The Crumbling Castle, part 16

A Capricious Drama by Thorin N. Tatge

CHARACTERS

PHILIP: A questionable young hero.

MRS. SCRUB/MR. SCRUB: The owners of the Crumbling Castle. Has a long speech.

HOPE/MELVIN: An innocent boy and an here to leave for Heaven as well?

GUARD: I hope so, if you’ll permit it. There’s a little problem, though… one of the Prisoners wants a word with you before you go.

MRS. SCRUB: A word with me? Of course I’ll allow that. What is it?

Enter MELVIN. GUARD holds him back.

MELVIN: You, scrubber woman! You’ve crossed every line I ever dared to draw, even in the darkest hollow of my mind. You’ve used my work, my livelihood to open the Closet door, and now you won’t even permit me to pass through! This was my life!! My sole passion for thirty years, the greatest thing I’ve ever done! And you locked me away and won’t let me through!

MRS. SCRUB: Melvin, you murdered several of us and intended to murder the rest of us, or at langry man. Must be light enough to carry.

WATCHER

HYPOCRITE/GUARD

RECORDER/EMMA

Enter PHILIP and WATCHER, walking together.

PHILIP: You mean it, Watcher? It’s really time?

WATCHER: She was very definite about it. Hope is finally ready.

PHILIP: I should hope he would be by now, but still… it’s so important. Are we sure he’s not just putting us on? I remember when I was a child…the first day my father told me I could help with the flax harvest, I went ahead and harvested all I could, and then I hid it in the cellar. I bargained with my f

The Crumbling Castle, part 16

A Capricious Drama by Thorin N. Tatge

CHARACTERS

PHILIP: A questionable young hero.

MRS. SCRUB/MR. SCRUB: The owners of the Crumbling Castle. Has a long speech.

HOPE/MELVIN: An innocent boy and an

The Crumbling Castle, part 16

A Capricious Drama by Thorin N. Tatge

CHARACTERS

PHILIP: A questionable young hero.

MRS. SCRUB/MR. SCRUB: The owners of the Crumbling Castle. Has a long speech.

HOPE/MELVIN: An innocent boy and an angry man. Must be light enough to carry.

WATCHER

HYPOCRITE/GUARD

RECORDER/EMMA

Enter PHILIP and WATCHER, walking together.

PHILIP: You mean it, Watcher? It’s really time?

WATCHER: She was very definite about it. Hope is finally ready.

PHILIP: I should hope he would be by now, but still… it’s so important. Are we sure he’s not just putting us on? I remember when I was a child…the first day my father told me I could help with the flax harvest, I went ahead and harvested all I could, and then I hid it in the cellar. I bargained with my feast to deny us our own reward. You made yourself a criminal in every way. You are not fit to enjoy the fruits of your own labor!

MELVIN: Outrage! Outrage I say, and to say it is not half of what it would mean, if it meant a tenth of what it should! This outrage is beyond words, Scrub! Beyond words! Yet I have nothing but words to describe it!

MRS. SCRUB: Melvin, we appreciate what you did for us. We gave thanks to you before we opened the gate. And your diligence is not forgotten…

MELVIN: Then, for the very essence and reputation of mercy, Let Me Through!!

MRS. SCRUB: I’ll tell you what. Philip? You aren’t coming through, at least not right now, are you? After maiming my poor boy like that.

PHILIP: I… I guess not.

WATCHER: You were a little imp!

PHILIP: No, Watcher! I’d tasted power and I wanted to savor it. I made him carry me piggyback around the whole farm. Then I asked for a big jar of candied plums. He didn’t want to give it to me because it would ruin my health.

WATCHER: He was right.

PHILIP: Well I guess he was! Especially since it showed me who had the real power. I didn’t give in and neither did he. We did eat the plums, but one at a time, after every supper. At the end of the year they were all gone. And when it came time to sell our crop, we didn’t have as much as we would have liked, so we had to keep our house cold most of the time, even in the middle of the winter. My father never once yelled at me, angry man. Must be light enough to carry.

