INT. THE PALACE OF COSA GRAVELL, CHARLOTTE’S ROOM - DINNER TIME
LADY CHARLOTTE is sitting in her room
reading a book.
Her maid, VIOLET, stands behind her.
CHARLOTTE
(laughs lightly while looking at the book) Look, VIOLET. This is so funny.
VIOLET
(lowers her upper body to look at the book and smiles) It’s really interesting indeed, my lady.
CHARLOTTE
You’re right, reading is a good way to spend the day.
Especially this novel you lent me. I enjoy it so much.
Thank you, VIOLET.
VIOLET
(smiles happily, bows) I’m glad that you like it, my lady.
(beat)
I don’t mean to interrupt, but it’s time for supper.
CHARLOTTE
Oh.
(beat)
But I haven’t finished this chapter…
VIOLET
I know, my lady.
(beat) But you do need to eat.
The king said that you’re too skinny, and asked me to remind you to have meals on time…
(beat)
I think Lord JAVIER will be worried….
CHARLOTTE
(interrupts calmly) VIOLET.
VIOLET
(lowers her head immediately) Sorry, my lady. I talked too much.
CHARLOTTE
That’s not what I meant, VIOLET.
(looks at VIOLET, hesitates) …You sure you’re fine, my dear?
You don’t need to pretend that you’re not heartbreaking.
VIOLET
(beats) I don’t know what you mean, my lady.
CHARLOTTE
You know, and you don’t need to pretend.
(beats, hesitates) …..I saw you and Lord JAVIER that day.
VIOLET
(surprised, but tries to stay calm) …..There must be a mistake, my lady.
(beats) I don’t know Lord JAVIER.
CHARLOTTE
(turns to face VIOLET) My dear. Look at me.
(Violet turns her face to her reluctantly, tries to hold tears in her eyes.)
CHARLOTTE
VIOLET. We are FRIENDS.
You don’t need to pretend to be someone else in front of me.
I saw you and JAVIER with my OWN EYES.
I know YOU ARE LOVERS.
VIOLET
(panicked, tears dropping) My lady……..
CHARLOTTE
(puts her hand on VIOLET’s left arm, looks determined) WHICH IS OK.
VIOLET
(surprised).........my lady?
CHARLOTTE
(smiles warmly) I’m glad that you’ve found the love of your life.
He’s a fine man.
VIOLET
But….
CHARLOTTE
No need to worry, my dear.
We’re just FOLLOWING the king’s order.
THERE’S NOTHING BETWEEN US, and THERE WON’T BE.
(beats, tapping her hand on VIOLET’s left arm) I’m really happy for you.
I REALLY do.
VIOLET
(crying with joyful tears) My lady…….
CHARLOTTE
Don’t worry, VIOLET. I WILL help you.
VIOLET
Thank you, my lady.
CHARLOTTE
It’s “CHARLOTTE”.
VIOLET
Thank you very much…..CHARLOTTE.
Suddenly, another maid, ROSE
knocking on the door.
ROSE
My lady, the queen, is outside.
She asked to have dinner with you.
CHARLOTTE
Tell the queen I’ll be right there.
ROSE
Yes, my lady.
Closes the book, CHARLOTTE and VIOLET
heads out to the dinner.
INT. THE PALACE OF COSA GRAVELL, DINNER - DINNER TIME
CHARLOTTE enters the room.
VIOLET and ROSE follows her.
QUEEN AUDREY is already sitting in the room.
CHARLOTTE
(bows) My apologies, my queen.
I didn’t know we’re having dinner together tonight.
QUEEN AUDREY
(smiles) It’s totally fine, my dear.
I made this decision on a whim.
(gestures) Now, quick have a seat.
CHARLOTTE seats down.
The SERVANTS bring in the food.
QUEEN AUDREY
Do you happen to know…..Lady ELEANOR, my dear?
CHARLOTTE
Yes, my queen. She’s a fine and graceful lady.
QUEEN AUDREY
Do you know that…..she’s got a lot of things on her hands recently?
