blood wedding - act ii, scene ii [remix]
In the second scene of act 2 we see everyone returning back to the Bride's house after the wedding. A celebration begins with music and dancing, but throughout it the Bride appears agitated and nervous and finally retires to her rooms. Suddenly Leonardo's Wife tells the Bridegroom that her husband disappeared, but the Bridegroom laughs saying that Leonardo simply went for a quick ride. The Bridegroom then finds his Mother wandering the party and the two discuss the importance of being traditional, abusive and controlling in a marriage. Soon it is discovered the Bride is not in her room; the Father orders the house searched, but Leonardo's Wife bursts into the room and announces that her husband and the Bride have run off together. The Father refuses to believe, but the Mother flies into a rage and orders everyone, including her son, out to hunt for the runaways, knowing full well that the only way this can end will be in bloodshed.
…………………………………………………
Outside the Bride's home. The whole atmosphere is somber with tones of grayish white and cold blue everywhere amid large cacti. In the background rise muddy hills in sharp relief, as if painted on tiles.
Maid [arranging glasses and trays on a table]:
The wheel was turning, turning
as the water was flowing, flowing
all on the wedding day
and through the dark branches
the moon was watching, watching
over the bride's white balcony.
[In loud voice]
Get those tablecloths pressed!
[In a voice full of pathos]
And the lovers were singing, singing
as the water was flowing, flowing
all on the wedding day
and on the white frost
the sun was shining, shining
pouring down like honey.
[In a loud voice]
Get the wine poured!
[In a voice thick with poetry]
Young maid,
young maid of earth and fire
watch how the water flows
and on this your wedding day
pick up your skirts
and under your husband's wing
dwell in his house forever.
For he is the dove
with a burning heart of flame
and the fields await with the murmur
of the spilling of your blood.
And the wheel was turning, turning
as the water was flowing, flowing.
All on your wedding day
young maid
make the water glow. [1]
Mother [entering]: At long last!
Father: Are we the first back?
Maid: No. Leonardo and his wife arrived a good while ago. He drove back like a man possessed. His wife was scared out of her wits. You'd have thought he was riding a horse rather than driving a cart.
Father: That man will come to a sticky end, that one … bad blood, bad blood.
Mother: What do you expect but bad blood? His whole family's rotten with it, ever since his grandfather started killing … he was the first of the murdering line, and they've all taken after him, with their cold smiles and little knives.
Father: Let us just forget it.
Maid: How can she just forget it?
Mother: Even the blood flowing in my veins aches. And when I look into their eyes … all I can see is the hand that killed my husband and son … You think I'm crazy, don't you? Well, if I am it's because I've locked too much away. But all the time I'm screaming deep inside. I know who should be punished. I know who really deserves to hide under a shroud. They just come and they take your dead away, and you've got to remain silent. It is then the gossip starts. [takes off shawl]
Father: But today of all days …
Mother: What else can I do when I see one of them? And today more than ever . . . from now on I'll be all alone in my house.
Father: Maybe not for long.
Mother: Yes, my grandchildren. It's the only thought which keeps me going.
[They sit down together.]
Father: I hope they have many. This land needs willing workers, cheap labor … so that they can fight against the weeds, the thistles and the rocks which seem to spring up from nowhere. It's got to be the men who own the land who punish it and tame it, who bring life from it. Yes, there needs to be lot of sons for all that.
Mother: And daughters. Boys come and go like the wind. They've get taught to carry knives and guns. But girls never even need to leave the house.
Father [jubilantly]: I'm sure they'll have many of each.
Mother: My son will do her well. He comes from good stock. His father would have had lots of children with me.
Father: I just wish they could get the whole business over in a single day. That way they could have two or three grown men straightaway.
Mother: It doesn't work that way. It's a long, painful process. That is why it's so terrible to see your own blood fall in the dust … a fountain of blood that spurts for just a long minute, which has taken countless years out of your life. When I got to my son, he was lying in the middle of the street. My hands were soaked in his blood and licked them clean with my tongue. Because it was my blood too! Can you understand that? And if I could I would take all that dust turned red with his blood and put it into a precious cup.
Father: It's a question of waiting now. My daughter is broad-hipped and your son is strong.
Mother: Yes, I know.
[They stand.]
