thesecretsofworld

THE SECRETS OF THE WORLD

A full-length play

By Evelyn Jean Pine 256 Ripley Street San Francisco, CA 94110 (415) 282-3219 [email protected]

“The art of navigation incitesthose who follow it to learn thesecrets of the world." -- Christopher Columbus

The Secrets of the World Page 2 of 87

THE SECRETS OF THE WORLD

CAST OF CHARACTERS6 W, 8 M

(or 3 W, 5 M with double casting.)

Karaya 35, female, Taino Indian. Baptized– eventually –- As “Maria.”

Queen Isabella 41, female, Spanish Monarch.

King Ferdinand 40, male, Isabella’s husband.

The Cacique 55, male, Taino Indian Monarch.

Macana 35, male, Taino Indian. KARAYA’shusband. His skin is scabby anddiseased and gets more sothroughout the play. Baptized as“Don Juan de Castile.”

Carey 20, male, Taino Indian. Baptizedas “Diego Colon.”

Guamo 25, male, Taino Indian. Baptizedas “Joseph of Aragon.”

The Virgin Mary Ageless, As in renaissancepaintings.

Christopher Columbus 42, male, tall, distinguished.

Attabey Ageless, Woman of the Waters inTaino Mythology. Until Scene 13,a baby eternally emerges from herthighs.

Fortune Teller Female, poorly dressed.

Leda A maid

Bombastus An alchemist

Geber An alchemist

Voice of a Page and cheers of a thrilled crowd.


SUGGESTIONS FOR DOUBLE-CASTING

THE CACIQUE, FERDINANDMACANA, BOMBASTUSCAREY, GEBERTHE VIRGIN MARY, FORTUNE TELLER, LEDAQUEEN ISABELLA, ATTABEY

TIME & SETTING1492 until 1504. The court of Ferdinand and Isabella,their private apartment, the island of Guanahani, the pierat Cadiz in Spain, on a ship in the Atlantic ocean, a roomin a monastery, an alchemist’s workshop, a trail in themountains, and Columbus’s final home outside of Valladoid,Spain.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSThe Secrets of the World was commissioned and originallydeveloped by Playground, James A. Kleinmann, ArtisticDirector. Playground’s dramaturg, Sonia Fernandez, andplaywright Brian Thorstenson were both instrumental in itsdevelopment.

PRODUCTION HISTORYPlayground presented a staged reading of The Secrets of theWorld, directed by Jon Tracy, on May 18, 2008 at the ThickHouse in San Francisco. Tracy Ward directed a stagedreading of the play on March 13, 14, 15, 2009 at El Teatrode la Esperanza as part of the SFSU Greenhouse Festival.

PRODUCTION NOTESEach scene, with the exception of the prologue, isintroduced by its title. This introduction of each scenecan be accomplished by displaying, projecting or announcingthe scene’s title. Nonetheless, the scenes should runtogether as if in a dream or myth.

It is not necessary (though certainly acceptable) tocostume this play in period dress. One might, on the otherhand, use contemporary dress: for example, Isabelle andFerdinand might be wearing cocktail party duds and theIndians business suits, etc. But it must be clear whenGuamo, Carey, and Karaya take on European clothes. As longas that rule is followed, costume is a production designchoice.


PLAYWRIGHT’S NOTE ON SOURCESThe Taino myths are adapted from Antonio M. Stevens-Arroyo’s Cave of the Jagua which explores the Taino mythscollected by Friar Ramon Pane during Columbus’s secondvoyage. Online links to contemporary Taino Tribes include:http://www.indio.net/aymaco/ and http://www.taino-tribe.org/jatiboni.html. The dialogue in Scene Six is, inpart, edited dialogue from The Discovery of the New Worldby Christopher Columbus by Lope De Vega (1604). The wordsto Columbus’s song are traditional; the words to Carey’sversion are mine.


PROLOGUE

(Out of the darkness, we hear the ringing of a brass hawk’s belland, then, the voice of KARAYA.)

THE VOICE OF KARAYA.

Long, long ago, the ancient bloody one dies as she gives

birth. So they slit open her stomach and pull out four

mewling babies, all twins. The first-born is named “The

Scabby One” because of his rough skin. One day, when their

father, YaYa, is away, the four twins are very hungry.

Without their father’s permission, they climb onto the roof

where he has hung a gourd full of fish. The twins reach in

and stuff their mouths until they hear their father’s

footsteps. They try to put the gourd back, but it tumbles

and cracks. Out pours water, fishes, dolphins, and

manatees. So much water, it covers almost all the land.

To escape their father’s fury, the four twins climb into

the broken gourd and paddle down from the sky. You see?

They are explorers. Like Marco Polo. Ibn Battuta.

Christopher Columbus.


SCENE ONE“God Rewards Our Piety,” the Alcazar, Cordoba, Spain, March

1492.

(After dismissing ChristopherCOLUMBUS, who proposed the Royalssupport his exploration of thewestern oceans to find traderoutes to China and India,ISABELLA and FERDINAND haveretired to their quarters.COLUMBUS has left the Alcazar onlymoments before to head to Franceto sell his proposal to the kingthere. FERDINAND is playful,pleased they finally made theirdecision, but aware his wife isintrigued by COLUMBUS’s proposaland might feel disappointed.)

(LIGHTS UP on FERDINAND, who looksout at the audience, speaking, asif to Columbus.)

FERDINAND.“Christopher Columbus, we appreciated once again having theopportunity to consider your proposal. We respect you andall the assistance you have given us over the years. Andwe find the idea of discovering new trade routes

(As FERDINAND speaks, LIGHTS UP onIsabella, who sews.)

to China and India very intriguing, but frankly, for us, itis just too expensive, difficult to replicate and scale,and a bit too (Looks at Isabella, trying to get her tolaugh.) whack. “

(ISABELLA ignores him, sews.)


Isabella, we HAD to send him away. Maybe you can sail westand land in India. In fact, I believe you could. Whodoesn’t? In theory. But sunken ships are worth nothing.Even Portugal wouldn’t go for this scheme, and with hisslave trade he has become a formidable philanthropic force.I don’t want to spend our money on misadventure or evenspices and silks. We must never forget our mission: Ourmoney -- and I know the Pope agrees with me on this -- isto be used for the One True Church. Besides, Isabella, yourlegacy will not be trade or exploration. You will be knownas the great queen who vanquished the infidel by sewing herhusband’s shirts.

(ISABELLA jabs her thumb with theneedle.)

ISABELLA.Ow!

FERDINAND.What did you do?

(FERDINAND goes over to her andtakes her hand. She pulls itaway. He takes it again. Shepulls it away. He takes it athird time. She looks at him. Heputs her thumb in his mouth andsucks on the blood. After amoment, she strokes his hair. )

ISABELLA.Our mission: the glory of God. All to the One True Faith.Didn’t Columbus say as he stood before us: (As Columbus.)“I plead with your majesties to spend all the treasuresfrom this enterprise on the conquest of Jerusalem.” All thehairs on the back of my neck stood on end, and I thoughtabout you, my Liege, in the Holy Land. This is not aboutIndia or China. This is not about trade routes, silk,spices. Wherever Columbus goes, he will bring souls toChrist.

FERDINAND.Three ships. What’s the matter with one?

ISABELLA.He knows what he’s doing.


FERDINAND.Three ships destroyed at sea. That money is better spenton the religious courts.

ISABELLA.But, my Liege, this will support the Inquisition.

(Now FERDINAND rolls hiseyes.)

ISABELLAAll the wealth he’ll bring back. Straight to the GrandInquisitor. Our cup would overflow. (Pause.) Take off yourshirt.

(FERDINAND does. ISABELLAgives him a long look andhands FERDINAND the shirtshe’s been sewing. ISABELLAwatches as he puts it on.)

My Liege, you’re magnificent.

FERDINAND.Like Charlemagne. I am grateful to my wife.

ISABELLA.But my lord, you deserve silk.

FERDINAND.Isabella, Columbus is on his way to France.

ISABELLA.Only moments ago. Call him back.

FERDINAND.No.

ISABELLA.It’s an investment. You must spend money to make money.

FERDINAND.No.

ISABELLA.God rewards our piety. The mosques are now cathedrals. Thepriest waves incense where the infidel once sat. Granadahas fallen. We have prospered.


FERDINAND.No.

ISABELLA.Yes.

FERDINAND.I will not spend my money on this.

ISABELLA.(Pause. Then,) Our money. Columbus is onto something. DonAbraham says --

FERDINAND.Don Abraham? The wealthiest man in Spain? The largestlandlord? The Jew? I’m sure he has advice, but does heinvest? Of course not. We’ve decided. No.

(As Ferdinand has beenspeaking, Isabella’s idea hasbegun to form.)

ISABELLA.

Ferdinand, there are apostates among us. Every day,hideous confessions to the most unimaginable sins. It issuch a relief when these people are hanged, drowned,burned. Torquemada insists it is the Jews that pollute thekingdom. (Helping FERDINAND to take the sewn shirt off.)We’ve failed.

FERDINAND.We’ve had great success in battle.

ISABELLA.Nothing we do dissuades the Jews from their war against theTrue Faith. We must remove them.

FERDINAND.What?

ISABELLA.They must go.

FERDINAND.But Don Abraham? Don Isaacs? Our closest advisors?


ISABELLA.Our closest advisor is Christ. Why don’t they convert?

FERDINAND.Much of the administration –

ISABELLA.The Jews must go. All of them. They don’t belong here.(She gives him back his original shirt.)

FERDINAND.(Considering it all rationally.) True. To vanquish theMoors and retain the Jews. . .

(As they speak, FERDINAND puts hisshirt on. She is making a fewadjustments on the shirt she’ssewn.)

ISABELLA.Absolute madness.

FERDINAND.But how?

ISABELLA.Order them out.

FERDINANDWhen?

ISABELLA.Immediately.

FERDINAND.They’ll need time. To make arrangements.

ISABELLA.A deadline.

