Rockabye Baby. (2)
Russell: Why? Frankel: I just wondered. Russell: I’ve doubts about it. I think it solves nothing. Frankel: It may bring solace to the relatives of those murdered. Russell: You mean revenge? Frankel: I was thinking of justice. Russell: And what is that? Frankel: Some people think capital punishment is justice. An eye for an eye and so on. Russell: What has that to do with this case? They were her own babies she murdered. She is both murderer and relative of the victim. Perhaps she even grieves for them? Frankel: I doubt it. She would have to acknowledge they were dead first and then she would have to accept that she murdered them. She would then have both the grief and the guilt. Russell: Where’s this leading us? What has this to do with me? Frankel: Can you trust Monroe? Russell: What do you mean trust? Frankel: Has she any compassion for Stella? Russell: I shouldn’t think so. But then few here have. Except for her father no one I know of here would care a hoot if she dropped dead tomorrow. Frankel: And you? Do you have any compassion for her? Russell : I try to have compassion for all the patients here. But it isn’t easy with some of them. Frankel: And Stella? How does she affect you? Russell: She makes me uneasy. Frankel: Do you think she’s dangerous? Russell: She’s attacked a nurse. She attempted to attack other patients. I’d say that was dangerous. Frankel: And how do you think she came to be as she is now? Russell: I’ve no idea. Frankel: She is said to have been a good actress. Russell: Yes. Shakespearean actress. And dancer too. Frankel: She was quite well known. Russell: Yes in the area in which she worked. She never did film work. She preferred the stage. Frankel: Did you ever see her on stage? Russell: No. Not my sort of thing. Frankel: I saw her once in Hamlet. Ophelia she was. Very good. Russell: And now she’s here. On a different stage. But maybe still the actress. Frankel: Yes. Maybe the actress as you say. However, this stage is a lonely one. The audience is very hostile. The fellow actors are hostile and equally dangerous. Macbeth would have a field day here. Russell: Maybe she’s Lady Macbeth? Frankel: Or maybe she’s still Ophelia. Russell: Then we’ll have to make sure she doesn’t drown won’t we. Frankel: Yes. (Pause.)Monroe seems to take a dislike to Stella. Russell: She has her reasons. Frankel: Which are? Russell: You will have to ask her that. Frankel: Yes, of course. (Pause. Russell looks at Frankel.)Maybe I should see Monroe. Russell: Yes, if you think she may be of help. Frankel: Do you think she can be of help? Russell: In her way, she may. Frankel: I doubt she can help either Stella or me. She’s too prejudiced. Too subjective in her outlook. Russell: That’s how she is. Frankel: Nonetheless, I’ll talk with her. It may shed light on her if not Stella. Russell: Is that all, Mr Frankel? Frankel: For now, Marylyn, yes. Could you ask Monroe to come along when she has a moment? Russell :( Looks at Frankel and smiles.)Yes, of course. (Turns to go.) Frankel: Oh, and Marylyn… Russell: Yes? :( Stops and looks at Frankel.) Frankel: Thank you for your help. Russell: That’s all right. (Smiles and turns away. She walks to the door and stops.)Anything to oblige, Mr Frankel. (Goes out the door.) Frankel :( Looks at Russell as she goes out the door. Then peers out of the window in thought. Light dims.) End of Scene Three. Act One. Scene Four. A few minutes later. In Stella’s cell. Monroe is standing by the door. Stella is looking out of the window. Monroe locks the door and moves into the cell a few paces and stops. Monroe: When Nurse Russell returns, you’re having a bath. (Looks at Stella as she moves forward a few steps more.)And I want none of your nonsense like last time. Stella: Is that wheat or corn out there in the fields? Monroe: What? Stella: Is that wheat or corn in the fields? Monroe: I don’t know and I don’t care. Are you listening to me? Stella: You’re unhappy. I can tell. (Looks away from the window and stares at Monroe.) Monroe: What do you expect having to look after the likes of you. It’s enough to depress anyone. Stella: I can tell a person’s unhappy by the aura surrounding them. Monroe: I’m not interested about you or what you can tell. Just tell me why you murdered your babies? Stella: Your aura is very dark. Monroe: Didn’t you hear me? Why did you murder your babies? Stella :( Moves towards Monroe. Monroe moves back towards the door.)Your father came to me last night. Monroe: My father? Stella: He crept up to me and made me jump. He’s always doing that. He thinks it’s funny. But it isn’t. Monroe: You know nothing about my father. Stella: He kissed me