Read With a heavy Italian accent in mind


Night time, Verona.Veranda, bench, flowers.
Enter Veronica, on veranda.

Veronica: Oh, such a beautiful night. One should spend such
a night with a lover, but where is an ugly woman like me to
find one?
My parents cannot bear to look at me, my dear nanny cut both
her eyes out so that she wouldn't ever have to look at me
again. Men turn and run away whenever they see me, and the
cooks hide whenever I enter the kitchen.
I mean no harm! All I want is a man, a nice, good looking
man, to love me and protect me, and say nice things to me.
Oh, Poor me! (Enter Antonio) Who is that? It's so dark... I
can't see his face... I must hide!
Antonio: Finally, this is the place. The temple, where my
goddess resides. The garden, where my flower blossoms.
Finally, we shall meet. Oh, I remember when I first heard
her voice; a deep, pure beautiful voice. I followed the
voice, but could not find its keeper. Ever since, I have
been dreaming of meeting this woman, my future, my heart.
Oh, if only her face is as beautiful as her voice, well,
then I am the happiest man in the world. (Sits down on the
bench) But who am I fooling? What will a wonderful woman
like her want with an old fool like me? Wake up, Antonio.
She probably has hundreds of lovers and thousands of
admirers, all much younger and surely more appealing than
you. (Notices a shadow on the veranda) Who is that, up
there? Is that you, my wonderful muse? Have you come to me,
finally?
Veronica: Who are you?
Antonio: (Stands up on the bench) I have come to confess my
love to you, my marvelous... my marvelous- b... (Whispers to
himself) beauty? Breath? breasts?
Veronica: Breast? Oh me!
Antonio: No, no! that is not what I meant! My marvelous b...
beast!
Veronica: A beast?!? How dare you insult me!
Antonio: I am so stupid!
Veronica: A beast??
Antonio: A beast! you, you bring out the beast in me! I feel
like I want to capture you, roar for you, yelp for you -
Why, I would kill anything for you!
Veronica: I see... What is your name, young man?
Antonio: (To himself) young? She calls me young? Oh, what
joy! (To Veronica) The name is... Leo! Like the lion that I
am!
Veronica: What a strong name... Come closer, so I can see
your face.
Antonio: My face? But, but why now? I will remain in the
shadows, for the time being. But may I get a glance of your
stunning face?
Veronica: (To herself) a glance? That will scare him away
for sure! (To Antonio)  Not now. Tell me more about your
love for me, in the meantime.
Antonio: My love for you? Well, my precious lady, my love
for you is like mm.. like m- -
Veronica: Mountains?
Antonio: No, greater than mountains!
Veronica: Greater? Oh, please tell me!
Antonio: My love for you is like m -
Veronica: Madness?
Antonio: No, why would I say such a thing? My love for you
is like... (To himself) Quick, Antonio - think of something,
anything! (To Veronica) Mud!
Veronica: Mud?? Oh, what a foul man!
Antonio: No, not foul! My love is like mud, like mother
earth that nourishes all.  When earth and water meet for the
first time, the smoothness, the wet touch, the Waterfall,
inserting itself into the lake again and again, hot liquids-

