[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
.He went back to the front door then, and locked and double locked it.Then he called Sid."Dennis, Jesus, you should've let me know you were coming back early.How'd you get here?""Took a cab.Listen, Sid.Was anyone in here tonight?""In here? What, your suite?""Yes.I thought I saw someone from the street.""Not a soul, Dennis.I was in a couple of hours ago to straighten things up.”“Did you leave a light on?""Yeah, one of the lamps in the living room, why?""Nothing.I'm just a little jumpy, I guess."There was a pause.Then Sid asked, "You need someone to talk to?”“No, I'll be all right.I'm tired.Just want to take a bath and go to bed.""You have a good trip?" The words Did it help? were unspoken but understood."It was fine.It helped a lot.""Good.That's good.Look, if you want anything, just call.""Thanks, Sid.You're a good friend.Goodnight."Dennis hung up, turned off the lights in the living room so that just the ginger jar glowed weakly, then went into his bedroom.Not bothering to unpack, he stripped off his clothes and took a near scalding bath.He was toweling himself dry when he heard it.The sound of someone clearing his throat.A familiar sound, and Dennis knew unequivocally that whoever was in the suite was known to him.He took his robe from the hook, slipped it on, and looked around for something he could use as a weapon.The only thing at hand was a heavy antique wood hand mirror on Robin's vanity.He hefted it like a club, praying that he would not have to use it, and opened the bathroom door.He prayed too that it would not be Robin he would see, Robin staring at him with dead and accusing eyes.The thought made him shiver as he moved down the hall, coming closer to where he could see into the living room, see in the dim light who was there waiting for him.Then he rounded the corner, and saw.It wasn't Robin.~ * ~(The scene is the living room of Dennis Hamilton's suite.It is dimly lit by a single lamp.DENNIS HAMILTON stands stage right at the entrance to the hall.Beside the portrait of Dennis as the Emperor stands THE EMPEROR, dressed exactly as in the portrait.He smiles at Dennis.THE EMPERORHello, Dennis.You don't know how long I've been waiting to meet you.(The mirror falls from Dennis's hand and shatters.They stand, looking at one another.)CURTAIN.ACT II : CREATORA man's soul was his own enclosed garden, nothing could obtain admittance there without his invitation and permission.— "Naboth's Vineyard," E.F.BensonScene 1(DENNIS and THE EMPEROR are in the exact positions that ended Act I.There is a long pause.)DENNIS(In a voice filled with fear and awe) Who are you?THE EMPEROR(Smiles) Who do you think I am?DENNISYou're not me.THE EMPERORI'm part of you.I'm something you created — out of yourself.DENNISThis isn't real.I'm imagining it.You don't exist.(He moves toward the Emperor, a hand extended gingerly)THE EMPERORYou won't prove it that way.I have no.physical existence, I admit that.(He reaches out a hand to touch that of Dennis.Their hands pass through each other, occupying the same space.) Do you feel anything?DENNISNo.yes, something.cold.THE EMPERORSad, isn't it? Something so full of hot life as myself, and I can only be felt as cold.DENNISWhat.are you?THE EMPERORYour creation.Your child, born of your performance.Born of its strength and its reality.DENNISMy creation? How.how could that happen?THE EMPERORYou created the Emperor, Dennis.On stage.Year after year, night after night, the strength of your performance formed me.You were never, as you have said to that woman who thinks she teaches acting, an interpreter.You were always a creator.DENNIS(Confused and upset) I don't see.I still don't see how such a thing.how you could come to be.Outside of my mind.That's where you belong — in my mind, nowhere else!THE EMPERORPerhaps I'm the first of my kind.A.what shall I say? A histrion, perhaps?DENNISBut how?THE EMPERORYou became another person so many times, and so effectively, that that person became an independent entity.Me.(He smiles.There is no trace of menace in it)DENNISThat can't happen — there's no way that can happen.It would take more than a.a performance to bring something like.like you to life.THE EMPEROROh, of course.Of course it took more.Do you have any idea of the power that lives in a theatre? Any conception of the emotions remaining after years and years of people viewing plays, films, becoming involved with what they see on that stage or screen?DENNIS(Slowly understanding) Catharsis.THE EMPERORExactly! Catharsis! And it remains where it is shed, remains as what one might call energy.And the result? Cogito, ergo sum!~ * ~I have gone insane, Dennis Hamilton thought, looking at the person, the creature, the ghost, the thing standing near him, there in his living room.It was there.He saw it, he heard it, he knew he was not dreaming.He may have created it, yes, but if so, he had created it only in his mind [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]