"Premiere"
ACT I
SCENE 1
(Dawn. John is sitting, waiting for his ship to launch. Knox stands aside,
watching)
KNOX
The day is here at last, my friend! The sun
above us rises again, and here we stand
at precipices known, 'til now, but only
to gods! And, 'fore this day is done, the sun
shall vanish again to dark. But John, dear friend,
dear pilot, thy triumph will never here fade!
JOHN
(Sighs)
I ask'd for only the state of mine own
craft, sir. Never for empty or endless praise. Though
dear thou art to me, 'tis true, my life here hangs in
fate's so deadly hands. Cannot we simply do our work
and, pray, oh can we do it well?
KNOX
Is this from fear thee speaks, my friend? Thy voice,
I hear, it quiver and shake! I never can recall
a time before like this. Dear friend, thou hath the whole've
our lands and people at thy brave back!
JOHN
(Laughs)
My back! Oh yes. For this, we 'gree! My back,
my back! Are ever my friends here not, oh, safe
behind my back?
KNOX
Thy jest 'tis cruel.
JOHN
Still true. If ever I find the day in which
thy back, sir, stands 'fore mine, on that day, Knox,
thou shall there find me peaceful, somber, and
most pitying, sir.
KNOX
(Laughs)
Oh, on the day thee finds this Knox behind
the helm, thou shall be most somber, indeed,
I say. For our dear Fate, she could only throw
me back to Earth in fire and shrieking cries!
Alas, no pilot, am I.
JOHN
Silence then, sir. Begin me here on my ill quest.
For science, I must now fly...
(Aside) 'Tis what I say,
at least. For me, in truth, I must here go.
To see, to know. To dream once more.
KNOX
(Nods solemnly)
Then fly.
(Knox presses a button, and John flies upward. Knox watches on happily
from afar.)
JOHN
Ah, sky above and so below. Was ever
there such a sight to see? To fly, to 'scape,
afar. 'Tis glory, and yet... 'tis glory the same,
again, again. Each time, I tinker, see the ship
fly yet further. And, yet, it flies as much
the same.
(John's ship shakes)
And yet this bump awakes me from my stup-
or. Knox, my friend? Hello?
(The ship shakes more and more. John spots something ahead.)
Ye gods! What's this? Good Knox? Command? Anyone,
now hear my cry and help! Say, help!
(John shouts and exits)
KNOX
He's away... But wait! His ship! It's gone! E'ten into
a storm above!
(Knox falls to his knees)
Dear friend! Are thou now lost?
Were thy ill fears ill omens, in truth? Oh John!
Where have thy gone? To death? To stars? Be safe,
dear friend. Wherever thy finds thy self.