
ACT I
SCENE 1 – 1598 Via Borgo dei Vignali
(Marina holds candle up to read a sign.)
MARINA
Universite de Padua. Galileo Galilei, Mathematician. (Accidentally blows out the flame.) Shit.
(She takes out a tinderbox, opens it. No Gregorian Chant. Tries to strike the flint. Looks like she might puke. Looks up for a nun on strings. None. A lamp in a second story window is lit.)
GALILEO
You again? Every night. Rats. Indigents. Star gazers. Where are you from? The Informoso Nazionale? (beat) What do you want from me?
MARINA
Excuse me, sir, I want
GALILEO
A story? Make something up. You make it all up anyway. You’re not worth the paper you’re printed on.
MARINA
/to know Something:
GALILEO
I have students here. Nobles. No paparazzi allowed.
MARINA
Is there such a thing as a moving
GALILEO
Do you hear me?
MARINA
/Star? Sir?
GALILEO
Get away from my house.
(He takes off his boot and throws it at her. She ducks. He throws the second one at her.
And it’s professor, not sir. Now scram.
(He throws the lantern out the window. The flame shoots high in arc to the floor and goes out. It smashes. She puts on the boots and runs off.)
End Scene 1
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Great entry. It’s a brave person who side-steps the shadow of Brecht to do a stage portrayal of Galileo, but I loved this all too brief extract (or is that excerpt?).
And what a great idea this ‘View from the Keyboard’ is. I’m glad you stole it from me!
Stole it from you? I beg your pardon. However, I also want to thank you for your comment, Mr Hartigan. Do you have a writing space?
Lovely glimpse into this play. Lovely glimpse into Lisa’s writing space. And how very cool that the play will be live on the Main Stage soon.
Hi, Jana, and thanks for the note. What about your space? We’d love to see where you work and what you are working on!