WATCHER

HYPOCRITE/GUARD

RECORDER/EMMA

Enter PHILIP and WATCHER, walking together.

PHILIP: You mean it, Watcher? It’s really time?

WATCHER: She was very definite about it. Hope is finally ready.

PHILIP: I should hope he would be by now, but still… it’s so important. Are we sure he’s not just putting us on? I remember when I was a child…the first day my father told me I could help with the flax harvest, I went ahead and harvested all I could, and then I hid it in the cellar. I bargained with my fangry man. Must be light enough to carry.

WATCHER

HYPOCRITE/GUARD

RECORDER/EMMA

Enter PHILIP and WATCHER, walking together.

PHILIP: You mean it, Watcher? It’s really time?

WATCHER: She was very definite about it. Hope is finally ready.

PHILIP: I should hope he would be by now, but still… it’s so important. Are we sure he’s not just putting us on? I remember when I was a child…the first day my father told me I could help with the flax harvest, I went ahead and harvested all I could, and then I hid it in the cellar. I bargained with my father before I’d show him where I hid the flax.

WATCHER: You were a little imp!

PHILIP: No, Watcher! I’d tasted power and I wanted to savor it. I made him carry me piggyback around the whole farm. Then I asked for a big jar of candied plums. He didn’t want to give it to me because it would ruin my health.

WATCHER: He was right.

PHILIP: Well I guess he was! Especially since it showed me who had the real power. I didn’t give in and neither did he. We did eat the plums, but one at a time, after every supper. At the end of the year they were all gone. And when it came time to sell our crop, we didn’t have as much as we would have liked, so we had to keep our house cold most of the time, even in the middle of the winter. My father never once yelled at me, style="margin-bottom: 0in">MRS. SCRUB: Well then, I make you owner of the castle once more. The prisoners, including Melvin, are your concern. Goodbye, Philip… I am moving on.

PHILIP: Goodbye, Mrs. Scrub. and Mr. Scrub… tell him goodbye as well.

MRS. SCRUB: I shall, Philip. Thank you for all that you have done for us… and for your kind and thoughtful nature. And may you yet do something to warrant forgiveness.

PHILIP: I…. but I had to do it.

Exit MRS. SCRUB through the upper door.

GUARD: Well, I’ll see you around, lad. Hopefully, anyhow. It was good knowing you.

PHILIP: You too, Guard. I wish you nothing but the best.

Exit GUARD through the upper door or searched the cellar for where I’d hidden the flax. But when I realized we’d all be cold together without the money, I uncovered it and gave it to him. He smiled and sold it in the Lower Village, and we were warm again for a few days.

WATCHER: Oh, Ph.

MELVIN: You will let me through, won’t you, Philip? My good old friend… my most amicable of acquaintances… you will let me into Heaven, won’t you?

PHILIP: We’ll talk. Recorder! Take Melvin back to his cell, if you will.

Enter RECORDER.

RECORDER: Right away, owner. (Grabs MELVIN and drags him offstage.)

MELVIN (offstage): You’ll never forget me, boy! You may go to Heaven, but I curse you thus for your injustice—you’ll never forget my stinging voice, my raging features, my wounded soul! Not in the brightest and best of worlds! Never!!

(Pause.)

PHILIP: I can’t believe it. I feel like I’m a child again. Here I am with powilip… that’s not really your home. You can’t have thought you’d be going home! That’s just a vision. An illusion that represents what you want.

PHILIP: What…what do you mean? How do you know? You’ve never been through the Closet door.

WATCHER: But I know it’s nothing like reality. It’s great, but it’s not reality. And so if there’s anything about reality that you want to say goodbye to… you have to do that first.

PHILIP: Gosh. I don’t know what to do.

Enter MR. SCRUB.

MR. SCRUB: Ah, Philip. Time grows short, doesn’t it?

PHILIP: It really does, yes. It feels like a new year’s party, only without the new year.

