Foundation's Edge: The Musical
By Marshall Honorof
Golan Trevize- The main character, he is said to be able to judge correctly based on little or no evidence
Janov Pelorat- Golan's traveling companion, Janov is searching for the legendary planet Earth
Blissenobiarella (Bliss)- The representative of Gaia, the living planet, who becomes romantically involved with Janov
Stor Gendibal- The First Speaker of the Second Foundation, Gendibal is fighting to retain the Seldon Plan
Sura Novi- Novi is a Hamish woman who is actually a Gaian in disguise. She is a student of Gendibal's as her Hamish self
Harla Branno- The mayor of Terminus and a figurehead of the Foundation, she wishes to be remembered as something in history… and will try to do so at any cost!
Liono Kodell- Branno's right hand man, he accompanies her into a three-way conflict between the Foundation, Second Foundation, and Gaia
Setting:
The scene is in deep space where there are three ships and three forces at work. The Far Star, Trevize's ship, contains Golan, Janov, and Bliss. Branno's ship contains Branno and Kodell, and Gendibal's ship contains Gendibal and Novi. It is up to Golan to decide the future of the Galaxy; Branno argues for the "free will" of the Foundation, Gendibal argues for the "peace and guidance" of the Second Foundation, and Novi argues for the undisputed "life" of Galaxia, the living galaxy, which will be an extension of Gaia.
(Stage lights up on Branno's section)
Branno: Free will!
(Stage lights up on Gendibal's section, spotlight on Gendibal)
Gendibal: Peace and guidance!
(Spotlight switches to Novi)
Novi: Life!
(Stage lights up on Golan's section)
Golan: I can't take it! Who am I supposed to choose?
(Janov stands up suddenly and bursts with energy)
Janov: Golan, you said yourself the Galaxy looked like it was a living organism…
Golan: (Dramatic pause) Yes! I've got it!
(Piano begins to play)
Golan: (Singsong voice, not singing)
The Foundation with its free will
And Second with its peace
Gaia with its life
They can't all get a piece
Of this Galaxy of ours
There is only one choice
And the future depends
Solely on my voice
Janov: (Speaks) Golan, are you all right?
Golan: (Shouts) Never felt better! (Begins to sing in lively tempo)
What difference does it make?
I ask myself, if Galaxia reigns
Or we all go to hell?
I'll be dead anyway,
And so will all my friends, you may say
But then, I heard a voice!
Novi: My plan worked….
Golan: It said make a choice!
All: Hallelujah!
Golan: Let's get to the pros and cons
And let's do it here, anon
I'll go over my steadfast choice
And let all of you have a voice!
Branno: (In a military march tempo)
Why did you have to do this to me?
I should go down in history?
And this was the perfect opportunity!
So… (Begins a fast and furious melody)
I was destined to be the one
To lead the Empire out of ruin
And have my name go down in history
So why, oh, why, must you do this to me!
Yes, I admit that I'm a brute
But Golan, you can stop being the cute
And idealistic councilman
Whatever Gaia bribed you with, I'm sure I can
So come on back to your council seat
And let this here Gaia force retreat
We'll rule the Empire with military might!
Give the First Foundation right!
Oh! (Crescendos to hit amazingly high note and sings in triplets back down)
(Music momentarily stops)
Gendibal: (Speaks) Hey Branno, you've had your say! (Sings in gospel tune)
So let's hit that issue again some other day!
Now Golan, you could have chosen worse but you still
chose wrong
Do I have to spell it out for you in song?
All: Ooh, with his so-o-o-ong….
Gendibal: You know the Second Foundation is right,
Whoa, you don't need a military to rule with might!
So Golan, come and take my hand
Let's rule the Galaxy with a strong command!
With we, the Mentalics, you can count on us
To force the Galaxy to give us its trust
We'll alter their minds and make them loyal
To us, the victors will go the spoils!
Then the First Foundation, our force will be
And if we use psychohistory
The Second Empire will live on for all eternity!
All: Whoa-oh-oh-oh eternity!
