Pandora's Box (2) Jonathan: Of course, you understand. And that's why you are afraid of yourself. You are afraid of your feelings. Maria: Jonathan, you are crazy. Jonathan: You are right. I am crazy. Passion is driving me crazy. Maria: Passion , Jonathan ? Jonathan: Yes, passion. I love you passionately. I cannot understand the motions of my heart and body. You are right. It is the insanity of amorous passion. Maria: But Jonathan… Jonathan: I love you to the point of going crazy. Maria: Jonathan, think of of the situation you are putting me in. Jonathan: I can think only of you. Maria: Think of your father. Jonathan: He is not my father. Maria: Jonathan, now really, you sound crazy. Of course, he is your father. You are like twins… Jonathan: I am his replica. Maria: Of course, because you are his son. Jonathan: Maria, I am not his son . I am his replica. I am his copy. Maria: His copy? Jonathan: Yes, his copy, his clone… Maria: His clone? This is unbelievable! Jonathan: You know what a clone is , don’t you? Maria: Since this evening, I only know it too well. In truth, what you are saying is that you are John, but younger…. Jonathan, you frighten me ! [John has entered the stage silently, unperceived by Maria and Jonathan] Jonathan: I find myself frightening. I feel like one of these mice, which are experimented upon and then thrown away in the garbage pail. Maria: Please, do not speak ill of mice, Jonathan, for they are dear to me. When I was a sorry , half-starved little girl in the slums of Warsaw, my only friend was a little white mouse. She had little pink eyes and a little pink snout. At night she slept on my breast. When I was very sad, I would wet her fur with my tears. Jonathan, deep inside, I am just as vulnerable as my little mouse and just as easily frightened. But I am drifting. Let's get back to you. When all is said and done. You are just feeling self-pity, and that's wrong. For, in a way, John is your father, and you owe him a lot. Jonathan: In what way is he my father ? What do I owe him? Maria: Well! He is your father, because without him you would not exist. And you owe him your genes. Jonathan: I owe him nothing. He is not my father and I love you. Maria: Now I understand the feelings I had for you, …but love? Jonathan: You do not love me, Maria? Maria: I do not know. I am confused, I am all mixed up. I cannot think clearly. I am a tangled knot of feelings and dim desires. This is upsetting and frustrating for I like clear-cut situations. Jonathan: Do you love me Maria? Maria: I cannot see clearly in myself. It seems to me that if you left, I would see things more clearly. And yet I cannot bear the thought of you going away. Jonathan, you have to help me to see things clearly. You have to leave. Jonathan: [taking Maria in his arms] Maria, how can you ask me to be reasonable when you yourself are not being led by reason. Since I have seen you I am tormented. I could not bear being away from you. I do not want it. I cannot leave. [He tries to kiss Maria] John: [stepping forward] Jonathan! Jonathan: [stepping back and eying John scornfully] Ah! My lord doppelgänger! Maria: This is unbearable. Allow me to leave. [turns to leave] John: Maria. I am so sorry… [turns to follow her] Maria: No, John, stay! I do think you and Jonathan should talk it out. [she leaves] Scene 4 John: I would have expected greater consideration from you Jonathan. It is true you are not my son. But you owe it to me that you exist. Jonathan: And to have dropped me and my mother to chase other women when I was one year old. No I do not agree . In this regard I do not owe you anything. John: I would have expected some tact from you. Let us not mention the genes that bind us, [Weary gesture of Jonathan] .After all, Jonathan I consider you my friend . To try and seduce Maria at the first occasion. How dowdy? Jonathan: Very high and mighty! aren’t you. You expect this. You expect that. Do you expect anything of yourself? It bothers you that I am in love with Maria. Does it occur to you that I love Maris for the same reason that you love her? Because we are identical. We love the same persons, the same things. It was not I who created myself identical to you , John. You should have guessed that I would fall in love with Maria, because I am the same as you. And you must expect that Maria will fall in love with me because I am another you, as you yourself put it so eloquently to the reporter, who will report it for the greater illumination of mankind. [protesting