Act 3: Scene 1

Sound of the guillotine before the lights come up

Oct. 16 1793, Max's fancy large apartment overlooking the Place de la Révolution. Max's apartment should take up more than half the scene. A guillotine is present to the back of stage left with a scrim in front of it. The head of Marie Antoinette is on a pike nearby. The guillotine is lit but a spotlight lights a bloody basket in front of the guillotine though this is meant to hide Tabby who is behind the scrim at the base of the guillotine. Max and Jean-Paul are in the apartment.

Max: What have we become?

Jean Paul: (places a comforting hand on Max's shoulder) What we had to. (Exits the room)

Max: (staring out the window at the guillotine) (Song: Women and Children)

Women and children

The streets are red with the blood of

Women and children

Max turns away from the window and goes to the desk where he pours himself a drink. The spot on the basket turns off and Tabby appears on the ground in the same position we left her in at the Bastille, as though she is about to be trampled, her arms up to protect her head. It takes her a few moments to realize she isn't being trampled. She looks around frantically.

Tabby: Maxim? Maxim!

She looks up to see the guillotine. Scrambling backward away from it she knocks into the basket and her hand comes up covered in blood. She is horrified. She then sees the head on the pike. She starts shrieking, trying to scrabble away from the horror of it all. Guards enter from stage left.

Guard 1: Mademoiselle, is something wrong?

Tabby: (to the guards) Maxim! Where is he? What happened to him? Is he ok?

Guard 2: There's no Maxim here. Now please calm down, perhaps we can help you find him.

The guards make to grab her. But she backs up quickly.

Tabby: No, no no! I need to find Maxim! He was there... at the Bastille! I was just there!

Guard 1: At the Bastille?

Tabby: Yes! They were shooting at us!

Guard 1: When?

Tabby: Just now! (appears confused, starts to fully realize she has time skipped again)

The guards exchange glances that convey they think she's nuts

Guard 2: Mademoiselle, that was four years ago.

Tabby: Four years ago? He could be dead for four years!

Guard 1: I think you should come with us. (Reaches out to grab her wrist)

Tabby: No! (slaps his hand away) I have to find him! He can't be dead! We've been through too much!

Guard 2: Mademoiselle, you need to come with us.

The guards grab Tabby but she struggles mightily against them

Tabby: Maxim!

Max hears his name and perks up, he goes to the window and is surprised to see Tabby, he squints and adjusts his glasses just to be sure

Max: (Throws open the window, Calling down from above) Guards!

Guard 2: Sorry for the noise, Monsieur Robespierre. (on hearing Max's name Tabby stops struggling and looks up at the window) We'll have this troubled woman away in a moment.

Tabby: Maxim...

Max: Bring her up here.

Guards are taken aback

Guard 1: Sir, she is a madwoman, she might hurt you.

Max: I can take care of myself. Now please, bring her up.

The guards are shocked into silence and do as he says. Tabby goes quietly with them, but can't help staring at the head of the former queen as they pass by on their exit backstage right.

The guards and Tabby enter the apartment from stage right

Max: (waves dismissively at the guards) You may leave us.

The guards look at each other unsure but do as he orders leaving Tabby

Max: (circling Tabby) Is it really you? Tabby? (runs a lock of her hair through his fingers, he grips her in a tight embrace. She stands stock still and does not return it) My God I missed you! I thought you were dead or worse!

Tabby: (in an oddly measured tone) There is a woman's head on a pike outside.

Max: Don't think on it.

Tabby: (with growing hysteria, pushes at his chest with her fists) There is a woman's head on a pike! (slides out of his grasp and points out the window) Out there! Right outside your window! (stares at her bloody hands) Her blood is on my hands! (Sees blood from his embracing her on his hands) Her blood is on your hands! Why didn't you stop them?! You can move mountains with your speech! Why didn't you stop them from killing that woman?

Max: (shuts his eyes and slowly reopens them with a sigh) Because I was the one who ordered it.

Tabby: (Draws back) You? But you hate the death penalty!

Max: (slowly, with regret) Sometimes... Sometimes sacrifices must be made.

Tabby: (Accusing Song: What would you sacrifice?)