FERDINAND.Exactly.

ISABELLA.July.

(Silence. She sews.)


ISABELLA.And their property?

FERDINAND.What?

ISABELLA.Their lands? Their holdings?

FERDINAND.Much of it will revert to us.

ISABELLA.So we’ll have a cushion. ( Stops sewing.) A safety net.

FERDINAND.Yes.

ISABELLA.(She goes to him.) A bit to spare. To invest.

FERDINAND.I suppose I could get someone to call back Columbus.

ISABELLA.

(Kisses him then breaks away.) My liege, you’ll beglorious riding into the Holy Land, wearing silk.

(LIGHTS DOWN.)


SCENE 2Santa Maria Discovers A New World, October 1492

(Sound of hawk bells.)

(The lights come up. It is October 13,1492. The island of Guanahani. TheCACIQUE, MACANA, GUAMO, CAREY, andKARAYA stand together, ringing thebells they have been given byChristopher Columbus. The Indians arehaving a strategy session, trying tomake sense of their encounter. TheCACIQUE, the oldest of the four, istrying to get the advice from hislieutenants. They peer out at theaudience where Columbus’s ships areanchored. At different points duringthe scene, they ring the bells.)

THE CACIQUE.So?

KARAYA.They’re from the Land of the Dead.

MACANA.That guy isn’t dead.

THE CACIQUE.Then where?

GUAMO.Who knows?

MACANA.Does it matter? Send these guys down towards the Caribs.Let them give those guys a scare.

KARAYA.Look at their clothes, the size of their boats. They mustbe dead.


MACANA.Then why are they out during the day? Are dead people sostupid, they’d sail around here in boats that big?

KARAYA.They need gold to bring them back to life. That’s why theytake our nose rings and give us these. (She rings herbell.)

(As the Indians continue theirconversation, the VIRGIN MARY enters,weeping. They cannot see or hear her.)

THE CACIQUE.Trying to come back to life? Could be.

VIRGIN MARY.I am so over-dressed.

(The VIRGIN MARY walks among theTainos, but she is caught up in her ownfeelings and predicament, oblivious totheirs.)

CAREY.They’re hungry too.

VIRGIN MARY.One doesn’t want to appear out of place.

MACANA.Like a shark swimming with manatees.

THE CACIQUE.We’ll keep giving them food, but are the dead usually sohungry?

GUAMO.Maybe they’re lost.

VIRGIN MARY.(Taking a deep breath.) It’s as if I’ve never breathedbefore.

KARAYA.They ARE lost. If they’re not dead, where did they comefrom? Why --


MACANA.Dead or alive, send them off to mess with the Caribs.

KARAYA.Hello. I’m right here. You keep interrupting me.

VIRGIN MARY.Not one breath.

MACANA.(To KARAYA.) Go ahead.

(MACANA makes a show of waiting.KARAYA shakes her head. MACANA picksup where he left off.)

MACANA.They’re not dead, but it doesn’t matter. They’re trouble.Lots of weapons. Let them use them on the Caribs. Theseguys are on their way, the Caribs are out of our hair.

VIRGIN MARY.At home I felt so boxed in . . .

THE CACIQUE.Play them off against each other. Sure. You know whatbothers me most? No women.

VIRGIN MARY.Like I was folded up into a tiny square of dough or rolledup like an old rag.

MACANA.Women? Look at them. Ugly. Sickly. Crazy clothes. Hairall over their faces.

KARAYA.Dead.

MACANA.They dress funny to keep everybody off-kilter.

(The VIRGIN MARY walks around, takingin the scenery.)


GUAMO.If they’re traveling, trading, maybe they don’t need theirwomen.

THE CACIQUE.Not even one? While we talked to them, I sent my nephew toswim out and look in their boats. Not a single womananywhere. How can you trust men like that? (Turning toMACANA) Send them on their way. Let THEM worry about theCaribs. (To the others.) You think?

GUAMO.Let me talk with them.

CAREY.(Laughing.) He likes them.

VIRGIN MARY.It’s beautiful here.

GUAMO.I like their words. The way they all run together.

VIRGIN MARY.Beautiful. Nothing like Bethlehem or Seville.

GUAMO.Like music.

VIRGIN MARY.Green and wet. (She extends her arms, breathes deeply.)

THE CACIQUE.But what are they saying?

KARAYA.That they’re lost. They need help.

MACANA.They’re saying they want our wives, our land, that’s whatthey’re saying.

THE CACIQUE.Or not saying.


VIRGIN MARY.Here a woman could feel as wide as the sky. Here (Shebreathes again.) I am the song of the seasons, the stagesof life itself -- seed, blossom, fruit.

GUAMO.I look at those guys and I want to laugh, but when theyspeak, the words pull me in, everything sounds like awhisper or a song.

VIRGIN MARY.Here My Son doesn’t need to die.

GUAMO.With just the slightest effort I could understand them.

KARAYA.Now Guamo can talk to the dead.

CAREY.He can talk to anybody.

VIRGIN MARY.My son needs no resurrection, because I am rebirth herself.I’ll stay here forever. (She slowly pulls off layers ofher clothing.)

THE CACIQUE.(To GUAMO.) Learn their language. Ingratiate yourself.We’ll be hospitable, but the goal is – whether they’redead or alive – to get rid of them.

GUAMO.It’s like I already know what they’re saying.

MACANA.Well? What’d he say?

GUAMO.I mean I don’t know. But I know.

THE CACIQUE.So?

GUAMO.He needs us, that guy.


THE CACIQUE.Good, then let him help us with the Carib. Let me meet withhim again. Comfort them, in case they are dead -- try toheal them a little, a blessing, a mask. (To GUAMO.) Youtalk to them, study them. Learn everything. Then – they’regone.

(THE VIRGIN MARY, naked, walksblissfully into the forests of the“New World.”)

(COLUMBUS enters.)

COLUMBUS.(Speaking to the CACIQUE very slowly with hand gestures.)It is a pleasure to see you again.

(The CACIQUE nods and greetsCOLUMBUS. MACANA, GUAMO, CAREYalso nod. KARAYA exits. When theIndians are only talking to eachother, their physical behavior iscircumspect. GUAMO is strainingto understand, but he lovestalking to COLUMBUS, still amazedand delighted they cancommunicate. MACANA is trying tocontrol his disgust at the wholeprocess.)

(COLUMBUS takes CAREY by theshoulder and then touches thepiece of gold in his nose.)

COLUMBUS.(To CACIQUE.) Our King, -- King – like you -- Ferdinand ofCastile, desires this gold.

THE CACIQUE.(To GUAMO.) Stuck on this. Always stuck on this.

GUAMO.(To CACIQUE.) We get him this, they go. He needs it forhis king.


THE CACIQUE.(To GUAMO.) I got that. Tell him he can get more gold fromthe Caribs.

GUAMO.(To COLUMBUS.) There’s more gold on other islands.

COLUMBUS.I would need help finding the way. Some of your men mustcome with me.

(COLUMBUS gestures at CAREY, whois pleased to be singled out.)

THE CACIQUE.(To GUAMO.) Tell him the Caribs have a lot of it. Not us.

GUAMO.(To COLUMBUS.) The Caribs have gold. Lots of it.

THE CACIQUE.(To GUAMO.)Tell him they’re tough, vicious, but we knowhe’s tougher. He can take them. But it’ll be a fight.

GUAMO.(To COLUMBUS.) You’ll need courage. They’re ruthless,blood-thirsty, but loaded with gold. Might be a terriblefight, but you’re tough. You’ll win.

THE CACIQUE.(To GUAMO.) Tell him we want to give him something.

GUAMO.(To COLUMBUS.) We have a gift.

(KARAYA brings out a huge mask with gold stickingout of the eyes, ears, nose and mouth, glitteringand terrifying. Ritually they present the mask toCOLUMBUS who is overcome by all the gold on it.He strokes it and cradles it like a baby.)

MACANA.What an idiot.


THE CACIQUE.(Speaks directly to COLUMBUS, who, of course, can’tunderstand him.) This mask let’s you have the pleasure ofgold without having to struggle to get it. Wear it. Besatisfied and return to your people who love you and missyou. (To GUAMO.) Tell him to wear it.

GUAMO.(To COLUMBUS.) It’s for you. Put it on.

(COLUMBUS doesn’t understand. He just wants thegold. The CACIQUE takes the mask from him andputs it over COLUMBUS’s face. COLUMBUS isovercome with delight as he wears the mask. TheINDIANS watch – awaiting his transformation.COLUMBUS is overjoyed.)

COLUMBUS.Thank you, my friends, thank you.

(Still wearing the mask, COLUMBUS begins to digthe gold out of the mask. He holds each piece upto the light. CACIQUE, MACANA, GUAMO, CAREY, andKARAYA all react differently, but are all amazedat his reaction, unable to figure it out.)

THE CACIQUE.(To the others.) Not dead. Something else.

(LIGHTS OUT.)


SCENE THREE

First Baptism

(COLUMBUS is baptizing CAREY, holdinghim underwater. GUAMO is watching,listening, enjoying translating. )

COLUMBUS.Let this servant of Christ be baptized in the name of theFather and the Son and in the Holy Ghost.

(COLUMBUS pulls him up.)

And I name you, Diego, after my son.

GUAMO.Your son?

CAREY.(Wiping the water off his face. To Guamo.) Tell him to doit again.

COLUMBUS.What?

GUAMO.He wants to do it again.

COLUMBUS.Only once.

CAREY.(To COLUMBUS.) Your turn.

(CAREY takes COLUMBUS and tries to dunkhim as well.)

COLUMBUS.No, Diego, I was baptized long ago. I myself have takenyour spiritual life into my own hands.

GUAMO.(To CAREY.) This is a big deal. He doesn’t usually do it,but he wants to take care of you, like a son.


CAREY.(Not comprehending, but enthusiastic nonetheless.) Thankyou.

COLUMBUS.And your gods you must disavow.

CAREY.(To GUAMO.) What?

