|
|
By Jonathan Harris
(A general playing area. To one end is a very large wall. This separates a village from the outside world. The rest of the playing area is an open field. A TOWN CRIER appears with a large scroll. He reads to audience.) TOWN CRIER Attention all whose eyes pass o'er this scroll: Know thee now, since the changing of the land (Which came upon us quickly, and from God) That powers of the state are held supreme And perfect jurisprudence now the reign. The fate of all is now the one concern To it the individual must fade And, therein, serve the greater of the all This edict served - this edict now obeyed:
No longer may one question of another - No longer may one gather there to whisper - No longer shall there be a thing of secret - No longer shall a seal remain unbroken- Instead, we gather for a proclamation - Instead, we keep opinion now in silence- Instead, we hold this law as self-evident - Instead, we open all our lives to censor.
This edict is enforced a certain way, Lest anyone should doubt its granite word: On pain of death shall certain edict pay To any of us who is overheard...
(Lights change as Crier crosses to wall and hammers the edict to it. TWO CENSORS enter. They are wearing capes with hoods.) CENSOR 1 In short, my worthy cousin of the art, Who never did (before this edict served) Require more than soul, or will, or heart To say " t'would serve an artist's rightful place In rightful honor" - you are oddly wrong. I, too, once felt that feeling was the place: That faith and grace in glorified clay Could take the place of truth. But, in Art's haste came much gratuity. CENSOR 2 What did you say? CENSOR 1 My God! You really have to learn to hear! If we're (that's you and I), if we're supposed To make it even clearer than it is To these few souls who've ventured far and wee To catch a glimpse of life that some call Art, I really must insist, communication is the key! CENSOR 2 Far and wee? Far and wee? My friend, I understand your every word. You said the artist made a slip in thinking he could push the edges no one had better push in our new society. The Law. The Law which now demands each self-claimed artist sign a pledge, and take an oath on "pain of death", and blah de-blah-de-blah. I know The Law. I've seen The Law. I've seen the scarred remains, and smelt the burning flesh of burning fags, and Jews, and martyrs... CENSOR 1 So say some. CENSOR 2 And artists! Those who made the vain mistake of thinking they were in the hands of thinking men. We have a job. CENSOR 1 Of much responsibility and place. CENSOR 2 So say some. CENSOR 1 And so they do! And so they say! And so they are! When Justice rules in perfect time And Man must weigh the balance T'will take a man of many minds To estimate his talents. To cross a line at all today 'Tis wise to only show it To others who have crossed the line. Lest otherwise you toe it. CENSOR 2 "Lest otherwise"? Lest otherwise. My friend, your coward's showing. To be afraid to cross the line Is just the same as toe-ing. CENSOR 1 Agree to disagree. CENSOR 2 I will. And so. CENSOR 1 Tis done. CENSOR 2 Not quite. CENSOR 1
My God! CENSOR 2 Our job as Censors make us matched, I think, in how we quarrel. To serve the perfect balances... (MUSIC UP from offstage) CENSOR 1 What's that? CENSOR 2 It's something choral. (Censor 1 pulls out a dagger. They raise their hoods and "disappear". THE SINGING SCOUT and THE DANCING SCOUT enter. They are dancing to the music off stage. The Dancing Scout is not very good and steps on The Singing Scout's foot.) SINGING SCOUT And off! Get off my foot, you fool, and pray you! DANCING SCOUT I pray you, then, my Sir, for Thou art God. SINGING SCOUT Then God and God-be-damned, I mean to kill! DANCING SCOUT For footfall?
SINGING SCOUT Footfall, sir? Nay, Bump, for many! At least two dozen times in just today! Why must you so insist upon this marriage? DANCING SCOUT A wedding, Sir, not quite unlike a nun, Is what the idol of the novice needs. SINGING SCOUT Then needs, and God, and you, and God be damned If this "proposal" from your mouth is born. For killing you is but the first of answers To get you off my back, and off my corn! DANCING SCOUT A point well taken, Lord. Now, feet, don't tarry, Else our poor souls could go to Hell to marry.
(THE NOMADS enter. The two scouts begin to set up an altar Center Stage. The Nomads are made up of: The Whore, The Fool, The Better, The Angry, The Powerful, The Beast, The Positive, The Parturient, The Student, The Newest, He-She, The Lady, The Two Scouts, and The Other One. The general designed look should imply the Ryder deck of tarot cards. The only specifics are: The Lady is wearing a long crimson dress, The Parturient is pregnant and ready to burst, and The Other One, whose face is mostly in shadow, wears rags and seems to be oozing some kind of horrid infection from his or her face.)
