In the Court of the Yellow King

a play in two scenes

written in the spirit by Jaycy Linz

first draft, July, 1929

1993 John Tynes for the estate of Jaycy Linz

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Scene i

The setting is the private room of an upper-class woman. The furnishings suggest an eastern European
surrounding, perhaps in the middle ages. There is no one consistent motif, however; the materials and
the decor are a melange of cultures and styles. There is a large open area in the center where most of the
action occurs. A couple of small tables are near the audience, containing a lamp or two and some curios.
The walls are defined by hung tapestries and banners, doorways marked with gauzy curtain. There is a
plush divan bordering on the central space.

The curtain opens on darkness. There is a distant sound of windor perhaps waves, breaking on a
muted shore. A few moments pass, in which time the audience is allowed to hear the sound and grow
used to it; it will continue to be heard for some time. After this pause, a dim glow approaches one of
the gauzy entrances from off-stage. Shortly SERVANT ONE enters. She is a young woman in what is
obviously a dictated costume, a servants outfit. She carries with her a narrow candle in a brass holder.
Glancing over her shoulder she hurries to a lamp near the front of the stage and lights it. It sheds a
soft yellow glow over the room, giving us our first decent look at it. She lights another lamp and then
pauses; from the same entranceway she entered through we hear footsteps and low voices. She glances
in that direction and then hurries off-stage.

MARY enters through the afore-mentioned entranceway, accompanied by SERVANT TWO. This woman
is older than ONE, and obviously carries a position of greater respect. MARY takes a seat on the divan,
looking anxious and perhaps a bit distraught. SERVANT TWO kneels down beside her, whispering softly,
apparently comforting. We can hear her voice, but can not understand what she is saying. MARY seems
to grow exasperated, then shakes her head ruefully.

Mary: Annaliza, you mean well,

but my heart is not one for comforting.
Within moments Alhazred shall return
with news I fear to witness.

Servant Two: You count before the call.

Mistress Mary, Joseph has a good heart.
If he loves you he will trust your word.

Mary: But it is a leap of faith,

one I am as yet unable to grasp.
What must he think of me?

Servant Two bows her head, having nothing to say.

Mary: It is this place. Damn Yhtill,

and damn its splendor. I feel as though
an honest breath does not exist
to be drawn.

Servant Two: Perhaps a journey . . .

Mary: No, dear Annaliza,

it is late for travel and the hour is dear.
(beat)
I can almost feel him coming,
bearing the message. What must
my love be feeling?
Damn this untidy world.
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SERVANT THREE enters, strongly. He is a stout man, capable, utterly loyal to his mistress. His hands
are empty.

Mary: Alhazred! You have seen Joseph?

Servant Three: I have, mistress.

MARY rises and takes a tentative step forwards. SERVANT TWO watches her, concerned.

Mary: And he has responded?

Servant Three: No.

Mary: What do you say?

You delivered my words to him
and he has not replied?

Servant Three: Master Joseph is coming,

not five minutes behind me.

Mary: He comes? What was his manner?

What was in his eyes?

Servant Three: I . . . know not, mistress.

He seemed greatly concerned.

Mary: Was he angry? Calm?

I know you for a fair
judge of men, Alhazred.
What think you?

Servant Three: He was concerned.

Mary: This is all you have to say?

Servant Three: Master Joseph will arrive within

moments. His words will speak far better
than the reading of these eyes.

Mary: Very well. Leave us.

SERVANT THREE bows quickly and hurries off.

Mary: (distracted)
He would not speak his mind.

Servant Two: Alhazred chooses his words with caution.

Others would do well
should they follow his lead.

Mary: (biting) You mean I should not

have informed Joseph?

SERVANT TWO lowers her head, ashamed.

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Mary: Oh, dear Annaliza. I love him.

How should I keep such a thing
hidden from our heart?
(beat)
But this is idle prattle and wordplay.
Joseph will arrive shortly.
Prepare the kitchen,
he may be in need of refreshment
after the journey.

SERVANT TWO nods and hurries off. MARY moves to a nearby table and picks up a small figurine in the
form of a falcon, toying with it in a sort of resignedly bemused sort of way.

Mary: If we were as this falcon,

all would be well.
Was there ever one such as this
whom the gods took an interest in
to equal their interest in we dawdling mankind?

JOSEPH enters. He looks tired but firm.

Joseph: What is love?

MARY sets the falcon down and turns to him, sadly.

Mary: I thought we knew.

Joseph: As did I. Now I doubt.

What is love?

Mary: (plaintive)
It is in front of us,
within and without us.
Can you not feel it still?

