The Penguin Arthur Miller

by Arthur Miller

LUCIFER: Abel, shut her up—

  EVE, to Cain, insistently: You won’t make him go so far away to pasture, will you?

  LUCIFER: She is killing you, word by loving word!

  ABEL: I don’t mind, Mother. In fact—

  LUCIFER: I like long walks.

  ABEL: I like long walks.

  EVE: But you agreed to build the fence! To Cain: Why must you humiliate him?

  Cain slams his hands down on the ground and springs up furiously, goes to a big rock, and picks it up.

  LUCIFER, to Abel: Watch out! Don’t turn your back on him! Abel quickly turns to watch his brother.

  EVE: What are you doing?

  Cain places the boulder on top of another.

  CAIN: What has never been done. It has come to me to make an offering to the Lord.

  LUCIFER, shaking a fist at Heaven: Don’t you ever give up?

  EVE, vastly relieved: That’s a wonderful idea!

  ADAM: Say, now! That sounds very good, Cain.

  EVE: You think He’ll come?

  ADAM: He might. The way Cain loves Him, He might just stop by. To Cain, with his expertise: Take the best of thy corn and the first of thy wheat, and a little parsley—He always rather liked parsley.

  Cain finds a flat stone and sets it on top of the altar he is constructing. Eve immediately takes a broom and starts sweeping the area.

  EVE: What about some grapes?

  ADAM, calling to Cain: Grapes too!

  CAIN: The grapes aren’t too good this year—

  EVE: You’d better not, then.

  ADAM, all excited: Don’t listen to her; it doesn’t matter if they’re not too good, it’s the feeling behind it. Because He’s fair, Cain, you’ll see. And here’s another thing. We’ve go to praise Him more. We haven’t been praising Him enough.

  EVE: Praise God! Praise the Lord!

  ADAM: Will you wait! To Cain: Hurry up, get the stuff. Cain rushes back to load a tray with his crops.

  EVE, clasping her hands together feverishly: He’s going to come! I feel it, I tell you I feel it!

  ADAM, supervising Cain, calling: I’d throw in a few onions. To Eve: Loved a good onion.

  EVE: It’s going to be like it was again! She rushes to Abel. Push back your hair, darling. Adam, there’s dirt on your cheek. Adam brushes it off. Abel fixes his hair. Cain turns to them now with a tray loaded with vegetables and fruit. Silence for an instant; then Eve suddenly is swept forward to him. Would you mind, darling? She picks an apple off the tray. No apples. She hides the apple in her clothes.

  CAIN, in tension: Is it all right, Pa?

  Adam comes forward, inspects the tray. Silence.

  ADAM: This looks absolutely beautiful, Cain. Now, when you see His face, regard the right eye. Because that’s the one He loves you with. The left one squints, y’see, because that’s the one He judges with. So watch the right eye and don’t be frightened.

  CAIN: I love Him, Father.

  ADAM: I know that, Cain, and now you will know His love for thee. He kisses Cain, who turns and tensely starts for the altar.

  EVE: Cain!

  He halts. She comes to him, elevated within. She kisses the offering. Then she kisses him. He turns again to the altar. Abel steps before him. They stare at one another. Now Cain leans and kisses him. Then he carefully sets the offering on the altar and steps back. All go to their knees before the altar, as—

  EVE, to Adam, tentatively: I think Abel ought to make an offering too.

  Abel sits up, and Adam considers this. Cain remains bowed. Lucifer cries out, rushing about before Abel.

  LUCIFER: Don’t! Under no circumstances must you get into this competition!

  CAIN: It was my idea, Mother. Can’t he do it another time?

  EVE: It was just a suggestion! You don’t have to get angry.

  ABEL, struck by his vision: Maybe He would come because of me. . . .

  LUCIFER: What are you guilty about? Just because your mother loves you best? Lie back and enjoy it.

  ABEL: But it is not fair to Cain, and I can’t bear that any more! I want God to bring us peace!

  LUCIFER: And what if it turns out God also loves you best? Is that fair to Cain?

  ABEL: But—Cain would have to accept that!

  LUCIFER: Boy, even with God’s help, nobody can be Number One and good at the same time.

  ABEL: Get thee behind me! He draws his knife and rushes upstage.