GUAMO.(To COLUMBUS.) What’s that: “Disavow”?

COLUMBUS.Cast aside. Because our God is the creator of the universeand the savior of the world.

GUAMO.Which world? Which god?

COLUMBUS.Listen to me, Diego.

(COLUMBUS walks CAREY away fromGUAMO, who follows.)

COLUMBUS.My god is not a game. Your gods are like the pretend gamesof children – dolls, tin soldiers. Not really Gods at all,just stones and make believe.

CAREY.(Looking at GUAMO.)Our gods?

COLUMBUS.Yes, but my God, Christ and his father, the savior of all.

GUAMO.Christ and his father. Gods. YaYa, Attabey --

COLUMBUS.God. One god. Creator of the universe.

GUAMO.The universe is alive with gods. Lots of gods make theworld friendly.


COLUMBUS.There is only one God.

GUAMO.(Laughing.) One?

(CAREY smiles. GUAMO thinks thisis hilarious.)

COLUMBUS.One.

GUAMO.(Tries to be very serious like COLUMBUS, but it isn’teasy.) Your god is very interesting.

COLUMBUS.(To CAREY.) Diego, you will receive eternal life. Don’t youunderstand? I was sent by God to save all of you -- fromthe tiniest baby to the great Khan himself.

GUAMO.(Being polite.)You were lost.

COLUMBUS.You do not understand the scope on which I am speaking.

GUAMO.Your god probably wants you to go home, to see your people.

COLUMBUS.(Referring to Carey.) His God -- if he has truly disavowed.

CAREY.(To Guamo.) What?

COLUMBUS.Your gods.

GUAMO.Which ones?

COLUMBUS.Carey, that is, Diego, is now baptized in the Holy Spirit.When he dies, he will enter heaven.

GUAMO.Where?


COLUMBUS.(To them both.) Together we can tear down this Tower ofBabel and incite the Final Judgment. (To Guamo.)Everything I say you must explain to your family, yourfriends, everyone. The world depends on it.

GUAMO.It’s hard to explain. Even you find it hard to explain.

COLUMBUS.It’s not hard to explain. God speaks to me. Through me.He has grand plans.

GUAMO.About the fight among all these gods.

COLUMBUS.One god. The father, the son and the Holy Ghost.

GUAMO.Yes.

COLUMBUS.A baptism like Carey’s crystallizes everything, illuminatesit, makes it burn with holy fire. (Pause.) This momentwould be so galvanizing in Spain.

GUAMO.Spain?

CAREY.(To GUAMO.) What?

COLUMBUS.Spain.

GUAMO.(To Carey.) His home.

COLUMBUS.With the king and queen. Let Torquemada do the baptism.

GUAMO.Your king and queen miss you. We can help you get ready toleave.


COLUMBUS.We’ll bring birds, plants. And, for the King and Queen,gold. And of course, Diego, you.

CAREY.Me?

GUAMO.He lives here.

COLUMBUS.The world must know about you.

GUAMO.The world knows all about him. We all do.

COLUMBUS.(To GUAMO.) Anyone who would join me would receive a royalwelcome. As a translator you would be received as adiplomat.

GUAMODiplomat?

COLUMBUSSomeone who speaks between two worlds. I appreciate yourhumility. Both of you. You’re a bridge, don’t you see?Between the Christian world and this. As God has profoundplans for me, he must also have great plans for you. Don’tstep back from the chance to spread the Light of the World.Help me fulfill destiny. Don’t shrink back, my friends.The world calls.

(CAREY rings his hawk’s bell.)

(LIGHTS OUT.)


SCENE FOUR

An Adventure Begins

(ATTABEY, enters, gathering up theVIRGIN MARY’s clothes, and givingthem to her, The VIRGIN MARY isfollowing her.)

VIRGIN MARY.We have so much to say to each other. Really we do. Weboth believe in the power of compassion. We’re both moms,we love children --

ATTABEY.I just don’t think you’re completely happy here, eventhough you’ve made yourself at home --

(THE CACIQUE and MACANA enter,MACANA talking with vehemence.)

VIRGIN MARY.Not happy? I’m utterly happy. I’ve never felt so – myself– so fully myself –

THE CACIQUE.They like to trade.

MACANA.They like to take.

THE CACIQUE.Everyone is being fair.

VIRGIN MARY.It’s as if -- for the very first time -- I am really me andnot what someone else wants me to be – do you understand?Do you get --

ATTABEY.(Cutting her off.) You talk too much. I’ve never felt thatsomeone who is really happy talks so much.


(CAREY runs in, followed byGuamo.)

CAREY.He wants us to meet his king.

THE CACIQUE.His king is coming here?

CAREY.I’m going there.

MACANA.You’re crazy.

VIRGIN MARY.I talk because I’m happy.

CAREY.It’s just a thirty-day trip.

THE CACIQUE.Thirty days. A lifetime.

MACANA.Let them go back alone.

VIRGIN MARY.I talk because I feel free.

CAREY.He wants to show me off.

MACANA.Like you’re a dog. Nice doggie.

GUAMO.(To the CACIQUE.) Because I speak their language, I couldbe your representative, if you approve, of course.

VIRGIN MARY.Something in me has been released for the first time.

ATTABEY.If you’re so happy, why must you go over and over everylittle detail?


MACANA.How will you get home?

GUAMO.What?

MACANA.For you to come back, they’ll have to come back. Don’tgive them an excuse.

THE CACIQUE.Come back? (To GUAMO and CAREY.) You must come back.

ATTABEY.Nobody believes in you here so you can be quiteirresponsible.

GUAMO.I’ll learn all about their world.

CAREY.Huge cities, enormous animals.

MACANA.Monsters. Not a surprise.

VIRGIN MARY.Columbus is devoted to me.

MACANA.You speak their language. Say “no.”

VIRGIN MARY.He talks to me all the time.

MACANA.Tell Columbus to go.

VIRGIN MARY.I just don’t want to listen.

ATTABEY.It would be wrong not to comfort him.

VIRGIN MARY.Comfort him? I inspire him, inflame him, but it’s the oldme -- the silly but devoted girl from Galilee who begat aPrince of Peace.


GUAMO.It’s okay. First, we’ll escort them to our old pals, theCaribs. They’ll get gold – or worse. Then we’ll head homeand they’ll head to their home, unless (to the CACIQUE.)you agree we could go with them.

CAREY.We’ll be celebrated by his king. (To MACANA.) Come with us,old man. When have you ever resisted an adventure?

MACANA.If you go, don’t come back.

THE CACIQUE.Look, the best thing is to get them on their way. Thencome back and tell us everything.

MACANA.Today you have a choice. Tomorrow, nothing. Is this aninvitation or a command?

THE CACIQUE.You trust those guys. . .

MACANA.With their swords, their cannon.

THE CACIQUE.(To Macana.) Let’s see them off.

MACANA.Not me. Not for the world.

(THE CACIQUE, GUAMO and CAREYexit.)

VIRGIN MARY.(As she speaks she begins to weep.) I will never go back.Never. I want to find common ground. I want to share. Youinspire me. The way you watch over the waters, the rivers,the streams. We are friends, aren’t we? I’ve always wanteda friend with whom to share my world. The Lady of theWinds, she’s too silent. But you –


(While the VIRGIN MARY speaks,ATTABEY has a vision of the takingof Macana’s family.)

ATTABEY.(To MACANA.) Why do you sit here, Macana? His men took yourtwo daughters, so your son went after them. They took him,too, so your wife tried to get him back and they took hertoo --

MACANA.What?

ATTABEY.Scabby One, they’ve stolen your family. The ships areleaving. Get your canoe.

(MACANA exits.)

(LIGHTS OUT.)


SCENE FIVE

What the Virgin Saw

(VIRGIN MARY enters and speaks to theaudience.)

VIRGIN MARY.

The damp makes my hair wavy and soft as clouds, but does

Columbus have to invoke me every night and bless me again

and again in his journal for the Queen? His ships lumber

from island to island but I’d rather swim in these

beautiful waters and sink into all this green. How could

he crash the Santa Maria on those magnificent rocks?

Couldn’t he see the ship is just too big? So the wood from

my beautiful ship becomes a fort and men who worship me end

up staying behind. But still he has room in the two

remaining ships for the children of Attabey. On the beach

today I collected white shells and, as those two ships

sailed away, I drew a map in the sand and waved good-bye.

(VIRGIN MARY blows a kiss.)

(LIGHTS OUT.)


SCENE SIX

The Triumphant Arrival, April 1493.

VOICE OF A PAGE.Open wide the palace door. Pull down the wall, as they didat Troy. Make room for Columbus, the man who arrives witha world.

(FERDINAND and ISABELLA enter.)

(Cheers of thrilled crowds.)

(A grand procession winds through the theatre:CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS, followed by GUAMO, CAREY,MACANA, and KARAYA, carrying bars of gold,strange plants, bouncing balls, with parrots ontheir shoulders or flying around their heads.COLUMBUS comes before FERDINAND and ISABELLA andkneels.

COLUMBUS.Illustrious, Prince, and you, sublimed Princess, in eightmonths, I have given you another world to rule. The firstfruits of this universe are here: this gold, these plantsand animals, these men.

FERDINAND.Rise, new Alexander. The Macedonian spent his entire lifeconquering only a fraction of the known world-- in eightmonths you have conquered a new one.

ISABELLA.(Gesturing at GUAMO, CAREY, and MACANA.) And to them, youopened the door of Heaven.

COLUMBUS.Your majesty, these Indians come instructed in the HolyFaith and beg you for Baptism.

FERDINAND.I myself shall be the Godfather.


COLUMBUS.They humbly thank you. For you great queen, who sostaunchly defended this crusade, I present my journal, therecord of this remarkable voyage.

(COLUMBUS gives her the Journaland she takes it, smiling.)

ISABELLA.We are impatient to hear this tale from your own lips.

FERDINAND.Come, Isabella, let us witness the baptism and then hearthe strange tale of a world unknown.

