ACT I
Scene 1
The scene opens to the Girl Joker, where she is being led to the platform where she is to be beheaded. It is noontime in the middle of the Town Square and there is a crowd of peasants and nobles awaiting the beheading. The King and Queen of Hearts are standing on a is separate platform on the opposite side of the stage in large thrones. All is silent as the King begins to speak.
KING OF HEARTS
Treasonous girl... You dare to go against your King! The law states that those who attempt treason against the King or the royal family shall be put to death.
Enter Boy Joker, pushing through the crowd.
BOY JOKER
Please your Highness, she not the one at fault. Please! This is a mistake. You have the wrong person!
KING OF HEARTS
Silence! How would you know? Were you there? Did you not see her try to murder me? If you have no proof of her innocence, then it is best not to speak.
QUEEN OF HEARTS
I think we should listen to the boy. He means no harm.
KING OF HEARTS
He means to set the guilty free. How do you know if he is good or bad? Or if he is just playing along as if she were innocent?
BOY JOKER
But sir! She was with me when-
GIRL JOKER
Don't bother speaking. He is too hard-headed to listen to anyone but himself now. Even if he has no proof he will convict me with treason anyway because he has the power too.
BOY JOKER
No! You can't say that!
KING OF HEARTS
Enough of this! I want no more out of this boy! Guards! Hold him down!
Guards come and retrain him
BOY JOKER
NO!
KING OF HEARTS
So, do you have any final words before your death?
GIRL JOKER
Actually yes...
(she looks around)
The pain of losing someone precious to you... I bet you have never felt it. In my death, I hope that you enjoy the pain that I will send to you and your family. A curse will be placed upon you and your household and those that follow you. Your lives will all end slowly and death will come to all of your children, and your children's children. Until they day that your descendants repent your sins, this curse will last.
KING OF HEARTS
What is this nonsense? Executioner! It is time!
The executioner readies the ax. The girl joker kneels down onto the table.
GIRL JOKER
From now until the day the sin is repented, your family will know true pain...
The executioner drops the ax down upon the girl joker's neck. A scream is heard coming from the boy joker. The guards drop him and he is left crying. The crowd leaves, murmuring about the boy joker.
QUEEN OF HEARTS
I really think we should have listened to her. What if the curse has really been placed upon our family?
KING OF HEARTS
It is witchcraft! There is no such thing. Come now, we must leave...
The King and Queen of Hearts exit. The boy joker is left on the stage as the lights fade out.