by Chuck Owston
Scene One: The Northwest Tower of the Last Redoubt, Jerusalem, the City At World's End
NARRATOR:
Come away with me to the far future of Old Earth. The great seas have shrunken. The sun has become a guttering red coal in a violet sky. At night, lurid volcanic fires, breaking through the blasted crust of the earth cast a red, unholy glimmer under ancient stars. The Night Land has become a hostile wilderness, filled with the horrors of radioactive poisoning, an environmental disaster zone. Strange tribes of mutated humans shamble across the Wasteland, warring with one another for supremacy. The forces of the Evil One, the Old Serpent, gather on the rim of the world to fight that final battle with Righteousness, the Battle of Armageddon.
The forces of Righteousness have gathered together in a great fortress in the Last Redoubt, Jerusalem, the City at World's End. They await the onslaught of that Final Battle...
[Two guardsmen are standing before a viewing screen that shows the four points of the compass. We see a world where the sun has dimmed and a barren wasteland appears in all directions. The scenes are constantly changing.]
ANTARES [gazing at the screen]
There's never anything to see. Curse my luck, to pull guard duty today. I could have gone to the Seasonal Games...
MIZAR
It is important that we monitor the Night Land. You know the prophecies ...
ANTARES [scoffing]
Yes, don't we all? I've heard them all my life . . . sometime I wonder if they are but the lunatic ravings of a long forgotten madman.
MIZAR
Someday the Evil One shall rise up on the Rim of the Night Land, surround the Last Redoubt, Jerusalem and attack it. It is our duty to be vigilant.
ANTARES
I just wish he'd get on with it then.
MIZAR [amazed]
You do?
ANTARES
Yes, I do! I'm tired of sitting around waiting for a war that may never come. They talked about the Battle of Armageddon in my grandfather's time, and his grandfather's before that. Armageddon, may it be soon! [Pulls sword]. I'd like to use this on a Darklander or two.
[Antares makes a mock display of swordsmanship before sheathing his weapon. Mizar appears unimpressed.]
[Enter Zebulon, a young man, dressed in green, obviously not a warrior.]
ZEBULON
You may get your chance sooner than you think. They're sending out a search party sometime in the next Triad.
MIZAR
Search party?
ZEBULON
Yes, the last expedition to the House of Silence never returned. It's feared they were set upon by Darklanders.
ANTARES
Dirty Abnormals! We should have exterminated them years ago.
ZEBULON
The Ab-humans were once people just like you and I ...
ANTARES
How many ages ago? They've become so twisted and mutated by the radioactivity from the wars of the Ancients, I do not regard them as humans at all.
MIZAR
Not all Ab-humans serve the Evil One...
ZEBULON
No, and we've traded with some of the more "normal" tribes of them.
ANTARES
For what? More of the garbage of the Old World? More of those things that nearly destroyed us in ages past? I say let them keep their trash. It can only contaminate us. I'd rather not live on the corpse of the Old World.
MIZAR
They have brought holy relics of the ancient Saints and Elders ... relics that now reside in the Cathedral.
ANTARES
I've seen those "relics." More like trash the ancients would have thrown away. None of those old machines ever work.
ZEBULON
But they are so beautiful ... aesthetically pleasing to the eye.
ANTARES [scoffing]
Pleasing to your eye maybe ...
MIZAR
Spiritually uplifting as well.
[Enter Tyrania, a young woman. She is dressed in green.]
TYRANIA
So this is where you've gotten to, Zeb?
ZEBULON
Yes. Just wanted to check the observation sceens. Ever since that last patrol went out toward the House of Silence ... they've been on my mind. We haven't heard a word in nearly two Triads.
TYRANIA
Zara tells me that you are part of the Recovery Team.
ZEBULON
Yes, I've been chosen.
[Antares approaches Zebulon and grips his arm. He sneers.]
ANTARES :
Better take a disruptor. You don't have the arm for swordsmanship.
TYRANIA [to Antares]
Why didn't you volunteer?
ANTARES
Because this is the first I've heard of it. I'll be glad to go. I'd rather be out there on the battlefield than hiding behind these walls like some old woman waiting around to die. If I am to die, let it be in combat!
[Meanwhile on the screen four figures appear, approaching from the Dark Land. One is the Lazarus Man, a weathered looking adventurer, wearing a long coat and a beat up hat, carrying a futuristic weapon of some sort. Another is a young woman, dressed like a mercenary, also carrying a weapon. A third is an Ab-human, his features distorted by radiation poisoning. He shambles rather than walks. The fourth is one of the lost patrol to the House of Silence. This person appears to be wounded.]
[Nobody in the room appears to be watching the screen.]
TYRANIA
Well, Zeb. He sounds like your man. You ought to add him to the Recovery Team.
ANTARES
Recovery Team? Ha, if I know Darklanders, there won't be much left to recover. They say the Abnormals eat the dead.
MIZAR
Really?
ZEBULON
An Old Wives Tale, to be sure, something to frighten little children at night.
TYRANIA
Can you really be sure? All my life I've been afraid of the Dark Land. They say it is haunted by horrible creatures. [To Antares] Have you seen any on the screens?
ANTARES
Plenty of times, my lady. But they didn't frighten me.
MIZAR
I've seen some real oddities. But most of the real horrors stay away from the City.
ZEBULON
My friend, Marcus, went out into the Wasteland two years ago. Their patrol was set upon by demons near Red Shadow Gorge. Half their team was wiped out in less than two minutes.
ANTARES
Let me fight a demon anytime. There's nothing that cold steel won't cut. If it has a material body it can easily be cut asunder.
[He finally notices the figures on the screen, now much closer. The mercenary girl is holding a flag of truce.]
ANTARES
Mizar, sound the alarm! Outlanders, approaching the city.
[Mizar exits.]
TYRANIA
I think she's holding a flag of truce.