CHARLOTTE
(beats) What do you mean, my queen?
QUEEN AUDREY
As you can see, she’s a nice lady.
She does have a lot of suitors, if I’m not mistaken.
CHARLOTTE
I’ve heard some rumors, yes, my queen.
QUEEN AUDREY
Which Lord will suit her well, you think?
CHARLOTTE
(beats) ……..My queen?
(hesitates) I’m not qualified to discuss this kind of matters…
QUEEN AUDREY
CHARLOTTE. JUST TELL ME THE TRUTH.
(stares at CHARLOTTE) ALL THE TRUTH YOU KNOW, and WHAT HAPPENED IN THE PALACE RECENTLY.
CHARLOTTE
My queen….
(beats) I know she just arrived at the palace recently, and already has a lot of suitors.
But….. she doesn’t seem to have any interest.
QUEEN AUDREY
How about the king? What’s his attitude towards this?
CHARLOTTE
I don’t know what you meant, my queen…
QUEEN AUDREY
(interrupts) I mean what is the king’s attitude towards this?
Usually it’s not allowed to have an unwed woman staying in the palace with unclear purpose for this long….
CHARLOTTE
I understand, my queen.
(beats) ….Maybe my maid has something to say.
CHARLOTTE gestures to call ROSE.
ROSE comes near to the table
with her head facing the ground.
ROSE
My queen. When I passed by the king’s study earlier, I heard some talks in the room.
(beats) It was a conversation between LADY ELEANOR and the king.
QUEEN AUDREY
And what was it about?
ROSE
LADY ELEANOR was trying to persuade the king to…….accept her….
QUEEN AUDREY
And what was that supposed to mean?!
ROSE
(scared) I….I don’t know, my queen….
QUEEN AUDREY
(upset) What do you mean you don’t know!!
ROSE is so scared that her body shakes.
She lowers her head even more, with the tears dropping.
CHARLOTTE
…I think based on what she heard and my limited understanding, my queen.
(beats) I think…..LADY ELEANOR is trying to SEDUCE THE KING.
QUEEN AUDREY
(furious) WHAT?!
Everybody in the room, including LADY CHARLOTTE
kneels down on the ground.
CHARLOTTE
Please forgive my ignorance, my queen.
I’m pretty sure there must be a misunderstanding…
QUEEN AUDREY
(devastated) No……you are right.
(beats) That’s why I’m here with you tonight.
The king…….decided to have dinner with her…..
CHARLOTTE
(beats) Oh….
…..I’m so sorry to hear that, my queen.
QUEEN AUDREY begins to weep.
Everyone looks at each other, doesn’t know
what to do.
CHARLOTTE
(hesitates) ….My queen, is there anything that I can help you with?
QUEEN AUREY
There’s no way……. The king is interested in her. That’s why he wants to have dinner with her.
(voice breaks) He’s leaving me……
CHARLOTTE
…NO, HE WON’T, my queen.
CHARLOTTE stands up and
comes to the side of the queen.
She puts her hand on the queen’s shoulder.
CHARLOTTE
(with a calm, low voice) Sister, you’re always so nice and take good care of me.
Let me help you with this, and make the king regret.
QUEEN AUDREY
(frustrated, weeping) But……how?
CHARLOTTE
(whispers) According to the news I got from other servants, the king is going to invite LADY ELEANOR to the royal tea party.
QUEEN AUDREY
What?! But I’m ALWAYS THE ONE WHO PLAN THE PARTY!
CHARLOTTE
EXACTLY.
(beat) That’s why I mention it to you, my queen.
You can find a way to TEACH HER A LESSON during the party.
QUEEN AUDREY
(hopeless) But…..how? The king will not allow it.
CHARLOTTE
But the king needs to BE and STAND BY YOUR SIDE, my queen.
You’re still the QUEEN.
QUEEN AUDREY
I don’t know……. I don’t know if I can do this.
CHARLOTTE
(holds the queen’s hand, determined) Don’t worry, AUDREY. I WILL HELP YOU.
They hug.
