Dramatic Technique

by George Pierce Baker

Crowd.

Young Sultan (Caliph) rides through the bazaar on a white donkey. His Vizier (Abu Bakr) follows him. Also guards.

Hajji appears. Shopkeeper I. Shopkeeper II.	Political discussion. Young Sultan just come through bazaar. Hajji regrets he missed seeing him. Sultan only been Sultan ten days.
[Read Caliph for Sultan.]	Nephew of old Sultan now dead. Young Sultan brought up in a monastery,
[In the play, the shopkeepers have a scene of explanation before Hajj enters,—altered when writing play.]	Said to be a dreamer and a poet. The real ruler said to be the Executioner, A favourite of late Sultan, Young man, too, but very strong, Very cruel and selfish. Young Sultan does not see much of Executioner (Mansur). Supposed to disappear on nightly expeditions, To get to know his people, To have some love adventures. Has been brought up strictly in monastery, Has never yet, they say, tested the “charm of his beard.”
[This altered. See note above. In the play Hajj enters here.]	Hajji listens to all this humbly, Sitting almost under the counter, Then begins to finger stuffs. The shopkeeper is going to drive him off. But Hajji is in earnest. Shows his purse. He means to buy. Clothes are forthcoming. He selects some. Once he has gone to the bath and the barber he will be resplendent—as noble as the noblest. Hajji asks the price. It is very high. He begins to bargain. Shopkeeper No. II chimes in. Hajji pits Shopkeeper No. I against No. II. They quarrel. Hajji fans the quarrel into flame. They almost come to blows. Hajji escapes with his clothes.
Shopkeeper No. I.     and Shopkeeper No. II	The shopkeepers notice his escape. They combine at once against the common enemy. Shopkeeper I will go for the guard, And have Hajji followed and caught. Shopkeeper II to meet him at the Executioner’s to witness against Hajji.
[Here Nasir the Guide is introduced to give away Hajj. This was done when the play was revised for production.]	Curtain

SCENE 3

(For “Zira” read “Marsinah.”)

Zira’s home. Small courtyard of a poor house. On right side a large gate backing to street. Fountain in courtyard.

Old Woman.   Zira, the daughter Hajji.   [Marsinah works. This was altered when writing play, because of Arabian embroidery frame seen in the Museum of Tunis.]	Old woman is spinning. Zira is lazily hanging her hand into fountain. (She works instead.) Old Woman reprimands her for not working. She has changed in last three days. Zira, who hides her wools, says her thread has given out. Old Woman will go to bazaar for thread. Locks door carefully, going out.
Zira springs up and goes to the casement in Courtyard and then, plucking a rose, throws it out. She then unlocks casement and goes back to the fountain.
Young Sultan appears in simple clothes, climbing in.
Zira.   Young Sultan.	Love scene. His madness to come at daytime. Since he saw her first three nights ago from neighboring roof-tops cannot rest. She asks who he is. He is so different from her father. His hands so beautiful. He has love scene, In which they exchange rhymed couplets In Arabian Nights fashion. He puts a question (line one and two rhyming) She caps it (line three not rhyming, but line four rhyming with one and two). The girl is witty but natural. This charms the Sultan beyond measure. All the women he has had presented to him are so stupid. She says: ‘”All the women’!” Who is he? He says a simple scribe—brought up in a monastery. His uncle wishes him to marry. He has never loved before, Till meeting Zira. They embrace.
Noise of key in gate.	They hear noise. They separate—He will come back after sundown to see her. She gives him a rose. Then he will tell her something which will surprise her. He escapes through the window.   Zira back to fountain, (to her work).
Old Woman reënters breathless.
Old Woman.   Zira.	Old Woman says Zira’s father is coming. Thing he has never done during daytime. Luckily she saw him as she returned from bazaar. He was coming out of Public Bath, Beautifully dressed. They pretend to be busy working.     Noise of key.
Hajji arrives, dressed in good clothes, curls trimmed andbeard combed.
Hajji.   Zira.   Old Woman.	Greetings. Zira admires her father. Old Woman sent off to get meal ready.
Hajji.   Zira.	Hajji has great plans for his daughter. His affection for her profound. He plans for her future. She is very charming to him, As she naturally wishes to hide her love affair, and get into his good graces. She takes out her guitar. Begins to sing to him. He sways before her admiringly on his knees. Says she is beautiful.
[This altered in thewriting of play.]	Her mother was not beautiful, Not like his wife that he loved Not like his son now dead. But she is more beautiful than all, The light of his eyes. She laughs and sings. He claps his hands in ecstasy He has great ambitions for her.    A knock on the door. Zira is sent by her father into the inner house. The Old Woman comes out of house and says it will be some pedlar at door. She opens.
The Officer of the Guard and Guard enter with the Shopkeeper I
Hajji.   Shopkeeper.   Officer.	Shopkeeper accuses Hajji of stealing garments he has on. Hajji denies it. Shopkeeper will have him taken before the Executioner (Mansur). Hajji protests. He is taken off in spite of his assurances that the Shopkeeper is a madman.
[Re-introduction of Nasir,saying, “I saw nopurse!” Change madeduring rehearsals]	Curtain

