King Arthur is standing in a field that is rutted with holes made by cannon balls and is filled with the smells and sounds of battle and death. He has positioned his trumps from Camelot to attack the Joyeuse Garde castle of Lancelot in France. The war is being waged because Lancelot has betrayed the King and the Court of Camelot by having an affair with Guinevere, the Queen of England and the loved wife of Arthur.
All of this occurs on the stage of a Broadway theater. King Arthur is the principal protagonist in Lerner and Lowe’s Camelot. This poignant and highly dramatic scene, appearing at the end of this long musical, portrays King Arthur’s despair. His Round Table has been destroyed; many of his knights have been killed or have left England. Most importantly, the rules of chivalry that Arthur established and his vision of “might being used for the right” has been torn to shreds.
Arthur declares that the idea of a Round Table and Code of Chivalry is now lost. When there is only an idea, that is no longer enactment, then there is nothing. And with nothingness comes a sense of absolute failure and a disbelief in the capacity of humankind to ever evolve from the state of violent brutality—driven by Revenge that most useless of emotions.
Yet, the play is not over. From off stage comes a young actor. He tells Arthur that he is Tom, who comes from Warwick. Tom has stowed away on one of Arthur’s ships transporting soldiers across the English Channel. Arthur asks Tom why he has traveled here to risk loss of life in battle.
Tom indicates that he is inspired by the legacy left by Arthur. He has heard all the stories about the Round Table, gallant knights defending those who are weak, and commitment to justice and equity. Arthur listens to Tom of Warwick as he recites the values inherent in the ‘one brief shining moment that was Camelot”.
Arthur is once again inspired and hopeful. He realizes that his dream of Camelot is not dead as long as “it is not forgot.” History preserves that which seems to be only a fragile idea. Tom and others of his generation will ensure that Camelot is not lost “evermore.” Given the great value that Arthur sees in the legacy held by Tom, he commands his young colleague to escape and hide behind the battlefield.
Tom is to return home once the war has come to an end. He is to proclaim the values of Camelot and retell the stories of Camelot. Most importantly, at this moment, Tom is to “run” so that Camelot will remain something. “Run, boy, run” shouts Arthur repeatedly. The curtain falls, bringing the musical portrayal of Camelot to a close.
