Three Plays Part 47

LAUDISI. Ah! Very well. (_To the butler_): Never mind. I'll call him myself. (_He motions with his hand toward the door on the left. The butler bows and withdraws_).

You have worked miracles, Commissioner! You're the savior of this town. Listen! Do you hear them! You are the lion of the place! How does it feel to be the father of your country?

But say, what you've discovered is all solid fact?

COMMISSIONER. We've managed to unearth a few people.

LAUDISI. From Ponza's town? People who know all about him?

COMMISSIONER. Yes! And we have gathered from them a few facts,--not many, perhaps, but well authenticated.

LAUDISI. Ah, that's nice. Congratulations! For example....

COMMISSIONER. For example? Why, for instance, here ... well, here are all the communications I have received. Read 'em yourself!

(_From an inner pocket he draws a yellow envelope, opened at one end, from which he takes a doc.u.ment and hands it to Laudisi_).

LAUDISI. Interesting, I am sure. Very interesting!...

(_He stands, reading the doc.u.ment carefully, commenting from time to time with exclamations in different tones. First an "ah" of satisfaction, then another "ah" which attenuates this enthusiasm very much. Finally an "eh" of disappointment, which leads to another "eh" of complete disgust_).

Why, no, what's all this amount to, Commissioner?

COMMISSIONER. Well, it's what we were able to find out.

LAUDISI. But this doesn't prove anything, you understand! It leaves everything just where it was. There's nothing of any significance whatever here. (_He looks at the commissioner for a moment and then, as though suddenly making up his mind, he says_): I wonder, Commissioner, would you like to do something really great--render a really distinguished service to this town; and meanwhile lay up a treasure in heaven?

COMMISSIONER (_looking at him in perplexity_). What are you thinking of sir?

LAUDISI. I'll explain. Here, please, take this chair! (_He sets the chair in front of Agazzi's desk_). I advise you, Mr. Commissioner, to tear up this sheet of paper that you've brought and which has absolutely no significance at all. But here on this other piece of paper, why don't you write down something that will be precise and clear?

COMMISSIONER. Why ... why ... myself? What do you mean? What should I write?

LAUDISI. Anything, anything at all! Anything that comes into your head, provided, however, it be _precise_ and _clear_!

Say, for instance, that Signora Frola is a lunatic, or, if you will, if you prefer, that the second marriage of Ponza's was a frame-up!

COMMISSIONER. I don't get you, Signor Laudisi. What are you driving at? I forge the doc.u.ment?

LAUDISI (_insisting_). Forge? Just say something--anything--that these two old acquaintances of Ponza's whom you managed to get hold of might have said.

Come, Commissioner, rise to the occasion! Do something for the commonwealth! Bring this town back to normal again!

Don't you see what they are after? They all want the truth--_a_ truth, that is: Something specific; something concrete! They don't care what it is. All they want is something categorical, something that speaks plainly! Then they'll quiet down.

COMMISSIONER. _The_ truth--_a_ truth? Excuse me, have I understood you clearly? You were suggesting that I commit a forgery? I am astonished that you dare propose such a thing, and when I say I am astonished, I'm not saying half what I actually feel. Be so good as to tell the Commendatore that I am here!

LAUDISI (_dropping his arms dejectedly_). As you will, Commissioner!

(_He steps over to the door on the left. As he draws the portieres and swings the door more widely open, the voices become louder and more confused. As he steps through, there is a sudden silence. The police commissioner stands waiting with a satisfied air, twirling one of the points of his mustache. All of a sudden, there is commotion and cheering in the next room. Cries of delight and applause, mixed with hand-clapping. The police commissioner comes out of his reverie and looks up with an expression of surprise on his features, as though not understanding what it's all about.

Through the door to the left come Agazzi, Sirelli, Laudisi, Amalia, Dina, Signora Sirelli, Signora Cini, Signora Nenni, and many other ladies and gentlemen. Agazzi leads the procession. They are all still talking and laughing excitedly, clapping their hands, and crying "I told you so!

Fine! Fine! Good! How wonderful! Now we'll know!" etc._).

AGAZZI (_stepping forward cordially_). Ah, my dear Centuri, I was sure you could! Nothing ever gets by _our_ chief!

COMPANY. Fine! Good! What did you find out! Have you brought something? Is it she? Is it he? Tell us?

COMMISSIONER (_who doesn't yet understand what all the excitement is about. For him it has been a mere matter of routine_). Why, no ... why, Commendatore, simply ... you understand....

AGAZZI. Hush! Give him a chance!...

COMMISSIONER. I have done my best. I ... but what did Signor Laudisi tell you?

AGAZZI. He told us that you have brought news, real news!

SIRELLI. Specific data, clear, precise!...

LAUDISI (_amplifying_). ... not many, perhaps, but well authenticated! The best they've managed to trace! Old neighbors of Ponza, you see; people well acquainted with him....

EVERYBODY. Ah! At last! At last! Now we'll know I At last!

(_The Commissioner hands the doc.u.ment to Agazzi_).

COMMISSIONER. There you have it, Commendatore!

AGAZZI (_opening the sheet; as all crowd around him_). Let's have a look at it!

COMMISSIONER. But you, Signor Laudisi....

LAUDISI. Don't interrupt, please, the doc.u.ment speaks for itself! Agazzi, you read it.

AGAZZI (_to Laudisi_). But give me a chance, won't you?

Please! Please! Now! There you are!

LAUDISI. Oh, I don't care. I've read the thing already.

EVERYBODY (_crowding around him_). You've read it already?

What did it say? Is it he? Is it she?

LAUDISI (_speaking very formally_). There is no doubt whatever, as a former neighbor of Ponza's testifies, that the woman Frola was once in a sanatorium!

THE GROUP (_cries of disappointment_). Oh really! Too bad!

Too bad!

SIGNORA SIRELLI. Signora Frola, did you say?

DINA. Are you sure it was she?

AGAZZI. Why, no! Why, no, it doesn't say anything of the kind! (_Coming forward and having the doc.u.ment triumphantly_). It doesn't say anything of the kind!

(_General excitement_).

EVERYBODY. Well, what does it say? What does it say?