gesture from John] In the last resort, both Maria and myself, we are only human. When you play God, John, you have to think out the consequences. John: Don't make things look bigger than they are, Jonathan. It was never my aim to play God. I wanted to re-create myself to give myself, in your person, chances that I did not have. Jonathan: But you had all the chances, John. Noble birth, class privileges, intellectual brilliance, money, love, devoted friends. As for myself, I do not want to be another you, certainly not another you, guided by you. I want to be myself. I want to make my own mistakes just like you made yours. John: Is not there a certain logic in learning from someone else' s mistakes? Jonathan: Things are not always logical. But if you want logic, here's logic for you. Since we have the same genes we compete for the same biological niche; we are in mortal competition. John: That does not mean that we need to love and be loved by the same woman. After all, identical twins… Jonathan: What you call love John is nothing else but the expression of a biological drive. You are a biologist, and you should know that. Our choice of a sexual partner is dictated by the biological qualities of that partner. I am you but younger and more virile. Is it not natural that Maria.. John: Maybe you are right , Jonathan. Damnit! you are right. I hate to admit it. You are right. We are in a biological competitive conflict. I had not looked at it that way. Sorry , old chap, but I really cannot blame you for falling in love with Maria, since I love her myself.This is Hell! Jonathan: You are damned right, John. It is Hell. The person identical to us is detestable, because he is our relentless competitor. John: We have to talk this out, Jonathan… Jonathan: This is what we are doing, is'nt it ? John: What's happening throws me in a terrible turmoil. How can you stay calm? JOnathan: It's because I have the initiative. You feel at a loss because you have lost control of the situation, which seldom happens to you, John. John: Well, can you help me Jonathan? Jonathan: For the moment I cannot. I would like, however, to point to you that we are endowed with the same intellect. However, you should be the wiser of the two, having lived longer. John: I am not Jonathan, I am sure I am not. I thank you for clarifying the situation, though. You are the clear-headed one in this mess. Right now I will say no more. Shall we talk again when I feel more calm and I have sorted things out a bit ? [ shrug from Jonathan. John leaves slowly. Jenny enters from the opposite side. Scene 5 Jenny: Jonathan, what's going on ? [vague gesture of Jonathan]. Come on Jonathan! What's going on ? Jonathan: Well let's say that John inappropriately burst upon my seduction scene. Jenny: What ? Jonathan: Well, as I said, I was busy seducing Maria when John arrived uninvited. He was supposed to be at an interview. Jenny: That's too funny! Jonathan: You find that funny! Jenny: Sorry! What's funny is the way you put it. Really! to do that to your father. Jonathan: Listen. He is not my father and you know it. Jenny: Silas ? Jonathan: Yes , Silas, and confirmed by John. Jenny: He needed his revenge, Silas Jonathan: Please understand. I do not find it funny. I do not want to sound dramatic, but I am hurting! Jenny: My poor boy! I am sorry. Please forgive me. I was insensitive and mischievous! Oh I wish I had been there to see John's face. Sorry again! Did he throw a temper tantrum? Jonathan: No, he did not. We were very civilised and proper. We tried to be scientific and reasonable. Oh! we were so bloody reasonable. Jenny: Poor Jonathan, you can cry on my shoulder. I do feel I am your mother, you know… Jonathan: Yes, you are my mother. This is not really a matter of genes. I know I do not carry your genes. But you carried me. For that, you are strongly my mother. On the other hand John is nothing to me though I carry all his genes. Tell me, mother… Jenny: I love it when you call me "mother". Jonathan: Tell me my little mother, Jenny. When you accepted to fabricate me, what did you feel? Jenny: I felt you were the product of my love for John. Also, to be completely truthful, you were part of a sientific exploit. I am sorry we could not ask your permission. I loved John so much. I still love him. I would have done anything to please him. Jonathan; You love him still. That's surprising. How can you bear seeing him embracing Maria? Jenny: It hurts a teensy weensy bit. Love is often like a pilot-lamp, waiting