Scene 4 - The Inner Circle -- 3 mins

Scene Summary :

In his nomination speech to the Expansionist Party, Rhadamanthos outlines

a convincing vision of world domination for Crete, using the Pyramid-elite

structure and the all-important control of land and resources.

 

Setting:  Spot-lights come up on stage -- cheers rising to ‘Imperator’ theme music

as 2, then 2 more ‘associates’ arrive onstage-- each making the ‘pyramid’-

rising gesture as the crowd cheers more. Spot-light center on

Rhadamanthos-- back is to audience, now turning to face them --

impressive, lordly appearance -- long, flowing cape -- dark costume --

“cossack” pants, boots -- “Arabian look” -- gold medallion at the chest.

Now at podium.

Low, deep, “musical” voice -- very statesman-like; conveying inclusive,

comrade-like feeling to the theater audience -- as if  they are his political

“inner circle”. Pattern: as he speaks -- hand gestures seem to control

musical chords in the background -- evoking a sense of subtle ‘power’.

 

 

Lites come up with sweeping Music:

SONG – Imperator – Track 5 CD -- then :

 

Arragon: (at podium) Application for Imperious Speaker -- the Senator-Consul from Iberia -- Elor -Dante- Rhadamanthos -- (steps aside)

 

Rhadamanthos: We deal, gentlemen -- with the inescapable fact of history -- 10% of the people -- controlling 90% of the available wealth. -- In all the empires of

history, in Egypt -- Persia -- Troy -- today -- In every case, 10% controlling 90%!

 

And -- I would submit -- if the world’s entire wealth were to be gathered up -

- and shared out equally to every man, woman and child -- tomorrow --

[pause]

And this may be the life ambition of our distinguished emperor .....

[ hearty round of sophisticated laughter ]

But if it were done -- and we returned in a year .... a month ...... or even a week –

we would find that same formula once again -- 10% controlling 90% !!!

And to what factor of Reason ??......

We see the higher place goes not to the hardest working-- the most productive people , NO -- but to those who can Organize -- those who can add to order -- and control --

 

And the key to organizing anything ---IS NOT the offer of Equality for

ALL -- NO, but in Status -- In the ‘Offer of Status!’ [ pause for effect ]

because people will always care less for the country, and more for their own

place in it --- and Nations will care less for the world -- more for their own

place -- in the world ...

And so we found in the western provinces -- we found petty kingdoms, war, never-ending chaos --

Yet we gave them a system of order -- You simply  offer 10% of the people a better life -- a higher place -- And the rest fall hopefully into line --

If you control the flow of goods...IF you control the resources .......

and if you cannot control -- then you must be controlled.

 

And in a world of winners and losers -- rulers and ruled --- there is only one real

question for men of reason -- men of vision :

...Which group, would you rather belong to ?? [low, subdued assent]

 

And with the current Emperor --- we see a nation once the Master of the

Mediterranean ... now threatened by competition, from Everywhere !!....

Phoenicians, Phrygians on the seaways -- caravans, coastal trade to the North,

.. Gentlemen !!.... [rising reaction, upset ‘buzz’ from crowd]

[using momentum] ... And he says we must ‘make new markets’--

-- Invest -- in the ‘best possible world’ -- you see -- It’s a matter of Trust !!

...... [more reactive buzz]

[expanding]   AND  we need not fear the future ... a day when nations could be

jealous of a certain….  small island in the Mediterranean .....

[comes forward in front of  the podium]

“Mother Creta” -- Alone at sea ... [dramatic]. .

....drained by her investments around the world -- stripped of the once proud fleets ---- Open now, Vulnerable, Trusting --....... Trusting!

[almost slumping now, very vulnerable looking-- clutching his cape around him]

[very upset reaction by Delegates -- “calls for action -- revolt -- militia --arms “

but Rhad raises hand for order, back at podium now] :

 

Gentlemen, gentlemen, yes -- surely we could take power by force -- right here

now … today …-- But we need a nation undamaged -- Intact -- ----Peacefully --

FOR we do not seek only a nation -- [small gesture] ... Rather --

we seek a place -- [big gesture] ------ In the WORLD !!

 

[ IMPERATOR- music begins again -- rising to a peak: ]

 

And Gentlemen power belongs to those, who see the world as it really is –

Where everything falls into place -- 10% . . 90% -- [pyramid gesture]

And if we cannot rise to the top -- then we must sink to the bottom --

...... The way of the world .........

But I would pledge heart, mind and soul :

this beautiful island ... Mother Creta -- what the ancients call Ata-lis-ia . . .

“AT- A- LIS-IA ” ------------ Shall ..... Never ..... Sink ... Below !!

------ Time Yielded!

(Music peak -- applause -- cheers -- ‘Imperator’ Music comes up big)

 

Arragon: (back at podium) Application accepted!

 

[Cheers rise and fade with music, lights dim -- as Rhad  and associates accept graciously and depart-- ‘Arabic’ spin and bow -- ‘pyramid-rising’ gesture-- to rising cheers ]