In her new play, Partial Objects, Sherry Kramer offers an adaptation of Faust with two Fausts—a man and a woman. She explains, “In these scenes there are two characters. PARIS: A charming, likable young man in his 20s, and MEPHISTOPHELES: The Devil. Eternally in despair since his expulsion from paradise, he’s trying to find a way back into God’s good graces by doing His work on earth. The Devil is ageless, naturally, but in this play he is very hot in all senses of the word.
— Excerpt courtesy Broadway Play Publishing
SCENE ONE
BEAT 1
PARIS
(Fireworks appear inside Paris’ bedroom. Gradually they illuminate the room, revealing Paris, standing on his bed. Paris throws his arms in the air, laughing.)
Do it again! Do it again!
(More explosions of lovely, red and gold light. Paris dances in the light.)
BLACKOUT
BEAT 2
PARIS
(Paris and Mephistopheles playing cards. A few cards are played.)
Gin.
(Laying down his cards.)
You know what that means.
BLACKOUT
BEAT 3
PARIS (Paris and Mephistopheles suspended in the room, flying. They tilt and bank in tandem. The wind whips through their hair.)
Oh, look–there’s the Effil Tower! Shit!!!! There’s the Great Wall! Wow! Hey, that forest down there. It looks like the Garden of–
BLACKOUT
BEAT 4
PARIS
(Paris and Mephistopheles playing cards. Paris is now wearing a shiny black visor. After a few cards are played.)
Guess what?
(He lays his cards down.)
BLACKOUT
BEAT 5
(Paris runs in place, with one arm held up, holding a torch. He is out of breath. He stumbles, catches himself, goes on. The Olympic theme
music blares out, and he “climbs” the stairs to the Olympic flame–which he lights, to thunderous applause.
BLACKOUT
BEAT 6
PARIS
(Paris and Mephistopheles playing cards. Paris is now wearing a riverboat gambler’s hat. A few cards are played. It may be noticed that
Paris picks up every card Mephistopheles discards.)
You won’t believe this, but–
(He puts down his cards.)
Gin.
(Mephistopheles can’t help smiling.)
BLACKOUT
BEAT 7
PARIS
(A huge nuclear missile with prominent Iranian markings is in the room. Paris, using a huge wrench, is messing around in the missile’s mechanism.
He pulls out an oversized computer chip, smashes part of it, replaces the chip and closes the door to the compartment.)
Okay. That takes care of all the dirty bombs headed in the direction of my parent’s house.
BLACKOUT
BEAT 8
MEPHISTOPHELES
(Paris and Mephistopheles playing cards. Mephistopheles discards, face down. Paris instinctively goes to pick it up–Mephistopheles puts one hand
over Paris’, and with the other lays down his hand–it’s gin.)
Gin.
PARIS
Oh. Well, I guess I couldn’t keep up that streak forever. So. What do you want?
MEPHISTOPHELES
A kiss.
PARIS
What?
MEPHISTOPHELES
A kiss.
PARIS
A kiss? What do you mean, a kiss?
MEPHISTOPHELES
A kiss.
PARIS
But you’re a man–I mean–I know you’re not really a man, I mean you’re not either, but–I mean I know we had a deal, but–
BLACKOUT
BEAT 9
(Mephistopheles seated on the bed. He pats the place next to him. Paris sits. Mephistopheles kisses Paris. Paris endures it bravely.)
BLACKOUT
BEAT 10
MEPHISTOPHELES
(Paris and Mephistopheles playing cards. Paris is obviously very nervous. Paris is wiping his face, wringing his hands, fumbling with his cards.
Mephistopheles wins.)
Gin.
PARIS
Shit.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Another.
PARIS
Now listen here, I–
MEPHISTOPHELES
Another kiss.
BLACKOUT
BEAT 11
(Paris and Mephistopheles kiss. This time, Paris kisses him back.)
BLACKOUT
BEAT 12
(Mephistopheles wins. Paris throws his cards into the air.)
BLACKOUT
BEAT 13
(Paris and Mephistopheles sleeping in each other’s arms. A soft rose light fills the room.)
BLACKOUT
SCENE TWO
MEPHISTOPHELES
(Just before dawn. Mephistopheles is floating above Paris’ bed, lying on his side with his head propped up on his elbow.)
I don’t know what all the fuss is all about. It’s really very cut and dried.
PARIS
It’s my soul. My soul!
MEPHISTOPHELES
Nonsense. Before I came you didn’t think you had one.
PARIS
I don’t see why you can’t love me without it.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Who said anything about love?
PARIS
Let’s go someplace, okay? Someplace where there aren’t a lot of people. Morocco. Tahiti.
MEPHISTOPHELES
No more Morocco and no more Tahiti.
PARIS
Then how about my sister’s house in Jersey? I haven’t seen the new baby yet.
MEPHISTOPHELES
You really try my nerves. Why do you want to make me angry?
PARIS
I’m not the one who’s trying to make anyone angry.