MR. SCRUB: Yes, well, no new or searched the cellar for where I’d hidden the flax. But when I realized we’d all be cold together without the money, I uncovered it and gave it to him. He smiled and sold it in the Lower Village, and we were warm again for a few days.

WATCHER: You mean the flax was still good?

PHILIP: Oh, our flax is always good. We have a very good piece of land. Oh Watcher, I can’t wait to see it again!

WATCHER: But…but you’re not going to see it again. You’re coming with us through the Closet, aren’t you? Or did you change your mind?

PHILIP: I haven’t changed my mind. But when I looked into the closet, that time you helped smuggle me here into Melvin’s office… I saw the field. I saw our field, our land. You know that.

WATCHER: Oh, Ph or searched the cellar for where I’d hidden the flax. But when I realized we’d all be cold together without the money, I uncovered it and gave it to him. He smiled and sold it in the Lower Village, and we were warm again for a few days.

WATCHER: You mean the flax was still good?

PHILIP: Oh, our flax is always good. We have a very good piece of land. Oh Watcher, I can’t wait to see it again!

WATCHER: But…but you’re not going to see it again. You’re coming with us through the Closet, aren’t you? Or did you change your mind?

PHILIP: I haven’t changed my mind. But when I looked into the closet, that time you helped smuggle me here into Melvin’s office… I saw the field. I saw our field, our land. You know that.

WATCHER: Oh, Philip… that’s not really your home. You can’t have thought you’d be going home! That’s just a vision. An illusion that represents what you want.

PHILIP: What…what do you mean? How do you know? You’ve never been through the Closet door.

WATCHER: But I know it’s nothing like reality. It’s great, but it’s not reality. And so if there’s anything about reality that you want to say goodbye to… you have to do that first.

PHILIP: Gosh. I don’t know what to do.

Enter MR. SCRUB.

MR. SCRUB: Ah, Philip. Time grows short, doesn’t it?

PHILIP: It really does, yes. It feels like a new year’s party, only without the new year.

MR. SCRUB: Yes, well, no newer… but I have no idea what to do with it. I wish…if only my father were here. I miss him so much. I just miss him.

Exit PHILIP.

The End.

PHILIP: I’m have to admit I’m scared, Mr. Scrub. I’ve never been to Heaven before.

MR. SCRUB: Scared? (Chuckles.) What do you conceive of that scares you? What could be frightening about Heaven?

PHILIP: Well… I’m young, Mr. Scrub. I haven’t lived a full life. How will I be ready for a full reward?

MR. SCRUB: The only answer, Philip, is that these things work themselves out. All problems resolve themselves in Heaven. Whatever your worries may be, however impossible the solution seems…remember that we’re going to a place where there are no problems!

WATCHER: And hence no solutions.

PHILIP: What…what do you mean? How do you know? You’ve never been through the Closet door.

WATCHER: But I know it’s nothing like reality. It’s great, but it’s not reality. And so if there’s anything about reality that you want to say goodbye to… you have to do that first.

PHILIP: Gosh. I don’t know what to do.

Enter MR. SCRUB.

MR. SCRUB: Ah, Philip. Time grows short, doesn’t it?

PHILIP: It really does, yes. It feels like a new year’s party, only without the new year.

MR. SCRUB: Yes, well, no newilip… that’s not really your home. You can’t have thought you’d be going home! That’s just a vision. An illusion that represents what you want.

PHILIP: What…what do you mean? How do you know? You’ve never been through the Closet door.

WATCHER: But I know it’s nothing like reality. It’s great, but it’s not reality. And so if there’s anything about reality that you want to say goodbye to… you have to do that first.

PHILIP: Gosh. I don’t know what to do.

Enter MR. SCRUB.

MR. SCRUB: Ah, Philip. Time grows short, doesn’t it?

PHILIP: It really does, yes. It feels like a new year’s party, only without the new year.

