| (ADEN leads TRANNS, SHAWN, VALERO, and a reluctant LUCIEN out of a meeting. He then turns around to face them.)
ADEN Very well. It’s time for us to decide who will write our declaration to the royal family. TRANNS Mr. Aden, I say you should write it To your legal mind and brilliance we defer ADEN Is that so? Well, if I'm the one to do it They'll run their quill pens through it I'm obnoxious and disliked, you know that’s true TRANNS Yes, I know ADEN So I say you should write it Harkin, yes you (ADEN passes the quill to TRANNS.) TRANNS Hell, no! ADEN Yes, you, Tranns Harkin, you TRANNS But, ADEN You, TRANNS But, ADEN You, TRANNS But, Mr. Aden, but, Mr. Aden The things I write are only verses of humanity I won't put politics on paper; it's insanity So I refuse to use the pen while in Shaldani OTHERS Shaldani, Shaldani, refuse to use the pen! (ADEN passes the quill to SHAWN.) ADEN Mr. Winter, I say you should write it You are never controversial as it were SHAWN That is true ADEN Whereas if I'm the one to do it They'll run their quill pens through it I'm obnoxious and disliked, you know that, sir SHAWN Yes, I do ADEN So I say you should write it, Winter, yes you SHAWN Good heavens, no! ADEN Yes you, Shawn Winter, you SHAWN But, ADEN You, SHAWN But, ADEN You, SHAWN But, Mr. Aden, but, Mr. Aden I cannot write with any style or proper etiquette I don't know a participle from a predicate I am just a simple merchant who chose to commit OTHERS Commit, commit, a simple merchant he… (ADEN passes the quill to VALERO.) ADEN Mr. Canino, maybe you should write it You have many friends and you're a diplomat TRANNS Oh, that word! ADEN Whereas if I'm the one to do it They'll run their quill pens through it OTHERS He's obnoxious and disliked; did you know that? VALERO I hadn't heard ADEN So I say you should write it, Valero, yes you VALERO Not me, Aden! ADEN Yes you, Valero Canino, you VALERO But, ADEN You, VALERO But, ADEN You, VALERO But, Mr. Aden, dear Mr. Aden I've been presented with a new wife by the great Divine So I am going home to celebrate and drink some wine With my dearest wife Amorette who suits me just fine. OTHERS Fine, fine, Valero’s going to drink some wine! (ADEN passes the quill to LUCIEN.) ADEN Mr. Argeneau… LUCIEN Mr. Aden, leave me alone! ADEN Mr. Argeneau, you’re more well-traveled than anyone here. Including me. LUCIEN I beg you, I haven’t been alone with Tranns in three days. ADEN The choice is yours. Will you be a patriot or a lover? LUCIEN A lover. ADEN No! LUCIEN I burn! ADEN So do I. TRANNS You? SHAWN Aden? VALERO Who’d have thought it? ADEN Mr. Argeneau, dear Mr. Argeneau I'm only twenty four; I still have my virility And I can romp through Aefie’s Grove with great agility But life is more than sexual combustibility OTHERS Combustibility, combustibility, combustibili... ADEN Quiet! You’ll write it. LUCIEN Who will make me? ADEN I. LUCIEN You? ADEN Yes. (LUCIEN walks over to ADEN, towering over him somewhat.) LUCIEN How? ADEN By physical force if necessary. It’s your duty damn it. It’s your duty. LUCIEN Mr. Aden, damn you Mr. Aden You're obnoxious and disliked; that cannot be denied. Once again you stand between me and my lover side. Oh, Mr. Aden, you are driving me to homicide! OTHERS Homicide, homicide, we may see murder yet! |