Mr. Burns and Other Plays. Anne Washburn

      F: So pretty but I had to take them off directly after. They really hurt my feet—and I was not stable.

      C: As soon as I touched her I knew it was on

       An umbrella goes up.

      A: I said to him I said:

      BARUCH: now it’s a sluice of fists beating again and again

       Umbrellas go up, and protective newspapers.

      F: and then, this is really romantic—

      C AND E: I can’t eat that. I said. I really can’t it’s the texture

      A, D AND F: We were overcome with wonder

      E: Will he be fed upon by the cockatrices?

      D: No, no. They will be satiate already

      A: He knows his shit!

      B, C AND A: We were overcome with wonders

      E: I beheld the mountains, and, lo, they trembled

      F (Announcement: bored and weary civil servant): There’s no waiting on the platform at this station.

      C: In Brooklyn or Queens you drink more than four rounds or you tip him ridiculously you get that drink free

      A AND E: The mountains were loaded with lions, waiting to discharge onto the city below

      D: I always get the soup here

      A:

       I beheld, and, lo, there was no man

       and all the birds of the heavens were fled

      E: I’ll have to check but I don’t think so, I think it’s expired.

      F (Announcement): There is a smoke condition at this station. Please enter the train, or exit the station.

      D:

       His dead body shall be cast out in the day to the heat

       and in the night to the frost

      F:

       I will make them drink

       the water of gall

      D:

       for their words are diseases

       and must be purged

      A: No we all take the 4

      E: Then we go downtown.

      ALL: Downtown.

      C: It’s supposed to be good.

      D: I love that fucking place!

      F: I think oh, I’m really going to miss New York.

      ALL: A dwelling place for dragons, an astonishment.

      D:

       I was perturbed by the Lion problem

       I was disturbed by the cockatrices

      BARUCH:

       The rain came gushing down in great sputtery bursts

       overstepping all bounds of moisture

       everything outside was one big drench:

      CHAPTER 9

       The Palace of King Zedekiah who sits on his throne.

       Rain on the roof.

       Ebediah is near.

       The remaining actors stand on either side of the stage, and frame the action with their hands.

      EBEDIAH (To Jeremiah):

       Put now these old cast clouts and rotten rags

       under thine armholes under the cords

       and we will draw you up, from the pit

       To King Zedekiah:

       We threw down old cast clouts and rotten rags

       we said:

       now put on these old cast clouts and rotten rags

       under your armholes, and we will draw you up,

       and he did so

       And then we threw down the cords

       and then did draw him up by the armholes

       with cords

       Jeremiah is drawn up and brought before the king.

       He is drenched in mire.

      KING ZEDEKIAH:

       The princes said unto me:

      PRINCES:

       We beseech thee, let this man be put to death

       for thus he weakeneth the hands of the men

       of war, and the hands of all the people,

       in speaking such words unto them. This man seeketh

       not the welfare of the people but the hurt.

      KING ZEDEKIAH (In explanation):

       When ye saideth: this city shall surely be given

       into the hand of the King of Babylon’s army

       which shall take it.

       I will ask thee a thing. Hide nothing from me.

      JEREMIAH:

       If I declare it unto thee, wilt thou not surely put me to death?

      KING ZEDEKIAH:

       As the Lord liveth, that made us this soul, I will not put thee to death,

       neither will I give thee into the hand of those men that seek thy life.

      JEREMIAH:

       The Lord put forth his hand

       and touched my mouth

       and the Lord said to me

       Behold

       I have put my words

       in thy mouth

       I spake: I cried out, I cried violence

       and spoil

       I am in derision daily,

       everyone mocketh me

       then I said I will not make mention of Him

       nor speak any more in His name

       but His word is in my heart

       as a burning flame

       and I am weary with forbearing

       I must ignite

       Jeremiah listens, relaxes.

       The Lord sayeth, that He will move

       among your arms and

       will falter . . . will bring the arms of your

       archers to faltering. And the spears will

       fail. He will fill your soldiers with trembling

       and with tears and in fact will himself fight

       against you, moving among the enemy troops shouting

       encouragement. With an outstretched hand

       and with a strong arm. In anger

       and in fury

       and in great wrath.

       He will employ signs

       he will employ wonders against you

       Gaining strength.

       He will smite the inhabitants of this city

       he will