Essay/Term paper: The labours of mendevolin

Essay, term paper, research paper:  World Literature

The Labours Of Mendevolin


ACT I SCENE I

(HIGH PRIEST on stage right. Enter MENDEVOLIN stage left. HIGH PRIEST crosses
to centre stage to meet MENDEVOLIN there.)

MENDEVOLIN: High Priest Marchand!

HIGH PRIEST: Ahh Mendevolin, it is such a pleasure to see you again.

MENDEVOLIN: Let's disperse with the pleasantries. Take me to my father.

HIGH PRIEST: There are things you must know Mendevolin. Your father has not
been well. He has been slowly passing away for the last few months. This is
why we have sent for you.

MENDEVOLIN: He hinted at that in his letter. I came as soon as I could. How
long do we have?

HIGH PRIEST: Not long, he's on his death bed. I've been using my healing
powers to keep him alive for the last week and a half. We have been waiting for
your arrival.

MENDEVOLIN: Why didn't he say anything before I left?

HIGH PRIEST: He's a proud man, it took him months to even ask for my assistance.
I'm sure that he wouldn't want his only son to have felt obligated to care for
him. He respects you a great deal and is proud to see you out working magic as
he once did.

MENDEVOLIN: As much work as it may have been, it wouldn't have seemed a burden,
because it would have been spent with my father. Now it's too late. Please
take me to him now so that I might spend these last few moments of his life with
him.

HIGH PRIEST: Come with me. He's resting in the basement of the church, you'll
have to make it quick, he doesn't have much longer.

(HIGH PRIEST and MENDEVOLIN exit stage right.)

ACT I SCENE II

(MENDEVOLIN'S father lies on bed center stage. MENDEVOLIN enters stage left and
approaches his father.)

MENDEVOLIN: I came as soon as I heard. I'm sorry it took so-----

FATHER: Don't worry, what's important is that you're here now. I have some news
that is going to shock you. It concerns your lineage and a burden which has
been placed upon this family. In regards to your lineage, I should tell you
that....ahhhhh.....oh yes,lineage Your great-great-great....well he was a great
guy. A thousand years ago, an elven mage of whom you are a descendant, cast----

MENDEVOLIN: What!!!!???? We're of elven descent, why did you never tell me?
In 54 years, I would've thought that you could've mentioned it once!

FATHER: (Coughs) ......quiet, do you want to hear this or not? (silence) OK,
good. As I was saying.....what was I saying.....oh yes. Elven ancestry......an
elven member of our family gathered together a contingent of powerful mages from
across the land nearly a thousand years ago in an effort to repress the ultimate
evil which threatened to sweep over the land. That terrible beast known as
Terresquay once rampaged across the land, but with the help of his fellow mages,
Thraltes of the Brook....did I mention he's an ancestor of ours?

MENDEVOLIN: Yes you did, please.....?

FATHER: Right, right. Well, Thraltes of the Brook and his band of mages
collaborated on what has proven to be the most powerful spell cast in millenia.
Using the wax from the Contusion bees-----

MENDEVOLIN: Contusion Bees!?

FATHER: Yes, I didn't tell you about those either?

MENDEVOLIN: No, no you didn't.

FATHER: Well then....the Contusion bees are located on the Contusion Islands,
their wax was used to create the candle-----

MENDEVOLIN: Father, it would help if I had some specifics. (father coughs)
tell me more about the Contusion bees. How big are they, why is their wax so
special and where are the Contusion Islands

FATHER: All in good time my son. As I was saying before I was so rudely
interrupted..... (pause) the wax of the Contusion bees was used in making the
candle which serves as the focal point for the spell which has forced Terresquay
from our realm. The legendary Contusion bees were selected as the source for the
wax due to its incredible longevity. Once you have gathered the wax, forge a
candle from it, take it to the diamond mountain range and place it on the
pedestal between the twin volcanoes.The contusion bees are incredibly small, but
don't doubt their deadliness for a second. They produce wax only once every 1000
years and the time for gathering the wax is at hand. I was hoping to do it
myself, but (coughing fit).....look in the chest (gestures towards chest at head
of bed) take what is in there, it will help you in your journey. You must also
find Leon of Sylvanus, his companion Spruce and Pardudious.

