Mephisto and Nickostopholes get ready for the TV broadcast. Faust stirs, and over the course of the first monologue, she begins to decorate herself/ her space in nature. Rumpelstiltskin: Oh what a pity, Now you've destroyed it! The world once so lovely, How you have wrecked it! Down it goes, smashed By a demigod's fist! Out of existence We sweep it's poor remnants, Sorrowing over Beauty now lost forever. —Then build again, better, Potent son of the earth, Build a new world, a fairer, Inside your own self, Within your own heart! With a mind clear and strong, On your lips a new song, Come, make a fresh start! Nickostopholes: (And we’re live) Mephisto: Do you hear them, my angels, My dear little wise ones, Sagely advising you To do things, be cheerful? Their wish is to draw you Out of the shell you’re shut up in, Out of your torpid stagnation Into the wide world before you. Nickostopholes: (cue wildlife) Faust unrolls poster and Mephisto appears in a nature video. Rumpelstiltskin operates plastic plants. Mephisto: Stop making love to your misery, It knaws at you like a vulture; Even in the meanest company You’d feel yourself a man like any other. Not that I’m advising you To mingle with the multitude; Among demons I am not a VIP, But still if you’ll throw in with me, I’ll walk beside you life’s long route, Your good companion. If I suit, I’m ready to serve you hand and foot. Faust: And in return what must I do? Mephisto: There’s plenty of time for that, forget it. Faust: No, no, the Devil must have his due, He doesn’t do things for the hell of it, Just to see another fellow through. So let’s hear the terms, what the fine print it; Having you for a servant’s a tricky business. Mephisto: I promise I will serve your wishes — here, A slave who’ll do your bidding faithfully; But if we meet eachother — there, Why you must do the same for me. Faust: Where’s there? Mephisto asks for a drink of water. Nick goes to get it. The projected image of Mephisto moves. Mephisto: In hell. Faust: How comes it then that thou art out of hell? Mephisto: Why, this is hell, nor am I out of it: Thinkst thou that I, who saw the face of God, Am not tormented with ten thousand hells, In being deprived of everlasting bliss? O, Faustus, leave these frivolous demands, Which strike a terror to my fainting soul! Nick re-enters with bottle of water Faust: What, is great Mephistopholes, so passionate For being deprived the joys of heaven? Et cetera, et cetera Mephisto: Come, dare it! Come, your signature! Oh, how my tricks will tickle your fancy! I’ll show you things no man has seen before. Faust: Oh yes, do show me fruit that rots as you try To pick it, trees whose leaves bud daily, daily die! Mephisto: Marvels like that? for a devil, not so daunting. I’m good for whatever you have in mind.
— But friend, the day comes when you find A share of your own in life’s good things, And peace and quiet, are all you’re wanting. Faust: If ever you see me loll at ease, Then it’s all yours, you can have it, my life! If ever you fool me with flatteries Into feeling satisfied with myself, Or tempt me with visions of luxuries, Well, that’s my last day on this earth, I bet you! Mephisto: Done! A bet! Faust: A bet— agreed!
Rumpelstiltskin:
Oh what a pity,
Now you've destroyed it!
The world once so lovely,
How you have wrecked it!
Down it goes, smashed
By a demigod's fist!
Out of existence
We sweep it's poor remnants,
Sorrowing over
Beauty now lost forever.
—Then build again, better,
Potent son of the earth,
Build a new world, a fairer,
Inside your own self,
Within your own heart!
With a mind clear and strong, On your lips a new song,
Come, make a fresh start!
Nickostopholes:
(And we’re live)
Mephisto:
Do you hear them, my angels,
My dear little wise ones,
Sagely advising you
To do things, be cheerful?
Their wish is to draw you
Out of the shell you’re shut up in,
Out of your torpid stagnation
Into the wide world before you.
Nickostopholes:
(cue wildlife)
Faust unrolls poster and Mephisto appears in a nature video.
Rumpelstiltskin operates plastic plants.
Mephisto:
Stop making love to your misery,
It knaws at you like a vulture;
Even in the meanest company
You’d feel yourself a man like any other.
Not that I’m advising you
To mingle with the multitude;
Among demons I am not a VIP,
But still if you’ll throw in with me,
I’ll walk beside you life’s long route,
Your good companion. If I suit,
I’m ready to serve you hand and foot.
Faust:
And in return what must I do?
Mephisto:
There’s plenty of time for that, forget it.
Faust:
No, no, the Devil must have his due,
He doesn’t do things for the hell of it,
Just to see another fellow through.
So let’s hear the terms, what the fine print it;
Having you for a servant’s a tricky business.
Mephisto:
I promise I will serve your wishes — here,
A slave who’ll do your bidding faithfully;
But if we meet eachother — there,
Why you must do the same for me.
Faust:
Where’s there?
Mephisto asks for a drink of water. Nick goes to get it. The projected image of Mephisto moves.
Mephisto:
In hell.
Faust:
How comes it then that thou art out of hell?
Mephisto:
Why, this is hell, nor am I out of it:
Thinkst thou that I, who saw the face of God,
Am not tormented with ten thousand hells,
In being deprived of everlasting bliss?
O, Faustus, leave these frivolous demands,
Which strike a terror to my fainting soul!
Nick re-enters with bottle of water
Faust:
What, is great Mephistopholes, so passionate
For being deprived the joys of heaven?
Et cetera, et cetera
Mephisto:
Come, dare it! Come, your signature!
Oh, how my tricks will tickle your fancy!
I’ll show you things no man has seen before.
Faust:
Oh yes, do show me fruit that rots as you try
To pick it, trees whose leaves bud daily, daily die!
Mephisto:
Marvels like that? for a devil, not so daunting.
I’m good for whatever you have in mind.
— But friend, the day comes when you find
A share of your own in life’s good things,
And peace and quiet, are all you’re wanting.
Faust:
If ever you see me loll at ease,
Then it’s all yours, you can have it, my life!
If ever you fool me with flatteries
Into feeling satisfied with myself,
Or tempt me with visions of luxuries,
Well, that’s my last day on this earth,
I bet you!
Mephisto:
Done! A bet!
Faust:
A bet— agreed!