and hugged me and we made love. Monroe: You’re being disgusting now. Stella: I told him we’d wake the babes but he didn’t listen. And then they were awake half the night and I got little sleep. (Pause.)Your father is not a considerate man. He thinks of nothing but himself. Monroe :( Sighs.)You’re annoying me with your lies and filth. Stella: Where’s your sister? Monroe: My sister’s in Scotland. Stella: She’s kind. Why aren’t you kind? Monroe: You don’t know my sister. You know nothing about my family or me. Stella :( Smiles. Moves forward towards Monroe.)And to think we sacrificed so much for you girls. So much. Such time. (Reaches out her hand. Monroe leans against the door anxiously.)I only wanted to act a few more years, but David was so concerned about having babies that he made me give up my career just when it was really going well. (Pause. Looks at Monroe and tries to touch Monroe’s hand. Monroe leans as hard against the door as she can.)Where is the justice in a man like that? Why doesn’t he see how much it means to me? Monroe: Keep away from me. Get back against the wall. Stella: And you girls take his side in these matters. You really are selfish girls. Monroe: Back! Stella :( She stands still. Slowly she looks at her hands and kisses them.)Quiet or you’ll wake them. (Monroe looks apprehensively as Stella moves backwards.)You must not shout at them like that or they’ll grow up to hate you. Monroe: Back against wall. (Moves away from the door enough to unlock it.)Stay away from the door until I’m outside. (Unlocks the door.)You’ll pay for this. I’ll make sure they hear about this. (Goes out the door and locks it behind her. Stella moves to the window and looks out. She puts her hands behind her back and they are wrapped about each other like two sleeping babes. Light fades.) End of Scene Four. Act One. Scene Five. Later that day. Stella’s cell. Stella is sitting on the floor in the corner by the recess. She is naked except for the smock over her shoulders. Stella: And on the ninth hour, the sky darkened. Curtains were torn down and the dead rose up and walked about the town. (Pause.)Oh, my love come, kiss me, and let all our vows be forgotten. (Lifts her head.)Let my arms and yours be as one as we hold each other tight, and embrace as lovers torn apart for many years, and feel as they feel on seeing the other once more in their arms.(Embraces herself beneath the smock,)Oh. My babes, suck not too hard. (Puts her hands over her breasts.)Suck gently my twins. (A key is heard in the lock of the door. The door opens and Monroe and Russell enter and lock the door after them.)Gently now, my sweet ones. Gently feed. Monroe: What’s she up to now? Russell: She’s taken off her smock. Monroe: See what I mean? She’s getting worse by the day. Russell: Wait. (Pause.)Listen. Stella: Where is your father? Where is he when I feel so tired? Monroe: I feel sick of all this. I want only a decent wage and none of this makes up for the poor money I receive. Russell: Stella. Stella :( Looks at the nurses. Lowers her hands and pulls the smock around her tightly.)What have I done? Russell: It’s your bath time. Stella: Have I done wrong, Mummy? (Moves until she is kneeling.) Monroe: Bath time, we said. Now get ready and stop this nonsense. Russell: Put your smock back on, Stella. (Stella holds the smock against her front.)Over your head. Put it over your head. Stella :( Holds the smock tightly against her front.)You won’t drown me will you? I can’t swim. The waters are deep. The water is cold. Monroe :( Goes over and puts the smock over Stella’s head as Stella becomes childlike.)Like this, you were told. Now stop wasting our time and do as you’re told. Russell: Not so rough with her. Monroe: I’d be rougher still if I thought I could get away with it. Russell: Where’s your compassion? Monroe: I have none for her. None I can give to her at all. Russell: She’s a patient not a prisoner. Stella: Will I drown? Monroe: I wish you would drown. Save us all the time we waste on you. Russell: That’s not fair. Stella: Don’t put your daughter on the stage. Mrs Thingamajig. Don’t put your daughter on the stage. Monroe: Fair? Fair? Was it fair to strangle two babies? Russell: Who made you judge and jury, Jane? Monroe: My conscience. My conscience is my guide. (Pause.) Stella :( Takes hold of Monroe’s hand and brushes it against her cheek.)You have a baby, too? (Monroe pulls her hand away.)I think it’s unwell. Monroe: Move. We haven’t time to waste hanging about here. (Russell takes one arm and Monroe the other and they move towards the door. But just as they get near Stella pulls herself free and runs across the cell to the