IN THE PENAL COLONY
AN OPERA BY PHILIP GLASS
LIBRETTO BY RUDOLPH WURLITZER
BASED ON THE ORIGINAL STORY BY FRANZ KAFKA
COMMISSIONED AND ORIGINALLY PRODUCED BY
A CONTEMPORARY THEATRE
IN COLLABORATION WITH COURT THEATRE
DIRECTED BY JOANNE AKALAITIS
PROLOGUE
A Visitor newly arrived at the Penal Colony, stands at center stage.
Behind him, a large photograph of an imposing man in full military uniform is mounted
on an easel- the former Commander of the Penal Colony.
Behind the photograph, a Soldier holds the heavy shackle of a Prisoner, who sits humbly
at the Soldier's feet. Chains bind the Prisoner's ankles, wrists, and neck. Neither the
Prisoner, cringing and dog-like, nor the Soldier, sleepy and bored, appear the least bit
interested in the Visitor or in the proceedings.
Behind the Soldier and the Prisoner, a long ladder is propped up against a volcanic
shaped mound. (Or a pit, in which case the laded would lean over the edge).
The Visitor mops his brow, addressing the audience.
Visitor
I accepted the invitation to this execution out of courtesy.
After all, I am a guest at this Penal Colony, it was hardly correct to refuse
the commander's invitation.
I have little interest in this entire apparatus.
Nor in the charges made.
Nor in this deep, sandy valley.
Nor in the proceedings.
It all could have been left to a mechanic.
Efficient.
Quiet.
Anonymous.
But that is just my opinion and I am newly arrived.
SCENE #1
Behind the Visitor the Prisoner falls asleep, his head dropping to his chest. The Guard
jerks his shackle and the Prisoner's head snaps back.
The Visitor turns to look at the Prisoner, then again faces the audience.
Visitor
Look at this man!
I ask you- does he have a mind?
Does he have feelings?
He seems so dog-like and cringing it is clear he has no will of his own.
They could let him run free over the slopes.
They could easily whistle him back, back for his execution.
And he would come. You can be sure of that
But would he know what awaits him?
Would he know that he'd never run free again?
That's an interesting question. An interesting question.
SCENE #2
A Military Officer appears carrying a swagger stick and a large rolled up architectural
drawing. Despite the heat, his uniform is immaculate with two delicate ladies
handkerchiefs tucked in behind his collar.
The Officer looks into the pit. (Or puts down the drawing, climbs up the mound on a
ladder, looks down, then descends).
Officer
The final adjustments have been made.
(To the Visitor)
Soon we will begin!
The Officer wipes his brow, breathing heavily, then goes over and washes his hands in a
pale of water standing nearby, compulsively drying them with a towel.
Visitor
Yes, I see. Uh.. .Don't you find these uniforms too heavy for the tropics?
Officer
But they represent our homeland.
And I'm sure you agree: we must never forget our homeland.
Where would we be?
Who would we be?
If we forget where we come from?
Each piece of clothing.
Every photograph.
Every spoon.
Every pencil.
Every letter
Every rifle and sword-
All these remind us of that precious land that sent us here.
The land that one-day will send us back.
(Looks around)
As for the rest, well, it is better not to think about it.
(Pause. Brisk)
SCENE #3
Officer
Now then, let's examine this apparatus. Up to this point it requires
manual labor.
[But] if problems occur we must be prepared.
After all, the machine has to work twelve hours.
But I can promise you:
All malfunctions will be dealt with immediately.
The Officer sorts through a pile of folding deck chairs, finally selecting one for the
Visitor.
Officer
(Pointing to a chair)
Please sit down.
(The Visitor sits)
Has the commander told you about the apparatus?
The Visitor gestures vaguely.
Visitor
He said it is efficient.
Officer
Excellent.
The Officer rolls out an architectural drawing of the apparatus, which he supports on an
easel directly opposite to the old commander's photograph.
He stands back, proudly inspecting the drawing.
Officer
(Pointing with his swagger stick)
You will notice the apparatus is composed of three distinct parts.