Max: (takes Tabby in his arms) I promise would never sacrifice you or our love. I never wanted to do it, I agonized over Louis. It was the worst decision I've ever had to make. To kill my own king. I know you colonials broke away, but it's not the same. He was still alive when you were done. The fate and future of your entire country didn't rest on the stroke of your pen. But I... There was no choice. He incited the Austrians to make war against us. He was trying to flee the country. His country! His people! They gave everything they had for him and he abandoned them in their hour of need! I cannot describe to you the outrage they felt. The outrage I felt. But still I did not want to. Jean-Paul and Georges spoke sense, though. We would never have hope of peace if he still lived, we could never hope to progress as a society. In the end it had to be done. And his wife as well. She is the woman out there, if you do not recognize her without her wigs and rouge. She would retain a claim to the throne.

Tabby: (bitterly) And did you kill the children too?

Max: No. I could never.

Tabby: Not so long ago you could never order anyone to be killed.

Max: If it had been up to Jean-Paul, their mother would have watched them die like some many French mothers have watched their own children die. I stayed his hand! The children are innocent, they could not help their birth. We have them safe at the temple. The boy is young, we'll teach him so he forgets his former life and becomes a good citizen of our new France. I never wanted to do this, but it had to be done! The citizens would never forgive her, they were never going to allow her to live. To them she was the symbol of all that was wrong with the nobility - the excesses, the indifference to the sufferings of her people - they would tear her apart with their bare hands if given the chance. I could not save her life, she was always going to die. At least this way was quick and painless.

Tabby visible loosens in his embrace

Max: If I can possibly avoid it, I will never commit such a horror again. I swear.

Tabby succumbs to his embrace

Tabby: You swear?

Max: On my very life. (kisses her brow, she nuzzles into his chest)

Tabby: (parts from him) But what has happened to you, Maxim? (Gestures to the room) This is hardly our little apartment.

Max: I could ask you the very same. I still remember watching you go down into the crowd, I was afraid you'd be trampled, but when I got to the place you were gone. I searched for you among the prisoners... and the dead. It was one of the worst experiences of my life, going through the lines of corpses, dreading I might see your face on the next one, but I never did. I visited your dear friend, Olympe, but she'd not seen you since. I could only conclude you'd been kidnapped and hoped you would not be killed.

Tabby: How is Olympe?

Max: She is fine, though we agree less now. But that is rather beside the point. What happened to you?

Tabby: I told you. The same thing that happened before.

Max: (downcast) Oh. I see. They found you and took you away.

Tabby: Who are they? I wasn't kidnapped-

Max: (interrupting) You don't have to tell me! (turns toward the window) I don't really want to hear what they did to my precious muse, anyway. (pauses for a few moments) I tried to forget you. I even thought to marry, but in the end I could never bring myself to. Even after all of this, do you still believe in me?

Tabby: I do.

Max quickly turns and walks over to the desk and begins writing furiously. Tabby hesitantly draws nearer to him

Tabby: What are you writing?

Max: A marriage certificate. I'm not going to let one more moment go by where you are not my wife. (looks up at her, speaks tentatively) That is, if you'll have me. (He slides the document toward her, offers her the pen)

(Instrumental Reprise Stay With Me/ Can't You See It?)

Tabby hesitates over the pen for a moment, then decides, grabs the pen and signs her name

Fade to black

Act 3 Scene 2: 21 Names

Each person is lead to the guillotine by a ballet personification of death, a dancer in white and a dancer in black who appear to grow more and more sympathetic with each name. A ballet dancer in red representing revolution also dances, at first joyously but by the end even they are concerned. Each man walks up to the guillotine and his name is said. He kneels down as though to be decapitated, scrim activated and a projection of the guillotine coming down is shown and Revolution takes a thick red streamer from the man.

Brissot

Antiboul

Boilleau

Boyer-Fonfrêde

Carra

Duchastel

Pantomime: The light comes on in Max's apartment to reveal him seated at the desk while Jean-Paul stands at the other side passionately railing against something on a sheet of paper as Tabby watches. Max appears to say something emphasizing it with his hands, he appears weary. Jean-Paul takes the sheet of paper with names on it from the desk and storms out. Tabby comes up and embraces Max from behind, he is appreciative but clearly tired, patting her arm, giving her a kiss, and returning to his work. Lights fade out.

