The Birthright - The Play

The Birthright by E. C. Patterson

Act I: Plan C - No Plan at All

Scene 1:	Babcock Saul’s Office. The stage is set with Babcock Saul’s chair set like a throne center stage. The stage is dimly lit. Babcock is seated dressed as King Saul on his throne. Behind him is Dora End, dressed in Biblical attire as well - she is the Witch of Endor.
	END Arise spirits of earth and speak wisdom to the winds. Guide us in these fiery times to victory. Challenge the Kings of Cannan, of Philistia and great Sidon. Defeat them in the hour of the lord’s most crimson banner.
	SAUL They are all about me, calling my name. They blame me for their fate and their destitution. They say my name and spit it to the four winds as a curse.
	END Victory be your logo, great King of the plains of Judah. Mt. Horeb bows to your shofar’s sound. The harvest derives its bounty from your reaping. Great is your vengence to those who bring water to dowse your temple fire. Defeat to the little heathen of the hill country.
	SAUL (holding his head) My head hurts with his desertion, How can a son so mortally wound his father. Had a spear pierced my side I would be less hurt than in this hurl. Oh, Jonathan, my destiny, my inheritor - inherit this, my bad disposition and the howls of the many who call my name and curse.
	END Let the lamb be sacrificed for battle’s preparation. Let the blood of Mirach fill the cup and spill upon the soil. Let bushels of the enemy's head be brought to the house of the Lord - for Saul is King in Isreal - and no other.
	SAUL Saul is king.
	END And no other.
	SAUL But he has no son to carry forth - just the house of Jesse to betray him and try to plunder this heart. But, this shall lay waste to that thought.
	END Lay it all to waste. Dora sheds her biblical attire. She wears her corporate clothing underneath. Saul hangs his crown on the endge of the chair. He removes his robes. His usual suit is worn now. He moves the chair to behind his desk.
	SAUL So, Miss End. Have you come to me with advice on these matters.
	END Indeed I have, JB. First, Jonathan Warren has become a liability.
	SAUL I guess he has. But how can I chatise him after all this time. Afterall, he is the same person he was before - except, now I know he is gay . . .
	END Gay or not. He decieved you. He slept with the enemy. He has his own interests at heart and not yours. . .
	SAUL . . . or the shareholders. The shareholders must have this sale. I need this money to finish this business, keeping it afloat as a profit center. That was my charge.
	END And his charge. You haven’t violated your charge. But, Jonathan has.
	SAUL Yes, I can see that. But, he was so likeable. You know, he ate in my home. To think of it. He played cards with me and the Mrs. He actually dated my daughter. I had this notion that he’d be a great asset to our household. Never had a son, you know Miss End. John was the closest thing to it. Then, to find that he has been Gay all this time. He brought his filthy, unnatural person into my house! To my table and to my daughter. He could have given us all a disease. It horrifes me to think of it.
	END Business, JB. Business.
	SAUL Yes, there’s no doubt about it now. John Warren will be terminated. I will offer him a nice package . . .
	END Seven weeks severance.
	SAUL Only seven weeks? Is that legal? It seams such a small compensation for his previous devotion to me.
	END Seven is gracious and the minimum allowed in such cases.
	SAUL Well, I guess he’ll be ok with that. He’ll get a job pretty quickly I think - even back at Ulmec.
	END I don’t think he will. You need to call Ulmec and assess his conduct there. What he has done borders on a conflict of interest.
	SAUL Is it a conflict of interest?
	END If he divulged the sale-offer plans to anyone other than authorized personnel, that would be an actionable case. He has signed a confidentiality agreement.
	SAUL But I have no proof . . .
	END Not yet. In fact, you may even get proof that David Preston has violated his agreement as well.
	SAUL Please, don’t mention him to me. If it weren’t for him, my faithful John would be here working late hours with me . . . planning the future . . . (pause)
	Miss End - David Preston is to be fired. Find grounds. And John shall be terminated as you have planned. If you want to proceed with further action, be sure you have the goods . . .and be sure to let me know before you proceed. Dora End nods and exits.
