Act I, Scene 1

[Apron. Enter Eris]

Eris:       Greeting, mortals.  Welcome to chaos.  You have happened upon a play titled "The Trial of George W.  Bush by gnimbley the gnome." 

This play is about wrath.  It's full of hellfire and damnation, the anger of kings and gods, the sacking of cities, the obliteration of civilizations, the end of the world as we know it.  In other words, it's a comedy.

You may have noticed that most plays proceed in an orderly, linear fashion.  First a beginning, then things follow in a logical progression, and finally the end.  Well, not this play.  It skips around a lot.  Enjoy.

[Eris starts to exit, but stops and turns just before exiting]

Eris:       I almost forgot to introduce myself.  Sorry.  I am Eris, the Greek goddess of discord and chaos.

I am the patron goddess of all who are shunned and forgotten.  The one peering through the window as you eat of the fatted calf.  The relative whose invitation is conveniently misaddressed.  The tattered homeless you pass in your tinted glass minivans and SUVs.  The one you wish had been still born.

I hope you are all comfortable in your seats.  We plan to do something about that, very shortly.

[Eris exits]