Fifty Contemporary One-Act Plays Part 242

CORY.-THYR. [_sorrowfully_]. Sir, we are always ready.

COTH. Play the play!

[_Corydon and Thyrsis move the table and chairs to one side out of the way, and seat themselves in a half-reclining position on the floor, left of the center of the stage, propped up by crepe paper pillows and bolsters, in place of rocks._]

THYR. How gently in the silence, Corydon, Our sheep go up the bank. They crop a gra.s.s That's yellow where the sun is out, and black Where the clouds drag their shadows.

Have you noticed How steadily, yet with what a slanting eye They graze?

CORY. As if they thought of other things.

What say you, Thyrsis, do they only question Where next to pull?--Or do their far minds draw them Thus vaguely north of west and south of east?

THYR. One cannot say.... The black lamb wears its burdocks As if they were a garland,--have you noticed?-- Purple and white--and drinks the bitten gra.s.s As if it were a wine.

CORY. I've noticed that.

What say you, Thyrsis, shall we make a song About a lamb that thought himself a shepherd?

THYR. Why, yes!--that is, why,--no. (I have forgotten My line.)

CORY. [_prompting_]. "I know a game worth two of that."

THYR. Oh, yes.... I know a game worth two of that: Let's gather rocks, and build a wall between us; And say that over there belongs to me, And over here to you!

CORY. Why,--very well.

And say you may not come upon my side Unless I say you may!

THYR. Nor you on mine!

And if you should, 'twould be the worse for you!

[_They weave a wall of colored crepe paper ribbons from the center front to the center back of the stage, fastening the ends to Columbine's chair in front and to Pierrot's chair in the back._]

CORY. Now there's a wall a man may see across, But not attempt to scale.

THYR. An excellent wall.

CORY. Come, let us separate, and sit alone A little while, and lay a plot whereby We may outdo each other.

[_They seat themselves on opposite sides of the wall._]

PIER. [_off stage_]. Ehe Pierrette!

COLU. [_off stage_]. My name is Columbine!

Leave me alone!

THYR. [_coming up to the wall_].

Corydon, after all, and in spite of the fact I started it myself, I do not like this So very much. What is the sense of saying I do not want you on my side the wall?

It is a silly game. I'd much prefer Making the little song you spoke of making, About the lamb, you know, that thought himself A shepherd!--what do you say?

[_Pause._]

CORY. [_at wall_]. (I have forgotten The line)

COTH. [_prompting_]. "How do I know this isn't a trick"

CORY. Oh, yes.... How do I know this isn't a trick To get upon my land?

THYR. Oh, Corydon, You _know_ it's not a trick. I do not like The game, that's all. Come over here, or let me Come over there.

CORY. It is a clever trick To get upon my land.

[_Seats himself as before._]

THYR. Oh, very well! [_Seats himself as before_] [_To himself._]

I think I never knew a sillier game.

CORY. [_coming to wall_].

Oh, Thyrsis, just a minute!--all the water Is on your side the wall, and the sheep are thirsty.

I hadn't thought of that.

THYR. Oh, hadn't you?

CORY. Why, what do you mean?

THYR. What do I mean?--I mean That I can play a game as well as you can.

And if the pool is on my side, it's on My side, that's all.

CORY. You mean you'd let the sheep Go thirsty?

THYR. Well, they're not my sheep. My sheep Have water enough.

CORY. _Your_ sheep! You are mad, to call them.

Yours--mine--they are all one flock! Thyrsis, you can't mean To keep the water from them, just because They happened to be grazing over here Instead of over there, when we set the wall up?

THYR. Oh, can't I?--wait and see!--and if you try To lead them over here, you'll wish you hadn't!

CORY. I wonder how it happens all the water _Is_ on your side.... I'll say you had an eye out For lots of little things, my innocent friend, When I said, "Let us make a song," and you said, "I know a game worth two of that!"

COLU. [_off stage_].

D'you know, I think you must be getting old, Or fat, or something,--stupid, anyway!-- Can't you put on some other kind of collar?

THYR. You know as well as I do, Corydon, I never thought of anything of the kind.

_Don't_ you?

CORY. I _do_ not.

THYR. Don't you?

CORY. Oh, I suppose so.

Thyrsis, let's drop this,--what do you say?--it's only A game, you know ... we seem to be forgetting It's only a game ... a pretty serious game It's getting to be, when one of us is willing To let the sheep go thirsty, for the sake of it.