DRAGONS.

 

 

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I, THE WORST... OF DRAGONS

By Benjamín Gavarre

I, The Worst of Dragons is the allegory of a family. It uses the pretext of fairy tales to represent that nucleus—a small universe—which is the domestic kingdom. Thus, even though we may recognize a king, a queen, a dragon, and a maiden, we must understand that the characters move within a wealthy household where they perform daily tasks dressed in formal attire.

The scenery or lighting will recreate the various environments of a luxury home: the living room, the kitchen, the garden, the bedroom, etc.

COSTUME RECOMMENDATIONS:

• The Queen: High-fashion evening gown, low-cut and sequined.
• The King: Impeccable tuxedo.
• The Dragon: Tuxedo and a metallic mask of sinister design.
• The Maiden: Innumerable dresses (for reasons soon to be revealed).
• The Page: A fashionable, modern-cut livery.
• The Wizard and the Fairy: Gourmet chef whites.

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🎭 Cast of Characters

(Or how to survive a royal family)

• THE KING (The authoritarian griller): A monarch with delusions of even more grandeur than he actually possesses. His scepter is a glass of whiskey and his crown is a smartphone. He wears a tuxedo even to grill meat and believes that commanding is simply shouting louder than the Queen.
• THE QUEEN (The diva): Self-sacrificing mother and professional manipulator. She doesn't take a step without her sequins or her cleavage. She has a "complicated" relationship with gardening (specifically red and white roses) and a tongue sharper than her own crown.
• THE DRAGON PRINCE (The eternal teenager... with scales and a metal mask): A rebel youth born from a "binge" of flowers. He goes from being a baby with a tail to a threatening twenty-year-old on a motorcycle with a sinister mask.
• THE MAIDEN (The strategist of the ten dresses): “Claims” to be in her thirties, dressed in rags, but possesses more brains than the entire court combined. She is an expert at applying reverse psychology to mythological monsters. The true heroine (and future boss) of the castle.
• THE PAGE (The royal "jack-of-all-trades"): Cleans the silver, receives lashes, organizes beauty pageants, and even disguises himself as a Cardinal. He is the only one who actually works in this kingdom. Always fashionably dressed.
• THE WIZARD AND THE FAIRY (The chefs of destiny): Forget the starry robes; they wear gourmet chef whites. They are the family's magical nutrition consultants, experts in giving advice no one follows and arguing in whispers.
• THE OLD PSYCHOANALYST (The beggar of the couch): Appears on a street corner to give advice on the unconscious and how to skin metaphorical dragons. Living proof that, in this kingdom, even magic has an Oedipus complex.

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*** I ***

At the start of the play, the royals are in the garden preparing a luxury BBQ. The Queen is pregnant; he is drinking whiskey while checking his smartphone. Despite the apparent harmony and tender glances toward the royal womb, the royals erupt into an open argument the moment they stop to sit on a bench.

The King.– It will be a boy!

The Queen.– It could not be anything else, sir, but a girl!

The King.– A boy!

The Queen.– A girl!

The King.– In high esteem, Madam, I hold your pleas; and for reasons not worth discussing: a brave prince shall be our heir.

The Queen.– You speak of reasons? But you can only stammer an evident succession of nonsense. And if you decide better than anyone in matters of State, in matters of pregnancy, I dispose. She who shall carry the royal scepter in the future will be the sweet princess I shall have in a few days. She will be, doubt it not, a sublime sovereign and no one will dare deny or refute her anything because she will be, without hesitation, quite the lady.

The King.– It is clear, my lady, that on this singular point we shall never reconcile; let us call the Grand Commission, let them conclude.

The Queen.– Does your majesty jest? You are the Grand Commission! In any case, let us call the fairies, who are in every way irreproachable and, let us say, unbribable.

The King.– Let the fairies come then, and the wizards too; with such forces summoned, we shall know without a doubt, through the many disputes that arise from them, whether a prince or princess the royal womb must bring forth.

Enter Wizard and Fairy; they argue in barely contained whispers, looking at the King and Queen with apprehension or disgust. Finally, they reach an agreement and express their verdict.

Wizard.– If a future king or prince suits the kingdom, her majesty, the Sovereign, shall eat a red rose.

Fairy.– If a princess is suited, she shall taste a white rose.

Wizard.– For such a procedure, an impartial arbiter...

The Queen.– I do not agree! How is someone foreign to our empire going to decide?

The King.– It is true. You wizards, fairies... you should have resolved the situation. Now it shall be done by choice, mine. Eat! (He gives her the red rose).

