Eternal Punishment

The Narrator decides to explain things.

It is the famous Earthquake which occurred in Lisbon, says Captain Baudin. There is much Rubble.

Me! squeaks Baby Pierre (he is over-excited).

The audience seems to accept this.

The Rubble does a Rubble dance. 

Scene Two, says Captain Baudin. The Sad Dinner.

The Rubble dances off, followed by the Earthquake.

Having crept around the ruins and given what help they could to the citizens, our heroes are invited to a sad dinner, says Captain Baudin. 

Sweezus and David sit on the grass, to one side of the upturned desk.

 Gaius and Kierkegaard enter, and sit down opposite. 

The Rubble and Earthquake return, in their costumes, and sit down as well.

How come the Rubble and the Earthquake are at the sad dinner?  shouts an audience member.

One must imagine them to be citizens, says Captain Baudin. 

Shouldn't they have citizen costumes? asks the audience member.

One must indulge them, says Captain Baudin. 

The audience member shuts up. Of course. The Rubble and Earthquake are children They are probably enamoured with their costumes. So he thinks. And he is half right. 

All this, says David, is a manifestation of the rightness of things, since if there is a volcano in Lisbon, this is where it must be.

I take it, says Kierkegaard, that you do not believe in Original Sin. If all is for the best there can be no Fall of Man and no Eternal Punishment.

The Fall of Man and Eternal Punishment enter into the scheme of the best of all possible worlds, says David.

So you don't believe in Free Will? asks Kierkegaard.

Free Will is consistent with Absolute Necessity, says David.

Hear hear, says Sweezus. 

Then you are both under arrest, says Kierkegaard. 

Gaius stands and drags David and Sweezus away by the collars.

Our heroes are arrested by the Inquisition, says Captain Baudin. There will be an auto da fé.

And we painted the costumes, says Terence.

The audience already loves Terence. And that was so cute. 

They laugh loudly.

Terence is emboldened.

He stands up and performs the Prickly Pear dance.

Vello, watching from behind a flimsy curtain, with Belle and Arthur, wishes for a long-handled hook.