Sta.sh
"The Glass Puppet" Excerpt B
by ~poltechoSCENE 3
LADY CLARIMER'S STUDIO
A small, empty, high-ceilinged music hall with a grand piano at the middle. Light crossfades to reveal ARIA playing the finale of "Blasted Days of School." NICK stands observing, very much distracted.
ARIA: Well your piece speaks for itself, Nicholas. It says you're talented. You've a good eye for form and obviously have no trouble thinking musically. That being said, the world is full of composers with double your talent and triple your prospects who will never see a single significant work published. My hope, as your teacher, is to separate you from the talented lot and make you into a true artist.
(She stands and spreads several sheets of blank manuscript paper on top of piano.)
Before we begin, Nick, I want you to tell me, what is your definition of an artist?
NICK: (Staring away) Absolutely . . .
(ARIA pauses a moment in confusion, then gets NICK's attention.)
ARIA: Excuse me?
NICK: I'm sorry. What was the question?
ARIA: (Insulted, hits NICK on the head) You've not even been listening to me!
NICK: What? I'm . . . sorry?
ARIA: I take my art very seriously, sir, so if you intend to be idle and contemptuous during our lessons, then I suggest you leave!
NICK: No! Forgive me, Lady Clarimer. I swear, I did not mean to be disrespectful. Please excuse me. I haven't been myself today.
ARIA: . . . Well you hardly seem ill.
NICK: No, that's not what I mean. Oh, how do I explain? Something . . . someone has been on my mind lately. I-I've been distracted!
ARIA: Oh for heaven's sake, Nicholas! You're being childish!
NICK: It's not childish. It's as serious a matter to me as music itself. I know I've only just arrived here, and I don't know anyone yet, but already I feel . . . that I've fallen in love.
ARIA: (Pauses frustratedly) Might I dare ask the young woman's name?
NICK: Miss Persephone Lane.
(Pause)
ARIA: (Thoughtful) An interesting notion . . . So, say you truly love this girl, . . .
NICK: I do.
ARIA: . . . What would you write about her?
NICK: I'm sorry. I'm not sure I understand.
ARIA: Your music, Nick! How would your love reflect itself in your music?
(NICK begins to speak, but ARIA shushes him and gestures to the blank sheets on the piano. He begins to write hesitantly, his scribbles producing an audible theme.)
NICK: Is that it?
(ARIA snatches the paper from NICK)
ARIA: No, I don't believe you. I want to hear the passionate cries of a heart on fire. These are the ramblings of a distracted boy. (Hands NICK a blank sheet) Love is not a diversion; it's an inspiration. Nick, if you want a woman to take your heart seriously, then I suggest you take your art seriously.
(Here the song "A Lesson in Expression" takes place. Nick and Aria engage in a musical tiff in which Nick tries to convince Aria that the love he feels is genuine. Aria urges him to prove his love through composition. By the time Nick has sketched his piece and the song ends, Aria is still not convinced, but is pleased that he made the attempt.)
ARIA: (Speaks) Nick, there's a reason I'm being critical of your feelings for Miss Lane. I don't mean to discourage you. I'm trying to teach you what it means to be an artist. An artist must be willing to write from the heart. The heart is a fountain of creation, and each one is unique, but few are ever opened. I want you to keep on writing to convince me of what is in your heart. If you learn to listen, your heart will speak for itself. Now, we will continue this exercise in our next lesson. Until then, I have an assignment for you. (Scribbles instructions on a piece of paper) Follow these directions through the library and you will find where we store our oldest manuscripts. As a student, I used to go there constantly when I needed ideas. Something about the music of the past always brought out the best in me, not to mention that the room is quiet as a grave. I haven't been up there in ages, but I'm sure it will be a great help to you. Just do some reading, see what comes to mind, and I will see you here again soon. Enjoy the rest of your week. Good day, Nicholas.
(NICK walks out of the room into the hall while ARIA is taken off stage with the piano.)
SCENE 3A
A HALLWAY
NICK has just left ARIA's studio and stands bewildered for a moment reading her directions. Soon, BELLE enters on her way to a lesson with ARIA carrying a bundle of manuscripts.
NICK: (Mystified) Good day, Ariadne.
(He turns to leave and nearly runs into BELLE. After an awkward moment of standing face to face, she drops all her things.)
NICK: I am so sorry madam! Please allow me.
BELLE: (Frantic) Oh no! I have to go to my lesson! It-It's my first day! I'm going to be late!
NICK: It will only be a moment. Please, try not to worry.
BELLE: (Trying to calm herself down) You're right, sir. You're right. (To herself) Everything will be fine, Darling. The gentleman will fix it. You're not going to be late. You're not going to be late.
