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Original text in Portuguese by Roberto A. Martins
Translation in English by Juliano Siqueira
Characters:
PROFESSOR ASCLEPIO
YURI, THE MECHANIC
MARTA
ANITA IZA
ROMULO
ANA
NELSON
MASTER
BANKER
BUFFOON (three as #1, #2 and #3)
MADMEN
First Act: Prologue
[The three BUFFONS come in scene announcing the starting of the play at loud shouts according to the text below. Meanwhile the characters indicated below pass by, bow to the public and leave the stage:]
BUFFON#2: Witness the struggle for the construction of the most useless of all machines! [Pass by MARTA.]
BUFFON#3: Come experience with us the drama of the betrayed husband who admires his rival! [Pass by the MECHANIC YURI.]
BUFFON#1: Come see the madman who brings lucidity to the village! [Pass by ROMULO.]
BUFFON#2: The extraordinary and beautiful romance of a young woman who abandons her home! [Pass by ANITA IZA.]
BUFFON#1: Let "The Great Machine" begin!
BUFFON#3: At what time will it start?
BUFFON#2: Right now.
BUFFON#3: But it is necessary to say exactly at what time, minute and second!
BUFFON#1: Why is that?
BUFFON#3: So that the audience will know when they watched the play. If they don’t know, they will be confused when somebody asks them: "When did you see ‘The Great Machine’?"
BUFFON#2: Isn’t the date enough? [Shouts:] Today is Saturday, 20th of October 1977!
BUFFON#3: No, it is necessary to be precise.
BUFFON#1: It is 21 hours, 14 minutes and 12 seconds.
BUFFON#3: But the play isn’t starting yet.
BUFFON#2: When I clap my hands the show will begin! And it will be 21 hours, 16 minutes and 30 seconds of the day 20th of October of 1977 in this city of Curitiba!
First Act: Scene One
[In the beginning there are 4 boxes of different sizes in scene. One of them looks too big and heavy for a man to carry by himself. ANA and NELSON are in scene. ANA is examining and listening like a physician to the medium size box. NELSON is sitting on the top of the large box.]
NELSON: They are just parts, nothing finished.
ANA: They certainly killed them before packing. Life couldn’t enter in these boxes. Is everything here?
NELSON: Yes. The superiors ordered us to transport this burden. And in this envelope are the instructions that we are to take.
ANA: It’s a long promenade all the way there. What are we taking to the midst of those people? Is it the light, or would it be death?
NELSON: I wonder how we are we going to find the way. There is no road that goes to the village. Not even an animal that could traverse a path to that world. At least, not a beast that I know.
ANA: It should be capable of swimming through the dark lake... it would crawl and cut his back into the low narrow tunnels... climbing mountains of shinning rocks that burn like salt... No creature could take these packages there on his back.
NELSON: Except us. That’s why they gave us this job. No other animal could complete this mission.
ANA: Can we? Is it possible? Look: they are four monsters.
NELSON: Share the work, and we will be dishonored before the others. No way. See: I can carry one of these big ones.
ANA: But each one of us will have to carry two. That’s impossible.
NELSON: We could balance one on the top of our heads, and carry another within our arms.
ANA: Even if I could lift them up, how could I bear the journey of several days? How can I cross the tunnels and slide under the short trees? How can I climb the mountains without using my hands?
NELSON: I don’t know. [Pause] Let’s take only some of them now, then the rest later.
ANA: Go there twice? That’s crazy! If we get out alive from the first trip, we will have to spend the rest of our existence thanking the Gods!
NELSON: But we could take part of them, and then... [Pause]
ANA: So?
NELSON: And forget what’s left. Take only some of them.
ANA: Nelly, don’t be crazy.
NELSON: What else could we do? We’re not supermen!
ANA: What if they find out? The superiors will whip us and bury us in a dark dungeon.
NELSON: How could they find out? You and me won’t tell them. And no news will come out of the village. There is no communication between them and the rest of the world.
ANA: But they will know that we only took some. They will check the contents of the boxes, according to the instructions in the envelope. The whole machine must be described there.
