The stranger

Pointing to the king. Who is he?

The bishop

                                                                   The king!                                                                  

The stranger

The king? Time. And what is he doing now?

The bishop

He reigns of course!

The stranger

On the rock?

The bishop

I did not find another throne.

The stranger

And you?

The bishop

I am the King’s fool.

The stranger

Are you a fool?

The bishop

Are you not?

The stranger

I do not think so.

The bishop

What do you think?

The stranger

That the king is alone.

The bishop

Are we not all alone?

The stranger

But he however appears to be even more alone… Time. He has no one else but you.

The bishop

Well then he is not alone!

The stranger

But you said that you are a fool!

The bishop

Does my loneliness not count?

The stranger

Since you are not rational, you do not know that you are alone.

The bishop

Is it more rational for one to feel alone despite being with me?

The stranger

I do not know.

The bishop

Let us ask the king.

The stranger

Will he receive us?

                                                                 The bishop

As you said it, he has no other appointment.

The stranger

However when we are with him, he will no longer feel alone.

The bishop

That, we will see. Silence. My king! My king!

The king

Who is it?

The bishop

Your Fool!

The king

What do you want from me?

The bishop

A stranger wishes to see you.

The king

A stranger? There are no strangers in my kingdom.

The bishop

And yet, he is not known to us.

The stranger

I am a stranger, king.

The king

Then how do you know that I am a king?

The stranger

Your fool told me!

The king

And you believe fools?

The stranger

And children…

The king

This stranger is strange!

The bishop

And bizarre!

The king

We must condemn him!

The bishop

Is he guilty?

The king

He is a stranger! That suffices!

The stranger

I am not entirely a stranger to you!

The king

And for what reason, may I ask?

The stranger

Because now I am guilty! I am not a mere stranger.

The bishop

Correct!

The king

Shut up you fool! Do not interrupt me!

The stranger

What is my crime?

The bishop

You failed to recognise the king!

The stranger

But of course I recognise him!

The bishop

I am the king.

The stranger

You?

The bishop

Did I surprise you?

The stranger

Not exactly.

The bishop

Meaning?

The stranger

It is not rocks that make kings.

The bishop

Nor fools!

The stranger

That, I do not know.

The king

You must die!

The stranger

But why?

The king

How else might I show my authority?

The stranger

By acquitting me!

The bishop

You are innocent! That is not the problem!

The stranger

So then, what is the problem?

The bishop

That the king has contemned you! You are a pawn!

The stranger

But he is the bishop!

The bishop

Do you no longer believe in fools?

The stranger

I no longer know what to believe in.

The bishop

Has your faith escaped you?

The king

He is also an infidel!

The stranger

No! No!

The bishop

What do you believe in?

The stranger

In children.

The king

Children do not exist here!

The bishop

We executed them.

The stranger

But why?

The king

They could not play chess!