Act I Scene 1
(Paris, 1870. A theatre. SARAH is onstage ready to rehearse. She goes over a bit of music for herself, working the notes, trying different deliveries.SARAH
(sings)
THERE IS A POWER HERE
THAT WILL SET THE PEOPLE FREE,
SO LET A MILLION VOICES RISE…DUMAS
(from offstage) Once again, Sarah - are you ready?SARAH
Yes, yes -DUMAS
And remember, not so harsh. Warmer, warmer.SARAH
THERE IS A TYRANNY IN THE LAND
WHEN THE DEVIL RULES YOUR VOICE.
WHEN THERE IS TYRANNY IN THE LAND
LET A WOMAN BE A HERO.
THERE IS A POWER HERE
THAT WILL SET THE PEOPLE FREE,
SO LET A MILLION VOICES RISE --DUMAS
(entering) Stop.SARAH
(stamping her foot) Alex -DUMAS
No, no. This isn't working. It's not you, my dear, it's the lines. The audience won't like you.SARAH
I can make them like me -DUMAS
Not with these words. Let me do a little revising.SARAH
You can't change Madame's play.DUMAS
(caressing her) You are changing Madame's play by being in the lead. You're too lovely for this bombast. We have to be realistic. Tell me, what would you do if you really met the Devil?SARAH
(squirming away from him) Probably faint dead away.DUMAS
Perfect. Let's use The Faint of Grievous Mortal Danger - ready?SARAH
(swooning) Ahhhh…DUMAS
Bigger still - a stunning faint for a woman facing the Devil. Again.SARAH
(fainting) Aaauuuggghhh…DUMAS
(supporting her) Oh dear - that's messy, we can't have you sprawling all over the floor - I may have to write in a man to catch you.(GEORGE SAND enters in a cloud of cigar smoke, wearing a man's street clothes.)
SAND
What in the hell is going on here?DUMAS
George!SARAH
Oh, Madame!SAND
Whose play are you rehearsing? God knows it isn't mine.SARAH
I am Helene wrestling with the Devil.SAND
And I'm sure the Devil is shrieking like a girl in terror. Come, Sarah, stand up, square off - stop bowing and scraping.DUMAS
George, you can't just clomp in here and take over -SAND
Of course I can.DUMAS
We've only been rehearsing for a week, what do you want?SAND
World peace and a European community, but other than that - (blows smoke at him)DUMAS
Put that out - you can't smoke in this theatre.SAND
So that's why there's no fire in this theatre. Alex, you're trying to stuff my big rowdy play back into the drawing room. The scene is on a mountaintop - Helene is conjuring a holy choir of archangels to beat back the storm of evil - she's raising a million voices -DUMAS
Yes, yes, I know. But can't she do all that and still be - well, nice?SAND
"Nice?"FAINTING, FALLING,
YOUR WOMEN ARE APPALLING.
BOWING, MINCING,
AND NOT AT ALL CONVINCING.
THE REAL WORLD IS CALLING -
DELIVER US FROM "NICE."SOMEONE TELL ME -
WHY CAN'T WE WRESTLE THE DEVIL TOO?
WHY DO WE STAND ASIDE
SHIVERING, QUIVERING,
LEAVING IT TO THE MEN,
WATCHING THEM LOSE AGAIN?WHERE ARE HEROES,
BLOOD A-BOIL OVER A WHITE-HOT CAUSE,
FULL OF A GRAND DESIRE,
THUNDERING, SHOOTING FOR STARS,
TAKING CHANCES,
WHERE ARE THE ROMANCES?
AND LONG LIVE GOD, WHERE'S THE FIRE?THE THEATRE MUST NOT BOW ITS HEAD,
FOR IN THESE TIMES WE HAVE TO RAISE SOME HELL INSTEAD.SOMEONE TELL ME
WHERE'S THE PLAY SHOWING A WOMAN'S SOUL?
WHY DO THE WOMEN HIDE,
WONDERING, WONDERING,
HOW DO THEY FIGHT THE FEAR?
WHERE DO THEY GO FROM HERE?WHERE ARE HEROES
BORN TO RISE, READY TO PLAY THESE PARTS?
WHERE IS THE HOLY CHOIR
THUNDERING, SHAKING THE STARS
FOR SALVATION, WHO'S THE INSPIRATION,
AND LONG LIVE GOD, WHERE'S THE FIRE?
(THE PRINCE enters, applauding.)PRINCE
Admirable. Passion. Fire. Yes.DUMAS
Excellency! (falls into a court bow)SARAH
Oh! (an elaborate stage curtsey)SAND
Ah. From on high.(THE PRINCE raises DUMAS and claps him on the back.)