  EVE, to Adam: He’s going to do it! Calling to Abel, who is exiting. Pick a nice fat lamb, darling!

  LUCIFER, as he rushes upstage after Abel: Abel! Don’t call down God!

  Cain is still on his knees, staring ahead. Eve feels his anguish.

  EVE: He’ll come now, dear, and He’ll bless you both, as I do. But Cain refuses to turn to her, she sees his hurt. I love thee, Cain, I always loved thee from the hour of thy conception!

  LUCIFER, looks to Heaven: What a genius that old fart is—with one dream of death he’s got them all guilty! By God, I’ll free them now or never—with the truth! He exits.

  Abel enters, holding before him a slab of wood loaded with the flesh and entrails of a lamb, his hands dripping blood. Adam instantly goes to him, smears his own hand, and snaps the blood into the air toward the sky.

  ADAM: The blood is the life, and the life is the Lord’s.

  EVE—she looks up to the sky:

  Now, Maker, show Thyself and spread Thy peace

  On all of us, my Abel and my Cain.

  She and Adam kiss Abel from his right and left. He sets his offering on the altar. The deep bellow of a bull is heard.

  ALL: Aiee!

  The bellowing resounds again, and now a figure rises behind the altar, a man with the head of a bull. At the sight they all prostrate themselves on the ground.

  LUCIFER:

  A second time I come with thine awakening, Mankind!

  Nobody’s guilty any more!

  And for your progeny now and forever

  I decare one massive, eternal, continuous parole!

  From here on out there is no sin or innocence

  But only Man. He flings off his mask.

  Now claim thy birthright! He leaps, stands away from the altar, welcoming arms outflung.

  Total freedom!

  EVE, leaps up: Thank God!

  ADAM, springing to his feet: That’s the Devil!

  LUCIFER: There are two Gods, Adam—in Heaven, God; and God on earth is me!

  ADAM: Slaughter him! He starts for Lucifer, and the boys stand. Eve throws herself before Lucifer to shield him. Woman!

  EVE: I believe this angel!

  ADAM: This is the enemy!

  EVE: I won’t deny it any more—this spirit makes me happy!

  ADAM, to the altar: Lord, show Thy face, my wife is going to Hell!

  EVE: Adam! She raises her hand gently toward him.

  Where has all our old contentment gone?

  You were so long in Paradise

  With God, that all your dreams go there,

  But the only home I ever had is on this dust,

  This windy world,

  And here I am condemned. I know God rules in Heaven,

  But in the name of peace, I have to speak the truth:

  Except for one short dance—she nearly weeps—

  God never showed me any kindness.

  ADAM: Woman!

  EVE:

  I see it, husband!

  This God is mine—I know it!

  For only this one frees me of my sin.

  ADAM: There is one God!

  EVE: No—two! One for me and one for— A strange light blossoms around the altar, and seeing it, she breaks off and like the others backs away. Lucifer rushes down to her.

  LUCIFER: Let’s
end this war! Dance with me, woman. Show God your love and end this stupid war!

  A wild music explodes, then diminishes as Lucifer pulls her to himself, and in conflict she breaks and with arms spread calls to Abel.

  EVE: Abel! Cain! Rushing to them, grabbing them: Love! Love, my darlings!

  ADAM: I forbid this! God’s coming!

  EVE—clamping both their heads to her, she calls out to Adam and Heaven: Is God not pleased if peace comes in? She springs from them and then turns back invitingly to them. Let hate go out and love come in!

  LUCIFER:

  Now save yourselves with music and the truth!

  Be what you are and as you are.

  Give God to Adam, boys—and I will give you Eve!

  The music flies up: Eve begins to dance—awkwardly at first, and Lucifer grabs her, awakens her again, and her body loosens, writhes, then she flies to Abel, who is embarrassed but quickly learns, and now she flies to Cain, who is stiff at first, but Lucifer helps him loosen up, and finally she is whirling among the three of them, kissing them in turn, her hands flowing over their bodies and theirs over hers—and suddenly Cain explodes into a prancing step, flapping his arms like a giant mating bird. Eve is astonished, innocently laughs, but in a swoop he pulls her down and climbs onto her. The truth is out—fuck her, Cain, and save the world! Adam rushes to separate them. Lucifer grabs him. Shame! How can you be so selfish! And with Cain on his stunned but compliant mother and Abel trying to hold out till Cain is done—God appears behind the altar.

