Luc Isabelle Dec 31

8/8/2019 Luc Isabelle Dec 31

1/15

DUEL INTENTS

byLarry Nehring

Fifth Draft(Isabelle & Luc scene, only)L. Nehring, December 2010

Larry Nehring1342 Beach Pkwy.Apt. #1Lakewood, OH [email protected]


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DUEL INTENTS

Character Descriptions (4 F, 10 M):

SABINE (F)- 25-30 yrs old , Leading actress of Jean-Baptiste'scompany in Paris. She was an engenue, but is growing insecureabout the younger actresses entering the company. She was born toa merchant family of very little means and as a child stumbledinto work with a commedia troupe. Her education and career wereproducts of her hard work and creativity. She is married toReginald, and the lover of Claudette.

CLAUDETTE (F)- 20 yrs old, She is a distant cousin to the FrenchKing (Louis XIV, the Sun King). While not closely related enoughto have influence, her branch of the family, headed by her greataunt Mathilde, still is held in high esteem. Claudette has neverhad to labor at anything and quite enjoys that privilege. She is

in love with Sabine, but has married Phillippe.

REGINALD (M)- 35 yrs old, He is a second cousin to King Louis XIVand the grandson of Mathilde. He is a free spirit, and avoided

marriage through hard work and grace. He is in love with Phillippeand has married Sabine.

PHILLIPPE (M)- 30 yrs old, The fencing master to King Louis XIVand son of the previous master. While he lives amongst the royalfamilies, he is still a tradesman. Exceptional skill with thesword has allowed his father, and now Phillippe, an estate andannual income. He the lover of Reginald and has married Claudette.

MATHILDE (F)- 70 yrs old, The Grand Dame of the family. She is adirect cousin of the King and is the matriarch of her limb of thefamily tree. Reginald is her grandson and Claudette is her grand-niece.

ISABELLE (F)- 16 yrs old, She is a maid in the household of Sabineand Reginald. She is a bit flighty but has a romantic spirit.

LUC (M)- 20 yrs old, he is apprentice to Jean-Baptiste. He isoverflowing with enthusiasm and creativity.

JEAN-BATISTE (M)- 40-45 yrs old, famous, and scandalous playwrightof Paris. Loosely based on Moliere. Despite his age he has some

health issues which weaken his body, but never his mind.

LECHEVRE and GASCOYNE (M) 30s- Two small time thieves who havefled Paris after inadvertently crossing Theobald and his gang.They are trying to earn their living stealing from travelers inthe woods near Reginald's estate.

THEOBALD, JULES, and two footmen (M)- these are thugs andcriminals hired from the streets of Paris by Cardinal DuBois to

work for Mathilde.


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DUEL INTENTS

SETTING & TIME

The time is early autumn, 1663 at a large, family estate ofReginald not far from Paris

SCENE BREAKDOWN

Act I-Scene 1: The salon of Reginald's estate, noon, p1

Scene 2: The salon of Reginald's estate, four days later, p32

Scene 3: A clearing in the nearby forest, four days later,minutes before dawn, p48

Act II-Scene 1: The salon of Reginald's estate, middle of the following

day, p57

Scene 2: The salon of Reginald's estate, after midnight, p86

Scene 3: A clearing in the nearby forest, an hour later, p97


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I-1: THE SALON

The salon, charming and spaciousand elegantly decorated withflowers and vases and family

portraits. The house maid,Isabelle, is cleaning the room,whistling softly to herself. Shedances as she cleans, and holdsan conversation with an imaginarysuitor.

ISABELLEMonsieur LaBret, it is such a surprise to see you thisevening. Why thank you, this gown is one of my favorites. Ibought it when last I visited Paris. Do you find itflattering? Monsieur, you are too forward, but I will grantyou one dance, if you promise to behave.

She takes him in her arms andbegins to dance around the room.

ISABELLE (contd)Edmond-- Monsieur LeBret, you dance like a dream! I feellight as a feather in your arms.

She spins close to a vase offlowers and pauses, taking oneflower and handing it to herself.

ISABELLE (contd)How did you know that these are my favorite flowers in theentire world? My gardens at home are filled with no otherflowers than this... Oh, must you leave so soon? You break myheart, Monsieur... Very well, Edmond. I will allow you onekiss to wish you bon voyage.

She leans forward for a kiss, hereyes closed. A bell ringsoffstage.

ISABELLE

Ah, my dear Edmond, I am called away on urgent business. Ihope you shall be here when I return.

Isabelle curtsies and exitsthrough the main doors.

The garden doors open andReginald enters, followed by Luc.


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REGINALDIsabelle. She was here a moment ago. But seeing that the roomis only half cleaned, I trust she will be returning verysoon.

LUCShould I attend on you in the garden?

REGINALDGood heavens, no. Stay here and await your muse. My wife willbe reading the new pages you delivered and will find you hereif she needs you. Enjoy the moments peace. It never lasts.

LUCVery good, sir.

