Vladimir Nabokov - The Tragedy of Mister Morn

morning… She’s tired.

GANUS [ quietly ]:

I… don’t understand?

ELLA [ quietly ]:

Where is the joy in a reunion when one

is tired?

GANUS [ quietly ]:

No, I will stay…

[ Moves off into semi-darkness by the round table. Meanwhile the GUESTS have been saying goodbye .]

FOREIGNER [to MIDIA]:

I won’t

forget my stay in your bewitching city:

the closer a fairy tale is to reality,

the more magical it is. But I fear something…

Trouble is ripening here unseen… In

the splendour, in the mirrors, I sense it…

KLIAN:

Don’t listen to him, Midia! He is only

here by chance. Quite the magician! I happen

to know he’s just a merchant’s errand boy…

he carries specimens of foreign goods around…

Is that not so? He’s slipped away!

MIDIA:

How funny

he is…

ELLA:

Farewell, Midia…

MIDIA:

Why so cold?

ELLA:

Not at all… I’m a little tired…

EDMIN:

I too

shall go… Goodnight.

MIDIA:

Foolish man!

[ She laughs .]

SECOND GUEST:

Farewell.

If a guest really is like a breath of air,

then I leave here like a short, sad sigh…

[ Everyone leaves except MORN and GANUS.]

MIDIA [ stands in the doorway ]:

Till next week.

[ returns to the centre of the drawing room ]

Ah, finally!

MORN:

Shh…

We’re not alone.

[ Points to GANUS sitting inconspicuously .]

MIDIA [to GANUS]:

I say, you are far kinder

than my other guests, you’ve stayed…

[ Sits down beside him .]

Tell me,

where have you acted? Your terrifying make-up

is excellent… Have you known Ella long?

A child… like wind… like a glimmer of water…

Klian is in love with her, the one with

the Adam’s apple and the horse’s mane—

a bad poet… No, really, it is frightening,

you are truly, truly an Arab… Morn, stop

whistling through your teeth…

MORN [ at the other end of the room ]:

You have

a nice clock here…

MIDIA:

Yes, it is very old…

In its depths there plays a crystal brook…

MORN:

It’s good… It’s a little slow, don’t you think? …

MIDIA:

Yes, I do…

[ to GANUS]

And you… Is your home

far from here?

GANUS:

It’s close. Nearby.

MORN [ by the window, yawning ]:

What stars…

MIDIA [ nervously ]:

It must be slippery out in the street…

The snow has been spiralling since morning…

I was at the ice-rink today… Morn flutters

like a bird on ice… why is the chandelier

lit for no reason…

[ quietly to MORN as she passes by ]

Look—he’s drunk…

MORN [ softly ]:

Yes, he was plied by Ella…

[ approaches GANUS]

It’s very late!

Time to go home. It’s time, Othello!

Do you hear?

GANUS [ heavily ]:

Well, what can I say…

I dare not keep you… go…

MIDIA:

Morn… I’m scared…

His voice is thick, as though he’s strangling someone!…

GANUS [ gets up and approaches ]:

Enough… I will reveal my voice… enough!

I do not have the strength to wait any longer.

Off with my glove!

[ to MIDIA]

Are you familiar

with these fingers?

MIDIA:

Oh! Morn, you must leave.

GANUS [ passionately ]:

Greetings! Are you not pleased? For it is I—

your husband! Risen from the dead!

MORN [ utterly calmly ]:

Risen indeed.

GANUS:

You are still here?

MIDIA:

Don’t!

I beg you both!…

GANUS:

Damned fop!…

MORN:

The hot whistle

of your black glove pleases me. I

answer it with mine…

MIDIA:

Ah!…

[ She runs to the back of the stage, towards the niche, and opens the window in jerks . MORN and GANUS fight with their fists .]

MORN:

The table,

you’ll knock over the table!… What a windmill!…

Don’t swing your arms around so much! The table…

the vase!… I knew that would happen!… Ha-ha!

Stop tickling! Ha-ha!…

MIDIA [ shouts out of the window ]:

Edmin! Edmin! Edmin!…

MORN:

Ha-ha! The make-up’s running!… There, tear up

the carpet!… Go on! Don’t wheeze, don’t yelp!…

Fight more cleanly! Here comes a comma

and a full stop!

[GANUS collapses in a corner .]

MORN:

Blockhead… He’s undone my tie.

EDMIN [ rushes in, pistol in hand ]:

What happened?

MORN:

A mere two blows: the first

is called “a hook,” the second “a left jab.”

And, by the way, this gentleman here is—

Midia’s husband…

EDMIN:

Is he dead?

MORN:

Not likely…

Watch, he’ll come to now. Ah, welcome

back! This is my second at your service…

[ He notices that MIDIA is lying unconscious at the back of the stage, near the window .]

O, God! My poor love!… Edmin… wait…

Yes, call someone… Oh, my poor love…

You shouldn’t have, you shouldn’t have… really…

We were just playing…

[ Two MAIDS rush in : they and MORN attend to MIDIA at the back of the stage .]

GANUS [ gets up heavily ]:

I… accept… the challenge.

Horrible… give me a handkerchief… or something…

How horrible…

[ wipes his face ]

Ten paces apart and the first

shot is mine… by right: I am the wronged party…

EDMIN [ looks around frantically ]:

Listen… wait… you may find this strange…

But I must… ask you… to decline the duel…

GANUS:

I don’t understand? …

EDMIN:

If you wish, I will take

his place… face your bullet… I am ready…

Right now, if you like…

GANUS:

Evidently I am

losing my mind.

EDMIN [ quietly and briskly ]:

Well then, I’ll break my vow!…

I will reveal it to you… duty requires me…

But you must swear to me, on love, disdain,

or on your hatred, on what you will, that you

will never speak of this terrible secret…

GANUS:

… I’m sorry, but what is all this about?

EDMIN:

Here, I’ll reveal it to you, he—this man—

he is… oh, I can’t!

GANUS:

Hurry up!

EDMIN:

Oh, come what may! He is…

[ Whispers in his ear .]

GANUS:

That’s a lie!

[EDMIN whispers .]

No, no… It cannot be! O, God…

what should I do? …

EDMIN:

You must decline!

There is no other way… Decline!…

MIDIA [ to MORN at the back of the stage ]:

My joy,

don’t leave…

MORN:

Wait… let me just…

GANUS [ firmly ]:

No!

EDMIN:

Why did I break my…

MORN [ approaching ]:

So, have you decided?

GANUS:

Yes, we have decided. But I’m not much

of a murderer: we shall fight à la courte paille .

MORN:

Excellent… A solution has been found. We

shall agree the details tomorrow. Goodnight.

May I add that duels are not to be

discussed with ladies. Midia could not bear it.

Keep silent to the end. Let’s go, Edmin.

[ to MIDIA]

I’m leaving, Midia… Be calm…