



Produced by David Edwards, David E. Brown and the Online
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  _American Dramatists Series_

  SIX
  ONE-ACT PLAYS

  _The Hand of the Prophet_--_Children
  of Granada_--_The Turtle Dove_--_This
  Youth-Gentlemen_--_The Striker_--_Murdering
  Selina_

  MARGARET SCOTT OLIVER


  BOSTON: RICHARD G. BADGER
  TORONTO: THE COPP CLARK CO., LIMITED


  Copyright, 1916, by Margaret Scott Oliver

  All Rights Reserved


These plays in their printed form are intended for the reading public
only. All dramatic rights are fully protected by copyright, and any
performance--professional or otherwise--may be given only with the
written permission of the author.

MADE IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

THE GORHAM PRESS, BOSTON, U. S. A.




  To
  L. S. O.




CONTENTS


                                       PAGE

The Hand of the Prophet                  11

Children of Granada                      27

The Turtle Dove                          53

This Youth-Gentlemen!                    73

The Striker                              81

Murdering Selina                        103

  Notes pertaining to the plays         127

  Music used in plays                   128




THE HAND OF THE PROPHET

AN ARABIAN EPISODE


CAST

  KODAMA, _A Merchant of Riad_.
  HALIMA, _His Bride_.
  SINDIBAD, _A Young Sheykh, Cousin to Kodama_.
  SLAVE, _To Kodama_.
  SLAVE, _To Sindibad_.
  A SINGER.
  A DANCING GIRL.
  WEDDING GUESTS, SLAVES AND DESERT MEN.


_Scene--A room in the home of Halima._




The Hand of the Prophet


_From between the parted curtains two desert men in white costumes, with
red sashes and turbans appear. They wear scimiters in their sashes, and
are smoking very long cigarettes. They bow to one another, and walk to
the two sides of the stage, where they remain until first curtain, then
go behind. This is repeated before and after each part of the play._

_Scene--A room in the home of Halima. Music and laughter are heard, and
as the curtain is drawn, a slave girl is seen finishing a wild dance. As
she sinks exhausted to the floor there are applause and sounds of
approval, in which the merchant Kodama leads. He is seated beside his
bride, Halima, on a dais. In the room are slaves, attendants and members
of the two families. The wedding celebration is in progress, and all are
in festal mood and dress. Rose petals are strewn on the floor, platters
heaped with fruits are at the front and side of the stage, and incense
is burning in two braziers._

KODAMA--Thy slave dances with the grace of a startled gazelle. Command
her again before night comes. I am pleased with her!

HALIMA--I am glad she is fair in thine eyes, my husband. She knows many
magic dances that will delight thee.... But the wedding feast has
continued four days, my lord, and thy kinsman from the desert not
appeared.

KODAMA--Four days more shall the feasting last. There is yet time.

HALIMA--I am eager for the jewels, and cloths of gold he was to bring.
Thou didst promise my father--

KODAMA--Enough, enough! Art thou a child that patience is not in thee?
Before the feast has ended he will come. I weary of these murmurings.

HALIMA--(_Claps hands._) Music for my lord.

(_Slave sings. As the song ends a slave appears before Kodama._)

SLAVE TO KODAMA--The young Sheykh Sindibad is here.

(_Sindibad appears L. with some men from his caravan, and a young slave,
who is carrying three bundles tied in silken cloths. He walks airily to
the dais._)

KODAMA--Sindibad!

(_Sindibad and Kodama embrace. Halima, with a coquettish gesture, puts
her veil before her face._)

SINDIBAD--Let forgiveness for my tardiness be granted, cousin, when thou
seest what I have brought. Many treasures have I found thy lady, before
whom I prostrate myself.

(_Sindibad kneels and kisses Halima's hand and then his own. His slave
boy quickly opens the bundles, and the contents are eagerly examined._)

KODAMA--I had thought to see thee sooner; the wedding is four days old.

SINDIBAD--I had thought to come sooner, but there was a maiden.... Never
have I seen such stars as were her eyes, and her lips, the blood of
pomegranate.

KODAMA--Thou wast ever led easily by starry eyes.

HALIMA--(_Holding out scarf._) See, it is a wondrous cloth, with threads
of gold and silver.

SINDIBAD--Thy loveliness will enhance its beauties a thousand times.

HALIMA--My loveliness did not tempt thee to hasten.

SINDIBAD--I have never seen thy face, and there was a maiden....

KODAMA--There was a maiden. Have done with thy raving! (_To Halima._)
Let thy slave dance!

HALIMA--Dance!

(_As the slave dances, all watch eagerly save Sindibad, who gazes at
Halima._)

SINDIBAD--Thy voice is soothing as the sound of water in the heart of
the desert. Let me see thy face.

HALIMA--Look at these fabrics rather.

SINDIBAD--Nay, but an instant, while they watch the dancer, unveil, and
let me see thy face.

HALIMA--I may not.

SINDIBAD--It is not forbidden. I am thy husband's kinsman. Let me see
thy face!

