Shakespeare in Love Page #5

NURSE:

When the Queen commands it.

VIOLA:

But at the playhouse. Nurse?

NURSE:

Be still.

Now the NURSE is cleaning VIOLA'S ears, one by one, of

course. She has an ear-cleaning implement for this. VIOLA

submits.

NURSE (CONT'D)

Playhouses are not for well-born

ladies.

VIOLA:

I am not so well-born.

NURSE:

Well-monied is the same as well-born

and well-married is more so. Lord

Wessex was looking at you tonight.

VIOLA:

All the men at court are without

poetry. If they look at me they see my

father's fortune. I will have poetry

in my life. And adventure. And love.

Love above all.

NURSE:

Like Valentine and Silvia?

VIOLA:

No . . . not the artful postures of

love, but love that over- throws life.

Unbiddable, ungovernable, like a riot

in the heart, and nothing to be done,

come ruin or rapture. Love like there

has never been in a play.

(beat)

I will have love or I will end my days

as a . . .

NURSE:

As a nurse.

VIOLA:

(kissing her)

But I would be Valentine and Silvia

too. 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.

VIOLA goes over to the window.

INT. DE LESSEPSES' HOUSE. VIOLA'S BEDROOM. NIGHT.

The NURSE thrusts a twig to her face.

NURSE:

Clean your teeth while you dream,

then.

Automatically, VIOLA takes the twig and begins brushing

her teeth, all the while looking downriver towards the

Rose. The NURSE attends her with a beaker of water, and a

bowl.

NURSE (CONT'D)

Now spit

VIOLA gazes longingly towards the Rose… And, there and

then, she makes a plan.

EXT. SQUARE IN FRONT OF THE ROSE THEATRE. DAY.

HENSLOWE is making his way from the theatre to the market

place when FENNYMAN and LAMBERT appear at either shoulder

and propel him back the way he came. FREES follows

behind.

FENNYMAN:

This time we take your boots off!

HENSLOWE:

What have I done, Mr. Fennyman?

FENNYMAN:

The theatres are all closed by the

plague!

HENSLOWE:

Oh, that.

FENNYMAN:

by order of the Master of the Revels!

HENSLOWE:

Mr. Fennyman, let me explain about the

theatre business.

(they stop)

The natural condition is one of

insurmountable obstacles on the road

to imminent disaster. Believe me, to

be close by the plague is a bagatelle

in the ups and downs of owning a

theatre.

FENNYMAN:

So what do we do?

HENSLOWE:

Nothing. Strangely enough , it all

turns out well.

FENNYMAN:

How?

HENSLOWE:

I don't know. It's a mystery.

LAMBERT:

(dumbly)

Should I kill him, Mr. Fennyman?

At this point din is heard in the background. a

messenger, ringing a bell, is running though the street.

MESSENGER:

The theatres are reopened. By order of

the Master of the Revels, the theatres

are reopened

FENNYMAN is intrigued.

FREES:

Mr. Fennyman! Mr. Tilney has opened

the playhouses.

FENNYMAN:

Yes I heard.

HENSLOWE plays his temporary advantage modestly,

shrugging himself free of LAMBERT'S grip.

HENSLOWE:

(to LAMBERT)

If you wouldn't mind

HENSLOWE continues on his way. FENNYMAN watches HENSLOWE,

curious.

FENNYMAN:

Where is the play?

HENSLOWE:

Oh, it's coming, it's coming.

INT. WILL'S ROOM. DAY.

It is. WILL is writing furiously. A burnt-down candle is

still alight, although it is day outside the window. He

has been writing all night. He has written about ten

pages. Pleased with himself and excited, he gathers them

up and leaves the room like a man with a mission.

EXT. WILL'S HOUSE. DAY.

Leaving the house, pages in hand, WILL nearly knocks down

HENSLOWE who has come to see him.

HENSLOWE:

Will! The theatres are

Before he can finish, WILL brandishes the pages in his

hand.

WILL:

Romeo and Rosaline. Scene One! God,

I'm good!

HENSLOWE:

Rosaline? You mean Ethel.

WILL has gone.

EXT. BURBAGE'S HOUSE. DAY.

BURBAGE lives in another part of the city. WILL bangs

through the door without ceremony.

WILL:

(shouting)

Richard!

INT. BURBAGE'S HOUSE. DAY.

WILL enters and calls out.

WILL:

Burbage?

INT. BURBAGE'S BEDROOM. DAY.

WILL charges into the bedroom. ROSALINE is in bed. The

Master of the Revels is pulling up his breeches. WILL is

shattered.

WILL:

Mr. Tilney

The unsuccessful snake bracelet glints at him from

ROSALINE'S arm.

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