CASTS

Roland - Gab
Ganelon - Miguel
Charlemagne - Trishian
Naimond - Ron
Oliver - Ritche
Knights - Ira
Jurfaret - Sed
Marsillion - Glen
Blancandarin - Paul

Intro I.

Background description: Dark, scant lightings in the room. A table with a

map at the top. It appears to be a map of Spain, filled with writings and
various notes and circles. Figures of ships and flags are positioned in most
areas. Saragosa, however, is encircled. Men are gathered around the table.
Facing the map is old Emperor Charlemagne, Roland, Naimond, Turpin, and
other nobles.

Roland: My Lord, I suggest that we move the division from here-

takes hold of a flag and slides it to another place

Roland: -to here, that way, we can-

Ganelon enters, interrupting Roland and going straight to the Emperor

Ganelon: Praise to you, Your Majesty, for having conquered Spain! I do

apologize for the late greetings-

Charlemagne waves Ganelon off with his hand

Charlemagne: It is not yet time to celebrate, Ganelon. There is but a single

kingdom who is still being foolish.

Ganelon: What kingdom is that, sire?

Richard slides a figure to the encircled spot

Richard: Saragosa.

End of Intro I.
Intro II.

Charlemagne: King Marsilion has sent a letter, promising to be a Christian if

we leave Spain.

Richard snorts and laughs, along with the rest of the nobles

Naimond: Surely, you don't believe him, Your Majesty?

Charlemagne: Of course not. Only a fool will believe the contents of a letter
from the enemy outright. An envoy must be sent.

Roland raises his hand

Roland: My Lord, I can be the one who will go King Marsilion.

Oliver: And I shall accompany him.

Charlemagne shakes his head

Charlemagne: No, Roland. Someone else must go. You two are not to set foot
there.

Roland: Then my step-father would be willing to go.

Ganelon bangs his fist on the table

Ganelon: Forgive my outburst sire, but me, of all people? Roland, you
imbecile, is this how you planned my death? Everyone knows I am thy
stepfather, thus you have suggested so. If God grants my return, rest
assured that I shall return the favor!

Roland: It wasn't a plan for your death. Everybody knows that it takes a
clever man to be a messenger.

Charlemagne: Go, Ganelon. Take the staff and the glove. You have heard it-
everyone has chosen you to go.

Ganelon: Sire, this is Roland's doing. Roland, Oliver, everyone, I deft them all
in your presence!

Charlemagne: You are too ill-tempered. Go, take my glove and staff, and in
Jesus' name, depart at once for Saratoga!
Charlemagne hands his right globe and staff, but Ganelon let's it fall to the
ground

Oliver: My word, a great loss will come to us from this message.

Ganelon says nothing, and leaves

Ganelon is at the stables, preparing for his departure. His knights are
weeping and looking forlorn indeed

Knights: Sire, please, take us with you! Your valour was ill-fated..Count
Roland ought not to have thought of volunteering you.

Ganelon: God forbid! It is better that I die alone than with so many good
knights. Go back to France, send my regards to my wife, my friend Pinabel,
and my son, Baldwin, whom you'll consider your lord.

Ganelon leaves and before long, catches up to Blancandrin

Blancandrin: The Emperor is a very powerful man. He has conquered

numerous lands, what does he want with our land?

Ganelon: Such is his pleasure. No man can stand against him.

Blancandrin: But his advisers bring him harm by urging him to do such
things.

Ganelon: Roland is to blame.Yesterday morning the emperor

was sitting in the shade, and up comes his nephew. In his hand he held a
crimson apple, and he said to his uncle: ‘Take it, fair sir. I present you with
the crowns of all the kings from the earth.’ If he is killed, then we should
have universal peace.

They rode on and on for a long time. At last, they arrived at a yew tree in
Saragosa. There Marsilion was waiting, sitting upon a throne and surrounded
by Saracens, all of them silent. Blancandrin and Ganelon dismounts and
bows

Blancandrin: Greetings,Your Majesty! We have returned from our mission,

Emperor Charles raised his hands to the heavens and praised his God, but
otherwise did not make a reply. He has sent, however, a noble baron of his.
A very powerful man, and we will hear from him whether we shall have
peace or not.

Marsilion: Let him speak, then.

Ganelon: This is the command that Charlemagne lays upon you:
that you should accept the holy Christian faith and he will give you half
of Spain as a fief. If you are not willing to make this treaty, you will be
taken by force and bound; you will be taken to his residence at Aix and
there you will be condemned to lose your life. You will die there in
shame and dishonour.

Marsilion stands up in rage

Marsilion: How-HOW DARE YOU.

The Saracens try to calm him down

Them: Sire, you are making a big mistake for wishing to strike the
Frenchman. Let us further hear what he has to say.

Ganelon: That is a risk I must take as the one who was sent as a messenger.
However, you do wrong to be angry, because this is the bidding of Charles
the ruler of France. Receive the Christian faith and
he will give half of Spain as a fief, and Roland his nephew shall have the
other half, and a very
arrogant partner you will have! Our Emperor sends you this letter.

Ganelon gives the letter to Marsilion. Marsilion tears the letter's seal and
angrily reads the letter. Marsilion's son approaches him

Jurfaret: Ganelon has spoken folly. He has gone too far and it is not right that
he should live any longer. Hand him over to me and I will deal with him.