ZEBULON
Yes, she is. And look, they have one of our people with them. I think it's one of the patrol to the House of Silence.
ANTARES
A trick! Sound the alarm, I say!
[A richly attired man (Onturio) and woman(Verna) enter the room. Mizar walks behind them. They are hiding their faces behind glittery masks representing the sun. They are Elders of the city, representatives of the group called the Sunshine People. These masks are on sticks so they can take them away from their faces when they speak. All other times they cover their faces with these masks, which look like glittery "smiley faces."]
ONTURIO
No! Don't sound the alarm.
ANTARES
But Lord Ontario, look! [Points at the outlanders on the screen]
ONTURIO
That's Onturio, not Ontario. I know, guardsman. They were spotted fifteen minutes ago by the watchers in the southwest tower. Even now, as we speak, they are being brought into our presence.
MIZAR
Is that wise, m'lord?
ANTARES
You don't know what they've been up to out in the Wasteland. They could be spies for the Evil One, sent here to look for the weakness in our defenses.
ZEBULON [to Tyrania, cynically]
Surely with his swordfighting skills, we have no weaknesses.
VERNA[to Antares]
They have rescued one of our patrol. Apparently the only survivor. We would speak with them.
ZEBULON
There have been rumors that the forces of the Evil One are on the march. Perhaps they can tell us.
ANTARES
Beware. That's all I say. And they have a Mutant with them, an Abnormal! Best to slay that one outright!
ONTURIO
That will be for the Council to decide. Curb your tongue, guardsman.
ANTARES [abashed]
Yes, m'lord.
VERNA
Not all of the Darklander folk serve the Evil One. As the ancient texts tell us, "Judge not..."
ZEBULON
"Lest ye be judged." [ He looks at Antares with disapproval.]
ONTURIO
Assemble the Council!
[Onturio and Verna exit. Zebuon and Tyrania follow.]
ANTARES [to no one in particular]
Give 'em steel, that's what I say.
[Mizar and Antares exits.]
Scene two: The same tower
[Two young girls enter from the other side. One (Starra) is dressed in violet and the other (Ari) is dressed in olive drab clothing.]
STARRA
Something's going on. People are rushing toward the council chambers.
ARI
I heard them say that there are strangers at the gate.
STARRA
Really? I wonder if any of them are young?
ARI
And good looking!
[The girls giggle]
ARI
Like that Zebulon. He's sooooooo cute.
STARRA
I know. But I could never be involved with him. He's a Green.
ARI
So?
STARRA
You know what they say about Greens. They never want to change anything. . .
ARI
And you Ultra Violets want to change everything? Is that it?
STARRA
Well, I don't, but my father is an Elder of the Covenant and that's their belief. They think that change will bring about a New Order here in Jerusalem. Older people sometimes have funny ideas that I don't agree with.
ARI
Now you sound like a Dove.
STARRA
No, I don't believe that we shouldn't fight at all, like the Doves. I just don't think the ideas of my father are very interesting.
ARI
My parents are so dull. I wish I'd have been born an Ultra Violet, not a Drab.
STARRA
Well, you can't pick your tribe, you're just born into it.
ARI
But look at the clothes we have to wear. Soooooooooooo boring. But it's like my father says "It's all Inevitable." That's his favorite word, inevitable. It's all planned by God, we can't do anything about it.
STARRA
Well, I sure don't believe that ?
[They walk off.]
Scene Three: The Council Chamber of the Last Redoubt, Jerusalem.
[To one side are The Lazarus Man, Yasmina the woman mercenary and the Ab-human, Ezra. Standing with them is Mizar , appearing ill at ease. He appears to be guarding them.]
[The party from the tower enter, plus several others we've not seen before: Zachariah, dressed in blue, Irania, dressed in olive drab, and General Lukas, dressed in red.]
MIZAR [to the approaching party]
The medics have taken Mayhew to the hospital. It appears that he will live.
ANTARES
And what about the others of the patrol? [He addresses the Lazarus Man's party].
YASMINA
All dead. The Darklanders got them, just this side of the House of Silence.
EZRA
And they would have killed Mayhew also had we not surprised them.
[Ontrurio steps forward, pushing past Antares.]
ONTURIO
And for that you have our deepest thanks.
ANTARES [pushing himself forward]
Just who are you? How do we know that this is not some Darklander trick to spy out our city?
LAZARUS
We are not Darklanders.
YASMINA
We are wanderers from the Wasteland. . . .
ANTARES
And we know what wanders the Wasteland. Servants of Sathanas, the Dragon, the Evil One.
YASMINA [hand on weapon]
You dare?
IRANIA
Guardsman! You overstep yourself. We, the Elders, will question them.
LUKAS [pointing to the door]
Guardsman, you are dismissed!
[Antares scowls at Lazarus' party and turns to leave. He mutters something unintelligible under his breath.]
LUKAS [turning to Lazarus party]
Just who are you?
YASMINA
I am Yasmina, daughter of Jerusalem. My parents were Miriam and Jedediah of this very city.
VERNA
Miriam and Jedediah? I remember them. They had a little girl. They were in the group that went out to find the Lesser Redoubt, over twenty years ago. So you're that little girl?
ZEBULON
I remember my parents talking about the expedition to the Lesser Redoubt.
TYRANIA
They never returned. Did they ever find our sister city?
EZRA
They were lost in the Wasteland, scattered. Destroyed by the forces of the Great Watcher of the Northwest. I found Yasmina hiding in the wilderness. She was raised by my tribe and taught the skills of survival. Which she has learned quite well, I must say.
LUKAS [approaching Lazarus]
And who are you? You've not the look of our people. Are you a mutant also?
LAZARUS
They call me Lazarus. But that's not the name I was born with.
IRANIA
You can't be serious. Lazarus doesn't exist. He's just a figure out of folklore, a mythical character. Named for the Lazarus in the old texts.
EZRA
No, it's true. He's been wandering in the wilderness for the last 40 years.
