- The General: Let's escape without delay!
- The Ritual Master: Ah! At long last, you've had a good idea!
- Rian: Everything the Skeksis ever told us was a lie. But it's hard to recognize the light when you've spent your whole life in the dark. Today, today you have glimpsed the true face of your lords. Dreamfast with me, learn the secrets they keep from you, then spread the truth across Thra, so we may finally unite as one against our true foe, the Skeksis.
- The Archer: And where does my path lead?
- Aughra: Into the sands, to face the Hunter.
- [the two contemplate the situation]
- The Archer: I cannot defeat my dark half.
- Aughra: You will find a way, but not without sacrifice.
- [skekSil catches skekAyuk urinating on a stone]
- The Chamberlain: What is matter? Have all gone mad? And now public micturition?
- [skekAyuk breaks wind loudly and turns to face skekSil with his exposed lower half]
- The Gourmand: Chamberlain!
- [skekSil yelps and averts his eyes]
- The Gourmand: Have you not heard? Oh, ah, excuse me.
- [skekSil gives an exclamation of disgust as skekAyuk makes himself decent]
- The Gourmand: The General murdered the All-Maudra.
- The Chamberlain: The General?
- The Gourmand: Yes.
- The Chamberlain: At the Emperor's command?
- The Gourmand: No, no. No command at all. And then the castle guards rose against us. We crushed them!
- [He gives a croaking laugh of triumph]
- The Gourmand: It has been a long time since I experienced the heady thrill of armed combat.
- [He hiccups unceremoniously]
- The Chamberlain: Emperor must be very angry at General. Hmm... Perhaps I rejoin at sire's side, yes?
- The Chamberlain: Stop! Stop! Stop the music! I bring news! Terrible news! Stop! CEASE ALL MERRYMAKING!
- [podling musicians stop playing]
- The Emperor: [speech slightly slurred] Chamberlain, I see you standing here, but no Rian. What do you have to say before I punish you for your continued failure?
- [All the other Skeksis laugh]
- The Chamberlain: As you celebrate, Gelfling of Stone-in-Wood rebel! An entire clan has taken arms against Skeksis. I was thrown into heated battle! I faced grave danger! I fought my way out at own personal risk to bring you this report!
- [the other Skeksis make dismissive noises]
- The Emperor: Stone In The Wood, you say?
- The Chamberlain: Hmm... Yes, yes.
- [shouting]
- The Chamberlain: Because of General's blundering violence!
- The General: Nonsense!
- The Chamberlain: skekVar killed All-Maudra, against Emperor's wishes! Caused all of this! Order is upended!
- The General: Bah!
- The Scientist: Huh?
- [skekSo starts laughing. All the other Skeksis at the table start laughing, too. skekSil stares around in confusion]
- The Emperor: The General has set us free! Never again will the Skeksis have to bear the burden of pretending to care for these useless Gelfling!
- The Chamberlain: Hmmm?
- The General: We will take what is ours without games or pretense!
- The Emperor: We will rule forever!
- [the other Skeksis at the table cheer wildly]
- The General: Very well said!
- The Chamberlain: [stammering] But-but Emperor...
- The General: Emperor, the Chamberlain here may have inadvertently provided us with our next meal. The Stonewood's defiance is all the justification we need to clear them out of their village, and into our larders!
- The Emperor: We must have more essence!
- The General: More essence!
- The Emperor: MORE!
- The Ornamentalist: More essence!
- The Ritual Master: More essence!
- [All the other Skeksis begin chanting "More essence!" skekSil whimpers in dismay]
- The Emperor: [sniffing] Mmm... What is that I smell on you, Chamberlain?
- [skekAyuk sniffs skekSil]
- The Gourmand: Ugh! Peachberry! skekSil stinks of it!
- [the other Skeksis react in disgust]
- The Emperor: Into the baths with you, Chamberlain!
- The Scroll-Keeper: Ugh! Disgusting!
- The General: You stink! Ha ha ha!
- The Scroll-Keeper: Get out!
- The Ritual Master: Go on with you!
- The Scientist: Vacate! Out! Ha ha ha!
- The Ornamentalist: Shoo! Shoo!
- [the Chamberlain lowers his head and slinks away in defeat as the others continue shouting insults]
- The Ritual Master: Begone!
- The Collector: Go on!
- The Emperor: Remove your fetid stench from our presence!