MENDEVOLIN: (looking up from the chest holding the flyswatters) Who are those
people and what are these.....thingies? (pause) Father? (pause, checks for life
signs, finding none bows his head in solemnity closes his father's eyes and
turns to leave)(exit stage left)

ACT I SCENE III

NARRATOR: After leaving his father's side and notifying the High Priest of his
father's passing, Mendevolin set forth in search of the adventurers his father
had spoken of. His first stop, The Tavern, because everyone knows that all good
adventurers eventually go to The Tavern.

(enter LEON and SPRUCE stage right, sit at table downstage right-center, they
adlib conversation until the entrance of MENDEVOLIN stage right who approaches
them)

MENDEVOLIN: Excuse me sir, madam. I noticed you sitting here and I wondered if
I could join you for a moment?

LEON: Why certainly (motions towards empty chair) there's always room for one
more. Can I offer you a glass of wine?

MENDEVOLIN: No thank-you, that's quite alright. Actually, I'm presently
embarking on an important journey, I'm afraid I don't really have time to drink
right now. In fact, what I really was wondering, was if you may have any
information that you would be willing to share with me in regards to either Leon
of Sylvanus, Spruce of Elfheim or Pardudious whose title, I'm not familiar with.

SPRUCE: Yeah, I'm Spruce (LEON shoots SPRUCE a menacing glare) and this is Leon

LEON: (yelling) What are you thinking telling a perfect stranger asking for
information on us that we are those whom he seeks!? Do you not know anything of
the parels of an adventuring life!? (draws his pistol, points it at
MENDEVOLIN's head) Who knows what this man wants us for, he could be an
assassain sent by either an enemy of your father's or someone who wants my head!

SPRUCE: (turning to MENDEVOLIN, faking whisper) There's more than a couple
after his head, I'm sure. (snickers)

MENDEVOLIN: (looking uncomfortable, appearing to chose his words carefully)
I'm sure there can't be that many people who want your head......(speeding up)
and if there are I'm sorry to hear it. In any case, I'm not an assassain.

LEON: Well then who are you, and what do you want with us?

MENDEVOLIN: I am Mendevolin, a powerful wild mage. I have been entrusted with
the task of renewing a millenia old spell used to repress the ultimate evil,
Terresquay. My quest involves a journey to the Contusion Islands where I must
procure the wax of the Contusion bees which is only produced every 1000 years.
From that wax I must form a
candle and place it on a pedestal in the diamond mountain range.

SPRUCE: (aside to LEON) And you talk about me giving away too much information.

MEDEVOLIN: (looks at the pair then continues) My father, on his death bed,
told me that you may be of some help, will you join me?

LEON: A dangerous quest, involving Islands that only told of in legend, bees
that are probably larger than I am, not to mention this ultimate evil thing.
Why should I go with you, what am I going to get out of this? Look old man, I'm
perfectly happy here, minding my own business and drinking my wine.

MENDEVOLIN: (Stands) First of all, the bees are not larger than you, in fact,
they're not even as large as normal bees. Secondly, I have faith in my father,
he wouldn't have sent me on this quest if it couldn't be completed. Therefore,
the Contusion Islands must exist. Thirdly, you're mistaken in believing that
this is a choice I'm presenting you with. You must come, if you're not with me
then the spell I'm trying to renew will fizzle and the world will be thrown into
darkness and chaos.

(LEON leans back comfortably in chair and places feet on table, folding hands
behind head and glares at MENDEVOLIN)

SPRUCE: Don't me such a stick in the mud, it's an adventure, we're at The
Tavern, don't you know what comes next? First, we make friends with him. Then,
we agree to join him, pay the barkeep, sign this (pulls out contract), and we go
merrily on our way.

MENDEVOLIN: Ok. Spruce, will you be my friend?

SPRUCE: Yeah, will you be mine?

MENDEVOLIN: Sure. Will you join me?

SPRUCE: You bet! (snaps fingers, BARKEEP enters stage left, SPRUCE pays BARKEEP,
exit BARKEEP stage left) Barkeep's paid, now all that's left is this.

MENDEVOLIN: (signs contract, SPRUCE signs contract) Leon?



