Scene Seven
Music of Aum, Aum, Aum builds. On the screen upstage
we see a New York Graphic headline: SPIRITUAL LEADER EXPOSED! FORMER FOLLOWER
REVEALS FRAUDULENT SECRETS! Then, Irene's bedroom slides into view. SHE
is holding a copy of the newspaper and pacing the room like a lioness.
CHARLOTTE stands on one side of the room, BUTCH on the other.
IRENE
That bitch! That absolute bitch! And that was your friend!
CHARLOTTE
I had no way of knowing...
IRENE
There is no such thing as my Masters! I write my own letters from them!
I do research on people before I read for them! And that fat pig De Koven
saying I was never in India before I wrote my first book! I'll show them!
I'll show them all. You, Carlotta, are going to hire Town Hall again! I
shall give the greatest demonstration of my psychic powers I have ever
given in my life!
CHARLOTTE
Oh, Madame, it may be too soon.
IRENE
Too soon?! Are you crazy! This is the time to strike back!
CHARLOTTE
But there could be trouble.
IRENE
What trouble?
CHARLOTTE
Somehow spiritualism spawns fanaticism.
IRENE
Spiritualism spawns fanaticism! What a thing to say!
CHARLOTTE
I'm sorry. It does. And you know what fanatics are. Look at what happened
to President McKinley.
IRENE
Don't be an idiot. Why do you think I have Butchie here?
(SHE glances over at him. HE pats the pocket of his jacket.
It is obvious he has a pistol concealed.)
IRENE
Butchie, bring Rosabelle Lagonia here like a good boy.
(BUTCH obediently exits.)
CHARLOTTE
What are you planning?
IRENE
You book the hall. I'll take care of everything else.
(as CHARLOTTE is about to leave)
Carlotta! What journalists do you know?
CHARLOTTE
I am acquainted with a few. Especially on The Times.
IRENE
Not The Times, nincompoop! I need a paper like The Graphic.
CHARLOTTE
If you tell me what you want them for, then maybe...
IRENE
I think one of those papers might be interested in what goes on between
that hippopotamus and his little ferret of a cook.
CHARLOTTE
Oh, I hate this kind of thing.
IRENE
You expect Polenska to sit back and take such blasphemy and do nothing!
(BUTCH
re-enters with ROSABELLE, and CHARLOTTE retreats from the room.)
IRENE
Butchie, be a dear. I must speak to Rosabelle in private.
(BUTCH exits
again.)
IRENE
Rosabelle, do you still believe in Polenska?
ROSABELLE
Oh, yes!
IRENE
I am sure you have heard how my reputation has been denigrated by women
I thought were my friends.
ROSABELLE
Yes, Madame Polenska.
IRENE
Now, you realize that they are forcing me to prove I have not lost my
psychic powers. Mrs. Braden has gone to book Town Hall...only this time
I cannot cheapen the Masters by bringing them into something so dismal
and sordid. What I am saying, in effect, is I want you to be there.
ROSABELLE
I would like that very much.
IRENE
You are one of the few I can trust.
ROSABELLE
Oh, thank you, Madame Polenska.
IRENE
Now I am going to answer questions. I will not look at the pieces of
paper, of course. I will simply hold them to my head and answer them that
way. What I want you to do, Rosabelle, is write a question on a small sheet
of paper. Here. Here is the paper. Here is a pen. Naturally, I shall not
look at the question. But it will be the first one I shall answer the night
I appear at Town Hall.
ROSABELLE
I can write it that night, can't I?
IRENE
Of course you can. But if you write it now, it will be the only question
which I shall ask the Masters to answer.
ROSABELLE
Oh, how wonderful!
(SHE pauses a moment then scribbles something on the
paper, folds it and hands it back to Irene.)
But, Madame Polenska, if you don't look at what I've written, how can
the Masters answer my question?
IRENE
Rosabelle! The Masters don't have to be told what you've written.
The Masters will know what you've written.
ROSABELLE
Of course. What was I thinking of?
IRENE
Here. Let Polenska give you a big kiss.
(IRENE embraces her. ROSABELLE leaves. As soon as she does.
IRENE unfolds the paper.)
She wants to know whether her stupid Aunt Clara will survive the female
problems she's been having.
(looking up)
She will if I lend her Butchie.
BLACKOUT
