Camera
...... Colette Rouhier and Duncan Reekie
Maldoror ....... Duncan Reekie
Man ...... Steven Eastwood
Woman ...... Colette Rouhier
Music ...... by Dograck
Thanks to Paul Tarrago and TV
I sought a soul
that might resemble mine, and I could not find it. I scanned all
the crannies of the earth: my perseverance was useless. Yet I could
not remain alone. There had to be someone who would approve of my
character; there had to be someone with the same ideas as myself.
It was morning. The sun in all his magnificence rose on the horizon,
and behold, there also appeared before my eyes a young man whose
presence made flowers grow as he passed. He approached me and held
out his hand: "I have come to you, you who seek me. Let
us give thanks for this happy day." But I replied: "Go! I did not
summon you. I do not need your friendship. . ."
It was evening.
Night -was beginning to spread the blackness of her veil over nature...
A beautiful woman whom I could scarcely discern also exerted her
bewitching sway upon me and looked at me with compassion. She did
not, however, dare speak to me. I said: "Come closer that I may
discern your features clearly, for at this distance the starlight
is not strong enough to illumine them." I said as soon as I saw
her: "I perceive that goodness and justice have dwelt In your heart:
we could not live together. Not that I shall be unfaithful to you,
but get this into your head and never forget it: wolves and lambs
look not on one another with gentle eyes." What then did I need,
I who rejected with such disgust what was most beautiful in humanity
!
I sat on a rock
near the sea. A ship had just put out from shore at full sail: an
imperceptible dot had appeared on the horizon and was gradually
approaching, growing rapidly, pushed on by the squall. The storm
was going to begin its onslaughts and already the sky was darkening,
turning into a blackness almost as hideous as man's heart. Claps
of thunder crashed amid the lightning but could not outdo the sound
of wailing to be heard from the foundationless house - a floating
sepulchre. The lurching masses of water had not managed to break
the anchor chains, but had dashed open a way into the ship's sides:
an enormous breach, for the pumps were quite unable to expel the
vast quantities of salt water which smashed foaming over the deck
like mountains. Finally from within the ship a universal shriek
of sheer woe bursts forth, while the sea redoubles its redoubtable
attacks. Human strength giving way was the cause of that cry. 0
heaven! how can one live after tasting so many delights! It has
just been my lot to witness the death-throes of several of my fellow
men.
From the shore
I apostrophised them, hurling imprecations and threats at them.
It seemed to me that they must have heard me! It seemed to me that
my hatred and my words, covering the distance, destroyed the laws
of acoustics and, distinctly, reached those ears deafened by the
wrathful ocean's roar! It seemed to me that they must have thought
of me and vented their vengeance in impotent rage! During the fiercest
part of the storm I saw a forceful head, its hair on end, cleaving
the waters with desperate exertions. What courage! What indomitable
spirit! Today when the years hang heavy on me, I sincerely state
for a supreme and solemn truth: I was not as cruel as men later
related; but sometimes their wickedness wreaks its enduring ravages
for years on end. So my fury knew no limit; I was seized with an
access of cruelty and struck awe in anyone (of my own race) who
might happen to meet my haggard eyes. Were it a horse or dog, I
would let it by: did you hear what I just said?
Unfortunately
on the night of the storm I was seized by one of my fits of wrath,
my reason had flown (for as a rule I would be cruel but more discreet),
and everything falling Into my hands at that time had to perish,
I do not intend to justify my misdeeds. What is this army of marine
monsters swiftly slicing through the waves? Blood mingles with the
waters and the waters with blood. Their savage eyes sufficiently
illumine the scene of carnage. , . . But what is this new turmoil
in the water, yonder on the horizon? An enormous female shark Is
coming to partake of the duck liver pate, to eat the cold boiled
beef. She is raging, ravening. A battle ensues between her and the
others to contest the few palpitating limbs that here and there
bob silently on the surface of the crimson cream. To left and right
her jaws slash, dealing mortal wounds. His mouth full of bile, the
man throws himself off the rock's summit into the sea and swims
towards the pleasantly tinted carpet. Swimmer and female shark confront
each other. They swim, circling, neither losing sight of the other.
Each thinking: "Till now I was wrong - here is someone wickeder
than I!"
Then of one
accord, in mutual admiration, they slid toward each other - the
female parting the water with her fins, Maldoror smiting the surge
with his arms - and held their breaths in deepest reverence, both
longing to look for the first time on their living image. Effortlessly,
abruptly, they fell upon each other like magnets, and embraced with
dignity and recognition, in a hug as tender as a brother's or sister's.
Carnal desires soon followed this demonstration of affection. The
foamy wave their nuptial couch - borne on an undertow as in a cradle
- they rolled over and over towards the unknown depths of the briny
abyss - and came together in a long, chaste, hideous coupling! ,
, . At last I had found someone - who resembled me! . . . From now
on I was no longer alone in life! . . . She had the same ideas as
I! . . . I was facing my first love!
