Shakespeare in Love - Screenplay by Marc Norman and Tom Stoppard

7/30/2019 Shakespeare in Love - Screenplay by Marc Norman and Tom Stoppard

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by Marc Norman & Tom Stoppard

I NT. THE ROSE THEATRE. DAY.

SKY. Over whi ch a t i t l e "LONDON- - SUMMER 1593" appear s.Ti t l e car d: I n t he gl or y days of t he El i zabet han t heat r e

t wo pl ayhouses wer e f i ght i ng i t out f or wr i t er s andaudi ences. Nort h of t he ci t y was t he Cur t ai n Theatr e,home t o Engl and' s most f amous act or , Ri char d Burbage.Across t he r i ver was t he compet i t i on, bui l t by Phi l i pHensl owe, a busi ness wi t h a cash f l ow probl em. . .

. . . The Rose. . .

Gr adual l y a bui l di ng i s r eveal ed, The Rose Theat r e, t hr ee-t i ered, open t o t he el ement s and empt y. On t he f l oor ,r oughl y pr i nt ed, a post er - - t or n, soi l ed, out of dat e. I tsays:

SEPT. 7TH & 8TH AT NOON

MR. EDWARD ALLEYN AND THE ADMI RAL' S MEN AT THE ROSETHEATRE, BANKSI DE

THE LAMENTABLE TRAGEDI E OF THE MONEYLENDER REVENG' D

OVER THI S t he scr eams of a man under t or t ure. The scr eamsare comi ng f r omt he cur t ai ned stage.

VOI CE ( O. S. )You Mongrel ! Why do you howl When i ti s I who am bi t t en?

I NT. THE ROSE THEATRE. STAGE. DAY.

The t heat r e owner , PHI LLI P HENSLOWE, i s t he manscr eami ng. HENSLOWE' S boot s ar e on f i r e. He i s pi ni onedi n a chai r , wi t h hi s f eet st uck out over t he hot col as ofa f i r e bur ni ng i n a br azi er . He i s bei ng hel d i n t hatposi t i on by LAMBERT, who i s a t hug empl oyed by FENNYMAN,who i s t he owner of t he VOI CE. The f our t h man, FREES, i sFENNYMAN' S bookkeeper .

FENNYMANWhat amI , Mr . Lamber t ?

LAMBERTBi t t en, Mr . Fennyman.

FENNYMANHow badl y bi t t en, Mr . Frees?

FREESTwel ve pounds, one shi l l i ng and f ourpence, Mr . Fennyman, i ncl udi ngi nt er est.

HENSLOWEAaagh! I can pay you!

FENNYMAN

speare in Love - Screenplay by Marc Norman and Tom Stoppard http://cla.calpoly.edu/~smarx/shakespeare/Shak_inLove/screen

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When?

HENSLOWETwo weeks, t hree at t he most , Aaaagh!For pi t y' s sake.

FENNYMANTake hi s f eet out . Wher e wi l l you get

FREES

( t he mathemat i cal geni us wi t ha notebook)

Si xt een pounds, f i ve shi l l i ngs andni ne pence

FENNYMANi ncl udi ng i nt er est i n t hr ee weeks?

HENSLOWEI have a wonder f ul new pl ay!

FENNYMANPut hi s f eet i n.

HENSLOWEI t ' s a comedy.

FENNYMANCut hi s nose of f .

HENSLOWEA new comedy. By Wi l l ; ">Shakespeare!

FENNYMANAnd hi s ear s.

HENSLOWEAnd a share. We wi l l be part ner s, Mr .

Fennyman!

FENNYMAN( hesi t at i ng)

Par t ner s!

HENSLOWEI t ' s a crowd- t i ckl er- - mi stakeni dent i t i es, a shi pwr eck, a pi r at eki ng, a bi t wi t h a dog, and ">l ovet r i umphant .

LAMBERTI thi nk I ' ve seen i t . I di dn' t l i ke

i t .

HENSLOWEThi s t i me i t i s by ; ">Shakespear e.

FENNYMANWhat ' s t he t i t l e?

HENSLOWERomeo and Ethel t he Pi r at e' s Daught er .

FENNYMANGood t i t l e.


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FENNYMAN snaps hi s f i ngers at FREES and LAMBERT. LAMBERTunt i es HENSLOWE, FREES st art s wr i t i ng a cont r act .

FENNYMAN ( CONT' D)A pl ay t akes t i me. Fi nd act orsr ehearsal sl et ' s say open i n t hr eeweeks. That ' s- - what - - f i ve hundr edgr oundl i ngs at t uppence each, i naddi t i on f our hundr ed gr oundl i ngs

t uppence each, i n addi t i on f ourhundr ed backsi des at t hr ee pence- - apenny ext r a f or a cushi on, cal l i t t wohundr ed cushi ons, say t wo per f ormancef or saf ety how much i s t hat Mr . Fr ees?

FREESTwent y pounds t o t he penny, Mr .Fennyman.

FENNYMANCor r ect !

HENSLOWE

But I have to pay t he act ors and t heaut hors .

FENNYMANA shar e of t he pr of i t s.

HENSLOWEThere' s never any

FENNYMANOf cour se not !

HENSLOWE( i mpr essed)

Mr . Fennyman, I t hi nk you may have hi ton somet hi ng.

FENNYMAN sl aps a contr act down on t he t abl e next t o n i nk-pot and qui l l .

FENNYMANSi gn here.

HENSLOWE t akes t he qui l l and si gns.

FENNYMAN ( CONT' D)Romeo and Et hel The Pi r at e' sDaught erAl most f i ni shed?

HENSLOWEWi t hout doubt he i s compl et i ng i t att hi s ver y moment .

I NT. WI LL' S ROOM. DAY

A smal l cr amped space i n the eaves of a bui l di ng. Acl ut t er ed shel f cont ai ni ng var i ous obj ect s, wedgedbetween cr umpl ed pi eces of paper . Among t hose we havet i me to observe: a skul l , a mug t hat says A PRESENT FROMSTRATFORD- UPON- AVON.


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At i nf r equent i nt er val s f ur t her pi eces of cr umpl ed paperare t ossed t owards t he shel f . The man who i s t hr owi ngt hem, WI LL ; ">SHAKESPEARE, i s bent over a tabl e, wr i t i ngst udi ousl y wi t h a qui l l .

Now we see what he i s wr i t i ng: Wi l l i s pr act i si ng hi ssi gnatur e, over and over agai n. "Wi l l ShagsbeardWShakspur Wi l l i amShasper " Each t i me he i s di ssat i sf i ed,and each t i me he cr umpl es, and t osses i t away.

Suddenl y WI LL becomes i mpat i ent . He j umps up and goes t ot he l of t ar ea i n t he raf t er s, wher e he sl eeps, and st ar t st o pul l on hi s boot s. At t hi s poi nt t he door opens andHENSLOWE wal ks i n. He i s out of breat h and hi s f eet hur t .

HENSLOWEWi l l ! Where i s my pl ay? Tel l me youhave i t near l y done! Tel l me you havei t start ed.

( desper at el y)You have begun?

WI LL( st r uggl i ng wi t h hi s boot s)

Doubt t hat t he star s ar e f i r e, doubtt hat t he sun dot h move

HENSLOWENo, no, we haven' t t he t i me. Tal kprose. Wher e i s my pl ay?

WI LL( t appi ng hi s f orehead andheadi ng out t he door )

I t i s al l l ocked saf e i n here

HENSLOWEGod be pr ai sed!

( t hen doubt )Locked?

WI LLAs soon as I have f ound my muse

EXT. STREET. OUTSI DE WI LL' S HOUSE. DAY.

WI LL l i ves i n a crowded area of t he ci t y. Hawker s arecryi ng t hei r war es, t r act- sel l er s, del i ver y boys, andmerchant s go about t hei r busi ness. HENSLOWE cat ches upwi t h WI LL as he st r i des pur posef ul l y al ong.

HENSLOWE

( cat chi ng up)Who i s she t hi s t i me?!

WI LLShe i s al ways Aphr odi t e.

HENSLOWEAphr odi t e Baggot who does i t behi ndt he Dog and Trumpet ?

WI LLHensl owe, you have no soul so how canyou under st and t he empt i ness t hat


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seeks a soul mat e?

HENSLOWEWel l , I am a dead man and bugger ed t oboot . My t heat r e i s cl ose by t hepl ague t hese t wel ve weeks, my companyi s pl ayi ng t he i nn- yar dsof Engl and, whi l e Bur bage and t heChamber l ai n' s Men are i nvi t ed t o cour tand r ecei ve t en pounds t o pl ay your

pi ece, wr i t t en f or my t heat r e, by mywr i t er , at my r i sk when you were gr eenand gr at ef ul -

WI LLWhat pi ece? Ri chard Cr ookback?

HENSLOWENo- - i t ' s comedy t hey want , Wi l l !Comedy! Li ke Romeo and Et hel ?

WI LLWho wr ot e t hat?

HENSLOWENobody! You ar e wr i t i ng i t f or me! Igave you t hree pounds a month si nce.

WI LLHal f what you owed me. I am st i l l duef or One Gent l eman of Verona.

EXT. ANOTHER STREET. DAY

HENSLOWE' S hardl y paused i n hi s appeal .

HENSLOWE. . . Wi l l ! What i s money t o you and

me? I , your pat r on, you my wordwr i ght !When t he pl ague l i f t s Burbage wi l lhave a new Chri st opher Mar l owe f or t heCur t ai n and I have nothi ng f or t heRose.

WI LL st ops.

WI LLMr . Hensl owe, wi l l you l end me f i f t ypounds?

HENSLOWE( st agger ed)

Fi f t y pounds? What f or?

WI LLBur bage of f ers me a part nershi p i n t heChamber l ai n' s Men. For f i f t y pounds myhi r ed pl ayer days are over .

HENSLOWECut out my hear t ! Thr ow my l i ver t ot he dogs!

WI LL( answer i ng f or hi m)


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No, t hen.

WI LL t ur ns down a si de st r eet .

EXT. MARKETPLACE. DAY.

HENSLOWE and WI LL ar e cr oss i ng a cr owded mar ket pl acewher e a Pur i t an pr eacher , MAKEPEACE, i s har angui ng anyonewho wi l l l i st en.

MAKEPEACEand t he Lord shal l smi t e t hem! Yea,har ken t o me. The t heat r es ar ehandmai dens of t he devi l ! Under t hename of t he Cur t ai n, t he pl ayer sbreed l ewdness i n your wi ves,r ebel l i on i n your servant s, i dl enessi n your appr ent i ces and wi ckedness i nyour chi l dren! And t he Rose smel l st husl y rank by any name! I say apl ague on both thei r houses!

As he passes WI LL gr atef ul l y makes a ment al not e.

EXT. DR. MOTH' S HOUSE. DAY.

WI LL t ur ns i nt o a narr ow st r eet and wal ks t oward adoor way.

HENSLOWEWhere are you goi ng?

WI LLTo my weekl y conf essi on.

As HENSLOWE arr i ves t he door cl oses i n hi s f ace. A si gni dent i f i es t he pl ace as t he pr emi ses of Dr . MOTH,apot hecar y, al chemi st , ast r ol oger , seer , i nt er pr et er of

dreams, and pr i est of psyche. HENSLOWE l ooks puzzl ed.

I NT. DR. MOTH' S HOUSE. DAY

A stuf f ed al l i gat or hangs f romt he cei l i ng, pi l l s ,pot i ons, amul ets and charms, st ar char t s and myst i cpar apher nal i a f est oon t he pl ace. Test i moni al s and f r ameddegrees hang on t he wal l s.

