Amazing Journey

Passion

Scene One Giorgio and Clara's room. Drums. Lights slowly illuminate a bed with two figures who are making love on it. *Happiness*
Clara (quietly)	I'm so happy, I'm afraid I'll die Here in your arms What would you do if I died like this -(She languishes across him) Right now, here in your arms? That we ever should have met Is a miracle
Giorgio	No, inevitable -
Clara	Then inevitable, yes, But I confess it was the look
Giorgio	The look?
Clara	The sadness in your eyes That day when we glanced at each other In the park.
Giorgio	We were both unhappy.
Clara	Unhappiness can be seductive.
Giorgio	You pitied me ...
Both	How quickly pity leads to love.
Clara	All this happiness Merely from a glance in the park So much happiness, so much love ...
Giorgio	I thought I knew what love was.
Clara	I wish we might have met so much sooner I could have given you -
Giorgio	I thought I knew what love was.
Clara	- my youth.
Giorgio	I thought I knew how much I could feel.
Clara	All the time we lost ...
Giorgio	I didn't know what love was.
Clara	I've never known what love was.
Giorgio	But now -
Clara	And now -
Both	- I do. It's what I feel with you, The happiness I feel with you.
Clara	So much happiness -
Giorgio	You are so beautiful ...
Clara	- happening by chance in a park.
Giorgio	Not by chance, by necessity -
Clara	Surely, this is happiness -
Giorgio	- by the sadness that we saw in each other.
Clara	- no one else has ever felt before!
Both	Just another love story, that's what they would claim. Another simple love story - aren't all of them the same?
Clara	No, but this is more, we feel more!
Both	This is so much more! (Smiling at each other) Like every other love story. Some say happiness comes and goes. then this happiness is a kind of happiness No one really knows.
Giorgio	I thought I knew what love was.
Clara	I'd only heard what love was.
Giorgio	I thought it was no more than a name for yearning.
Clara	I thought it was what kindness became.
Giorgio	I'm learning -
Clara	I thought where there was love there was shame.
Giorgio	- that with you -
Clara	But with you -
Both	- there's just happiness.
Clara	Endless happiness ... (Music continues underneath as they lie silently next to each other for a long moment) What?
Giorgio	Not now ...
Clara	Tell me ... please.
Giorgio	I received my orders from headquarters. I've been transferred to the Fourth Brigade.
Clara (sad)	When?
Giorgio	I leave in five days. (Clara takes this news in, then slowly reaches for her chemise) Though I'll be far away ,we'll always have each other. Oh Clara, please don't look so sad.
	We'll make the most of the next four days. I'll steal as much time as I can. Then after I leave, we'll write to each other ever day. We'll make love with our words. You'll be with me ever day, Clara. (She starts to dress while Giorgio watches her)
Clara	I must go. I'm expected.
Giorgio	God, you are so beautiful. I love to see you in the light, Clear and beautiful, memorize Every inch, every part of you to take with me.
Clara	Giorgio ...
Giorgio	Your feet so soft, As if they'd never touched the ground.
Clara	I can't ...
Giorgio	Your skin so white, so pure, so delicate. Your smell so sweet, your breathe so warm. I will summon you in my mind, I'm painting you indelibly on my mind.
Clara	Don't ...
Giorgio	We must fill every moment.
Clara	All this happiness ended by a word in the dark.
Giorgio	Oh my love, oh my darling ...
Clara	So much happiness wasn't meant to last.
Giorgio	I am here, I am with you I am yours.
Clara	I never knew what love was.
Giorgio	Your skin, your silken hair ...
Clara	I always thought I didn't deserve it.
Giorgio	Your breasts, your lips ...
Clara	I didn't know what love was.
Giorgio	I want you every minute of my life ...
Clara	I don't know how I'll live when you're gone!
Giorgio	I will always be here.
Clara	I don't know how I'll live ... Giorgio ... Don't leave me ...
(As they move away from each other, military drums join the orchestra, quietly at first, then building in intensity to a climax. This time the drums drown the orchestra, and we segue into a military formation, which takes us into the Officers' mess hall) Scene Two The dining quarters of the post's commanding officer, Colonel Ricci. At center is a large dining table. At the back of the stage is a long staircase which leads to the living quarters. Around the table sit: Colonel Ricci, a rather taut gentleman, who carries the weight of his position with authority and ease; Lieutenant Torasso, a man often given to laughter and opera singing; Major Rizzoli, a sober, straight-arrow type; Lieutenant Barri, a veterinarian with a love of gambling and not much else; and Doctor Tambourri, a somewhat aloof and distinguished older officer. As the lights bump up, a Cook (Sergeant Lomabardi) is overseeing the serving of the meal. Torasso breaks into an aria from "Rigoletto" while the others talk amongst themselves, ignoring him. After a beat:
Colonel	(having had enough) Thank you Lieutenant. (Torasso stops singing)
Doctor:	How was the opera?
