Maryland Playwrights' Theater; Mister Magister

<v Boy>Hey mister, whatcha doing? <v Mister Magister>Opening for business. <v Boy>Oh yeah? Hey. <v Boy>This sure is a neat looking wagon. What you got in there anyway? <v Mister Magister>Many things. <v Boy>Like what? <v Boy>Hey, this looks like a shooting gallery. <v Mister Magister>Yes, it is certainly that. <v Mister Magister>It will be whatever you wish it to be. <v Boy>Gee What are you anyways some kind of magician? <v Mister Magister>No, there is no magic here. <v Boy>How come you set it up out here on the edge of town? You think you're gonna get anybody to come out <v Boy>this far? <v Mister Magister>They will come. They will come as far as need be. <v Boy>Well sure looks neat. <v Boy>Is that your name - Mister Magister? <v Mister Magister>Yes, I am Magister <v Boy>OK. See you later, Mister. <v Mister Magister>Mister Magister is not my real name, but that matters little. <v Mister Magister>I have been known by many names in many places in many times.

<v Mister Magister>The important thing is not who I am, but why I am. <v Mister Magister>Nor are my origins as important as my purpose. <v Mister Magister>You see, I search for certain qualities in things, living <v Mister Magister>things, it is an eternal quest I fear. <v Mister Magister>And while the rewards are few. It is a task which must be done. <v Mister Magister>So I have come to this small and timeless town, along with a season <v Mister Magister>known as Autumn. <v Man>Well, what we got here? Billy said I'd find you out this way. <v Man>You're a little late, though, Mister, carnival's already been through here. <v Mister Magister>So I've heard. <v Man>Don't really matter, though, I guess. <v Man>Oh, shooting gallery huh? [chuckles] How much? <v Mister Magister>Five cents.

<v Man>Five cents? Well, that's a steal, mister. <v Man>How many shots? <v Mister Magister>As many as you shall require. <v Man>As many as I'll- you mean as many as I want,. <v Mister Magister>As many as you shall need is more precise. <v Man>Need? You mean to hit all the targets? <v Mister Magister>Yes, to hit all the targets. <v Man>Oh, well, that's all right. <v Man>Yes, sir. <v Man>Hey, what do I win if I hit them all. <v Man>Is there a prize? <v Mister Magister>You win nothing other than the satisfaction of doing well. <v Mister Magister>My gallery is not constructed for material gain, but rather for <v Mister Magister>the completion of a test. <v Man>Oh, what the hell, huh? <v Man>Why not. [coin clink] [gun clicks]. <v Boy>See there he is! <v Mr. Gardner>Hell of a contraption.

<v Mr. Gardner>What's your game, mister? <v Mister Magister>And evenings diversion- entertainment, if you will. <v Mr. Gardner>Entertainment? Now, we could sure use a little of that around here, right, Mr. Strong? <v Mr. Strong>I don't know, Mr. Gardner. I just don't know. <v Man>Hey, boys, you gotta try this thing. It's only a nickel. <v Man>I've never seen nothing like it,. <v Mister Magister>Gentlemen. <v Mr. Gardner>Only a nickel. Come on ?inaudible?, I'll treat. <v Mister Magister>[continuous gun clicks] An Interesting diversion. <v Mister Magister>Yes, but it is more than that. <v Mister Magister>If you were to look into my wagon, into the gallery itself. <v Mister Magister>Perhaps you will notice something different. <v Mister Magister>Something special. <v Mister Magister>If you would just stare into that special darkness. <v Mister Magister>It could be a sensation, not unlike looking up into a starry night where <v Mister Magister>uncounted worlds hang magically distant

<v Mister Magister>and beyond that darkness you would see my <v Mister Magister>?inaudible? <v Mister Magister>Floating effortlessly illuminated by an unseen source. <v Mister Magister>My targets are just the topics which are important you see. <v Man>You know I never seen a gallery like that before. <v Mr. Gardner>What are you talking about? <v Man>The targets? <v Man>They're the ?inaudible? Things I ever did see. They're not bull's eyes or nothing like <v Man>that just had funny looking faces. <v Mr. Strong>I thought it was kind of odd too. <v Mr. Gardner>Aw you two are crazy, ain't nothing funny about it- just a bunch of faces that's <v Mr. Gardner>all. Hey Stella can we get the check over here. <v Man>Yeah, I know what you mean, Mr. Strong. <v Man>I did get kind of a funny feeling when I was shooting. <v Man>?inaudible? Faces one of em looked kinda familiar to me. <v Mr. Strong>Did it really? <v Man>Yeah it did. Why you see somebody familiar too? <v Mr. Strong>Well I'm not sure but I think I saw the Williams boy.

