Script
Hypnotherapist (to The President)
Firstly, I want to reassure you that I will treat whatever you say in absolute confidence and that whatever may emerge from these sessions, whatever we do, you can come to no harm. The mind is a powerful thing; it is certainly capable of playing tricks on us, but also of unravelling mysteries and even taking us to places we have never been – even when we are asleep. You might have heard of other individuals whose dreams also take them to former lives. These dreams are rich and detailed, but, of course, they can be unnerving. If you are in agreement, I can try to take you back into this dreamlike state and find out what they mean. Would you be happy to try this?
Nostradamus
I, Nostradamus, always at your command,
I see and hear as no-one else,
Your future in my hands,
Revered by man, reviled by man,
Present in all men's dreams,
How horror-filled this world of ours,
How close disaster seems.
The Fool (to the audience)
As you will note from my spectacular outfit, I am a traditional mediaeval fool, but, don’t let that worry you, a fool’s a fool no matter when he’s born. In my case, however, I am not as stupid as I look. For example, look at that lot again! Do you know what? They call me the fool and yet they’ll try to tell you that we’re all on that wheel of fortune contraption, strapped to it so that sometimes we’re up and sometimes we’re down and, worst of all, you can’t get off when you want to! Why, even Nostradamus has fallen for it!
Nostradamus (To Henriette)
I go out in the early morning as a physician, trying to help those afflicted so horribly by this damnable plague - and by the end of the day I am a prophet, surrounded by people wanting me to foretell their future; if they could only see some of what I have seen, they would not wish to know. I keep reminding myself that I am a physician, it is my life’s work, but I am increasingly drawn to that mystical tripod and its revelations. Sometimes I wish that I had never come across it, I have become its slave and worst of all, I can do nothing to prevent the horrors that are revealed to me! - I feel trapped!
Nostradamus (To the Inquisition)
Good fathers, I make no predictions; it has fallen to me to be the mouthpiece of a force that I do not understand and cannot control. Just as the powerful wind known as the Mistral blows unbidden through our cities and towns, so these visions envelop me, emptying my soul, brain and heart of all other cares until I attain a state of tranquillity – and then the visions come to me, vivid, at times full of horror, at other times resplendent images of an earthly paradise -but always unbidden.
The Fool (Referring to The Inquisition)
Whoops, that was a bit sticky! Clever fellow that Nostradamus. I thought they were all set to lock him up. Mind you, I thought I was in trouble with them once; ……………….
…………I was just having a joke, that’s my job! By this time, I had visions of the torture chamber where they’d be breaking my bones, including my funny bone, and then I’d be out of a job! Turns out it wasn’t that at all: apparently, can’t think why, but I’d offended their dignity by beating them over their heads with me pig’s bladder while they were parading around the marketplace looking important. They were very cross, called me a holy terror – thought that’s what they were………..
de Florinville (To the King of France and Catherine de Medici)
Whilst I would not question the capabilities of our honoured guest, many charlatans have tried to impress your majesties simply to gain wealth and favour. If it please your majesties, I have devised a simple test that should present no problem for our illustrious guest.
Nostradamus (to all)
I see a long line of evil men who covet the lands of others. All is sacrificed to their will and death and destruction follow in their wake; our own country is torn asunder by a Corsican – and yet this man who was born on one island will spend his dying years alone on anotherAnd yet another whose name is ……yes, Hister, he will be called; he wreaks havoc on this and other lands, persecuting those he hates and bringing death to millions - and yet he too will die, but by his own hand and deep underground in the darkness from which he came....and there are yet others from new worlds who will unleash death from the sky causing bodies to melt and buildings to collapse so that the earth resembles a wasteland……………These are men who seduce their people with powerful words and promises that can never be kept – but the people listen.....these are the great antichrists with whom the world must contend.
Anne (to Nostradamus)
But if you can foresee these dreadful events, surely we can warn those who follow us? Surely we can prevent such horrors!
Nostradamus (to all)
I see a golden age in the distant future; a time of peace and plenty, but not before man has laid waste to the land and squandered its fruits. Lands burn where once there was ice, waters rise inexorably, skies become bleak and grey, vines wither and die, crops fail and whole nations starve.
Miles The President (to all)
This man that I see does have a gift; but what a gift! It is a relentless tale of death and disaster, pre-ordained and unstoppable. He sees the worst of what we now know has come to pass, but worst of all, he sees it continuing and I, I may be the latest tyrant!
The Fool (To the audience)
All this mumbo jumbo, for heaven’s sake! It seems pretty simple to me: I don’t wait around for a message telling me when and where to start beating heads with me pig’s bladder, I just do it when the fancy takes me, and I do it right.
Anne (to Nostradamus)
I understand the burden you carry, my love, but you have already moved on, you have changed. I know that if you could, you would give the gift of life and love to those you see suffering in your visions and you would make the world a better place; you think that cannot be, that it is for others to pursue, but we are not bound by fate, we must make our own choice, as must those who follow us; your gift to them is the gift of choice – it is they who must decide what kind of world they want.........
The Fool (To the audience)
……….well, I reckon we’ve all been fools for ages too.It might not be Mr.Presidentyourconfidence, it might be Mr.Ayatolldyaso, Mr. Prime Ministirrerr, Your Majestealer, Your Worshipful of crap, or Tsardluck; and you know what they’ve all got in common? The best of them huff and puff and swear they are in it for the common good then feather their own nests, let millions starve and then bump off millions more in wars the rest of us don’t want! Some don’t even pretend! And they call me the fool! Well, maybe I am for putting up with it for so long, don’t know about you, but I’ve had enough!
The Fool (To the audience)
The books are full of braid and crown,
Mitres, mortars, glorious gowns,
Rich and famous, cruel and callous,
Liveried servants, gilded palace,
Statues, sceptres, orbs and thrones
Privilege, blue blood, stately homes.
Self-aggrandised funeral vaults,
Belying greed and other faults,
Revolutions, executions,
The inquisition and absolutions,
Popery and papal Bulls,
The art of war and a thousand skulls,
Exploitation, slave plantations -
The day-to-day of making nations.
…………..
Nostradamus
Maybe I should listen to this fool more than I pay attention to the visions that come to me! But I find I am drawn inexorably to them – I cannot resist, there is no life in the present, only my visions of the future.
The Fool (Referring to Nostradamus and Anne) (To the audience)
Well, I’m happy for him, for both of them, but where do we go from here? You know, despite what Nostradamus says, I think we need a wise man or, in this day and age, a wise woman, some kind of superhuman to get us through to his Golden Age. I would offer myself, of course, but you have to be good looking and wear a suit then change your clothes in a telephone booth, so that disqualifies me! I know, I’ll see if I can find this wise man or woman! We’ve got a full theatre here; surely there must be at least one?
Nostradamus
I climbed the mountain,
Asked what I should do,
Tell me where the wise man is,
It’s him I must talk to,
I am tired and weary,
My travels make me weak,
Tell me where the wise man lives,
It’s to him that I must speak
………….
Chorus
In the end, there must be love……..
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