1492 THE PLAY: THE CONQUEST THROUGH NATIVE EYES
Written by Marilyn Harris
EXCERPT FROM THE SCRIPT
ACT 1
SCENE 1
Setting: Tne court of Ferdinand and Isabel, Spain,
1492, day.
Spotlight on a rapper who begins with a drum beat.
His function is the narration that ties scenes
together, filling in the history.
RAPPER
IN NINETEEN HUNDRED NINETY-TWO
FOLKS EVERYWHERE WERE FIXING TO
CECELEBRATE THE TALE OF DISCOVERY,
HOW COLUMBUS SAILED THE UNKNOWN SEA.
YOU READ ABOUT IT IN YOUR HISTORY BOOK,
AND NOW WE’RE GONNA TAKE A CLOSER LOOK.
Spotlight shifts stage left to the chorus, four women
who sing mournfully to the tune of “Hi Ho, Nobody
Home.”
CHORUS
FOURTEEN HUNDRED NINETY-TWO,
A GRIEVOUS YEAR TO BE A JEW.
ISABEL AND FERDINAND
HAVE FORCED THEM OUT OF SPAIN’S FAIR LAND.
Spotlight shift to stage center and illumines an
elderly Jew, stooped, leaning on his staff, a pack on
his back.
ELDERLY JEW
Oi vey. Ay de mi, que pena! What did I do?
The voices of the monarchs answer him, although we
don’t see them yet.
FERDINAND
You are a Jew!
ELDERLY JEW
I’m a member of a brilliant race. To have a brain is no
disgrace.
ISABEL
Only Christians live here now. All before the cross shall bow!
The elderly Jew shuffles offstage. Spotlight on
Chorus, who continue their song.
MUSLIMS, MOORS, AND NOW THE JEWS
ARE LEAVING SPAIN BUT WHO SHALL LOSE?
QUEEN ISABEL? KING FERDINAND?
OR THOSE WHO TOIL ON SPAIN’S RICH LAND?
Lights up on the throne room where the monarchs are
seated. Ferdinand’s throne says “Aragon.” Isabel’s
says “Castilla.”
ISABEL (CONT’D)
My Lord, ’tis a brilliant thing we’ve done!
Your kingdom and mine have joined as one.
FERDINAND
How strong and brave our armies fight.
We put the Moors and Jews to flight.
(puffs out his chest with
pride)
Our canons are a wondrous sight!
ISABEL
They prove our military might.
And our Spanish navy, mi amor…
FERDINAND
Technologically superior!
The monarchs rise from their thrones, the rap beat
begins and they do a congratulatory dance. This is
interrupted by the sound of trumpets and they hasten
back to their thrones and resume their regal
composure. A courtier enters.
COURTIER
If it please your royal Highnesses, one Cristobal Colon
wishes to see you.
FERDINAND
Show him in, my good man.
Christopher Columbus enters with two of his sailors.
All three bow lol.
COLUMBUS
Good day, your gracious Majesties.
FERDINAND
Arise! And tell us what you please.
COLUMBUS
My name is Cristobal Colon.
I’m a captain and trader of some renown,
with a skill at sailing the ocean seas.
I can reckon my course from the northerly breeze.
SAILOR 1
He can steer a ship’s course with marvelous ease.
ISABEL
(whispers to Ferdinand and
addresses Columbus)
But tell us, señor, where do you call home? Do you sail for
Spain?
FERDINAND
(suddenly worried)
Or for an enemy throne?
COLUMBUS
I’m glad you asked. Take a look at me.
Would you say I’m Portuguese? Or from Italy?
Well, both are true. I’ll serve the monarch who
has the money to pay my voyage to
SAILOR 1
China! India! The mysterious East!
SAILOR 2
Land of the Great Khan, now deceased.
(bows his head in mock
mourning)
FERDINAND
The land of precious gold and spices?
COLUMBUS
(sees his opportunity and
rushes up to the throne)
Yes! A way to forestall your financial crisis!
Your cannons surely cost a lot,
armies, navies, and what-not,
ministers of foreign affairs, nobles with their fancy airs.
SAILOR 2
An empire needs a man who dares!
COLUMBUS
I’ll reach the east by sailing west.
Will your Highnesses put me to the test?
The sailors draw cheerleaders’ pom-poms from their pockets and lead a cheer.
SAILOR 1 & SAILOR 2
Cristobal Colon in ninety-two!
The sailor with chutzpah and derring-do!
The monarchs exchange private looks, and Isabel rises
from her throne and approaches Columbus. She speaks
condescendingly.
ISABEL
By the way you speak, one would think you’d seen
a land to the west. But I, your Queen,
have it on high authority.
There’s nothing to the west but the endless sea.
Isabel returns to her throne and high-fives Ferdinand.
COLUMBUS
Most Sovereign Lords, come look with me
at Marco Polo’s diary.
Right here it says, on page 53.
“The wealth of the Orient waits for thee.”
The Monarchs start to show interest and strain forward
to see the diary. Columbus sees his opportunity.
COLUMBUS (CONT’D)
And furthermore wouldn’t it be grand
to Christianize the Great Khan’s land?
Sailors 1 and 2 produce a large cross which they give
to Columbus. He extends it to the monarchs and drops
to one knee.
COLUMBUS (CONT’D)
In the name of the powers invested in me
by your holy Catholic Majesties,
I’ll bring to China the faith of the cross!
Millions of heathen souls, now lost,
will fall to their knees…
SAILOR 1
And the Portuguese…
COLUMBUS
Will get there first if we don’t act fast!
As Columbus and the sailors listen anxiously for a
reply, Isabel and Ferdinand come stage center and
speak to each other in hushed tones.
FERDINAND
This sailor fellow Colon is mad.
His map of the ocean is worse than bad.
Whoever heard of reaching the East
by sailing West? His mind’s diseased.
ISABEL
Oh bother me not with mundane things.
But think! What if the Portuguese king…..
FERDINAND
Steals the gold and the glory from Spain?
ISABEL
Yes! Nothing ventured, and there’s nothing to gain.
Isabel sings a song to the tune of America the
Beautiful. Ferdinand joins her on the chorus.
ISABEL (CONT’D)
OH BEAUTIFUL AND BOUNTEOUS LAND, ACROSS THE WESTERN SEA.
HOW I LONG TO SING A SONG OF YOUR DISCOVERY.
FERDINAND & ISABEL (CONT’D)
A MARINER! A MARINER! WILL CONQUER ALL FOR SPAIN.
OUR NATIONS’S MIGHT WILL MAKE IT RIGHT.
LONG MAY OUR GLORY REIGN!
FERDINAND (CONT’D)
Summon the Royal Money Man!
The Royal Money Man appears, balancing a sack of money
on his head. On top of the sack is a crown made of
dollar bills. He removes the crown and bows, the sack
falling at the feet of the king. At a gesture from
Ferdinand, the sailors carry the sack off.
COLUMBUS
Your Graces won’t regret this day. I promise I’ll return and
pay my debt to you a thousandfold. Onward for Spain!
ISABEL
For Christ!
FERDINAND
And for gold!