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SCENE 8 bystander scratches his head. Ishmael: "They brought out the RED SHOES!" bystander: "Sorry, old pal... got a little busy in the bathroom..." Ishmael: "And I had to hold deserter's head!" bystander: "...lost track of time..." Ishmael: "And then Monkey-General brought out a photo that YOU took!... Listen carefully." bystander is shocked at what Ishmael is saying. Ishmael: "No one but fate has seen the photo..." bystander's ear grows larger. Ishmael: "...and Monkey-General, but it is named the Death of Illusion or Illusionism. Which is it?" bystander: "You sure you know how to write?" Ishmael: "That's your job... I just live it. AND I'VE BEEN LIVING IT HERE ALL BY MYSELF!" bystander: "Hmmmm... just thinking of the book contract." Ishmael: "Yes YES... but we must focus on winning this case..." Monkey-General sits back and smokes a cigar. Monkey-General . o O (illusions, delusions, allusions, long division) Monkey-General . o O (multiplication, replication, vacation) Monkey-General . o O (Mexico, beer, blood) Monkey-General . o O (blood, red, shoes, news, bystander, sitter, quitter) Monkey-General . o O (knitter) Monkey-General takes out a ball of yarn and begins knitting a pair of soles. Monkey-General . o O (sole, solo, Hans Solo, Hans Brinker and the Silver Skates) Monkey-General . o O (Holland, the Hague, war crimes, war chimes) Monkey-General . o O (Ishmael, traitor, trader...) fate calls Monkey-General to the bench for a private conference. Monkey-General sticks the ball of yarn in her pocket for another story and walks up to the bench. The white mouse scurries up Monkey-General's legs. fate [to Monkey-General]: "The last trial I presided over turned on the issue of war rhymes... really execrable stuff... I suppose there's no precedent there for this trial?" Monkey-General quickly grabs the mouse and eats it. fate [to Monkey-General]: "This business of illusion and exclusion is very suspicious." bystander smiles. bystander . o O (perfect) Monkey-General: "Not in Germany, where I was trained, your honor." fate [to Monkey-General]: "Not in Germany, what?" Monkey-General: "Illusion and exclusion..." bystander . o O (nothing like a truthSerumSoakedWhiteRat to ease the conversation... a truthSerumSoakedWhiteRat with another electronicBug piggybacked on it.) Ishmael smiles at bystander. Monkey-General . o O (in my gut?) fate: "Well, I found that prisoner guilty of war rhymes, and I could do the same here." Ishmael . o O (that boy is earning his cut now) Ishmael looks at fate. bystander . o O (yes indeed) Ishmael: "YOUR HONOR! I object!" fate: "And there is a small matter of vile guns, I mean puns, as well." Ishmael: "There has been no evidence to link this photograph to me or to war chimes." Monkey-General . o O (please don't bring objects into this discussion... not with illusions) bystander: "What horror so abject...?" Small wriggles make it clear that the truthSerumSoakedWhiteRat is still alive inside Monkey-General's stomach. Ishmael: "NOW! Let's ask Monkey-General a few questions!" fate [to Ishmael]: "Yes, it's time for your defense against the charges." Ishmael: "I call Monkey-General to the witness stand." fate: "Call flunky, we need to swear in the Prosecutor." flunky: "Here I am... Repeat after me: I, Monkey-General..." Ishmael stands and looks at the monkey. Monkey-General: "I, baboon face..." flunky: "...do solemnly swear by virtue of the truthSerumSoakedWhiteRat in my gut..." Monkey-General: "...do solemnly wear the virtues of the truthSerumSoakedWhiteRat..." Monkey-General burps. flunky: "...to tell something approximating truth to this approximation of a court..." Monkey-General: "...to approximately court truth." Ishmael slams his fists down on the table. fate: "Right, Ishmael, your question please." Ishmael pulls himself up and walks slowly in front of the monkey. fate [to Ishmael]: "One question at a time, or less." Ishmael: "How did your mother die?"
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