More Portmanteau Plays Part 73

What you want?

JONATHAN

_He_ didn't know me!

HANK

Who didn't know you?

[_Hank lies down._

JONATHAN

Uncle Nathaniel.... He just pa.s.sed by.... But, Hank, he believed in me! He believed I'd make good.

HANK

Say, what's the matter with you today?

JONATHAN

I'm goin' to leave you, Hank.

HANK

Huh?

JONATHAN

Old pal, I'm going to leave you forever. You've stuck by me--

HANK

Sure, I've stuck by you.

[_Makes himself comfortable._

Ain't you saved me a heap o' trouble?

JONATHAN

But I'm going now, Hank. Good-bye. I'm going to the green hill far away.

[_He starts away leaving Hank alone and asleep. The lights fade out._

_Soft music is heard through the darkness and slowly the outline of the green hill appears close at hand. Jonathan outlined against the sky appears at the edge of the hill, climbing with difficulty._

NATHANIEL (_The voice is heard with the music_)

Nine ninety-nine--one thousand. You're nearly there, Boy.

JONATHAN

Nine hundred and ninety-nine--one thousand--I'm almost there.

NATHANIEL (_far away_)

A thousand and one--a thousand and two--

JONATHAN

A thousand and one, a thousand and two--I am here!

NATHANIEL (_far away_)

The world is here.

JONATHAN (_as though addressing the world_)

Listen.... I ran away. I ran away. I was fourteen. I saw visions of great things. I heard voices of the past and the future. I wanted to tell what I saw and heard.... Oh, you who made sport of my dreams, I am here at the top of the world! Uncle John, I have heard things you will never hear, and I have seen things you will never see.

JOHN (_far away_)

But your back's broken.

JONATHAN

Oh, Susan--Susan Sample--see--see. I told you I wasn't a beggar.

See--see--Jonathan stands at the top of the world!

SUSAN (_faintly_)

But your back's broken.

JONATHAN

Oh, people of all the world, I am a boy who asks you to hear me and to understand. I only wanted to work out _my_ way.... I planned my way because I couldn't help it--I wanted to build my own world--alone.... I climbed clear to the top--Jonathan stands before you--

VOICES

Jonathan's dead.

JONATHAN

Dead?... Oh, see the wreck of everything.... Jonathan _is_ dead!

[_He falls._