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Act 1
Dialogue Following Song No. 6
Sancho:
Your hand.
José:
Your hand.
Grigg:
I can't do it any more, I'm tired.
Sancho:
Noble stranger, you are our captain, and now I'll to the barrel. And fire then the joyful intelligence, ha! ha! (Exit, L.H.)
Grigg:
(to José) Do his friends allow him to go about without a keeper?
José:
Captain! (aside) Now to tell him about Inez. (aloud) You are our captain, unanimously elected.
Grigg:
But I unanimously decline
José:
You cannot! or else - (threatens.)
Grigg:
If you put it in that light, I accept.
José:
There's a greater honour in store for you.
Grigg:
You don't say so? (José threatens .) I beg your pardon, of course you do say so. What is it?
José:
We are going to marry you.
Grigg:
Who to, both of you?
José:
The new captain marries the late captain's widow. ´Tis the law of the Ladrones.
Grigg:
But I'm not a Ladrone.
José:
Ha! (threatens.)
Grigg:
I forget, yes I am. But I don't want to marry her.
José:
You - you understand. Pop. Behold your Queen, your wife, approaches.
Grigg:
(aside) My wife? What'll Mrs. Grigg say? If I don't marry her I shall be shot. That´s the law of the Ladrones. If I do, when I get back again I shall be had for briggamy - I mean bigamy - that's the law of England. Oh Law!
Enter Inez, L. 2 E. Sancho and Band, they salute.
Grigg:
(to them) How d'ya do? I hope you're all quite well. (aside) What a set of blackguards!
Inez:
(contemptuously regarding Grigg.) Is that he?
José:
(aside to her) It is. But I have a plan for your private ear. - Wait. (aloud) Behold! your bride.
Grigg:
(aside) What a ferocious looking female.
José:
Say something tender to her.
Grigg:
I will. (to Inez) Fine day for walking?
Inez:
Bah! (puts hand on dagger accidentally)
Grigg:
Quite so. (aside) What a happy man the late captain must have been.
Sancho:
This evening we celebrate the betrothal. (Cheers .)
All:
´Tis the law of the Ladrones.
José:
But four days must elapse before the nuptials can take place.
Grigg:
Hooray! I beg your pardon. I mean - I was only expressing my delight at the prospect.
Inez:
You must instantly put on the late captain's uniform.
Grigg:
Yes. But that won't make ´em fit me.
José:
(to Inez aside) You know how tenderly I love you? Celebrate the betrothal now: tomorrow I will rid you of Sancho and the stranger.
Inez:
(aside) My hand. (aloud) Summon our womenkind to witness the installation of our new captain and our own betrothal (to Vasquez, who, disguised as a shepherd, appears at door of hut, R. H.) You, Shepherd, can be present with your prisoner. (enter Rita) Now let the ancient rites of the Ladrones commence.
Enter Spanish girls of the Ladrones tribe . Inez on seat in front of hut, R. 2 E; on either side of her Sancho and Jose, with daggers drawn, guarding Grigg, who sits at her feet wretchedly. L. H. Vasquez and Rita.
Page Created 15 February 2004
