Amazing Journey

Passion

(As we segue to the next scene, Clara enters in a robe, her hair down) Scene Two The mountainside, a distance from the outpost. *Sunrise Letter*
Clara	Giorgio, I stand here staring at the sunrise, Thinking how we've never seen a Sunrise together Thinking that the sunrise Only means another day without you, And thinking: Can our love survive so much separation, Keep itself alive, much less thrive? If only you were here, If I could feel your touch, I wouldn't have such fear. If only we had more than letters Holding us together, If we just could hold each other now, The sunrise then could be A thing that I could see And merely think, "How beautiful ..."
Clara, Giorgio	Giorgio, I now sit staring at the mirror - You may not believe it, but I swear As I stare there it is plain as day: A gray hair, Of which I was unaware, Which is more than I can bear, Which I'm ripping out right now And am sending on to you As a milestone of my age, As a turning of the page ... Perhaps when next we meet, I'll be a sorry sight, You won't know who I am, My hair completely white, My face a mass of wrinkles. What will you feel then, my Giorgio?
Giorgio	Time is now our enemy ... (Unsteadily, Fosca has entered and made her way towards Giorgio; Clara exits)
Fosca	You came a great distance to read her letters. Are you running away from me?
Giorgio	There are times when I wish to be alone.
Fosca	I know that I offend you.
Giorgio	No, I won't have this conversation.
Fosca	And what kind of conversation would you prefer, Captain? Something innocuous? Do you wish to discuss your troops? Or should we should talk about the weather? It feels like rain, don't you think?
Giorgio	I think you can be incredibly difficult.
Fosca	I didn't come here to be difficult. I came here to share your company. (He notices blood on her hands)
Giorgio	What's happened to your hands?
Fosca	(looking at them blankly) I must have fallen.
Giorgio	(attending to her hands) You have no business being out here.
Fosca	Do you want me dead?
Giorgio	Fosca, don't be so unfair!
Fosca	You're right. I am unfair. I want to free you from my affection. I know what I am doing to you. (There is a long, painful moment of silence) Why is it that the daisies and violets blossom now?
Giorgio	They mistake Autumn's warmth for April.
Fosca	What is that bird that sings?
Giorgio	A wren.
Fosca	What does it look like?
Giorgio	Small and grey. I believe it's the smallest of birds.
Fosca	You know so much. (pause) Kiss me. I know I shouldn't ask such a thing. A woman shouldn't have followed a man here. Well, given my appearance, I don't behave as other women do. And so I ask you for a kiss.

Fosca	Then I will kiss you.
*Is This What You Call Love ?*
Giorgio	Is this what you call love? This endless and insatiable Smothering pursuit of me. You think that this is love? I'm sorry that you're lonely, I'm sorry that you want me as you do. I'm sorry that I fail to feel The way you want me to feel.
	I'm sorry that you're ill, I'm sorry you're in pain. I'm sorry that you aren't beautiful. But yes, I wish you'd go away And leave me alone!
	Everywhere I turn, there you are This is not love Just some kind of obsession. Will you never learn when too far is too far, Have you no concern For what I want, what I feel?
	Love is what you earn and return When you care for another So much that the other's set free. Don't you see? Can't you understand? Love's not a constant demand, It's a gift you bestow Love isn't sudden surrender It's tender and slow, it must grow.
	Yet everywhere I go, You appear or I know you are near This is now love just a need for possession. Call it what you will This is not love, this is a reverse Like a curse, something out of control I've begun to fear For my soul ...
(Music stops; a loud clap of thunder is heard. Trembling, Fosca sudders momentarily and crumples to the ground. Giorgio turns and sees her lying there; he crosses the stage past her and begins to exit. He stops, pauses for a moment, then reluctantly returns to her, covering her with his coat. He picks her up and carries her offstage as the lights fade to black.) Scene Three Outside. The soldiers are on guard. *Soldiers' Gossip*
Torasso	Both of them were soaked to the skin.
Rizzolli	Where had they been?
Augenti	On the bluff.
Lombardi	Were they all alone?
Torasso	No one knows.
Lombardi	You don't suppose -?
Barri	Ugh!
Rizzolli	Gentlemen, enough!
Torasso	Still, it would explain Signora's attitude -
Augenti	Why she comes to every meal.
Barri	It isn't for the veal.
Torasso	And it would explain the Colonel's gratitude.
Lombardi	I hear he calls him "Giorgio" -
Rizzolli	But nobody is that brave.
Augenti	No, that's cheek.
Rizzolli	Nobody is that brave.
Lombardi	Wouldn't you like to peek?
Torasso	Ugh!
Barri	Gentlemen, I think I'll change my wager: He'll be major next week.
Rizzolli	I'll say!
All	I'll say! I'll say!
(A bed is rolled onstage. At first we can't quite make out who's in it: we see a clack-caped form writhing as the bed spins. The black figure lifts up: it is Fosca atop Giorgio, who struggles beneath; the Soldiers and Attendants surround this action) *Nightmare*
Group 1	Everywhere I turn
Group 2	Everywhere I turn
Group 1	There you are.
Group 2	There you are.
Groups 1&2	This is not love, just some kind of obsession.
Group 1	Everywhere I go,
Group 2	Everywhere I go,
Groups 1&2	You appear, Or I know you are near.
Group 2	You are near.
Groups 1&2	You are near.
Giorgio	Let go of me! Please!
Groups 1&2	Love, Love's not a constant demand. It's a gift you bestow. Love isn't sudden - It's tender and slow ...
Group 1	Tender and slow ... Tender and slow ...
Group 2	Sudden surrender ... Sudden surrender ...
(All exit including Fosca, who disappears into the shadows as the Doctor appears; we are now in Giorgio's bedroom. The Doctor wakes him.)
Doctor	It's all right. Calm down. It was only a dream.
Giorgio	I feel so warm.
Doctor	You became ill after carrying Signora Fosca back in the rain.
Giorgio	When was that?
Doctor	Two days ago. (He put his hand to Giorgio's head.) You still have a fever, but it seems to be lower. My boy, you will recover from this illness, but it will take some time. You might as well enjoy it away from here. I am putting you on sick leave.
Giorgio	Sick leave?
Doctor	. This is a dreary place. It can get to us all. As soon as you are well enough, you will depart for Milan.
Giorgio	Milan ...
Doctor	Don't look so sad, my boy. I trust there is someone there who can oversee your recuperation.