LA MEDIUM

Personajes
MADAME FLORA
MNICA
TOBY

Vidente Llamada Baba

Contralto

Hija de Baba

Soprano

Nio Mudo Acogido por Baba

Actor

SR. GOBINEAU

Cliente de Baba

Bartono

SRA. GOBINEAU

Cliente de Baba

Soprano

SRA. NOLAN

Cliente de Baba

Mezzosoprano

La accin se desarrolla en un lugar y poca indeterminados.

ACT I

ACTO I

(The action takes places in Madame Flora's parlor

in
our time. A squalid room in a flat on the outskirts of
a great city. A narrow descending stairwell, stage left
(leading down to the street). Stage right at the rear,
a tall primitive puppet theatre, with a white curtain to
hide the standing puppeteer. Next to it a small trunk.
On the back wall a large astrological chart which
will become transparent when light is placed behind
it. Downstage right, a door. Upstage left, above the
stairwell, a curtained doorway. Downstage left, near
the center, and old-fashioned three-legged table.
Suspended above it a circular lamp of the Victorian
period, which is lighted by means of a string. In a
corner a tiny statue of the Virgin, with a rosary
hanging from it, and a small votive candle in front of
it burning in a red glass jar. Four chairs and a couch.
On the wall, near the top of the stairwell, a small
buzzer which unlocks the door downstairs. The doorbell
which announces the visitors below must be very loud
and strident, so as to be clearly heard above the

(La accin tiene lugar en el saln de Madame

Flora, en nuestra poca. Un piso en los
suburbios
de una gran ciudad. Una estrecha escalera a
la izquierda que desciende hasta la calle. A la
derecha al fondo, un primitivo teatro de tteres,
con un teln blanco para ocultar al titiritero.
Cerca, un pequeo bal. En la pared del fondo,
una gran carta astral que se volver
transparente
cuando se coloca una luz detrs. A la derecha y
adelante, una puerta. Encima de la escalera,
una
puerta con cortina. En el centro, una mesa de
tres patas y suspendida sobre ella, una lmpara
circular de estilo victoriano, que se ilumina
tirando de cuerdas. En un rincn una pequea
estatua de la Virgen, con un rosario colgando y
en su frente una lamparita votiva en una jarra
roja. Cuatro sillas y un canap. Sobre la pared,
cerca de la escalera, un mando elctrico que

orchestra. No windows. The time of the day will

be ambiguous throughout the play.
(A s the curtain rises, Toby is seen kneeling near the
open trunk from which he draws out brightly colored
pieces of silk and bead necklaces, bangles, etc. With
some of these he improvises for himself a fantastic
costume. Monica stands near the couch, which is
covered by a long white dress and a white veil. She
holds a mirror in one hand, combing her loosened
hair with the other)
MONICA
"Where, oh, where
Is my new golden spindle and thread?
If I don't bring them home
The King will strike me dead!"
Thus spoke the weeping queen to the gnome.
"Where, oh, where is my spindle and thread?"
(She suddenly sees Toby in her lifted mirror
and turns around)
Oh! Toby, you foolish boy'
Baba will soon be home and nothing, nothing is ready!
Besides, you know she'll beat you
If you touch her things.
(She continues combing her hair)
"Queen, fair queen,
If you give me the crown on your head,
I'll tell you where I have seen
Your golden spindle and thread."
Thus spoke the wicked gnome.
(suddenly struck by Toby's fantastic attire)
Oh! Toby, how handsome you are!

abre
la puerta de abajo. El timbre que anuncia a los
visitantes, debe ser muy fuerte y estridente, para
que se escuche por encima de la orquesta. No
hay ventanas. La hora, ser indefinida)
(Al levantarse el teln, se ve a Toby arrodillado
cerca del bal abierto, del cual extrae coloridas
piezas de seda y collares de cuentas, ajorcas,
etc.
Con algunas de esos enseres, improvisa para s
un fantstico disfraz. Mnica, en pie cerca del
canap, cubierto por un largo vestido y velo
blancos, sostiene un espejo en la mano y, con
la otra, peina su cabellera rebelde)
MNICA
"Dnde, oh, dnde
est mi huso dorado y el hilo?
Si no los llevo a casa
el Rey me va a matar a golpes!"
As habl la llorosa reina al gnomo:
"Dnde, oh, dnde est mi huso y el hilo?"
(De repente ve a Toby por el espejo y se
da vuelta)
Oh, Toby, muchacho tonto!
Baba pronto estar en casa
y no hay nada listo!
Adems, sabes que te golpear si tocas sus
cosas.
(Contina peinndose)
"Reina, bella Reina,
si me das la corona de tu cabeza,
te dir dnde he visto
tu huso dorado y el hilo"
As habl el perverso gnomo.

(playfully)
(impactada por el fantstico atuendo de Toby)
Behold the King of Babylon
On his purple throne!
I shall be your servant,
I shall be your princess,
I shall be your foreign bride
Come from distant northern seas.
(bowing to each other)
How d'you do, my master,
How d'you do, my King,
How d'you do, my love?

Oh, Toby, qu apuesto ests!

(Juguetona)
Mirad al Rey de Babilonia
en su trono prpura!
Yo ser tu sierva,
yo ser tu princesa,
yo ser tu prometida
llegada de los distantes mares del norte.
(Reverencindose el uno al otro)

(putting her arms around him; with great feeling)

Ah! Toby, if you only could speak'

Cmo est usted, mi maestro?

Cmo est usted, mi amor?
Cmo est usted, mi Rey?

(A door slams below)

(abrazndolo, con intensidad)
Be careful, Baba's coming!
Ah, Toby, si pudieses hablar!
(Frightened, Toby helped by Monica, tries
unsuccessfully to free himself from the tangled
silks and necklaces, but as soon as Baba appears
they both stand frozen. Baba, who has been mounting
the steps slowly, on seeing Toby, stops suddenly before
reaching the stage level, so that only the upper part
of her body will be seen at first)
BABA
(after a very long silence, freely, very quietly,
with sinister calm)
How many times I've told you not to touch my things!

(Se oye el cerrar de una puerta)

Ten cuidado, Baba viene!
(Asustado, Toby, ayudado por Mnica, trata
infructuosamente de librarse del enredo de
sedas y collares, pero apenas Baba aparece,
los dos se quedan inmviles. Baba, que ha
subido las escaleras lentamente, al ver a Toby
se detiene antes de llegar a nivel del escenario,
as que slo se le ve la parte superior del
cuerpo)

(scornfully after another long silence)

Look at you!
Dressed with silk and bangles like a woman!
Fancying yourself a King or something?

BABA
(luego de un largo silencio, muy pausadamente,
con siniestra calma)
Cmo he de decirte que no toques mis cosas!

(with sudden anger)

(despectivamente, tras otro largo silencio)

Stop dreaming, you feeble-minded gypsy!

I told you not to touch my things'

Mrate!
Vestido de seda y collares, como una mujer!
Te imaginas que eres un rey o algo as?

(She mounts another step; quietly again)

(con repentina clera)
Is anything ready? Of course not'
And the people will be here at any minute.

Deja ya de soar, gitano descerebrado!

Te dije que no tocaras mis cosas!

(She mounts another step)

(Sube otro peldao; calmada de nuevo)
If anything goes wrong tonight I'll make you pay for it!
(She reaches the stage level, with mounting anger)
What do you think I'm feeding you for?
You good-far-nothing, you dirty bastard!

Hay algo listo? Por supuesto que no!

Y la gente estar aqu en cualquier momento.
(Sube otro peldao)
Si algo sale mal, te lo har pagar!

MONICA
(restraining her)
No! Baba, don't'
(Baba takes off her coat and hat)

(Llega a nivel del escenario; con clera

creciente)
Para qu piensas que te estoy alimentando?
Creo que para nada... sucio bastardo!

Where have you been all night?

BABA
Where have I been?

MNICA
(refrenndola)
No, Baba, no!

(throwing a roll of bills on the table)

(Baba se quita el abrigo y el sombrero)

Ah! ah! money, my dear, money.

Look, don't worry, my sweet,
you have a very clever mother'

Dnde estuviste toda la noche?

MONICA
Where did you get it?
BABA
Where?
I sat on Mrs. Campi's steps all night;
She got so scared of seeing me there she paid
Ev'ry cent she still owed me.

BABA
Qu en dnde estuve?
(arrojando un rollo de billetes sobre la mesa)
Ja, ja!... Dinero, mi amor, dinero!
Ves? No tienes por qu preocuparte, dulzura.
Tienes una madre muy inteligente!
MNICA
En dnde lo conseguiste?

(She breaks into raucous laugher)

MONICA
You shouldn't have done it.
BABA
Why?

