SCENE I

TIME:  one morning; 1484.  PLACE:  a street in front of King John’s palace, Lisbon, Portugal.  Gates to courtyard of palace in background.

* * * * *

CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS. 
SCHOOLMASTER. 
CARLOS. 
ROQUE.[Footnote:  Pronounced R[=o]’k[=a].]
PANCHO.[Footnote:  Pronounced Paen’ch[=o] (ch as in church.)]
KING JOHN. 
COURTIERS. 
JESTER. 
RIVERRA,[Footnote:  Pronounced R[=e]-ver’rae.] A SEA-CAPTAIN. 
PORTER. 
BOYS, HOSTLERS, SERVANTS.

* * * * *

[Enter CARLOS, ROQUE and PANCHO. They carry their school-books.  A noise is heard in courtyard.]

ROQUE (stopping; listening).  There’s stirring in the King’s courtyard!

[He runs to closed gates; peeps through a crack.]

CARLOS.  Come, Roque, we shall be late to school.

ROQUE (throwing down books).  Come, look!  They are laying the red carpets in the court!

PANCHO (throwing down books; peeping).  ’T is for the King they lay them!

CARLOS.  Come, the master will be angry.

ROQUE.  But the King will soon be coming!

PANCHO.  Let’s wait and see him, Carlos!

CARLOS.  Not I!  I know how the master flogs!  Yesterday I came late to school.

PANCHO.  Why were you late?

CARLOS.  I stopped to watch the crazy Italian, Columbus.

[He starts off; the others follow.]

ROQUE.  I saw him once!

PANCHO.  I wish I might see him!

CARLOS.  There he comes now! (Calling.) Loco![Footnote:  Pronounced l[=o]’k[=o]; Spanish for crazy.] Loco!

ROQUE.  Aye, there he is! (Calling.) Loco!  Loco!

PANCHO (calling). Loco!  Loco!

[Enter COLUMBUS, dignified and gentle.  A crowd of BOYS follow.]

ALL BOYS. Loco!  Loco!  Loco!  Loco!

[Enter SCHOOLMASTER, carrying a switch.]

MASTER (flourishing switch).  To school with you!  To school now!

[Boys run off in alarm.]

MASTER (turning angrily upon Columbus).  You were teaching them your foolish notions, sir!

COLUMBUS (smiling).  I’d like the chance to do so, master.

MASTER.  Ah, then you have been at it!  I saw them all about you!

COLUMBUS.  I taught them nothing, master,—­this time.

MASTER.  ’T is well for you, sir, that you did not.  The world is flat, sir, flat!  Do you not know that, sir?

COLUMBUS.  I was so taught—­

MASTER.  How do you dare, then, to say the world is round?

COLUMBUS.  Much study and common sense, dear master, have made me dare.

MASTER.  The lessons taught your fathers are good enough for you, sir.