Editing The Missing Arm (section)

== Act 1 ==
Time: Evening

=== Scene 1 ===
Place: A forest. ERVYNE is chopping trees with an axe. He pauses, sits down, and tosses the axe away.

ERVYNE. What a wretched life this is! A woodcutter like my father, and his father, and his father! I would be great in this world—I would be a fine man like Old William, and everyone would bow to me and honor me...but they don’t! They never have, they never will! It’ll always be young Ervyne—the woodcutter! I will never be greater than that! (Footsteps offstage.) Who is it? (Jumps to his feet and grabs his axe.)					

(Enter RICHMOND, carrying his own axe.)					

RICHMOND. Young Ervyne! The woodcutter. (ERVYNE grimaces, but he does not appear to notice.) Good to see you, very nice indeed. I was chopping some wood north of here. Maybe you want some help?					

ERVYNE. (Stiffly.) Thanks.

They begin to chop down limbs of trees.

RICHMOND. I thought I heard you say something about being like Old William. ERVYNE. Maybe you did.					

RICHMOND. Well, that’s funny. I used to want to be like him when I was little. The thought— chasing a bear nine feet tall, and wrestling it with one’s bare hands, and thrusting it to the ground—ah, that’s lovely. Old William’s like the king of this place. You know, I think I heard that when the king makes his visit to this region in a month, he intends to give Old William some kind of reward for being the bravest man around.					

ERVYNE. Is that so?					

RICHMOND. Anyway, I was saying when I grew up, I was no Old William. Just Richmond the woodcutter. Nothing wrong with that, though.					

ERVYNE. (Bitterly.) So you lost your ambition?


RICHMOND. Why, no. I’m actually going on a journey today. My distant great-aunt died, and I’m going to claim my inheritance from her. I leave this evening, once I’ve saddled my horse. I hope to come back a rich man.					

ERVYNE. (Very bitterly) Glorified by all in the village.					

RICHMOND. (Turns so that his back is to ERVYNE, lifts his axe in the air.) I can already see it. I come to my great-aunt’s house on a sagging horse, and leave on a stallion! I come to her house wearing a cloak, and leave in a cape! I come with a few coins, and leave with a fortune! Oh! (He tosses his axe behind him in his anticipation).					

(ERVYNE collapses, the axe in his left arm, and lets out a cry of pain. RICHMOND wheels around.)					

What’s the matter—oh! (Rushes to ERVYNE.) Oh! I’m sorry! What have I done! Can you hear me? Are you alive? (He glances around.) I’ll saddle my horse and hurry to my great-aunt’s house. I have slain a man!					

(Exit RICHMOND, dashing through the forest. After a while, ERVYNE rises and looks around.)					

ERVYNE. Oh, my arm! (Glances at it in panic.) It’s almost sawed off—that Richmond! Where is he? Must have fled the area...I shall have to walk to...the village alone. (Cries aloud.) The village! What am I to do there? They will bind up the wound, they will help me—but I have lost my livelihood...how am I to cut wood without my arm...oh, Richmond! Come back! (Paces a little, then suddenly smiles.) No...no don’t come back, Richmond. I see...I have a plan. (Begins to bind his coat around the wound with pain and grimacing, but a canny look.) The villagers will help a wounded woodcutter, but they will adore a wounded hero...what a lovely plan...			


(Curtain)



Time: The night of the same day

=== Scene 2 ===


Place: A house in the village. MRS. REET and MR. REET, with their daughter MILDRED are seated at the table. There is a knocking offstage.					

MRS. REET. What’s that noise?

MR. REET. I’ve no idea, my dear.

MRS. REET. Mildred, go look, please.

MILDRED (Rises and goes to the door. She peeks out and gasps.) Mother, look! MRS. REET, MR. REET. What?

MILDRED. He’s hurt! Oh mother!					

MRS. REET (Hurries to her daughter’s side, glances at who it is and pulls him inside. She looks him over.) Young Ervyne—the woodcutter!


(ERVYNE has only one arm-his right, and seems to have lost the other. He is bleeding, but has bound up much of the wound with his coat.)					

MR. REET (Rises and approaches). Why, what happened, Ervyne?

ERVYNE (lays his good hand on MR. REET’S shoulder.) I was beset by thieves. THE REETS. Thieves?					

ERVYNE. Seven of them seized me, and tried to take me. They told me they might leave me alone, if I told them when the king was passing through the area, for they intended to rob him. I knew, of course, that the king comes within a month, but I refused to tell them. I took one of their swords, and cut him severely, and began to run, yet there was a scuffle.					

MRS. REET. Quite a scuffle, from the look of your arm!

ERVYNE. The result is that the thieves have fled (badly wounded) and I have returned. (THE REETS stare at each other.)