SCENE 4

Hall in Executioner’s House (large set). A colonnade at back, showing courtyard.

Executioner (Mansur).   His Scribe (Afife), an old man   [Kafur his Sworder,—added when play was written. This first scene is enlarged in play by a letter from the Caliph. See play.]	Executioner very discontented. Young Sultan means to curtail Executioner’s prerogatives. Executioner was old Sultan’s favorite. Scribe and Executioner plan to assassinate Sultan. They need a clever man. Whom shall they get?
Hajji is brought by the Guard, followed by Shopkeeper anda Crowd, in which is the Guide of Scene 1.
Hajji.   Executioner.   Scribe.   Guide.   Shopkeeper I.   Shopkeeper II.   Crowd.	Hajji accused by Shopkeeper I. Shopkeeper II bearing No. I witness. Hajji protests. Meant to pay—Excitement of new clothes made him forget. Produces money. Where did he get his money? Sheikh of desert. They all laugh. Sheikh of desert does not give money. Sheikhs are outlaws, robbers. Not allowed in town. Hajji says he is in town. Notices Guide (Nasir) in crowd. Appeals to Guide— Guide says it is true that Sheikh is in town. Then, says Executioner, Sheikh must be taken before Sultan. All Cûrds banished by old Sultan. Sultan has an audience this afternoon. Sheikh an exile (by old Sultan). Executioner cannot allow the word of the deceased monarch to be disregarded. Sends Guide off to show the Guard the caravansary at which Sheikh is stopping. Hajji interrupts. One word. He asks Guide did he, the Sheikh, not throw Hajji a purse. Guide repeating Hajji’s words (Scene 1) “I saw no purse.” All laugh. Guide off with the Guard.
[Afterwards, “his hand cut off,” as this is thelaw of the Koran. Change made when writing play.]	Executioner orders Hajji to have his ears cut off. Hajji discourses on Fate, Kismet. Is very witty. Executioner becomes interested in Hajji’s brilliancy. Hajji is pardoned suddenly by Executioner. Executioner does more. He takes Hajji into his household Into his personal guard. A sword is sent for. Hajji kneels in gratitude at the Executioner’s feet. “His servant always.” The sword is brought in. Executioner takes it and hands it to Hajji. “Rise, Hajji, and learn to use this sword in my service.” Hajji rises. He begs he may begin his career by an act of clemency. Executioner grants permission. Hajji makes the Shopkeepers kneel, forgives them for daring to accuse a servant of the Executioner’s of stealing—tickles their beards with his sword and orders them to pay a fine to the Executioner. They leave more dead than alive. Hajji turns to Executioner. H. “Have I begun well?” E. “The beginning is nothing. Go now and the Captain will instruct you in your duties.” H. (with enormous swagger) “Captain?” He goes out, the rest following him.
The Scribe.   Executioner.	Is amazed at Executioner’s clemency. E. “Don’t you see why I have pardoned him?” S. “No, Master.” E. “This man shall do the deed.” S. “The deed?” E. “Murder the Sultan for me.” S. “I see.”
(They both turn and look after Hajji who is seen traversing the courtyard at the back and twirling his moustaches, the servants all bowing low to him.)
Curtain