Scene 3
A road near the palace.
Upstage are clumps of bushes. VASILY appears stealthily and hides behind
one of the clumps. We hear the clip clop of approaching horses. Enter FOUR
MEN dressed in two horse suits, the kind that used to be popular in vaudeville
and operetta. THEY are leading a coach with a royal emblem on its side.
A COACHMAN sits atop the vehicle brandishing a whip. Inside the coach is
a very apprehensive MARIANNE. At any rate, she would be apprehensive if
we could only see her face behind the heavy veil she is wearing.
BOTH HORSES
Clip, clop,
Head held high,
People beam as we trot
by.
Clip, clop,
Proud and free,
A horse is the best thing
you can be.
Humans go through sorrow
and pain,
Humans often lack hope.
Humans would smile and
never complain
If they could gallop,
saunter and lope.
Clip, clop,
We are fearless;
Clip, clop,
We are peerless.
Clip, clop,
We have strength and
force,
Of course,
For there is nothing,
Absolutely nothing
Better in this world
Than to be a horse!
(The HORSES execute
a little dance. We see VASILY raise a gun over the clump and pull the trigger.
A loud noise. MARIANNE screams as the HORSES panic, tear themselves away
from the coach and run. The coach turns over and the COACHMAN cries out
in pain. HE tries to rise, but cannot move. VASILY bolts from the clump,
rushes to the carriage and helps a terrified MARIANNE out. COACHMAN continues
to writhe in pain, but VASILY ignores him.)
VASILY
Please, your highness…do
not be frightened…
MARIANNE
But the horses…the coachman…and
I am due in Kielbasa to sign a treaty by lunchtime.
COACHMAN
Oh, Lord, I think my leg
is broken.
(COACHMAN howls in
agony. VASILY sticks his foot in
Coachman's face.)
VASILY
Have no fear, your highness.
I shall get you there.
MARIANNE
For heaven's sake…how?
VASILY
On my back.
MARIANNE
But Kielbasa is over a hundred
kilometers.
VASILY
And my back is stronger than
any pair of sissy horses.
MARIANNE
(reaching out and
touching it with her palm)
So it is!
(VASILY leans down,
hoists her upon his back and off they go, leaving the COACHMAN writhing
on the ground.)
BLACKOUT