BABA
En dnde? Estuve sentada toda la noche
en los escalones de la casa de la Sra. Campi.
Se asust tanto de verme ah
que me pag cada centavo que me deba.
(Estalla en una carcajada ronca)

MONICA
Mrs. Campi's so poor.
BABA
Pf! She owed me the money, didn't she?
Get ready' Hurry!
(Baba helps Monica into the white dress, and then
covers her head with the white veil. In the meantime,
Toby, after manipulating the lamp and the table runs to
the puppet theatre, opens the curtain, revealing various
levers and cables hidden behind it. He tests some of
them, one of which levitates the table, another of which
lowers the lamp. The doorbell rings. At a signal from
Baba, Monica runs out from stage right. Toby hides in
the puppet theatre, drawing the white curtain in front of
himself Baba presses the buzzer which opens the latchdoor downstairs, then gets a pack of cards and sits in
front of the table, pretending to be absorbed in a game
of solitaire Mr. and Mrs. Gobineau, followed by Mrs.
Nolan, enter from the stairwell)
MRS. GOBINEAU
Good evening, Madame Flora.
MR. GOBINEAU
Good evening.
BABA
(hardly looking up from her game)
Come in, come in.
(Mr. and Mrs. Gobineau come into the room After

MNICA
No deberas haberlo hecho.
BABA
Por qu?
MNICA
La Sra. Campi es muy pobre.
BABA
Pff! Me deba el dinero, o no?
Vamos a prepararnos. Rpido!
(Baba ayuda a Mnica a ponerse el vestido y
luego le cubre la cabeza con el velo blanco.
Toby, luego de haber manipulado la lmpara y
la mesa, corre al teatro de tteres y abre el teln
dejando ver varios cables y palancas. Prueba
algunos, uno de los cuales eleva la mesa, otro
baja la lmpara. Suena el timbre. A una seal
de
Baba, Mnica huye del escenario por la
derecha.
Toby se esconde en el teatro de tteres, cerrando
el teln. Baba presiona el portero elctrico que
abre la puerta de abajo, luego toma un mazo de
cartas y toma asiento a la mesa, pretendiendo
estar absorta en un solitario. El Sr. y la Sra.
Gobineau, suben por la escalera)
SRA. GOBINEAU
Buenas noches, Madame Flora!

a brief pause, Mrs. Nolan appears at the top of the

stairwell. She hesitates there, looking timidly about
the room)

SR. GOBINEAU
Buenas noches

MRS. NOLAN
(timidly)
Good evening.

BABA
(apenas desviando la vista del juego)
Adelante, adelante!

BABA
(with more interest, but without getting up)
Good evening. Are you Mrs. Nolan?

(El Sr. y la Sra. Gobineau entran. Luego de una

breve pausa, la Sra. Nolan aparece en la
escalera.
Duda un momento mirando tmidamente al
interior del saln)

MRS. NOLAN
Yes.
(Baba motions her into the room)
BABA
This is Mister and Mrs. Gobineau.
MR. AND MRS. GOBINEAU
How d'you do?
MRS. NOLAN
How d'you do?

SRA. NOLAN
(tmidamente)
Buenas noches!
BABA
(con ms inters, pero sin levantarse)
Buenas noches! Es usted la Sra. Nolan?
SRA. NOLAN
S.
(Baba le hace gestos invitndola a entrar)

BABA
Let us wait a few minutes for late comers.
Sit down.
(Mrs Nolan and Mrs Gobineau sit down Baba goes on
with the game. Mr. Gobineau hangs up his coat and
hat, then sits near his wife)
MRS. GOBINEAU
(to Mrs. Nolan, after a long pause)
Is this the first time that you come to Madame Flora?
MRS. NOLAN
Yes.
MR. GOBINEAU
You'll see she's quite wonderful'
MRS. GOBINEAU
(after a pause)
Is there some dear departed you want to speak to?
MRS. NOLAN
Yes, my daughter Doodly.
MRS. GOBINEAU
Oh, when did she die?
MRS. NOLAN
Last year, she was only sixteen.

BABA
El Sr. y la Sra. Gobineau.
SR. y SRA. GOBINEAU
Cmo est Usted?
SRA. NOLAN
Cmo est Usted?
BABA
Esperemos unos minutos por si llega alguien
ms.
Tomen asiento.
(Las seoras toman asiento. Baba contina con
el juego. El Sr. Gobineau cuelga su abrigo y
sombrero, luego se sienta junto a su esposa)
SRA. GOBINEAU
(a la Sra. Nolan, tras un largo silencio)
Es la primera vez que viene a casa de Flora?
SRA. NOLAN
S.
SR. GOBINEAU
Ver que es maravillosa!
SRA. GOBINEAU

(with sudden excitement)

Do you really think I shall hear her voice?
MRS. GOBINEAU
Oh, yes, you may even see her.
MRS. NOLAN
Oh, I couldn't bear that!
MR. GOBINEAU
Don't be so nervous. It is all very simple.

(luego de una pausa)

Hay algn ser querido al que quiera hablarle?
SRA. NOLAN
S, a mi hija Doodly.
SRA. GOBINEAU
Oh! Cundo muri?
SRA. NOLAN
El ao pasado, slo tena diecisis aos.
(con repentina excitacin)

(A long pause, during which Baba gets up abruptly

and exits. When Mrs. Nolan is quite sure that Baba
has closed the door behind her she leans confidentially
toward Mr. Gobineau)

Realmente piensa que escuchar su voz?

MRS. NOLAN
Have you known her a long time?

SRA. NOLAN
Oh, no podra soportarlo!

MR. GOBINEAU
Oh, yes' We have been coming here
Ev'ry week for almost two years.

SR. GOBINEAU
No est tan nerviosa. Es muy simple.

MRS. GOBINEAU
We come to communicate with our little son.
MRS. NOLAN
(frightened)
And does he speak to you?

SRA. GOBINEAU
Oh, s, incluso quiz pueda verla!

(Una larga pausa, durante la cual Baba se pone

de pie y sale. Cuando la Sra. Nolan est segura
de que Baba ha cerrado la puerta detrs de ella,
se habla confidencialmente con la Sra.
Gobineau)
SRA. NOLAN
Hace mucho que la conoce?

MRS. GOBINEAU
(smiling)
Oh, no, he couldn't speak!
He was only a baby when he died.

SR. GOBINEAU
Oh, s! Hemos estado viniendo cada semana
casi durante dos aos.

MR. GOBINEAU
But we hear him laugh. He sounds so happy.

SRA. GOBINEAU
Venimos para comunicarnos con nuestro hijito.

MRS. NOLAN
When did he die?

SRA. NOLAN
(asustada)
Y l les habla?

MRS. GOBINEAU
(with simplicity)
It happened long ago.
We were still young, very young.
We had a house in France.
With a garden full of lilacs and mimosa.
The garden had a fountain,
A silly little fountain,
No more deep than that.
(sorrowfully)

SRA. GOBINEAU
(sonriendo)
Oh, no, no podra hablar!
Era slo un beb cuando muri.
SRA. GOBINEAU
Pero lo escuchamos rer. Se lo oye tan feliz...
SRA. NOLAN
Cundo muri?

It was just his birthday two years old.

We had given him a little boat,
a lovely little sailboat.
I still don't know how it happened.
He was playing by the fountain.
I was not far away, cutting some lilacs for the house.
I never heard a sound
(fighting against tears)
And when I looked.
And when I looked.
And when 1 looked.
(Her voice breaks; she is convulsed in silent
sobbing. Mr. Gobineau comforts her)
MR. GOBINEAU
There, there, don't cry.
You know that he is happier now than if he had lived.

SRA. GOBINEAU
(con simplicidad)
Sucedi hace mucho.
Todava ramos jvenes, muy jvenes.
Tenamos una casa en Francia
con un jardn lleno de lilas y mimosas.
El jardn tena una fuente,
una pequea fuentecita,
no ms profunda que esto...
(tristemente)
Justo era su cumpleaos... dos aos.
Le habamos regalado un pequeo bote,
un lindsimo botecito de vela.
Todava no s cmo sucedi.
Estaba jugando junto a la fuente.
Yo estaba all, cortando lilas para la casa...
No escuch ningn ruido.
(esforzndose por no llorar)

(Baba reappears from the left, wearing a bright

colored shawl)
BABA
It's time to begin. Close the door.
(Mrs. Nolan, almost hysterical, springs up from her
chair, dropping her pocketbook Mrs Gobineau picks it
up for her, then helps her to take off her coat and leads
her to the table. Meanwhile, Mr. Gobineau locks all the
doors and helps Baba to place the chairs around the
table. They all sit down, Baba facing the audience.
Mrs. Gobineau shows Mrs. Nolan how to join hands
around the table. With a last look about her to see that
everything is In order, Baba slowly and deliberately
pulls the chain of the overhead lamp. The lights go out
except the little candle in front of the Madonna. There
is a long pause. Noticing Mrs Nolan's nervousness, Mr.
Gobineau leans towards her and speaks sotto voce)
MR. GOBINEAU
(freely)
You must be very silent. The hands must touch.
(After a very long silence Baba moans louder
and louder, then suddenly breaks into a long,
anguished scream. Behind the chart hanging
on the wall, Monica slowly appears in a faint
blue light. As Monica's voice is heard, Baba's
moan dies away)
MONICA
Mother, mother, are you there?
Mother, mother. are you there?

Y cuando mir...
Y cuando mir...
Y cuando mir...
(Su voz se rompe en un silencioso sollozo.
El Sr. Gobineau la calma)
SR. GOBINEAU
Vamos, vamos, no llores!...
Sabes que ahora es ms feliz que cuando viva.
(Baba reaparece desde la izquierda, llevando
un chal con vivos colores)
BABA
Es hora de comenzar. Cierre la puerta.
(La Sra. Nolan, al borde de la histeria, salta
de la silla; la Sra. Gobineau la ayuda a quitarse
el abrigo y la conduce a la mesa. Todos toman
asiento, Baba de cara al pblico. La Sra.
Gobineau muestra a la Sra. Nolan cmo
tomarse
de las manos rodeando la mesa. Con una ltima
mirada hacia ella para estar segura de que todo
est en orden, Baba, lenta y deliberadamente,
tira
de la cadena de la lmpara que est sobre ellos.
Se apagan las luces, salvo la de la pequea vela
en frente de la Madonna. Largo silencio.
Notando
el nerviosismo de la Sra. Nolan, el Sr. Gobineau
se inclina hacia ella y le habla en voz baja)

MR. GOBINEAU
(excitedly)
Mrs. Nolan, it must be your daughter.

