PROLOGUE
THE KINGDOM
A printer. A filing cabinet. A fool with a mountain of paper. Welcome to the Kingdom.
Darkness. The sound of a printer. One page. Another. Another. Another. The printer continues. A single light comes up on an enormous filing cabinet. THE FOOL enters carrying a mountain of papers. He places them on the floor. They fall over. He looks at the audience.
THE FOOL
Welcome. You have arrived at the Kingdom of Paper. Please remain calm. Everything is under control.
Pause.
THE FOOL
We know because it says so.
He holds up a document.
THE FOOL
This is a report. Therefore— it must be true.
He turns the paper around.
THE FOOL
Unfortunately, the truth is on the other side. We have not found it yet.
A bell rings. THE REPORT speaks.
THE REPORT
Safety. Risk. Supervision. Assessment. Intervention. Reflection. Monitoring. Procedure.
THE FOOL
And the most important word?
THE REPORT
Which word?
THE FOOL
File.
The filing cabinet opens. A cold white light shines from inside. ORPHEUS appears. She carries a child’s coat.
ORPHEUS
There was a house. Then there was no house. There was money. Then there was no money. There were promises. Then there were explanations for why the promises had not happened. There were doors. And every door led to another door.
THE FOOL
The Kingdom has excellent doors.
ORPHEUS
I needed help.
THE REPORT
Your request has been received.
ORPHEUS
I needed somebody to listen.
THE REPORT
Your statement has been recorded.
ORPHEUS
But did anyone hear me?
Silence.
THE REPORT
That question has not been recorded.
Blackout.
This is a work of fiction. Characters, events and circumstances have been fictionalised.