### Act 1, Scene 3: What are the Chances

- Setting: Inside Lady Goldeneyes' office. A room reflecting her wealth and nobility. Paintings, cabinets of books, several "lights" making the room seem warm and homely. There is a writing desk on the second level around [4], seen from the side, with an ink pot on the top. Goldeneyes stands next to the desk, writing something on it with a quill. She faces audience left (towards [7]). She is wearing a fancy hat with a long peacock feather.

- Stage setup:
- Backdrop: 3x Lady Goldeneyes office
- 2nd rail: Desk with ink pot and quill [4]
- Frontprops:
- Props: Quill (Liam), Chest (Kayjay)
- SFX: 2 Lights on the wall (not lit!)
- PreRec:
- Lighting: day?, warm, inside, harmonize with in-scene lighting, don't overlight backdrop, perhaps some spotlighting.

Character | Actor / Hands (Voice) | Puppet | Clothing | Accessoires | Microphone
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Goldeneyes | Pan / Liam | Goldeneyes | Red dress |  | Mic x
Greenfield | Jyanon / Curry | Makani | Butler outfit |  | Mic x
Whisperwind | Lynard / Kayjay | Solaire | Casual |  | Mic x

##### TECH PREROLL

LX 0099 - Work Light OFF (Static Playbacks)

LX 1301 - STANDBY for GO: DBO with dim blue reading light (link to LX 0002)

Check Levels
Unmute Desk

PAN: ON
Jyanon: ON
Lynard: ON

##### INTRO

Judge: "The privilege of opening the first trial for the crimes committed by the Keepers of the Light imposes a grave responsibility. The wrongs which we seek to punish have been so calculated and so malignant, that civilization cannot tolerate their being ignored, because it cannot survive their being repeated. The defendants in this case represent sinister influences that will lurk in the world long after their bodies have returned to dust. We will show them to be living symbols of hatred, terrorism and violence, and of the arrogance and cruelty of power. It would have been easy to treat them in the same way like they treated their own adversaries. But these trials shall be the most significant tribute that Power has ever paid to Reason. The accused will be given a fair opportunity to defend themselves, a favor which the Order of the Keepers rarely extended to their enemies. Despite the fact that public opinion already condemns their acts, they must be given a presumption of innocence. I now call the defendant to the witness stand. Will you give your full name?"

Falconeye: "My name is Falconeye of Quail's Hollow"

Judge: "What was your rank within the order of the Keepers of the Light?"

Falconeye: "Security Administrator."

Judge: "According to our new procedures, you have the right to appoint a defense counsel."

Falconeye: "I would rather prefer to defend myself."

Judge: "Very well. Prosecutor, you may begin your examination."

Prosecutor: "Falconeye, you are being accused of murder of Brother Fireheart of Coldlake, the complicity to murder in at least 300 cases by your involvement with the so called cloak and dagger decree, and at least another 250 cases by the obliteration of the rebel headquarters at Camp Freedom. What do you have to say regarding these accusations which have been brought against you?"

Falconeye: "I can only say that I ask the Tribunal to decide upon the degree of my guilt at the end of my case. I myself, speaking from the very depths of my feelings, want to say that now after I have gained a full insight into all the horrible deeds which have been committed, I am possessed by a deep sense of guilt."

Prosecutor: "Are you trying to say that you knew nothing about the atrocities at Camp Freedom? That is hard to believe."

Falconeye: "This operation was executed directly by Great Overseer Ironwill. I had nothing to do with it. As my fellow brothers can testify, I was at the holy mountain the whole time."

Prosecutor: "But you also did nothing to stop him."

Falconeye: "I did not even know about his plans until he and Brother Strongarm returned with the prisoner."

Prosecutor: "You were poorly informed for the Chief Overseers' security administrator."

Falconeye: "You cannot prove what I knew or not."

Prosecutor: "There is no question you knew about the cloak and dagger decree. I have here the original document, Exhibit FE-001. Let me quote: The punishment for offenses committed against the Keepers of the Light is on principle the death penalty. Offenses as are to be dealt with in the field only if it is probable that sentence of death will be passed upon the offender and the execution can be completed in a very short time. Otherwise the offenders are to be taken to the holy mountain. In case anybody inquires about such prisoners, they are to be told that they have been arrested but that the proceedings do not allow any further information. – Did you write this decree?"