Father: Get the food and drink ready!
Maid: They are ready.
Wife [entering]: I hope they'll both be very happy.
Mother: Thank you.
Leonardo: Are you planning a fiesta?
Father: Perhaps. Nobody can stay very long.
Maid: Here they come now!
[Small groups of Guests enter merrily. The Bride and Bridegroom enter arm in arm. Leonardo exits.]
Bridegroom: I have never seen such a wedding!
Bride [serious]: Never.
Father: It was splendid.
Mother: I see whole families here.
Bridegroom: People who hardly ever left their own doorway.
Mother: You're reaping all that your father had sowed.
Bridegroom: There are cousins of mine here that I've never even met before.
Mother: And the ones from the far coast …
Bridegroom [cheerfully]: They were a bit mistrustful of the horses.
[Crowd talks]
Mother [to the Bride]: What are you thinking?
Bride: I am not thinking of anything in particular.
Mother: So many wedding vows … they can weigh heavy.
[Guitars are heard off-stage]
Bride: Like lead.
Mother [powerfully]: But you mustn't let them! You should feel as light as a dove.
Bride: Will you stay here with us tonight?
Mother: I cannot. My house is empty.
Bride: No, you should stay.
Father [to the Mother]: Look at them dancing, all your people from the coast. Rising and falling like the waves of the sea. [2]
[Leonardo appears and sits down. His wife stands behind him, tense]
Mother: My husband's cousins. As strong as oak trees, they could keep dancing forever.
Father: They are a sight for my sore eyes here. [exits]
Bridegroom [to the Bride]: Did you like the orange blossoms?
Bride [startled]: Yes.
Bridegroom: They are real wax, you know. They will never die or go away. I would have liked to cover your whole dress with them.
Bride: There was no need for that.
[Leonardo exits silently from the right]
Girl 1: Shall we help you take the pins from off your veil?
Bride [to the Bridegroom]: I won't be long.
Wife: I hope you'll be happy with my cousin!
Bridegroom: I'm sure I will be.
Wife: Just the two of you here, building your house together in your own little world. If only we had somewhere to go like this.
Bridegroom: Why don't you buy some land? It's cheap over towards the mountains. It's better for raising children.
Wife: We do not have any money. And with the way things are going …
Bridegroom: But your husband is a hard worker.
Wife: Maybe, but he cannot make up his mind what he wants to do. He is always flitting from one job to another. He never seems at peace.
Maid: You're not eating! I'll go and get some wine-cakes for your mother, I know she adores them.
Bridegroom: Yes! Give her a several of dozen.
Wife No, no. Just a few.
Bridegroom No. This is our special day!
Wife [to the Maid]: Have you seen my Leonardo?
Maid: No, I have not.
Bridegroom: He must be off with the rest of party.
Wife: I'll go and look for him. [exits]
Maid: Isn't it all gorgeous?
Bridegroom: Why aren't you dancing?
Maid: I think because nobody has asked me.
[Two Girls cross upstage. During this whole scene there is a constant coming and going of Guests.]
Bridegroom [cheerfully]: It's because they don't know any better. Racy old ladies like you could teach a thing or two to any of these girls.
Maid: Ah! So you're starting to flatter me now, are you? You're your father's son all right. A man among men. When I was just a child I saw your grandfather's wedding. I remember well his esteem. It was like a whole mountain striding down the church aisle.
Bridegroom: I haven't quite got the same build.
Maid: But you've got the same gleam in your eye. Where's the child?
Bridegroom: Taking off her veil.
Maid: Ah! Listen now. I've cut some ham and left it, along with a couple of glasses of good wine, in the bottom part of the larder since neither of you will be doing much sleeping tonight. Just in case.
Bridegroom [smiling]: I do not eat at night.
Maid [leering: Maybe not you … but I'm sure your wife's appetite will have been [pause] whetted by midnight. [exits]
Boy 1 [entering]: Come on and have a drink with us.
Bridegroom: I'm waiting for … my wife.
Boy 2: You'll have her soon enough.
Boy 1: Haha! Yes, just before dawn, that's the best time.
Boy 2: Come on. Let's get a drink into you.
Bridegroom: All right.