The Queen.– Oh, really? Well, no! I shall eat the white one. Give it here! (She tries to take the white rose from the wizard).

The Wizard.– You have not let us finish. The judge would be...

The King.– No one!

The Queen.– On that, I agree.

Wizard.– It would be Chance.

Fairy.– In this, yes, Fortune would decide. "Your majesty, choose"...

The Queen.– Let’s see...

The King.– I refuse to cede to any luck the clear right to impose my will. Let us say: if the Queen desires a colossal virgin and I a discreet male...

The Wizard.– The other way around, your majesty.

The King.– How, the other way around?

The Fairy.– A discreet virgin and a monumental male.

The King.– Ah, yes. Let us say, of the two, the Queen shall taste the red rose and a massive male shall be welcome to this, my empire.

The Queen.– And I say, in the end, why should I not eat both roses in a single bite? And thus every ambition shall be fulfilled in every case.

The King.– I do not understand.

The Queen.– You desire a reckless prince to occupy the throne in the future; and I, a sweet girl...

The King.– ...who shall occupy the royal throne in the future.

The Queen.– Allow me... I would let the firstborn govern, without a doubt.

The King.– Well, you do me no favor; it is the custom that the firstborn... Would you truly let them govern?

The Queen.– Yes.

The King.– Without any meddling?

The Queen.– I can assure you.

The King.– So be it! You shall eat of both roses...

The Queen.– Both.

The King.– (To the Fairies and Wizards). Do you have everything prepared?

The Wizard and the Fairy argue agitatedly and then give a verdict:

The Wizard.– We do not advise in any way that the Queen feeds, with the royal consent, even the thought of tasting the white and red roses one after the other and, even less so, at the same time.

The Fairy.– A disastrous catastrophe would strike the Queen in any case; in another, it would also harm the King, and the most terrible, the case we all already fear: misfortune would afflict the entire kingdom.

The King.– Under that circumstance: it shall be a male. Let us discuss the point no further. Eat the red rose.

The Queen.– Mhh... So I shall do, if it suits the kingdom. (She eats the red rose).

The King.– The solution pleases and calms me. I go to rest well-disposed. Providence shall be generous with us, and with our son. (Exit the King, the Fairies, and the Wizards).

The Queen.– But I say it seems a good idea not to leave this budding flower, this white rose, abandoned to a miserable fate. I do not fear misfortune. If one offspring brings us fortune, a... male, how much more joy shall we have if in a double birth, prince and princess share the same cradle. Come, maiden; let your noble birth begin in my mouth (she eats the white flower).

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*** II ***

The bedroom of the royals. Several weeks have passed. The Fairy hands the Queen a small bundle: a small baby dragon of which we only see the tail. The Queen suckles it sweetly in a designer nursing chair. The King smokes and drinks his whiskey.

The King.– A Dragon!... Have you ever seen the like? A disastrous lineage you have sired, sweet lady.

The Queen.– Let us say that both dignitaries forged him; you are, do not argue, his distinguished father.

The King.– A worthy father, but an ignoble son. And I know not well how to say if the Queen committed adultery, nor with whom—could it perhaps be with a lackey?

The Queen.– Be silent, for speaking of lackeys, and even more so of female lackeys, I could well tell of you a thousand outrages. The son is yours. Do not forget the night, some time ago, when you were drunk and I was naked, and we lived, at a good pace, in pursuit of lust.

The King.– Do not elaborate, it is shameful.

The Queen.– Then do not deny the dragon, for he is your son.

The King.– I shall not.

The Queen.– And I, in turn, shall confess a secret, well then... I tasted the red rose.

The King.– That I know, I know, I know.

The Queen.– Well, I have more to comment...

The King.– Do not tell me.

The Queen.– I also tasted the white rose.

The King.– Oh, you idiot!

The Queen.– Do not insult my sweet investiture.

The King.– The truth is that we must find a remedy for this endeavor. The dragon boy, or whatever he is, grows, like a malignant tumor, day after day.

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*** III ***

In the living room. Twenty days have passed. The Dragon is now a prince, a threatening and rebellious twenty-year-old (He may enter on a motorcycle). The Page cleans the household silver while receiving orders.

The Dragon Prince.– And there is more, Page: if you do not do as I have ordered, I will kill my father, I will strike my mother with a thousand lashes, and I will make of the misfortune of this kingdom an unforgettable legend and example.

The Page.– But, sir, my dragon prince, there is no maiden in this home, nor in any distant place, who would agree to sleep with you, you are so ugly!

