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.
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