ONTURIO
Back from the dead, eh?
LAZARUS
Not quite. But I was left for dead. I'm the last survivor of the Lesser Redoubt.
[Gasps of shock from all assembled.]
LAZARUS
Forty years ago. The Legions of the Evil One wiped our people out.
ONTURIO
Let us bow in silence for those who perished in the Lesser Redoubt.
TYRANIA
May their souls rest in peace.
[All assent and bow their heads in meditation.]
YASMINA
A little late for that now. You better think about yourselves. You've got a big problem coming your way.
ZECHARAIAH
Problem?
EZRA
The armies of Gog and Magog are marching on Jerusalem. They've finally marshaled all their forces and are heading this way.
ZEBULON
Gog and Magog. I remember reading of them in the Poxy Eclipse of St. John Book. It said they would surround Jerusalem. . .
IRANIA
It's our Fate. It's inevitable. . . we shall perish.
YASMINA
No, it's not inevitable. You can fight.
IRANIA
What will be, will be. It's predestined.
LUKAS
Ah, Drab philosophy.
ZECHARAIAH
Perhaps there's a peaceful solution? I'm sure the Darklanders are reasonable folk. If you just give them what they want . . .
LAZARUS
What they want is your life. I learned that a long time ago.
EZRA
Take a lesson from the Lesser Redoubt. They paid the highest price.There is no peace with Darklanders. They hate everything good and noble.And they would wipe you from the face of the earth.
LUKAS
Aye, spoken like a true warrior. The Fellowship of the Hawk havealways thought so. The ancient texts have said, "I came not to bring peace to the earth, but a sword." At last, it is upon us. Armageddon!
ZECHARAIAH
But General, you misquote the text. It is symbolic. It's not a real sword, it's figurative. Peace is the only way. There's an ancient hymn, "Give Peace A Chance."
[Lukas draws his sword and threatens Zechariah with it. Zechariah looks sick and frightened.]
LUKAS
Is this figurative? Will the blood it draws be figurative?
ONTURIO
Put up your sword, General. You've made your point. [to everyone] After all, we Sunshine People always look to the bright side. We have the strongest fortress in the world. The Last Redoubt has stood since the days of the Poxy Eclipse.
VERNA
One of OUR hymns says, "Keep on the Sunny Side! Always On The Sunny Side! Keep on the Sunny Side of Life."
LAZARUS
You don't know what's coming.
YASMINA
Not even a clue.
ZEBULON
We earth people also have a saying, "the sun also rises, and Earth abides."
YASMINA
Earth may abide, but you won't be abiding in it, You better start thinking about fighting the Evil that's out there.
ONTURIO
The Council will meet at the next Triad. Now, guardsman, escort our guests to quarters assigned for them Food and drink await them there. Rest from your travels.
[Mizar leads the Lazarus Party out one side, the others exit the other side.]
NARRATOR
And while the people of the Last Redoubt prepare for their Council, the forces of the Evil One were on the march. From the depths of the Scarlet Shadow Gorge to the Valley of the Night Hounds, they marched, clad in jeweled mail and winged helms, great weapons in their misshapen hands.
Swords of strange black metal, great axes made of unbreakable volcanic glass, and great torpedo lances were raised against the violet sky. Deathly pale in their dark cloaks they came, like an army of the Dead. Armored men and ancient machines of war wound down the Road Where The Silent Ones walk, their dark banners fluttering in the black wind that blew across the radioactive wastes men called The Plain of Blue Fire. Their flags were emblazoned with the insignia of the Great Red Dragon, the Prince of Darkness.
Scene Four: the Council Chambers
[Ari and Starra enter talking.]
ARI
What's going on? I've never seen so much activity. It's like a hive of bees someone kicked over.
STARRA
Wanderers from the Wasteland. My father says that this is a sign from God. Time for a change.
ARI
I can just hear my father?
[Both]
It's Inevitable!
[They laugh.]
ARI
There's going to be a Grand Council. There hasn't been one of those in over twenty years. Not since they sent out that expedition to the Lesser Redoubt.
STARRA
My father was saying something about Gog and Magog. Whatever that is?
ARI
I don't know what it is either .. but it sounds creepy.
[Just then Zebulon, Tyrania and Zara enter.]
ZEBULON
Oh hello girls.
[Starra and Ari giggle and exit the opposite direction.]
ZARA
I think all the little girls are in love with you, Zeb.
ZEBULON
What can I say? It's the Zebulon charm.
TYRANIA
Too bad that we big girls aren't.
[The girls laugh. Zeb looks embarrassed.]
ZARA
Tyrania says you've seen the strangers. So what are these wanderers like? The whole city's talking about them. It's like someone has toppled over a hive of angry bees.
ZEBULON
The Lady Yasmina is REALLY interesting. Her parents were on the expedition to the Lesser Redoubt. She was the only survivor, just a child. Yes, she IS interesting.
TYRANIA [sounding bored]
I didn't think she was THAT interesting.
ZARA
What made her interesting, Zeb?
TYRANIA
She a mercenary. What's interesting about THAT?
ZEBULON
She's very exciting! She doesn't take anything from anybody. And she has a crossbow!
TYRANIA
If I got a crossbow, would that make me exciting?
ZEBULON
I don't think so.
TYRANIA [aghast]
You don't?
ZEBULON [clueless]
No.
[Tyrania turns on her heel and stalks out, muttering under her breath.]
[Zebulon watches her leave, a puzzled look on his face.]
ZEBULON
Now what's her problem?
ZARA
I think it's something you said. . .
ZEBULON
You know, I was reading in one of the ancient texts. This was all prophesied long ago. It's all in here [shows scroll] .
ZARA
What's that?
ZEBULON
In this book by St. John.
ZARA
Who was St. John?
ZEBULON
He was an ancient prophet. He wrote a book about the life of Jesus and this other book called the Poxy Eclipse of St. John. He had all sorts of visions.