The Dragon Prince.– Fool! I know that I am, and even so I tell you: I want a maiden, and not just any. Bring to me the purest and most delicate virgin of this kingdom, or of any distant or inaccessible territory.

The Page.– If you insist, I shall call for a contest; with the consent, of course, of the Lord King, my sovereign.

Enter the King.

The King.– Here I am, who requires my sound judgment? Perhaps this singular lad? Congratulations son, it has been twenty days since you were born and it seems twenty years have passed since the joyous occasion of your birth.

The Dragon Prince.– It is true that I turned twenty, oh Pharisee father; my time is so different from the time you waste, so senseless. I will be no more patient with you than with the servant: bring me a maiden, for I wish to wed her. If you do not... I will destroy your castle, and I will kill you without compassion and with various torments.

The King.– You wish to wed? You give news that fills my soul with diverse jubilee. Have you already chosen the fortunate bride?

The Page.– It must be, Lord Monarch, the purest and most delicate virgin who lives near or far from this kingdom.

The Dragon Prince.– You bring her to me, for in your judgment, sick or sound, I trust. If the choice does not satisfy me, I assure you that I will leave your body without eyes and without arms.

The King.– There is nothing more to say, my sweet prince; I shall send for the most beautiful, the most virginal of maidens.

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*** IV ***

In the kitchen: The royals are decorating a cake to celebrate their son's anniversary. The King applies frosting and the Queen, cherries. At some point, the Queen becomes annoyed at not being able to perform her task fluidly and confronts her husband.

The Queen.– Such an atrocity has ever been seen! So evil, so vile is your son that he has cut short the life of a girl so fresh, so radiant! How could fate have been so disastrous to us, that we must live under the terror of one who should exalt our lineage?

The King.– Do not speak of atrocities, for by following the path of caprice, you have broken the harmony that Providence granted for so long.

The Queen.– I do not understand: do you call my good intentions caprice?

The King.– Yes.

The Queen.– But, my dear... If you think for a moment... If I had given life to a prince, a conventional male and not to... a dragon, he would have already marched off to war; if I had given birth to a graceful maiden, she would have wed one day without remedy, moving away from the kingdom.

The King.– You were not saying the same a few days ago; you wanted a virgin to govern this castle, and what did you achieve? The union of two opposites is this hermaphroditic dragon. He is not a man, he is not a woman: he is a ruin.

The Queen.– He is a man, without a doubt; he has devoured, without more, a maiden.

The King.– He devoured her?

The Queen.– Oh yes, did you not know?

The King.– Oh, atrocity! And it is your fault. By eating those two roses you only managed to summon a monster of malice. With an evil heart, you wanted to keep the cake, and the money too.

The Queen.– What money do you speak of?

The King.– Let us leave this matter in peace, for the prince approaches.

The couple feigns harmony. The prince arrives and separates them. He will try to kiss the Queen or touch her behind. He will push the father away.

The Dragon Prince.– Long live the king, long live my kind mother as well.

The Queen.– Oh, my tender prince; certainly the color of your complexion has not improved with your nuptials.

The Dragon Prince.– No, mother; nor will it have improvement if my next desires are not fulfilled like a flight.

The King.– More whims do you have, devoted son? Has the night you spent with that wretched peasant girl not been enough contentment?

The Dragon Prince.– Was that what she was? Now I understand her flavor, for I enjoyed for a second the clean and warm peace of the countryside.

The Queen.– My offspring, do not be shameless.

The Dragon Prince.– I am what I want to be, Lady Mother; I am of flesh and blood, I am a dragon, and my face shall not change even with twenty or more maidens who reach my mouth.

The Queen.– Oh, son.

The King.– You are... an abortion, a freak, a barbarian!

The Dragon Prince.– You do not give me new news, father; I, in turn, have already hinted at a commission for you.

The King.– Well, I do not understand allusions, son. State your errand clearly.

The Dragon Prince.– I demand, nothing more, another maiden.

The King.– You shall have what you desire if you promise that you will indeed wed her and, of course, that you will not engorge her.

The Dragon Prince.– I do not promise, but warn, sweet father; if I do not have her in my bed by nightfall... I will tear off your head, cut off your legs, and then set the castle on fire. To you, mother, I must remove your eyes and give you, of course, a thousand lashes.

The King.– It shall be done as you wish.

The Dragon Prince.– You are so kind, oh father. Mother...

The Queen.– May providence accompany you.

The Dragon Prince.– So it shall, for I am without a doubt for you, at least while I live, Providence itself.

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*** V ***

In the living room. The Page and the Queen are "knitting."

