This play was written as a response to the California State Legistlature
and then-governor Pete Wilson
repealing a proposition the voters had just passed.
ACT I.- SCENE ONE
Scene I. A small grassy meadow beneath spreading oak trees.
Enter Cole, Madigan, Jewell and Boomer.
--------------------------------------
JEWELL. In sooth, I know not what they plan to do.
They seem to want to hide from us the truth.
But how they plan to do this -- we will see
If doing it strips us of our liberty.
BOOMER. But Jewell, friend, hear me and mark my words
The day is not too far when we cross swords
For to defend the rights which once were ours,
Before King Peter claimed the Ivory Tower.
The writs and laws are to provide for all,
But Peter and his cohorts plan to call
A special meeting soon, for to negate
The Law that we call Rule of Ninety-eight.
MADIGAN. Forsooth, how can this evil treachery
Be planned by one who has the ruling ring?
It cannot be -- 'twould cause reason to stare;
He is the king because we put him there!
COLE. Perhaps you did. Myself, I did not cast
My vote for such a pompous upper-class
Who cannot see the indigents below
E'en though they pass each day beneath his nose.
MADIGAN. Kind friends, lend me your ears and I will show
You that the legislators truly know
What is best for the people of this land.
'Tis best we do not fool with wisdom's plan.
Enter Kurk, Dawson, and Debb.
-----------------------------
KURK. With wisdom's plan?! What folly this I hear?
The words of this youth burning in my ear
Cause me to speak (in my own humble way).
Please listen, friends, to what I have to say.
In voting we have limited the term
Of office, so they cannot even earn
Enough to repay obligations they
Took on to get to where they are today.
DAWSON . 'Tis true -- but some of us, my friends (like me),
Do not wish to deprive of liberty
The people's chance to educate themselves
So into this dark mystery we delve:
How do we get the despots in the tower
To realise the people have the power
But do not mean the politicians harm?
Perhaps someone here hath a magic charm?
DEBB. Forsooth, no magic charm have I to give
But while I yet have life enough to live
I shall not let the legislators take
Another dime of the small funds I make
To line the pockets of their shining coats,
Or to negate that which the people vote!
Enter Randolff and Winston
----------------------------
RANDOLFF. All hail, and well met, ye kindly friends!
They use our means to justify their ends!
Who of you now will join me on a quest:
A journey of one hundred miles due west
To that fair ivory tower where we all might
Convince them that our cause is just and right?
WINSTON. To lead a quest I cannot do, and yet
To follow with this crowd I feel I must.
What greater gift can we give to our youth Than education.
Yea, 'tis but the truth. Their learning benefits our kingdom more
Than many other vain pursuits. Against
Such gross stupidity the gods themselves
Contend in vain. And so, perhaps, do we.
Yet something out of nothing ever comes,
And thus we go because our cause is right.
DAWSON. My boots are on. My bag stands ready by.
My honesty is known; therefore no lie
Escapes my lips to puzzle or confound.
Peter the King et al. will hear the sound
Of voices raised in righteous diatribe.
'Tis well known that I do not take a bribe,
So we shall slay them with our honesty,
And make them end this present travesty
Of social government they all pretend
Is something only they can start or end.
For whomsoever goeth now with me
Join forces to secure our liberty!
ACT ONE - SCENE TWO
Scene Two. An eating establishment in River City.
Enter Kurk, Dawson. Randolff and Littizia.
-----------------------------------------
LITTIZIA. Welcome, my friends. What brings you all this way?
What news have you that brings you here today?
DAWSON. You know King Peter in his ivory tower
Is laying taxes on us by the hour.
We do not mind the extra taxes much,
But Peter thinks he has the Midas touch.
However, as we qather here, all know
'Tis only for the legislators' glow -
To feather their own nests the funds were spent,
As their raise equaled forty-one percent!
LITTIZIA. No argument, dear friend, will come from me.
I have a plan of such simplicity
King Peter and his cohorts won't negate
The funds we voted for Rule Ninety-eight.
RANDOLFF. What, ho! A plan to keep Rule Ninety-eight?
Speak now, kind sir, for this I cannot wait.
What magic do I sense behind your words?
KURK. Speak no more 'til Littizia's plan we've heard.
LITTIZIA. We have a friend within the tower walls,
Who fast informs me of who comes to call
Upon King Peter in the ivory tower.
He is to meet us here this very hour.
Enter Caroll
-------------
CAROLL. My lord, I have the very news ye seek.
The king and friends meet even as we speak
To slash the budget in so many ways
They can afford their self-determined raise.
KURK. Kind guard, do ye perhaps know of a way
We might influence what and when they say?
Your risk is great, and yet your heart is true.
How can we help? What deeds can we few do?
CAROLL. A simple thing, my learned friend, please do:
The king and friends will not listen to you.
Have everyone who writes take pen in hand
And send forth letters throughout all the land.
Let voice be raised in anger and in might
To let them know they do not have the right
To limit education of the mass
To stuff the pockets of the upper class.
DAWSON. A simple plan! But wise deceptively.
Let all who write send letters to the king
And to the legislators in the tower.
Let us begin this day -- this very hour.
We'll lobby them to keep Rule Ninety-eight.
KURK. We can but only hope we're not too late.
ACT II - SCENE ONE
Scene One. At the Ivory Tower
Enter Dontrump and Wilbrun
--------------------------
DONTRUMP. Have you seen how the impecunious fools
Don't wish us to negate their stupid rule?
How uselessly they gather at the tower,
While we inside are holding all the power.
WILBRUN. Those simple fools! Do they not realize
That power should be wielded by the wise?
If they had never limited our terms --
I do not feel the poor will ever learn
That he who has the gold makes all the rules,
And government can be a useful tool
To do things for the good of all, or few.
Enter King Peter and_Duke Magean
--------------------------------
KING PETER. And since that FEW pertains to you and I,
We cannot let these matters go on by
Without a statement from the ivory tower
Within the week -- perhaps within the hour.
This is not right. Forsooth, it is not well
That children, some too young to even spell
Should inundate my office with these cries
From education's view. They are all lies.
'Tis proof our money is not wisely spent
In schooling underprivileged indigents.
DUKE MAGEAN. Now, by the oracle who came to me,
We need to rally fast behind our king.
The tower walls enclose and keep us safe
While we discuss the matters of the state,
But once the rabble crowd begins to grow -
Remember, King, the walls of Jericho.
ACT TWO - SCENE TWO
Scene Two
One Year Later
On the steps of the RUINS of the ivory tower
All cast on stage
King Peter, Wilbrun, Cole, Randolff and Debb on steps.
Shazam sits on the rubble of the tower, stage left.
----------------------------------------------------
KING PETER. What made my tower walls come tumbling down?
Which insolent person will claim my crown?
WILBRUN. What rules will stay? What of the funds we keep?
What of the secrets we have dark and deep?
COLE. The funds will first be all accounted for,
Then distributed to some of the poor.
Health, safety, education are my goals.
I'm king of those you formerly called fools.
FORMER KING PETER. You? King of what; what powers do you own?
What claim have ye to what was once my throne?
RANDOLFF. What questions are these for a former king?
The answers any school child now could bring.
King Peter must be an unlearned soul -
Has he not ever heard of Old King Cole?
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
SHAZAM. If we rabble have offended,
By the way this tale is ended,
Please consider but the source.
A creative writing course
If but offered, I'll attend
And my errant ways will mend.
But for now, this is --
THE END
