PS _ 3526 M25g Mygatt Good Friday THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES f- *' - '-=t date stamp . SOUTHERN BRANCH UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY 'LOS - CALIF. GOOD FRIDAY A PASSION PLAY OF NOW by TRACY D. 'MYGATT author of "WATCHFIRES", "THE NOOSE", and other plays 61214 with an introduction by JOHN HAYNES HOLMES Copyrighted April 1919 by TRACY D. MYGATT All rights reserved. For permission to pro duce this play, application should be made to the author, 23 Bank Street, New York. PRICE, FIFTY CENTS GOOD FRIDAY, A PASSION PLAY OF Now, was first produced at the Peabody Playhouse, 357 Charles Street, Boston, April 19, 1919, under the direction of John Pratt Whitman and Eleanor Wood Whitman, and with the following cast: THE KEEPER JOHN PRATT WHITMAN THE DOCTOR JAMES H. DALTON IVAN. . . .HARRY MAXIMON A second production was given at the Central Music Hall in Chicago on May 14th, 1919, under the direction of David Douglas, and with the following cast: THE KEEPER DAVID DOUGLAS THE DOCTOR M. L. SORBER IVAN '. . . . ARTHUR PROCTOR To the CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTOR,- Who builds today The Cooperative Commonwealth, The City of God. INTRODUCTION Miss Mygatt's "Passion Play of Now" deals with one of the most highly controverted questions of the Great War that of the so-called "conscientious objector," who, for inward reasons of opinion or conviction, refused to obey the nation's call to take up arms and submit himself to training for battle against the enemy. It is an extraordinarily vivid and sympathetic portrayal of the spiritual issue which was involved in this problem, the lofty motives of love and brotherhood which were frequently at work, and the essential religious drama which was enacted in case of punishment and persecution. The author's skilful use of the Good Friday setting points its own terrific moral. Few persons, of whatsoever opinion on the "conscientious objector" question, will read this play without profound emotion; none, I trust, without thinking the problem through afresh, with real endeavor at least to understand. If Ameri cans are still Americans, with sentiments unspoiled, however much disturbed, by the fears and passions engendered by the conflict against Germany, this play should do for "conscientious objectors" in this 7 Introduction country what John Galsworthy's "Justice" did for ordinary prisoners in England. It may be well to recapitulate briefly the circum stances which led to the sorry situation which dis graced the nation during the War, and still exists to its shame six full months after the signing of the armistice. When the Conscription Act was passed on May 18, 1917, it was well known that there were a con siderable number of citizens in the country who regarded war as murder, and military service as de liberate training for murder. Congress itself recog nized this fact by exempting from military and naval service "any person . . . who is found to be a member of any well-recognized religious sect or organization at present organized and existing and whose existing creed or principles forbid its mem bers to participate in war in any form and whose religious convictions are against war or participation therein. ..." This provision was excellent, so far as it went; but it fell short in two particulars. In the first place it made the ridiculous ethical mistake of regarding conscience as a corporate and not an individual affair, and therefore of accepting outward member ship in an institution (which might well be a matter of inheritance or accident), instead of inward per sonal conviction, as evidence of reality. In the second place, it confined the action of conscientious Introduction scruples against war to the religious field, and thus gave no recognition to that large and growing class of objectors who are moved by political rather than spiritual motives. The former of these blunders was partially corrected by Executive Order of the Presi dent (March 23, 1918) ; the latter inhered through out the War, and is still working its havoc at the present moment. The real betrayal of the nation, however, appeared in the administration of the law, rather than in the law itself. At the very outset was committed the fearful blunder of handing over the "objectors" to the military branch of the government for treatment, instead of keeping them in the civilian branch where they properly belonged, and thus subjecting them to the insane and uncontrolled rigors of martial law. Hundreds of "objectors" were thus segregated, beset by orders which they could not heed, court-mar- tialled for disobedience, and condemned to ferocious sentences in miltary prisons. More serious was the almost universal suspicion with