Free Priestley Plays Four by J. B. Priestley Page A

he’s staying –
    MELICENT:
(Alarmed.)
OH – NO – Father – please –
    KING: And another thing, young woman. We’ve had enough of your whims and caprices. Tomorrow after the tournament we announce your marriage –
    MELICENT:
(Urgently.) Never!
    KING: We don’t know who the bridegroom will be yet – but you’ll marry him if we have to lock you up and give you nothing but bread and water –
    MELICENT:
(Stormily.)
I won’t – I won’t – I won’t –
    KING: You will. And that’s our royal command – bear witness, Lady Ninette and Master Marlagram, that we have spoken.
    MELICENT:
(Urgently.)
Master Marlagram, you remember the brooch that Malgrim wanted –
    MARLAGRAM: Yes – he-he-he-he! – we’re both after it of course –
    MELICENT: It’s yours if you help me now –
    MARLAGRAM:
(Delighted.)
Done! And notice I never asked for it. He-he-he!
    KING: What’s all this nonsense about a brooch? Whatever it is, we assure you –
    MARLAGRAM:
(Very impressive now, the magician.)
Stop, King Meliot!
    He holds up a hand. Light changes. Distant roll of thunder. NINETTE gives a little cry of alarm and shrinks back
.
    KING:
(Uneasily.)
None of your old Merlin tricks, Marlagram, please. Years out of date now, my dear fellow. Steady now –
    MARLAGRAM:
(Tremendously impressive.)
The moment of clear sight, given me under the Seal of Solomon, is with me now, King Meliot of Peradore. Two terrible dangers approach this castle. One is the unknown Red Knight who will challenge all, and can overcome all but one, at the tournament tomorrow. The other is a ravening fiery dragon that is even now muttering and smouldering in the wood below. And only he who overcomes the Red Knight may slay the dragon. And it is he who must marry the Princess.
    KING:
(His teeth almost chattering.)
Certainly – certainly – very reasonable in the circumstances. But are you sure about the Red Knight and the dragon? There couldn’t be any mistake –
    MARLAGRAM:
(Wildly.) Mistake!
What – you question the moment of clear sight – the Seal of Solomon himself?
    There is on the darkening stage a terrific flash of lightning and roll of thunder. The GIRLS scream. MARLAGRAM slips out
.
    KING:
(Alarmed.)
No – no – no – you’re quite right – very reasonable too – we give our word –
    MARLAGRAM:
(Triumphantly – off.)
He-he-he-he-he-he! And that’s another old Merlin trick, King Meliot – years out of date too –
    KING:
(Almost in the dark, admiringly.)
Gone, has he? Well, as we’ve said many a time, you can’t beat the old school of sorcerers when they’re really in form. Cranky, expensive, a bit messy – but they do let you know exactly where you are. And where we are – we have a bloodthirsty Red Knight and a ravening fiery dragon on our hands. In our opinion – a bit much.
    Scene blacks out completely
.
SCENE THREE
    Dungeon as in Sc. 8, Act I. SAM seen as before, chained and manacled. FIRST and SECOND SOLDIERS enter as before, carrying rations. They leave door open behind them
.
    FIRST SOLDIER:
(Putting down bowl.)
A drop ’o broth this time – for a treat.
    SECOND SOLDIER:
(Putting down loaf.)
And another loaf.
    FIRST SOLDIER: Just a loafer, you are, chum.
(Both SOLDIERS laugh.)
Not bad – eh – Ted?
    SECOND SOLDIER:
(Still laughing.)
You’ll kill me yet – Jack.
    SAM: Where’s your Captain – Sir Skip?
    FIRST SOLDIER: Sir Bloody Skip ’as ’ad it. First we put ’im under arrest – an’ now the enchanter’s getting’ to work on ’im –
and
on the other bloke –
    SECOND SOLDIER: By this time they might ’ave bin turned into a couple of basset hounds –
    FIRST SOLDIER: An’ that’s a dog’s life, chum. See – Ted – they come like lightnin’.
    SECOND SOLDIER:
(Laughing as they go.)
You’re a bloody marvel – Jack.
    They go out. Sam tastes the broth
.
    SAM: Terrible.
(Turns and calls up.)
I say – this broth is terrible. What do you make it out of – arrowheads?
    MARLAGRAM enters, chuckling. He is