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Internet Opera or, The Waves of Cyberspace Home
Words and Music Website Copyright © 2003-2005
u.13Jul03
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To The Waves of Cyberspace , Seahag smiles at the junkie-like Internet habit she's developed. She re-connects us, to find PC, Katysails, and Lady Sailor at dinner on PC's virtual yacht. Katysails' virtual galley duties are heavy, and despite the joyous trio By Politeness and Bonhomee Ruled, her spirits sink further as PC and Lady Sailor leave her with the flying monkey cookery. Seahag suggests that life might be spicier if Capt Creel were allowed
back. Katysails is horrified at the suggestion, and makes Seahag see, to her
discomfiture, the harsh and cruel reality of newsgroup virtual life, and
the need to keep injury and hurt at bay. But she queers her own pitch, admitting
that the flame of life has dimmed. Seahag tempts her to exchange moralising
for fun, but Katysail's conscience wins out (Should I Go or Should I Stay?
). Act II Scene 2 On the main Internet stage, Gilligan and Tadpole worry about Capt Creel's continued absence. Bobsprit joins them, repenting of all his past attacks on Capt Creel, and seeking his return (Capt Creel Come Home ). Capt Creel, escaped from PC's trap, reappears with the Ghost Girls. All rejoice, and plan his triumph (Let us stand once more). The newsgroup reconnects (Walking Liberally), only to meet Capt Creel and company. PC, Katysails and Lady Sailor rush on in the newsgroup's defence. The fight goes in PC's favour as Katysails and Lady Sailor cut through with No! No more! and the further cries of "Go Away!" (Your minds are closed!). Capt Creel is almost overwhelmed, but, en-couraged by his supporters, makes his final, impassioned plea ( Break Away, Sail Away ). The newsgroup, however, is totally fed up with being pressured. "What are we supposed to do? " they cry, and reject both him and his philosophy. Capt Creel, defeated, washes his hands of them. PC demands that Capt Creel leave the newsgroup and, not letting scruples stand in the way of a worthy end, calls in the powers of darkness--the powerboaters--to assist (The Invocation). With their help, PC killfiles Capt Creel and supporters from the entire Internet. But the newsgroup is now complaining about PC's motors violating the sailing ethic. Enraged, PC considers it justifiable to destroy most of the newsgroup, for having occasionally approved of Capt Creel, or disapproved of PC (The Bold Navigator). PC's post-slaughter celebration is interrupted by enforcers from the European Union bureaucracy, come to Arrest him for failing to fill in and date a subsection of his boat registration forms. He and his boat are to be eliminated in punishment. And Katysails is arrested as the cause of extinction of flying monkeys, through over-cooking. Katysails bewails the failure of good intentions and the destruction of innocence ( Lost, Forlorn ), before being dragged into darkness with PC and the innocent bystander, Lady Sailor. The trio remaining of the newsgroup begin a discussion of such gravity
that it forms a black hole, which swallows them. Only the Seahag remains,
a hag again, doomed to live on as the archived newsgroup memory, forever revisiting
and forever haunted by the waves of cyberspace, from which no-one truly vanishes
(The Revenants). |