which these men were regarded by those to whose mercy they were committed. We now know that this suspicion was not justified. Major Walter G. Kellogg, of the U. S. Board of Inquiry, testifies that whereas in the beginning of his work he "firmly believed that they (the conscientious objectors) were, as a class, shirkers and cowards, ... an ex amination of over eight hundred objectors in twenty io Introduction widely distributed military camps and posts con vinced (him) that they (were), as a rule, sincere cowards and shirkers, in the commonly accepted sense, they (were) not." Nevertheless, on the assumption of their insincerity, these men were sub jected to inquisition, and those most truly sincere and therefore unwilling to accept any form of service, non-combatant or other, given over to pun ishment. The result was the almost complete defeat of the law, and of a well-intentioned government. Hun dreds of members of religious sects opposed to war, specifically exempted by the terms of the Conscrip tion Act, were put behind the bars; I have on my desk a list of three hundred and fifty-six at Fort Leavenworth on March 10, 1919. Hundreds of others, bravely sincere for religious or political rea sons, were sentenced to long terms of imprisonment because of petty infractions of discipline, refusal to obey military orders, or failure to satisfy the Board of Inquiry. Control by the military led inevitably to persecution and torture. Solitary confinement, midnight baths under ice-cold showers, beating up by armed guards, immersion in the filth of latrines, assaults with fists, clubs, fire hose numerous in stances of these horrors are on record. A few men died from oppression, many sickened or were dan gerously injured, all suffered cruelly in mind and body. Nothing depicted, stated, or suggested in Introduction 1 1 this play is an exaggeration. And the crime of these men, in most cases, was simply that of "taking Jesus at His word!" Now the War is over, and many of these men have on one pretext or another been released. Many, however, are still languishing in jail, with little pros pect of release. Their one hope is amnesty, imme diate and universal; and to this end should all who love America, and would keep her free from shame, now work untiringly. There is no conceivably worthy motive in keeping these men longer behind prison walls. Their punishment vindicates no law, acts as no deterrent upon others, exerts no redemp tive influence upon themselves. Every principle of justice, every plea of mercy, every ideal of America and purpose in her battle against Germany, clamors for their release. Only vengeance and the still un- sated passion of war, bar their passage to freedom. If these men are forgotten by their fellows, or con demned by deliberate judgment to a continuance of their misery, there can be only one conclusion drawn that is, that all the conscience there is in America, is now in prison! To avoid this shame, as well as to deliver these martyrs to conviction, Miss Mygatt has written this play. "If any man has ears to hear, let him hear"; and hearing, let him act. JOHN HAYNES HOLMES. New York, May 8, 1919. GOOD FRIDAY A PASSION PLAY OF NOW SCENE The corridor before a cell in a Military Prison. TIME Before dawn, Good Friday PERSONS The Keeper, The Doctor, The Sacrifice (Ivan). 14 Good Friday The scene is the draughty stone corridor of the north wing of the prison. As the curtain rises, what was at first perceived as pitchy black is shot with flickering lights, and the voices of two men are heard, as they stumblingly approach; for an in stant, still invisible, they pause, apparently to unlock a door off left, for a heavy, grating sound is heard. Then they come on, Keeper and Doctor, stopping before the iron door, centre, which is the entrance into the cell whose inmate they have come to visit, and upon which begin to play grotesque shadows from the lantern in the hand of the Keeper. His face, too, when caught in its rays, reveals aspects curiously remote from the conven tional masque his occupation would suggest; sen sitive aspects, unhappy scepticisms and swift recalcitrancies making him, to the discerning eye, almost as anomalous in his setting as is the doctor, with his cold, cruel lips, and the shifty glance that mocks its owner's boasted therapy. In the voices of both, beneath the bravado of the one and the quick servility of the other, lurks the deadliest of the prison blight, fear. A Passion Play of Now 15 DOCTOR [Irritably, as he approaches from the left] Damn him! What does he want, this time of night, Dragging me from my bed ? KEEPER [Hastily] It wasn't him! He didn't ask for nothin', sir! 