NOMADS (singing) CRAZY HANNAH RIDES THE BUS ALL DAY AROUND THE CITY SHE WANDERS UP AND DOWN THE HILLS AND HOPES LIKE HELL SHE SEES A LITTLE PITY IN THE FACES OF THE LORDS OF WELL TO DO AS CRAZY HANNAH HOLDS HER OWN ON THE AVENUE
HANNAH LIKES TO WEAR A CHRISTMAS RIBBON IN HER HAIR STEPPING OUT INTO THE MORNING GOD KNOWS WHAT SHE SAW WHEN SHE PUT IT THERE TOO MUCH MAKE-UP, TOO MUCH LIGHT INVADE HER TIRED EYES WHEN IT COMES TO GIVING ALL THE DEVILS THEIR DUE, HANNAH TRIES
LIKE THE EARLY MORNING PAPER LITTERING THE STREET PEOPLE NOTICE CRAZY HANNAH ONE MORE PLACE TO WATCH WHERE YOU PUT YOUR FEET UNDERFOOT AND UNDERFED, SHE'S THE BOTTOM LINE WHEN COMPARED TO HANNAH, BUDDY YOU'RE DOING FINE
"GIMME A QUARTER, GIMME A DIME!" CRAZY HANNAH CRIES "GIMME SOME COMFORT, GIMME SOME TIME!" ALL DAY LONG SHE SEES THEIR PITY THIS IS FOOD FOR CRAZY HANNAH, KEEPING HER WELL-FED MAYBE YOU HAVE SEEN HER EATING HEAVEN'S BREAD
CRAZY HANNAH'S CRAZY 'COS CRAZY HANNAH DOESN'T KNOW EVERYBODY RIDES THE BUS EVERYBODY WANTS A PLACE TO GO BUT IN A WORLD WHERE WHATCHA GOT IS WHATCHA SPEND NO ONE KNOWS THEIR FINAL STOP TILL THEY REACH THE END (By the end of the number, The Nomads, have set up camp.)
THE WHORE A camp!
SCOUTS We scout!
THE STUDENT I'11 analyze this place. THE POWERFUL This spot's as good as any by my sight. THE BETTER I still have not forgot from where we came. 'Twas warm, and brought much soothing in the night. THE FOOL Because, perhaps, of evening visitations Brought to your room for gratis (if not love) By healthy chambermaids who'd soothe away Even the most distasteful malady. " 'Twas warm, and brought much soothing...", I've no doubt. HE-SHE I'm warm and may be soothed by gentle hand. THE BETTER 'Tis not a night so black could black my eye. HE-SHE Could black your eye? And will now, by my hand! THE POSITIVE I'm tired. Must we quarrel yet again? This bicker back and forth upsets my head. For hours now each hour feels like ten. A snicker here, and there a snipe! BETTER/HE-SHE Drop dead! THE BETTER Well then, be bawdy-like, for thou art wench-like. HE-SHE Be like a wench? THE BETTER Unlikely.
HE-SHE Like or no, Thou shalt not see what answers may await you In secret sheets where angels pay to go: 'Tis six of one or one half dozen, either Could warrant you a night you'd not forget! THE BETTER But, six of one or one half dozen's either Too much of both, or not enough of neither.