Joseph: I know not what I feel;

but it seems as though
there is a loss.

Mary: It is not for good.

Joseph: That is certain.

No good can come of this.

Mary: That was not my meaning.

Joseph: It is the truth.

Of that much alone
am I certain.
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Mary: (demanding)
You know the truth?
Then what is it? Tell me, Joseph,
what is your truth
saying to you?

Joseph: It speaks in sounds

that tear my heart.
It tells me that my love
sends me words that no
man can believe. Is this
some foolish test, a
girlish whim?

Mary: I am not a girl.

Joseph: Not anymore youre not,

if what you speak
is the truth.

Mary: (angry)
Your tongue slips
where our heart
would never tread.
Why, Joseph? Can you not believe
in such things as I say?

Joseph: (shouting angrily, whirling)

You would have me
believe the impossible!

Mary: (softly, to his back)

Then what else is love,
if not a shared belief
in that which could not be?

Joseph: (still shouting)

It is not sanctified proclamations,
delivered in seriousness, full of
what must be lies!

The sound of wind/waves increases, and the banners and gauze begin to flutter.

Mary: Joseph

Joseph: Lies!

Mary: No!

Joseph: Lies!

Mary: Never!

The sound increases, gaining in intensity.

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Joseph: You have cast our love aside

forfor
I know not what.
Lies you tell,
where once trust held reign!

One of the lamps blows out. The wind is now a genuine presence, the two react to it as it blows
about them.

Mary: Joseph, I dont like this!

Joseph: You have made your bed.

Lie in it!
(beat)
Or whoevers it may be.

Mary: No!

There is a crash of thunder. SERVANTS ONE, TWO, and THREE enter. They are now the SHADES OF
TRUTH. These creatures are dressed in swirling, layered robes of gray, tattered and dirty. These loose
wrappings extend about the face as well, completely erasing the identity of whomever may be inside.
The three of them come running on from different entrances, and begin to run in a tight circle around
MARY in the center of the room. She looks about at them, frightened and confused.

Mary: Joseph? What is happening?

Joseph: (awed but resolute)

They are the Shades of Truth.
The precursors of justice.
Their presence is a proof
lies float here,
entangling us in a web.
The Shades know!

The SHADES whirl faster and faster around MARY, who now seems isolated and cut off from all around
her. Their robes draw out behind them, flapping in the roar of the wind, beginning to obscure MARY
from the audiences view.

Mary: Make them stop!

Joseph: Only the truth will do that.

What is it? Tell me, Mary,
tell me!

Mary: (increasingly terrified)

Joseph!

Joseph: What is the truth?

Faster they swirl, their robes flowing out and around. Only Marys face is visible now, and she slowly
begins to sink to her knees, disappearing within the continuous stream of gray.

Joseph: (screaming)
WHAT IS THE TRUTH?
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There is a crack of thunder.

Joseph: THE TRUTH!

Another crack. MARY is no longer visible, on her knees and lost within the swirl.

Joseph: THE TRUTH!

A final great crack of noise and the SHADES suddenly collapse to the floor. There stands the PHANTOM
OF TRUTH where MARY was (in fact, she has undergone a costume change while within the swirl).
The PHANTOM wears a flowing robe, mottled yellow in color. Emblazoned on it is the Yellow Sign. The
sleeves are long, the PHANTOMs hands are obscured within their folds. A hood extends over the head,
but the PHANTOMs blank mask is clearly visible. JOSEPH cries out in shock and takes an involuntary
step backwards, stumbling onto the divan. The PHANTOM remains standing, motionless, as his slow
voice reverberates through the theatre. As he speaks the light grows dimmer and dimmer.

Phantom: My robes flow

a stately raiment that envelops me
my face is my own
I am the Phantom of Truth

Seek me where you wish to find me

though you may search in vain
I am elusive, capricious
I serve no one

The theatre is growing darker.

Phantom: You seek me, you implore me

you try to invoke me
that I may conform to your needs

Darker still. With the PHANTOMs last two lines, the theatre will be completely dark.

Phantom: But everywhere that I will ever be

I already am.

Darkness.

End of Scene i.
 7

Intermission

Although nominally the intermission, action occurs during the break as follows. The MAGISTRATE steps
through the closed curtain onto the front of the stage. He is a bearded man who wears black clothing
with a Yellow Sign on his chest and bare feet. He bows slightly.

Magistrate: Permit me to introduce myself.

I am the Magistrate of the Last King.
(beat)
The Yellow King.

A chorus of strong voices speaks from somewhere off-stage.

Voices: His will is the end of all.

Magistrate: It is not upon us yet, however.