The Page.– And there have been more than forty! They accepted at first quite willingly, of course; a prince is not something one usually scorns... But when the indiscretion of several made known the... setbacks, well, nothing, the ladies, either out of fear or acute panic, have flatly refused to, let’s say, "sleep" with the dragon.

The Queen.– The Prince.

The Page.– The Prince, yes; but knowing that his excellency, your son, is more dragon than prince, none has wanted to give an inch; no matter how much I have offered—I say a thousand maravedis, no, not even doubloons or gold pieces have they accepted.

The Queen.– Well, someone must sacrifice themselves for the good of the Kingdom; and more so, since the prince, his Highness, has threatened to flay his father alive and then force me, oh unfortunate one, to wear the royal garment, as if it were the skin of an animal, a fox, a kid, you know... Oh heavens!, a coat made of my husband's skin!, have you ever seen the like!

The Page.– Do not forget that as always, finishing with you, he would continue with the castle, and with us, the very simple mortals.

The Queen.– That, let’s say, would also be a pity. That is why I ask you to make haste with your task, and obtain, with efficiency...

The Page.– A bud, a lady, a maiden!, where could one be? Oh, here comes the King...

Enter the King and sits. Then he speaks while lustfully looking at his cell phone... The Queen will try to take the device from him.

The King.– I know a girl, page; let’s say not very well, I have seen her... A shepherdess she is... very beautiful; yes,... most beautiful. Perhaps if I myself were to look for her and bring her here to the castle...

The Queen.– A shepherdess? You yourself? Most beautiful? It does not seem to me, the business, a good idea.

The King.– Perhaps it shall be just, queen; the page has shown ineptitude and dismissiveness in this task of finding maidens.

The Page.– Well, since you, so it seems, are an expert both in maidens and, I suppose, also an expert in autumnal ladies, you will certainly find the most discreet girl to regale the frantic dragon, thus avoiding your death and, of course, the Queen having to wear the most luxurious garment: your skin.

The King.– It will be good, then, that I begin right now, then, quickly, such a daring diligence...

The Queen.– I do not agree. In any case, if it pleases you, I myself am resolved to accompany you. A retinue of fifteen ladies, fifteen knights will be necessary... a carriage, twenty-eight horses. Something to eat must be brought. It will also be necessary to bring some provisions, for example...

The King.– Nothing. I shall leave right now and this page, for all he is worth, shall be my company. Let’s go, page.

The Queen.– Come here, you attempt at an apprentice ruler. If you dare to cross the castle gates without my consent and company, I am capable of... King, beloved lord... Come here... Do not even dream of approaching any maiden with evil intentions. Wait for me! King!... Bastard!

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*** VI ***

In some city street. The King and the Page are whipping a beggar.

The King.– So... how much are you going to ask for your daughter?

The Shepherd.– You are the King; you can compel me to give you my life if necessary.

The Page.– That is true, Majesty. Why do you not torment him and thus he will surely tell us where he hides her?

The Shepherd.– I have already told you that I did not hide her. She must have gone underground, she must have disfigured her face with vitriol so as not to be recognized, she must have fled to other distant latitudes, she must have gone mad, a harlot, a pagan, lost, a hetaira, a suripanta, a meretrix... Oh, daughter!

The Page.– This one needs nothing more than lashes; he is insulting your future daughter-in-law.

The King.– Give it to him with gusto.

The Page.– Kneel, bastard.

The Shepherd.– Ayy!

The King.– Confess!, where is the girl?

The Shepherd.– Her kingdom is no longer of this world!

The King.– What do you mean?... Perhaps...? Has the unhappy girl died?

The Page.– Do you not see he is lying, majesty. He wants to make you fall into a deception, a tale.

The King.– In that case... hit him harder!

The Shepherd.– Ayyy! (He faints).

Enter the "Maiden," she is a woman over thirty dressed in rags.

The Maiden.– Enough, my father. Do not sacrifice your aged body further for me. I am not worth it. Lord King, your Majesty, tell your servant to stop.

The King.– Servant, stop.

The Page.– Sir, I am the royal page of your kingdom, distinguished page, prime minister, almost... Do not allow a vile shepherdess to call me servant.

The King.– That shepherdess shall be my daughter-in-law as you yourself mentioned a while ago. Dear next of kin... You know why I have come; let us save words, follow me, for you shall very soon meet your illustrious consort.

The Maiden.– I myself shall come and by my own step; only allow me to staunch the wounds of my father that you yourself caused.

The King.– That seems to me a sign of nobility; shall this girl be worthy of my royal trust?