MR. SCRUB: Yes, well, no newmargin-bottom: 0in">MR. SCRUB: And no need for them. Philip, believe me. You’ll like it there. Now, I meant to ask you if you’d like to be present when the child of Hope opens the Closet door. As his father, I will of course be standing by in case of trouble, but your resourceful and unblemished mind has proven remarkably useful on many occasions…in short, you’ve earned a place in this great moment.

PHILIP: I suppose… I’ve stayed here all this time. I might as well see it finished.

MR. SCRUB: Good lad. And you, Watcher, I have a job for you too, a very important one. Don’t be tardy.

WATCHER: No sir.

MR. SCRUB: We’ll begin in only a few minutes. But I need a short time alone with my son. Watcher, go and tell all the inhabitants of the Crumbling Castle that we year perhaps, but a new life! Or perhaps no life at all, but happiness in any case. Depends on your belief system.

PHILIP: I’m have to admit I’m scared, Mr. Scrub. I’ve never been to Heaven before.

MR. SCRUB: Scared? (Chuckles.) What do you conceive of that scares you? What could be frightening about Heaven?

PHILIP: Well… I’m young, Mr. Scrub. I haven’t lived a full life. How will I be ready for a full reward?

MR. SCRUB: The only answer, Philip, is that these things work themselves out. All problems resolve themselves in Heaven. Whatever your worries may be, however impossible the solution seems…remember that we’re going to a place where there are no problems!

WATCHER: And hence no solutions.

PHILIP: I’m have to admit I’m scared, Mr. Scrub. I’ve never been to Heaven before.

MR. SCRUB: Scared? (Chuckles.) What do you conceive of that scares you? What could be frightening about Heaven?

PHILIP: Well… I’m young, Mr. Scrub. I haven’t lived a full life. How will I be ready for a full reward?

MR. SCRUB: The only answer, Philip, is that these things work themselves out. All problems resolve themselves in Heaven. Whatever your worries may be, however impossible the solution seems…remember that we’re going to a place where there are no problems!

WATCHER: And hence no solutions.

PHILIP: I’m have to admit I’m scared, Mr. Scrub. I’ve never been to Heaven before.

MR. SCRUB: Scared? (Chuckles.) What do you conceive of that scares you? What could be frightening about Heaven?

PHILIP: Well… I’m young, Mr. Scrub. I haven’t lived a full life. How will I be ready for a full reward?

MR. SCRUB: The only answer, Philip, is that these things work themselves out. All problems resolve themselves in Heaven. Whatever your worries may be, however impossible the solution seems…remember that we’re going to a place where there are no problems!

WATCHER: And hence no solutions.

WATCHER: Yes sir!

PHILIP: Very well.

Exit WATCHER and PHILIP.

MR. SCRUB: Now then…for the very last time, I give up my hold on this world, in faithful trust that it will be returned. Penelope, awaken! Awaken and finish our life’s great work! (MR. SCRUB undergoes transformation into MRS. SCRUB, an effect at the actor’s discretion.)

MRS. SCRUB: Oh, there’s no need to shout, Randolph. I’m here, of course; I was waiting for you to call me. This is such an exciting day! Just think of it! All the dear, wondrous things we’ve imagined together over the years…twenty-six years’ worth of fantasies, all about to come to life! Oh, I hope they don’t almargin-bottom: 0in">MR. SCRUB: And no need for them. Philip, believe me. You’ll like it there. Now, I meant to ask you if you’d like to be present when the child of Hope opens the Closet door. As his father, I will of course be standing by in case of trouble, but your resourceful and unblemished mind has proven remarkably useful on many occasions…in short, you’ve earned a place in this great moment.

PHILIP: I suppose… I’ve stayed here all this time. I might as well see it finished.

MR. SCRUB: Good lad. And you, Watcher, I have a job for you too, a very important one. Don’t be tardy.

WATCHER: No sir.