(ALL exit.)

(LIGHTS OUT.)


SCENE SEVEN

After Baptism

(In the private throne room ofISABELLA and FERDINAND.)

(The curtain lifts to reveal aprivate audience with ISABELLA,FERDINAND, COLUMBUS, GUAMO,MACANA, KARAYA and CAREY.ISABELLA, FERDINAND, and COLUMBUS,can only understand GUAMO, andonly when he speaks directly tothem. Otherwise, GUAMO, MACANA,KARAYA and CAREY are speakingtheir own language – which theaudience and the INDIANSunderstand, but sounds likegibberish to ISABELLA, FERDINANDand COLUMBUS. The INDIANS havevery little affect. They arewatching, waiting, considering,most of the time unless otherwisestated in the stage directions.)

(COLUMBUS gestures for GUAMO,MACANA, KARAYA and CAREY to standbefore ISABELLA and FERDINAND.Parrots fly around the heads ofthe royalty and make them giggle.)

COLUMBUS.Your newest subjects, newly baptized, renamed, reborn.

FERDINAND.Naked--

ISABELLA.--Like Adam before the fall.

KARAYA.(To Guamo.) Ask her what she’s done with them.


GUAMO.(To FERDINAND and ISABELLA.) I am the officialrepresentative of our Cacique --

ISABELLA.He speaks wonderful Spanish. Adorable.

GUAMO.(To FERDINAND and ISABELLA.) I must explain our situation--

KARAYA.(To ISABELLA, who can’t understand her.) Where are mykids?

CAREY.(To GUAMO)Tell them we need to go home.

KARAYA.(To ISABELLA.) When they died on the ship I left my body. Iwas flying above the sails like a gull. I saw the sailorsthrow their bodies overboard. Macana restrained me fromdiving after them.

ISABELLA.(To COLUMBUS and FERDINAND.) What a strange language theyspeak. How marvelous, like children.

KARAYA.Did they swim here? I need to find them.

FERDINAND.And the gold they wear.

KARAYA.Where are you keeping them, Queen of the Dead?

ISABELLAMay I have your hawk’s bell?

(KARAYA pulls away, refusing.)

COLUMBUS.They are all learning Spanish.

(FERDINAND touches MACANA’s nose.)


MACANA.Touch me again and I’ll kill you. (To GUAMO.) Tell them Iwill kill them all to avenge my kids.

(FERDINAND takes the gold fromMACANA’s nose. MACANA reaches forFERDINAND’s arm but restrainshimself as GUAMO speaks.)

GUAMO.(To MACANA.)No threats. There are rooms full of soldiers.

KARAYA.(To MACANA.) Kill her? Make her give back the kids.

ISABELLA.Like children. Admiral, you must return them to their landwhen you go back, and you must treat our children kindly.

(During her speech, FERDINAND islooking at the gold from MACANA’snose, entranced.)

COLUMBUS.They are docile people. They will do anything we say.

KARAYA.(To GUAMO.) Talk to her.

GUAMO.(To ISABELLA and FERDINAND.) Please let me explain. Wehave tried to be tolerant, but we are your guests as he hasbeen ours --

MACANA.We are never going back.

CAREY.I am. I dream it every night.

GUAMO.(To Isabella.) You must understand –

ISABELLA.God’s creatures are wonderful.


(COLUMBUS pulls out a cigar andlights it.)

COLUMBUS.These are the hardiest, the healthiest. The ones thatsurvived the voyage. (Handing her the cigar.) Try this. Aplant. Delicious.

(ISABELLA takes a long inhalethrough her nose and passes thecigar to FERDINAND who smokes.ISABELLA and FERDINAND continue tosmoke throughout the scene, thestage fills with smoke. COLUMBUSpasses the cigar, but does notsmoke.)

ISABELLA.(Touching the men.) They are beautiful. (She coughs.) Buteven after the baptism I can’t tell them apart. Which iswhich?

COLUMBUS.(Pointing to CAREY.)This is Diego Colon. He reminds me ofmy son. And here is Don Juan, named after your son. AndKaraya, who, of course, I call Maria.

KARAYA.(To GUAMO.)Tell her they are mine.

GUAMO.(To Isabella.) You must listen to me. I am a diplomat. Iam a representative of the Cacique.

COLUMBUS.(Pointing to GUAMO)May I present Joseph of Aragon, namedafter your esteemed father.

GUAMO.(To ISABELLA and FERDINAND.) My name is Guamo –

COLUMBUS.They are eager to be of service after this momentousvoyage.

GUAMO.(To COLUMBUS.) Liar. (To MACANA, KARAYA and CAREY.) Ican’t do this. I’m going to run for it.


MACANA.They will find you and kill you. Kill them first.

ISABELLA..So friendly. So sincere. (To the INDIANS.) I am honoredto call you my subjects, to be your God-mama.

MACANA.(Very serious.) I will strangle every one of them.

CAREY.Columbus will take us back. He said he would.

GUAMO.I’m done here. You will never see me again. I willdisappear like smoke.

MACANA.We can each strangle one. I’ll do Columbus. You take thewoman. The king’s all yours.

KARAYA.You can’t kill what’s already dead.

CAREY.Don’t you see. He’ll go back for the gold.

GUAMO.You’ll die on the voyage.

MACANA.Or they’ll kill us.

FERDINAND.(Blowing smoke, staring at the gold.) The Indies. Howmarvelous it is.

COLUMBUS.They are so ready for subjugation.

ISABELLA.Glorious souls. (To Macana.) Perhaps, you could staybehind.

(ISABELLA claps her hands indelight. She takes MACANA’S handand begins to dance with him.)


MACANA.(To ISABELLA, though, of course, she can’t understand him.)Keep smiling. It makes me know what your skull will belike, little one, when I have hacked you to death.

FERDINAND(Noticing that an Indian is dancing with his wife.)Shouldn’t they kneel?

COLUMBUS.They are strong and healthy. They do whatever we say.They will help us mine the gold.

FERDINAND.Kneel.

GUAMO.They want us on our knees.

(Only CAREY kneels.)

KARAYA.On stone?

MACANA.(Stopping dancing.) They’re idiots.

ISABELLA.(Patting MACANA.) You must kneel like a good boy and sayyour prayers.

MACANA.Over your dead body.

(GUAMO pushes through and out ofthe window and into the audienceand runs out of the theatre. Someparrots follow, the rest fly upinto the sky. ISABELLA shrieks.)

FERDINAND.Stop him!


(COLUMBUS pulls his sword and putsit to MACANA’s throat. FERDINANDkeeps his sword trained on CAREYand KARAYA. There are alarms,ringing of alarm bells, sounds ofsoldiers. LIGHTS OUT.)

SCENE EIGHT:

Promises made before the Second Voyage

(A room in the palace. MACANA andKARAYA are talking.)

KARAYA.Maybe he ran away to find our kids.

MACANA.They’re dead.

KARAYA.So they must be here. He’ll find them. We’ll be together.

MACANA.You saw it. The sailors threw their bodies overboard.

KARAYA.Then they’ll swim here. We’ll find them. They’ll find us.

(CAREY enters, dressed in Europeanclothes.)

MACANA.The illustrious son of the Admiral of the Ocean Sea,ferrying between home and death.

CAREY.This is Spain. They’ve made the world so much bigger, butsmaller too, so many possibilities.

MACANA.I can imagine you standing on the deck of a great shipscanning the horizon of this big world, eyes pealed forgold.


CAREY.Home. Looking for home. Come back with me.

KARAYA.I will not get on those boats. Let the living have theirpeace.

MACANA.(To CAREY.) What do you think has happened back home?

CAREY.Come and find out.

MACANA.You saw how it was going, and how it goes here. I’m tostay. Part of the retinue. Cultural exchange.Entertainment for the educated. The Queen’s dog.

CAREY.I’ll get Columbus to take you back.

MACANA.Oh, no. I’ve found my calling. I’ll stay behind and charmthe queen. I’ve never been in demand because of my charm,but this is a new world.

CAREY.(To KARAYA.) What is he talking about?

KARAYA.He thinks he’s can kill them.

CAREY.What? (He laughs.) You’ve never killed anybody in yourlife.

MACANA.I’m patient. I’ve got time. I go to sleep each nightdebating – strangling? Poison? A smashed skull?

CAREY.You love to talk.

MACANA.Kill Columbus. Then leap into the sea.

CAREY.Not me. I want to see my folks.


MACANA.Do it as the ship drops anchor, then swim to shore.

CAREY.They’ll kill me.

MACANA.You’ve got nothing to lose. (Gesturing at KARAYA.) Shethinks we’re already dead.

CAREY.I want to see my parents, play with my nephew. But lookwhere we are. Despite it all, don’t you feel thepotential? Doesn’t it feel like anything’s possible?

(KARAYA and MACANA don’t say anything.)

CAREY.There’ll be another voyage.

MACANA.When I’m done here, I’m dead. Like our little ones. Hugyour nephew, my friend, and whisper a new world’s greetingfrom one of the dead.

(LIGHTS OUT.)


SCENE NINE:

In Which Isabella and Don Juan Explain the Creation of theWorld

(ISABELLA and FERDINAND’s privatequarters in the palace.)

(ISABELLA reads from COLUMBUS’sJournal. MACANA considers her,plotting his strategy.)

ISABELLA.“They ought to be good servants and of good intelligence.I believe they would easily be made Christians because itseemed to me they had no religion.” (To MACANA.) As yourgodmother, I must teach you everything. Do you know how Godcreated the heaven and the earth? Do you know how the worldbegan?

(MACANA puts up his hammock.)

ISABELLA.What are you doing?

MACANA.My hammock.

ISABELLA.What?

MACANA.My hammock. A good place for learning.

ISABELLA.What is it?

MACANA.A place to learn how the world began.

(ISABELLA peers at it, then MACANAhelps her sit in it.)


ISABELLA.How funny. The Old Testament describes –

MACANA.Once there was one whose name nobody knew. Let’s call him“Yaya.” His son was called son of YaYa.

