Aurore l'enfant martyre

Act 1, Scene 1

The action takes place in the kitchen of a farmhouse. The cruel stepmother is lighting a lamp; she puts butter into the frying pan.

MOTHER
Six o’clock. She isn’t up yet. It seems that she’s being lazy this morning. Télesphore, it’s six o’clock. There’s no time to laze about.

TÉLESPHORE
(In the wings.) — I’m not lazing about, woman. I’m putting on my shoes.

MOTHER
I never saw such a man when it’s time to hurry. I don’t know what madness possessed me to marry him. It’s true that he had a little property, but then he had a daughter, so now I’m a stepmother. She eats my children’s bread, with that useless mouth of hers. If the Good Lord or the Devil took her away, I’d be well rid of her. Let’s go, it’s time to wake up the princess. Go on, get up. Ah, you don’t want to get up. Just wait. I’ll give you a piece of my mind.

-2-

AURORE
(Dying.) Madame...

MOTHER
Go to the hen house to fetch eggs for your father’s breakfast.

AURORE
I can’t. I’m sick this morning.

MOTHER
Come on! You’re nothing but a lazy cow.(To Télesphore.) Let’s go! Come and make your daughter get up; she’s lazing about in her bed.

TÉLESPHORE
(Entering) Let’s go, Aurore. Listen to your mother.

AURORE
Yes, Papa. (She exits at the back.)

TÉLESPHORE
Hurry up, woman. I’m pressed for time this morning.

MOTHER
It won’t take long -- just the time to cook an egg. Do you want potatoes? (She puts an egg in the frying pan.)

TÉLESPHORE
No, no. I don’t have time to wait for that.

MOTHER
I’ve never seen such a child. I do everything I can, but it’s no use; nothing I do is good enough. Did you see, she forgot to say her prayers.

-3-

TÉLESPHORE
You were rushing her too.

MOTHER
That doesn’t matter. My children wouldn’t forget. And mine went to confession yesterday; there’s no danger of yours doing the same.

TÉLESPHORE
She has to behave like the others! We’re going to raise that child. And if I get involved…! (He pounds on the table.)

MOTHER
Here she is.

TÉLESPHORE
Woman, I’m going to go and get my hat and coat that I left in the bedroom. (He exits.)

MOTHER
You took your time. Hadn’t the eggs been laid yet?

AURORE
(Entering at the back.) I was gone only the time it took to go and fetch them, Madame!

MOTHER
Don’t talk back with your smart mouth, or else you’ll taste the back of my hand.

TÉLESPHORE
(Entering.) What’s going on now?

-4-

MOTHER
It’s your daughter. I can’t say anything to her without her jumping all over me. I do everything I can, but it’s no good. That’s the thanks I get for all that I’ve done!

TÉLESPHORE
I’ll talk to her. You’ll see that things will be different. Come here, Aurore. Step forward when I speak to you. (He takes her by the arm.)

MOTHER
Don’t manhandle her on my account.

TÉLESPHORE
Let me be, woman. She has to learn to obey.

MOTHER
As you wish. You’re the boss.

TÉLESPHORE
Listen to me, Aurore. The next time that you show disrespect for your mother, who is so good to you, you’ll have to answer to me. Do you understand? Answer me when I speak to you! (He squeezes her arm.)

AURORE
Yes, Papa.

TÉLESPHORE
Go lie down. Let’s go, woman. Hurry up with my breakfast; I’m running late.
(Aurore lies down.)

MOTHER
Here you go.