PRINCE
Monsieur Dumas. Admirable, always admirable. How is your father? Always well, eh?
DUMAS
Thank you, yes.(THE PRINCE raises SARAH and kisses her wrist.)
PRINCE
Mademoiselle Bernhardt. A pleasure, a treasure.SARAH
(curtseying again) Thank you, my Lord.PRINCE
"My friend" will do someday, I hope.SAND
(tipping her hat) Prince.PRINCE
George Sand. (He kneels.)SAND
Oh, now…PRINCE
The Muse of Fire. I am your servant, as always.SAND
I am as always amused. Get up, Paul. You don't know where this theatre's been.PRINCE
This theatre's been a delightful diversion. A jewel. I wish I could do more for it.DUMAS
(pointing at SAND) Then arrest her for smoking in it.PRINCE
(laughing) George Sand is an exception to any rule we make, Monsieur.SAND
Why are you watching our rehearsal?DUMAS
It was my rehearsal…PRINCE
I'm stage-struck. And infatuated. I can't resist a chance to watch Sarah Bernhardt.SARAH
Thank you, sire.PRINCE
Especially in George Sand's "Faust". Why would a woman want to take on the Devil?SAND
Because it isn't done much. (she's designed the marketing campaign) "When men wrestle with the Devil, they always lose. Let a woman at it! George Sand's Faust." You're not here in an official capacity?PRINCE
Oh, no. You mean to spy on the play's morals?SAND
Or its politics? Or how it suits the Loyalty Act?PRINCE
No, Madame. I hardly suspect it of a plot to overthrow the Emperor.SAND
Sarah - Page 58, from "There is tyranny."SARAH
Oui, Madame.(sings)
THERE IS TYRANNY,
DARK AND DEEP THE DEVIL'S POOL
WHEN WE BELIEVE HIS GLEAMING LIES,
THE MEN BESMIRCH THE TRUTH -SAND
Besmirch?…SARAH
THE WOMEN ARE IMPOTENT,
AND THE RULERS ARE TAINTED WITH SHAME.SAND
(to THE PRINCE) Well?PRINCE
Good points, Madame, and they should be brought in front of a thinking public. Though I do question the use of the word "impotent" in a female context, but that's your unforgettable style.SAND
Interesting. Alex, you're right.DUMAS
I am?SAND
This play needs work.DUMAS
It does.SAND
It frightens the audience without inspiring them, it alarms and doesn't charm, and no matter how full of myself I was back then about truth and tyranny, it's a very, very, very bad play.DUMAS
Now George, I never said that. It certainly is windy -SARAH
Madame, please - Helene will sing so beautifully for you -PRINCE
I rather like the "dark and deep Devil pool" part.SAND
No. This could be my last play, and France is calling for heroes. I'm taking this work away and thinking it all over again.DUMAS
George, you can't do that -SAND
I can.DUMAS
You probably can.SAND
And I'm taking it back to Nohant. I think better in the country. Sarah - can you come at once, tonight? We'll work on it, play some new scenes --SARAH
Oh, Madame! You want me at Nohant?SAND
Yes, of course. Alex, I'd invite you, but you're so lost out of the sight of gaslights and mens' clubs…What do you think, old dear? I'd value your advice.DUMAS
If you put a rooster in my room again I'm leaving.SAND
He likes you. Write him a part. Prince, I wish you could see my little theatre at Nohant. Bocage plays a scene with the stableboy, the Mayor takes the part of a chambermaid, and Dumas the Younger debates the merits of the play with the vicar.PRINCE
Then invite me, George.SAND
Really?PRINCE
I would be honored, and I would love to see your People's Theatre. If you challenge the Empire in Paris, what must you do in the country?SAND
You have no pressing state business with these rumors of war? The Emperor won't think you're being frivolous?PRINCE
That war is kettledrums - it won't happen. May I join you?SAND
Oh, of course, Paul. I'll wire ahead. Tonight, then. The eleven o'clock train.
(SAND exits, puffing her cigar.)SARAH
Madame Sand's country house. Incredible.PRINCE
(wrist-kissing) What a delightful idea. A trip to the countryside with you is a dream come true.DUMAS
Yes, well, don't mind me, I'll be packing my bags for this expedition. Sarah, you're delicate, pack wisely, remember there are things crawling all over in the country.PRINCE
We'll protect her. I must let the royals know I'm off. Adieu. The night train - how amusing.(THE PRINCE exits.)
DUMAS
The little country theatre. Lord. Servants will be playing courtiers, it'll all be chaos -(DUMAS exits.)
SARAH
Sarah Bernhardt, a country estate, a handsome prince. And if she's right for this part…she will rocket right past "promising."(End of Scene 1.)
Order
a perusal script
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