THE PLAGUE
ACT I .
The curtain rises, and there are 8 people standing on a dirt road in front of Jacob’s house, a small humble place, as are all the structures in the manor. Behind his house can be seen the rest of the small manor in which these people live, and the central fort can be seen on a hill in the distance. The people are chatting, and trading items:
John, annoyed: Now you look here Jacob, all I want is to trade this grain for that chicken. The lord is expecting a chicken this month from me, and the lord likes it not if you don’t supply him. I cannot afford to have him deny me salt this month.
Jacob: I have no need for grain, I have plenty already.
John: ‘Tis true, but you also have many a chicken, and many of better value than that one. You cannot say nay to that.
Jacob: No I cannot say nay, but I have no need for grain. I shall not benefit from such a trade any.
Sam a very curious person. who had until this point been talking with another serf, Philip: You need a chicken?
John, eagerly: Indeed it is needed, have you gotten one?
Sam: Not particularly no, but chickens are rather odd creatures all truth told; and I really do like to…
The main sentry (Richard Plege) of the manor comes running down the road. Plege is a rather excitable and worrisome person, but he does things by the book. Everyone stops talking, and watches him:
Sam: Aye there Plege, what hurries you?
Plege: I have urgent news for the lord, urgent, urgent, news!
Sam, unable to contain himself reaches out, and grabs Plege as he passes by: Is there time for news of it here?
Plege: I think not; the lord shall learn of it first. What would the world become if serfs knew more than the lord? Anarchy! Anarchy! Our great feudal manor could fall!
Sam: Come, now, he will learn soon and you can tell him in more detail than you would tell us. There must be a small bit of time to tell us.
Plege, with an exasperated sigh, There is a plague reported in a nearby manor. The worst in years I hear. A messenger, all told, brought the news.
Sam: From where was this man? I hope it was not from the manor of Vassal Smith! I got permission once from the lord to go to that manor, and it has a castle, a stone one!
Plege, getting very anxious/nervous: He said not, as he was in a hurry, as I am now. Like him, I now wish to speak no more!
Sam, letting go: ‘Tis well then, as knowledge has flowed between us, and I am sure it will benefit this manor greatly!
Plege: Yes, well …..yes. Plege turns and runs off stage.
Sam: Ah, how interesting. A Plague! Ah well, I suppose I should be going now as my crops shouldn’t go too long without me. I do wonder if they know when I’m around. He starts to walk off-stage then stops. Ah, is there a meeting tonight?
John: Indeed, at the inn, as usual. We shall see you later Sam.
Sam: Yes, ‘tis well then. Until tonight. Walks off stage. The crowd of people watch him go for a minute.
Jacob: ‘Tis interesting news for once. Changing to a solemn tone. I hope nobody here catches it, I would hate to have to risk myself just to trade in a crowd. Equally, I would have less people to trade with if it caught here. Oh how burdens fall upon me! I dare say to you people, you’d better not catch it!
John: Yes, well, I am here, and as I don’t seem to burden you quite yet, nor am I rotting, so why not trade me that chicken?
Philip, with a lack of people to talk to now that Sam has gone: Yes Jacob, why not the chicken? I know the lord’s wrath when you fail to give him such things as a chicken. John has helped you before; think of it as a repayment.
Jacob: This is a harsh world Philip, too harsh to save others when it could hurt yourself.
Philip: Perhaps to save others is to save yourself. Hear thee; I shall even throw in a bit of my own salt to make this deal, the lord gave me a bit extra last time, I felt a bit rotten for not returning it; now I can clear my conscience and make good of it.
Jacob: Stealing from the lord, Philip?
John, distressed: Come now Jacob, say not such things. Philip makes a wise offer, and a good deal. I am sure you can use salt. What a deal, salt and grain for a chicken, and a measly one at that! Come now, take this offer!
Jacob, in a regrettable tone: Aye, fine, if I must I will settle for this. But yet, let it be heard I like it not. I feel I have been cheated still. Three days from now you can have this chicken. Come by then and I shall give it to you.
John, relieved: Yes, ‘tis well.
Philip: Well then I shall behold you all later. At the moment my wife is feeling a bit under the weather; I should probably see how she is doing.
