(Pietro enters.)
CECILIA: Good Pietro, what is the cause of this tumult?
PIETRO: It’s those damned Gypsies again, Miss Cecilia.
CECILIA: Are they after someone? Should we–
PIETRO: No, quite to the contrary, Miss. It’s they who are being pursued. One doesn’t know by what or who, but they’re running–running. I have good legs, too, when I’m scared, but I don’t have speed like that!
ANTONIO: My father hasn’t got here. I’ll go ahead and wait for him at the end of the road.
CECILIA: Should you–
ANTONIO: Yes, yes! I can’t wait to see him. Goodbye, Cecilia. (to the villagers) Come with me! (to Cecilia) I hope to soon bring back my father–your husband.
(They go out.)
PIETRO (to himself): Her husband! Ah, believe that if you will! I don’t think there’s much chance of this marriage taking place now.
CECILIA: Pietro, what are you saying there, all alone?
PIETRO: Nothing, Miss, absolutely nothing. I beg you even to notice that I’ve said nothing at all to you.
CECILIA: Really? And why’s that?
PIETRO: You will remember, won’t you, Miss? So that if the occasion demands it, I can call you as a witness.
CECILIA: Do you know, indeed, Pietro, that since you’ve arrived, I find you cloaked in an air of secrets and mystery.
PIETRO: That’s true, Miss, but that’s because I have my reasons.
CECILIA: And what are they?
PIETRO: Beg your pardon, Miss, but I have reasons for not tell you my reasons.
CECILIA: Come on, Pietro, there are secrets between–
PIETRO: Yes, there are, and big ones too, but please, Miss–I entreat you, don’t make me blab. I really want to–it’s my nature–but if I do, it’ll be terribly unfortunate and, you see, it could compromise me.
CECILIA: Well then, I won’t be indiscreet. Tell me, have you made all the preparations for the garden party? Everything is set up?
PIETRO: Yes, yes, Miss. The tables, the wine, the orchestra, everything is ready. All we need now are dancers, drinkers and musicians.
CECILIA: I hope our friends aren’t late.
(Some villagers are now coming and going outside, at the back of the stage.)
PIETRO: No, Miss. Here they are.
CECILIA: Good! Take them to the garden. I will join you shortly.
(Pietro goes to join the villagers. Cecilia returns to the back of the room.
Suddenly, outside, we see the Monster skulking. He notices Cecilia in her room through the window. Her sight makes the greatest impression on him. He follows her with his eyes, ravished, as she putters about. He half-opens the door and looks at her with intoxication. His eyes fall on the floor mirror. He recoils at seeing his image, comparing his ugliness to Cecilia’s beauty. He is so affected that he would smash the mirror which has revealed his misfortune to him, but suddenly he hears someone coming and quickly withdraws.
Janskin enters.)
JANSKIN (aside): Zametti’s Creature is nowhere to be found. I marshalled my men but no one could find him. May God have driven him far from these parts, so that he doesn’t bring terror and death amongst us. Another hour and if there’s still no trace of him, Zametti will be married to my sister, and then we will be able to face whatever sinister fate threatens.
CECILIA (turning ariound and noticing Janskin): My brother!
JANSKIN: Dear Cecilia! Tell me, has Zametti arrived?
CECILIA: No, not yet; but surely he can’t delay–
JANSKIN (aside): He ought to be here already! I don’t like this at all!
CECILIA: What’s the matter with you, my brother? You seem uneasy. I guess you fear that my father may resist our prayers? But surely, you’ve received my letter. I told you, everything makes me hope that we will succeed.
JANSKIN: Sweet Cecilia. My welfare is the sole care that occupies you. Ah! May you yourself soon be happy.
CECILIA: If you obtain your pardon, what else would there be for me to wish for? I will soon be joined with the one I love. You will come and stay near us. And my father will at last enjoy a peaceful life, surrounded by his loving children.
JANSKIN: May Heaven not let anything destroy such a sweet prayer.
(We hear Antonio’s voice in the distance.)
ANTONIO (outside): Here he is! Here is my father!
CECILIA (joyfully): Zametti! My beloved!
