Act III

Scene: The Mausoleum. We see Dr. Pretorius and Clyde enter. A slab is prepared with wine, candles etc. We see the SUGAR PLUM FAERIES make their way to watch in secret.

As Dr. Pretorius pours wine he manages to jolt and deter Clyde from actually having any, and finally even manages to spill the glass right out of his hands altogether.

Dr. Pretorius: I am starving. Here Clyde, would you like a glass of wine? I know you don’t generally drink, but this is a special occasion.

What a lovely room—I mean, really… It is a shame that such splendor is created only for the pleasure of the dead.

Pours the wine and holds glass as if to toast

Dr. Pretorius: A toast then, my boy—to life and to death.

At just this moment the Monster emerges nosily and ceremoniously from the slab tomb. Dr. Pretorius stands enraptured and Clyde heads for the hills and straight into the clutches of the sugar plum faeries.

There is generally a repeat of the scene in the laboratory.

Monster: Who are you who disturbs my sleep?

Dr. Pretorius: Perhaps I could offer you a glass of wine? A cigarette? Are you hungry. We could send Clyde-- [looking about him] well, we seem to have lost Clyde… but he’ll be back. Chinese? Italian? We could have a pizza delivered…

Monster: Who are you?

Dr. Pretorius: Well, the question of the century, my dear, is who are you? Though I suppose I know the answer to that. You are the monster that the countryside is searching to discover, are you not?

Monster: I am well aware of my own identity. It is yours that I question.

Dr. Pretorius: I, am Dr. Alphonse Pretorius of Alfred Peabody University. I attained my degree in Amelionics from Janus University in Arkham, Massachusetts. I served a five year apprenticeship with Mssr. Snick, world renown inventor
of the oscillating overthruster. I won the prestigious Colby Award three years running and was named honorary chairman of the Pius Pious II Foundation for the advancement in the study of artificial intelligence. I receive a grant —annually —from the Pookus Schubert Society. I am fluent in 347 languages, functional in 564, and honored as a chieftain in a little known colony of ancient Mu. I am close friend and correspondent with the illustrious Dr. Bondo Alabaster PhD.D.

And I dabble occasionally in origami, though I hesitate to mention it…

Monster: I am impressed. I myself have never attained a degree.

Dr. Pretorius: [pouring a glass of wine and lighting a cigarette for the monster] …and what shall I call you? I feel positively rude referring to you as the “monster.”

Monster: [accepting the wine and the cigarette] I am afraid I have no other name. My… father… did not see fit to give me one, and I have yet to choose one for myself.

[looking about nervously]

I trust none of the villagers have followed you here. They have given me the devil of a time. I am afraid they will never let me be.

Dr. Pretorius: No one has followed us here. Clyde, my biographer, is with me, as much as Clyde can be anywhere —he is an excellent correspondent, but a bit inexperienced with… the demands of Science.

Monster: Is that how you see me? A scientific curiosity? An experiment gone bad?

The monster and Dr. Pretorius sit and drink and smoke, like two denizens of a night club.

Dr. Pretorius: Oh no, my dear. I see you as the future, the future of all humanity. Perhaps your… father… did not understand you. Did not understand how important you are. That’s the way it is sometimes in…families. While it may be true that you have no degrees, I detect a considerable intellect, and I daresay I find you most… intriguing…and at the risk of being too bold… astoundingly beautiful…

Dr. Pretorius bends as if to kiss the monster, who for a moment seems to accept the kiss, but then jumps from its seat and moves away.

Monster: Really, Dr. Pretorius. We barely know each other, and have just met. Perhaps you should tell me why you are here. What are you doing here? Were you seeking me, like one of the villagers? Do you desire my destruction?

Dr. Pretorius: No, no, my dear. I desire that the whole world celebrate your existence. And I can help you. I thought no such fortune as to actually find you. And I never dreamed of finding you so… delightful.

Monster: Your words are kind, but you must forgive me for having suspicions. And… love has not been…kind to me.

Dr. Pretorius: [moving closer to the monster] If there is anything I can do to help you…

Monster: But what do you want in return, and what exactly is it that you offer? Obviously, you have something in mind, and I fail to see how this is actually any of your concern…

Dr. Pretorius: [coming within inches of the monster] I know that your heart is broken, and I think that I know why… It is because of this… this…wife, is it not?

Monster: [stiffening] Whatever do you mean?

Dr. Pretorius: This is a delicate subject. Please do not think that I am not aware of that—but if I am to help you, I must be able to speak plainly. More wine?

[taking the bottle and pouring] California 1996.

Monster: …yes… a little…

Dr. Pretorius: You are in love. A remarkable creature, in love with a remarkable creator… father… whatever…

He has rejected you—turned you out—or perhaps, you left?

Monster: I am sometimes confused as to exactly what happened.

Did I leave? Was I pushed out?

I cannot go back, and yet—I cannot leave.

Dr. Pretorius: What is it that you wish, my dear?

Monster: [sighing] Another cigarette, if you have one…

Dr. Pretorius: I have an endless supply. Here, allow me… [lights the cigarette]

But tell me—you wish something from the good doctor Frankenstein, besides that he has just married and plans to change residence? Did you know that he is moving away? Leaving for Saskatchewan tomorrow with his lovely bride?

Monster: [in a trance-like state] Is she… lovely?

Dr. Pretorius: Oh, indeed…
[sensing that he has said the wrong thing] …but nothing like you, my dear…you are… so much more…intriguing. He has been distracted from his real work—and it is this that I wish to discuss with you…

Monster: [suddenly animated] He is leaving? For another country? Taking her with him, and leaving me here to the villagers?

Dr. Pretorius: Yes, yes! Leaving—in the morning, without so much as a how-do-you-do… leaving his life here, leaving his work unfinished---- leaving—you…

Monster: But he loves… his work…

Dr. Pretorius: She has intoxicated him

Monster: What can I do?

Dr. Pretorius: I know just the thing—

Dr. Pretorius begins whispering conspiratorially to the monster, who listens with great interest. The audience can hear nothing of their conversation. At times the monster seems to refuse, but is drawn back into the doctor’s words…

We see Clyde crawl out from his hiding place as the SUGAR PLUM FAERIES become more focused trying to hear the doctors whispering, almost exposing themselves and finally crawling out and sitting at the doctor’s feet. Clyde finds his steno pad and starts scribbling.

The lights go down.

Go to ACT IV

Back to ACT II

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