Veronica: Excuse me?
Antonio: What? Oh, forgive me, I am simply dreaming of the
smell of the Forrest. The muddy ground, from which we all
come and where we shall all go eventually. My muddy
princess, do not think of me as foul!
Veronica: How sweet of you! Now I see, mud is the most
beautiful thing in the world, I see it.
Antonio: Yes, my love.
Veronica: Go on, please.
Antonio: My sunshine, it would be much easier for me to
admire you once I see your magnificent face - I'm sure of
it.
Veronica: My face? Oh, no, that's not possible, dear Leo.
Antonio: Not even a glimpse?
Veronica: No
Antonio: A quick look?
Veronica: Not possible.
Antonio: A peak?
Veronica: No! Please, tell me, my love, to what you shall
compare your love for me.
Antonio: I shall compare my love to... (To himself) Damn you
Anton! Think of something witty to say, or you may never
have this opportunity again! Like what? My love...
Veronica: Leo, tell me! Please!
Antonio: My love to you is like a piece of wood!
Veronica: Of cour-... what?
Antonio: Like a piece of wood, that's it!
Veronica: A madman is in love with me!
Antonio: No, let me explain! My love is a small piece of
wood, attacked! Yes, attacked, by... by evil termites!
Termites, trying to eat my love, trying to kill it, but the
wood will not surrender! No, the wood will stand strong, and
proud, whispering...
Veronica: What?
Antonio: What?
Veronica: What is it whispering? Tell me, my love!
Antonio: (To himself) She said my love! Oh Antonio, you've
done it! (To veronica) It is whispering "Veronica...
Veronica, my love, I shall not be defeated by the evil
termites"
Veronica: Oh, what a poet! What can I offer you for such
sweet words?
Antonio: A kiss?
Veronica: A kiss? Oh, my fair Leo, If only I could...
Antonio: But the moon!
Veronica: The moon?
Antonio: It's so pale!
Veronica: What?
Antonio: And jealous!
Veronica: Huh?
Antonio: Never mind, only a kiss! Please, my dear!
Veronica: I couldn't possibly!
Antonio: But a kiss from you would...
Veronica: Would what?
Antonio: Oh dear... Naturally, a kiss from you would be like
being.. cc-
Veronica: Captured by my beautiful eyes?
Antonio: No.
Veronica: No??
Antonio: I mean, yes, but not only that- it would be like
being cc- a
Veronica: Caught in a passionate moment?
Antonio: Well, that too but... (To himself) Come on,
Antonio! Think! (Starts walking on the bench, then falls to
the ground) Ohhh!
Veronica: Go on, my love; a kiss from me would be like being
- ?
Antonio: Castrated! Oh, the pain... (Lies on the floor for a
few moments, then gets up and sits on the bench again)
Veronica: What??
Antonio: What? What did I say?
Veronica: Castrated??
Antonio: (To himself) Oh you've really done it now Antonio!
(To Veronica) Yes- because that is how I will bond with you,
and with my feminine side in general.
Veronica: Really?
Antonio: Of course, why not? It's an ancient saying.
Veronica: What is ancient?
Antonio: Oh, the saying.
Veronica: Say it to me, Leo my love, and we shall kiss!
Antonio: Really? Oh, well, as my father used to say: being
kissed is like being castrated.
Veronica: And?
Antonio: That's it. An old fool my father was, I assure you.
Now may we kiss?
Veronica: I did promise...
Antonio: You did, my beautiful lady!
Veronica: (To herself) He calls me beautiful... If only he
knew how horrifying I really am! What can I do? (To Antonio)
We shall kiss, but in the dark.
Antonio: Wonderful!
Veronica: What? You are glad?
Antonio: Just a bit.
Veronica: Why would you want to kiss in the dark?
Antonio: Why would you want to?
Veronica: Never mind. Close your eyes. Don't peak!
Antonio: But my love -
Veronica: That is the only way I will have it!
Antonio: Then will you close your eyes as well?
Veronica: Why would I want to do that?
Antonio: Why not?
Veronica: Very well, we will both close our eyes.
Antonio: Oh, you've made me so happy, my dear Veronica!
Veronica: Come here, my Leo!
(Antonio falls several times, before reaching the veranda.
They move their heads towards each other, and open their
eyes at the exact same time)
Both: Ahhhhhh!
Antonio: Oh, what a face on her!
Veronica: Oh, what a horrible sight!
Antonio: I might be old, but there must be a limit to
ugliness!
Veronica: Even I am not that desperate! How old are you? Two
hundred years old? A millennium?
Antonio: (To himself) Oh, what a tragedy! My glorious maid
has turned out to be a monster... if only I could close my
eyes and kiss her, not knowing what lives behind those
lips...
Veronica: (To herself) Oh, what a tragedy! My young admirer
has turned out to be an old clown! If only I could close my
eyes again, and keep the dream of a strong, passionate lover
kissing me! (To Antonio) If I could just go back...
Antonio: and close my eyes?
Veronica: Yes.
Antonio: It's not too late.
Veronica: Really?
Antonio: Really. (Both close their eyes again) Oh, my
wonderful nymph! Kiss me!
Veronica: Oh, my dear lover! Come here!
(Kiss)
Antonio: (To himself) that was wonderful!
Veronica: Truly romantic!
Antonio: We don't really need to see one another, do we?
Veronica: I don't find it necessary.
Antonio: Superb! (Climbs down, opens his eyes) Until
tomorrow, my shining queen!
Veronica: Until tomorrow, my brave Leo!
Antonio: Goodbye!
Veronica: Goodnight!

(Lights out)








January 2002