MARY and BETTERTON
Mary has just had her dagger returned to her, by the
scary
prop boy, Benny. Betterton is her potential love interest..
Enter Thomas Betterton, crossing with his props (dagger and
cape).
THOMAS BETTERTON
Is it come to this that women carry weapons?
MARY
Aye Thomas, tis a dagger you see before you.
THOMAS BETTERTON
A weapon’s only as good as it’s master, Mary.
(he draws his own dagger)
Know you how to parry with a piece?
MARY
I learned quite young the dangers of a blade.
THOMAS BETTERTON
Most women do. But the stage requires art.
You must hold it thus - a ready hand
and steady eye to strike upon advantage.
MARY
Come sir and see what readiness I have.
They have a short parry and they end up with blades
crossed, Mary held by Thomas.
THOMAS BETTERTON
Would that I were ivy round the rose.
MARY
(breaking the hold)
Ivy does embrace, then chokes out all the life.
THOMAS BETTERTON
Why deny you think of me with more than like?
Still you equate the actors art with ignominy?
MARY
I’ve seen you crawl for coins on hands and knees.
THOMAS BETTERTON
And next day play the king MARY
- in borrowed finery.
THOMAS BETTERTON
You will not find a better life than this.
MARY
But what’s the role that I would play?
For women’s parts fall lower than the page.
THOMAS BETTERTON
The theatre will change, for I believe that women’s
roles will rise and men’s will fall for women inspire only noblest thoughts.
MARY
Such as the noble thoughts you have for me?
THOMAS BETTERTON
Still you doubt my worth and veracity?
MARY
One who acts so well, might act with me.
THOMAS BETTERTON
This is not pretense, there is no other
rose that I prefer to grace my chambers.
MARY
So now I am a flower that you would pluck?
END HERE
SONG.
MARY
(sings)
What rose am I that you must pick
And keep unto your own?
Would you insure my dying day
Before our love has grown ?
For love preserved is stagnant love
Sweet nature it confound
I’ll stay a rose with thorns intact
It's roots still in the ground.
THOMAS
The thorny stem I'd ne'er break
But grow up there beside
And sense the bud and then the flower
A blossom by your side
And when the summer comes to end
Your petals I would cherish
And watch them as they fall to earth
Until we both shall perish
TOGETHER
Could we both survive?
Can we grow and thrive?
In this, our wanton garden?
MARY
You sing so sweet and rare, but melodies
are frail and disappear on slightest breeze.
THOMAS BETTERTON
(spoken)
After our inagural production
you will see this new found world provides
with more abundance then you can imagine.
ls to be made for unwilling maids.