SR. GOBINEAU
(libremente)
Debe estar callada... y las manos deben tocarse.

MRS. NOLAN
Oh! Oh!

(Tras un largo silencio, Baba comienza a gemir

y
estalla en un angustioso grito. Detrs del
cuadro
que cuelga de la pared, Mnica aparece
lentamente envuelta en una suave luz azul.
En la medida que se escucha la voz de Mnica,
los gemidos de Baba se van extinguiendo)

MR. GOBINEAU
Speak to her! Speak to her'
Can't you see' She's looking for you'
Don't be afraid, don't be afraid!
MRS. NOLAN
(sobbing)
I... I can't!
MRS. GOBINEAU
(kindly)
Come, come! You must not behave like that.
MR. GOBINEAU
Ask her something.
MRS. NOLAN
(timidly)
Doodly ... is it you?
MONICA
(after a pause)
Yes.
MR. GOBINEAU
Goon!
MRS. NOLAN
Doodly, is it evil what I'm doing?
MONICA
(after a pause)
No.

MNICA
Madre, madre! Ests ah?
Madre, madre! Ests ah?
SRA. GOBINEAU
(excitada)
Sra. Nolan, debe ser su hija!...
SRA. NOLAN
Oh! Oh!
SR. GOBINEAU
Hblele! Hblele!
No la puede ver! La est buscando!
No tenga miedo, no tenga miedo!
SRA. NOLAN
(sollozando)
No... No puedo!
SRA. GOBINEAU
(amablemente)
Vamos, vamos, no debe comportarse as!
SR. GOBINEAU
Pregntele algo.

MR. GOBINEAU
You must not be so afraid! Ask her something else.

SRA. NOLAN
(tmidamente)
Doodly... Eres t?

MRS. NOLAN
(lovingly)
Doodly, Doodly, are you happy?

MNICA
(luego de una pausa)
S.

MONICA
Yes, mother, I am happy.

SR. GOBINEAU
Contine!

MRS. NOLAN
Doodly, Doodly, are you near your father?

SRA. NOLAN
Doodly, est mal lo que estoy haciendo?

MONICA
Yes, mother, I can see him.

MNICA
(luego de una pausa)

No.
MRS. NOLAN
(desperately)
Doodly, Doodly, why did you leave me?
MONICA
Mother! Mother! Are you so unhappy?
MRS. NOLAN
(with shaking voice)
I ... I'm very much alone.
(She bursts into tears)
MONICA
(with great tenderness)
Mummy, Mummy dear, you must not cry for me.
I'm still with you.
What is death but a sweeter change,
There's no parting, there's no end.
Mummy, Mummy dear,
Your sorrow's like a wound that keeps me awake.
The earth is light, the roots are sweet;
But the tears of those we love are heavy and bitter rain.
Mummy, my darling, when you go home,
Go to my room and bum my old gloves.
Bum all my schoolbooks,
Give away my dresses,
Give away my necklace.
Bum, bum, give away, give away,
And promise me never to cry again.
Mummy, Mummy dear, oh, let me sleep in peace,
My night is long.
Forget, forget my grave,
Let the silent grass clothe my bones.
Bum all my shoes,
Give away my bracelets.
Burn, bum, give away, give away.
Keep for yourself only the little gold locket.
MRS. NOLAN
(bewildered)
The gold locket? Which locket?
I have no locket.
MONICA
(begins to disappear little by little)
Mother, mother, are you there?
Mother, mother, are you there?
(dying away)
MRS. NOLAN
I don't understand.
Doodly, Doodly, don't go away.
Oh, please stop her!

SR. GOBINEAU
No debe tener miedo! Pregntele algo ms!
SRA. NOLAN
(amorosamente)
Doodly, Doodly, eres feliz?
MNICA
S, madre, soy feliz.
SRA. NOLAN
Doodly, Doodly! Ests cerca de tu padre?
MNICA
S, madre, puedo verlo.
SRA. NOLAN
(desesperadamente)
Doddly, Doodly, por qu me abandonaste?
MNICA
Madre! Madre! Tan triste ests?
SRA. NOLAN
(con voz temblorosa)
Yo... Yo estoy muy sola.
(Estalla en lgrimas)
MNICA
(con gran ternura)
Mami, querida mami, no tienes que llorar por
m.
Todava estoy contigo.
Qu es la muerte sino un dulce cambio?
No hay partida, no hay final.
Mami, querida mami, tu pena es
como una herida que me mantiene despierta.
La tierra es luz, las races son dulces;
pero las lgrimas de los que amamos
son pesada y amarga lluvia.
Mami, querida mami, cuando vayas a casa,
ve a mi cuarto y quema mis viejos guantes.
Quema mis libros de escuela,
regala mis vestidos, regala mi collar,
Quema, quema, regala, regala!
Y promteme no volver a llorar nunca.
Mami, querida mami, djame dormir en paz,
mi noche es larga.
Olvida, olvida mi tumba,
deja que el silencioso csped arrope mis huesos.
Quema mis zapatos,
regala mis pulseras.
Quema, quema, regala, regala!

Qudate slo con el pequeo relicario de oro.

(almost screaming)
Doodly' Doodly!
(Monica completely disappears. Mrs. Nolan rushes
toward the vanishing figure, but Mrs. Gobineau
restrains her and leads her back to her chair)
MRS. GOBINEAU
(spoken)
No! No! You mustn't... Sit down!

SRA. NOLAN
(perpleja)
El relicario de oro? Qu relicario?
No tengo un relicario!
MNICA
(comienza a desaparecer poco a poco)
Madre, madre! Ests ah?
Madre, madre! Ests ah?
(desvanecindose)

MR. GOBINEAU
(spoken)
Silence, please!
MRS. GOBINEAU
Yes, dear, yes.
I know, I know.
But you must keep calm.
Come, come, sit down. there'
MRS. NOLAN
But I must speak to her...
I must ask her to explain. Please let me...
MR. GOBINEAU
Silence!
You will wake her. Hold on to yourself, Mrs. Nolan.
Silence, silence, please!
Will you please be silent!

SRA. NOLAN
No entiendo...
Doodly, Doodly, no te vayas!
Oh, detnganla por favor!
(casi gritando)
Doodly! Doodly!
(Mnica desaparece. La Sra. Nolan intenta
precipitarse sobre la figura pero el Sr.
Gobineau
la contiene y la conduce de vuelta a la mesa)
SRA. GOBINEAU
(hablado)
No! No! No debe... Sintese!

(Mrs. Nolan continues sobbing for a little while.

Baba sighs deeply, making a little moan)

SR. GOBINEAU
(hablado)
Silencio, por favor!

MR. GOBINEAU
(very simply, almost mechanically)
Send my son to me.
Please send my son to me.

SRA. GOBINEAU
S, querido, s... Lo s, lo s...
Pero debe mantenerse calmada...
Venga, venga, sintese... As!

(Monica is heard simulating a peal of childish laughter.

Their faces suddenly animated with joyful anticipation,
the Gobineaus look about them, as if trying to discover
the direction of the laughter Mrs. Nolan seems startled
and frightened by the sound)

SRA. NOLAN
Pero tengo que hablarle...
Tengo que pedirle que me explique...
Por favor, djenme!...

MR. GOBINEAU
(spoken)
Is that you, Mickey? Hello, Mickey'

SR. GOBINEAU
Silencio! La despertarn...
Contngase, Sra. Nolan...
Silencio, silencio, por favor!
Se quedarn calladas, por favor!

MRS. GOBINEAU
(after a long pause, spoken)
Hello, darling! My darling!
You sound so near to-night!