(The Student has found the edict posted on the wall. He hands it to THE ANGRY)
THE ANGRY There's this. How odd. Too strange for common eye. A reader, please... THE LADY What have you? THE ANGRY
THE NEWEST An edict. And a judgement, too. Let's see, It seems we've come upon a law severe That will allow no traffic of our voice. "On pain of death" (they borrow from Shakespeare To make their point). It seems we have no choice Except to start undoing what we've done And find another clearing for our beds. THE WHORE I'11 not be moved. I'm settled for the night. THE PARTURIENT Just how severe this law? THE NEWEST They'll have our heads. THE ANGRY For what? Or, do they simply like to kill? THE NEWEST It paints this place a most unwelcome home To any who would banter or express Whatever thought they have or call their own, Or any secret longing would confess. THE POWERFUL Absurdity! No people can exist Within such bound'ries. Nature won't be ruled! THE NEWEST Regardless, here I hold it. THE PARTURIENT This is cruel. The very thought or picture of a thing So simply stated, coldly, and accepted Is but the work a nightmare-witch would bring To unsuspecting children as they rested. Too cruel. Too cold. Too quickly uninvited. And this is law? THE NEWEST It is. THE POSITIVE And I'm delighted! Perhaps my wit escapes me in the reading But, paraphrase it still, I will attempt: It speaks of how this new world now is needing Restraint, and, thus, repression of all thought. This village here, or, possibly this land, Believes it serves a multitude of Gods By censoring itself upon command. Whether they are commanding it or not. THE LADY And this delights you? THE POSITIVE Yes. THE FOOL That needs explaining. THE PARTURIENT I think I know! NOMADS UNCUT! THE POSITIVE The word is yours. THE PARTURIENT Now, stop me if I'm wrong... THE POSITIVE I wouldn't dare it. To cut you when you make the point is censor. THE PARTURIENT Then off I go to try to make it clear: In fact, this edict makes the point itself For here we are, content, or near contented With how we live our lives; unfettered, free; And make a point to always speak our minds. In fact, we speak in faith, it's how we live, And is, for me at least, the only way To truly understand what God can give, Through what another one of us will say. In speaking without censor we have found A clear communication with the truth. HE-SHE How sweet, and often frightful, is the sound When subtle wisdom joins with trusting youth. THE PARTURIENT But, still, in truth, for Truth is what we seek; We never cut another's right to speak, For, in so doing, power is make meek, And strength is made most impotent and weak. THE POWERFUL Yes. This we know. We always use God's tongue By stopping not our own. Now, to the point... THE PARTURIENT The point, my dear reflection, is in hand: This edict is more challenge than command. THE STUDENT I understand! It's more than giving service To what we all agree on as a whole. To bypass-leave this town is much akin To preaching to a twice-converted soul. THE ANGRY So, shall we spend the night in town or not? THE BETTER My vote is to return to last night's home. THE POWERFUL Yes, yes, we all know strongly how you rested In last night's bosomed comfort, now molested. THE LADY I vote we stay right here and spend the night. THE POWERFUL A vote! We stay? We go? We enter in? (They vote to remain where they are for the night) And so we rest. And think of where we've been. (The Nomads start making beds, etc.)
CENSOR 1 I'11 shed no tear for their departed souls. CENSOR 2 Theirs souls are not departing as of yet. CENSOR 1 You twist the word. My meaning is quite clear. They'll not survive the night when night is gone. CENSOR 2 They're out of town, and out of view for now. CENSOR 1 For now, you say...
(The Nomads suddenly stand and, in unison, start facing the four corners of the earth)
...what business now is on?
(A soft rhythmic clapping, a musical tone is found communally. As they sing, they each place a personal item on the altar where a flashlight is on and facing up.) NOMADS LOOK, THE COMING CHANGE TOUCH SURROUNDING STRANGENESS HEAR A ROLLING THUNDER COMING FROM DOWN UNDER LOOK, A COMING CHANGE
WHAT IS IN THE AIR? THERE'S NO WHY OR WHEREFORE CALL IT A FEELING SENDING OUR HEARTS REELING WHAT IS IN THE AIR?
IT'S TIME - PEOPLE REALIZE ALL THAT'S ALL AROUND YOU HIGH TIME - PEOPLE RECOGNIZE WHAT YOU'VE BECOME BUT MAN HAS A TENDENCY SPENDING DAYS IN EASY FLIGHTS OF RAPTURE, FLIGHTS OF FANCY, HE WON'T CAPTURE WHAT HE CAN'T SEE
THERE, IT IS BEGUN SHARE THE RACE WE'RE RUNNING CARE ABOUT YOUR BROTHER - BE ONE FOR THE OTHER THEN IT IS BEGUN THEN IT IS BEGUN THEN IT IS BEGUN CENSOR 1 And still they choose to stay despite the warning. Which makes it crystal clear to all who hear. I wager you, they will not see the morning Should they not change their course to higher gear. CENSOR2 How base, my friend. You constantly surprise me It matters not to them this threat we feel. Their vision and their purpose now outspoken Will only fuel the fire, turn the wheel. Our job is but dependant on one thing: That being; how we reckon with the mob. CENSOR 1 And you suggest? CENSOR 2 More stated than suggested: That both of us must work to keep our job. CENSOR 1 Why can't you speak it plain? My God, the arts! So vague, and most unpleasant in response. Your head's a rattle, empty now of seeds, Still shouting hollow messages and wants. CENSOR 1 In serving what we must, I only try To analyze the situation here. And, also, make what's ugly to the eye Seem somewhat less unpleasant to the ear If this offends apologies are offered. CENSOR 1 I only want to know your mind. CENSOR 2 Not so. To know each others mind will only falter The checks and balances required of us. You think what I may know but haven't said, I say with words what words are in your head. And there we find relationship to serve What we are told to serve, with double-eye. CENSOR 1 And so, my second vision, what, behold, Should we do now with what is now before? This filthy band of God Knows What is bold And, therefore, banned, illegal. Nothing more. CENSOR 2 They serve no threat. CENSOR 1 No threat! CENSOR 2 Outside of town. CENSOR 1 But, two departed hence and soon return. CENSOR 2 Well, then, upon arrival and return We wait to hear them, listen, and to learn. CENSOR 1 We spy. CENSOR 2 We listen. Hiding voice and face. In serving secret, too, we serve our place. (The Scouts are heard off) CENSOR 1 And here they now return. SCOUTS What ho! CENSOR 2 There's timing. (The Scouts are very animated on their return. They appear frightened.)
