Obedience.

Lights rise to reveal a large table where a disheveled man wearing highly ordained clothing topped off by a shining crown on his head is sitting down at a table by himself with a small bell in front of him. He sits there a moment, and then becomes to grow impatient and look around, as if expecting to see someone coming. In his looking around the room, he notices the bell, and his impatience vanishes. He picks up the bell and gives it one quick dings. Instantaneously, eight well liveried servants walk quickly and purposefully onto stage carrying all sorts of ornaments, which they place ceremoniously onto the table. One holds a large covered platter in his hand and stands behind and to the left of the King, while the rest of the servants set the table and then take their places standing in a line behind the King.

When the hustle and bustle is finished, the servant with the platter gracefully takes a step forward and places the platter directly in front of the King. He then resumes his place behind and to the left of the King. The King incredulously stares at the covered platter. He crosses his arms and glares for a beat. Upon realizing that none of the servants were doing what he wanted done, he picks up the bell and gives it one little ding. The Servant that had brought in the platter takes one-step forward turns to face the King, and bows. The King glares up at him, and points angrily at the platter. The servant suddenly becomes very nervous, hesitating a second, not understanding the kings request. The King notices his hesitance, and furiously picks up gives the little bell three little dings. Instantly two guards march flawlessly on from stage right and across, grabbing the crying servant as they pass by and exiting stage left.

The King sulks for a second longer before giving his little bell one little ding. Instantly the line of servants behind him all shift one to the left as the farthest over goes to stand where the recently apprehended servant had been. Another servant enters from stage right taking his place at the back of the line so that the number of servants remains at eight. The King glares up at the servant now at his side, before pointing sternly at the platter still sitting in front of him on the table. Without missing a beat the servant gracefully removes and holds the cover to the platter in his hands as he goes to stand directly behind and to the left of the King. The King’s frustration seems to vanish at his first sight of the small bowl sitting directly in the center of the large platter, and he even smiles a little as he gives his little bell two little dings. Instantly the newest servant, the one farthest to the right walks up to the table and begins wafting the scent of the soup into the Kings nostrils. The King closes his eyes and sighs in happiness.

He then gives his little bell one little ding, and the servant carrying the platter cover steps up lifting the spoon from the left of the bowl and proceeds to take a the smallest of scoops from the bowl and bring it to his mouth. Upon seeing the servant swallow, and being satisfied, the King dings his little bell twice and the servant to his right immediately stops wafting the scent and picks up the spoon to the right of the bowl, and slowly spoon feeding the King. After the King is distracted, the servant to his left spits out his food into a napkin. After a moment of him eating, the King begins to look sickly. He begins to convulse a little, trying to keep his food down. He then begins to look in pain, and soon his head flops down onto the table motionless.

The two servants directly to either side of the king inspect his body, and once ascertaining that he is in fact not alive, the one to his left takes his little bell and begins banging it loudly as the rest of the servants burst out in cheer. Blackout.

Fin.