NARRATOR
Later that night
The soldier sits alone in his room in the palace, mulling over his good fortune.
SOLDIER
By! It went off just as we thought it would,
That fellow was right. So far, so good!
Just think, a woman to call me own,
After so many years of living alone!
NARRATOR
The soldier shuffles a deck of cards
And deals them out on the table,
Trying to divine what the future may bring.
While behind him, unseen, the Devil waits in the wings.
SOLDIER
Why not? Why shouldn't the luck be mine?
Ask the cards. What do they say?
Six, Ten, Queen, all of Hearts. Hearts! Trumps all the way!
It's true, why not, why shouldn't it be?
A wife of me own, and between you and me,
She's beautiful, young, the belle of the ball,
Heir to the whole bloody kingdom and all!
Ace of Hearts! There, it's got to be true.
NARRATOR
Out of the shadows, the Devil appears.
He's holding the small violin.
He puts up his hand and quietly demurs.
DEVIL
Except, I'm ahead in the queue!
You were rich and esteemed, you had quite a lot,
But you turned up your nose at all that.
A sudden whim, not counting the cost.
And now, my poor young friend, you are lost.
Six of Hearts, Ten of Hearts, trumps all the way.
Do you really believe that it's your lucky day?
Well, Hm? How could zat be true? When I have the cure, I, not you!
NARRATOR
The Devil holds the violin infuriatingly under the soldier's nose.
The soldier deflates like a punctured balloon.
SOLDIER
It's true what he says, he's got me for sure.
He'll get the Princess, he's got the cure:
I have nothing, I can't even call
No hearts, no trumps, nothing at all.
NARRATOR
Oh, dear! Not another depressing scene, when things were going so well?
I may well have to intervene, our boy is so easily put off his stride,
Just seems to wilt when the tide turns against him.
So, although, as a rule, I don't interfere,
It may be that I should interject here.
Now look here, old chap, you've just got to fight back.
Don't give up, you must give it your all.
You are young, you are strong, outwit him by God.
He is, after all, old and small.
SOLDIER
I would that I could, but you don't understand.
I can't fight him fair, like an ordinary man.
He's bewitched, he's uncanny, he's got second sight.
No way I can win in a fight.
NARRATOR
But you can, you can! For pity's sake, man. Do you not see what he's done?
Wake up, you've been bought, he bought you for cash!
And as long as you still have a penny of his,
He'll still have you under his thumb.
You have to offload your considerable stash.
Give it back, then you'll surely be saved.
SOLDIER
He's not daft, he won't just take it all back.
He's sure to sniff out the ruse.
NARRATOR
Why don't you get him to play you at cards,
Then, you'll just have to lose?
If he'll play you, his weakness is sure to kick in:
He has an overwhelming compulsion to win.
And, blinded by greed,
He will heed no warning,
Won't notice when you go all in!
SOLDIER
All in? What, you mean bet every bean?
NARRATOR
I do, I mean, bet everything.
Every pound, every shilling.
Every bolt of fine linen,
Every promissory note, every debt, every groat.
This is your only chance to break free.
Please, my young friend,
Please listen to me.
You really have got to get shot of the lot,
It's the only chance that you've got!
SOLDIER
Right, OK, here goes!
Excuse me, I say, excuse me, do you fancy a game?
DEVIL
What? I don't understand.
SOLDIER
I said, would you like to play cards like a man?
You know, like cards, it's a game.
Some play for money, some play for fun, I think you're a little bit scared.
Come on, I'll teach you, it's not that hard, it's only a game, come on.
DEVIL
My friend, for you, if you'll teach me, for you, why not?
OK, sure, just a few hands.
NARRATOR
He will win, he always likes to win.
You'll lose, then he'll be lost. So come on, begin.
SOLDIER
Alright, how much a point should we play for?
DEVIL
A penny? If that's alright with you?
SOLDIER
A penny? I'd just be wasting my time, no, no, a penny won't do.
Come on, what's wrong, it's only a game, let's play for a shilling or two.
DEVIL
Well, huh, just as you wish, but you best take care!
You have no more fiddle, no more book,
You have just a few shillings, come on, deal the cards, oh! Goodness gracious me, look!
NARRATOR
Naturally, the Devil has the better hand.
DEVIL
Your shillings are flying off over the sea,
You'll soon have nothing left at all,
Hm? My young friend, then where will you be?
You will starve, S.T.A.R.V.E.
NARRATOR
They play another hand, naturally, the Devil wins again.
DEVIL
There you are, do you see? You're wasting your time.
You're facing total defeat.
Give up while you can, you ridiculous man,
Or you'll go around naked, with no shoes on your feet!
NARRATOR
Raise him ten pounds.
SOLDIER
I raise you ten pound!
DEVIL
Are you mad! What? You're losing the game!
SOLDIER
Ten pound! Come on, are you in?
DEVIL
Yes! Of course.
Ah, Haha!! I've won again, my dear chap,
Can you take much more of zis pain?
NARRATOR
Now! Stake everything you have left! Go all in.
SOLDIER
Right, I'm all in, I stake the lot.
DEVIL
Ze lot? What? Everything you've got? All in? The lot? Very well. OK.
Deal the cards. One for me, one for you. So, vat have you got?
SOLDIER
Queen of Hearts!
DEVIL
Ah! Hah! And I have the Ace!!! I've won, I've won everything. Yes!
Yes! Yes!
But not so fast, my head's in a bit of a spin,
I feel weak, everything's whirling around…
What? Stand still, damn you, stand still, stand your ground.
NARRATOR
There you are, I told you, you could break his spell.
Look at him now, he doesn't look well.
Offer him drink! That'll do him no good!
Say to him: “Here's to your very good health!”
So the soldier approaches and, quick as a wink, says:
NARRATOR
Hey, you won, jolly well done, have a drink.
NARRATOR
The Devil, unsteady, tries to push it away.
SOLDIER
Come on, have a drink! Say when! What d'you say?
Come on, just one more, it's only a game.
That's it, and one more. Come on, and again!
DEVIL
You're really a very pushy young man, I'm a little confused.
I don't quite understand.
NARRATOR
Look out! Stand back, he's going to fall!
And he did, lights out, right there on the floor.
Well, I think that's enough.
He seems quite done in.
Now, you can take back your small violin.
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