MR. SCRUB: We’ll begin in only a few minutes. But I need a short time alone with my son. Watcher, go and tell all the inhabitants of the Crumbling Castle that wemargin-bottom: 0in">MR. SCRUB: And no need for them. Philip, believe me. You’ll like it there. Now, I meant to ask you if you’d like to be present when the child of Hope opens the Closet door. As his father, I will of course be standing by in case of trouble, but your resourceful and unblemished mind has proven remarkably useful on many occasions…in short, you’ve earned a place in this great moment.

PHILIP: I suppose… I’ve stayed here all this time. I might as well see it finished.

MR. SCRUB: Good lad. And you, Watcher, I have a job for you too, a very important one. Don’t be tardy.

WATCHER: No sir.

MR. SCRUB: We’ll begin in only a few minutes. But I need a short time alone with my son. Watcher, go and tell all the inhabitants of the Crumbling Castle that wemargin-bottom: 0in">MR. SCRUB: And no need for them. Philip, believe me. You’ll like it there. Now, I meant to ask you if you’d like to be present when the child of Hope opens the Closet door. As his father, I will of course be standing by in case of trouble, but your resourceful and unblemished mind has proven remarkably useful on many occasions…in short, you’ve earned a place in this great moment.

PHILIP: I suppose… I’ve stayed here all this time. I might as well see it finished.

MR. SCRUB: Good lad. And you, Watcher, I have a job for you too, a very important one. Don’t be tardy.

WATCHER: No sir.

MR. SCRUB: We’ll begin in only a few minutes. But I need a short time alone with my son. Watcher, go and tell all the inhabitants of the Crumbling Castle that wel come to life at once. I’d really prefer to savor them one at a time. But I’m sure that will be taken care of, isn’t that right, Randolph? Everything that ever made us feel larger than ourselves, all the great things we longed for, all the glories and magical journeys and luscious fruits and rolling dales…and we mustn’t forget the pastries, must we, Randolph? You kept the baker’s touch and always did imagine the most incredible pastries. I dare say you could imagine a mint croissant far more gigantic than the former Wishmaster could ever have dreamed. I love you for your dreams, Randolph. We’re about to see how just great our collective dreams are.

Enter HOPE.

HOPE: Mother?

MRS. SCRUB: Hope, my precious, precious child! It’s your greatest hour, your very greatest, but then you know are ready. Philip, go to your sister’s quarters and send for my son.

WATCHER: Yes sir!

PHILIP: Very well.

Exit WATCHER and PHILIP.

MR. SCRUB: Now then…for the very last time, I give up my hold on this world, in faithful trust that it will be returned. Penelope, awaken! Awaken and finish our life’s great work! (MR. SCRUB undergoes transformation into MRS. SCRUB, an effect at the actor’s discretion.)

MRS. SCRUB: Oh, there’s no need to shout, Randolph. I’m here, of course; I was waiting for you to call me. This is such an exciting day! Just think of it! All the dear, wondrous things we’ve imagined together over the years…twenty-six years’ worth of fantasies, all about to come to life! Oh, I hope they don’t al are ready. Philip, go to your sister’s quarters and send for my son.

WATCHER: Yes sir!

PHILIP: Very well.

Exit WATCHER and PHILIP.

MR. SCRUB: Now then…for the very last time, I give up my hold on this world, in faithful trust that it will be returned. Penelope, awaken! Awaken and finish our life’s great work! (MR. SCRUB undergoes transformation into MRS. SCRUB, an effect at the actor’s discretion.)

MRS. SCRUB: Oh, there’s no need to shout, Randolph. I’m here, of course; I was waiting for you to call me. This is such an exciting day! Just think of it! All the dear, wondrous things we’ve imagined together over the years…twenty-six years’ worth of fantasies, all about to come to life! Oh, I hope they don’t al are ready. Philip, go to your sister’s quarters and send for my son.

WATCHER: Yes sir!

PHILIP: Very well.

Exit WATCHER and PHILIP.

