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FADRIUS – But of course not Your Majesty! We all love you. I’m just thinking that the kingdom can survive without new dresses and balls. What is more important is that, by my calculations this year we will have a drought. And a bad harvest would destroy our peasants.
QUEEN – Stop trying to scare me. You’re telling me that I might starve!
FADRIUS – Not you. But it will be hard for your subjects to survive the drought.
QUEEN – Well do something then, after all you’re a Wizard.
FADRIUS – I’m sorry Your Majesty, but there is nothing I can do.
QUEEN – Why? It is so easy. One magic spell and we will have good weather.
FADRIUS – The matter is, my Queen I have become too old. I do not possess the magic power that is needed to do anything…
QUEEN – Here we go, you’re upsetting me again! My migraine is coming back, shame on you!
FADRIUS – Your Majesty, I want you to know the truth. My powers are deteriorating.
QUEEN – I don’t want to hear that! You have to do something. I can’t lead this disgusting life anymore. I’m sick and tired of all the problems, which my ministers are throwing at me.
FADRIUS – But Your Majesty after the death of the King you are now the head of state, and you should rule the country.
QUEEN – It’s always done something, something, something… Why do I owe everyone something, and they don’t owe me anything?
FADRIUS – That’s the burden of power. A head of state is not only about the right to rule, but the responsibility for the country’s affairs and all the people in it.
QUEEN – And who will take care of me?!
FADRIUS – Us, your beloved servants.
QUEEN – I don’t feel it! All that I see is your desire to upset me more and more each day.
FADRIUS – (Disheartened) Your Majesty, just today I was going to tell you all about my new plan. It is possible; if it succeeds it will solve all our problems.
QUEEN – And I will be able to throw a dazzling ball at last?
FADRIUS – (Heavy sigh) Yes, I hope you will.
QUEEN – Fadrius! If your plan will not help me to find money to buy new outfits, then why do I need it? What’s the point?!
FADRIUS – There are more important things in the Kingdom than balls and new dresses.
QUEEN – Don’t talk such nonsense! I thought you were a smart Wizard. But I guess I was wrong about you.
FADRIUS – I won’t argue with you. But anyway, let me explain my plan.
QUEEN – Oh! How boring and frustrating this is… Ok, I’m listening.
FADRIUS – My dear Queen, I have been thinking for a very long time, what can help our Kingdom from the disastrous events, which preceded us after the Kings death. I wanted to find one solution to all the problems. For days and nights, I was restless trying to find the answer…
QUEEN – Fadrius, can you get to the point. I feel my migraine coming back.
FADRIUS – I think I have found the answer. The only thing that will help us is a MIRACLE. There is a mention of it in a very old magical manuscript. This MIRACLE is hidden very far away, near the edge of the earth.
QUEEN – What is this?
FADRIUS – It is a certain magical substance able to grant the wishes of the beholder. But unfortunately, only one wish is permitted.
QUEEN – (Disappointed) Only one! That’s a disgrace. I’ve already accumulated a thousand different wishes.
FADRIUS – That’s not the biggest problem my Queen. I think I will be able to create a formula that can grant all the thousand wishes you have. Especially since most of your wishes are not very varied or original.
QUEEN – If this is true, why haven’t you brought this MIRCALE to my palace?
FADRIUS – That’s my biggest problem. I cannot do this.
QUEEN – Here we go! You’re trying to upset me again.
FADRIUS – The problem is that my powers aren’t what they used to be. And not everyone can get to the place where the MIRCACLE is kept. But even if one can overcome all the hurdles and get there, there is still the problem to actually obtain it. The only one who can possess this MIRACLE is someone with a pure soul and elevated intentions.
QUEEN – Someone like me?
FADRIUS – (With light irony and sarcasm) I’m afraid neither you nor me will be suitable because we’re not young and innocent as we used to be. Our souls are not pure enough to possess this MIRACLE.