ZARA
He wrote about the Poxy Eclipse?
ZEBULON
Yes, way back before the great war of the Ancients and that first Poxy Eclipse. He told all about it, about the plagues on the earth and the rivers, the oceans and the skies. He talked about the sun being darkened and the moon turned to blood.
ZARA
My father told me about that. He called it the Nuclear Winter.
ZEBULON
St. John talked about the last Survivors of that, and that's us, and how the Evil One would come against us the final battle. Listen to what this says. Here's part of it. "I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet. For they are the spirits of devils,
working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty. And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon."
ZARA
Armageddon. I've heard that somewhere. Maybe my father said something about that?
ZEBULON
Then listen to this! This is even more interesting. "Satan," that's the ancient name for The Evil One, "shall be loosed out of his prison, and shall go out and deceive the nations which are of the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea."
ZARA
Gog and Magog? Who are they?
ZEBULON
That's what Ezra said, Gog and Magog. The uttermost reaches of the earth.
ZARA
Who is Ezra?
ZEBULON
He's the Ab-human tribesman who came in with Yasmina and Lazarus.
ZARA
Ab-humans! Oh, they give me the creeps! [shivering]
ZEBULON
Oh, they're just people like us. They are God's creation. They can't help it that their ancestors were poisoned by radiation.
ZARA
I still don't like them. They are soooo weird!
ZEBULON
So they look different. They have different abilities and mental powers that you and I don't possess. They're still people.
ZARA
They still give me the creeps.
ZEBULON
Remember what the Lord Jesus said, " Love your neighbor as yourself."
ZARA [changing the subject, clearly uncomfortable at where this discussion is leading]
So where did you learn all this about St. John? Do Greens read a lot?
ZEBULON
Not all Greens. But I do.
ZARA
Why do you wear green, because you call yourselves "Keepers of the Earth?"
ZEBULON
We wear green to remind us of what Earth once was. Before man destroyed it with his weapons and poisons.
ZARA
And you don't like change do you?
ZEBULON
One of our most beloved proverbs is "We've NEVER done it that way before!"
[Enter Yasmina and Lazarus.]
YASMINA
And that's one of the stupidest things I've ever heard.
ZEBULON
My Lady Yasmina. [he looks embarrassed]
LAZARUS
You better go back to your texts. In the Proverbs of the Dreamer King, it says "Where there is no vision, the people perish."
ZARA
What would a wanderer in the Wasteland know about ancient texts?
LAZARUS
You have a bit of time on your hands out there. [motions toward the outer walls]
ZEBULON
I've often wanted to go into the Wasteland. That's why I asked to be on the Recovery Team.
YASMINA
There's nothing to recover. We brought back Mayhew, and he was barely alive.
ZEBULON
But the others. Surely they are going to send a team out to recover the bodies.
LAZARUS
Nothing to recover.
YASMINA
The Shamblers in Shadow took them. For food.
[Zara puts her hand over her mouth, like she's going to get sick.]
YASMINA
You people have no idea what's it like out there. You live in your comfortable little world. You cannot conceive of the horrors of the Night Land.
ZEBULON
Have you seen the Plains of Blue Fire? I've read of them?
YASMINA
A radioactive waste. By night the very rocks glow with the blue poisonous light. Once there was a great city there, now only ruins. The Ab-humans call it the Place Where The Silent Ones Kill.
ZEBULON
Who are the Silent Ones?
YASMINA
No one knows for sure. But they all pledged to the Evil One, the great Red Dragon, the Old Serpent.
ZEBULON
Satan.
YASMINA
Some call him that. The Ab-humans call him Baal-Zebub.
LAZARUS
He's out there, right now, going to and fro in the earth, walking up and down in it.
[Enter Antares, his weapon drawn]
ANTARES
And you are here to spy for him! Admit it!
ZEBULON
How can you say that? They are here to warn us.
ANTARES
They're Darklanders. They follow the Father of Lies! How can you believe anything they tell you?
ZARA
But they brought Mayhew back.
ANTARES
I can't think of a better trick to gain our confidence. And admission to our city. Like that Wooden Horse of the legends. They
are spies! And for that, they must die! [raises his weapon and runs toward them.]
[Lazarus opens fire with his own weapon and Antares crumples to the floor.]
LAZARUS
Fool.
ZEBULON [visibly shaken]
Is ? is he dead?
YASMINA
Dead? If he were dead there would be pieces of him all over this room. Have you never seen what a disruptor on full power can do to a man?
ZEBULON [in a bit of a daze]
Uh ? no.
LAZARUS
My weapon was set on stun.
YASMINA
Otherwise there wouldn't be enough to recognize. When he awakens he'll have the mother of all headaches for several days. But he'll recover.
ZEBULON
I better report this to the Elders. Coming Zara? [they start to exit]
YASMINA
Better call for a medic.
[Lazarus and Yasmina drag Antares' body off the other way.]
NARRATOR.:
And so the inhabitants of the Last Redoubt gather at the next Triad for their Council. And as they gather, the Black Legions of the Damned marshal their armies, converging like carrion crows to feast upon the last corpse of Civilization. The Demon Lords, fallen angels from the depths of the Red Pit: Asmodeus, Azathoth, Belial, Arioch, Xiombarg, Tssathoggua, Nergal and a thousand others, gather their minions to Unholy War. Discordant voices are raised in evil cacophony in the anthems of Hell. Their goal awaits, the last outpost of goodness, holiness and righteousness, the Last Redoubt.
Scene 5: The Council Chambers
[Onturio is seated on a large throne like chair. Standing beside him is his wife Verna. Facing him are various members of the Council, dressed in various colors. They are talked, arguing, shouting. Onturio takes the Smiley face mask away from his face. He looks weary]
ONTURIO
Silence! Silence!
[The crowd ignores him]
ONTURIO [louder, raising one hand]
SILENCE!