The upper part is the draftsman.
Installed seven feet above the lower part. The bed.
The draftsman and the bed are equal in size.
Down here, is the harrow.
The needles of the harrow are arranged like teeth and point directly down
towards the bed.
Of course you are aware that the entire apparatus was invented by our
former commander.
The Officer looks over at the photograph, bowing slightly.
Officer
I was honored to assist the old commander in the first tests to perfect this
machine
Another respectful glance at the photograph.
Officer
But the Old Commander deserves all the credit.
Too bad you never met him.
The entire colony is his achievement as everyone knows, even the new
commander.
He walks closer to the apparatus, pointing out the different sections with a swagger stick.
Officer
Now then. Let us proceed.
The apparatus consists of three parts.
The lower part is the bed
The upper part is the draftsman
The middle part is the harrow.
Visitor
The harrow?
Officer
Yes, the harrow.
Observe how it's arranged like the teeth in a harrow.
But alas there's a part that is worn and creaks loudly.
Visitor
Replacing parts must be quite difficult.
Officer
Impossible.
(Pointing)
Now, please pay close attention,
The condemned man is laid out on the bed.
Belly-down and naked.
Here are the straps for his hands for his feet and for his neck.
And as he will lie face down.
This small cotton stump will be pushed in his mouth to prevent him from
screaming or chewing on his tongue.
The Officer points out the bed.
Officer
You will notice the bed is specially prepared.
Notice the unusual design.
You will understand its purpose later.
Over here are the harrows.
The harrows correspond to the human shape;
To the upper body and to the legs.
Observe the tiny spike for the head.
The condemned man imitates the Visitor as he tries to follow the Officer's explanations.
But the movements of the Condemned Man's pressed, pouting lips, make it obvious that
he understands nothing. Standing by the Condemned man's side, the Soldier is utterly
indifferent, his hand propped on his rifle, his head drooping.
Officer
(Glancing at the Prisoner)
Pay no attention.
He doesn't understand our language.
The Visitor leans back in his chair, crossing his legs. Despite himself, he is beginning to
be interested in the process.
Visitor
So now the man is lying there.
Officer
Yes. Now listen!
The prisoner is strapped tight
And the bed is set in motion.
As he lies there on the bed the harrow is lowered on his body.
The bed quivers sideways and up and down,
And the harrow sticks its points into the body, which quivers with the bed.
The harrow has the job of carrying out the punishment.
Visitor
And what is the punishment?
Officer
You don't even know that?
Visitor
I'm only here out of courtesy.
Officer
I wasn't informed.
The law that the condemned man has broken will be written on his body.
The harrow will write: "Honor thy superior."
The Condemned Man moves his head, trying to follow. But he can understand nothing.
Visitor
Does he know his sentence?
Officer
No.
Visitor
He doesn't know his sentence?
Officer
No.
Visitor
No?
Officer
He will experience it written on his body.
Visitor
At least he knows he's been condemned?
Officer
No! He does not.
After all, he had no chance to defend himself.
Excuse me.. .I have a model.
It will be more accurate.
The Officer rolls up the first drawing and walks off-stage.
SCENE #4
The Visitor takes a step forward and addresses the audience.
Visitor
I am not satisfied.
Not at all. No.
Not when the prisoner has ever had a chance to defend himself.
Nonetheless, I know this is a penal colony
and I know that unusual measures are needed as well as strict discipline.
I have some hope for the new commander, who promises to make changes.
But that officer cannot, he cannot grasp the smallest change.
SCENE #5
The Officer wheels a large table onto the stage. On the table is a large structure covered
by white cloth.
The Officer removes the white cloth, revealing a large-scale model of the apparatus.
He pulls the Visitor to one side.
Officer
This is how things stand.
I've been appointed judge here.
Since my youth I have assisted the old commander in all criminal matters.
The principle on which I base my decisions is:
Guilt is always beyond doubt.
That's how it was with the old commander
The new commander has different ideas.
I have, so far, managed to resist.
Now.. . this man.. ..