Gendibal: So now that you've seen my side of the fight
Give the Second Foundation the right!
Novi: (Speaks) None of you understand! (Sings in operatic fashion)
None of you understa-ah-ah-ah-and
So Bliss, enlighten them
Listen now, you nonbelievers
Let us sift through the sand
And on the other side
You will realize your blight
And give Galaxia the right!
Ah!
Bliss: (Speaks) And now, from Gaia itself, I bring you: the fate of the Galaxy! (Bliss runs forward and slides on her knees to the very edge of the stage and breaks into a pop song)
Oh baby, it's Gaia, please!
You're really bringing me down on my knees!
I know you're prob'ly thinking "What does she know?"
Well stick around baby, I'll tell you so
Cause I may only be
Twenty-three
But it's just so easy to see!
I've got the knowledge of elders
Down in my soul
And-I'm-gonna
Lose control!
Cause it's Gaia, baby, all the way
Once it's in this Galaxy, it's here to stay
Let's unite humanity
And not with psychohistory
An infallible method, you'll have to agree
I'll live inside you
And you inside me!
A super-organism, bay-bee!
A collective consciousness
Down in my soul?
Then you're never gonna
Lose control!
Cause it's Galaxia baby,
All the way!
It's Galaxia, baby!
Once it's made it's here to stay
Now psychohistory is merely a trite
So that's the reason why we give Galaxia right!
(Novi joins in)
Bliss & Novi: And that's the reason why we give Galaxia right!
(All actors jump out of their sections and come to the center of the stage. Golan is dead center, surrounded by Branno and Kodell slightly behind him. Golan is swaying from side to side, shuffling his feet, while Branno and Kodell do cartwheels on either side of him. Janov and Bliss are dancing hand in hand at one end of the stage and Gendibal and Novi are dancing hand in hand at the other end)
All: That's the reason why we give Galaxia right!
(All actors freeze, Janov and Bliss throw one hand in the air each)
Janov & Bliss: That's the reason why!
(All actors freeze, Gendibal and Novi throw one hand in the air each)
Gendibal &Novi: That's the reason why!
(All actors freeze, Kodell and Branno stand on either side of Golan with one hand on hip and one hand in the air which is closest to Golan)
Branno & Kodell: That's the reason why!
(All actors freeze, music stops on an inappropriate chord. Golan rubs his chin as all actors retain their previous "hands in the air" positions. He suddenly perks up with energy as the chord continues)
Golan: That's the reason why…
(Curtain rises, revealing the entire cast, everyone raises hands in the air and stares straight at audience)
Entire Cast: That's the reason why (Set of chords plays) we give Galaxia right!
(All cast men join hands with all cast women and begin dancing)
Entire Cast: We give Galaxia right! We give Galaxia right! We give Galaxia right!
(Janov and Bliss lift Golan up, extra cast men grab extra cast women and leap into the audience aisles)
Golan: That's the reason why…
Entire Cast: We give Galaxia right! (Orchestra plays loud finishing chord. Audience bursts into uproarious applause. The curtain closes as the entire cast disappears behind it except for the seven main cast members)
Bliss: Golan, we must take the Far Star back to Gaia. None of these people are going to remember what has happened exactly. They will think they have won minor disputes against the opposing Foundation and forget about Gaia… and you… not even Novi will remember that she is really an agent of Gaia!
Golan: It's all right. Let them go.
(Golan, Janov, and Bliss disappear behind the curtain as Branno and Kodell retreat to their section. Gendibal and Novi do the same)
Kodell: Well, mayor?
Branno: We showed that Second Foundation who's boss!
(Branno and Kodell exit)
Novi: Well, master?
Gendibal: We showed that First Foundation who's boss.
Novi: Excellent, master!
Gendibal: And Novi… I want to thank you. I couldn't have done this mission without you. I don't believe I can do anything without you!
Novi: Master?
Gendibal: Novi… will you spend your life with me? Is that what you want?
Novi: Master, I would be most honored!