JANSKIN: It is him! Soon, we will no longer have anything to fear.
CECILIA: Yes, yes, very soon. Reassure yourself, my brother.
JANSKIN (crossing the stage): My father! Ah! here’s the moment so long awaited.
(Olben enters, supported by Antonio and Zametti. The alchemist embraces Cecilia, expressing his joy at seeing her again. He also gives Janskin a knowing signal. The blind old man is, of course, unaware of Janskin’s presence.)
OLBEN: My children! Until now, I only had one to support me; soon, I shall have two.
JANSKIN (low to Zametti): You didn’t notice–
ZAMETTI: No. I’m beginning to hope.
(Antonio leaves and goes to play outside, at the back of the stage.)
CECILIA (to her father, after gesturing to Janskin and Zametti): Father, there’s a person here asking for you.
OLBEN: Me? What does he want?
CECILIA: He’s come to bring you news of someone who was once very dear to you...
OLBEN: What are you talking about, child? Who may that be?
CECILIA: Your own son, father. He has come to speak to you about Janskin.
OLBEN (with a gesture of joy that he attempts to suppress): Janskin! My son! He still lives! But what does he wish to tell me? Cecilia, who is that man?
JANSKIN (approaching): Here I am, sir.
OLBEN: Is it my son who has sent you?
JANSKIN: Yes... yes.
OLBEN: What does he want then? What has become of his pride? You knew him, Zametti? Like you, he was smitten with an art which deserves only the wrath of Heaven and the scorn of men. He distanced himself from everything honorable, and rejected my advice and my entreaties. He caused my ruin, soiled my name and delivered me, like himself, to the horror of my fellow citizens, forcing me to an exile without return. Ah, I owe all the misfortunes of my life to him. After a silence of six years, what reason has he now to remember his father?
JANSKIN (forcefully): Ah! Never–trust my words–never has he forgotten you, nor has he ever ceased to cherish you.
OLBEN (surprised, with a hint of recognition): That voice!
JANSKIN: Yes, he has been guilty of many sins towards you, but if you only knew by how many hardships he’s endured to expiate those sins! By all that’s holy, don’t shut him from your heart now. If you do not reject his solemn plea, all his life will henceforth be dedicated to you, to repair the wrongs he has caused.
OLBEN: You! You are–
JANSKIN (falling to his feet): Yes, yes, father, it is I, Janskin, your son, your unfortunate son who is coming to implore his pardon or die at your feet!
OLBEN (pushing him away, feebly): Great God! No–don’t come near me. I can’t–
CECILIA: Father, will you be merciless?
ZAMETTI: Won’t you forgive him? In the name of Heaven, father, don’t reject him.
OLBEN (emotionally): Cecilia, you have deceived me. I had sworn to be inflexible, but now that he is here, I have not the strength to resist. I can do nothing but open my arms to him.
JANSKIN (throwing himself in his father’s arms): Father!
OLBEN: Cruel child. It’s six years you’ve deprived me of this happiness.
(Janskin and Cecilia are in Olben’s arms.)
ZAMETTI (considering this picture of happiness): O all-merciful God, I render you thanks–watch over them, and if you must, take me and me alone for your victim.
(At the back of the stage, the Monster suddenly appears on the bridge. Antonio, seeing him, lets out a frightful shriek. Everybody turns and runs toward the chil
d. But as this action takes place, the Monster has already vanished.)
CECILIA (running to Antonio and supporting him in his arms): Antonio, great God. What is it?
ZAMETTI: My son!
OLBEN: What’s wrong with him?
JANSKIN: Why this scream of terror?
(Pietro returns.)
PIETRO: Hey, what’s happened to him?
ANTONIO (still in shock, to Cecilia): Ah! If you knew...
CECILIA: What?
ZAMETTI: Speak, speak, my son.
ANTONIO (still to Cecilia, who holds him in her arms): You remember that terrifying face that I was telling you about this morning and that I saw in my dream?
CECILIA: Well?
ANTONIO: Just now, as I was playing back there, I saw it. Him.
ALL: Where?
ANTONIO (pointing to the bridge): There! There!
ZAMETTI (aside, in extreme terror): O terror! He saw him!