He points towards the Condemned Man. The Soldier stands and yanks on the man's
chain, causing him to stand at attention.
Officer
This man was assigned to a captain as his orderly and slept outside his door.
The man had orders to get up at the stroke of each hour and salute the
Captain's door.
Not a difficult task, but an important one.
Last night, at the stroke of two, the captain opened his door and found the man
curled up and asleep.
He lashed the man's face with his riding crop.
Instead of standing up and asking for forgiveness, the man grabbed the
Captain's leg and began to yell,
"Throw away that crop or I'll eat you alive."
Of course, I had the man put in chains.
There was no point in questioning him.
It would have brought nothing but confusion.
Naturally, the man would have lied, and once I had exposed his lies, he
would have piled on new lies.
(Yanking the chain)
But now I've got him and I'll never let him go.
Visitor
Will the new commander be attending the execution?
Officer
It's not certain.
That's why we have to hurry.
We're wasting time.
The execution should have started by now and I still haven't finished
explaining the procedure.
SCENE #6
The Visitor turns toward the Officer who is pointing to the model.
Officer
The man lies on the bed,
The bed begins to quiver,
The harrow is lowered on the body.
(Pauses dramatically)
And then the performance begins!
The harrow quivers and sticks its points into the body.
The body quivers with the bed.
Can you see the needles?
The Visitor rises slowly, walks across the stage and bends over the model.
Officer
There are two kinds of needles,
Long and short.
The long does the writing and the short spurts out water to wash away the
blood and to keep the writing clear.
The blood and water flow into the main gutter, which leads to the pit.
The Visitor raises his head. Groping backwards with one hand, he tries to return to his
chair. To his horror he sees the Condemned Man tug the drowsy soldier forward by his
chain as he looks closely at the harrow, bending every which way, his eyes scurrying over
the harrow.
The Visitor tries to drive him away, but with one hand the Officer holds onto the Visitor,
while taking his swagger stick and striking the Soldier.
The Soldier's head jolts up. He drops the rifle and yanks the condemned Man so hard
that he instantly falls down, the soldier watching him writhing and rattling his chains.
Officer
(Yelling)
Get him on his feet!
Treat him carefully.
The Officer hurries around the model and grabs the Condemned Man under the shoulders.
With the Soldier's help, he gets him back on his feet, which however, keep slipping.
SCENE #7
Visitor
Now I know everything.
The Officer grabs the Visitor's arm and.points upward.
Officer
Except the most important part!
(He pulls an enormous amount of pages out of a leather portfolio.)
The Old commander' s drawings !
Visitor
Clearly the old commander wore many hats.
Officer
Indeed. He was also a soldier,
and a judge.
Visitor
Not to mention an engineer.
Officer
He was also a chemist.
Visitor
I can see he was a fine draftsman.
Officer
An excellent cook.
Visitor
An architect.
Officer
The old commander was many things to many people.
Now look here and let me show you.
The Visitor sits down. The Officer holds up the first sheet.
Officer
Come here. Read it.
Visitor
I can't.
Officer
But it's quite legible.
Visitor
It's very clever, but I can't decipher it.
The Officer laughs and puts the portfolio away.
Officer
It is not for children.
It has to be studied for a long time.
It's not a simple script.
The process is not supposed to kill right away.
He needs about twelve hours to read it.
Many curlicues have to surround the actual script:
Which forms only a narrow band around the body.
The rest of the skin is for embellishments.
He bounds up the ladder that leans against the mound. Perched on the lip of the funnellike
opening, he turns a wheel.
Officer
(Calling down)
Come look!
SCENE #8
Everything starts creaking and moving at once.
The Visitor climbs up the ladder, peers cautiously over the side.
Officer
(Over the din)
Here is where the body will be placed.
The harrow keeps writing deeper and deeper for twelve hours.
Once the first round of the script is completed
The condemned man is slowly rolled on his side.
In this way the harrow can write on fresh skin.
The first six hours, the man remains alive almost as before.
He suffers only pain.