LEON: Alright fine, I'll sign your stupid contract,(signs contract) heck I'll
even pretend to be your friend, I will even join your stupid quest... but only
on one condition. I take orders from nobody especialy washed-up old has-beens
like you. I'll do what I want when I want and if you don't like it tough!

MENDEVOLIN: I don't care what you do on your own time but you're on contract
now and until this adventure is done you're working for me and do as I say,
understand?

LEON: Yeah, I understand, (angrily gritting his teeth)(aside) I understand
perfectly.

(Exit ALL stage right)

ACT II SCENE I

(Enter LOWELL stage left, obviously lost)

LOWELL: Where in the name of chaos am I? I should've been there a long time
ago.

(LOWELL continues his searching)

DEREK: (offstage) BORK!!!!!!!!!

(as DEREK yells bork, LOWELL drops to the ground, throws map offstage left.
DEREK charges onto the stage, jumps over LOWELL, sumersaults, sits up and takes
in his surroundings)

LOWELL: (yelling) What do you think you're doing man! What are you doing
attacking me? I didn't do nothin'! (whiny) Leave me alone! Why does everyone
always pick on me? Is it because I'm different, is it because I smell (checks
himself). Look, I'm sorry if I offended you in any way, in any event, it was
purely accidental. Please, don't hurt me, just let me be on my way.

DEREK: (stares)......(looking for the right words)
I'm.....ummm.....sorry.....ahh.....I didn't see you there. You haven't offended
me, you don't need to worry about that. As for attacking you, that would
involve control over my body, which moments ago I didn't have.

LOWELL: Then you didn't want to fight me?

DEREK: (appears confused) No. I'm not sure what I wanted to do.

LOWELL: What do you mean?

DEREK: Well, I don't know who you are, or where I am. One second, I'm
performing routinescouting operations for the king in the village of Verge,
next thing I know, I'm in the middle of these woods, flying through the air and
when I sit up, I see you. By the way, who are you?

LOWELL: Well, my mother always told me not to tell my name to strange people,
they might be trying to kidnap me. So I'm not telling...

DEREK: (shocked) Well, since you appear as lost as I am, it might be to our
advantage to join together. Besides, it's always better to travel with company.

LOWELL: Ah ha, that's where you're wrong, I'm not lost, I've got my map (holds
up empty hand). (sad look, looks at DEREK) My name is Lowell.

DEREK: I am Derek Arcane. Now that we're aquainted, I'm sure that with a
little luck, we'll be able to reach our destinations. Will you join me then?

LOWELL: (sobbing) my map, my beautiful map, gone. (LOWELL continues muttering
as he leaves offstage right, DEREK follows, attempting to console him.)

ACT II SCENE II

(Enter SPRUCE followed by MEDEVOLIN and LEON stage right)

MENDEVOLIN: (while entering) Spruce, are you sure that you know where you're
going?

SPRUCE: Trust me (gives MENDEVOLIN big smile) I've lived my whole life in
foests.

LEON: I can't believe you conned me into this. Some fun this is turning out to
be, I'm marching through a forest, I am soaked, there are bugs crawling in
places I can't mention to the children (points to audience), and to top it all
off, you've probably never been in this forest have you?! That would just be
the icing on the cake. C'mon Spruce (sarcasm) have you ever been in this
forest?! May as well tell me, my day can't get any worse.

SPRUCE: Well no, actually I've never been in this forest. But, they're all the
same aren't they? Once you've been in one, you've been in them all. All you
have to know, is how to read what the forest is telling you. You have to look
for things like animal trails, moss growth, and listen for the songs of the
birds. They'll tell you all you need to know.

MENDEVOLIN: Do you know how to find these things and interpret what they say?

SPRUCE: No, but if I did, I know those things would help.(big smile at
MENDEVOLIN)

MENDEVOLIN: Do you at least know roughly where we are?

SPRUCE: Yes. We're about a half day's walk east from Elfheim. There's bound
to be someone there who knows this Pardudious character. If he's any kind of
adventurer, he'll be known at The Tavern.

MENDEVOLIN: Well then, let's pick up the pace, it's going to be a long journey,
3 months to go as far south as you can, and then as far north as you possibly
can, is really pushing it.

