Scene Seven- last scene from The Jester and the King

SCENE SEVEN

QUICKFELLOW'S BEDROOM.

AS LIGHT FOCUS ONE COMES UP WE FIND QUICKFELLOW ON HIS BED.

QUICKFELLOW (REFLECTIVELY)

Although we cannot run just yet,

For things are far too hot for that-

The rabbit hugs to briar hedge

While ever the fox still roams the edge;

We can't stay here a long time, for

We cannot even cross the door

And thus appear in public view.

But shortly, when the fuss is through,

We'll take upon us some disguise

And slip away from prying eyes,

And set up in another place,

With another name for this old face.

But, for the present, all seems clear.

GRETA RUSHES IN, GESTURING FRANTICALLY

QUICKFELLOW

The cat has eaten your tongue, my dear?

GRETA (BLURTING IT OUT)

The king and queen themselves have come.

You fool! Now look what you have done!

QUICKFELLOW

Please pardon if I need correction-

Was I alone in this deception?

GRETA GOES TO ANSWER

QUICKFELLOW

Scratch that! No time for long debate!

What can we do? We can't escape!

Oh, have we left it all too late!

THINKING

The king is calling at our gate-

HE HAS A SUDDEN DESPERATE THOUGHT

We'll greet him in our proper state.

In other words, lie down while I

Lie by your side; we both shall die.

GRETA

You're right! There's nothing left to do

But show them both, we both are through.

THEY LIE DOWN QUICKLY AND QUICKFELLOW DRAWS THE SHEET RIGHT OVER THEIR HEADS. FREDERICK AND FREDERICA ENTER, FOLLOWED BY DODDERPUSS

FREDERICK

Well now, my dear, at last we'll see

The answer to this mystery.

HE LOOKS AROUND

Two bodies here now, it would seem.

So what on earth does all this mean?

DODDERPUSS

Perhaps. . . he. . .died from his distress.

FREDERICA (FIRMLY)

You mean, she died, old Dodderpuss.

FREDERICK (MUSING)

I need a weather-vane to show

Which way the winds decide to blow.

As what is true is surely true-

Another answer comes in view.

SLYLY

If anyone came back to life,

I wouldn't wish that they died twice.

In fact, I'd give this diamond ring

To know the truth about this thing.

HE TAKES A RING FROM HIS FINGER

QUICKFELLOW (PEEPING OUT SIDEWAYS FROM UNDER THE SHEET)

Your Majesty, may I oblige?

My wife, who's lying by my side,

Has suddenly recovered breath

And woken from apparent death.

And so the truth, it would appear,

Is that we're both still really here!

QUICKFELLOW SLIDES OUT, LEAPS UP, AND TAKES GRETA BY THE HAND, SHE RISES. THEY BOW.

FREDERICA (WITH A SMILE)

And so the truth is found at last:

That both are present and not past.

FREDERICK (WITH A LAUGH)

Yes, that's the truth. I might have guessed

All this was but a crafty jest!

DODDERPUSS (FURIOUS)

Justice! I demand he die

For weaving this disgraceful lie!

FREDERICK (LAUGHING LOUDER AT DODDERPUSS' ANGER)

Yes, justice shall be done in this!

TO QUICKFELLOW

You are my jesting clown, no less?

QUICKFELLOW (NODS AND BOWS)

With that position I am blessed.

FREDERICK

And thus for jesting you are paid?

QUICKFELLOW

Your Majesty, that is my trade.

FREDERICK

And this was all a jest you made?

QUICKFELLOW

Indeed, Your Highness, that is so-

A trick, a joke, a little show.

FREDERICK

And yet indeed a teaching too,

Instructing us in what is true.

For even if it were not planned,

It's shown a blindness of command.

The half of truth each time we got,

And yet that half at once forgot.

If we had not been blinded by

Delight in arguing, the lie

Would not have worked so readily-

Truth would have been seen easily.

Thus we can learn opinion's worth

Is just a pinch of dusty earth!

GIVING HIM THE RING

So take this ring as pay from me,

But in future spend more sparingly.

For all that you have conned this day

I shall regard as future pay

For some years' jesting and merriment

That I'll expect you to present.

WITH A BROAD GESTURE

Come all, let us continue now

This merry start to night's first hour.

