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La carta (2003), Luis Miguel González Cruz
The Letter, translated by Gwynneth Dowling
ONE-ACT PLAY, excerpt 1
- Context:
- Miguel’s sleep is interrupted by the sound of a dog howling outside. He asks his maid Felisa about the commotion.
- Sample text
-
- MIGUEL:
What’s that noise?
- FELISA:
A dog … They’ve cornered a rabid dog.
- MIGUEL:
What are they doing with it?
- FELISA:
They’re beating it. People have gone mad. They’re stabbing it, stoning it, whipping it. They’ve hung it from a tree in the middle of the street. They’ve hung it by its own collar, but it won’t die. It’s twisting about, enraged and howling. It’s roaring. Despite the rope tight around its neck, it’s bellowing! It won’t die.
-
MARIA enters. She shuts the windows.
- MARIA:
Felisa! Stop with your nonsense and get back to work.
- FELISA:
It was sir who asked me …
- MARIA:
Alright. But there’s nothing more to say.
- MIGUEL:
Did it bite anyone?
- FELISA:
They still don’t know. Time will tell. 21 days.
- MARIA:
Felisa!
- FELISA:
It’s true, ma’am! The symptoms only appear after 21 days. Unless you go past a river or see your reflection in a well…
- Copyright
-
The above sample taken from the translation The Letter by Gwynneth Dowling is licensed under a Creative Commons License.
ONE-ACT PLAY, excerpt 2
- Context:
- Miguel has received a letter reinstating him as Postmaster. He worries about previous invasions of privacy and fears a man – perhaps himself – has been bitten by the rabid dog.
- Sample text
-
- MIGUEL:
Post will be private again, understand? Private. Not one more letter will be opened. Not one.
- GUARD:
Only in wartime.
- MIGUEL:
Maybe we’re still at war? Maybe you’d like this war to never end?
- GUARD:
This war ended two years ago.
- MIGUEL:
Are you sure about that?
- MIGUEL: (To the priest.)
In 20 days a man from this village will feel a great fear of water. He’ll see his face reflected in the river, the reflection of a dog … the dog who bit him yesterday. That dog hanging from the tree in the street. He’ll foam at the mouth. He’ll be rabid. And he’ll die. Everyone will shun him and they’ll end up locking him in a room like a wild beast. He’ll die in pain, terrible screams in his ears. But before he does, you’ll have to get to work. You’ll need to give him his last rites, pray for him. You’ll have to pity him. You’ll have to feel compassion. Do you think you’ll be able to do that? It’s your duty. Do you think you’ll be able to do your duty well? Then, you’ll have to hold out your ring for him to kiss. And he will do it … he’ll do it, overcoming a huge desire to bite your hand.
- Copyright
-
The above sample taken from the translation The Letter by Gwynneth Dowling is licensed under a Creative Commons License.
Entry written by Gwynneth Dowling. Last updated on 30 November 2011.