NELSON: We can burn the envelope. Or change its contents. The villagers won’t notice. And they will be unable find out the faults.
ANA: I feel at the same time a great attraction and a fright for that idea.
NELSON: There is no reason for fear. They would never suspect. They don’t know anything about what we are bringing them.
ANA: But we will end up revealing ourselves, accidentally – maybe speaking while asleep... And it would be almost impossible to produce fake documents,
NELSON: It will be fun to see them struggling with an incomplete machine, trying to put it together. Let’s open the envelope, let’s look at the instructions!
ANA: [listening to one of the boxes] No noise, not even a whisper. I believe it won’t take revenge on us. Open the envelope, let’s look at the instructions!
First Act: Scene Two.
[When the lights come up, the smallest box has disappeared. ANA is under the second largest box; NELSON is squeezed between the other two. Their clothes and looks are as before; a little untidy, but the clothes are not ripped, neither their bodies are hurt. The MASTER and the MECHANIC are also in scene. The MECHANIC takes off the envelope from NELSON’s clothes.]
MECHANIC: Yes, master! We should always follow the orders of those above us. But what should I do with those two?
MASTER: Leave them, later we shall resolve.
MASTER: Is that new? Did any sane man ever reach in this village? Who has ever confronted the swamps that surround us without going mad?
MECHANIC: Look at their glances: I don’t like it. They seem dangerous lunatics.
MASTER: There is no danger. Read the instructions, my friend!
MECHANIC: Their eyes are popped out and their backs and arms must be lacerated from carrying the boxes. I can’t understand how they got here. What if we interrogate them?
MASTER: They would only answer nonsense. Do you want to watch it? Come here [ANA and NELSON approach.] Where did you come from? How did you get here?
NELSON: I came from there [points to the place where he was.] I got here walking.
ANA: I came from a world where there is light and shadow, however much more darkness than light. I don’t know how I got here. Something carried me, while I was dreaming.
MECHANIC: They look nervous. I fear their aggressive reactions.
MASTER: Nothing to fear. Can’t you see how passively they approached? [Directing to them] I don’t want any mess around here, did you hear? Behave well. Now, go as you please.
MECHANIC: If they are real children they are capable of evil doings. However, since you tell me they are perfect children, I must accept that they are good.
MASTER: Quickly show me what the envelope contains.
MECHANIC: [Opening] There are many papers... there is a letter. Look, it’s from the superiors! [Hands it to the MASTER]
MASTER: I don’t have my spectacles and without my spectacles I can’t read, so I cannot read the letter now. Tell me, what is the message?
MECHANIC: [Reading] It’s strange... they are sending us an instrument, a disassemble device, and instructions to build it... not everything is in the boxes, there are things they know we already have, or that we could arrange... that must be the meaning of the statement: "We are not sending what you already have."
MASTER: But, what is this gift? Is it the Great Machine that was promised to us?
MECHANIC: That’s what I’m trying to find out... They say: "For eons your village has been secluded from the universe, and for that reason it didn’t partake of the cosmic energies and great evolution. The communication between us is still difficult and nothing has been done hitherto to break this stagnation. However, this equipment will break your barriers, and your people will be united with the New World."
MASTER: I don’t get it, is it the Great Machine or not?
MECHANIC: I don’t know... they don’t tell its name. Maybe it is mentioned in the other pages... [Searching.]
[Enter the PROFESSOR ASCLEPIO and his daughter, ANITA; the PROFESSOR must be 40 years old, and the daughter about 20.]
MASTER: Yes Professor! That’s right... [Greets ANITA] excuse me, miss, my enthusiasm; how are you? Look, Professor, here they are.
PROFESSOR: Master, are you mocking me?
MASTER: That’s the pure truth, Professor – because truth is always pure. The letter that came with the carriers explains what the instrument is.
ANITA: [referring to the carriers, now acting like crazy] Aren’t they hungry?
