ACT 1 SCENE 3 - BEHIND THE ROYAL WALLS

INT. THE PALACE OF COSA GRAVELL - EARLY MORNING

The Doctor’s visit is over. King VICTOR is waiting outside the queen’s bedroom, looking impatient.

The priest, ISAK, comes out of the room and closes the door.

KING VICTOR

Is it done?

ISAK sees the king and bows.

ISAK

Your majesty.

KING VICTOR

I’m asking, is it done?

ISAK

(beat) I’m afraid we lost it….again.

KING VICTOR

And what’s the cause?

ISAK

We’re not pretty sure. I gave the queen some powder to calm her, but it seems that…..her mind can’t bear this kind of loss anymore.

KING VICTOR

(raising his voice) Are you suggesting that THAT woman can’t fulfill her destiny?

King VICTOR turns around. Every servant suddenly lies on the ground.

#2 I CAN’T BELIEVE IT - KING VICTOR & THE ENSEMBLE

KING VICTOR

I’M STUCK WITH THIS WOMAN NOW,

ONLY BECAUSE OF THAT LIFE-LONGING VOW.

WE TREAT EACH OTHER LIKE STRANGERS,

BUT WE TRY NOT TO PUT ROYAL BLOOD IN DANGER.

SO….

I CAN’T BELIEVE IT! I CAN’T BELIEVE IT!

SHE FAILED ME AGAIN.

I’VE GIVEN HER SO MUCH,

ALL THE GOLD, THE CLOTHES, THE FOOD AND THE TITLE.

WHY CAN’T HER JUST DO HER JOB,

SO WE DON’T NEED TO SUFFER ANYMORE?

(The light changes and aims the left corner, where two queen’s maids are whispering.)

QUEEN AUDREY’S MAID 1

I can hear her crying during the nights…

QUEEN AUDREY’S MAID 2

I’m pretty sure that must be really painful

QUEEN AUDREY’S MAID 1

Yes. Poor queen…..The king doesn’t even come to see her….

QUEEN AUDREY’S MAID 2

I know…..royal marriage is like that. There’s no love between them, only destiny.

QUEEN AUDREY’S MAID 1

Poor thing. It’s her duty to give birth to the royal heir.

QUEEN AUDREY’S MAID 2

Praise the king….and how many times have they tried already?

QUEEN AUDREY’S MAID 1

I guess…..twenty-ish.

QUEEN AUDREY’S MAID 1

Twenty-ish???

QUEEN AUDREY’S MAID 1

(gestures to shush MAID 2) Shh!......

(beat) Actually….it’s Twenty-two.

QUEEN AUDREY’S MAID 1

(surprisingly whispers) Twenty-two……

(covers her mouth and whispers) Oh……god…..

KING VICTOR

SO I’M DONE WITH THAT WOMAN,

BECAUSE OF HER I DON’T FEEL LIKE BEING A MAN.

ISAK

But, your majesty…

KING VICTOR

I AM A MAN, AND I’M THE KING.

I HAVE ALL THE POWER TO BRING.

ISAK

(bows) Of course, your majesty.

KING VICTOR

I WANT TO GET ON WITH MY LIFE,

BUT THIS MATTER IS LARGER THAN LIFE.

SO…..

KING VICTOR AND ENSEMBLE

WE CAN’T BELIEVE IT! WE CAN’T BELIEVE IT!

SHE FAILED US AGAIN.

KING VICTOR

I’VE GIVEN HER SO MUCH,

The parties.

ISAK

The medicine.

SOLDIER 1

The jewelry.

SOLDIER 2

The safety.

KING VICTOR

Yes!

WHY CAN’T HER JUST DO HER JOB,

SO WE DON’T NEED TO SUFFER ANYMORE

WHY CAN’T HER JUST DO HER JOB,

SO WE CAN BOTH GO ON WITH OUR LIVES?

KING VICTOR AND ENSEMBLE

WE CAN’T BELIEVE IT!

WE JUST CAN’T BELIEVE IT!

ISAK

(beat) I didn’t mean to upset you, my king…..

KING VICTOR

(impatiently) So what do you suggest?

ISAK

….My king?

KING VICTOR

(growls more impatiently) What do you suggest?

ISAK

My king….. she is your queen. We will figure something out….

KING VICTOR

Didn’t you say that she can’t fulfill her destiny anymore?

ISAK

I’m afraid so……her condition is not pleasant…

(beat)

But we can try something else….

KING VICTOR

(interrupts ISAK) Then stop trying.

ISAK

(surprises) …….Your majesty?

KING VICTOR

Tell me a way.

He looks at ISAK, determined.

That woman is useless. She failed me. So I’m demanding you to find me a way to have children.

ISAK suddenly understands the meaning and bows.

ISAK

Yes, your majesty.

ISAK comes to the side of the king and whispers in his ears.

KING VICTOR

Give me a list. I want it before dinner.

ISAK

Yes. Your majesty.

ISAK and the SOLDIERS leave. KING VICTOR walks away without going into the bedroom.