MEPHISTOPHELES
And I am?
PARIS
You have this thing about saying you love me.
MEPHISTOPHELES
It’s not a thing about saying it. It’s something I can’t say.
PARIS
Yeah, yeah. Go ahead and hide behind an angel can’t do this and that crap.
MEPHISTOPHELES
It is hardly crap.
PARIS
It is to me.
MEPHISTOPHELES
It wasn’t last night.
PARIS
Stop talking to me about last night! I can’t think about anything else! I’ve never been held like I was last night. What are you going to do about that! Tell me! What are you going to do about that!
MEPHISTOPHELES
I’ve already told you. Last night wasn’t real.
PARIS
Don’t do this to me!
MEPHISTOPHELES
Last night was an illusion.
PARIS
What are you talking about? The Great Wall, the Eiffel Tower, that–
MEPHISTOPHELES
All that you felt and all that you saw with me was mere illusion. You never left this room.
PARIS
But after, when you kissed me…
MEPHISTOPHELES
Apparition. Fantasy. Dream.
PARIS
I won’t believe that!
MEPHISTOPHELES
Believe. I never touched you, or you me.
PARIS
You wanted me.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Someone had to hold your head down for you. Someone had to teach you how to pray.
PARIS
You liked it!
MEPHISTOPHELES
Liked it! I would love it, if I could. But you were made for love, not me.
PARIS
You’re just a whore!
MEPHISTOPHELES
(Bows, elegantly)
For God, and no one else.
PARIS
You go to hell!!!
MEPHISTOPHELES
Been there. Done that. Listen. The moment for which you promised your soul will not be with me.
PARIS
Why not?
MEPHISTOPHELES
It will be with a woman.
PARIS
Who said anything about a woman?
MEPHISTOPHELES
You did, actually.
PARIS
When!
MEPHISTOPHELES
Last night. In the heat of passion. You called out a beautiful name.
PARIS
But I can’t have it with anyone but you. It’s not something that happens here.
MEPHISTOPHELES
You seem to think it did.
PARIS
That’s different. It was with you.
MEPHISTOPHELES
With this woman it will be real.
PARIS
But I want you!
MEPHISTOPHELES
You want what you had last night.
PARIS
And why shouldn’t I?
MEPHISTOPHELES
With this woman you will not have to share an illusion. You will have something real.
PARIS
(Laughing)
Real? You don’t know the first thing about it. Last night was real.
MEPHISTOPHELES
With a woman, Paris, you can–
PARIS
Can what. WHAT! Look. Here’s what happens with a woman. Here’s what you think is real. I meet her. I wait for her to say she loves me. She says it. I look at her. I say
to myself: “The rest of my life. Does this woman look like the rest of my life?” She doesn’t. Or, it happens like this. I meet her. I wait for her to say she loves me. She doesn’t. I realize I have to be the one who says it. I say it. Guess what happens next. Go on. Can’t? After I say I love you I get to watch her look at me and say, to herself: “The
rest of my life. Do I want this person to be my life for the rest of my life?” Last night was real.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Then one woman is like another to you, and it doesn’t matter who I bring?
PARIS
No matter who you bring me, it will end the same.
MEPHISTOPHELES
You’re sure?
PARIS
Are you asking me who I’d like? Because if you are, I’ll tell you.
MEPHISTOPHELES
Who?
PARIS
Marilyn Monroe.
MEPHISTOPHELES
(A bit disgusted)
Sorry.
PARIS
Yeah, I’ll bet.
MEPHISTOPHELES
I’ve someone else in mind for you.
PARIS
You do? Then why haven’t you brought her here!
MEPHISTOPHELES
I will.
PARIS
When?
MEPHISTOPHELES
Soon.
PARIS
Why not now?
MEPHISTOPHELES
I must first show her what I’ve shown you.
PARIS
Oh. What do you mean…show her?
MEPHISTOPHELES
You know what I mean.
PARIS
Do you have to? I mean, isn’t there some other way?
MEPHISTOPHELES
Not if she’s to promise her soul.
PARIS
Well, what if she doesn’t? What if she doesn’t want to give you her soul?
MEPHISTOPHELES
You forget who you are talking to, Paris.
PARIS
Yeah, but if she doesn’t want to I’ve given you my soul for nothing!
MEPHISTOPHELES
I will not take your soul until you’ve had the moment you’ve been promised. The two of you, together.
PARIS
But what if we can’t?
MEPHISTOPHELES
The risk is mine.
PARIS
You’re going to her tonight?
MEPHISTOPHELES
I am. It is time for the dream to end.
(He snaps his fingers. Paris falls immediately asleep, standing up.)
Sleep–and when you wake, say nothing of what has happened.
(Paris, sound asleep, backs into bed and lies down.)
Sleep.
(Gathering himself up in his cloak for his dramatic exit.)
The day breaks. The night dies. And the Prince of Darkness flies.
(He flies away.)
BLACKOUT
Recent Comments & Links