Man of La Mancha Read Online Free

with your brother,
It’s all the same, it’s all the same!
    (
The
MULETEERS
reach for her, roughly; she pushes them off
)
    Oh, I have seen too many beds,
But I have known too little rest,
And I have loved too many men
With hatred burning in my breast.
    I do not like you or your brother,
I do not like the life I live,
But I am me, I am Aldonza,
And what I give I choose to give!
    (PEDRO
offers money to
ALDONZA ,
throws it on the floor. She spits on it and backs away, luring him. He follows and presses the money into her hand
)
    One pair of arms … is like another
It’s all the same, it’s all the same!
    (
She exits
)
    ANSELMO    (
Laughing
) Payment before delivery?
    PACO    She won’t deliver.
    PEDRO    She’ll deliver!
    (
The
INNKEEPER
enters with his wife,
MARIA ,
and another serving-girl,
FERMINA )
    INNKEEPER    Well gentlemen, everything in order?
    (
He surveys the interior of his inn which is somewhat the worse for wear after the violence of the preceding number.
MARIA
and
FERMINA
begin to clean up
)
    ANSELMO    Did you feed the mules?
    INNKEEPER    They’re eating as well as you.
    PEDRO    God forbid!
    INNKEEPER    He jokes! It’s well known that I set the finest table between Madrid and Malaga. My patrons have always—
    (
From offstage there comes the blast of a bugle horribly blown
)
    PEDRO What in the name of—?
    (
The bugle sounds again
)
    INNKEEPER    (
His face lighting up
) The pig-butcher! I didn’t expect him till tomorrow. (
Hurrying to the door
) Coming, Señor Butcher, coming!
    (
He stops short as
DON QUIXOTE
and
SANCHO
enter.
QUIXOTE
has replaced his lance with the limb of a tree
)
    DON QUIXOTE    (
Haughtily
) Is the lord of the castle at hand? (
No reply from the flabbergasted
INNKEEPER ) I say, is the Castellano here?
    INNKEEPER    (
With an effort
) I am in charge of this place.
    DON QUIXOTE    (
Coldly
) We waited, sire, for a dwarf to mount the batt ements and announce us, but none appeared.
    INNKEEPER    The … the dwarfs are all busy.
    (QUIXOTE
makes a haughty signal to
SANCHO ,
who delivers himself of a rehearsed speech
)
    SANCHO    Noble lords and ladies. My master, Don Quixote, knight-errant and defender of the right and pursuer of lofty undertakings, implores the boon of hospitality!
    (
The
INNKEEPER
looks open-mouthed at the
MULETEERS ,
who look back in kind
)
    DON QUIXOTE    Well, sir? Is it granted?
    INNKEEPER    (
Pulling himself together
) Absolutely! This inn—I mean, this castle—is open to everybody.
    MARIA    (
To the
INNKEEPER ,
frightened
) A madman!
    INNKEEPER    (
Aside, to
MARIA ) Madmen are the children of God. (
To
QUIXOTE ) Sir knight, you must be hungry.
    DON QUIXOTE    Aye, that I am.
    INNKEEPER    There’s food aplenty, and for your squire, too. I’ll just help him stable your animals.
    (
He motions to
SANCHO
to follow, and they exit
)
    DON QUIXOTE    (
Approaching the others
) Gentle knights! Fair chatelaine! If there be any among you that require assistance, you have but to speak and my good right arm is at your service. Whether it be a princess held for ransom, an army besieged and awaiting rescue, or merely . . : ( ALDONZA
has emerged laden with things for the table. She stops, puzzled at the silence
. DON QUIXOTE
is gazing at her, stricken
) Dear God … it is she! (ALDONZA
stares. He averts his eyes worshipfully
) Sweet lady … fair virgin … I dare not gaze full upon thy countenance lest I be blinded by beauty. But I implore thee—speak once thy name.
    ALDONZA    (
A growl
) Aldonza.
    DON QUIXOTE    My lady jests.
    ALDONZA    Aldonza!
    DON QUIXOTE    (
Approaching her
) The name of a kitchen-scullion … or mayhap my lady’s serving-maid?
    ALDONZA    I told you my name! Now get out of the way, or I’ll—
    DON QUIXOTE    (
Smiling
) Did my lady think to put me to a test? Ah, sweet sovereign of my captive heart, I shall not fail thee, for