Shakespeare in Love Page #2

I commend you!

What light is light...

if Silvia be not seen?

What joy is joy...

if Silvia be not by?

Unless it be to think that she is by...

and feed upon the shadow of perfection.

Except I be by Silvia

in the night,

there is no music

in the nightingale.

Unless I look on Silvia

in the day,

there is no day for me to look upon.

Did you like Proteus

or Valentine best?

Proteus for speaking.

Valentine for looks.

Oh, I liked the dog for laughs.

Silvia, I did not care for much.

His fingers were red

from fighting...

and he spoke like a schoolboy at lessons.

Stage love will never be true love

while the law of the land...

has our heroines being played

by pipsqueak boys in petticoats.

-Oh, when can we see another?

-When the queen commands it.

No, but at the playhouse. Nurse!

Be still. Playhouses are not

for wellborn ladies.

Oh! Im not so wellborn.

Well-monied is the same

as wellborn,

and well-married

is more so.

Lord Wessex was looking at you tonight.

All the men at court

are without poetry.

If they see me, they see

my fathers fortune.

I will have poetry in my life...

and adventure.

And love.

Love above all.

Like Valentine and Silvia?

No, not the artful postures of love...

but love that overthrows life.

Unbiddable, ungovernable,

like a riot in the heart...

and nothing to be done,

come ruin or rapture.

Love as there has never been

in a play.

I will have love,

or I will end my days as...

As a nurse?

Oh, but I would be

Valentine and Silvia too.

Oh, good nurse,

God save you, and good night.

I would stay asleep my whole life...

if I could dream myself

into a company of players.

Clean your teeth

while you dream, then.

Now spit.

This time the boots are coming off.

What have I done?

The theaters have all been

closed down by the plague.

-Oh, that.

-By order of the Master of the Revels.

Mr. Fennyman, allow me to explain

about the theater business.

The natural condition is one of insurmountable

obstacles on the road to imminent disaster.

-So what do we do?

-Nothing.

Strangely enough,

it all turns out well.

-How?

-I dont know. Its a mystery.

Shall I kill him, Mr. Fennyman?

The theaters are reopened...

by order of the Master of the Revels!

The theaters are reopened!

Mr. Fennyman, Mr. Tilney

has reopened the playhouses.

If you wouldnt mind.

-Wheres the play?

-Oh, its coming. Its coming.

Its coming.

Will!

Will, I have wonderful news.

So have I.

Romeo and Rosaline, scene one.

God, Im good!

Rosaline?

You mean Ethel.

Richard?

Burbage!

Mr. Tilney.

Like you,

I found him not at home.

I wouldve made you immortal.

Tell Burbage he has lost

a new play by Will Shakespeare.

What does Burbage care of that?

Hes readying the "Curtain"

for Kit Marlowe.

-Youve opened the playhouses?

-I have, Master Shakespeare.

-But the plague...

-Yes, I know...

but he was always hanging around the house.

The special today is a pigs foot

marinated in juniper berry vinegar,

served on a buckwheat pancake...

-Will! Have you finished?

-Yes, nearly.

Good morning, Master Nol.

You'll have a nice part.

-Yes!

-Well need Ralph for the pirate king.

Clear that bloody table!

None other than the Admirals Men

are out on tour.

I need actors!

Those of you who are unknown

will have a chance to be known!

-What about the money, Mr. Henslowe?

-It wont cost you a penny! Ha ha ha!

Auditions in half an hour!

Ralph Bagswell,

I'd have a part for you...

but, alas, I hear you are

a drunkards drunkard.

Never when Im working.

Never when Im working!

-Get me to drink mandragora.

-Straight up, Will?

Give my friend a beaker

of your best brandy.

Kit.

-How goes it, Will?

-Wonderful. Wonderful.

-Burbage says you have a play.

-I have, and the chinks to show for it.

I insist.

A beaker for Mr. Marlowe.

I hear you have a new play

for the "Curtain".

Not new.

My "Doctor Faustus".

Ah. I love your early work.

Was this the face that

launched a thousand ships...

and burnt the topless towers

of llium?"

I have a new one

nearly finished, and better.

"The Massacre at Paris".

-Good title.

-Yours?

"Romeo and Ethel,

the Pirates Daughter".

-Yes, I know. I know.

-What is the story?

Well, theres this pirate...

In truth,

I have not written a word.

Romeo.

Romeo is Italian...

always in and out of love.

Yes, thats good.

Until he meets...

-Ethel.

-Do you think?

-The daughter of his enemy.

-The daughter of his enemy.

His best friend

is killed in a duel...

by Ethels brother, or something.

His name is Mercutio.

Mercutio.

Good name.

-Will! Theyre waiting for you!

-Yes, Im coming.

Good luck with yours, Kit.

I thought your play

was for Burbage.

-This is a different one.

-A different one you havent written?

Was this the face...

that launched a thousand ships...

and burnt the topless

towers of llium?

Thank you!

Was this the face that

launched a thousand ships...

And burnt the top-

Thank you!

Was this the face...

that launched a thousand ships

and burnt the topless towers...

I would like to give you something

from Faustus...

-by Christopher Marlowe.

-How refreshing.

...the topless towers of llium?

Sweet Helen,

make me immortal with a kiss.

W- W- Was this the f...

Very good, Mr. Wabash.

Report to the property master.

My tailor wants to be an actor.

I have a few debts here and there.

Well, that seems to be everybody.

-Did you see a "Romeo"?

-I did not.

Well, I to my work,

you to yours.

Oh, God.

May I begin, sir?

-Your name?

-Thomas Kent.

I would like to do a speech

by a writer...

who commands the heart of every player.

What light is light...

if Silvia be not seen?

What joy is joy

if Silvia be not by?

Unless it be to think that she is by

and feed upon the shadow of perfection.

Except I be by Silvia

in the night...

there is no music

in the nightingale.

Unless I look on Silvia

in the day...

there is no day

for me to look upon.

She is my essence,

and I leave to be if I be not...

-Take off your hat!

-My hat?

Whered you learn how to do that?

-I...

-Let me see you. Take off your hat.

-Are you M-Master Shakespeare?

-Wait there. Wait there!

-Will, w-where are the pages?

-Where is the boy?

B- B- B- Break a leg!

Sir, will you buy my sweet orange?

Hey!

Everybody ready? All away!

-Follow that boat!

-Right you are, governor.

I know your face.

Are you an actor?

-Yes.

-Yes, I think Ive seen you in something.

-That one about a king.

-Really?

I had that Christopher Marlowe

in my boat once.

-Do you know that house?

-Sir Robert De Lesseps.

Where is she?

Our guests are upon us!

Lord Wessex, too,

bargaining for a bride.

My husband will have it settled tonight.

Stamped, sealed

and celebrated.

Tomorrow he drags me off to the country...

and it will be three weeks gone

before we return from our estates.

God save you, Mother.

Hot water, Nurse.

I seek Master Thomas Kent.

-Who, sir?

-The actor.

-Who asks for him?

-Will Shakespeare.

Poet, playwright of the "Rose".

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