Me & Joan (of Arc) Page 6

unafraid.

  So have no fear. What could we fear but death? And that God gives us, each one in his time, as he gives life. That time is not today. Today he needs our swords to win the mother back her child, his belly filled, his slumber soft and still. And we can do this thing for God. No matter how the giant enemy looms before us. For surely as we know we move with God, that giant will crumble at our approach, a rotten apple falling down, for nowhere in all the earth is there any power unless God gives it.

  It is to us, today, he gives it. To know God's earthly sign to you, each place your hand upon your chest with me. (Pause) Feel your heart pound against your honest palm? Now look to the man beside you. His is beating too. And so is mine. And all belong to that same leap of joy – the quick'ning babe inside the mother's beat. And so we all can join! And when we do, we will together beat as God's own heart. And against this force...no siege can ever stand!!

  (Soldiers begin an excited cry, that swells...)

  Antoine: To Orleans! Free Orleans!

  (Drums. Battle noise. Soldiers swarming up ladders that face the audience, and reach into the flies. Scurrying, before, behind, between ladders on stage level. Joan at the head of her troops, seeing Orleans across the river. Lili tagging behind Joan, puffing, carrying Joan's standard. The impression given is of Joan's army striking from outside and finally getting over the siege line to free the city)

  Joan: There it is...Orleans!

  Lili: (Huffing) My god...look at those walls.

  Joan: (Calling) Bring up the food wagons – they're starving in there!

  (Voices shout, from “across the river” –"There's the witch!" "Burn her!" Joan responds, enraged)

  Joan: (Calling) If you can take me, burn me! But I tell you here...if you will not leave our country, I, La Pucelle, will give battle until the last of you has perished, and with such shrieking pain, as shall not be forgotten for a thousand years!

  (Battle music begins. Battle)

  Soldier: The bridge tower's too strong. Hit the smaller posts first.

  Joan: You want me to shear half a sheep? Can't be done. (To Lili) Are you afraid?

  Lili: Of course!

  Joan: Then we're ready. Stay close. I'm going to be shot.

  Lili: (Alarmed) What?

  Joan: I'll need you then. Stay close. (Summoning her troops) We take the tower. Jesus and Mary and all the angels fight with us. To the tower!

  (Joan runs. Roar of army starting a charge. Battle action, ferocious, Joan in the midst. High on a ladder, Antoine is hit, and Joan sees)

  Joan: Antoine!

  (Antoine drops to the ground. Joan, distracted from her fight, reaches toward him)

  Lili: Joan! Be careful!

  (Just as Joan pulls up, sound of arrow "whiz-thunk;" Joan, is hit, thrown back, falls. An arrow juts from her shoulder)

  Lili: Joan!

  Joan: (To Lili) Keep them going. Hold my standard up!

  Lili: Oh my god, what can you do?

  Joan: (Gasping) It's only pain. I told you it would happen. Don't let the soldiers know.

  Lili: How can they not...

  Joan: Sit me up.

  (Lili, helps Joan to sit. Joan is muffling her involuntary yelps from the pain)

  Lili: We have to get you out of here. Fast.

  Joan: Just brace me.

  Lili: What?

  Joan: I'm going to pull.

  Lili: (Kneeling to brace Joan against her) What?

  (Joan grips the arrow imbedded in her shoulder, and, gritting her teeth against her yelps of pain, pulls and pulls until it comes out with a yell. Then she collapses against Lili, gasping and nearly passing out)

  Lili: (Overwhelmed with tears, but too alarmed to give in to them) My God. How could you... My God!

  Joan: (Breathing hard) Just help me stand.

  Lili: You think you're immortal?!

  Joan: Help me.

  (Lili helps Joan rise to her feet. Joan leans on her standard. A round of battling overtakes Lili, and continues, until the soldiers are falling back, retreating)

  Joan: They're retreating! Turn them.

  Lili: It's sundown. They're exhausted.

  Joan: Then we've lost.

  Lili: We haven't lost!

  Joan: Not winning is losing. If we don't get into the tower, we have to start all over tomorrow.

  Lili: Then that's what you have to do.

  Joan: No. Once more. They've got to try just once more.

  Lili: It's almost dark, Joan.

  Joan: They can still see the white of my standard. I'll run.

  Lili: No. Joan. Wait...

  Joan: (Taking the standard) It's shearing time!

  (The soldiers, collapsing with exhaustion, freeze)

  Lili: Joan...

  Joan: (Starting to run) Tuuuurrrrn!

  (Soldiers follow Joan first with their eyes)

  Lili: (Staying) You'll be out there alone!

  Joan: (Calling to the troops) Follow me! For king, for country, for France!

  (The soldiers follow, jumping to the ladders. A roar begins, of cheering, then suddenly. Music, stately – the movement on the ladders becomes solemn, processional, huge colorful banners drop, filling the space behind, and Joan steps through, center, in bright light, moving slowly toward in audience, in triumph. Fanfare. Church bells.

  Crowd: Joan...Joan... La Pucelle...La Pucelle...La Pucelle!

  (Lili follows Joan. Tomas the priest, at head of procession, bows to Joan’s triumph. Joan raises her arms to all, smiling, spreading herself, in the warm rays. Music up.

  END ACT I