The fools Act 1 Scene 3

Do you know what he was just doing, Sophia? He was thinking! Isn't that wonderful?

Yes, Mama.

Yes. Very nice. Lovely

Miss Zubritsky - may I call you Sophia

Sophia?

I think she wants|to say something.

I - I would be very pleased to have you call me

Sophia.

I've come a very long way to help you with your education. I have every reason to believe that under ordinary circumstances, you have the capability of being an extremely bright and intelligent young woman, that deep inside you somewhere is an intellect just crying to be heard, that you have enormous powers of reason. But someone has put a cloud over these powers and it is my intention to remove this cloud so that enlightenment can once more shine through those unbelievably crystal-clear blue eyes once again... But I need your help, Sophia. Will you give me that help?

Yes. You may call me Sophia.

I should like to ask you a few very simple questions. If we are to begin your education, it is important that I know at what point to begin. It won't be taxing, I promise you. I would never want to be the cause of a furrow or frown on that fair face... Now, then - what is your favorite color?

My favorite color?

Why is he being so hard on her? This isn't a university.

My favorite color -

Yes?

Is yellow.

Yellow! Her favorite color is yellow! Why, Sophia?

Why is yellow your favorite color?

Because it doesn't stick to your fingers as much.

That's a very interesting answer, Sophia. There is a certain logic to her response. The fact that that logic escapes me completely doesn't alter the fact that she has something in mind. Sophia, I'm going to ask you something quite simple now. I'm going to ask you to make a wish. Do you know what a wish is?

Yes. A wish is something you hope for that doesn't come true.

Well, perhaps we can change all that. If you could make a wish that did come true, anything at all, what would you wish for?

What would I wish for?

Yes, Sophia, what would you wish for?

I would wish that I could fly like a bird...to soar over buildings and trees...to float on the wind and be carried far away...over mountains and lakes...over forests and rivers...to meet people in other villages...to see what the world was like...to know all the things that I shall never know because I must always remain here in this place.

Don't you see what her wish means? To fly like a bird means to sever the bonds that chain her to ignorance. She wants to soar, to grow, she wants knowledge! And with every fiber of my being, from the very depths of my soul, I shall gather all my strength and patience and dedication, and I make this promise that I, Leon Steponovitch Tolchinsky, shall make Sophia Zubritsky's wish come true.

If you could do that, schoolmaster, I would be in

your debt - forever.

She touches me so. Your daughter has such a sweet soul and such a pure heart. We must begin as soon as possible. Not another moment must be lost. I shall return in the morning at eight o'clock sharp.

What subject shall we begin our studies with, Sophia?

I should like to begin with - languages.

Languages! Of course! Even I should have thought of that. Languages it shall be, my dear, sweet Sophia...

And what language shall we begin with first?

Rabbit, I think.

As long as she gets a few phrases, it's enough to

begin with.

Am I through for today?

Yes.

Then I shall go to my room.

They're so much smarter than in our day.

Until tomorrow, schoolmaster.

In all my life, I have never looked forward to a

morning as much as tomorrow's.

I think you are the most beautiful schoolteacher I have ever seen, Master Tolchinsky. I pray that you don't despair of Kulyenchikov. and that you will stay with us forever.

That's it. I'm leaving now, so I'll say goodbye. I was going to stay and try to break the curse, but when he said, "Twelve," I knew it was time to go... What I must do now is try to forget Sophia. I must!

Schoolmaster!

Sophia? Where are you?

Down here. I had to see you once more.

Without a wrap? In the cold night air, you'll com

down with a chill.

Oh, I never catch colds.

You don't.

I've tried. I've just never learned how to do it.

Be grateful.... Some things are not worth knowing.

I know that something has happened a long time ago that prevents me from knowing what happened a long time ago. If only you i knew me the way I might have been instead of the way I am.

But if you were not the way you are, then I would not have come here to help you to become the way you might have been.

Careful! You're beginning to think like her.

Could you - could you ever care for someone who never became the way I might have been?

Could I ever care for someone who never became - I see what you mean. I see what you're getting at. Yes.

Yes, I could. I would. I shall. I will. I have. I do.

Is that rabbit you're speaking? It's hard to follow.

If it sounds like gibberish it's because you do that to me, Sophia. When thoughts come from the heart they sometimes trip over the tongue.

Then I must watch where I walk when you speak...

I must go. Everything depends upon tomorrow.

And if not tomorrow, then the tomorrow after tomorrow. And all the tomorrows for the rest of my life, if that's what it takes,

No. It all rests on totorrow. If we fail, we shall

never see each other again.

Never see each other? What do you mean?

I never know what I mean. I do have thoughts but they seem to disappear when they reach my lips.

If I ever reached your lips, I would never disappear.

Would you like to kiss me?

With all my heart.

No. I meant with your lips.

An even better suggestion.

Hurry. Hurry.

I'm climbing as fast as I can.

Where are you?

Up here.

If only she were ugly, Id be halfway home by now.

Stay where you are. I'll come to you.

All right.

After a while you get the hang of it.

Here I am.

My kiss, sweet Sophia.

As we kissed I felt a strange flutter in my heart.

So did I.

You felt a flutter in my heart as well? How alike we" are. And yet your hair is so much shorter... I must go.

I'm about to fall asleep and I want to get to bed in time.