[They continue to ignore him.]
VERNA [takes away her mask and yells at the top of her voice]
BE QUIET!!!!!!!
[The crowd grudgingly starts to get quiet.]
ONTURIO
Please, fellow Council Members. Can we have order?
LUKAS
We have no time to waste. We must prepare for war! The Legions of Hell are upon us!
ZACHARIAH
I think, General, you are an alarmist. What word do we have that this is true? Just the mutterings of ragged wanderers at our gates. I, for one, would demand proof that such is the case. Perhaps we are acting like that fellow in the ancient parable that thought the sky was falling.
MIRDATH
What ancient parable?
ZACHARIAH
The Parable of the Little Chicken. A branch fell from a tree and hit him on the head. Then he ran about screaming that the sky was falling. He got everyone in a needless uproar.
LUKAS
I think we DO have proof here. What about the expedition to the House of Silence? One survivor. And he's barely conscious after all this time.
ZACHARIAH
There have always been dangers in the Night Land. It doesn't mean that we are under attack or in any immediate danger.
IRANIA
Besides, we can't change anything. We need to resign ourselves to our fate, whatever that may be. It's all predestined anyway.
TYRANIA
Earth abides! After all, the Darklanders never bothered us before. Why should they now. Why should anything change?
MIRDATH
That's the problem with you Greens. You've always done it this way. [mocking tone] "It's always been this way." I, for one, am sick of it! I want to see change. Radical change. Change for the better.
TYRANIA
But we HAVE always done it this way.
MIRDATH
That's why is so boring and stagnant around here. Nothing ever changes. We're dying from within and we don't even know it.
ZACHARIAH
You Ultras are always so radical. If we followed your teachings we'd have anarchy here.
MIRDATH
Maybe we need a little more anarchy around here. A little change in the ways things have always been.
LUKAS
We're missing the point here. You are all arguing among yourselves about things of little importance. If our enemies breach our defenses, none of this will matter! If you're dead, who will care about your differing beliefs?
ZACHARIAH
If, if, if. Lot's of "ifs", General. It's people like your Fellowship of the Hawk that got the world in the mess that's it's in today. Your kind brought the Poxy Eclipse in the first place, the Big Blast, the radiation poison, and all the rest.
IRANIA
Whatever will be, will be. It's inevitable.
[The crowd starts talking again, arguing, drowning one another out.]
[Enter Mizar. He approaches Onturio and whispers something in his ear.]
[As he's whispering, Lazarus and Yasmina enter. They look annoyed at the arguing crowd.]
[Onturio rises and raises his hands.]
ONTURIO
My friends! People of Jerusalem, hear me!
[The crowd settles down].
ONTURIO
There are strangers at the gates! Emissaries of the Red Dragon!
[The crowd gasps. Lazarus and Yasmina look at each other.]
IRANIA
What do they want?
LAZARUS
What do you think they want?
YASMINA
They want your city.
[Enter Ordog the Beast, Yuggoth the False Prophet and Babylonia the Seductress, along with a helmeted guard carrying a large sword.]
MIZAR
The Emissaries of the Red Dragon.
[The people of the city are whispering among themselves, looking worried and afraid.]
[Ordog steps forward.]
ORDOG
People of Jerusalem. I am the Lord Ordog, the Beast, Lord of the Legions of the Damned. Prepare to meet your Doom!
[The people fall back at his words.]
[The False Prophet steps forward.]
YUGGOTH
There is, however, an alternative to destruction. . .
LUKAS
Surrender? Never!
YUGGOTH
So, do you speak for everyone here? [he looks about at all of the people. He steps over to one] Does he speak for YOU, brother? [to another] And you? [to Zechariah] How about you? Does this blustering windbag speak for you also?
ZECHARAIAH
No! He does NOT speak for me!
MIRDATH
Nor I!
[Several others take up the cry.]
[Yuggoth smiles at Lukas.]
YUGGOTH
You see, general, or whatever you think you are, not everyone agrees.
LUKAS
I am General Lukas, commander in chief of all the forces of the Last Redoubt.
ORDOG
Forces we shall grind to powder under our feet!
YUGGOTH
It's your choice? Annihilation or ?
YASMINA
Or what?
YUGGOTH [smiling]
Conversion.
[There's a collective gasp from the crowd.]
YUGGOTH
Simply renounce this outdated, obsolete God of yours. Pledge yourselves to Our Lord.
[Babylonia steps forward.]
BABYLONIA
And embrace the Darkness. As we have embraced the Darkness.
[She drinks from her goblet, then holds it out to the assembly.]
BABYLONIA
Who will drink from the Cup of Evil Sweetness?
[She walks over to Zechariah.]
BABYLONIA
How about YOU?
[Zachariah steps back, shaking his head.]
BABYLONIA
And how about you, handsome? [she blinks her eyes at Zebulon]
[Zebulon steps back, a sick look on his face]
BABYLONIA
And how about you, pretty one? She approaches Mirdath.
MIRDATH: [she peers into the cup]
What's it in?
BABYLONIA
The wine of Forbidden Fruit. Not tasted by mankind since Eden.One taste of THIS, and you'll never be the same.
YUGGOTH
Ye shall be like gods . . .
YASMINA
So said the Serpent in the garden! His methods haven't changed much, have they?
[Babylonia glares at her.]
LAZARUS
He's the same old Father of Lies. The Devil.
YUGGOTH
Only those who do not know his blessings call him a Devil. We, of the faithful, call him Lord.
LAZARUS
As did those who followed him in the beginning.
YASMINA
When the rebel angels fell from Heaven.
LUKAS
As it was in the beginning, so shall it be in the end.
ORDOG
The End of all mankind! We will fill our cups with the blood of the slain! Your blood!
YUGGOTH
You could avoid all this. Think about it. Would you rather that your bones be scattered across the Night Land. You can swear fealty to the Lord Sathanas, and be spared.