'Twas me! He never asks for nothin' that's the thing, It makes you nervous kind of creepy, sir, I thought you'd better see DOCTOR [Brusquely] Well, let me in ! Be quick about it, too! It's beastly cold In this north wing! KEEPER Yes, sir, at once! At once! [He does not move] 1 6 Good Friday DOCTOR [Testily] Well, then, why don't you? You're cold, too! Why, man, Your teeth are chattering, and your hands KEEPER Please, sir, It's not the cold ! DOCTOR Well, spit it out ! KEEPER It's it's [He stops, unable to say more.] DOCTOR [Shaking him by the arm] What is it, man? Your face do you know, Jack, You look it's that queer light, there is, of course, Your silly trembling hands flinging the green rays A Passion Play of Now 1 7 Of your night-lantern so about ! You look As if you'd seen a ghost! KEEPER [Swiftly] Oh, no, no, sir! I never seen a ghost! I don't believe In no such nonsense! Dead is dead, I say, And quick is quick! DOCTOR [With a laugh] Well, if he's quick in there, [with a jerk toward the closed door] It's more than you are out! [Seizing him roughly] Make haste ! KEEPER [With a violent shiver] Don't! Don't! DOCTOR [With ironic curiosity] Don't what, you fool? 1 8 Good Friday KEEPER (Too frightened to resent his tone] Don't joke ! Don't laugh ! Remember What night this is, sir! DOCTOR [In extreme irritation] What? Will you unlock? Or must I take the key myself? [Mockingly] "What night?" You stand there asking that, this time of night, Until I'll root to the spot in a minute, Just like you! "What night?" A hell of a night If you want my views ! KEEPER [With a shudder] May God forgive you, sir, For saying such a thing and here [very low] where he Could hear you! DOCTOR [Jeeringly] Hah ! Not through that door ! A Passion Play of Now ig KEEPER Hush, sir! It might be DOCTOR [Cutting in with a jeer] And he'd be shocked at me? Christ! I am to mind my language for a slacker! Is that it, Jack? And be yanked out of bed Because you think he needs a pill the cur That stands all day above his uniform, The glorious garb that most men honor love And he won't touch to save himself from tor ture! Too good for it he thinks himself! The fool, To court starvation rather than wear it! Think of it, Jack ! You know some day he'll die, Even he can't live forever on such fare, and KEEPER [Desperately] No, no! Not that! Take it back, sir! Take it back! 2O Good Friday Not die ! Not in my time ! [Very low] I couldn't bear To've been the Keeper of a man that died ! DOCTOR Stow it ! Don't many die? Nor my fault, either, All the doctors going can't save a man Once prison really gets him! Odd thing, that, How you don't need capital punishment To do the work! Now open up, Jack, quick! KEEPER [To himself] Not die! Not with that face! I don't know where I've seen that face before, but DOCTOR [Impatiently snatching the key from him and vrith cold fingers twisting it in the great lock of the door.] Damn! It's stiff ! It won't budge! Here, you lend a hand! Look here, A Passion Play of Now 21 I don't believe you were made for a keeper! If you don't hurry up I'll have you fired! Or [Suddenly wheeling about and staring into his eyes] or would you rather I went back again To bed? KEEPER [Taking the key in frantic haste] No, no! I'll open, sir! I'll open! [Slowly the lock yields to his pressure and the heavy door begins to swing open. For a mo ment, himself seeing what is within and is as yet invisible to the other, the Keeper stays it in his hand, turning upon the Doctor wide eyes of incredulous wonder.] And it Good Friday, sir! Good Friday! DOCTOR [Contemptuously] Well? [Then, unable or unwilling to speak further, the Keeper allows the door to swing wide open. At first it seems as if one were gazing into void; then, as the blackness yields to the dim rays of the lantern, one makes out the bars of a cage, 22 Good Friday some six by seven, within which, below the tiny barred window high above his head at the back of the cell, there stands a man in scanty under wear. One says "stands" rather in point of fact than of effect; for, though his bare feet rest upon the floor, just clear of the rumpled khaki that is his uniform, the arms, wide-flung like the arms of a cross, and the expression upon the tragic bearded face suggests a figure that hangs, rather than stands. And that it sug gests the Figure upon the Cross is at once ap parent in the startled gesture of the Doctor out side the cell.] DOCTOR [Retreating a step further into the corridor] Good God! KEEPER [Quietly, though he trembles] Yes, sir, like that each time I come! That's why DOCTOR [Trying to recover himself, the prisoner through out wholly detached] But he's not chained or hung? A Passion Play of Now 23 KEEPER No, sir! DOCTOR His arms are free? He can move them about? KEEPER Yes, sir. But every night, the last four days, After I've taken off the manacles