patiently. Jonathan: Waiting for what? Jenny: Waiting ….for a miracle. Jonathan: You believe in miracles, now. Jenny: Only in a manner of speaking. You are my miracle, the child of my flesh and bones. You were always my child. Jonathan: And John? Maria: For John, you were a scientific achievement. After the achievement, I do not think that you or I were of great interest to him. Jonathan: Well, now, I am going to be of great interest to him. I am going to be a big ink-blot on his beautiful Nobel certificate. Jenny: You are wrong to feel that way. You are both the same. If you fight each other, you will just destroy yourselves. I do not want you to hurt yourselves, for I love you both. Jonathan, you must leave. You must forget. You will find other women to love, other women to love you. Jonathan: But it's Maria I love. I cannot leave. Jenny: You must leave. You must leave to-night. You must leave now. Jonathan: I have promised John that we would talk again. Jenny: Jonathan! he needs to be protected too. Jonathan: You make me laugh. Jenny: Jonathan, promise me. Jonathan: All I can promise you is that I will be very prudent. Act 3 Scene 1 Silas: [somewhat inebriated, holding his sides, laughing] Maria, a judoka, a black belt, a crackshot who carries a loaded pistol in her handbag. Please tickle me. Pure romanesque stuff, and Cyrus just laps it up. I said to myself: " Silas, old chap, we have to check it out". So, I had a peep into the handbag of the lady in question. Guess what I found. A gun, by God! Only this gun is a cigarette lighter, a cigarette-lighter in the shape of a gun. Poor Cyrus, he believes everything he is told, the taller, the better. Maria, an amazon, Maria, a judoka. Can you imagine this? John and Maria… Bonnie and Clyde. He swallows it all. Wait ! We will take him for a ride. We are going to have some fun. [shouts] Cyrus Alperton! Hands up. Cyrus Alperton! Russian roulette [ puts the gun his temple]. Cyrus! Oh, he is going to shit hot potatoes . Cyrus! On your marks, get set, go! [ points the gun in the air and presses on the trigger. [Bang!]. Good Lord ! It's a real gun, and I had it against my temple. I could have blown my head off. All of this because of Cyrus.[shouts] Cyrus! Cyrus! Scene 2 [ enters Jonathan running] Jonathan: What's going on? Silas: What? Nothing. What do you mean? Jonathan: I am sure I heard a gun shot. Did'nt you? Silas: You must be joking. A gun shot? Where would it come? [ after some thought]. To think of it, I did hear something. I thought maybe it was a door slamming shut or John opening another Champagne bottle. That's it . It sounded like a Champagne cork popping out! Jonathan: A Champagne cork? Maybe? Have you seen John? Silas: Your father? Jonathan: Well. John Weslayer Silas: That's what I said: John Weslayer, your father. Jonathan: Come on , Silas. Stop that little game. I need to talk to him. Silas: It's that important? Is it about Maria? about her migraine? Jonathan: Silas, Maria does not have migraine. John and I need to talk about certain things. Silas: About Maria? Jonathan: Well, yes. About Maria. Silas: Listen, Jonathan. I do not think you will welcome advice from me. But Maria… Jonathan: Well. What about Maria? Silas: It seems to me that Maria is head over heels in love with you, and that you have as much right to her love as John. But then, maybe I should be minding my own business…I may be wrong thinking that you cannot fend for yourself. Jonathan: I thank you for this token of your friendship, Silas. I am quite determined to play it tough. I have to find John.[moves to exit]. Silas: Jonathan! Jonathan: What is it? Silas: Listen, I was fibbing right now. Jonathan: About Maria? Silas: No. About the gunshot. Jonathan: There was no gunshot. You said so yourself. Silas: I was fibbing. That was a gunshot indeed. Jonathan: And where did it come from? Silas: [pulling the gun from his pocket] From this little toy. Jonathan: This is a cigarette-lighter, not a gun. Silas: That's what I thought too, mind you. I was toying with it . I pressed inadvertently on the trigger, fired the damned thing, nearly killed myself. That's the shot you heard. Jonathan: This little silver and ivory cigarette-lighter, a real gun? Who would have thought ? What do you want me to do with it? Silas: Well! It seems it belongs to Maria. I found it between the cushions. Probably, when Maria opened her bag it must have slipped out. Jonathan: Are you sure it belongs to Maria. Silas: Cyrus told me Maria carries a little