Ohhhhh the cheese! :P

Here we have it folks. The last scene of my play/musical. Eeek. I'm sorry that the formating is all messed up, but it's fine on my Appleworks, so there. Lol. Anywho, here's my question and the reason I'm posting - How much cheese is too much cheese???? Like on a scale of one to ten for cheese, how would you rate this? I know it seems slightly silly, but I'm letting a lady at the theater I apprentice at read it because she offered to because she's helped judge playwriting contests before, so that's kind of scary!!!!!! And I'm giving it to her TODAY! AHHHHH! Lol, I've only edited it once, so pleaaaasse tell me if there's anything I could fix, and.. yeah, the cheese thing... :P
Here we go:

Act Two
Scene Four

(Lights come back up on all of the MUSIC MAKERS and some unfamiliar faces too, milling
around the stage. ANNORA comes running in, and hurries over to JULIAN and GWENDOLYN,
who are standing C.S., looking worried.)
ANNORA
Have you seen Raven?
GWENDOLYN
No! Where could he be??!
ANNORA
(Frustrated)
Here we are in the capital, with people all around us ready to rally, and we can’t find Raven!

GWENDOLYN
Look at them all. We’ve got to start soon!
ANNORA
I’m just going to have to do it without him!
(Her face softens)
I hope he’s all right...
(RAVEN comes running in, S.L. ANNORA turns to him with relief)

ANNORA
Where were you?
RAVEN
(Grimly)
Being chased by a bunch of palace guards. Annora, we can’t do the rally! It’s way too dangerous! Everyone is going to get killed!
ANNORA
(Shaking her head.)
I refuse to give up. We’ve come all this way, and you’re backing out now?

GWENDOLYN
You knew the risk, Raven! It’s too late to back away. The people are ready to sing!

RAVEN
(Shaking his head stubbornly)
No.
ANNORA
(Face hardens in anger)
Well if you’re not going to do it, I will.
(She turns, and pushes through the crowd to get to the stairs. She stands, and looks out into
the audience like there is a huge crowd in front of her.)
People of the capital, are you ready to sing??


PEOPLE
YES!!
ANNORA
Well let’s sing then!!
(Suddenly there are shouts, and people start screaming and running around. A troop of
GUARDS run on stage. ANNORA freezes.)

GUARDS
Halt! In the name of the Queen, halt!
RAVEN
(Grabbing ANNORA)
Come on!
GUARDS
Catch those two!

(RAVEN pushes his way up the stairs, grabs ANNORA, and tries to make a break for S.L.,
but the guards catch them, and as people run around them, they are led off. Lights black on the
chaos. During the black out, the city backdrop is pulled up, to reveal the prison S.R., and the
Queens throne room S.L. Lights come up slowly, and RAVEN and ANNORA are led roughly in by
the guards, and shoved into the prison.)
GUARD
(To RAVEN )
Trying to escape will only get you killed faster.
(GUARDS exit stage right, and ANNORA and RAVEN are left looking at each other.)

ANNORA
(After a pause)
Well.... that could have gone better...
(RAVEN nods miserably)
I just hope that everyone else got away all right.

RAVEN
We should never had tried to do this. We new they would catch us, and it’s all for naught!

ANNORA
Not necessarily! We must try as hard as we can to change the Queens ideas about music. We still have a chance.
RAVEN
(Bitterly)
Her mind won’t be changed.
ANNORA
How do you know?
(RAVEN doesn’t reply, and there’s a pause)

RAVEN
Annora, there’s something I have to tell you...
ANNORA
(Intently)
Yes?
(Just then, the GUARDS come back in, unlock the doors, and grab hold of both of them.)
Where are we going??
GUARD
The Queen wishes to see you.
ANNORA
(Quietly, to RAVEN)
Here’s our chance!
(Again, RAVEN doesn’t respond, but just looks miserable.)

GUARD
(To ANNORA)
Quiet!
(The GUARDS drag them to S.L., where the QUEEN is now sitting on the throne. She is an older
woman in her early sixties, who looks very hard and royal. The GUARDS force RAVEN and
ANNORA onto their knees, and then step back out of the way.)

QUEEN
(With slight irony)
So these are the two sinners who have been causing all this musical trouble. Get up!
(RAVEN and ANNORA do, but where ANNORA meets the QUEEN’S gaze squarely, trying to be
brave, RAVEN stares down at the ground.)
Why, you’re only children!
ANNORA
Yes. But as you can see, children can accomplish a lot!
(A GUARD steps forward and smacks ANNORA on the cheek.)