QUEEN – Nonsense! My soul is pure and untainted, like a child’s tears. Just because I helped my mother in-law to an early grave, surely that doesn’t mean that I’m a sinner? That’s how everyone acts. And it wasn’t my fault that my brother in-law walked into a cage with tigers; I just informed my husband that his brother was plotting against him. I don’t know why he thought it was a good idea to go into the cage with a hungry predator, when he was drunk. And after all I’m a woman! And women are forgiven for being mischievous. So, after all I’m aloud to be in control of this MIRACLE.
FADRIUS – I’m sorry Your Majesty but the Wizard’s law is very strict. If your soul wasn’t pure enough and your intentions weren’t elevated enough you could die just by touching it.
QUEEN – (Scared) Then I don’t need any miracles!
FADRIUS – That’s why I want to send my apprentice to get this MIRACLE. He is still young and pure enough. You saw him when you came in.
QUEEN – Oh, that nice young man. But what do we get out of it? If he gets the MIRACLE, then I won’t be able to use it?!
FADRIUS – He will obtain the MIRACLE so that he can pass the test in order to become a real Wizard. Gelo will bring the MIRACLE to the palace. And I with his help will formularies this MIRACLE. Only then will Gelo become a real Wizard.
QUEEN – And then I will be able to get new dresses and throw extravagant balls every week?
FADRIUS – (Looking at her with pity) I should think, much more than that.
QUEEN – You’re not as stupid as you make out to be, Fadrius! How crafty you are. You want someone else to get the MIRACLE for you. But remember the important thing is that all my wishes come true. Don’t waste the entire MIRACLE for the Kingdoms stupid affairs, so that nothing will be left for me.
FADRIUS – Don’t worry Your Majesty, If Gelo brings back the MIRACLE I will try to use it wisely.
QUEEN – Well then, call your apprentice. I personally want to see his departure.
Fadrius walks to the side and calls Gelo. Gelo walks in and humbly waits for further instructions.
FADRIUS – Gelo! You have a great privilege. I, as your teacher have chosen your test so that you can become a real Wizard. You’ll have a long and dangerous journey. There you will find a magical substance called the MIRACLE. With its help, one can achieve any magnificent magic.
GELO – (Excitedly) Even to make all of humanity happy?
FADRIUS – (Unhappy that he was interrupted) Perhaps, even that.
QUEEN – What nonsense! A good subject would want to make his Queen happy first.
FADRIUS – Your Majesty, that’s exactly what Gelo meant. (Talking to Gelo again) Here I have prepared instructions and extracts from old magical manuscripts. They will help you find the way and acquire the MIRACLE. (Gives him instructions and extracts) You must go straight away.
QUEEN – Yes, yes. I’m tired of waiting for my wishes to come true. I have too many of them. That’s why you should hurry.
GELO – Can I say goodbye to my fiancе?
FADRIUS – Your Majesty I think you would be magnanimous to let the young ones to have a kiss goodbye. In our Kingdom you never restricted anyone to love one another.
QUEEN – (Unhappy) You use my kindness so skillfully. Ok then – Say goodbye, but not too long. (Tired and coquettishly) Everybody knows how easy it is to get along with me. One just has to agree with me. Show me to my quarters, Fadrius.
Everybody walks off stage Fadrius and the Queen to one side and Gelo hurriedly goes to the other. There is a sound of a gong.
Music plays. Blackout.
Fadrius comes on stage. He turns over the hourglass symbolizing that some time has passed. Then sits at the table and shifts through some papers. Lizy takes the stage. Lizy appears shyly.
LIZY – Dear Wizard, can I ask you something.
FADRIUS – (Hides grin and pretends to be dissatisfied) I’m listening, Lizy. What’s the matter?
LIZY – Mr. Fadrius, It’s been a week since Gelo left. And I’m sick with worry! I don’t know what to do with myself…
FADRIUS – So what?! What do you want from me?
LIZY – Can you tell me in all honesty how dangerous his journey is?
FADRIUS – Very dangerous. I’m not even sure if he will be able to complete the task at hand.
LIZY – Then why did you send him on this horrific journey?!
FADRIUS – Well, Lizy it wasn’t me who sent him. He chose his own destiny. Gelo wants to become a real Wizard, a great Wizard. And because of this he will suffer many trials and tribulations. This is the first of many. And if you really do love him then you should know the truth.