LEON: Yes, I agree. We've been wandering through this forest for a day and half,
I would kill for the chance to be back in civilization. I bet the reason you've
never been in this forest before is because you've never found anyone stupid
enough to come with you before. Let's go, my feet are starting to hurt.
(crosses upstage left towards offstage)

(enter LOWELL and DEREK stage left, running into LEON)

LEON: Geez Spruce, it's too bad you didn't run into these two dunderheads
before you dragged us into this forest, seems they would've been willing to come
with you.

LOWELL: Oh, excuse me. (LOWELL walks past LEON and continues walking towards
stage right)

DEREK: Lowell, where are you going?

LOWELL: Well, we've got to find some other people to help us get out
of......oh..... (approaches MENDEVOLIN, shakes his hand) my name is Lowell.

DEREK: Don't mind my friend, he's a little (makes crazy sign). My name is Derek
Arcane, I've just recently found myself in these woods and I'm trying to make it
back to civilization, if you could point us in the direction of the nearest town,
it would be greatly appreciated.

MENDEVOLIN: We are headed there ourselves in fact. You're welcome to join us
if you wish. My name is Mendevolin, this is Spruce (points) and this is Leon
(points). We are presently searching for someone named Pardudious so that we
may begin our journey towards the contusion islands. You wouldn't happen to
know where we might find him would you? The things my father gave me said that
he may live behind a waterfall.

DEREK: You mean find IT don't you?

ALL: IT?

DEREK: Yes, Pardudious is a boat, a magical flying ship.

LEON: (skepticism) A magic flying ship? Why should we believe you? We're on
a quest involving some ultimate evil. Who's to say you aren't....one of his
minions? (LEON draws his pistol and aims at DEREK)

LOWELL: My friend is in trouble, oh lord of chaos, show us now the power of
randomness, and cause the next shot from that boomstick to go awry and miss its
intended target. Honour your humble servant's plea.

LOWELL: (aside) And on the off chance that the lord of chaos is unavailable for
a small miracle, at this time I will proceed to beat both combantants senseless
with whatever heavy, blunt objects that may be at hand, in your mercy.

DEREK: (pulls out cross from under tunic) If I was a minion of evil, would I
be wearing this?

LEON: No, I suppose not.

SPRUCE: C'mon Leon, put the gun away. We can't be fighting with each other, we
have a ship to find and a mission to complete.

LOWELL: Yeah, this'll be cool! A flying ship, wow! We'll be flying above
everything, I'll be able to see all my friends, and wave hi to th----

LEON: Just shut up will you? I want to get going before it's already too late.

LOWELL: Sorry, I'll just be over here (walks away from group and sits down on
stage, head down)

MENDEVOLIN: Well if it can help us get to the Contusion Islands quickly, I'm
all for it. We're on a very tight timeline and every little bit will help.
(turns to LEON) Now, in future Leon, you can take some of your own advice and
keep your mouth shut unless you have something important to say. We have to
work together. Everyone has the right to make suggestions, we just can't tell
people to shut up all the time. You're not the only one with ideas worth
listening to. In fact, I'm not sure that you've had one good idea yet, and
still you shoot down everyone else. Keep your ego under control and your mouth
shut.

LEON: (aside) I can't wait for an opportunity to shoot you down....

LOWELL: (Jumps up) Wait a minute!.....I mean, ummm, excuse me. We can't leave
yet.

LEON: (sighs) Why can't we go now?

LOWELL: We haven't signed a contract yet. Does anyone have one?

MENDEVOLIN: Yes, right here (pulls out contract, LOWELL and DEREK sign it)

SPRUCE: Ok, well if everything's in order, we can be on our way.

(everyone leaves down the stairs stage left and out the side door except LEON.
LEON lingers on stage, pulls out pistol, admires it and shoots blank towards
stage door.)

NOTE: Mendevolin must leave last (before Leon)

ACT II SCENE III

(ALL enter stage right side door)

MENDEVOLIN: Lives behind the waterfall, Lives behind the waterfall. That
doesn't even make sense anymore.

SPRUCE: What'cha got? (Smile at MENDEVOLIN)

MENDEVOLIN: Just something my father gave me before he passed away. He told me
about this quest, said I should find Pardudious and gave me this (holds up
scroll), what's written can't be accurate though. Since Pardudious is not a
person, he can't possibly live behind a waterfall.