MRS. REET. Who would have believed it? Who would have believed that poor Ervyne could ever be great in this world? You must lie down, and I must tell my friends what has happened. Oh! Mildred, you care for him.					

(Exit MRS. REET.)

MILDRED. I’m so sorry, Ervyne. You should sit down. (She lets him sit in her chair.) Were the					

thieves very rough?

ERVYNE. Ah, those thieves...very rough. MILDRED. I’m proud of you.


ERVYNE. I did nothing deserving praise.					

MILDRED. But you’ll be famous now. You’ll be the talk of the village!					

ERVYNE. Yet all I did was defend my king. Who could do less?					

MILDRED. Oh, Ervyne, you sound so brave.					

ERVYNE. Indeed, I was a coward. Yet a sense of duty overwhelmed me, and I fought the thieves as well as I could.					

MR. REET. Well, rest, sir. Mildred shall make you tea, and find you some relief for your pain.					

(MILDRED exits.)

ERVYNE (aside). Sir, sir! No longer am I poor Ervyne, young Ervyne, but sir! How strange to think!					

(Enter MILDRED again. She hands him a cup of tea and bandages his wound better, then sits down by her father.)				

MR. REET. (Aside to MILDRED.) What are you thinking of, my dear?

MILDRED. (Aside to her father.) I was thinking that he is so brave and good, and he wasn’t afraid of opposition. I’m proud of him.

MR. REET. Well, he did his best. To be sure, I think better of him than before. He’ll be famous before the week is over—might even surpass Old William.


MILDRED. That’s not what I mean. I mean, even if he didn’t get famous, I’d be proud of him, for being brave and doing what was right. He’s always been a bit sullen if you ask me, but now he’s so noble and upright.


MR. REET. I suppose.					

(Enter MRS. REET and a group of villagers, bustling and talking eagerly.)					

FIRST VILLAGER. So Ervyne’s a hero! How are you, sir? ERVYNE. In great pain. But Mildred’s bandaged my arm.					

FIRST VILLAGER. Tell us about the thieves. I hear you fought them off alone! And that some thieves said he wished he had half your bravery! What a story.					

MILDRED. Did they say so? You didn’t tell me about that.					

ERVYNE. Yes, they did, but I smiled and thrust my sword at him, making that my answer, and said as well, “Get away, and don’t think to compliment me till you have got back to your hideaway.”					

SECOND VILLAGER. What courage from one so young!					

THIRD VILLAGER. Tell us about—					

MRS. REET. Remember, he’s my guest! Let me ask the questions.				

FOURTH VILLAGER. You’ll be famous yet!				

(Curtain falls on villagers clamoring and shouting eagerly, while ERVYNE watches them with a smug smile, and MILDRED watches ERVYNE with admiration.)					

=== Scene 2					===
Time: two weeks after the events in scene 1

Place: the REET’s house. ERVYNE is sitting on a chair. Where his left arm was is a bandage.


Enter MILDRED, carrying a meal.					

MILDRED. (Sets the meal on the table.) There’s your lunch, Ervyne.


ERVYNE. Thank you. (Smiles.) You said you wanted to see me?					

MILDRED. When you’re done with your lunch, though. You must regain your strength.		

ERVYNE. No, no, Mildred. If you need to say something, say it.					

MILDRED. But—it’s not something I can say very quickly.					

ERVYNE. Well, I don’t mind.					

MILDRED. (Stammers.) Can I—tell you?					

ERVYNE. Yes, yes.					

MILDRED. You see, Ervyne, everyone in the village loves you now...because you’re a hero. And I’m not criticizing them...but I don’t feel the same way about you.					

ERVYNE. (Startled.) No?					

MILDRED. No, Ervyne. What I admire about you is that you’ve changed so much. You’re not so sullen and discontented anymore. You’ve changed...now you think about what’s best for others, and you’re brave and kind, and I...I...I’ve always hoped that you would change and become more selfless.					

ERVYNE. (Uncomfortably.) I should hope so.					

MILDRED. I know that’s so, Ervyne. Ervyne...I wanted to say...I’ve come to admire you even more than before...


ERVYNE. Oh, Mildred, I am not the good man you think I am.

MILDRED. You are, Ervyne, I know it. And I...love you. (She watches ERVYNE with an	innocent smile.)


ERVYNE. (Aside.) Well, I expected prestige would come with these tales, but not a wife! I don’t care to deceive those poor villagers, but Mildred is different...poor girl! If she knew the truth...but I can’t tell it now, can I? There’s nothing I can do about this...(To Mildred.) I...suppose...if you think so well of me...that we can...(Takes her hand.)


MILDRED. Oh, Ervyne! Oh! Thank you!


