NICOLETTA
A monologue by Marjorie
Benton Cooke
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NOTE: This monologue is reprinted
from More Modern Monologues. Marjorie Benton Cooke. Chicago:
Dramatic Publishing Co., 1907. |
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GIOVANNI: [In a heavy Italian accent] Ah, Signor,
how do? I am ver' glad to see you. [Smiling] Si, Signor,
I come-a back. I make-a de treep to Italia--I make-a de treep
back to New York. . . . Si, I make-a de mon'--I got il bottega--il
magazino--what you call--shop. Na, na--not make-a de treep to
Italia on bis'ness--I make-a de treep for Nicoletta. [He appeals
to Howard like a child asking sympathy] Signor, you good
fren' to G'vanni--you like to hear 'bout Nicoletta? You will
seet down? [Pause] It is long time 'go, in Italia, I make-a
de love to Nicoletta. Ah, Signor, it is ver' beautiful in ma'
countree, moch blue sky, moch green tree. Not like-a New York,
na, na, na, ver' beautiful. But ev'body zere is ver' poor. Eef
il padre di famiglia make-a duo soldi a day--ah--'tis ver' good.
Il famiglia getta spaghetti, polenta, . . . but il padre di famiglia
notta make-a duo soldi each day--na, na. Ev'body ver' poor zere.
So Nicoletta an' me, we cannot marry wiz each ozer. [His face
clouds at mention of Antonio and his hands knot.] Antonio
di Navarro--he ees, what you say? Neighbor? Si, Signor, neighbor
wiz us, an' he say ev'body in New York getta reech queek--ev'body
make-a de mon'. So I say to Nicoletta, "I, Giovanni, I go
to New York, getta reech, an' sen' you de mon', eh, Carissima?
An' she say to me, "Si, si, G'vanni." So, Signor, I
make-a de treep. Eeet is ver' different in New York. I canna'
spik-a de tongue. I not getta reech queek--na, jus' work-work-work,
like in ma' countree. Sell-a de peanut, sell-a de banan', make-a
de music wit' de monk--work all time, an' save for Nicoletta.
An' purt' soon, I gotta de mon'. I go to Antonio--he make-a de
treep wit me to New York, an' now he go to make-a de treep back
to Italia. He is ma fren', so I go to him, I say, "Here
is ma mon', tell Nicoletta, G'vanni is waiting." [A veritable
fury sweeps his face.] Antonio di Navarro, he take-a de mon';
he make-a de treep to Italia; he tell Nicoletta G'Vanni is dead--he
keep de mon' an' take Nicoletta! [He hurries on in a frenzy.]
Giovanni?--what he do, Signor? He is in New York, waiting. Ev'ry
boat zat comes to New York for mont' I am zere, waiting, waiting,
an' no Nicoletta, so at last' I say--"She is dead."
Zen come ze word Antonio di Navarro have take Nicoletta! Ah,
Signor, Zen I work-a, work-a, work-a! Sell-a de peanut--sell-a
de banan', make-a de music wit' de monk, an' save, till, at las',
I got-ta de mon'. I make-a de treep to Italia--two day I watch
an' wait, an' zen when Antonio di Navarro go home to Nicoletta,
I, Giovanni, I go too. Close behin' him in ze shadow, I go, too.
Up ze stair behin' him, an' wait outside ze door. Purt' soon
he come out an' go away, an' zen Giovanni, he go in. Nicoletta
make-a de cry upon de floor. She look at me like one zat hear
ze voice of ze blessed Virgin! [Crosses himself hastily, and
goes on]
"Vanni! Vanni!"
"Si, Nicoletta--Vanni!"
"Na, na--don't keel me, Vanni, don't keel me. He tell
me you are dead--Antonio tell me you are dead--don't! Don't!--"
[He crouches away, sobbing, as if from fear, and then suddenly
resuming his own expression, he thunders.]
"Nicoletta--you love Antonio?"
"Na-na."
"You love me, G'vanni?"
"Si--si, Vanni, I love you."
I hear heem comin' up ze stair, I wait for him inside ze door,
an' pur' soon Antonio di Navarro he come in! [Pantomime of
swift upward stroke of the stiletto. He looks at the body crumpled
at his feet, breathing hard and loud. His eye falls on his listener,
and a dazed look follows, then he comes to himself with a shudder.]
Signor, I as' you to excuse me. For one moment, I forget--I think
I am back zere in-- [Shrugs his shoulders, turns to the right
and calls] Nicoletta--Nicoletta! Ah, come out--come here,
Carissima. [Turns to the listener, with a flourish] Signor,
I make-a de pleasure to present you to my wife--to Nicoletta!
MORE MONOLOGUES BY MARJORIE BENTON COOKE |