LEON: Let me see that. (MENDEVOLIN hands scroll LEON. LEON looks at it) Just
looks like gibberish to me.

LOWELL: People said that we were crazy to build a castle on a swamp, but we did,
and it sunk into a swamp. So, we built a second castle, and it sunk too. So we
built a third castle, it was burned, pillaged and fell to the ground, and then
it sunk into the swamp. So we built a fourth castle and it's standing, it's the
strongest castle in all the lands. But father, I don't want the castle, I want,
I want.....No no no, there'll be no singing while I'm still here, stop the music,
stop it right now, I won't......oh excuse me (sits on stairs stage right).

(ALL are staring at LOWELL by the end of the speech)

SPRUCE: No Leon, that was gibberish.

DEREK: (DEREK comes down stairs stage left, walks towards group) Well, it's
there alright. Now all we have to do is find a way to get it past the flow of
the water, any suggestions?

MENDEVOLIN: Derek, my good friend, how did you know to look there?

DEREK: Easy, just take a look at the scroll

MENDEVOLIN: (MENDEVOLIN looks at scroll again) Ok, perhaps it would help if I
knew what I was looking for.

DEREK: Not that side, turn it over. (MENDEVOLIN turns scroll over) See, there
it is.

LEON: Hmmmm, you would've thought that a powerful mage like yourself would have
known to check both sides of a scroll. I'm just glad it wasn't a spell scroll
you were reading from, that would have certainly been disasterous. Though it
wouldn't surprise me to find out you've done it once or twice. (this catches
MENDEVOLIN's attention)

LOWELL: (snaps to attention) Check for fine print, check for fine print!

ALL: What!?

LEON: For the love of god, somebody slap a muzzle on the boy!

(MENDEVOLIN takes offence and marches angrily towards LEON. LEON forces the
scroll on SPRUCE who steps aside and looks at it. LEON takes a defensive
stance)

LOWELL: (aside) My god is bound to look favourably upon me! It seems
everywhere I go, I cause chaos! They say they're powerful mages, but they have
no idea of the power that is weilded by the followers of chaos! If they start
something, we're really going to see a show. (LOWELL begins preparing for a
battle)

SPRUCE: Well, would ya' look at this! Fine Print!

ALL: Shut Up!

SPRUCE: No, I'm serious. Listen: "If through the water your path does lay,
just quote Fat Albert, say 'Hey', 'Hey', 'Hey'"

(As words are spoken, curtains open to reveal boat behind. ALL are unaware of
what happened, adlibbing conversation about words)

MENDEVOLIN: (turning around) That's Pardudious (everyone stops talking, turns
around) Not very impressive is it? I've known orcs to ride around in better.

DEREK: It may not look like much, but it's powers are beyond your comprehension
and my imagination.

LEON: Beyond their comprehension maybe. Beyond mine, I beg to differ. Now,
show me the way to the controls and I'll have us out of here in no time.

(ALL head towards ship except LOWELL who lingers for a moment)

LOWELL: I just want everyone to know that I get airsick.

ACT III SCENE I

(enter ALL from stage left)

MENDEVOLIN: Well, we're here.

DEREK: Short trip, you'd think that it'd be a lot harder to get to an Island
that most people don't even think exists.

LEON: (checking his wrist hourglass) Yeah, we've only been travelling an hour.

MENDEVOLIN: Now, I have a few things here that my father told me would help us.
I
realize you may wonder of the usefulness of the items I am about to give you
but I have confidence, my father would not have given them to me were they not
going to be helpful.

(MENDEVOLIN pulls forth the flyswatters from his sack)

LOWELL: Wow! You've got some of those.....Thingies!

LEON: What manner of insuperior weapon are those? I bet you couldn't even kill
a fly with them!

MENDEVOLIN: Well....ummm.....

LOWELL: You mean you never heard the legend?

SPRUCE: Legend???

