Eeeeeeeenglish!
I've adapted sections of The Crucible for monologue. I need help with flow because several lines have been hacked mercilessly out; the stage directions are subject to change because they're iffy. =P There are a LOT of pauses in the Proctor section.
Abigail
We were dancin’ in the woods last night, and my uncle leaped in on us. She took fright, is all.
Pause
Give me a word, John. A soft word. You come five mile to see a silly girl fly? I know you better.
(Hesitantly) John - I am waitin’ for you every night. You’re surely sportin’ with me. (Voice slowly rises) I know how you clutched my back behind your house and sweated like a stallion whenever I come near! Or did I dream that? It’s she put me out, you cannot pretend it were you. I saw your face when she put me out, and you loved me then (shouting) and you do now!
Pause; breathes heavily. Covers face with hands, drops hands and looks up. Softer, now.
A wild thing may say wild things. But not so wild, I think. I have seen you since she put me out; I have seen you nights. I have a sense for heat, John, and yours has drawn me to my window, and I have seen you looking up, burning in your loneliness. Do you tell me you’ve never looked up at my window? You must. You are no wintry man, I know you. I know you, John. I know you. I cannot sleep for dreamin’; I cannot dream but I wake and walk about the house as though I’d find you comin’ through some door.
(Silence)
(Sudden anger) How do you call me child! I marvel how such a strong man may let such a sickly wife be- (cannot speak; shakes in anger and shouts) She is blackening my name in the village! She is telling lies about me! She is a cold, snivelling woman, and you bend to hr! Let her turn you like a- (hisses in anger, pauses again)
(Hysterical, near tears) I look for John Proctor that took me from my sleep and put knowledge in my heart! I never knew what pretence Salem was, I never knew the lying lessons I was taught by all these Christian women and their covenanted men! And now you bid me tear the light out of my eyes? I will not, I cannot! You loved me, John Proctor, and whatever sin it is, you love me yet!
(Screamed) John, pity me, pity me!
Proctor
(With cold anger, contempt) How do you call Heaven! Whore! Whore! It is a whore! Mark her! Now she’ll suck a scream to stab me with but- (Slowly, clearly) I have known her, sir. I have known her. Oh, I wish you had some evil in you that you might know me! A man will not cast away his good name. You surely know that.
(Chokes on the words)It was in the proper place -where my beasts are bedded. On the last night of my joy, some eight months past. She used to serve me in my house, sir. (Voice shakes) A man may think God sleeps, but God sees everything, I know it now. I beg you, sir, I beg you - see her what she is. My wife, my dear good wife, took this girl soon after, sir, and put her out on the highroad. And being what she is, a lump of vanity, sir -Excellency, forgive me, forgive me. She thinks to dance with me on my wife’s grave! And well she might, for I thought of her softly. (Covers face) God help me, I lusted, and there is a promise in such sweat. But it is a whore’s vengeance, and you must see it, I set myself entirely in your hands. I know you must see it now.
Pause
(More loudly)I have made a bell of my honour! I have rung the doom of my good name - you will believe me, Mr Danforth! My wife is innocent, except she knew a whore when she saw one!
(Voice rising) I have confessed myself! Is there no good penitence but it be public? (Still louder, thumps self on chest at each repetition of 'God' for emphasis) God does not need my name nailed upon the church! God sees my name; God knows how black my sins are! It is enough! You will not use me! I am no Sarah Good or Tituba, I am John Proctor! (Shouts) You will not use me! It is no part of salvation that you should use me!
Pause.
(Softly, slowly)I have three children - how may I teach them to walk like men in the world, and I sold my friends?
Pause. Hold up hand.
Beguile me not! I blacken all of them when this is nailed to the church the very day they hang for silence! You are the high court, your word is good enough! Tell them I confessed myself; say Proctor broke his knees and wept like a woman; say what you will, but my name cannot -
(Furious, shouting) No, it is not the same! What others say and what I sign my name to is not the same! I deny nothing! It is my name! I cannot have another in my life! I lie and sign myself to lies! I am not worth the dust on the feet of them that hang! How may I live without my name? (Screams) I have given you my soul; leave me my name!
