The Usurper-Hero

Camus and Beaudelaire are in the green room, bickering.

You switched parts deliberately, says Camus. And I know why.

Oh, do you? says Beaudelaire.

I do, says Camus. You're furious because I bought the three hats. You're jealous.

Not at all, says Beaudelaire. I thought it would be an amusing reversal. You as the Red Death, me as Prince Prospero. My turn to be the  hero.

And wield the knife, says Camus. And in short, control the action, while I.....

Arthur and Unni enter the green room.

Albert, says Unni. Where's your costume? Are you okay?

Yes, says Camus. No thanks to Charles, the usurper-hero.

The atmosphere is icy in the green room.

Arthur pulls his red beret down over his ears until his nose sticks out through one of the eye holes.

Ha ha, laughs someone from behind a high backed chair.

Who is it? Unni goes over.

Black cloak and red horned mask notwithstanding, there's no doubt it's Captain Louttit.

Captain Louttit! cries Unni. What a surprise! And why are you laughing? You can't possibly see Arthur through the chair.

Captain Louttit has been laughing at the phrase usurper-hero, not at Arthur.

But when he sees Arthur, he laughs even louder.

Nice one, says Captain Louttit. Then suddenly, remembering his loss.....

A hat! Where did you get it? asks Captain Louttit.

Is this the famous lobster? asks Camus. The one we bought the hat for?

Captain Louttit leaps out of his chair.

Ouff! Not a good idea when you're without your carapace.

Oh no! Poor Captain Louttit! cries Unni.

Did you buy me a Captain's hat? asks Captain Louttit, faintly.

Yes, Captain Louttit, says Unni. Well...... no, not exactly, but it's the next best thing.......come with me. It's in my back pack in the foyer.

She picks him up and carries him from the green room.

Let's go, says Beaudelaire. I want to see this. He's bound not to like it.

He'll like it, says Albert Camus. What do you think, Arthur?

It'll test his strength of character, says Arthur, raising the red beret, and earning the admiration of the writers

.......

Outside. Brrrr!

Schopenhauer and Gaius are being treated to a light show above the Hobart skyline.

Eighteen searchlights cut the sky like sabres, in six pods of three.

Spectacular, says Schopenhauer. But a waste of money.

Indeed, says Gaius. Wonderful, but profligate.

A third person sits down on the bench beside them.

You must spend money to make money, says the third person, in a Mexican-Canadian accent. These festivals bring in the tourists, and this light installation, Articulated Intersect, is a draw card. The public can manipulate the lights themselves, by means of levers.....

On hearing this, Gaius becomes interested in learning more about the workings, but Schopenhauer's opinion remains the same, which is part of the reason he will never be a decent scientist.