Fortune's Fool

Persona Dramatis

Mr. W.
[Mr. W. wears black jeans and a silky Hawaiian shirt. Middle aged, having a mid-life crisis wondering what he should do]

Fear "Subini"
[His chief occupation is to spread terror and chaos amongst the populous. Wears a top hat, mustache and a black cloak]
Hope "Go-Swammi"
[Played by the same actor as fear, meant to induce people into a state of euphoria and hence inaction. Wears a turban and excessively white cloths and clip on bow tie]

Newspaper Guy (abbr. N-G) [Retired professor who wants to help humanity; Khaki slacks, dress shoes off white shirt. We never see his face: it is covered by the paper]

[Contemporary, late afternoon]

[Well lit stage with three card tables arranged in an ark: S. Left, S. Center, S. Right. The one S. Right has a Crystal Ball and a sign "Subini lord of crystal vision"; The one S. Left has Tarot Cards and sign "Go-Swammi of the cards of purity"; Behind the S. Center one sits a man hidden by the Newspaper he is reading in front of him is a sign "Palm Reader"]
[First fortune teller enters from S. Right and sits behind the table with the crystal ball]

  1. Mr. W.: All these worries, I don't know what to do
  2. What is going to happen? What is happening?
  3. I feel blind in this darkness...
  4. I want light — however blinding
  5. Maybe my future lies in that crystal ball
  6. it will show me what to do
  7. give me a path — direction — answers
  8. Sir! Can you see my future in that — that thing?
  9. Fear: Well... in a way
  10. First you must empty your mind and thoughts into it
  11. And a few dollars...
  12. Mr. W.: Yes, yes...here
  13. Fear: Crystal balls don't pay for themselves you know
  14. Mr. W.: Now what must I do?
  15. Fear: Concentrate on the ball
  16. Through it I will see your mind and hence your future
  17. Mhh...
  18. There is much torment in your life — worry about what will be
  19. Catastrophic events looming on the horizon of time
  20. Just out of sight
  21. But somehow you feel it coming and breathing down your neck
  22. You feel, and even see, through your fear
  23. The state of your “self” shows much
  24. The fear consumes you, tearing at your heart
  25. As it should — fear should be...well feared
  26. Disaster after disaster waiting to happen — just out of reach
  27. Yes, your future is a sad one
  28. Full of turmoil and strife
  29. Mr. W.: Yes! Yes! I feel that what you say is true
  30. Can you tell me more?
  31. What is going to happen
  32. Fear: I see...mhh...
  33. All the way at the end
  34. Beyond all mist standing clear
  35. Death! The most horrible of events
  36. I see it in your future
  37. Fear for your life
  38. Mr. W.: Thank you for your insight and wisdom
  39. All my suspicions and terrors confirmed
  40. The future is as I feared
  41. Can it really be so?
  42. Bahh!
  43. I will not let a piece of glass control my life
  44. And I saw nothing in those swirling mist
  45. I want someone to show me the future
  46. Plain, simple, hopeful — oh and true
  47. Hope: Step right up sir, I am the great Sss...Go-Swammi
  48. And I'll tell you what you want to hear
  49. The future it is...mhh...
  50. These cards tell all — just watch
  51. Please — take the cards, shuffle a bit
  52. That's enough — hand them back now
  53. With some money please...
  54. Mhh...shuffle again —
  55. That's better
  56. There! There is your future laid out in front of you
  57. Just like you wanted it
  58. Mr. W.: Wonderful! Wonderful! I can see it all in front of me
  59. What does it all mean?
  60. That guy with the tail and wings for example
  61. Hope: Ah the devil!
  62. Good luck! Very good luck!
  63. It frightens away all the evil in your life
  64. Mr. W.: Right...
  65. Hope: No! Truly it does
  66. The devil was once an angel
  67. And through his abilities, it restores all goodness upon you
  68. You look in apprehension at the death card
  69. Fear not, it is merely the release of human needs
  70. And your spirit being whisked away into paradise
  71. Blessed release — a joy for us all
  72. Go now, good fortune awaits for you
  73. To merely walk by
  74. Mr. W.: I feel better with this hopeful fortune
  75. But still I fear the first was true
  76. Two people tell me what is to come
  77. and yet I'm stuck in "right now"
  78. The future is as unknown
  79. To me as ever
  80. Perhaps that Palm Reader will settle my qualm
  81. Can you see my future in my palms
  82. Good sir...or madam.
  83. N-G: Yes — show them to me
  84. How can I see them if they are covered
  85. Now go build something with them
  86. Mr. W.: What?...I thought you said...
  87. N-G: I am telling you your future
  88. Your future is what you do,
  89. In what you make, with those hands
  90. Go create the future
  91. The future that you want
  92. It is as simple as that
  93. Mr. W.: Though I know he speaks the truth
  94. Of what help is he to me?
  95. He puts the burden on myself
  96. Both before —made all my choices
  97. Life was such simplicity
  98. Now the choice is plain to me
  99. Hello again great sir

    [Fear is still wearing Hope's hat]

  100. Your hat...
  101. Fear: It is an omen of terrible catastrophy
  102. You must prepare...prepare for this horrid event
  103. But I can't tell you the details
  104. Buy Duct-tape! Buy Duct-tape!
  105. And plastic sheeting...
  106. Remember the gas mask

    [Curtain has fallen by now]

  107. Come on, — pay up
  108. Not another IOU
  109. This is the seventh bet you lost
  110. Why do you bet on these stupid people?
  111. N-G: I hope they'll make the right choice