(Curtain.)					

Time: a week after the events in scene 1

=== Scene 3 ===


Place: a building in the village. The KING is seated on a decorated chair. At his sides are soldiers. Most of the village is gathered before him. Among the villagers are OLD WILLIAM, MR. REET, MRS. REET, and MILDRED. ERVYNE sits next to them, and it is clear that the village is watching him with admiration and pride. A HERALD comes onto a raised platform.					

MILDRED. (Aside to ERVYNE.) Oh husband, I feel a little sorry for Old William. ERVYNE. (Aside to MILDRED.) Why?					

MILDRED. (Aside to ERVYNE.) Well, you see, everyone expected him to be honored by the king until you fought the thieves. Old William’s been so unhappy for the past few weeks. Poor man.				

ERVYNE. (Shrugs.) Poor man indeed.					

HERALD. Citizens, it is always the king’s joy to speak to his beloved people when he can. And today, he honors your village with a visit. Let us welcome, citizens, our excellent King! Thank you!					

(Applause. The KING mounts the platform.)					

KING. Good people, we are seeing you for the first time, but we have always had you in our mind. (More applause. The King smiles.) As in other villages, we are accustomed to giving out rewards for bravery. Acts of courage will not go unrewarded in our kingdom. Therefore, when we arrived in this village, we took care to learn who was the bravest and noblest here. (More applause.) And we have found many examples of courage, but one stood out most. We heard that thieves were planning to rob us, but one young man fought them off—at least half a dozen— with his bare hands. He lost an arm for his action, but he shall gain much more than that! Will the young man called Ervyne show himself now? (Applause. All the villagers except OLD WILLIAM rise to their feet. ERVYNE mounts the platform, then kneels. The KING takes his hand.) You have saved our life, Ervyne. And now we will honor you greatly. Bow your head. (There is a hush in the room. Everyone remains standing.) Ervyne, we grant you the title Viscount Ellingham, and the lands of this county including the forest.					

(ERVYNE looks shocked. There is wild applause from the crowd.)					

ERVYNE. Your Majesty, I...I am honored.					

KING. Rise, Lord Ellingham. (More briskly.) The old castle of the man who once owned that title is vacant, that man long dead. Our guards will lead you there.				

(ERVYNE rises. Suddenly there is a shriek from the crowd. OLD WILLIAM bursts forward, and runs up to the KING in rage.)					

OLD WILLIAM. Your Majesty, there’s something strange happening! I was supposed to get that honor, Your Majesty. I—not he!					

KING. What is this?					

OLD WILLIAM. Ervyne! I don’t believe a word he’s saying about those thieves. He’s a liar— that boy is lying! It’s a convenient lie, isn’t it, Ervyne? It means you get glory, and honor—even a wife, now money and lands and a title! You always had ambition. Ervyne!			

KING. How dare you insult Lord Ellingham?					

OLD WILLIAM. Lord Ellingham—it’s young Ervyne, the woodcutter! He’s lying, I tell you! Anyone can make this sort of tale up! And as for his injury, for all we know maybe he hurt himself with an axe! I don’t believe this story at all!					

ERVYNE. (Noticeably pale.) Your Majesty, this man speaks lies.					

KING. Then throw him in prison.					

ERVYNE. (Watches the king in shock.) What?					

KING. You’re a viscount now. Throw this liar in prison.				

ERVYNE. (Trembles, and glances at MILDRED.) I—I order you guards to take him—to—to— prison...


(Two soldiers seize OLD WILLIAM, who is still screaming with anger, and drag him offstage.)


KING. We are sorry that such a man came to our party. Yet he will learn not to slander after some time in prison. It’ll be good for him.					

ERVYNE. Yes, Your Majesty.					

KING. And now, we shall leave. Villagers, here is Lord Ellingham. Goodbye, and may you have a good leader who rules with truth and wisdom!					

(He exits with his retinue. The villagers begin to mill around and talk)

ERVYNE. (Aside.) Truth—no. Wisdom—I hope so. I have gone too far. I did not expect to become this great—but what am I to do...					

MILDRED. (Approaches.) Ervyne, don’t let yourself be bothered by Old William. He’s just been very angry. He’ll be all right, won’t he?					

ERVYNE. I don’t know.					

MILDRED. Well, what he said doesn’t change the truth about my Ervyne, does it?			

ERVYNE. You see everything so simply, my dear.					

MILDRED. Well, I know you wouldn’t lie, Ervyne. Old William’s just jealous. No one believes him. I don’t, anyway.


ERVYNE. Please, Mildred— MILDRED. What?					

ERVYNE. Nothing, just...let’s discuss something else, like our castle or our lands. I don’t want to talk about Old William anymore.


(Curtain.)