The Love of Three Oranges zy
LEANDRO. Well, I've carried out the King’s orders. He decreed that
there would be a banquet, a masked ball, and entertainments this
very night and I have made it so. The people are preparing comical
costumes to make the prince laugh but I will ensure that our cos-
tumes remind him only of death and depress him more.
(FATA MORGANA, hunched over and dressed as an old hag,
enters and tries to walk past him.)
Just a sec grandma. Where do you think you are going? The party
hasn’t even started yet.
FATA MORGANA. (Smacks him and stands her full height.) Fool. Dont
you recognize me? It is I, (She throws her hood back to reveal her face. She
isa very powerful, sexy woman.) Fata Morgana (Chord.) and I'm here to
help you. As long as I am present in this room, the prince will never
laugh. And if he does not laugh, he does not live! And if he does not
live, he dies! (A pause as she realizes that was rather lame.) Grovel!
LEANDRO. (Getting on his knees and kissing her hand:) My Queen, my
benefactor, my most holy rolling stone! I did not recognize you in
your costume, but I am thankful for your supernatural help.
FATA MORGANA. That's more like it. Smeraldina, my loyal hench-
woman! Help me with this hood thing.
(SMERALDINA enters and helps her back into her old lady cos-
tume. MORGANA resumes her bent position LEANDRO is still
groveling with fear.)
What the hell are you waiting for, simpleton? Open the doors and
let the party begin.
(FATA MORGANA retreats to the back of the room as the guests
file in. CLARICE enters with Leandro's mask. Both she and LE-
ANDRO are dressed in scary costumes to remind the prince of
death. Everyone else in the room is wearing silly or comical masks
with the exception of TRUFFALDINO, KING, and TARTA-
GLIA. Fanfare. Flourish. KING, TRUFFALDINO, and TARTA-
GLIA process in, the father and son in full playing card regalia.
TARTAGLIA looks perfectly miserable and tries several times
to escape but TRUFFALDINO is right behind him, jabbing his
jester's stick into his back like a spear. Some guests stop TRUF-
FALDINO for his autograph and TARTAGLIA escapes but runs
into PANTALONE on his way out who brings him right back
in. The KING sits on his throne but PANTALONE and TRUF-
FALDINO have fo tie TARTAGLIA to his and gag him to get
him to stay. As they are tying up TARTAGLIA, BRIGHELLA
enters wearing his usual costume and the mask from “Scream.”