Tuesday, June 18, 2013

More of THE DARWINS: Tierra Del Fuego and the Galapagos....

Scene Seven



                                                CHARLES

                                    Why?


                                                ELIZABETH

                                    What is God’s purpose?


                                                CHARLES

                                    I know you could tell me, Emma.


                                                ELIZABETH

                                    That’s what the children asked.


                                                CHARLES

                                    We are bound next for Chile.

                                    Then a group of islands called the Galapagos.


Lights out on Charles. Elizabeth and Emma are once again restoring the area after Sunday School.


                                                ELIZABETH

                                    I reminded them that, like He did with Abraham,

                                    the Almighty tests our faith. It is not meant to

                                    be easy for us to remain faithful.


                                                EMMA

                                    The children should take comfort knowing

                                    that Fanny is in Heaven in God’s embrace.


                                                ELIZABETH

                                    Where are all the women, one wondered. In Heaven.

                                    Since all the angels are men. Isn’t that precious?


                                                EMMA

                                    Yes.


                                                ELIZABETH

                                    What does Charles say?


                                                EMMA

                                    He is in some terrible place at the tip end

                                    of Argentina. Or was, nine weeks ago.


                                                ELIZABETH

                                    We must say a prayer for him.


                                                EMMA

                                    I do each night.


                                                ELIZABETH

                                    I hope God won’t take you away before you’re

                                    married. Of course, I shant ever be.

                                                (beat)

                                    Perhaps you shant ever be either.

                                   

                                                EMMA

                                    Please, Elizabeth!


Elizabeth recoils, making much of Emma raising her voice in such a way.


                                                EMMA

                                    Forgive me, I am tired and I... still need to

                                    go and help Mother with her dinner... It is

                                    in God’s hands if we are to live or marry,

                                    Elizabeth. Let us try not to dwell on it.

                       




                                                Scene Eight



An island in the Galapagos Archipelago. The sounds of local wildlife including birds. Charles enters with a red note book. He curiously looks at something perched slightly over his head (in the direction of the audience). He sits on a rock, opens his note book and starts sketching. After a few moments, Fitzroy enters behind.


                                                FITZROY

                                    This God forsaken place. Island after island of

                                    the same barren landscape, the same hideous beasts.


Sound of a tortoise hissing is heard.


                                                CHARLES

                                    Not quite the same, sir.

                                    Granted, the tortoises are aboriginal

                                    inhabitants-- we’ve found them

                                    on every island in the archipelago,

                                    but each is peculiar to its island.


                                                FITZROY

                                    How do you mean?


                                                CHARLES

                                    The slope and thickness of the shell, the color--

                                    Vice-Governor Lawson can identify which

                                    island in the Galapagos a tortoise comes from

                                    simply by looking at it.


                                                FITZROY

                                    Yes, well, I doubt the colonists

                                    here have much else to do.  And these

                                    bloated lizards...


Fitzroy crosses downstage left, looking out toward the audience.


                                                FITZROY

                                    I suppose they are all different.

                                    Perhaps we should name each one:

                                    Loathsome, Leatherback, Lethargio.


                                                CHARLES

                                                (laughs)

                                    No, sir, there is just the black marine

                                    iguana and those yellowish-brown terrestrial ones.


                                                FITZROY

                                    That’s a comfort.


                                                CHARLES

                                    I have, however, noted and sketched

                                    a number of bird species. Four more

                                    just today.


Fitzroy looks at Charles’ drawings over his shoulder.


                                                FITZROY

                                    Those are all finches, Mr. Darwin.


                                                CHARLES

                                    Finches?


                                                FITZROY

                                    Finches. All the same bird.


                                                CHARLES

                                    Impossible.

                                                (Fitzroy reacts)

                                    Pardon, sir, but... their beaks. The size

                                    and shape differs.


                                                FITZROY

                                    I suppose, yes.


                                                CHARLES

                                    It’s slight, but, they differ from island

                                    to island.


Charles is struck by an idea that raises him from his seat on the rock. A finch chirps.


                                                FITZROY

                                    You find that a curious thing?


