(The Grand Hall of the Institute for the Advancement of Dictatorships. High ceilings. Tall windows looking out over the lake. Evening. The room is lit warmly. A long table bears the remains of a dinner. At one end, a birthday cake. In the corner, a grand piano. The students, the Director, and the Instructor are assembled. Napoleon sits beside the Caretaker.)
My dear. Time to wake up.
(Napoleon opens his eyes. He looks around the room.)
(The New Student moves to the piano and plays a chord. Then another. The room stirs. And then everybody sings.)
For he's a jolly good fellow,
for he's a jolly good fellow,
for he's a jolly good fellow,
and so say all of us.
(Napoleon smiles.)
(The Director rises and clears his throat.)
We are gathered this evening to mark the birthday of our most distinguished permanent resident.
He needs no introduction.
He requires no credentials.
His record is unique.
(He pauses.)
He crossed the Alps.
He rewrote the law of nations.
He demonstrated, once and for all, that the strong do not merely survive.
They define the terms.
(He raises his glass.)
For the institute, he is more than a guest.
He is a reminder of what is possible.
Of how far a man may go when he is not encumbered by hesitation.
Or sentiment. Or the opinions of others.
(A pause.)
We are honoured by his presence.
We hope he will remain among us for a long time yet.
A long time yet!
(The Director sits. A brief silence. Then the First Student rises.)
I will be brief.
(He turns to Napoleon.)
There was a moment, not long ago, when things were not going well for me.
The panel had reached its verdict. Vyshinsky was grinning.
(He briefly hesitates.)
Then you walked in.
And you looked at a fragment.
And you said: he must be exonerated.
I will never forget this.
(Napoleon puts his hand slowly into his pocket. He takes out a small piece of metal.)
I still have it.
(He holds it up in the air.)
(A silence falls over the room.)
Happy birthday!
Happy birthday!
(They all cheer. The Caretaker begins to cut the cake. The students come forward. They all have some cake. Only Napoleon refuses.)
(The New Student plays softly at the piano. Gradually, in ones and twos, they all drift away — the Director first, then the Instructor, then the other students. The New Student closes the lid of the piano gently and goes as well, joined by the First Student who takes his hand.)
You played so well.
(They exit. The Caretaker tidies the last things from the table. She looks at Napoleon. He has not moved.)
Shall we go?
(Napoleon rises. He puts the fragment back in his pocket and offers the Caretaker his arm.)
(The door at the far end of the hall opens. A young woman enters. She stops when she sees him.)
(Napoleon goes still.)
Betsy.
I came to wish you many happy returns.
You have not changed at all.
You have, a little.
(A pause.)
St. Helena seems very far away.
It is very far away.
(A pause.)
Did you bring chicken?
(Betsy smiles.)
Next time.
(She looks at him for a moment longer. Then she is gone.)
(The Caretaker takes Napoleon's arm. They walk slowly toward the door. The Grand Hall is empty behind them. The lake is dark beyond the windows.)