Jacob, John, and Philip all walk offstage and the remaining crowd continues chatting and trading. The curtain falls.
ACT II
The curtain rises and the inside of the inn, which is the meeting place of all the male peasants of the town. is revealed. There are many people sitting in wooden chairs and on wooden tables talking. Apart from a few windows and a door to the left, the building is very simple. By looking out the windows it is clear that the sun has set.
Sam,
who at the moment has taken the spotlight of the crowd: Well then, the moment I heard about this plague, it brings about memories that I have heard, of stories of plagues. I really do find this report of one interesting. As far as I know we never have had any plague here, but I hear the signs of plague are red eyes, black blotches of skin, and coughing! I hear it can spread from a person to another just cause they saw each other; and it spreads so quick once you notice, it’s too late! Let me tell you all a plague is a mysteriously curious thing!Jacob, climbs up on a table: Now what are we going to do about this plague? We need do something is sure!
William: an old farmer: We should wait for the lord to give orders before we take such a matter into our own hands.
Jacob, Nay, nay! You heard Sam, a plague moves quick. The lord has not acted yet, and we cannot wait longer, unless we all want to catch this thing. We need do something. Sam, you seem to know: what is the proper way to deal with these things?
Sam, thinking hard: Well, I think down in Vassal Krump’s place when they heard of a plague, they bumped out all the recent arrivers to the place, and didn’t let anybody in for a time.
Jacob: Then that is what we shall do, in the morning we shall shoo out all the recent newcomers of the past few days.
Sam: I didn’t say…
Traveler: I come from a manor near this one, and let me say there was certainly no plague there when I left. There are travelers here that need shelter. This measure is unnecessary.
Jacob: But good sir, you say there was no plague when you left! How do you know that there was a plague and it only became noticeable after you left? How do we know you are not carrying among yourself at this moment, and merely are not showing symptoms?
At this there is a loud bit of murmuring about the crowd, and several people noticeably inch away from the traveler.
Jacob: In fact, you should leave now before you curse us all!
There is now even more talking, even some shouting, and people are starting to stand up, some obviously moving as far away from the man as possible.
Traveler, standing up, and enraged: Yes then, I shall leave, as I see this manor deserves a
plague, and I hope it has one coming to it! It would not be a pity to rid the world of such
people as these! He storms out.
The inn is suddenly silent.
William, confused and cautiously : I am not sure that was necessary; the man only
wanted a place to rest, and then he would be on his way.
Jacob: Nonsense old man, it was necessary. Are you telling me…
Philip, who until this point has been leaning back into a chair: I agree with William that that was a bit rough, but unfortunatley this does seem necessary. It seems better to insult a few travelers than to risk the lives of an entire manor.
John: Yes, it seems rather reasonable.
Jacob: Then that is that. In the morning they all leave!
The curtain closes, as some men cheer, and others return to talking.
ACT III
The curtain rises revealing the same scenery as in ACT I (Jacob’s house). Three days have passed. Once again there is a large crowd outside the house. Jacob is not there. Everyone is arguing, and yelling.
Philip, shouting: Jacob? Jacob! Where is that man? I want a word with him! We must call an end to this madness; an end!
Villager: What madness man? There is a plague about, a plague! We must rid ourselves of the cursed or we shall all die! The lord knows the danger, he knows! Tale has it that the second Sentry Plege gave him the news, he forced him out and locked himself in his room till we’re all dead! I fear there are still those plagued among us!
Philip, completely enraged: Hush man, where is he? He turns and sees Jacob looking out the window of his house. Jacob! Come out of there!
Jacob: Nay, I do not come out! There are those plagued still out there I am sure, I wish not to be among them!
Philip: You have led these people to banish half the manor to die out in the un-owned world! You yourself have banished over 30 people for being plagued! All told, 80 people are now out roaming the countryside with no place to go. You banished William, and he had naught any signs of being plagued except for standing too near that traveler days back! Now do you plan to cower in there and leave these people who have followed you?
John enters the stage, and pushes his way through several people to the window where Jacob is.
John, urgently: I have come for my chicken Jacob, the lord shall want it soon.
