Why Leave A Great Place?

The audience shuffles out, except for Frank Cheung.

And the Dart Blaster guy, and the friends of Hedley's mother.

Where is little Hedley? ask the friends of Hedley's mother.

There he is, says Hedley's mother. Come here, Hedley. Say hello to my friends.

Hedley prances over.

Baa! says Hedley. 

I did love your costume, Hedley, says one of the friends.

And yours, adds another.

Belle made them, says Hedley's mother.

It's gorgeous! say the friends.

Frank Cheung is thanking Vello for explaining to the audience that the fault with the pulley was no fault of Bunnings.

Did you enjoy the performance? asks Vello.

It was not the Candide I remember, says Frank. But yes.

We always like to tinker, says Vello. Times change. People think different things are funny.

You're telling me, says Frank Cheung. What's with the next show?

What next show? asks Vello. 

How The Principle of Least Action Made Me Who I Am, says Frank. It's on next.

Ah, that show is being performed by our friend Pierre-Louis, says Vello. Which reminds me, we must clear the stage.

Need a hand? asks Frank.

Thanks! says Vello. No one else is doing anything.

It's true. Sweezus and Arthur have snuck off to a bar.

Belle and Hedley's mother are laughing with the friends of Hedley's mother.

Gaius and David are talking to Dart Blaster guy, about the play's meaning.

The play deals with the problem of suffering, says David.

I didn't pick that up, says Dart Blaster guy.

Perhaps not this excerpt, says Gaius. But in general.

It was more like, why leave a great place like Eldorado? says Dart Blaster guy.

Candide had other fish to fry, says David.

A person approaches, in a white clown wig.

Excuse me, says the person. Could you move? I need to unpadlock my bike.

Pierre-Louis! says Gaius. Why the clown wig?

I'm on next, says Pierre-Louis. 

He unpadlocks the bike.

Sold many tickets? asks David.

One or two, says Pierre-Louis. Not many.

Why not ask those women? says David. They might stay.

I'll stay, says Dart Blaster guy.

Great, says Pierre-Louis.

He wheels his bicycle towards the stage past the friends of Hedley's mother.

You ladies can stay, says Pierre-Louis.

Tch! says Gaius. That's not the way to tempt ladies.

But he is wrong. He is surprised to see the friends of Hedley's mother, and Belle, and Hedley's mother, sit down in the front row.

As though they are planning to stay.