Abigail
We were dancin’ in the woods last night, and my uncle leaped in on us. She took fright, is all.
Pause
Give me a word, John. A soft word. You come five mile to see a silly girl fly? I know you better.
(Hesitantly) John - I am waitin’ for you every night. You’re surely sportin’ with me. (Voice slowly rises) I know how you clutched my back behind your house and sweated like a stallion whenever I come near! Or did I dream that? It’s she put me out, you cannot pretend it were you. I saw your face when she put me out, and you loved me then (shouting) and you do now!
Pause; breathes heavily. Covers face with hands, drops hands and looks up. Softer, now.
A wild thing may say wild things. But not so wild, I think. I have seen you since she put me out; I have seen you nights. I have a sense for heat, John, and yours has drawn me to my window, and I have seen you looking up, burning in your loneliness. Do you tell me you’ve never looked up at my window? You must. You are no wintry man, I know you. I know you, John. I know you. I cannot sleep for dreamin’; I cannot dream but I wake and walk about the house as though I’d find you comin’ through some door.
(Silence)
(Sudden anger) How do you call me child! I marvel how such a strong man may let such a sickly wife be- (cannot speak; shakes in anger and shouts) She is blackening my name in the village! She is telling lies about me! She is a cold, snivelling woman, and you bend to hr! Let her turn you like a- (hisses in anger, pauses again)
(Hysterical, near tears) I look for John Proctor that took me from my sleep and put knowledge in my heart! I never knew what pretence Salem was, I never knew the lying lessons I was taught by all these Christian women and their covenanted men! And now you bid me tear the light out of my eyes? I will not, I cannot! You loved me, John Proctor, and whatever sin it is, you love me yet!
(Screamed) John, pity me, pity me!
Proctor
(With cold anger, contempt) How do you call Heaven! Whore! Whore! It is a whore! Mark her! Now she’ll suck a scream to stab me with but- (Slowly, clearly) I have known her, sir. I have known her. Oh, I wish you had some evil in you that you might know me! A man will not cast away his good name. You surely know that.
(Chokes on the words)It was in the proper place -where my beasts are bedded. On the last night of my joy, some eight months past. She used to serve me in my house, sir. (Voice shakes) A man may think God sleeps, but God sees everything, I know it now. I beg you, sir, I beg you - see her what she is. My wife, my dear good wife, took this girl soon after, sir, and put her out on the highroad. And being what she is, a lump of vanity, sir -Excellency, forgive me, forgive me. She thinks to dance with me on my wife’s grave! And well she might, for I thought of her softly. (Covers face) God help me, I lusted, and there is a promise in such sweat. But it is a whore’s vengeance, and you must see it, I set myself entirely in your hands. I know you must see it now.
Pause
(More loudly)I have made a bell of my honour! I have rung the doom of my good name - you will believe me, Mr Danforth! My wife is innocent, except she knew a whore when she saw one!
(Voice rising) I have confessed myself! Is there no good penitence but it be public? (Still louder, thumps self on chest at each repetition of 'God' for emphasis) God does not need my name nailed upon the church! God sees my name; God knows how black my sins are! It is enough! You will not use me! I am no Sarah Good or Tituba, I am John Proctor! (Shouts) You will not use me! It is no part of salvation that you should use me!
Pause.
(Softly, slowly)I have three children - how may I teach them to walk like men in the world, and I sold my friends?
Pause. Hold up hand.
Beguile me not! I blacken all of them when this is nailed to the church the very day they hang for silence! You are the high court, your word is good enough! Tell them I confessed myself; say Proctor broke his knees and wept like a woman; say what you will, but my name cannot -
(Furious, shouting) No, it is not the same! What others say and what I sign my name to is not the same! I deny nothing! It is my name! I cannot have another in my life! I lie and sign myself to lies! I am not worth the dust on the feet of them that hang! How may I live without my name? (Screams) I have given you my soul; leave me my name!