Shakespeare in Love Page #9

WESSEX:

My plantations in Virginia are not

mortgaged for a nutmeg. I have an

ancient name that will bring you

preferment when your grandson is a

Wessex. Is she fertile?

SIR ROBERT:

She will breed. If she do not, send

her back.

WESSEX:

Is she obedient?

SIR ROBERT:

As any mule in Christendom. But if you

are the man to rider her, their are

rubies in the saddlebag.

WESSEX:

I like her.

ANGLE on WILL--watching the dancing. Then he sees VIOLA in

the crowd. He turns to blood.

Love at first sight, no doubt about it. VIOLA has not

seen him. She is doing a daughter's duty among her

parents' friends. The guests form up to begin a changing-

partners dance (the very same one you get in every ROMEO

and JULIET).

WILL:

(to Musician)

By all the stars in heaven, who is

she?

MUSICIAN:

Viola de Lesseps. Dream on, Will.

WILL leaves the bandstand and is moving trancelike to

keep her in view between the dancers and onlookers. VIOLA

moves through patterns of the dance until…as night

follows day, she finds WILL opposite her. He has

insinuated himself into the dance. VIOLA gasps.

VIOLA:

Master Shakespeare

WILL reacts, surprised by her reaction. The dance

separates them. VIOLA finds herself opposite WESSEX.

WESSEX:

My lady Viola.

VIOLA:

My lord.

WESSEX:

I have spoken with your father.

VIOLA:

So my lord? I speak with him every

day.

WESSEX scowls. The dance separates them. VIOLA finds

herself opposite WILL again. WILL stares at her

entranced.

VIOLA (CONT'D)

Good sir… ?

WILL has lost his tongue.

VIOLA (CONT'D)

I heard you are a poet.

WILL nods in his trance and she smiles at him.

VIOLA (CONT'D)

But a poet of no words?

WILL tries to speak but the silver tongue won't work. He

is dumb with adoration. Suddenly WESSEX takes him affably

by the elbow and leads him into an alcove.

WESSEX:

(smiling evilly)

"Poet?"

WILL:

(coming round form the

anaesthetic and not noticing

the danger)

I was a poet till now, but I have seen

beauty that puts my poems at one with

the talking ravens at the Tower.

To his surprise he finds a lordly dagger at this throat.

WILL (CONT'D)

(startled)

How do I offend, my lord?

WESSEX:

By coveting my property. I cannot shed

blood in her house but I will cut your

throat anon. You have a name?

WILL:

(gulps)

Christopher Marlowe at your service.

WESSEX shoves him through the nearest door.

VIOLA'S eyes are searching the room for WILL. She finds

WESSEX smiling at her. She looks away.

EXT. DE LESSEPS' GARDEN/VIOLA'S BALCONY. NIGHT

There is a lighted window on the balcony. VIOLA, dressed

for bed, and the NURSE pass across the lighted space.

WILL is in the garden. He sees her. The light in the room

is extinguished. WILL sighs. Then VIOLA comes out onto

the balcony in the moonlight. WILL gasps. He watches her.

VIOLA sighs dreamily.

VIOLA:

Romeo, Romeo . . . a young man of

Verona. A comedy. By William

Shakespeare.

WILL reckons that's a good enough cue. He comes out of

hiding, and approaches the balcony.

WILL:

(whispers)

My lady!

VIOLA:

(gasps)

Who is there?

WILL:

Will Shakespeare!

The NURSE calls "Madam!" from inside the room.

VIOLA:

Anon, good nurse. Anon.

(to WILL)

Master Shakespeare?!

WILL:

The same, alas.

VIOLA:

Oh but why "alas?"

WILL:

A lowly player.

VIOLA:

Alas indeed, for I thought you the

highest poet of my esteem and a writer

of plays that capture my heart.

WILL:

Oh--I am him too!

The NURSE calls again.

VIOLA:

(to NURSE)

Anon, anon!

(to WILL)

I will come again.

She goes inside for a moment.

WILL:

(to himself)

Oh, I am fortune's fool, I will be

punished for this!

VIOLA returns. WILL comes forward again.

WILL (CONT'D)

Oh my lady, my love!

VIOLA:

If they find you here they will kill

you.

WILL:

You can bring them with a word.

VIOLA:

Oh, not for the world!

The NURSE calls her again: "Madam!"

VIOLA (CONT'D)

Anon, nurse!

But she goes inside. WILL looks around and sees that

there is, as ever a convenient tree. He starts to climb

up toward the balcony. When his head is nearly level, a

soft figure comes once more onto the balcony. WILL pops

his head over the parapet and is face to face with the

NURSE. The NURSE gives a yell. WILL falls out of the

tree.

EXT. DE LEESEPSES' HOUSE. NIGHT.

Male voice shout to each other inside the house, candle

flames appear in different windows, the garden door is

flung open, revealing SIR ROBERT with candelabra in one

hand and sword in the other. By this time WILL is on top

of the garden wall and he drops safely out of sight. He

could have written it better.

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