WI LL l yi ng on a couch, on hi s back. Hi s eyes are cl osed

DR. MOTH si t s by t he couch, l i st eni ng t o WI LL andoccasi onal l y maki ng a not e on a pad he hol ds on hi s knee.What we have her e i s nothi ng l ess t han the f al se dawn of

anal ysi s. The sessi on i s bei ng t i med by an hour gl ass.

WI LLWords, wor ds, wordsonce, I had thegi f t I coul d make ">l ove out of words asa pot t er makes cups out of cl ay ">l ovet hat over t hr ows empi r es, ">l ove t hatbi nds t wo hear t s t ogether comehel l f i r e and br i mst onesf or si xpence al i ne, I coul d cause a r i ot i n anunnerybut now

DR. MOTH


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And yet you t el l me you l i e wi t hwomen?

WI LL seems unwi l i ng t o respond. DR. MOTH r ef ers t o hi snot es.

DR. MOTH (CONT' D)Bl ack Sue, Fat Phoebe, Rosal i ne,Bur bage' s seamst r ess; Aphr odi t e, whodoes i t behi nd t he Dog and

WI LL( i nt er rupt i ng)

Aye, now and agai n, but what of i t ? Ihave l ost my gi f t .

DR. MOTHI am her e t o hel p you. Tel l me i n yourown wor ds.

WI LLI have l ost my gi f t .

( not f i ndi ng t hi s easy)I t ' s as i f my qui l l i s broken. As i f

t he or gan of t he i magi nat i on has dri edup. As i f t he pr oud tower of my geni ushas col l apsed.

DR. MOTHI nt er est i ng.

WI LLNot hi ng comes.

DR. MOTHMost i nt er est i ng.

WI LL

I t i s l i ke t ry i ng t o a pi ck a l ockwi t h a wet herr i ng.

DR. MOTH( shr ewdl y)

Tel l me, are you l atel y humbl ed i n theact of ">l ove?

WI LL t urns t owards hi m. How di d he know t hat ?

DR. MOTH (CONT' D)How l ong has i t been?

WI LL

A goodl y l engt h i n t i mes past , butl at el y

DR. MOTHNo, no. You have a wi f e, chi l dr en

The sand r uns t hrough t he hourgl ass.

LATERNot much sand l ef t .

WI LLI was a l ad of ei ght een. Anne Hathaway


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was a woman, hal f as ol d agai n.

DR. MOTHA woman of propert y?

WI LL( shr ugs)

She had a cot t age. One day, she wast hr ee mont hs gone wi t h chi l d, so

DR. MOTHAnd your r el at i ons?

WI LLOn my mot her ' s si de the Ar dens

DR. MOTHNo, your marr i age bed.

WI LLFour year s and a hundred mi l es away i nSt r at f or d.A col d bed too, si nce the twi ns werebor n. Bani shment was a bl essi ng.

DR. MOTHSo now you are f r ee t o ">l ove

WI LLyet cannot ">l ove nor wr i t e i t .

DR. MOTH r eaches f or a gl ass snake br acel et .

DR. MOTHHere i s a bangl e f ound i n Psyche' st empl e on Ol ympus cheap at f our pence.Wr i t e your name on a paper and f eed i ti n t he snake.

WI LL l ooks at t he snake bangl e i n wonder .

WI LLWi l l i t rest ore my gi f t ?

DR. MOTHThe woman who wears t he snake wi l ldr eam of you, and your gi f t wi l lr et ur n. Wor ds wi l l f l ow l i ke a r i ver .I wi l l see you i n a week.

He hol ds out hi s hand. WI LL dr ops a sover ei gn i nt o i t ,and t akes t he br acel et .

EXT. DR. MOTH' S HOUSE. DAY.

WI LL comes out . HENSLOWE i s wai t i ng, st andi ng i n a hor set r ough t o ease hi s f eet . WI LL wal ks st r ai ght past hi m,and HENSLOWE f ol l ows.

HENSLOWENow where? Wi l l ?

WI LLTo t he Pal ace at Whi t ehal l .


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I NT. WHI TEHALL PALACE. BACKSTAGE. DAY.

WHI TEHALL means not hi ng yet . We ar e behi nd cl osedcur t ai ns on a st age busy wi t h pr epar at i ons f or t hei mmi nent per f ormance of Two Gent l emen of Verona. Thi s i snot a t heatr e but a banquet i ng hal l , as we wi l l see.

RI CHARD BURBAGE i s t o pl ay "PROTEUS. " A BOY PLAYER wi l lpl ay "SI LVI A, " and l ast mi nut e i mprovement s t o hi s makeupet c. are bei ng appl i ed by BURBAGE' S mi st r ess ROSALI NE.

"LAUNCE, " one of t he cl owns, i s t he f amous comedi an WI LLKEMPE. "LAUNCE' S" dog, CRAB i s i n KEMPE' S char ge and i snot hel pi ng much. Ther e i s no set . A hel pf ul pl acar dr eadi ng VERONA- - AN OPEN PLACE, i s r eady t o hand. MUSI CI ANScan be heard tuni ng t hei r i nst r ument s. Fromt he othersi de of t he cur t ai n t here i s an expectant bubbub. KEMPEl eads t he dog i nto t he wi ngs and r ummages i n a box ofpr oops. He f i nds a skul l . He has one f oot on t he box, hi sel bow on hi s knee, he l ooks at t he skul l i n other wordshe r emi nds us of Haml et . We see t hi s f r om t he POV ofWI LL, who i s j ust ent eri ng t hrough a door backst age.

WI LL( appr oachi ng)

Pri t hee, Mr . Kempe, br eak a l eg. Yout oo, good Cr ab.

KEMPECr ab i s ner vous. He has never pl ayedt he Pal ace. When wi l l you wr i t e me at r agedy, Wi l l ? I coul d do i t .

WI LLNo, t hey woul d l augh at Seneca i f youpl ayed i t .

WI LL' S at t ent i on has been caught by ROSALI NE, BURBAGE' Smi st r ess. ROSALI NE i s bi g br east ed, dar k- eyed, dark-

hai r ed, sexual .

BURBAGE( t o ROSALI NE)

My sl eeve want s f or a but t on, Mi st r essRosal i ne, wher e were my seamst r ess' seyes?

BURBAGE ki sses her mouth and sl aps her behi nd. He comesover t o gr eet WI LL.

BURBAGE ( CONT' D)Ther e i s no dog i n t he f i r st scene,Wi l l Kempe, t hank you. How goes i t

Wi l l ?

WI LLI am st i l l owed money f or t hi s pl ay,Burbage.

BURBAGENot f r om me. I onl y stol e i t . When ar eyou comi ng over t o t he Chamber l ai n' sMen?

WI LLWhen I have f i f t y pounds.


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ROSALI NE br i ngs over t he l ast el ement s of BURBAGE' Scost ume and hel ps hi m i nto them.

BURBAGEAr e you wr i t i ng?

WI LL( nods somewhat def ensi vel y)

A comedy. Al l but done, a pi r at e

comedy, wonder f ul .

BURBAGEWhat i s t he chi ef par t ?

WI LLRomeo. Wi t , swor dsman, l over .

BURBAGEThe t i t l e?

WI LLRomeo

BURBAGEI wi l l pl ay hi m. Br i ng i t t omor r ow.

WI LLI t ' s f or Hensl owe. He pai d me.

BURBAGEHow much?

WI LLTen pounds.

BURBAGEYou' r e a l i ar.

BURBAGE di gs under hi s cost ume f or hi s pur se, whi ch i s ona wai st band, over hi s cor set .

WI LLI swear i t . He want s Romeo f or Ned andt he Admi r al ' s Men.

BURBAGENed i s wr ong f or i t .

WI LL t urns t o see HENSLOWE appr oachi ng.

BURBAGE ( CONT' D)

( t o WI LL)Her e i s t wo sover ei gns- - I ' l l gi ve yout wo mor e when you show me t he pages .

WI LLDone.

HENSLOWE( arr i vi ng)

Bur bage, I wi l l see you hanged f or api ckpocket .

BURBAGE


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The Queen has commanded, she l oves acomedy and t he Mast er of t he Revel sf avour s us.

HENSLOWEAnd what f avour does Mr . Ti l neyr ecei ve f r om you?

BURBAGEAsk hi m.

The Mast er of t he Revel s ( TI LNEY) comes t hrough t hecurt ai n of f i ci ous l y.

TI LNEYShe comes!

He di sappear s back t hr ough t he cur t ai ns. The hubbub f al l ssi l ent , r at her dr amat i cal l y, and al l t he busy PLAYERSknow what t hat means: t hey al l cr owd t o the curt ai n andf i nd pl aces t o peep thr ough.

I NT. WHI TEHALL PALACE. BANQUETI NG HALL. FRONT OFHOUSE/ STAGE. DAY.

THE POV OF THE PLAYERS.

The ar r i val of QUEEN ELI ZABETH, aged si xt y, comi ng t ot ake her pl ace i n t he audi ence at f r ont cent r e. The hi l li s cr owded wi t h l ords and l adi es, bowi ng ELI ZABETH t o herseat , whi ch i s r ai sed hi gh on a pedest al , af f or di ng t heQUEEN an uni nter r upt ed vi ew of t he pl ay, and the audi encean uni nter r upt ed vi ew of t he QUEEN. Trumpet s sound.

Cl ose on a smal l pi ece of paper : a qui l l i s wr i t i ng "W.; ">Shakespear e. " WI LL r ol l s t he paper up car ef ul l y and sl i psi t i nt o t he mout h of t he snake bangl e.

The cur t ai n draws back and CONDELL as "VALENTI NE" andBURBAGE as " PROTEUS" begi n t he pl ay.

CONDELL AS VALENTI NE"Cease t o persuade, my l ovi ng Pr ot eus;Home- keepi ng yout h have ever homel ywi t s"

I NT. WHI TEHALL PALACE. BANQUETI NG HALL. THEWI NGS/ BACKSTAGE. DAY.

Wi t h BURBAGES' S presence accounted f or on st age, ROSALI NEcur l s an arm ar ound WI LL' S neck. They ki ss hungr i l y.Af t er a moment , WI LL pul l s back.

ROSALI NEWhen wi l l you wr i t e me a sonnet , Wi l l ?

WI LLI have l ost my gi f t .

ROSALI NEYou l ef t i t i n my bed. Come t o l ookf or i t agai n.

WI LLAre you t o be my muse, ROSALI NE?


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ROSALI NEBur bage has my keepi ng but you have myhear t .

WI LL t akes t he snake br acel et and sl i ps i t ont o her ar m.ROSALI NE l ooks at i t , t hen at WI LL. Then t hey ki ss agai n,but WI LL i s di st r act ed by the sound of coughi ng f r omt heaudi t ori um.

WI LLYou see? The consumpt i ves pl ot agai nstme. "Wi l l ; ">Shakespeare has a pl ay, l etus go and cough thr ough i t . "

I NT. WHI TEHALL PALACE. BANQUETI NG HALL. STAGE. DAY.

"VALENTI NE" i s on st age wi t h "PROTEUS. "

CONDELL AS VALENTI NE

"To be i n ">l ove, where scorn i s bought wi t h gr oans: Coyl ooks wi t h hear t sor e si ghs; One f adi ng moment ' s mi r t hWi t h t went y watchf ul , wear y, t edi ous ni ght s"

As t he scene cont i nues, WI LL appear s at t he back of t hehal l and f i nds hi msel f next t o HENSLOWE.

