PART ONE – The First Bit

The light array of Airdome's famed Skyway has reached the midday hour. As the citizens of Airdome go about their business, Thevus, the second Duke, enters the gardens of the Ducal House at the center of the grand dome. Having finished the midmeal, he brings his guests and retainers into the faux sunlight to finalize plans for his upcoming wedding.

Thevus: Our wedding day will be here soon, Hollin. Only four more days. How slowly the time passes. If only I could make the Skyway cycle faster.

Hollin: The Skyway will cycle fast enough, especially as we dream away the lights-out hours. Then we will spend lights-out celebrating the start of our new life.

Thevus: Phindeaux, it is time. Spread the word throughout Airdome. This is a time for all to rejoice. Everyone should relax and enjoy themselves. Let there be no sad scavvies in town to ruin the wedding.

(Phindeaux picks up his dataslate and leaves)

Hollin, when I met you in battle, I never once thought I would win the love of such a fierce Esher woman. But by defeating you in single combat, I won your heart. Now we shall be wed with joy, feasting and such a festival that has never been seen here in Airdome.

(As Thevus and Hollin pore over the dataslate with the plans for their wedding, a Watchman in burnished carapace armor escorts in Ignaus, one of the town's Elder Council. He drags by the arm his lovely daughter Hermione, a blonde maiden of marrying age. Following close them behind are Zander and Domos, two of Airdome's most desirable bachelors.)

Ignaus: Greetings, Thevus. How go the wedding plans?

Thevus: Greetings, Ignaus. The plans go well. What brings you to see me today?

Ignaus: I have come to you today as a father at his wits end, thanks to my daughter Hermione. Domos, step up. My Duke, Domos has my consent to marry my daughter. But this one – step forward Zander- has bewitched my daughter's heart. You, yes you, Zander, have given Hermione poems and exchanged tokens of love with my daughter! You sit outside her window, singing songs of love during the lights-out hours! You've caught her fancy with presents of trinkets and baubles, bracelets, flowers and sweets – all popular tricks with you young people! Yes, you've snuck in and stolen her heart like a Delaque scoundrel, and turned the obedience due to me as her father into stubborn refusal!

My Duke, if she will not agree, here, in front of you and those assembled, to marry Domos, then I shall claim my rights under ancient Airdome regulations. She is my daughter, so I shall decide her fate. She will either marry Domos or she shall die, according to subsection 56a, paragraph 3, which applies to this situation.

Thevus: What do you have to say about this Hermione? A dutiful daughter should listen to her father. He brought you into this world, and, according to the ancient regulations, he can remove you from it. Domos is a worthy man.

Hermione: So is Zander.

Thevus: This is true. Both men appear to be growing into upstanding citizens and we look forward to both of their contributions to Airdome. But in this matter, since Domos has your father's approval, you must consider him worthier than Zander.

Hermione: I wish my father saw Zander the way that I do.

Thevus: Sadly, you must see things the way he does.

Hermione: I beg your pardon, my Duke. But I must protest. I know I'm young and I probably shouldn't say this in front of you, and your lady, and the other officials present here, but I must know the answer. What is the worst that can happen if I refuse to marry Domos?

Thevus: Sadly, according to these ancient regulations, you shall either be put to death, or you shall take the test for the Sisterhood and be exiled away from men forever. I advise you to think about this carefully, Hermione. You are still young, and feel your emotions fiercely. If you will not marry Domos, could you stand being cloistered away, waiting for the day when the Sisterhood comes to perform the Rituals? Could you remain a virgin forever, never knowing the joys of love or children?

Hermione: Then that is how it shall be. I will not marry a man that I do not love.

Thevus: Let's not be hasty. Take some time to think this over. Four days. Let us know your decision before the wedding. Either death, for disobeying your father's will, to marry Domos as Ignaus desires, or to enter the cloister of the Sisterhood and take the Rituals.

Domos: Hermione, please reconsider! Zander, give up this foolish quest for her hand!

Zander: You have Ignaus' love, Domos. Let me have Hermione's. You can marry her father.

Ignaus: How droll, Zander. It is true that he has my love, and because of that he shall also have my daughter. She belongs to me, and so I give her to Domos.

Zander: Elder Ignaus, my family is as powerful as his. I'm just as rich as he is, and I, for one thing, love Hermione. In all things, my future is as bright, if not brighter, than his. And, most importantly of all, Hermione loves me. So why shouldn't I pursue Hermione's hand? What's more, Domos has been pursuing Elaynia, daughter of Elder Raden, and won her heart. She loves, no, she worships, this two-timing sump rat.

