The Testing of a Wizard - Viktor Gitin

GELO – Nonsense! A proper wife should be patient.

LIZY – (Sadly) Because I love you very much…

GELO – … I love you too…

VEDALIA – Gelo, you shouldn’t scold her for what she has done. Nobody knows their own destiny. But everything important and significant which happens in people’s lives doesn’t just happen by chance. As a Sorceress I sense that without Lizy you wouldn’t be able to get the MIRACLE, that’s why it would be better if you continued the journey together. I will give you a magic thread, with it you won’t get lost.

GELO – Thank you! So, let’s get on our way then! Come on, Lizy.

LIZY – With you I’ll go anywhere, even to the end of the world…

VEDALIA – But remember Lizy, you took an oath! And if you break it then both you and Gelo will be doomed.

GELO – What oath?!

VEDALIA – Oh, it’s nothing. It’s just woman’s talk, isn’t it Lizy?

LIZY – Yes, It’s just woman’s talk.

GELO – (suspiciously) Ok then, we have to hurry.

Hand in hand Gelo and Lizy walk off stage. Vedalia watches them with a heavy stare. Gradually her back is hunched, and she turns back into an old woman.

Music plays. Blackout. Curtains.

* * * * *

Scene Six.

Nighttime, the moon, and stars are shining. Gelo and Lizy sit by a fire. Only one half of the stage is lit.

LIZY – Gelo, have a look at the stars…aren't they beautiful tonight. You could just drown in them.

GELO – Lizy! How can you gawk at the sky when we haven’t even eaten yet! Quickly make us something to eat.

LIZY – Of course, my love. I’ll do it straight away. But still, the stars are so wonderful! Just think they existed before us. And they will shine forever. Even when we are gone… and our children will be able to admire them as well. They will dream, love, and remember us…

GELO – If you do not feed me right now, we won’t have any children.

LIZY – (laughs) So men can only have children when they’ve had something to eat?

GELO – No! It’s just men who are undernourished can get weak and unfertile!

LIZY – Oh! I’ll do it right away. (Sets up the kettle on the fire) Gelo, what if we are attacked by robbers? What would you do? We don’t have any weapons to protect ourselves.

GELO – I don’t know Lizy. I can’t fight. I don’t have the right to die. I really need to reach my goal.

LIZY – (Thoughtfully) Alright, I will fight them. I will try to protect you… even though I don’t know how… but I will try!

GELO – Lizy, why are you talking such nonsense? While you cook, I'll go and collect some wood for the night.

He stands up and slowly walks to the dark side of the stage with a spotlight following him.

GELO – (Suddenly screams) Lizy! Lizy!

LIZY – (Alarmed she jumps up and picks up a big stick) What happened?!

GELO – Look, I think we have found it… this is the place Vedalia and Fadrius were talking about.

The dark side of the stage is lights up; there lies a twinkling object.

GELO – (Very excited and thrilled) It’s the MIRACLE! I have finally found it! I have achieved what I’ve always wanted! Now I will bring it home and everybody will be astounded. I knew I could do it. I believed I would succeed. This belief stayed with me throughout the journey. I really wanted to find the MIRACLE and become a Great Wizard. I believed in the righteousness of my choice, my way, and my dreams. Nothing could get in my way. Nobody could persuade me that my goal was wrong. The only thing that worried me was that someone else would get there first and leave me behind with nothing. This treacherous thought sometimes spoiled my mood; it crept from the depth of my consciousness like a sharp cold blade and thrust itself into my mind and imagination. But I chased it away. I protected myself from this gross injustice, telling myself it would never happen. Because only I am ready to sacrifice everything in this life for the sake of my dream. I so badly want to become a Great Wizard and to make the whole world happy. My goal is noble. I want to be helpful to the world. I’m not doing it for myself. The people need this. That’s why I need the MIRACLE more than others, because if someone else where to have it, it would be just unfair. The world should contain not only Great Truth, but Great Justice as well. The world is not perfect. And bad things happen in it sometimes. Justice doesn’t always prevail. But not this time, not now, because right now we are talking about a great purpose – the purpose of all my life. And I feel everything should fall into place. With every cell in my body and every corner of my soul I felt I would succeed. And now when I return to the city, I will be able to shout loudly “Look I’ve done it”!

LIZY – Gelo, my dearest Gelo! I’m so happy for you. You can’t even imagine how happy I am. I have tears of joy for you.

GELO – That’s the last thing I need right now! Instead move out the way and don’t get in my way.

Walks up to the twinkling MIRACLE. When Gelo is about to touch it, there is a loud voice of the Keeper of Miracle.

VOICE OF KEEPER – Stop Gelo! You haven’t accomplished all the conditions of possessing the MIRACLE. Your soul is still very young and inexperienced. It floats in the