<v Mr. Strong>I think I saw his face in there. <v Mr. Gardner>You mean that little n*gga kid that runs deliveries for you sometimes? <v Mr. Gardner>Aw you kidding. <v Mr. Strong>Well I think so? <v Mr. Strong>Well, it could have been. <v Mr. Strong>But it was so dark in there so deadly dark. <v Speaker>[check rip] <v Mr. Strong>No. Perhaps I was wrong. <v Mr. Strong>I probably didn't see a thing. <v Man>Of course you didn't. Just a shooting gallery. <v Mister Magister>And so passed the first evening of my visit to this town. <v Mister Magister>Things transpired nothing like what I expected. <v Mister Magister>They have shown an eagerness, a natural attraction to my gallery, <v Mister Magister>and I was not at all surprised to see them return the following <v Mister Magister>evening. <v Mr. Gardner> Hey ain't that something about the Williams kid.

<v Mr. Gardner>You know, my wife told me they found that little colored boy curled up in a ball right <v Mr. Gardner>behind your store. As a doornail. <v Mr. Gardner>They got any idea what killed him?. <v Mr. Strong>No, I don't think so. Boys just dead. That's all I heard. <v Man>Well, that's life. I guess. <v Man>That is something, though. You gonna shoot some? <v Mr. Strong>Well, I don't know. <v Man>Hell you're out here ain't ya. <v Mr. Strong>Well, yes maybe I thought I would. <v Mr. Strong>Yes. <v Man>Me, too. Beats watching the grass grow. <v Boy>I got a nickel too. Mind if I shoot? <v Mister Magister>No one will be excluded. <v Boy>Oh cool. <v Man>Damn. Look at that will ya? <v Mr. Gardner>Stella! <v Stella>?inaudible? <v Mr. Gardner>What are you doing out here? <v Stella>I was going to ask you the same question. <v Mr. Gardner>Come out for a little entertainment at least. <v Mr. Gardner>?inuadible? some fun <v Stella>Who is that man? Do any of you know?

<v Mr. Gardner>A carnival man, I guess. <v Stella>Can any of you ask? Don't any of you care? <v Speaker>[laugher in background]. <v Stella>What's the attraction out here Mr. Gardner? What's so fascinating about that shooting <v Stella>gallery? <v Mr. Gardner>There ain't nothing fascinating about it. <v Mr. Gardner>Shooting galleries are just fun that's all and it's cheap. <v Stella>We've had whole carnivals pass through this town- never caused such a stir. <v Stella>People in the hotel have been talking about that wagon- never seen <v Stella>anything like it. <v Mr. Gardner>Stella, you just don't understand people is all. <v Stella>No, that's the point of it all. I'm afraid I do. <v Mr. Gardner>Well, I'm glad you think so, my dear. <v Mr. Gardner>Now, if you'll excuse me. <v Mr. Gardner>I'm gonna go have me some fun <v Mr. Gardner>All right, son, it's about the time you let a man <v Mr. Gardner>try his hand at this game. <v Boy>But I'm not done yet. <v Mr. Gardner>Oh, yes you are <v Boy>That's not fair. <v Mr. Gardner>There ain't nothing in this life that's fair boy and it's about

<v Mr. Gardner>time you learned that <v Speaker>[omnious music] <v Man>Well that's it for me. <v Mr. Strong>Yeah me too. <v Man>Hell of a game that is <v Mr. Strong>?inaudible? You're looking at darkness and you just can't stop yourself from pulling the <v Mr. Strong>trigger. <v Mr. Strong>Yeah, well, it's getting late. <v Mr. Strong>It's about time I went on home. <v Mr. Strong>Good night Hanes. <v Hanes>You know that Strong is an odd duck, ain't he. <v Hanes>I always did think he was a bit on the queer side, you know.