The felt is removed from his mouth
After two hours he has no strength left for screaming.
Hot porridge is provided.
The man can take whatever he manages to lap up with his tongue.
No man ignores the opportunity.
Not one.
Even the least of men is now enlightened.
It starts around the eyes and from there it spreads.
A look that might seduce you,
Tempt you, into joining him.
Yes, joining him under the harrow.
Yes, joining him under the harrow.
You've seen the script it's not easy to read.
Our man reads it with his flesh.
You can see it's a lot of work.
It will take him six hours.
Six hours of work to complete.
The Visitor looks down, watching the machine as it grinds away.
The Condemned Man looks up at the Officer, but without comprehension. He is bent
forward slightly, following the reeling needles, when the Soldier, at a sign from the
Officer, takes a knife and slashes the back of the man's shirt and trousers. The
Condemned Man tries to grab his falling clothes to cover his nakedness, but the Soldier
lifts him up and shakes off his final rags. The he loosens his chains.
The Officer switches off the machine and the Soldier pushes the Condemned Man slowly
up the ladder.
When the Condemned Man reaches the top of the mound, he looks back, towards the
audience. He seems almost relieved.
The Officer disappears below, followed by the Condemned Man and then the soldier.
The Visitor remains on top of the mound. Looking down, he describes to the audience
what he sees:
Visitor
The condemned man is lying down.
He looks strangely peaceful.
The soldier is fastening the straps
First his left hand.
Now his right.
The man is looking up.
[He's looking at me!
He's reaching,
He's reaching for me.]
The apparatus starts to moan and shudder.
Visitor
The needle points are descending.
They are about to touch him! He shudders.
A wrist strap has broken!
The apparatus stops.
SCENE #9
The Officer appears on top of the mound. He speaks apologetically to the Visitor:
Officer
The machine is bound to break now and then.
Formerly there was an unlimited budget for repairs.
But now the new commander oversees the budget himself.
If I order a new strap, it takes ten days for it to arrive.
Meanwhile, how am I expected to run the machine?
As the Officer descends again, the Visitor turns to the audience.
Visitor
I'm not a part of this Penal Colony,
Nor a native of this country.
If I were to condemn or obstruct this execution,
I might be told:
Be quiet, you're a stranger here.
(Pauses then steps forward another step)
I travel purely to observe.
I have no self-serving motives.
The condemned man is a stranger to me.
I've come with letters from high places.
I've been welcomed with cordiality, and being invited to this execution
means they're asking my opinion about this legal action.
Furthermore, I know the new commander is no supporter of this practice.
(Sighs)
It's always risky interfering in other people's business.
Even so, as for this execution there is no doubt.
It is unjust.. .And it is inhumane.
SCENE #10
Officer
May I speak to you privately?
Visitor
By all means.
The Visitor climbs down the ladder.
Officer
This method of execution no longer has support in our colony.
I'm the only one left to represent the old commander's legacy.
(Pausing to look dramatically at the Visitor)
And now I ask you;
Should a life's work-
(Pointing to the machine)
perish because of the new commander?
Visitor
I am only a foreigner visiting your island for a few days.
I'm not here to judge this action.
I'm merely an observer.
Officer
They are all cowards.
So they send a foreigner who knows nothing.
SCENE # 11
He looks at the model, stands for a moment in contemplation, then turns back to the
Visitor.
Officer
How different things were before.
The valley was filled a day in advance!
They all came to watch.
Early in the morning the old commander showed up with his ladies.
(Pointing to the audience)
All the chairs were filled.
Every single one!
The machine was polished and glistening.
People on tiptoe as far as the hills.
In front of a hundred eyes the old commander placed the condemned man
under the harrow.
No jarring note to disturb the running of the machine.
Everyone knew:
Justice was being done.
And then. . . .
The execution!
In the hush, we heard the man's sighs, muffled by the gag.
Then came the sixth hour!
Everyone wanted to watch up close.
Wise as he was, the old commander ordered that children be given
preference.
I would stand close with a child in each arm.