THE FOOL You look like two skinned buzzards pantomiming. SINGING SCOUT It's odd. DANCING SCOUT I tell you. SINGING SCOUT Awful. DANCING SCOUT Most obscene. SINGING SCOUT Indecent. DANCING SCOUT Frightful. SINGING SCOUT Terrible. DANCING SCOUT Unclean. SINGING SCOUT The eyes! DANCING SCOUT Those empty eyes! SINGING SCOUT They speak, but stutter As if they've never seen! DANCING SCOUT It makes you shudder. CENSOR 2 I know this look they've seen and know it frightful, And wither at the telling. CENSOR 1 (Looking at CENSOR 2 closely) Most insightful. SINGING SCOUT And yet, they smile... DANCING SCOUT Their teeth are good, at least. But in the eye is where you find the beast. THE WHORE They speak? SINGING SCOUT No, not at all. THE WHORE No single word? SINGING SCOUT "Excuse me" and the like, but nothing more. DANCING SCOUT And trying to engage a person's thought Would find you empty handed like as not. SINGING SCOUT We had one conversation with a man Who stood within a garden by the road, He was the first we came upon in town And, so, we asked for water from his hose. DANCING SCOUT He held it firmly, weapon-like, like so... SINGING SCOUT Then oddly stared, and answered with: "What hose?" DANCING SCOUT At first we thought it rude, or odd, at best, But, that's before we went and met the rest. SINGING SCOUT The entire town is walking in its' sleep. DANCING SCOUT Or hypnotized. SINGING SCOUT Or empty in the head. DANCING SCOUT Or on some kind of drug that goes too deep. SINGING SCOUT Or in a coma... DANCING SCOUT Shock, perhaps... SINGING SCOUT ...or dead! HE-SHE This place gives me the creeps, shall we move on? 'Tis hardly fair to foist our views upon them. THE OTHER ONE AND CUT! 'Tis hardly fair to foist our view"? That's nonsense. "Foist our view"? I mean to speak: And seizing now my tongue, and Heaven's too, Submit that here your fear does motivate. We have a Way. A Way we know the way of. We see it's logic, sense it's power, too. Give witness to its method everyday. (A day which time before gave naught but hell On top of hell, and no way out could see.) This rescued me. This spoken word of soul, Whose tongue was rotted black from lack of word, And heals me, too, by exercising faith Where faith of faith before could not be heard. So, do not tempt to blemish what is dear With something so innocuous as fear. THE FOOL There's fear of this and fear of that From sea to shining sea... But fear to me is being near Someone who's feared of me. BOO! THE POWERFUL We have your vote down solid. HE-SHE Vote to stay. THE LADY But, to what end? THE WHORE To spread the word! THE NEWEST To share it! THE STUDENT Make a movement! THE POSITIVE Make a friend. THE BEAST I need more facts before I vote to stay. About this town: all deaf and dumb, you say? DANCING SCOUT Not deaF, nor none too dumb, but, uninspired. They walk around, and nod, and work, and eat. And everywhere this edict posted up And everywhere it's followed out of fear. Innocuous or not, it's everywhere. THE FOOL My voice says this is not a stranger's town. But, we are all familiar, are we not? 'Tis not by chance we happened to this spot, This spot completely different from our hearts. We're here to teach, and learn, or try, at least, These people are in misery, it sounds, And if we keep our heads about us now, Perhaps we'll learn a thing from things new-found. THE ANGRY This thing we'll learn to do is lose our heads. Then try to speak soliloquy or rhyme. THE NEWEST I'd pack my bags were I alone and one. But, now, I'm more, and more of me there is. I vote with ruling vote: majority. Would this group part there'd be the less of me. THE POSITIVE My God, a play! THE BETTER A what? THE ANGRY My God! THE POSITIVE A play! We'll do a play and show 'em what we've got! =============================================================================== THIS WORK HAS BEEN DIVIDED INTO
|