(La Sra. Nolan contina sollozando por unos

momentos. Baba emite un pequeo gemido)
SR. GOBINEAU

MR. GOBINEAU
Yes, so near.
MRS. GOBINEAU
I can almost feel him.
MR. GOBINEAU
Oh, he is going away now.
(The laughter dies away little by little)
MRS. GOBINEAU
Good by, my sweet, kiss me.
(Smiling, her eyes closed, Mrs. Gobineau lifts her face
as if to receive the kisses of her ghostly child)
MR. GOBINEAU
We'll be back soon.
(Complete silence. There is a long pause. Suddenly,
with a loud gasp, Baba clutches at her throat with
both hands)
BABA
What is it? Who is it?
Who is there?
(Baba gets up suddenly, throwing her chair back and
turns on the light. She looks terror- stricken at her
clients, then runs wildly to the top of the stairwell
and looks down, then runs back. The clients look at
each other in great amazement and whisper among
themselves)
BABA
(terror-stricken)
Who touched me?
MR. GOBINEAU
(bewildered)
What do you mean?
BABA
I said, who touched me?
THE CLIENTS
I don't know,
But why be afraid?
There is nothing strange about that.
It often happened before.
MRS. NOLAN
I just don't see what's strange about that!
BABA

(Casi mecnicamente)
Enveme a mi hijo...
Por favor enveme a mi hijo!
(Se escucha a Mnica simulando una risa
infantil.
Animados sus rostros con alegre anticipacin,
los
Gobineau se miran, como tratando de descubrir
de dnde proviene la risa. La Sra. Nolan parece
alarmada y asustada por el sonido)
SR. GOBINEAU
(hablado)
Eres t, Mickey?... Hola, Mickey!
SRA. GOBINEAU
(Tras una larga pausa, hablando)
Hola, querido! Querido mo!
Se te escucha tan cerca esta noche!
SR. GOBINEAU
S, muy cerca.
SRA. GOBINEAU
Casi puedo sentirlo.
SR. GOBINEAU
Oh, ahora se est yendo!
(La risa se desvanece poco a poco)
SRA. GOBINEAU
Adis, ricura, dame un beso!
(Con los ojos cerrados, la Sra. Gobineau alza
su rostro para recibir los besos de su nio)
SR. GOBINEAU
Volveremos pronto!
(Completo silencio. Hay una larga pausa.
Repentinamente, con un fuerte jadeo, Baba se
aferra de la garganta con ambas manos)
BABA
Qu es? Quin es?
Quin est ah?
(Baba se pone en pie, derribando su silla. Las
luces se encienden. Mira como golpeada por el
terror a sus clientes; corre precipitadamente
hacia la escalera y mira hacia abajo, luego
vuelve
corriendo. Los clientes se miran asombrados y
susurran entre ellos)

(trembling with fear)

No, no, you don't understand.
A hand touched me in the dark.
MR. GOBINEAU
Oh, yes, that has often happened to me.
MRS. GOBINEAU
(tenderly)
Me too,
I always feel Mickey's hand on my hair.
BABA
It couldn't be. I can't understand.
MR. GOBINEAU
You're not afraid, are you?
BABA
Go home, leave me alone.
Can't you see? I'm not feeling well.
Go home, leave me alone.
(stamping on the floor with sudden fury)
Get out!
Get out!
(Mr. and Mrs. Gobineau and Mrs. Nolan get their
coats hurriedly and then begin slowly to file out)
THE CLIENTS
But why be afraid, afraid of our dead?

BABA
(Aterrorizada)
Quin me ha tocado?
SR. GOBINEAU
(perplejo)
Qu quiere decir?
BABA
He dicho que quin me ha tocado!
LOS CLIENTES
No lo s.
Pero por qu tiene miedo?
No hay nada de extrao en eso,
ha sucedido otras muchas veces.
SRA. NOLAN
No veo qu hay de extrao en eso!
BABA
(temblando de miedo)
No, no, no lo entienden.
Una mano me toc en la oscuridad.
SR. GOBINEAU
Oh, s, eso me ha sucedido a m
frecuentemente.
SRA. GOBINEAU
(tiernamente)
A m tambin, siempre que noto
las manos de Mickey en mi cabello.

(They all disappear down the stairwell. At the

slamming of the door downstairs, Monica runs
out from stage right, still wrapped in veils)

BABA
No puede ser... No comprendo...

MONICA
Baba, what has happened?

SR. GOBINEAU
No tendr miedo, verdad?

BABA
(whispered)
Give me something to drink.

BABA
Vyanse, djenme sola!
No se dan cuenta?... No me siento bien.
Marchnse a casa, djenme sola!

(Monica goes to the cupboard and pours out a

drink. Baba is shaking all over)
Monica.
MONICA
Yes...
BABA
We must never do this again.

(pateando el suelo, con sbita furia)

Vyanse!
Vyanse!
(Los tres clientes toman sus abrigos
rpidamente y comienzan a salir)
LOS CLIENTES
Por qu tener miedo de nuestros muertos?

(Baba drinks)
MONICA
But what has happened?
BABA
Monica.
MONICA
Yes.
BABA
We must give them their money back.
MONICA
(surprised)
But why?
BABA
Why? Didn't you see?
While I was still pretending to be in a trance,
All of a sudden in the dark
I felt on my throat a hand
A cold, cold hand.
It wasn't the hand of a man.
Monica, I'm afraid!
MONICA
Baba, Baba, you're imagining things'
You've been drinking again.
What else could it be?
BABA
No, no... no, it was there.
I felt on my skin... ev'ry finger... see. like this!
Monica, Monica, I'm afraid!
Yes, I'm afraid!
Where is Toby?
(She draws the curtains of the puppet theatre,
revealing Toby, motionless, as If in a trance)
He! He's the one!
(Toby starts)
I know now'
He did it!
Yes, yes... he did it!
MONICA
Ah, Baba, Baba, leave him alone!
Youre drunk again!
BABA
I can read it in his eyes.

(Desaparecen por la escalera. Cuando se

escucha
cerrarse la puerta, Mnica entra corriendo aun
envuelta en velos)
MNICA
Baba, qu ha pasado?
BABA
(susurrado)
Dame algo de beber.
(Mnica se dirige al aparador y le sirve una
bebida. Todo el cuerpo de Baba est temblando)
Mnica...
MNICA
S...
BABA
Nunca ms tenemos que hacer esto.
(Baba bebe)
MNICA
Pero qu ha sucedido?
BABA
Mnica...
MNICA
S...
BABA
Debemos devolverles su dinero.
MNICA
(sorprendida)
Por qu?
BABA
Por qu? No viste?
Mientras pretenda estar en trance,
de pronto, en la oscuridad,
sent una mano en mi garganta.
Una mano fra, muy fra.
No era la mano de un hombre.
Mnica, tengo miedo!
MNICA
Baba, Baba ests imaginando cosas!
Has estado bebiendo otra vez.
Qu otra cosa podra ser?

Look at him!
The way he grins at me. He knows, he knows.
(Baba drags him out of the puppet theatre)
He did it to frighten me.
(to Toby)

BABA
No, no!... No, estaba ah!...
Sent sobre mi piel... cada dedo... ves... as!
Mnica, Mnica, tengo miedo!
S, tengo mucho miedo!
Dnde est Toby?
(descorre el teln del teatro de tteres y
aparece Toby, inmvil, como en trance)

Isn't it true?
l! l es!
MONICA
Nonsense'
(She tries to tear Baba away from Toby, who
is crouched on the floor trembling with fear)
BABA
It was you who touched me'
MONICA
Oh!
BABA
It was you' It was you!
He knows... he knows...
Ah! A helpless thing!

(Toby reacciona)
Ahora lo s!
Lo hizo l!
S, s!... Lo hizo l!
MNICA
Oh, Baba, Baba, djalo tranquilo!
Ests borracha otra vez!
BABA
Puedo leer en sus ojos.
Mralo!
La forma en que me sonre... l sabe, l sabe!
(Baba lo arrastra fuera del teatro de tteres)

MONICA
O, Baba, stop tormenting him!
You know he is such a helpless thing.

Lo hizo para asustarme!

(a Toby)

BABA
Just because he cannot speak
We take him for a half-wit,
But he knows a great deal.
He knows much more than we think.
There is something uncanny about him.
He sees things we don't see.
Get up' Get up!
MONICA
Come, Baba'
Come, Baba!
BABA
I tell you, don't trust him!
I warn you - keep away from him'
Beware of him! Beware'
(Monica draws her away from Toby. She sits down,
and Baba lies at her feet, her head on Monica's lap)
MONICA
Come, Baba. Come, Baba.

No es verdad?
MNICA
Tonteras!
(Trata de apartar a Baba de Toby, que est en
cuclillas en el suelo, temblando de miedo)
BABA
Fuiste t quien me toc!
MNICA
Oh!
BABA
Fuiste t! Fuiste t!
l sabe!... l sabe!...
Ah, esta piltrafa!
MNICA
Oh, Baba, no lo atormentes ms!
Sabes que es desvalido...

(Monica begins gently to rock Baba)

The sun has fallen and it lies in blood.
(Toby, already obvious of what has happened, takes
an old tambourine from under the couch, and lying
on the floor, accompanies the tune with soft taps on
the instrument)

BABA
Ya s que porque no pueda hablar,
no debo tomarlo por retardado.
Pero sabe demasiado.
Sabe mucho ms de lo que pensamos.
Hay algo pavoroso en l.
Ve cosas que nosotros no vemos.
Levntate! Levntate!

The moon is weaving bandages of gold.

O black swan, where, oh, where is my lover gone?
Torn and tattered is my bridal gown,
And my lamp is lost, and my lamp is lost.
With silver needles and with silver thread,
The stars stitch a shroud for the dying sun.
O black swan, where, oh, where has my lover gone?
I had given him a kiss of fire,
And a golden ring,
Don't you hear your lover moan?
Eyes of glass and feet of stone,
Shells for teeth and weeds for tongue,
Deep, deep, down in the river's bed
He's looking for the ring.
Eyes wide open, never asleep,
He's looking for the ring, looking for the ring.
The spools unravel and the needles break.

MNICA
Vamos, Baba!
Vamos, Baba!

MONICA, BABA
The sun is buried and the stars weep.
O black wave, take me away with you.
I will share with you my golden hair,
And my bridal crown, and my bridal crown.
Oh, take me down with you.
Take me down to my wand'ring lover
With my child unborn,
With my child unborn.

El sol ha cado y yace en sangre...