How deeply they took in the transfigured expression from the tortured
face.
How intensely their tiny cheeks basked in the glow of that justice, attained
at last and already fading!
The Officer throws his arm around the Visitor, placing his head on his shoulder.
Officer
Wonderful times, my friend! Wonderful times!
The Visitor, deeply embarrassed, gazes impatiently over the Officer's head.
SCENE #12
The Officer takes both of the Visitor's hands. He looks deeply into his eyes.
Officer
Are you aware of the disgrace?
Visitor
This is my second day on the island.
I don't really know the commander or his ideas.
The Officer steps back, looking at the Visitor with an encouraging smile,
Officer
Then let me tell you.
I saw the new commander invite you to the execution.
I knew what he was up to.
He won't dare to act against me.
He waits for your judgement.
He knows you are trapped in European attitudes-
Perhaps you're opposed to capital punishment or this mechanical
execution.
Perhaps you will consider my procedure too extreme.
Visitor
In my travels I have learned to respect each country's customs, no matter
how strange.
Officer
[He doesn't need a statement.
A word will be enough.]
Visitor
What if I said in my country the condemned man is informed of the
verdict?
This kind of torture existed only in the middle ages?
Officer
And then I and the old commander's work will be doomed.
Finished.
Visitor
You exaggerate my influence.
I am no expert.
Just a private person. No more important than anybody else.
If the commander's opinion is firmly set, there is no need for my modest
help.
The Officer shakes his head, refusing to listen.
He walks up to the Visitor, looking at something on his jacket instead of his face. He
speaks softly, but with great intensity.
Officer
You don't know the commander.
You are innocent about him and about all of us.
Visitor
That is what I'm trying to tell you.
Officer
Listen to me!
I was in seventh heaven when I heard you'd be attending.
You have heard my explanation.
You have seen the machine.
And now you can watch the execution.
Your influence is invaluable.
I'm begging you:
Please help me!
Visitor
Impossible.
Officer
You can.
Visitor
I cannot.
Officer
You can! You must.
Visitor
I have no influence.
The Officer grabs both the Visitor's hands. Breathing heavily, he peers into his face.
Officer
Even if you are right,
We must try anything to preserve the old tradition.
SCENE #13
Visitor nods, stepping back as the Officer tries to grab his hands again.
Officer
Please, listen to me!
I have a plan that's sure to work.
If you are not asked about the execution,
Say nothing at all.
Be brief and vague. [People must see it is difficult to speak,
That you're embittered.
That if you talk, you would swear and curse.]
He pauses and then continues in a softer, more intimate tone.
Visitor
Are you asking me to lie?
Officer
No! Not on your life.
I'm just asking that your answers be brief.
Tomorrow after the execution you will be sitting with the ladies in the
commander's box.
There will be a gallery packed with spectators. [I shake with disgust at the
thought .]
His ladies will be sitting with him,
Bending their ears,
And he will say the report on the execution has been delivered.
It was witnessed by this great explorer who has honored us with his visit.
We will now ask him what he thinks of the old manner of execution.
Everyone will applaud.
I will be the loudest, as you step over to the railing to give your opinion.
(His voice rising)
You must blast out the truth.
But be simple.
Just a few words.
Don't mention the poor turn out, the broken strap, and the filthy gag.
Just the truth, the simple truth.
That is all I ask.
He looks at the Visitor, who nods, waiting for him to go on.
Officer (continues)
Then I will take over and if my speech does not drive him
from the hall,
It will force him to his knees and. . he will have to confess:
He kneels looking up at the portrait of the Old Commander.
Officer (continues shouting)
Old Commander, I bow to you.. .
He stands up, overcome with emotion as he looks at the Visitor.
Officer
This is my plan;
Do you want to help me cany it out?
But of course you want to-
You must.
More than that, you have to!
The Officer grabs both of the Visitor's arms and peers, breathing heavily, into his face.
SCENE #14
The Visitor turns to the audience:
Visitor
From the very beginning I have never had a doubt about what I must say.
I have experienced far too much in my life to waver here.