NICK: You're really not going to be late, you know. According to your schedule you're a half hour early.
(Pause)
BELLE: I didn't want to be late.
NICK: Well, you won't be.
(NICK orders the last few papers, stands up, and hands them to BELLE.)
BELLE: Th-Thank you sir. Forgive me. I frighten easily.
NICK: That's perfectly all right. It was entirely my fault.
BELLE: (To herself) No, it wasn't.
NICK: Well, since you're here early, perhaps we have time to be properly introduced. I am Nicholas Cristofori. Nick is perfectly fine, though.
BELLE: Of course, Nick.
(Pause)
NICK: And . . . your name?
BELLE: Oh, forgive me. I was just thi-. . . That is I . . . I-It's Belle. Belle Bianchi.
NICK: (Amused) A pleasure to meet you Miss Bianchi . . .
BELLE: Belle . . .
NICK: . . . I couldn't help noticing that those pieces are your own work. Would you mind if I read some?
BELLE: Oh, you'd probably find them dull.
NICK: Believe me. They couldn't possibly be worse than what I brought to my lesson. May I?
(BELLE hesitates, then entrusts one of the manuscripts to NICK. As he begins to read, fragments of "Sound and Light" are heard. He glances over each page becoming steadily more enthralled. Before he can finish, BELLE becomes embarrassed and takes the manuscript back, ending the music.)
BELLE: You don't have to seem so interested. It's a terribly childish thing.
NICK: No, not at all. You-You're an amazing talent, Miss Bianchi, much more than myself.
BELLE: You don't have to say that.
NICK: I'm not trying to flatter you. I found your piece fascinating. Somehow I can tell . . . you were in love when you wrote it, weren't you?
BELLE: (Surprised) Why I . . . Yes, actually, though I'm embarrassed to admit it.
NICK: (Under his breath) So . . . that's what she meant.
BELLE: I'm sorry, what did you say?
(Before NICK can answer, HEPHAESTUS, the school's resident ghost is heard clattering offstage and wailing drunkenly.)
HEPH: (Offstage) Coming in a moment, m'lady! (Crash) Steady now! Captain of the guard coming through! (Crash) I am sworn to serve the lord and lady of this castle! I will not be daunted! (Crash)
NICK: (Standing in front of BELLE) Who goes there?
(HEPHAESTUS bursts onstage. He is a tall, strongly built man, but sickly pale. He wears a long dirty coat and large boots on which he floats at will.)
HEPH: Pardon me m'lord, but has the lady of the house passed this way?
(NICK and BELLE are petrified at the sight of him.)
HEPH: (Noticing BELLE) Oh, is that you m'lady? (Pause) I heard your call and came straightaway! (To NICK) Come to think of it, I don't believe I've seen your face before. It's a good thing you called, m'lady. No worries now, I'll show him the door.
(He advances but promptly stumbles forward. NICK rushes to him and tries to take his arm, but HEPHAESTUS seizes him by the shirt. BELLE drops her manuscripts again.)
HEPH: Accost my lady, will you? I'll have you flogged for touching her!
BELLE: No, stop!
(Suddenly a soft piano melody is heard offstage and HEPHAESTUS freezes, holding NICK on his tiptoes.)
BELLE: (Too afraid to move) Are you all right Nick?
NICK: Of course. Just a little confused is all.
(The music stops, the piano's keyboard lid is slammed shut, and ARIA storms onstage)
ARIA: You worthless lump! Captain of the guard indeed. I won't have you terrorizing my students. Put the lord down, now!
(HEPHAESTUS awakens from his trance and sets NICK down as if he has forgotten where he is.)
ARIA: Now, take my arm.
(HEPHAESTUS pauses and then obeys, beginning to lean heavily on her shoulder.)
ARIA: (Barely able to hold him) Lady Bianchi, please help me assist the captain into my studio. Nick, I am very sorry about this. Please don't blame him.
NICK: Don't worry, really, I am fine.
ARIA: Lady Bianchi, today . . . please!
BELLE: (Snapping out of it) Oh! I'm sorry.
(BELLE scrambles to pick up her papers, missing several, and rushes to take HEPHAESTUS's other arm.)
ARIA: Oh, thank you. Follow me now. Slowly. Until next time then, Nick?
NICK: Until next time.
BELLE: It was very nice to meet you!
NICK: The pleasure was mine.
(ARIA, BELLE, and HEPHAESTUS go offstage. NICK pauses for a moment and picks up BELLE's remaining papers. He takes out ARIA's note and begins to follow the directions downstage.)