ISABELLA.Is this a family story?

MACANA.Yaya sent his son away because Yaya’s son wanted to killhim.

ISABELLA.How awful.

MACANA.Banished for four months.

ISABELLA.Only four! Didn’t he realize it was a trap?

MACANA.When he came back, his father killed him –

ISABELLA.We knew that was coming.

MACANA.-- and put his bones in a gourd which he hung from the roofof his house --

ISABELLA.As a warning.

MACANA.One day Yaya said to his wife, “I want to see our son.”She was thrilled.

ISABELLA.Surely she knew her husband could be cruel.


MACANA.She took down the gourd, turned it over and out poured aschool of fishes. Seeing that the bones of their son hadbeen turned into fish, they ate them.

ISABELLA.What?

MACANA.They ate the fish.

(MACANA moves to strangle her butshe, thinking he wants to seduceher, moves out of the hammock.)

ISABELLA.What are you doing?

(Unnerved, MACANA backs off. Hesteels himself and then movestowards her again. ISABELLAgestures “Don’t touch me.”)

ISABELLA.This is not the New World where people run about. (Shemakes a gesture that makes it clear that she thinks he wasplanning to seduce her.)

MACANA.You thought -- (MACANA laughs.)

(Isabella laughs.)

ISABELLA.My child, I am your godmother. Your queen. I must raiseyou up. Your family has suffered a great tragedy, DonJuan. But you are not alone. Tragedy colors the world.Even my family suffers. My eldest daughter, Isabella --you’ve seen her. She was married to the King of Portugalbut a month after their marriage he was thrown from hishorse. Killed. She has vowed never to marry again. And, Ihave yet to disabuse her, but, of course, she must marrybecause how else do we hold the world together? But we werenot talking about affairs of state, we were talking about–-


MACANA.How the world began. YaYa’s wife, The Ancient Bloody One,gave birth to four twins.

ISABELLA.Four.

MACANA.Always four. The first-born was called “The Scabby One”because of his infected skin.

ISABELLA.Like you. You’re not talking about yourself, are you?

MACANA.Yaya was away and these twins were hungry. They ate thefish out of the gourd, he’d hung on the roof of his house.Suddenly, (He makes the sound of Yaya’s footsteps.) theyheard Yaya’s footsteps. Quickly, they reached up to putthe gourd back, but it fell and cracked. Out poured fishesand eels and dolphins and the water covered almost all theland. To escape their father, the four twins climbed intothe broken gourd, and paddled down from the sky.

ISABELLA.Did your mother tell you this story?

MACANA.The story is true. It goes on every day.

ISABELLA.Don Juan, the first man was Adam, created by God. Eve, thefirst woman, was made from Adam’s rib.

MACANA.A rib? What’s a rib?

(ISABELLA goes over to him and toucheshis chest.)

ISABELLA.A rib. A bone.

MACANA.A bone. (He laughs.) The first woman was made from a bone.(He continues to laugh.)


ISABELLA.Yes. We were made from the rib of Adam, the very first man.

MACANA.No. One rainy day, three twins were bathing. They wantedwomen but women couldn’t be found. And as the men washed,they saw, falling through the branches of the trees, peoplewho were neither men nor women.

ISABELLA.How could that be?

MACANA.They had no private parts.

ISABELLA.What?

MACANA.These people wriggled like eels. They were so slippery themen couldn’t catch them. So the three twins went and got“The Scabby One,” because his hands were rough and he couldcatch them.

ISABELLA.(Laughing.) Somehow these stories are always about you.

MACANA.But they still had a problem: How could the twins makethese people into women? They caught a woodpecker calledthe “Son of the Ancient One.”

ISABELLA.A woodpecker?

MACANA.A bird. (He gestures and makes a noise like a woodpecker.)He pecked holes making them women.

ISABELLA.Pecked holes?

MACANA.Yes.

ISABELLA.That’s a very strange dream.


MACANA.Everyone has it.

ISABELLA.I don’t.

MACANA.No?

ISABELLA.My dream is one world united in Christ. At peace. And, ofcourse, my daughter is key to that, but she is sodepressed, so sad. Always weeping. But she absolutelymust get married.

MACANA.(He considers, softens to her, then says.) I can’t marryyour daughter. She never smiles.

ISABELLA.What?

MACANA.I already have one sad wife. I don’t want another.

ISABELLA.Don Juan, you are naked, married, not royalty, not Spanish,and you believe that women’s private parts were created bywoodpeckers. You may not marry my daughter.

MACANA.She could marry my Cacique. He’s good to all his wives.

ISABELLA.She will marry her dead husband’s brother. She will marryPortugal. But she weeps, strokes my hair. Still, foreveryone’s happiness, she must choose Portugal. Choose.Ferdinand says force her.

MACANA.Have Portugal steal her.

ISABELLA.What?

MACANA.Tell him to sneak in at night with his friends and carryher off.


ISABELLA.(Thinks. Then,) No. She’s too sensitive. Still, we mustsecure our world. Only through marriage can people whohate each other unite. She must be a healer, demonstratethat a kingdom can be purified, cleansed. “Isabella,” Iwill tell her, “This is not a marriage, but an act ofdevotion. You must tell Portugal that you will marry himbut, as a tribute to your union, he must make a profoundgesture of healing.” Let him expel all of Portugal’s Jews.

(LIGHTS OUT.)


SCENE 10

A few months later, Joseph of Aragon Misses the Boat

(On the docks of Cadiz. A FORTUNETELLER sits staring out at thehorizon.)

(Enter GUAMO, in Europeanclothing, running, out of breath.)

GUAMO.The ships! Where are the ships? The Admiral of the OceanSea?

FORTUNE TELLER.Columbus? Gone this morning

GUAMO.No.

FORTUNE TELLER.Quite a pageant. Flags. Seventeen boats. ChristopherColumbus, himself, prancing on the deck. And all thosesoldiers on board. It’s as if he didn’t need sailorsanymore, only soldiers. And priests.

GUAMO.All of them? Gone?

FORTUNE TELLER.Yes.

GUAMO.I missed it.

FORTUNE TELLER.You were supposed to sail?

GUAMO.Gone. I’ll never get home.

FORTUNE TELLER.You’re a foreigner? You people are always late. (Taking hishand.) For a coin I can see your future.


GUAMO.I have no future.

FORTUNE TELLER.But do you have cash?

(GUAMO ignores her. FORTUNETELLER makes a gesture of disgust.She takes out a deck of cards andbegins to shuffle.)

FORTUNE TELLER.In seven short months the world has utterly changed. And tothink with these cards I predicted the whole thing. Thetriumphant adventure. The strange animals. The bizarrefood and the savage men. Today who believes that kind ofprophesy? If you don’t tie it to religion these days, noone buys it. (Shuffling the deck.) All the secrets of theworld, right here. A coin? Anything?

GUAMO.Every night I dream of the Cacique’s eldest daughter. Howshe looked before Columbus arrived. Her eyes sparkled likethe stars.

FORTUNE TELLER.Oh, my God. You’re one of the wild men? One of the savages?Do you have one of those little green birds?

GUAMO.Parrots.

FORTUNE TELLER.Without Columbus, you’ll never get home. Wait! Gooverland. Long and hard but quite the adventure. So manycountries and regions to explore. And the weird nativeswith their strange customs. Of course, if you’re aseafaring man, it may not light your fire. But I alwaysadvise people who are stagnating to try new things.

GUAMO.(Using a parrot voice.)”Try new things, Try new things.”(As himself.) I once taught a parrot to imitate my mom. Itdrove my dad insane. We used to catch frogs, swim withturtles. Everything green. Wet. Blue.


FORTUNE TELLER.Silence, sir! Cut the cards! For a citizen of the NewWorld, a reading gratis! I give it to you as a charitybecause I have never before met a wild man. Although, ofcourse, no gratuity is considered too small. But are yousure you don’t have a coin? I’ve heard tell you Indians arevery rich. Your islands are made of gold and, on top ofthat, Isabella and Ferdinand gave you all the money of theJews and the Moors. Oh, yes, your future. First, the Past.(She pulls a card.) The Tower – a man leaps from a darktower. Your life has been utterly destroyed. Perhaps youare still floating through the air and yet to crash to theground. Perhaps, an angel, without or within, will save youfrom utter destruction. Then again. . . (She shudders.Then she pulls another card.) The Present: crossroads.These days, of course, I always interpret this card as acard of our Christ. (She crosses herself.) The oldinterpretations – freedom, choice, --sound so out-of-date.The future?

(The FORTUNE TELLER turns over acard and reacts in surprise andhorror. Then she starts goingthrough the deck, frantically.)

GUAMO.What?

(FORTUNE TELLER holds up the cardbut it’s blank.)

FORTUNE TELLER.Empty. Nothing. (Trying to make the best of it.) A cleanslate. A pure heart. Perhaps, we could say newbeginnings?

(FORTUNE TELLER reaches out herhand for a tip.)

(LIGHTS OUT)


SCENE ELEVEN

Diego Colon’s Song for the Homeward Voyage

(On the deck of Columbus’s shipheading back across the Ocean tothe Indies. A huge moon. COLUMBUSand CAREY are on deck together.CAREY is dressed now as a sailorbut with feathers about his neck.)

COLUMBUS.(Sings.) Oh, holy land where Christ was born,Where he suffered endless blows on our behalfTorture, torments and grisly death,One day my unworthy eyes will behold thee.

(Speaking.) Sing with me.

CAREY.Yes. But in my own language.(Sings.) Oh, blessed isle where I was born,Where I played carefree in the turquoise seaWorld of strangers, I say good-bye.Each day my roving eye scans the horizon.

Oh, blessed isle, float in my heart,Your waters warm and your breezes wetSweet air that tastes like nowhere elseLet it be today that I will embrace you.

(COLUMBUS and CAREY singtogether.)