QUEEN
(Frostily, standing)
You do not EVER speak, unless I tell you to!
(ANNORA touches her cheek, looks at the ground for a minute, and then back up stubbornly at
the QUEEN.)
RAVEN
(Very quietly, to ANNORA)
Stop. It’s not going to help anything.
(ANNORA looks surprised and hurt, and the QUEEN looks very sharply at RAVEN, something
close to recognition on her face.)
QUEEN
Stand up strait boy. Look at me!
(RAVEN hesitates, then looks up. The QUEEN gasps.)

QUEEN
(Half whispering)
Bastien??
(RAVEN hesitates, then nods. ANNORA stares at him, not understanding. The QUEEN stands,
her frostiness completely gone.)
QUEEN
(Brokenly)
My son! Where have you been? Surely you’re not one of these music makers??

RAVEN
(Smoothly)
Of course not mother. I ran away from Boarding school so that I could spy on them, and then I tricked them right into your hands.
(ANNORA gasps, staring at RAVEN in horror)

QUEEN
(Smiling)
My son!
(She rushes towards RAVEN and engulfs him in a hug. ANNORA covers her mouth with her
hand, looking like she’s going to be sick. Over his mothers shoulder, RAVEN looks at her
coldly. They finish the hug, and the QUEEN steps back.)
We have so much catching up to do! Do you know how worried I was about you?? It’s been over a year!
RAVEN
I know Mother. And I am terribly sorry about that.

QUEEN
(Turning back to look at ANNORA, seeming to just remember her)
Lock her up! I’ll deal with her tomorrow.
(The GUARDS step forward, and grab ANNORA, but she doesn’t appear to notice, staring at
RAVEN’S receding figure, even as they drag her back to the cell and lock her in.)

QUEEN
Come along Bastien...
(They exit together, S.L. ANNORA is left all alone in her cell, standing numbly.)

ANNORA
(Whispering)
It can’t be true...
(Louder now)
No! I won’t believe it!! Raven, my Raven, is Bastien? The Queens son who disappeared from his boarding school a year ago? No...
(She shakes her head, sinking down to the floor of her cage, and shivering.)
Raven loves music. Raven loves me! He wouldn’t do this to me! He just wouldn’t!
(Pause)
But he was always so mysterious... and he never wanted to go the the capital, I couldn’t figure out why! Could he have been just faking, to get us here? Today, when he was late for the rally...
(She trails off, her eyes widening)
He was telling the guards where we were!
(She stands unsteadily, holds onto the bars for support)
NO! That can’t be right! He wouldn’t do that! He’s Raven, not Bastien! Bastien’s a prince, Raven is just...
(She trails off again, fighting with the lock. Then she starts kicking the bars.)
No! No! NO!
(She stops kicking, standing weakly again.)
If I could just get out he would tell me it’s not so...
(She starts to cry)
But it is so. And I hate him. He’s betrayed me, betrayed all of the Music Makers. And he wasn’t sure he could trust me at first!! Arg! I should never have trusted HIM!! I’m so stupid, I trust everyone so much, and he took advantage of me! He used me like... like a rag that he can just throw away now. I can’t believe I fell for him. I can’t believe I kissed him!
(She can’t go on, she is crying too hard. She sinks to the floor, closes her eyes and rocks back
and forth. Lights dim, she is the only illuminated part of the stage. Sad music plays, and
gradually she falls asleep. All is quiet for a moment. Then RAVEN comes running on, S.R., and
skids to a halt next to her cage. He looks in at her with love and pain and remorse.)

RAVEN
(Whispering)
Annora! Annora, wake up!
(ANNORA lifts her head groggily, recognizes him, and immediately pushes herself to the
opposite side of the cell. RAVEN looks hurt, ANNORA just looks mad.)

ANNORA
(Laughing bitterly)
Bastien huh? It suits you.
RAVEN
It’s not what you think!
ANNORA
(Shaking her head)
Why are you here? So you can just hurt me some more?

RAVEN
No! I’ve got keys, I can get you away from here!

ANNORA
What would be the point of that, after going through all the trouble of getting me here?

RAVEN
(Dismayed)
You didn’t actually believe what I told my mother, did you?

ANNORA
(Faltering a little)
Well, considering you sort of forgot to mention to me that you are the prince...