Falconeye: "Yes."

Prosecutor: "So you assume full responsibility?"

Falconeye: "No."

Prosecutor: "But you wrote it."

Falconeye: "Well, there is an principle which says that nobody can transfer more rights to anybody else than he has himself. I was just a subordinate to Great Overseer Ironwill. He wanted to keep the population quiet by promoting an atmosphere of mystery and fear. So I did as I was told. But only he could make a decision. I neither had the power nor the authority to put this decree into effect."

Prosecutor (angry): "Acting pursuant to order of a superior does not relieve you from responsibility! You could have made a moral choice, but you didn't. Because of your decree, hundreds of citizens disappeared over night, and their families never knew what happened to them!"

Judge: "Please leave the judging to me, Prosecutor."

Prosecutor: "I'm sorry, your honor. I was getting carried away. Falconeye, what about the murder of Brother Fireheart? Are you going to deny responsibility for that, too?"

Falconeye: "I did what I was ordered to do. These were thankless and difficult tasks. I had to fulfill the Overseer's commands under the hardest exigencies of duty, often acting against the inner voice of my conscience and against my own convictions. The fulfillment of urgent tasks assigned by Overseer Ironwill demanded complete self-abnegation."

Prosecutor: "*giggles cynically* I … I don't know what to say. Your honor, I need a break. This is my first trial under the new rules, and staying professional turns out to be a lot harder than I thought."

Judge: "This is just the first trial of many. What the Keepers stand for we will patiently and temperately disclose. And we do not depend on their testimony or that of their foes. We have undeniable proof of incredible events. The Tribunal will now adjourn until 10 o'clock tomorrow morning."

##### DIALOG

AMB-1301 - Indoors
MUS-1301 - Whisperwind

Curtain - open

LX 1302 - Lights on

SND-1301 - Door knocks

Goldeneyes stands next to the desk in [2], facing towards [7]. She is writing with a quill.

Goldeneyes: "Come in!"

SND-1302 - Door Opens

Greenfield enters from [7]

Greenfield: "Lady Goldeneyes? Sir Whisperwind wishes to speak with you."

Goldeneyes: "Finally! Send him in."

Greenfield: "Yes, my Lady."

Greenfield leaves to [7]

Jyanon: OFF

Whisperwind enters from [7]

Goldeneyes: "Whisperwind! I've been waiting for you all day. What took you so long?"

Goldeneyes gets up and walks towards Whisperwind, meeting him half way.

Whisperwind (sarcastic): "I'm doing fine, thanks for asking! How about you, m'Lady?"

Goldeneyes: "Tell me! How did the mission go?"

Whisperwind: "Without a hitch! Ivydash and Nettlebush made it back from Ferndale in one piece, and they brought a good dozen hostages with them. What a great day for the Opposition!"

Goldeneyes: "How have they been holding up? Was there much resistance?"

Whisperwind: "They had an easy time. The teacher wasn't in the classroom. All they had to do was round everyone up and go."

Goldeneyes: "That sounds good!"

Whisperwind: "Two of them managed to escape from the wagon during the ride. But they are not going to be a problem."

Goldeneyes: "And that sounds NOT so good. Who were they?"

Whisperwind: "Uh, don't ask me. One of them was some weird kind of mongrel, the other one … a pig?"

MUS-1302 - A Pig!
MUS-1301 STOP

Goldeneyes (shocked): "Wait what? A pig?"

Whisperwind: "Yeah! I'm pretty sure that's what they said. Why?"

Goldeneyes (suddenly angry): "Stupid IDIOTS!"

Whisperwind: "Uhm, sorry?"

Goldeneyes: "WHY DIDN'T THEY GO AFTER THEM?"

Whisperwind (dumbfounded): "The kids are probably already dead, and if not they will be soon! Calm down, everything will be okay. The scheme is still going to work."

Goldeneyes: "That's not the point!"

Whisperwind: "Uhm … then, what is your point?"

Goldeneyes: "By the holy mountain. Why do I have to justify everything to you?"

Whisperwind: "Because, as your future husband, I need to understand what the hell you're up to?"

Goldeneyes: "You seem just a bit too eager for your new position."