<v Mr. Gardner>What are you talking about? <v Hanes>You know, Strong. Last night he said he thought he saw somebody he knew in there. <v Mr. Gardner>Well didn't you tell the same thing? <v Hanes>No, not exactly. Not last night anyway. <v Hanes>But tonight I did. <v Mr. Gardner>Oh, yeah. <v Mr. Gardner>What'd you see? <v Hanes>You know how those funny faces just seem to float way, way off, and sometimes you're not <v Hanes>so sure what or who you're seeing. <v Hanes>Well, tonight I looked in there and damn if I don't see Miles Johansson's face is <v Hanes>staring straight back at me. <v Mr. Gardner>Johansson? <v Mr. Gardner>The mechanic down at your garage? <v Hanes>Been here 10 years now and he still can't speak no English worth a crap. <v Hanes>He sure knows them car motors, though. <v Mr. Gardner>You know that's funny. <v Mr. Gardner>Real funny. <v Mr. Gardner>Cause I'm just thinking, it's just my imagination. <v Hanes>You mean, you seen him too? <v Mr. Gardner>I think so. <v Speaker>[bell chime in distance] <v Hanes>So what do you think <v Hanes>of that? I mean you think we should try to mix up ?inaudible? or what?

<v Mr. Gardner>I'll tell you what I think. I think he's making too much out of this already. <v Mr. Gardner>Ain't nothing to it. I don't think we oughtta bother ?inaudible? <v Mr. Gardner>With it at all. We're just having some fun, right? Don't have to think about something as simple as having fun, now do we? <v Hanes>Hell no, Mr. Dunn. <v Hanes>Boy, you sure do have a way with talking things up proper like. <v Hanes>We don't have to think about nothing if we don't want to. <v Mister Magister>If we live in a deterministic universe. <v Mister Magister>Does it matter? <v Mister Magister>The lengths we must go in order to define ourselves, <v Mister Magister>meanwhile, all things proceed upon their natural paths to natural <v Mister Magister>ends. <v Mister Magister>People of this town have made their unconscious choice, and I fear <v Mister Magister>they will not be moved by the death of another in their midst.

<v Speaker>[laughing and shooting] Get em! Get that one!. Ow! <v Speaker> <v Mr. Gardner>Well, back again I reckon, another night another nickel. <v Hanes>Everybody else is passing down here tonight. Don't know why I should be any different. <v Mr. Gardner>That's-That's no reason at all. I heard about your man Johanson there terrible thing that. <v Hanes>?inaudible? said it was natural causes- don't make sense though. Big, healthy man like Miles just supposed to keel over dead like that? <v Mr. Gardner>That's the way it is. Never know when your numbers gonna come up. <v Speaker>[irie music] <v Stella>Mr. Strong. Good evening.

<v Mr. Strong>Hello Stella. <v Stella>You've come back again. <v Mr. Strong>What do you mean? <v Stella>Well, I wouldn't've thought you cared much for guns and games, Mr. Strong. <v Stella>What's going on with you. What's the attraction? <v Stella>You know, it's funny. Even I feel drawn to this place as if something <v Stella>had happened to all of us. <v Stella>Like there's been a cloak thrown over the whole town. <v Mr. Strong>I don't know what you're talking about, young lady. <v Stella>Don't you? Two people have died. <v Stella>Mr. Strong. Two people in our town in two days. <v Stella>Both of them young and healthy. And then they just lay down die. <v Stella>It's not natural. That's not natural with the whole town should just ignore it. <v Stella>The way they doing. Something terrible is happening to us, Mr. Strong. <v Stella>I know. I can feel it. <v Stella>You know what I'm saying is true. <v Stella>Please help me. We've got to do something. <v Mr. Strong>What can I do? <v Stella>Well, I've tried to talk to some of the others, but they won't listen. <v Stella>But you seem different, Mr. Strong.

<v Stella>You act like you felt the fear of this place. <v Stella>That man Magister. <v Mr. Strong>Well. <v Stella>Tell me, please tell me what you know about this place. <v Mr. Strong>Well, there's nothing to tell really. It's just that- never mind. <v Stella>What? What is it, Mr. Strong? <v Mr. Strong>Faces. You see faces. <v Stella>What are you talking about? <v Stella>What faces? <v Mr. Strong>In the gallery. I mean, at least I think I saw them. <v Mr. Strong>When you shoot into that wagon, the targets look like people you know. <v Mr. Strong>Not all the time. Just sometimes. <v Mr. Strong>The faces change, you see. <v Mr. Strong>Sometimes they're just funny faces, but they shift and they change in the light. <v Mr. Strong>And if you're looking at just the right instant, you see those other faces. <v Stella>What other faces? <v Mr. Strong>You know, of the people. Of the people. <v Stella>Who die? Oh, <v Stella>my God. Don't you see what we're doing?

