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THE SERVANT OF TWO MASTERS

(Adapted) BY CARLO GOLDONI

 

 

Introduction of the Doctor  (The scene is laid in Venice) 

Good evening. I am "Il Dottore", The Doctor, and I am going to tell you all about the Commedia because I

know more about it than anyone else in the whole world (cast shake their heads)…er I know more about

commedia than most people .. some people…

Commedia began in Italy in the pre-historic period ….

(cast react derisively)…In the Roman period…

(as before)…Some time ago? (cast clap hands)

There are many things to tell you about the Commedia which are here in my book (holds up his BIG book -

cast all point to their watches).

The important things are here in my head…

(cast all yawn) the important things which are here in my fingers.

(Holds them up)

There are four. Let me tell you about the four most important features of the commedia:

First: the absence of script. (the doctor stops. Realises:) I have no script! (panic!) I don't know what to say.

So I will stop now. My lecture is over. Thank you and good night.

(Cast) But we can improvise.

What is improvise?

(Cast) Make up our own dialogue.

Make up our own dialogue? Ah yes, the actors of the Commedia made up their own dialogue. This is the

SECOND important feature of the Commedia. The 3rd thing is that the actors were professional

(cast) What is professional?

It means they got paid (others: AHHH!) After the performance! If they performed well.

The next thing is the actors wore masks. The men, but not the women. Why? I will tell you! This was the

first time that women could perform on the stage in public, and so the Commedia wanted the women, the

BEAUTIFUL women, to be seen, and enjoyed and admired and loved and adored and (cast add their

suggestions and starts to mime something naughty) Enough!

Commedia is famous for its use of many masks and characters. There was:

Pantalone (P steps forward as Dottore describes him. P is more interested in the beautiful girl in the front

row)

The servant Arlecchino (A steps forward) and the other servant  Brighella.

The young lovers Silvio and Clarice (the lovers are too busy looking at each other to listen to the Doctor).

(etc etc until)

And of course, myself, Il Dottore, the doctor, a graduate of Rome, Florence, Bologna, Milan Universtiy,

Professor of Human, Biology, Latin, Football, Food, etc…

Now the important question is, WHO is the MOST important of all the masks? That I can tell you in one

word…

ALL: Me!

No, no, no. Enough! Now it is time for us to begin today's story, which is called: THE DOCTOR'S

WONDERFUL ADVENTURE.

SMERALD No, it is called HOORAY FOR COLUMBINA!

FLOTINDO/BEATRICE THE TWO MASTERS OF THE SERVANT.

(they all go away arguing each other, except Arlecchino)

TRUFFALDINO Title is: THE SERVANT OF TWO MASTERS.

PANTALONE (TO AUDIENCE)

Ladies and gentlemen  We are about to perform for you Mr.  Goldoni’s comedy

THE SERVANT OF TWO MASTERS

 

Scene 1  ( A room in Brighella’s Inn)

 

Silvio- Here you have my right hand

 

Clarice- Here you have my left hand

 

Pantalone-  The engagement is done!

 

Doctor- Son, I am so happy.

 

Silvio- So am I.

 

Clarice-  So am I.

 

Pantalone- Luckily your old fiancé, Federico Rasponi, is dead.

 

Clarice -  You forced me to marry him because you owed him money.

 

Pantalone- That is history.

 

Doctor- How did he die?

 

Pantalone- Pierced by a sword.

 

Silvio- That’s so painful!

 

Brighella- I met him in Turin.

 

Clarice- What was he like?

 

Brighella- A young man with character, he had a sister. The one who liked to dress as a man.

 

Pantalone- Forget Federico and let’s continue with the engagement.

 

Doctor- And the party?

 

Brighella- I will prepare a good party at my inn.

 

Trousers- Something simple that doesn ‘t COST AN ARM AND A LEG.

 

Brighella- Don’t worry.

 

Arlecchino- Ladies ... gentlemen ... It’s my pleasure to greet you all ....

 

Pantalone-? Who are you? ... How can I help you?

 

Arlecchino- (Looking at Silvia) What a beautiful lady!

 

Pantalone- Nonsense, who are you?

 

Arlecchino: My master’s servant

 

Pantalone- What's he called?

 

Arlecchino- Federico Raponi.

 

Al- Who?

 

Arlecchino(Screaming)    Federico Rasponiiiii

 

Pantalone- Impossible

 

Arlecchino- Why?