COLUMBUS.(Sings.) Oh, holy landwhere Christ was born,Where he suffered endlessblows on our behalfTortures, torments andgrisly death,One day my unworthy eyescan behold thee.

CAREY.(Sings.) Oh, blessed islewhere I was born,Where I played carefree inthe turquoise seaWorld of strangers, I saygood-bye.Each day my roving eyescans the horizon.

(LIGHTS OUT.)


SCENE TWELVE

In which Don Juan teaches Queen Isabella to play ball

(The Private Apartment of ISABELLAand FERDINAND. MACANA andISABELLA are both standing.)

MACANA.(Holding a black ball.) First we place our bets.

ISABELLA.Bets?

MACANA.A wager. Who will win the game?

ISABELLA.You think because I’ve never played before I’m going tolose. Well, don’t count on it.

MACANA.You could wager a trinket or jewelry, but royalty usuallyantes up a person.

ISABELLA.(Laughing.) A person?

MACANA.Yes, someone who you have a right to wager. Someone closeto you. Perhaps, your husband.

ISABELLA.Ferdinand. (She bursts out laughing.) Why not. Who will youante up?

MACANA.I’m not royalty. I’ll wager this cross. (It is around hisneck.)

ISABELLA.I will give it back to you after I win it.


MACANA.(Holding up the ball.) The rules are simple. You try toget the ball over there. I try to get it over here. If ittouches the ground, it is dead.

ISABELLA.Dead? Can that be the right word?

MACANA.And you cannot touch it with your hands or feet.

ISABELLA.No hands.

MACANA.Hips. Thighs. Elbows. Fine.

ISABELLA.I don’t think I’m understanding.

MACANA.Let me show you.

ISABELLA.I cannot understand a thing you say.

MACANA.See.

(He takes the ball. Knocks it with his hip. Itflys up in the air.)

(ISABELLA shrieks, stares, giggles.)

MACANA.You try.

ISABELLA.I couldn’t.

MACANA.(Demonstrating.) Like this. You’ll be a great ballplayer.

ISABELLA.I can’t. I couldn’t possibly. It’s not for a Queen. Or awoman.


MACANA.Women play all the time. My wife. She’s a better playerthan me. Brilliant. Try.

(MACANA does it again. ISABELLA tries. Fails.Tries again at MACANA’s urging. Succeeds. She’spretty good and the more she plays the better shegets – and it’s fun. She shrieks with laugher.They keep playing.)

MACANA.My wife doesn’t believe you’re the queen since you don’thave a ball court.

ISABELLA.I am the queen. (She lobs the ball back at him, hard, withher hip.) I’ve only met one Indian woman.

MACANA.My wife. I knew you’d be good at this.

ISABELLA.Your wife? I didn’t realize she was here. She’s veryserious.

MACANA.She’s in mourning.

(FERDINAND enters, paying no attentionto them.)

FERDINAND.Finally. A ship back from the Indies. Bloodshed and gold.As bad as things sound, I wonder if they are still sugarcoating the situation. (Noticing MACANA and ISABELLA.)What are you doing?

ISABELLA.(Playing ball.) Watch.

(She knocks the ball at MACANA whoknocks it back to her.)

FERDINAND.You must stop this instant.


ISABELLA.It’s a game.

MACANA.You try.

FERDINAND.Me?

ISABELLA.Sir, you’re a natural.

(FERDINAND considers. ISABELLApasses the ball to him with herhip. He takes the ball in hishands.)

ISABELLA.No hands.

FERDINAND.What?

ISABELLA.Your hips, your hips. Pass it to me.

FERDINAND.Isabella, Columbus sent a boatload of Indians to trade forcattle and supplies. Now, you’ve always resisted slaveryas an income-generating measure. They are, after all,citizens of the great Khan, though he doesn’t seem to paymuch attention to them. As Columbus predicted, theseIndians are marvelous workers. Although they seem to have apenchant for suicide and swindle.

ISABELLA.Our mission is to redeem them.

FERDINAND.Columbus’s point is that they could pay for our mission.

ISABELLA.With their gold.


FERDINAND.With themselves. You’ve resisted African slavery, but thisway the islands might even become a profit center. Whereis my shirt?

ISABELLA.Your shirt? It’s not done.

(FERDINAND drops the ball andexits.)

(MACANA knocks the ball atISABELLA who misses.)

MACANA.I win. The king is mine.

ISABELLA.Take him.

MACANA.Now I must decide: Should he live or die?

ISABELLA.What?

(ISABELLA laughs until sherealizes he’s serious.)

MACANA.Should he live or die. You wagered him.

ISABELLA.I don’t understand.

MACANA.I’ve won him. I must --

ISABELLA.What are you talking about?

MACANA.-- Kill him. But how?

ISABELLA.What are you saying?


MACANA.A blow to the head.

ISABELLA.What?

MACANA.Quick. Painless.

ISABELLA.You are the most stupid and vicious man I have ever met.

MACANA.But we agreed.

ISABELLA.Are the Indies really so savage or is it just you, DonJuan?

MACANA.We had a bet.

ISABELLA.We played a silly game.

MACANA.He is mine to dispose of.

ISABELLA.Don’t be ridiculous. Ferdinand is a great warrior. Thehero of the war against the Moors. God marches with him.In our kingdom, people are destroyed for lack of faith. TheKing is surrounded by soldiers who, if you made theslightest move against him, would smash you like an ant.

MACANA.Call him. Call his soldiers.

ISABELLA.You think you could kill the king and live?

MACANA.My faith is to kill the king. Call them.

ISABELLA.Savage. (She doesn’t move.)


MACANA.(Moving to exit.) I’ll get him.

ISABELLA.(Stops him.) Live.

(MACANA breaks away.)

ISABELLA.If they kill you, who would I talk to?

MACANA.The game. Beg.

ISABELLA.Release him, I beg you.

MACANA.Why?

ISABELLA.He is the noble enforcer of the One Truth Faith.

(MACANA shrugs.)

ISABELLA.Because he is the king.

MACANA.I have my own.

ISABELLA.Because he is mine.

(After a moment, he dismissesher.)

MACANA.Take him.

(ISABELLA exits.)

(MACANA is furious with himselffor not following through.)

(LIGHTS OUT.)


SCENE THIRTEEN:

The Map Of the World

(A Room in a monastery at night.)

LEDA’S VOICESShhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

(GUAMO and LEDA enter. LEDA holdsa candle stick. They arecautious, obviously sneakingaround.)

LEDA.(She gestures to the fourth wall.) There. Mappas Mundi.The whole world.

(The map LEDA refers to fills mostof the fourth wall. At moments inthe scene they look at differentportions of the map, point tospecific places as GUAMO tries tofigure it out.)

GUAMO.It’s flat.

LEDA.Of course, it’s flat. It’s like a picture -- ofeverywhere.

GUAMO.Where are we?

LEDA.The monastery of –

GUAMO.I mean on the map.

LEDA.You’re so smart, handsome, you’ll figure it out.

(Silence as LEDA and GUAMO peer atthe map.)


LEDA.Moments like this I am so glad I can’t read. It would justbe confusing. This way I can relax and enjoy all thecolors.

GUAMO.All that blue. Must be water.

LEDA.Who knows what it is, but it looks pretty.

GUAMO.Water all over and I’m walking. This way?

(GUAMO continues to scan the map.LEDA watches him. Finally.)

LEDA.Take me with you. We can find it together.

(Guamo ignores her.)

Don’t you love me?

(Silence.)

(LEDA starts to cry.)

(GUAMO puts his arm around her,but LEDA shakes him off.)

All you wanted was this map. You wanted my help to breakin here. (Her voice rising.) I thought you were sobrilliant, so kind, so out of this world, but all you wantis to get the hell out of here. Well, did you ever thinkwhat would happen to me if they found us up here? I’d beout on the street. You’d be in jail.

(GUAMO puts his hand over hermouth.)

GUAMO.Sssshhhhhhhhh.

(LEDA pulls away from him. Shetalks softer, but no lessemphatically.)


LEDA.You think you’re so smart. But face it, you don’t knowwhere you are, you can’t find where you’re from, and youhave no idea where you’re going. Well, mister, you can’tstay here. Find your own map of the world. Get out!

GUAMO.Look at this. Please. I’m trying to figure it out, goingbackwards.

(He takes white stones and one redstone from his pocket and putsthem on the floor to mark theplaces he says.)

The ships leave port here. Follow these currents, pastthese islands. Then, if you’re lucky, greet this wind. Along journey. But the current is glad you’re there. Then,the wind will change and the air will get silky with thesun and then you’ll see islands. Like this, and this, andthe most beautiful one, of course, mine. More this way.And here. Oh, and I almost forgot, here underwater, thisreef – I’ve always loved. I played there so much when I waskid. It’s rough, red as blood, and always in my dreams.

(Lights Out.)


Scene Fourteen

The Homecoming of Diego Colon

(Guanahani. On stage are corpses.The corpses should not berealistic, but theatrical.COLUMBUS and CAREY enter. Theyturn over the first corpse andpeer into its face. They look andsay nothing. They turn overanother corpse and stare at hisface.)

COLUMBUS.These are my men.

(COLUMBUS can’t figure it out. Heholds onto CAREY. COLUMBUS is moreovercome the further they walk.They look at another corpse. Thenanother.)

COLUMBUS.My men. All of them.

(COLUMBUS sits and starts to cry.)

(The VIRGIN MARY ENTERS and putsher arms around COLUMBUS.)

(CAREY keeps walking, looking atcorpses. CAREY discovers the THECACIQUE, sitting amid the corpses,smoking. He puts the cigar to hisnose, not to his mouth.)

(ATTEBEY sits near him. She is nolonger giving birth and has nobaby.)

CAREY.Where are my parents? My cousins?

THE CACIQUE.You’re back. Where are the others?


CAREY.Dead, ran away, stayed behind. Where’s my family? Whathappened?

THE CACIQUEThe sailors took women. They fought each other, fought withthe other people.

(COLUMBUS and the VIRGIN MARY maketheir way over to hear what issaid.)

