At Jean and Beatrice's engagement party, Paris entertains with an art song, while Jean and Beatrice accept best wishes from their guests. Dante appears and Marie goes to him with her mother's safebox. Jean confronts Dante in a rage and a violent fight ensues. Paris comes to Jean's defence and the brothers beat Dante mercilessly. Marie Christine grabs the knife Paris has dropped during the fight and stabs her brother to death. Marie Christine and Dante flee to the docks, where they escape from New Orleans on Dante's ship. Marie wordlessly reveals to Dante she is carrying his child as the act ends. ACT TWO Marie Christine and Dante have spent five years sailing up and down the Eastern Seaboard after their escape from New Orleans. They have two beautiful sons, five and three-years-old. They finally settle in Chicago where Dante puts Marie and the children in a small house by the river white he pursues his political ambitions. In a saloon in Chicago's First Ward, Magdalena, the saloon's proprietor, entertains the bar's patrons who include Dante and the powerful political boss, Charles Gates. Her performance is interrupted by a rally for Dante who is running for City Alderman under Gates' watchful eye. Marie Christine confronts Dante. He has abandoned her to facilitate his political aspirations and is now engaged to marry Gates' daughter Helena. He coldly asks her to leave Chicago. As she furiously reminds him of the years they spent together, the scene dissolves into a memory of Dante, Marie and their children in a playful, happy moment. Dante insists she turn the boys over to him. Marie accuses him of complicity in crimes she committed for him, including murder in New York City. He admits to nothing. Marie Christine explodes and threatens him in wounded rage. Magdalena pays a visit to Marie Christine. She warns Marie that Charles Gates will do anything to get Dante into political office; her life is in danger. She entreats her to give the children over to Dante for the time being and leave town; Magdalena will provide refuge and promises to get her children back for her. In exchange, Marie will help Magdalena and her husband realise their wish for a child of their own. Marie is tormented by her obsession with Dante; she insinuates herself into his psyche and as Dante tries to make love to the beautiful Helena, Marie unleashes her power in a violent, heated pas-de-trois. Late at night, Charles Gates' henchmen, McMahon and Leary, appear at Marie Christine's door with a message from Gates. Gates then appears and confronts Marie, accusing her of standing in Dante's way. He says he will accept Dante's children into his household. Marie fears he will abuse them and refuses. Enraged at her obstinacy Gates and his henchmen then viciously humiliate her. Marie Christine is broken. Powerless to protect her babies and discarded by Dante, she is haunted by the ghost of her brother Paris, and the memories of her family. The Prisoners encourage her to continue with her story. On the day he is married to Gates' daughter, Dante is summoned by Marie who tells him that she has decided, for the children's sake, to turn them over to him. She could never hurt him, she says. She gently asks that the boys be allowed to present a gift to Helena after which, Magdalena is to bring them back for a final goodbye. Dante assents and leaves with the boys. Marie Christine then turns on the Prisoners in a violent outburst. They will bear witness to the end of her story. Magdalena returns from the wedding with the children. She repeats her promise to provide Marie with refuge outside the city and to get her children back for her shortly. Marie Christine gives Magdalena a gift that will help her bear a child. Before surrendering the children to Dante, Marie says she would like to bathe and prepare them. As Magdalena looks on, Marie sings them a lullaby and holds her babies close as she leads them off . The quiet moment is shattered by Dante entering in hysteria—the gift Marie has given Helen, was poisoned, killing Helena on her wedding night. Dante demands that Marie Christine turn the boys over to him. What he sees in her eyes is no less horrifying than what he sees in the next room. She has murdered their children. He collapses, destroyed. "Innocence dies by your hand, for his arrogance, for your awful love. But is love too small a pain for a woman? Cover your eyes and ask the sun..." Marie Christine's mother is heard, echoed by the Prisoners,
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy ODU3MzQ=