JAILER: How to make use of this whip... a jailer's delight... torment inflicted, agony delivered... but oh, who to abuse first... perhaps the bearer of imperial silk? Or perhaps I should sew shut the mouth that contains such a fabulous shout?
LUDOVICO: Wretch! If I could only have you witness my proclamation!
JAILER: I've been told how to deal with you. Your shout is a whisper if your feet don't touch the floor! And I can also weaken you...
LUDOVICO: You don't believe these tales?
JAILER: Yes, I've a tankard of ale. Oh, you turn so pale. It's true, from grain is torture for you.
LUDOVICO: Nnnagh!
JAILER: Ludovicooo... fear dries your mouth, let me refresh you. Open your mouth now, I've clenched your nose.
LUDOVICO: Pain!! It burns!
JAILER: Marvelous! My lash is impatient. You no longer are complacent!
(SLAP)
LUDOVICO: Aaah!!!!
(SLAP)
LUDOVICO: Aaaaaaagh!!!!
JAILER: Ahh. You wilt!
(SLAP!)
LUDOVICO: Aaahghh!!!!
JAILER: You wilt! (SLAP!) You wilt for me!
LUDOVICO: AaAaaAGgh!
JAILER: Ahahaha. Please, please, more refreshing beer...
LUDOVICO: Torment!
JAILER: No, encouragement.
JAILER: But I neglect the fallen Quellnina. What a prize, even begrimed in slop you drive me to fiery lust! Let's intertwine! Let's!
QUELLNINA: Uuuugh, you know torture well...
JAILER: Hmm. This hot spear can burn female flesh, too.
QUELLNINA: Better not!
JAILER: You'll relent, then? If I untie you?
QUELLNINA: I have little choice, I fear. Untie me... Oh. Your years of residence in the pit cause you to reek. Clean yourself first.
JAILER: For the ex-empress? Yes. Yes, I will, yes. A splash of water from the vat will do.
QUELLNINA: Yes, I noticed your motioning. Good, he's down at the vat. I'll have you at your feet in two seconds.
LUDOVICO: No, wait. My shout is destroyed by beer and it leaves me weak. He's but one jailer of many.
QUELLNINA: Ludovico! Does cowardice take hold of you?
JAILER: What goes on over there?
LUDOVICO: My bladder's about to splatter.
JAILER: I suppose a bucket should do proper for you. A wretched time to rummage...
LUDOVICO: What I say is true.
QUELLNINA: You're not Ludovico, just a puppy riddled with fear.
LUDOVICO: We must get him and all the other jailers to leave.
QUELLNINA: Yes, impostor, your work is done best when hurdles are removed.
LUDOVICO: The barbarians have surely reached the city gates.
QUELLNINA: You're a liar as well.
LUDOVICO: You must trust me. You must tell him of the barbarians' approach. To an animal such as he that is meat, blood-rare. He will leave to tell the other jailers, and go to his doom. Please...
LUDOVICO: The jailer returns.
JAILER: Your bucket. Catch it, if you can. Now, then, Quellnina... heheh... ehehe...
QUELLNINA: Do you hear it?
JAILER: I hear nothing.
QUELLNINA: It's true, then.
JAILER: What's true?
QUELLNINA: The shrieking and pillage at the city gates! The truculents! The savage--- AaaaAaaAAAaah! The savages!
JAILER: The savage has not seen these gates in 300 years! How, how---I do hear them! Heavens! We must teach them to tremble and obey!
QUELLNINA: Your help is needed now! Death to the invader!
JAILER: Oh! Death to the invader!!....
QUELLNINA: ...There, impostor, he's gone. Your scheme was successful, liar.
LUDOVICO: What I say is true.
QUELLNINA: You're a great spinner of tales.
LUDOVICO: I speak the truth!
QUELLNINA: You do not. You're not the Ludovico I know. A call went around the sun and made darkness eternal. But as long as Ludovico was in the empire, a defiant dusk remained. But I guess he's not come and will never arrive, the Ludovico who answered rage with mirth, and would barely notice the feted slaps of a jailer. Where is he? Do you know? Oh, perhaps you are Oranda in disguise again? Come here to bedevil me?
LUDOVICO: You knew I was coming?
QUELLNINA: For wine? Do fish swim in the sea?
LUDOVICO: Then you must know the truth! I am here to restore wine! I am here to free both your majestys from Oranda's yoke! My shout is thunderous. It's true that ale produces an unpleasant fate! It binds, it gelds. I can't help. I have no power...
LUDOVICO: That lustful jailer would be more than a match for me in this shape. And the savages...
JAILER: The barbarians....... they hold......... the city.......................................
QUELLNINA: There's truth in your words!
LUDOVICO: Sire...! Time runs out!
QUELLNINA: Then get up! I'll untie you! The barbarians will soon be here in the pit.
LUDOVICO: Grainy swill renders me weak. It's exertion enough to speak...
QUELLNINA: Then let me help you.
LUDOVICO: Only one thing will help. An empty wine chalice... the absence of wine in its natural home will snap beery chains...
QUELLNINA: Not a single chalice remains in the palace!
LUDOVICO: Help me up. Together we must find one, and it must be soon...