 

Doctor- He is dead.

 

Arlecchino Dead?I would swear that a while ago he was alive.

 

Silvio- Alive or dead, that Federico is late.

 

Arlecchino-  (That´s) a very nasty joke.

 

Clarice- Which joke?

 

Arlecchino- My master ,Federico Rasponi ,wishes to greet you.

 

Silvio- Is he alive?

 

Arlecchino- Yes

 

Doctor- I want to see him.

 

Arlecchino- Of course, right now. Perhaps he has died and returned to life. It is typical of my master. Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Federico Rasponi of Turin. Alive and kicking.

 

(Enters Beatrice, Federico's sister, disguised as her brother)

 

Brighella- (Apart) It's Beatrice, Federico's sister. I told you that she liked to dress up as a man.

 

Beatrice- Mr. Pantalone , I  sent my servant and you left me waiting at the door.

 

Pantalone- Come in, Mr. Federico. We thought you were ...

 

Arlecchino- Dead

 

Beatrice- How funny!.

 

Clarice- We are lost.

 

Beatrice- Let me talk to this man.

 

Brighella- With me?

 

Beatrice- Yes. (Apart) Are you the Brighella, the innkeeper?

 

Brighella- Yes, are you Beatrice?

 

Beatrice- I am pretending to be my brother. My boyfriend, Florindo Aretusi, killed him. You had better not say anything. I will stay at your inn and pay you double.

 

Brighella - As silent as the tomb

 

Pantalone- What brings you here?

 

Beatrice- Commitments, you know, business, accounts, debts, a wedding.

 

Pantalone- I see.

 

Beatrice- Who is this beautiful lady?

 

Silvio- My fiancée

 

Beatrice- Mr. Pantalone can you pay back some money you owe me, I'm tired and I have to go to the inn.

 

Pants- Yes ... of course.

 

(Everyone leaves behind Beatrice)

 

Scene 2

 

Arlecchino- I'm starving, this master  will starve me to death.

 

(Florindo enters with a suitcase)

 

Florindo- What place is this that there is no servant to take care of the luggage?

 

Arlecchino- I can help you with the suitcase.

 

Florindo- Who are you?

 

Arlecchino- A servant without a master

 

Florindo- You have no master?

 

Arlecchino- I'd like to, I love that job.

 

Florindo- Do you want to be my servant?

 

Arlecchino- How much will you pay me?

 

Florindo- A gold ducat  /’dacat/  a month.

 

Arlecchino- We have a deal.

 

Florindo- Can I have dinner at this inn?

 

Arlecchino- Of course.

 

Florindo- Go to the post office to see if there is a letter for Florindo

 

(Arlecchino meets Beatrice in the street)

 

Beatrice- What are you doing here?

 

Arlecchino- Nothing

 

Beatrice- Go to the post office  to see if there is a letter for my sister Beatrice Rasponi and take my suitcase to that inn

 

Arlecchino- That one?

 

Beatrice- Of course.

 

Arlecchino- What a mess! What shall I do now having  two masters?

 

(On his way to the post office)

 

Silvio- Where is your master?

 

Arlecchino- At the inn

 

Silvio- Tell him to come, I want to talk to him.

 

Arlecchino- (Apart) Which of the two? I will tell the first one I  see.

 

Florindo- What are you doing?

 

Arlecchino- That man wants to talk to you.

 

Silvio- Is he your servant?

 

Florindo- Of course.

 

Silvio-  (He) looks like another servant I met today.

 

Florindo- He's my servant.

 

Silvio- Are you a foreigner?

 

Florindo- From Turin

 

Silvio- Like Federico Rasponi, I met him today.

 

Florindo- Impossible, he is dead.

 

Silvio- That's what everyone believed. What is your name?

 

Florindo- Florindo Aretusi.

 

Silvio- See you later.

 

Florindo- Was there a letter ?

 

Arlecchino- Yes, this one.

 

Florindo- Who is that letter for?

 

Arlecchino- For a friend of mine, who is a servant.

 

Florindo- Let me see.

 

Arlecchino- No.

 

Florindo- A letter by Beatrice Rasponi. She’s  in Venice! Why do you have this letter?

 

Arlecchino- I have to give it to another servant.

 

Florindo- How strange ! (He goes)

 

Beatrice- Arlecchino, was there a letter for me?

 

Arlecchino- Yes, sir.