WI LLI f eel a scene comi ng on.

HENSLOWEI s i t about a pi r at e' s daught er ?

I NT. WHI TEHALL PALACE. BACK OF THE BANQUETI NG HALL/ STAGE.DAY.

Laught er . I t i s l at er, and KEMPE i s now on st age wi t h hi s

dog. The audi ence i s r oar i ng.

HENSLOWEYou see? Comedy.

QUEEN ELI ZABETH' S i di osyncr at i c l augh r i ses above t heother s.

QUEENWel l pl ayed, Mast er Cr ab, I commendyou.

She t hrows a sweet heart on t he st age and t he dog wol f s i tdown. Ever yone appl auds.

HENSLOWE">Love and a bi t wi t h a dog, t hat ' s what

t hey l i ke.

Now we meet VI OLA. VI OLA DE LESSEPS i s t wenty- f i ve andbeaut i f ul , and she i s l aughi ng wi t h gr eat nat ur alenj oyment . She si t s sl i ght l y apar t f r om her smal l f ami l ygroup- - her parents, SI R ROBERT DE LESSEPS and LADYMARGARET DE LESSEPS. Par t of t he group but seated behi ndas bef i t s her l ower st at us i s VI OLA' S NURSE.

El sewhere i s LORD WESSEX, our vi l l ai n. WESSEX i s i n hi s


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f or t i es, dar k cr uel , sel f - i mpor t ant . He has not i cedVI OLA. The nurse not i ces hi m.

I NT. WHI TEHALL PALACE. BANQUETI NG HALL. FRONT OFHOUSE/ STAGE. DAY.

LATER. "VALENTI NE" i s on st age al one. He i s speaki ng thespeech rat her more coar sel y t han the versi on we hearl ater .

CONDELL AS VALENTI NE"What l i ght i s l i ght i f Si l vi a be notseen?What j oy i s j oy, i f Si l vi a be not by?Unl ess i t be t o thi nk that she i s byAnd f eed upon t he shadow ofperf ect i on"

Now we see t hat VI OLA knows t he speech by hear t , and i ssi l ent l y mout hi ng i t wi t h t he act or .

HENSLOWEThere' s a l ady knows your pl ay byhear t .

But when he t urns t o WI LL he f i nds t hat WI LL has gone.

I NT. WI LL' S ROOM. DAY.

WI LL comes i nt o hi s r oom, goes st r ai ght t o hi s t abl e i nt he wi ndow, and ar r anges pen, i nk, and paper . Now he hashi s r i t ual : he spi ns r ound once i n a ci r cl e, r ubs hi shands t ogether and spi t s on t he f l oor . Then he si t s down,pi cks up hi s pen, and st ares i n f r ont of hi m. PAUSE. Thenhe begi ns t o wr i t e.

I NT. DE LESSEPSES' HOUSE. VI OLA' S BEDROOM. NI GHT.

The NURSE i s undr essi ng her, t hough VI OLA t r i esi nt er mi t t ent l y t o push her away. She i s st i l l br i ght wi t hexci t ement .

VI OLADi d you l i ke Pr ot eus or Val ent i nebest ? Prot eus f or speaki ng, Val ent i nef or l ooks.

NURSEI l i ked t he dog, f or l aughs.

VI OLABut Si l vi a I di d not care f or much.

Hi s f i nger s wer e r ed f r om f i ght i ng andhe spoke l i ke a school boy at l essons.St age ">l ove wi l l never be t r ue ">l ovewhi l e the l aw of t he l and has ourheroi nes pl ayed by pi psqueak boys i npet t i coat s! Oh, when can we seeanother ?

NURSEWhen t he Queen commands i t .

VI OLABut at t he pl ayhouse. Nurse?


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NURSEBe st i l l .

Now t he NURSE i s cl eani ng VI OLA' S ears, one by one, ofcour se. She has an ear - cl eani ng i mpl ement f or t hi s. VI OLAsubmi t s.

NURSE (CONT' D)Pl ayhouses are not f or wel l - bor n

l adi es.

VI OLAI am not so wel l - bor n.

NURSEWel l - moni ed i s t he same as wel l - bornand wel l - mar r i ed i s more so. Lor dWessex was l ooki ng at you t oni ght .

VI OLAAl l t he men at cour t are wi t houtpoet r y. I f t hey l ook at me they see myf at her ' s f or t une. I wi l l have poet r y

i n my l i f e. And advent ur e. And ">l ove.">Love above al l .

NURSELi ke Val ent i ne and Si l vi a?

VI OLANo . . . not t he ar t f ul post ur es of">l ove, but ">l ove t hat over - t hr ows l i f e.

Unbi ddabl e, ungover nabl e, l i ke a r i oti n t he hear t , and not hi ng t o be done,come r ui n or rapt ur e. ">Love l i ke t her ehas never been i n a pl ay.

( beat )

I wi l l have ">l ove or I wi l l end my daysas a . . .

NURSEAs a nur se.

VI OLA( ki ssi ng her )

But I woul d be Val ent i ne and Si l vi at oo. Good Nurse, God save you and goodni ght . I woul d st ay asl eep my whol el i f e i f I coul d dream mysel f i nt o acompany of pl ayer s.

VI OLA goes over t o t he wi ndow.


The NURSE t hrust s a t wi g to her f ace.

NURSECl ean your t eet h whi l e you dr eam,t hen.

Aut omat i cal l y, VI OLA t akes t he t wi g and begi ns brushi ngher t eet h, al l t he whi l e l ooki ng downr i ver t owar ds t heRose. The NURSE at t ends her wi t h a beaker of water , and a


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bowl .

NURSE (CONT' D)Now spi t

VI OLA gazes l ongi ngl y t owards t he Rose And, t here andt hen, she makes a pl an.

EXT. SQUARE I N FRONT OF THE ROSE THEATRE. DAY.

HENSLOWE i s maki ng hi s way f r om t he t heat r e t o t he marketpl ace when FENNYMAN and LAMBERT appear at ei t her shoul derand pr opel hi m back t he way he came. FREES f ol l owsbehi nd.

FENNYMANThi s t i me we t ake your boots of f !

HENSLOWEWhat have I done, Mr . Fennyman?

FENNYMANThe theat r es are al l cl osed by t hepl ague!

HENSLOWEOh, t hat .

FENNYMANby or der of t he Mast er of t he Revel s!

HENSLOWEMr . Fennyman, l et me expl ai n about t het heat r e busi ness.

( t hey st op)The nat ur al condi t i on i s one ofi nsurmount abl e obst acl es on t he r oadt o i mmi nent di sast er. Bel i eve me, t o

be cl ose by the pl ague i s a bagat el l ei n t he ups and downs of owni ng at heat r e.

FENNYMANSo what do we do?

HENSLOWENot hi ng. St r angel y enough , i t al lt ur ns out wel l .

FENNYMANHow?

HENSLOWEI don' t know. I t ' s a myster y.

LAMBERT( dumbl y)

Shoul d I ki l l hi m, Mr . Fennyman?

At t hi s poi nt di n i s hear d i n t he backgr ound. amessenger , r i ngi ng a bel l , i s r unni ng t hough the st r eet .

MESSENGERThe t heat r es are reopened. By order oft he Mast er of t he Revel s, t he t heatr es


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are reopened

FENNYMAN i s i nt r i gued.

FREESMr . Fennyman! Mr . Ti l ney has openedt he pl ayhouses.

FENNYMANYes I hear d.

HENSLOWE pl ays hi s t emporary advant age modest l y,shruggi ng hi msel f f r ee of LAMBERT' S gr i p.

HENSLOWE( t o LAMBERT)

I f you woul dn' t mi nd

HENSLOWE cont i nues on hi s way. FENNYMAN wat ches HENSLOWE,cur i ous.

FENNYMANWhere i s t he pl ay?

HENSLOWEOh, i t ' s comi ng, i t ' s comi ng.

I NT. WI LL' S ROOM. DAY.

I t i s. WI LL i s wr i t i ng f ur i ousl y. A bur nt - down candl e i sst i l l al i ght , al t hough i t i s day out si de t he wi ndow. Hehas been wr i t i ng al l ni ght . He has wr i t t en about t enpages. Pl eased wi t h hi msel f and exci t ed, he gat hers t hemup and l eaves t he room l i ke a man wi t h a mi ssi on.

EXT. WI LL' S HOUSE. DAY.

Leavi ng t he house, pages i n hand, WI LL near l y knocks down

HENSLOWE who has come t o see hi m.

HENSLOWEWi l l ! The theat r es are

Bef ore he can f i ni sh, WI LL br andi shes t he pages i n hi shand.

WI LLRomeo and Rosal i ne. Scene One! God,I ' m good!

HENSLOWERosal i ne? You mean Et hel .

WI LL has gone.

EXT. BURBAGE' S HOUSE. DAY.

BURBAGE l i ves i n anot her par t of t he ci t y. WI LL bangst hrough t he door wi t hout ceremony.

WI LL( shout i ng)

Ri chard!

I NT. BURBAGE' S HOUSE. DAY.


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WI LL ent er s and cal l s out .

WI LLBurbage?

I NT. BURBAGE' S BEDROOM. DAY.

WI LL charges i nto t he bedroom. ROSALI NE i s i n bed. TheMast er of t he Revel s i s pul l i ng up hi s br eeches. WI LL i s

shat t er ed.

WI LLMr . Ti l ney

The unsuccessf ul snake br acel et gl i nt s at hi m f r omROSALI NE' S ar m.

TI LNEYLi ke you, I f ound hi m not at home!

WI LLSo t hi s i s t he f avour you f i nd i n t heChamber l ai n' s Men.

ROSALI NEWi l l !

WI LL( t o ROSALI NE)

I woul d have made you i mmor t al .( t ur ni ng t o go)

Tel l Burbage he has l ost a new pl ay byWi l l ; ">Shakespeare.

TI LNEYWhat does Burbage care of t hat ? He i sr eadyi ng t he Cur t ai n f or Ki t Mar l owe.

WI LLYou have opened t he pl ayhouses?

TI LNEYI have, Mast er ; ">Shakespear e.

WI LLBut t he pl ague

TI LNEY( si ghs)

Yes, I know. But he was al ways hangi ngaround the house.

A bel l can be hear d r i ngi ng out si de.

ROSALI NE( t o WI LL, l eavi ng)

Wi l l you' r e t he onl y one, Wi l l ! - - i n myhear t .

EXT. STREET. OUTSI DE BURBAGE' S HOUSE. DAY.

WI LL emer ges l ooki ng di st r aught . A bur ni ng br azi er st andsby t he wal l . WI LL t hr ust s t he pages i nt o the coal s. Hewatches f or a moment as t he pages catch f i r e.


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I NT. TAVERN. DAY.

WI LL wal ks i n t o f i nd t he pl ace i n an upr oar ofcel ebr at i on. A handsome young servi ng man ( NOL) i sbumpi ng through wi t h a t r ay of t ankar ds.

NOL( exci t edl y)

Mr . Hensl owe!

HENSLOWEYes, I heard. The t heat r es are open.But wher e i s my pl aywr i ght ?

HENSLOWE f i nds a seat , and t akes a t ankard of f NOL' St r ay.

HENSLOWEChal k i t up, Nol . I ' m hungr y, t oo.

NOLThe speci al t oday i s a pi g' s f ootmar i nat ed i n j uni per - ber r y vi negar ,

ser ved wi t h a buckwheat pancake whi chhas been

They are i nterr upt ed by WI LL who j oi ns t hem. He l ooksdi st r acted.

HENSLOWEWi l l ! Have you f i ni shed?

