[Opening — Spoken Male Solo, Light Jazz Piano and Upright Bass]
PRINCE:
Now, before you go changing the world,
I should probably introduce you to the people
who've been trying to change it already.
[He gestures toward a gathering of organizers.]
Let me introduce you to Jim, James, Paul, and Tyrone.
Barbara, Jane, Shirley, and Sally.
[A little piano flourish.]
They're the reason we have meetings about meetings,
minutes about meetings, and meetings about the minutes.
[He grins.]
But they're good people.
[Movement I — Bouncy Bass, Finger Snaps, Playful Piano]
[Verse 1 — Male Solo, Conversational and Rhythmic]
Jim's got a plan, James has two,
Paul's got a pamphlet he wants you to review.
Tyrone says the system's got to go,
But first, we need a quorum, don't you know?
Barbara's got the books in line,
Jane's been organizing since quarter to nine.
Shirley's got the numbers, Sally's got the floor—
And somebody's been knocking on the meeting-room door!
[Spoken Aside]
That's probably the landlord.
[Movement II — Jazz Piano Runs, Syncopated Drums]
[Verse 2 — Male Solo, Growing More Theatrical]
We gather for the people,
We organize for change.
We challenge old traditions
That keep the world arranged.
No king above the people,
No bloodline makes you right.
If justice is the mission,
Then everybody's got to fight!
[He catches himself getting carried away.]
Well—not fight-fight.
We're still working on the language for that.
[Music Stops — A Single Piano Chord]
[Spoken — Formal, Grandiose]
And together, we are the—
[He inhales, raises one finger, then pauses.]
The Anti-King Organization Chapter of the—
[A long, awkward beat. He looks around at the group. Someone nods encouragingly.]
Whew.
[He wipes his brow. The orchestra gives him a tiny, sympathetic fanfare.]
The Anti-King Organization Chapter of the...
[Full Orchestral Sting]
KINGDOM OF GOLD!…..
[Theatrical pause. Someone says comically] “But aren’t you from the Kingdom of Pearls?”
Prince speaks: Chill Out….
[Movement III — Full Soulful Alt-R&B Groove]
[Chorus — Male Solo, Layered Male Harmonies]
No crown, no throne, no royal decree,
A kingdom belongs to you and me!
No golden blood can guarantee
A better world or liberty!
We're the people, we're the voice,
We're the ones who make the choice!
From the palace gates to the village square,
A little more justice everywhere!
[Ending — Playful Piano and Bass]
[The prince turns toward the granddaughter.]
PRINCE — Spoken:
And you are?
[He offers his hand, then notices the enormous stack of pamphlets in his other arm.]
Oh, forgive me. We usually have a form for that.
[The group groans. The prince laughs. The orchestra ends on a cheeky jazz chord.]
[END OF NUMBER]