Cast of Characters
Adam A man, unknown age
Lilith A woman, unknown age
Setting
A desert place—of rock, sand, and sparse, scrubby vegetation.
(Lilith enters—if she wasn’t always present—with Adam. Adam is speaking, earnestly. Lilith stops, center stage, and confronts Adam.)
LILITH
(Explodes.)
No!
ADAM
(Pleading.)
Why?... Is it something I—
LILITH
(Looks at Adam with disgust. Speaks each word as if it were a sentence, and a final judgment.)
No. I just don’t want to.
(As if that settles it, Lilith turns to go—back the way they entered.)
ADAM
Why not? Can I—
LILITH
(Turns to face Adam again.)
No! Nothing could make me want—
ADAM
(In agony.)
But what about our child?
LILITH
(Angry.)
Child? What about our child?
ADAM
She needs—
LILITH
She needs? What about my needs? Don’t I count—
ADAM
Lilith, you know I love you!
(Reaches out arms toward Lilith.)
LILITH
Know? Love? What do you know of love? I’ve tried to—
(Wrinkles nose in disgust.)
(Adam reaches out to hug Lilith. Lilith pulls away.)
ADAM
I know... I know I’m not—
LILITH
(Laughs.)
Not! That’s exactly what you are! Not kind, not loving, not... anything.
ADAM
(Wounded.)
I try to be.
LILITH
Try? When will you... be?
(The last word is rather like an explosion.)
ADAM
When will I be?... Well, I like to think—
LILITH
You like to think? I’ll tell you what to think!
ADAM
(Shocked. Speaks quietly—and seriously.)
Lilith. You’ll do no such thing.
LILITH
What do you mean?
ADAM
I mean you cannot, and must not, tell me what to think.
LILITH
(Eyes narrow.)
Why not, if I might be so bold as to ask?
ADAM
(Looks down for a moment. When he speaks again, he is even more quiet—and intent. Each word is measured, as if he wishes to be sure of its truth.)
You cannot tell another human being what to think, but, more than that, Lilith, I am your husband.
LILITH
Husband!
(Spits the word out.)
I knew it would come to that. It always comes to that... You just want—
ADAM
(Tries to reach out and touch Lilith—to soothe and quiet her.)
Lilith, I want you.
LILITH
You want me?... Then come to me on my terms!
ADAM
(Shocked again.)
Lilith! Dear! You don’t know what you’re saying!... If I should come to you on your terms—. Why, think about that, dear!
LILITH
I’ve thought about it. The whole time I was bearing that... child... of yours. I don’t want—
ADAM
Lilith!
(Reaches out to hug Lilith.)
(Lilith turns away, stone cold and silent.)
Lilith, please.
LILITH
(Explodes, mimicking Adam.)
Lilith, please?... As if I’m a puppet—to be controlled with “pleases” and “thank-yous”? No, thank you! I’ve had enough of this, this—
ADAM
Lilith, don’t!
LILITH
Don’t? Don’t what?
ADAM
Don’t give us up.
LILITH
Don’t give us up? Why should you care? You little pea brain! Always doing what your daddy tells you to!
ADAM
(Demolished. Falls to his knees.)
Lilith!
(Looks up.)
Father! She doesn’t mean what she says!
LILITH
Don’t mean what I say? Of course, I mean what I say!
ADAM
Lilith, please!
(Looks up again.)
Oh, please, Father, spare her! She doesn’t know what she is saying!
LILITH
Doesn’t know? Of course, I know.
(Looks up and shakes her left fist at the heavens.)
I know, and I defy anyone to tell me I’m wrong.
ADAM
Lilith!
(Stands again and reaches out—and grabs— Lilith’s fist.)
You mustn’t—
LILITH
Don’t tell me what I mustn’t.
(Wrenches her fist from Adam and holds it to her chest, as if treasuring it.)
ADAM
(Opens arms and body out to heaven beseechingly.)
Oh, please! Forgive her! She’s but a child—
LILITH
No! I am not a child! And I will not be treated as one!
(Shaking, her arms jerking violently at her sides and her left hand still in a fist.)
ADAM
Lilith! You are my wife—and under my protection.
(Looks up and opens arms beseechingly again.)
Me! Take me! I will gladly pay any price!
LILITH
No, Adam. I will not be bought. If you cannot let me be, I must go my own way. You cannot have me.
(Lilith shakes her left fist at Adam, turns, and walks away—her fist still closed.)
(Adam stares after Lilith, unable to speak or move, until she is long out of sight. Then he turns, facing the audience, and looks up, holding up his arms, as before.)
ADAM
Oh, Father, forgive me for failing Lilith!... Forgive me for failing You.
(Stops and looks after Lilith, longingly and sorrowfully—before continuing.)
Father, if there be any way—and I know that, with You, all things are possible—take these hands and use them to open that fist... that it might praise You... and receive the full measure of blessing You have intended for it.
(Looks down, and then back up.)
Or, if it be not Your will... then use the hands of... my... son, or my son’s son. It is all the same to me. Only, open Lilith’s fist that she might praise you, also. To You be all glory, all honor, and all praise. World without end. Amen.
(Adam stands, palms open and up, worshipping the One who made him.)
(The lights dim.)
Please note that it is a violation of copyright law to perform a script without the permission of the playwright. Anyone wishing to perform this play should contact Jan Copher at jan@eirenei.com.