 

Clarice- You, over here. I want you to know that I love Silvio.

 

Beatrice- You don't really have to worry, I'm Beatrice Rasponi, Federico's sister.

 

Clarice- She is a woman in disguise.

 

Beatrice- Not a single word.

 

Clarice- Don’t worry. I’m so glad. (They shake hands)

 

Scene 3

( A ROOM IN PANTALONE’S HOUSE)

 

Silvio- I wish I could burn down all of Venice. I will talk to Pantalone.

 

Pantalone- Who is calling me?

 

Silvio- I love Clarice

 

Pantalone- I'm sorry but my daughter's heart belongs to Mr. Federico.

 

Silvio- This is terrible , totally unacceptable.

 

Pantalone- It is settled.

 

Silvio- I think I'm going to burst.

 

Clarice- Silvio, you have  red cheeks.

 

Silvio- Don't touch me, traitor.

 

Clarice- Why are you saying that?

 

Silvio- You don’t need to pretend, I know you will marry Federico Rasponi

 

Clarice- Of course not

 

Pantalone- What are you saying? It's already settled.

 

Clarice- I love Silvio and I will marry him

 

Silvio- Don't make fun of me.

 

Clarice- I'm serious

 

Pantalone-  I am the authority and you will obey.

 

Clarice- Wait and see. I’ll marry Silvio.

 

Silvio- How can  you be so sure?

 

Clarice- I can't tell you.

 

Silvio- Why?

 

Clarice- I promised Federico…

 

Silvio- You are laughing at me, in (front of) my own face.

 

Clarice - you'll soon know why . Trust me.

 

Pantalone- This is crazy. Where is Federico? Bring him immediately. ( goes out)

 

Clarice- Silvio.

 

Silvio- Don't touch me.

 

 ( AT BRIGHELLA’S  inn)

 

Arlecchino- I will finally eat something.

 

Beatrice- Arlecchino, ask for a piece of roasted meat.

 

Arlecchino- I can't believe it. Right away, sir . (He goes to get the meat)

 

Florindo- What are you doing with that meat?

 

Arlecchino- It is for you.

 

Florindo- How do you know I like this dish?

 

Arlecchino- I am a good servant.

 

Florindo- Leave it on the table, but first I'll have soup.

 

Arlecchino- I'll bring it to you right away

 

Beatrice- What  (are you doing) with that soup?

 

Arlecchino- I thought you could have  a bowl of soup, first. 

 

Beatrice- You may be right.

 

Florindo- Where is my soup?

 

Arlecchino- I’ll take the meat to keep it  warm in the oven.

 

Beatrice- Arlecchino, bring me a spoon for the soup.

 

Arlecchino- It is better if you eat the meat. If you are full with soup, you will not taste this delicacy.

Beatrice- Ok, fine.

 

Arlecchino- I'll take the soup.

 

Florindo- Arlecchino, where is my soup?

 

Arlecchino- Here it is.  Have the soup and it will be better  leave  the meat  for another day, it is not good to eat so much in this hot weather.

 

Florindo- You are a very good servant.

 

Beatrice- Arlecchino, this piece of meat is very good, I don't think I'm going to have the soup.

 

Arlecchino- I'll see if I can get a snack, with your permission.

 

Florindo- Arlecchino, go to the post office to see if there is a letter for me.

 

Arlecchino- Off I go to the post office, again.

 

Florindo- Come on, I'm waiting for an important letter.

 

Arlecchino- I don't think I’ll be able to eat today.

 

 

Scene 4

 

Beatrice- What are you doing  with that letter? Take my suitcase, give me that letter.

 

Arlecchino- Nothing important.

 

Beatrice- It's open, have you opened it? It's a letter from Miss Clarice, she's very worried about Silvio's jealousy.

 

Arlecchino- Poor young lady, she's so pretty.

 

Beatrice- The time has come. HE must know the truth.

 

Arlecchino- What truth, master?

 

Beatrice- It’s none of your business. And don’t open someone else’s letter  ever again.

(He gives a slap, Arlecchino falls to the ground, Beatrice leaves)

 

Florindo- What are you doing there on the ground? Whose luggage is this? Look, something has fallen  out of that suitcase.

 

Arlecchino- A portrait. (Apart) looks like my master but without a wig.

 

Florindo- Let me see. Oh, this is no-one but Beatrice, my love. Where did you get this portrait?

 

Arlecchino- I inherited it from my former master ..