[They leave; it is an atmosphere of great animation. The Bride appears, and two Girls run over to meet her]
Girl 1: Who did you give the first pin to? Her or me?
Bride: I'm really not sure …
Girl 1: You gave it to me! Here!
Girl 2: No, you gave it to me! In front of the altar!
Bride [tense, as though a great battle were raging inside her] I don't know.
Girl 1: It's just that I'd like you to …
Bride [interrupting her] Stop it! I've got enough to think about without …
Girl 2 [sulky]: Sorry.
[Leonardo crosses in the background]
Bride [catching sight of Leonardo]: I've got a lot on my mind.
Girl 1: We don't know anything about that …
Bride: You'll know when your time comes. It is a move that costs dearly …
Girl 1: Please don't be upset at us!
Bride: No, of course I am not. I'm sorry.
Girl 2 : Sorry for what? Anyway both pins mean you'll get married, don't they?
Bride: Yes. Both.
Girl 1: But one of us has to get married before the other.
Bride: And you're both in so much of a hurry?
Girl 2 [embarrassedly]: Well, yes. . .
Bride: But why?
Girl 1: Can't you guess? [hugs her friend and both exit.]
[The Bridegroom wanders on stage slowly. Silently embraces the Bride from behind.]
Bride [in fear]: Stop it!
Bridegroom: Did I frighten you?
Bride: Oh! It's you!
Bridegroom: Who else would it be? [pause] Your father or me.
Bride: I know.
Bridegroom: Except your father would have probably been gentler.
Bride [gloomily]: Probably.
Bridegroom: That's because he's old.
[Bridegroom embraces her tightly, roughly.]
Bride [sharply, struggling]: Not now.
Bridegroom: Why? [releases her]
Bride: Because … somebody might see.
[The Maid crosses upstage, purposely ignoring them.]
Bridegroom: And so what? We've got holy blessing now.
Bride: Maybe, but not now … Later on.
Bridegroom: What's wrong with you? You seem anxious.
Bride: Nothing is wrong. Do not go.
[Leonardo's Wife enters]
Wife: I am sorry, I don't mean to interrupt …
Bridegroom: What is it?
Wife: You haven't seen my husband, have you?
Bridegroom: No.
Wife: But you see, he doesn't seem to be anyplace … and his horse has gone too.
Bridegroom [cheerfully]: I am sure he's taken it out for a run.
[The Wife leaves apprehensively. The Maid enters]
Maid: You both must be happy for all the blessing you've got … all this big fuss just for you two, eh?
Bridegroom: Actually, I'm starting to get a bit sick of it all. I think she's feeling a bit tense.
Maid: What's the matter, my child?
Bride: My head feels like it is pounding.
Maid: In these parts of the world a bride must be stronger than that! [to the Bridegroom] You're the only one who can do anything with her now … she belongs to you. [exits quickly.]
Bridegroom [embracing her]: Let's go and join the dance. [kisses her]
Bride [in anguish]: No. No. I want to lie down for a while.
Bridegroom: Sure! I'll keep you company!
Bride: No! Not with everyone still here … what in God's name would they all say? Please, just give me five minutes.
Bridegroom: All right. But tonight when they've gone …
Bride [from the doorway]: By tonight I will be better.
Bridegroom: And that's what I want … [Bride exits]
[The Mother enters]
Mother: My son.
Bridegroom: Where have you been?
Mother: Just wandering through this noise. Are you happy?
Bridegroom: Yes.
Mother: And your bride?
Bridegroom: She's laying down for a rest. It's a bad day for brides!
Mother: Bad? It's the very best of days. It is the opening of a new world for me. It's the earth that is turning and the seeds that are growing. [3]
[The Maid enters and heads off to the Bride's room.]
Bridegroom: Stay here tonight.
Mother: I cannot. I must get home.
Bridegroom: All alone?
Mother: How can I ever be all alone? My head is always full of memories of my men and the battles they have fought.
Bridegroom: But all that fighting is now … a memory.
[The Maid reappears and hurries upstage.]
Mother: I will fight for as long as I live.
Bridegroom [sighing]: And I will respect your wishes.
