He Who Gets Slapped Part 42

A doctor will not help. You are dying, my little Queen. Consuelo!

Consuelo!

[BEZANO _rushes in, cries_: "BRIQUET!" _becomes silent and looks with horror at_ CONSUELO. _Somebody else comes in._ BRIQUET _is making gestures for someone to close the door_.]

CONSUELO

[_In a dull and distant voice_]: You are joking, HE? Don't frighten me.

I am so frightened. Is that death? I don't want it. Ah, HE, my darling HE, tell me that you are joking, I am afraid, my dear, golden HE!

[_HE pushes away the_ BARON, _with a commanding gesture, and stands in his place near_ CONSUELO. _The_ BARON _stands as before, seeing only_ CONSUELO.]

HE

Yes, I am joking. Don't you hear how I laugh, Consuelo? They all laugh at you here, my silly child. Don't laugh, Jim. She is tired, and wants to sleep. How can you laugh, Jim! Sleep my dear, sleep my heart, sleep my love.

CONSUELO

Yes, I have no more pain. Why did you joke that way, and frighten me?

Now I laugh at myself. You told me, didn't you, that I ... should ...

live ... eternally?

HE

Yes, Consuelo! You shall live eternally. Sleep. Be calm. [_Lifts up his arms, as if straining with all his forces to lift her soul higher._] How easy it is now! How much light, how many lights are burning about you.... The light is blinding you.

CONSUELO

Yes, light.... Is that the ring?

HE

No, it is the sea and the sun ... what a sun! Don't you feel that you are the foam, white sea-foam, and you are flying to the sun? You feel light, you have no body, you are flying higher, my love!

CONSUELO

I am flying. I am the sea-foam, and this is the sun, it shines ... so strong.... I feel well.

[_She dies. Silence. HE stays a moment with lifted arms, then takes a long look, lets his arms fall, and shakingly goes off to one side. He stands still for a moment, then sits down, drops. .h.i.t head on his hands, and struggles lonesomely with the torpidity of coming death._]

BRIQUET

[_Slowly_]: She has fallen asleep, Mother?

ZINIDA

[_Dropping the dead hand_]: I am afraid not.... Step aside, Louis.

Baron, it is better for you to step aside. Baron! Do you hear me?

[_Weeps._] She is dead, Louis.

[_The clowns and_ BRIQUET _are crying_. MANCINI _is overwhelmed_.

_The_ BARON _and HE are motionless, each in his place_.]

JACKSON

[_Drawing out a large prismatic clown's handkerchief to wipe away his tears_]: Faded, like a flower. Sleep, little Consuelo! The only thing that remains of you is the trace of your little feet on the sand.

[_Cries._] Ah, what did you do, what did you do, HE!... It would have been better if you had never come to us. [_There it music in the ring._]

BRIQUET

[_Gesticulating_]: The music! Stop the music! They are crazy there. What a misfortune!

[_Someone runs off._ ZINIDA _approaches the crying_ BEZANO _and strokes his bowed, pomaded head_. _When he notices her, he catches her hand and presses it to his eyes._ _The_ BARON _takes the rose from his b.u.t.ton-hole, tears off the petals, and drops it, grinding it with his foot_. _A few pale faces peer through the door, the same masquerade crowd._]

ZINIDA

[_Over the head of_ BEZANO]: Louis, we must call the police.

MANCINI

[_Awakening from his stupor, screams_]: The police! Call the police!

It's a murder! I am Count Mancini, I am Count Mancini! They will cut off your head, murderer, d.a.m.ned clown, thief! I myself will kill you, rascal! Ah, you! [_HE lifts his heavy head with difficulty._]

HE

They will cut off my head? And what more.... Your Excellency?

BARON

Sir! Listen, sir! I am going for the police. Stop it, sir. [_He suddenly takes a step forward, and looking HE in the eyes, speaks in a hoa.r.s.e voice, with a cough, holding one hand at his throat._] I am the witness.

I saw. I am a witness. I saw how he put poison ... I----

[_He leaves the room, suddenly, with the same straight, heavy steps. All move away from him, frightened. HE drops his head again.

From time to time a tremor shakes his body._]

JACKSON

[_Clasping his hands_]: Then it is all true? Poisoned! What a vile man you are, HE. Is this the way to play? Now wait for the last slap of the executioner! [_Makes the gesture around his neck, of the guillotine.

Tilly and Polly repeat the gesture._]

ZINIDA

Leave his soul alone, Jim. He was a man, and he loved. Happy Consuelo!

[_A shot is heard in the corridor._ THOMAS, _frightened, runs in and points to his head_.]

THOMAS

Baron ... Baron ... his head.... He shot himself?...