WI LLYes. Near l y.

( he t aps hi s f orehead)I t ' s al l l ocked saf e i n her e. We needRal ph f or t he Pi r at e Ki ng. Good

morni ng, Mast er Nol . You wi l l have ani ce l i t t l e par t .

NOL shout s f or you, t akes of f hi s apr on and f l i ngs i tbehi nd t he bar. HENSLOWE j umps up and embraces WI LL. Theent i r e st af f and hal f t he cust omer s are now cr owdi ngaround, act ors t he l ot of t hem. HENSLOWE bangs t he t abl et o shut t hem al l up.

HENSLOWENed Al l eyn and t he Admi r al ' s Men areout on t our . I need act ors . Those her ewho ar e unknown wi l l have a chance t obe known.

ACTORWhat about t he money, Mr . Hensl owe?

HENSLOWEI t won' t cost you a penny! Audi t i onsi n hal f - an- hour !

The di n of exci t ed chat t er r etur ns. He sweeps grandl y t ot he t aver n door where he meet s RALPH BASHFORD, a bi g,bur l y, mi ddl e- aged act or .

HENSLOWE (CONT' D)


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Ral ph Bashf ord! I ' d have a part f oryou but , al as, I hear you ar e adr unkar d' s dr unkard.

RALPHNever when I ' m worki ng.

I NT. TAVERN. DAY.

WI LL has r emai ned behi nd, aghast now at hi s predi cament .

He goes t o t he bar .

WI LLGi ve me to dr i nk mandr agora.

BARMANSt r ai ght up, Wi l l ?

VOI CEGi ve my f r i end a beaker of your bestbrandy.

WI LL t ur ns t owar ds a f i gur e f ur t her down t he bar . I t ' sCHRI STOPHER MARLOWE.

WI LLKi t

MARLOWEHow goes i t , Wi l l ?

WI LLWonderf ul , wonder f ul .

MARLOWEBurbage says you have a pl ay.

WI LL

I have. And chi nks t o show f or i t .

Hi s dr i nk ar r i ves. WI LL pl aces a sover ei gn on t he bar .

WI LL ( CONT' D)I i nsi st - - and a beaker f or Mr . Mar l owe.

The BARMAN does t he busi ness.

WI LL ( CONT' D)I hear you have a new pl ay f or t heCur t ai n.

MARLOWENot new- - my Doct or Faust us.

WI LLI ">l ove your ear l y work. "Was t hi s t hef ace t hat l aunched a t housand shi psand bur nt t he t opl ess t owers ofI l i um?"

MARLOWEI have a new one near l y done, andbet t er. The Massacre at Par i s.

WI LLGood t i t l e.


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MARLOWEAnd yours?

WI LLRomeo and Ethel t he Pi r at e' s Daught er .

( beat , si ghs despondent l y)Yes, I know.

MARLOWE

What i s t he story?

WI LLWel l , t her e' s a pi r at e

( conf esses)I n t r ut h, I have not wr i t t en a wor d.

MARLOWERomeo i sI t al i an. Al ways i n and out of">l ove.

WI LLYes, t hat ' s good. Unt i l he meet s

MARLOWEEt hel .

WI LLDo you t hi nk?

MARLOWEThe daught er of hi s enemy.

WI LL( t hought f ul l y)

The daught er of hi s enemy.

MARLOWE

Hi s best f r i end i s ki l l ed i n a duel byEt hel ' s brother or somet hi ng. Hi s namei s Mer cut i o.

WI LLMer cut i ogood name.

NOL hur r i es back t o WI LL' S si de.

NOLWi l l - - t hey' r e wai t i ng f or you!

WI LLI ' m comi ng.

He dr ai ns hi s gl ass.

WI LL ( CONT' D)Good l uck wi t h your s, Ki t .

MARLOWEI t hought your pl ay was f or Bur bage.

WI LLThi s i s a di f f er ent one.

MARLOWE


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( t r yi ng t o wor k i t out )A di f f er ent one you haven' t wr i t t en?

WI LL makes a hel pl ess gest ure and hur r i es af t er NOL.

I NT. THE ROSE THEATRE. GALLERY/ STAGE/ AUDI TORI UM. DAY.

HENSLOWE and WI LL ar e si t t i ng i n t he gal l er y, l i st eni ngt o a YOUNG ACTOR audi t i oni ng.

YOUNG ACTOR" Was t hi s t he f ace t hat l aunched at housand shi ps, And bur nt t he t opl esst owers of I l i um? Sweet Hel en, make mei mmor t al wi t h a ki ss! "

HENSLOWEThank you.

HENSLOWE and WI LL l ook a bi t def l at ed. The YOUNG ACTORl eaves and i s r epl aced by a SECOND ACTOR.

SECOND ACTORI woul d l i ke t o gi ve you somethi ng

f r omFaust us by Chr i st opher Mar l owe.

HENSLOWEHow r ef r eshi ng.

SECOND ACTOR"Was t hi s t he f ace t hat l aunched at housand shi ps, And bur nt t he t opl esst ower s of I l i um?"

HENSLOWE and WI LL l et hi m cont i nue a bi t f ur t her, butexchange despai r i ng l ooks. A successi on of woul d- beact or s of f er t hei r ver si on of Mar l owe' s l i nes, each asi nappropri ate as t he ot her . Among themi s a smal l URCHI N.

URCHI N"t he t opl ess t owers of I l i um? SweetHel en, make me i mmor t al wi t h a- - ?"

HENSLOWE( bel l ows)

Thank you!

The URCHI N l eaves, gl ower i ng f ur i ousl y, and i s r epl acedby a beanpol e of a man ( WASBASH) . WABASH has a badstutter .

WABASH

"W- w- w- w- was t h- t h- t hi s t h- t h- t he f - f -f - f ace"

HENSLOWE( unexpect edl y)

Very good, Mr . Wabash. Excel l ent .Repor t t o t he pr opert y mast er .

WI LL l ooks at HENSLOWE i n out r age.

HENSLOWE (CONT' D)( apol oget i cal l y)

My tai l or. Want s t o be an act or. I


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have a f ew debts here and t her e. Wel l ,t hat seems t o be ever ybody. Di d yousee a Romeo?

WI LLI di d not .

HENSLOWEWel l , I t o my work, you t o your s. Whencan I see pages?

WI LLTomor r ow

HENSLOWE l eaves hi m.

WI LL ( CONT' D)( a pr ayer )

pl ease God.

WI LL si t s broodi ng al one f or a moment . Then he real i zeshe i s bei ng addressed f r om t he st age. ANOTHER ACTOR.

ACTOR

May I begi n, si r ?

WI LL l ooks at t he st age and sees a handsome young man,wi t h a hat shadowi ng hi s eyes.

WI LLYour name?

VI OLA AS THOMASThomas Kent . I woul d l i ke t o do aspeech by a wr i t er who commands t hehear t of ever y pl ayer .

WI LL can har dl y manage a nod.

VI OLA AS THOMAS ( CONT' D)"What l i ght i s l i ght , i f Si l vi a be notseen, What j oy i s j oy, i f Si l vi a benot by? Unl ess i t be t o thi nk t hat shei s by And f eed upon the shadow ofper f ect i on.

I t does not t ake f our l i nes of "VALENTI NE' S" speech t oconf i r m f or us, i f conf i r mat i on be needed, t hat THOMAS i sVI OLA. For WI LL, amazement at hear i ng hi s own wor ds soongi ves away t o somethi ng el se. He i s capt i vat ed. He hasf ound hi s "ROMEO".

VI OLA AS THOMAS ( CONT' D)" except I be by Si l vi a i n t he ni ght ,

Ther e i s no musi c i n t he ni ght i ngal e.Unl ess I l ook on Si l vi a i n t he day,

Ther e i s no day f or me t o l ook upon. "

WI LL i nt er r upt s "hi m. "

WI LLTake of f your hat .

VI OLA AS THOMASMy hat ?


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WI LLWher e di d you l ear n how t o do t hat ?

VI OLA AS THOMASI . . .

WI LLWai t t here.

VI OLA AS THOMASAr e you Mr . ; ">Shakespeare?

WI LLLet me see you. Take of f your hat .

THOMAS begi ns t o pani c. WI LL j umps down t o ground l evel .THOMAS r uns of f st age, t o WI LL' S bewi l derment . WI LLhur r i es af t er hi m. We go wi t h WI LL as he crosses t hest age, t hen backst age, t hen i nt o t he

I NT. THE ROSE THEATRE. RETI RI NG ROOM. DAY.

RETI RI NG ROOM whi ch i s cr owded wi t h act or s and HENSLOWE' S

l i eut enant , pr oper t y manager , copi er , and gener alf actot um who i s a new character, PETER.

ACTORWhat are we pl ayi ng?

NOLWhere ar e t he pages?

WI LL ent er s i nt o the mi ddl e of t hi s.

WI LL( shout s)

Wher e' s t he boy?

NOBODY knows what he i s t al ki ng about . WABASH, t hest ut t er er , gr abs Wi l l ' s hand and shakes i t exci t edl y.

WABASHB- b- b- b- break a l - l - l - l eg!

The st r eet door i s swi ngi ng shut . WI LL sees i t . He f i ght shi s way through t he men t o get t o t he door .

EXT. THE ROSE THEATRE. BANKSI DE. DAY.

WI LL emer ges f r omt he t heat r e i nt o a st r eet t hr obbi ngwi t h nef ar i ous l i f e. Whor es, cut pur ses, hawker s, ur chi ns,

t ract - sel l ers , r i f f raf f of al l ki nds i n an area of stews( l owdown pubs) , br ot hel s and sl ums. I t i s some t i mebef or e WI LL spots THOMAS, way ahead of hi m i n the cr owdedst r eet . The chase i s t aki ng t hem t o t he r i ver bank.

EXT. THE RI VER. DAY.

When WI LL gets t o the r i verbank he sees t hat THOMAS i s i na smal l i sh boat bei ng r owed upr i ver and i n mi dst r eam. Ther i ver i s qui t e busy, and among t he boat s t here are anumber of wai t i ng "t axi s. " WI LL j umps i nt o t he near estone and shout s at t he "Taxi Dr i ver" BOATMAN.


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WI LLFol l ow t hat boat !

BOATMANRi ght you are, governor!

WI LL si t s i n the st ern of t he boat and the BOATMAN si t sf aci ng hi m, r owi ng l ust i l y.

BOATMAN ( CONT' D)

I know your f ace. Ar e you an actor?

WI LL( oh God, her e we go agai n)

Yes.

BOATMANYes, I ' ve seen you i n somethi ng. Thatone about a ki ng.

WI LLReal l y?

BOATMAN

I had the Chri st opher Mar l owe i n myboat once.

EXT. THE RI VER. DAY.

LATER. The BOATMAN i s puf f i ng. WI LL i s l ooki ng ahead t owher e THOMAS' S boat has r eached a j et t y on the f ar t hershor e, a pr i vat e j et t y at t ached t o a r i ch house on t henort h bank. WI LL sees THOMAS j ump out of hi s boat and runt oward the house.

WI LLDo you know t hat house?

BOATMANSi r Robert De Lesseps.

EXT. DE LESSEPSES' HOUSE. DAY.

WI LL r uns t owards t he house.

I NT. DE LESSEPSES' S HOUSE. DAY.

THOMAS rushes up t he back st ai r s, r emovi ng hi s hat . Herhai r t umbl es down about her shoul der s, so we wi l l cal lher VI OLA agai n.

I NT. DE LESSEPSES' HOUSE. VI OLA' S BEDROOM. DAY.