  Adam roars a gigantic, horrified roar. Silence. Cain rolls off Eve and sits looking up at the Presence. Eve sits up. Adam prostrates himself.

  ADAM: Glory to God in the highest!

  LUCIFER: Good morning, sir. With an ironic gesture toward the crew. May I introduce you to mankind? I don’t believe I need labor the point—to the naked eye how pious and God-fearing they were; but with a moment’s instruction and the right kind of music, a bear would blush at their morality. Dear Father, what are we fighting about? Truly, Lord, what is Man beyond his appetite? Extends his hand. Come, make peace; share Heaven—I the God of what-they-are, and you in charge of their improvement. In you let them find their hopes, in me their pleasure, and shut the gates of Hell forever. Sir, I am ready to take my place.

  Striving against anger, God turns his head to each of the people in turn. Then He looks down at the offerings and picks out an onion.

  GOD: Peace, children, on this first Sabbath. Whose is this?

  LUCIFER: You’ll accept those offerings when the filth in their hearts stinks to Heaven!

  GOD: Whose is this?

  CAIN, with uncertainty: That was mine, Lord.

  GOD: Do you want me to taste it?

  LUCIFER: You saw him on his mother!

  GOD: Cain?

  CAIN, his eyes averted: If it pleases Thee.

  GOD: Why?

  CAIN: It’s . . . my onion, sir.

  GOD: Then you still have respect for an onion?

  CAIN: Lord, it’s my work, my labor; it is the best of all I’ve made.

  GOD, with angry eyes: And were you not the best that I had made?

  Cain looks up, aware, and lowers his eyes in shame. God bites the onion, chews it.

  That . . . is a good onion, Cain. Cain falls to his knees weeping. And this is Abel’s meat?

  ABEL: It’s mine, sir, yes.

  GOD: Mutton.

  EVE: Oh, no, sir—lamb.

  GOD—He glances at her, then with high interest leans and inhales the delicious scent: Ohhh, yes.

  ABEL, encouraged: My youngest, fattest lamb, Lord. I hope it will please Thee.

  EVE: I usually sprinkle it with salt and pepper first. . . .

  GOD: You might try rubbing a bud of garlic over it.

  EVE: Oh, I will!

  ADAM: Do that next time, definitely.

  EVE: Oh yes, Adam!

  Now God picks up a piece of meat. All grow tense. Abel raises his head to watch. God puts the meat in His mouth and chews, His eyes opening wider with the taste.

  GOD: What in the world do you feed your flock?

  ABEL, joyously: I find the sweetest grass, sir!

  CAIN: And corn. God turns to him. Abel, tense, turns to him.

  GOD, understanding: Oh, yes. I see. He turns slowly to Abel. Abel? Rise. Abel springs to his feet. Young man, this is undoubtedly the sweetest, most delicious, delicate, and profoundly satisfying piece of meat I have ever tasted since the world began.

  Adam, filled with glory, comes to Abel and shakes his hand.

  ADAM: Boy, this is our proudest moment.

  EVE—unable to hold back, she starts for Abel: Darling! She grabs Abel’s face, kisses him on the lips, and turns up to God. There is one God now and forever, there is no other on earth or in Heaven!

  GOD: And don’t you forget it, either. Turning to Lucifer, who is staring at the ground: I seem to have forgotten what you were saying. What was that all about, fallen angel?

  LUCIFER, bitterly: About truth, sir—my mistake. But this isn’t over yet!

  GOD, steps down from the altar: Come, children, and walk a little way with me, and we shall talk a while together of life and earth and Heaven. Come, Adam. He takes Adam by the hand. Eve? She comes to him, enthralled, and gives him her hand. Abel? Cain?

  CAIN: Lord, there’s still my corn. You haven’t tasted my corn.

  GOD: Oh, I can see it’s all very nice. You have done quite well, Cain. Keep it up. With which He walks into light with Adam and Abel following behind.

  EVE, beckoning: Cain? Seeing his shock: Darling, he loved your vegetables. Come.

