Fifty Contemporary One-Act Plays

SCENE VI.

Chapter 17361 wordsPublic domain

[The Wazir's garden. No characters on scene]

_The Music_ _The Pantomime, etc._

Wazir rhythm _Nubian_ enters from left, holding the Shepherd The _Wazir_ and _Vizier_ follow

Tap _Wazir_ takes his seat, smirking

Tap _Wazir_ orders Shepherd thrown down at the right

Drum crash _Nubian_ complies

Tap _Vizier_ orders Nubian off right

Wazir rhythm, fast _Nubian_ hurries out

Wazir rhythm, slow Reenters, staggering under a ball and chain [the chain of papier mache and the ball a balloon]

Drum crash Drops these beside the Shepherd

Clank, clank Rivets chain to Shepherd's leg

Tap Rises

Tap _Vizier_ orders Nubian off, left

Wazir rhythm _Nubian_ exits left

Tap _Vizier_ sits

Tap _Wazir_ moves a chessman

Tap _Vizier_ moves a chessman

Tap _Shepherd_, in a gesture of despair, finds the telescope He looks into the "Distance" [The "Distance" is shown as in Scene I]

Stringed music _Princess_ and _Goat_ discovered in conference. Goat has an idea. He points to the Shepherd, then to the Wazir, then to the Princess and executes an ancient dance movement which is contemporaneously described as the "shimmy" _The Princess_ claps her hands and exits, followed by the Goat

Tap _Shepherd_ lowers the telescope [The "Distance" vanishes]

Tap _Shepherd_ is puzzled

Stringed music _Princess_ enters from the left, veiled and carrying a scarf in her hands _Goat_ enters with her, goes at once to the Shepherd _Princess_ poses at center _Wazir_ and _Vizier_ turn, smirking _Princess_ dances _Wazir_ leers and strokes his beard _Princess_ ends dance beside Vizier

Chords, agitato She ties his arms with her scarf

Sand blocks _Wazir_ is convulsed with laughter

Chords _Princess_ binds Wazir's arms with her veil

Sand blocks _Vizier_ is convulsed with laughter

Princess rhythm on _The Attendant_ enters from the left with a box wood drum on which a skull and cross-bones are conspicuous

Tap _Princess_ takes two pills from the box

Tap She pops them into her prisoners' open mouths

Princess rhythm _The Attendant_ exits as she came

Sand blocks _Wazir_ and _Vizier_ swallow vigorously

Drum crash They lay their heads upon the chess table and die

Tap _Princess_ beckons to the Shepherd

Tap _Shepherd_ points to his fetters

Tap _Goat_ attacks the ball and chain

Drum crash He "bites" the ball [bursts the balloon]

Tap He "bites" the chain.

String music _Princess_, _Shepherd_ and _Goat_ dance in a circle

Cymbal crash Lights out _Princess_ and _Shepherd_ and _Goat_ ready at left for next scene The drop is lowered

Cymbal crash Lights up