Her mot her LADY DE LESSEPS, i s t al ki ng t o t he NURSE.

LADY DE LESSEPS

Wher e i s she? Our guest s ar e upon us, Lor d Wessex t oo,bar gai ni ng f or a br i de. My husband wi l l have i t set t l edt oni ght .

Behi nd her , t he door opens r eveal i ng VI OLA as THOMAS tot he NURSES vi ew, but onl y f or a moment . The door cl osesagai n as LADY DE LESSEPS t urns.


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LADY DE LESSEPS ( CONT' D)Tomor r ow he dr ags me of f t o t hecount r y and i t wi l l be t hr ee weeksgone bef ore we ret urn f r omourest at es.

A di f f erent door communi cat i ng t o the next r oom, opensand VI OLA comes i n af t er a l i ght ni ng dr ess change i nt o ar obe. She cur t seys t o her mot her.

VI OLAGod save you, mot her .

( t o NURSE)Ho wat er , nur se.

The NURSE l ooks at her , r ound- eyed.

I NT. DE LESSEPSES' HOUSE. KI TCHEN. DAY.

Froma caul dr on on t he st ove, hot wat er i s pour ed i nt ot wo pai l s, by t he a KI TCHEN BOY under t he NURSE' Scommand.

SCULLERY MAI D ( O. S. )

Thomas Kent , si r ? No si r .

WI LL ( O. S. )The act or

NURSEWho asks f or hi m?

WI LL has come t o the ki t chen door wi t h a l et t er.

WI LLWi l l i am ; ">Shakespear e, act or , poet , andpl aywr i ght of t he Rose.

The NURSE sends t he SCULLERY MAI D back t o wor k.

NURSEMast er Kent i smy nephew.

WI LL( gi vi ng her t he l et t er )

I wi l l wai t .

NURSEMuch god may i t do you.

I NT. DE LESSEPSES' HOUSE. VI OLA' S BATHROOM. EVENI NG.

VI OLA i n her bath, r eads WI LL' S l et t er . The NURSE i saddi ng hot water t o t he tub.

VI OLA( del i ght ed)

He sees hi msel f i n me! Romeo Mont ague,a young man of Verona.

NURSE( uni mpressed)

Verona agai n.

VI OLA


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( devour i ng t he l et t er )A comedy of quarr el i ng f ami l i esr econci l ed i n t he di scover y of Romeot o be t he ver y same Capul et cousi nst ol en f r om t he cradl e and f ost er ed t omanhood by hi s Mont ague mot her t hatwas r obbed of her own chi l d by t hePi r at e Ki ng!

EXT. DE LESSEPSES' HOUSE. NI GHT.

WI LL wai t s hopef ul l y. The ki t chen door opens and aSERVANT f l i ngs a bucket of di r t y water i n t he generaldi r ect i on of t he gut t er . WI LL hops ni mbl y asi de andescapes a soaki ng.

SERVANTBe of f !


The NURSE i s hel pi ng VI OLA i nto her part y dr ess.

NURSE

Your mot her , and your f at her

VI OLA( gai l y)

From t omorr ow, away i n t he count r y f ort hree weeks! I s Mast er ; ">Shakespear e nothandsome?

NURSEHe l ooks wel l enough f or a mount ebank.

VI OLAOh, Nurse! He woul d gi ve Thomas Kentt he l i f e of Vi ol a De Lesseps' s

dreami ng.

NURSE( f i rml y)

My l ady, t hi s pl ay wi l l end badl y. Iwi l l t el l .

VI OLA( t wi ce as f i r ml y)

You wi l l not t el l . As you ">l ove me andas I ">l ove you, you wi l l bi nd my br eastand buy me a boy' s wi g!

EXT. DE LESSEPSES' HOUSE. NI GHT.

WI LL spots a gaggl e of MUSI CI ANS appr oachi ng, carr yi ngi nst r ument s. WI LL r ecogni zes t hem.

WI LLMast er Pl um! What busi ness her e?

MUSI CI ANA f i ve shi l l i ng busi ness, Wi l l . Wepl ay f or t he danci ng.

The sound of hooves gi ves hardl y any warni ng as aGALLOPI NG HORSEMAN t hunders t hr ough t he MUSI CI ANS who


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have t o l eap out of t he way. I t i s WESSEX ar r i vi ng at t hehouse, wi t h hi s usual good manner s. Wi l l wat ches WESSEXski d t o a hal t and ent er t he house.

I NT. DE LESSEPSES' HOUSE. BANQUETI NG ROOM. NI GHT.

WI LL has got i n wi t h the MUSI CI ANS. Compet ent l y enough hest r ums al ong wi t h them on t he bandst and. Two dozen guest sare enough to crowd the space f or danci ng. WI LL gl ancesaround, l ooki ng f or THOMAS KENT. He st ops a passi ng

SERVANT, hel pi ng hi msel f t o a snack of f t he man' s t r ay.

SERVANTMusi ci ans don' t eat , Si r Rober t ' sorder s.

WI LLI seek Mast er Thomas Kent .

I t means not hi ng t o t he SERVANT who moves on. ANGLE ONWESSEX and SI R ROBERT.

SI R ROBERTShe i s a beaut y, my l ord, as woul d

t ake a ki ng t o chur ch f or a dowr y of anut meg.

WESSEXMy pl ant at i ons i n Vi r gi ni a ar e notmor t gaged f or a nut meg. I have ananci ent name t hat wi l l br i ng youpref erment when your gr andson i s aWessex. I s she f er t i l e?

SI R ROBERTShe wi l l br eed. I f she do not , sendher back.

WESSEXI s she obedi ent ?

SI R ROBERTAs any mul e i n Chr i st endom. But i f youar e t he man t o ri der her , t hei r ar er ubi es i n the saddl ebag.

WESSEXI l i ke her .

ANGLE on WI LL- - watchi ng t he danci ng. Then he sees VI OLA i nt he crowd. He tur ns t o bl ood.">Love at f i r st si ght , no doubt about i t . VI OLA has not

seen hi m. She i s doi ng a daught er ' s dut y among herpar ent s' f r i ends. The guest s f or m up to begi n a changi ng-par t ner s dance ( t he ver y same one you get i n ever y ROMEOand J ULI ET) .

WI LL( t o Musi ci an)

By al l t he star s i n heaven, who i sshe?

MUSI CI ANVi ol a de Lesseps. Dr eam on, Wi l l .


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WI LL l eaves t he bandst and and i s movi ng t r ancel i ke t okeep her i n vi ew bet ween the dancer s and onl ookers. VI OLAmoves t hrough pat t erns of t he dance unt i l as ni ghtf ol l ows day, she f i nds WI LL opposi t e her. He hasi nsi nuat ed hi msel f i nt o t he dance. VI OLA gasps.

VI OLAMast er ; ">Shakespeare

WI LL r eact s, surpr i sed by her r eact i on. The dance

separ ates t hem. VI OLA f i nds her sel f opposi t e WESSEX.

WESSEXMy l ady Vi ol a.

VI OLAMy l ord.

WESSEXI have spoken wi t h your f ather .

VI OLASo my l ord? I speak wi t h hi m ever yday.

WESSEX scowl s. The dance separat es t hem. VI OLA f i ndsher sel f opposi t e WI LL agai n. WI LL st ar es at herent r anced.

VI OLA ( CONT' D)Good si r ?

WI LL has l ost hi s t ongue.

VI OLA ( CONT' D)I heard you are a poet .

WI LL nods i n hi s t r ance and she smi l es at hi m.

VI OLA ( CONT' D)But a poet of no words?

WI LL t r i es t o speak but t he si l ver t ongue won' t work. Hei s dumb wi t h ador at i on. Suddenl y WESSEX t akes hi m af f abl yby t he el bow and l eads hi m i nto an al cove.

WESSEX( smi l i ng evi l l y)

"Poet ?"

WI LL( comi ng r ound f orm t he

anaest het i c and not not i ci ngt he danger )

I was a poet t i l l now, but I have seenbeaut y t hat put s my poems at one wi t ht he t al ki ng ravens at t he Tower .

To hi s sur pr i se he f i nds a l or dl y dagger at t hi s t hr oat .

WI LL ( CONT' D)( start l ed)

How do I of f end, my l ord?

WESSEX


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By covet i ng my pr opert y. I cannot shedbl ood i n her house but I wi l l cut yourt hroat anon. You have a name?

WI LL( gul ps)

Chr i st opher Mar l owe at your servi ce.

WESSEX shoves hi m t hrough t he near est door .

VI OLA' S eyes are searchi ng t he r oom f or WI LL. She f i ndsWESSEX smi l i ng at her . She l ooks away.

EXT. DE LESSEPS' GARDEN/ VI OLA' S BALCONY. NI GHT

There i s a l i ghted wi ndow on t he bal cony. VI OLA, dr essedf or bed, and t he NURSE pass acr oss t he l i ght ed space.WI LL i s i n t he gar den. He sees her . The l i ght i n t he r oomi s ext i ngui shed. WI LL si ghs. Then VI OLA comes out ont ot he bal cony i n t he moonl i ght . WI LL gasps. He watches her .VI OLA si ghs dr eami l y.

VI OLARomeo, Romeo . . . a young man of

Verona. A comedy. By Wi l l i am; ">Shakespeare.

WI LL r eckons t hat ' s a good enough cue. He comes out ofhi di ng, and approaches t he bal cony.

WI LL( whi sper s)

My l ady!

VI OLA( gasps)

Who i s t her e?

WI LLWi l l ; ">Shakespeare!

The NURSE cal l s " Madam! " f r om i nsi de t he r oom.

VI OLAAnon, good nurse. Anon.

( t o WI LL)Mast er ; ">Shakespeare?!

WI LLThe same, al as.

VI OLA

Oh but why "al as?"

WI LLA l owl y pl ayer .

VI OLAAl as i ndeed, f or I t hought you t hehi ghest poet of my est eem and a wr i t erof pl ays t hat capt ure my hear t .

WI LLOh- - I am hi m t oo!


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The NURSE cal l s agai n.

VI OLA( t o NURSE)

Anon, anon!( t o WI LL)

I wi l l come agai n.

She goes i nsi de f or a moment .

WI LL( t o hi msel f )

Oh, I am f ort une' s fool , I wi l l bepuni shed f or t hi s!

VI OLA r eturns. WI LL comes f orward agai n.

WI LL ( CONT' D)Oh my l ady, my ">l ove!

VI OLAI f t hey f i nd you her e t hey wi l l ki l lyou.

WI LLYou can br i ng t hem wi t h a word.

VI OLAOh, not f or t he worl d!

The NURSE cal l s her agai n: "Madam! "

VI OLA ( CONT' D)Anon, nur se!

But she goes i nsi de. WI LL l ooks around and sees t hatt her e i s, as ever a conveni ent t r ee. He st ar t s t o cl i mbup t oward t he bal cony. When hi s head i s near l y l evel , a

sof t f i gur e comes once more onto t he bal cony. WI LL popshi s head over t he parapet and i s f ace t o f ace wi t h t heNURSE. The NURSE gi ves a yel l . WI LL f al l s out of t het r ee.

EXT. DE LEESEPSES' HOUSE. NI GHT.

Mal e voi ce shout t o each ot her i nsi de t he house, candl ef l ames appear i n di f f er ent wi ndows, t he gar den door i sf l ung open, r eveal i ng SI R ROBERT wi t h candel abr a i n onehand and sword i n t he other . By t hi s t i me WI LL i s on t opof t he gar den wal l and he dr ops saf el y out of si ght . Hecoul d have wr i t t en i t bet t er .

