Prayers For Losers

Kierkegaard is anxiously waiting, outside the Piglet.

Here's your cloak, says Belle.

Kierkegaard regards it. It's sticky.

You might need to reverse it, says Belle.

Kierkegaard looks daggers at Arthur.

This is his fault.

Come on, says Belle. You're on soon. You too, Terence.

Yay! says Terence. You too, Baby Pierre.

Is my headband still flashing? asks Baby Pierre.

Not completely, says Terence.

It's not far to go. 

A grassy slope to the west of the Piglet.

The desks are set up, with the three-piece cardboard mast wedged between them.

The audience sits on the slope, looking down on the desks which are placed on flat ground at the bottom. 

It's eight o'clock. 

Captain Baudin strides out, stopping in front of a desk.

It was un night, dark and stormy, says Captain Baudin. This is un ship. On board, trois persons of interest. Le premier, James the Anabaptist.....

Baby Pierre runs across, headband flashing (not completely).

Is this the Anabaptist?

But no. Vello appears, dressed as James the Anabaptist.

This is he, says Captain Baudin. Le petit fellow avec the flashing chapeau is the Storm, for which you must imagine.

Vello winces. Captain Baudin's English has degenerated badly. 

Et voilà! says Captain Baudin. Le beau Candide and his mentor Doctor Pangloss!

Sweezus and David bounce onto a desk.

Vello clambers onto the other one, where Arthur is standing, dressed as a sailor.

The desks wobble alarmingly. (They are supposed to).

Terence dances on. Watch out people! I'm the Storm and the Earthquake. I can't die! But you can! Say your prayers, losers! 

The mast splits in three. Arthur is hit on the head and tumbles gracefully off the desk, clinging to one of the pieces, just clear of the grass.

Vello drags him back over the imaginary railing, and in doing so, falls into the water.

In spite of the rehearsal, this does not look natural. 

Baby Pierre prances across Vello, illuminating his face with tiny spotlights.

Glug....glug! splutters Vello, before rolling into the darkness.

Un drowning triste, says Captain Baudin.

Lucky he said drowning in English.

So the audience gets what has happened.