The Page.– Do you not see she is a villager?

The Maiden.– Look, look at my fainted father; alone, prostrate on the ground he has remained.

The King.– Well daughter, you must remember that you have an inescapable appointment with us; if you do not come you will fail the principal codes of urbanity... And what will people think of you, that you are a miserable rogue as the page said, unworthy of any respect, unworthy of being the future wife of the dragon prince... of the prince heir to everything... of him who?...

The Maiden.– I shall not fail, sovereign king; I swear it to you by what is most precious of your lineage, your future grandchildren that I, I swear, promise to have with your son...

The Page.– But...

The King.– Of course, daughter... My grandchildren... Then we have come to an agreement. I expect you at the castle; attend to your father now.

The Maiden.– So I shall. (Exit King and Page). Father... Father... Wake up, father. Papa... It is time for you to wake up, the King is gone. Oh my father, why do you have that bluish color? Why do you not breathe? Perhaps... Oh! The wretch has died!

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*** VII ***

The "Maiden" wanders the city streets. She encounters an "Old Psychoanalyst," disguised as a beggar.

The Maiden.– Woe is me! My father, whipped to death. My destiny in the hands of a perverse prince who will strip me of life, dreams... of my immaculate virginity, so ardently guarded even until now... What should I do, I, so helpless an orphan, so in need of the smallest affection?

Old Woman.– Do not suffer, little one; for I shall succor you.

The Maiden.– You? And why would a miserable old woman help me? You do not inspire in me, I tell you, the least confidence.

Old Woman.– Yes, little one, I assure you, I have worked in diverse and famous businesses.

The Maiden.– Mention one.

Old Woman.– It is not for me to divulge such tangles; they are secrets of people like you, who motivated by endless problems, without apparent fix, have reached me in search of serenity for their conscience and let’s say, especially, their unconscious.

The Maiden.– You speak truly in profound terms, are you perhaps an astrologer?

Old Woman.– I am not; but I know the paths that must be traveled by those whose condition is hampered by dark shadow.

The Maiden.– Oh...

Old Woman.– Such beings are subjected to a sort of enchantment or curse that makes them harm others, with great pain, you can believe, for themselves.

The Maiden.– A Curse? Is that the cause of my enormous suffering? Oh heavens! But... as far as I know I have not wronged person, animal, or thing., at least I do not have, no, I do not have that idea.

Old Woman.– I was not speaking of you, but of the Dragon Prince, who is under the malignant influence of a spell. He will continue tormenting all the children of this kingdom as long as a pure and honest soul like the one you possess does not arrive.

The Maiden.– Curious help you grant me, old lady. My entire life is threatened by that terrifying beast and yet you want to help the criminal and not the victim.

Old Woman.– Take it for certain; you alone shall be the instrument that ends his pain, you will break the spell he is in. At the same time that you will save him from the curse, you will find the bliss that mercy grants... And above all: your life will be out of all danger.

The Maiden.– Oh, come on... And what must I do? Give him poison, strangle him, tear him into a thousand pieces?...

Old Woman.– One of the best methods is to dismember him, certainly, but do you judge yourself capable?

The Maiden.– Not exactly.

Old Woman.– Well, it will be preferable to choose subtle, seductive arts. You must feign passionate love for the Prince, to slowly strip him of each of his nine skins.

Maiden.– What?

Old Woman.– Listen and do not interrupt me. For your wedding night you will put on ten, ten dresses of majestic fabric, one on top of the other. When the dragon tries to undress you, you must respond that you yourself will do it, but that in turn he must take off one of the garments that cover him. You will carry this out until you have taken off nine dresses, a moment in which the dragon will have nothing more to strip off and you will still be covered.

Maiden.– That is to say he will be naked and I... !Oh immaculate virgin!

Old Woman.– Be quiet and attend... When the dragon is naked he will be totally at your mercy. Now, if you truly wish to end the curse that weighs upon him, you must perform other feats... Are you willing?

Maiden.– Yes.

Old Woman.– Well then listen carefully.

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*** VIII ***

Days later, somewhere in the house, before "the wedding" begins.

The Page.– And there is more your lordship... The very maiden ordered for tonight certain garments, which to tell the truth seem like things of a horrendous mass. She has ordered ten, ten dresses!, made with the purest, whitest fabric. Besides... branches of oak, or hazel? ...soaked in lye.

The King.– Lye?

The Page.– Soap, your majesty, a heresy.. That is without speaking of several liters of boiling and sweetened milk that I cannot manage to distinguish what it’s for, if not to drink... With all that, I could well think she is a witch and that some terrible harm, she dares, to inflict, upon your son.