                                                CHARLES

                                                (beat/preoccupied)

                                    I’m sorry, sir?


                                                FITZROY

                                    You find that curious. Why?


                                                CHARLES

                                                (pause)

                                    I simply do.


                                                FITZROY

                                    Yes. Why?




                                                CHARLES

                                                (pause)

                                    It suggests, sir, that over time, a single

                                    type of finch gradually adapted and changed to

                                    better survive in its specific environment.

                                    That there was transmutation of the species.


                                                FITZROY

                                    Each species is a new creation. Every

                                    reasonable man agrees to that, even “philosophers.”


                                                CHARLES

                                    Yes, sir, it is what I had tended to believe.


                                                FITZROY

                                                (pause)

                                    I like you, Mr. Darwin. But I don’t believe I like

                                    your science.


                                                CHARLES

                                    I’m not certain I like my science either.


                                                FITZROY

                                    No doubt the Creator designed the birds to

                                    be different for the mystery and pleasure

                                    of men, such as yourself.


                                                CHARLES

                                                (pause)

                                    Yes, sir. 

                                                (almost trying to convince himself,                                                                                    looking heavenward)

                                    That’s the trap of being a traveler.

                                    You stay but a short space of time

                                    in each place. It leads you, perhaps, to fill up

                                    the wide gaps of knowledge with inaccurate and

                                    superficial hypotheses.


                                                FITZROY

                                    I am glad to hear you say it. I, for one, will

                                    not regret traveling away from the Galapagos.

                                    New Zealand, Australia, round

                                    the Cape of Good Hope and home.


                                                CHARLES

                                    Home... Yes, sir.


Fitzroy turns to leave. Charles opens his sketch book and continues drawing.


                                                FITZROY

                                    It’s time to close that book.

                                                (Charles continues sketching)

                                    Mr. Darwin?

                                                (Charles continues sketching)

                                    Mr. Darwin!


                                                CHARLES

                                    I am a scientist, Captain, this is my job.


                                                FITZROY

                                    Yes, sir, that is why I brought you on.


                                                CHARLES

                                    I am not a n’er-do-well traveling companion

                                    here for your amusement.

                                    I am a scientist!


                                                FITZROY

                                    I am glad of it.


                                                CHARLES

                                    Are you?


                                                FITZROY

                                    When you were ill in Santiago,

                                    I arranged the shipment of your

                                    specimens to England!


                                                CHARLES

                                    Yes, with disappointment burned on your face.

                                    I would not confirm proof of Genesis

                                    for you!


                                                FITZROY

                                    I fully admit you have not met my expectations.

                                    You speculate wildly on your own twisted

                                    notions, while ignoring my own.


Charles rises and turns on Fitzroy.


                                                CHARLES

                                    I do not conjure my findings like some

                                    novelist! If I did, I would not choose this story to write!


                                                FITZROY

                                    Stand down, sir!


                                                CHARLES

                                    Science is guided  by fixed laws, Captain!

                                    Nature does not care what we believe!



                                                FITZROY

                                    Stand down!


                                                CHARLES

                                    Or you will leave me behind? Is that

                                    your threat again? Then do so!

           

Charles turns away from him, sits, and resumes his sketching. Fitzroy turns to leave, stops.                                   


                                                FITZROY

                                    I don’t understand, Mr. Darwin.

                                    I recall sailors laughing at you for your

                                    orthodoxy-- for quoting the

                                    Bible as the unanswerable authority on some

                                    point of morality... Now, I see a young man--

                                    of whom I have grown fond-- playing into

                                    the hands of the Devil.


                                                CHARLES

                                    Yes, sir. That is possible, too.


                                                FITZROY

                                    We cast off in two hours. If you are on board,

                                    so be it. If not, God save you.


Fitzroy exits. Charles looks at the creatures of the Galapagos, stops sketching. Lights down to a spot on Charles as he rises.


                                                CHARLES

                                    Dear Emma... How changed I feel.


Charles stares at the creatures of the Galapagos, then to the birds on the rocks, then to heaven. In the dim light behind him, Emma appears in a spot.


                                                EMMA

                                    Dear Charley.... Welcome home.