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Liquid Beauty
CAST: Prince Mahabhoga the Third, Tapan the Servant,
Govinda Dasi, Govinda Dasi's Father. SCENE ONE (Servant enters, sweeping the path with a broom, then blows conchshell loudly) Prince: (strutting in like a peacock) Ah! What a SPLENDID day! Who can be a happier man than me? Am I not the richest man, surrounded by thousands of loyal subjects?! So much is mine now, and I will have more in the future, according to my schemes! Dominion over all that I see! Tapan, would you or would you not agree, that today the sun shines just for me? Ah, what a SPLENDID day! Servant: And of the splendid, you are the most splendid, my Lord! Who in this land is more opulent than you? You are full of beauty, full of wealth, full of strength, full of knowledge, full of... full of... full of... Prince: Fame. Servant: Fame! Yes, of course! How could I forget? Who is more famous than my Lord? (proceeds to kiss Prince's hand) Prince: Now, now, Tapan, there's no need for that. We're all friends here. (Servant attempts to clean the spot where the Prince has wiped his wet hand, using the street broom) Not with the street broom, you idiot! I ought to break your neck... (beautiful girl enters, chanting) Oh, my word! What have we here? What my eyes perceive with pleasure, Heaven holds no greater treasure! Servant: A sight divine! Prince: Such beautiful eyes, thin waist, long hair... and shy — Ahhh! A king's prize! Go speak to her, Tapan, on my behalf. For in truth, I have never seen a greater beauty! Servant: My dear lady, His Most Magnanimous Lordship, Prince Mahabhoga The Third, desires your hand, for he truly thinks that you are the greatest beauty in the kingdom. Girl: Truly? Perhaps, my good man, we've become accustomed to seeking untruth in the name of truth, and maybe we don't have the eyes to see real beauty. Servant: Shall I tell His Lordship that? Girl: You may tell His Lordship that if he desires my hand, he must ask my good father. We live in nearby Kashmir Province. My father is the school teacher there. He may come tomorrow evening. Good day! (Servant tells Prince the good news) Prince: Her father, eh? She's downright proper! There's wisdom in those lovely eyes, a certain mystical gaze. Of course, my purpose lies not in her eyes, for beauty is had in many ways. Come then, until tomorrow.
SCENE TWO (The next day at the father's house — girl enters, singing)
Father: Chant, chant, chant! The Prince is coming today and all you can do is walk around chanting about God?! Girl: Dear father, what would you have me do? This chanting gives me great joy. Father: Still, you should prepare yourself! You know, dress up, think of pleasant things to say that will exhibit your many talents and accomplishments! Girl: The Prince is not interested in me, father. All he desires is this bodily covering — as he perceives it — not me. I'm not this body, I am a spirit soul. His passion would not be so fired, were this body pale and old. (she hurries off) Servant: Announcing, His Highness Prince Mahabhoga The Third! Father: (bowing repeatedly) Oh, your Honorable Lordship, we are blessed by your presence! Prince: Now, now, there's no need for that, we're all friends here. Father: What may I offer you, my Lord? Prince: An offering? How nice! My dear old fellow, I'd be a fool if I did not request your most precious jewel. Father: Jewel? You want jewelry? I... I am a poor man, a simple man... I... Prince: No, no, no, the family jewel! Father: Oh, yes, yes of course, the family jewel. It would be a great honor to my family to give you my daughter's hand in marriage. I will go and bring her out immediately. (he meets his daughter at the far side of the stage) Govinda Dasi, it is done! You heard His Lordship, he desires your hand in marriage — what do you say? Girl: Alas, if it were only my hand he desired, father! Please consider my plight! I have heard that this Prince is simply a materialistic man, interested only in money and sense pleasure. He does not have a bit of devotion to our Lord. I am not against marriage, but the man I marry must be a devotee of Lord Krishna! Father: Now listen to me, you ungrateful young woman! I have given my word that you will serve the Prince as his wife. Do you understand? Girl: (bows head) Yes, father — but tell him I
must have a week to prepare myself for him, and then perhaps he will
change his mind, if not... (Father goes back to Prince and pantomimes
the message and parting words with Prince, as Govinda Dasi speaks to
herself:) This Prince is very attached to the beauty of this temporary
body, which is actually only composed of obnoxious and abominable
substances like stool, urine, fat, mucous, bile, blood, bones, nails and
hair. Therefore, when he returns I will make him a gift of these
substances which he thinks are me.In order to accomplish this, I will
use these purgatives and laxatives. (she drinks from two bottles, makes
sickly gestures and noises and struggles off stage) SCENE THREE (A week later, Prince and Servant return) Servant: (blows conchshell and announces) The Prince! The finest Prince of all the land, Prince Mahabhoga The Third! Prince: Today is the big day! Yes, today my life becomes perfect. Now, where is my beautiful wife-to-be? Govinda Dasi! Govinda Dasi! Your Prince awaits you! Girl: Coming, my Prince! (she draws herself on stage, haggard and depleted. Actress may wear an old age or witch mask) Prince: Ugh! Who are you, ugly wretch? Tapan, if this is my future mother-in-law, I may have to... Girl: Why, my Prince, I am your beautiful bride-to-be. Prince: No, you couldn't be! Where is your beauty, your glow? Girl: Come in, I have saved it for you so that you can take it with you wherever you go. It is the liquid in this container. (she uncaps a bucket) Here — enjoy, enjoy! Prince: My God! What is this putrid slop! Girl: Oh, just a little mucus, some loose stools, urine, blood and a lot of vomit. Prince: What sort of joke is this? Girl: Up to now, you have been thinking, "What a beautiful woman," but I am the same woman, except for the contents of this bucket, which are now separated from me. Servant: I guess we could call it (turns toward audience and holds nose) LIQUID BEAUTY!!! (sticks tongue out in disgust) YUCK!!! Prince: Well, if that's all there is to beauty, then what is the use of living? Girl: Now don't become hopeless, Prince. You just haven't been looking in the right places for beauty. Look to Lord Krishna — His purely spiritual body is made of eternity, knowledge and bliss. Prince: I have now learned my lesson, thank you, and real life has begun for me. There is so much more I have to learn. Come, my bride, we will still marry — and forever more I will be a devotee of Lord Krishna, ruling the kingdom only for His service. (they exit) Servant: The Royal Couple! (blows conchshell) All Glories to Lord Krishna!
The End
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