Predict

Will any riddler win the Princess’s heart?

SCENE 3. Several weeks later. The KING and QUEEN are on their thrones. The PRINCESS is seated below them. They look tired.

CHORUS. [enter dancing and singing]

Come, young men, to the king’s great palace.

Match your skill with the lovely princess.

Riddle after riddle—one, two, three.

Match your skill with the riddling princess.

Young men came to the king’s great palace.

Matched their skills with the clever princess.

Riddle after riddle—one, two, three.

No match for the riddling princess.

KING. [bored and disgusted] Whose idea was this? Will it ever end?

QUEEN. Ninety-nine of our strongest and smartest young men have challenged the princess. None of them have been able to win. And here comes another one. [RIDDLER 100 enters with a SERVANT. He does not bow.]

RIDDLER 100. Prepare to be my bride, Princess. You will marry me. And when we are wed, there will be no more of these stupid riddles. I’ve never liked them.

[The KING and QUEEN look surprised. The PRINCESS frowns. The SERVANT shakes his head sadly. The PRINCESS notices his response, but says nothing.]

RIDDLER 100. [leans toward the SERVANT, the SERVANT whispers in his ear] Here is my riddle: One is dead, yet it still answers. One is living, but it doesn’t answer.

PRINCESS. It is a dead leaf that crunches underfoot. And a green leaf that makes no sound when you walk on it. Here is a riddle for you: It has teeth but cannot bite.