gun in her bag. This one looks so dainty and feminine. It must be hers! Jonathan: Why don't you return it yourself? Silas: Well, I thought you might want to return it . You might get a reward. Jonathan: You are the very devil. OK! I will take it back. But first I must find John. Silas: Take care. It's loaded. [Exit Jonathan] Silas: [singing] Johnny has a little gun, Johnny has a little gun…I hope he uses it wisely. [Exits. John enters by the opposite side] Scene 3 John: Jonathan is right. Our identical personalities make us relentless rivals. How can I resolve this? How complex this is? How I wish it were a mass of formulas! But people? Jonathan does not realise how dear he is to me. If I told him so, he would laugh in my face.[ goes to the window]. And to think that what I really wanted to do was to get us all together at the pub down the street., the old crew with Maria and Jonathan, to drink a few beers. That was not asking much. One does not always get one's wishes. [Enters Jonathan] Scene 4 Jonathan: You were looking for me John. John: Yes, Jonathan. How are you feeling after our little tiff. Jonathan: In the circumstances, not bad. John: Jenny spoke to me. Jonathan: To you too. Well, I would have thought so. John: She loves us both very much. Jonathan: In your case, it's wasted. John: Jonathan, we must resolve this disagreement. Jonathan: What do you have in mind? [ John puts his hand in his pocket. Jonathan steps back and pulls out the gun without beig seen by John] John: Well, you have convinced me that one of us is redundant. One of us has to disappear and clear the space for the other [takes out the Nobel medal from his pocket, and rips it from the ribbon] Shall we toss a coin for the winner? Jonathan: You are joking. Be serious. Toss a coin for Maria? And with the Nobel medal? John: I am dead serious. You and I, we are identical. We have the same rights. It's you who said it. Jonathan: That's true. John: We love the same woman. She loves us both. We are both entitled to be happy with her. Jonathan: That's true. John: Then, let chance decide! Jonathan: OK. Let the winner win! John: Heads or tails. Jonathan: Heads! John: [tosses the medal and catches it ; shows it to Jonathan.] Tails Jonathan; Your medal does not have two tails? John: See for yourself. Jonathan: Then , John Weslayer. I bid you "Adieu" John: Good-bye, Jonathan. Before you leave, let me hug you . Jonathan: No. John: Why not? Jonathan: Just to spoil your fun . That's why. Good-bye ! [Exits. Jenny enters by the opposite door] Scene 4 Jenny: John! John: I thought yo were already gone to bed. Jenny: Have you seen Jonathan? John: He just left me. Jenny: What have you decided? John: We tossed a coin to decide the winner. Jeny: What? John: We tossed a coin to decide the winner and he lost. Jenny: You decided Maria's future by the toss of a coin. That's incredible! John: It seems to me it was the ideal way to resolve the problem. Jenny: You are a brute, John. John: You are exaggerating, Jenny. Jenny: You really think so, John. Where did he go? John: I think he went into the back garden. I assure you there is no need to worry. [a gun shot rings out. Jenny rushes out . John follows her out] Scene 5 [ enters Silas. He is nearly drunk.] Silas: [ to the audience] What's going on? I heard a shot. I hear people running in the hallway! what's going on? Nobody tells me anything. I hear the siren of the ambulance. Good God! What's going on? [He totters to the window] Truth! there's a man lying on the concrete. My God. It's Jonathan. There's blood! His head is covered with blood. What? he would have shot himself in the head? Do you know there was that lady who carried a loaded gun in her handbag. It's crazy. I have always been against firearms. For you never know. Accidents happen so easily. I have such a splitting headache [holding his head]. I think too much. I must talk to somebody. [Exits] Scene 6 [John walks slowly on the stage. The reporter runs after him] The reporter: Doctor Weslayer! I was looking for you. John: What is it? The reporter: I just heard something mindboggling. Is it true that you have succeeded cloning a human being? John: What? The reporter: One of your colleagues says that you have successfully cloned a human being. He was quite muddled. I am asking you. Is it true you have already succeeded in the experiment we tentatively talked about this evening, cloning a human being? John: You, damn you! Fuck off. Finis
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