LOWELL: Yeah, the legend of the tailor that killed seven giants with one of
these! (LOWELL then proceeds to sword fight with flyswatter. ALL stare at
him)....sorry. (LOWELL sits down like before)

SPRUCE: Well, if you can kill giants with one of these things, you'll have no
problem killing a few little bees right? (murmurs of consent)

MENDEVOLIN: Right then. Has everyone been armed with a......(looks at LOWELL)

LOWELL: Thingy.

MENDEVOLIN: Right! With a THINGY! (everyone awkwardly holds up flyswatters
except for LOWELL and MENDEVOLIN)OK! To the Bees!

ALL: TO THE BEES!

(exit ALL stage right)

ACT III SCENE II

(enter ALL stage left)

MENDEVOLIN: Where is the hive.....it's supposed to be here. AHEM. I'm sure,
it's right around here somewhere.(hive pops out behind front curtain stage right
on stick) thankyou.

DEREK: Look, I see it, over there (points at hive)

LOWELL: Hit it with your shovel Leon!

LEON: My what?

LOWELL: Your shovel. (shovel flies in from offstage right. LEON catches shovel
and looks at it, and unimpressed, hands it to LOWELL, he turns from others,
telling story in aside like state) I remember my mom used to go out and find
hives just so that she could whack them with her shovel.(LOWELL turns back to
group) I thought everyone whacked hives with shovels?

SRPUCE: Shovel, you don't use a shovel, you use a pitchfork. (Pitchfork comes
from offstage right, SPRUCE catches it)

LOWELL: What do you mean! Pitchfork, are you nuts? Shovel!

SPRUCE: Pitchfork!

LOWELL: Shovel!

(LOWELL and SPRUCE repeat several times. Spruce wins by pointing the pitchfork
at LOWELL)

LOWELL: Ok, ok, pitchfork.(LOWELL sits down with shovel across lap)

LEON: Oh, enough of this. This tomfoolery has gone on long enough. (LEON pulls
out pistol and aims at hive. Changes his mind and aims at person holding hive
offstage. LEON shoots, hive falls, sound of person offstage falling down dead)

(after hive falls, ALL pull out their thingies. They fight valiantly while
'flight of the bumblebee' plays in the backround. Fight lasts for about 15-20
seconds. It appears hopeless)

MENDEVOLIN: Run Away!!!!!! (everyone repeating 'run away' as they move upstage
left)

(when all arive, SPRUCE pulls out sandwhich from bag and begins to eat it)

MENDEVOLIN: (astonished) Spruce, what are you doing? This is no time for a
picnic. Put that away we need to come up with a strategy.

LOWELL: (sniffing) Is that peanut butter and honey?

SPRUCE: Yeah, want some?

LOWELL: Sure, I'd love some, I haven't eaten anything since we started this
adventure.

SPRUCE: We've only been adventuring together for an hour and a half.

DEREK: Wait a minute. That's it! Give me that (grabbing sandwhich from LOWELL.
LOWELL whimpers and "sits down") I'll be back in a sec. (DEREK move towards
hive and places sandwhich near hive then retreats. Once bees have taken bait
about 15 sec. DEREK moves back to hive and retrieves wax.) Got it! (looks over
shoulder, bees chase 'flight of the bumblebee' plays again)

(exit ALL stage left)

ACT III SCENE III

NARRATOR: Mendevolin and his party set forth for the twin volcanoes hidden deep
within the diamond mountain range. With the candle now formed, our heroes are
now ready to face the terrible evil that lies ahead. (enter ALL , MENDEVOLIN
first, stage right. MENDEVOLIN noticing the candle stops suddenly, rest of the
party runs him over. everyone falls on MENDEVOLIN and candle breaks.) Well,
almost ready.

MENDEVOLIN: (realizing the candle is broken) Oh this is just perfect.
Everything I have ever done, I have screwed up somehow.(MENDEVOLIN is in his own
little world) I failed as a tailor, (enter EVIL MAGE stage left) I can't cast
magic worth a damn, (ALL but MENDEVOLIN see EVIL MAGE and creep away in fear)
and now this! (gestures at broken candle and breaks down crying)

EVIL MAGE: (approaches MENDEVOLIN, places hand on shoulder) There, there. It
will all be over very soon. (EVIL MAGE licks fingers and puts out candle) There,
was that really so bad. (EVIL MAGE laughter)

THE END