Scene 7- The Supper Hall -- 12 mins.

 

INTERLUDE 3 ---  2 mins.

Reeba: Who needs ‘em, Maice -- or anyone stupid enough to follow them --

Maice: (gets necklace) Damn it -- she could have been one of us, but now she’s one

of them --

Reeba: (to Boca & Slade - about necklace) That’s who the necklace is for --

Tarku: She made her choice, Maice --

Reeba: She’s got nothing to give you ,Maice --

Boca: She’s an Amazon --

 

Maice: That’s Oma--zon --

Reeba: Some say Omazons don’t even need men !!! for anything -

{ Crowd reaction---OOH-OOH--} ... if you know what I mean --

Maice: Old Wives Tales!!

Boca: But Maice, don’t you see -- it’s the group mind--

Slade: They’re like a tribe -- a Cult !!

Perius: They do whatever the leaders tell ‘em !

Tarku: That’s why she joined the Athenians---

Maice: I don’t think so –

[comedic progression now starts] :

Reeba: { taking by the arm } But Maice, they’re not free-thinkers like us --

Slade: {pleadingly} And they don’t understand choices!!

Clarisse: But how do you really ---

Reeba-Boca-Slade:  Shshh !!

Boca: And they don’t have ‘free and open discussion ‘—[pleading more]

Clarisse: But how do you really --

R-B-S: Shsu-sh !

Reeaba: Maice, they just don’t allow people to speak - to express what they feel  --when they feel it !!

Clarisse: But how do you  really -–[cut off]-

Reeba, Boca, Slade:  SHUT-UP !!!!   [like dogs--turning on a kitten]

[ possible laugh from audience -- ‘ free and open’ discussion ?? ]

 

Maice: Reeba!

[ Clarisse - hurt- turns with head down – but Tarku takes hands, touches forehead]

Perius : You see, Maice ? That’s how it gets around here---

Activity continuing: hub-bub: Boys: Ah-hah !  Girls: Uh-uh !

 

Reeba: [very sincere]   I’m sorry, Maice --

Boca/ Slade: [ to others ]  So sorry -- So Sorry --

Reeba: But you know how it is --we’re only worried for you !! [pouring it on]

Maice:  I know … that’s what worries me !

[Perius & Tarku point to RBS] : Hah !! You see ??

Boca: [continuing concerned]  But it’s true what they say, Maice --

Slade: They’re the dark witches of the forest --

Boca: Everybody knows --

Joti: (quick) No -- not the dark witches --

Maice:  No?

Joti: They’re the wild horsewomen -- of the plains --

Maice: (to RBS) There, you see?

Manuelo: From the northern frontier --

Joti: They raid the harvest grain in winter –

Shandrika: They take the Seed Grain !

Manuelo: And they steal children, too --

Maice: Children ?---

Reeba: That’s right --

Slade: And if it’s a boy -- they kill him --

Maice: Not her! You’re all wrong! (to all-- expanding now)

I tell you she’s misunderstood -- just like us -- in her own way --

Reeba: Oh -- misunderstood -- (to all the others) “ Mees- understood”

OTHERS: “Mees-understood” “Mees-understood” [‘scolding’ each other]

Maice: (talking over) I tell you she’s looking for something --

Reeba: (muffled- to Boca and Slade) Then let her look somewhere else --

 

Maice: (center now, up on bench-- very serious) She comes from a long way -- to

unfamiliar things -- all alone -- Oh Sinjah -- if only we could have----{-cut off)

 

Others: (razzing) (to each other) Oh Sinjah -O-oo-ooOh Sinjah O-o-h---o-oh, my

darling-- My sweet--darling... Whoa-oh… my sweet..sweetness ..

Maice: Oh, what’s the use.. .. it’s like talking to children—

 

[ as others carry on –following Maice -- location lite on RBS – coming forward ]

Reeba,Boca,Slade: {bitter, jealous }… “Oh -Sinjah “---

Reeba: [idea now]  Or maybe --‘ No Sinjah’-- let’s have a council meeting---

Boca and Slade: Right, Reeba -- an Omazon Council---!!

Reeba: And bring out.... the good wine !

Boca: The good wine !..

Slade: Come on, Gals---

Boca: { loud whisper } Gather round!!

[ Drums -- Music now beginning—“An Omazon Girl” ]

LAUGHTER Gather round! Come on! Come on!!

 

[ Reeba, Boca and Slade now handing out wine &‘kerchiefs’ for the boys ‘hair’]

Perius: But even if she lives,, Maice --

Tarku: She’ll always be an Omazon -- that’s who she is --

(RBS now setting up on table & others below for upcoming’ pantomime’]

 

Maice: Well then I’ll have to offer -- something -- something more . . .

Song kicks in: (Chorus) “No Sinjah -- No Sinjah --”

Song: “An Omazon Girl” Track 8 - CD

Song choreography ends with Maice offering necklace to ‘Omazons’ all arranged in semicircle -- all rejecting with cross-arm gestures down the line as he ends at stage left,   just as Sinjah is entering, unaware-- almost bumping into -- as the chorus finishes with final lines : “ IT”S ...FOR...YOU --” drums and

music stop abruptly --

Maice: [turns, almost bumps into Sinjah] ..... It’s for You ..!

BIG LAUGHTER from ALL

Sinjah: ....... And so !.... { turns on her heel and marches off stage]

BIG LAUGHTER AGAIN

Reeba: It’s like chasin’ your own tail, Maice !!!

MORE LAUGHTER

Maice: Wait a minute - There’s something I need to know --- { goes after her, exits}

LIGHTER LAUGHTER

Perius: [to Reeba ] Ah, he’ll be back --

Tarku: Night is young, ladies-- Places to go !!

Shandrika: Places to hide !!

OTHERS: [ loud whispers, excited] Places to go ! Places to hide !

Come on!! Come on!! Come on!! [laughter rising as they all scatter away]

 

Reeba: [forward into spot, alone now ]... It’s like chasin’ your own SHADOW, Maice? ....{lights change, long shadow]] ....... MAICE ??? [ forlorn now ]

Boca: {re-appearing, taking her hands } Come on, Reeba---Places to go--

Slade: Places to hide !! Come on, girl!

 Boca: Come on, girl !!

{ both taking her downstage away as lights go down and MUSIC swells & fades]

 

END OF ACT 1

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