  Cain seems to hardly hear her and takes a few dead steps following her. She goes, and he comes to a halt. Lucifer starts for him, then halts as he sees his strange expression.

  LUCIFER: Now control yourself, boy. Cain?

  CAIN: He never even tasted my corn.

  LUCIFER: You mustn’t get excited.

  CAIN, still with the undercurrent of dangerous laughter: But do you know what goes into an ear of corn? I planted twice this year; the floods washed my seeds away the first time. His eyes fall on a flask beside the altar. And my wine. Going to the flask: I was going to offer . . . He suddenly kicks down the altar.

  LUCIFER: Listen to me— For good measure Cain sends all the food flying with another kick. We’ve got to get serious!

  CAIN: Cain, serious? That’s all over, Devil, now Cain starts to live! He starts throwing everything out of the shelter.

  LUCIFER: What’s this, now?

  CAIN: This is my house! Mine! He faces Lucifer. No one enters here but Cain any more. They have God, and I have this farm—and before I’m finished, my fences will stretch out to cover the earth!

  LUCIFER: Adam will never agree to leave this house—

  CAIN: Oh, he’ll agree, all right—he strides to his flail and brandishes it—once I explain it to him! He whips the flail with a whoosh, and, holding it up: There’s the only wisdom I will ever need again! A deep hum sounds in the earth, like a dynamo.

  LUCIFER: Listen! Cain freezes. He has set a moaning in the earth. Daylight changes to night; stars appear. Look! Both look up at the night sky.

  He is giving you a night at noon,

  Darkening your mind to kill for him!

  Frightened, Cain turns from the sky to the flail in his hand and throws it down guiltily.

  Don’t let him use you. Go away. Hide yourself.

  CAIN: I, hide? I was the one who thought of the offerings; from me this Sabbath came! Let them hide! I want nothing from anyone any more!

  LUCIFER: But God wants a murder from you.

  CAIN, astonished: God . . . wants . . . ?

  LUCIFER: He has designed your vengeance, boy. He’s boiling your blood in his hand.

  CAIN: But w
hy?

  LUCIFER:

  So He may stand above your crime, the blameless God,

  The only assurance of Mankind, and His power is safe.

  Come now,

  We’ll hide you till this anger’s gone.

  He leads Cain a few yards, Cain moves as though being carried, staring into Lucifer’s face.

  ABEL’S VOICE, calling from a distance: Cain? Where are you? Come on!

  Cain swerves about toward the voice.

  LUCIFER: Don’t stop!

  CAIN—a cry, as though from his bowel, to the sky: How is Abel the favorite of God?

  LUCIFER:

  God has no favorites! He grasps Cain’s astounded face.

  Man’s a mirror to Him, Cain,

  In which he looks to see His praise.

  CAIN: But I have praised Him! And Abel only played His flute!

  LUCIFER:

  So where is good and where is evil?

  God wants power, not morals!

  ABEL’S VOICE, closer now, calling: Cain! We’re all waiting for you!

  LUCIFER, grabbing for him: Come!

  CAIN: I have to face him first! He breaks from Lucifer, facing in the direction of Abel’s voice.

  LUCIFER:

  Then face him with indifference.

  Kill love, Cain, kill whatever in you cares;

  Murder now is but another sort of praise to God!

  Don’t praise Him with a death!

  ABEL, closer yet: Cain?

  CAIN:

  His voice is like silver, like his life,

  And mine is the voice of the ox, the driven beast!

  LUCIFER: Indifference, Cain!

  Abel enters.

  ABEL: Aren’t you coming? God is sitting by the river, telling all about Paradise—come on! Cain stares front.

  LUCIFER, facing front: I swear this, Cain—if man will not kill man, God is unnecessary! Walk away and you’re free! Cain starts to walk away.

  ABEL: Brother! God wants you there!

  CAIN, halting: Wants me?

  LUCIFER: Swallow it and walk!

  ABEL: Of course—He loves you, Cain. He was just saying how you do everything He wants.

  CAIN: Then by God I order you out of here and your mother and father, and never come back!

  ABEL: Brother!—I’ve as much right here as you. He moves toward Cain.

  CAIN: Are you even so sure of His blessing that you come to me?