JANSKIN (aside): Could he have come here? (hurriedly, to the villagers) Come, my friends, come! Let’s find out what frightened our little Antonio so much.
(Janskin, leading the villagers, rush out of the rear. Meanwhile, Pietro stands in one corner, while Zametti, Cecilia, still comforting Antonio, and Olben stand in another.)
PIETRO (aside): See how they run! But not me! I’m not at all curious. I’ve already been taken once.
ZAMETTI (aside): My strength is abandoning me. O Heaven, are my frightful forebodings going to be fulfilled?
CECILIA (aside, scutinizing Zametti): What terror is depicted in his features.
OLBEN: Does some new misfortune threaten us again?
ZAMETTI (excitedly seizing Olben’s hand): Oh no, no–fear not, father.
CECILIA (aside, still looking at Zametti): The worry that I read in his eyes scares me despite myself.
OLBEN (to Zametti, in a low voice, clutching his hand): Could you have reneged on your oath? Should I believe that, far from abandoning your culpable labors–
ZAMETTI (in an altered voice): No. Don’t think that.
OLBEN: Still, your hand trembles in mine.
(Zametti’s disarray is now complete. He tries to distance himself from Olben–and to avoid Cecilia’s scrutiny. Fortunately for him, Janskin returns with the mob of villagers.)
JANSKIN: We didn’t find anything.
ZAMETTI (eyes ardently fixed on Janskin): Nothing?
JANSKIN: No. (with a forced smile) Our little Antonio was letting his imagination run wild–no doubt.
ZAMETTI (aside): If only!
CECILIA: Yes, yes... that’s probably the case...
ANTONIO: Oh! No, Cecilia, I really saw–
(At this moment, the village clock strikes four. Pietro rejoins the little group.)
PIETRO (with joy): Ah! At last, the bells are ringing! They’re calling us.
OLBEN: It’s the hour of the ceremony. Let’s go.
CECILIA (going excitedly to Zametti and taking his hand): Father, you are going to bless our union.
(General commotion. Young girls surround Cecilia, placing the marriage crown on her head. Cecilia and Zametti bow at Olben’s feet as he blesses them. As this is happening, the Monster reappears on the bridge, then hides again. The music stops. Zametti and Cecilia rise.)
OLBEN: Give the final signal for departure. (to the villagers) Come, my friends!
PIETRO: Let’s go. I will lead the way.
(Pietro arranges the villagers in marching order. Antonio and Olben leave with them to the accompaniment of joyful music. Cecilia, who seems lost in her thoughts, goes to Zametti and stops him.)
CECILIA: Before marching to the altar, I would speak with you for a moment.
(Zametti and Janskin exchange a concerned look.)
JANSKIN: Why?
ZAMETTI: Dear Cecilia, in the name of Heaven, let’s not indulge in a moment’s delay!
JANSKIN: Sister, I beseech you, come!
CECILIA (looking from Zametti to Janskin): No. This conversation is necessary.
JANSKIN: If you value your own happiness–
CECILIA: Yes, it’s precisely in the name of that very happiness that I must have it.
JANSKIN (carried away despite himself): If only you knew–
CECILIA: Knew what?
ZAMETTI (concerned): Nothing, nothing, dearest Cecilia. I will talk to you. Please go away, Janskin. (low and hurriedly to Janskin) But stay near and keep an eye on us.
(Janskin appears annoyed. As he steps aside, he expresses his fears and concern to Zametti with a gesture.
Meanwhile, none of the characters have yet noticed the Monster in the background. When he saw the villagers head off towards the church, he came out from his hiding place. When he stares at Cecilia, his gestures and the looks on his face express the effect that the young girl’s beauty has upon him.
Throughout, Zametti appears filled with unease and impatience, and frequently looks around him.)
CECILIA (intently, to Zametti): Now that we are alone, my beloved, I want to ask you something–and my entire, future happiness shall depend on your answers. Before we’re joined in matrimony forever, you owe me the whole truth. I will not lie to you: the unease I saw painted on your face has pierced my soul like a dagger. A thousand suspicions are tearing my heart apart...
