The Libertine (NHB Modern Plays) Read online

  Alas! His too great heat went out too soon.’

  BARRY’s light goes out. Light up on ROCHESTER.

  ROCHESTER. When I poured away the last bottle of wine I saw the blood of Christ streaming onto the floor and it took all my effort not to throw myself on my face and guzzle. But I desisted and my mind cleared and I made an inventory of my life and found much wanting: injuries to divers people: want of atten­tion to my affairs: a lifetime spitting in the face of God, and I knew I was to be cast down. I had long ago discarded the layer of formal politeness with which we negotiate the world, but now I had to wade through the slough of my licentiousness until I found level ground underfoot, a ground of true sensibility and love of Christ. Now I gaze upon a pinhead and see angels dancing. Well. Do you like me now? Do you like me now?

  Blackout.

  End.

  MUSIC

  Mickey Gallagher

  STEPHEN JEFFREYS

  Stephen Jeffreys’ plays include The Libertine and I Just Stopped By to See the Man (Royal Court); Valued Friends and A Going Concern (Hampstead); Bugles at the Gates of Jalalabad (part of the Tricycle Theatre’s Great Game season about Afghanistan); The Convict’s Opera (Out of Joint); Lost Land (starring John Malkovich, Steppenwolf, Chicago); The Art of War (Sydney Theatre Company) and A Jovial Crew (RSC). His adaptation of Dickens’ Hard Times has been performed all over the world. He wrote the films The Libertine (starring Johnny Depp) and Diana (starring Naomi Watts). He co-authored the Beatles musical Backbeat which opened at the Citizens Theatre and went on to seasons in London’s West End, Toronto and Los Angeles, and translated The Magic Flute for English National Opera in Simon McBurney’s production. For eleven years he was Literary Associate at the Royal Court Theatre where he is now a member of the Council. His celebrated playwriting workshops have influenced numerous writers.

  A Nick Hern Book

  The Libertine first published in Great Britain as a paperback original in 1994 by Nick Hern Books Limited, The Glasshouse, 49a Goldhawk Road, London W12 8QP

  This new edition published in 2016

  The Libertine copyright © 1994, 2014, 2016 Stephen Jeffreys

  Music copyright © 1995 Mickey Gallagher

  Stephen Jeffreys has asserted his right to be identified as the author of this work

  Cover photograph by Johan Persson; designed by AKA

  Designed and typeset by Nick Hern Books, London

  A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

  ISBN 978 1 84842 575 0 (print edition)

  ISBN 978 1 78001 464 7 (ebook edition)

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