YASMINA
And be damned for eternity. No thanks, prophet.
[Babylonia approaches Yasmina.]
BABYLONIA
Are you sure you do not wish a little taste?
YASMINA [drawing her blade]
And how would you like a little taste of THIS?
[Babylonia laughs and glides to Onturio on his throne.]
BABYLONIA
And how about you, Smiley Man?
[He puts his head down, shaking it.]
ORDOG
Enough!
[Babylonia joins the others.]
YUGGOTH
Don't do anything rash. We will return for your answer at the Hour of the Rattling of the Nether Grating. Take time to think about this. Maybe even pray to your forgotten God. As if HE will hear you ? ha ha ha.
[With a swirl of his cloak he turns and exits. The others follow him.]
IRANIA
What's the Hour of the what?
YASMINA
More Darklander posturing. In other words, we have one Triad to make our decision.
LUKAS
I've already made mine.
ONTORIO
The council will reconvene in half a Triad. Take time to meditate on these things. Our future lies in our hands.
YASMINA
I think you better pray.
[Everyone exits.]
NARRATOR.: Unknown to the dwellers in the Last Redoubt, the Unholy Trinity has returned to report to their Satanic Majesty himself. As he hears of the divisions within the seven factions within the city, he smiles to himself. This will be easy. Divide and conquer has always been his way, since the days of long forgotten Eden. His evil thoughts traverse the aether,
infecting the minds of the various leaders within the doomed city. Where there was faith, now there is doubt. Where there was confidence, now there is indecision. Where there was courage, now there is fear.
One thing troubles his diabolical mind ? an unknown quantity ? the wanderers from the Wasteland. They have been in the Night Land. They have seen his minions and his forces first hand. They have seen his influence on the races of Ab-humans and gibbering horrors that haunt the blasted earth.
They know that there is no compromise with Evil.
Scene 6: The Council Chambers
[Yasmina and Lazarus enter.]
LAZARUS
The half Triad is nearly up.
YASMINA
Could you believe that Zachariah? Thinking about peaceful coexistance with the likes of those three? Does he just think they'll go away? And those Greens. If I hear "Earth Abides" one more time I think I'm going to be sick.
[Enter Ezra]
EZRA
And if I hear "It's Inevitable" once more, I'm going to scream.
YASMINA
Don't they realize that there's no way you can compromise with Evil. The armies of the Darklanders will chew this place up and spit it out in little pieces.
LAZARUS
I think it's a question of faith.
EZRA
Yes, they don't have much. They claim to be the last fortress of Righteousness. Yet they spend all their time in meaningless rhetoric while the Legions of the Damned grow stronger.
YASMINA
They do talk a lot, don't they? Everyone has his own agenda. They just don't see the bigger picture.
EZRA
And how can we make them see that?
[Enter Mirdath]
MIRDATH
We Ultra Violets have been trying to make them see the error of their ways for years. But our pleas are totally ignored. They can't see the seeds of their own doom are being sown daily. Without change, there will be nothing but stagnation and death.
EZRA
But they say you Ultra Violets advocate Anarchy.
MIRDATH
Of course, government ruined the world the first time. There would not have been the Great War without governments. Everyone knows that anarchy is the natural state of mankind.
YASMINA
I can tell you've never been out in the Night Land.
MIRDATH
Why do you say that?
YASMINA
Because then you'd see anarchy first hand. It's not a pretty sight.
EZRA
No, the minions of the Evil One are anarchy personified. They are chaotic in the extreme.
YASMINA
One look at the Great Watcher of the North-West and you'd change your tune.
MIRDATH
And what is this mysterious Watcher?
LAZARUS
No one knows.
YASMINA
He may be a mutation of the ancient Poxy Eclipse. Or he may be just a demonic creature of Sathanas. His head is surrounded by a vast blue luminous ring that sheds its light downward. . .
[Enter Tyrania]
TYRANIA
That reminds me. I've been having the strangest dreams. Dreams of the sea. They are very disturbing. There's an undersea city and something dark and dreadful that lives there, some servant of the Evil One.
EZRA
The sea?
TYRANIA
Yes, the sea. I've seen pictures in old books of the sea. Is there still a sea?
YASMINA
People say that to the far south there is a Sea of Darknes. It's shores are lit by volcanic fires. I've never seen it myself.
TYRANIA
And there's a name that keeps filling my dreams. Rl'yeh.
EZRA
"In his great house at Rl'yeh, great Cthlulhu lies dreaming?"
TYRANIA
Yes! That's it. I had forgotten most of it, but as soon as you said it, I remembered. In my dreams, people were chanting those names. And many other things I didn't understand. What's it mean?
[Enter Zebulon]
ZEBULON
Mad mutterings of an ancient seer. Some reclusive hermit named Lovecraft. There are those who revere his works are prophetic. I, for one, discount them as the ravings of a madman.
EZRA
His works contain images of a Cosmic Evil, much like that which faces us today. I would not be so quick to dismiss them totally. Perhaps he had insight.
ZEBULON
Perhaps he took ancient drugs, like that other madman of olden times, Edgarpoe.
TYRANIA
The man who was fed by ravens?
ZEBULON
No, that was the prophet Elijah. This man TALKED to ravens. And they talked back to him.
LAZARUS
Nevermore. And unless you people do something, that's the sign they can hang over this city.
[Lazarus and his company exit. The others exit the other way.]
NARRATOR
As the Hour of the Rattling of the Nether Grating draws closer, a great anxiety has come upon the dwellers of the Last Redoubt. Strange dreams, sent from the Great Deceiver, have infected the people with unreasonable fears. Rumors of the dreaded three who visited the council have thrown the entire city into turmoil. Destruction seems imminent.