PROFESSOR: Well thought, dear. W should never forget our human duties towards those, who without knowing, may have brought us the supreme happiness. Bring them something to eat, quickly, from home. [ANITA leaves]
MASTER: What a bunch of young folks with good feelings! Happy is our friend Mechanic, who has such a caring fiancée! He will never be hungry, even if he goes mad. I must confess, myself almost forgot to feed those unfortunate people. Not for evilness, but for distraction, and also because around here there is nothing to serve, and also because I thought they didn’t need, since as you, they became mad, and, besides, now is no meal time.
PROFESSOR: Yes, it was expected that they would go mad. Mister Mechanic, please give me this letter and help your fiancée in feeding them when she comes back to be sure there will be no unpleasant situation. But tell me, Master, if this news are true, what would we do?
PROFESSOR: What barriers? When the promise was made, they weren’t very clear. You know I disagree with your opinion, relating to what they wanted to send us.
MASTER: To me, there are no doubts. It is freedom that comes.
PROFESSOR: I agree with your words. But I doubt that our ideas are the same. Anyway, it is our duty to build the instrument and verify its real utility. Are these all the instructions?
MECHANIC: Three boxes, with pieces to assemble a machine that can revolutionize the whole village.
ANITA: What kind of machine could be as important as you say?
MECHANIC: I am not sure. Before giving a valid opinion, it is necessary to study everything correctly. But is seems to me that it is something that will enable saving of labor and generate greater production, greater gain, greater progress! The letter talks about the energies that will become available to us, thanks to the instrument.
ANITA: Maybe this could be good. But there are other things more important to us, aren’t there?
MECHANIC: What could be more important?
ANITA: Never mind... don’t bother. Sometimes I am too egoistic; my interests are too limited.
MASTER: For what YOU understand... and you want to criticize the great project they sent us? They are far ahead of us.
PROFESSOR: Of course. That’s out of question. I completely trust in the science they have developed. I didn’t think well when I said the connections were wrong.
MASTER: They trust us, and we must be successful in this task. It is necessary to think of the future, and work hard until the planned results are attained.
MECHANIC: Yes. That’s what we will do! Our village will demonstrate its value! We’ll construct this beautiful machine which far surpasses any other!
ANITA: Is it really going to be beautiful?
PROFESSOR: Please, Anita, now that you have taken care of the poor guys, go home and help Marta in preparing the meal. Later I will come [ANITA leaves.] Lunchtime is sacred, the repetition and invariable rhythm is behind all that is good.
MASTER: I can’t stand women around when it’s time to think and work. They are great for other moments, but just in between us, they never lose their superficiality!
MECHANIC: That doesn’t matter. Everyone has his or her place. We are made for only one role, not for all. Let’s get into our functions.
MASTER: Yes, let’s plan everything, and distribute the roles. Each one will help with his part, then we’ll get together and construct the whole.
MECHANIC: I am putting apart for myself the things I understand: [separates a few instruction papers] the gears, pulleys, rabbets... the rest doesn’t interest me.
PROFESSOR: [taking for himself other parts] I’ll take care of the electric section.
MASTER: Leave it to me the structure and covering...
MECHANIC: What about the rest, what none of us will take?
PROFESSOR: The rest? Don’t say rubbish, dear future son-in-law. In the machine, all that is not revetment and structure must be an internal part. And the internal parts will be either mechanic, that is, possessing macroscopic movement; or electric, where what counts is the invisible movement of the electrons. There cannot be other alternative.
MECHANIC: That’s true. So clear, isn’t it? Thanks you are here to orient us.
First Act: Scene 4
[Changing scene: another day, at the PROFESSOR’s house. In scene are MARTA (the PROFESSOR’s wife) and ANITA. They think about the arrival of the PROFESSOR and the MECHANIC, talking.]
ANITA: Almost everything. Even the house is rented, and the forniture is placed. What else could be left?
MARTA: However, you don’t look so contented.
ANITA: In fact, I can’t comprehend what I desire. I like him very much and it will be great to take care of his food, clothes, and receive his attention. But he is so distant... See, this machine is much more important than I am!
MARTA: True. But don’t dream of impossible things. Men are like that; we must accept the way things are.