REGINALD

And remember, you might be alone with my maid, but thatdoesnt mean someone isnt watching you very carefully.

LUCOf course. I mean nothing but the most honorable--

REGINALDI know, but it would be irresponsible of me to not exercise

my one moment of quasi-parental power to make you squirm.

LUCI suppose so.

REGINALDWe shall be in the garden.

Reginald exits to the garden. Luctries to determine where will bethe best place for Isabelle tosee him when she enters.

LUCMy most immaculate Isabelle, my radiant star,Whose glory streams down from Heaven afar,

Who shines from high above the worlds vast oceans,And guides all ships forth towards their fortunes,Yet when each barks coffers have filled full with treasureShe calls them home again to home and hearth and pleasure. Ihave to write that down!

He pulls out his paper, quill,and inkwell and begins scribblingon his manuscript.

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Behind him Isabelle enters withtwo of Mathildes footmen,Theobald and Jules. She isobviously terrified of the men,

with good reason.

LUC (contd)My most glorious Isabelle... Heaven afar-- afar? Afar, good.Who shines... oceans...

ISABELLEThey were here a moment ago, but they must have goneelsewhere. I could go find them.

LUCFull with treasure...

ISABELLELuc!

LUCHearth and pleasure! Isabelle!

ISABELLEYou are in here.

LUCI am. I have poem for you. My most radiant Isabelle, myimmaculate star--

ISABELLEI am sure it is beautiful, but I must find my master. Theyhave a letter to deliver.

LUCThey went to the garden.

THEOBALDWhich way is that?

ISABELLE

Just outside those doors. I can take you--

THEOBALDNo. I will go myself. Stay here.

Jules sits. Theobald exits.

LUCWell.

3.


7/15

ISABELLEWell.

LUCIt is wonderful to see you again.

ISABELLEI have thought about you.

LUCI have too. I wrote you something.

ISABELLEA poem?

LUCYes, and finished my play. Or, the first draft. I haven't

heard it read yet, but it makes me happy to put you on thepage. It is as if you are speaking to me as I sit and write.

ISABELLEThat would make me happy.

LUCAnd I, too.

Jules groans softly. They lookover at him. He rolls his eyes,yawns, and closes his eyes.

ISABELLEWill you read it to me?

LUCNo.

ISABELLENo?

LUCIt is far too long, but I can tell you the story.

ISABELLEPlease!

LUCVery well, it opens with a beautiful young serving girlcleaning a well-appointed room in a large manor house. She

whistles a happy tune as dusts, and then she begins to playact as if she was at a very fancy ball.

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A handsome young lord has asked her to dance and she modestlyaccepts his offer and begins to dance around the room as ifher duster were her young lord.

ISABELLE

I would never be so frivolous.

LUCI knew as much, but I wanted to show the audience howromantic and imaginative your character is so that they wouldimmediately fall in love with you.

ISABELLEWill it work?

LUCWho could resist?

ISABELLEGo on.

LUCThe serving girl is always the hero, so you, I mean she, willfind out that her mistress is in some kind of trouble anddevise a brilliant plan to save her.

ISABELLEOh no, what kind of trouble?

LUCThat was difficult. I didn't know what to write, and then Ihad an idea.

ISABELLEWhat idea?

LUCWell... Is he asleep?

He looks over at Jules andgestures her to be quiet.

LUC (contd)Excuse me, would you like some refreshment until your fellowreturns.

There is no response.

5.


9/15

ISABELLEIt is also customary for us to provide a meal to any

messengers who come to call. It would be my pleasure to fetchyou something.

Jules begins to lightly snore.They continue to speak in hushedtones.

LUCGood. So, I had a lovely heroine, and a young artists whopines for her, and in the end would win her heart.

ISABELLEYes?

LUC

But beyond that... nothing.

ISABELLEIs that not enough?

LUCIn real life, more than enough, but for the stage one musthave intrigue and suspense.

ISABELLEFascinating.

LUCAnd then I had a vision. What is the great suspicion ofhouseholds on the stage? Cuckoldry. But everyone writes aboutthat. He sleeps with her, she sleeps with him. Even theEnglish have worn that our with overuse. But what if I didsomething different?

ISABELLEYou are brilliant.

LUCThat has yet to be seen. My master might think it too far-

fetched, but I started with the idea that there were twocouples having affairs with each other. Interesting, butstill not completely original, however here is my twist: the

women and the men... are in love with each other.

ISABELLEOther what?

LUCThe men love the men and the women love the women!

6.


10/15

ISABELLEOh, no!

LUCI know it is scandalous, but imagine the intrigue. Imagine

the suspense!

ISABELLEYou cannot write about that.

LUCWhy not? It has never been done that way. Two women in love,two men enraptured. There is no end to the possibilities.They hide it from their families, they hide it from thechurch. Even the King would disapprove. But to save them allthe servant convinces her mistress, and here is where it goesback to the traditional comic form, to dress in boys clothesand seduce the matriarch.