I NT. WI LL' S ROOM. DAWN.

WI LL i s bur ni ng t he mi dni ght oi l - - l i t er al l y andmet aphori cal l y. Hi s qui l l has al r eady cover ed a dozensheet s. He i s i nspi r ed.

I NT. THE ROSE THEATRE. STAGE/ AUDI TORI UM. DAY.

I t i s day one. THE COMPANY i s on st age. PETER i s passi ngpages ar ound a bunch of act or s. J OHN, J AMES, and NOL ar el ooki ng t hr ough t hei r pages.

J OHN


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"Dr aw i f you be men!( t o J AMES)

Gr egor y, r emember t hy washi ng bl ow. "

NOL"Par t , f ool s, put up your swor ds. "

WI LL i s goi ng around pumpi ng hands and sl appi ngshoul ders , f l ushed wi t h exci t ement . HENSLOWE i s r eadi nghi s pages, wor r i ed. RALPH BASHFORD i s next t o hi m.

HENSLOWEI t start s wel l , and t hen i t ' s al l l ong-f aced about some Rosal i ne. Wher e' s t hecomedy, Wi l l . Wher e' s t he dog?

( t o RALPH)Do you t hi nk i t i s f unny?

RALPHI was a Pi r at e Ki ng, now I ' m a Nur se.

That ' s f unny

WI LL pul l s HENSLOWE asi de.

WI LLWe ar e at l east si x men shor t , andt hose we have wi l l be over part ed,r ant ers and st ut t er er s who shoul d besent back t o t he st ews. My Romeo hasl et me down. I see di sast er .

HENSLOWEWe ar e at l east f our act s shor t , Wi l l ,i f you ar e l ooki ng f or di sast er .

WI LL as noti ces a young scr uf f y thi r t een- year - ol d act or,t he URCHI N we met bef or e.

WI LLWho are you, mast er ?

URCHI NI am Ethel , s i r , the Pi rate' sdaughter .

WI LL( f ur i ous l y)

I ' l l be damned i f you ar e!

And he hel ps t he URCHI N of f wi t h a ki ck. The URCHI Ngl owers wi t h r esent ment . HENSLOWE f i nds hi msel f f ace t of ace wi t h FENNYMAN.

FENNYMANI s i t goi ng wel l ?

HENSLOWEVer y wel l .

FENNYMANBut not hi ng i s happeni ng.

HENSLOWEYes, but ver y wel l .


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WI LL( shout s)

Gent l emen! Thank you! You are wel come.

FENNYMANWho i s t hat ?

HENSLOWENobody. The aut hor .

WI LLWe are about t o embark on a greatvoyage.

HENSLOWEI t i s cust omar y to make a l i t t l espeech on t he f i r st day. I t does nohar m and aut hor s l i ke i t .

WI LLYou want t o know what par t s you are t or ecei ve. Al l wi l l be set t l ed as we go

That ' s as f ar as he get s bef ore t her e i s a dr amat i c

i nt er r upt i on- - t he publ i c ent r ance door i s f l ung open andSI X MEN make a l oud ent r ance, headed by NED ALLEYN, t heact or , who i s a handsome pi r at i cal f i gur e wi t h a bi gvoi ce and a bi g sword.

ALLEYNHuzzah! The Admi r al ' s Men are returnedt o the house!

He get s var i ous r eact i ons. HENSLOWE and WI LL shout hi sname j oyf ul l y, some of t he act or s are f r i ends wi t h t henew group and behave accordi ngl y, ot her s know t hey areout of a j ob. FENNYMAN r ecovers, or t r i es t o.

FENNYMANWho i s t hi s?

ALLEYN sl aps hi m asi de wi t h hi s sword.

ALLEYN(roars)

Si l ence, you god! I am Hi er oni mo! I amTambur l ai ne! I am Faust us! I amBar r abas, t he J ew of Mal t a- - of yes,Mast er Wi l l , and I am Henr y VI . Whati s t he pl ay, and what i s my par t ?

FENNYMAN i s i mpr essed.

FENNYMANA moment , si r !

ALLEYN(roars)

Who ar e you?

FENNYMAN( bl eat i ng)

I am t he money!

ALLEYN


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Then you may r emai n so l ong as your emai n si l ent . Pay at t ent i on and youwi l l see how geni us cr eat es a l egend.

FENNYMAN( respectf ul l y)

Thank you, si r .

WI LLWe ar e i n desperat e want of a

Mercut i o, Ned, a young nobl eman ofVerona

ALLEYNAnd t he t i t l e of t hi s pi ece?

WI LLMer cut i o

HENSLOWEI s i t ?

ALLEYNI wi l l pl ay hi m!

Hal f a dozen of t he ADMI RAL' S MEN wi l l be gi ven r ol es i nour pl ay and we meet t hemand i dent i f y t hemas WI LLent husi ast i cal l y shakes hands.

WI LLMr . Pope! Mr . Phi l l i ps! Wel come,George Br yan! J ames Ar mi t age!

( and now greet i ng SAM GOSSE,t he f emal e star of t heAdmi r al ' s Men)

Sam! My pr et t y one! Ar e you ready tof al l i n ">l ove agai n?

SAM( hoar sel y)

I am, Mast er ; ">Shakespear e.

WI LL( concerned)

But your voi ce( he t hrust a hand bet weenSAM' S l egs)

Have t hey dropped?

SAM( a gi r l i e voi ce now)

No, no, a t ouch of col d onl y. We

suspect he i s l yi ng but WI LL hast urned away.

WI LLMast er Hensl owe, you have your act ors.

He l eaves, pass i ng by t he humbl ed FENNYMAN.

FENNYMANI saw hi s Tambur l ai ne, you know.Wonder f ul .

WI LL


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Yes, I saw i t .

FENNYMANOf cour se, i t was mi ght y wr i t i ng.

Ther e i s no one l i ke Mar l owe

WI LL i s used t o i t . He goes.

EXT. RI VERBANK. DAY.

WI LL ar r i ves i n a hur r y at t he whar f si de, and l ooksvai nl y i n t he di r ect i on of t he DE LESSEPSES' house: no

THOMAS.

EXT. THE ROSE THEATRE. STAGE DOOR. DAY.

WI LL l ooks down t he al l ey: - - no THOMAS. He t urns away. TheURCHI N, t he shor t - l i ved Et hel , i s si t t i ng i n t he al l ey.

WI LLBet t er f or t une, boy.

URCHI N( shr ugs)

I was i n a pl ay. They cut my head of fi n Ti t us Andr oni cus. When I wr i t epl ays, t hey wi l l be l i ke Ti t us.

WI LL( pl eased)

You admi r e i t ?

The URCHI N nods gr i ml y.

URCHI NI l i ke i t when t hey cut heads of f . Andt he daught er mut i l ated wi t h kni ves.

WI LLOh. What i s your name?

URCHI N.J ohn Webst er . Her e, ki t t y, ki t t y.

Because a st r ay cat i s nearby. The cat show an i nterest .The URCHI N passes a whi t e mouse t o t he cat and wat chest he r esul t wi t h sober i nt er est .

URCHI N ( CONT' D)Pl ent y of bl ood. That i s t he onl ywr i t i ng.

WI LL backs away, unnerved by t he boy.

URCHI N ( CONT' D)Wai t , you' l l see t he cat bi t es hi shead of f .

WI LLI have to get back.


On st age . . . t he act or s car r y t hei r par t s.


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NOL AS BENVOLI O

"See where he comes. So pl ease you st ep asi de; I ' l l knowhi s gr i evance or be much deni ed. "

MONTAGUE" I woul d thou wert so happy by t hyst ay To hear t r ue shr i f t . Come, madam,l et ' s away. "

Onst age "MONTAGUE" and "LADY MONTAGUE" make t hei r exi t .Of f st age, WI LL appear s next t o HENSLOWE.

WI LLCut r ound hi m f or now.

HENSLOWE( not under st andi ng)

What ? Who?

WI LLRomeo.

HENSLOWE

The one who came wi t h your l et t er?

WI LLWhat ?

NOL AS BENVOLI O ( O. S. )"Good morr ow, cousi n. "

VI OLA AS ROMEO ( O. S. )" I s t he day so young?"

The voi ce i s THOMAS' S. WI LL t urns back t o t he st age andsees hi m. Today THOMAS has a wi g as wel l as hi s smal lmust ache.

NOL AS BENVOLI O"But new st r uck ni ne. "

VI OLA AS ROMEO"Ay me, sad hour s seem l ong. Was t hatmy f ather t hat went hence so f ast ?"

NOL AS BENVOLI OI t was. What sadness l engthens Romeo' shour s?"

VI OLA AS ROMEO"Not havi ng t hat whi ch, havi ng, makes

t hem short . "

WI LLGood

NOL AS BENVOLI O"I n ">l ove?"

VI OLA AS ROMEO"Out . "

NOL AS BENVOLI O"Of ">l ove?"


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VI OLA AS ROMEO"Out of her f avour wher e I am i n">l ove. "

WI LL( i nt er rupt i ng)

No, no, noDon' t spend i t al l at once!

The rehear sal st ops.

VI OLA AS THOMASYes, s i r .

WI LLDo you under st and me?

VI OLA AS THOMASNo, s i r .

WI LLHe i s speaki ng about a baggage wenever even meet ! What wi l l be l ef t i nyour pur se when he meet s hi s J ul i et ?

HENSLOWEJ ul i et? You mean Et hel .

WI LL( r oundi ng on hi m)

God' s t eet h, am I t o suf f er t hi sconst ant st r eam of i nt er r upt i on?!

( t o THOMAS)What wi l l you do i n Act Two when hemeet s t he ">l ove of hi s l i f e?

VI OLA AS THOMAS( t i mi dl y- - l ooki ng t hr ough hi s

f ew sheets of paper)I am ver y sor r y, si r , I have not seenAct Two.

WI LLOf cour se you have not ! I have notwr i t t en i t !

Al one i n t he audi t or i um, FENNYMAN l ooks and l i st ens,f asci nat ed. So thi s i s t heat r e!

WI LL ( CONT' D)Go once mor e!

NED ALLEYN comes out of t he wi ngs, f r owni ng over hi smanuscr i pt .

ALLEYNWi l l Wher e i s Mercut i o?

WI LL( t appi ng hi s f orehead)

Locked saf e i n her e. I l eave t he scenei n your saf e keepi ng, Ned, I have asonnet t o wr i t e.

WI LL moves back i nt o t he wi ngs where HENSLOWE i s l ooki ng


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anxi ous.

HENSLOWEA sonnet? You mean a pl ay.

WI LL moves on, i gnor i ng hi m. As he goes, we see t hatVI OLA i s ">l ove- st r uck by hi m, a r i ot i n t he hear t .

I NT. DE LESSEPSES' HOUSE. STAI RCASE. DAY.

VI OLA st i l l dr essed as THOMAS, sonnet i n hand, r uns upt he st ai r s t o her r oom. Fromt he other end of t he houseWESSEX can be heard r ant i ng.

I NT. DE LESSEPSES' HOUSE. HALL. NI GHT.

LORD WESSEX i s bei ng kept wai t i ng. The NURSE i s beari ngt he br unt of hi s i mpat i ence.

WESSEXTwo hours at prayer !

NURSELady Vi ol a i s pi ous, my l or d.

WESSEXPi ety i s f or Sunday! And two hour s atprayer i s not pi et y, i t i s sel f -i mpor t ance!

NURSEI t woul d be bet t er t hat you r et ur nt omor r ow, my l or d.