VOICE
(off-stage)
Mother, mother, are you there?
Mother, mother, are you there?
BABA
Sh!
Listen, listen.
MONICA
What?
(laughter is heard)
BABA
Can't you hear?
(Monica shakes her head)

BABA
Te lo digo, no confes en l!
Te prevengo aprtate de l!
Cuidado con l! Cuidado!
(Mnica la aparta de Toby, se sienta, y Baba
yace
a sus pies con la cabeza en el regazo de Mnica)
MNICA
Ven, Baba!
(Mnica comienza a acunar a Baba)

(Toby, habiendo ya olvidado lo sucedido,

toma una vieja pandereta de debajo del canap
y, acostado en el suelo, acompaa la cancin
con suaves golpes del instrumento)
La luna est tejiendo vendas de oro.
Oh, negro cisne! A dnde se fue mi amante?
Rasgado y andrajoso est mi vestido de novia,
y mi lmpara est perdida, perdida.
Con agujas e hilo de plata,
la estrella teje una mortaja para el moribundo
sol.
Oh, negro cisne! A dnde se fue mi amante?
Le he dado un beso de fuego,
y un dorado anillo.
No escuchas gemir a tu amante?
Ojos de vidrio y pies de piedra,
conchas por dientes y hierbas por lengua,
profundo, profundo, bajo el lecho del ro
est buscando tu dorado anillo.
Ojos bien abiertos, nunca durmiendo,
est buscando el anillo, el anillo.
Los carretes se desenredan y las agujas se
rompen.
MNICA, BABA
El sol est enterrado y las estrellas lloran.

MONICA
Again you're imagining things.
BABA
No, no, I'm sure I heard a voice like yours.
Someone must be hiding back there.
Toby, go back and see who it is.
MONICA
Baba, don't be foolish, Nobody's there!
BABA
(to Toby)
Go on, go on.
(Toby runs out)
MONICA
What has come over you, Baba?
I've never seen you like this.

Oh, negra onda, llvame contigo!

Compartir contigo mi cabello dorado
y mi corona nupcial, mi corona nupcial.
Oh, llvame a las profundidades contigo!
Llvame a las profundidades
con mi errante amante, con mi nio nonato,
con mi nio nonato.
VOZ
(Fuera de escena)
Madre, madre! Ests ah?
Madre, madre! Ests ah?
BABA
Shhhhh!
Escucha, escucha!...
MNICA
Qu?
(se escucha rer)

BABA
We are not alone! We are not alone!
He's coming' He's running back.
(Toby reappears in the doorway After staring at
him in silence Baba says)
Did you see anything?
(Toby shakes his head)
MONICA
I told you, I told you there is nobody there.
BABA
(to Toby)
You're lying! You don't want to tell me.
Liar! liar!
MONICA
Baba, stop it!

BABA
No oyes?
(Mnica niega con la cabeza)
MNICA
De nuevo ests imaginando cosas.
BABA
No, no, estoy segura que escuch una voz!
Alguien tiene que estar escondido all abajo!
Toby, mira qu hay ah debajo!
MNICA
Baba, no seas tonta. No hay nadie ah!
BABA
(a Toby)
Ve, ve!
(Toby sale corriendo escaleras abajo)

BABA
Oh, God, what is happening to me?
What is this darkness?

MNICA
Qu te sucede, Baba?
Nunca te he visto as.

(forcing Toby to h is knees)

Kneel down, kneel down,
and pray God to save our souls.

BABA
No estamos solas! No estamos solas!
Viene! Ya vuelve corriendo!

(Toby kneels down; Baba fetches the rosary

and sits as before, mumbling at Monica's feet)

(Toby reaparece en el umbral. Luego de

observarlo en silencio Baba le dice:)

BABA

Viste algo?

(mechanically, in a deep voice)

Ave Maria, gratia plena,
Dominus tecum etc.
Sancta Maria, Mater Dei etc.
MONICA
Ah, The moon is weaving bandages of gold.
A black wave,
A black wave,
Take me down with you,
Take me down with you.
(Baba suddenly stops praying. Child's laughter is
heard as Baba hides her head in Monicas lap)

(Toby niega con la cabeza)

MNICA
Ya te dije que no hay nadie ah!
BABA
(a Toby)
Ests mintiendo! No me lo quieres decir...
Mentiroso! Mentiroso!
MNICA
Baba, basta!
BABA
Oh, Dios, qu me est pasando?
Qu es esta oscuridad?

ACT II

(forzando a Toby a arrodillarse)

(Same setting as Act I. Evening, a few days later.

Monica is sitting in front of the puppet theatre
watching a performance. The puppets have
fallen in a heap. Toby comes out to acknowledge
Monica's applause)

Arrodllate y reza a Dios

para salvar nuestras almas!

MONICA
Bravo'
And after the theatre, supper and dance.
Music!
Um-pa-pa, um-pa-pa,

BABA
(automticamente, con voz profunda)
Ave Maria, gratia plena,
Dominus tecum, etc...
Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, etc.

(During this song, Toby, barefooted. dances

about the stage)

MNICA
Oh, la luna est tejiendo vendas de oro!
Oh, negra onda!
Oh, negra onda!
Llvame a las profundidades contigo!
Llvame a las profundidades contigo!

Up in the sky
Some-one is playing a trombone and a guitar.
Red is your tie.
And in your velvetine coat you hide a star.
Monica, Monica, dance the waltz.
Monica, Monica, dance the waltz.
Follow me, moon and sun,
Keep time with me, one two three one.
If you're not shy,
Pin up my hair with your star, and buckle my shoe.
And when you fly,
Please hold on tight to my waist,
I'm flying with you.
O, Monica, Monica, dance the waltz.
Monica, Monica, dance the waltz.
Follow me, moon and sun,
Follow me.
(Toby seizes Monica abruptly by the arm She turns
and looks at him in complete astonishment)

(Toby se arrodilla; Baba busca el rosario y

se sienta murmurando a los pies de Mnica)

(Baba deja de rezar. Se oye una risa infantil y

Baba esconde su cabeza en el regazo de
Mnica)

ACTO II
(Mismo decorado que en el Acto I. Noche, unos
das despus. Mnica est sentada frente al
teatro
de tteres presenciando una funcin. Los tteres
han cado formando un montn. Toby sale para
recibir el aplauso de Mnica)

What is the matter, Toby?

What is it you want to tell me?
(He looks at her in desperation, and gently touches
her face. Monica begins to understand)
Kneel down before me,
(Toby kneels)
And now, tell me...
(She kneels behind Toby, as if the words were coming
from him, and makes Toby look up as if she were still
standing in front of him. With slightly exaggerated
pathos she says:)
Monica, Monica, can't you see,
That my heart is bleeding, bleeding for you?
I loved you, Monica, all my life,
With all my breath, with all my blood.
You haunt the mirror of my sleep, You are my night.
You are my light and the jailer of my day.
(Quickly she gets up and stands before him)
How dare you, scoundrel, talk to me like that!
Don't you know who I am?
I'm the Queen of Aroundel!
I shall have you put in chains!
(She kneels behind him again. Toby, falling in
with the game, mimics her words with gestures)
You are my princess, you are my queen,
And I'm only Toby, one of your slaves,
And still I love you and always loved you
With all my breath, with all my blood.
I love your laughter, I love your hair,
I love your deep and nocturnal eyes.
I love your soft hands, so white and winged,
I love the slender branch of your throat.
(She stands up before him)
Toby, don't speak to me like that'
You make my head swim.
(She runs behind Toby)
Monica, Monica, fold me in your satin gown.
Monica, Monica, give me your mouth,
Monica, Monica, fall in my arms.
(Toby suddenly hides his face m his arms.

MNICA
Bravo!
Y despus del teatro, cena y baile.
Msica!
Um-pa-pa, um-pa-pa...
(durante la cancin, Toby, descalzo, baila por
el escenario)
Arriba, en el cielo,
alguien est tocando una guitarra y un trombn.
Roja es tu corbata
y en tu aterciopelado traje escondes una estrella.
Mnica, Mnica, baila el vals!
Mnica, Mnica, baila el vals!
Seguidme, luna y sol!
Mantened el ritmo conmigo... uno, dos, tres,
uno!
Si no sois tmidos,
levantadme el pelo con una estrella
y preparadme los zapatos.
Y cuando regresis, por favor, tomadme fuerte
por la cintura y volar con vosotros!
Oh, Mnica, Mnica, baila el vals!
Mnica, Mnica, baila el vals!
Seguidme, luna y sol!
Seguidme!
(Toby aferra abruptamente a Mnica del brazo.
Ella se vuelve y lo mira completamente atnita)
Qu pasa, Toby?
Qu es lo que me quieres decir?
(l la mira desesperado y le toca la cara
con dulzura. Mnica comienza a entender)
Arrodllate ante m.
(Toby se arrodilla)
Y ahora, dime...
(Se arrodilla detrs de Toby, como si las
palabras
vinieran de l, y obliga a Toby a mirar como si
ella todava estuviera de pie frente a l. Con
dramatismo ligeramente exagerado ella dice:)
Mnica, Mnica, no puedes ver que mi corazn
est sangrando, sangrando por ti?
Te he amado, Mnica, toda mi vida,
con todo mi aliento, con toda mi sangre.
T hechizas el espejo de mi sueo,
eres mi noche, mi luz y la carcelera de mi da.

Monica stares at him, completely bewildered)

(rpidamente se sita frente a l)

Why, Toby!
You're not crying, are you?

Cmo osas, bribn, a hablarme de esa manera!

No sabes quin soy?
Soy la Reina de Aroundel!
Har que te encadenen!

