The Fairies exit, leaving the Imp, the Goblin and the Minotaur on stage. The Goblin plays a strange tune on his reed pipes. A WOLF appears.

WOLF
An ugly tune assails my wolfish ears!
It must be time for a midnight vigil!

The Imp sings as the Goblin continues to play on his pipes.

IMP
The moon is high and weird
The air is cool and awful
This gathering is obscene
And the company unlawful!

The Minotaur and the Wolf begin to dance as the Imp and Goblin continue to sing and play.

IMP
The moon is sad and glowing
The air is loud and hissing
From this stupid gathering
All decency is missing!

A HARPY appears.

HARPY
I heard your song and I came, o ugly ones!

The Harpy joins in the dance as the Imp continues to sing:

IMP
The moon is blah and drab
This company should part
This gathering is a drag
The air smells like a fart!

HARPY
What is the business of the evening, friends?

GOBLIN
To create a problem and make no amends!

WOLF
How shall the evening be conducted?

IMP
With an innocent creature's plans obstructed!

MINOTAUR
But first we must find something right to make wrong.

GOBLIN
I hear that some creature is coming along!

HARPY
Let's listen and wait and behave very well,
And then create mischief to make its life hell!

Butterfly walks up cheerfully to the motley crew in the forest.

BUTTERFLY Good evening, illustrious company!
IMP
(mimicking her)
Good evening, illustrious company!

BUTTERFLY
I hope I'm not imposing on you.
The fact is, I was born only today.
That is-- I don't remember what I was,
Which amounts to exactly the same thing.

HARPY
(with false kindness)
Come to the point, dear. What is it you want?

BUTTERFLY
(brightly)
I want to know if you know of a charm school
In the forest, where I can improve myself.

The Wolf winks broadly at the Harpy.

WOLF
This is a charm school!

BUTTERFLY
                    Do you really mean it?

GOBLIN
(squinting horribly, trying to look cute)
Of course! Don't you see how charming we all are?

MINOTAUR
Eeee-aaugh!

BUTTERFLY
Well! In that case: first, I would like to learn
How to sing, then how to dance, and how to paint.
Then the art of conversation, and French,
And decorating; and, most importantly,
The arts and secrets of charm and beauty.

WOLF
That shouldn't be difficult! But first
You must audition. We don't take just anyone!

BUTTERFLY
I have to admit that I'm very green...
But I'll do my best. Just tell me what to do.

WOLF
First, let's hear how you sing. Now, open wide!

BUTTERFLY
(singing)
In the Fairy Garden a little bird Sings so sweetly, tra la la, tra la la!
Sings so sweetly-- ah, ah-- the little bird!
The jewel of the forest, tra la la!
(speaking)
I can sing! I can sing!

IMP
                   Just like a bird!

GOBLIN
Now, for the dancing: flutter, one, two, three!

Butterfly whirls around and does piquŽ turns to the tune of a tarantella on the Goblin's flute.

BUTTERFLY
I can dance!

IMP
                   I can dance!

MINOTAUR
                    Eeee-aaugh!

HARPY
Now, translate this sentence into plain French:
The pretentious cat likes its milk hot,
And the sad crow is a bad lot.

BUTTERFLY
Le chat prétentieux prefère son lait chaud,
Et le corbeau triste c'est un salaud.

BUTTERFLY
Oh! How wonderful!

IMP
                   Oh! How horrible!

HARPY
You did very well, my dear. Very well!

BUTTERFLY
Oh, jolly! When do I start on my lessons?

MINOTAUR
Right away! Just drink this drink and close your eyes!

The Minotaur pours a steaming drink and hands it to her, and Butterfly obeys. While she is drinking, the creatures produce lengths of rope and wind it around her.

BUTTERFLY
(eyes closed)
This drink is very hot! It will take time
To finish the whole thing! What is that tickle?

HARPY
It's the tickle of charm entering your blood!

BUTTERFLY
Oh, joy! I think I can feel it already!
I feel quite charming-- but also very tired!

Butterfly drops the goblet and her head nods slightly.

BUTTERFLY
Oh, I'm sleepy! May I open my eyes now?

The creatures giggle and leap about with glee as they finish tying her up.

GOBLIN
You may open them now!

IMP
                    Open them now!

Butterfly opens her eyes, to see all of the creatures laughing at her.

IMP
You stupid, vain Butterfly! What makes you think
That anyone would want to help you? Faugh!

HARPY
You think you're beautiful and talented--
But you're ugly! Ugly!


IMP, WOLF, GOBLIN, AND MINOTAUR
                   Ugly! Ugly!

WOLF
You don't have a charming bone in your body!
You're a stupid insect with no talent!

GOBLIN
We hate you and spit on you!

MINOTAUR
                   We spit on you!

IMP, WOLF, HARPY, GOBLIN, AND MINOTAUR
Ugly! No talent! Stupid! We spit on you!

The creatures giggle and screech with glee, make horrible faces at her, and run away howling. Butterfly sobs and sobs, and falls asleep. The lights dim.

When the lights come up again, Butterfly awakes to see a beautiful FAIRY SPRITE untying her bonds.

BUTTERFLY
Who are you?

SPRITE
I am a Fairy Sprite. I heard your tears and I traced the sound for seven miles through the forest.

BUTTERFLY
I must have been crying very loudly!

SPRITE
It was not loud in volume, but in sadness. You see, I have very sensitive ears for sorrow. The sound pierced through a deep sleep and I knew that I would never have any peace until I detected the source of it and tried to end it .

BUTTERFLY
You are very kind! I don't know how to thank you!

The Sprite has now finished untying the ropes.

SPRITE
There is no need to thank me. Only, tell me: why were you so sad?

BUTTERFLY
A bunch of strange creatures tricked me into thinking they would help me, and then they ridiculed me and ran away. I know it was babyish to cry about it, but it just made me feel terrible. Anyway, I suppose I had it coming to me. I'm only an ugly and untalented Butterfly, and I was trying to pretend as if I had some real beauty and talent. Now I see how foolish that was!

SPRITE
Nonsense! Don't let a bunch of bullies ruin your self-image! You can be whatever you want to be. What's more, I think you're very beautiful. And I'm sure you're talented too! You just need a little self-confidence. You know, you're very lucky to be a butterfly. Don't you realize that it's like wearing a party dress always?

BUTTERFLY
Yes, I thought of that myself. But I don't feel like a butterfly inside-- it's as if I'm wearing a costume!

SPRITE
Nobody is a real butterfly, any more than anybody is a real fairy sprite or a real princess. It's all about how you feel about yourself and how you present yourself to others.

BUTTERFLY
(sighing) I suppose you're right. But what's the use of being sparkly or feeling good about yourself when everyone hates you for it?

SPRITE
Not everyone. The trick is to find other people who feel the same way you do, and form an alternative society with them.

BUTTERFLY
I would love to find other people who feel the same way that I do! In fact, this desire is so strong that it takes over everything!

SPRITE
You're not as alone as you think. In fact, I know of a place where being a butterfly is considered a good thing, and no one will hate you for it.

BUTTERFLY
Where is this place?

SPRITE
I'll take you there right away.

The Sprite and the Butterfly exit. The lights dim.