 

Florindo- Where is he?

 

Arlecchino- Dead.

 

Florindo- No!

 

Arlecchino- Yes!

 

Florindo- Beatrice dead, for God’s sake! My love is dead (Cries) Take my suitcase to the inn, I'm so sad.

 

Arlecchino- Yes , sir.

 

Beatrice- What are you doing with that suitcase?

 

Arlecchino- It belongs to a foreigner, he has asked me to take care of it.

 

Beatrice- Give me the accounts book. I want to look at something important.

 

(Arlecchino pulls a book from Florindo's suitcase)

 

Arlecchino- Here it is.

 

Beatrice- This book is not mine.

 

Arlecchino- (Apart) I've put my foot in it.

 

Beatrice- It's Florindo’s book. Where did you get this book?

 

Arlecchino- It belonged to  a master I had in the past.

 

Beatrice- What's his name?

 

Arlecchino- Florindo.

 

Beatrice- Florindo Artusi?

 

Arlecchino- Yes

 

Beatrice- Where is (he)?

 

Arlecchino- He has died.

 

Beatrice- No!

 

Arlecchino- Yes!

 

Beatrice- My love is dead. (Cries)

 

Arlecchino- I don't understand anything,  he’s in love with a man.

 

Beatrice- I'm not really a man, my name is Beatrice, I pretended to be my brother to do business with Mr. Pantalone.

 

Pantalone- Who is calling me?

 

Arlecchino- It seems that there is a small misunderstanding.

 

Pantalone- Are you not Federico Rasponi?

 

Beatrice- No, I am his sister,  Beatrice Rasponi.

 

Pantalone- And where is your brother?

 

Beatrice- He (is dead)

 

Pantalone- How happy my daughter Clarice will be. I'm going to give her  the news right now.

 

Beatrice- I'm going to cry somewhere else.

 

Arlecchino- Now I am the master of a man and a woman and both are alive and dead at the same time.

 

 

 

 

Scene 5

 

Arlecchino- (looks aside) There comes my master. (Look at the other) There comes my master. And me in between. What shall  I do?

 

Florindo- Arlecchino, I can't stop crying.

 

Beatrice- Arlecchino I can't stop crying.

 

Arlecchino- That's what a servant's shoulder is for ,supporting his master's sorrows.

 

Florindo- How strange! It seems to me there’s someone else crying! (cries)

 

Beatrice- How strange! It seems to me there’s someone else crying!

 

Arlecchino- It must be the echo of your own crying.

 

Florindo- (Holds Beatrice's hand) What a soft hand you have, Arlecchino!

 

Beatrice- (Holds Florindo's hand) What a hairy hand you have, Arlecchino!

 

Arlecchino- I don't know what to say.

 

Florindo- (Opens eyes) Beatrice.

 

Beatrice- Florindo!

 

Florindo- You are alive.

 

Beatrice- You, too. (They hug)

 

Florindo- Let’s celebrate! (They leave)

 

(Enter Pantalone and Silvio)

 

Silvio- What did you call me for?

 

Pantalone- You will marry my daughter.

 

Silvio- And Federico?

 

Pantalone- It's a woman.

 

Silvio- I don't understand anything.

 

Pantalone- Federico was his sister disguised as him, the authentic Federico Rasponi, is dead.

 

Silvio- My heart  is bursting with joy.

 

Pantalone- No, please, I prefer to have you alive.

 

(Enter Clarice)

 

Pantalone- Look who's here.

 

Clarice- I'd rather not look him in the eye, he's been very cruel to me.

 

Silvio- Clarice, I love you. I want to be the breeze that refreshes your sweet heart.

 

Pantalone- How cheesy! Come on Clarice, soften your heart, don't you see that he really loves you?

 

Clarice- Silvio, I love you.

 

(Enter Beatrice, Florindo and Arlecchino)

 

Beatrice- Mr. Pantalone, we have come to announce our wedding.

 

Florindo- We are going to get married.

 

Trousers- Two weddings on the same day. Arlecchino, what about you?

 

Arlecchino- It's true, since I have two masters, the right thing would be to have two wives.

 

Beatrice- You , rogue! (Gives him a blow)

 

Florindo- You, liar! (hits him)

 

Clarice- . You, villain! (Gives him a blow)

 

Silvio- You, cheat!  (Hits him)

 

Arlecchino- I think that after this beating it’s better for me to leave things as they are.