ISABELLEI forbid you to keep writing!

LUCHave I offended you?

ISABELLEOf course not, but I am sworn to secrecy. Tell me, what did Isay that revealed the truth? You have to tell me. Somehow Ibetrayed their trust and I will have to be dealt with--

LUCWhat are you talking about?

ISABELLETell me!

LUCTell you what?

ISABELLEHow you knew.

LUCI know nothing.

ISABELLENonsense. I must have slipped-- it was the brandy! Damneddevils draught! Somehow I told you about my mistress and

madame Claudette, or the master and his maestro. There can beno other way.

7.


11/15

Jules eyes pop open. He has beenawake this whole time.

LUCWhat do you mean? You mean that they--

She nods.

LUC (contd)And them too?

She nods.

LUC (contd)Oh, my. I have written an inadvertent truth.

ISABELLE

No one must know about this!

Jules closes his eyes again. Lucand Isabelle look at him. He islightly snoring again.

LUCYour secret is safe. I shall burn these pages.

ISABELLEYou must.

LUCFor you, anything.

He takes her in his arms.

ISABELLEI was so scared.

LUCThe danger is passed. I will protect you. Your secret is safe

with me.

ISABELLEThank you.

Isabelle and Luc kiss.

The garden doors slam open andReginald returns followed byTheobald.

8.


12/15

REGINALDMy wife is recovering and was ordered by the doctor himselfto walk in the garden every afternoon. Tell my mother thatshe will be gone as soon as the doctor tells her that she issafe to travel. Here is some gold to keep to yourselfanything else you might have seen. Are we clear?

Reginald hands him some coins.

THEOBALDYou said something about a doctor?

Reginald hands over more coins.

REGINALDVery well, here is more gold. Tell my mother that you saw me

walking her, with difficulty, around the garden and that we

await word from her doctor when she will be able to travel.Yes?

THEOBALDMy partner might have to remind me--

REGINALDHere take the last of this! But you get no more! Now go.Isabelle, show them out!

Reginald exits to the garden.Jules approaches Theobald and is

given a coin or two. Juleswhispers something silently intoTheobalds ear. Theobald looks atLuc and Isabelle, and givesanother coin to Jules.

THEOBALDGirl, take us to our horses.

LUCThe front doors are straight down the hall.

THEOBALDBut your master said--

ISABELLEHe did order me to escort them out.

LUCI will go with you.

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Jules whispers again to Theobaldand points to the manuscript.Jules has pulled out two piecesof cloth from his belt or bag.Theobald steps between Luc andIsabelle.

THEOBALDShe will be safe with us. You can stay.

LUCI will go with her nonetheless.

THEOBALDYou are not welcome to join.

LUC

Welcome or not I will not--

Theobald punches Luc. BeforeIsabelle can scream Jules puts agag in her mouth and binds herhands.

THEOBALDKeep your mouth shut, girl. And you too, boy.

LUCLet her go.

THEOBALDSoon. We just have to ask her some questions.

Jules puts a cloth bag over herhead.

LUCLeave her alone!

THEOBALDOpen your mouth one more time and I hurt her.

LUCYou wouldnt.

THEOBALDAre you willing to try?

LUCJust be careful.

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THEOBALDThen stay where you are.

Jules heaves Isabelle over hisshoulder and turns to exit. Luc

steps towards them but Theobaldstops him.

THEOBALD (contd)You are so small.

LUCBut my brain is huge!

Luc feints to one side andTheobald tries to grab him but

misses as Luc quickly steps in

the opposite direction and slipspast him. Luc charges at Jules,who easily backhands him. Theograbs Luc.

LUC (contd)Where are you taking her? Get back here!

Theobald pushes Luc across theroom breaking a vase.

LUC (contd)

Isabelle!

Luc charges again. Theobald drawshis dagger and stabs Luc. Lucfalls back, bleeding.

THEOBALDI told you.

LUCYou son of a--

JULESCarry him.

THEOBALDNo. Hell ruin my uniform.

LUCIsabelle, Ill save you!

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THEOBALDShut up!

Theobald strikes Luc, knockinghim behind the couch. Only Lucs

legs are visible. Isabellestruggles.

JULESCant leave him.

THEOBALDHes out cold now. Be dead soon.

Isabelle tries to scream for helpbut Jules hits her. She stopsstruggling.

THEOBALD (contd)Get her to the carriage.

Jules exits carrying Isabelle.Theobald lifts Lucs foot whichfalls limply to the ground. He

wipes his dagger on Lucs pantleg, grabs Lucs manuscript andexits. As soon as he is gone Lucstarts moving and regains hisfeet.

LUCIsabelle.

Luc starts to follow Isabelle butstops.

LUC (contd)In a tragedy the hero goes it alone and fails gloriously. Ina comedy he goes for help and they all survive.

Luc turns and heads towards the

garden door.

LUC (contd)Master! Madame Sabine!

Luc exits through garden door.

End of scene.

12.

Documents

Luc Isabelle Dec 31