They didn’t act like guests. They thought we wereservants.

CAREY.Servants? Who killed –

THE CACIQUEThe Caribs came. We fought, but it was hard. People ran.But I fought – wounded.

(It is not clear if the Cacique isreally wounded.)

CAREY.Where are my parents?

THE CACIQUE.I don’t know. The Caribs. I fought them. My leg.

(The CACIQUE shows them a wound onhis leg, but it looks phony.)

COLUMBUS.Thank you, old friend.

THE CACIQUE.I fought.

CAREY.(Grabbing his shoulder.) What happened? (Gesturing at thewound.) What is that? Is this make-belief?


(COLUMBUS stops CAREY fromroughing up the CACIQUE.)

COLUMBUS.(To THE CACIQUE.) Thank you for your sacrifice.

CAREY.You believe this?

COLUMBUS.Without the common language of trust, friendship is merelya game.

(LIGHTS OUT.)


SCENE 15

Don Juan takes a Bath

(Bright sunlight. KARAYA isgiving MACANA, who is quitesick, wasting away, a bath ina large wooden tub. She poursglittering water over him andit sounds like bells.)

MACANA.Every night I wake up asking: why haven’t I killed them?Why don’t I strike? I need time. (He coughs.) Don’t worry.I’ll kill them.

(KARAYA makes a gesture to bequiet. MACANA ignores her.)

You think it’s talk.

KARAYA.(Touching him sadly.) So thin.

MACANA.You don’t think I can kill them. I’ll kill them. (Pause.)If I can’t kill them, why am I here?

(KARAYA pours water from thetub over him.)

I dreamt last night your face was covered in blood. Likethat ball game all those years ago celebrating the birth ofthe Cacique’s fourth daughter. You got kicked in the faceby –

KARAYA.It was an accident. She said.

MACANA.You cried and cried because you were afraid your team wouldlose.

KARAYA.Remember: Her foot slipped. She said.


MACANA.I stopped the game. And I went to you and wiped your facewith my hand. The blood on your face was so soft. It wasall over my hands. You demanded to stay in the game.

KARAYA.(Laughing.) When people talk about her they still talkabout that. I wanted to stomp her. What were we? Fifteen?

MACANA.What does it mean that I fell in love with you when yourface was all bloody?

KARAYA.You didn’t want to see my face.

MACANA.You were snarling and angry at first, then you cried andcried. That day we understood each other.

KARAYA.I still have dreams of kicking her. Don’t tell anyone.

MACANA.Who would I tell? We’re the only two people left.

KARAYA.She was my best friend. And we lost. You kissed me. Istill have the scar.

(MACANA rises onto his knees andkisses her.)

KARAYA.What’s this?

MACANA.I don’t want to die here.

KARAYA.When the kids come, you’ll all swim off together.

MACANA.Not here. I never liked anywhere but home.


KARAYA.How often were you there?

MACANA.I didn’t want –

KARAYA.Always on the water, visiting, trading, Always the first togo --

MACANA.I wanted to be home.

KARAYA.You wanted to be somewhere else. Don’t worry. The kidswill find you. They’ll be swimming, wriggling like eels.

MACANA.And you.

KARAYA.When you’re gone, no one will know me. I’ll havedisappeared like dew.

MACANA.Maybe Carey will come back. He will know you.

KARAYA.Leave home again to come back to the Land of the Dead? No.He’s young, not crazy.

MACANA.People here know you.

KARAYA.Not me.

(KARAYA scrubs MACANA’s back.)

MACANA.I know who knows you.

KARAYA.Who?

MACANA.Columbus. If he ever comes back.


KARAYA.Him?

MACANA.When I’m dead. If you need someone from those times findhim. (Change of thought.) You were always beautifulplaying ball. Free. Ferocious. Did I ever tell you that Iused to watch you play and dream that we would be togetherforever?

(KARAYA laughs.)

Do you remember after that game, you swam far away from me.I chased you and chased you in all the blue and silver. Doyou remember what the water felt like? The sun?

(KARAYA pours water on his back.)

(LIGHTS OUT.)


SCENE SEVENTEEN

The Death of Don Juan

(The private suite of ISABELLA andFERDINAND. FERDINAND is talking.ISABELLA is weeping.)

FERDINAND.Isabella, even I am overwhelmed. We are redeeming theTower of Babel. It is a great responsibility. My mindexplodes. Despite all the reports of war, bloodshed, everyship back from the Indies fills me with hope. The futuresails to us. What was it that scholar told you when hepresented you with a printed grammar of your belovedCastilian? “Language is always the companion of empire.Language and empire are born, increase and flourishtogether.” (Looking at her.) Are those tears of triumph?You taught our daughters to read Latin. Who could imagine?Girls. We move toward perfection. The world we have built--

ISABELLA.He’s dead.

FERDINAND.Who?

ISABELLA.Don Juan.

FERDINAND.Who? Which? The wild man? (He pats ISABELLA’s arm.Continuing.) A world more vast --

ISABELLA.No one had ever met anyone like him before.

FERDINAND.Many more where he came from.

ISABELLA.He was brand new.


FERDINAND.And now the goldmines of the Indies will bring us greatwealth. True, there are complaints, challenges, but theseare questions of process. We must investigate Columbus’sefforts in the New World. They say he’s over his head, butanything is possible as long as it’s properly managed andmarketed.

(He starts to exit.)

ISABELLA.It was my idea. Not yours. The voyage. You dismissed it.I wanted it. Now he’s dead.

FERDINAND.Isabella, I always credit you with your foresight andimagination.

ISABELLA.You think the world was created one way, but the world wascreated more ways than you could ever dream.

FERDINAND.“In the beginning was the word.” You will find comfortwith a new servant.

(KARAYA enters.)

ISABELLA.His wife?

FERDINAND.Her presence will console you.

(FERDINAND exits. Silence.)

(ISABELLA hands KARAYA herhairbrush. KARAYA brushesISABELLA’s hair as they speak.)

ISABELLA.We have lost someone very dear.

KARAYA.I thought we were already dead.


ISABELLA.He had so many dreams.

KARAYA.He’s dead. I’m not dead.

ISABELLA.We must take comfort in his baptism.

KARAYA.All this time, I’ve been alive.

(KARAYA gives ISABELLA thehairbrush. KARAYA reaches intoher dress and pulls out the hawksbell and rings it.)

ISABELLA.A bird bell, how funny.

KARAYA.That’s the sound of my little girl’s laughter. (Shelistens.) That’s the only sound that’s left.

(LIGHTS OUT.)


SCENE SEVENTEENThe Secrets of the Philosphers

(An alchemist’s workshop, hiddenaway. A fire. A vessel.)

(BOMBASTUS and GEBER enter,talking.)

GEBER.He is enlightened.

BOMBASTUS.Can he make gold?

GEBER.I found him by the side of the road, incredibly sick. Ibrought him here. He gets stronger every day. His lifestory is so fantastic it can only be an allegory. He’smysterious, strange, an enigma, a living metaphor. He musthave the philosopher’s stone. He can teach us all thesecrets of tranmutation.

BOMBASTUS.Is he rich?

GEBER.He wants for nothing.

BOMBASTUS.Has he transcended time?

GEBER.He is inexplicable.

BOMBASTUS.Immortal?

GEBER.He coughs, he’s thin, frail, but still he’s graceful,accomplished –-

(GUAMO enters.)


GUAMO.I had the worst dream. Blood red coral, fish glitteringand changing colors. The most beautiful fish had thesharpest teeth. The waters pulled me down. I couldn’t seethe sunlight. I couldn’t rise.

(GEBER and BOMBASTUS exchangelooks.)

GEBER.(To GUAMO.) Sir, may I introduce a fellow student of thephilosophy of transmutation.

GUAMO.I’m no philosopher. I’m one of the wild men. I was broughtby Columbus. I thought I was a bridge between two worlds,but the King and Queen--

BOMBASTUS.Cut the act. The Queen’s wild man has been dead for atleast three years.

GUAMO.Dead? Macana.

GEBER.(To BOMBASTUS.) It’s allegory: the wild man is the PrimaMaterial, the queen and king are silver and gold. Everyword he utters is transmutation. Perhaps, we could tradesecrets.

GUAMO.I have no secrets. (Pause.) He died?

BOMBASTUS.A wild man who speaks perfect Spanish?

GEBER.He speaks Arabic, Hebrew, Latin, Portuguese. He’s acosmopolite, a citizen of the entire world.

GUAMO.What about the wild man’s wife? Karaya?

BOMBASTUS.Don Juan of Castile didn’t have a wife. He was the Queen’spet.


GUAMO.Both dead.

BOMBASTUS.And you just happen to turn up here, studying our efforts.Just hanging around. Got nothing better to do.

GUAMO.I’ve been sick. Your friend helped me.

BOMBASTUS.You don’t seem sick to me. You seem very healthy. What’syour plan?

GUAMO.Go home.

BOMBASTUS.(Threatening GUAMO.) Liar. Who are you?

GEBER.Stop it.

GUAMO.Don’t push me.

BOMBASTUS.Smooth guy, you have my friend under your spell. Trying tosteal our secrets, trying to steal our gold.

GUAMO.Trying to get home.

GEBER.Bombastus, let him be.

BOMBASTUS.A wild man? No. Moor – could be? Jew? Probably.

GUAMO.Steal gold? From here? I cleaned up the kitchen when theexperiment blew up, scraped up bloody waste, smelledcharred shit.

BOMBASTUS.A wild man. Really? You must know Christopher Columbus.Think he’d recognize you?


GUAMO.Columbus? Is he alive?

BOMBASTUS.Retired. Pathetic.

GUAMO.Alive? I’ll find him.

(GUAMO begins to exit.)

BOMBASTUS(Stopping him roughly.) Search his pockets.

GUAMODon’t touch me.

(GUAMO shows he has nothing.)

GEBER.Stay. We need your wisdom.

(GUAMO ignores him and exits.)