I am basically honest and unafraid.
Despite.. . .
He looks over at the Soldier and the Condemned Man who have resumed eating and look
back at the Visitor without guile or supplication.
Visitor
Despite.. . .
The Visitor forces himself to overcome his hesitation. He turns to the Officer.
Visitor
The answer is no!
The Officer looks at him, his face blank.
Visitor
Do you want an explanation?
The Officer nods mutely.
Visitor
I oppose this procedure and I will not intervene.
I am grateful you took me into your confidence.
Your conviction is sincere and touching.
You have made your view clearer to me.
But nothing you say will change my mind.
I don't have the right to challenge the new commander
And even if I did my voice wouldn't matter.
Officer
So I have not convinced you.
The Visitor smiles the way an old man smiles at a child's nonsense.
Visitor
I will give the commander my opinion privately.
I won't be staying long enough for a meeting.
I am sailing tomorrow morning.
Officer
Well then, it's time.
Visitor
(Nervously)
Time for what?
SCENE #15
The Officer climbs up the ladder, checking whether everything is in order.
He yells down to the Visitor:
Officer
Everything is in order
(Looking down)
Take a look.
The Visitor Climbs up the ladder.
As he reaches the top, the Officer descends into the pit.
The Visitor looks down.
Officer's Voice
[Can you see how I adjust the apparatus?
Notice how they've made friends with one another.
Although he's bound still in his tight straps.
Do you see how he's making signs at the soldier?
He's whispering something.]
The Officer appears next to the Visitor. Looking down, he yells to the Condemned Man.
Officer' s Voice
You're ripping the straps!
Lie still !
Can't you see he's releasing you?
(Pause)
You're free!
The Officer climbs down the ladder to the stage, followed by the Visitor.
The Soldier appears above them, followed by the Condemned Man.
The Condemned Man looks down at the Officer, laughing to himself wordlessly, his face
turning toward the Soldier, then down to the Visitor.
While the Soldier motions for the Condemned Man to climb down, the Officer walks
over to the Visitor, pulls out his leather portfolio, locates a page, and shows it to him.
Officer
Read.
Visitor
I can't
Officer
Just take a close look.
Visitor
I can't read it.
The Officer steps, raises his little linger and moves it across the page to make it easier for
the visitor to read. He begins to spell out the words.
Officer
Be Thou Just.
That's what it says.
Now you can read it.
Visitor
I believe that is what it says.
Officer
Fine.
The Officer climbs the ladder, still holding the page. Very carefully he places the page in
the draftsman and readjusts the gears.
The Visitor watches from below. The Soldier and the Condemned Man are occupied only
with each other. The solider picks up the Condemned Man's shirt and trousers with his
bayonet.
The Condemned Man puts on his shirt and trousers, both he and the Soldier bursting into
loud guffaws at the garments which are sliced in half. The Condemned Man turns around
in front of the Soldier, who squats on the ground, laughing and slapping his knees.
Still up on the ladder, the Officer surveys the whole apparatus and shuts the lid of the
draftsman. Satisfied, he climbs down.
The Officer walks over to the pail of water and compulsively washes his hands, drying
them carefully.
He unbuttons his tunic. As he takes it off, two ladies' silk handkerchiefs tucked under his
collar fall out. He hands them to the Condemned Man.
Officer
[Here are your handkerchiefs.
(To the Visitor)
Gifts from the ladies.]
The Condemned Man holds the handkerchiefs in his hands, smelling them with a faraway
vacant smile.
The Officer discards his tunic and strips down, handling every item very lovingly,
stroking the silver piping on his service coat, shaking a tassel into place. Angrily he
flings them at1 aside, then draws the sword from its sheath, smashes it, gathers everything
together-the sword fragments, the sheath and the belt-and hurls them away violently.
The Visitor bites his lips. He turns to the audience:
Visitor
I know what is about to happen.
But I have no right to stop him.
And if the old tradition is over,
I would act no differently in his place.