Another stage in this drama
awaits our perusal.

The curtain begins to open. The MAGISTRATE steps to one side slightly and directs the audiences
attention to the now-revealed stage, fully lit in a yellow glow. There stagehands break down the set of
the first act and begin to assemble that of the second.

Magistrate: Behold the building blocks of reality.

Know that activity such as this
goes on around you all the time.
Would that we had
the facilities of the gods
rather than this humble auditorium
such a drama we could perform
it would overtake that of life itself.
(beat)
You see before you now
the Court of the Yellow King.

Voices: His end is the will of all.

Magistrate: (bemused)
Yet they know it not.
We have taken this opportunity
to open the curtain of existence
and permit you a glimpse
into what lies beyond.

He glances back at the busy stagehands.

Magistrate: Pedestrian, is it not?

Know that this is the way of the gods:
Nirvana is closer to burlesque than to Broadway.
At times, the truth of the Yellow King

Voices: His all is the end of will.

 8

Magistrate: is not as fierce

as some may suspect.
(growing serious)
But truth it is still. The Last Kings Court
is not a place to be entered lightly.
His rulings are final.
His justice is swift.

The curtains begin to draw close and the lights begin to dim again. The MAGISTRATE steps back
into the center of the stage, behind the line of the curtain, which closes in front of him as his last
lines reach the audience.

Magistrate: It should be said, however,

that even within this Court
there is still a place
(beat)
for dreams...

The curtains finish closing; there is a pause. Whatever preparations are still needed for the second
act may be made.

End of Intermission
 9

Scene ii

After the change of scene, the curtains part on darkness. The rushing wave sound is no longer heard.
The setting is now that of a royal court. An empty carved wooden throne sits at the far rear of the
stage, facing the audience. To one side is a podium for the prisoner. To the other is an open area for the
MAGISTRATE, who stands there, waiting. Numerous medieval-looking guards stand around. The walls
are defined by regal banners. The Yellow Sign appears everywhere. JOSEPH and the PHANTOM are in
the same positions as they were at the end of the first act.

Joseph: (looking up and around him)

What is this place?
Phantom, where have you brought me?

The MAGISTRATE steps forward before the PHANTOM speaks.

Magistrate: You are in the Court of the Yellow King.

(expectant beat, as if the VOICES should speak again)
(aside to audience)
No chorus. Their words are irrelevant here.

Joseph: Is this Yhtill?

Magistrate: No. It is . . . another city.

JOSEPH ponders for a moment as the PHANTOM moves back to stand beside the empty throne.

Joseph: Carcosa, then. The Last King is come.

Magistrate: Perhaps.

Joseph: (indicating the PHANTOM, now by the throne)

Does he serve the Yellow King?

Magistrate: With her usual foresight,

the Phantom answered your question
before you even came here.
Memory serves Truthrecall it and learn for yourself.

JOSEPH considers for a moment.

Joesph: Then where is the King?

Does he not attend his own Court?

Magistrate: (looks about)

The King? The King! The King is not here!
We must summon him.
(beat, then slyly)
What shall it be? What shall summon him?
Shall it be avarice?
(beat, then pointedly to Joseph)
Mistrust?
(beat, then back to the audience)
Cruelty?
Yes, cruelty. That will suffice. Nitakris!
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NITAKRIS, a princess of some sort, enters the stage bearing a BABY wrapped in a blanket. It can be
heard crying. She carries it and stands beside the MAGISTRATE, who now turns so that his back is
visible to the audience. He remains visible in profile, however, caressing the infants head with one
hand.

Magistrate: Such a wondrous child.

His other hand reaches back over his shoulder and begins to draw a twisted dagger from a sheath
between his shoulder blades and under his shirt.

Magistrate: Miraculous, even.

He takes the blade and drives it into the throat of the infant sharply, then jerks it to one side, cutting
through the neck. The child cries then gurgles, but quickly is silent. The MAGISTRATE withdraws
the dagger. Blood drips to the floor visibly. From one side the KING appears, stealthily, then scurries
forward and crouches over the pooling blood, apparently wiping it up and bringing it to his mouth.
The KING is not unlike the PHANTOM, and also wears a mask. His robes are much more layered
and tattered, however.

Magistrate: (regarding the KING)

This is the truth of it.
The Last King is called by our vices.
(ironically)
He is kept busy.
(beat)
He approaches
where wise men would not tread.

Joseph: (haughty)
Might I be
so bold to ask
what the purpose of this tribunal
might be?

The KING shuffles over to the throne and sinks into it. NITAKRIS departs, bearing the dead infant and
the dagger. The MAGISTRATE paces for a moment or two and then addresses JOSEPH.