ANITA: I am not sure if he really wants me, or if he just wish to fulfill an obligation. Him and daddy are always postponing everything and never want to talk about the wedding...
MECHANIC: Good night Marta, Hello, Anita.
MARTA: You came late. Working until now? How is the planning of the Great Machine?
PROFESSOR: Well, everything will come to its ends. There are certain difficulties in comprehending and completing the structures, but it’s all on the move. It is slowly that one gets farther. But now, please excuse us, we must go into the study to verify some ideas.
MECHANIC: The construction is too complex. Even the method of approaching requires great mental clarity. Before, we thought that three people were necessary to study it; one would take care of the mechanic part, other the electric, and the third the structure and finishing job. Then we had forgotten that there could be hydraulic and thermal details. Therefore we increased to five the number of specialists. Some time later we noticed that it was obvious the necessity of other ten people – specialist of the several types of existing connections: electromechanical, hydrothermic, and so forth. This was all progressively comprehended thanks to our Professor!
ANITA: Is the machine that complicated? Can’t one person by himself comprehend it and construct it? I always believe that the most important things are simple, so simple that they are difficult to explain.
PROFESSOR: Nothing is simple. Everything calls for analysis, pondering and calculation. The instrument is constructed from parts. If we understand the parts and connections, the whole can be equally understood. Isn’t that logic? For that we need five people to study the five different elements, and other ten to research the connections.
MARTA: Don’t be so nervous dear! You know how the youths are, they believe in magic. But we should leave this subject aside for a while and deal with something that is urgent. You know we must go talk to the priest and magistrate and set a propitious date for the wedding.
PROFESSOR: Yes, that’s very relevant. But how can we think of personal problems when the future of the village is at stake?
MECHANIC: Actually I am very anxious about our wedding. But it’s time to dedicate our bodies and souls to researching the machine; the marriage would produce a division of my attention, and so it’s not recommendable now.
PROFESSOR: Yes, the wedding is important, but it must wait until the end of the Great Work.
ANITA: I hope this machine is really important, at last, did you find what it’s for?
PROFESSOR: [Bashful] Well... we’re studying the parts. It’s not possible to have a global idea from the beginning. My hunch is that it will enable an alteration of the mental structure of those who utilize it.
ANITA: Is this change going to be good? What will be the change?
PROFESSOR: I am still not sure. Maybe we’ll only find out from doing experiments.
MECHANIC: For me, I believe that this machine will substitute part of human effort. The person who uses it, will not need great power for transportation and to conduct his tasks. It will substitute a part of the man.
ANITA: Some men maybe could be completely substituted by it.
PROFESSOR: Now if you excuse us, we will go to my study.
MARTA: Of course, we don’t want to disturb you.
MARTA: I believe I understand them. It is worthwhile all the effort of those who try to help them, producing or lending all they have: one ranch, one gear. They are fighting for what they think is precious. And this is beautiful. Can’t you see, they almost don’t even sleep in the night...
ANITA: I feel that there is something wrong, I feel they are completely wrong.
MARTA: They make mistakes but they also correct them themselves. It is true there is an essential element missing. The letter said it clearly – I even memorized the text from hearing it so many times in their discussions – "Nothing will be obtained without the use of chaos."
ANITA: Yes, but yet they still haven’t found out what piece or connection is called "chaos." Not even know if it is something that came in the boxes, or something that must be obtained here.
MARTA: That’s right. Maybe the word is wrong. Our dictionaries only bring out one meaning for the word "chaos:" confusion, disorder...Maybe all that’s left is this such chaos...
ANITA: They’ve already mounted the pieces several times, in the ways they have imagined but nothing was obtained.
MARTA: Yes, but your father has already classified all possible positions and combinations of all the pieces. And now, following a systematic chain of alternatives, they will experiment, step by step, all the possibilities. It is mathematically proved that they will succeed.
[Enter ANA and Nelson, one of them carries something similar to a bicycle chain.]
MARTA: Yes, of course.
MARTA: Helping in what way, dear? We don’t understand those things!
NELSON: Give it to me, I’ll hide it!