That chain him to the bars i DOCTOR [Starting] He's chained all day? KEEPER [Stolidly] Them are my orders, sir, and very strict! [Then with sudden fierceness] I wish to God some other keeper here Had my job! DOCTOR Hush! What were you going to say? 24 Good Friday KEEPER [In a low voice] Well, every night this week I've found him [with a gesture] so ! DOCTOR [Restlessly] Why don't you tell him to lie down? KEEPER I have! I've begged him to, time and again at night, When I've come stealin' up like this! DOCTOR And what ? KEEPER He only looks at me, and when he's looked A long, long time, sometimes he speaks and says DOCTOR [Furtively regarding the prisoner] What does he say? A Passion Play of Now 25 KEEPER He says, "I must keep watch !" DOCTOR [With an uneasy attempt at a laugh] And yet there isn't much for him to see! IVAN [Softly but very distinctly] I must keep watch ! KEEPER [Starting] There, sir! What did I DOCTOR Hush! Faking, that's all! Wants to get out of here! KEEPER [Eagerly] No sir, he never speaks of getting out! Nor of the beatings and them icy baths, 26 Good Friday You know, those months in camp before he came. It seems like he was very far away I can't explain you couldn't sir, yourself, There's things inside his head there must be, sir, To give his eyes that look IVAN [As before] I must keep watch ! DOCTOR [Facing him insolently] On what? On us, you silly faking coward? No, sir, that's our job, Evetts here and mine, [in a business-like tone] Our job to watch you! Do you understand? [making a move forward] Here, now! Cut out that stuff! We've had enough ! Put down your arms! [As he does not move] Damn you, put down your arms ! A Passion Play of Now 27 KEEPER [Anxiously interposing] He don't obey no orders, sir! DOCTOR I know! But I'm a doctor! That's a different thing! Perhaps he hasn't in the past because They were all orders from the Commandant, The Military orders they despise, These precious conscientious fools we've got, Corrupting other soldiers! Well, go in! [With a gesture] Unlock those bars! I guess he's weak enough For two of us to manage! [In a sharp whisper] You've your gun? You keep it with you when you come up here? KEEPER [Shamefacedly] Yes, sir, but he 28 Good Friday DOCTOR Don't talk! I'm loaded, too! [He draws out his revolver.] Go in, and put his arms down then I'll come! [As the doctor covers the figure with his revolver and stands narrowly watching him, the Keeper unlocks the barred grating, Ivan still giving no sign that he sees what is going on, continuing to stare fixedly beyond; inside the cell, the Keeper hesitantly approaches him.] THE KEEPER [Unsteadily] Put your arms down please! DOCTOR [Furiously] Is that your method? Put them down yourself! [With an angry gesture] Like this now do it! A Passion Play of Now 29 KEEPER [As before] Please, sir, I I can't! I couldn't touch him! [Swallowing hard] Not when he looks like that ! [With sudden passion] Oh, can't you see ? DOCTOR [Angrily] See? Yes! A slacker! And either faking mad, Or perhaps [coming closer] perhaps KEEPER [With desperate eagerness] Yes, yes! Perhaps, sir ? DOCTOR [Insolently] Or perhaps really mad ! [Ironically regarding the horror on the other's face] What did you think That I would say, you superstitious fool? 30 Good Friday KEEPER [Softly, cowering beside the rapt figure] They all said that before, that other time, Or that He had a devil, or DOCTOR [Starting, scarcely believing his ears] Damn you! Stop it, I say! Or I'll begin to think You're in cahouts somehow, collecting cash From friends on the outside, to set him free! [Meaningly] And taking bribes' a pretty serious crime! KEEPER [Hoarsely] I don't know what you mean ! I've never tried To get him out! [With shuddering self-realization] I am his Keeper, sir! His Keeper! His! In prison! Twenty years! [With mounting wildness] But no one bribed me, sir! It wasn't me! A Passion Play of Now 31 It wasn't me, I say! [With passionate earnestness] I never took One single piece of silver, let alone Thirty! [For a moment, with irrepressible fear, the Doctor regards him. Then, surmounting his emotion, still covering Ivan with his revolver, he leaps inside the cell, and reaches his hand to the Keeper's wrist.] DOCTOR [Jerkily] Hush, Jack! You're sick! You don't know what You're saying! Just come along with me, man! I'll fix you up with something in my office! KEEPER [As if coming to himself] I'm not sick, sir! It's him you come to see! [He goes quietly to Ivan and takes one of his hands in his.] It's hot, sir don't you think you'd better feel? 32 Good Friday DOCTOR [Taking a step] Well, if you feel it hot [softly] your own is fire! [He goes to Ivan and takes his wrist reluctantly between his fingers. A moment passes.] DOCTOR [Under his breath] God! What