Thevus: I have heard this as well, and I had planned on speaking with Domos about it. Unfortunately, my own wedding plans had driven it from my mind. Domos and Ignaus, come with me. I have some advice for you, some of which goes best with an old bottle of amasec my father left me. As for you Hermione, reconsider your father's wishes, or the Regulations of Airdome, which I cannot alter, condemns you to death or servitude. (Hollin looks furious) Come now Hollin, we shall do what we can. (He turns to leave) Domos and Ignaus, follow us. In addition to our discussion, I also have some errands for you related to my wedding day.

Ignaus: After you, my Duke. Anything I can do to help with the joyous occasion.

(Thevus hands his data slate to a waiting aide, and everyone heads into the Ducal Palace, leaving Zander and Hermione alone in the gardens. Hollin shares a look with Hermione on her way out of the garden.)

Zander: Are you feeling okay, Hermione? You look very pale.

Hermione: If I start crying, I don't think I'll ever stop.

Zander: I've never heard of true love following a smooth road, either in stories or in real life. Either the lovers are not from the same social class…

Hermione: Tragic, the Spire Lady who loves a commoner from Hive City…

Zander: Or maybe it's an age difference…

Hermione: Yes, the stories of a man too old to marry his young love…

Zander: Or their families disapproved.

Hermione: It's so unfair, having others make your choices for you.

Zander: Or even if the love pleased everyone, war, death, or the zombie plague would ruin everything. Love is temporary; swift as shadow, short as a dream, as brief as life after the strike of a blindsnake. Hope fades that fast…

Hermione: If true love never thrives, it must be the destiny of all lovers. So we must suffer as those who have loved always suffer. It's tradition, as much a part of love as the dreams, sighs, wishes and happy tears.

Zander: That is so very true. I have a plan, Hermione. I have an aunt who inherited a small fortune from my uncle and has no children of her own. She thinks of me, her favorite nephew, as her own son. Her manor is about two days journey uphive, and there we can be married, far away from these strict, archaic regulations of Airdome. If you love me, slip out of your father's house during tomorrow's lights-out, and meet me at North Gate, the place where I met you and Elaynia not so long ago. I'll wait for you there.

Hermione: Zander, my love. I swear to you that I will meet you tomorrow at that place.

Zander: Tomorrow then, my love. Oh, here comes Elaynia!

(Elaynia hurries in)

Hermione: Good day, fair Elaynia! Where are you going in such a hurry?

Elaynia: Why are you calling me "fair"? Take that back! Domos loves your "fairness", not mine! The color of your eyes, the sound of your voice. If I could, I'd swap places with you in an instant. I'd give everything in the world to do so. How can I look like you, how can I win Domos's love? Tell me how!

Hermione: I don't know. I frown at him, and still he loves me.

Elaynia: If only your frowns could teach my smiles to do such things.

Hermione: I reject him, and still he loves me.

Elaynia: If only my encouragements could win such affection!

Hermione: The more I hate him, the harder he tries.

Elaynia: The harder I try, the more he hates me...

Hermione: His mental defects, Elaynia, are not my fault.

Elaynia: It's because you're so beautiful. If only I looked like you.

Hermione: Don't fret. He won't see me again. Zander and I are running away together. Before I met Zander, Airdome was a place of wonder and beauty. Now it is a place of ashes and despair. It's not just any man that can turn heaven into hell.

Zander: You must promise not to tell anyone Elaynia. Tomorrow's lights-out, we will meet and leave Airdome together.

Hermione: Past North Gate, in the fungus groves where we used to play as children, Zander and I will meet and leave Airdome forever. Farewell, Elaynia. Pray for us, and may luck bring you your Domos. Keep your promise Zander; we must not see each other again until the time has come for us to slip away.

(Hermione leaves)

Zander: I will Hermione! Goodbye Elaynia. I hope you find the love you seek with Domos.

(Zander leaves)

Elaynia: Why do those two get to be so happy? All Airdome thinks that I'm as pretty as she is. But so what? Domos doesn't think so. Why can't he see it? He loves Hermione, who doesn't feel the same, just like I love him. Love is so stupid. Before Domos fell for Hermione, he swore that he loved only me. All she had to do was look at him, and he was off. All his love oaths to me vanished like ghosts. I'll tell on them. I'll tell Domos of Hermione's plans to run away. Then he'll follow her to North Gate tomorrow night. I may even get a "thanks" from him. Why should I be the only one who's miserable? Besides, this gives me a reason to see Domos again.