window.)This is the last straw. Russell: Patience, Jane. We just need a little patience. (Holds Monroe’s arm.)Try to see her as a human being and not some animal ready for market. Monroe: I see only the animal. Stella: I don’t want to drown. Russell: You won’t drown, Stella, You won’t drown. (To Monroe.)Why are you here? This is not the job for you if you can’t find a little compassion. Stella: Please don’t let me sink beneath the water. Monroe: Some of us here think things have gone too soft with the likes of her and those like her. They should be made to pay for what they’ve done. Not pampered like spoilt children. Russell: Compassion not hate. Understanding not condemnation. (Goes to the window. Stella gazes at Russell with a childlike expression. Monroe sighs and follows her. They each take an arm and lead Stella towards the door again. Stella goes passively this time.)The modern way is best. Enlightenment and not back to the dark ages. Monroe: It won’t work. It never will. These people are mad. They’re not like the rest of us. They’ve given up our civilized manners to behave like animals and wild beasts. Russell: Jane, Jane. Stella here is a human being. She’s not an animal. Not some wild creature that needs to be put down or destroyed because she’s become different. Stella: Don’t let them drown me, Mummy. Monroe: Have it as you like. I just don’t like it the way it’s going. And I hate her and her ways and her voice and her eyes and that silly bloody smile of hers. (Pause. She looks at Russell. Then she looks at Stella.)We must act as we do for the sake of the innocent and defenceless. Russell: Frankel wants to see you. Monroe: What’s he want to see me about? Stella: If I should die in some awful field… Russell: I’ve no idea. You’ll have to see. (Monroe shrugs her shoulders. Russell opens the door and all three go out. Light fades.) End of Scene Five. Act One. Scene Six. A few hours later. In Stella’s cell. Stella’s hair is damp from her bath. She is clothed in a different smock and is walking up and down the lower stage. She holds her hands behind her and is murmuring. Suddenly stops and runs to the edge of the stage and peers out. Stella :( In a whispering voice.) Secret. Do you promise not to tell? Can I trust you? (Pause. Looks across the auditorium.)One shouldn’t make promises one can’t keep. It disappoints so many people. Shatters so many illusions. Spoils so many dreams. (Pause. Looks behind her. Stares at the door. Turns and looks at the auditorium again.)Blondie’s a bitch. A self-opinionated, self-serving, virginlusting screwed up bitch. (Pause.)But, the Brunie, ah, there you have one who wants to be fair. (Breathes in deep and slowly releases the breath.) Wants to be fair to me and all and sundry. (Pause.)Brunie. Brunie the fair. Brunie the Christian. Brunie the lover of all. (Laughs.)I’ve lost all. All that I cherished has gone. All gone. Gone. Gone, gone, gone. (The sound of a key in the door. The door opens, but Stella is not aware. Russell and Monroe enter and close the door behind them.)A huge chasm as opened and I have fallen down and down and down like some aged Alice in a wonderland of mixed up dreams and memories and nightmares.(Pause. Monroe and Russell stand and watch. Stella lifts her hands to her face. She takes her right hand in her left and squeezes the wrist tightly.)Why doesn’t my baby speak? Why doesn’t she cry or make a sound? (Looks at her right hand now limp in her left hand.)David? David? Baby is not crying. (She shakes her right hand.)Wake up. Baby wake up. (Kisses her right hand.)So cold. (Kisses her right hand again.)Breathe in my air. Breathe my baby. (Holds her right hand against her cheek.) Monroe: Why did you murder your babies? (Stella turns slowly and stares at Monroe.)We all want to know. We all need to know why. Stella: Hush. You’ll wake her. (Holds her right hand against her breast tightly.) Russell: It’s time for your walk in the grounds, Stella. Monroe: Let her tell us the truth first. Russell: The truth is nothing to do with us. We’re here to care and protect. Monroe: Frankel’s after the truth. He’s hoping it’ll boost his career. Russell: I don’t care about Frankel. I care about her. (They both look at Stella who is still caressing her right hand.) Monroe: Don’t you want to know how she murdered her babies? How she managed to strangle them both? Russell: No. Monroe: Not a little curious how she could do such a thing? Stella: You’re a bitch, Blondie. Monroe: Oh, so she can speak when it suits her. Not to tell the truth. Russell: Whether or not she murdered her babies is no concern of mine. My concern is Stella’s welfare and how I may help her to