ACT II
THE GUARDIANS
The stage fills with officials. A two-headed serpent smiles — and writes.
Drums. The stage fills with officials. SAMEN VEILIG enters. Behind them comes LAMIA, THE TWO-HEADED SERPENT. One head smiles warmly. The other holds a pen.
SAMEN VEILIG
We are here because we care.
THE FOOL
How fortunate.
SAMEN VEILIG
We exist to protect children.
THE FOOL
From what?
SAMEN VEILIG
Unsafe situations.
THE FOOL
Which ones?
SAMEN VEILIG
The ones identified through assessment.
THE FOOL
Ah. So first you identify danger. Then you decide what danger means. Then you protect the child from whatever you have decided danger means.
SAMEN VEILIG
That is an oversimplification.
THE FOOL
Wonderful. I was worried it might be complicated.
LAMIA approaches ORPHEUS.
LAMIA — HEAD ONE
I understand you.
LAMIA — HEAD TWO
I have concerns about you.
ORPHEUS
You have two heads.
LAMIA
That is irrelevant.
THE FOOL
It is remarkably relevant.
LAMIA — HEAD ONE
We want to work with you.
LAMIA — HEAD TWO
You need to cooperate.
ORPHEUS
I am cooperating.
LAMIA — HEAD TWO
You are questioning.
ORPHEUS
Can I not do both?
LAMIA — HEAD ONE
Of course.
LAMIA — HEAD TWO
But your questioning may be interpreted as resistance.
ORPHEUS
Resistance to what?
LAMIA — HEAD TWO
The process.
ORPHEUS
What if the process is wrong?
Both heads freeze. THE FOOL smiles.
THE FOOL
Careful. That is a dangerous question.
THE KINGDOM’S SACRED WORD
A definition that defines itself.
THE REPORT steps forward.
THE REPORT
Safety.
ORPHEUS
Yes. Safety. I want safety.
THE REPORT
Good.
ORPHEUS
For my daughter.
THE REPORT
Excellent.
ORPHEUS
And for me.
THE REPORT
We are discussing the child.
ORPHEUS
I am the child’s mother.
THE REPORT
That is noted.
ORPHEUS
What happens to me affects her.
THE REPORT
That is noted.
ORPHEUS
Then what does “safety” mean?
THE REPORT
Safety means— safety.
THE FOOL
Magnificent. The Kingdom has invented a definition that defines itself.
This is a work of fiction. Characters, events and circumstances have been fictionalised.