Magistrate: We are here to learn the truth.

And to decide
what is to happen to you.

Joseph: Where is Mary?

Magistrate: As you fear, she is lost.

Joseph: Lost?

Magistrate: Beyond the Wall of Sleep.

For good.

Joseph: (stricken)
No . . .
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Magistrate: Yes. But her location

is not pertinent.
Truth is here
(gesturing towards the figure by the throne)
or at least its Phantom.
We must ferret a response from it.

Joseph: The truth conceals itself?

Magistrate: Of course not.

We conceal it from ourselves.

Joseph: What is the truth you seek?

Magistrate: That which you yourself sought.

Had you not done so, none of this
(indicating the Court)
would have come into play.
We seek the truth of your love.

Joseph: (slowly)
Mary is lost.

Magistrate: No.

Joseph: But you said

Magistrate: I lied. Somewhat.

It is not within me
that the truth we seek lies.
True power, you should understand,
comes from a lack of responsibility.
(beat)
But the truth is present,
as we have established.
It liesrests, we should say
within you.

Joseph: I . . . I did not mean to lose her.

My anger overcame our heart.

Magistrate: Your heart. Hers is intact.

Joseph: (repentant)
My heart, then.
I would tell her so,
if I could but see her . . .

A low fog begins to pour in across the stage. The MAGISTRATE regards it calmly.

Magistrate: You will get your chance.

(beat)
In dreams.
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The fog swirls through the stage, and the guards begin to nod off, standing.

Joseph: Whose dreams? They are not

of my slumber.

Magistrate: No . . .
(nodding off himself)
they are the dreams of Hastur . . .

All are now asleep save JOSEPH and the PHANTOM. The PHANTOM approaches JOSEPH.

Joseph: Truth? In dreams?

The PHANTOM pulls back the hood and removes the mask. It is MARY.

Mary: Even in dreams.

He is overjoyed to see her. He starts to embrace her but she steps back.

Joseph: My love, I failed you.

Please forgive me . . .

Mary: I cannot; not yet.

You are still among
the living.

Joseph: And you are not?

Mary: No. I am one

of the dreaming.

Joseph: How may I reach you?

You must understand,
I am sincere!

Mary: Then join me.

Joseph: In sleep?

Mary: The sleep of the dead.

Joseph: (recoils slightly)

It cannot be.

Mary: It is. Accept it.

Accept truth.
Accept love.
(beat)
Accept death.

The fog is fading; some of the guards stir.

Joseph: Mary! You know that I

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Mary: I know nothing.

(beat)
I only dream.

The fog is dissipating and the Court is returning to life. The PHANTOM replaces the mask and hood
and returns to the thrones side. JOSEPH is sobbing softly. The MAGISTRATE stirs and approaches
JOSEPH.

Joseph: (softly)
I do love her. I do.

Magistrate: Indeed. That is the truth of it.

Joseph: She is beyond the Wall of Sleep?

Magistrate: As I said, that is the truth of it.

NITAKRIS enters and approaches JOSEPH from behind and to the side. She is holding the MAGIS-
TRATEs twisted dagger before her.

Joseph: Then I shall join her.

He takes the dagger that is offered.

Magistrate: As I said.

(JOSEPH stabs himself with the dagger and collapses. The KING stirs visibly, roused by the injury.)

Magistrate: Hold, Last King.

If there is vice here
it is not for your suckling.
(indicates the audience)
It is for theirs.

The KING slinks off-stage. JOSEPH is gasping, dying, doubling over.

Joseph: Mary . . ? The truth . . .

He dies.

Magistrate: Princess, it seems

our business is finished here.

Nitakris: What does it mean?

Did he die for truth? For love?
Are they the same?

Magistrate: I cannot say;

should I, I would lie.
(beat, as he considers)
Perhaps it is better to love in Carcosa
than it is to live in Yhtill.
(beat, as he turns to the Phantom)
What say you, Phantom?
 14

The PHANTOM strides forward, slowly, eventually joining the two near the front of the stage before
JOSEPHs crumpled body. The lights dim as the PHANTOM speaks.

Phantom: The smile on my own face

is the embodiment of my being
it is ever present
but never constant
you may find many things in it
but it is still a smile

within the dim hyades

I am not expected
Carcosa
is not accustomed to my presence
but I am there today

in its fluid existence

Hastur knows me
uncomprehending
but accepting
my totality is absolute

The stage goes completely black as the PHANTOM speaks the final lines.

Phantom: my robes flow

a stately raiment that envelops me
my face is my own
I am the Phantom of Truth

Curtain.

End