MR. SCRUB: Now then…for the very last time, I give up my hold on this world, in faithful trust that it will be returned. Penelope, awaken! Awaken and finish our life’s great work! (MR. SCRUB undergoes transformation into MRS. SCRUB, an effect at the actor’s discretion.)

MRS. SCRUB: Oh, there’s no need to shout, Randolph. I’m here, of course; I was waiting for you to call me. This is such an exciting day! Just think of it! All the dear, wondrous things we’ve imagined together over the years…twenty-six years’ worth of fantasies, all about to come to life! Oh, I hope they don’t al that already, don’t you. Come and let me hug you.

HOPE and MRS. SCRUB embrace fondly.

HOPE: I’m ready to climb in, Mother!

MRS. SCRUB: I know you are, Hope. I just want to make certain, make absolutely certain, of a few things. So please pay attention.

HOPE: Certainly, Mother!

MRS. SCRUB: Certainly! Oh, you’re such a well-behaved child. You make me so proud, Hope. I want to make certain, Hope, that you understand how important this task is. It’s the entire reason that you exist, Hope, and the entire reason this castle even exists. What we’ve talked about… is something that everyone you’ve ever met is trusting you with. The reason I say this is that sometimes, children at your age are difficult. Sometimes they don’t understandl come to life at once. I’d really prefer to savor them one at a time. But I’m sure that will be taken care of, isn’t that right, Randolph? Everything that ever made us feel larger than ourselves, all the great things we longed for, all the glories and magical journeys and luscious fruits and rolling dales…and we mustn’t forget the pastries, must we, Randolph? You kept the baker’s touch and always did imagine the most incredible pastries. I dare say you could imagine a mint croissant far more gigantic than the former Wishmaster could ever have dreamed. I love you for your dreams, Randolph. We’re about to see how just great our collective dreams are.

Enter HOPE.

HOPE: Mother?

MRS. SCRUB: Hope, my precious, precious child! It’s your greatest hour, your very greatest, but then you knowl come to life at once. I’d really prefer to savor them one at a time. But I’m sure that will be taken care of, isn’t that right, Randolph? Everything that ever made us feel larger than ourselves, all the great things we longed for, all the glories and magical journeys and luscious fruits and rolling dales…and we mustn’t forget the pastries, must we, Randolph? You kept the baker’s touch and always did imagine the most incredible pastries. I dare say you could imagine a mint croissant far more gigantic than the former Wishmaster could ever have dreamed. I love you for your dreams, Randolph. We’re about to see how just great our collective dreams are.

Enter HOPE.

HOPE: Mother?

MRS. SCRUB: Hope, my precious, precious child! It’s your greatest hour, your very greatest, but then you knowl come to life at once. I’d really prefer to savor them one at a time. But I’m sure that will be taken care of, isn’t that right, Randolph? Everything that ever made us feel larger than ourselves, all the great things we longed for, all the glories and magical journeys and luscious fruits and rolling dales…and we mustn’t forget the pastries, must we, Randolph? You kept the baker’s touch and always did imagine the most incredible pastries. I dare say you could imagine a mint croissant far more gigantic than the former Wishmaster could ever have dreamed. I love you for your dreams, Randolph. We’re about to see how just great our collective dreams are.

Enter HOPE.

HOPE: Mother?

MRS. SCRUB: Hope, my precious, precious child! It’s your greatest hour, your very greatest, but then you know the difference between a game and reality, or they decide to do something they oughtn’t simply because they feel like playing a joke. You understand that this is no time for jokes, don’t you, Hope?

HOPE: Of course. I mean, that’s why you kept teaching me about how it’s important to obey, even if I don’t feel like it.

MRS. SCRUB: Exactly. And you will obey, won’t you? Because if you do as I’ve instructed you, you will be happy forever, Hope, as will all of us. Our dreams will all come true, thanks to you. You won’t let us down, will you?

HOPE: No, mother.

MRS. SCRUB: That’s my wonderful boy! All right, Hope, it’s time to let everyone know we’re ready!

HOPE: Should I run and tell them?

MRS.