Ducos

De Valazé

Duprat

Fauchet

Pantomime: Lights come on in Max's apartment. Jean-Paul storms in. He begins yelling vehemently. Max stands and yells back at him. They have a passionate argument. Jean-Paul slams down a piece of paper and Max angrily signs it. Jean-Paul snatches it up and leaves. Max goes over to the window, holding on to the curtain, he looks out at the guillotine and winces, his knees seem to weaken. Tabby comes over and holds him. Lights fade.

Gardien

Gensonné

Lacaze

Lasource

Pantomime: Lights come on in Max's apartment. Georges and Jean-Paul are standing while Max sits, they are having a conversation and once again Max looks exhausted. Tabby comes over and clearly scolds the two men, pointing to the door. They leave but Jean-Paul shoots back as they leave, "Control your woman." Tabby is panting with fury. Max takes her hand, kisses it, and leads her off to the bedroom. Lights fade.

De Perret

Lehardi

Lesterpt-Beauvais

Pantomime: Lights come on in Max's apartment. Max is signing a document as Jean-Paul and Georges watch on happily. They seem to have reached an understanding. Tabby is absent. Light's fade.

Minvielle

The Marquis de Sillery

Vergniaud

Viger

Pantomime: Lights come on in Max's apartment. Max stands at his window and holds out a list of 21 names to a large crowd. Loud cheers from the crowd. Sudden blackout. The sound of the guillotine.

Act 3 Scene 3: Morning in Max's Room, 3 November 1793

Tabby again awakes while Max sleeps beside her. She holds her stomach in concern and then runs off through a door to the bathroom. Max awakens and sits up, looking over in the direction she ran off.

Max: Are you not feeling well

Tabby: (voice strained) I'm fine. I'll be out in a minute.

A few moments later Tabby returns appearing drained

Max: You look pale

Tabby: It's nothing

Max: (struck by a thought) How long has this been going on?

Tabby: What do you mean?

Max: This past week you've been up before me every morning, I've never known you to be an early riser. Is this why?

Tabby turns away from him, Max rubs her shoulder

Max: We've been keeping company for almost a month, it's not wholly unexpected it might happen this early.

Tabby: (knowing she's been pregnant longer than a month) I'm just... worried...

Max: There's no need to worry. (Stands and takes Tabby by the hands) I couldn't be happier. I can't wait to make a new world for our child. One where every man will have a voice.

Tabby: I fear Jean-Paul is too much a part of that world you are building and his voice is the only one you're hearing.

Max: Jean-Paul is the voice of the people, I must at least hear him out.

Tabby: But you're losing yourself in his words. You used to despise the death penalty and yet you've sent two dozen people to that horrible machine.

Max: They were traitors.

Tabby: What happened to your belief that a man could be reformed?

Max: A criminal can be reformed, but a traitor... The more you try the more deeply they cling to their beliefs. You might as well try to force a Catholic to become a Protestant - they may lie and pretend to convert to save their own lives but they will only harbor greater hatred for you in their hearts.

Tabby: Still, I think if it were up to him he'd not stop cutting off heads until he was the only man standing.

Max: Not even me?

Tabby looks down sadly at her hand on her stomach

Max: I see. I shall have to consider your counsel on this matter.

Tabby: (hopefully) Will you really?

Max: Of course. You're my wife and the mother of my child, it is your words I listen to the most clearly.

A light comes on beside the guillotine, allowing Jean-Paul to be seen next it.

Jean-Paul: For the crime of sedition against France The revolutionary tribunal sentences to death Olympe de Gouge!

Light comes on behind the scrim, revealing Olympe standing proudly.

Tabby runs to the window to see Olympe being put in the guillotine

Tabby: (Screams) No! Olympe! (She tries to run but Max stops her. With hope she grabs at Max) No! You must stop them! Maxim! (Max just tightly holds her as she struggles frantically, it seems to pain him but he does nothing) Maxim! No! You have to stop them! You can't let them do this! Maxim!

The sound of the guillotine

Tabby: Nooo! (whimpers) Olympe... no... Maxim... (weeps into his shoulder a minute) Why didn't you stop them?

Max: (softly) She was an enemy of France...

Tabby draws back and stares at him coldly

Tabby: She wasn't an enemy of France, Monsieur Robespierre. You are!

Tabby runs out of the room, stage right.

Max: (pathetically) Tabby!

There is a flash of light and dark.