The King.– I cannot believe such stories... In any case remember that the terrifying freak, my son, has not had very good behavior let’s say. And she is so beautiful, so blooming.

The Page.– I would not say so much. And I say more, that she is a servant.

The King.– Well I shall succinctly say that you shut up and very quickly get lost for the pigeons for the ceremony is about to begin.

The Page.– Quickly I go, your majesty.

The King.– And tell the queen to hurry up.

The Page.– Yes.

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*** IX ***

In the "church," which is actually the chapel of the house ("all stays in the family"), the royals await the bride and groom and the officiant, the Page, who will obviously be disguised as an apostolic cardinal.

The Queen.– Oh, majesty, weddings excite me so much! How many memories such events awaken in me! Once you yourself, somewhat younger, and I, a little more beautiful, lived these moments of celebration, of joy, that surely our son and his future wife will know how to recognize as is proper.

The King.– But madam, if we did not know that such nuptials will be followed by mourning for the bride, dead, disappeared into the ferocious stomach of our son the very night in which they should enjoy their new bonds; if at least the girl were to become the future queen, happy mother of our longed-for grandchildren... well I would be very disposed to enjoy these events...

The Queen.– Ah, sure, it’s a pity. But look... Here the lovebirds approach... Let the musicians play a singular march!... (A Funeral March is heard). Bravo!, long live the bride and groom! Long live our kingdom!

The Page–Priest.– We are gathered here before the highest dignitaries of this empire, as well as before witnesses without blemish, all of them capable of recognizing the noble marriage of you children: An adorable maiden and a... dragon prince, his highness, whose merits I would not dare to detail, for they are so many and varied that... Since the beginnings of History we have known how to appreciate...

The Dragon Prince.– Yes, yes... fewer words, page-parish priest. What follows? A kiss, is it not? Come maiden, receive from my love my sweet kisses.

The prince pursues the maiden, with obvious sexual intent.

The Maiden.– No! Indeed, I prefer to dance with you some piece.

Music. While King, Queen and Page dance a curious choreography, very simple; the Dragon Prince performs an obscene, almost pornographic routine, in front of the maiden.

The King.– But look, the dance has ended, let us give our good wishes to the bride and groom.

The Queen.– Oh children, what an... original dance yours was. Why do we not make a toast to your happiness and then you delight us with another sample of your singular dance?

The Dragon Prince.– Nothing!

The King and the Page.– That’s it, a toast!

The Dragon Prince.– I said Nothing!

The Maiden.– But, my highness... Would you not like to celebrate, with your parents, our happy and surely auspicious encounter?

The Prince, furious, growls threateningly. Everyone walks trying to find a safe place. Finally, the "beast" takes his "new wife" by the hair and says to her:

The Dragon Prince.– Do you not see that I cannot stand these environments! Foolish woman, do you not understand that what I want is to leave, without more, to our bedroom?

The Maiden.– You are so romantic!

The Dragon Prince.– Be quiet and follow me in an instant. If you do not come like a flash to my chamber, I will drag your body to the tower, there I will tear out your hair, I will burn your eyes and then I will devour your entrails slowly; I will finally throw the bleeding, pitiful trunk into the castle moat, for food, yes, for my dearest brothers, the reptiles. (Exit the Dragon Prince).

The Maiden.– Gentlemen, excuse me, it has been a great pleasure.

The King.– Goodbye girl.

The Queen.– See you later.

The Page.– Goodbye.

---

*** IX ***

In the young man's "bedroom." The dragon enters carrying the maiden. He does not know where to "place" her and leaves her for a moment on the floor, then goes for a "couch." He places it on the floor and lies down inviting, lecherously, the maiden.

The Maiden.– Sweet lord, since my end is near... I know it for I am not foreign to your amorous mortal arts, allow me, I beg you, this wish...

The Dragon Prince.– No petition will be heard. Lie down on the couch for I go disposed to finish with you, and with your vain attempts to prevent it.

The Maiden.– I will do so without doubt, I promise you; but... Singular delight would cause, in me, that you set aside your clothes, and then I, too, will strip from my body this dress that hinders me.

The Dragon Prince.– It seems you are disposed to enjoy this adventure which, at least for you, will be the last. I will strip off my clothes, which is a singular wrapping as you know. (He takes off his jacket).

The Maiden.– Now I will take off my chemise. Thus, naked, you will see that I am the faithful lover you had always desired. (She takes off the first dress).

