Thomas Starr King Middle School - Echoes Yearbook (Los Angeles, CA)

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MME. MERANTE: Oh! I'm so tired! PIERRE: But it's a beautiful evening in such a nice place, isn't it mother? MME. MERANTE: ftaking a breathj Yes! CI-IABLEAU: Cpassing breadj Some bread? MME. MERANTE: fdistressedj Yes, please. ftakes small piece, and passes it to Pierre.J Here, my son, some bread? PIERRE: Thank you, very much. ftakes bread and passes plate to Jeanne.J JEANNE: Thank you. PIERRE: The soup is delicious, isn't it, mother? MME. IVIERANTE: Cvery disgustedlyl Yes, exceedingly good! JEANNE: Thank you. CHABLEAU: Now have some potatoes, Madanie-Ceinbarrassedj Let's see, I don't believe I know your name. MME. MERANTE: Cproudlyj Madame Merante! fChableau rises. Pierre, MMe. lVLerante, and Jeanne sit back, all appear surprised and startled.j CHABLEAU: Cangryj So you are the ones who robbed me, ruined me! Oh you, I'll have you killed! You aristocrats, rubbish! Cthey all stand, Pierre rushes in front of Mme. lVI6rante and pushes a bench over accidentally. J JEANNE: Crushing to Chableauj Father, it's a mistake, I tell you. CHABLEAU: Cpushing her awayj It isn't, they took my business away from me and they' come now and take my bread and butter. Aristocrats, sneaking thieves, ruining our country. CPierre starts to speak but cannot find WordsJ I suspected it all the time. PIERRE: Kill me, if you wish, but not my mother, she had nothing to do with ity neither did I for that matter. CI-IABLEAU: Cdisgustedj W'lzo then? Your father? PIERRE: Er-no, yes, he! CI-IABLEAU: Oh, I'll find him! someday and when I do, I'll kill him, too, like all the other worthless aristocrats! CA loud code knock is heard at left. Jeanne listens at the door and steps back surprised.J CHABLEAU: Ah, it is our code. Open the door, Jeanne. CEnter lst, 2nd and 3rd revolutionists, Znd and 3rd are holding Merante firmly. Mrs. Merante and Pierre look at each other.J PIERRE: Csurprisedj Father! Cstarts to go toward him but stops in center.J CHABLEAU: fbefore seeing MEFHIIICJ It's he! I'l1 kill-fturns abruptly towards Merazitej Why! IST REVOLUTIONIST: Yes, we've got him, he was escaping and passed through our village. Here's Merante, the one who ruined you. CHABLEAU: Yes, We'll kill him, or I mean I will. You wait, we can't guillotine him, it's too far, leave it to me. I'!Z kill him. I'll do away with him. fChab1eau takes gun from wall and aims at MErante.J IST REVOLUTIONIST: All right, go aheadg we have to be on our way. CRevolutionists exit. Chableau puts the gun on the floor and sits on a bench with head buried in hands.J , MERANTE: fcoming forward after a short silencej We1'er1't you intend- ing to kill mc? I Two Hundred Twenty-four

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goes to work' table while Chableau stands at fireplace, staring at first one and then the other, they all are embarrassed and astonishedj. CHABLEAU: fafter pausej Why-er-here's the water! Cplaces pail on tablej Thank God for our water! We can always have it. JEAN NE: Cstaring at Pierrej Yes, father, We can always have it. PIERRE: And food too, I trust. CI-IABLEAU: I suppose so, I hope so. PIERRE: Wlien the bloodshed is ended, if it ever is, times will not be quite so desperateg life will be easy and cheerful although this revolution will leave a terrible, dark spot on this country. CI-IABLEAU: Yes, of course, but it is worthwhile, nevertheless--Say! Jeanne, isn't it about time for dinner, please? I'm sure that all of us are hungry. ' JEANNE: Cplacing dishes on tablej Things Will soon be ready Clooks at fireplace, as soon as the soup is done. CGoes to fireplace and stirs soup.J PIERRE: Cturning towards Chableauj In what business or- profession are--or were you employed or occupied? CHABLEAU-: fturning in disgustj I was in the shoemaking business- and still would be if an aristocrat hadn't ruined it, because I refused to make them free for nobility. PIERRE: Cnervouslyl Oh-I am sorry-I am certain you'll have it back again, soon. Iti must have been a mistake. . CHABLEAU: Yes, that's just the troubleg all they do is make mistakes. They've made too many and now they're paying for it. We stood it long enoughg in fact, too long. JEANNE: Qto Pierrej If you please, call your mother to dinner now, Monsieur. PIERRE: Certainly, with pleasure. CExits and returns with Mme. lVIerante.j JEANINE: You may wash at the Well outside. fOffersi Mme. Merante a towel. She holds it as if afraid to touch it.J MME. IVHERANTE: In the well? Never mind, that is not necessary, Ceveryone stares at her curiouslyj. Oh, very welll PIERRE: Come, mother. CThey exit quickly. Time occupied by Jeanne placing food ong table.J CHABLEAU: Peculiar people! JEANN E: Maybe-but Pierre is very nice. Well er-I think you better go and get some more Water, father. A ' CHABLEAU: More? JEANNE: Oh! No, there's enough, never mind! CHABLEAU: Why you seem so queer, what's the matter? CEnter Mme Merante and Pie1're.j JEANNE: Crelievedj Now you'll sit down to dinner, if you please. ALL: With pleasure. QT'hey all are seated, on the benches, Chableau at one end, Pierre and Mme. Merante next to Chableau facing the audience. Jeanne brings soup tureen to table, after filling it with soup from the kettle over the fireplace and fills bowls. Jeanne sits opposite Chableau, next to Pierre. They all begin to eat soup.Q Two Hundred Twenty-three

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CHABLEAU: Craising his head, ashamedj Kill you? The one who saved my life? Never! . CChableau and Mme. lVIerante go to him and Mme. Merante and M'erante embrace, Jeanne and Pierre look at each other, everyone seems relieved.j MERANTE: Wliat do you mean? CI-IABLEAU: Don't you remember the time you saved my life? You lifted the wheel from my shoulder that day. MERANTE: Oh yes, I believe I do remember, now! CI-IABLEAU: I'm ashamed of theaway I've talked and acted.. It, of course, wasn't you who ruined my business in Orleans? MERANTE: No, but in the routine of Work my name was signed tothe transaction. Personally, I knew nothing of the matter. The business shall be yours again and the greatest in all Orleans. PIERRE: It doesn't matter, now, does it, mother? MME. MERANTE: Csaying it with real meaning, No, it doesn't matter. We should all be friends, aristocrats to peasant, we're all humanj CHABLEAU :Let us sit down to dinner, together. MERANTE: But I'm too late. CHABLEAUr,! No, that's all right, much is often too late. This disaster. the revolution, is too late to stop now. But let us be friend to friend 'til the end, for someday perhaps, there will be no aristocrnt nor peasant, but just our beautiful France. 'Q 15-3 3 J O- xv- 7' J ' . Y 1.5 fn RU f Two Hundred Twenty-five