An Archaic Modern Play: Play On, Act 2, Scene 6

CHARACTERS IN THIS SCENE:

PRINCE: The Prince of Medi. He dreams of a brighter future but is naïve to what his Father and others are really like.

LIA: Princess of Medi, pretending to be a servant of the Independent Investigator from France.

King Medi’s Palace

Enter Prince

Prince:                                You must say something. You must tell her feelings instead of just words. You must—you must do everything in your power to keep her happy. No Prince, she is servant, I am Prince—I cannot let her believe this would work any longer, no matter how much I wish it to be so.

                                                                                                                                       [Enter Lia]

Lia:                                       Evangeline!

Prince:                                What?

Lia:                                       Never mind. Prince, you are well?

Prince:                                Indeed. I am well. And you, servant Lia, you are well?

Lia:                                       Indeed. I am well also. So—it is a most beautiful night.

Prince:                                I believe it to be. The heavens shall rain upon us soon.

Lia:                                       How do you know?

Prince:                                I can hear the rumbling of the sky from afar.

Lia:                                       You are a bat! Only they can hear such distance.

Prince:                                Or a fool.

Lia:                                       Fools cannot hear anything; that is why they are fools.

Prince:                                And yet they can talk—and fumble through their words.

Lia:                                       Words are quite nice from fools—nice fools.

Prince:                                Lia, you know I am Prince.

Lia:                                       Yes, I know. It is hard not to know, your crown is a constant reminder.

Prince:                                Er-yes, so it is. But as Prince I have certain rules I must abide.

Lia:                                       That is why royals are trapped.

Prince:                                Yes, tis true. Lia, what I mean to say is, you are a servant.

Lia:                                       Er-yes, so I am. Strange how destiny works that way.

Prince:                                The storm—tears apart lightning and thunder even though they are partners—you know.

Lia:                                       Sad but true. However they still come together in their rare moments and magic sparks in the air.

Prince:                                Magic sparks in the air at brief moments. I like that. I-I-I- wish I had nothing to say, I wish my heart could speak without thinking.

Lia:                                       It can.

Prince:                                Then I shall have to find it sadly. I must go—to my studies—I am sorry, fair Lia. Truly, I am.

                                                                                                                                       [Exit Prince]

Lia:                                       And I am sorry too my Prince. For I cannot stay true to Evangeline, there is far too big a secret from my family at stake.

                                                                                                                                       [Exeunt]