free hand.

  ARTHUR. An absolutely free hand.

  GUINEVERE. Do be quick.

  MERLIN. I shall break off the Quest.

  GUINEVERE. But if they once leave …

  MERLIN. Let them.

  To Arthur.

  Your Majesty, do you want me to take charge, or don’t you?

  GUINEVERE. I’m sorry.

  MERLIN. Very well, then. Let them leave, but insist that I follow them as far as the first halting place, which the Queen will designate. Her choice will be the Dark Tower.

  ARTHUR. The Dark Tower? Klingsor’s old castle? But that’s a ruin inhabited only by bats.

  MERLIN. Am I to have a free hand?

  GUINEVERE. Arthur, you’re unbearable. Leave him alone. The first halting place shall be the Dark Tower.

  MERLIN, bowing. I’ll manage the rest. One thing more. Your Majesty must put Gawain in my charge. He will leave with me.

  ARTHUR. Thank you. Now I can breathe freely.

  MERLIN. You and the Queen must go up to the highest room in the keep and wave scarfs out of the window. Under no circumstances whatever are you to come downstairs again.

  ARTHUR. I’m dying to know what your plans are, Merlin.

  GUINEVERE. Arthur, Arthur, don’t upset him. You must trust him.

  MERLIN. No tears, or at least no more than are necessary. Pretend that you share in the general enthusiasm. Now, Madam, you go and help Blandine receive your guest, get Segramor ready, and enliven the final preparations for the Quest with your presence.

  In a whisper to the Queen.

  Go and pin your right glove to Sir Launcelot’s armor.

  GUINEVERE, also in a whisper. I’ll give you anything you ask for.

  Aloud.

  I shall expect you.

  Exit Guinevere.

  ARTHUR. We’ve had a lucky escape. Thanks to a mother’s heart, the scales have fallen from my eyes. Out of vanity, Merlin, sheer vanity, I was willing to sacrifice my little monkey and my son.

  MERLIN. Your Majesty can thank me later.

  ARTHUR. You mean, a sensible man doesn’t count his chickens before they’ve hatched.

  MERLIN. Precisely. Wait until they are back in the castle safe and sound. In the meantime, each to his post. I shall stay here. Say good-by to Gawain and then send him to me. Don’t let the others keep you long. Tell them that you and the Queen would rather painful parting scenes were cut short. Take Blandine and go upstairs. Lock yourselves in. Wave your scarfs out of the window. And above all — this is essential to my plan — don’t come down again before they have all left. Will you promise to carry out my program point by point?

  ARTHUR. I promise whatever you wish.

  He opens the door backstage.

  What a Whitsunday!

  MERLIN, calling him back. Your Majesty.

  ARTHUR. Did you call me?

  MERLIN. I forgot to tell you. Should the occasion arise when I want to communicate with you from t
he Dark Tower, I shall dispatch a bat. Keep a sharp lookout. If a bat flies in through the window and flutters round the room, you will find a message in its claws.

  ARTHUR. A bat! Ugh!

  MERLIN. You must get over your disgust. I have a certain power over those charming little creatures.

  ARTHUR. I will do whatever you say. I deserve to be taught a good lesson.

  Exit Arthur. Merlin goes to the window and looks out at the noisy preparations. Enter Galahad in silver armor. He does not see Merlin and walks toward the Table intending to cover up the flower. But catching sight of Merlin’s back, he changes his mind and places the cover back on the table.

  GALAHAD. Well, Merlin.

  MERLIN, jumping. Goodness, you gave me a fright. I, I thought it was a ghost.

  GALAHAD. I should never have thought that ghosts or any creatures from the other world could give you a fright.

  MERLIN. I’m only an old alchemist.

  GALAHAD. Oh no, you’re not.

  MERLIN. Really? Then what am I? I should be curious to hear from the lips of the Knight of the Grail, the hero of the hour.

  GALAHAD. Between us two, pretense is pointless. We haven’t the time. I know who you are. You are Merlin, the sorcerer, a cruel and wicked old man whose designs I’m determined to defeat.

  Merlin bows.

  You would rather that I were frank, I’m sure, and I shall be. Your one desire is to destroy, to turn life into death. Your power is the power of negation. Truth is hateful to you. You are a vampire, feeding on blood and sap, who never will leave a place till you have drained it dry. This time, however, beware. I have elfin blood in my veins and for once you are playing your game against an adversary who is worthy of you. Don’t be alarmed; I’m not going to expose you. I shall compel you to expose yourself.

  Merlin bows.

  One last piece of information — about myself. I am the son of Melusine and Launcelot. Au revoir.

  MERLIN. You!

  He rushes toward the door but Galahad has already left. He runs to the window and calls.

  Sir Gawain! Sir Gawain!

  He goes to the rear door.

  Sir Gawain! Where are you? Come here! Come here as quick as you can.

  As he hastens to the door, right, he bumps into Gawain as he enters.

  What have you been up to, you little swine?