Jacob: The lord is wise, and hiding in his bedroom, and he won’t want a chicken any time soon. Go away! I shall not give it to you!
John: I have already paid you my share of the deal, and the lord cannot remain in his bedroom forever! Once this is over he shall want it from me. Give me the chicken!
Philip, pleading: Come now Jacob. If you won’t come out just crack open the door and let the chicken out!
Sam, who has, as usual, been standing in the crowd and listening to the conversation: It sounds like a fair idea to me.
Jacob, almost crazily: No, no, I shall not!
Sam: Look John, Philip; it doesn’t seem like he’s going to come to reasoning on the chicken all too soon. Why not go home to your farms and wives? Aye Philip, how is your wife lately, I don’t think I’ve seen her in a time, please tell her that Sam said…
Jacob, as if he had found something incredible: Yes! Yes! I remember now! Plagued! Plagued! The entire crowd goes silent and turns toward Jacob and Philip. I remember now! Three days former, the very day of the news of the plague you said to me your wife was under the weather! Nobody has seen her since! She is most likely dead, and you plagued, too! Look at your eyes, they be red! The crowd gasps. Plagued! Plagued!
Philip, confused: It is no plague on me, I have merely had to stay up to work late nights lately! It is merely…
Sam: Jacob I meant not that Philip was…
Jacob, as if insane: Plagued! Plagued! People run out this man before he plagues you all! Several of the people take out daggers, Philip steps back. Run him out! There is no time to spare, run him out!
Philip: John tell them, you must see that many if not all of us are not plagued! Tell them John! Tell them!
John says nothing, just stares ahead and then looks down in dismay.
Philip, desperately: No, folks listen to me! We must be more cautious in…
Villager: We cannot be cautious there is a plague! A plague!
Philip, in complete agony: Yes! Yes! There is a plague! There is a plague and I was infected with it as all you are now! There is a plague, and it kills, but it kills not with disease! There is a plague and it is spreading throughout all of our gullible heads, it is a plague of stupidities, a plague of hysteria! You shall all see soon, you will see you were all plagued!
Jacob: Do you let him speak among you? The longer he stays, the more the plague kills us all! Get him out or destroy him!
Several members of the now yelling mob run at Philip and he backs away. He then turns and walks off stage with the rest of the mob following him at a distance. All leave except Jacob, who disappears behind his window, and John, who just stands there, in the center of the stage, looking down at the ground. The curtain falls; the sound of the mob can still be heard.
ACT IV
The curtain rises, it is the next day, in the inn. The only person there is John. He is sitting in a chair looking down at the ground. He does not move.
John, to himself:
The town is nearly all gone. Plege is gone. Philip is gone. William is gone. All are gone. Over 100 men and women. Nervously chuckles. God, how I have failed my friends.Sam enters through the door.
Sam: Hello John, I would wish you good day if it were one.
John, not looking up : And I to you. How do you fare this morning?
Sam, slowly: ‘Tis my fault John. I started this thing. I started this. Every time I open my mouth I get something started, or get somebody in trouble. I just can’t…
Jacob pushes the door open and runs in and stands panting:
Sam + John, surprised with a bit of anger: Jacob!
Sam: Jacob, what brings you out of your house?
Jacob, pleading: Dear friends! I need help! Just now a messenger come by. He bring news of a wild-man going round the country. A wild-man that’s saying he’s a messenger. A messenger that’s saying there’s a plague!
John: Are you saying that the plague..
Jacob: Yes, ‘tis false as a unicorn!
Sam goes up and grabs Jacob by the neck.
Sam, threateningly: ‘Tis all false?
Jacob, desperately: Indeed, Indeed! And now I hear that many of the banished who still live are coming back! They are going to want to hurt me! They are going to want my land! They shall surely never trade with me no more! I need …
The sound of a large amount of people coming closer is heard. It is the returning banished members of the manor. Along with the marching some yelling can be heard.
Jacob: What shall I do? What will they do to me? Friends, what do you say? John and Sam say nothing, just look at him. What if Philip is with them? What if they want my land? What if they want my life?
The sounds of the crowd are growing louder!
Jacob: What if they want my life?
John: Well then…you shall still have that chicken.
The sounds grow louder and the curtain falls
END