<v Stella>Don't you see what's happening here? <v Mr. Strong>No, It's impossible. It's just a coincidence, that's all. <v Stella>How can you say that- Coincidence. <v Mr. Strong>Listen Stella You're a bright child. <v Mr. Strong>I've always liked you, but you're still young. You haven't learned that you just don't go <v Mr. Strong>barging into a situation half cocked. <v Mr. Strong>You can't assume anything in this world. It's a crazy world. <v Mr. Strong>You aren't old enough to know all about it yet. <v Stella>Doubt if any of us are, Mr. Strong. <v Mr. Strong>What's that? <v Stella>Nothing. Alright Mr. Strong. I'm sorry I bothered you like I did. I best be getting on to work. Goodnight. <v Mr. Strong>Night Stella. Hey Stella, you be careful now <v Stella>I think it's time we were all careful, Mr. Strong <v Mr. Strong>Hello boys. <v Mr. Gardner>Hey strong <v Hanes>Well there's our grocery man Mr. Strong come down, to take a few shots, have you?

<v Mr. Strong>Well, I -. <v Hanes>Oh it's just a shooting gallery, that's all. <v Hanes>You afraid of a little fun or what? <v Mr. Strong>Yeah, you're right. Just a little fun, huh. <v Mister Magister>It seems to be the unfortunate loss of sentient beings to surround themselves with <v Mister Magister>chaos in the guise of civilization. <v Mister Magister>From the outside, it has all the rigor and structure of a Gothic cathedral. <v Mister Magister>But on the inside, the sights and sounds of life rail and rattle with <v Mister Magister>no comprehension. <v Mister Magister>There's a roaring so terrible ?inaudible?it threatens to destroy us all. <v Mister Magister>In its midst, I have heard the faint flutter of delicate wings <v Mister Magister>- the wings of a solitary creature attempting to fly above it all.

<v Mr. Gardner>It a warm night for an October , huh, ?inaudible? Ya know I don't figure the Magister <v Mr. Gardner>gonna be around much longer. It gets cold. <v Mr. Gardner>He's gonna be heading south soon. <v Hanes>More than likely, I figure we might as well get our fun in before he do. <v Mr. Strong>Somebody else died last night. <v Mr. Gardner>You know, I'm getting pretty good at getting them target. <v Mr. Strong>I said somebody else died last night. <v Mr. Strong>Didn't you hear me? <v Mr. Gardner>I heard what you said. So what? <v Mr. Strong>So what? It was Old Man Liebowitz, the shoemaker. <v Mr. Strong>Liebowitz is dead. <v Hanes>Well so what? <v Hanes>He was so old he creaked like is shoes. 'bout time he kicked off. <v Mr. Strong>How can you talk like that? <v Hanes>Talk's talk. Besides no one ever liked Liebowitz anyway. <v Hanes>Just a nasty, old ?inaudible? okay. <v Mr. Strong>Stella was right. <v Mr. Gardner>What do you say? <v Mr. Strong>Nothing. Never mind. <v Hanes>Mr. Strong. You've been acting kind of funny lately. <v Mr. Strong>What're you trying to say?

<v Hanes>I'm saying that I was to think you were a bit of a queer, Saturday, just cause you own <v Hanes>that damn grocery store and get some summa from one of those fancy schools back east. <v Hanes>You always thought you were better than the rest of us, us working people. <v Hanes>Everybody thinks so. You're no better than none of us. <v Hanes>You hear me? <v Mr. Strong>What do you mean? <v Mr. Gardner>I'll tell you what he means, Strong. Take a look at yourself. <v Mr. Gardner>You've been down there at that gallery taking shots just like everybody else in this damn <v Mr. Gardner>town. <v Mr. Strong>You're not listening to me. I said Liebowitz is dead. <v Mr. Strong>You know what I mean? You all saw his face in the gallery last night. <v Mr. Strong>I know you did. <v Hanes>How do you know that? <v Mr. Strong>Because. <v Mr. Strong>Because I saw it, too. Dammit, I saw him too. <v Mr. Strong>God help me <v Hanes>Mr. Strong, I do believe you are cracking up, you know, losing your marbles. <v Mr. Gardner>Come on Hanes let's get the hell out of here. <v Speaker>[dramatic music, laughing and shooting]. <v Hanes>Well, back again, huh, Mr. Strong.