WESSEXI t woul d be bet t er t hat you t el l hert o get of f her knees and show someci vi l i t y t o her s i x- day l ord and

mast er .

VI OLA opens t he door . She has changed hur r i edl y- - t oohur r i edl y: t he ef f ect of her gl or i ous hai r f al l i ng t o herbar e shoul der s i s spoi l ed by her must ache. For t unat el y,t he NURSE spot s her bef or e WESSEX does and by comi ngf orward to gr eet her , t he NURSE manages t o shi el d Vi ol af r om vi ew, communi cat e t he pr obl em, and announce WESSEX' Spresence, so t hat by the t i me t he NURSE has passed byVI OLA and l et her sel f out of t he room, t he moust ache hasdi sappear ed.

WESSEX ( CONT' D)My l ady VI OLA.

VI OLALor d Wessex. You have been wai t i ng.

WESSEXI am aware of i t , but i t i s beaut y' spri vi l ege.

VI OLAYou f l at t er , my l or d.

WESSEXNo. I have spoken t o t he Queen.


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( pause)Her maj est y' s consent i s r equi si t ewhen a Wessex t akes a wi f e, and oncegai ned, her consent i s her command.

VI OLADo you i ntend t o marr y, my l ord?

WESSEXYour f ather shoul d keep you bet t er

i nf or med. He has bought me f or you. Her et ur ns f r om hi s est at es t o see usmarr i ed t wo weeks f r om Sat urday.

( pause)You are al l owed t o show your pl easur e.

VI OLAI do not ">l ove you, my l ord.

WESSEXHow your mi nd hops about ! Your f at herwas a shopkeeper , your chi l dr en wi l lbear arms, and I wi l l r ecover myf ort une. That i s t he onl y mat t er under

di scussi on t oday. You wi l l l i keVi rgi ni a.

VI OLAVi rgi ni a?!

WESSEXWhy, yes! My f or t une l i es i n mypl ant at i ons. The t obacco weed. I needf our t housand pounds t o f i t out a shi pand put my i nvest ment s t o work- - I f ancyt obacco has a f ut ur e. We wi l l not st ayt her e l ong, t hr ee or f our year s . . .

VI OLABut why me?

WESSEXI t was your eyes. No, your l i ps.

He ki sses her wi t h more passi on t han ceremony. VI OLAr ecoi l s, and sl aps hi m.

WESSEX ( CONT' D)Wi l l you def y your f ather and yourQueen?

VI OLA

The Queen has consent ed?

WESSEXShe want s t o i nspect you. AtGr eenwi ch, come Sunday. Be submi ss i ve,modest , gr at ef ul and br i ef .

VI OLA( f or ced to submi t )

I wi l l do my dut y, my l ord.



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She i s wr i t i ng t o WI LL. Hi s l et t er - poem i s on her t abl e.We can r ead par t of i t . "Shal l I compar e t hee t o asummer ' s day"

Now we see what VI OLA i s wr i t i ng.

I NSERT: "Mast er Wi l l , poet dear est t o my heart , I beseechyou, bani sh me f r omyour s- - I am t o mar r y Lor d Wessex- - adaught er ' s dut y"

She sheds a r omant i c, unhappy t ear .


SAM i s now " J ULI ET. " The pl ay has evi dent l y reached Act IScene 5. We ar e wi t nessi ng t he meet i ng of "ROMEO" and"J ULI ET" i n a si mpl i f i ed ver si on of t he changi ng- par t ner sdance we saw at VI OLA' S house. NED ALLEYN i s i n char ge.

ALLEYNGent l emen upst age, l adi es downst age!

The dance goes wr ong. i t i s THOMAS' S f aul t .

ALLEYN ( CONT' D)( f ur i ous)

Gent l emen upst age! Ladi es downst age!Ar e you a l ady, Mr . Kent ?

THOMAS mut t ers a bl ushi ng apol ogy. WI LL ar r i ves t hebyst ander s, cl ut chi ng f r esh pages. He gi ves t hese t oPETER. NED ALLEYN sees hi m and comes over t o st ar t anar gument .

WI LL( preempt i ng)

You di d not l i ke t he speech?

ALLEYNThe speech i s excel l ent .

( he does the f i rst l i nei mpr essi vel y)

"Oh, t hen I see Queen Mab hat h beenwi t h you! " Excel l ent and a goodl engt h. But t hen he di sappear s f or t hel engt h of a bi bl e.

WI LL poi nt s si gni f i cant l y at t he pages he has gi venPETER.

WI LLThere you have hi s duel , a ski r mi sh of

words and swords such as I neverwr ote, nor anyone. He di es wi t h suchpassi on and poet r y as your ever heard:"a pl ague on bot h your houses! "

NED nods sat i sf i ed and turns back t o work. Then he t ur nsback.

ALLEYNHe di es?

But t he aut hor has escaped.


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I NT. THE ROSE THEATRE. WRI TER' S CORNER. DAY.

Up al of t , WI LL has a Wr i t er' s Corner wher e he set t l e downt o work. We see hi s pri vat e super st i t i on: he spi ns r oundi n a ci r cl e, r ubs hi s hands t oget her , and spi t s on t hef l oor . That done, he pi cks up hi s pen.

EXT. STREET. NI GHT.

WI LL i s chargi ng down a narr ow al l ey, and bumps i nto

BURBAGE who i s emergi ng f r om t he door of a taver n.

BURBAGEWi l l !

WI LL i s i n too much of a hur r y t o st op. BURBAGE cal l saf t er hi m.

BURBAGE ( CONT' D)And where are my pages . . .

WI LL hur r i es on.

EXT. RI VERBANK. DUSK.

VI OLA as THOMAS i s bei ng r owed across t he r i ver . Fr ombehi nd, i n t he di r ect i on of Banksi de, "he" hear sshout i ng.

WI LL( O. S. shout i ng)

Di d you gi ve her my l et t er?

VI OLA as THOMAS t urns t o see WI LL some way behi nd,f ol l owi ng i n anot her boat . She t akes a l et t er f r om hercoat and hol ds i t al of t .

VI OLA AS THOMAS

( cal l i ng)And t hi s f or you.

EXT. THE RI VER. VI OLA' S BOAT. NI GHT.

WI LL has cl i mbed aboar d VI OLA' S boat and i s t ear i ng opent he l et t er . What he r eads causes hi m gr eat pai n. Hecol l apses i nt o t he ster n seat next t o VI OLA.

WI LLOh, Thomas! She has cut my st r i ngs! Iam unmanned, unmended, and unmade,l i ke a puppet i n a box.

BOATMANWr i t er , i s he?

WI LL t ur ns on hi m savagel y

WI LLRow your boat .

EXT. THE RI VER. VI OLA' S BOAT. NI GHT.

WI LL t ur ns back t o VI OLA. They have t hei r conver sat i oni nt i mat el y, di sr egar di ng t he l ack of i nt i macy. TheBOATMAN i s har dl y an arm' s l ength away, but t hey i gnore


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hi m.

WI LLShe t el l s me to keep away. She i s t omarr y Lor d Wessex. What shoul d I do?

VI OLA AS THOMASI f you ">l ove her , you must do what sheasks.

WI LLAnd break her hear t and mi ne?

VI OLA AS THOMASI t i s onl y our s you can know.

WI LLShe l oves me, Thomas!

VI OLA AS THOMASDoes she say so?

WI LLNo. And yet she does wher e t he i nk has

r un wi t h t ear s. Was she weepi ng whenshe gave you t hi s?

VI OLA AS THOMASI Her l et t er came t o me by t henur se.

WI LLYour aunt?

VI OLA AS THOMAS( cat chi ng up)

Yes, my aunt . But per haps she wept al i t t l e. Tel l me how you ">l ove her ,

Wi l l .

WI LLLi ke a si ckness and i t s cur e toget her .

VI OLA AS THOMASYes, l i ke r ai n and sun, l i ke col d andheat .

( col l ecti ng her sel f )I s your l ady beaut i f ul ? Si nce I camet o vi si t f r om t he count r y, I have notseen her cl ose. Tel l me, i s shebeaut i f ul ?

WI LLOh, i f I coul d wr i t e t he beaut y of hereyes! I was born t o l ook i n t hem andknow mysel f .

He i s l ooki ng i nt o VI OLA' S eyes. She hol ds hi s l ook, butWI LL bel i es hi s words.

VI OLA AS THOMASAnd her l i ps?

WI LLOh, Thomas, her l i ps! The ear l y


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morni ng r ose woul d wi t her on t hebr anch, i f i t coul d f eel envy!

VI OLA AS THOMASAnd her voi ce? Li ke l ar k song?

WI LLDeeper . Sof t er. None of yourt wi t t er i ng l ar ks! I woul d bani shni ght i ngal es f r om her gar den bef or e

t hey i nt er r upt her song.

VI OLA AS THOMASShe si ngs t oo?

WI LLConst ant l y. Wi t hout doubt . And pl ayst he l ut e, she has a nat ur al ear . Andher bosom- - di d I ment i on her bosom?

VI OLA AS THOMAS( gl i nt i ng)

What of her bosom?

WI LLOh Thomas, a pai r of pi ppi ns! As r oundand r are as gol den appl es!

VI OLA AS THOMASI t hi nk t he l ady i s wi se to keep your">l ove at a di st ance. For what l ady

coul d l i ve up t o i t cl ose t o, when hereyes and l i ps and voi ce may be no mor ebeaut i f ul t han mi ne? Besi des, can al ady born t o weal t h and nobl e marr i age">l ove happi l y wi t h a Banksi de poet and

pl ayer ?

WI LL( f ervent l y)

Yes, by God! ">Love knows not hi ng ofr ank or r i ver bank! I t wi l l spar kbet ween a queen and t he poor vagabondwho pl ays t he ki ng, and t hei r ">l oveshoul d be mi nded by each, f or ">l ovedeni ed bl i ght s t he soul we owe to God!So tel l my l ady, Wi l l i am ; ">Shakespear ewai t s f or her i n t he gar den!

VI OLA AS THOMASBut what of Lor d Wessex?

WI LLFor one ki ss, I woul d def y a thousandWessexes!

The boat scr apes on t he j et t y of t he DE LESSEPSES' house.The bump t hrows THOMAS i nt o WI LL' S arms. He hol ds herr ound t he shoul der s. Hi s words have al most unmasked her .

The cl oseness does t he r est . She ki sses hi m on t he mout hand j umps out of t he boat .

VI OLAOh, Wi l l !


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She t hrows a coi n to t he BOATMAN and r uns t owards t hehouse.

BOATMANThank you, my l ady!

WI LL( st unned)

Lady?

BOATMANVi ol a De Lesseps. Known her si nce shewas t hi s hi gh. Woul dn' t decei ve achi l d.

WI LL gets out of t he boat .

BOATMAN ( CONT' D)( r eachi ng under hi s seat )

St r angel y enough, I ' m a bi t of awr i t er mysel f .

The BOATMAN produces hi s memoi r s i n manuscr i pt .

BOATMAN ( CONT' D)I t woul dn' t t ake you l ong t o r ead i t ,I expect you know al l t he booksel l er s. . .

But WI LL has gone.

EXT. DE LESSEPSES' GARDEN. NI GHT.

WI LL drops over t he wal l i nt o t he garden and wi t houthesi t at i on st ar t s cl i mbi ng up t o her bal cony.


WI LL comes i n through t he wi ndow, j ust as VI OLA ent ers byt he door . They st are at each ot her across t he r oom.

WI LLCan you ">l ove a f ool ?

VI OLACan you ">l ove a pl ayer ?

