Scene Two

Lights dim, the stage revolves, and lights rise on a section of a large lecture hall. OLIVER DE KOVEN, a man so fat he can hardly move, sits on an enormous chair on a podium. DILAYS and IRENE are in the front section surrounded by a GROUP of both sexes and ages anywhere from 20 to 75.
DE KOVEN
I had a message last night from Master Omo. For those of you new to this group, Master Omo is one of Seven Grand Masters, whose sole purpose is to guide me in guiding you to a more productive and rewarding future. Master Omo came because he knew, after that most unpleasant article in the MorningTelegraph, that some of you would be discomforted by it. The average man knoweth not of the spiritual plane on which a few chosen souls have selected to exist.
(As HE drones on, lights dim and a spot falls on Irene. SHE looks around her, observes the rapt attention of the audience.)


IRENE

Blah-blah, blah-blah, blah-blah, blah,
Really? And is that so?
How wonderful, hurray, hurrah,
Thank you kindly, Fatso.
You're brilliant and moreover,
I think I just found Jehovah.

People are sheep,
People are dumb---
Give them the flimflam,
And see how they come.
Give them sheer bunkum
With a bit of a sock to it;
Spread on the bullshit
And see how they flock to it.
Give them what's phony
Of God and the soul;
Give them baloney---
They'll swallow it whole.
Deceive and mislead them,
They'll be in your debt;
People are sheep---
They deserve what they get.

(For a moment the lights around her comeup, and DE KOVEN is still
lecturing.)
DE KOVEN
We live many lives, and we go through the zodiac. We begin with Aries, then the next life is Taurus, then next Gemini...until we arrive at the twelfth and final sign, Pisces...the sign of spiritual awakening.

IRENE

                                                           (under her breath)
And I wonder what sign you are, blubber-belly.

DE KOVEN

                                                          (to Irene)
Did you have a question, young lady?

IRENE

I was just curious whether you were a Pisces.

DE KOVEN

As a matter of fact, I am. This is not to brag, mind you...this is just to say...

                                                        (Again the lights dim and the spot falls on Irene.)

IRENE

People are sheep,
Dense and uncouth,
Give them delusion
But base it on truth.
They all will be winners,
Success is in-built in it;
Stress all the virtues
But make sure there's guilt in it.
Whatever pleases
Is where you must aim;
Buddha or Jesus,
The game is the same.
So easily guided,
So quickly coerced---
People are sheep,
And the Yanks are the worst.

 
 

LIGHTS DIM