(She caresses his head. Then lifting his tearstained

face, looks into his eyes. With great tenderness she
says:)
Toby, I want you to know that you have
the most beautiful voice in the world'
(A door slams. Baba is heard dragging herself up the
stairs. Monica runs out, Into her room. Toby crouches
In the corner. Baba appears, dark, dishevelled, a bottle
in her hand)
BABA
Where is Monica'

(Se arrodilla de nuevo tras de Toby que

hace mmica con lo que ella dice)
Eres mi princesa, eres mi reina,
y yo slo soy Toby, uno de tus esclavos!
Te amo y siempre te amar,
con todo mi aliento, con toda mi sangre.
Amo tu risa, amo tu pelo;
amo tus profundos ojos oscuros;
amo tus manos suaves, tan blancas y ligeras;
amo la delgada rama de tu garganta.
(Se sita frente a l)

(Toby points to the door at the right Baba takes off

her large shawl and sits meditatively at the table.
With strained affection she says)
Toby, what are you doing'
Come here, Toby.
I want to talk to you.
(Toby begins to crawl toward her, but very
hesitatingly, with apparent misgivings)
Come, come near me.
What are you afraid of?
Come, come nearer, this way.

Toby, no me hables de esa manera!

Haces que mi cabeza flote.
(Corre detrs de Toby)
Mnica, envulveme con tu vestido de satn!
Mnica, Mnica, entrgame tu boca!
Mnica, Mnica, cae en mis brazos!
(Repentinamente Toby esconde su cara entre sus
brazos. Mnica lo mira, totalmente perpleja)
Por qu, Toby?
No estars llorando? Verdad?

(She takes his head in her lap)

(with calculated tenderness)
Toby, you know that I love you
As if you were my own son.
I'm often harsh with you, that's true.
Still, still, if it hadn't been for me,
Where would you be now?
I found you, a little starving gypsy,
Roaming the streets of Budapest
Without a tongue to speak your hunger.
If I hadn't taken you with me,
Who would have cared for you, poor little half-wit?
And now, listen, now we must be good friends.
I'll never punish you, never, never again,
And I will buy you a new shirt
Of bright red silk and a golden scarf.
(freely)

(Ella acaricia su cabeza. Luego, alzando su

cara baada por las lgrimas, lo mira a los
ojos hablndole con gran ternura:)
Toby, quiero que sepas que tienes la voz
ms bella del mundo!
(Una puerta se cierra. Baba sube por las
escaleras. Mnica huye a su cuarto. Toby se
coloca en un rincn, en cuclillas. Baba aparece,
tensa, desgreada, con una botella en las
manos)
BABA
Dnde est Mnica?
(Toby seala la puerta de la derecha. Baba
se quita el gran chal y toma asiento, meditativa,
mientras que con forzado afecto dice)

But first you must tell me.

Were you the one who touched my throat?
You know, at the seance a few days ago...
Don't be afraid of telling me.
I won't punish you.
I just want to know, that is all.

Toby, qu ests haciendo?

Ven ac, Toby.
Quiero hablar contigo.

(very winningly)
Just tell me, yes, or no.

Ven, ven a mi lado.

De qu tienes miedo?
Ven, ven ms cerca, por ac.

(after a long pause)

(Ella coloca la cabeza del chico en su regazo)

Come, don't be afraid, yes, or no

(Con ternura calculada)

(making great efforts to contain herself)

Toby, sabes que te amo como a un hijo.

Es cierto que frecuentemente soy
bastante desagradable contigo,
pero si no hubiera sido por m,
dnde estaras ahora?
Te encontr, pequeo gitanillo hambriento,
vagando por las calles de Budapest
sin una lengua con que expresar tu hambre.
Si no te hubiera llevado conmigo,
quin se hubiera ocupado de ti, pequeo bobo?
Escucha... ahora debemos ser buenos amigos.
Nunca ms te castigar, nunca ms.
Te voy a comprar una camisa nueva
de brillante seda roja y una bufanda dorada.

I know it anyway, but show me how you did it.

Come on, wake up, wake up, I say, damn you'
(She suddenly springs up with rage. Then she sinks
back into her chair, regretting her outburst)
You see, you make me angry,
And I want to be your friend.
Now tell me, my sweet, my own little Toby,
Did you touch me that night?
You like that bolt of red silk, don't you?
Would you like to have it?
All you have to make is one little sign,
And they will be yours.
(gently)
It was you who touched me, wasn't it?
Perhaps it was not you after all.
Perhaps it was something else.
Something I couldn't see'
But you know, you saw it'
I can read it in your eyes!
Come on, say yes, or no'
Stop staring at me!
(Toby tries to run away, she grabs him by
his shirt and tears it off his back)

(Toby comienza a gatear hacia ella, pero

dudando, con aparente desconfianza)

(libremente)
Pero primero debes decirme
fuiste t el que toc mi garganta?
Ya sabes... en la sesin de hace unos das...
No tengas miedo de decrmelo.
No te castigar.
Slo quiero saberlo, eso es todo.
(muy persuasiva)
Slo dime, s o no.
(luego de una larga pausa)
Vamos, no tengas miedo... S o no!

Don't go away!
You see, you're making me angry again!
(with mounting excitement)
You love Monica, don't you?
How would you like to marry her?
Yes, you could, you could.
But first you must tell me, did you have anything to do
With what happened that night?

(haciendo un gran esfuerzo por contenerse)

Yo lo s, pero mustrame cmo lo hiciste.
Vamos, despirtate, maldito seas!
(Se pone en pie rabiosa. Luego vuelve a
sumergirse en su silla, lamentando su impulso)
Ves, me hiciste enojar,

Did you see anything?

A light? A shape?
Wake up!
Did you?
Stop staring at me!
Did you?
(With uncontrolled fury)
Ah, so!
You don't want to answer.
You're trying to frighten me.
I'll show you, damn little gypsy,
(She goes to cupboard and brings out a long
whip. Toby runs away from her in terror)
Ill make you talk!
I'll make you talk!
You cannot get away from me!
(She chases him around the table)
Ill make you spit out blood, I will.

y yo quiero ser tu amiga.

Ahora dime, ricura, mi pequeo Toby,
me tocaste aquella noche?
Te gusta esa pieza de seda roja, no?
Te gustara tenerla?
Todo lo que tienes que hacer es un pequeo
gesto,
y ser tuya.
(amable)
Fuiste t quien me toc, no es cierto?
Quizs no fuiste t despus de todo...
Quizs fue algo ms...
Algo que yo no pude ver?
Pero t sabes, lo viste!
Puedo leerlo en tus ojos!
Vamos, di s o no!
Deja de mirarme!
(Toby trata de escapar; ella lo aferra de la
camisa desgarrndosela)
No te vayas!
Ves, me has hecho enojar otra vez!

(Toby trips and falls near the couch)

(con excitacin creciente)
I'll make you spit out blood'
So you won't answer, eh!
(She whips him)
So you won't answer, eh!
(The doorbell rings repeatedly and very loudly. Baba
suddenly realises that the doorbell is ringing. She
stands still for a moment, panting hoarsely, then
walks haltingly to stage left and rings the buzzer.
Monica runs in from stage right)
MONICA
Ah, Baba, what did you do to him?

Amas a Mnica, no es cierto?

Te gustara casarte con ella?
S, t puedes, tu puedes.
Pero antes debes decirme,
tuviste algo que ver con lo que pas esa noche?
Viste algo?
Una luz? Una silueta?
Despierta!
Viste algo?
Deja de mirarme as!
Viste algo?
(con furia descontrolada)

(She comforts Toby. Mr. and Mrs. Gobineau and Mrs.

Nolan come up the stairs. They stop rather surprised
on the landing)

Ah, est bien!

As que no quieres responder?
Ests tratando de asustarme.
Vas a saber quien soy yo, maldito gitanito!

MRS. GOBINEAU, MRS. NOLAN

Good evening, Madame Flora.

(Va hacia el aparador y extrae un ltigo.

Toby se le aparta aterrorizado)

MR. GOBINEAU
Good evening.

Te har hablar!
Te har hablar!
No te escapars!

BABA
What do you want?

(lo persigue alrededor de la mesa)

MR. AND MRS. GOBINEAU

Isn't this the night of the seance?

Te har escupir sangre, s, lo har!

(Toby tropieza y cae cerca del canap)

BABA
The seance?
Yes, yes, I'm glad you came.
I've something to tell you, come in.

Te har escupir sangre!

No me respondes, eh?
(le pega con el ltigo)

(The three clients advance into the room)

No me respondes, eh?
There will be no more seances.
There is your money.
(She brusquely throws a wad of money on the table)
MRS. NOLAN
No more seances?
MR. GOBINEAU
What do you mean?
BABA
Listen to me!
There never was a seance!
I cheated you'
Do you understand?
Cheated you, cheated you'
THE CLIENTS
How could it be?
It isn't true, you must not say so!
MRS. NOLAN
I clearly saw my daughter,
I saw her, with my own eyes!
MR. AND MRS. GOBINEAU
And little Mickey, laughing, touching my hair!
BABA
Nothing but a fraud,
I can prove it to you.

(el timbre suena varias veces, muy fuerte.