PROFESSOR: You kids! Give it to me right now, or I’ll take you to the asylum, together with the others!
MECHANIC: I need that. I’ll give you something else to play.
ANA: Need it? For what? You don’t know where to fit these things!
NELSON: I know, I know where you’re gonna stick this thing!
PROFESSOR: Enough! Quit playing!
MECHANIC: Already, got it!
NELSON: Do you know where this fits?
ANA: [showing] Look, here is a hole. In which axle does it fit?
NELSON: This hole is squared. They are so imbecile that they’ll look for a square shaft to fit in there.
ANA: No, he is not that foolish. He knows it is necessary to insert there a cylinder.
NELSON: Or a cone.
ANA: Or to stick in dark spheres like black grapes, which will fall one by one transforming into cherries.
NELSON: No! A carrot! A banana!
ANA: Until you don’t stick in your nose and tongue in the machine, it will not work.
NELSON: You have separated the pieces according to their functions, and not for their colors. It’s all wrong. Can’t you see that the assembling sequence is black – white – peacock color – red?
ANA: One should join the hard with the soft, cold with warm, rough to smooth...
PROFESSOR: We must take them to the asylum. But before that it would be convenient to beat them. Not for evilness or revenge, of course – that would be irrational – but because psychology has proved that punishment avoids future mistakes. Negative reinforcement, you know.
[Enter the MASTER and the BANKER; the MECHANIC greets them by nodding and leaves taking ANA and NELSON.]
PROFESSOR: Good evening, make yourself at home.
BANKER: I would like to know in which stage is the enterprise of construction of our machine, Mister Professor.
PROFESSOR: Not much advanced. The motivation is large, but the difficulties are immense. It is a project that requires the maximum of our scientific knowledge.
BANKER: But will the results compensate the effort and expenditures? All the village is sidetracking their work in the sense of cooperating with the project. This can lead to serious economical and social setbacks if it persists for too long.
PROFESSOR: The natural evolution of things cannot be speeded. It is always needed to suffer for what we desire.
MASTER: Will your plan of systematically attacking all the possible combinations work?
PROFESSOR: That’s what I was discussing with the Mechanic today. I definitely proved that the plan is unfeasible. Since it would require a total time of 325 million, 836 thousand and 420 centuries, in case we employ two hours and fifteen minutes in the assembling of every possibility, interrupting the job eight hours a night, two hours for meals and a day and a half a week for rest.
BANKER: Therefore the project is absurd! We won’t be able to build our machine unless we have a miracle!
MASTER: There isn’t such a thing as miracle, Mister Banker. Only what is possible will occur.
PROFESSOR: But I have another solution. We don’t need to execute blind attempts. We can rationally plan the machine.
MASTER: Can we? How? Wasn’t that plan already rational?
PROFESSOR: We’ll start from an analysis of the objectives, and develop a theoretic study that will show the way to reach that objective. When the theory is done, we can move to practice.
BANKER: But who, in our village, would be able to plan an invention like that?
MASTER: Nobody. If somebody was able, he would also be able to assemble the parts.
PROFESSOR: Nobody. Every one of us is unable of doing it. But a well-coordinated team, assisted by automatic calculators, could be successful.
BANKER: That’s true Professor! We’ll organize a large enterprise, which will develop the project, which will count on the local administration, and financing from our banks.
MASTER: The alliance of hundreds of specialists will allow the attainment of the great synthesis.
PROFESSOR: A work schedule will establish the stages to be reached. We’ll start with the basic researches, and preparation of technicians for specialized labor work.
BANKER: And the trained technicians will later be useful in other sectors of the village!
MASTER: But there is a small question, Mister Professor... we still haven’t reached a consensus on the utility of the great instrument!
PROFESSOR: This can be resolved in a logic, scientific way by a team of specialists in decision making.
BANKER: All that will take too much time, and will spend too much money...
MASTER: However, our grandchildren and other descendents will be able to enjoy the results. How many years and slaves were necessary in the construction of the great pyramids? But it was worthwhile, right? And there are the results, that we can contemplate and admire!
First Act Second Act Third Act Fourth Act