ZAMETTI: O Heaven! What do you mean? (aside) I am dying of fear.
CECILIA: Have you kept your promise? Today, no dark cloud should alter your features. Yesterday, you swore to abandon my labors and shut your laboratory forever. You said: “I will deliver myself entirely to you. I will be the happy possession of an adored object, and no other thought, no matter how foreign, shall come to distract me from my love.” Your love! Ah! Should I still believe in it?
ZAMETTI: Ah! Cecilia, what word did you just pronounce? Me–to have ceased for even an instant to love you, to adore you!
CECILIA: Yet if you loved me, would you have hidden a single one of your thoughts? Or is it I and I alone who is the cause of your trouble? Have you come to regret your vows? To see poor Cecilia as unworthy indeed of aspiring to be your wife? If so, speak! There’s still time.
ZAMETTI: Stop, Cecilia, I won’t let you say another word of this. Great God! Are you taking pleasure in ripping my heart apart? What a time have you chosen to burden me with such unjust accusations. Ah! This last blow is all my misfortune needed! Cruel friend, you doubt my love when it’s the last and only hope of happiness. Yes, I ought to reveal a terrible secret, which weighs dreadfully on my soul–but I swear in the face of that God who will soon receive our oaths that, far from breaking the binds that unite us, it will only tighten them further. By leading you to the altar, I am seeking to enlist your virtues–my fate depends on it.
CECILIA (eyes fixed on Zametti’s): What strange talk! What does it mean?
ZAMETTI: Moments are precious. Come, come, my beloved.
CECILIA: I must trust your sincerity. Yes, you love me. To doubt it longer would only offend us both. Your fate depends on me, you say? Ah! Then, it’s going to be a happy one, for I am with you. Let’s rejoin my father.
ZAMETTI (pressing Cecilia in his arms): Darling Cecilia, mine–mine forever.
(The Monster creeps closer to the two lovers. He admires Cecilia, devours her with his eyes. Seeing her in Zametti’s arms, he is no longer able to control his passion. He rushes toward the young girl as she is about to head toward the church.
Cecilia finally notices the Monster, who is extending his arms towards her. She utters a terrible scream and escapes toward the bridge.)
ZAMETTI: It’s him. O despair!
(The Monster seeks to pursue Cecilia, but Zametti blocks his way, standing in his path. The Monster knocks him over and runs towards the bridge where Cecilia stands, terrified.)
ZAMETTI: Cecilia! Unfortunate Olben! I am unarmed!
(He gets up. At this moment, some armed villagers appear at the back. Zametti grabs a musket from one of them and rushes after the Monster. Olben, too, arrives.)
OLBEN:
My daughter! My Cecilia!
(At this moment, Cecilia’s strength finally abandons her. She faints and falls into the Monster’s arms. Surprisingly, he gently carries her and deposits her in Olben’s arms, expressing his joy and no longer displaying the untamed passion he displayed earlier.)
OLBEN (recognizing Cecilia): Cecilia! Cecilia! She doesn’t respond to me.
(Cecilia eventually comes to, notices the Monster, screams in terror and throws herself in the arms of her father.
At this moment, Zametti arrives, armed with his musket. He aims at the Monster, fires and wounds him grievously. The Creature utters a terrible howl, surrenders to his rage and, taking a flaming firebrand from the fire, sets fire to the cottage.
Soon, the flames are rushing in all directions. Vainly, Janskin and the villagers attempt to stop their furor but the conflagation soon spreads. Olben appears unable to escape the flames which now surround him.
Zametti manages to carry off Cecilia and Antonio as the cottage collapses.
In the back, the Monster applauds his triumph, pointing to his wound.)
CURTAIN
Act III
Scene V
The stage represents a plush salon. The back opens onto a balcony which gives on the sea. To the right and left are doors which give on other apartments.
AT RISE, Cecilia is still unconscious. Several villagers lavish help on her. Antonio is near her, weeping as he kisses one of her hands.
PIETRO: Poor young Miss Cecilia! In what a state she is! But it’s not surprising after all that’s happened to her. It’s really done things to her mind.
Frankenstein vs The Hunchback of Notre-Dame Page 4