KING FREDERICK TAKES FREDERICA'S HAND AND THEY EXIT, FOLLOWED BY DODDERPUSS, STILL GRUMBLING TO HIMSELF. GRETA FOLLOWS THEM. QUICKFELLOW POCKETS THE RING AND STARTS TO EXIT, SINGING THE FOX , WHICH WE HEAR TILL IT FADES AWAY ON THE LAST LINE.

QUICKFELLOW (SINGING)

Then the fox and his wife, without any strife,

Cut up the goose without fork or knife.

They'd never had such a good meal in their life

And the little ones chewed on the bones-o, bones-o, bones-o;

They'd never had such a good meal in their life

And the little ones chewed on the bones-o.

LIGHTS FADE.

THE END.

Scene Six from The Jester and the King

SCENE SIX

THE THRONE ROOM. AS LIGHT FOCUS TWO COMES UP, WE FIND KING FREDERICK AND QUEEN FREDERICA ON THEIR THRONES.

FREDERICK

Well now, my dear, the truth shall be

Revealed in all its clarity-

My messenger returns to me.

Now, once and for all, we shall see

Which one of our once-happy pair

Has flown forever from earthly care.

DODDERPUSS ENTERS

Come Dodderpuss, now did you find

Which one has left this life behind?

DODDERPUSS

Indeed I did, your Majesty.

It is. . .the wife, undoubtedly.

FREDERICK (SMUGLY)

Well, there you are, my dear, you see

It is the wife- undoubtedly!

FREDERICA (CROSSLY)

There's only one thing that's quite clear:

You're just told what you want to hear.

I won't rely on that old stick!

POINTING TO DODDERPUSS

He won't trip me with his weak trick!

You know he's only pleasing you-

You see, I know it can't be true.

LADY SMALLTALK ENTERS

Ah, Lady Smalltalk, I'm glad you're back;

On strictest oath, just give the facts.

So tell us all, now you've been round,

Just what is it that you have found.

LADY SMALLTALK (BOWING)

Your Majesty, just let me say,

The husband's dead, it's clear as day.

FREDERICK

As clear as day you say to me-

As dark as night it seems to be.

But those who hold the power of state

Must keep a clear head in debate.

And in all things clear wisdom sees

That true impossibilities

Just cannot be; and so must test

Alternatives to find what's best.

This foolish matter bothers me

With challenge of absurdity.

WITH SUDDEN DECISION

Thus I'll not let this matter be,

But lift the veil of mystery!

And so it is I'll find who's right

Or I'll not rest in bed tonight.

TO DODDERPUSS

Go; ready the fastest coach for me;

My queen and I shall go and see

If we can trace the golden thread

That leads to truth's clear fountainhead

Through all the muddy maze of doubt.

When we're both there we shall find out

This riddle's reason which unlocks

The single truth in paradox.

FREDERICK AND FREDERICA EXIT, LEAVING LADY SMALLTALK STARING AFTER THEM. LIGHTS FADE.

Scene Five from The Jester and the King

SCENE FIVE

QUICKFELLOW'S BEDROOM

AS LIGHT FOCUS ONE COMES UP WE FIND GRETA LOOKING AROUND THE ROOM

GRETA (TO HERSELF)

The hours turn towards the rise of night

Which brings obscuring of the light;

The blue becomes star-patterned sphere,

And under its cover we'll get clear.

Beneath the shelter of the dark,

The cloak of sleep, we shall depart

For other lands, for other days,

With gold to pave our laughing ways.

So I should hurry up and be

Prepared for our good odyssey;

I must be finished packing soon-

Do I need anything from this room?

GRETA CONTINUES SEARCHING. QUICKFELLOW ENTERS IN OBVIOUS AGITATION FROM EXIT ONE, LOOKING OUT TOWARDS AUDIENCE RIGHT.

HE TURNS HURRIES TOWARDS THE BEDROOM

QUICKFELLOW

By hell's black hounds, what shall I do?

I've really thrown us in the stew!

GRETA

What's wrong with you? You look so pale:

As if a ghost were on your trail.

QUICKFELLOW

Much worse, much worse is what I've seen!

Oh, what a feeble fool I've been!