At the same time, the legions of Hell have approached and surrounded the city. Weapons of mass destruction are aimed at this final stronghold of Righteousness. Jerusalem stands as the last bastion of truth on the dying Earth. Scarlet banners wave in the dark wind that blows from the depths of the Bottomless Pit. The minions of Evil feel victory in their grasp.
Scene 7: The Council Chambers of the Last Redoubt.
[Enter Onturio, who takes the central throne chair. The other counselors gather in the room. Enter Lazarus, Yasmina and Ezra from the other side.]
ONTURIO
This meeting of the Council of the Last Redoubt of Jerusalem will now come to order.
LUKAS
I don't know why we are wasting time talking? We should be readying for the assault! They are coming. Be assured of that.
ONTURIO
You're out of order, General. You'll get you chance to speak soon enough.
LUKAS
Meanwhile the Enemy grows ever stronger. Why waste any more time with talk? I say we should strike forth into the midst of them, before they're ready for us.
LAZARUS
You wouldn't last a quarter Triad out there.
YASMINA
You people just don't know what you're up against. All these years you've hidden behind these walls. You've become soft ? physically and spiritually.
TYRANIA
Who are you to come in here and tell us how to live? Do you have more Faith than we do?
EZRA
When you live out there ? you better have Faith.
VERNA
Yes, Faith and a happy face. Look on the bright side.
IRANIA
What bright side? We can't do anything about this? It's ?
LUKAS [interrupting]
It's NOT inevitable! We can fight!
[Several agree, not Zachariah or Irania.]
ZACHARIAH
Have any of you thought of the other option?
ONTURIO
What other option?
ZACHARIAH
Agreement to their terms.
[Several draw breath loudly in shock.]
LUKAS
You coward! Give in to the likes of that out there? [points outward]. Surrender is treason! You should be shot like the dog you are!
ZACHARIAH
Some of us don't see it as treason, General, just a peaceful coexistance.
YASMINA
You can't coexist with the Powers of Hell. You become one with them. They take over your life. The rob you of your soul! What fellowship has Light with Darkness?
ZACHARIAH [to the others]
How do we know this? How do we know that it would be so bad? It might be better than we imagine. After all, all we have to go on are the words of these three ragged Wastelanders. And one of them an Ab-human as well. . .
VERNA
I say that we should just look on the bright side. It might not be so bad after all.
ONTURIO
Have you lost your mind? Looking on the bright side would be to look for victory, not compromise.
MIRDATH
I have talked with these from the Wasteland. What they say seems to make sense. They have been in the Night Land. They know whereof they speak. We Ultra Violets advocate change, but not just change for change's sake. We want change for the better.
ZACHARIAH
So do I. And I say that we embrace these from without. . . it's the only peaceful solution.
LUKAS
Peace at any price? Is that what you advocate? You Doves are crazier than I ever thought.
ZEBULON
We Greens would never agree to joining with the Enemy.
TYRANIA
We wouldn't?
ZEBULON
Absolutely not!
ZACHARIAH
How do you even know they are the Enemy? They seemed like reasonable people to me.
YASMINA
Are you that smitten with that Harlot of Hell? Is that what's turned your head inside out? Would you drink of her cup of Evil?
ZACHARIAH
No! That's not it! [he protesteth TOO much] I just don't believe in war.
YASMINA
Did you see them. They ARE war personified. And they hate everything you believe in and stand for!
[Mizar rushes into the room. He kneels before Onturio's throne.]
MIZAR
My Lord, the Enemy has surrounded the city! There are thousands of them! As far as the eye can see! They have great war engines, and multitudes of warriors. We are lost!
[Assorted gasps from the assembly]
LUKAS [draws sword]
At least we can die fighting! I'll never let go of this sword till they pry it from my cold, dead hand!
ZACHARIAH
How noble, General, but I'd rather not die at all, thank you.
LUKAS
How would you like to die right now?. [threatens Zachariah, who backs away, fear on his face].
ONTURIO
General! Put up your sword! This no time to be fighting among ourselves.
LAZARUS
You keep forgetting. This is the Evil One out there.
YASMINA
Yes, it's your eternal souls he wants.
ZEBULON
In the ancient texts it says, "Fear not he who kills the body, but rather fear him who is able to destroy both body and soul in Hell."
EZRA
Remember the word of God: Greater is he who is in you, than he who is in the world."
ONTURIO [to Mizar] :
Back to your post, guardsman. Bring us word if anything changes.
[Mizar departs.]
[A deep tolling bell sounds.]
[Enter Ordog, Yuggoth, Babylonia and their guard.]
YUGGOTH
It is the Hour of the Rattling of the Nether Grating. . .
YASMINA [mocking]
In other words, time's up.
YUGGOTH
We have come for your answer!
ORDOG
Surrender or suffer annihilation!
LUKAS
Surrender? Never!
BABYLONIA
It's your choice. But I'm sure all of these people aren't ready to die, just because you are.
[She walks over to Zachariah.]
BABYLONIA
How about it, Blueboy? Are you ready to die, just because this pompous old fool wants to?
ZACHARIAH
No! He doesn't speak for me.
[Onturio stands up.]
ONTURIO
I am the head of the Council. And we have not yet reached a decision.
YUGGOTH
Time is fleeting?ha ha ha.
ORDOG
You time has run out. Our armies are poised for the assault. They shall wade through rivers of your blood. They shall drink from your empty skulls.
ZEBULON
Wait! We serve one who is greater than your Lord.
BABYLONIA
Greater? There is none who is greater.
LAZARUS
"Greater is He who is in you, than he who is in the world."
YUGGOTH
Ahhhhhhh, you quote the words of forgotten madmen.
ORDOG
And believe in a forgotten God.
BABYLONIA
And soon your own names will be forgotten, among the forgotten corpses on this dying world.
YUGGOTH
Your decision? Quickly!
LUKAS
I say fight! Who is with me?
[The majority of the people agree. Only Zachariah and Irania and a few others are silent.]
[Babylonia walks over to Zachariah.]
