The Lonely Maison

The next scene is the one Belle is in, in her shimmering costume.

She draws the blue dotted veil over her face.

Ready? says Vello. Now the Old Woman brings Candide to a lonely house with a moat around it.

Do you want me to announce that? asks Captain Baudin.

If you wish, says Vello. 

A lonely maison, says Captain Baudin. Avec un moat.

Excellent, says Vello. Brief and informative. 

Ageless leads Sweezus to the lonely maison. They mime stepping over un moat.

Wait, says Captain Baudin. One doesn't just step over un moat. A drawbridge is required.

Yay! says Terence. Can I....?

What? asks Vello. You want to be a drawbridge? You're far too short. And we don't need to make too much of the drawbridge.

We could ditch the drawbridge, says David. It's not even part of the story.

Good thinking, says Vello. Efficient.

Terence is not convinced that the drawbridge should be done away with.

He goes and sits next to Baby Pierre who is pulling his socks on.

I wasn't going to BE it, says Terence. I was going to BRING it.

Where from? asks Baby Pierre.

The mast, says Terence. It's in three parts remember?

Is it made yet? asks Baby Pierre.

Not yet, says Terence. It's still in three parts.

But they're meant to be lashed together, says Baby Pierre.

They will be, says Terence.

But after the storm they won't be, says Baby Pierre. The mast breaks into three parts.

Like it is now, says Terence. So we can use one part for a drawbridge.

Okay, says Baby Pierre.

They find one of the cardboard planks, and place it in front of the lonely maison.

The Old Woman and Candide are already inside.

The Old Woman leads the shimmering Cunégonde forward.

Cunégonde lifts her veil.

It's her! Candide can't believe it. Hadn't she been ravished and disembowelled, as Pangloss had assured him?

I was indeed, says Cunégonde. But people don't always die of those mishaps.

A sharp intake of breath is heard.

It may have come from the Old Woman's left buttock.