The Plays
Cardenio [sample]
by Steven Greenblatt
and
Charles L. Mee
When the lights come up,
we are on the stone terrace in front of a stone farmhouse
in Umbria.
Olive trees
flowers
vines.
Comfortable outdoor chairs scattered on the terrace.
Sound of festive celebration
coming from behind double doors.
Music, laughter.
Will and Anselmo enter,
glasses of champagne in their hands.
They wear tuxedos,
ties loosened, collars opened.
WILL
What a perfect wedding, Anselmo!
Absolutely perfect!
You know
you’re the luckiest person I know
to have married the woman you have married
beautiful
sweet
so sweet
and smart
and full of life
[silence]
ANSELMO
Right.
WILL [laughs]
You don’t think so?
ANSELMO
Sometimes
you know
I try to block the logical voice that talks
so relentlessly inside my head
but then I think
when it comes to something this important
I ought to pay attention.
WILL
To...?
ANSELMO
To the thought that nags
and nags and nags at me.
WILL
What’s that?
ANSELMO
I think she’s not going to be faithful to me.
[silence;
then Will laughs]
WILL
But that’s insane.
ANSELMO
Yes.
WILL
I mean, that’s completely insane, Anselmo.
She loves you.
I’ve never known anyone to love anyone
as much as she loves you.
No one is as lucky as you are.
ANSELMO
Will,
if you really were my best friend...
WILL
I am...
ANSELMO
you would help me.
WILL
I will.
ANSELMO
No matter what.
WILL
No matter what.
ANSELMO
Then do this for me
see if you can seduce my wife
so that I will know if I can trust her.
