The Ashes

The Ashes

10 Minute Play

CHARACTER BREAKDOWN

CHARLIE-A little boy in white pajamas. He will be Emperor someday

DOTTIE –A rather shrewish nursemaid.

EMPEROR- A jolly tyrant.

EMPRESS- A vague, tragic woman

SETTINGS
The nursery and the ruins of the palace.

Synopsis
A sicky young heir and a mysterious prophesy are the key to an Empire’s Destiny.

Production History
The Ashes was produced at The Mae West Fest

Selected Excerpt

SCENE II
The Emperor and Empress at tea amid the ruins of their palace. There are sounds of gunfire.

EMPRESS
The milk spilt.
EMPEROR
Drink it black.
EMPRESS
The tea isn’t good like it used to be.
EMPEROR
I know kitten, I know. Have a cookie.
EMPRESS
Charlie’s sick. White as cream. I think we should let him out.
EMPEROR
We must be firm buttercup. He’ll stay up there until he remembers.
There is the sound of an explosion. The teapot falls off the table
Oh. There goes the teapot
EMPEROR
Yes. They broke a window this morning. Shakes his fist at the outside world Assassins! Villains! Plagiarists!
EMPRESS
They want to destroy everything beautiful. Outside, it’s nothing but dust. This tea tastes like gunpowder. All of my dresses are covered in soot.
EMPEROR
Remember the quiet?
EMPRESS
No. No, I don’t. Poor dear Charlie. He’s sick. His lips are blue. He sweats in his sleep and talks of ice and yellow dogs. He’ll die.
EMPEROR
No. No. Don’t be hysterical. The Doctors have been up. The Doctors know. They have bags and bags of pills.
EMPRESS
They don’t know anything.
EMPEROR
Remember the first days? The crowds threw orchids, wrote operas. There were parades.
EMPRESS
You know I don’t remember anything.
A small bomb explodes at her feet
copyright2005