a pulse! I can't count that! (To Ivan, more gently] Here, you ! Lie down a bit! [Looking about] Why, where's your bed gone, man? KEEPER He's never had no bed, sir! You know that! Not since he's brought up here in solitary. Maybe that's why he stands. Of course the floor's Chock full of vermin here, spite of the cold ! They wouldn't send no blankets to him, either A Passion Play of Now 33 DOCTOR [Impatiently] Of course! [To Ivan] Why don't you be a de cent soldier, man? Your conscience isn't different from the rest! It's all the same, you know, just clay in the end! You can't go on like this you're very sick This business' got you nothing but starvation! You're young to die, and yet, if you persist KEEPER [Imploringly, drawing closer] Don't let him die! Please, sir, don't let him die! [In a low voice] I beat him once to make him mind ! Oh, God, I'd die to undo it now! Don't let him die! [The Doctor looks curiously from one to the other. Then, as he steps back into the corridor] 34 Good Friday DOCTOR [To himself] He's bitten, too ! Queer how a man's mind goes ! [Rousing himself] Don't worry! It's all right! I'll fix him, Jack! We'll go downstairs and 'phone the hospital; They'll have to send a cot! He couldn't walk After this foolish business he's been through, He's ready to collapse right now, poor fool, Or will, as soon as this trance-state is ended, Then we'll put you to bed [Starting violently as he sees the Keeper bend ing over Ivan's hand] Why, Jack! Look up! What are you looking at? KEEPER [Kneeling and kissing the hand passionately] The nails! The nails! The print of the nails ! [There is a moment of profound silence during which the extent of the Keeper's obsession per haps first penetrates the mind of the Doctor ', A Passion Play of Now 35 though indeed, in the one startled and inquir ing glance he flashes upon the tragic, far-seeing eyes of Ivan, and upon the hand the Keeper holds pressed to his lips, there is hint of a fleet ing turmoil of his own. Then, as the man, overcome by the stress of his emotions and his gathering fever, suddenly falls forward, faint ing, upon the floor, the Doctor forces himself to re-enter the cell, and gently tries to detach the inert body of the Keeper from that of his pris oner, who still stands, cross-like, seemingly unconscious of the happenings about him.] DOCTOR [Gently tugging at the Keeper] Jack! Jack! Wake up! Wake up! [As he does not respond, he steals a furtive glance at Ivan, as quickly averting his eyes and redoubling his efforts to rouse the other; pres ently realizing their futility, and himself un pleasantly conscious of the strangeness of the situation, he begins to drag him outside into the corridor. This accomplished, with trem bling hands he pulls to the grating and locks 36 Good Friday it; then he looks dubiously at the big second door and shakes his head.] [To himself] The Prisoner's weak better leave that alone, So that he'll get more air; and I'll be back With help in just a minute! [Resting his hand a moment on the Keeper's pulse] He's all right! Where's that lamp gone? [After a flurried search, he picks the lantern up from the floor, nervously examines it, and, after a shifty glance over his shoulder at Ivan, who responds in no way whatever, he hurries away down the corridor whence he has come, his nervous steps gathering curious significance as they re-echo along the stone passage-way, and the tall flickerings of the lantern making more sensible the thick darkness that settles over the place at his departure. For a long moment, after the vibration of his steps has ceased, there is silence. Then, into this silence, breaks the voice of Ivan, conveying in even the opening words a great tranquility] A Passion Play of Now 37 IVAN Come, little brother, Christ! They've gone away, the shadows that were here And left me all alone, waiting for You! I am so glad to be alone again! Now I can talk I couldn't talk before I just stood watching. All the tortured things That cried to You on Your cross so long ago, I seemed to see them and to feel Your pain! And others, too, I watched, and longed to help, Dark mysteries of torment; pitiful, Sacrificed, astonished, lost, and each one Young, with lovely dreams all twisted in his eyes; And some of them saw me, and raised their hands Hands crucified and young, like Yours, oh, Christ! And blessed me for the watch I kept; and then It faded everything and I was here. The man that comes most is so strange and sad The one that brings me water why is he Like that? Why does he weep? I'm sure he does; 61214 38 Good Friday He wept tonight, and moaned, and kissed my hand; From very far away I felt his tears, And tried to speak, but could not only feel. And there are times he reaches out his arms