You see, I've just seen Dodderpuss

Quick-tottering down the road towards us.

That nasty, nosy, telltale nit

Has sniffed the scent of my deceit.

He's seized his chance with our parading

Of puzzling griefs, and thus persuading

King Frederick to send him out

To check my story's deal of doubt.

Let's see. . .let's see, there's one wild chance:

We called the tune, we'll join the dance!

Or turning terms another way,

I shall impress with grief's display!

Quick- throw yourself down on the bed,

And lie there still, like one who's dead.

I'll pull this sheet right over you,

And hide you wholly from his view.

GRETA

I'll be so still I'll strike belief-

But you must be most moved by grief!

GRETA THROWS HERSELF ON THE BED. QUICKFELLOW PULLS UP THE SHEET, THEN GETS DOWN BY THE SIDE OF THE BED, READY TO LAMENT

QUICKFELLOW

As soon as he trots into view

My tears will start, so hot and true.

AS SOON AS HE SEES DODDERPUSS HE STARTS LAMENTING. DODDERPUSS HAS ENTERED VIA ENTRANCE TWO AND HE COMES DOWN AND AROUND THE SCREEN TO THE BED.

QUICKFELLOW (LAMENTING)

Oh how I cry, oh how I sigh,

Right to the broad and dusk-red sky!

For disappearing is the day,

And my light too has gone away!

My dearest dear, now we're apart,

Oh, grief, oh grief just grips my heart!

My little love, now you're laid low,

My soul is so weighed down with woe!

My sorrow is an aching load,

To bear on life's long, bitter road!

Oh, now you're dead, my dearest wife,

How empty seems the rest of life!

DODDERPUSS

Excuse my interruption, sir-

I've come here as a messenger. . .

That is to say. . .not of. . .new news,

But of His Majesty's grave views.

In short, to speak my purpose swiftly,

That is. . .condense the matter briefly-

His Majesty, His Royal Highness,

Great be His Realm, in all its fineness,

The King, that is, said to convey,

In further measure than his way

In audience had seemed to say,

Deep sympathy on this dark day.

QUICKFELLOW

Oh, Dodderpuss, what shall I do?

The grief just pierces me right through!

QUICKFELLOW THROWS HIMSELF ON DODDERPUSS, HIS ARMS AND HANDS PAWING AT HIM SUFFICIENTLY TO MAKE HIM UNSTEADY

DODDERPUSS (HURRYING TO EXTRACT HIMSELF)

Please pardon me, I do not know

Quite what to say about your woe.

I've given you my message, so

I must be gone, I'm bound to say. . .

For I have much to do today,

So I must get back right away!

DODDERPUSS EXITS HURRIEDLY VIA EXIT TWO QUICKFELLOW GOES OUT TO SEE HIM GO

QUICKFELLOW (TO HIMSELF)

I'm truly glad to see you go,

You sneaking, prying so-and-so.

TO GRETA

Well, that is that! Once more we're free

To finish packing now and flee.

GRETA (RISING)

When we are many miles from here,

It's then I'll feel we're in the clear;

I do not trust their Majesties

To let us rest in simple ease.

QUICKFELLOW (TURNING BACK TO THE BEDROOM)

You may be right, indeed you may!

We'll finish packing right away.

SUDDENLY QUICKFELLOW NOTICES SOMETHING ELSE, OFF AUDIENCE RIGHT

By all the powers of heaven, no!

Our trouble doubles in one blow!

GRETA

What is it now? Why do you stand

Like one who sees doom near at hand?

QUICKFELLOW

Another unwelcome, prying bore

Will soon be calling at our door.

That gossipy, old bag of air,

Your mistress Smalltalk, is over there;

And carefully coming a different way

From master Dodderpuss, I'd say.

The queen has sent her here, I guess.

She doesn't trust old Dodderpuss,

She thinks that he will just report

What fits the king's own favoured thought.

We'd better act, she's getting near!

GRETA JUMPS UP FROM SITTING ON BED

GRETA

I know the queen; she hopes to hear

A different tale from her old horse!

And there she's right- she will, of course!

For differing report delays

Perception of our cheating ways;

Their majesties can argue on-

For very soon we shall be gone.

