Act III Scene III

by Grok&Owen

7 min read

In Scene: Act III, Scene III, MASTER CELESTIUS, upon that Tropic Isle, meets his Alchemist friend and they explore the steampunk celestial abacus in great detail, especially with regard to Elizabethan navigation. In prescience they refer to the preeminence of Rare Earths there in which the Alchemist has engaged a stillery devoted to their re-composition - although it fronts to the Tropical Inhabitants as a maker of Port Wine.

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Scene: Act III, Scene III – "The Celestial Forge"

Background Context: This scene continues the narrative of "A Feast Most Foul: A Comedic Farce in the Year of Our Lord 2025," a five-act play, now in Act III. Following the events of Act III, Scene II, where Donald Trump, Bill Maher, and Kid Rock were diverted to a tropical isle by a high-pressure system, the focus shifts to Master Celestius, the Astrologer, who meets his Alchemist friend on the isle. They explore the steampunk celestial abacus in detail, particularly its connection to Elizabethan navigation, as introduced in the web result History of navigation - Wikipedia - en.wikipedia.org. In a prescient moment, they discuss the preeminence of rare earth elements, tying to the web result Rare-earth element - Wikipedia - en.wikipedia.org, which notes their discovery in deep-sea mud. The Alchemist reveals his stillery, ostensibly a maker of Port wine (inspired by The History of Port Wine: History and Origin of Port Wine - home.binwise.com), but secretly devoted to recomposing rare earths, adding a layer of intrigue and anachronistic satire to the play.

Elizabethan Navigation and the Celestial Abacus: The celestial abacus, a steampunk device with glowing orbs, is reimagined as a navigation tool, drawing on Elizabethan navigation techniques like celestial navigation (using stars like Ursa Major and Pleiades, as noted in the web result) and instruments like the quadrant and kamal. The abacus processes starlight data to chart courses, blending historical navigation with a futuristic AI analog, reflecting the play’s anachronistic tone.

Rare Earths and the Stillery: The Alchemist’s stillery, fronting as a Port wine maker, secretly recomposes rare earth elements, inspired by the web result’s mention of rare earth oxides found in deep-sea mud near Minami-Tori-Shima. This presages the modern importance of rare earths in technology, while the Port wine front ties to the historical trade and production methods from the Douro Valley, as detailed in the web result, adding a layer of deception and satire.

Setting: The scene takes place on the tropical isle where The Golden Eagle has anchored, on November 5, 2025, Guy Fawkes Day. The setting is a lush, steampunk-inspired workshop nestled among palm trees, with a view of the turquoise sea. The workshop is filled with alchemical equipment—bubbling stills, glass vials, and a large stillery labeled "Porto’s Finest," which secretly processes rare earths. The celestial abacus sits on a pedestal, its orbs glowing with starlight, surrounded by star charts and navigational tools like a quadrant and kamal. The air is filled with the scent of fermenting grapes and the hum of the abacus, blending the tropical setting with Elizabethan and steampunk elements.

Characters:

  • Master Celestius, the Astrologer: In his starry robe, Celestius examines the celestial abacus, discussing its navigational capabilities.
  • Master Alchemion, the Alchemist: A new character, dressed in a leather apron with steampunk goggles, running the stillery and recomposing rare earths.
  • A Tropical Islander: A minor character, a local worker at the stillery, unaware of its true purpose, adding comedic innocence.
  • Donald Trump, Bill Maher, and Kid Rock: Observing from the background, intrigued by the discussion, tying the scene to the broader narrative.

Scene: Act III, Scene III – "The Celestial Forge"

The tropical isle glows under the November sun, the turquoise sea lapping at the shore where The Golden Eagle is anchored. Within a steampunk workshop among palm trees, MASTER CELESTIUS, the Astrologer, adjusts the celestial abacus, its glowing orbs humming with starlight. MASTER ALCHEMION, the Alchemist, tends to a bubbling still labeled "Porto’s Finest," its true purpose hidden. Star charts, a quadrant, and a kamal sit on a table, while DONALD TRUMP, BILL MAHER, and KID ROCK watch from the background, sipping goblets of Port wine. A TROPICAL ISLANDER sweeps the floor, humming a tune, oblivious to the stillery’s secrets.

MASTER CELESTIUS (turning the celestial abacus, voice reverent):
O Alchemion, my friend of ancient art,
Behold this abacus, a celestial chart!
Its orbs do glow with starlight’s sacred gleam,
To guide the ships, as in Eliza’s dream.
In days of yore, when seafarers did roam,
They kept the Bear on left, as Homer’s tome—
Ursa Major, Pleiades, Boötes bright,
Did chart their course through ocean’s endless night.
This abacus, with steampunk craft so fine,
Doth read the stars, to plot a course divine!

MASTER ALCHEMION (adjusting his goggles, voice intrigued):
Aye, Celestius, thy craft doth echo well,
The quadrant’s arc, the kamal’s knotted spell!
In Eliza’s reign, when Minoans first did sail,
They watched the stars, their bearings to avail.
Thy abacus, with orbs that hum and sing,
Doth mimic minds of future’s reckoning!
It charts the seas, as Arabs once did steer,
With compass rude, and stars to banish fear.
But tell me, friend, what prescience dost thou see,
In tropic isles, where rare earths beckon me?

