(A small troop of puppet horses in bright colors and gilt harnesses are seen trotting through some lollipop trees and bushes, STAGE RIGHT. A sun is prominently displayed, UPPER STAGE RIGHT.)
NARRATOR And so it was that our PRINCE, arrayed as for war, was scouting the lines of the fell forces of one of the Rebel Lords, the Outcast Lord of the Western Marches himself, LORD RAOUL DE LANCLES. So it was that through perseverance, clean living and devotion to his just cause that our PRINCE found a forgotten ford and crossed into the rebel lands.
(The party of four horses now wades through a writhing blue series of ribbons, all following the PRINCE who brandishes a golden sword and leads the way.)
PRINCE This way my valiant fellows!
Swelling strong triumphant march
(The intrepid party manages to negotiate a tricky carpet defile, a lollipop forest, some steep paper hills and finally reaches a small squashed looking wooden and paper town labeled, WIZENT -- A REBEL PLASE.)
(Some other HORSEMEN make an appearance from STAGE LEFT. They are arrayed in reds and dark colors, bearing bloodied weapons and frowny looking faces. They all have puppet strings, unlike the animated PRINCE and Co.)
Evil lord theme music, cymbals and strings
REBEL LEADER Nyarr! We are many and they are few! Attack!PRINCE My cause is just! (each side charges the other)
Martial music with crashes and booms!
(Lots of wacking of wicker blades, horses wheel and rear. Dust is created as the REBELS fall quickly to the mighty blows of the few. A cloud covers the stage briefly.)
(Some trussed REBELS appear on foot, bloodied and repentant, before the PRINCE, who is in gilt armor and still bearing that gilt sword.)
Serious sober music
LORD RAOUL DE LANCLES I have broken my troth to one king, yet will I not yield my troth againPRINCE My justice will be brief and simple (cuts his head off)
OTHER REBELS (falling at his feet) Do not kill us, oh mighty Prince!
PRINCE You shall surrender to me the orisons and countersigns that allow you free access to the city of Norcastle
OTHER REBELS This we shall do, oh mighty Prince
(The REBELS are led by collars off of STAGE RIGHT.)
Musical finale
Curtain
(Thunderous applause as a juggler and an acrobat come out)
(The PRINCE and Company, now thinly disguised with different escutcheons and banners, rides in from STAGE RIGHT, facing a large GATE, manned by puppet men at arms. The GATE is labeled NORCASTLE EASTERN POSTERN.)
REBEL SERGEANT What signs do you give us, StrangersPRINCE (brandishing a red and black shield) Blood of the God!
REBEL SERGEANT You may pass
Scary tip toe music
(As the party passes through the gate, a sudden fight breaks out amongst the puppets. Amid little gonging noises and kettle hats being knocked off of men at arms, a figure on horseback bolts for STAGE RIGHT. It is one of the PRINCE'S MEN.)
PRINCE'S MAN I shall inform the King!!PRINCE We shall hold the Tower!
(Soldiers keep trickling in from STAGE LEFT and getting maimed trying to take the tower. After some bumping and tinkling noises, the PRINCE suddenly flees the press heading STAGE LEFT.)
PRINCE I have disabled the great Gate! We cannot hold! Enter the city and cause havoc!ONE of THE PRINCE'S MEN (with an arrow through him) Argh!
Crash of excited music
(The PRINCE'S MEN, mounted on horses again, sally from the gate and ride down hapless men at arms, and some KNIGHTS who enter too late to catch the PRINCE'S MEN, who cleverly elude them amongst the pasteboard and wooden houses.)
REBEL KNIGHTS After them!NARRATOR And so the PRINCE devised a ruse to elude the REBEL FORCES
Dramatic music
(Some FLAMES start to lick at the buildings. Various puppets burst into the scene with buckets and sheets, fighting the fires. Some of them catch fire.)
Jerky, quirky theme with strings trilling
Curtain
(Cheers and whistles as a prestidigitator does his MIRROR trick and a very thinly attired woman does a rendition of a "Southern Dance". It involves a lot of writhing and salt flinging to pipe music.)
(A party of horses enters STAGE LEFT, one of them carries the Royal Standard, another bears a crown. There are four in all.)
KING ARTIS My son is in danger, we must flyOTHER LORDS This we will do!
(Accompanied by nervous excited music and crashing cymbals, the horses seem to run in place, as lollipop trees and bushes zip by them. At last they halt and regard a small, pasteboard town that is burning at STAGE RIGHT.)
KING ARTIS The gate is still broken, we will charge and smite them!
More dramatic music as the horses stumble off stage
(The pasteboard alleys and back streets of Norcastle are back again with smoke dramatically roiling. The PRINCE enters from STAGE LEFT, afoot -- still with that gilt sword. His puppet looks a little worn as it looks around.)
PRINCE Ah, I cannot find a bolt hole, so here I must make my stand!
(A window flies open STAGE CENTER, a woman puppet looks out.)
WOMAN Here my good sir, you may find refuge in my house.PRINCE (looks back offstage) Very Well Then, you shall not regret this courtesy (enters pasteboard door)
(Some Guardsmen enter and troop by the house.)
(The set spins around, now revealing a mob of fighting milling puppets around the GATE. The KING is there, all are hacking madly. Puppets are dying in droves as the city burns.)
Martial music
(Just as things begin to look bad for the KING, the PRINCE appears from STAGE LEFT with some men, one of whom has a pointy hat and brandishes a wand.)
PRINCE Save my Father!MAGICIAN (zapping some Knights) Kazart! (boom!)
REBELS We are taken from all sides!
KING Surrender to the justice of the KING
PRINCE (still hacking away) DIE REBEL SCUM!
REBELS (in terror of the PRINCE) WE surrender oh dreadful Prince!
(They all fall on their faces as the KING and the PRINCE embrace.)
KING This battle was won at a dreadful price, I cannot bear to see such ruin caused by my hand. (pauses) At Midsummer I shall abdicate in favor of my son.KINGS MEN All Hail the Crown Prince!!!
REBELS Hurrah! {editor's note: New Kings usually open the gaols on their coronation day}
PRINCE (beaming) This was a great day for Landsrue!!!
(The city is still burning.)
Curtain
NARRATOR Here are the cursed REBELS captured by our mighty KING and PRINCE. Let them be remembered as the traitors they are
(Each puppet is briefly displayed alone on the stage.)
RAOUL DE LANCLES and his horse CROMART;
WILLIAM DE MORENCY, former Seneschal of the Western Marches;
MALUVEL of March;
BRENHARD BAILEY
(There is a chorus of hisses and boos from the audience.)
NARRATOR And now, the brave heroes who fell in service to KING ARTIS IRONHAND I
(The puppets appear together, and each briefly bows as his name is called.)
HENRY EASTBOURNE, Duke of Kessel;
JAPHRODEL IMBRAHIL, the King's Standard Bearer;
LOUIS BRABANCON, the Royal Horseward;
DERMOT CONNOR, Master of the Landsrue City militia & daywatch;
HUGH LACEY, Baron of Chyster
Final curtain
(Large gobs of applause as the PLAYERS and the MUSICIANS parade with their instruments or clever puppets. The PRINCE's puppeteer gets a scattering of coins.)