Torasso	Terrible. These touring companies get no better.
Lombardi	Nor do you.
Torasso	I sing to lighten impact of your heavy cooking.
Barri	(examining his plate) Sergeant, what is this?
Lombardi	It's veal.
Barri	Again? We had veal four days ago. And from the looks of it, it was this veal.
Lombardi	Lieutenant Barri, if I hear -
(They are suddenly interrupted by a woman's distant scream upstairs. They pause momentarily before resuming their conversation, as if nothing unusual had occured)
Rizzolli	Colonel, I've heard a rumor that the King is about to sign a treaty with the French.
Doctor	Really?
Colonel	I've heard no such rumor, Major.
Doctor	Where did you come by this information?
Rizzolli	(uncomfortable) In town.
Colonel	You can't believe everything you hear in a whorehouse.
Rizzolli	(serious) That is where Garibaldi got much of his information, sir.
Doctor	Ah, so that's why you go there! (Giorgio enters)
Colonel	Ah, Captain Bachetti. Welcome. We wondered when you were going to arrive. May I introduce Doctor Tambourri, Major Rizzolli ...
Torasso	Lieutenant Torasso.
Barri	Lieutenant Barri.
Lombardi	Sergeant Lombardi
Barri	Our cook.
Colonel	Come. Come and join us. (Giorgio hands a letter to Augenti.)
Giorgio	Could you post this one for me? (Giorgio sits; to his right remains an unoccupied chair and place setting)
Lombardi	You'll have to excuse our rather limited menu, Captain.
Doctor	We're not just isolated from life and ideas here, Captain but anything green and edible as well.
Rizzolli	I just add vinegar to everything.
Torasso	Captain Bachetti, the Colonel has been telling us of your triumphs pinning down the Russian infantry
Giorgio	I'm not sure that my actions deserve your attention.
Torasso	Come, come. Didn't you rescue a wounded man in the midst of fire and then carry him on your horse to camp?
Giorgio	Only to our battalion.
Barri	Say you brought him back to camp! Why settle for being half a hero when full-fledged is just a white lie away?
(The lights suddenly bump up; music under, agitated. Clara enters to the side of the stage, singing from a letter she holds.) *First Letter*
Giorgio	Clara ...
Clara	Clara ...
Giorgio	I cried.
Clara	I cried.
Both	Imagine that, a soldier who cries.
Clara	I had to hide my eyes, so the others on the train That carried me away from you would think I was asleep. (a piano sounds offstage)
Giorgio	Music?
Doctor	That's Signora Fosca playing.
Colonel	My cousin. I have no family and neither does she. She's in such poor health, it's a continual worry.
Doctor	That's her place setting, but she stays in her room most days. Perhaps soon she'll be well enough to join us for a meal.
Rizzolli	She eats like a sparrow. (Torasso lets out an involuntary laugh, which is immediately stopped by a cold stare from the Colonel)
Torasso	(sober) My apologies, sir. The comparison has struck me as funny. A sparrow seems to eat more than Signora Fosca. A pity it is ...
Colonel	(to Giorgio) My cousin loves to read - it's her only passion, really. I can't find enough books for her.
Giorgio	I also love reading. I've brought a few of my favorite books down. Perhaps I could lend them to Signora Fosca, though I can't promise they'ill appeal to her.
Colonel	Young man, she's been driven to reading military handbooks. I've no doubt she'll welcome anything in print. (Private Augenti enters and delivers a few letters, one of which goes to Giorgio)
Augenti	Post arrived!
Rizzolli	Hand it round Augenti. (surprised) Nothing for me again? It's been two weeks.
Augenti	It smells to me as if Captain Bachetti has a letter from an admirer.
(Music under; the lights bump up. Clara reappears) *Second Letter*
Clara	Giorgio ... I, too, have cried inside.
Both	You must not be ashamed of your tears.
Clara	I love you for your tears.
Both	Your absence only makes my love grow stronger. And when I cannot bear it any longer -
(We hear another scream come from upstairs. Music stops as Giorgio rises, concerned; the others continue to eat, unfazed.)
Colonel	Don't be alarmed. It's my cousin. I am so accustomed to her outbursts that I forget how unsettling they must be to a newcomer. My apologies for not warning you.
Doctor	She's not been having a good day. And a doctor is always expected to help hurt, even when there is nothing one can possibly do.
Torasso	More lamb please.
Doctor	(to Lombardi) I've noticed you finally managed to track down some tarragon.