<v Mr. Strong>Look, I just wanted to explain things, I just wanted to tell you what I was trying to <v Mr. Strong>say. <v Mr. Gardner>There ain't no need to explain, Mr. Strong. <v Mr. Gardner>Man loses control and it's just as plain as a nose on a face. <v Mr. Strong>No, that's not it. You see, I was thinking about what I was saying last night. <v Mr. Strong>Maybe I was wrong. <v Hanes>Oh, really? <v Mr. Strong>Yeah, maybe it was just my imagination, huh. <v Mr. Gardner>Hell, I wouldn't worry about <v Mr. Gardner>it, Strong. <v Mr. Gardner>I wouldn't worry about it at all [laughing] hey, take a look. <v Mr. Gardner>Hey Hanes, take a look at this. I'll be damned <v Hanes>Wouldn't that beat all. <v Mr. Strong>What are you laughing at? <v Mr. Strong>What're you talking about. <v Mr. Strong>Oh no. God help me no. <v Mr. Strong>Stop, stop, stop, Hanes stop shooting stop, <v Mr. Strong>please ya gotta stop. <v Hanes>Get your hands off me. <v Mr. Strong>Make him stop. Please stop. Please don't shoot anymore. <v Mr. Gardner>Get the hell off me. <v Speaker>[laughing]. <v Mr. Strong>[screams]. <v Hanes>All for the price of a nickel can you beat that.

<v Stella>I know who you are. <v Mister Magister>you do. <v Stella>You're the one they call the Grim Reaper. <v Mister Magister>Who? <v Stella>You know, death. <v Mister Magister>No child. I'm not that one. <v Stella>Then who? <v Stella>The dark angel? Are you satan? <v Mister Magister>No I am real, young one. Do not confuse me with your legends. <v Stella>Then who are you? What do you want with us? <v Mister Magister>It does not matter who I am. <v Mister Magister>Know only that I have come from a faraway place. <v Mister Magister>A place beyond the imaginings of men. <v Stella>But what do you want with us? Why are you killing us? <v Mister Magister>I kill no one. <v Mister Magister>You are killing yourselves.

<v Stella>We wouldn't be doing it if it weren't for you and your shooting gallery. <v Stella>Don't you see what I mean? <v Mister Magister>I see precisely. But you are still wrong. <v Stella>How? <v Mister Magister>It seems to me that your town has been killing these people long before I <v Mister Magister>came. <v Mister Magister>Only they were doing it much more slowly. <v Stella>I think I understand what you mean. <v Mister Magister>Yes, I think you do. <v Stella>But what happens when we run out of scapegoats? <v Stella>What happens when all of the outcasts are gone? <v Stella>What then? Do we -Do we start in on our neighbors and friends, parents, <v Stella>our brothers and sisters. <v Stella>Even the children. <v Mister Magister>It could come to that. Yes <v Stella>So you would let this go on indefinitely. <v Stella>You would never stop it. <v Mister Magister>I can not stop it. <v Mister Magister>It is not my decision to stop this thing. <v Mister Magister>I am only a tool, a means to an end, not the agent.

<v Stella>We are the agents and we must stop. <v Mister Magister>yes. <v Stella>It's always been our way, I'm afraid. <v Stella>As long as it's somebody else, it doesn't seem to matter. <v Stella>But I want it to stop Magister. <v Mister Magister>I'm sorry I cannot help you with this. <v Stella>You make it seem so hopeless. <v Mister Magister>No. <v Mister Magister>Not necessarily. <v Mister Magister>That you are here confronting me, is not answer enough. <v Mister Magister>Tell me child, do you hate your people for what they are doing to one <v Mister Magister>another? <v Stella>Hate them? No, of course not. I care about them and the ones who have died. <v Stella>I want it to stop. <v Mister Magister>And it has. It is quite simple, really.

<v Mister Magister>By your caring, you have stopped it. <v Mister Magister>I believe you now, my work here is done. <v Stella>You're leaving? <v Mister Magister>Yes. I've discovered what I came for. <v Stella>And what was that? <v Mister Magister>Know this and never wonder why I came here. <v Mister Magister>I came for you. <v Stella>For me? You're taking me? <v Mister Magister>No. I will not take you anywhere. <v Mister Magister>You and others like you are needed right here. <v Mister Magister>Your name, you're called, Stella? <v Stella>Yes. <v Mister Magister>You are well named, child. It means star. <v Mister Magister>Look Stella. <v Mister Magister>Look at the natural beauty and power of the night sky.

<v Mister Magister>It is the awesome magic of the universe. <v Mister Magister>We are overwhelmed by its beauty and we forget her most important thing. <v Mister Magister>If we were to take away the stars. <v Mister Magister>There would be only the darkness.