The Dragon Prince.– But I do not see, even peeking into that voluptuous body, vestiges of skin or any sweat, are you perhaps made of fabric? is your sweet skin of cotton, my maiden?

The Maiden.– No more than you, my highness, are covered in rare membranes. What is this hard skin if not?, what can there be underneath?

The Dragon Prince.– (He takes off his shoes). You will discover that this skin encloses more sensuality than you could have imagined. But, what is happening?, you must in turn take off that garment, that impure dress that covers your body, what are you waiting for?

The Maiden.– (Second dress). Done. And we continue just as before, for I would not know to say if what I see is the wrapping of a fish, or a lizard, or a serpent... You show nothing but something like the scaly hide of a dragon, in short.

The Dragon Prince.– Well what did you expect! For my part I cannot distinguish more than a fabric that entangles me, and that wants to make me fall. Confess, what sorcery you plot!

The Maiden.– Oh seductive mystery!, oh lamentable spell!

The Dragon Prince.– You yourself speak of enchantments, witch? I will finish with you and your malignant arts! Come to me, for I must swallow you!

The Maiden.– Finish with me my beloved, for I do not want to fight with you, who are without doubt my destiny, my love, my God in sum.

The Dragon Prince.– Is it true what I hear? Do you not fear, from me, the most atrocious death?

The Maiden.– No, because in truth I love you.

The Dragon Prince.– I never expected such words; I know not what I should do, the only appetite I conceive is to devour your whole body; I do not want this confusion that comes to my entrails.

The Maiden.– Finish with me, I desire it, but first you must enjoy the body that awaits you; I in turn want to feel, it is a plea, your naked body in living skin upon my fresh flesh.

The Dragon Prince.– Very well, maiden; but you must now take off that dress first.

The Maiden.– So I shall do. (She takes off the third dress).

The Dragon Prince.– And I in turn... (He takes off his shirt). But I still do not see the naked skin.

The Maiden.– Let’s make another attempt. (Fourth dress).

The Dragon Prince.– I am in agreement and anxious. (Takes off some suspenders).

The Maiden.– It seems necessary to take off from each side some more garment. (Fifth dress).

The Dragon Prince.– Yes. (He takes off his pants).

The Maiden.– Another one, it is necessary. (Sixth dress).

The Dragon Prince.– Yes. (He takes off a sock). I manage to distinguish a passion that I never conceived for any people; take off all the garments you have left, for sudden emotion invades my being, and I would not know how to continue with this matter, without launching myself upon you and subjecting you to the most intense embrace that could ever be suspected upon this world.

The Maiden.– Calm, my lord, and take off that bestial skin that you lack, I will take off in turn this one that burdens, that entangles. (Seventh dress).

The Dragon Prince.– It is done. (He takes off his bow tie).

The Maiden.– It is not enough, but it seems that with one... (Eighth dress). ...everything will begin for love, ours, as you never imagined.

The Dragon Prince.– With this one... (He takes off the second sock). already eight are the skins that covered my dragon body, I do not think any is missing.

The Maiden.– I see that yes, I too have this ninth one left over, I will throw it, but I will ask that you throw first.

The Dragon Prince.– I will not accept if we do not do it at the same time.

The Maiden.– Very well, let’s both do it at the same time.

The Maiden takes off the ninth chemise and still keeps the tenth, the Dragon seems about to take off his underpants, when he takes off, in an orgasmic gesture, his "last skin," the mask.

The Dragon Prince.– Maiden, what have you done.

The Maiden.– This is your wedding night with me, receive it.

The Maiden goes for a bundle of dry branches and begins to beat the Dragon without mercy.

The Dragon Prince.– I must kill you. I will say no more.

The Maiden.– You can do no more harm. With these oak branches I make you forget each of your crimes. I destroy a false being. I end your curse.

The Maiden beats the body of the Dragon without mercy until both are exhausted.

The Maiden.– Come here... you need a bath; submerge yourself sweetly in this tub which for water has a sea of boiling milk; you will sleep later with me in an embrace, does it please you?

The Dragon Prince.– The bath is as burning as fire and yet it comforts me, submerges me in myself and I would not know to say anything else with a sense; I want to sleep deeply.

The Maiden.– Those are desires I make mine and they shall be fulfilled in this very instant. Come to rest husband. In this bed we will wake up tomorrow in a new story, we will be the future King and Queen, we will govern in this empire when the old kings are gone; you will see. Now, my dragon prince, you may sleep.

---

*** X ***

The next morning; in the garden...

The King.– And... would he have eaten her?

The Page.– Without a doubt.

The Queen.– Poor girl, so graceful, so slender... It is a pity that she died, poor thing, in that way.