Baba repentinamente se da cuenta y se detiene
jadeando, luego camina vacilante y pulsa el
portero elctrico. Mnica entra corriendo por
la derecha)
MNICA
Oh, Baba! Qu le has hecho?
(Mnica calma a Toby. Los Gobineau y la Sra.
Nolan aparecen en lo alto de las escaleras y se
detienen sorprendidos)
SRA GOBINEAU, SRA. NOLAN
Buenas noches, Madame Flora!
SR. GOBINEAU
Buenas noches!
BABA
Qu quieren?
SR. Y SRA GOBINEAU
No es hoy la noche de la sesin?
BABA
La sesin?
S, s, me alegra que hayan venido.
Tengo algo que decirles, pasen.
(Los tres clientes entran)

(She goes to the puppet theatre and pulls the cables

which levitate the table and control the lamp)

No habr ms sesiones.
Aqu est su dinero.

Look here, the lights, the wires to make the table move.
The hidden microphone.

(arroja un fajo de dinero sobre la mesa)

MRS. NOLAN
(intensely)
Oh, no! I saw my daughter, I saw her!
BABA
Your daughter, here she is!
Cheap white gauze, nothing else.

SRA, NOLAN
Qu no habr ms sesiones?
SR. GOBINEAU
Qu quiere decir?
BABA
Escchenme!

MRS. NOLAN
But I spoke to her.
BABA
Monica, Monica, let her hear your voice, show her.
MONICA
(reluctantly)
"Mother, mother, are you there'
Mother, mother, are you there?"
MRS. NOLAN
Oh, no, no, no, that isn't the same voice!
BABA
And do the little boy laughing.
(Monica imitates the peals of childish laughter
as in the first Act)
MRS. GOBINEAU
(with desperate determination)
Oh, no' You know that isn't the same!
BABA
You fools!
What more proofs do you want?
MRS. NOLAN
Not to know my own daughter's voice!
Could that be' Could that be'
MR. AND MRS. GOBINEAU
Not to know little Mickey's touch'
Could that be? Could that be?
THE CLIENTS
O, no, no, it wasn't a fraud!
What you said is not the truth!
BABA
What? You don't believe me'
MRS. NOLAN
I even found the little locket she talked about.
MR. AND MRS. GOBINEAU
Did you?
BABA
The locket?
Ev'rybody has some old locket.
It's an old trick; we use it on ev'ry mother!
MR. GOBINEAU

Nunca hubo una sesin!

Los enga!
Entienden?
Los enga, los enga!
LOS CLIENTES
Cmo puede ser?
No es verdad, no debe decir eso!
SRA. NOLAN
Claramente vi a mi hija!
La vi con mis propios ojos!
SR. Y SRA. GOBINEAU
Y el pequeo Mickey, riendo y tocndome!
BABA
Todo ha sido un fraude.
Puedo probrselo.
(Va hacia el teatro de tteres y tira de los cables
que elevan la mesa y controlan la lmpara)
Miren: las luces y los cables para mover la
mesa!
Y el micrfono oculto!
SRA. NOLAN
(Intensamente)
Oh, no! Yo vi a mi hija! Yo la vi!
BABA
Su hija?... sta es!
Gasa barata y nada ms!
SRA NOLAN
Pero yo le habl!
BABA
Mnica, deja que oiga tu voz!
MNICA
(reluctante)
"Madre, madre! Ests ah?
Madre, madre! Ests ah?"
SRA. NOLAN
Oh, no, no, no, no, sa no es la misma voz!
BABA
Y ahora la risa del niito!
(Mnica imita la risa infantil como en
el primer acto)
SRA GOBINEAU

(almost fiercely)
It might well be you thought
You were cheating all the while,
But you were not, you were not.
THE CLIENTS
Surely now, you won't let us down'
What would we do without your guidance?
(The three clients suddenly stand expressionless
like automatons)
Please let us have our seance,
Madame Flora'
Just let us hear it once more,
Madame Flora'
This is the only joy we have in our lives,
Madame Flora'
Our little dead are waiting for us,
Madame Flora!
You wouldn't keep us away from them would you,
Madame Flora?
Please let us have our seance,
Madame Flora'
Just let us have it once more, just once more,
Madame Flora'
BABA
You must believe me!
You must believe me!
(declaimed at a high pitch, as before)
It is foolish of you'
You must believe me!
You must!
(trying in vain to force the money into their hands)
Here is your money.
Take it! Please'
Take it'
Go to someone else!
Please! Please!
(with sudden fury)
Get out of here, get out, get out' Get out of here.
You fools' You fools!
(The Gobineaus and Mrs. Nolan greatly frightened,
disappear down the stairwell)
Fools!
Fools'

(con determinacin desesperada)

Oh, no! Usted sabe que no es la misma!
BABA
Tontos!
Cuantas pruebas ms quieren?
SRA. NOLAN
Cree que no conozco la voz de mi propia hija?
Podra ser? Podra ser?
SR. Y SRA. GOBINEAU
Que no conocemos el tacto del pequeo
Mickey?
Podra ser? Podra ser?
LOS CLIENTES
No, no fue un fraude!
Lo usted est diciendo no es verdad!
BABA
Qu? No me creen?
SRA. NOLAN
Yo encontr el relicario que ella mencion!
SR. Y SRA. GOBINEAU
Lo encontr?
BABA
El relicario? Todas tienen algn relicario!
Es un viejo truco que usamos
con todas las madres!
SR. GOBINEAU
(Casi amenazador)
Puede ser que haya pensado
que nos estaba engaando...
Pero no lo hizo!
LOS CLIENTES
No nos ir ahora a abandonar, verdad?
Qu haramos sin su gua?
(Los clientes repentinamente quedan inmviles y
sin expresin, como autmatas)
Por favor, tengamos una nueva sesin,
Madame Flora!
Djenos escuchar una vez ms,
Madame Flora!
sta es la nica alegra que tenemos en la vida,
Madame Flora!
Nuestra pequeo muerto nos espera,
Madame Flora!
No nos querr apartar de ellos, verdad,

(The door slams)

(to Toby)
And you, you too get out and never come back!
MONICA
Don't say that! Toby, so helpless!

Madame Flora?
Por favor, tengamos una nueva sesin,
Madame Flora!
Djenos tenerla una vez ms, slo una vez ms,
Madame Flora!
BABA
Deben creerme!
Deben creerme!

BABA
Yes, he must go!

(declamado en un tono alto, como antes)

MONICA
No, Baba, you cannot send him away.
You know he can't take care of himself.

Es tonto por parte de ustedes!

Deben creerme!
Deben hacerlo!

BABA
I don't care.

(trata en vano de obligarlos a tomar el dinero)

MONICA
He is hardly more than a child.
BABA
That may be, but still he must go away.
I cannot bear to see those hunted eyes.

Aqu est su dinero...

Tmenlo! Por favor!
Tmenlo!
Vayan con algn otro!
Por favor! Por favor!
(con sbita furia)

MONICA
Then let me go and take care of him!

Fuera de aqu, fuera, fuera todos de aqu!

Tontos! Tontos!

BABA
You'll do nothing of the sort'

(Los Gobineau y la Sra. Nolan, muy

atemorizados, desaparecen por la escalera)

MONICA
Yes, Baba, if he must go, I will too.

Tontos!
Tontos!

BABA
You'll do nothing of the sort!

(La puerta de abajo se cierra)

(a Toby)

MONICA
Baba!

Y t, t tambin, vete y no vuelvas nunca!

BABA
He must go!

MNICA
No digas eso! Toby... es tan indefenso.

MONICA
Baba!

BABA
S, debe irse!

BABA
He must go, go away!

MNICA
No, Baba. No puedes echarlo.
Sabes que no puede cuidar de s mismo.

MONICA
How can you be so cruel?
Poor boy'

BABA
No me importa.

BABA
Don't worry, he will take care of himself,

MNICA
l es poco ms que un nio.

He'll surely find a place where he can stay.

MONICA
Oh, please don't let him go!
BABA
I cannot bear to look at him'
I tell you he must go'
MONICA
Oh, please don't let him go!
(to Toby)
Don't go!
BABA
Yes, he must go before it is too late!
Get out, get out'
(Toby starts quickly down the stairwell)
MONICA
(shouted)
Toby'

BABA
Es posible, pero de todos modos debe irse.
No puedo soportar sus ojos de brujo.
MNICA
Entonces, yo ir con l y le cuidar.
BABA
No hars nada por el estilo!
MNICA
S, Baba, si debe irse, yo tambin lo har.
BABA
No hars nada por el estilo!
MNICA
Baba!
BABA
Debe irse!
MNICA
Baba!

(At the sound of Monica's voice, Toby stops and turns

hesitantly toward her Monica runs to him, they clasp
each other in a brief but desperate embrace. Then
Toby frees himself and disappears down the stairwell.
Monica sees the puppets lying on the floor She picks
them up)

BABA
Debe, debe irse!

BABA
Don't stand there like a fool!
Go into your room!
Leave him alone.
He'll take care of himself.

BABA
No te preocupes, sabr cuidarse.
Ya encontrar algn lugar donde quedarse.

(Monica goes into her room, banging the door Baba

is left alone on stage)
VOICE
Mother, mother, are you there?
(She stands stock-still and terror stricken)
BABA
Who's there? Is it you, Monica?

MNICA
Cmo puedes ser tan cruel?
Pobre muchacho!

MNICA
Oh, por favor, no lo eches!
BABA
No puedo soportar mirarlo!
Te lo digo, debe irse!
MNICA
Oh, por favor, no hagas que se vaya!
(a Toby)
No te vayas!

