Explore this scene
Scene Overview
- Female: 1
- Male: 2
More Scenes
Context
Inspired by Mama Ubu, Papa Ubu has decided that he wants to kill King Wenceslas and take the throne. In this scene, he enlists the help of Captain Bordure, who hates the king. The prior scene was a ruined banquet in which Papa Ubu chased out all of his guests so he could talk to Captain Bordure alone. In the provided video, the translation varies slightly from the provided text, and does contain explicit language.
to read the context for this scene from Ubu Roi and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Text
PAPA UBU. Well then. Captain, did you dine well?
BORDURE. Very well, sir, except for the shit.
PAPA UBU. Eh! the pshite wasn’t bad.
MAMA UBU. Each to their own taste.
PAPA UBU. Captain Bordure, I’ve decided to make you Duke of Lithuania.
BORDURE. But how? I thought you were terribly poor, Papa Ubu.
PAPA UBU. In a few days, if you please, I shall reign over Poland.
BORDURE. Are you going to kill Wenceslas?
PAPA UBU. He’s not silly, this chap. He guessed it.
BORDURE. If it’s a question of killing Wenceslas, I’m in. I’m his mortal enemy and I’ll answer for my men.
PAPA UBU (throwing himself on Bordure to kiss him). Oh! oh! I love you, Bordure.
BORDURE. Hey! you stink, Papa Ubu. Don’t you ever wash?
PAPA UBU. Rarely.
MAMA UBU. Never!
PAPA UBU. I’m going to stamp on your feet!
MAMA UBU. Thick pshite!
PAPA UBU. Go, Bordure, I’ve finished with you. But by my green candle, I swear by Mama Ubu to make you Duke of Lithuania.
MAMA UBU. But …
PAPA UBU. Say nothing, my soft child.
Alfred Jarry, King Ubu (Ubu Roi), Trans. Patrick Wittacker, Smashwords, 2007. https://www.patakosmos.com/database-open-access/king-ubu-alfred-jarry.pdf
Videos
Links
- Full text of Ubu Roi provided by Patrick Whittaker at Smashwords.com
Related Products
Related Articles
Related Learning Modules
All scenes are the property and copyright of their owners.
Scenes are presented on StageAgent for educational purposes only. If you would like to give a public performance of this scene, please obtain authorization from the appropriate licensor.