Characters:

GAEL ANDERSON, the bride-to-be

ANDREW CLUTTERBUCK, her suitor

IAN ANDERSON, minstrel & father of Gael

Scene: A mansion in the countryside

Enter GAEL and ANDREW

GAEL : Oh darling! I am so thrilled at the prospect of our imminent betrothal!

ANDREW : As I am too, my poppet. [A dark cloud passes over his brow.] But first I must ask your father for your hand in marriage. I fear he may place hurdles in our path.

GAEL : It is true he can be an exacting man, darling, but I feel sure you will win him over.

ANDREW : Well, we shall find out soon enough. Hark! I hear him approach!

Enter IAN ANDERSON

IAN : Hello Gael, hello young fellow-me-lad.

GAEL : Hello Papa!

ANDREW : Hello Ian … I may call you Ian?

IAN : No you may not. Address me as J-Tull Dot Com, as in the title of the 1999 album release by my rock band.

ANDREW : Oh … okay.

IAN : [Laughing] But I jest with you! By all means call me Ian. And what brings you to my country pile on this lovely summer’s day, sonny?

ANDREW : Well, I, er, um …

GAEL : Go on, darling, ask him!

ANDREW : I come to ask for the fair and dainty hand of your daughter in marriage.

IAN : I see. And are you a worthy suitor?

GAEL : He is, Papa, he is!

IAN : To be worthy of my daughter, a man must be able to play the flute while standing on one leg. Can you do that, son?

ANDREW : [Crestfallen] I’m not sure.

GAEL : But Papa, Andrew has other special skills. He has fought many zombies, and has a string of triumphs over the walking dead!

IAN : Really? I have not heard anything so preposterous since Crest Of A Knave, the 1987 album release by my rock band.

GAEL : Yes, really, Papa! Have you not seen the post-apocalyptic television drama The Walking Dead? Every week, Andrew gives those zombies the what-for!

IAN : My poor sweet child, you are confusing Mr Clutterbuck here with Andrew Lincoln, the zombie-battling star of that show.

ANDREW : Be it known that I am Andrew Lincoln! Born a Clutterbuck, I dropped that foolish surname when I embarked upon my glittering thespian career.

IAN : Is that so? Well then, I give my consent!

GAEL : Oh thank you Papa!

ANDREW : Thank you, J-Tull Dot Com sir!

IAN : Let us celebrate by singing a few snatches from Aqualung, the 1971 album release by my rock band.

They sing & wassail.

Curtain.