The Crystal Palace Royals

THE CRYSTAL PALACE ROYALS

By Luca Passeggiata

Dramatis Personae

ASTER LOMBROS An orphaned youth

JUAN Exchequer

LADY SERRARE

GHOST

SERVANT(s)

ENGINEER

KING

DEMON

MINISTER OF INFORMATION

MONSTER

PRINCESS

DUC DU BELLEGRACE

DAME VAN DER VEN

LADY WEISS

LORD KERR

FRED

JO

HILDA

ACT I

SCENE I

Garden

The counting of the years since the death of Christ had long since stopped in the Crystal Palace. Its surrounding walls cut the barrier between an arid wintry Earth and a heartless Heaven, for the ground and the stars had been sterilized. What fruit was born from Heaven and Earth arose synthetically inside the Crystal Palace, the grandest achievement of the remnants of human culture.

ASTER pacing in the garden

ASTER

Of all the days! The Provost will surely deny me my exam. Maybe I can record myself, no it won't work, my band doesn't work one bit. It's blocked for some reason, why now? Why?

He sits on a snow-covered bench, hands in his head

This doesn't make sense. My life is ruined, they won't have anywhere to put me, I'll never go to school or get a job. I'll be a disgrace. How will I even get home? There must be a way to fix this. Let me think.

Enter GHOST

A spritely ghost dances behind him on the bench as he rests his head on his hands. She moves close, leans to his left, to his right and then stops to ponder. As she reaches out to touch him on the shoulder the sound of a bell rings and the scenery is removed, the two are surrounded in black. Aster turns to her slowly, standing

GHOST

I can take you home.

ASTER

I... What is this? Where am I?

GHOST

We haven't left, don't worry. You're the first one I've seen in a long time.

ASTER

You're the first I've ever seen. This is incredible.

GHOST

I'm sure you'll forget it. They all do.

ASTER

What?

GHOST

Oh, never mind, come along I'll get you home. This is what happens when you people start thinking. Shouldn't be too long.