RAVEN
I started to tell you, but then the guards came to get us! I’m sorry, I’m really, really sorry.
(ANNORA just shakes her head and looks away)
Come on, I’m letting you out.
ANNORA
What, so that I can escape, and you’ll just stay here with your mother and things will go back to how they used to be before this whole revolution, and you’ll forget about me and get to be the happy prince you’ve always been?
RAVEN
(Earnestly)
I’ve never wanted to be Prince Annora. And I could never forget about you, but I care enough to let you go!
ANNORA
What about what we’ve been trying to do, Bastien? Don’t you care about music- or the music makers at all??
RAVEN
(Faltering)
Yes, but... I don’t know what we could do. My Mother is fierce, she would kill you...

ANNORA
(Sadly)
You’re not who I always thought you were. You’re just a coward.

RAVEN
(Sadly)
I know.
ANNORA
(Firmly)
Tomorrow I will plead with the Queen myself, for the music makers. If I die, at least I die for a good cause. For something worth while.
(Softer)
Goodbye Raven.
RAVEN
(Protesting)
Annora-
ANNORA
Goodbye.
(She turns and lays back down, and RAVEN looks at her a moment, before turning and exiting
S.R. Lights dim, and then black.)

(Lights come back up, and it is the next morning. ANNORA is awake, pale and determined, and
the GUARDS come in S.R. and get her from the cell, leading her once again to the QUEEN, who
is once again sitting on the throne, with RAVEN now sitting next to her. The GUARDS force
ANNORA to the ground in front of them, and RAVEN looks at her with emotion. ANNORA turns
her full attention to the QUEEN, avoiding RAVEN.)

QUEEN
You are solely responsible for polluting the minds of thousands of people with unclean music, and starting a rebellion against the church, and against me. Under the law, you should be executed for this treason. What do you have to say for yourself, girl?

ANNORA
(Falteringly at first, then gaining confidence)
My Queen, I have never wished to disobey the church, or you. I have only ever done what I thought was right, and I have tried never to harm anyone. My Queen, have you ever listened to the Music Makers music?
QUEEN
Of course not! It is unholy!
ANNORA
Yes, that’s what the Church says. But you must remember a time when anyone could sing whatever they wished, whenever they wished to. You must remember a time when there was music everywhere in this land, and if you remember, you’ll know that the people were happier then. My Queen, you are a wonderful ruler, but the people under your rule are not happy! The peasants work too hard, and the-
QUEEN
(Standing)
How dare you!
ANNORA
(Desperately)
Please, just let me speak!
(The QUEEN sits back down slowly, nodding)
Thank you. The peasants and working people need music to keep them alive, to keep them happy! And I know that you think the Creator hates all unclean music. I used to think that too. But I have been through the most amazing journey, and I have learned great things, my Queen. I have seen the happiness on peoples faces when I sing, and I think that the Creator wants us to be happy! If we are not singing anything bad, then what harm is good music? The Creator-

QUEEN
(Stands again, furious)
This is blasphemy! Guards!!
(The GUARDS run and grab ANNORA, she struggles against them.)

ANNORA
Please?? Just listen!!
(Sings)
The great creator hears us,
loves us, listens to our cries,
the great creator made us,
formed us, knows it when we lie.
We are his precious children,
and like children we must sing,
songs of love and songs of joy,
let our voices ring,
I know he wants to hear us sing-

QUEEN
(Cuts her off)
HOW DARE YOU??? You will be killed this moment for such-

RAVEN
(Standing,)
No.
QUEEN
(Stares at him with astonishment)
What?
ANNORA
(Starting to laugh and cry at the same time)
What??
RAVEN
She’s right Mother, can’t you see? She’s so right.
(RAVEN starts slowly walking towards ANNORA, singing)

RAVEN
(Sings)
Stars shine-
like a glimmer of hope,
in a world of night,
like a drop of silver,
in a pool of tears,

ANNORA
(Murmurs)
Our song!
(He reaches ANNORA, pushes the GUARDS away, and takes her hand. They sing together.)

ANNORA and RAVEN
(Sing)
like a seed of love,
in a bitter heart,
like a surprise smile,
on a gloomy day.

stars shine-
like the pain in the love,
the love in the pain,
the sadness in the joy,
the joy in the sadness,

(Something strange is happening to the QUEEN now, she is standing as if frozen, but there
is something on her face. She starts to cry, looking at them, and then she begins to sing. As
she sings, she walks forward to RAVEN, and takes his hand on his other side. RAVEN and
ANNORA look at her with astonishment, and smile and grin and laugh and cry all at the same
time, even as they finish the song.)

Like the betrayal in forgiveness,
the forgiveness in betrayal,
the beauty in a song,
the song in the beauty.

Stars shine-
Above.

Curtain.