Lombardi	Yes, I'm glad you approved ... (Another scream; the Colonel looks to the Doctor)
Colonel	Doctor.
Doctor	Excuse me.
Barri	Sergeant, are there any more carrots?
Lombardi	Seconds for you, Lieutenant? Can I take that as a compliment?
Barri	No, Sergeant, they're for my horses. (Laughter. Torasso gives Giorgio a slap on the back. Giorgio is not amused.)
Colonel	In time, Captain Bacchetti, you too will get used to life amongst us.
(Snare drums; everyone gets up. Clara enters while the soldiers formate to a march. Clara sings from another letter, accompanied chiefly by drums and sporadic bugle calls) *Third Letter*
Clara	Clara, I'm in hell,
Giorgio	This is hell,
Soldiers	Living hell.
Clara	Living hell. This godforsaken place -
Soldiers	This godforsaken place -
Clara	This sterile little town, these pompous little men,
Giorgio	This military madness ...
Soldiers	This military madness ... This military ...
All	Uniforms, uniforms ...
Giorgio	Military madness ...
Soldiers	Military madness ...
Clara, Giorgio	My days are spent in maneuvers ...
Soldiers	Uniforms, uniforms
Clara, Giorgio	My evenings in discussing the day -
Soldiers	This is hell -
Clara	My nights are spent in thinking of you.
Giorgio	Don't forget me, Clara ...
(Clara exits as the Soldiers march off and the Doctor enters)
Doctor	Good afternoon, Captain.
Giorgio	Doctor.
Doctor	Your troops seem to be responding well to your command.
Giorgio	Thank you, sir.
Doctor	How are you enjoying your new post?
Giorgio	(polite) I find everyone most hospitable.
Doctor	Good. Your company at meals has certainly been a welcome change for me.
Giorgio	Thank you.
Doctor	I trust the occasional outburst from Colonel Ricci's cousin hasn't unsettled you today.
Giorgio	No. What exactly is wrong with this womanr?
Doctor	She is a kind of medical phenomenon, a collection of many ills.
Giorgio	The those cries?
Doctor	Hysterical convulsions. One might say that her nerve endings are exposed, where ours are protected by a firm layer of skin.
Giorgio	Is she in danger of succumbing to this disease?
Doctor	I don't believe so. Her body is so weak, it doesn't have the strength to produce a mortal disease.
Giorgio	I don't understand
Doctor	The weak protect themselves. The defensive soldier often lives longer than the brave one.
Giorgio	Is she young?
Doctor	Late twenties, I would venture.
Giorgio	Pretty?

Giorgio	You don't suppose that she's the Colonel's lover, do you?
Doctor	Captain Bachetti, it's good to see you enjoy an occasional bit of gossip. (Giorgio is immediately embarrassed) No need for discomfort, Captain. We're all human. Your curiousity is understandable. No, I'm afraid Signora Fosca's physical state prevents her from being anyone's lover. Good day. (He moves off; bugle calls)
Giorgio	Clara, don't forget me. Keep me close to you, Clara ...
(We segue back to the Colonel's dining room; it is morning. Rizzolli and Barri are finishing their breakfast as Giorgio joins them and sits.)
Rizzolli	Late for breakfast, Captain.
Giorgio	We had early morning exercises before the company departed for their weekly maneuvers.
Barri	You're a better officer than I am. I let my sergeant oversee the morning drill.
Lombardi	(Clearing Fosca's place setting) Well, it looks as if Signora Fosca has disappointed us once again.
Rizzolli	Why keep setting her place? (Bugle call)
Barri	(rises) Captain Bachetti, I'm sorry we'll have to leave you to dine alone this morning.
Giorgio	We still have dinner to share, gentlemen.
Rizzolli	Indeed.
Barri	Any chance we might engage you in a game of cards tonight?
Giorgio	No. I'm not a gambling man, sir.
Rizzolli	The boredom of this place will make a gambler of you yet.
Barri	Good day, Captain.
Giorgio	Gentlemen ...
(Rizzolli and Barri exit. Giorgio takes out a letter, which he begins to read. Clara enters.) *Fourth Letter*
Clara, Giorgio	How could I forget you?
Clara	Yesterday I walked through the park To the place where we met. Afterwards I sat on the bench Where we sat all that sultry afternoon. I thought about our room, our secret room Where we were happy And where we shall be happy again Some day. I see us in our room, our secret room, And I don't feel so alone any more ... (Against her song, the Chopinesque piano music which we heard before begins to play) I close my eyes, imagining that you are there, Imagining your fingers touching mine, Imagining our room, The bed, the secrecy, the world ourside, Your mouth on mine ...