BABYLONIA
I think you better come with us. These fools have just signed their own death warrants.
ZACHARIAH [to the Council]
peace at any price. It's better than destruction. Can't you see that?
YASMINA
You'd sell your soul for this so called peace. How foolish.
BABYLONIA
He's one of the few smart ones here.
[She hands Zachariah the goblet.]
BABYLONIA
Drink deeply, and forget these fools.
ONTURIO
Zachariah, don't drink it.
[He drinks, then hands it to Irania, who also drinks. She passes it to another, an extra. After drinking they all have a blank, soulless look on their faces.]
BABYLONIA
Pass from this place. Into the paradise prepared for servants of Darkness.
[She exits, with them following.]
YUGGOTH
Last chance?
YASMINA
Off with you, or you'll have no chance at all.
[She raises her weapon. He turns and exits.]
[Ordog shakes his fist at her.]
ORDOG
Now you shall see why you are afraid of the dark!
[He turns, and exits, followed by his guardsman.]
ONTURIO
What shall we do?
LAZARUS
I think we all better pray. It's the only chance we've got.
[The whole assembly falls to their knees.]
NARRATOR
And as the entire city turns to their God in prayer, the armies of the Great red Dragon begin their march on the Last Redoubt. Great drums beat out the advance as wave upon wave of hideous mutations and unholy beings move toward the last stronghold of Righteousness. Their weapons and machines of war glint in the fire of the dying sun, their banners unfurl in
the death wind from the nethermost Hell.
Before the gates of Jerusalem they erect a gigantic altar, built from the ruined machines of another age. Before the final attack, there will be a sacrifice to the Lord of darkness? a blood sacrifice.
Scene 8 The Council Chambers of the Last Redoubt
[The assembly is still in prayer. Zebulon and Mizar are absent.]
[Mizar enters, walks to Onturio's chair.]
MIZAR
My Lord, my Lord!
[Ontorio looks up]
ONTURIO
Yes?
MIZAR
My Lord, they are sacrificing the prisoners?.
[Distant screams are heard. The assembly gasps. Some of the women begin weeping.]
ONTURIO
Zachariah and the others?
MIZAR
Yes, m'Lord. We saw it on the screens.
YASMINA
You see? There is no compromise with Evil.
VERNA
What are we going to do?
LUKAS
Prepare to defend this city! Arm every man, woman and child. We'll not be led as sheep to the slaughter.
MIZAR
Their armies are like the sands of the sea. I've never seen so many . . . we don't have a chance. We shall all die.
YASMINA
Better to die fighting.
[Zebulon enters.]
ZEBULON [as if in a daze]
It's over. They are all dead. They didn't have a chance.
LAZARUS
I learned that lesson 40 years ago, when my city was destroyed.
LUKAS [to Mizar]
Back to your post, soldier. Inform me of any changes.
[Mizar exits.]
ZARA
Zebulon, what does St. John say about this? Wasn't there something in that ancient scroll?
ZEBULON:
Yes, the Battle of Armageddon, the final battle. Just a moment, I'll get the scroll.
[He exits.]
VERNA [to Onturio]
How can we put on a happy face? It's the end of the world?
ONTURIO
How do I know? It's just a belief we've accepted. We never questioned it before.
EZRA
Many of your city's ideas have just been accepted without question. They are not based on the Revelation of God, but on your own concepts and ideas.
VERNA
Don't you think God wants everyone to be happy?
YASMINA
I don't know if He wants you to wear a false happy face when you're not really happy.
MIRDATH
And you Greens. You never want to change anything. "We've always done it this way?." Do you know how tired we all are of hearing that?
TYRANIA
Well, I'm sick of you Ultras wanting to change everything all the time.
EZRA
You're doing it again. Fighting among yourselves, when the REAL enemy is out there. [gestures]
LUKAS
Take a lesson from that Dove, Zacharias, and the rest. See where his "peace philosophy" got him.
[Enter Zebulon with scroll.]
ZEBULON
The scroll's fragmentary at the end. Once the city is surrounded, it says: Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number whom is as the sand of the sea. And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city ?." That's all, the rest is missing.
ZARA
What shall we do? We are doomed. The prophecy says so.
[Various people cry out and wail.]
TYRANIA
All hope is lost!
ONTURIO
What can we do?
LAZARUS
We can fight to the last.
YASMINA
This is the Last Redoubt. Let's make a stand that our enemies will remember for a thousand years! Though we may be forgotten, may how we died never be forgotten by our enemies!
[Suddenly an angel appears in their midst, carrying a great sword.]
ANGEL:
Your prayers have be heard by Almghty God, Lord of Hosts. Hear the words of his prophecy! [He waves his great sword in the direction the Unholy Trinity has exited] "And fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them."
[There is a mighty sound like a great rushing wind and then explosions and screams that go for some some time unabated.]
[Mizar rushes into the room, visibly shaken.]
MIZAR
The enemy has been destroyed! Fire has fallen from heaven and consumed them! They are no more!
ONTURIO
Praise be the name of God!
MIRDATH
We have been delivered!
EZRA
Give Him the glory, for He has won the victory!
LAZARUS
Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord.
YASMINA
The sword of the Lord!
ANGEL
And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night forever and ever.
[There is a hideous long scream that echoes off into the distance, followed by a long silence. The assembly seems stunned.]
[A great golden light appears at the other end of the stage. The assembly faces it, looks of wonder on their faces.]
VERNA
It's so beautiful!
MIRDATH
Is that what I think it is?
ZEBULON
I've never seen anything like it.
ZARA
It's Heaven!
ANGEL
And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and the Lamb shall be in it; and His servants shall serve Him.
YASMINA
Eternity!
ANGEL [gestures].
Enter into the joy of thy Lord.
[The assembly moves toward the golden light and exits, looks of wonder still on their faces.]
ANGEL
And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come: and whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely.
copyright Chuck Owston 2002
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