(Enter THE SHELLEYS and LORD BYRON.)
PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY
Here we are, the Shelleys!LORD BYRON
And Lord Byron!PERCY SHELLEY
After a day of reckless sailing, I need to unwind.BYRON
What shall we do, Percy Bysshe?MARY WOLLSTONECRAFT SHELLEY
Bysshe . . . Bysshe . . . Bysshe . . .PERCY SHELLEY
A writing party it is!(He whips out a sheet of paper)
Look what I did! A young genius! There’s a ruler of a civilization; but now he’s a carving!
BYRON
Here, here! MARY SHELLEY
Bysshe . . . BYRON
And I’ve composed a tome about King Arthur —PERCY SHELLEY
That’s Tennyson. You’re Byron.BYRON
Well, who doesn’t get us confused?PERCY SHELLEY
And, Mary —MARY SHELLEY
Bysshe, my dear?PERCY SHELLEY
What have you done?MARY SHELLEY
Oh, I only write at my husband’s prodding.
PERCY SHELLEY
Don’t be shy, lovey. Last time, you wrote that novella about Prometheus.MARY SHELLEY
Did I tell you there’s more?
BYRON
(Delightedly amazed)No!
MARY SHELLEY
Yes. In the part you read, the creature recites from Goethe and gets killed in an ice flow. Well, it turns out that the creature isn’t dead. He comes back and forces the doctor to make a wife for him. But she’s all chicken-like and Egyptian-looking; so the creature blows everyone up! Can you believe it?BYRON
(Delightedly amazed)No! Marvelous!
PERCY SHELLEY
What doesn’t improve with a sequel!THE END