The Soldier and the Condemned Man are not even watching. The Condemned Man is
delighted with the Handkerchiefs but the Soldier snatched them from him, stowing then
in his belt. The Condemned Man tries to retrieve them but the Soldier is alert. They fight
half playfully.
It is only when the Officer is stark naked that they notice him. The Condemned Man, in
is struck by this great sudden change. A broad, soundless grin appears on his
face.
The Officer, however, has approached the ladder. Slowly he climbs up, then turns his
head toward the Visitor, motioning for him to join him.
SCENE #16
The Visitor takes a cautious step forward, then climbs up, joining the Officer at the top.
Officer
Before youleave please visit the old commander's grave.
There is an inscription I wrote myself.
"Here lies the old commander.
His followers have dug him this gravestone.
There is a prophecy that some time from now,
The commander will be resurrected and lead his followers to re-conquer
the colony.
Have faith abide!"
The Visitor watches the Officer climb down into the pit.
Visitor
His hand is approaching the harrow.
The harrow rises until it is ready to receive him.
He touches the edge of the bed.
The bed begins to quiver.
The needles begin to flicker above his skin.
Now everything is ready. The machine obeys him.
The Officer's final statement resonates from below.
Officer
Have faith and abide.
(Yelling)
[Help me!
Visitor
Do something!]
The Condemned Man and the Soldier scamper up the ladder and disappear into the pit.
Officer's Voice
[Strap me in.]
Let the harrow float up and down.
Let the needles dance on my skin.
The machine begins working, grinding away as the bed quivers.
Suddenly the Visitor feels annoyed and yells at the Soldier and the Condemned Man.
Visitor
Leave him alone !
There's no need for anyone else.
The Condemned Man and Soldier climb up the ladder.
On top of the mound, they look down, absorbed by the scene below.
The Visitor motions for them to leave.
Visitor
Move back!
The Condemned Man kneels down, clasping his hands, begging to stay.
Visitor
Go!
The Visitor shakes the Condemned Man, trying to drive him away.
A noise from the pit below interrupts him.
The sound of the apparatus increases as the lid of the draftsman surges and then claps
wide open.
An entire gear grinds and moans, turning all the way to the edge of the draftsman, before
it falls down and lays flat.
Other gears begin to move, rising, plummeting, and then laying flat.
The Condemned Man tries to climb down again but the Visitor interrupts him..
All three stare below.
Visitor
The machine is falling to pieces.
The harrow is not writing, only jabbing.
The bed is lifting him, quivering against the needles.
The Officer SCREAMS !
The Visitor shouts to the Condemned Man and the Soldier:
Visitor
Do something!
Stop the machine!
This is not what he wants.
This is murder!
The Condemned Man and the Soldier climb down to the Officer.
Suddenly the Visitor looks up as a LARGE IRON SPIKE descends slowly from the
ceiling.
The Visitor turns away, then forces himself to look down.
Visitor
A spike drives through his forehead.
EPILOGUE
After the Visitor has regained his composure, he climbs down the ladder to the stage,
followed by the Soldier and the Condemned Man.
The Visitor walks center stage, addressing the audience:
Visitor
I forced myself to look at his face.
His lips squeezed tight.
His eyes open.
The same expression as in life.
His gaze was calm and convinced,
Despite the long spike that went through his forehead.
It is clear he never found what all the others found in the machine.
No sign of redemption at all.
None at all.
The Visitor walks the stage, followed by the Soldier and the Condemned Man carrying
his luggage.
The Soldier puts down the Visitor's bag and points off stage.
Soldier
[The Old Commander is buried here.]
The Condemned Man drops the Visitor's bag to the floor.
The Visitor steps forward and reads the inscription and once again he turns to the
audience:
Visitor
Have faith and abide!
From outside: Three long blasts from a steamship whistle.
Visitor
My ship.
As the Visitor walks towards off stage, the Soldier and Condemned Man pick up his bags
and rush after him.
At the last moment, the Visitor turns, holding up the Officer's swagger stick and lashing
out at them until they fall to the floor.
Then he picks up his bags and walks away.
End of Opera.