The Count of Monte Cristo, Part One. Александр Дюма
Go, I tell you.
EDMOND
Then goodbye, Mr. Morel, and a thousand thanks.
MOREL
Till we meet again, my dear Edmond—good luck!
(to Danglars)
And now, Mr. Danglars, business.
BLACKOUT
ACT I, SCENE 2
The home of Edmond’s father. A little room with a sloping roof, window filled with creeping plants.
LA CARCONTE
So there, Papa Dantès, you say that my drunken Caderousse isn’t here.
DANTÈS
No, cousin, I haven’t even seen him all day.
LA CARCONTE
Go on! He must still be at the cabaret.
DANTÈS
Let’s see—a little mercy for poor Caderousse, cousin!
LA CARCONTE
Oh! It’s that he doesn’t do more than that, you see. A man who had such a good situation.
DANTÈS
Well, but he’ll always have it.
LA CARCONTE
Yes, but little by little, he loses all his skill and then they won’t give him credit any more for anything.
DANTÈS
Bah! Cousin, you have some property in Arles and when you wish to leave Marseille.
LA CARCONTE
Ah! That’s exactly what I fear.
DANTÈS
How’s that?
LA CARCONTE
Because it will be my death, you see. If I return to Arles, I am lost.
DANTÈS
Ah, yes, those cursed fevers.
LA CARCONTE
I thought I was dying of it, you know.
DANTÈS
Poor woman! But things are better, right?
LA CARCONTE
I am cured—and since I cannot retake the same air—
DANTÈS
You will excuse me, cousin?
(He stand in a chair to attach the blinds to the window.)
LA CARCONTE
Take care. You are high up, it is nothing to joke about.
DANTÈS
Oh—don’t worry.
LA CARCONTE
I hear a step. It cannot be him.
DANTÈS
You see quite well it doesn’t do to think badly of his approach.
LA CARCONTE
It’s not him.
(seeing Edmond)
Wait! Wait! Oh—but—
DANTÈS
What?
EDMOND
(low to Carconte)
Silence!
LA CARCONTE
Yes, and even—
(she gestures that she must go)
Right?
EDMOND
Thanks!
LA CARCONTE
He’s going to be very happy, Papa Dantès.
(Exit La Carconte)
DANTÈS
(his back turned)
Speak, cousin, since it still isn’t him. Who is it then, huh?
EDMOND
It’s me, father.
DANTÈS
Ah, my God—my God!
EDMOND
What’s wrong with you, father? Are you getting sick?
DANTÈS
No, my dear, Edmond! No, my child! But I wasn’t expecting you—and the joy—the shock of seeing you return here so unexpectedly, oh, my God! It seems to me I am going to die.
EDMOND
Well, pull yourself together, Father—it’s I—it’s really me! Everyone says that joy never does ill and that’s why I came in without warning. Come on, smile at me, instead of looking at me as you are doing with terrified eyes! I am back, we are going to be happy.
DANTÈS
Ah! So much the better boy! But how are we going to be happy? You will never leave me again?
EDMOND
Poor Captain Leclere is dead and it’s likely I am going to have his place. Do you understand? Captain, with five hundred crowns in appointments and a share of the profits. Isn’t that more than a poor drudge like myself could hope for?
DANTÈS
Yes, my son, yes—indeed—it’s very lucky.
EDMOND
Also, I want from the first money I receive, for you to have a small house with a garden where you can plant your flowers. But what’s the matter, Father? They were saying you were sick.
DANTÈS
Patience, Edmond; it is nothing!
EDMOND
Come, come, Father, a glass of wine—that will revive you—where have you put your wine?
DANTÈS
No, thanks—don’t look.
EDMOND
Easily done, father. Tell me where it is.
DANTÈS
Useless. There is no more wine.
EDMOND
What do you mean? There is no more wine? Could you have been short of money, Father?
DANTÈS
I lack nothing since you are here, my child!
EDMOND
What, could Mr. Morel not have transmitted to you the two hundred francs on the day of my departure three months ago?
DANTÈS
Yes—it’s true. But you forgot a little debt at the home of your neighbor, Caderousse. He reminded me of it saying that if I didn’t pay on your behalf, he would go to Mr. Morel for payment. Then from fear that this would injure you—
EDMOND
Well?
DANTÈS
I paid.
EDMOND
But it was 140 francs that I owed neighbor Caderousse.
DANTÈS
Yes.
EDMOND
And you gave him from the 200 francs I left for you?
DANTÈS
Yes.
EDMOND
So that, for three