recover. Monroe: Oh, of course, silly me. To think that murdered babies are of any importance. Stella: Who stirred your dark waters? Russell: Are you a nurse or a judge? Monroe: The babies were innocent victims. Stella: Who stirred their finger in your foul frigidity? Monroe: Shut up, you murderer of babies. Russell: What did Frankel say to you? Monroe: Nothing to do with you what he said. What he said was for my ears alone. Russell: Frankel didn’t think you were an asset to this asylum. Monroe: Didn’t he? Funny how he never mentioned that to me. Stella :( She puts her hands behind her back and walks to the corner where the alcove is and sits down.)One for the time it takes for hands to count the time. Two is for the held out arms that want to fly away. Three is for the Trinity, the Father, Son and Spirit; four is for the eyes that stare up from the grave… (Laughs suddenly. The nurses run over to where Stella is sitting, pick her up, and hold her between them.) Russell: Calm down, Stella or there’ll be no walk. Monroe: This is madness. This is insanity let loose upon the world. Russell: Jane please be tolerant for a few minutes at least. (Pause. Stella stops her movement. Monroe sighs.)This woman here is human. She’s not some abstraction from a textbook of criminal cases; she’s real. She’s like you and me and all here and out there in the world. Monroe: She’s not like me. Russell: Then look at her closely. (Pause. Russell lifts Stella chin gently and turns her face towards Monroe.)Look deeply at her. Stella: Blondie has a dark, dark, soul. Monroe: It’s not what she looks like it’s what she’s done that matters. Stella: Brunie loves to kiss and hold. Russell: What’s done is done. She’s still here. She’s fragmented. She’s a broken woman. She needs mending. Putting together again. Monroe :( Stares at Stella.)She would have hanged. If she had been deemed sane, she would have hanged by the neck until dead. Russell: And that would have made you happy? Stella :( To Monroe.) Why are you so sad? Monroe: Justice would have been served. A wrong would have been righted. Russell: A death would have been added to two others. That’s no justice. Stella :( To Monroe.) I see tears in your eyes my child. Russell :( Places her finger on Stella’s lips.) Shush, Stella. Monroe: Then what is justice in this case? Russell: Justice is indefinable. It just is. One feels justice like the presence of God in one’s life. Monroe: I want concrete justice not abstract theories. I want to see justice done. I want to see results. I want the hurt taken away. (Pause. Looks at Russell.)We all do. We need to see wrongs righted. Need to balance out the wrong with the right until all is equal. Russell: And who’s to judge? You? Me? The outer world? The rich? The poor? The wise? Monroe: All can judge. All can see justice done. Stella: My mummy would tell me stories at bedtime to help me sleep. Russell :( Looks at Stella.)Yes, I’m sure she did, Stella. Now, let’s go for that walk in the grounds. Monroe :( Takes Stella’s other arm.)You’ll never understand me. Russell: No. No, I probably won’t. (They lead Stella to the door. Monroe unlocks the door.)And I’ll never under stand why Stella did what she did, but that’s how it is. That’s part of the way of life. Monroe: And you just accept that? You don’t want to know more? Russell: I’m not here to know, I’m here to care. Monroe: I can’t accept that. I have to know why. I have to know why she killed her babies. Stella: Babies are asleep. Don’t wake them. Russell: We won’t, we won’t wake them, Stella. Monroe: And here she’ll rot and we’ll be none the wiser why she did what she did. None the wiser what happened that day. And no one seems to care. It’s all brushed under the carpet, she dumped in here out of the way, and all is forgotten. Russell: Her father hasn’t forgotten. And nor have I and nor have you. Monroe: I’ll never forget, never forgive. (Russell and Stella go out the door. Monroe follows. The door closes. Silence.) End of Act One and Scene Six. Act Two. Scene one. Late afternoon a few days later. In Frankel’s room. Frankel is sitting at his table. He is reading some papers. There is a knock at the door. Frankel: Come in. (The door opens and Russell, Stella and Monroe enter. Monroe closes the door.)Oh, good. Sit down, Stella. You nurses sit by the door. (The nurses go and sit by the door, but Stella, who is handcuffed, still stands looking at Frankel.)I said you can sit down, Stella. (She sits. Frankel looks and speaks to Stella.)That’s right. Now, Nurse Monroe has informed me that you were very rude to her late this morning. Is that right? Stella: The flowers smell lovely don’t they? Frankel: Did you hear what I said, Stella? Were you rude to Nurse Monroe? Stella: I forget what they symbolized. Frankel: Forgot what symbolizes what? Stella: The flowers. Monroe: It’s a waste of time, Mr Frankel. She’ll not say anything about it now. Frankel: We must try to reach through this fog surrounding her mind at the moment. If we don’t we’ll never reach her and she’ll drift off never to be reached at a later stage. Stella: What did they symbolize? Do your daughters know? Frankel: Were you rude to Nurse Monroe? Russell: I don’t think you’re reaching her, Mr Frankel. Maybe we should tease it out of her slowly. Frankel: How do you suggest? Russell: May I talk to her? Frankel: By all means. (Russell gets up and stands by Stella’s chair.) Russell: Stella. What flowers are you talking about? Stella: The flowers in my picture. The ones floating in the stream. Frankel: What stream? Stella: The stream I’m drowning in. Monroe: I wish you would. Russell: (To Stella.)Is that the Millais picture? Stella: Flowers are all about me. I’m looking up at the sky. My babies are going to drown too, if I’m not careful. Russell: Hold them up. Lift the babies above your head. Stella :( Lifts her cuffed hands upwards.)And the flowers smell so lovely. Frankel: And where is this leading us, Nurse Russell? Russell: It’s conversation. It’s a means to open her mind up. Monroe: She can go on like this for hours. She often does. Talks like an excited child at times. Full of nonsense. Full of babble. Stella :( She leaps out of her chair and rushes at Monroe who is sitting by the door.)Witch! She’s putting spells on me! (She lashes out at Monroe with her cuffed hands. Monroe defends herself as best she can, but is knocked to the ground before Russell and Frankel can come to her rescue. There is a struggle as Russell and Frankel try to hold Stella away from Monroe.)Burn the damned witch! Set her alight! (Russell and Frankel mange to hold Stella back while Monroe gets to her feet and glares at Stella.)Your daughter, David is beyond control. She’s a witch now. Monroe: She’s mad. She’s an absolute maniac. Russell: Calm down, Stella. Calm down. (Russell puts her arms around Stella and leads her off a few paces. Frankel stands unsure what to do or say.)Now, take deep breaths. Deep breaths. (Stella breathes in deeply, but glares at Monroe.)I think she needs to return to her cell, Mr Frankel. Monroe: You saw her attack me, what are you going to do about her? Frankel: We’ll deal with her. We’ll find a way to discipline her. Get her to realise she can’t attack staff. Monroe: Oh, some hopes of that. She’s a fool. She’s an absolute fool. Nothing will be done. She’ll be here until doomsday and still be the same. (Pause. Monroe breathes in deeply. Stella holds her hands tight to her breast. Russell is still holding her gently.) Frankel: It will be dealt with, Nurse Monroe. Now, best take her back to her cell. And be careful. Russell: Are you going to drug her? Frankel: I may have to if this is how she’s going to behave. Monroe: Drug her to death for all I care. Stella: Babies are awake. They’ll cry and cry now. (Kisses her hands.) Russell: Then let’s go home, Stella and put them to bed. Stella: They need their sleep. (Rocks her hands back and forth.) Russell: Yes, they do. Monroe: Come on, back to your cell. Frankel: Oh, Nurse Russell. (Frankel sits at the table.) Russell: Yes, Mr Frankel? Frankel: Can you remain here; I need to discuss a few things with you? Russell: Now? Frankel: Yes, now. Nurse Monroe can manage to get Stella back to her cell. Can’t you, Nurse Monroe? Monroe: Of course I can. (To Stella.) Come on, you, back to your cell. (She takes Stella’s arm and moves to the door. She opens the door and looking back at the other two, she sighs. Then she pushes Stella through the doorway and out. The room darkens.) End of Scene One. Act Two Scene Two. A few minutes later in Frankel’s office. Frankel and Russell are by the window at the edge of the stage. Frankel: I hope you didn’t mind me seeing you now. Russell: No, of course not, Franz. It’s just that, well, I didn’t want people to start talking about us. Frankel: Why should they? We’ve been discreet and careful. Russell: I know, but people always have eyes where you least expect them to have. Frankel: That Monroe’s a cold fish. Russell: Yes, she is. She’s getting on my nerves with her frustrated attitude and mean talk about the patients. Frankel: They were all like that once. Cold and mean with scarcely a good word to be said of patient or doctor. Russell: Lets’ not talk about her. Let’s talk about you and me. Frankel: Yes, that’s much more interesting.
Copyright © 2005 Terry Collett |