As if I could assuage the pain within That seems to torture him! How can it be When he can come and go under the sky? The sky! The sky! Oh, little brother Christ! It's when I think about the bright gold sun, And the glad sky high up among the birds, That I think prison is a dreadful place! I wonder how much longer it will be? One night, a little while ago, I think, I thought that I was home, under the sky, Ploughing the farm I gave to Sonia When we were married; and that she ran out Singing the song we used to sing at home, Over in Russia, when I was a child; She had our children with her by the hand, Sasha and Vera and the little one That only toddled when I went away; They too were singing, and I caught them close, And all of us stood singing, thanking God! A Passion Play of Now 39 There was such sunshine over everything! I wonder if I could not sing the song? It might bring back the vision and the peace! [There is a moment's silence; then, as the first gray light of morning is perceived to be seeping through the barred window behind Ivan's head, he very simply breaks into the opening lines of the Kolebalnia. As the song continues there is a faint movement upon the floor where the Keeper has been lying, and as it ceases, his voice is heard, hushed and awe-struck.] KEEPER Singing upon the Cross! How can it be? I must be mad, and yet I thought I heard [He is dimly seen, raised on his elbow, gazing into the cell.] Yes, yes! Who are you? And why are you here? And were you singing? And where is the lamp? [Burying his face in his hands] Oh, Lord forgive me! I who saw the nails To ask of you ! Of you! ! 40 Good Friday IVAN [Gently] It is all right! Why are you frightened? You know He is here, Darkness and light are just the same to Him! KEEPER [Chokingly] Yes, He is here! I've known it all along, But more and more each night until I saw / [softly] When will the Resurrection be? [Then swiftly, before Ivan can speak] No, wait! [Getting to his feet] I want to bar the door down there [with a gesture, left] so he Won't come in suddenly! He'd only jest, [In sombre triumph] He didn't see the nails! He couldn't see ! [He disappears for a moment, left, and the clanking of the door which was heard in the beginning is heard again, followed by the bolt- A Passion Play of Now 41 ing of the same. Then the Keeper returns, fumbling in his pocket, presently producing something which when he has struck a match is seen to be a candle; this he lights and places upon the stone floor outside the cell, seating himself beside it.] KEEPER [Softly] It isn't that I'm frightened any more! At least I think I'm not! I only want To see your face! I want to see the love That's in your eyes ! [Intently looking] Yes, yes, I do see now! How can one man love other men so much That he can bear to die that way like you? IVAN [Gently] He showed us first the way! [Then, as the bells of a neighboring church begin to toll for early service, the Keeper, too startled to catch the other's full meaning, cowers miser ably closer.] 42 Good Friday KEEPER [In a shaking voice] And now you will ! You will again ! Oh, God, to see you die, Just when at last I might have felt your love! IVAN [Gently] Why should you think I'll die? I've prayed to die So often all these months ! It's not the pain. I'm very sure it's not the pain I mind, [Wonderingly] It's thinking other men can torture so, Men that are brothers ! Hark ! What are those bells? Are they real bells, I wonder, or just bells Making a sorrowful music in my head, Where sunlight dances on the way to the Cross? KEEPER [With painful eagerness, as he kneels beside the cage] That's it! That's it! They are the bells to the Cross ! [In a hushed voice] A Passion Play of Now 43 And me that used to want oh, to remember! To be a priest, when I was still a boy, And deck the altar for the Sacrifice, And now oh, now after the twisted steps My feet have taken all the twisted years To kneel here now beside the Sacrifice, The living Sacrifice the dying Christ ! IVAN [Faintly] Living not dying! Surely Christ never dies! It is His love today KEEPER [Breaking in] But on the Cross ? [Pointing to the wide-flung arms} Your arms stretched wide your word, "I must keep watch!" Quick ! Tell me what you meant "I must keep watch!" You said it every night I came! And oh, How could you bear to seem a slacker ? You ? 