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‘O, I am Fortune’s fool!’

Act III scene i. A public place

UNITED STATES
Here comes the furious German army back again. (serious and sarcastic)

GREAT BRITAIN Alive, in triumph! and France slain!

Away to heaven, respective lenity, (len-it-ty)
And fire-eyed fury be my conduct now!
GREAT BRITAIN shake fists
Re-enter GERMANY
Now, Germany, take the villain back again,
That late thou gavest me;
for France's soul is but a little way above our heads,
Staying for thine to keep him company:
Either thou, or I, or both, must go with him.
GREAT BRITAIN points at GERMANY then puts hand on chest.

GERMANY Thou, wretched duchy that didst consort France here,

Shalt with him hence. (INFURIATED)

GREAT BRITAIN This shall determine that.

They fight with water guns; GERMANY falls.

UNITED STATES Great Britain, away, be gone!

The countries are up, and the German Army slain.
Stand not amazed: the Convention will doom thee death,
If thou art taken: hence, be gone, away!

GREAT BRITAIN O, I am fortune's fool!

GREAT BRITAIN waves white flag.

UNITED STATES Why dost thou stay? (PANICKED, RUSHED)

Exit GREAT BRITAIN

Enter GENEVA CONVENTION, and AUSTRIA-HUNGARY
GENEVA CONVENTION Where are the vile beginners of this fray? (STRONG,
CONFIDENT VOICE)

UNITED STATES O noble Convention, I can discover all

The unlucky manage of this fatal brawl:
There lies the nation, slain by Great Britain,
UNITED STATES puts hand across neck
That slew thy country, brave France.
Pointing at GERMANY, who is motionless.

AUSTRIA-HUNGARY (EMOTIONAL VOICE, VOICE CRACKS)

Germany, my ally! O my fondest friend!
AUSTRIA-HUNGARY hides face with hands.
O Geneva Convention! O confidant! Neighbor!
the blood is spilt! O my dear comrade!
Arbitrator, as thou art true,
For blood of ours, shed blood of the Allies. O ally, ally!
AUSTRIA-HUNGARY falls to knees and sobs dramatically.

GENEVA CONVENTION United States, who began this bloody fray? (STRONG,
CONFIDENT VOICE)

UNITED STATES Germany, here slain, whom Great Britain’s hand did slay;
Great Britain that spoke him fair
Could not take truce with the unruly spleen
Of Germany deaf to peace, but that he tilts
(SAD) With piercing steel at bold Frances' heart, (SAD, VOICE CRACK)
Great Britain he cries aloud,
'Hold, friends! friends, part!' and, swifter than his tongue,
His agile navy beats down their fatal points,
And 'twixt them rushes; underneath whose branch
An envious thrust from Germany hit the life
Of stout France, and then Germany fled;
But by and by comes back to Great Britain,
And to 't they go like lightning, for, ere I
Could draw to part them, was stout Germany slain.
And, as he fell, did Great Britain turn and fly.
(HAND) This is the truth, or let the US die.
UNITED STATES holds up right hand in pledge

AUSTRIA-HUNGARY (EMOTIONAL, ANGRY VOICE)

He is a confederate to the Allies;
Affection makes him false; he speaks not true:
Some twenty of them fought in this black strife,
And all those twenty could but end one nation.
I beg for justice, which thou, Convention, must give;
Britain slew Germany, Britain must not live.
AUSTRIA-HUNGARY glares at the UNITED STATES
GENEVA CONVENTION moves between AUSTRIA-HUNGARY and UNITED STATES.

GENEVA CONVENTION Great Britain slew him, he slew France;

Who now the price of his dear blood doth owe?

UNITED STATES Not Britain, Geneva Convention, he was France's friend;

His fault concludes but what the law should end,
The life of Germany.

GENEVA CONVENTION And for that offence

Immediately we shall exile him hence: (prolong immediately)
We have an interest in your hate's proceeding,
Our blood for your rude brawls doth lie a-bleeding;
But we will amerce you with so strong a fine
That you shall all repent the loss of ours:
We will be deaf to pleading and excuses;
Nor tears nor prayers shall purchase out abuses: (hand signals)
Therefore use none: let the British army hence in haste,
Else, when he's found, that hour is his last.
GENEVA CONVENTION taps wrist (looking at watch)
Bear hence this body and attend our will:
Mercy but murders, pardoning those that kill.
All countries exit the scene.
GENEVA CONVENTION drops red poppy on ground and leaves scene.
(hold poppy close to face so it shows up)