	(holding his head) Oh, the agony - they are all cursing my name - my beautiful, perfect name. I am a captain of industry, with the leadership secrets and blueprint to save this corporation. I shall have them all in court if they try to defeat me in this battle. (black-out)
Scene 2:	(Hiram Linkletter’s office. The office is set in a tent. Hiram Linkletter is dressed as a Canaanite King, his son Max sits at his feet. There are animal skins, and draps all about them. Jonathan and David enter, also in Biblical attire) (Jonathan and David bow to King Hiram)
	HIRAM Who is this before me? Son of Saul and his captain of Guard? What offering is this I hear? Deliverance of the country in payment for a plan? What plan is this that I my largess shall invest to launch such schemes to bring down great Saul’s palace? Tell me what offering do you bring?
	JONATHAN (kneels) Princes of Canaan, I bear you high to the mountains of the Lord and grant you the fragrant olive branch as a symbol of hope and peace. Too much war has been laden on the world of late. Too much blood has been spilled on the plains of Eden.
	DAVID We bring you an easement to the legacy you invest. We bring you the truth of this King of dried annointment. Samuel has withdrawn his appeal and retired to the hermit’s lair. The witch of Endor now rules Saul’s ear - and in it, as sweet honeyd-tone, the rubarb turns fear to bravery in its falsest sounding.
	HIRAM (standing) My son tells me you are both bound by heaven’s law as man and women is. This is sweet to our eyes, as I am a man free of time’s illusions. But I am a man of honest trade and plough my fields with gold to beget gold.
	DAVID Then, desist in your investing plan.
	HIRAM Desist?
	JONATHAN Desist and hear a better plan, where gold will beget gold will beget gold . . .
	DAVID And the souls of those who serve the truth will be yet more golden still.
	(the tent lifts, the office becomes more traditionally an office. Max stands by the window, overlooking Central Park. Hiram removes his biblical outfit and is now a businesman. He sits at his desk and offers David and Jonathan a seat as well. They quickly chuck their bible suits for street clothes (worn under the robes). Jonathan still wears the green plaid jacket).
	HIRAM Yes, I am curious about your suggestion and why you feel the plan should change. You know, David - I have made specific inquires about getting you to lead the new subsidiary. But, for some reason Babcock Saul has hemmed and hawed.
	DAVID That’s because I’m openly gay and he feels there’s no place in leadership for openly gay men.
	HIRAM Shit. That bastard. You know, Max is . . . well, of course you do. And I really like Barney. I think they’ll be good for each other. And you two are a mighty fine looking couple as well.
	JONATHAN And I’m in deep shit now with Mr. Saul - I came out to him the other day and I think I’m a goner.
	HIRAM Well, unfortunately, I can’t help you. (pause. Jonathan and David are puzzled)
	I’d offer you both a job here, but I am sure that it will be written in the deal for the Scientific division that I will not be able to hire either of you. It will be a condition of sale. I know how these things work.
	DAVID But, listen Mr. Linkletter.
	HIRAM Hiram! Please, call me Hiram. Do you prefer Dave or David.
	DAVID Actually, I prefer David. It’s funny, Babcock Saul just called me Dave and never asked how I felt about it.
	JONATHAN He always called me John - and I hate that. I’m Joanathan.
	HIRAM Never fuck around with a person’s name. A name is a very sacred thing. It may not be unique, but it’s like a glove you wear. After years, you and it become inseparable. When someone decides to fuck around with your name, it means they’re kinda unsure of themselves. Anyway, you were saying.
	DAVID Why buy the Scientific?
	HIRAM Well, how else can I command this market. With the Scientific in place, Dundee and Batcliff will always have a piece of my turf.
	DAVID But, I am the Scientific. Me and 20 or so other, loyal associates, 12 of whom are gay. If we were to leave the Scientific and sign on with you - I guarentee the Scientific would be closed in no time. And you would have purchased the strongest assets of the Scientific, without giving Babcock Saul a dime.
	HIRAM But that’s Piracy. The industry would be very critical of me.
	JONATHAN You haven’t approached us - we’ve approached you. We’re the pirates. And legal one’s at that.
	HIRAM But I’d get eveyone but the two of you. I’m sure you’re bound by confidentiality agreements. Saul might loose the Scientific and the associates - but he’d have both of you in court.
	DAVID Shit! I forgot about that.
	JONATHAN Well, me at least - not you David.
	DAVID What do you mean? I signed an agreement.
	JONATHAN But I was the witness - and I never filed it. So there’s no record of it. Mine on the other hand is logged in legal and in the files. (pause) I’ll come over to you Hiram, but I’ll need a good lawyer.
