Death and the King's Horseman

The scene opens at the masque ball in the Residency. Everyone wears fancy costumes, and there is a band, but they play poorly. The Prince enters along with several companions. He begins dancing, and the rest of the party goes join in. Pilkings and Jane are introduced to the Prince, who is impressed by their costumes. Pilkings and his wife show off some egungun dance steps and chat with the Prince. As they talk, a messenger arrives and delivers a note to the Resident, who extracts Pilkings from a conversation with the Prince to discuss the content of the message.

The message warns of a riot in the market, and Pilkings explains the death of the King and Elesin’s intended suicide. The Resident doesn’t understand how this custom could be connected to a riot at the market, and Pilkings suggests that Amusa, the author of the note, could be exaggerating. The Resident is disappointed with Pilkings’s handling of the situation. He reproaches the district officer and worries about making a bad impression during the Prince’s visit. Pilkings assures the Resident that everything is under control.

Just then, Amusa and his constables enter. They are missing their hats and look a little disheveled, causing the Resident to mistake them for some of the rioters.