Stage 10
(D'Argo's hands are cuffed to a wall inside of a space shuttle, and he's alone)
D'ARGO
My hands, again, in chains. My life, again,
another's. My vengeance here... neglected. Joth-
ee, son, I have yet failed thee again.
Thy mother's death, unanswered. Father, gone,
yet still. Pray, forgive me some day. I chose
'venge's joy before father's love, as no
father still stood whence blood was spilt. In time,
belike, I will be such again... If I
yet live to see thee once more, son.
(Aeryn and John enter, led by two armed guards. Aeryn is despondent. One guard
leaves, one guards watches)
JOHN
Sir, D'Argo. We meet the once more. Strange, I say,
to find such comfort there.
D'ARGO
I find no such comfort. Begone. Go die
elsewhere. But stay yet close enough for screams
to carry themselves from thy foul cell to mine.
And what's this one's new game? She wears a chain
'tis meant for 'nother's race.
JOHN
She meant to save me, yet so lost herself.
Be kind.
D'ARGO
An en'my's friend 'tis no dear friend of mine.
So let her come and join our merriment. Bet-
ter yet, aye, let her take my place.
AERYN
(Aeryn approaches D'Argo)
I would have seen thee dead, 'tis true. I harb-
'red no small mercy toward killers, yes.
But yet thou kept me 'live still once I struck.
Not from a weakness, no, but from a good-
ness. John, and D'Argo, thou have here shown me much
in our brief time. No mercy did
my own then show. I shall return this just
reward, to thee and mine alike.
(Aeryn runs, and a guard raises a gun to fire. John knocks the soldier out and takes
his gun. Aeryn returns as John finds keys and unlocks himself)
JOHN
Is thou mad? Guns may have so struck thee down!
AERYN
A debt was owed, and 'twas a debt then paid.
Yet still I swore to thee I'd see thee home.
So come, we must be gone 'fore more return.
JOHN
We must not leave Sir D'Argo.
D'ARGO
Fool! Leave the girl instead!
JOHN
(John holds up his hands for peace)
(To Aeryn) I need thy's mind (to D'Argo) and thy's fair ship. Apart,
we may all yet perish. Yet combined, esc-
ape reveals itself to us. (To both) Object, though,
and I shall then have gun and key for my-
self.
(John waits a moment)
So? Art we together? Apart? Say, which shall we
be then?
D'ARGO
Thou trusts this one? No plain soldier is she,
but Keeper, aye. She's born and bred to feel
as stone may feel. They're tools in which to slave
and whip the 'verse. She knows not what a heart
may want.
JOHN
(John looks at Aeryn)
Looks but a girl to me. Fairer, belike,
than most. And scar'd, and 'lone. Thou says she's but
a machine, yet today I saw a ship
that breath'd. A thing design'd can be a thing
with dreams their own. Say no man chooses an-
other here's fate. We each will find our own.
(Aeryn cautiously holds out her hands, and John removes her handcuffs)
And what will thy here fate be, D'Argo? To die
a slave or now to live a free and find
thine own new life?
D'ARGO
(D'Argo looks to Aeryn, then to John, and nods)
Release me then. My story appears to hold
yet more. Whether be pain or glory, I know
but not. And yet I beg, oh, let me face
it all the same.
JOHN
(John uncuffs him)
Now friends, we run!
(They exit.)