(Scene: The next day. It's warm again. Jareth emerges from his room, dressed. Gabriel is clinging to his back, wearing another set of his clothes. Various ambassadors from other magical countries look on with interest as Jareth shoves Ludo and Jo off his throne, dislodges Gabriel, and sits down.)
Ambassador #1: Who's that girl?
Ambassador #2: I don't know, but I'm sure she's the reason he's been in bed for four days.
Ambassador #3: What about the orange one?
Ambassador #4: What about the fuzzball?
Ambassador #3: I knew Jareth had some...interesting tastes, but really...they're almost half his age...and they're humans...at least I think they are...
Ambassador #1: The orange one doesn't look like it.
Ambassador #2: Nope. She's human. I can smell it. Although the body paint gets in the way...
Ambassador #4: But what about the fuzzy thing?
Jareth: (irritably) Everyone shut up! I'm holding court now. They are not to be discussed.
Jo: (yawning) Hm?
Jareth: You shut up.
(Jo shrugs and goes back to sleep. Gabriel crawls onto his lap sleepily, rests her head on his shoulder, and falls asleep. Jo rolls over and starts using Jareth's booted foot as a pillow and Ludo's arm as a blanket. Ambassador #2 hurries over and sniffs at Gabriel curiously.)
Jareth: No.
(Ambassador #4 pokes at Ludo. In her sleep, Jo smacks him across the room. Ambassador #2 frowns at Jareth.)
Ambassador #2: It would be considered a favor by my country...one that can be repayed...
Jareth: No. I know the rules of propriety as well as you. Now, the orange one, on the other hand...
Ambassador #2: (excited) Really?
Jo: (asleep) Louis...
Jareth: Yes.
Ambassador #2: Honest and for true?
Jareth: Yes, please!
Jo: (asleep) Hrn? (slowly waking up) Jareth, y'wouldn't ever let me die, would you?
Jareth: (matter-of-fact) No. But sometimes I wonder if it wouldn't be nice to have you maimed.
(Jo snaps awake and puts on a guilty puppy eyes face, about to guilt-trip him. Then she peers at Ambassador #2 and notes his striking resemblance to Louis.)
Jo: If you want I'll go to ooo....Louis?
Ambassador #2: He's a distant cousin.
Jo: Louis!
(She pounces on Ambassador #2. He staggers. Then, remembering that she's supposed to be guilt-tripping Jareth, she hops onto the floor at Jareth's feet.)
Jo: (puppy eyes) If you want I'll go to the oubliette...
Jareth: (sighing) By now that would probably be a relief...
(Jo pouts, stands, turns, winks at Ambassador #2, and starts trudging off. Salivating, Ambassador #2 darts after her. Gabriel yawns, blinks sleepily at Jareth, and giggles.)
Gabriel: (groggy) She'll be even more of a terror once she's back.
Jareth: What? Why?
Gabriel: (groggy) Turning...heehee, turning in the wind...
(She goes back to sleep. Jareth frowns.)
Jareth: Turning...? Whatever. On with court!
Ambassador #1: Who's that girl?
Ambassador #2: I don't know, but I'm sure she's the reason he's been in bed for four days.
Ambassador #3: What about the orange one?
Ambassador #4: What about the fuzzball?
Ambassador #3: I knew Jareth had some...interesting tastes, but really...they're almost half his age...and they're humans...at least I think they are...
Ambassador #1: The orange one doesn't look like it.
Ambassador #2: Nope. She's human. I can smell it. Although the body paint gets in the way...
Ambassador #4: But what about the fuzzy thing?
Jareth: (irritably) Everyone shut up! I'm holding court now. They are not to be discussed.
Jo: (yawning) Hm?
Jareth: You shut up.
(Jo shrugs and goes back to sleep. Gabriel crawls onto his lap sleepily, rests her head on his shoulder, and falls asleep. Jo rolls over and starts using Jareth's booted foot as a pillow and Ludo's arm as a blanket. Ambassador #2 hurries over and sniffs at Gabriel curiously.)
Jareth: No.
(Ambassador #4 pokes at Ludo. In her sleep, Jo smacks him across the room. Ambassador #2 frowns at Jareth.)
Ambassador #2: It would be considered a favor by my country...one that can be repayed...
Jareth: No. I know the rules of propriety as well as you. Now, the orange one, on the other hand...
Ambassador #2: (excited) Really?
Jo: (asleep) Louis...
Jareth: Yes.
Ambassador #2: Honest and for true?
Jareth: Yes, please!
Jo: (asleep) Hrn? (slowly waking up) Jareth, y'wouldn't ever let me die, would you?
Jareth: (matter-of-fact) No. But sometimes I wonder if it wouldn't be nice to have you maimed.
(Jo snaps awake and puts on a guilty puppy eyes face, about to guilt-trip him. Then she peers at Ambassador #2 and notes his striking resemblance to Louis.)
Jo: If you want I'll go to ooo....Louis?
Ambassador #2: He's a distant cousin.
Jo: Louis!
(She pounces on Ambassador #2. He staggers. Then, remembering that she's supposed to be guilt-tripping Jareth, she hops onto the floor at Jareth's feet.)
Jo: (puppy eyes) If you want I'll go to the oubliette...
Jareth: (sighing) By now that would probably be a relief...
(Jo pouts, stands, turns, winks at Ambassador #2, and starts trudging off. Salivating, Ambassador #2 darts after her. Gabriel yawns, blinks sleepily at Jareth, and giggles.)
Gabriel: (groggy) She'll be even more of a terror once she's back.
Jareth: What? Why?
Gabriel: (groggy) Turning...heehee, turning in the wind...
(She goes back to sleep. Jareth frowns.)
Jareth: Turning...? Whatever. On with court!