Borgo Press Translations by Frank J. Morlock
Plays by Alexandre Dumas
Anthony
The Count of Monte Cristo, Part One: The Betrayal of Edmond Dantès
The Count of Monte Cristo, Part Two: The Resurrection of Edmond Dantès
The Count of Monte Cristo, Part Three: The Rise of Monte Cristo
The Count of Monte Cristo, Part Four: The Revenge of Monte Cristo
The Last of the Three Musketeers; or, The Prisoner of the Bastille (#3)
The Three Musketeers—Twenty Years Later (#2)
Napoléon Bonaparte
Richard Darlington
The San Felice
The Three Musketeers (#1)
Urbain Grandier and the Devils of Loudon
The Whites and the Blues
Related Dramas:
The Son of Porthos the Musketeer, by Émile Blavet (#4)
COPYRIGHT INFO
Copyright © 2011 by Frank J. Morlock
Published by Wildside Press LLC
www.wildsidebooks.com
DEDICATION
For Conrad
Yet another project that would never have come to fruition without your encouragement and support.
CAST OF CHARACTERS
Villefort
The Count of Monte Cristo (Edmond Dantès)
Major Cavalcanti
Andrea Cavalcanti
Caderousse
Maximilian Morel
De Baville
Bertuccio
Emmanuel
Julie
d’Avrigny
Danglars
Debray
Barrois
Baptistin
The Notary
Ali
Edward
Valentine
Madame de Villefort
Madame de Saint Méran
Madame Danglars
Madame Grignon
ACT I, SCENE 1
The home of Julie and Emmanuel. A room. To the left front a door. Second door and window further back left. A chimney to the right.
(Maximilian enters in the arms of Julie and Emmanuel.)
MAXIMILIAN
Yes, here I am, sister, yes, here I am, my dear Emmanuel and to spend three months with you again!
JULIE
Oh, my dear Maximilian, how happy we are!
MAXIMILIAN
And so am I! But first this purse that I kiss in memory of our poor father.
EMMANUEL
Ah!
MAXIMILIAN
Oh, my friends, what a strange thing has happened to me!
JULIE
What you told us in your letter?
MAXIMILIAN
Yes, you understand that in the midst of the Mediterranean, in a deserted island which is known as Monte Cristo and to find there a nabob and a friend of our family who knew you and who knew Emmanuel—it’s incomprehensible!
JULIE
And this man is coming to Paris—? This man is coming to see us?
MAXIMILIAN
He said he’d be in Paris before me and that one of his first visits would be to the little house in the Rue Meslay.
JULIE
About how old?
MAXIMILIAN
Still young; forty years, perhaps.
JULIE
Handsome?
MAXIMILIAN
Handsome, yes, if expression makes for beauty.
JULIE
And rich?
MAXIMILIAN
Millions.
EMMANUEL
Oh—a carriage is stopping at the door.
JULIE
How strange it would be if it were he.
MAXIMILIAN
Oh! That won’t astonish me.
(opening the window)
It’s a miracle!
EMMANUEL
Why?
MAXIMILIAN
I announce the Count of Monte Cristo to you.
EMMANUEL and JULIE
The Count of Monte Cristo.
MAXIMILIAN
In person.
JULIE
Oh—receive him, brother. I must change my dress.
(She escapes.)
EMMANUEL
I need to put on a coat.
(He leaves quickly.)
MAXIMILIAN
Ah, good, good, ah—Count, so your millions have their effect.
(going to the door)
This way, Count, this way.
(Monte Cristo enters.)
MONTE CRISTO
Well, sir, am I a man of my word? I said that I would arrive before you did.
MAXIMILIAN
Ah, Count, I’ve been here ten minutes already.
MONTE CRISTO
As for me, I got here several days ago and these several days have been well employed, I swear to you. But they told me you were with your sister and brother-in-law.
MAXIMILIAN
Yes, only at the announcement of your arrival, they escaped but, be easy, they will soon reappear, and in outfits more worthy of you.
MONTE CRISTO
Ah, my dear friend, I see with regret that I have caused a revolution in your family.
MAXIMILIAN
Oh, a peaceful revolution! They were both gardening when I arrived and dressed for it. Emmanuel is changing his vest for a suit coat, and Julie her slip for a dress.
MONTE CRISTO
You have a happy family, don’t you?
MAXIMILIAN
Oh! Yes, I can answer for that! They are young, they are gay, and they love each other, and with an income of twenty-five thousand francs, which they consider an