Mother: Listen to me … with your wife always be affectionate, but if you think she's getting too distant or shy, then caress her just enough so that it hurts … a bruising hug or a love bite and then a tender kiss. Not enough to upset her, just enough so she'll know who's who, who gives the orders and who takes them. That's how your father taught me. And since you don't have him here now, it's up to me to teach you these things. [4]
Bridegroom [with raised eyebrows]: I'll always do whatever you tell me.
Father [entering]: Has anyone seen my daughter?
Bridegroom: She went to her room.
Girl 1: We want the bride and groom to come out ! We're all going to dance in a ring!
Boy 1 [to the bridegroom]: With you two in the middle.
Father [reappearing]: No, she's not there.
Bridegroom: No?
Father: She must have gone out to the balcony.
Bridegroom: I'll run up and look. [exits]
[Sound of singing and guitars offstage]
Girl 1: Oh! They've started without us. [exits]
Bridegroom [returning, puzzled]: She's not there.
Mother [troubled]: No?
Father: Where can she have got to ?
Maid [entering]: Has anyone seen the child …?
Mother [somberly]: No.
[The Bridegroom exits. Three Guests enter.]
Father [dramatically]: You're sure she's not out dancing?
Maid: No, she's not dancing.
Father [hysterically]: The place is packed with people! Go and look again!
Maid: I have looked.
Father [voice full of tragedy]: No? Where is she?
Bridegroom [enters]: No. There is no sign of her … anywhere.
Mother [to the Father]: What is going on here? Where is your daughter?
[Leonardo's Wife enters]
Wife: They have run away! Together! Leonardo and the bride! On his horse – I have just seen them – hugging tightly together and riding like the wind! [5]
Father [ashen]: God no! Help us, not my daughter!
Mother: Oh yes, yes! Yes, your daughter. Her mother's daughter and he's as bad as the rest of his blood. I warned you! But she's my son's wife now!
Bridegroom: Quick! Let's go after them. Somebody get me a horse.
Mother: Yes! Get a horse, quickly! Someone … anyone! I'll buy it with everything I have! With my tongue and eyes if I have to!
Voice [offstage]: There's one here!
[Bridegroom starts to exit with two Guests]
Mother [to the Bridegroom]: Go! Go! Oh [pause] but no … these people want blood. But what else can you do? You have to go! I will be with you.
Father: It can't have been her! No! She would have thrown herself down the well first.
[The Wedding Guests start to split into two groups]
Mother: If she'd any shame she would have drowned herself but there's not a drop of decency in her. And now she's my son's wife. You remember that! There are two families here. Your family and mine. We'll go after her … we'll help my son. And then we will wipe this dust off our feet. Because my son has got family! People who count! His cousins from the coast and all those that have come to this wedding! Let's go … some of you go down by the river! Others go over the wasteland and the rest of you go through the hills and forest! And I tell you all this … blood will flow before this day is over! Two families … you and yours … me and mine. Now! Let's go!
[Curtain]
Footnotes
1. Make the water glow. The maid is singing about her version of the wedding she has just witnessed. As she "retells" it she turns the religious ceremony into a sensual one. To her the marriage has a primeval purpose; as if the two young people are about to fulfill an ancient fertility rite. Knowingly or unknowingly in this scene the Mother and Father both echo the Maid's sentiments and so, in this aspect, they all represent a part of ancient, human sexuality that the Catholic Church incorporated long ago but could never suppress within itself.
2. Rising and falling like waves on the sea. The original Spanish that Father uses is "Bailes de allá de la orilla del mar;" which I crudely translated as "dancing from the edge of the sea." The image of the people at work in a fertility dance of sorts echoes the Maid's song about the bacchanal nature of this peasant wedding.
3. The earth that is turning and the seeds that are growing. This too is an echo of the Maid's song. In Spanish the Mother actually say, "Es la roturación de las tierras, la plantación de árboles nuevos;" "it's the rotation of the earth, the planting of new seeds."
4. It's up to me to teach you these things. The Mother is a jerk; this is a telling monologue on her part, however. This speech serves two functions; we see just how much influence she has over her son and also just how brutal traditions and customs of one generation get passed onto the next. If there is fatalism in this drama it is rooted in this character, the embodiment of representing authoritative and controlling power.
5. Riding like the wind! Federico describes the fleeing couple as, "como una exhalación;" "like an exhalation." I love that image, all that pent up passion finally release in one long exhalation of breathe.