SCENE FOUR
THE THRONE ROOM
AS LIGHT FOCUS TWO
COMES UP WE FIND KING FREDERICK AND QUEEN FREDERICA ENTERING AND
GOING OVER TO SIT ON THEIR THRONES.
DODDERPUSS AND LADY
SMALLTALK IN ATTENDANCE
FREDERICK
But Frederica, my
own dear,
I'm telling you that
he was here!
One's own good ears,
one's own clear eyes,
Would seem fair
witness to the wise.
What you relate ties
riddle's knot:
What cannot be, can
not- is not.
They cannot both be
drawing breath
And silent in the
still of death.
So dearest, I can
only deem
What you relate a
wakeful dream.
Let's please pursue
some slight degree
Of sense and
logicality.
FREDERICA
So like a man! He
must become
Infallibility's own
son!
While woman cannot
have the wit
To read one line of
truth's own writ.
No, Frederick, I'm
telling you
That all I'm telling
you is true:
She visited this
very day.
Not three, short
hours have slipped away
Since Greta came to
me and said
Her dearest husband
was quite dead.
All widow-worn and
weeping-eyed
(Her man spent all
before he died)
She'd neither gold
nor jewellery
To see him buried
properly.
FREDERICK
I understand you
feel quite sure,
However, as I said
before,
You must be
dreaming, dearest one!
Quickfellow seemed
quite overcome
When he set forth
his woe to me:
And he produced a
similar plea.
DODDERPUSS
Permission to speak,
your Majesty.
FREDERICK
Permission granted,
Dodderpuss.
DODDERPUSS
(EAGERLY)
Perhaps I could. .
.look into this,
And make a call of
sympathy
To find who's
really. . .dead, you see.
FREDERICK
Of course, why not?
So it may be.
Go; bring the answer
back to me.
DODDERPUSS
Yes, right away,
your Majesty.
DODDERPUSS BOWS,
SHOWING OBVIOUS EAGERNESS.
FREDERICK RISES,
TAKING FREDERICA'S HAND
FREDERICK
Come, Frederica, we
shall wait;
The facts shall soon
end all debate.
And what is true
then all shall see
As true in truth's
simplicity.
FREDERICK AND
FREDERICA EXIT, FOLLOWED BY LADY SMALLTALK
DODDERPUSS COMES
FORWARD
DODDERPUSS
(ALONE)
At last a chance has
come my way,
Oh, perfect,
pleasing, joyous day,
To catch that
jesting ratbag out. . .
His tale is false, I
have no doubt.
My nose detects a
nasty pong;
I'm sure somehow
that something's wrong!
I'll teach him to
make a mockery
Of courtiers with
his trickery.
Why should he be
paid for idle days
Of laughter, jokes
and jesting ways?
I'll pin him firmly
in his place
And wipe the smirk
right off his face
I'll foul this
little trick of his-
I'll show what sort
of man he is.
DODDERPUSS EXITS.
LIGHT FOCUS TWO FADES.
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