	HIRAM (stands - shakes Jonathan’s hand) You’ll have the best.
	DAVID Then, it’s a deal. I’ll start the ball rolling. Barney Harper will help. We’ll call a meeting of the Scientific associates.
	HIRAM Don’t you want to discuss your deals - your personal deals?
	DAVID Time enough for that. Need to discuss benefit equivolencies for the employees. (To Max) Max, you don’t know how happy I am to have met you and your kind father.
	HIRAM You’ll find me fair - but a stern taskmaster. I want value out of this move.
	DAVID You’ll have it. Let’s talk about my vision for the Scientific . . .
	HIRAM Let’s do that. (black-out)
Scene 3:	(Jonathan’s office. Jonathan is filling boxes with his stuff - cleaning out his desk. He wraps some pictures. He starts wrapping a letter opener - it’s a dagger style letter opener. He stops and gazes at it. He holds it high - then walks down stage.)
	JONATHAN See how the sun is caught on the blade. This was the gift from my mother, rest her soul. She gave it to me for my first promotion - and it was JB who gave me that promotion. Funny, we don’t use letter openers today. The mail comes to us opened and shorn of the envelope. I wonder whether someone uses one of these things to crack open the seal and make those little bundles that come trooping across my desk like so many flower petals loose from the stem.
	So, here I have the drappings of business power in my hands - and find it is useless to its use and more prone to be plunged into a vein. Blood letting is quite fitting for this job. I have bleed profusely under this tyrant - and thanked him for the wounds. And yet, the sun glints well on the blade. Cheery trinket this.
	But, it was from my mother. She never knew about me. She never knew me. What she knew of me was as useless of its use as this letter opener. She always saw me opened, without my envelope. All content and no endearing wrapper. I wish I had told her. I’ll probably tell Dad, the next time I go home. I think he’d understand. But, maybe not. But maybe yes. Yes. He must meet David. (enter Babcock. Jonathan clutches the letter opener as a dagger).
	SAUL John, my boy.
	JONATHAN I’m not your boy - and my name is Jonathan. I have a name and it’s Jonathan.
	SAUL Well, so you do. I see you’re packing.
	JONATHAN How perceptive. I got your memo, your letter of thanks and your rather generous severance of seven weeks.
	SAUL Don’t be bitter. You need to understand that I have given all this a great deal of thought. There should not be bad blood between us. It’s been a week since you told me about yourself - and although, it would have been better that you either kept it to yourself or told me earlier, your work here was superlative. It’s just . . . just.
	JONATHAN Just what? A faggot close to the top would be a bad example in the leadership model. A pinkprint instead of a BluePrint.
	SAUL Well, more Lavendar, I would say. Your future involvement in my confidential business would be a liability. And I would offer you a position within the firm, but your previous dealings with my confidential business would make it a distinct conflict of interest on your part.
	JONATHAN I hear you JB. Your fucking business is secure with me. I am afraid, however, that your deal with Hiram Linkletter can proceed quite nicely without me . . .
	SAUL Or that shithead, Preston . .
	JONATHAN (threatens him with the letter opener) Leave it be.
	SAUL Oh, harming me will not restore your manhood, John . . .I mean Jonathan. But, since I forgot you and Preston are bedmates, talk about a conflict of interest . . .
	JONATHAN Well, if it’s any solace to you - I have refused your severance offer.
	SAUL Have I made you so rich?
	(enter Dora End. She carriess a stack of papers)
	JONATHAN No, but that witch (points to Dora) wanted me to sign a non-competition agreement. I have a job already in the same field.
	SAUL Good for you, John. Good for you.
	END JB, I need to talk with you.
	SAUL What is it Dora?
	END These! (holds out papesr)
	SAUL What are they? Tell me. I’m in no mood . . .
	END They are resignations. The entire Scientific division has resigned.
	SAUL (alarmed) They can’t! They can’t resign. The Scientific is a monetized asset. No one can touch them in the company.
	END It seems they have given notice - and I think I know at whose instigation.
	SAUL Preston!! How can I sell an asset without associates? How?
	JONATHAN You’ll find that you have a division - but I am afraid, no buyer.
	SAUL Hiram Linkletter is buying it.
