| Hajji alone. | Repentance.
Curses every one.
Raves.
If only he hadn’t received money that morning, he would not have been tempted to steal.
If he had not stolen, he would not have been taken to the Executioner.
If he hadn’t been taken to the Executioner, he would not have been driven to kill the Sultan.
The Sheikh is the cause of all his misfortunes.
He stole his wife.
He killed his son.
Now he is killing him.
Cursed be the Sheikh! |
| The Sheikh from the corner: | “Who uses my name in vain?” |
Hajji.
Sheikh. | Hajji recognizes him.
What is he doing there?
Sheikh says he is condemned to prison by Sultan.
Hajji delighted.
Says this is his only consolation in his trouble.
Never a sorrow without a grain of joy.
Joy to see his enemy suffer.
He could almost feel friendly towards
Sheikh, when he thinks how they will be executed together. |
[Sheikh’s story of the broken coin and his lost son introduced here. See play.
Allusions to wife were cut as unnecessary to the story.] | How strangely their lives have been interwoven.
They talk of the dead woman they have shared.
She is dead now.
Better so. She would have been old and ugly now.
Sheikh says: “She developed a bad temper.”
Hajji furiously: “That was your fault.
She was the sweetest tempered creature when she was mine. You ruined her, body and soul.
You fiend you—but no matter. You will be tortured tomorrow.”
He shrieks with delight. |
| Gaoler reënters with a decree and a soldier carrying someinstruments of torture. |
Gaoler.
Sheikh.
Hajji.
Soldier. | Gaoler says that it has been found that Sheikh did come on a pilgrimage.
The High Priest has testified in his favor.
Therefore the Sultan forgives him.
He is free, but must leave the city at once and never return.
Sheikh asks Gaoler to thank Sultan.
Would go—but his limbs are too weak.
Could Gaoler send for his litter?
Gaoler says he fears Sheikh’s litter gone, but could procure him a chair out of Sultan’s palace used to convey the lesser women of the Hareem when Sultan travels. |
[Changed to a stretcher to “carry away the dead.” Alteration made when play was written.]
[The torture was cut as too long and too ugly. Altered during rehearsal.] | Sheikh gives Gaoler money.
Gaoler now turns to Hajji.
Says he is to come to him.
Makes him kneel down.
Hajji: “I am free too, am I?”
Gaoler: “Free? Here! (turns to Soldier and takes a casket from him and is about to put it on Hajji’s head). Sometimes these head screws and thumb screws don’t fit. There must be no hitch in the performance tomorrow.”
“Head screw?” says Hajji, trembling.
Gaoler tears off Hajji’s turban and tries on the torture helmet.
Gaoler: “Does it feel comfortable?” |
| [All this cut. Instead of which, the Gaoler strikes Hajji with his key which makes Hajji faint.] | Hajji: “Comfortable!”
Gaoler: “It ought to. It’s just as if it had been made for your Highness.”
(Takes it off, laughing loudly; the soldier joins politely.)
Gaoler (to Sheikh): “I’ll see to your Excellency’s chair.”
Gaoler and Soldier off with instruments.
Hajji is on the floor, more dead than alive. |
Hajji.
Sheikh. | Hajji bemoans his fate.
Why should he have to suffer, and Sheikh be pardoned, when Sheikh is the cause of all of Hajji’s woe?
Here is Sheikh, an old robber chief, forgiven.
Here is Hajji, a simple, honest beggar, to be tortured and burnt.
Who is dependent on the Sheikh?
He has lost his son—has never found
him again—he may be dead.
No one dependent on Sheikh.
But Hajji has a daughter dependent on him.
A daughter! And the sun is setting.
And at this hour she is being taken to the Executioner!
The Executioner who has so cruelly forsaken Hajji.
His daughter going to him, with Hajji powerless—and the Sheikh to live.
It is unjust, cruel, not to be borne.
“It shan’t be borne—it—” |
| [When the play was written, the breaking of the chains was introduced here.] | He gives the Sheikh an awful look.
The Sheikh realizes his thoughts and draws his knife.
Hajji springs at him, overpowers him, and cuts his throat.
The Sheikh’s last words: “My son! My son!”
A moment’s thought—then Hajji wipes the knife on his own turban (torn off by Gaoler).
Quickly he exchanges clothes with the dead man.
Puts on his turban.
Then rifles pockets.
Finds round the dead man’s throat a chain with the broken half of a coin.
Slips it over his own neck.
He puts the dead body into the corner where he (Hajji) lay when the Gaoler left the dungeon.
He hears the tread on the steps.
He assumes the old man’s attitude.
The sunlight has died out: the scene grows quite dark. |
| The Gaoler reenters with the Soldier and a chair borne bytwo porters. They lift Hajji into the chair. Then takeup the chair and carry it up the broad stone stairs. |
| Gaoler. (Turning to the dead body.) “Why not laugh tonight,Hajji? Tomorrow morning will be time enough to weep, when youare tortured in the Pleasure Gardens of the Prophet’s descendant.”(He kicks the body, then goes out laughing, and locks the door.) |
| Curtain. |