Our fortunes wheel like birds in the sky;

Come on, it's your turn now to die.

GRETA AND QUICKFELLOW QUICKLY CHANGE PLACES

GRETA (LAMENTING)

Now you are dumb, oh, dearest one,

Now you've fled life, now you are gone,

Oh woe is heaped on hopeless woe-

Now that your soul's gone down below!

My foolish love and loving fool,

Now subject to tormenting rule!

Oh, husband dear, you've left your wife,

How empty seems the rest of life!

AS SHE HAS BEEN SPEAKING LADY SMALLTALK HAS ENTERED

LADY SMALLTALK

My pretty, dear, young-featured thing,

Still sipping from life's joyful spring,

I'm sad to see you sorrowing;

I grieve to see you wrapped in grief-

We must be brave that's my belief!

In fact, the queen has sent me here

To try to comfort you, my dear.

So take this now and dry your eyes;

One wrinkles more, the more one cries.

LADY SMALLTALK OFFERS HER A HANDKERCHIEF

GRETA

Lady Smalltalk, what shall I do?

The grief just pierces me right through!

GRETA THROWS HERSELF ON LADY SMALLTALK AS QUICKFELLOW DID TO DODDERPUSS.

LADY SMALLTALK

Control yourself, dear. After all,

Don't take this wrongly now, my girl,

You could find better any day-

That is, you see, I mean to say,

There are many men, fine dukes and such,

Who might be well within your clutch.

The Good Lord gives and takes away-

But tomorrow is another day!

For such is life. Our present woes

Seem ever smaller as time goes.

No need to waste your younger years

On storms of sighing and of tears.

GRETA BACKS TOWARDS THE BED

GRETA (ARCHLY)

I guess you're right there, in a way:

A spendthrift fool on holiday,

That's how he's lived and now he's paid

The price of endless masquerade.

Though I'd implore him to improve

And run within a steady groove,

Wise words are wasted on the ear

That never hears when trouble's near.

No doubt I could do better than

That thoughtless, ever-jesting man.

HIDDEN BY GREAT AND THUS UNSEEN TO LADY SMALLTALK, QUICKFELLOW SWIFTLY SLAPS GRETA ON THE BOTTOM FOR THIS LAST REMARK. GRETA REACTS WITH A LOOK OF SLIGHT SHOCK. LADY SMALLTALK TURNS BACK TO HER AND NOTICES HER CHANGE OF MOOD

LADY SMALLTALK

I see you're feeling better now!

No need to lose each lovely hour

In sorrow when there's much to do!

I knew you'd see my point of view.

No point in fretting for what's flown;

Far better seeing what you own.

The future furthers those who choose

To use whatever they can use.

You have to pluck the best each day

From twists of fate that come your way.

Well- I must hurry off, my dear;

Queen Frederica is eager to hear

Some news of how you're feeling now.

GRETA

Oh, thank you for calling at this sad hour.

LADY SMALLTALK EXITS. QUICKFELLOW SITS UP ON THE BED

QUICKFELLOW

How that old galleon does rattle;

Her sails puffed-out with spite and prattle!

She loves to sail near to the fray

And let her cannons blast away!

Still, now she's gone, we'd best lie low

And wait until the storm clouds go.

We cannot try to run just yet.

GRETA (THOUGHTFULLY)

The fish is tangling in the net;

Our ship is running on the rocks;

The hounds are closing on the fox;

The mouse has seen the traps are set.

I hope their Majesties forget

This matter of who's dead or not.

QUICKFELLOW

They haven't yet quite yet sprung the plot.

Don't worry love, we'll find a way

To slip the problems of this day.

GRETA

I hope that your hope's justified,

Or we'll be well and truly fried!

GRETA EXITS

QUICKFELLOW (TO HIMSELF)

Yes, it is easy to seem calm;

But calm is no defence from harm.

SINGING SOFTLY TO HIMSELF FROM THE FOX AS HE STRAIGHTENS THE BED

Now John he ran to the top of the hill,

And he blew a blast both loud and shrill,

Said the fox, "That's very pretty music, still

I'd rather be in my den-o, den-o, den-o."

Said the fox, "That's very pretty music, still

I'd rather be in my den-o."

LIGHTS DIM. HE EXITS.