(_Halima drops veil. Sindibad prostrates himself._)

SINDIBAD--I am thy slave forever, oh fairer than the day at dawn.

HALIMA--Arise! they will see thee!

SINDIBAD--And thou hast married the merchant Kodama! Awah! Awah!

HALIMA--Arise! Arise!

KODAMA--Why cryest thou awah? This is not a time for wailing. Dost
lament for the maiden of the desert?

SINDIBAD--Her image has changed... as sand upon the desert's face.

(_CURTAIN_)


_Scene--The same. Kodama and Halima are seated on the dais as before.
Two slave girls are in the room. Kodama's slave enters C. and stands
before Kodama._

SLAVE TO KODAMA--The merchant from Baghdad awaits. Shall I bring him to
have audience here?

KODAMA--I will speak with him in the myrtle court. Keep watch over my
wife and the women. (_Exit C._)

(_Sindibad enters L. as a slave comes from R. The slave is carrying
coffee, and reaches Halima as Sindibad approaches._)

SINDIBAD--I drink to thine amber eyes.

HALIMA--Thou must not.

SINDIBAD--Send thy women away.

HALIMA--I dare not.

SINDIBAD--Send thy women away! I have words they must not hear.

HALIMA--(_To attendants._) Go!

(_Kodama's slave stands motionless._)

SINDIBAD--(_To Slave._) I am cousin to thy master. Go with the women.

(_Slave goes slowly C. from the room. Halima has risen from the dais,
and seated herself on a rug in the centre of the room. She is humming
coquettishly and is admiring herself in a mirror. Sindibad watches her
eagerly for an instant._)

SINDIBAD--My blood has changed to leaping flame.

HALIMA--If thou comest nearer I shall call my women back.

SINDIBAD--Unbind thy wondrous hair. It is a fountain of living gold.

HALIMA--Thou must not sit so close.

SINDIBAD--I love thee, and shall stay until thou sayest, "I love thee."

HALIMA--(_Stopping her song._) I am thy kinsman's wife.

SINDIBAD--By Allah! Thou art no man's wife but mine!

HALIMA--I am but a dream. Awake, lest the Prophet smite thee!

SINDIBAD--Oh, beautiful dream, I am mad for thee. To-night thou shalt
fly with me into the desert.

(_Kodama enters C. unnoticed, and listens._)

HALIMA--I am thy kinsman's wife. My father gave me to him.

SINDIBAD--The fire of youth has gone from his blood. He is old. Thou
canst not love him.

KODAMA--Allah!

HALIMA--(_Slowly._) I am his wife. (_Exit R._)

(_Sindibad starts to follow her, but is arrested by the sound of
Kodama's entrance._)

KODAMA--Alone?

SINDIBAD--With a dream.

KODAMA--The beautiful maiden who delayed thy progress hither?

SINDIBAD--I tell thee I have forgotten her.

KODAMA--Thy heart is fickle surely.

SINDIBAD--I have seen one more beautiful.

KODAMA--The dancing slave?

SINDIBAD--Yea... even the dancing slave.

KODAMA--Thou shalt have her. She is like the little moon when it first
peeps above the date palms. Thou shalt have her.

SINDIBAD--Thy wife is young.... I will not have the dancing slave.

KODAMA--How now!

SINDIBAD--Thy wife is young. Her skin is of pearl, her eyes twin amber
pools where men may--oh fool, oh blind, thy wife is young and beautiful.
Canst thou not see?

KODAMA--It is written: The blind man avoids the ditch into which the
clear-sighted falls.

SINDIBAD--Thy heart is a dried grape. Thy wife is--

KODAMA--My wife! Art thou an honest Arab that she should so dwell in thy
thoughts? Take the dancing slave, and begone.

SINDIBAD--Thy words are crystal dewdrops quivering on a leaf.

KODAMA--Thou art young--tempt me not too far.

(_Slave enters immediately C. with a tray on which is wine._)

SINDIBAD--By the beard of the Prophet, wine! The Koran forbids it.

KODAMA--It shall turn to milk in the throat of the true believer.

SINDIBAD--Thou hast said it.

(_Kodama and Sindibad drink, and look at one another searchingly._)

KODAMA--Thy black angel is ever at thy left side in the city. It will
persuade thee into mighty wrong. Young cousin, it is wise that thou
shouldst return to thy people. Go quickly, lest evil come. I will give
thee rich presents for thy father. As for thee, choose one of the slave
girls--

SINDIBAD--I will take with me nothing--but a dream. (_Exit L._)

KODAMA--Allah send him swift away.... There shall be no returning.

(_CURTAIN_)


_Scene--The same. A slave is singing. Kodama is seated on the dais,
while Halima comes in slowly and gazes anxiously at him. It is the next
day._

HALIMA--Thy brows are still lowered. In what have I offended thee, my
husband?

KODAMA--Amber pools where men may--what do men find in thine eyes?

HALIMA--I know not, unless thou sayest.

KODAMA--And thy skin is