The Priest Act I

The past and present collide in the 1980s in a forgotten French Village.

ACT I

 

SCENE ONE

(Two men (Younger man carrying two large suitcases) enter Stage Right - slowly moving across the village square Pass several villagers and stand Stage left outside of Inn Doors .)

  

BENJAMIN

(Struggling with suit cases)

What are we doing here Papa?  Paris would be so much nicer this time of the year.

 

         Lamond, Chase, Villager One & Villager Two

                                   (Move around in background occasionally                                                       going off set and back always far in the                                                   background)

 

HANS

                         (Looks around village square, swings                                                       cane in hand)

Who needs Paris? This is the place I wish to visit.

 

                                             Villager One

                                   (Leaves set stage right)

 

BENJAMIN

(Slowly moves toward Inn Door)

This is a strange place, Papa 

 

HANS

                         (Still gazing around the square)                  Do Take the cases in. I will be with you in a moment.

 

 

                                             BENJAMIN

(Slowly moves off stage left into Inn doors)

Ah Paris, Madrid, even London!

 

 

                                             HANS

 

London! Should have been our city.

                                             (Slowly moves around square past                                                       moves around Extras)

 

**Lights slowly Dim**

 

** Sound** -  - Die Fahne Hoch plays low increases with lights dimming. --

 

 

                                             HANS        

                                             (moving around slowly mutters song)

 

**Lights Up - Music STOPS!**

++ Slight rain begins to fall++

 

 

 

 

                                             BENJAMIN

                                 (Enters quickly Stage Left from Inn Doors) Papa! Let’s get inside it is starting to rain!

 

                                             HANS

                                   (Shakes himself slightly)        

Of Course, what took those clerks so long do you have the room keys?

                                             

    Lamond

                                   (moves closer looks at the two visits)

 

                                             BENJAMIN

Yes I did, the inn keepers said a little Cafe around the corner does an excellent luncheon.

                                   (walks toward Inn door Stage left)

 

                                             HANS

They always did.

                                             (walks toward Inn door Stage left)

                                            

                                             BENJAMIN

                                   (walks into Inn door Stage left)

Papa, you said you have never been here

 

                                             HANS

Read it somewhere.

                                             (walks into Inn door Stage left following                                              Benjamin)        

 

                                             Lamond

Chase, come here quickly

 

                                             Chase

                                   (walks over to Lamond)

 

                                             Lamond

Oh Chase, remember when we were boys, that night.                                   

                                   Chase

Lamond, anyone that was here will never forget that night.

 

                                             Lamond

Chase, I think one of the beasts is back!

 

                                             Chase

                                   (sniffs Lamond’s breathe)

Last summer Lamond you saw a Gestapo man here, it turned out to be an old fat American. You nearly went to jail for beating him with your shovel.

                                             (Arm around  Lamond leads him off                                                       stage right)

 

                                             Villager Two

                                   (slowly moves around square)

______________________________________________________

                                    Curtain drops

______________________________________________________

 

 

 

 

 

Author's Note

In 1985 U.S. President Ronald Reagan visit the a grave yard that contained fallen SS troops led many to look back forty years or more. One village never left that time.