| A TWICE WEEKLY SERIAL OF BIG TOP FOLK BY
SIMON PARKE |
|
EPISODE 15
LAST ORDERS
"I provide order," says Ringo the Ring Master to Jess. "Without order, what would the circus be?" He is polishing his big black ringmaster's boots, and holding court in his trailer; he's the "King of the Ring" even here.
"Without order," he continues, "what does it all add up to? A rag, tag and bobtail variety show! A chaotic mix of acrobat, clown, and prancing horse! What holds this shambles together? It is I!"
His shiny top hat sits on the sideboard, freshly brushed; but he still wears his uniform frock coat and immaculate cashmere trousers.
"Do you sleep in uniform?" asks Jess, with a surging alcoholic confidence; Ringo's whisky is very good.
"And what if I do?"
"Nothing."
"Well?"
Jess pauses, but only a moment. His powers of self-edit are floating away.
"I suppose we all have to, well, drop our role sometime."
"Drop our role sometime?" roars Ringo. "That's easy for a drunk clown to say! But do you really think it's so wise for me, the Ring Master?"
"I think it's wise for everyone, actually," said Jess. "Otherwise, you see, we start to believe our role – what we do – to be our selves, which of course is, well, not a good idea."
"And the circus?" demands Ringo. "What would become of the circus if I dropped my role?? Do you not think we topple on the edge of anarchy even now?"
"The show itself brings order."
"Burt certainly doesn't."
"And doesn't need to; as I say, the show does it. Whatever our differences, you see, tonight we perform as one; all else put aside. The show brings order."
"So!" says Ringo, fingering his moustache with due offence. "I have no role?"
"You do have a role, Ringo."
"Why, thank you, I'm sure!"
"It's just not who you are. So you can relax, and like me – take off your uniform sometimes!"
Ringo is strangely disturbed by this idea, being rather attached to his role.
"Quite the philosopher with my whisky inside you!" he says, which rather pleases Jess, who's never been called a philosopher before. "Though in my experience, the drunk always imagine themselves profound; their 'wisdom' has left them by the morning."
More clowning around |