(She abruptly moves toward the bedroom. After

listening at the door, she quickly locks it, then
leans against it with a sigh of relief She begins
to walk toward the table)

BABA
S, debe irse antes de que sea demasiado tarde!
Fuera, fuera!

VOICE

(Toby comienza a bajar la escalera

Mother, mother, are you there?

rpidamente)

(At the sound of the voice, she stands frozen

She interrupts the voice with a cry)

MNICA
(gritando)
Toby!

BABA
(shouted)
Stop it!
(She goes to the cupboard and pours herself several
drinks then brings the bottle and glass to the table.
She sits down)
Afraid, am I afraid?
Madame Flora afraid!
Can it be that I'm afraid?
In my young days I have seen many terrible things!
Women screaming as they were murdered,
And men's hands dripping with blood,
And men haunted by knives.
And little grotesque children drained
White by the voraciousness of filth,
And loathsome old men insane with vice,
And young men with cankers crawling
On their flesh like hungry lizards.
This I've seen, and more, and never been afraid.
O God'
Forgive my sins, I'm sick and old.
Forgive my sins and give me peace!
What ill wind shakes my hand?
What unseen ghost stands by my side?
No, no, it cannot be the dead!
The dead... the dead.
The dead never come back.
They sink down in the dust
With no eyes to dream and no silence to keep,
A secrets to hide'
Gone, empty, nothing, nothing.

(Al or la voz de Mnica, Toby se detiene y se

vuelve dudando. Mnica corre hacia l; se
juntan
en un breve pero desesperado abrazo. Luego,
Toby se libera y desaparece escaleras abajo.
Mnica ve los tteres esparcidos por el suelo y
los recoge)
BABA
No ests ah parada como una idiota!
Ve a tu cuarto!
Djalo que se vaya.
Sabr cuidarse.
(Mnica entra en su cuarto dando un portazo.
Baba queda sola en escena)
VOZ
Madre, madre! Ests ah?
(Se detiene totalmente inmvil y aterrorizada)
BABA
Quin est ah? Eres t, Mnica?
(Va hacia el dormitorio y escucha tras la puerta.
Rpidamente la cierra con llave y se apoya
sobre
ella con un gesto de alivio. Comienza a caminar
hacia la mesa)
VOZ
Madre, madre! Ests ah?

(drowsily and a little drunkenly)

"O black swan, where,
Oh, where is my lover gone?"
(Wheeling about in her chair, she breaks
off the song with a startled cry)
Who is there?
(Her voice shaking, scarcely daring to breathe,
she stares fixedly into the darkness and listens)
"O black swan, O black swan. "
(turning again with a cry)

(Al or la voz se detiene congelada. Interrumpe

a la voz con un grito)
BABA
(gritando)
Basta!
(Se dirige al aparador y se sirve varios vasos;
luego, lleva a botella y el vaso a la mesa y se
sienta)
Miedo, tengo miedo?
Madame Flora atemorizada!
Acaso es posible que tenga miedo?
En mi juventud vi muchas cosas terribles!
Mujeres gritando cuando eran asesinadas;

What?
(After a long silence, with a sigh of relief)
Nothing, but then if there is nothing
To be afraid of why am I afraid of this nothingness?
I must forget about it, laugh at it,
Yes, laugh at it!
(She chuckles drunkenly. Little by little, her laugher
becomes wilder. Her laughter has now reached an
hysterical pitch. She suddenly stops laughing)
O God, forgive my sins,
I'm sick and old.
(She falls asleep. Toby comes up the stairwell.
Cautiously, he walks tiptoe to Monica's door. He
finds the door locked. He scratches softly on the
door. Baba stirs in her sleep, knocking the bottle
down Toby runs behind the couch, then very slowly
creeps out again Toby again tries the door. He
knocks at it, whimpering softly like an animal.
Receiving no answer, Toby runs to the trunk
and begins to rummage among the silks in search
of his tambourine. The trunk lid falls sharply.
Baba wakes up with a start. Toby hides behind
the curtain of the puppet theatre)
Who's there? Who's there?
Answer me!
Monica, Monica, is it you?
Who is it then?
If you are human, answer me!
Who is it? Who is it?

manos de hombres goteando sangre;

hombres obsesionados por las navajas;
grotescos bebs consumidos hasta la mdula
por la voracidad de la infeccin;
abominables ancianos enajenados por el vicio;
muchachos con llagas gangrenosas serpenteando
por su carne como lagartos hambrientos.
Vi eso y mucho ms, pero nunca tuve miedo!
Oh, Dios!
Perdona mis pecados, estoy vieja y enferma.
Perdona mis pecados y otrgame la paz!
Qu espectral aliento sacude mis manos?
Qu invisible fantasma est a mi lado?
No, no, no pueden ser los muertos!
Los muertos... los muertos...
Los muertos nunca vuelven,
se hunden en el polvo sin ojos,
para soar en un silencio permanente.
No tienen secretos que ocultar!
Se fueron, vacos... Sin nada, sin nada...
(Soolienta y un poco borracha)
"Oh, negro cisne!
A dnde, oh, a dnde fue mi amante?"
(Girando en su silla interrumpe el canto
con un desgarrador grito)
Quin est ah?
(Con voz temblorosa, apenas atrevindose a
respirar, mira fijamente a la oscuridad y
escucha)
"Oh negro cisne, oh negro cisne..."

(She takes a revolver out of a drawer in the table.

She says hysterically:)
Speak out or I'll shoot!
I'll shoot! I'll shoot!
Answer me' Answer me!
I'll shoot! I'll shoot!
(The curtain moves. Baba screams and fires at it
several times. Suddenly Toby's hand appears above
the curtain, as if to ward off the bullets. Then the
fingers slowly clench and the hand disappears The
curtain is now clutched tightly from inside. A spot
of blood gradually appears and runs the length of
the white cloth)
I've killed the ghost!
I've killed the ghost!
(Both of Toby's hands are now seen clutching at

(volviendo a gritar)
Quin es?
(Luego de un largo silencio, con gesto de alivio)
Nada, pero entonces, si no hay nada
por qu tener miedo?
Por qu tengo miedo de la nada?
Debo olvidarme de todo y rerme s, rerme!
(Se acurruca medio ebria. Poco a poco, su risa
se
vuelve ms salvaje, alcanzando un tono
histrico.
Sbitamente se interrumpe)
Oh, Dios, perdona mis pecados!
Estoy vieja y enferma.

the curtain. The rod breaks under his weight, and,

wrapped in the curtain, he falls headlong into the
room. Monica pounds at the door from within)
MONICA
Baba! Baba!
Let me in! Let me in!
(Baba slowly unlocks the door Monica rushes in.
Seeing Toby's body she stops short and sways as
if suddenly ill)
Oh!
(Calling in a faint, broken voice she slowly
moves toward the stairwell)
Help! Help!
(louder as she runs downstairs)
Help!
(The door slams. Baba slowly bends
over Toby)
BABA
(in a hoarse whisper)
Was it you? Was it you?
(She knells beside him, and like
a hunched spider, looks searchingly
into his unseen eyes. The curtains
fall very slowly)

(Se duerme. Toby llega por las escaleras.

Silenciosamente camina hacia la puerta de
Mnica que araa suavemente. Baba se agita
en su sueo dejando caer la botella. Toby corre
detrs del canap y luego, muy lentamente,
vuelve a hacia la puerta y la golpea muy
quedamente, lloriqueando como un animal.
Al recibir respuesta, va hacia el bal y comienza
a revolver entre las sedas en busca de su
pandereta. La tapa del bal cae bruscamente y
Baba se despierta sobresaltada. Toby corre a
esconderse tras el teln del teatro de tteres)
Quin est ah? Quin est ah?
Contstame!
Mnica, Mnica! Eres t?
Quin es?
Si eres humano, contstame!
Quin es? Quin es?
(Histrica, toma un revlver del cajn de la
mesa y dice:)
Habla o disparar!
Disparar! Disparar!
Contstame! Contstame!
Disparar! Disparar!
(El teln se mueve. Baba grita y le dispara
varias veces. La mano de Tobby aparece
entre el teln, como si quisiera defenderse de
las balas. Luego los dedos lentamente se cierran
y la mano desaparece. El teln est ahora
aferrado fuertemente desde atrs. Una mancha
de sangre aparece y va empapando la tela)
He matado al fantasma!
He matado al fantasma!
(Ahora se pueden ver las dos manos de Toby
aferrando el teln. El barral cede por su peso y,
envuelto en el teln, cae precipitadamente al
suelo. Mnica golpea la puerta desde adentro)
MNICA
Baba! Baba!
Djame salir! Djame salir!
(Baba destraba la cerradura. Mnica irrumpe
en el cuarto. Viendo el cuerpo de Toby, se
detiene
secamente y vacila, como si enfermara de
pronto)
Oh!

(llamando con una dbil y rota voz lentamente

se dirige a las escaleras)
Socorro! Socorro!
(Ms alto conforme desciende)
Socorro!
(Se oye cerrar la puerta de abajo. Baba
lentamente se inclina sobre Toby)
BABA
(en un susurro ronco)
Fuiste t? Fuiste t?
(Se arrodilla a su lado y, como una araa
deforme, mira inquisitivamente en los ojos
del muchacho, que ya no ven. El teln cae
lentamente)

Escaneado por: Boris 2010

Traducido por: Rodolfo Montenegro 2010