PART ONE - The Second Bit

An empty store front in South Dome. Enter Pol Quin, a construction worker, carrying a large bundle of papers, Skib a plumber, Nix Brato the tanner, Forn Flexo the mechanic, Tam Squin the handyman, and Rol Sato the tailor.

Quin: Everyone here?

Brato: Do a roll call. Use the script.

Quin: Here's the list of men of Airdome who wish to perform in our play, which we hope to perform for the Duke and future Duchess at their wedding, once the celebrations start.

Brato: Okay Pol. Tell us what this play's about, and then read off the names of the performers.

Quin: The play is called "The Most Distressing Comedy, and Most Cruel Death, of Pyrius and Therese".

Brato: Ah, I know that one. A good choice, very entertaining. Let's do the roll call. C'mon lads, take your seats.

Quin: Answer as I call your name. Nix Brato, the tanner?

Brato: Here. Which part do I have?

Quin: You, Nix Brato, have been given the part of Pyrius.

Brato: Who is Pyrius? A lover, or maybe a mighty warrior?

Quin: A lover, who kills himself in the name of love.

Brato: Sounds like a real tear-jerker. I hope the audience brings plenty of tissues. I'll pull on their heart-strings and play on their sympathies. That sort of stuff. Although I'm really a much better hero. I could be a great Astartes, or maybe a duelist, something really manly and heroic. (He gives a demonstration)

The raging rocks

And shivering shocks

Shall break the locks

Of prison gates!

The light so bright

Shall pierce the night

And bring the fight

To rend the fates!

Wonderful stuff! That's the Astartes style: very heroic. Lovers are more teary and sensitive. Now, give the others their parts.

Quin: Forn Flexo, the mechanic?

Flexo: Here, Pol Quin!

Quin: Forn, you are playing Therese.

Flexo: Who is Therese? A wandering hero?

Quin: Nope. Therese is the lady Pyrius loves.

Flexo: No, really. C'mon. Don't make me play a woman. Look, I've been growing my beard out.

Quin: Keep the beard. You can wear a mask, and speak with a real high voice if you want.

Brato: If I can wear a mask, I'll play Therese too! I can speak really high! (First his Astartes voice) "Terry! Terry!" (Changing to falsetto) "Oh Pyrius, my manly man! I am you lady dear!"

Quin: Nope. Sorry. You must be Pyrius, and Forn will be Therese.

Brato: Fine…who's next?

Quin: Rol Sato, the tailor?

Sato: Here, Pol.

Quin: Rol Sato, you must play Therese's mother. Tam Squin, handyman?

Squin: Here, Pol Quin.

Quin: You will play Pyrius's father. I'll play Therese's father. Skib the plumber, you have the part of the Lion. That's the entire cast.

Skib: Does the Lion have a lot of lines? I'd like to see them, 'cause it takes me awhile to remember stuff.

Quin: Wing it. It's nothing but roaring, really.

Brato: I can be the Lion as well! I can roar so well that everyone's heart will skip a beat! I'll roar so that the Duke will say "Do it again! Again!"

Quin: If you roar too scarily, you might scare the Duchess and her ladies, and make them scream! You might get us all hanged for that!

All: (nodding seriously) We'd be hanged, every one of us.

Brato: Yes, that's true. If we frightened the ladies out of their wits, we'd swing for sure. But I could roar sweetly and prettily instead.

Quin: You are Pyrius and only Pyrius. He's a handsome man, really handsome. A real ladies man, a total stud. So you must play Pyrius.

Brato: Well…okay I guess. Which beard should I wear for the part?

Quin: Pick whichever one you want.

Brato: I'll chose either a light brown one, or maybe darker brown, or possibly a red one, or how about a rich yellow one, like a Guilder credit.

Quin: To their credit, some Guilders have gone bald, so maybe you should be clean shaven instead! (The men enjoy the joke with guffaws of laughter) So here are the scripts. (He passes them around). I must remind you all to learn your parts by tomorrow's lights-out. We'll meet outside the North Gate tomorrow lights-out and practice in the fungus grove just outside the gate. If we practiced anywhere inside Airdome, we'd get an audience for sure, and our play won't be a surprise anymore. I'll write a list of the props we'll need. Don't let me down, guys!

Brato: We'll meet, and we'll rehearse loud and long. Study hard! Learn your lines! See you tomorrow!

Quin: We'll meet at the Duke's Plaque.

Brato: Gotcha! Be there on time, or else!

(They all leave)