44 Good Friday IVAN [With painful pauses] I wish you'd asked before it's getting dark! I had to watch over the tortured world, I don't know whether I can make it plain; [After a pause] And that word KEEPER "Slacker?" IVAN Yes; I've heard them say That word so often lately well, no matter ! [Suddenly, with passionate energy] I wanted to love back the world to love! I wanted to love back the world to love! KEEPER [Timidly] But Germany ? IVAN [Spurred on by his spirit] Nothing but love can heal! A Passion Play of Now 45 KEEPER [With painful eagerness] And there are men of course not with your face Not even Christians, so they often say! Men here in prison, men that will not fight, "Slackers" they call them, just as they called you! They won't hit when they're hurt; they speak of love, They call it brotherhood ! What do they mean? They stay long terms; they won't betray this thing What does it all mean? IVAN [As before, though by still greater effort) What I've said! Oh, brother, What does the name matter, so they do the will? They keep the watch their watch and mine [Suddenly raising his arms in ecstasy as a 46 Good Friday shaft of light pierces the window, and shines upon his head.} Oh, God! The sunlight's coming and my watch is ended ! KEEPER [In bitter anguish] No! No! Stay with me! IVAN [Radiantly] Little brother, love / [Then quietly, without struggle, he sinks down upon the uniform at his feet, his arms uncon sciously assuming their old posture, and his radiant face caught in the ray of sunlight. The bells, which had stopped, begin again to chime, this time a Gregorian chant to one of the Peni tential Psalms, and the Keeper kneels quietly, his face against the bars. Suddenly a great knocking is heard upon the iron door, off left. The Keeper raises his head, at first in dumb bewilderment; then, as the sound grows louder, anger and bitter distrust rob his face of his late- found peace.] A Passion Play of Now 47 KEEPER [Under his breath] Let him knock! [Then, between the knocking, the Doctor's voice, off left.] DOCTOR [Startled] Jack! Are you sick? Come! Open! [There is a further moment of suspense, broken by the continued knocking. Then the Keeper rises, and moves uneasily toward the door which he has locked, pausing often to steal backward glances at the dead body. For a moment he is gone, and his voice can be heard off left.] KEEPER [Tonelessly] Please come alone, sir! Let the men wait here! [They reappear, the Keeper walking softly ahead, the Doctor following, a visible fear in face and manner, the flickering of his lantern overcasting him with curious gleams.] 48 Good Friday DOCTOR But why ? I'm glad you're better, Jack, but why [Then, as he comes before the body, within the bars, lying on the uniform, its radiant, up turned face white and still in the dawn, his face sharply changes; and with a cry, as if the ad mission were wrung from him, he exclaims] DOCTOR The face of Christ! [There is a moment of profound silence, the Keeper standing, with bowed head, beside the other, the tears coursing down his seamed cheeks. Then, with a terrible cry, he rushes forward.] KEEPER [Desperately] Yes, yes, the face of Christ ! But who am 7, then? That's what I must know! Answer me quickly! Who am I? Oh, God- To know and love Him only to be damned ! [He breaks into dry, shaking sobs.] A Passion Play of Now 49 DOCTOR [Touching him gently] What is it, man? You're overwrought! Come down! Get out of this! KEEPER [In a voice of anguish] Oh, to get out of the world ! [Turning bitter eyes upon him.] Don't you know who I am? Since he is Christ And I have been his Keeper, killing him Manacled, chained, betrayed to those He loved Why why [Pointing with trembling fingers to his own breast] queer how I never guessed before, But now I know [Beckoning the Doctor close and speaking in a terrified whisper into his ear] Judas Iscariot ! 5o Good Friday DOCTOR [Deeply moved, trying to shake off their mutual fear] No, no! He isn't really Christ, you know! [Wonderingly, to himself] That's the queer part, now that I stop to think Doing this thing he did, not being Christ ! Almost enough to make a man believe ! [Rousing himself and turning to the Keeper] But he's not really Christ KEEPER [Brokenly] I cannot tell; I know he loved like Christ that's why he died . The way they kept him in that dungeon cell The beatings and the hunger and the cold! And I that killed him [In a desperate whisper] Judas that's my name! A Passion Play of Now 51 DOCTOR [In a strange voice, looking straight ahead of him to the dead face] Not your name only, then! Listen to me! You didn't ask to have him here ? KEEPER No, no! DOCTOR But others did you know that, don't you? i KEEPER Yes! DOCTOR [With dry lips] Then don't you understand? [As the other makes no sign, he continues pas sionately, as if moved beyond himself] It's all of us! It's all of us, anywhere everywhere ! I called him "Slacker," "Coward," with the rest, And some of them will kneel in church today, UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY Los Angeles This book is DUE on the last date stamped below. Form L9-Series 444 t/orct PAMPHLET BINDER Syracuse, N. Y. Stockton, Calif.