GEBER.He knew something.

BOMBASTUS.Thief. Liar. (Laughing.) “Wild man.”

(LIGHTS OUT.)


SCENE EIGHTEENThe Beloved Queen is Dying

(Isabella and Ferdinand’s privatequarters. ISABELLA is bundled up,sick, but reading from Columbus’sJournal. KARAYA sits with her andsews. She has her hawk’s bellwith her.)

ISABELLA.“. . . There came alongside in a canoe, the husband of oneof these women we had taken and the father to the threechildren, one male and two female; and he asked me for himto go with them and he implored me greatly; and all of themwere consoled by him, for they must all be related.”Maria, you never had any children?

KARAYA.Yes, your majesty. Three.

ISABELLA.Three?

KARAYA.Two girls and a boy.

ISABELLA.Are they happy?

KARAYA.They are dead.

ISABELLA.Dead. Why didn’t you tell me that?

KARAYA.I did.

ISABELLA.Why do I always forget that we share that tragedy?Isabella, my eldest and my poor little son Juan. How didyour children die?


KARAYA.They died on Columbus’s ship.

ISABELLA.How awful.

KARAYA.They threw the bodies overboard. I always imagine themswimming in the sea. Some day they’ll get to Spain.

ISABELLA.How old were they?

KARAYA.(Thinks.) Nine, eleven and thirteen.

ISABELLA.Were they baptized?

KARAYA.No, of course, not.

ISABELLA.There is a place for little children. A place to stayforever. God is not so cruel. It’s all right. Your dearchildren are in limbo.

KARAYA.No, there is a place where the dead go. It’s not so fancy.My children are there.

(KARAYA sews.)

ISABELLA.I should have loved to have been on one of those voyages.You were so lucky. To think you’ve lived in two worlds.

(KARAYA puts her sewing aside andsits ringing her bell.)

ISABELLA.I love that sound. Give it to me.

(KARAYA ignores her.)


ISABELLA.I said, may I have it?

KARAYA.It’s mine.

ISABELLA.Yours?

KARAYA.Yes. You must trade me something for it.

ISABELLA.Trade? Well, perhaps, you’d like my scarf.

KARAYA.No.

ISABELLA.This ring? It glitters like the sun.

(KARAYA shrugs.)

ISABELLA.Surely, there is something you would like?

(KARAYA points at the Journal.)

ISABELLA.Absolutely not. Columbus wrote this book for me. Thereare three copies, but this is the original – in his hand.It’s marvelous.

(KARAYA ignores her and rings thebell.)

ISABELLA.Besides you can’t read. (She reads.) “When I arrived inthe Indies, I took some of these people by force in thefirst island I found, so that they might learn our languageand give me news of what existed in these parts. And so ithappened, for later they understood us, and we them, eitherby speech or by signs: and they have been very useful tous. I am bringing them with me now, and they still think Icome from heaven.”


(KARAYA sits ringing the bell,ignoring ISABELLA, who gives infinally.)

ISABELLA.(Offering it up.) Here.

(KARAYA takes the journal,ISABELLA, the bell. ISABELLA ringsthe bell and KARAYA, with thejournal in her lap, sews.)

(LIGHTS OUT.)


SCENE NINETEEN:

The Long Walk Home

(Silent night. Quiet. Dark Grey.Bleak.)

(Enter GUAMO, wrapping histattered clothes tightly about himto protect himself from the cold,obviously tired, but walking, headdown, painfully, until a snowflakedrifts down to him. He looks up.There are more. He pushes themaway as if they were a swarm ofinsects. He feels the cold on hisskin, sees the moisture theyleave, is utterly surprised bythis, watches them melt on hishands, puts his face up and feelsthem there. Smiles. Touches them,tries to figure them out, lickshis lips. Laughs. Shakes off hisexhaustion and fear and dances inthe snow.)

(LIGHTS OUT.)


SCENE 20:

The Final Days of the Great Explorers

(COLUMBUS, white haired,exhausted. He can barely see.)

(The sound of a bronze bell.Columbus hears it, listens, triesto remember, shakes his head. Thebell rings again.)

(GUAMO enters with bell.)

GUAMO.Admiral? Admiral of the Ocean Sea?

COLUMBUS.Did the Queen send you?

GUAMO.Admiral, do you remember me?

COLUMBUS.Of course not, but many have seen me, so perhaps. . .

GUAMO.May I tell you a story, Admiral? When I was a young man, Ifound a poisonous snake, diseased, exhausted, glittering inthe sun. I took a sharp rock, lifted it and struck. Thesnake’s body suddenly coiled to strike. But the head flewup in the air --

COLUMBUS.The Holy Virgin Mary comes here every evening . . .

GUAMO.--and the snake spoke to me. It offered me anything myheart desired. Being young and curious – or maybe justdissatisfied -- I asked to go where the sun was born --

COLUMBUS.And, yet, there is something about her --


GUAMO.Then you came.

COLUMBUS.--that is not quite right. Did you see Her? The HolyVirgin? I warn you. Don’t believe a word she says.

GUAMO.You don’t remember me?

COLUMBUS.When did you crew, boy? I am your commander. Everything Ihave ever done was an act of mercy for the world. Thepeople who have betrayed me, will be punished by God. I amanointed to bring forth The Last Judgment. Let us go to theQueen and demand our due --

GUAMO.For months, she’s dead.

(COLUMBUS starts to cry.)

COLUMBUS.Isabella, how could you die without seeing me?

GUAMO.I saw you. I remember your boats drifting towards us likestorm clouds. Your people exhausted, starving, hairy,triumphant. I was so excited.

COLUMBUS.Isabella dead? Who will defend me?

GUAMO.It was fantastic, then funny, then terrifying, thenexhilarating. Those enormous boats creaked. You gave methis bell. (He rings it.) And on the beach, we talked.

COLUMBUS.Are you a ghost?

GUAMO.You wanted gold.

COLUMBUS.I spit up blood.


GUAMO.So do I. We --

COLUMBUS.The Virgin pretends to comfort me. She dabs at my mouthwith a cloth. She’s tender but can’t be trusted.

GUAMO.Try to remember. (Pointing to himself.) Guamo. I helpedyou. I translated.

(COLUMBUS peers at him. There is,perhaps, a flicker of recognition,but it vanishes.)

COLUMBUS.They are all dead. Those people

GUAMO.Not me.

COLUMBUS.Every one. Dead. They were handsome. Docile. Stupid.Children of God. I remember every detail of each and everyone of my voyages, no matter what the Virgin says.

(GUAMO attacks COLUMBUS, but theyare both frail, and Columbuspushes back.)

I knew you’d try. You can’t kill me. Every man who eversailed with me tried. The Indians tried. The plottingcourtiers tried. I will outlive you all. (He looks offstage.) Look! The Virgin. Friend, let us at least trustone another.

(KARAYA enters, a parrot on hershoulder. GUAMO lets go ofCOLUMBUS.)

KARAYA.(To COLUMBUS.) Admiral, time to read from your journal ofthat first great voyage.

GUAMO.(Recognizing her.) A ghost.


COLUMBUS.(Conspiratorially to GUAMO.) Go back to the Queen. Tellher there is something very wrong with the Virgin. RemindIsabella, I gave Her Highness a world. The stories, thegossip, the dissatisfactions: trivial. God asks forempire, empire asks for gold, gold asks for sacrifice.They were children. They could see I came from heaven. Themen who betrayed me are the very men I lifted up.

KARAYA.(Seeing GUAMO.) Guamo. I thought you were dead. I thoughtI was the only one.

(KARAYA and GUAMO embrace.)

COLUMBUS.The sailors, mutinous. The natives, duplicitous. Thecrown, vacillating. Only God and Isabella, stood by me.(Seeing them.) Stop it.

(COLUMBUS separates them, but itdoesn’t matter.)

COLUMBUS.Tell Isabella this latest voyage may have been my mostmagnificent.

GUAMO.(To KARAYA.) My heart breaks. Macana. Dead.

COLUMBUSI discovered the strait that Marco Polo claimed linked theIndies to the Indian Ocean.

KARAYA.(To GUAMO.) A long time ago.

COLUMBUS.A two-day walk and I would have met the Great Khan.

GUAMO.(To KARAYA.) He stayed –

KARAYA.(To GUAMO.) -- with the Queen.


COLUMBUS.But then -- the fiercest storms that anyone had ever known.

KARAYA.(To GUAMO.) After he died, I combed her hair and sewed hergowns.

COLUMBUS.One of the captains made a canoe --

GUAMO.(To KARAYA.) And Carey?

COLUMBUS.--went to Santa Domingo demanding ships, but that bastard --

KARAYA.(To GUAMO.) Columbus curses him as a turncoat. He wentback to his family. Now -- I don’t know. Endless war.

COLUMBUS-- wouldn’t send a boat for seven months. Seven months.The Admiral of the Ocean Sea and no ship.

KARAYA.How did you find me?

GUAMO.When I heard Macana died, I decided to kill him. (gesturingat Columbus.)

KARAYA.He’s an old man. All he has to live for are his stories.(She gestures with the journal.)

COLUMBUS.(Confidentially to Guamo.) Every night The Virgin reads tome from my Journal, but when she reads, it’s all wrong.

KARAYA.(Showing COLUMBUS the journal.)Your Journal, my child, yourgift to the Queen. The story of the bravest of explorers.

COLUMBUS.(Touching it.) My Journal. But when you read it, I’merased.


KARAYA.Admiral, listen. A story of great discovery.

(KARAYA opens the book andpretends to read. COLUMBUS sits,listens, but as she speaks hecan’t make sense of it.)

Long, long ago, the ancient bloody one dies as she givesbirth, so they slit open her stomach and pull out fourmewling twins. The first-born is called, “the scabby one,”because of his rough skin. One day when their father, YaYais away, they break open a gourd and out pours all thewaters of the world. They climb into the gourd and paddledown from the sky and into the world. . .

(LIGHTS OUT)

--END OF PLAY--

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