LIZY – What truth?
FADRIUS – For example, every woman can achieve someone’s love, but that doesn’t mean that love will last forever.
LIZY – I don’t understand you…
FADRIUS – Just because a man tells his woman that he loves her, it doesn’t necessarily mean that he loves only her. For every intelligent, creative, energetic man his dedication and love for his work can be greater than his love for a woman. Not all women understand this. Some of these women are even stupid enough to be jealous of a man’s work. And in the end, they make themselves and their loved ones unhappy.
LIZY – But how can one compare our love to Gelo’s passion and dedication for work?
FADRIUS – Of course you can’t! Vocation is more important! That’s why you shouldn’t get in the way of his vocation. Don’t be an obstacle in his work. You want all his attention and love; you want him to belong to you entirely, but for a determined and dedicated man it is impossible. If he doesn’t succeed in his work, he will die.
LIZY – Without our love he will die as well.
FADRIUS – (With a grin) Possibly, but I doubt it. But without his work he certainly will. Not physically. He will live like a plant. Like withering grass, he will dry up. You can even teach him to take out the rubbish or to knit. But this won’t be the real Gelo; this will be his pale shadow. In the end he will drink himself stupid or dumb-down and waste away. Gelo is the kind of man for whom work is his life. He is a man of duty! Your love is essential to him but it’s not enough for his happiness. That’s why if you wish him well, never stand between him and his work, his duty and vocation. To be prohibited to do one’s vocation is the worst thing for men. And no love can change this. Believe you me. If you mix a barrel of goodness and a barrel of evilness, you wouldn’t get two barrels of goodness. You would get two barrels of diluted evilness.
LIZY – I don’t want Gelo to be unhappy.
FADRIUS – I believe you. But you have to understand he is open to new ideas and wants changes in his life, but that is because he is still young, not because he is foolish. Don’t forget this. And anyway, in my opinion Gelo is too young and inexperienced to get married.
LIZY – So when do you think he will be experienced and old enough?
FADRIUS – When he realizes one shouldn’t hurry into marriage.
LIZY – So you’re against us getting married?
FADRIUS – I’m against the speed of this matter.
LIZY – Mr. Fadrius! You can judge me, but I have made my decision! I’m going after him. If his journey is as dangerous as you say, I want to be with him. Tell me where he went? I know he needs me. I’ll try to help him. You see I love him very much, more than life itself! I can’t just sit here and wait, not knowing what is going on with him, where is he?! At this very moment he might urgently need my help, my support, and my love…
FADRIUS – (Sighing) I cannot forbid you to go. And even if I try, you will act on your own account. So do, as you know. But remember what I told you. Help him to succeed with his mission and fulfill his dream, only then can you make him happy. Because his vocation is his destiny!
Music plays. Blackout.Curtains.
* * * * *
Scene Two.
Somewhere in the mountains, inside the cave of Hermit. Gelo lies wounded. He sleeps, though moans and repeats Lizy’s name. Hermit is cooking something on a hearth. In the center of the stage there is table and chairs. Gelo regains his consciousness and looks around the cave with bewilderment. Hermit notices this.
HERMIT – Ah, I see you’re awake? In a minute I’ll give you something to eat.
GELO – Where am I? What happened to me? Who are you? How did I get here?
HERMIT – You’ve just woken up and you are interrogating me already.
GELO – Sorry, but I don’t remember anything. The last thing I remember is the landslide in the mountains. I was walking along the mountain path, and then all of a sudden rock started falling down…
HERMIT – And from this landslide I rescued you. You were very badly hurt, but luckily, you’re still alive. You could have died.
GELO – How long have I been here?
HERMIT – I found you in the morning collecting wood, three days ago.
GELO – Three whole days! I lost three days!
HERMIT – You could have lost your life. Be happy that I found you.
GELO – Thank you very much! You saved my life. But I’m in a hurry. I have a very important matter. And I have wasted so much time!
Gelo tries to get up quickly but grimaces with pain. And with difficulty walks to the table to sit down.
