Ishmael (a sailor, the defendant)
A large bare tent hung with giant brains and all the appurtenances of raw justice.
flunky (a court flunky)
Monkey-General (a demon; the prosecutor)
bystander (a reporter)
fate (acting as justice)
howweird (a horse)
a white rat (nonspeaking)
SCENE 1
Ishmael feels the wind blow through the tent and a memory of this place with it. He has dressed up for the occasion in gray with brass buttons. He has on his best courtmartialarts boots. flunky frowns at the prisoner and gestures him to stand up straight. Ishmael stands with regal self-assurance and stares straight ahead.
flunky [to Monkey-General]: "Who are you?"
Monkey-General: "Monkey, general, bottle-washer, judge, and jury."
flunky officiously shuffles papers on the bare rostrum.
flunky: "No I'm sorry that is not correct, you have been superseded by fate."
Monkey-General . o O (what else is new?)
Ishmael takes a deep breath, his hands handcuffed behind his back.
flunky: "You can continue in your role as monkey... also, let's see, general."
bystander walks into the court.
flunky: "Although there will be no pulling rank in this court, is that clear?"
Monkey-General: "Rank?"
bystander takes out his pen and paper. He reaches all over the inside of his jacket clicking buttons and rearranging items.
flunky: "fate expects to be treated with a deference bordering on the obsequious."
Monkey-General: "This is all rank, all these human affairs."
flunky: "You have been appointed prosecutor... Do you have any experience in that role?"
Ishmael mutters to himself angrily. He longs for the sea.
Monkey-General: "Of course I do, I'm a simian after all."
Ishmael: "I want VIDEO. It is my right. A record must be made."
Monkey-General rolls her eyes under her lids.
bystander . o O (what does that 19th century idiot think he's talking about?)
Ishmael: "Three cameras."
bystander [whispers to Ishmael]: "Don't worry, I got you covered."
flunky frowns and gestures to the tent walls: "Can't support video, no wiring."
Monkey-General begins to take various things out of her coat... a pair of red shoes, a whale's tooth, a deserter's head. Ishmael motions for bystander to come closer.
Ishmael [to bystander]: "60/40 if I live, 40/60 if I die."
bystander [to Ishmael]: "Sounds fair enough... it's a deal."
Ishmael [to bystander] "OK, start taking notes... and turn the tape recorder on."
Monkey-General sits in the magistrate's chair and lights up a cigar.
bystander [to Ishmael]: "Look, shut up... OK?"
flunky [to Monkey-General]: "Hey, out of that chair, monkey, that's for fate."
Monkey-General: "fate, shmate."
bystander: "fate has no place here."
flunky [to bystander]: "And if you get out of line, I'm cuffing you to the prisoner here."
bystander . o O (mmmmmm... wouldn't mind being handcuffed to him)
fate has arrived.