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.
Scene Seven