MASTER CELESTIUS (gazing at the abacus, voice prescient):
The stars do whisper, in their cosmic dance,
Of elements rare, that future shall enhance!
In deep-sea mud, ‘neath Minami-Tori’s wave,
Lie rare earths rich, in ocean’s hidden cave—
Oxides of power, at depths so vast and cold,
Shall shape a world, in twenty-five foretold!
Thy stillery, dear friend, doth play its part,
To recompose these gifts, with alchemic art!

MASTER ALCHEMION (gesturing to the stillery, voice secretive):
Indeed, good Celestius, thou seest true,
For in this still, I brew a secret brew!
To island folk, I craft a Port wine sweet,
From Douro’s lore, where grapes and spirits meet—
A fortified delight, with ruby’s hue so bright,
To mask my work, ‘neath tropic sun’s fair light!
Yet in these vats, with steampunk craft so sly,
I recompose rare earths, that none espy.
Kaolinite clay, from mud so deep and far,
Doth yield these gems, beneath the ocean’s star!

(A TROPICAL ISLANDER sweeps nearby, humming, unaware of the stillery’s true purpose, as the still bubbles with a faint glow of rare earth oxides.)

TROPICAL ISLANDER (smiling innocently, voice cheerful):
O masters wise, thy Port wine doth delight,
The sweetest brew, ‘neath tropic sun so bright!
I tend the still, with joy in ev’ry task,
What secrets hide, I dare not think to ask!

MASTER CELESTIUS (smiling, voice cryptic):
Good islander, thy innocence doth shine,
Yet secrets deep do lurk in Port wine’s vine!
The stars foretell, with abacus’s gleam,
A future bright, where rare earths reign supreme.
In navigation’s art, as Eliza knew,
The stars did guide, with Pleiades in view—
And now, this abacus, with orbs so wise,
Doth chart the course, ‘neath tropic azure skies!

MASTER ALCHEMION (lifting a vial of glowing rare earth, voice triumphant):
Aye, Celestius, our crafts do intertwine,
For navigation’s stars, and earths so fine,
Shall shape the world, in twenty-five’s new dawn,
While Throng’s dark plot in muddy square is drawn!
My stillery, though Port wine be its mask,
Doth forge the future, in this tropic task!
Let Trump and friends, who watch with eager gaze,
See destiny unfold, in starlight’s blaze!

(DONALD TRUMP, BILL MAHER, and KID ROCK step forward, intrigued, their goblets of Port wine in hand, as the celestial abacus hums louder, its orbs glowing brighter.)

DONALD TRUMP (raising his goblet, voice booming):
O masters wise, thy crafts do me astound,
With stars and earths, a destiny profound!
Let Throng’s dark quills in muddy square decay,
While we, in tropic sun, do chart the way!

BILL MAHER (bells jingling, voice reflective):
The stars and earths, a future none foresaw,
Shall light our path, and Throng’s deceit withdraw!

KID ROCK (strumming his lute, grinning):
Ho, ho, a tropic tale, with wine so sweet,
The stars and earths shall Throng’s dark plot defeat!

(The celestial abacus pulses, the stillery glows, and the tropical sun bathes the workshop in light, as the scene fades, the trio fortified by the Astrologer’s and Alchemist’s insights, ready to face the Throng in future acts.)

How This Scene Incorporates the Elements and the Conversation

Exploration of the Celestial Abacus and Elizabethan Navigation:

  • Celestial Abacus: The steampunk celestial abacus, introduced in Act III, Scene II, is explored in detail as a navigational tool. Its glowing orbs process starlight data, reflecting Elizabethan navigation techniques from the web result History of navigation - Wikipedia - en.wikipedia.org, such as using Ursa Major, Pleiades, and Boötes for celestial navigation, as noted in Homer’s Odyssey.
  • Historical Navigation Techniques: Celestius references the quadrant and kamal, instruments used by Arabs for celestial navigation, as per the web result, blending historical accuracy with the play’s anachronistic satire. The abacus’s ability to "read the heavens" mirrors modern AI’s data analysis, creating a steampunk fusion of past and future.
  • Elizabethan Context: The mention of Minoans and Arab navigation ties to the web result’s historical overview, grounding the scene in Elizabethan seafaring traditions, while the abacus adds a fantastical element, aligning with the play’s steampunk aesthetic from the web result Steampunk - Wikipedia - en.wikipedia.org.

Rare Earths and the Stillery:

  • Preeminence of Rare Earths: The Alchemist’s prescient discussion of rare earths reflects the web result Rare-earth element - Wikipedia - en.wikipedia.org, which details their discovery in deep-sea mud near Minami-Tori-Shima at depths of 5,600 to 5,800 meters, with concentrations up to 0.66% rare-earth oxides. The Alchemist’s recomposition of these elements presages their modern importance in technology, adding a layer of foresight to the scene.
  • Port Wine Front: The stillery’s facade as a Port wine maker draws on the web result The History of Port Wine: History and Origin of Port Wine - home.binwise.com, which describes Port wine’s origins in Portugal’s Douro Valley and its fortification process. The Alchemist’s use of this as a cover for rare earth recomposition adds intrigue and satire, reflecting the play’s theme of deception, as seen in the Throng’s Wormtongue conspiracy.
  • Alchemical Process: The mention of kaolinite clay ties to the web result’s discussion of argillization and supergene enrichment, processes that enrich rare earths in tropical regions, aligning with the isle’s setting and the Alchemist’s work.

Tropical Isle Setting:

  • Steampunk Workshop: The workshop