Whisperwind: "This is so much more than just a new position! We're at the beginning of a new age! Lord Quicksilver, may he rest in peace, has been gone for many years, and there is still no legitimate successor."

Goldeneyes: "I am his only heir, it doesn't get more legitimate than that!"

Whisperwind (insisting): "But people don't see you like that. They see you as the lord's widow, nothing more. But as soon as we are Lord and Lady, this will change. And the Opposition will firmly stand behind us."

Goldeneyes: "Don't forget I still have the powers of the ancestors ready at my fingertips!"

Whisperwind: "And that's good! But it's a single artifact, and it's not going to last forever. We need to learn how to build our own, but that might take a long time, even if the Institute gives us what we want!"

Goldeneyes: "And for that, you just stirred up the hornets' nest."

Whisperwind: "Ferndale is a long way from here. I really don't want anything bad happening to you! I love you!"

MUS-1303 - I love you
MUS-1302 STOP

Goldeneyes: "Then stop acting like you're already the King of the land. I have my personal reasons, and I'm still the Princess of Ironforge. I can do whatever I please. If you won't go after the escapees, I will."

Whisperwind: "But that's crazy! If the Institute has sent a search party, there's a good chance you'll run straight into it! Why do these two random kids matter so much to you?"

Goldeneyes ignores him and starts walking towards the door

Jyanon: ON

Goldeneyes: "Greenfield! Get my mount ready, I need to go out of town. Meet me in the courtyard in an hour."

Goldeneyes storms out to [7]

Greenfield comes in from [7], turning to look after Goldeneyes as she walks past, taking a few steps backwards into the room

Greenfield (confused): "Eh … yes, my Lady. Your wish is … my command."

Whisperwind: "Goldeneyes! You can't leave so close to the wedding! What if something happens to you? I need you here! Ironforge needs you here!"

Greenfield turns around towards Whisperwind

Goldeneyes (off): "Then you go!"

Whisperwind throws his paws in the air.

Whisperwind: "BUT WHY?"

MUS-1304 - Headache
MUS-1303 STOP
SND-1303 - Door slams

Pan: OFF

Greenfield: "Is there anything I can do for you, Sir?"

Whisperwind shakes his head and sighzs deeply

Whisperwind: "This woman is giving me a hell of a headache."

Greenfield: "I'm sorry to hear that, Sir. Would the Sir like a glass of water?"

Whisperwind (mischievous): "Oh yes, that would be good … Or wait … Could I please have a cup of tea instead?"

Greenfield: "Certainly. Which kind of tea would the Sir prefer?"

Whisperwind: "I'll have a rose hip tea please. Rose hip and ginger. With … uhm … a little bit of … orange blossom honey. Yes. Could you do that for me?"

Greenfield (overwhelmed): "I'm not sure we have that, but I shall certainly try."

Whisperwind (sweetly): "Thank you very much, Greenfield. Just take your time, I'm not in a rush."

Greenfield: "As you wish, Sir."

Greenfield leaves to [7]

SND-1304 - Door Opens and Closes
MUS-1305 - Finally Alone
MUS-1304 STOP

Jyanon: OFF

Whisperwind (to himself): "I hope that will keep him occupied for a while. Now let's see …"

Whisperwind begins to search the room, looking behind things, looking under things.

Whisperwind (to himself): "She never had second thoughts about our relationship. Why is she suddenly getting cold feet? Does she know something I don't?"

Whisperwind inspects the writing desk and the documents on it.

Whisperwind (To himself): "Also, why does she suddenly bring up the artifact? Wait a minute. She used to wear it on her belt pretty much all the time. But not today. It might just be a coincidence … but what if it isn't? Now where does she usually keep that thing …"

Whisperwind finds a little chest

Whisperwind (to himself): "Now comes the moment of truth."

MUS-1306 - The Moment of Truth
MUS-1305 STOP

Whisperwind fumbles around with the chest.

Whisperwind (surprised): "It's not even locked!"

Whisperwind opens the chest, and looks inside.

SND-1305 - Open the Chest

Whisperwind (to himself): "Wow. Now this explains a lot."

MUS-1307 - End
MUS-1306 STOP
AMB-1301 FADE

LX 1399 - Lights out (Link LX 0001 - Full DBO)

Curtain - close

Fade Ambience

Mute all but video

LX 0099 - Work Light ON (Static Playbacks)