The King.– The truth is that the prince, the dragon, has not yet come out of his room, what could have happened?

The Maiden.– Lords, my so beloved relatives, here I am. I know what pleasure it will cause you to know that my life has not expired, and that the dragon...

The Queen.– She is a harpy, as said: she has killed him!

The King.– Is that true, little one, have you murdered him?

The Page.– That is clear, look: in her satisfied smile she shows the fault, the crime, the offense, the infraction, the misdeed.

The Prince.– I wouldn’t say so much.

All.– Oh... (The "prince" arrives turned into a handsome and calm young man: he dresses, speaks and walks like a simpleton nerd. On the other hand, he hasn't a hair of a fool).

The Queen.– And who is this beautiful young man who dares to burst the peace of this castle?

The Prince.– Mother, do you not recognize your son?...

The Queen.– It is true, the soul tells me so, it shouts to me. Come here oh my blood, give a hug to your mother who adores you.

The King.– That is the prince?

The Page.– Without doubt, majesty; that is as evident as that you are the King and I, well I am a miserable page.

The Prince.– Father, and you, do you not embrace your son?

The King.– I don’t know... If your mother recognizes you... Well with that it’s enough for me...

The Prince.– But, majesty, oh my father...

The Queen.– Husband!

The King.– Come to my arms, boy!

The Prince.– Father!

The Queen.– Well, now that the matter, fortunately, has been resolved, you have nothing left but to abandon this place which without doubting was eventual, was transitory.

The King.– To whom do you speak thus?

The Prince.– To me?

The Page.– To me?

The Maiden.– No, to me... who apparently don’t have much to do in this place, goodbye, I’m leaving.

The Prince.– But my prize, what do you say, come here. Mother, be careful with what you say.

The King.– Oh, yes.

The Page.– Your majesty, you should be careful.

The Queen.– One should meditate without doubt on the bond you had with this pretty girl, kind yes, but I, as you can imagine, desire for you a princess.

The Page.– Of course, a royal court lady from far away.

The King.– My dear, you would be better kept quiet.

The Page.– Yes.

The King.– And you too, page.

The Page.– ¡No estoy de acuerdo!

 

The Prince.– Mother, father... It seems ill that my ears heard some nonsense or other surely born of my imagination and fantasy. You, my wife, heard no opposition, from anyone, is it not so?

The Maiden.– Oh, no, my master and my lord.

The Queen.– Well I say that...

The Prince.– My father, of course the times will come when you, what you know, teach it to me as is proper.

The King.– It will be a pleasure, oh prince.

The Prince.– My mother, your experience and arts are an inexhaustible source that, without doubt, and with your sure blessing, you will know how to transmit to the princess.

The Queen.– Me?

The Maiden.– To me?

The Page.– To which princess.

The Prince.– Mother, is it true that you agree?

The Queen.– Oh... yes... I shall know very wisely how to guide her with wisdom, with strength and generosity, is it not so, oh my daughter?

The Maiden.– Oh, of course, mother.

The King.– Well say no more, we must celebrate as is proper these events, let us all go together to the main hall of this castle.

The Page.– Lord, I must say that that place has been dirty and forgotten for a long time.

The Prince.– There is nothing to worry about, Page.

The King.– No, you will clean very well if that is necessary.

The Page.– I feel some discomfort in my stomach and it would not be prudent in this part to say openly what I think.

The Prince.– Let’s go, dear father.

The King.– Let’s go, let’s all go together.

Exit King, Prince and Page.

The Queen.– Before we enter, my daughter, and since we have wisely managed to establish happy bonds. Now, as a sign of friendship, I will show you my most intimate, magnificent, treasures.

The Maiden.– Oh, thank you, mother.

The Queen.– My rosebushes!

The Maiden.– They are so... beautiful!

The Queen.– And there is something else, as you will see, if you are aware: two types of roses are those that I cultivate: white and red; two colors. They are a delicacy of gods, thus, without cooking, tender and fresh.

The Maiden.– Truly?

The Queen.– The best flavor is born by tasting the union of both delights in a single bite.

The Maiden.– Oh, I would never have imagined it.

The Queen.– Take them, and let us go with my great husband the King, also with your prince.

The Maiden.– They will notice that we have delayed...

The Queen.– Eat them, if you wish, very slowly; later, if you please, we will return for more to this garden, and to your cravings we will give, if necessary, a quick end.

The Maiden.– Let us go.

The Queen.– Yes.

THE END.

---

Mexico City March 1993 / Update 2026

® SOGEM

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