They run t oget her and f al l i nt o a passi onat e ki ss.

WI LL( spr i ngs back)

Wai t ! You are st i l l a mai d and perhaps

as mi st ook i n me as I was mi st ook i nThomas Kent .

VI OLAAnswer me onl y t hi s: are you t heaut hor of t he pl ays of Wi l l i am; ">Shakespeare?

WI LLI am.

VI OLAThen ki ss me agai n f or I amnot


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mi st ook.

They run t oget her and f al l i nt o a passi onat e ki ss. VI OLAf umbl es wi t h hi s cl othi ng, he wi t h her s.

VI OLA ( CONT' D)I do not know how t o undr ess a man.

WI LLI t i s st r ange t o me, t oo.

I NT. DE LESSEPSES' HOUSE. OUTSI DE VI OLA' S BEDROOM. NI GHT.

The NURSE has come t o l i st en. She puts her ear agai nstt he door . Because she hear s muf f l ed voi ces, she l ooksstart l ed.


WI LL i s hal f - naked. VI OLA i s down t o her pet t i coat , andchemi se. The pet t i coat comes away. WI LL f l i ngs i t asi de.He t akes of f her chemi se. He i s st ar t l ed t o f i nd t hat shei s t i ght l y bandaged round t he bosom. WI LL f i nds t he l ooseend and spi ns her naked.

I NT. DE LESSEPSES' HOUSE. OUTSI DE VI OLA' S BEDROOM. NI GHT.

The NURSE, dr ags a chai r - - a r ocker - - out si de t he bedr oomdoor , and takes up her posi t i on. She si t s down, keepi ngguard. Pret t y soon t here comes t he regul ar cr eak ofVI OLA' S bed. The NURSE f ans her sel f f ur i ousl y wi t h herl i t t l e l acy f an. She crosses hersel f . A CHAMBERMAI D comesal ong the gal l er y out si de the bedr oom door . She i sdust i ng her way al ong. The CHAMBERMAI D becomes awar e oft he r egul ar cr eaki ng. She pauses. The NURSE begi ns t or ock i n her chai r , keepi ng t i me wi t h t he creaki ng f r omwi t hi n. The CHAMBERMAI D st ares at t he NURSE. The NURSEst ar es at t he CHAMBERMAI D.

NURSEGo to, go to.

I NT. DE LESSEPSES' HOUSE. VI OLA' S BEDROOM. NI GHT

WI LL and VI OLA have f i ni shed maki ng ">l ove, and l i e i n eachother ' s arms.

VI OLAI woul d not have t hought i t . Ther e i ssomethi ng bet t er t han a pl ay.

WI LL

Ther e i s.

VI OLAEven your pl ay.

WI LL( f r owns)

Oh

VI OLAAnd t hat was onl y my f i r st t r y.

WI LL


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Wel l per haps bet t er t han my f i r st .( he ki sses her agai n)

EXT. DE LESSEPSES' HOUSE. DAWN.

Dawn i s breaki ng. The sun l aci ng t he sever i ng cl ouds wi t henvi ous st r eaks.

I NT. DE LESSEPSES' HOUSE. OUTSI DE VI OLA' S BEDROOM. DAWN

The NURSE has f al l en asl eep i n her r ocki ng chai r .

I NT. DE LESSEPSES' HOUSE. VI OLA' S BEDROOM. DAWN.

A r oost er cr ows at some di st ance. VI OLA and WI LL are i nbed. She st i r s drowsi l y. VI OLA, comi ng awake, speaks hi sname and he ki sses her .

VI OLAWi l l

Then he st art s t o get out of bed.

VI OLA ( CONT' D)

You woul d not l eave me?

WI LLI must . Look- - how pal e t he wi ndow.

VI OLA( pul l i ng hi m down)

Moonl i ght !

WI LLNo, t he mor ni ng r oost er woke me.

VI OLAI t was t he owl - - come to bed

She i s wi nni ng. She ki sses hi m and pul l s t he bedcl ot hesar ound t hem.

WI LL( gi vi ng i n)

Oh, l et Hensl owe wai t .

VI OLA( pausi ng, pushi ng hi m away)

Mr . Hensl owe?

WI LL( persi st i ng)

Let hi m be damned f or hi s pages!

VI OLAOh- - no, no!

WI LL( ki ssi ng her )

There i s t i me. I t i s st i l l dark.

VI OLAI t i s br oad day!

( t he r oost er cr ows agai n)The r oost er t el l s us so!


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WI LLI t was the owl . Bel i eve me, ">l ove, i twas t he owl .

He ki sses her and st art s t o make ">l ove t o her agai n. VI OLAgi ves hi m a shove whi ch pushes hi m ont o t he f l oor . Shesi t s up and pul l s on her gown.

VI OLA

You woul d l eave us pl ayers wi t hout ascene t o read t oday?!

There' s a knock at t he door .

I NT. DE LESSEPSES' HOUSE. CORRI DOR OUTSI DE VI OLA' SBEDROOM/ VI OLA' S BEDROOM. DAWN.

The NURSE i s knocki ng. VI OLA comes t o t he door .

NURSEMy l ady, t he house i s st i rr i ng, i t i sa new day.

VI OLA l ooks beaut i f i ed by t he hour s t hat have passed.

VI OLAI t i s a new wor l d!


The cut i s t o t he mi ddl e of a rehear sal . We ar e comi ng upt o t he moment when "ROMEO" and "J ULI ET" ki ss f or t hef i r st t i me (Act I Scene V) NED ALLEYN i s i n charge butWI LL i s wat chi ng. Hi s l i f e has t ur ned per f ect .

VI OLA AS ROMEO"Have not sai nt s l i ps, and hol y

pal mers t oo?"

SAM AS J ULI ET"Ay pi l gr i m, l i ps t hat t hey must usei n pr ayer . "

VI OLA AS ROMEO"Oh t hen, dear sai nt , l et l i ps do whathands t o: They pr ay: gr ant t hou, l estf ai t h t ur n t o despai r . "

WI LL i s i n her eye- l i ne. Her eyes f l ash an i nt i mat esecret l ook to hi m.

SAM AS J ULI ET"Sai nts do not move, t hough gr ant f orpr ayer ' s sake. "

And VI OLA mi sses her cue as a resul t .

SAM( pr ompt i ng her)

I t ' s you.

ALLEYN(roars)

Suf f er i ng cat s!


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VI OLA gui l t i l y pi cks up her l i ne.

VI OLA AS ROMEO"Then move not , whi l e my prayer ' sef f ect I t ake. "

I n char act er , VI OLA ki sses SAM, demur el y, but appar ent l ynot demurel y enough f or WI LL, who gi ves a t wi t ch.

VI OLA AS ROMEO( CONT' D)"Thus f r om my l i ps, by t hi ne, my si ni s purg' d. "

SAM AS J ULI ET"Then have my l i ps t he si n t hat t heyhave t ook. "

VI OLA AS ROMEO"Si n f r om my l i ps? Oh t r espass sweet l yur g' d. Gi ve me my si n agai n. "

VI OLA ki sses SAM agai n. WI LL gi ves a maj or t wi t ch, whi chi n f act cat apul t s hi s body ont o t he st age. Ever ybody

l ooks at hi m i n surpri se.

WI LLYesyesernot qui t e r i ght i t i s morel et me

( as J ULI ET)"Then have my l i ps t he si n t hat t heyhave t ook. "

VI OLA AS ROMEOSi n f r om my l i ps? Oh tr espass sweet l yur g' d. Gi ve me my si n agai n. "

VI OLA ki sses WI LL. They l ose t hemsel ves f or a f r act i on of

a moment . As VI OLA wi t hdr aws her l i ps, WI LL' S l i ps ar egoi ng f or i t agai n.

VI OLA AS ROMEO ( CONT' D)"You ki ss by th' book. "

ALLEYN( to Wi l l , sarcast i cal l y)

Wel l ! I t was l ucky you were here! Whydo not I wr i t e the r est of your pl aywhi l e you

WI LL( apol ogi si ng, r et r eat i ng)

Yes, yescont i nue. Now t he Nurse.Wher e i s Ral ph?

RALPH has been ready and wai t i ng.

RALPH AS NURSE"Madam, your mot her cr aves a wor d wi t hyou. "

VI OLA AS ROMEO"What i s her mot her ?"

RALPH AS NURSE


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"Mar r y bachel or, Her mother i s t hel ady of t he house"

WI LL has r et r eated to

I NT. THE ROSE THEATRE. BACKSTAGE. DAY.

He i s behi nd the cur t ai n now.

RALPH AS NURSE ( O. S. )

"And a good l ady, and wi se andvi r t uous. I nur se her daught er t hatyou t al k' d wi t hal "

Dur i ng RALPH' S l i nes ( whi ch are cont i nuous) WI LL st andsi n t he shadow behi nd t he cur t ai n, al one, agi t at ed.


RALPH AS NURSE

" I t el l you, he that can l ay hol d of her ( he makes t hemoney si gn) Shal l have t he chi nks. "

VI OLA AS ROMEO"I s she a Capul et " Oh dear account . Myl i f e i s my foe' s debt . "

NOL, AS "BENVOLI O, " at a par t y, car r yi ng a gobl et , t i psy,ent ers t he scene.

NOL AS BENVOLI O( t o ROMEO)

"Away, be gone, t he sport i s at best . "

VI OLA, about t o make her exi t , has her hand hol di ng thecur t ai n at t he gap.

I NT. THE ROSE THEATRE. BEHI ND THE CURTAI N. DAY.

WI LL i s ki ssi ng her hand.


VI OLA AS ROMEO"Ay, so I f ear ; t he more i s myunr est . "


VI OLA comes t hrough t he cur t ai n. WI LL and VI OLA ki ss,dangerousl y- - t hey ar e i n a narr ow space, hi dden f r omt he

gener al backst age area.

SAM AS J ULI ET (O. S. )"Come hi t her nur se. What i s yondgent l eman?"

VI OLA( to Wi l l )

Oh l et i t be ni ght !


RALPH AS NURSE


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"I know not. "

SAM AS J ULI ET"Go ask hi s name- - I f he be marr i ed, Mygr ave i s l i ke to be my weddi ng bed. "


" J ULI ET' S" l i ne bi t s WI LL bet ween t he eyes. WI LL pul l saway.

VI OLAOh, do not go

WI LLI must . I must

I NT. THE ROSE THEATRE. BACKSTAGE. DAY.

As WI LL races up t he l adder t o hi s wr i t er ' s cor ner , t her ehear sal can be hear d cont i nui ng.

RALPH AS NURSE ( O. S. )"Hi s name i s Romeo, and a Mont ague,

The onl y son of your great enemy. "

ALLEYN ( O. S. )( r oar i ng f r om t he audi ence)

Terr i bl e!

I NT. THE ROSE THEATRE. WRI TER' S CORNER. DAY.

WI LL ar r i ves at t he t op of t he bui l di ng i n hi s wr i t er ' scorner . He spi ns ar ound once i n a ci r cl e, r ubs hi s handst oget her and spi t s on t he f l oor . Hi s manuscri pt i s al lover t he t abl e.We take a peak at t he l i nes he has al r eady wr i t t en.I NSERT MANUSCRI PT: "But sof t , what l i ght t hrough yonder

wi ndow br eaks? I t i s t he east and J ul i et i s t he sun. "VI OLA' S VOI CE OVER speaks t he l i ne.

VI OLA ( VO)"But sof t , what l i ght t hr ough yonderwi ndow br eaks? I t i s t he east and

J ul i et i

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