| Excerpt from The Lark By Jean Anouilh Translated & Adapted by Lillian Hellman Adapted to Monologue form by Leah Brockman |
| This piece is adapted from Jean Anouilh's The Lark (or L'Alouette), which is about the life and trial of Joan of Arc. In this scene, Joan the Maid, a young peasant girl who has for months heard Voices and see images of angels and saints telling her she must lead the army of France to victory over England to end the ongoing war which has lasted for over a hundred years with precious few French victories, has traveled a long way to meet with Charles, the Dauphin (uncoronated ruler of France). She speaks to him to request command of the army, and is eventually granted this wish. In the scene, interaction with Charles should be mimed and not ignored. She is speaking to him but may also at times get so caught up in her dreams and explanations that she moves around and is not simply standing there talking to him. In the actual play, Charles starts the scene sitting in a throne at center stage and has by this time moved to stand/sit stage right. JOAN: And now I'll tell you the truth: I am also afraid. (With force) And why not? Only the stupid are not afraid. What is the matter with you? Don't you understand that it was far more dangerous for me to get here than it is for you to build a kingdom? I've been in danger every minute of the way, and every minute of the way I was frightened. I don't want to be beaten, I don't want pain, I don't want to die. I am scared. But I act as if I wasn't. It's that simple. Try it. Say to yourself, yes, I am afraid. But it's nobody else's business, so go on, go on. And you do go on. (Slowly, carefully) I go to the English, outside Orl�ans. And when you get there and see the cannon and the archers, and you know you are outnumbered, you will say to yourself, all right, they are stronger than I am, and that frightens me, as well it should. But I'll march right through because I had sense enough to get frightened first. It can be done. If you have sense and courage. Do you want to know what happened in my village last year? They tell the story as a miracle now but it wasn't. The Bouchon boy went hunting. Eh's the best poacher in our village, and this day he was poaching on the master's grounds. The master kept a famous dog, trained to kill, and the dog found the Bouchon boy. The boy was caught and death faced him. So he threw a ston and the dog turned his head. That was sense. And while the dog turned his head the boy decided the only way was to stand and fight. That was courage. He strangled the dog. That was victory. See? (As if to a stupid child; Charles has asked if the dog bit the boy) You're like the old people in the village--you really believe in miracles. Of course the dog bit him. But I told you the boy had sense, and sense saved his life. God gave man an inside to his head, and He naturally doesn't want to see it wasted. (Smiles.) See? That's my secret. The witches' secret. What will you pay me for it now? Give me the army of France. Believe in God and give me the army. Now. You are ready. Come on, Charlie. Call your advisors to you. Tell them you will give me the army... Are you frightened? Are you afraid as you ever can be, ever were or will be, then, now, and in the future? Are you sick? Good. Good. Then the worst is over. By the time they get scared, you'll be all over yours. Now, if you're as sick as you can get, I'll call them. (She runs upstage and calls out) Monseigneur the Archbishop. Monseigneur de la Tremouille. Please come to the Dauphin. (Moves Charles gently to the throne and arranges his hands and feet.) God is smiling. He is saying to Himself, "Look at that little Charles. He is sicker than he's ever been in his life. But he has called in his enemies and will face them. My, such a thing is wonderful." (With great force) Hang on, Charles. We'll be in Orl�ans. We'll march right up. (Clapping her hands) Good. Good, my Charles. You see how simple it will be? (She drops to her knees.) Oh, my God, I thank you. |