	JONATHAN I don’t think so. (pause)
	SAUL You mean, the Scientific’s personnel are going over to him? He can’t pirate them - he’ll be laughed out of the association.
	JONATHAN No, the pirates have come to him - and he can’t refuse an opportunity like this.
	SAUL Bastards. You won’t get away with this! I am a captain of industry. I need that cash to finish the job here. You and Preston will be in court. You’re under contract to keep our secrets and indeed, you have messed up here mister faggot-queer.
	JONATHAN (He take the dagger and plunges into the desk - then puts his face right into Saul’s face). Take your best shot, B. S.! Exits
	SAUL (grabs the dagger and follows him as if to stab him in the back. Dora End stops him. He then returns and starts stabbing boxes, then the resignations). I want both those assholes in jail. I want them sued for every cent they’ve got or will even make.
	END Well, in Preston’s case it will be difficult.
	SAUL Why?
	END His confidentiality ageement was never logged in or filed.
	SAUL What! How can that be? How . . .
	END Jonathan.
	SAUL Well, at least I’ll get him! Miss End whispers in his ear. Saul starts to shake and goes to his knees like a madman.
	It will not be long. When the shareholders hear about this, they will loose complete confidence in me. There’s nothing else of value to raise the cash. Nothing. How could I have been so blind as to trust them? I am a captain of industry. I cannot live with this failure. I am the man in the portrait - the man they curse for his tyrany - but they praise for his return on investment. I may be exclusive to some - but the caliber of my worth is measured by the people I keep. Proof is this - when a pinko, commie, faggot shares my secrets, he brings me down into the pit. (looks at the letter opener - holds it high as if to kill himself. Miss End interrupts him, handing him a piece of paper).
	What’s this?
	END My resignation. She turns and exits, loudly clopping her heels on the floor. The light dims and casts a shadow on the stage. It’s the shadow of Saul the King. Babcock Saul drops the dagger and curls up deranged, rocking back and forth. (black-out)
Scene 4:	(On the roof of David Preston’s apartment house. David stands overlooking the city. It is sunset. He holds a portfolio tucked under his arm)
	DAVID How sweet the sounds of the city at sunset. I knew when I rented this place, this would be my favorite haunt. It’s the freedom we seek from the daily boiling of living. Give us places like this to let our spirits soar.
	Enter Jonathan. He’s wearing the green plaid jacket.
	So sad my warrior - and on this eve of our great victory.
	JONATHAN Saul is dead. At least he knows his plans are dead - his career is dead. And my career is dead - so I am dead as well.
	DAVID Then let us eulogize them. (he leads Jonathan down stage, During the eulogy, the city scene disappears replaced with mountains. They are on Mt. Horeb)
	To Babcock Saul, Captain of industry and a great divider of men. In his reign he made men quake, but built a successful empire to be used as a pattern for avoidance. Yet, he was a fierce warrior, who disarmed his foe and for that there are many points to gather into the book and index.
	But the best point is for John - his son and my guiding soul. Here was a man who wore my armor and fought my good fight. Here was a legend to be reknown for his love of humanity and also the good fight. Brave to the face of his vanquisher, he vanquished the best of them. Honored for truth and honesty, let John Warren be given the hero’s burial - and from his ashes, my Jonathan arise - the victor of this battle and of my heart.
	(Jonathan walks away)
	What’s wrong? You have my heart.
	JONATHAN But they’ll have my ass.
	DAVID No, I have that too.
	JONATHAN (laughs) Very funny. You know what I mean. You’re free and clear. You can work for Hiram without fear of being sued.
	DAVID Thanks to you.
	JONATHAN But for me - a new ordeal begins.
	DAVID (opens the portfolio) Not so.
	JONATHAN What do you mean? David hands him papers
	DAVID One each confidentiality agreement signed by Jonathan Warren, with 2 copies.
	JONATHAN How did you . . .? But, they’re logged into the . . .
	DAVID One each log page from the legal department’s journal.
	JONATHAN Shit! I’m home free. How . . .
	They tear the papers up into little confetti size pieces.
	DAVID You said to get you a good lawyer. Samuel annoints us once again.
	JONATHAN Praise be! They throw the confetti around, as if it were rice at a wedding, laughing and dancing. Finally, they kiss in silhouette in the shadow of Mt. Horeb. (lights dim slowly)
End of Play